Our CAN'T MISS Specials just keep coming! Here's a new one on Aisle 12.
The gun katas. Through analysis of thousands of recorded gunfights, the Cleric has determined that the geometric distribution of antagonists in any gun battle is a statistically predictable element. The gun kata treats the gun as a total weapon, each fluid position representing a maximum kill zone, inflicting maximum damage on the maximum number of opponents while keeping the defender clear of the statistically traditional trajectories of return fire. By the rote mastery of this art, your firing efficiency will rise by no less than 120%. The difference of a 63% increase to lethal proficiency makes the master of the gun katas an adversary not to be taken lightly.JOHN PRESTON
PL: 10 (150 pp) -
OPL: 10;
DPL: 10
ABILITIES: STR: 14 (+2) DEX: 18 (+4) CON: 16 (+3) INT: 14 (+2) WIS: 18 (+4) CHA: 12 (+1)
SKILLS: Acrobatics 7 (+11) [
Skill Mastery], Bluff (+1), Climb (+2), Concentration (+4), Diplomacy (+1), Disguise (+1), Drive 4 (+8), Escape Artist (+4), Gather Info 9 (+10) [
Skill Mastery, Well-Informed], Handle Animal (+1), Intimidate 8 (+9) [
Startle], Investigate 6 (+8), Knowledge [Tactics] 6 (+8), Notice 8 (+12) [
Skill Mastery], Profession [Tetragrammaton Cleric] 6 (+10), Search 5 (+7), Sense Motive 9 (+13) [
Assessment, Combat Clarity, Read Situation, Skill Mastery], Stealth 4 (+8), Survival (+4), Swim (+2)
FEATS: Ambidexterity, Assessment, Attack Specialization (2) [
Handguns], Attack Specialization (2) [
Katana], Challenges (2) [
Combat Clarity], Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll (3), Dodge Focus (6), Elusive Target, Equipment (3), Improved Aim, Improved Critical (3) [
Katana x2, Unarmed], Improved Disarm (1), Improved Initiative (2), Power Attack, Precise Shot (1), Quick Draw (1), Skill Mastery (1) [
Acrobatics, Gather Information, Notice, Sense Motive], Takedown Attack (2), Ultimate Effort (1) [
Ultimate Aim], Uncanny Dodge [
Visual], Well-Informed
POWERS:
Gun-Kata
Ballistic Blast 6 (Extra: Targeted Shapeable Area, Selective, Flaw: Requires Handguns, PF: Progression [10 sq. per rank]; 19pp) [6] - DC:21:tough
AP: Ballistic Blast 6 (Extra: Auto-Fire, Flaw: Requires Handguns, PF: Improved Critical x5, Improved Ranged Disarm [1pp]) [6] - DC:21:toughEQUIPMENT:
(15ep)Tetragrammaton Cleric Uniform (Protection, Subtle [2ep]) [1] - DC:16:tough
Cell Phone (1ep)
Arsenal (12ep):Machine Pistols (Extra: Auto-Fire, PF: Progression [2 pistols], Split Attack; 11ep]) [3] - DC:18:tough
Katana (1ep) [3] - DC:20:tough
COMBAT: Base Attack +10, Melee +10, Ranged +10, Handguns +14, Katana +14, Grapple +12 [Unarmed +2, 19-20 Critical (Bruise); Gun Kata Blast +6 (Lethal); Auto Fire Gun Blast +6, 15-20 Critical,
Auto-Fire (Lethal), Katana +5, 17-20 Critical (Lethal)]; Defense 24 (13 flat-footed); Init +12; Knockback -3 (-2 flat-footed)
SAVES: Toughness +6 (+5 flat-footed), Fortitude +5, Reflex +7, Will +7
DRAWBACKS:
Abilities 32 + Skills 18 (72 ranks) + Feats 39 + Powers 17 + Combat 36 + Saves 8 – Drawbacks 0 = 150 / 150Comments: My take on one of the top minion sweeping bad asses in moviedom, John Preston. I didn’t see Equilibrium until about 3 months ago when I was reading Wordmaker’s thread and he, and the ATT community, were giving John Preston all kinds of props. After watching the movie, I can now see why. Christian Bale did his usual great job and the action sequences were amazing. After that, when I finally thought about starting my own thread, it was a given he would be included early.
Preston is built to take out large numbers of minions, but not be too big a threat to real super powered foes. However, with the potential for Auto Fire damage boosts and the good crit range I added to the Tetragrammaton Pistols, he can probably hang with most characters without Impervious Protection.
I decided to use the Targeted Area burst as recommended to the above mentioned Wordmaker’s build, and from a test with an homage original character, it works perfectly. Another guy I cannot wait to play test.
And can you believe it? I actually made a character that came in at recommended PP levels? I may get the hang of this stuff yet...
Update 9/8/07: After building Brandt, I came back and made a few updates to John. Just a few minor things, but it took him over 150pp, which I didn't really mind. I was a lot more obsessed with hitting recommended PP limits at first, but that has gone by the wayside!
Clean Up 12/27/07: Took a few PP back off to get him back to playable PL10/150.
Clean Up 8/5/08: Another tweak to John as I get ready to turn him loose. After watching Wanted and noting a few things that Elric mentioned about the use of an area attack and critical hits, I had to change his Gun Kata effect. Much cleaner now and I think it's actually rules appropriate!
Clean Up 6/5/09: After watching Equilibrium again, I realized if anyone deserved at least a rank of Improved Disarm, it's Preston. I also increased his Blast from 5 ranks to 6 after a little playtest I did after I watched the show again.
