Writeups: Tom Sloane

Everybody's favorite asshole!

Tom Sloane (aka Ultra)

DEX: 3 (12) STR: 2 (25) BODY: 2 (15)
INT: 5 WILL: 2 MIND: 3
INF: 9 AURA: 8 SPIRIT: 2
---------------------------
INIT: 17 (26)  HERO POINTS:

Motivation:  Responsibility of Power
Wealth:  4 (from stipend) (*)

(*) – Tom has 4 APs of Wealth when living as a Legionnaire – he accepts the stipend and does not draw from any money outside of it.  In case of an emergency, he can draw on what would have been an allowance of 7 APs from his wealthy family without asking.  If 7 APs will not make the purchase, he will have to use the Rich Family/Friends Advantage.

Powers

Flight: 15
Heat Vision:  14
Invulnerability:  20
Systemic Antidote:  16
Superspeed: 10
X-Ray Vision:  13

Bonuses and Limitations

Tom can only draw from one “group” of powers/attributes at a time.  The “groups” are:

“Flight”
“Flash Vision”: Heat Vision
“Invulnerability”: Invulnerability, Systemic Antidote, BODY AP 15
“Shape Vision”:  X-Ray Vision
“Speed”:  DEX AP 12, Superspeed
“Strength”:  STR AP 25

Tom’s powers are “always on” (i.e. one group is always in effect) and the Invulnerability group is the default power, even if unconscious.

Skills:  Vehicles:  2
Advantages: Area Knowledge (Lawndale), Rich Family/Friends
Connections:  Mack Mackenzie (High), Arete/The Elite (Low)
Drawbacks (**): Guilt, Public Identity

(**):  In addition to the characteristics listed, Tom also inherits all bonuses, connections, advantages and drawbacks of his Legionnaire role and is equipped with all standard Legionnaire equipment. 

Real name:  Thomas Lyman Sloane
Occupation:  Legionnaire
Marital Status:  Single
Known Relatives:  Angier and Kay (parents), Elsie (sister)
Group Affiliation:  National Legion Chapter #001
Height:  5’8” (1.72 m)
Weight: 180 pounds (81.6 kg)
Eyes: Grey
Hair:  Brown


Comments

  1. Captain MarblesFebruary 4, 2018 at 9:13 AM

    Isn't power Reserve included in the Third Edition of the DC Comics role playing game handbook? I was just thinking that it should be included as part of X power set, with the stipulation that it is always on and always boosting some physical attribute- with body being the default.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. JamesFebruary 4, 2018 at 9:52 AM

      The issue with Power Reserve is that it's very flexible: it basically tells the player, "here's this bank of APs that you can just add to your Atrributes/Powers whenever you want to add them". A giveaway for the kind of characters that have Power Reserve is that you can add the limitation "Must be Fueled by Energy Absorption", i.e. that you're grabbing power from some place and basically pumping it into your APs/Powers.

      Tom, unfortunately, can't do that. He basically has five or six different superpowers and is forced to switch between them.

      The list of powers is inspired by the Ultra Boy writeup at Writeups.org. I thought those powers worked pretty well for Tom, so there you go. :D

      Delete
    2. Captain MarblesFebruary 4, 2018 at 10:35 AM

      Another problem with using Energy Absorption to fuel Power Reserve is this: if you link Energy Absorption to its Link Attribute (BODY) and then use Energy Absorption to fuel Power Reserve and use Power Reserve to increase all Physical Attributes, including BODY, you can just keep dialing your Character's power level up forever as long as there is some kind of energy source to tap. At least, that's how it seems to me.

      Delete
    3. Brother GrimaceFebruary 4, 2018 at 10:54 AM

      Yes, but (as in the case with the Lantern Corps) there a specific and finite time-limit? I mean, the Rings are considered the most powerful weapons in the universe, but they have a 24-hour limit (at the end of which, they are totally drained, regardless of usage) and must be recharged with a Lantern? If something happens to the Lantern (it's stolen or lost in space), then that means that the Ring is just a pretty piece of jewelry.

      Just put a serious restriction on that and party on.

      Delete
  2. Brother GrimaceFebruary 4, 2018 at 10:08 AM

    A couple of things:

    * Tom can shift instantly between powers, and remains at base human stats in all attributes not affected by the power group he is currently using.

    * His ‘flash vision is one shift higher than Superman’s heat vision (denoted by color; Superman’s is red, while Tom’s is blue; his counterpart Maryann Lyter’s is even more powerful, as it is white when used)

    *Tom has a ‘trip box’ implanted in his mind; it is a psionic construct that has four functions:

    ** it acts as a power limiter; Tom is restricted from using all of his powers simultaneously by the the ‘trip box’

    ** it acts as a psi-shield of extreme level; not even Tom’s surface thoughts can be read by even telepaths of extreme ability unless Tom projects them out willingly. This covers ANY form of telepathic contact, regardless of source or method; it does not block out empathic readings of Tom or any for of emotion-based control or attack

    ** it is a form of latent mind-control; when a specific code-phrase is used, the mind-control activates and places Tom under the control of the initiator with no possible way of stopping it. (This function of Tom’s ‘trip-box’ was overridden by David Allen Farrington’s ‘psi-surgery’ facet of his healing skill; Tom cannot be mind-controlled by the use of the code-phrase, and will be able to track the origin point of the initiator of the control signal.)

    ** the trip-box has a ‘self-destruct’ function; if psi-probes or any form of psionic deep contact is attempted to gain information, the trip-box will self-destruct. This will cause brain-death in the victim (and possibly clinical death), while also acting as a psionic attack upon the probing source. This attack will be at +2 levels over the power level of the probe and can pass through any form of internal psi-defenses the probing telepath, etc. possesses.)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Brother GrimaceFebruary 4, 2018 at 10:15 AM

    Advantages: Tom also has skill with energy and kinetic weapons, outdoor/desert survival skills, moderate stealth, familiar with alien technology (Corps of Ringbearers) military tactics, and (is this a skill?) Zombie Combat. This all comes from his year on the Ringbearer anti-zombie task force.)

    Connections:  Corps of Ringbearers (Low). He's earned his rep as a prick, but he can fight - and he did save the city of Perth, so there's that. If he actually does need help, they will give it.

    Drawbacks (if it is one): He and Mack are actually a year older than publicly known, due to their being away with the Ringbearer anti-zombie task force. All of the known individuals who were taken for that force - at present, known inductees include Tom, Mack, David Allen and Maryann - are one year older than commonly known).

    Known Relatives:  You forgot his grandfather Sylvester, and in the 'Mini' 'The Big Piece of Chicken', we find out that he had an older brother (Angier ‘Angie’ Sloane II), who died before Tom was born).

    Group Affiliation:  National Legion Chapter #001. Tom's also considered part of 'The Line' (the core Ringbearer assault forces, which includes metahumans who fought in Corps military campaigns)

    Height: If Daria’s 5’2, then Tom can’t be more than 5’7 - and I think that’s pushing it. I think he’s between 5’5 and 5’7, and I’d go low.

    http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zNvdpWfCZcU/S7ESs3R-4bI/AAAAAAAAAGI/yR0vOzDhM3c/s1600/TomJA2S.bmp


    Hair:  Don't forget his beard. :-)

    ReplyDelete

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