DEFENDERS-5 for Silver Age Sentinels

DEFENDERS

DEFENDERS stands for Duty Equality Freedom Extra-National Defenders of Earth Region Super-heroic. DEFENDERS is an organized network of super-powered agents. DEFENDERS is the modern descendent of the legendary Liberty Defenders of World War II.

DEFENDERS has chapters in most major cities. Each chapter consists of 5-6 super-powered beings. Each chapter reports to an administrator assigned to coordinate the activities of all affiliated super-powered beings within that theater of operations. Each chapter is given a numerical designation. For example, the Pacific City Chapter is known as DEFENDERS-5. DEFENDERS-6 is located in Portland and DEFENDERS-28 is headquartered in San Francisco.

DEFENDERS-5 currently consists of Bolter, Arclight, El Montana, Typhoon, and Myst. An earlier roster included Cosmic Storm, the Kyle, Shield Maiden, String Theory, and Wounded Knee, all of whom have either been reassigned or have retired from service.

Bolter

Stephen Joseph, aka “Bolter”, has the ability to generate and control kinetic force, visible as a magenta field surrounding his body. He can project beams of force, fly, and generate force fields. He is the leader of DEFENDERS-5.

 Name: Steven Joseph aka "Bolter"
Group Affiliations: DEFENDERS-5
Territory: Pacific City
Description and Character Notes: Bolter is former military. He’s a natural leader but also cocky, arrogant, and a little insensitive.

Body: 8
Mind: 8
Soul: 4
Health Points: 60
Combat Value: 16
Defense Value: 5

Attributes:
Skills (30 points left out of 30)
Force Blast 8x4 = 32 (120 damage attack)
   Accurate 2x20 = 40 (+4 bonus to attack)
Force Field 6x4 = 24 (80 damage reduction)
   Blocks Teleport
   Offensive
Armour 2x3 = 6 (20 damage stopped)
Flight 3x4 = 12 (100 kph)
   Fly in any Direction
Combat Technique 4x1 = 4
   Lightning Reflexes x4 (+36 Total Initiative)
Attack Combat Mastery 10x3 = 30 

 Defense Combat Mastery 1x2 = 2

Arclight

Candace Brown, aka “Arclight”, is able to absorb sunlight throughout the day and redirect it in the form of intense blinding flashes, concentrated beams of heat and light, and a force field of intense radiation. The light stored within her is visible as a bright glow emanating from deep within her body. As she uses her stored sunlight, her glow begins to fade and so too her powers. Arclight is a member of DEFENDERS-5.

Name: Candace Brown aka "Arclight"

Group Affiliations: DEFENDERS-5

Territory: Pacific City

Description and Character Notes: Friendly, competent, and professional with a good sense of humor.

Body: 5

Mind: 6

Soul: 4

Health Points: 45

Energy Points: 50

Combat Value: 13

Defense Value: 11

Attributes:

  Skills  

    Acrobatics 1x6 = 6  (Well-Trained)

    Driving 2x2 = 4  (Expert)

    Interrogation 1x4 = 4  (Well-Trained)

    Street Sense 1x2 = 2  (Well-Trained)

    Performing Arts 1x2 = 2  (Well-Trained)

    Etiquette 2x1 = 2  (Expert)

    Special Ranged Attack 1x10 = 10  (Well-Trained)

  Flight 2x4 - 3 = 5  (50 kph)

    Fly in any Direction  

    Detectable 1x-1 = -1  (Detected using 1-2 methods)

    Burns Energy 2x-1 = -2  (2 pts or 10/week)

  Strobe 8x4 - 4 = 28 

    Area Effect 1x20 = 20 

    Stun  

    Flare 7x20 = 140  (-12 to stat check)

    No Damage  

    Burns Energy 4x-1 = -4  (10 pts or 30/day)

  Bioluminescence (Environmental Influence) 1x1 - 3 = -2  (1 environmental influences)

    Permanent 1x-1 = -1  (Slight inConvenience)

    Area 2x1 = 2  (1m)

    Detectable 1x-1 = -1  (Detected using 1-2 methods)

    Burns Energy 3x-1 = -3  (5 pts or 10/day)

  Stun 6x4 - 3 = 21  (80 damage attack)

    Stun  

    Flare 1x20 = 20  (-4 to stat check)

    Burns Energy 3x-1 = -3  (5 pts or 10/day)

  Attack Combat Mastery 8x3 = 24 

  Defense Combat Mastery 8x2 = 16 

  Force Field 5x4+ 1 = 21  (100 damage reduction)

    Area 1x1 = 1  (10cm)

    Duration 1x1 = 1  (1 round)

    Burns Energy 1x-1 = -1  (1 pt or 1/week)

  Armour 2x3 = 6  (20 damage stopped)

  Adaptation 1x1 = 1 

    Radiation   

Myst

Mychelle Stevens, aka “Myst”, is a telepath from England. Her skin and hair are blue, a side effect of the extra-dimensional exposure that gave her super-powers. Myst is a member of DEFENDERS-5.

Name: Mychelle Stephens aka "Myst"

Group Affiliations: DEFENDERS-X

Territory: Pacific City

Description and Character Notes: English accent. Mysterious and secretive.

Body: 4

Mind: 16

Soul: 4

Health Points: 40

Combat Value: 8

Defense Value: 9

Attributes:

  Skills  

    Special Ranged Attack 2x10 = 20  (Expert)

    Interrogation 1x4 = 4  (Well-Trained)

    Social Sciences 3x2 = 6  (Veteran)

  Heightened Senses 4x1 = 4 

    X-ray Vision  

    Ultravision  

    Infravision  

    Vision  

  Enhanced [Mind] 8x2 = 16 

  Telepathy 8x3+ 8 = 32  (Start Mind Combat)

    Universal Utility  

    Targets 2x1 = 2  (5 People)

    Area 6x1 = 6  (10km)

  Sixth Sense 5x1+ 3 = 8 

    Area 3x1 = 3  (10m)

    Danger  

    Telepathy  

    Truth  

    Illusions  

    Emotions  

  Mind Shield 5x1 = 5  (5 defensive levels of Mind and Soul, +50 mental armor)

  Mental Blast 10x4 = 40  (20 damage attack)

    Mind Attack  

    Affects Incorporeal  

    Penetrating (Armour) 3x20 = 60  (60 pts of Armour Reduction)

  Armour 2x3 = 6  (20 damage stopped)

  Combat Technique 1x1 = 1 

    Judge Opponent  

  Defense Combat Mastery 3x2 = 6  

Typhoon

Kenichi Sakaguchi, aka “Typhoon”, survived an unnatural hurricane as a child and has been able to create and control weather ever since. He is sullen and moody. Typhoon is a member of DEFENDERS-5.

Name: Kenichi Sakaguchi aka "Typhoon"

Group Affiliations: DEFENDERS-5

Territory: Pacific City

Description and Character Notes: Young, detached, emotional, and moody.  

Body: 5

Mind: 6

Soul: 4

Health Points: 45

Combat Value: 5

Defense Value: 3

Attributes:

  Skills  

    Special Ranged Attack 3x10 = 30  (Veteran)

  Weather Control 8x15 - 4 = 116 

    Major or Large Categories  

    Detectable 2x-1 = -2  (Detected using 3-5 methods)

    Concentration 2x-1 = -2  (Intense Concentration)

Info And Comments For: Weather Control 8x15 - 4 = 116 

Comments:

Up to 16 levels of other abilities, any one max level 8.

  Lightning 8x4 = 32  (160 damage attack)

  Wind Blast 8x4 = 32  (40 damage attack)

    Knockback 4x20 = 80  (8 metres / damage point dealt)

    Area Effect 2x20 = 40  (4 metre radius)

  Fog, Cold, Heat, Rain, Snow, Sleet 8x1+ 5 = 13  (3 environmental influences)

    Duration 1x1 = 1  (1 round)

    Darkness  

    Heat  

    Cold  

    Sound  

    Specific Weather Conditions  

    Area 4x1 = 4  (100m)

  Wind Bubble (Force Field) 8x4+ 2 = 34  (180 damage reduction)

    Area 2x1 = 2  (1m)

    Duration 1x1 = 1  (1 round)

    Detectable 1x-1 = -1  (Detected using 1-2 methods)

    Major Limitation - Physical Attacks Only  

    Offensive (90 damage to anyone who touches the field)

El Montana

Francisco Munoz, aka “El Montana”, is a towering behemoth of a man, easily twelve feet tall, with super-strength, stamina, and mass to match. El Montana is quiet and reserved. He is a member of DEFENDERS-5.

Name: Francisco Munoz aka "El Montana"

Group Affiliations: DEFENDERS-5

Territory: Pacific City

Description and Character Notes: Quiet and brooding.

Body: 20

Mind: 4

Soul: 6

Health Points: 210

Combat Value: 10

Defense Value: 8

Attributes:

  Skills  

    Powerlifting 1x6 = 6  (Well-Trained)

    Unarmed Attack 3x8 = 24  (Veteran)

  Super Strength 10x4 - 1 = 39  (100,000 tonnes and +100 damage in close combat and +40 strength check bonus)

    Permanent 1x-1 = -1  (Slight inconvenience)

  Enhanced [Body] 10x2 = 20 

  Tough 4x2 = 8  (+80 health points)

  Shockwave Clap (Special Attack) 9x4 = 36  (40 damage attack)

    Area Effect 4x20 = 80  (12 metre radius)

    Muscle-Powered  

    Incapacitating  

      Body Check Required  

    Melee  

    No Damage  

    Knockback 2x20 = 40  (2 metres / damage point delt)

  Armour 3x3 - 1 = 8  (30 damage stopped)

    Permanent 1x-1 = -1  (Slight inconvenience)

  Unappealing 2x-1 = -2  (Moderately Unappealing)

  Awkward Size 1x-1 = -1  (2 times normal size)

  Jumping 2x1 = 2  (10 times normal distance)

U.N.I.T.E.D., D.E.F.E.N.D.E.R.S., and A.E.G.I.S.

Within my Silver Age Sentinels setting, there are three groups whose presence dominates all aspects of super-hero life: UNITED, DEFENDERS, and AEGIS.

UNITED. stands for the United Nations Integrated Task-Force for Extraordinary Defense. It was established by the UN in the early fifties to investigate and counter super-normal threats to peace. UNITED is a massive organization with an international mandate.

UNITED is comprised of numerous divisions. Chief among these are the DEFENDERS, and AEGIS.

DEFENDERS stands for Duty Equality Freedom Extra-National Defenders of Earth Region Super-heroic. DEFENDERS is an organized network of super-powered agents. DEFENDERS is the modern descendant of the legendary Liberty Defenders of World War II.

DEFENDERS has chapters in most major cities. Each chapter consists of 5-6 super-powered beings. Each chapter reports to an administrator assigned to coordinate the activities of all affiliated super-powered beings within that theater of operations. Each chapter is given a numerical designation. For example, the Pacific City Chapter is known as DEFENDERS-5.  DEFENDERS-6 is located in Portland and DEFENDERS-28 is headquartered in San Francisco.

DEFENDERS-5 currently consists of Bolter, Arclight, El Montana, Typhoon, and Myst. An earlier roster included Cosmic Storm, the Kyle, Shield Maiden, String Theory, and Wounded Knee, all of whom have either been reassigned or have retired from service.

AEGIS stands for the Alliance for Enforcement of Global Integrity and Security. It is an international armed force that serves an intelligence-gathering and special forces role for UNITED. It is primarily comprised of baseline agents but has several superhuman operatives. AEGIS is the equivalent of SHIELD or UNIT. Its operations are generally covert and classified. AEGIS personnel are divided into Agents, Operatives, and Support. Agents are mission leaders. A single agent oversees and coordinates the work of several operatives and support on a given mission. AEGIS also directly supports DEFENDERS. The support personnel of DEFENDERS technically work for AEGIS, and AEGIS operatives often work directly and cooperatively with DEFENDERS on missions. AEGIS also serves as a check against the super-powered DEFENDERS.

Candace Brown, aka "Arclight"

Silver Age Sentinels stats for Candace Brown, aka "Arclight"

Name: Candace Brown aka "Arclight"
Genre: SAS Default Skills
Group Affiliations: U.N.I.T.E.D.-North America
Gender: Female
Description and Character Notes: Arclight's power bends a shaft of sunlight down on her from above, even at night. It is from this shaft of sunlight that she derives her powers. Clouds, overcast days, beining indoors, or under any other kind of covering disrupts this beam and robs her of her powers. Therefore, she can only use her powers while outdoors on clear days.

Body: 5
Mind: 6
Soul: 4
Health Points: 45
Energy Points: 50
Shock Value: 9
Combat Value: 11
Defense Value: 10
Attributes:
  Skills  
    Acrobatics 1x6 = 6  (Well-Trained)
    Driving 2x2 = 4  (Expert)
    Interrogation 1x4 = 4  (Well-Trained)
    Street Sense 1x2 = 2  (Well-Trained)
    Performing Arts 1x2 = 2  (Well-Trained)
    Etiquette 2x1 = 2  (Expert)
    Special Ranged Attack 1x10 = 10  (Well-Trained)
  Flight 2x4 = 8  (50 kph)
    Fly in any Direction  
  Strobe 8x4 = 32 
    Area Effect 1x20 = 20 
    Stun  
    Flare 7x20 = 140  (-12 to stat check)
    No Damage  
  Bioluminescence (Environmental Influence) 1x1 - 1 = 0  (1 environmental influences)
    Permanent 1x-1 = -1  (Slight inConvenience)
  Stun 7x4 = 28  (100 damage attack)
    Stun  
    Flare 1x20 = 20  (-5 to stat check)
  Attack Combat Mastery 6x3 = 18 
  Defense Combat Mastery 7x2 = 14 
  Force Field 3x4+ 2 = 14  (60 damage reduction)
    Area 1x1 = 1  (10cm)
    Duration 1x1 = 1  (1 round)
  Armour 2x3 = 6  (20 damage stopped)

Steven Joseph aka "Bolter"

Silver Age Sentinels stats for Bolter, leader of Defenders-North America.

Name: Steven Joseph aka "Bolter"
Group Affiliations: U.N.I.T.E.D.- North America
Occupation: Leader
Age: 27
Gender: Male

Body: 8
Mind: 8
Soul: 4
Health Points: 60
Energy Points: 60
Shock Value: 12
Combat Value: 16
Defense Value: 5

Attributes:

  Skills  (30 points left out of 30)
  Flight 3x4 = 12  (100 kph)
    Fly in any Direction
  Force Field 6x4 = 24  (80 damage reduction)
    Blocks Teleport
    Offensive
  Force Blast 8x4 = 32  (120 damage attack)
    Accurate 2x20 = 40  (+4 bonus to attack)
  Combat Technique 4x1 = 4
    Lightning Reflexes
    Lightning Reflexes
    Lightning Reflexes
    Lightning Reflexes
  Armour 2x3 = 6  (20 damage stopped)
  Attack Combat Mastery 10x3 = 30
  Defense Combat Mastery 1x2 = 2

Alas, Aberrant.

We have been playing Aberrant, the supers game from White Wolf, for the past five or six weeks.

The story we created revolved around the Alternatives, a team of novas headquartered in San Francisco. The Alternatives were created by wealthy real estate tycoon L. Roy Davidson as a competitor to Project Utopia and Team 2Morrow.

The campaign was going great. The story was developing. In true Aberrant fashion, the story involved secret agendas, conspiracies, truths revealed, etc. Everyone had compelling interesting characters and were invested in the meta-plot.

Unfortunately, we were betrayed by the rules.

The rules failed us in three areas:

1) The rules are terribly complex. Battles were taking us about 30 minutes per combat round. There was a lot of complexity to track. Which dice were which (mega-stats vs. normal stats vs. stats that explode tens). Converting mega-attributes to normal attributes. Automatic successes vs. dice. mega-successes vs. normal successes. Subtracting dice from multiple actions, which is simple enough but led to some complicated math when deciding how many actions it was worth taking this turn. One of my players just never ever could wrap his head around the rules, no matter how hard he tried.

2) It's roshambo. It's terribly difficult to match PCs up with NPCs in an interesting fight. It was always "PC-A defeats NPC-B with one touch. NPC-C defeats PC-A with one touch. PC-D defeats NPC-C with one touch." and so on. It therefore became difficult to challenge the PCs. If the PCs were "rocks", they would either fight "scissors" and win without effort, or they would fight "papers" and lose badly. Or they would fight a mixed group and whoever won initiative won the fight. And one of the PCs ALWAYS won initiative.

3) It's exploitable. As a side-effect of the very complicated rules, it is possible to find exploits in the rules that make your PC unbeatable or at least far more effective than other characters made with the same number of points. One player announced to me last week that, in three experience points, he will have Quantum 6, which would effectively double all his damage and soak, making him unbeatable.

I was beginning to become disappointed. It was very time consuming making NPCs because of the complicated powers and rules, and they weren't challenging the PCs anyway. The players weren't enjoying the complex rules either.

We talked about it as a group and decided to abandon Aberrant.

I decided to bring out another old supers game: Silver Age Sentinels.

I have never run SAS, but I ran BESM back in the 90s and I did play in an SAS game back in 2003. The game is MUCH simpler! The powers are much more straightforward and less exploitable.

I will have to convert many of my NPCs over to SAS, but that shouldn't be too difficult. I also want to move away from some Aberrant universe concepts that I found too stifling as a GM. I'm moving the setting over to my old Mutants and Masterminds settings, which is more 4-color than Aberrant. So I'll be changing little things. For instance, Team 2Morrow will now be U.N.I.T.E.D. The Directive will be A.E.G.I.S. Teragen will be called the Legion.

I'll be posting my NPCs and conversions in the coming weeks.