Presto (PL10) -- Sophistemon [WIP]

[Sophistemon]

Hello, everyone. I'm Sophistemon, and I'm the friend that Blarghy mentioned in his first post. As he stated earlier, the two of us have been talking back and forth about applying here for some time, with scheduling conflicts preventing us from doing so -- until now.

Before I seek Moderator approval for the following character, I thought that I would post it here, first, to see what everyone has to say before I commit to it. I welcome any and all comments and critiques, and hope that I prove myself to be an asset to your community.

 

Player Name: Sophistemon.

Character Name: Presto the Preposterous.

Power Level: PL10, 150/150PP.

Trade-Offs: None.

Unspent Power Points: 0.

Progress To Bronze Status: 0/30.

In Brief: A former stage magician that discovered a pathway to real magic, Samuel Steiner once used his amazing abilities to commit a whirlwind tour of extravagant robberies that catapulted him, briefly, to the kind of super-stardom that he had never known as a mundane performer. Eventually captured and incarcerated, he has only recently finished serving his sentence and has returned home to Freedom City.

Residence: Freedom City.

Base of Operations: A small, unimpressive apartment.

Catchphrase: “Presto!”

Alternate Identity: Samuel Steiner.

Identity: Public.

Birthplace: Reno, Nevada.

Occupation: Vigilante.

Affiliations: Solitary.

Family: George Steiner (father; estranged), Martha Steiner (mother; estranged).

Description: Presto is obsessed with his appearance. Tall and athletic, with an aggressively maintained physique and perfectly combed hair, he insists on always looking his very best for the public. Presto dresses in an immaculately tailored three piece suit, complete with tailcoat and crimson vest. White gloves and a simple domino mask conclude his costume. While in uniform Presto is almost never seen without his magic wand, which appears as little more than a simple, white-capped length of black wood.

Age: 33.

Apparent Age: Early 30s.

Gender: Male.

Ethnicity: Caucasian.

Height: 6’1”.

Weight: 185lbs.

Eyes: Brown.

Hair: Brown.

Power Descriptions: Presto was a stage magician who, through long study and intensive training, has learned to command the power of real sorcery. His knowledge allows him to launch bolts of elemental energy, create temporary constructs, levitate heavy objects, ensnare his enemies, and transmit himself through space. A ritualist and artificer, he has enchanted his costume with spells of flight and protection.

History: Inspired as a child to pursue a career in stage magic, Presto achieved a level of skill that should have enshrined him as a master of his craft. Unfortunately, he shared a world with men and women possessing abilities that made his acts of illusion appear paltry by comparison. Desperate for recognition, he researched and attempted to incorporate real magic into his act, but an accident led to the end of his career and the destruction of his reputation. Scorned by his peers and unable to find work, Presto embarked on a series of flamboyant and high-profile robberies that ended only with his imprisonment.

Personality & Motivation: Samuel Steiner has always loved to be the center of attention, but Presto craves the limelight to the point of obsession. He is boisterous and bombastic, prone to grand gestures and speechifying. He talks with his mouth, his hands, and his magic all at once. He has become a hero for selfish and short-sighted reasons: he failed as a performer, as a super-villain, and now feels that he has one last shot at the recognition that he knows that he deserves. In time, he may see the error of his ways and evolve into a genuine hero, but in the meantime… doesn't everyone love a good redemption story?

Powers & Tactics: Presto is direct to a fault. The sheer amount of magical power under his command, combined with the protection offered to him by his enchanted clothing, permit him to enter combat against mundane opponents without much fear of danger. When facing empowered enemies he tends to be more cautious, but still attempts to turn the battle into a narrative. If there are goons, he takes them on first, building tension before moving on to topple their leader in a grandiose and climactic victory. Even when deprived of his magic, Presto's skills make him difficult to capture and contain for very long.

Complications:

Accident: Presto relies on his wand to maintain true control over his powers. Should he be divested of the focus that it provides, his magic could backfire in an embarrassing and potentially dangerous fashion.

Fame: as a former minor celebrity and an even more minor super-villain, there are many people in Freedom City who recognize Presto even, or perhaps especially, when he's not dressed in his costume.

Hatred: despite his (largely desperate) turn towards the light, Presto can't help but harbor a deep and irrational loathing for the superhero responsible for the humiliating defeat that finally led to his capture.

Obsession: Presto craves the spotlight, and will almost always act to put himself at the dead center of attention. His insistence on being noticed is not only disastrous for stealth missions, it is also annoying.

Reputation: his previous actions have made it hard for many people, particularly those among the heroic community, to believe that Presto's desire to be hero are really genuine. His grandstanding doesn't help.

Responsibility: the terms of his release dictate that Presto must attend weekly meetings with Doctor Jacqueline Hyde, his court-appointed metal health counselor. He is very slowly falling in love with her.

Secret: unlike most heroes, who must maintain their secret identities, Presto's was already revealed. Instead, he focuses on keeping his crippling dependence on his wand a secret from the world at large.

 

Abilities: 2 + 6 + 4 + 6 + 4+ 8 = 30PP

Strength: 12 (+1)

Dexterity: 16 (+3)

Constitution: 14 (+2)

Intelligence: 16 (+3)

Wisdom: 14 (+2)

Charisma: 18 (+4)

 

Combat: 10 + 20 = 30PP

Initiative: +3 (+3 Base, +0 Misc)

Attack: +5 Melee, +10 Ranged

Grapple: +6

Defense: +10 Base, (+5 Flat-Footed)

Knockback: -5

 

Saving Throws: 5 + 5 + 5 = 15PP

Toughness: +10 (+2 Con, +8 Misc)

Fortitude: +7 (+2 Con, +5)

Reflex: +8 (+3 Dex, +5)

Will: +7 (+2 Wis, +5)

 

Skills: 120R = 30PP

Acrobatics 4 (+7)

Bluff 8 (+12)*

Climb 4 (+5)

Computers 4 (+7)

Concentration 4 (+6)

Craft: Artistic 8 (+11)

Diplomacy 4 (+8)

Disable Device 4 (+7)

Disguise 4 (+8)

Drive 4 (+7)

Escape Artist 8 (+11)*

Gather Information 4 (+8)

Handle Animal 0 (+4)

Intimidate 4 (+8)

Investigate 4 (+7)

Knowledge: Arcane Lore 8 (+11)*

Notice 8 (+10)

Search 8 (+11)

Sense Motive 8 (+10)

Sleight of Hand 8 (+11)*

Stealth 4 (+7)

Survival 4 (+6)

Swim 4 (+5)

 

Feats: 15PP

Artificer – Use Knowledge (arcane lore) and Craft to create temporary magical devices.

Attack Focus (ranged) 5 – +5 bonus to ranged attack rolls.

Attractive – +4 bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks with people affected by your looks.

Eidetic Memory – Perfect recall of everything you’ve experienced.

Equipment 1 – Acquire 5 points worth of equipment.

Evasion – Suffer less damage from attacks allowing a Reflex save.

Improvised Tools – No penalty for not having tools for a skill.

Luck 1 – Gain an additional starting hero point.

Ritualist – You can create and cast arcane rituals.

Skill Mastery* – Choose four skills you can take 10 with even under pressure.

Uncanny Dodge (auditory) – Retain your dodge bonus while flat-footed.

Equipment: 1PP = 5EP

HQ (Toughness 15, Tiny, Computer, Concealed, Defense System, Living Space, Security System) [5EP]

 

Powers: 16 + 8 + 6 = 30PP

Magic 10 (Magic, All Magic, 12PP Array) [16PP]

Base Power: Blast 10 (Flaw: Unreliable [50%]; Feats: Precise, Variable 1 – any elemental) [12PP/12PP]

Alternate Power: Create Object 5 (Flaw: Unreliable [50%]; Feats: Precise, Stationary) [12PP/12PP]

Alternate Power: Move Object 5 (Extra: Perception; Flaw: Unreliable [50%]; Feats: Precise, Subtle [12/12PP]

Alternate Power: Snare 10 (Flaw: Unreliable [50%]; Feats: Reversible, Variable 1 – any elemental) [12/12PP]

Alternate Power: Teleport 5 (Extra: Accurate; Flaw: Unreliable [50%]; Feats: Easy, Turnabout. [12/12]

Device 2 (Magic Costume, All Magic; 10PP Container; Flaws: Hard-to-Lose) [8PP]

Power: Flight 1 [2/10PP]

Power: Protection 8 [8/10PP]

Device 2 (Magic Wand, All Magic; 10PP Container; Flaws: Easy-to-Lose) [6PP]

Power: removes the 'Unreliable' flaw from the 'Magic 10' array [10PP]

 

Drawbacks: (-0) = -0PP

 

DC Block

ATTACK      RANGE      SAVE                        EFFECT

Unarmed 1   Touch      DC16 Toughness (Staged)     Damage (Physical)

Blast 10    100ft      DC25 Toughness (Staged)     Damage (Energy)

Snare 10    100ft      DC20 Reflex (Staged)        Damage (Energy)

Totals: Abilities (30) + Combat (30) + Saving Throws (15) + Skills (30) + Feats (15) + Powers (30) + Miscellaneous (???) - Drawbacks (-0) = 150/150 Power Points.

 

Notes:

I have some of my own concerns with the sheet, which I will list below in the order that they appear.

1) I am looking for a hero, or a group of heroes, to take responsibility for putting Presto in prison a few years ago. If no one steps forward I could make one myself, but I think that it would be great to have a real connection with another player or players.

2) I am looking for a power feat to add to the Move Object power. I can't decide between Split-Attack and Subtle, so please chime in with advice. If someone has access to other books that contain an even better option, please let me know.

3) I've used five Equipment Points to craft a smartphone that can do just about everything that I can think of when I think 'smartphone'. Blarghy mentioned that characters can get a phone for free; if so, I'll fold those points into his HQ and make it really special.

4) I think that it would be thematically appropriate to give Presto a Power Loss drawback when he's unable to gesture and direct his spells. If I do that, would it open the way for a Normal Identity drawback, or would his Ritualist feat prevent it?

5) I have created a piece of art that shows Presto as I envision him, and I've also filled out the Twenty Question exercise. When and where should I post those to claim the point rewards?

Edited January 2, 2016 by Sophistemon

[N/A]

Subtle is super-useful.  Also be sure to check out the house rules for Subtle 2.

 

You should specify which version of Unreliable you're using: The 50% chance of failure, or the 5 limited uses.

 

If your base Defense is +5, then your flat-footed Defense is +2, not +5.  Your flat-footed Defense is half your base Defense, rounded down.  The rest is dodge bonus, which you lose when you're caught flat-footed.  Dodge Focus adds directly to that dodge bonus, rather than to your base Defense.

 

You can take a Power Loss drawback, but no, you probably can't double-stack that with Normal Identity.  Normal ID is intended more for Captain Marvel or Hulk types, or Iron Man types who need time to actually get into their power armor.

 

Once he's approved, you can create a thread in the "News" forum with your character's name as the title, and that's where you'd post the 20Q and stuff like it.

 

 

[Sophistemon]

22 minutes ago, ShaenTheBrain said:

Subtle is super-useful.  Also be sure to check out the house rules for Subtle 2.

Thank you, I'll add that to the sheet.

 

You should specify which version of Unreliable you're using: The 50% chance of failure, or the 5 limited uses.

You're definitely right; I can't believe that I forgot to do that. Presto's magic is hindered by the former, which is mitigated by the wand.

 

If your base Defense is +5, then your flat-footed Defense is +2, not +5.  Your flat-footed Defense is half your base Defense, rounded down.  The rest is dodge bonus, which you lose when you're caught flat-footed.  Dodge Focus adds directly to that dodge bonus, rather than to your base Defense.

This was a typo; Presto doesn't have any ranks in Dodge Focus -- I've fixed the issue.

 

You can take a Power Loss drawback, but no, you probably can't double-stack that with Normal Identity.  Normal ID is intended more for Captain Marvel or Hulk types, or Iron Man types who need time to actually get into their power armor.

That's what I was thinking; thank you for clarifying it for me.

 

Once he's approved, you can create a thread in the "News" forum with your character's name as the title, and that's where you'd post the 20Q and stuff like it.

That makes sense. Thanks again!

I've made the advised adjustments; I'll need to think about what I want to add with the Power Loss points, but I'll make those changes before I submit for approval. Did you have any comment on the smartphone?

 

 

Edited December 31, 2015 by Sophistemon

[Avenger Assembled]

Okay - 

 

You can get a smartphone without spending EP for it, but spending the points for it will make it a little more reliable. 

 

I have several possibilities to be the people who busted him! Let me know. 

[Sophistemon]

All right, I've removed that Smartphone equipment and moved that point into a rank of the Luck feat, to help Presto get out of any jams that he inevitably finds himself in.

 

Avenger Assembled and I have also decided that Fast-Forward will have been the one responsible for defeating Presto at his Vegas debut, leading to his incarceration -- though of course the speedster doesn't recall it as important.

 

Are there any more comments and concerns? And weaknesses that need attending or details that need expanding?

Edited December 31, 2015 by Sophistemon

[N/A]

You're still only paying for 5 ranks of base Defense bonus, AND you're not paying for the 5 ranks of Dodge Focus.  So that's either 5PP or 10PP you need to free up.

[Sophistemon]

It turns out that I wasn't, but that part of the sheet was polluted by the remnants of an earlier character that made substantial use of feats to reach his caps.

 

I've rewritten it to be more easily read.

 

Does that meet your approval?