The Monster of Crime
Some games I at least think I’d enjoy playing more than I’d enjoy GMing. One of these games is Green Ronin Publishing’s Mutants & Masterminds (M&M). It has all the makings of a great game: a relatively simple system, a unified dice mechanic, point-based character creation, and (if you’re into that kind of thing) an everything-and-the-kitchen-sink core setting that clearly respects the genre. I love M&M more in theory than in practice, however.
Hero creation is M&M is a bit laborious (although pales in comparison to Champions and GURPS Supers). If one plays with folks that are either a bit spotty on their basic math skills and/or think superhero games are about building the do-it-all but never-gets-hurt character, then M&M can be frustrating. The frustration appears with players who don’t respect (or know) the genre and/or the parameters of the GM’s campaign. I’ve run into the latter more than once.
Years and years ago with people whom I no longer game with, I tried running an urban, four-color hero game. The hero’s were expected to be heroic. I thought I’d made this clear, but that didn’t stop one player from showing up with a murderous speedster who acquired and maintained his powers by stealing crack cocaine from the drug dealers that he killed. Another player showed with a teen-angst loner that frequently insisted on being a team of one.
Ug.
M&M’s first edition was a bit wonky, and much of this wonkiness was fixed with the second edition. M&M’s third edition, however, is even better. It retains the vestiges of its d20 System roots, even going so far as to change the standard six ability scores (STR, INT, WIS, DEX, CON, and CHA) to eight ability scores (Strength, Agility, Fighting, Awareness, Stamina, Dexterity, Intellect, and Presence). Green Ronin also tips their hat to TSR’s iconic Marvel Super Heroes (MSH) with color-coded Damage Resistance Matrix that evokes nicely MSH’s Universal Table.
Since it’s been a while since I made up a M&M villain, here’s a new one inspired by Boris Karloff. I used the Crime Lord from the M&M Gamemaster’s Guide as the base for the Monster.
Francis Stein, also known as the Monster, claims to have been created by the Doctor Victor Von Frankenstein in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. Abused and neglected for years, Stein escaped his evil creator and lived as a fugitive either in the wilderness or on the outskirts of society. Over the decades, Stein accumulated a remarkable education and impressive skills. Stein leveraged his education and skills, along with his superhuman physical abilities, into a career as a mob enforcer, rising through the ranks by a combination of cunning, violence, and longevity. Today, Stein dominates a criminal empire involved in extortion, gambling, and smuggling.
Francis Nathan Stein aka The Monster
Power Level 8
Strength 9, Stamina –, Agility 3, Dexterity 3, Fighting 7, Intellect 6, Awareness 5, Presence 6
Animated Corpse Powers:
Protection 9 [Cost: 1/rank, 9 points] (Extras: Impervious 8) [Cost: 1/rank, 8 points]
Immortality 5 [Cost: 2/rank, 10 points]
Immunity to Fortitude Effects 30 [Cost: 1/rank, 30 points]
Regeneration 10 [Cost: 1/rank, 10 points]
Advantages: All-Out Attack, Benefit (Status), Benefit 3 (Millionaire), Connected, Contacts, Daze (Deception), Equipment 9, Languages 2 (English, German, Russian, Spanish), Minions 10, Ranged Attack 4, Startle, Well-Informed
Skills: Deception 8 (+14), Expertise: Business 7 (+13), Expertise: Law 8 (+14), Expertise: Streetwise 8 (+14), Insight 10 (+15), Investigation 6 (+12), Intimidation 8 (+14), Perception 4 (+9), Persuasion 8 (+14), Technology 6 (+12), Vehicles 5 (+8)
Offense: Initiative +3, Unarmed +7 (Close, Damage 9)
Defense: Dodge 8, Parry 7, Fortitude Immune, Toughness 9, Will 8
Complications: Honor (personal criminal code), Temper (when defied or challenged)
Motivation & Justification: Revenge (for maltreatment) & Entitlement (taking what should have been his)
Power Point Totals: Abilities 68 + Powers 67 + Advantages 35 + Skills 39 + Defenses 8 = 217
