secondling Posted June 19, 2021 Posted June 19, 2021 Sable RavenPower Level: 10 (150/155PP)Unspent Power Points: 5Trade-Offs: +5 Attack / -5 Damage on Talon Launchers, -5 Defense / +5 Toughness In Brief: Power-Suited Cowl from a Dead World Catchphrase: “Fear the Dark…” Theme: The Abyssal Exalted – Death’s Lawgivers by James Semple Alternate Identity: Duncan Summers (Birth Name), Duncan Samradh (alias)Birthplace: Freedom City Residence: Freedom CityBase of Operations: Carrion CaveOccupation: IT ConsultantAffiliations: The Raven FamilyFamily: Duncan Summers (Alternate Self, former Raven I), Callie Summers (Alternate Daughter, former Raven II), Callie Sen/Summers (Other Alternate Daughter, Madame Raven), deceased parents Description:Age: 26 (Born in September 1995)Gender: MaleEthnicity: CaucasianHeight: 6’ (183 cm)Weight: 165 lb. (75 kg)Eyes: BlueHair: Black Duncan Summers wears a somewhat unkempt and lackadaisical set of clothing, as well as a somewhat messy and ruffled hairstyle - an affectation of laziness and languor that only lasts at first glance. He strives to project the image that he is slightly well-off, but is trying to dress humbly. With dark hair and bright blue eyes, he nevertheless cuts something of a handsome figure by the standards of his society - at least, when he's standing. When he's sitting in his wheelchair, as he often does outside his home, Duncan comes across as rather less striking in the eyes of society, something he sometimes uses to his advantage in gathering information - too often people assume that broken body means mental incapacity. Sable Raven’s iconic Armor of Unkindness is unsurprisingly colored a mix of matte black, midnight blue, and dark grey. Made from metals that were dramatically altered by their journey across dimensions, the Armor has heavy gauntlets with clawed fingers, surprisingly light and soft boots, and a flexible yet heavy cape that allows the Sable Raven to glide as well as to distract his foes. His helm, however, is by far the most distinctive part of the armor. Resembling a beaked plague doctor’s mask in some ways, rather than the comical goggles of those antiques, there are eye slits which (when activated properly) glow with a dim gold menace. The dagger-sharp beak curves slightly, but is more than able to be used as a weapon, should the situation warrant it. History: On a world much like Prime Earth, there were no heroes to fight in the Second World War – costumed vigilantes were virtually unheard of, and when people heard the term “centurion” they thought not of a Man of Adamant, but of a long-disused Roman military position. Into this world, Duncan Summers was born in 1995 – half a century or more after the birth of his Prime Earth counterpart. A child of privilege, Duncan’s youth was cast in melancholy after his father died when he was four, leaving his mother depressed and mostly reliant on long-term caregivers to raise her child. As he grew, he saw more and more injustice and rising crime, but the world seemed too wrapped up in apathy to care – no one seemed willing to stand up to help others or protect the weak from predation. Gradually, Duncan began shaping himself into a hero – someone who could take on the burden of protection and justice for the innocents of the world. He learned martial arts, criminology, and dozens of other arts and sciences. Even in high school, he focused more on cultivating himself than on social connections, earning him a reputation as a recluse and an eccentric, even amongst the wealthy circles of his nominal peers. When he was nineteen, his mother died in an accident, and dolor surrounded the Summers Estate. Within a few months, Duncan had taken over the assets of his company and began using his personal fortune to fund the creation of a costume and all manner of gadgets to take up his mantle. Suffice it to say, the first outing the newly fledged Raven went on ended in a dramatic chase – not of criminals, but of the Raven himself, as he was pursued by the police, who deemed him a far greater threat than any criminals he might have faced. The next two years were difficult, but gradually, the Raven took on greater threats – the Conqueror Worm, the monstrous but wealthy House of Usher, the vampiric thief Lenore, and even the maliciously organized Tzin Sing all found in him a worthy foe. Even as he did so, other heroes took flight – Centurion, an exile from a destroyed universe. Bowman, an archer extraordinaire who had much in common with Duncan, and others still. In 2018, an invasion of Earth by the Grue Collective saw heroes from across the globe unite to fight against the alien threat. In the United States, the group that formed would later be called the Freedom League – made up of such greats as Lady Liberty, Centurion, Daedalus, Johnny Rocket, and even the Raven himself. For the first time in years, Duncan felt hopeful. This was not to last, however, as shortly after the formation of the Freedom League, Tzin Sing trapped the Raven. This ultimately led to him damaging his spine when Tzin Li, Sing’s daughter, helped free him from her father. Despite his escape, once he returned home, Duncan fell into bleak depression – even with the corrective surgeries available to him, he was no longer able to fight as he once had – merely standing and walking unaided hurt after a few hours. Pushing himself through the punishing acrobatics of the Raven was simply impossible. A visit by Centurion and his fellow Freedom League members helped inspire the Raven to try to contribute to the League as much as he could, and within a year he took on a role as a mission control for the League. Even as he did so, he began building a battlesuit that would enable him to take to the field again. In 2020, the suit was ready… just in time for the end of the world. Omega, the Lord of the Terminus, invaded, and the Freedom League fought hard, with the Raven, in his newly forged battlesuit, fighting alongside them for the first time in over a year… but the League failed – falling one after another, and ultimately, Daedalus worked with Centurion to cast the Raven free from the dying world. In late December 2020, the young Duncan Summers of the destroyed Earth arrived on Prime Earth. Unwilling to allow his friends’ sacrifice be in vain, he strives now to be the best hero he can, even as he discovers the wonder and hope that this new world offers. Personality & Motivation:Duncan Summers is an interesting mix of an idealist and a cynic. He grew up in a world more afraid of superheroes than welcoming of them, was broken by an enemy early in his career, and then lost his whole world on top of all of that. However, he remains firmly devoted to the protection of the innocent and the capture of evildoers. Indeed, coming to Prime Earth has inspired Duncan with how much more the superheroes do and how much better they seem to have made the world than he and his were capable of doing in their brief time in the limelight. In costume, Sable Raven has a dry sense of humor edged with slight melancholy – not even his foes are spared from his wit, and he is more than happy to mock them, especially if he is certain that they cannot see him. Out of costume, Duncan keeps his dry humor, but also tends to project the air of being somewhat laidback. Unlike his Prime Earth counterpart once was, he isn’t quick to judge others’ lifestyle choices (in part due to a difference in upbringing), and is firmly against systemic injustices just as much as he is against crime – this sometimes means he clashes with more authoritarian types, including the police, whom he regards with an uneasy wariness. Perhaps the second most dramatic impact coming to Prime Earth has had on Duncan is the discovery of his elderly alternate self, his alternate’s daughter(s), and the fact that the Raven isn’t a solo act any more. Part of him is horrified – how could someone wish this life on anyone else? Another part is proud to see that at least one Duncan Summers inspired people… but he’s also saddened for the lost potential of his former world – will he ever know the family that his elder counterpart has? Being the sole survivor of a universe is a dreadful thing, and it still weighs on Duncan like a mountain. He deals with it through sublimating the despair and fury into his work as a vigilante, but every so often he is forced into a haze of dolor when he encounters someone whom he knew on his home world, but who does not know him. Powers & Tactics:The Sable Raven strives to inspire terror in his foes. Using voice changing technology to transform his speaking voice into a harsh, sharp whisper, vanishing from sight when others take the briefest moment to look away, and striking from the shadows, he is quick and oftentimes harsh in his tactics. While he tries hard to hold himself to the higher standards of Prime Earth’s heroes, under pressure he sometimes acts with more viciousness and even near-lethality than even he is comfortable with. Most of his combat potential, however, lies firmly on the back of his Armor of Unkindness, with its stylized shuriken-launching gauntlets, its (slight) enhancements to his strength, and its protective plating. He uses the integrated tools willingly and often, from the grappling hook to ensnare others, to the beak to headbutt or cut restraints, and so on. Power Descriptions: All of the Sable Raven's "powers," such as they are, come from his Armor of Unkindness - whether it is the talon-launcher on one gauntlet, the grappling hook on the other, or the razor-edged claws and beak adorning his fingers and mask. His seemingly heavy cape can snap outwards into a facsimile of wings, allowing him to glide, while his helm allows him access to a great deal more information than most can see. Some of his skills are the result of long hours of training - remnants of his time before he lost the ability to perform those most strenuous of exercises. He is still highly capable of hiding himself from view, and his social and intellectual skills are as sharply honed as ever - if not moreso, due to the need to exercise them all the more. Complications: (You will) Fear the Dark: Even Sable feels uncomfortable with how closely he slips into his older, more terror-focused habits. When his friends or innocents are in danger, he sometimes reacts with excessive force and viciousness. Legacy of Corvids: Sable Raven is not a lone bird in this world, much to his mix of surprise and dismay. A whole cult family has grown up around the name he claimed for himself only six years ago, and their shared history is something he’s not quite comfortable with. Lone Survivor: Sable saw his world dying as he was cast into the universe. While for the most part, he manages to sublimate the sorrow and anger that this brought him, when unprepared, he can be struck with tears if he meets someone he once knew. Further, encounters with Omega and his Terminus forces cause him intense terror and fury. Not from Around Here: Sable Raven was born in a world now dead, one that never had the legacy of superheroes. Genetically identical to the original Raven with whom he shares his name, there is plenty of room for confusion and doubt in his life. Old Wounds: Without his Armor of Unkindness, Duncan Summers is unable to move freely – while he can walk and stand without significant issue for a few hours on end, any strenuous exercise or long-term journey leaves him in crippling pain. Most of the time, he uses a wheelchair to move about on longer trips. Abilities: 0 + 2 + 2 + 12 + 4 + 2 = 22PP Strength: 18 [10] (+4/+0) Dexterity: 20 [12] (+5/+1) Constitution: 12 (+1) Intelligence: 22 (+6) Wisdom: 14 (+2) Charisma: 12 (+1)Combat: 20 + 10 = 30PP Initiative: +4 Attack: +10 Base, +15 Talon-Launching Gauntlets Defense: +5 (+5 Base, +0 Dodge Focus), +3 Flat-Footed Grapple: +14 Knockback: -7Saving Throws: 3 + 5 + 4 = 12PP Toughness: +15 (+1 Con, +14 Protection) Fortitude: +4 (+1 Con, +3) Reflex: +10 (+5 Dex, +5) Will: +6 (+2 Wis, +4)Skills: 72R = 18PPAcrobatics 4 (+9) (+5 Unarmored)Skill Mastery Computers 8 (+14)Skill Mastery Craft (Electronic) 4 (+10) Disable Device 8 (+13) (+9 Unarmored) Intimidate 12 (+13)Skill Mastery Investigate 4 (+10) Knowledge (Technology) 8 (+14) Languages 4 (English [Native], German, Mandarin, Spanish, French) Notice 8 (+10) Search 4 (+10) Stealth 8 (+13) (+9 Unarmored)Skill Mastery Feats: 7PP Attack Focus (Ranged) 1 Equipment 2 Hide in Plain Sight Online Research Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Computers, Intimidate, Stealth) Well-Informed Equipment: 2PP = 10EP Headquarters Spoiler Carrion Cave Located beneath an old post office in Western Freedom, the Carrion Cave is home to the Sable Raven's equipment and base of operations. Toughness: 15 (2 EP) Size: Medium (1 EP) Features: 7 EP Communications Computer Concealed 1 Infirmary Laboratory Security System Workshop Powers: 60 + 1 = 61PP Device 15 (Armor of Unkindness; 75 PP Container; Flaws: Hard-To-Lose) [60PP] (Technology) Assault Equipment 10 (20 PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power) [23PP] Base Power: Strike 6 (Rending Claws & Tearing Beak; Feats: Mighty; Extras: Penetrating 5); Enhanced Strength 4 (+8 Str) (Muscular Enhancement) [20PP] Alternate Power: Blast 5 (Talon-Launching Gauntlets; Feats: Accurate 2, Precise, Improved Critical 2; Extras: Penetrating 5) [20PP] Alternate Power: Dazzle (Visual & Auditory) 5 (Flash-Bang; Extras: Area Burst 1) [20PP] Alternate Power: Snare 10 (Bola-Thrower) [20PP] Communication 5 (Radio) (Onboard Headset) [5PP] Datalink 5 (Onboard Computer) [5PP] Enhanced Dexterity 4 (+8 Dex) (Fluid Motion System) [8PP] Immunity 9 (Life Support) (Integrated Life Support) [9PP] Protection 14 (Armor of Unkindness) [14PP] Swift Movement Module 3 (6 PP Array; Feats: Alternate Power) [8PP] Base Power: Flight 5 (Doleful Wings; Feats: Subtle 1; Flaws: Gliding) [6PP] Alternate Power: Super-Movement 1: Swinging (Grapple Launcher) [1PP] Alternate Power: Super-Movement 1: Wall-Crawling (Clawed Gauntlets) [1PP] Super-Senses 5 (Infravision, Distance Sense, Direction Sense) (HUD) [3PP] Feature 1 (Transdimensional) [1PP] (Dimensional) Drawbacks: (-0) + (-0) = -0PP DC Block ATTACK RANGE SAVE EFFECT Rending Claws & Tearing Beak Melee Toughness 25 Damage Talon-Launching Gauntlets Ranged Toughness 20 Damage Flash-Bang Ranged Burst 1 Reflex 15/Fortitude 15 Dazzle (Visual & Auditory) Bola-Thrower Ranged Reflex 20 Snare Totals: Abilities (22) + Combat (30) + Saving Throws (12) + Skills (18) + Feats (7) + Powers (61) - Drawbacks (0) = 150/155 Power Points
Avenger Assembled Posted June 21, 2021 Posted June 21, 2021 May want to throw in a feature like Temporal Inertia to reflect being from another dimension. Or just Feature 1 (From Another Dimension) if that doesn't fit the concept. You should indicate what his skills look like outside of the armor, since they're enhanced so much by the Device.
secondling Posted June 21, 2021 Author Posted June 21, 2021 Thanks for the reply! I like that idea with the feature, so I dropped a point from his Fort save to get "Transdimensional." I've also added the unarmored skills to the list. I think I caught all of them.
Fox Posted June 24, 2021 Posted June 24, 2021 Mostly just some math stuff, here.... Combat With a +5 base Defense, Sable Raven would have a +3 Flat-Footed Defense. It's a common error, since everything else in the game rounds down and not up. With +14 (costumed) toughness, Sable Raven would have a -7 Knockback modifier. Powers You're over-paying for that Strike; on melee attacks, a single rank of Mighty lets you apply your full strength bonus to the attack. Double-check the cost on that array slot, too; you've listed it at 26pp, but even if you did have to buy Mighty 4 it wouldn't cost that much. Please list the full cost of the Blast power, too; you already paid the 1pp up in the Array line. The AP's line should list the cost of the AP, for accounting and easier sheet updates later.
secondling Posted June 24, 2021 Author Posted June 24, 2021 (edited) Blast it! I was sure I was right when I rounded down, because I thought the dodge bonus was rounded up! I knew it was weird, but I forgot which direction was weird. Anyways, that's fixed. -7 has been adjusted - not sure where I got the -6 from. Might've been from before I made his toughness 15. As for the powers: I've recalculated the Strike bit, and gotten 6 + 1 + 16 = 23 for the total, from Strike 6, Mighty, and Enhanced Strength, respectively. I've also added the points I got from that adjustment to Datalink, Communication, and Flight, for 5 ranks in each (which also ups the Swift Movement Module to 3). I think that's everything fixed, as I also added the AP's cost on the blast. Edited June 24, 2021 by secondling
Fox Posted June 25, 2021 Posted June 25, 2021 'Enhanced Attribute' is a weird power; it has a cost equal to buying the attribute normally, and a 'rank' equal to the effective bonus or modifier you're buying. So buying your strength from Str 10 (+0) to Str 18 (+4) would be 'Enhanced Strength 4 (+8 Strength) [8pp]'. You don't have to pay double just because you didn't buy it in the Abilities section!
secondling Posted June 25, 2021 Author Posted June 25, 2021 Oops! Wow, that is weird. I forgot that it did that. I knew intellectually that it cost equal to the buying it in the Abilities section, but I somehow got that and the 2 points/1 bonus mixed with 2 points/1 Ability point. Anyways, that opened up a significant amount of PP, to the point that I'm not wholly sure where I put all of it. I added a few ranks to a few skills, added Knowledge (Tactics) altogether, got 2 more Alternate Powers in the Assault Equipment, added the feats Skill Mastery, Well-Informed, Online Research, Inventor, and Acrobatic Bluff... and I think that's it? Oh, and I added a few senses to the HUD. I think that's all of it. Hopefully my math isn't screwy.
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