Woodclaw's 2E - Hercules, Iolaus, Xena, Gabrielle

[Horsenhero]

Ah, Warren...always my favorite of the original team. Though, the moment I really came to appreciate the character is when he schooled Iron man by flying so high, I.M.'s boot jets couldn't take the altitude and conked out.

Note: for those of you who cannot find this story, don't worry...I read it as a reprint when I was 10 or 12...so 34-36 years ago. Also, my favorite period for the X-Men (original series) was the Neal Adams period, when Angel had his "suspenders" uniform.

Good stuff Woodclaw. Makes me nostalgic...obviously.

[Woodclaw]

Ah, Warren...always my favorite of the original team. Though, the moment I really came to appreciate the character is when he schooled Iron man by flying so high, I.M.'s boot jets couldn't take the altitude and conked out.

Note: for those of you who cannot find this story, don't worry...I read it as a reprint when I was 10 or 12...so 34-36 years ago. Also, my favorite period for the X-Men (original series) was the Neal Adams period, when Angel had his "suspenders" uniform.

I vaguely remeber that story, thanks to a massive reprint of old X-stuff a few years ago.

The suspender uniform was something I never digged, when I was younger I consider it silly, today has a little too much of an Hawkman's vibe to me.

Good stuff Woodclaw. Makes me nostalgic...obviously.

Thanks.

[luketheduke86]

Really loving the X-men builds Woodclaw, can't wait to see which iconic X-man (or woman) you do next!

Gotta give you special kudos for building the Warriors Three as well! There interactions and showings in the recent Thor series have been a source of constant amusement .

[Geekery]

As I said before, the big problem with Xavier is that many authors seem not to realize that giving a highly intrusive mentor/father figure to a team of full grown-ups is simply silly. Having someone like Xavier on the first team was a necessity (they were all around 17 at the time) and it worked for a while with the New Mutants, but after that it doesn't make much sense.

I just picked up New Mutants Classic vol.1 this week, and I was pleased to see (again) a distinct difference between how Xavier treated the kids vs. how he had treated the second set of X-Men. In fact, his internal monologues made it clear that he wasn't intending to make another team of heroes that time. Of course, the Hellfire Club, Magneto, and Cable's eventual manipulations pretty much guaranteed that they'd become something else. I wouldn't blame that on the Professor, but he did come up with the brilliant idea of putting Magneto in charge while he went into space with his girlfriend, so it's still his fault.

The funny thing is that over the years practicly every team leader of the various X-teams had clashed with Xavier over how to do things (particulary memorable Cannonball and his Closed fist vs Open hand speech), but the idea that maybe retiring or stop meddling with his student lives never touched his mind.

Some of that is understandable, though; you'd expect a teenager who grows up to rebel at some point, and it's an obvious literary theme to explore. Compare Cyclops and Cannonball to, say, Robin or Speedy. Batman and Green Arrow don't have the "jerk" reputation that Xavier has (well, not exactly...), but they aren't powerful telepaths, either.

Xavier is still a jerk, though. I was genuinely excited about that storyline in Legacy where he was in danger of becoming Mr. Sinister. That would've made for an excellent villain, and certainly would've made a lot of us happy.

So, about Angel. I recall that, during his initial run as Death/Archangel, he had an Apocalypse-installed Mind Shield, which went so far as to allow him to resist Rogue's touch during Inferno. I'm not clear if that's still around or not, given the back-and-forth on his Alternate Form. If it hasn't been shown in recent years, feel free to disregard.

[Woodclaw]

So, about Angel. I recall that, during his initial run as Death/Archangel, he had an Apocalypse-installed Mind Shield, which went so far as to allow him to resist Rogue's touch during Inferno. I'm not clear if that's still around or not, given the back-and-forth on his Alternate Form. If it hasn't been shown in recent years, feel free to disregard.

Over the years many X-men developed or were granted some form of mind shield - Logan's naimal mind and implants from Weapon X, Ororo's increased electrical activity, Gambit's supercharged neurons etc. - but few were consistently portrayed, so I decided to dump the majority of them as plot device tricks. Plus, as you said, Angel constant changes between his two forms are likely to have screwed some of his secondary implants.

[Woodclaw]

...My dad's Irish-Catholic, my mom's Jewish. I was the only kid in Hebrew school who got off for St. Patrick's Day!

Iceman
Robert "Bobby" Louis Drake

Power Level: 10 (158pp)

Abilities: STR: 12/20 (+1/+5), DEX: 12 (+1), CON: 12 (+1), INT: 14 (+2), WIS: 12 (+1), CHA: 14 (+2)

Skills: Bluff 6 (+8), Climb 3 (+4), Craft (artistic) 6 (+8), Diplomacy 5 (+7), Drive 4 (+5), Knowledge (physical sciences) 3 (+5), Knowledge (popular culture) 5 (+7), Language 1 (Spanish; Native: English), Medicine 1 (+2), Notice 5 (+6), Pilot 4 (+5), Profession (Accountant) 5 (+6), Search 4 (+6), Sense Motive 6 (+7), Stealth 3 (+4), Swim 3 (+4)

Feats: Accurate Attack, Attack Specialization 1 (Cryokinesis), Distract (Bluff), Dodge Focus 5, Equipment 2, Fast Overrun, Improved Initiative 1, Luck 1, Ranged Pin, Set-Up, Taunt, Teamwork 1, Untapped Potential

Powers:

Immunity 10 (Any effect with the cold or ice descriptor; 10pp)
Thermal sight (Super-senses 2 [Infravision, Tracking 1 (infravision)]; Flaw: Distracting; 1pp)

Ice form (Alternate form 5; 25pp)
- Density 4 (PF: Buoyant)

• Immovable 1
• Super-strength 1 (heavy load: 800 lbs)

- Protection 6
- Regeneration 10 (Injured [1 minute], Disabled [20 minutes], Resurrection [1 hour]; PF: Regrowth; Flaw: Source [water])

Cryokinesis (Array 13; PF: Dynamic, Dynamic alternate power 7; 41pp)
- Dynamic base power: Cold blast (Blast 13)
- DAP: Icicles storm (Blast 8; Extra: Autofire 1)
- DAP: Environmental control 8 (Cold [extreme], Hamper move [50%], Mix-and-match 1; Flaw: Range 1 [touch])
- DAP: Ice bonds (Snare 12; PF: Reversible)
- DAP: Ice claws (Strike 2: PF: Improved critical 1, Mighty)
- DAP: Ice constructs (Create object 10; PF: Precise, Progression 3 [object size]; Extra: Independent)
- DAP: Ice patches (Trip 9; PF: Progression 7 [decrease area]; Extra: Area [shapeable, targeted], Opposed by Dexterity)
- DAP: Ice slides (Flight 3 [50 mph]; Extra: Affect others; Flaw: Platform)

Equipment: Military commlink (as Commlink plus Subtle 1 [scrambler]; 2ep), X-men uniform (Protection 3 [subtle 1] + Immunity 2 [heat & cold, Half-effect]; 5pp)

3ep in mission specific equipment

Combat: Attack +5 (+7 Cryokinesis); Damage +1/+5 (Unarmed), or by power of choice; Defense +10 (+3 Flat-footed); Initiative +5

Saves: Toughness +9 [Impervious 2] (+4/+1 human form), Fortitude +6, Reflex +5, Will +6

Drawbacks: Vulnerable (Heat effects, only in Ice form [Common, +50%]; -3pp)

Abilities 16 + Skills 16 (64 ranks) + Feats 18 + Powers 77 + Combat 20 + Saves 14 - Drawbacks 3 = 158

Complications: Fear (his own potential), Reputation (team's kid), Responsibility (parents and relatives)


poor Bobby, years to outgrown his reputation as the team kid and, even so, he is still considered a secondary character 90% of the time. And, please, let not talk about his hook-ups, he never had the chance for a meaningful story since the time he looked like a snowman in pirate boots

the build is a medium level Bobby (not the Omega level), he is powerful and quite versatile - filling the roles of blaster, environmental controller and team taxi - the same as Storm - but not incredibly so. Still he can boost himself into the upper classes by using some HP

like his buddy Johnny Storm, Bobby has developed the ability to see thermal patterns, but since for a long time this ability required him to concetrate I decided to make it Distracting

there is one thing that I really like of Bobby's characterization, his family. In a world were each and every character seem to have a disfunctional, absent or otherwise problematic family, Bobby's parents are a nice change of pace, being decently supporting and present

[Jabroniville]

Nice Iceman. I like the rest of your X-builds, too, actually- few people are better suited for PL 11/over-cost PL 10 status than guys who've been superheroes for THAT long, with THAT many power upgrades over the years. Are you planning on any other X-characters?

[Woodclaw]

Nice Iceman. I like the rest of your X-builds, too, actually- few people are better suited for PL 11/over-cost PL 10 status than guys who've been superheroes for THAT long, with THAT many power upgrades over the years. Are you planning on any other X-characters?

First class isn't over yet, there a couple of late comers, and I'll surely do the second team (Vulcan? Who is Vulcan?) and possibly the New Mutants, about later additions Shadowcat, Rogue, Gambit and Jubilee for sure but not many others. Since I'm also working on my Armoury articles I'll probably have to slow down a little.

[Woodclaw]

The first class of X NEVER, EVER MARKS THE SPOT continues with some latecomers.


Scott just seems to command respect, and me, I have to work my butt off for it. I always feel like I'm playing catch-up with him.

Havok
Alexander "Alex" Summers

Power Level: 10 (147pp)

Abilities: STR: 14 (+2), DEX: 14 (+2), CON: 16 (+3), INT: 14 (+2), WIS: 12 (+1), CHA: 16 (+3)

Skills: Climb 3 (+5), Computers 2 (+4), Concentration 7 (+8), Diplomacy 4 (+7), Drive 3 (+5), Intimidate 5 (+8), Knowledge (earth sciences) 8 (+10), Knowledge (tactics) 7 (+9), Medicine 3 (+4), Notice 6 (+7), Pilot 7 (+9), Search 4 (+6), Sense Motive 5 (+6), Stealth 4 (+6), Survival 5 (+6), Swim 3 (+5)

Feats: Accurate Attack, Aggressive Counter, Assessment, Attack Focus 1 (ranged), Attack Specialization 1 (Unarmed), Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll 2, Dodge Focus 4, Equipment 2, Improved Critical 2 (Plasma energy control), Improved Sunder, Inspire 2, Precise Shot 1, Rallying Cry, Set-up, Teamwork 1, Untapped Potential

Powers:

Immunity 22 (Own powers, Cyclop's powers, Heat effects, Radiation effects; Flaw: Half-effect [heat and radiation]; 12pp)

Plasma energy control (Array 15; PF: Alternate power 5; Drawbacks: Full power, Power loss [if deprived of cosmic radiation; -1]; 34pp)
- Base power: Damage 14 (PF: Progression 1 [Increase area], Extra: Area [line, targeted])
- AP: Blast 14 (PF:Improved range 1, Progression 1 [range])
- AP: Blast 10 (Extra: Penetrating)
- AP: Blast 10 (Extra: Area [explosion, targeted])
- AP: Damage 10 (Extra: Area [explosion, general])
- AP: Dazzle 10 (Extra: Area [cone, general]; Flaw: Range 1 [touch])
- AP: Corrosion 10 (Extra: Area [line, targeted]; Flaw: Tiring)
- AP: Disintegration 10 (Flaw: Tiring)

Equipment: Military commlink (as Commlink plus Subtle 1 [scrambler]; 1ep), Containment suit (Protection 3 [subtle 1] + Immunity 2 [heat & cold, Half-effect] + Removes the Full power drawback; 6pp)

2ep in mission equipment

Combat: Attack +5 (+6 ranged, +7 unarmed); Damage +2 (Unarmed), or by power of choice; Defense +9 (+3 Flat-footed); Initiative +2

Saves: Toughness +8/+5 without armor (+5/+3 Flat-footed), Fortitude +7, Reflex +5, Will +5

Abilities 26 + Skills 19 (76 ranks) + Feats 24 + Powers 47 + Combat 20 + Saves 11 + Drawbacks 0 = 147

Complications: Love (Lorna Dane), Rivalry (Scott), Responsibility (keep his powers under control)


Havok has a lot of sad backstory, since no writer was ever able to treat him as anything else than a second banana to Cyclops. While this can be understandable - brothers, similar powers etc. - I also think that he is a major lost occasion to show some difference

anyway I placed Alex 1 PL under Scott interms of precision, but a little over interms of pure destructive power, he is a minions-killer of the highest order being able to fire extremly powerful area effects with a 18+ critical

as for the leadership I tried to differentiate him from Scott a little making him a less effective strategist and a more effective "platoon sergeant"

I decided not to make him completly immune to radiation and heat since that implied that Alex will be completly invulnerable to the attacks of people like the Human Torch, Sunfire or even Firelord, which never seemed the case

I left out any flying effect since for long time they were just a trick from his suit rather than a proper power

speaking of suit I think that the Mutant X costume was the best he ever had, in spite of the very '90s belt and bracers

[JoshuaDunlow]

Now that's a good Havok.

[Woodclaw]

Last member of the first class of X NEVER, EVER MARKS THE SPOT (well actually there are also Mime and Changeling, but knowledge of them is limited at best).


Good and bad often come wrapped up in the same package, don't they? We just lean one direction or the other, depending on circumstances and personality.

Polaris
Lorna Dane

Power Level: 10 (141pp)

Abilities: STR: 12 (+1), DEX: 12 (+1), CON: 14 (+4), INT: 12 (+1), WIS: 16 (+3), CHA: 14 (+2)

Skills: Bluff 4 (+6/+10 [attractive]), Climb 3 (+4), Computers 5 (+6), Concentration 5 (+8), Diplomacy 6 (+8/+12 [attractive]), Disable Device 5 (+6), Intimidate 4 (+6), Knowledge (earth sciences) 9 (+10), Knowledge (technology) 6 (+7), Language - (Native: English), Medicine 2 (+5), Notice 4 (+7), Pilot 5 (+6), Search 4 (+5), Sense Motive 5 (+8), Stealth 3 (+4), Survival 3 (+6), Swim 3 (+4)

Feats: All-Out Attack, Attack Focus 1 (ranged), Attack Specialization 1 (Magnetic mastery), Attractive 1, Diehard, Distracting Looks 3, Dodge Focus 2, Precise Shot, Set-Up, Teamwork 1

Powers:

Magnetic mastery (Array 13; PF: Dynamic, Dynamic alternate power 6, Precise, Subtle 1 [require a magnetic sense to be detected]; Extra: Wide; 54pp)
- Dynamic base power: Magnetism (Move object 13 [heavy load: 100 tons]; Extra: Range 1 [Perception]; Flaw: Limited material [metals])
- DAP: Magnetic blast (Blast 13)
- DAP: Magnetic constructs (Create objects 10; PF: Progression 3 [Object size]; Extra: Range 1 [perception]; Flaw: Medium [existing metal])
- DAP: Magnentic field (Linked: Force field + Immunity)

• Linked: Force field 11 (Extra: Impervious; Flaw: Limited [Only impervious against magnetizable attacks, 10 ranks])
• Linked: Immunity 9 (Life support; Extra: Duration [Sustained])

- DAP: Metal manipulation (Snare 13; Extra: Constricting, Flaw: Medium [metal objects])
- DAP: EMP burst (Nullify 10; Extra: Area [explosion, general]; Flaw: Range 1 [touch])
- DAP: Repulsion flight (Flight 6 [500 mph]; PF: Subtle 1 [Magnetic sense to detect]; Extra: Affect others)

Super-senses 7 (Direction sense, Magnetic awareness, Accurate [Awareness], Extended 3 [Awareness]; 7pp)

Equipment: Military commlink (as Commlink plus Subtle 1 [scrambler]; 2ep), Metallic X-men uniform (Protection 3 [subtle 1] + Immunity 2 [heat & cold, Half-effect]; 5pp)

3ep in mission specific equipment

Combat: Attack +4 (+5 ranged, +7 Magnetic mastery); Damage +1 (Unarmed), or by power of choice; Defense +5 (+3 Flat-footed); Initiative +1

Saves: Toughness +13 (Impervious 10 against magnetizable attacks)/+4 without Force field/+1 without costume, Fortitude +7, Reflex +4, Will +5

Abilities 20 + Skills 19 (76 ranks) + Feats 13 + Powers 61 + Combat 18 + Saves 10 + Drawbacks 0 = 141

Complications: Love (Alex Summers), Psychological disorder (Bipolar Spectrum Disorder), Quirk (obsessed with her weight)


rulewise Lorna was quite simple to work out, I just picked my Magneto build and dialed it down 4PLs for starting. I also made some modification to the Magnetic array, particulary modifying the descriptor of the impervious, the FOrce field is now impervious against any magnetic affected attack (meaning ferrous metals, ionized plasma etc.)

Lorna might not be on many people lists for the hottest X-woman ever, but given that she has natural green hairs I think that Distracting looks might be an appropriate addendum

like Alex, Lorna has a long story of suckiness and questionable writer treatments culminating with her failed marriage and the revelation that she was the eldest daughter of Magneto - both things that makes very little sense in my opinion - anyway Lorna has displayed a creepy habit of shifting from bad to good, and viceversa, on a moment notice, os I gave her an appropriate complication

[JoshuaDunlow]

Not a bad Lorna Dane Build, now as one comic book geek to another. Lorna in my book was a Babe. Specially during her run in the early nineties, sure she had green hair but oh man. (hubba hubba) I think Guido put it best, when he tricked her into holding her breath and holding her arms just above her head. Not for any benefit of hers, but because it sure made him feel better to look at. Of course he got slapped right afterwords.

Anyways with all seriousness, its a nice build. But i hate to put all my eggs under one basket, and if you didn't have the "Wide" Extra there i might suggest moving her flight or her forcefield outside the array.

[Woodclaw]

Not a bad Lorna Dane Build, now as one comic book geek to another. Lorna in my book was a Babe. Specially during her run in the early nineties, sure she had green hair but oh man. (hubba hubba) I think Guido put it best, when he tricked her into holding her breath and holding her arms just above her head. Not for any benefit of hers, but because it sure made him feel better to look at. Of course he got slapped right afterwords.

Anyways with all seriousness, its a nice build. But i hate to put all my eggs under one basket, and if you didn't have the "Wide" Extra there i might suggest moving her flight or her forcefield outside the array.

About the wide extra I used it on Magneto to simulate the fact he can only manage to certain number of feats at the same time. The reason behind was that I really have difficulties to picture someone who manipulates a single power source using it to do multiple things at one time. In Magneto's case I don't like the idea of him Flying at 2500 mph, protected by a PL14 defense and blasting around things at the same PL, multitasking isn't that easy.

As a consequence of this decision I ported the same power structure to Lorna.

[Geekery]

(well actually there are also Mime and Changeling, but knowledge of them is limited at best).

I wouldn't even worry about Mimic, since the Exiles version of him seems to have buried the memory of the 616 version (Dark Reign notwithstanding). Changeling helped further one of Xavier's greatest "jerk" moves ever, though, so you might not want to pass him up.

Lorna might not be on many people lists for the hottest X-woman ever, but given that she has natural green hairs I think that Distracting looks might be an appropriate addendum

I've heard quite a few male geeks in my age group confess to having a comics-crush on her, actually. Which is funny, since green hair rarely has that effect in real life.

[Horsenhero]

Nothing here but a statement of support for that Polaris build Woodclaw. Like Havok, I always liked the character and have often groaned over the poor way she's written. About the green hair...while it inspires comic crushes in some fans and as Geekery points out, that rarely translates to real life...look at the girls who go for the "green hair" look in the RW. Poorly done tattoos, hideous wardrobe, usually out of shape (tricep wings are especially unattractive on young people) and a vocabulary that could make a truck driver blush.

Not exactly in the same league as Miss Dane.

Keep 'em coming Woodclaw. They're fantastic.