Playtest/Story – Superman vs. Iron CrossManeuver Legend: AA – All Out Attack, ACA – Accurate Attack, DA – Defensive Attack, PA – Power Attack, RA – Routine Attack Intro: I thought I might get some more testing in before I try to get a story together in the fall/winter. As BARON’s tests and stories constantly remind me, I still have a LOT to learn about the system so expect more of these as the year(s) go on.
Props to Arthur Eld on the
Iron Cross build. He was a great foe to throw at Clark. I plan on using more of his MnM Setting builds, along with builds from others in upcoming tests in order to work through my “I HAVE to use only MY stuff!” issues that I have. Some of Jab’s jobbers are just aching to get beaten up.
And as always, if I am off on something mechanically, let me know, it’s the only way I’ll learn.
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It’s a beautiful spring afternoon in Metropolis. High above the rush hour traffic, the city’s fabled protector,
Superman, flies around the city on his normal patrol. Outside of moving a couple of vehicles off the road to eliminate some traffic backups, and rescuing a cat in a tree for a little girl, it’s a quiet patrol, one that the Man of Tomorrow has seen far too few of lately.
And of course, it was too good to last. Out of the blue, Superman is struck with a blast of energy that knocks him out of the sky and sends him hurtling to the ground below where he makes small impact crater in the street. A large man in an iron mask flies down to where the prone hero lies and greets him with a hard kick to the stomach, sending him tumbling a few yards down the street. The Man of Steel lets out a groan of pain as he tries to collect himself.
“Hello, Superman,” the man in the iron mask says in a thick German accent. “It is so good to see you in person. I am
Iron Cross, Superman. And oh, how I have waited for this day. You should be so proud of your accomplishments.”
“Should I?” Superman asked as he slowly rises to his feet.
Who is this guy? He thinks to himself.
“Most certainly, Superman,” Iron Cross replied as he walked closer to the Man of Steel. “I have watched you for years now. You have become the greatest hero in the world. You have saved the planet countless times as a glowing beacon of truth and justice. You are loved the world over.”
Iron Cross’ tone darkened. “…But not by me. See, it was I that was supposed to be the shining example of what mankind could be. It was I that was going to be this world’s greatest hero as the pinnacle of Aryan engineering! It was my destiny. My birthright.
But Herr Hitler’s, and in turn,
my…dream was never realized. But all that is about to change, Superman. By defeating you,
I am about to show the world, right here and now, who the REAL UBERMENSCH IS!!!”
A super-powered would-be-world-conquering Nazi...I think I can rule reasoning with him out the window… Superman thought. Before he could retort, Iron Cross took a swing at him, but he was able to sidestep it. Superman comes back with a hard swing but his grogginess affected his aim and the German juggernaut was able to parry the blow and respond with a hard uppercut that snapped Superman’s head back. The Man of Steel fought through the pain and connected with a haymaker of his own but Iron Cross rolled with the blow and seemed unaffected.
“Is this it, Superman? Did I spend all this time preparing myself for nothing?” Iron Cross gloated as he sent a right cross at Superman’s head.
The Man of Steel caught his punch with his left hand, smiled and said. “Actually…you probably should have prepared more…”
Superman rocked the big German with a hard right then followed up with a double axhandle smash to drop the villain to a knee. “I’ll give you a chance to surrender, Iron Cross,” Superman said, glaring at the villain and wiping a drop of blood from his lip. “I highly suggest you take it.”
“Noble…to…the last…I see…” Iron Cross said, through labored breaths. “Thank you. But…I…don’t think I will!” And as he finished his defiant statement, he nailed Superman with hard uppercut that sent him flying across the street into an office building.
Iron Cross rose and flew towards the groggy Kryptonian, and dodges a weak Heat Vision blast that the battered hero attempted. “Now you see, Superman,” Iron Cross gloated as he leisurely floated over towards his foe. “Your time as the Ubermensch is ended. Prepare for your defeat.”
Only one chance, Superman thought as he summoned the last of his strength. Iron Cross raised his foot and prepared to stomp a hole on in Superman’s chest, but Superman managed to roll out of the way, bounded to his feet and exhaled a powerful blast of super cold air and that froze the powerful Nazi in his tracks.
“What…what is this trickery?” Iron Cross exclaimed. “Do you think some mere ice can stop me?”
“Not really,” The Man of Steel said as he stepped a bit closer to the trapped villain. “Just slow you down enough for me to stop you the old-fashioned way…” As Iron Cross struggled in vain against his icy shell, Superman drew back and sent him to dreamland with a thunderous punch. The shockwave from it shattered almost every window on the block.
Within a few minutes, the Metropolis Science Police and SHIELD were both on the scene to take Iron Cross into custody, restraining him with “Hulk-proof” manacles. After giving a brief statement, Superman flew off into the Metropolis sky, pondering what had just happened.
How could someone that powerful be around for as long as he has claims to be and I haven’t heard of him? I can't believe there's nothing about him in the Justice League archives? If he’s really a Nazi, there’s one person that would know about him for sure…“J’onn, it’s Clark,” He said into his Justice League Commlink. “Can you get me in contact with Steve Rogers?”
To be continued?...Surprise Round: I’m giving Iron Cross a surprise round just because so Clark will get an HP. He goes PA3 with his blaster pistol and hits with a 7+14=21. Superman has to save at DC33, and he gets an adjusted 27 for 2nd degree damage. His Impervious soaks the falling damage but I’m ruling he’s prone.
Round 1: Initiative: Iron Cross – 20, Superman – 19. IC can make it to Supes with his move action and he goes goes into melee against the prone Supes with a PA3 again, and he hits again with 10+12=22. Superman takes another 2nd degree damage, failing the DC35 Toughness check with a 27. Since he can only take one action, Supes will use it to stand.
Status – Superman (2 – 2nd degree damage, 2 hp), Iron Cross (fine,1 hp)
Round 2 & 3: IC moves in again to hit Superman, trying to end it end this quick with a PA5. This time he misses, 8+10=18. Superman goes AA2, and he misses with a natural 2. Oops. We’ll go on to the next round. IC goes PA2 this time and hits, 10+13 = 23. Superman gets a 2 on the save, HP to re-roll…gets a 3. The e-dice do NOT like Clark today. The adjusted 10+16 gets him to 26, enough to take ANOTHER 2nd damage failure. However, he is out in the sun so he heals the first 2nd degree damage. Clark uses his action to go PA3 at Iron Cross and hits, 8+15=23. IC has to save at DC36 and he does with 17+19=36. Clark’s going to have to work for this one.
Status – Superman (2 – 2nd degree damage, 1 hp), Iron Cross (fine,1 hp)
Round 4: IC goes PA3 in melee again, and hits 12+19=31. This time, Superman makes the DC35 check (barely) and goes for a big shot with a full PA5. This time he gets the roll, 6+19=25. IC has to save at DC39 and he doesn’t, getting a 32 for 2nd degree damage. Clark will surge for another PA5 and he hits again, 6+17=23. IC again has to save at DC39, he gets a 35 for 1st degree damage..
Status – Superman (2 – 2nd degree damage, fatigued, 1 hp), Iron Cross (1st degree damage, 2nd degree damage,0 hp)
Round 5: IC comes back with another PA3 and gets a 20 for a crit! Clark has to save at DC40. And he gets a 1…yikes…good thing I saved the HP. But he rolls an 8 so he gets a 10 with the HP for 26 which is a 3rd degree failure and almost a knockout. I’ll rule some knockback here, enough to send him into a nearby building. He makes the save against stone, but the building does not and he makes a nice hole through it and does a lot of damage. I’ll roll to see if anyone is in the path, 1-5 says so. Nope.
He should run…but Superman is Superman. He hangs in and goes for a PA2 with Heat Vision and misses. I’ll give him an HP for living up to his responsibility...
Status – Superman (2 – 2nd degree damage, 3rd degree damage, fatigued, 1 hp), Iron Cross (1st degree damage, 2nd degree damage,0 hp)
Round 6: IC flies over and goes for a knockout, but misses with a 10+5=15. Clark tries a different tactic to buy some time. He uses his move action to stand and uses his Freeze Breath. IC blows the check and takes a 2nd degree failure. He’s defenseless and immobilized. Clark also heals his 3rd degree condition with his regeneration.
Status – Superman (2 – 2nd degree damage, fatigued, 1 hp), Iron Cross (1st degree damage, 2nd degree damage, 0 hp)
Round 7: IC tries to break out, but geez he only got a 19 WITH his 17 strength, not good enough to break. Superman goes PA5 and rolls a 12, more than enough to beat a +0 defense, which is what IC has now. IC has to save at DC39 and he gets a 6+17=23. That’s a 4th degree failure, he’s out!
Comments: Wow. That was a good fight. I thought Superman was going down for sure but two bad rolls for Iron Cross sealed his doom. I love that Iron Cross was really better in every way but in true Superman style, he found a way to win. The dice were on his side at the end, and I probably could have had Iron Cross blast away with Power Attack, doing +20 damage with still a +12 to hit, but I wanted a slugfest for this round. I may have to do a rematch or maybe have IC go against the League or Avengers or something. He’s nasty.
