Taliesin's builds: 3E moved to sister thread

[BARON]

there's always perform (acting) to represent the bruce wayne persona as a role. I'd say the Reeve's superman had that and the Bale batman too.

[Doctor Vile]

there's always perform (acting) to represent the bruce wayne persona as a role. I'd say the Reeve's superman had that and the Bale batman too.

Good call BARON. Another point is that I don't think Batman tends to lie that much, he tends to tell you like it is.....lol Although if he wanted to lie I'd say he'd be damned good at it.

[Taliesin]

Batman has just way too many skills that I'm not intent on giving him 4 ranks in everything. Jack of All Trades already lets him use any skill untrained. Some builds give him Beginner's Luck, as well.

As it is, my Batman has 55pp in skills alone, which I'm hoping to scale back some. I'm almost tempted to give him a Variable Skill of some type.

EDIT: I think Bluff is better than Perform (Acting)...Perform is used to try to impress your audience; Bluff is used to convince someone that you're not acting.

[Arnwolf]

could you do a write-up for Brainiac 2 in L.E.G.I.O.N.

[Taliesin]

could you do a write-up for Brainiac 2 in L.E.G.I.O.N.

I'll give it a shot...although I just realized I haven't even written up the first Vril Dox.

[Captain Liberty]

Doesn't any character get to use any skill they want intrained? If the skill is untrained you simply can use the attribut mod that the skill is linked to as your bonus. Isn't that correct?

I will have to look up Jack of All Trades to see if it offers and advantages over this.

[Wordmaker]

Only on some skills. Certain skills, such as all Knowledge Skills, Disable Device, etc. cannot be used untrained.

[Doctor Vile]

Batman has just way too many skills that I'm not intent on giving him 4 ranks in everything. Jack of All Trades already lets him use any skill untrained. Some builds give him Beginner's Luck, as well.

As it is, my Batman has 55pp in skills alone, which I'm hoping to scale back some. I'm almost tempted to give him a Variable Skill of some type.

EDIT: I think Bluff is better than Perform (Acting)...Perform is used to try to impress your audience; Bluff is used to convince someone that you're not acting.

Well, at least I think we can all agree that Batman is THE! Man....hehe Also, speaking of write ups, not sure if you saw my requests for The Darkness and Master Chief from Halo so I'll post them again...

Keep up the good work Taliesin.

[Taliesin]

Doesn't any character get to use any skill they want intrained? If the skill is untrained you simply can use the attribut mod that the skill is linked to as your bonus. Isn't that correct?

I will have to look up Jack of All Trades to see if it offers and advantages over this.

Each skill has an indication whether it can be used untrained; if not, then there is a "Trained Only" note on the skill. JoAT allows you to use any skill untrained; Eidetic Memory also lets you use any Knowledge skill untrained.

[Taliesin]

Batman has just way too many skills that I'm not intent on giving him 4 ranks in everything. Jack of All Trades already lets him use any skill untrained. Some builds give him Beginner's Luck, as well.

As it is, my Batman has 55pp in skills alone, which I'm hoping to scale back some. I'm almost tempted to give him a Variable Skill of some type.

EDIT: I think Bluff is better than Perform (Acting)...Perform is used to try to impress your audience; Bluff is used to convince someone that you're not acting.

Well, at least I think we can all agree that Batman is THE! Man....hehe Also, speaking of write ups, not sure if you saw my requests for The Darkness and Master Chief from Halo so I'll post them again...

Keep up the good work Taliesin.

Yeah, I saw the requests. Unfortunately, the list is like two pages long. If I don't get to yours right away, it's not personal...I just pick and choose based on whether I get an idea for a build or whether I really want to do a particular build. And then there's all those requests I make to myself, too.

[Doctor Vile]

Batman has just way too many skills that I'm not intent on giving him 4 ranks in everything. Jack of All Trades already lets him use any skill untrained. Some builds give him Beginner's Luck, as well.

As it is, my Batman has 55pp in skills alone, which I'm hoping to scale back some. I'm almost tempted to give him a Variable Skill of some type.

EDIT: I think Bluff is better than Perform (Acting)...Perform is used to try to impress your audience; Bluff is used to convince someone that you're not acting.

Well, at least I think we can all agree that Batman is THE! Man....hehe Also, speaking of write ups, not sure if you saw my requests for The Darkness and Master Chief from Halo so I'll post them again...

Keep up the good work Taliesin.

Yeah, I saw the requests. Unfortunately, the list is like two pages long. If I don't get to yours right away, it's not personal...I just pick and choose based on whether I get an idea for a build or whether I really want to do a particular build. And then there's all those requests I make to myself, too.

Groovy, don't mean to pressure I just enjoy your builds most of all so I always like seeing your take on characters.

I'm actually going to use your Batman build for my character (with a few tweaks ) that's why I brought up the lack of Hide in Plain Sight and Bluff ranks.

[Taliesin]

Batman has just way too many skills that I'm not intent on giving him 4 ranks in everything. Jack of All Trades already lets him use any skill untrained. Some builds give him Beginner's Luck, as well.

As it is, my Batman has 55pp in skills alone, which I'm hoping to scale back some. I'm almost tempted to give him a Variable Skill of some type.

EDIT: I think Bluff is better than Perform (Acting)...Perform is used to try to impress your audience; Bluff is used to convince someone that you're not acting.

Well, at least I think we can all agree that Batman is THE! Man....hehe Also, speaking of write ups, not sure if you saw my requests for The Darkness and Master Chief from Halo so I'll post them again...

Keep up the good work Taliesin.

Yeah, I saw the requests. Unfortunately, the list is like two pages long. If I don't get to yours right away, it's not personal...I just pick and choose based on whether I get an idea for a build or whether I really want to do a particular build. And then there's all those requests I make to myself, too.

Groovy, don't mean to pressure I just enjoy your builds most of all so I always like seeing your take on characters.

I'm actually going to use your Batman build for my character (with a few tweaks ) that's why I brought up the lack of Hide in Plain Sight and Bluff ranks.

I'm working on revising Batsy right now, actually, and hopefully will turn in an update today.

By the way, I think I remember why I removed Hide in Plain Sight. I was going to have him rely on using the Vanishing Challenge from Masterminds Manual. Batman's skill bonuses are so high that he really doesn't even need to purchase the Challenge to drop the -5 check penalty.

[Taliesin]

R.I.P. Yeah, right.

Batman

Power Level: 12 (217pp)

Abilities: STR: 20 (+5), DEX: 18 (+4), CON: 20 (+5), INT: 22 (+6), WIS: 20 (+5), CHA: 14 (+2)

Skills: Acrobatics 12 (+16), Bluff 8 (+10), Climb 4 (+9), Computers 4 (+10), Disable Device 12 (+18), Disguise 12 (+14), Drive 8 (+12), Escape Artist 12 (+16), Gather Information 8 (+10), Intimidate 16 (+18), Investigate 16 (+22), Knowledge [Streetwise] 8 (+14), Knowledge [Tactics] 12 (+18), Knowledge [Technology] 8 (+14), Languages 12 (Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Navajo, Russian, Spanish; base: English), Medicine 4 (+9), Notice 12 (+17), Pilot 4 (+8), Ride 4 (+8), Search 12 (+18), Sense Motive 8 (+13), Sleight of Hand 8 (+12), Stealth 12 (+16), Survival 8 (+13)

Feats: Assessment, Attack Focus [Ranged] 2, Attack Specialization [Unarmed] 2, Attractive, Beginner’s Luck, Benefit 6 (Wealth 6), Blind-Fight, Contacts, Defensive Roll 2, Diehard, Dodge Focus 4, Equipment 18, Improved Initiative, Jack-Of-All-Trades, Master Plan, Minions 4 (Alfred, rank 4), Skill Mastery (Disable Device, Escape Artist, Intimidate, Stealth), Sneak Attack 2, Startle, Takedown Attack, Track, Well-Informed

Equipment: (90ep)

Costume (15ep total)
Camouflage (Urban), Fearsome Presence 5, Flight 1 (Gliding), GPS Receiver, Protection 3, Strike 1 (Mighty), Super-Senses 2 (Radio, Ultravision)

Utility Belt (22ep array)
Batarangs (as boomerang plus Ricochet 2; 1ep)
Bolos (1ep)
Cutting torch (1ep)
Flash-bang pellets (16ep)
Grappling hook and line gun (1ep): Super-Movement 1 (Swinging)
Smoke pellets (1ep)
Thermite (as dynamite; 1ep)

Other Equipment (1ep each, 10ep total)
Binoculars, Cell Phone, Digital Audio Recorder, Flashlight, Gas Mask, Handcuffs, Micro-camera, Mini-Tracer, Multi-tool, Rebreather

Headquarters “Batcave” (20ep)
Size: Large; Toughness: 15; Features: Communications, Computer, Concealed, Dock, Garage, Gym, Hangar, Infirmary, Laboratory, Library, Power System, Security System 3 (DC 30), Workshop; Power: Teleport 10 (Extra: Portal; Flaw: Anchor [Justice League Satellite])

Vehicle “Batmobile” (23ep)
Strength: 35; Speed: 5; Defense: 8; Toughness: 12; Size: Huge; Features: Alarm 3 (DC 30), Hidden Compartments, Navigation System, Remote Control, Smokescreen; Powers: Concealment 2 (auditory), Super-Senses 1 (Communication Link [Batcave Computer])

Combat: Attack +11 / +13 (Ranged) / +15 (Unarmed); Damage +6 (Strike) / +7 (Batarang) // +3 (Sneak Attack); Defense +14 (+5 flat-footed); Initiative +8

Saves: Toughness +10 (+8 flat-footed), Fortitude +9, Reflex +8, Will +9

Complications: Enemy (rogues gallery, particularly the Joker), Obsession (justice), Secret (true identity)

Abilities 54 + Skills 56 (224 ranks) + Feats 53 + Powers 0 + Combat 42 + Saves 12 – Drawbacks 0 = Total 217

My interpretation of Batman’s ability scores might be different from that of others. I look at Batman as less of an acrobat and more of a bruiser, so his Dexterity is a bit lower than Strength and Constitution. Also, Batman doesn’t make trust or inspire trust easily, so he gets a good but not great Charisma; his powerful presence is handled through skills and feats, and his allure as Bruce Wayne is really attributed mostly to his Wealth.

Batman is just shy of Lady Shiva / Batgirl-class in martial artists and relies heavily on Sneak Attack for a good deal of his damage potential. Favored Environment [Urban] would have been an appropriate situational modifier for him, but Batman has way too many of his adventures outside of an urban environment these days, and he doesn’t need to be more effective against the street-level thugs and be less effective as part of the JLA.

I made some big changes to Batman’s skillset. With Jack-Of-All-Trades, he can use any skill untrained, and with his high ability scores, he’ll usually have a pretty good untrained bonus. Batman’s not a novice in anything, really, but Beginner’s Luck is still appropriate, letting him gain enough ranks in most skills to function at least as a professional in that field. I removed Inventor feat and as a result his Craft skills; Batman never really uses any item that isn’t considered Equipment, and he can get any Equipment he needs either outside of an encounter or by spending a Hero Point to gain use of one ad hoc.

I kept Batman’s Equipment somewhat scaled down to the basics. This set is his usual allotment. He has access to many more vehicles than just the Batmobile, obviously, but I decided against arraying them since he usually cannot change vehicles as a free action; he has to go back to the Batcave for that. Since Equipment points are flexible and variable anyway, Batman can switch out items between adventures as needed, so I didn’t feel he needed a Gadgets or other variable power. If Batman needs an item in the middle of an adventure, the best way to represent his uncanny ability to have just the right item packed is to use a Hero Point to gain a Heroic Equipment Feat, which he immediately uses to array the appropriate item off of his utility belt or other item.

Alfred is the quintessential butler and more besides. He may actually be packing heat and a tactical vest on rare occasions, but usually, he’ll be without the Equipment:

Alfred Pennyworth (Minion Rank 4)
Power Level: 5 (60pp)
Abilities: STR: 10 (+0), DEX: 12 (+1), CON: 12 (+1), INT: 14 (+2), WIS: 14 (+2), CHA: 12 (+1)
Skills: Bluff 8 (+9), Computers 6 (+8), Craft [Mechanical] 8 (+10), Diplomacy 4 (+5), Disable Device 6 (+8), Disguise 10 (+12), Drive 4 (+5), Gather Information 4 (+6), Investigate 2 (+4), Knowledge [History] 2 (+4), Medicine 6 (+8), Notice 4 (+6), Perform [Acting] 6 (+7), Pilot 2 (+3), Profession [Butler] 8 (+10), Profession [Spy] 8 (+10), Ride 4 (+5), Sense Motive 2 (+4), Survival 6 (+8)
Feats: Challenge (Durable Lie), Dodge Focus, Equipment 3, Second Chance (Craft [Mechanical])
Equipment: Shotgun (11ep), Tactical Vest (4ep)
Combat: Attack +3 // +2 (Shotgun); Damage +5 (Shotgun); Defense +3 (+1 flat-footed); Initiative +1
Saves: Toughness +5, Fortitude +3, Reflex +2, Will +4
Abilities 14 + Skills 25 (100 ranks) + Feats 6 + Powers 0 + Combat 10 + Saves 5 – Drawbacks 0 = Total 60

Update 7/27/07 Reworked Batman completely, in particular relegating a lot of what he does to Hero Point usage (e.g., Beginner’s Luck, Equipment). Batman’s complications should come into play quite often, so he should have a decent pool to work from.

Finally finished updating Batman to my satisfaction. Now I can get back to new builds, again!

[NCOoarashi]

Very well done, as always, Tal!

[Taliesin]

Casino? What are you talking about?

Stardust

Power Level: 15 (240pp)

Abilities: STR: 10 [40] (+15), DEX: 10 [20] (+5), CON: 10 [40] (+15), INT: 16 (+3), WIS: 14 [20] (+5), CHA: 14 (+2)

Skills: Concentration 8 (+13), Gather Information 8 (+10), Knowledge [History] 8 (+11), Knowledge [Physical Sciences] 8 (+11), Notice 4 (+9)

Feats: Environmental Adaptation [zero gravity], Evasion, Fearless

Powers:
Communication 2 (mental; Extra: Two-Way [+1]; 4pp)
Cosmic Energy Control 15 (30pp)
AP: Boost 10 (any trait, one at a time; Extra: Total Fade [+1]; 1pp)
AP: Dimensional Pocket 10 (Extra: Ranged [+1]; 1pp)
AP: {ESP 18 (mental) and Super-Senses 12 (Detect Energy 7 [mental, Ranged, Accurate, Acute, Analytical, Tracking], Detect Life 5 [mental, Ranged, Accurate, Acute]); 1pp}
AP: Healing 10 (Extra: Total [+1]; 1pp)
AP: Super-Movement 2 (Dimensional Movement 2; Extras: Portal [+2], Ranged [+1]; Power Feat: Progression 5 [size, 250-ft. by 250-ft.]; 1pp)
AP: Transform 5 (any element to any element; Extra: Duration [+1]; 1pp)
Enhanced Strength 30 (30pp)
Enhanced Dexterity 10 (10pp)
Enhanced Constitution 30 (30pp)
Enhanced Wisdom 6 (6pp)
AP: Comprehend 3 (Languages 3 [speak all, understand]; 1pp)
AP: Super-Senses 6 (Cosmic Awareness, Benefit [Directed Inspiration], Postcognition; 1pp)
Flight 6 (500 MPH; 12pp)
AP: Super-Strength 6 (Heavy Load: 200 tons; 1pp)
Immunity 12 (Aging, Life Support, Need for Sleep, Starvation and Thirst; 12pp)
Insubstantial 3 (Cosmic Energy; Extra: Reaction [+1]; 18pp)
Regeneration 2 (Resurrection 2; Extra: True Resurrection [+1]; 4pp)
Space Travel 10 (1,000c; 10pp)

Combat: Attack +10; Damage +15 (Cosmic Energy Control) // +5 (Boost); Defense +10 (+5 flat-footed); Initiative +5

Saves: Toughness +15 // +5 (Boost), Fortitude +15, Reflex +10, Will +10

Abilities 14 + Skills 9 (36 ranks) + Feats 3 + Powers 164 + Combat 40 + Saves 10 – Drawbacks 0 = Total 240

Complications: Reputation (as Herald of Galactus), Responsibility (as Herald of Galactus), Rivalry (with the Silver Surfer)

Not too much is known about Galactus’ newest herald, save that she is likely among the most powerful. Composed almost entirely of cosmic energy, she can reform herself from apparent death and manipulate the Power Cosmic in ways that no other herald can. Stardust’s signature stunt is the forming of dimensional rifts and portals that she can use offensively. Stardust will revert to an energy form in response to physical attacks, thus appearing to disperse, but has to reassume a solid form in order to unleash physical attacks. On occasion, Stardust has used a staff to serve as a focus for her cosmic blasts, but it seems largely ornamental.