Character Creation & Discussion

Here are some links to the books that are needed for the game. Please use this material responsibly. I kindly ask that no one share these PDFs with individuals outside of the game.

Savage Worlds Adventure Edition

Super Powers Companion

Use this thread to discuss your character concepts and ask questions.

To help with character creation, here is a breakdown of the process.

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Sample Character: The Milkman


"The milk of justice does a body good!"

Joseph Charles Findlay, aka "The Milkman," is an example of the odd heroes one finds operating in the lower ranks of Century City's supers community. Dressed in a classic milk delivery uniform, the Milkman weaponizes dairy products to fight crime. In his hands, yogurt and shredded cheese are deadly weapons, and 2% milk shoots from his outstretched palms in high-pressure blasts of creamy destruction. Because he can't create milk from nothing, Findlay always carries some dairy with him, usually in the form of a rack of old school milk bottles. In addition to his lactokinetic abilities, the Milkman can also fly, shrug off small arms fire, and even transform his entire body into milk.

In terms of personality, Findlay is polite, professional, and usually willing to work with other supers. His penchant for speaking like a 1950s sitcom character, however, sometimes grates on people's nerves, as does his perpetually upbeat attitude. Aside from crime, the only thing that seems to draw the Milkman's ire is the needless wasting of dairy products. While some view Findlay's passion for dairy as a charming quirk, other supers are concerned that there's something very wrong with the man.

Real Name: Joseph Charles Findlay
Height: 5 feet, 11 inches (180.34 cm)
Weight: 170 lbs. (79.3 kg)
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Nationality: American
Rank: Novice

Attributes
Agility d8
Smarts d4
Spirit d6
Strength d12 (four lvls of Super Strength)
Vigor d8

Derived Stats
Pace: 6"
Parry: 7
Size: 0
Toughness: 14 (8)

Skills
Athletics d6
Common Knowledge d6
Notice d6
Persuasion d6
Stealth d8
Fighting d8
Focus d8
Language (English) d8 (free)
Language (Spanish) d4 (free)
Language (French) d4 (free)

Hindrances
Heroic (Major)
Habit (Minor; speaks like he's in the 1950s)
Vulnerability (Minor; spoiled milk)

Edges
Super Powers (free)
Combat Reflexes (free)
Liquid Courage (milk instead of alcohol)
Block

Super Powers

Lactokinesis [1]
• Telekinesis with Limitation -2 (Dairy only)

Flight [6]

Super Attribute (Strength) 4 lvls [8]

Armor 4 lvls [4]

Ranged Attack (Milk) [8]
• 3d6 damage
• Requires Material -2
• Cone +1
• Armor Piercing +3

Altered Form (Milk) [3]
• Requires Activation -1
• Viscous +2

Notable Gear
Milk truck
Milk rack with six bottles of milk

Alright, so I'm going to put this out there...

I have roughly 4 character ideas (with an inkling of a fifth), and I would be perfectly happy to try out any of them.

Why do I bring this up, you may ask? Well... I don't want to step on toes or overlap too much. If the other players give a general idea of what they want to play, I can pick a character that would be different.

Ok sounds good. I’d pick the one that interests you the most and put it out there first.

They're all interesting, which is why I'm willing to see what others are looking at playing and base my choice on what's "left" so to speak.

If no one has any character ideas similar to any of mine... I may just 1d4 it to pick a build. Lol

Well I'm unsure yet. Trying to digest the Super Powers companion as I hadn't given it more than a quick leaf through when I got the PDF. My first thought was someone with invisiiblity, but it doesn't extend to his suit, but still he refuses to go without one so the power really does nothing.

My other idea was someone with bad luck powers so powerful they affect himself as well as everyone around him.

haha the invisibility concept is pretty great

Invisibility was like 8 poitns, and -2 for not affecting gear. So need to find some use for the last 24 points :P

I had, in my opinion, a couple of hilarious ideas Today.

Hero - AdBlock
Archenemesis - The advertiser...

Another one is the mood swing, his powers are Serotonin and Tryptophan based ones, basically one makes you happy the other one depressed...

Then there's bob the digger and garden gnome.

Tho idk how to make it work though, haven't read the supplement yet...

Do you have a preference that i should focuse on?

They all sound like they have potential. What specifically would AdBlock be able to do?

I could imagine that the AdBlock could make people snap out of hypnosis or from under mental influence. Basically makes people woke... Something similar to irl AdBlock...

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The mood swing archenemesis would be balance man, hellbent to put everyone in perfect balance, basically block neuromediators...

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Bob has shovel and digging themed powers, and wears a steel bucket on his head.

Garden gnome is park / gerden themed + extremely short, grumpy old man with a beard that wears overalls and a red cone hat.

That's kinda cool, but... hyper specific. (Re: AdBlock)

For AdBlock, Mind Shield would fit for the power, with the Area Effect modifier so you can use it on other people.

My initial idea, though I’m not settled on it, is a person who can take on the skills of whatever hat he’s wearing. So put on a soldier helmet, and he knows how to shoot guns. Put on a chef’s hat and he knows how to cook, etc.

Knock the hat off though, and he’s got problems.

Another option is the ability to smell into the future. Not see, but smell.

I too need to find some time to sit and peruse the supers companion this weekend. I'd like to play a character with ice powers, but I don't know if the powers are natural, alien, or tech based. I may look at some ice based heros to see which one I want to rip off for pay homage to with my character. (mind you, he'll have no where near the talent, fame or reliability of the charater he's based on.)

The four loose character concepts I'm looking at:

1 & 2. Tanky bruiser OR energy blaster. Either build should be potentially A-List level power, but either build has sort of the Major Bummer vibe... they don't really want to be a hero, but things keep happening and they keep having to get involved.

3. Absolute ghost character who is actively avoiding any sort of notice. Not scared per se, but timid. Wallflower, nervous, etc.

4. Hyperspeed and duplication character who isn't taken seriously because he doesn't take things seriously himself.

Interesting, would the Ghost be hiding by possessing people? I don't know how ghost work in this setting.

I could definitely see a character that can move fast and make duplicates not caring much about things. lol. Running late? Nope. Need help moving that couch? Nope. Parents divorced and both insist you spend Thanksgiving with them? Sure

The ghost character? Phasing, invisibility, and flight as base powers. Can't see him, can't touch him, doesn't even need to walk (so, less noise and less disturbance to the area like grass or snow underfoot, etc.).

I was thinking of a character with ice powers, but with a suit that enhances his abilities. Like Mr freeze but the blasters are built into the palms of the suit. But the list of powers and hindrances are getting unwieldy. I may have to simplify it a bit.

How can you tell apart minor and major edges?

Cuz, either I am missing something or the core book has just edges...

Btw I decided to change the concept a bit, I will be attempting the hispanic grandma meme, though I really like the idea of the mind-related powers..

another question what's with elderly hinderance, is the smarts bonus applicable to all skills or is it a pool to be distributed?

So, if I were to offer advice based on what I've read, perhaps consider this...

Take Attack, Ranged for 10 points. Choose the Switchable modifier for +2, leaving 8 points for the power. Put them all into the blast level, and maybe pick up Cone for no points meaning your attacks have to use the cone template.

Because you can switch your power up thanks to the modifier, you have 8 points to distribute for your alternate build (four levels). Specify Device (-1) to represent the suit. That's 9 points for Build 2. Put 6 points into level (making it 3 levels), take Lethal (-1, so it gives you one more point), and also Enhanced Damage.

Point wise, that's 10 points and a build to represent your ice powers normally and while the suit is on. It also lets you hit harder and shows more refined use of your ice when in the suit.

If you take the "Best There Is" edge, you can dump 15 points into your Attack, Ranged (Ice) power. That gives you 13 points after the Switchable modifier. Not sure how to spend the extra points for when you're out of the suit, but IN the suit look at Cone +1 to switch between a come and a normal attack as needed, and maybe extra attack, extra range, or add a little AP. (You could also drop the Lethal trait, as you don't need that 1 point as badly.)

Then, when you take extra powers with the rest of your points, specify the Device modifier (-1 version). That should specify those powers are tied to the suit, and you can play them as the suit helping with your overall control of your power.

Powers you could consider as refinement for ice powers would be growth, regeneration, armor, toughness, speed (ice slide), or increased strength or agility. (All are things Iceman has done... or Emma Frost did when she possessed Iceman.)

Oh man, those are great suggestions! I was thinking along the same lines (just not as powerful, since these are d list heroes). Like he has to live in a cryo chamber, but just invented the suit. The suit ( i think that's the transformation hindrance?), in addition to letting him go outside, lets him focus his powers into attacks and such.
I like the idea of having several powers, and not being able to use any of them very well, but will characters have a change to get better at things? I don't know how advancement works in SWADE
I was thinking vehicle to get the ice slide, but maybe also taking speed is smart.

@crazybirdman

Well, remember that power sets aren't always what make a character a D list hero. Some really entertaining characters have had the power to be top tier heroes but either due to personality and/or behavioral issues they never reach that goal. (Hell, some don't even strive for it!)

My thought was using the suit would be the 1 point Device limitation, because you can tie all your powers to it, and Switchable would let you have ice powers in and out of the suit... but wearing the suit gives you a lot more control and power overall.

Mechanically, it looks like it should work, but I'm cramming the rules books so it's very possible I'm overlooking something that prevents it.

BTW -- I'm not finding a Transformation hindrance? (Which book and page?)

You could take Terminally Ill, and see if our GM will allow it to count as a minor Hindrance by Jokers resulting in a -2 penalty for the day instead of death as long as you're in your suit? If you ever take it off, Terminally Ill can function as normal? I'd at least ask.

Sorry for the delay. I tend to work during the weekends.

There are no minor or major Edges. Only Hindrances are divided by minor and major.

It costs two Hindrance points to buy an Edge (in other words, one major Hindrance or two minor Hindrances).

As for the extra skills points provided by Elderly, those are a pool that can be put into any skills linked to the Smarts attribute (each skill is linked to a specific attribute, which is listed next to the skill in parentheses).

That's true. I like the idea (stealing from the Sentinels of the Multiverse game) that the suit is quirky, and sometimes vents out heat unpredictably. But that would be some sort of custom hindrance, and maybe too much work for the GM

I love the idea that he can do one or two simple things without the suit, but more and more powerful stuff with it. Question is, do I have to like, buy it with starting money, or is it something he has as part of his superness?

I'm also pouring over the rulebook to make sure I get this right. Transformation is a major or minor hindrance. (pg 9)

Honest to god, still not seeing the hindrance Transformation. 😶 The closest I see is Transformation listed on the Defeat Table.

I think if the suit is functioning as a modifier for your powers, it's covered? I could be wrong though.

@MaJunior,

The Transformation hindrance is on page 9 of the Super Powers Companion

Maybe I have a different version?

Ah that’s the Supers Companion from the previous edition of Savage Worlds. You need the SWADE version. Use the link at the top of the thread. It’s the recent one.

Ok, that explains why I was so thoroughly confused. Lol

lol, you and me both

My character should be done today. I just have one question, would the ranged ice attacks using the suit use Focus or Shooting?

From what I've read, it should fall to shooting? I think.

My question is, the Intangibility power says energy attacks affect the character normally, and to take resistance for more resiliency against those attacks... that should be the Environmental Resistance power, right? I just wanna be sure I'm looking at the right thing.

How's everyone doing? My character is mostly done. Just fine tuning some powers. Gonna take flight for the ice bridge since it's specifically mentioned there.

I'm majorly struggling wth the abundance of choices 😅...

Other than i am at power picking stage, the result will probably not function the right way, but i would love if the GM (or anyone else) would take a look at the sheet once i am done. Which most likely will be today.

I'm still running some numbers for different builds, but mostly just trying to settle on one. I'm heading to bed since it's almost 2200, but I should wrap up a character tomorrow (or be damn close).

I just have to find a place to put the last points. Invisibility isn't that big of a concept when you have 30 points to spend. Have decided to go for a general light bending powerset as well. And then I also have the general fluff with background and art that needs to be taken care of. Hopefully will find time to finish today or tomorrow.

Is there a minimum power cost? Some of these aren't expensive, and after you add in negatives like device a d requires activation, the cost could be negative.

Minimum cost of 1 point.

I will add the key inventory items a bit later, but if we exclude that, I think that Abuela is finished!

Can you please take a look at her sheet and tell me if you see anything that I should fix? Abuela sheet

Ok, curious if I'm reading this correctly...

Environmental Resistance.
-- The Immunity modifier (+2) says, "The hero is immune to damage and effects from her resisted Power Types." (Emphasis mine.)

The power lets you take resistance to additional energy types for extra points.

Am I correct that the Immunity modifier then applies to all chosen types? (Otherwise, it would be +2 per energy type, but that doesn't seem to be how it's worded.)

Yes, that seems to be the case. If you purchase Immunity, it applies to all power types covered by the Environmental Resistance power.

@Bubbles, thanks for the submission. I’ll check the character over tonight.

Character Advancement is described on page 54 of the core book. It’s pretty straightforward.

In Savage Worlds, there are five "Ranks," which are roughly equivalent to experience levels, as they are a measure of how powerful you are. Starting characters begin at Novice Rank.

At the conclusion of each chapter of the game, characters gain an "Advance." Each Advance let’s the character do one of the following:

• Gain a new Edge.
• Increase a skill that is equal to or greater
than its linked attribute one die type.
• Increase two skills that are lower than their linked attributes by one die type each (including new skills the character didn’t
have before at d4).
• Increase one attribute by a die type. This
option may only be taken once per Rank (see Rank, below). Legendary characters may raise an attribute every other Advance, up to the racial maximum.
• Permanently remove a Minor Hindrance, or reduce a Major Hindrance to a Minor (if possible).

I’m also probably going to award one or more Super Power points with each Advance. That way, you can improve your powers over time or purchase new ones.

Every four Advances, characters gain a new Rank.

This bears some mentioning, since I haven’t discussed it much, but there are several reasons one can be considered a Second-Stringer by the supers community. It’s not necessarily a reflection of how strong you are, as some D-List heroes possess decent raw power. Rather, think of it as a reflection of how respected you are. Your characters just aren’t taken very seriously by other super heroes (if they are even recognized at all). There are many possible reasons for this:

- You have quirky, silly, or seemingly useless super powers (I say seemingly because such powers probably aren’t actually useless; they just appear that way to others). Alternately, you might have some "normal" powers, but you’ve become known for one oddball power in particular.

- You have "normal," respectable super powers but those powers have unwanted side effects, or you have difficulty controlling them. Or you are just really clumsy, and that applies to your powers.

- You have a superhero persona that is difficult to take seriously, complete with a ridiculous costume, mannerisms, and catch phrase (i.e. Toilet Man, "I flush evil down the drain!").

- You are incredibly new to the superhero scene, and have yet to make a name for yourself. No one has yet heard of you.

- You were once somewhat respectable, or one your way to being so, but suffered a humiliating defeat or made a career-ending mistake that left you a D-list superhero. This doesn’t mean simply losing a fight, since all heroes get beaten from time to time. More that you made a mistake that was extremely careless, put lives in danger, or was just supremely embarrassing (such as shitting your costume on live television, for instance). Or maybe you were not as squeaky clean as you should have been and got caught in some sort of scandal, which ruined your superhero status, etc.

I revised my concept. I should be turning my character in either tonight or tomorrow.

Ok, character submitted, but still needs some fine tuning.
So he can only exist in a cold environment, and do some very basic cold power stuff.
But with his suit, he can go out in normal weather, and shoot ice.
So questions, is the suit included, or something I have to buy or use a power for? I see suits mentioned in several places, but I don't see how to get one.

Also want to confirm that using the suit based powers uses shooting instead of Focus? I can see either case, since the suit enhances his powers, but he can't project and ice slice without it. Just wa t to confirm before spending skill points.

And last questions: can supers use either hand when using their powers? Or do they need the amnidexterous edge?
Also if a weapon has a rate of fire of 2, does the second attack have a roll penalty?

Finally got it done. Hopefully everything checks out.

1) So long as you took the Device modifier (which it appears you did), then the suit is represented by your powers. No need to purchase it as gear.

2) Force Field, Damage Field, and Slow all require Focus rolls for activation. Only Flight requires no roll to use.

As far as your Ice Blasts, the Ranged Attack power says that energy blasts fall under the Focus trait and devices fall under Shooting. Even though your suit is a device, I think this is referring to handheld items such as guns. If you were using an ice gun, then I’d say it’s Shooting, but since these are natural energy blasts focused through the suit, I’d say use Focus instead.

That’s actually a good thing, since you don’t have to split your skill points as much.

3) Yes, technically if you want to use both hands with equal proficiency, you have to take Ambidextrous. Firing ice blasts with your off hand would impose a penalty.

4) The Ranged Attack power says you suffer no recoil, so there’d be no recoil-based penalty on the attack.

Give me a day or so to check through all of the submitted characters. If I have any questions, you will get a message. If you don’t receive any messages from me, then you can assume your character is good to go.

Thanks for the answers! I'll finish up my character (powers, equipment, edges, and anything else I'm missing) by mid day.

Finally settled on a character. Submitted. I think everything is done... hopefully.

lol. I have 2 hindrance points I don't know where to spend. That's never happened before. I guess focus? But i don't want to be too good

Take an edge like Charismatic, Calculating, Combat Reflexes, Scholar (science), or a number of other options that round you out as a character without making you an absolute wrecking machine in terms of your powers.

oh man, good idea!

Hey everybody, just letting you know that I’ll be making the first post for the game this week. Probably Wednesday or Thursday.

Awesome!!! 😁

If i may.... Is this game going to happen or not?

I wouldn't like to look like I'm impatient or anything, but it's been 15 days and i would like know about this.... (Pardon my lack of experience in PBP)

It's a reasonable question. I guess I'm just a bit pessimistic an figured it wasn't happening. When people don't check in for a while I assume the game is dead, and just hope they are ok

Yeah, at this point it's absolutely realistic to question the status.

Hopefully Julius is ok, regardless of whatever else is happening.

Seems like everyone was real keen on playing this. I was contemplating running this is Julius_Seizure's place if you guys want. I'm still not super familiar with SWADE rules, but I have the book, and I think PBP would allow me to catch mistakes before I make them. Lemme know if you guys are interested?

Totally!

I do not know the system myself, but i am keen to learn.

I'd love the chance to play. I know Savage Worlds, but don't know how it'll work for Supers so would be interesting to test out.

Ok, lemme ask the powers that be to set it up for me. And give me the weekend to at least attempt to learn the rules. 😂 If all goes well, we'll start in media res Monday. You guys won't know each other yet, and I will shortly demote my character to a 'guy in the chair' npc

I haven't heard anything yet about transferring GM access. Don't know if I should take that as a sign it wasn't meant to be, or inquire again