Bonelord-A Villain for Light City

This is a Light City version of a character I created for Icons 8 years ago! Enjoy!





Bonelord

Real Name: Clinton Darnell

First Appearance: Mike’s Amazing RPG Fun Pad, July 2010
AC: 4[15]  HD: 4(20 HP)    Attacks: Weapon (1d6 dmg), Magic Missile from Armor (1d6), or Mystic Item(s)  Move: 12

Humanoid Skeleton: Bonelord is considered Undead and can be repelled by certain mystic rituals and is immune to Charm Person, Sleep and Illusion.

Spellcasting: Bonelord can cast the following spells at will: detect magic, read language, light. He can attempt to wield other spells, but strange things happen. (GM’s choice)

Armored Suit: This garish red and green alchemically treated armor grants -4[+4] armor bonus with no mobility loss and can fire magic missile for 1d6 damage.

Mystical Items: Bonelord usually carries around 1d3 items of variable mystic potency. GM can decide what Bonelord wields.

Unlucky: When it comes to magic spells and artifacts, Bonelord has horrible luck with such forces. Something will go wrong.

Bonelord looks like a walking, talking skeleton encased in a gaudy but effective suit of red and green armor. He always carries magical items of varying degrees of power. Despite not having any lungs, Bonelord still sounds like a normal human being.

Bonelord claims to be Clinton Darner, a rich amateur occultist who accidentally summoned a demon of flaying instead of a hyperactive succubus like he wanted. The occultist escaped his imprisonment in Hell, but could not regain his original body, just his bones. Most of the mystic community believes this story. Bonelord has two reputations: he is extremely clever, but his also one of the unluckiest supervillains on Earth.

A typical Bonelord plan usually involves gaining an artifact that can augment his meager magical skills and give him access to undreamt of magical ability. Procuring the artifact is usually no problem for Bonelord; controlling it is another matter. If an item will open up a gate to the Pure Heavens, an angry Archangel will send down some Seraphim to cleanse the North American continent. If one of the Lost Pages of the Necronomicon will raise “an army of bone”, Bonelord will summon some marrow eaters instead. Anything that can go wrong usually does around this villain. Even other weirdness magnets marvel at the bizarre ways that reality conspires to stop whatever he attempts to accomplish.

Current Status: Mobile, still wreaking havoc by ham-handed use of mystic artifacts.
In Light City Bonelord has repeatedly crossed paths with the Mystical Community
who just want him too stop.

Bonelord Picture created using Fábrica de Heróis.

Mr. Steelfist, CPA for Light City

Here's a character for Light City, a fun superhero hack of the excellent Swords & Wizardry Light. Having fun playing around with the system a bit.

Mr. Steelfist, Certified Public Accountant!

Roy Kranzle was a mild mannered accountant who just wanted a nice comfortable job. In a rare instance of action he tried to protect several of his fellow employees during a paranormal battle. He should have died in the attempt Instead he was “gifted” with a pair of Technomantic Power Gauntlets at the whim of the mad goddess known as Lady Discordian. After the battle he found he could not remove them, as the chaos magic fused the Gauntlets onto him. It took months for Roy to learn how to wield and use his new hands.

At first flustered by his new abilities and his massive new hands, Roy soon began to use his sharp mind to guide the power he now had. He became a reserve member of the Justice Brigade to both learn to fight and use his abilities to help. During tax season Roy is the accountant for several superhero groups but he also helps fight the good fight as Mr. Steelfist CPA!

Mr. Steelfist, CPA
Level 7 Elemental

Real Name: Roy Kranzle, CPA, First Appearance: Justice Brigade #125

Abilities: Str 14, Dex 12, Con 11, Int 16 (+1), Wis 12, Cha 11
Hit Dice: 5HD (25), Saving Throw: 9; Move: 12/48 (Mighty Swings)
AC 7[12] (Steelfist Aura, negated by chaos magic)
Attacks: Thunder Punch: +3 to hit; 1d6+1 kinetic damage; range 60ft
Elemental Powers: Elemental Shield (Steelfist Block); Hold (Stunning Punch); Knocks /Lock (Weakness Detection), Radial Blast (Shockwave Strike)

Notes: In choosing the Elemental Class I reskinned it to represent the various powers of the Techno Gloves. Mighty Swings is grabbing a building and leaping from area to area. Knock/Lock is Steelfist using his intelligence to know the best place to strike to open or lock a door, gate, etc.

This character inspired by Rebel Minis 28mm Men in Black with Power Fists Miniatures.

Is the OSR Dead And Other Ruminations

Here's something I haven't done in a while. Just some random thoughts about various things in gaming and beyond...

Shhhhh! Me and Mr Holmes are thinking!

Is The OSR Dead?

A current meme that's going around is the question "Is The OSR dead?" I'll have to say that the question cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.

Will we see a reduction of the amount of new retro-clone rules? For the various editions of D&D/AD&D, yes. The ones that survive will be the ones that are the most creative with their rule design. You will see retro-clones and revivals for other games continue, and more "what-if" style rules ala Mutant Future (Basic D&D powered Gamma World) and Rotworld (Pacesetter system used for  survival horror).

When it comes to dungeons, campaigns, and worlds? The sky is still the limit. Even if WotC releases every book in their library, someone will want to make their 'cowboys vs terminators helped by psykers and fae" setting for Basic D&D. A set of retro-clone rules makes it possible to share your idea with the world (or those 10 folks who want to cannibalise your games for parts).

Even if the OSR fades away, the ramifications of what they accomplished will go down for years. Sword & Sorcery has returned in force to fantasy roleplaying. PDFs, kickstarters, and print on demand has allowed people to create their own RPGs and supplements to sell in ways not possible even 10 years ago. In the end the OSR took up the do it yourself mantle and went beyond the d20 System revolution to awaken something much greater.

Finally, a thought about WotC releasing the entire D&D/AD&D library. You do realise for every person that buys the old D&D stuff from WotC because it's "official", there may be another that says "I can use this for my Labyrinth Lord/Mutant Future mash-up" when they pick up X2 Castle Amber?

Ad Infinitum Adventures Acquires Icons Superpowered Roleplaying From Adamant Entertainment

Several days ago I saw this press release about the future of the Icons Superpowered Roleplaying game  here.

I think this is a great development. I like Adamant Entertainment. I think Thrilling Tales in both the d20 Modern and Savage Worlds incarnations are among the best in pulp roleplaying. Mars is a great mash-up of all your favorite martian science fantasy  concepts. But I'm glad Gareth-Michael Skarka went this route. Icons is a great superhero game, and it deserves a solid focus to let it expand and grow. Kudos to GMS and Steve Kenson on making this deal.

The New Superhero RPG Golden Age

While I'm on superhero roleplaying games, are we not living in a golden age of superhero roleplaying? We have Mutants & Masterminds (M&M), Icons, DC Adventures, Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, BASH Ultimate, Supers!, and two companies putting out products for Villains & Vigilantes, just for a start.

Yes, I said Villains & Vigilantes. Two companies. It's True.

Plus with various OGLs and Creative Commons there are a metric ton of great material that can be adapted for your favotite superhero RPG. Most of it is M&M 3e/2e or Icons, but from Golden Age  wackiness to dark Dark Knight-Wannabe grittiness there is plenty of Superhero goodness to go around.

I Wish I Had More Money For Kickstarters

To all my internet friends and people who've I bought games from: If I haven't donated money to your Kickstarter, it not because I don't like your idea. I think you idea is kind of sweet actually. I just can't afford to spend my paychecks on everything I want to support. Nothing personal.

Emmanuelle Vaugier is Still Flippin' Hot

Yep. Flipping Hot.

Emmanuelle Vaugier  is still flipping hot. I know it's not gaming, but I just had to get that off my chest.

B-Movie Monday: Captain America II: Death Too Soon (1979)

Big McLargehuge...I mean Reb Brown as Captain America

With The Avengers kicking ass in the theaters I thought it would be fun to visit another man that played Captain America: the one, the only, Reb Brown! Okay, the character has a different history than the real Captain America but it still is fun in that cheesy TV movie sort of way. Actually, it's not a great movie but I've seen worse. And the person responsible for that will pay, oh yes...

I digress.

 Here, fresh from YouTube, is Captain America II: Death Too Soon, in it's entirety. Featuring Reb Brown, Christopher Lee, and the lovely Connie Selleca.

 

[Mystery Men!] Mr. Samuel Weir, Mystic Defender of Old Town

Here's a character for John Stater's superhero RPG Mystery Men! (More info for the game at his Land Of Nod blog.) Old Town is a neighborhood in Shore City, the sample setting created for the game. But feel free to use him in any run down neighborhood that could use a little hope.

Mr. Samuel Weir, Mystic Defender of Old Town

Mr. Samuel Weir has always lived at the Belvedere Hotel, 13th Floor, 13th Room. Even long time employees can't remember a time when he didn't. Urbane and witty, Mr. Weir is a well known fixture of Old Town. One can find him taking him taking in a cabaret featuring the soulful singing of Dena Aveltine, or laughingly shooing away the Down 'n Out Kids as they run down the street. A smile always plays across his face as he walks through out the neighborhood.

The criminals of Old Town tell darker stories, of when Mr. Weir's smile goes away. They tell of strange things and strange events that plague those who take too much away from the hard working folk of Old Town. They also tell of Mr. Weir dealing with horrors that even hardened gangsters are afraid to tangle with. Some even say that when Shore City is invaded by outside forces, Mr. Weir stands alongside its heroes to fight the darkness.

Like his younger brother famed doctor (and wielder of the Purple Claw) Dr Johnathan Weir, Samuel Weir has been touched by the supernatural. Mr. Weir has chosen to remain in Old Town and protect the neighborhood from threats supernatural and supernormal. While he knows that he alone cannot stop the decay that is gripping Old Town, he can at least help those who are trying to help themselves.

Mr. Samuel Weir
Neighborhood Defender

Level 10 Sorcerer

Strength 2
Dexterity 3
Constitution 3
Intelligence 9
Will 5
Charisma 5

Hit Points 29
Defense Class 10
Attack Bonus +4
Speed 2
XP: 15,200

Powers: Regenerate (3000 XP), Sorcery Pool of 50000 XP (25000 XP), Super Intelligence+6 (6000 XP)

Gear: Walking Stick [Potent Attack] (800 XP)

Flaws: Regenerate only works within the borders of Old Town. Sorcery cannot be used to directly damage another character. For example, Mr. Weir cannot cast Call Lighting to fry a drug dealer. He could cast Mirage to cause the drug dealer to swerve and crash into an abandoned building.

Notes: Dr. Johnathan Weir and the Purple Claw were created by an unknown writer and artists Ben Brown and David Gantz. Both are believed to be in the public domain, and are used as such.

And why William Powell? Watch The Thin Man movies. William Powell is the Man!

[Icons RPG] Gavin Rogers IV, Challenger of the Uncanny!

Here is one of the first characters I’ve made with the random character creation rules from the Icons RPG.

Gavin Rogers IV

Origin: Trained

Prowess 5

Coordination 6

Strength 5

Intellect 5

Awareness 5

Willpower 6

Stamina 11

Determination 4

Powers

Blast Device 5 (Enchanted Arabesque)

Force Field Device 5 (Ring of Protection)

Specialties

Military

Martial Arts-Expert

Investigation

Occultism

Qualities

Challenger of the Uncanny!

Identity: World Traveler

Motivation: Help Others in Strange Situations

Connections: Friends of His Cousins

Challenges

Enemy: Simon Rogers, Cousin and Archfiend

Family, The Ties That Bind

Public Identity

Gavin Rogers was a former soldier who returned to the family manor when his Grand Uncle Griffin died under mysterious circumstances. All of his cousins were there including his cousin Simon. As part of his inheritance, each cousin was given a chest, which Simon attempted to buy each chest for a ridiculous amount. All of them refused, and Simon left the Family Manse unhappy.

Gavin soon discovered that the chest contained a gun and a ring collected by his great grandfather Gavin. Gavin Rogers Sr. was a veteran of the Morlock War [1], and the artifacts were the foci and gadgets of fallen friends and allies. What Gavin Sr. could not return to the proper holders, he put aside until the time was right for such items to be wielded again. A separate note was from Great Uncle Griffin, who asked Gavin to keep an eye on the other children, as he was the oldest. They would be given more powerful items, but Griffin was sure that Gavin would make due with the tools at hand.

Forgoing a secret identity, Gavin has thrown himself into helping others found in strange situations. Since gaining the strange gun and the ring, Gavin has fought mutants, vampires, and the beginnings of a revived Morlock Empire. His most persistent foe is his cousin Simon, a jealous man who wants all of the collected artifacts for his own nefarious purposes.

[1] The Morlock War was a series of battles that involved a multiple Earth spanning Morlock Empire and an army led by the legendary Time Traveler. The War spilled onto several parallel earths before it was finally resolved with the destruction of the Morlock Throneworld via Timestorm in 1985 (our time).

Fiction: Later, In Ultronic City

This is a piece of fiction I intended to submit for a netbook, but real life had intruded. I never submitted it. So here it is, a little superhero fiction for ya'll.

Later, In Ultronic City

Thrasher had never seen anything like this before. Some magic-using quack calling himself Mr. Crowley had got a hold of The Dark Passages of Allerac and had ripped a hole in reality. The mystic mojo stuff was way over Thrasher’s head. Well, let Doc Miracle and Penumbra and the Weird Squad deal with patching up time and space. Thrasher was an old school brawler like his old man, and Mr. Crowley had given him plenty of things to hit.

The Justice Brigade had its hands full. The zombie things had begun to pop up all over Ultronic City. Any touch or grab would drain the life force of victim and leave them in a coma –like state. It was almost as if they were gathering the energy to do something dangerous with it. Even the Justice Brigade Reserves were called to help evacuate the City.



Now, here in Silverton Heights, Thrasher joined Lasher and Brickhouse to try to contain the zombie things until the mystic guys had done their work.

“Got this area covered, kid,” rumbled Brickhouse in his gravelly voice.

Suddenly, the zombie things broke through the technomantic barriers developed by Redfist and the Blacksmyth. They swarmed the massive mutant and tried to take him to the ground. As Brickhouse fought these zombie things, Thrasher could see his friend’s red brick skin begin to fade to gray. Then the fight was over, and the good guy didn’t win.

The zombie things turned as one and started for Thrasher and Lasher. For the first time, Thrasher noticed that all of the zombie things looked the same. They had yellow eyes, wearing nothing but brown rags. Bald head, skinny with skin the color of clay. They murmured or moaned something continuously that you couldn’t quite make out.

Thrasher glanced over at Lasher. Everybody teased the pair about how their names sounded alike. It was coincidence, he always said. They had become junior members of the Justice Brigade at the same, and, Thrasher admitted, there was an attraction. Maybe if they survived this, he would...

“If I’m going down, I’m going down fighting,” Lasher interrupted his thoughts as she extended her Cyberlashes. A familiar hum filled the air as they charged to full power.

“You got that right, sister!” Thrasher yelled as the zombies advanced.

He really hoped that the Weird Squad got this settled soon.

-fin-

Secret War 1948: Mystery Men vs Monsters!

By the end of the 40s both superhero comic books and Universal Horror movies were in a decline. Now you know the real reason.

Mix



and




When Count Dracula gathers together the world's greatest monsters into a virtual legion of doom, the greatest superheroes of the Golden Age must band together to fight this monstrous onslaught!

From the courts of Europe to the jungles of the Congo a new war is waged. Not for the fate of nations. For the fate of Mankind itself.

This is

Secret War 1948: Mystery Men vs. Monsters!

Author's Note:

I get my best ideas at work. I had watched the 1994 cartoon Monster Force (monster hunters in super suits vs the Universal Monsters) the night before and my mind began to wander. I took ideas from that cartoon and mixed them with an alternate earth idea I had involving monsters vs superheroes. Ken Hite did this first in the masterful Adventures in Darkness with a Lovecraftian/Golden Age hybrid . I wanted to do it with Dracula.

There are an amazing amount of Golden Age heroes in the public domain. So I had the supers When to set it was important--I wanted the setting post WWII because Nazis pretty much overwhelm any supernatural evil. The monsters would be a mix of monsters, murderers, and mythology. Finally I decided the year: 1948, the year that Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein was released, when the Universal Monsters became the butt of jokes.

I probably will never run or stat this, but I had to share the base concept. Enjoy.

Inspiration:
Public Domain Superheroes Wiki
Universal Monsters on Wikipedia
Monster Force on Wikipedia

Goblinoid Games, Public Domain, and Sinistar

Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've posted, but the writing just wasn't there. But now I feel more ideas coming on, so it begins again.

Goblinoid Games

*The Advanced Edition Companion by Goblinoid Games is a stroke of genius. Like many gamers, I started out with Red Box D&D. The people who were DMing often pulled goodies from the AD&D game and grafted them on. The AEC for Labyrinth Lord shares this spirit as well. More spells, classes, monsters, and stuff that brings back memories. Other people have explained the coolness of the AEC better than I could. Just get yourself a copy.

*Mutant Future Mania: The recent upswing of the Mutant Future goodness in the blogosphere is fun. My current favorite blogs are The Savage AfterWorld with the masterful Thundarr Thursdays and Brutorz Bill's Green Skeleton Gaming Guild, who had me when he stated Sleestaks. A ton of great material has already been produced. I may have to stat up some Mutant Future stuff, too. Maybe I should go the Grindhouse route...

Public Domain

*Two days ago I was looking up the Earth Alpha blog for some BASH RPG stats that the person had posted. One of the posts was a discussion about public domain superheroes. Following the public domain tag, there was a post about a wiki dedicated to the superheroes and supervillains that have fallen into the public domain.

Aslanc has posted his thoughts about using the characters here.

The link for the Public Domain Super Heroes wiki is here.

I love the work that others have done with these characters from the comics of Bill Black, Alan Moore, and Alex Ross, to Ken Hite's Lovecraft/Superhero opus Adventures Into Darkness. When I was a boy, I wrote up stats for many of these characters using the Marvel Super Heroes RPG game using entries from Jeff Rovin's Encyclopedia of Superheroes.

If you're looking for some superhero campaign inspiration, or trying to fill in your character's background, check out the Public Domain Super Heroes wiki.

Sinistar

People over the age of 25 will remember this. Turn up the volume up to really loud before you hit play.