So I'm reading the Buffy RPG, and I can't help coming up with nifty (to me, anyway) character concepts that I feel compelled to share. These presume a game set in the "canon" Buffyverse, ideally a few years in the future or something, but they could be tweaked to fit anywhere:
GILES 2000: After Willow was taken into to England by Giles (end of Season 6), the Watcher's Council made it a point to investigate what set her off. They found that a young man known as "Warren" was responsible. During their investigation, they discovered Warren's notes and a hidden lab. Impressed by his robotics expertise, they began an ambitious project. Their goal was to re-create the Watcher who trained the most successful (yet unruly) Slayer, Rupert Giles. Mr. Giles was a brilliant and "involved" Watcher, but far too unorthodox and rebellious. Also, he had a tendency to get knocked unconscious on a regular basis. "GILES 2000" would not have these problems. Obviously, they could not create an exact duplicate of Giles without arousing suspicion, but this new android's brain patterns would be loosely based on those of Rupert Giles (surreptitiously nabbed during a routine checkup at the doctor's office), programmed for obedience, and placed in a strong, durable robot body. Once the project was complete, this Robo-Watcher was kept in England, awaiting the moment a new Slayer would arise. The Watchers have high hopes for this new member, whose computerized mind will not become dangerously emotionally involved with it's work. Of course, robotics is still a new science, and things do happen....
I envision this character as a cross between Giles, C-3P0, and the Terminator. He'd be brilliant, stuffy, strong and very durable...though not particularly skilled at fighting. Also a bit clueless about real human interaction...similar to Anya in some ways.
The Vampire Slayer...No, I Mean The VAMPIRE SLAYER!: Few people actually know this, as it happened so quickly, but Faith was not Kendra's immediate replacement. Another Slayer was activated upon Kendra's death, but her career was very brief, even for a Slayer. While adjusting to her new powers, the new Slayer was killed by a gang of vampires with an ambitious (but dangerous) plan...turn a Slayer into a vampire! Unfortunately for them, while the Slayer's powers could not protect her from conversion (and the Slayer-powers themselves did not survive the conversion), they did serve to perserve her soul and free will. Horrified by her new state, the young girl pretended to be a proper vampire just long enough to gain her killers' trust and slay them all. This young lady is now perhaps the most motivated Slayer ever...she's not just the Chosen One, she's avenging her own death every night. Of course, she is also perhaps the most bitter Slayer ever...not only has she lost her powers, she has become a monster with no hope of a normal life. Her hatred for vampires is rivaled by her jealousy of humans in general and The Current Slayer(s) in particular. This makes her extremely moody and difficult to get along with...but her power and dedication to her work makes her a wothy ally nonetheless!
I actually have no idea what the "canon" says about Slayers who are turned into vampires, or if that's even possible. But I think "lose the powers, keep the soul" is as plausible as anything else that happens in the Buffyverse.
So, I've seen some cool character concepts around here before, does anybody else have some they'd like to share?
The Metallian
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"Being strongly anything is usually bad for you, and being strongly anything that's not pro-me is usually bad for me." - Speaker-to-Dreamworlds, on extremism
I'm thinking about using BtVS for kid-games. You know, where young 10-14year olds tackle the bloodsuckers (Lost Boys, Fright Night, ...).
Here are some ideas of mine (unless I read them subconsiously somewhere else). Could also be all this is already covered or countered in the BtVS corebook, but since when do I read rulez.
Starts as a White Hat
Must take Drawback: KID (still have to determine the Cost)
* age between 8-14
* Str -3 (minimum 1). This means to keep a STR 3, you'll need to spend 11 points in STR at character generation.
* Limit the Attribute points? Limit the skill points?
* Gun Fu can be taken but refers to the use of SuperSoakers et al.
Quality: Toys (2)
This means whenever you need some sort of equipment, you will have the appropriate skate board, all terrain bike, water pistol or chemistry set somewhere in your bedroom or attic.
Quality: Occult Library (1)
This limited version of the base OL applies to the access to horror comics, books, porn and videos that may offer insights in the weaknesses of Vampires (Marvel's Dracula, Vampirella, Interview with the Vampire, Reflecting Skin...)
Quality: Dog
Not you. You have a faithfull and preferably usefull domestic animal.
Quality: Contacts etc. should be downsized accordingly. At 1 you have a good friend; at 5 your dad is a cop or major or something.
etc.
What else?
5 Extra Drama points? Limit Speed?
Incomplete, but I'm just making it up. Gotta GM something 2-nite and this popped up.
Cheers,
Marc
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Marc
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I've been pondering the idea of an alcoholic wino who used to be military but is now homeless. He's seen some strange things lately, and doesn't like that some of his friends have been disappearing. He'd be useful, as long as he stays sober. I just have a visual of him grabbing a bottle of vodka, taking a mouthful, lighting a torch, and then "breathing" fire with it in some vampire's face!
I'm going to run, rather than play, so I don't get to come up with cool characters.
Nevertheless, I have a few:
The Byzantine Errant - a Knight of Byzantium who fled the order after he realized they'd become evil - sacrificing honor for pragmatism rather than upholding their ideals.
The Teen Wolf - if I were to play a Buffy game as a Hero, this is the one I'd want to do. Basically, take Michael J. Fox's character from the movie and port him to the Buffyverse. His dad is killed off by a Werewolf hunter who is also after him. Rather than becoming the hero of the basket ball team, he learns to keep his head down so he doesn't end up as somebody's novelty rug.
Still, there's worse stuff than Werewolves in the night, and he thinks he should maybe kill some of it. It's more constructive than mutalating cattle, anyway...
One of my players wants to essentially play Lee from Cardcaptors - raised to fight Vampires without cool ninja powers (actually, he has cool ninja powers, what he lacks is super strength and regeneration). He'd be a big contrast to the Slayer, who HAS superpowers, but doesn't take her job very seriously.
David G.
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Delirium: What’s the name for the word for things not being the same always. You know. I’m sure there is one… There must be a word for it… the thing that lets you know time is happening. Is there a word?
Dream: Change.
Delirium: Oh. I was afraid of that.
"Iron Man": Actually, this was an idea I had for a variant Marvel universe where everything was horror or '50s sci-fi themed. A soldier contracts a degenerative disease (possibly from biological weapons used by our side), so he signs up for an experimental procedure that places his brain in a robot body. This would work really well in the Buffyverse, too, and he could be easily attached to an Initiative operation.
"Saint-Germain": Okay, not the Saint-Germain (who would really make a better villain) but just a sorceror with a ton of Age. Making the character an actual historical or mythical personage is optional, but might be very cool.
The Cat: My initial character concept for the game I'm in--abandoned because it would have been too much work--was to play a Greater Bast from Witchcraft: a magical cat that can turn into a human for limited periods of time. Basically inspired by Greebo in the Discworld novels.
The Hippie War Vet: Played by Kris Kristofferson (or Tommy Chong if you're more interested in the comic aspects). I'm thinking this character would be a White Hat--he used to be Hero-level, but he's old. He was career military, fighting in Korea and Vietnam, then he got sick of fighting and turned on, tuned in, and dropped out. Over time, he's seen things he can't explain away as hallucinations or flashbacks, and now he can be the unofficial Watcher in a group without an official one.
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Kevin Mowery
"The Theist's Nightmare is that Mowery hasn't nailed Debbie Gibson. In a just universe with Intelligent Design, we KNOW this would have happened." --SteveD
"All that's needed for evil to succeed is for good people to say, 'It's a business'." --Alan Shore, Boston Legal
Zack is new in town. Blind since age 6, he none the less manages to do quite well. A bit of a lovable schoundral, Zack uses his blindness to his advantage when lulling others into believing him to be harmless. Nothing could be further from the truth. Zack trained his senses under the tutilige of his grandfather- a master of Iai style blade work. He has trained his other senses to compensate for his blindness. Where other Heroes might falter at the horrific apearance of an enemy, he cracks wise instead, and responds with his flashing sword-cane.
When someone dies and their body becomes a vampire, normally their soul passes on. But the Hellmouth being the way it is, "normally" doesn't count for much...
So one of the vamps in town has the small problem that her soul is still around as a ghost and helping the Scoobies as they're the only people who can see her and possibly help her.
With great effort, the ghost can possess her vampiric body for a matter of seconds before the demon within forces her out. She can't possess anyone else at all.
She has all the angst of being a teen ghost dead before her time and haunting her school, plus a built-in "evil twin" who, unlike her, everyone can see, who has a fair chunk of her personality (including a shared interest in the boy she had a crush on pre-death).
(Theres' no definite canon regarding Slayer-vampires but one did turn up in a DH comic. Dracula indicated it was possible, but I don't take him at his word.)
If your group is a whole new set of Scoobies, I thought of a nice concept for a Giles equivalent.
Unlike Giles, he's not the librarian, he's the assistant principal (i.e. the one who handles discipline and trouble). Which means he can call the Slayer out of class if need be, and cover up problems for her too. Of course, both of them have to be mindful of the head principal.
FWIW, all of his Dark Lore (tm) is stored on microfiche and CD-ROM in a set of dull beige filing cabinets in his office. Locked, of course.
Compared to Giles, he's not as cerebral, but a bit more capable in a fight. Assistant principals have to know how to handle themselves in a fight.
Jon Acheson
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Currently playing: HARP, Stargate D20
Here's my fave PC from my recent Dulwich Horror game set in 1890's London:
Billy Pratt (a bonus pt if you get the reference horror fans)
Strength 1
Dexterity 2
Constitution 2
Intelligence 5
Perception 3
Willpower 4
advantages
Situational awareness
Weird science level 1 (works like Sorcery using science)
Nerd
Drawbacks
Poor 2
Coward 2
Misfit
Teenager
Skills
Acrobatics 0
Art 0
Computers 0
Crime 2
Doctor 3
Driving 0
Getting medieval 1
Gun fu 0
Influence -3
Knowledge 1
Kung fu 0
Languages 0
Mr. Fix-it 3
Notice 2
Occultism 2
Science 5
Sports 0
Background
You have a bad name that has caused you to be the butt of jokes throughout your life. You have sworn revenge on society. Using your superior intellect you have dedicated yourself to the study of science and in particular electromagnetism. You were really impressed with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and are seeking to prove that it is no mere fiction. You have assembled a number of friends to help you collect body parts for your creature. Actually you hypnotised them (all except Pip who has chip on his shoulder almost as big as yours) and implanted suggestions that they help you. They cannot remember being hypnotised. So far you only have one arm and need more parts. You could get these from a number of places. There are mortuaries in the workhouse and the asylum, there is a well stocked churchyard in Dulwich and a medical school in Camberwell. You have a plan to use the treadmill in the workhouse to generate the electricity to get your monster going. Your lab is in some disused pigsties against the North wall of the workhouse. You are 14 years old.
Stuff: Any money you had went on scientific instruments which are kept under lock and key in the gang hut.
Originally posted by Metallian I actually have no idea what the "canon" says about Slayers who are turned into vampires, or if that's even possible. But I think "lose the powers, keep the soul" is as plausible as anything else that happens in the Buffyverse.
It happened once in Buffyverse history, I believe, in one of the novels. Anyone else know more?
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