Spes Magna Games

More fun with From Unformed Realms, this time using TSR’s Marvel Super Heroes.

Adventure Hook: The heroes receive an unexpected invitation (perhaps from a medical or science contact) to watch the demonstration of a new biotech trauma care system. Unfortunately, the Mad Thinker has tampered with the project as part of a scam to hold the technology hostage in hopes of sizable ransom. The Mad Thinker is holed up in an abandoned military bunker. When the biotech system is activated, it overloads and explodes. Several people are caught in the blast. They are transformed into chitinoids, which are motivated by basic instinctual drives.

Chitinoid
From the smoke and fire stagger several people, doctors, technicians, and nurses. They transform rapidly, flesh becoming metallic, covered with thorns and razor edges. They stagger about, clicking and humming, eyeless and inhuman.

Primary Abilities: F Gd, A Gd, S Ex, E Rm, R Fe, I Rm, P Ty
Secondary Abilities: Health 70, Karma 38, Resources Fb, Popularity 0
Powers: Body Armor (Rm), Claws (Ex), Lightning Speed (Ex), Slashing Missile (Ex), Sonar (In), Transformative Nanobots (Rm), Wall-Crawling (Ex)
Nota Bene: Chitinoids are blind. A living target that suffers a Stun or Kill result from a chitinoid’s Claws or Slashing Missiles must make an Endurance FEAT check against Remarkable intensity or else become infected with transformative nanobots. Every 1-10 rounds, the victim suffers a -1CS to Reason. When Reason reaches Feeble, the target turn into a chitinoid. Before transformation is complete, only highly advanced medical care or superhuman recuperative powers stop the process. The Mad Thinker’s ransom demands include the claim that he has the cure for “chitinoidism”. The stats above are for a typical human turned into a chitinoid. It’s up the Judge what abilities and powers a transformed superhuman might have.

Tags: Marvel Super Heroes, monsters, The Cthulhu Hack

kinetic: (adj.) of, relating to, or resulting from motion

Nota Bene: In keeping with my Old School theme this month, I’ve previously posted material for TSR’s 1st edition Gamma World and Chaosium’s 4th edition Stormbringer. In keeping with that trend, I’ve dusted off TSR’s Marvel Super Heroes for today’s post. If you like this game, check ClassicMarvelForever.

Khalid commands impressive power, both directly in the force of his ability to manipulate kinetic energy, but also through his extensive resources and connections. While much of his past is hidden in a tangle of contradictory stories, maybe none of which is actually true, Khalid is not an unknown quantity. He has amassed a considerable fortune through his business and scientific acumen, and he is well known and respected in international terrorist circles.

Within those circles, Khalid seldom takes a direct hand. Instead, he provides weapons and financial backing, always insulated from direct condemnation by layers of plausible deniability. Everyone knows Khalid is a terrorist, but no one can ever seem to show his involvement in any terrorist activity.

The source of Khalid’s superhuman powers is unknown. He does not seem to be a mutant. Given his intelligence and scientific knowledge, it is most likely he gained his powers through some sort of experiment. Regardless of the source of his powers, Khalid is not be underestimated. He is intelligent, ruthless, and sophisticated.

Khalid
Fighting: Good (10)
Agility: Good (10)
Strength: Typical (6)
Endurance: Excellent (20)
Reason: Remarkable (30)
Intuition: Remarkable (30)
Psyche: Incredible (40)

Health: 46
Karma: 100
Resources: Incredible (40)
Popularity: -20

Talents & Powers: Business/Finance, Engineering, Martial Arts A, Physics

Kinetic Energy Control: Khalid controls kinetic energy with Amazing ability. He has developed several Power Stunts, which are detailed hereafter.

* Kinetic Acceleration: Khalid can increase his speed and reflexes via Kinetic Energy Control. This duplicates Remarkable Lightning Speed.

* Kinetic Blasts: Khalid can fire blast of kinetic energy out to Amazing range, inflicting up to Amazing damage.

* Kinetic Reduction Aura: In a one area radius around Khalid, the force of kinetic energy is reduced. This imposes a -4CS to Fighting, Agility, movement powers, and damage from attacks that rely on kinetic force. Only damage from attacks that rely on kinetic force can be reduced Shift 0. Other affected qualities can be reduced to no lower than Feeble. For every affected target, increase Khalid’s Strength by +1CS (maximum Amazing). Khalid is not affected by his own kinetic reduction aura.

* Kinetic Sense: Khalid can detect sources of kinetic energy within his area. He uses his Kinetic Energy Control rank instead of Intuition for determining surprise, instead of Fighting for blocking, and instead of Agility for dodging, assuming the source of the threat results from kinetic energy.

Tags: A to Z 2014, Marvel Super Heroes, NPCs