Taliesin's builds: 3E moved to sister thread

[Elric]

I'm probably the most notoriously slow of the statters here, but that's because it takes me forever before I'm happy enough with how they look to post them.

Oh, really? I think I'm the slowest character-statter around. We need a challenge to resolve this: a post-off! First one to post a Wheel of Time character loses

[Taliesin]

I like your recent decision to bumb Wolverine up from PL 10 to PL 11. He's been around far too long and has way too much experience, in my opinion, to be of 'average' power level for a superhero. He is the best at what he does, after all.

I really don't start with a PL and try to fit the character to it. These are mostly built as NPCs, so I just go with my benchmarks and assign a PL at the end.

Seeing your Sentry build, I was at first a little confused why he was only PL 13, but upon reading your explanation I can see where you're coming from. Marvel is constantly telling us how powerful he is, but he hasn't really shown us this yet. Maybe when WWHulk 5 comes out we'll see his true power. (Which will probably be followed by the return of the Void.)

Here, I just looked at a benchmark for his Str, and concluded that the Sentry was probably as strong as or just a bit stronger than Thor, Silver Surfer, etc. That's a 42 Str, or +16 damage. Also, Sentry may be powerful, but he's not very experienced and certainly not a master warrior, so an attack bonus of +10 seemed appropriate. That just came out to PL13. The main indicator of the Sentry's "power" is really his Str and damage bonus, which at +16 is more powerful than nearly any non-cosmic being--it's as powerful as Silver Surfer's power cosmic rank, more powerful than Magneto's magnetic control, etc. That's pretty darned powerful!

[Thorpacolypse]

Or do you accept only compliments ?

I can say that, without any question, everyone who maintains a build thread here on Roll Call is more than happy to accept constructive criticism, answer questions, and so on and so forth.

Your questions have all been answered.

I've been giggling at this whole "feisty" Taliesin thing all day!

Personally, I DO only accept compliments. I have a right to refuse service to anyone at J-Mart.

Also, I take umbrage with Batgirl's assertion that she is top arguer. Check out the Settings thread and look for the posts by Gilwen. He's my wife's cousin. That family LIVES to argue...

And most importantly, now that you've cleaned them up, when can we expect the Wolvie and Batgirl battle?

[Taliesin]

Heh, the longer you've been here, the shorter your fuse, I guess. (See: Paragon, MDSnowman, etc.) You disagree with someone or answer the same question for the millionth time with a hint of annoyance and suddenly you're intolerant.

Anyway, I should have the setup for Wolvie vs. Batgirl tomorrow, take wagers, and will write up the fight this weekend.

[Thorpacolypse]

You disagree with someone or answer the same question for the millionth time with a hint of annoyance and suddenly you're intolerant.

Anyway, I should have the setup for Wolvie vs. Batgirl tomorrow, take wagers, and will write up the fight this weekend.

Oh, believe me, I know what you mean. I have children.

I'm setting the Over/Under at the new J-Mart Casino Annex at Wolverine in 9 rounds. Place your bets, place your bets!

[The Ilethryl Knight]

I just looked at a benchmark for his Str, and concluded that the Sentry was probably as strong as or just a bit stronger than Thor, Silver Surfer, etc. That's a 42 Str, or +16 damage. Also, Sentry may be powerful, but he's not very experienced and certainly not a master warrior, so an attack bonus of +10 seemed appropriate. That just came out to PL13. The main indicator of the Sentry's "power" is really his Str and damage bonus, which at +16 is more powerful than nearly any non-cosmic being--it's as powerful as Silver Surfer's power cosmic rank, more powerful than Magneto's magnetic control, etc. That's pretty darned powerful!

I see that now. Thanks for the explanation.
I'm still somewhat new to this game - I've only just discovered Roll Call about a month ago. Power Level can be a little misleading sometimes.

[Batgirl III]

One trick is to figure out if a particular "Roll Caller" prefers to stat their builds as NPCs (setting a PL after the build is done) or as PC (setting the builds PL before hand).

I fall into the second group, MDSnowman, Taleisin and Baron all fall into the first. Not trying to put myself in their league, but pointing out you will find both points of veiw around here.

Also, I highly recommend reading (or at least skimming) all of the design diaries (if not entire threads) of Baron, MDSnowman, and Taleisin. They are, generally, the three most influenetial builders in the ATT. I know I've certainly leanred a lot from all of them... and they all do seem to get asked the same questions over and over. Its very educational to see how they all answer the same question, approach the same build, or treat things like PL.

Welcome to Roll Call.

[MDSnowman]

One trick is to figure out if a particular "Roll Caller" prefers to stat their builds as NPCs (setting a PL after the build is done) or as PC (setting the builds PL before hand).

I fall into the second group, MDSnowman, Taleisin and Baron all fall into the first. Not trying to put myself in their league, but pointing out you will find both points of veiw around here.

Also, I highly recommend reading (or at least skimming) all of the design diaries (if not entire threads) of Baron, MDSnowman, and Taleisin. They are, generally, the three most influenetial builders in the ATT. I know I've certainly leanred a lot from all of them... and they all do seem to get asked the same questions over and over. Its very educational to see how they all answer the same question, approach the same build, or treat things like PL.

Welcome to Roll Call.

Actually Batgirl I fall into the second group as well. I have a set of benchmark PLs that I draw on. I pick a PL and build around that.

[Skarlett Spyder]

Hey Taliesin, just wanted to say thanks first and foremost for always helping me out with my character creation questions.

But I do have a request: I've noticed that you've recently tweaked your Iron Man build. Any chance of revisiting your other armored hero builds.

Specifically, I'm talking about MACH IV.

Pretty please?

[Libra]

Yes, but you never took a year of for Mysterious Reasons, like I did.

They're not that mysterious if even I can remember what they were. . .

urk. Please remove your heel from my jugular. I'm pretty sure I need that to live.

Thorpacolypse, I'm betting -

<Rifles thorugh his wallet.>

- Fifty Martian Rubies, three hundred and twenty-nine Chironian hooves, nine Gondorian Marks and fifty. . .eight federation credits on Batgirl.

[Unknown Soldier]

I don't even care that much for Wolverine, but I'll take that bet! And triple the wager!

[Libra]

Only triple? Cissy.

[Taliesin]

Fight #3: Batgirl (Cassandra Cain) vs. Wolverine

Prologue

Batgirl waded through the ninja of the League of Assassins, and they fell before her in waves. Such a concentration of the masked killers in one place suggested that a new leader had taken their reigns—perhaps Talia, the remaining known heir to the demon’s head; perhaps Shiva or another master martial artist and former sensei; perhaps Deathstroke, who was behind so much that had happened in the past year.

What Cassandra learned from the only one she ever considered sensei was penance for her mistakes. She would cut off the head of the League and see it dissolved.

Deep into the League compound, Batgirl let the skills of the ninja guide her path, for the master would keep the most formidable assassins closest. To her eyes, the techniques and movements of her enemies were as clear as a trail leading to the one who sat at their head.

Only a door barred the path to her goal. Cassandra learned little of lockpicking from her mentor, but luckily, there were plenty of keys lying around. A League assassin, none too gently persuaded, blasted the door into splinters. Unimpeded, Batgirl entered the antechamber.

* * * * *

Wolverine tore through the ninja of the Hand, and they fell apart in pieces before his onslaught. He did not think they would regroup under a new warlord so quickly after revelation that a Skrull led their recent movements but someone apparently had, for so many of them to move with such purpose. Any more, and he’d be in way over his head.

He would kill them all, then cut the head off its new warlord. Wolverine was never one to leave a job half-finished, and he would finish this one.

Wolverine let his nose guide his way, hardly slowed by the Hand. Though the smell of blood was strong about him and on him, Wolverine knew the warlord, the strongest of the Hand, would have a smell of bloodlust that overpowered his minions.

A door barred his path. No longer. Cut into splinters by his claws along with the Hand ninja who also barred his path. No longer. Wolverine stalked into the antechamber.

* * * * *

Time warps and space folds. As the pages of the multiverse overlap, the paths of our two heroes cross where otherwise they would not.

* * * * *

Wolverine followed the scent of his prey. The bloodlust was absent but the smell of blood nevertheless hung heavy on this one. For a moment, he felt not the hunter but the prey. The masked woman—not much more than a girl—clad in black had the presence of the most dangerous predators in the natural world. Wolverine’s senses told him that he faced not a girl but a great white shark, a panther on the prowl, an owl diving at its unsuspecting prey…

Batgirl barely registered the gore-covered killing machine before her as a person at all, for she had never seen anyone who moved as he did. His body language was crude, although certainly not clumsy, but rudimentary…in some ways like Batgirl’s verbal skills. Primal.

Batgirl has a visual Danger Sense. Wolverine has an olfactory Danger Sense. Neither is concealed against the other’s sense type. They both roll Notice checks against DC 15.

Batgirl rolls 8 (+12 Notice) = 20. Batgirl succeeds.

Wolverine rolls 5 (+17 Notice) = 22. Wolverine succeeds.

Neither is surprised. No surprise round occurs.

The Tale of the Tape:

”…”

Batgirl III (Cassandra Cain)

Power Level: 11 (165pp)

Abilities: STR: 16 (+3), DEX: 20 (+5), CON: 16 (+3), INT: 16 (+3), WIS: 18 (+4), CHA: 14 (+2)

Skills: Acrobatics 12 (+17), Climb 8 (+11), Concentration 8 (+12), Gather Information 4 (+6), Intimidate 12 (+14), Investigate 4 (+7), Knowledge [Streetwise] 4 (+7), Medicine 4 (+8), Notice 8 (+12), Search 8 (+11), Sense Motive 16 (+20), Sleight of Hand 8 (+13), Stealth 12 (+17), Survival 8 (+11)

Feats: Acrobatic Bluff, Ambidexterity, Assessment, Attack Specialization [Unarmed] 2, Benefit (No Identity), Blind-Fight, Challenges 3 (Fast Anticipation 2, Vanish), Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll, Diehard, Dodge Focus 4, Elusive Target, Equipment 4, Evasion, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Initiative, Move-By Action, Second Chance (Sense Motive), Skill Mastery (Acrobatics, Notice, Sense Motive, Stealth), Sneak Attack 2, Startle, Stunning Attack, Takedown Attack 2, Track, Trance

Powers:
Super-Senses 2 (Danger Sense [visual], Uncanny Dodge [visual]; 2pp)

Equipment: (20ep)

Costume (10ep total)
Camouflage (Urban), Fearsome Presence 4, Gas Mask, GPS Receiver, Protection 2, Super-Senses 2 (Radio, Ultravision)

Utility Belt (8ep array)
Batarangs (as boomerang; 7ep)
Grappling hook and line gun (1ep): Super-Movement 1 (Swinging)

Other Equipment (1ep each, 2ep total)
Mini-Tracer, Rebreather

Combat: Attack +12 / +16 (Unarmed); Damage +3 (Unarmed, 19-20 Crit) / +5 (Batarangs) / // +3 (Sneak Attack); Defense +16 (+6 flat-footed); Initiative +9

Saves: Toughness +6 (+5 flat-footed), Fortitude +6, Reflex +10, Will +7

Drawbacks: Disability (Illiterate, Uncommon, Minor, -1pp)

Abilities 40 + Skills 29 (116 Ranks) + Feats 36 + Powers 2 + Combat 48 + Saves 11 - Drawbacks 1 = Total 165

Complications: Obsession (justice), Secret (dark past)

VS.

I’m the best there is at what I do…in this case, target practice dummy.

Wolverine

Power Level: 11 (165pp)

Abilities: STR: 16 [20] (+5), DEX: 20 (+5), CON: 26 (+8), INT: 14 (+2), WIS: 20 (+5), CHA: 8 (-1)

Skills: Climb 4 (+7), Handle Animal 12 (+11), Intimidate 16 (+15), Knowledge [Streetwise] 8 (+10), Language 4 (German, Japanese, Russian, Spanish; base: English), Notice 12 (+17), Pilot 4 (+9), Stealth 8 (+13), Survival 12 (+17)

Feats: Animal Empathy, Attack Focus [Melee] 6, Beginner’s Luck, Dodge Focus 6, Evasion, Improved Initiative, Rage 2 (10 rounds), Startle, Takedown Attack 2

Powers:
Container 2 “Claws” (Flaw: Side Effect 1 [always occurs; Damage; -2]; 8pp)
Density 2 (Extra: Continuous [+1]; Flaw: Permanent [-1]; Power Feat: Affects Insubstantial, Innate; 8pp)
Immunity 3 (Aging, Disease, Poison; 3pp)
Regeneration 16 (Recovery Rate 16 [Bruised 3, Injured 4, Staggered 4, Disabled 5]; Power Feats: Diehard; 17pp)
Super-Senses 7 (Normal Hearing 2 [Extended, Uncanny Dodge]; Low-Light Vision, Scent 4 [Danger Sense, Tracking 2]; 7pp)

Claws (10pp total)
Strike 2 (Extra: Penetrating [+1]; Power Feat: Improved Critical, Mighty 5; 10pp)

Density Traits:
+4 Strength, +1 Impervious Toughness, Mass x1.5

Combat: Attack +7 / +13 (Melee); Damage +7 (Strike, 19-20 Crit) // +2 (Rage); Defense +13 (+4 flat-footed); Initiative +9

Saves: Toughness +9 (+1 Impervious), Fortitude +12, Reflex +9, Will +9

Drawbacks: Vulnerable (Magnetic effects; Uncommon, Major; -3pp)

Abilities 44 + Skills 20 (80 ranks) + Feats 21 + Powers 43 + Combat 28 + Saves 12 – Drawbacks 3 = Total 165

Complications: Enemy (Sabretooth, numerous others), Prejudice (mutant), Temper (berserker rage)

Hero Points: Batgirl 1, Wolverine 1.

Place your wagers, gentlemen!

[Thorpacolypse]

The J-Mart house stands with it's initial odds: Wolverine in 9 rounds at 2 cookies to 1 odds!

[SilentMan]

If Wolverine wins, it´d better if Batgirl dies. That would provide a motive for
Wolverine vs. Batman, Lady Shiva or David Cain.