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Starchild – KISS (Icons Writeup)

StarchildPaul_Stanley
aka Paul Stanley

Prowess 5
Coordination 5
Strength 6
Intellect 4
Awareness 6
Willpower 7

Stamina 13

Powers
Paul possesses the KISS Talisman of the Stars. It allows him to manipulate living souls and provides the following powers:
*Damage Resistance 4
*Flight 8
*Emotion Control 7
*Kinetic Bolt 7
*Languages 9 (Paul can understand any spoken language)
*Soul Absorption 10 (This power allows Paul to literally absorb a victim’s mind. The victim’s body is basically a zombie and will remain as such unless Paul returns their soul to the body) (Limit: Exhausting)

Specialties
Leadership (+1 bonus), Performance – Singing (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*Mystic Defender and Musician
*Calming Influence on Others
*I was made for loving you

Background

Gypsy wizard Dizzy the Hun tried to prevent the Box of Khyscz to fall in the hands of Victor von Doom; he identified some worthy teenagers and threw them the Box. The Box gave the teenagers and some of their friends superhuman powers, and then sent them in an inter-dimensional, interplanetary trip to test their mettle.

Paul is the leader of the group, though some of the others (particularly Gene) often refuse to do what he says. He is in many ways the center of the team, however — he’s effective in battle but not as bloodthirsty as Gene, he’s sensitive but not as much as Peter, and while he has intense abilities, he’s not as overwhelmed by them as Ace. He’s the closest to Gene on the team and is often responsible for holding his buddy’s rage in check.

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Space Ace – KISS (Icons Writeup)

Space AceAce_Frehley
aka Spaceman aka Ace Frehley

Prowess 4
Coordination 6
Strength 4
Intellect 4
Awareness 9
Willpower 5

Stamina 9

Powers
Ace possesses the KISS Talisman of Space. It gives him the following powers:
*Vibration Control 8 (Extras: Blast, Phasing)
*Life Support 10
*Cosmic Awareness 10
*Teleportation 10
*Dimensional Travel 6 (Limit: Unpredictable, on a roll of 1 or 2 Ace ends up in a dimension that he did not intend to go to – this sometimes separates his teammates, as well)

Specialties
Performance – Guitar (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*Calls everyone ‘Curly’
*Often distracted or overwhelmed by his powers
*In a New York groove

Background

Gypsy wizard Dizzy the Hun tried to prevent the Box of Khyscz to fall in the hands of Victor von Doom; he identified some worthy teenagers and threw them the Box. The Box gave the teenagers and some of their friends superhuman powers, and then sent them in an inter-dimensional, interplanetary trip to test their mettle.

Ace is an important part of the team as his teleportation powers frequently save the team’s bacon. He is a somewhat ‘spacey’ personality, making odd jokes, random comments, and insisting on calling everyone ‘curly.’ He’s very close to Peter.

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The Catman – KISS (Icons Writeup)

CatmanPeter_Criss
aka Peter Criss

Prowess 5
Coordination 6
Strength 4
Intellect 3
Awareness 5
Willpower 5

Stamina 9

Powers
Peter possesses the KISS Talisman of Beasts. It allows him to tap into the Happy Hunting Ground, improving his physical abilities and giving him the following powers:
*Super-Senses 5 (Extra: Night Vision, Limit: Peter has no color vision while in his Cat form)
*Claws 6
*Fangs 6
*Regeneration 5
*Resistance to toxins and disease 10

Specialties
Performance – Drums (+1 bonus)

Qualities
*Attracted to Alien Cat Ladies
*Loves a good (or even terrible) feline-related pun
*Beth, I hear you calling…

Background

Gypsy wizard Dizzy the Hun tried to prevent the Box of Khyscz to fall in the hands of Victor von Doom; he identified some worthy teenagers and threw them the Box. The Box gave the teenagers and some of their friends superhuman powers, and then sent them in an inter-dimensional, interplanetary trip to test their mettle.

Peter is quite effective in battle but prefers to use his acrobatic skills to avoid heavy combat. He has a tendency to engage in feline-based puns in battle. He is closest to Ace amongst the other members of KISS.

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Demon – Kiss (Icons Writeup)

DemonGene_Simmons
aka Gene Simmons

Prowess 6
Coordination 5
Strength 7
Intellect 4
Awareness 5
Willpower 4

Stamina 11

Powers
Gene possesses the KISS Talisman for the Demon. It allows him to channel Hellfire into his body for several effects:
*Leaping 1
*Glider Wings 4
*Hellfire Breath 8
*Regeneration 6
*Damage Resistance 6
*Detect – Sins 8 (Limit: Only allows Gene to know an individual’s guilt or innocence and what sins they have committed)
*Living Boots – Gene’s boots have a mind of their own and sometimes fly off his legs to attack his enemies on their own. They possess the following abilities: Bite 6, Flight 3.

Specialties
Performance – Bass Guitar (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*Mystic defender and musician
*Powers are seductive
*I’m a war machine

Background

Gypsy wizard Dizzy the Hun tried to prevent the Box of Khyscz to fall in the hands of Victor von Doom; he identified some worthy teenagers and threw them the Box. The Box gave the teenagers and some of their friends superhuman powers, and then sent them in an inter-dimensional, interplanetary trip to test their mettle.

Gene is the bruiser of the group, using his flame breath to good effect and in general being more violent than the others. He enjoys his powers and the fear that it induces in others. He is closer to Paul than to the other two members of the team.

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Sgt. Flag (Icons Writeup)

Sgt. FlagSGT-FLAG
aka Rob McFarlane
Copyright Rik Offenberger

Prowess 6
Coordination 6
Strength 5
Intellect 5
Awareness 4
Willpower 5

Stamina 10

Powers
*Guns 5 (Sgt. Flag always carries the following weapons: Glock 19M M007 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Beretta M9A1 9mm semi-automatic pistol, Colt M45A1 .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, Benelli M4 Super 90 12-Gauge shotgun, Mossberg 500A2 12-Gauge shotgun, M16A4 5.56x45mm rifle, M4 5.56x45mm carbine rifle, M249 squad 5.56mm automatic weapon, M27 infantry 5.56x45mm automatic rifle, M38 marksman 5.56x45mm rifle with a Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 2.5-8x36mm Mid-Range/Tactical Illuminated Reticle Scope, M240 7.62s machine gun, M240B 7.62s machine gun, M110 semi-automatic 7.62x51mm sniper system, M40A6 sniper 7.62x51mm rifle, Mk13 Mod 7 sniper .300 Winchester Magnum rifle, M107 special applications scoped 12.7x99mm rifle, M2 .50 caliber machine gun, M2A1 quick change barrel .50 caliber machine gun)
*Grenade Launchers 6
*Two 73cm katana swords 5

Specialties
Athletics (Expert +2 bonus), Drive (+1 bonus), Investigation (Expert +2 bonus), Linguistics (Expert +2 bonus), Martial Arts (Expert +2 bonus), Medicine – First Aid (+1 bonus), Mental Resistance (+1 bonus), Military (Master +3 bonus), Stealth (Expert +2 bonus), Weapons (Expert +2), Wrestling (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*Extreme!
*Never runs out of ammunition!
*The Hammer of Justice!

Background

First off, if you couldn’t guess by Sgt. Flag’s secret identity, this character is an homage to the over-the-top heroes of Nineties comic books. Keep that in mind when you use him in your campaigns! This character exists as part of Rik Offenberger’s Agent universe.

Rob McFarlane is a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He joined the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) the day he graduated from high school and joined the Marines, stationed with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

He strongly believes “No Man Left Behind” and has become a one-man extraction team. While most combat troops try to dress in camouflage, Sgt. Flag drapes himself in the colors of the flag to stand out and be seen by the troops he is trying to save. Sgt. Flag is the Hammer of Justice. When you need a hammer, he is there to save your ass. Semper Fi Mø†#≡Γ Fμ¢κ≡Γ

Sgt. Flag’s core capabilities are direct action, special reconnaissance, and foreign internal defense. Sgt. Flag has also been directed to conduct counter-terrorism, and information operations. He is a specialist in close quarters battle, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, fire support, tactical casualty care, irregular warfare, survival evasion resistance, and escape, and infantry weapons and tactics.

Sgt. Flag is a skilled operator at land navigation and patrolling, mission planning, including Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE), Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), fire support trained, and a Communications specialist. He is well versed in small boats and scout swimmer operations, crew-served weapons, demolitions, photography and information collection, and reporting. He can individually conduct Full Mission Profiles focused on patrolling and combat operations and urban and rural reconnaissance. He is an expert at rifle and pistol combat marksmanship and can use them tactically to perform assault operations. He has conducted precision raids on rural and urban objectives. He specializes in Irregular Warfare (Asymmetric Warfare) operations. He frequently is called upon for training, advising and operating with Partner Nations and Irregular force.

 

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Adam Crown (Icons Writeup)

Adam CrownAdam_Crown

Prowess 5
Coordination 4
Strength 4
Intellect 5
Awareness 4
Willpower 5

Stamina 9

Powers
*Caliburn – Strike 5
*Shield – Damage Resistance 5
*Armor – Damage Resistance 4
*Detect – Presence of the Bane 8

Specialties
Athletics (+1 bonus), Knowledge – British History and Folklore (Expert +2 bonus), Leadership (Expert + 2 bonus), Weapons – Caliburn (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
*King Arthur Reborn
*Servant of Avalon

Background

Adam Crown was a student of English history when the Lady of the Lake appeared to him in his shower. She told him that “It is time for the king to ride out once more for the sword of the new dawn.” With her guidance, Crown broke into the Museum of Pagan Antiquities and London and stole a “priceless Iron Age sword.” He took the sword to a nearby canal and hurled it in, at which point the Lady of the Lake’s hand lifted it (or another sword in its place) back above the surface.

Taking the blade in hand, Adam was eventually brought to Avalon, where the Lady informed him that he was the reincarnation of King Arthur and Adam received an infusion of powerful Pendragon magic from the Green Knight, making him stronger and more agile than before. Given that he was a typical guy beforehand, the transformation was not enough to make him superhuman – but he’s more capable than most.

Adam came to be a member of the Knights of Pendragon, a group of champions who each held part of the Pendragon power within them. Alongside such heroes as the Union Jack, Albion and Breeze, Adam proved his worth as a hero, eventually sacrificing himself in battle with the evil Red King, lord of the Bane. He has since appeared as a supporting character in a few stories set in England so apparently he was revived under unknown circumstances.

Adam was a favorite of mine from the old Marvel UK days and I think he could be a major player in a campaign set in or around the British Isles. Way back in the past I wrote a whole bunch of fanfiction stories based around the Knights of Pendragons and I used Adam a lot – as such, I retain a lot of fondness for him.

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Captain Marvel (Icons Writeup)

Captain Marvelcapmarvel
aka Prof. Roger Winkle

Prowess 4
Coordination 5
Strength 7
Intellect 8
Awareness 5
Willpower 6

Stamina 13

Powers
*Astro Boots – Flight 8 (Extra: Spaceflight)
*Laser Eyes – Blast 7
*Force Field 5
*Sonic Blast 6
*Time Travel 7
*Invisibility 8 (Limit: Only allows his outer clothing to become invisible, revealing his costume beneath)
*Life Support 10
*Radar Hearing – Supersenses 4
*”Split!” – Superspeed 5 [Captain Marvel can split off body parts and have them perform separate tasks. In game terms this is the equivalent of Superspeed in that he can conduct multiple actions in far less time than most characters. He must verbally say “Split!” to separate his body parts and “Xam!” to bring them back to the whole. (Limit: Glass barriers and electronic interference can prevent him from reassembling himself)]

Specialties
Aerial Combat (+1 bonus), Athletics (+1 bonus), Power – Split! (Expert +2 bonus), Science (Expert +2 bonus), Technology (+2 bonus)

Qualities
*The Human Robot
*Doesn’t think he’s worthy of a woman’s love… ’cause he’s just a (choke) robot.
*Has to remember to rub his energy-giving amulet once every twenty-four hours in order to recharge his system or else he starts to lose important functions like memory and mobility.

Background

Captain Marvel was a jet-booted and laser-eyed alien android powered by an “M”-emblemed medallion who had been sent to Earth by his creators to escape the atomic destruction of their war-ravaged planet. He possessed a durable android body with several powers and he also had a super-intelligent computer brain programmed with the scientific knowledge of two worlds. With this amazing brain, he could alter his internal mechanisms to do anything from breathe underwater to travel through time.

Vowing to protect the peace of his new home, the self-proclaimed “Human Robot” took the secret identity of journalist turned Dartmoor University professor Roger Winkle in the city of Riverview, USA where he lived with his young ward Billy Baxton, the first person he met when he arrived on Earth and the only one who knew his true origins.

Captain Marvel is a whole lot of copyright infringement concerns, all wrapped up in the story of a magical robot from outer space. Not only is CM’s own name problematic but he lives with Billy Batson — oops! I mean Billy Baxton! He also fights villains with names like Plastic Man, Dr. Fate, and Prof. Doom.

Yeah.

He had a ladyfriend by the name of Linda Knowles but Cap was always afraid that he wasn’t worthy of her love since he was actually a mechanical being.

Still, there’s some fun possibilities with him so go ahead and drop him into your campaigns ASAP!

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The Strangler (Icons Writeup)

The StranglerStrangler
aka Unknown

Prowess 4
Coordination 3
Strength 4
Intellect 4
Awareness 3
Willpower 3

Stamina 7

Powers
*None

Specialties
Art – Painting (+1 bonus), Martial Arts (+1 bonus), Wrestling – Strangling Maneuvers (Expert +2 bonus)

Qualities
Hands-On Killer
Wants to be recognized for his art
Sadist

Background

The Strangler was a Nazi agent that fought The Shield. His code-name came from his preferred method of killing his enemies. He is a cruel man that enjoys the suffering of others. Intriguingly, he is also an accomplished landscape painter and has a bit of an ego where his art is concerned.

As with so many of these Mighty Crusaders villains, it would be easy to update him for the modern day – maybe his great-grand-daughter has adopted his identity?

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Flipper (Icons Writeup)

FlipperFLIPPER
aka Unknown

Prowess 3
Coordination 5
Strength 4
Intellect 3
Awareness 3
Willpower 3

Stamina 7

Powers
*None

Specialties
Athletics (Expert +2 bonus), Performance – Showmanship (+1 bonus), Wrestling (+1 bonus)

Qualities
Snide Personality
Flips Around – A Lot
Huge Ego

Background

The Flipper is a circus performer with contempt for the Web and his abilities. The Flipper uses his superior athletic abilities to commit crimes.

Look, it’s pretty obvious how lame this character is but if your group has someone well-known for their acrobatic abilities (a Nightwing or Daredevil type, for instance), maybe the Flipper could make for an interesting challenge for them. Obviously if you’re considering using Flipper against higher-powered heroes, you better give him a team of villains to work with.

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Ki-Gor Gets Reviewed!

devilsDale has posted a 5-star review of The New Adventures of Ki-Gor: The Devil’s Domain. Here’s what he had to say:

Long regarded as the Jungle Lord, Ki-Gor was known for his ferocity and savageness as well as his love for the people and the animals of the Congo where he lived. Now two enemies have raised their banners and are threatening to take that title from Ki-Gor.

In THE IVORY GODDESS, Ki-Gor finds a local village that had been so much a part of his youth apparently abandoned without word. As he and his most trusted companion, Tembu George, begin to investigate, they are thrust into a desperate race against time with the discovery of a sole survivor of a lost safari fleeing through the jungle. Soon Ki-Gor will not only have to fight to save those lost, but will find his own world teetering on the edge of a monstrous evil.

THE DEVIL’S DOMAIN finds Ki-Gor and Tembu answering the challenge of two evil slavers while trying to restore a god’s favor to a lost and hidden people who have a terrible secret that must not be revealed into Ki-Gor’s jungle.

Ki-Gor was one of the more successful copies of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Tarzan, Lord of the Apes. for 16 years from 1939 to 1954, his adventures in the Congo and other locales were chronicled in the pages of JUNGLE STORIES. In the author Barry Reese’s own words…

“The Jungle Heroes of the pulps have always appealed to me, both for their exotic locales and the constant dichotomy between ‘civilized’ people and their ‘savage’ brothers and sisters.”

Reese’s love for these stories comes through as he skillfully recreates the fun and adventure…and the thrill… of the stories of the jungle and its protector.

If you love the old pulp stories…and especially those tales set in the wild jungles…this is a book you will absolutely enjoy.

Thanks, Dale. I grew up as a huge Tarzan fan and discovered Ki-Gor along the way. It was great to add to the character’s legend and I’m glad that you enjoyed the stories!