The Controller (PL 10) - SleepyCharlatan

[SleepyCharlatan]

Player Name: Sleepy Charlatan

Character Name:The Controller

Power Level: (10) (150/150PP)

Trade-Offs: -5 Attack / +5 Damage, -5 Defense / +5 Toughness

Unspent Power Points: 0

Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30

In Brief: Creature made to control and command a species of weaponised ants develops a conscience and steers his swarm towards doing good.

Alternate Identity:The Controller

Identity: (Public)

Birthplace: Philadelphia

Occupation: Super-Hero, Supreme Overlord

Affiliations:None

Family:Doctor Felix Pierce (Creator)

Description:

Age:3

Gender:None

Ethnicity:Red Chitin

Height:9.5 millimetres (6.42 ft. as swarm)

Weight:0.0002 lb

Eyes:Black

Hair:None

The Controller by himself is an average member of his species, mostly antlike in appearance, but with two large bee-like wings on his back that span about 6 millimetres and a large stinger. The only distinguishing feature he has are his black eyes, compared to the white ones the rest of his species shares, and several metallic and electronic bits and parts on his face and mandibles. His "costum", if it can be called that, is a large green robe that is carried around by the swarm to indicate the Controller's identity to those who see him.

Power Descriptions:

The Controller powers are mostly not his own, much rather being in his arsenal due to the nature of his swarm. He is in full control of his people, being able to send out armies to bite and otherwise harrass foes, having them use their natural acid in unison to painful effect, or even sending out scout and carrying groups for less violent tasks. The swarm also is on constant lookout for danger making sure that every direction is save.

History:

The volucris militia are a species of insects specifically designed for fighting by a scientist known as Felix Pierce. The well-known scientific genius had long been in the weapon trade, being owner of several patents and copyrights which quickly made him rich, as his weapons were bought in masses by armies and militas around the world. However, the money he earned was not enough for him, and soon, he wished for nothing more than for power.

For this purpose he created a bio-weapon species called the volucris militia. To create them, Doctor Pierce crossed the DNA of killer-bees and fireants, resulting in horrible cloned monsters that quickly proved to be effective in all tests. Bullets were useless against them, and even bombs or flamethrowers could not succeed against their sheer numbers. However, Pierce still needed a way to control vast armies of them, one that would make sure that they would still serve his orders when he was far away from the battlefield. For that reason, he created a special kind of bug, made perfectly for this purpose. Taking the cells of a normal member of the species, he made radical chemical and electronic adjustments to it. The result was a genderless, and more importantly, itelligent creature. By using the electromagnetic machines inserted into its brain by nanomachines, it would be able to control the swarm, and through a voicebox in his mandibles even understand and speak with humans. He also made sure to implant its brain with a library of all important common human knowledge. Chemical injections would even make sure that it would long enough to rival the lifespan of a human. It would have been the perfect general for Pierce's army, and he would have created many more of it. However, things did not go as planned.

The bug rebelled as soon as Pierce told it what it had been created for. Pierce had given it too much sentience, and it did not want to obey its creator. Wriggling free from it's bonds , it escaped, trying to reach the rest of its kind. He found them, closed in behind a wall of acrylic glass. As he ordered them to break free, they started banging against the wall until it started to give in under the power of millions of tiny bugs. Doctor Pierce, who had finally caught up with the tiny creature just stared in horror as millions of monstrous ant-like creatures began swarming all over him, biting him and spraying him with acid. However, the cloned one ordered them to stop. Somehow it could not stand to see even a man as manical as Pierce killed, something in the back of his head just screaming that it would be wrong. He left him horribly scarred, but breathing on the floor of his laboratory as he steered the swarm towards the exit, still in wonder as to why it hadn't just killed, why it hadn't just followed its primal instinct.

They flew for several hours, away from the city they had been created in, stopping finally as they reached a different one. It was Freedom City, a town that the clone knew was famous for its many heroes. And that moment it had an realisation. When he filled the head of the insect with information, Pierce had also included information on the super-heroes that lived around the world, as they surely would have tried to stop his armies. What he did not expect was that the clone he created would see those heroes as its role-models. It wanted to use its power for good, not destruction, just like the super-heroes that lived in Freedom City. Naming itself the Controller, it swore to become a protector for the humans it had been created to destroy, and a good ruler to his species.

Personality & Motivation:

The Controller is a rather serious and very polite person, that however can still quickly become violent when provoked. Being born with the fully functioning intellect of an adult human, xe still however has little knowledge about their cultur and civilisation. Because of this and xis insectoid nature, xe can have very confusing moral and philosophical standpoints at times. Xe has a reputation as a vicious fighter, which is true to some extent, but xe tries to avoid it whenever xe can, opting to talk his enemies down first. Whenever xe is faced with humans, xe tries his best to speak in a calming and relaxed manner, to make sure no one panics at the sight of the giant swarm of insects. Xe takes his responsibility as a living weapon very seriously, and makes sure never to kill anyone.

Powers & Tactics:

The Controller's fighting style is a largely militaric one. Xe makes sure to send smaller scouting troops ahead before xe enters dangerous territory. When xe actually fights, xe tries to close the distance as quickly as possible, then engulfs xis enemies in the swarm while stinging them with acid and sending smaller troops out to bite and attack everyone who gets too close. Should xe find himself cornered, xe will prefer fleeing to fighting. Xis self-preservation sense is bigger than xis sense of heroism, and xe will not willingly sacrifice xis species without extraordinary circumstances.

---

Complications:

Bred to kill:The Controller's swarm was created as a weapon, and even though xe mostly has the basic urges of the volucris under control, they will reemerge should xis intelligence ever be reduced to an animal-like level either through power-nullification, drain, or even anything that would disrupt the technological enhancements inside xis brain. In that case, he will be unable to form coherent enough thoughts stop them from attacking the nearest possible living being. Still, he can enact a subsconcious control over them that will stop them from killing, having them only attack nonlethally. If he is knocked unconscious, a security measure built into him will activate that will immidiatly send the other members of the swarm into a comatose state.

Horrifying appearance: Living as part of a swarm of millions of dangerous looking insects has its adavantages in combat, but most people will flee at the sight of the Controller and xis army, even though xe tries his best to have the swarm take a humanoid shape.

Just a tiny bug: The Controller is utterly helpless when separated from the rest of the swarm, as xe has no way of hurting anything bigger than himself on his own. Xe cannot control the swarm if xe is more than 5 ft away from any one member of it.

Arachnophobia: As an Insect, the Controller is utterly terrified of Spiders. Although xe still will be willing to attack one or two of them, xe will never willingly command the swarm to move into an are littered with cobwebs, like old attics or abandoned factories, out of fear that some members of the swarm will get stuck in the webs.

Protector of his people: The Controller routinely goes into dangerous situations as any other hero does, but xe will never undertake a mission that has no visible chances of success. He also is unwilling to sacrifice himself to save humans, as he considers saving his own species to be more important.

Not even the clothes on his back: The Controller has no possesions whatsoever, as the swarm has no need for any humanly possessions.

Out of touch: The Controller was implanted with basic knowledge, but basic knowledge only of any actual human culture. Although he knows enough to get by, he will be left confused by any pop-culture references and will not know some things that others take for granted.

Abilities: 0 + 0 + 14 - 9 + 4 - 9 = 0PP

Strength: 10 (+0)

Dexterity: 10 (+0)

Constitution: 24 (+7)

Intelligence: 14[1] (+2)

Wisdom: 14 (+2)

Charisma: 10[1] (+0)

Combat: 10 + 4 = 14PP

Initiative: +4

Attack: +5 Melee, +5 Ranged

Grapple: +5

Defense: +5 (+2 Base, +3 Dodge Focus), +1 Flat-Footed

Knockback: -7

Saving Throws: 2 + 5 + 9 = 16PP

Toughness: +15 (+7 Con, +8 [Protection])

Fortitude: +9 (+7 Con, +2)

Reflex: +5 (+0 Dex, +5)

Will: +11 (+2 Wis, +9)

Skills: 56R = 14PP

Concentration 11 (+13)

Diplomacy 11 (+11)

Intimidate 9 (+9)

Notice 8 (+10)

Sense Motive 8 (+10)

Survival 9 (+11)

Feats: 11PP

All-Out Attack

Dodge Focus 3

Improved Initiative

Leadership

Luck

Move-by Action

Power Attack

Startle

Uncanny Dodge (Auditory)

Powers: 11 + 13 + 2 + 4 + 11 + 4 + 8 + 1 + 35 + 8 = 95PP

Enhanced Charisma 9 (to CHA 10/+0) (technological, chemical) [9PP]

Enhanced Intelligence 13 (to INT 14/+2) (technological, chemical;) [13PP]

Flight 1 (10 MPH, 100 fpm) [2PP]

Immunity 4 (critical hits, poison, disease) [4PP]

Insubstantial 2 (Extra: Duration [Default, requires a free action to be solid], PF: Innate) [11PP]

Concealment 4 (Hidden in the Masses; All Visual, Flaw: Miss Chance only; Drawback: Only against non-lethal damage) [3PP]

Protection 8 [8PP]

Regeneration 1 (Resurrection 1/week [one always survives]) [1PP]

Swarm Tactics Array (Extras: alternate power 4) [36PP]

Base Power: Strike 10 (Swarm Attack, Slashing, Physical; Extras: Area [General, Shapeable] (10-50 cubes of 5x5x5), Selective Attack Feats:Progression Area 2(Area x5)) {32PP}

Alternate Power: Corrosion 15(Ant-Acid, Acid, Biological; Flaw Action [Full] (-1), Feats: Incurable, Precise) {32/32PP}

Alternate Power: ESP 4 (Scout Swarm; Auditory + Visual Senses, 1 mile, DC 14 Notice; Extras: Action [Free], Duration [sustained], No Conduit, Simultaneous; PFs: Fast Task 4 [Full Action to search 1-mile-diameter area]) {32/32PP}

Alternate Power: Telekinesis 15(Carrying Swarm; Range 150, Strength 75 (Heavy Load: 384 tons) Extras: Affects Corporeal, Flaws: Feedback Feats: Precise) {31/32PP}

Alternate Power: Dazzle 15 (swarm in your grill, all senses, PF: Accurate, Reversible, Flaws: Action [Full], Range [Touch]) {32/32PP}

Super-Senses 8 (accurate for all hearing [4], Olfactory [acute 1], Tactile [Ranged 2], Visual [Radius 1]) [8PP]

DC Block

ATTACK      RANGE     SAVE                       EFFECT

Unarmed     Touch     DC15 Toughness (Staged)    Damage (Physical)

Strike      Touch     DC25 Toughness (Staged)    Damage (Physikal, Slashing)

Corrosion   Touch     DC30 Toughness/ 25 Fortitude   Damage (Acid, Biological) Toughness Drain

Totals: 0 + 14 + 16 + 14 + 11 + 95 = 150PP

[SleepyCharlatan]

Edit: Reduced Enhanced Charisma by 2 and increased attack bonus by 1.

[Avenger Assembled]

Sorry for the delay, SC! (It's OK to poke us about this ) I like the sheet and concept very much.

I like the concept a lot. I worked to fix some of the math and power concepts, take a look and make sure it's okay. (It really should be)

The only problem I see is that you do need to have bought a third of your Defense as base; in your case, that's 2.

[SleepyCharlatan]

Reduced some skills and dodge focus by 2, and increased base dodge by 2.

[Avenger Assembled]

APPROVED

[Fox]

The Math:

Base defense 2 means a Flat-Footed defense of +1, not +0.

You have 56 ranks of skills, not 64, though the pp cost is correct.

Corrosion is a Standard action - flawing it to Full-Action is a -1 flaw, not a -2. The pp cost is correct, however.

The Fluff:

I like the concept overall! I have some very grave concerns with the 'Bred to kill' complication, however - there are countless examples in the superhero genre of heroes who are potentially dangerous to others in the wrong circumstances (say, an atomic-powered hero whose suit gets breached), but being an explicitly, ravenously lethal threat to everyone around you under a reasonably broad set of circumstances (including, possibly, being knocked out - what happens to the swarm when its leader is unconscious and can't direct them?) isn't very heroic. Other refs may want to weigh in there in case I'm just being too cautious, but I'm not sure the barely-restrained threat of directed lethal damage sits right with me.

[SleepyCharlatan]

Corrected the mistakes on the skill ranks and corrosion. I also made some clarifications on the 'Bred to kill' complication, and I hope it's more acceptable this way.

[Gizmo]

I have to echo Fox's concerns about that Complication, even with the clarification you've added. This could be fixed as easily as changing ordering the swarm to kill to ordering the swarm to attack. 'Kill' implies Lethal Damage which is really not something a hero should be in constant danger of doling out.

As an example, the Hulk is likely to attack even his allies if provoked but that generally means tossing Iron Man through a wall, not deliberately snapping Stark's neck or crushing random civilians into paste. So... more 616 or Movie Hulk, less Ultimate Hulk?

[SleepyCharlatan]

I rewrote the complication a bit, now he only will attack nonlethally and it doesn't happen when he's unconscious.

Edit: I rewrote it again. I clarified what exactly happens when he goes unconscious and hope it's tolerable as it i now.

[Avenger Assembled]

Hey SleepyCharlatan, one thing:

Would you mind switching your Obscure to Concealment 4 (swarm; all visual, Flaw: Partial) [4PP]?

[SleepyCharlatan]

Actually, that would be completly contrary to what the power is supposed to be. It's the swarm engulfing one enemy, making him unable to see. If it was concealment, then the swarm would just turn invisible, which is not what I am going for.

Edit: On review, the idea is brilliant. Thanks to Supercape for coming up with it. It's implemented now.

[Supercape]

:approved:

Thanks for making changes (from obscure to limited concealment and dazzle).

Dazzle was made to touch range to drop it down to enough PP. Let team know if you want that edited (personally I think limiting it to just audio and visual would be a good idea as insects tend not to block odour or radiowaves!)

[Gizmo]

Archived due to inactivity.