AdHoc

Below the rooftops in the streets and allyways that form the true city of Paragon a scream splits the air. This is far from unusual of course and such a scream of fear would rapidly draw the attention of a hero eager to right wrongs. This perhaps is a little unusual for it is not some hapless civillian that had uttered it but one of the criminals that so plauge the city.

His tormentor is a single man clad in a grey buisness suit of common apprence along with the more unusual choices of a Gasmask and a single shining pin upon the left breast formed into a single uncoplicated capital 'I'. Enshrouding this grim spectre is a thick black fog. The grey man leans forwrads pulls back his victums head by his hair and scant inches from his terrifed features and muffled by his mask the Inquest hisses a demand "Answers, give me the answer!"

None of those example villians are Arch-Villians. They are Elite Bosses. Or the Villians that wil be PC's in CoV.

Arch-Vilians are in the Mold of Magneto, Kang the Conquerer and Dr. Doom. Villians that require an entire Team to defeat. Spidey has attempted to solo Doom for example, he lost.

With superspeed?

First revolving door n' I'm dead.

Hmmm, spiny Vampire's.

Not if I recall but then again there are legends of a Vampire type creature that was a Head that flew around with its digestive system dangling down. Vampires can be almost anything.

Sticking a spike in someone and drawing blood through it makes sense, as does the fact that spines cause... is it slow effects? Obviously some poision secrected to keep the prey docile.

I don't remember any description of the Berbarang's(Bloodsucking creatures that attack people at cross roads) so yeah, I reckon you could go a distance with a Vampire. In Vampire The Masqurade the classic RPG of Gothic Moping there was a Branch of Vampires called the Tzimisce who did body shape shifty stuff like Bone blades.

Yeah if all else fails just claim it as a Brand of Vampire Unique to the CoH world.

If I remeber correctly the offical explanation for Marrow (X-Men spines/bone weapons weilder) goes as followed.

Marrows power was to rapidly grow here bone structure, so although tey are her bones she is extending them beyond their normal limits and they peirce the skin as normal. The bone however could not be retracted and eiether had to be Cut off or extracted and another grown in its place. A sub-mutation was she was in capable of feeling pain due to a constant super high Endorphine level. Having said that she also had a healing factor.

The Cloths she wore were unstable molecules a marvel stable in which cloth is treated in such away it takes its dimensions and properties by being in contact with its wearers. They have long been a staple explanation in Marvel about how Shapeshifters cloths change with then, how the Torch didn't burn his cozzie off evertime and so on.

Hope this is some small assistence

Ad-Hoc

Real Name: Ad-Hoc is his Legal name, previous name unknown
Occupation: Full time Adventurer
Legal Status: British Citizen, Sanctioned Superhero
Identity: Public
Other Aliases: Number of nicknames on the theme of Speed
Place of Birth: Unknown, Has claimed alien world and other realities amoungst others.
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: None
Group Affiliation: On her Majestys Service
Base Of Operations: Constantly changeing
First Apperence: Currant Form: City of Heroes

History: Ad-Hoc has a habit of altering his story when ever asked about it, claiming that his interveiwers should "Pick the one they like and go with it." The only constant to his story is the accidental nature of his empowerment. His previous Identity seems to have been abandoned as he gave himself over completely to being a Hero. He then moved to Paragon claiming that "I didn't earn these powers so the least I could do is LEARN them" although he has also claimed he is staying since "Its the only City in the world where the majourity of the best looking people have been convinced to wear Skin tight out fits!"
Since then he has frequently been seen engageing a variaty of enemies relying mainly on the sheer mayhem his powers enable him to cause and his 'motor mouth' to annoy, confuse and ultimately defeat his foes.
He was a brief member of two other super groups before goining OHMS, it is beleived previously to this that he was NOT a British Citizen although he was linked to the English Lion, a Captian of the group before he joined. His self proclaimed reasons for staying have included a team member called Ice Angel, That he owes them money and that they take themselves to seriously.
Ad-Hocs irreverent nature makes any solid facts about him few and far between, indeed this may be the reason behind it.

Height: 5' 11''
Weight: 210lbs
Eyes: Green
Hair: White (apprantly natural, possibly bleached in the Accident)

Strength Level: Ad-Hoc possess the average Strength of an adult human male his Age and size, who engages in regular exercise.

Known SuperHuman Powers: Ad-Hoc can manipulate Kinetic energy, increaseing decreasing speed's and relative denistys and impacts. He is also able to project 'Kinetic Bolts' as a secondary effect of his power.

Abilities: Ad-Hoc has displayed suprising skills when needed. It appears his Intelligence is high and his bredth , if not depth, of knowledge is considerable.

Weapons: None. Although his Utility belt is equipped with several mundane but use full items and his Goggles serve a number of functions including Nightvision, Target recognition, Audio/visual recording and such like.

Ad-Hoc: he's just a guy thrown in at the deep end by an accident. However he has developed a motor mouth as a defense mechanism, that combined with his habit of lying alot and chaneing his story when ever it suits him leads some people to consider him far more confident than he really is.

English Lion: He never had a choice in the matter. His ancestors have been the English Lion for hundreds of years. Since birth hes been trained in the Heroic duties and the knightly code of Honour, Nobility and bravery to the point of Psychosis. Though he does occasionaly wonder what life would be like had he not been so burdened.

Iron Duke: Isn't really self aware enough to be called eiether. He simply does what ever an authourised subject tells him to do.

The inspirations for these charaters can be found on another thread their stories are here, no pics as yet though sorry.

The English Lion:

The English Lion is more a title than a name, a title that stretchs back to the height of the crusades. Both sides fought long and Hard at the walls of the Holy city. For either to fail was to fail God himself, both sides commited Atrocities that in these civilised times were considered inexcusably barbaric, but this was the world as it was. In this hell on earth created in the name of God a man grew into something of a Legend. A single English knight was discovered to have wreaked carnage upon foes many times his own number both time and time again. His observes Claimed the Man 'fought like a Lion' he took up the name with pride. This man ws called Sir. Micheal he was to become the first of a line.

For this was a time when the bravest and strongest of men were needed and such a living legend could not be allowed to merely disapear under the sands of time and the desrt. Cloaked men, brought forth a blade. Where it came from, forged anew or anceint it did not matter it was presented to Sir. Micheal in recognition of his skills and bravery. Whomever held this balde it seem was born a new and immortal for the blade would not let its bearer die, such were the potent magiks weaved into it. Thus Micheal slew in the name of his God, King and Country and bequethed unto the blade the name 'Lionheart' in tribute to his Earthly lord.

Potent as the balde was it would later appear that there was more to it. the magics grew with the weilders skill, providing boundless energy, the power of flight and many another talant. It was here Sir. Micheals fall from grace was assured, for power corrupts and Sir. Micheal became addicted to it. But since the power of the blade grew with conquest and Glory, Micheal became instead addicted to battle. The Atrocities ceased to be for higher Ideals and instead became the reason in and of themselves.

This state of affairs was halted however, this red rain that swamped the golden glory under a deep crison abated only upon the death of his wife. Micheal had become a living avatar of carnage and such had not noticed the passing of the years, he merely moved form one battle to the next, after all tiem was for mortal men, his Sword protected him. The Shock drove him out of his madness, and he swore to never again kill.

In time his mind healed and he began to love again, and as is the way of things he married and raised a son and Daughter. The Son Richard was fated to become the next English Lion for it came that he nd his siter fell victum to banditry upon the roads desperate to defend himself it seemed that the Blade Lionheart answered perhaps out of disgust for its time spent Idle. With its power Richard slew his foes and felt the rush of power. Later he proved unable to resummon the balde although upon returning home he found his Farther prepared to instruct him in the ways of war and nobility.

Micheal became dedicated to ensuring his son should not become the beast in mans form that Micheal himself had become, and developed a mighty and noble champion much loved in the area for his stand against the banditry that plauged the populace, Richard and Micheal became Lion and Cub. This continued untill the onset of Richards 21st birthday when he too had married and had a wife abnd famialy. However there was no celbration for his mother lay dying. And Micheal lay beside him self with greif but no older or weaker than since he first lifted the balde. Faced with the terrible knowledge that this would happen again, and then again.

Inspiration struck though, the Blade had accepted Richard before would it do so again? In a silent cermony within the family home Micheal passed on the balde to Richard. And teh son thought long and hard, for the Blade is a Burden as well as a blessing. He accepted in order to give his farther peace. No sooner had Richard declared his acceptence than his farther was visted upon by all that the blade had saved him from, Arrow, sword, axe, hammer, oils and flame al fell upon him at the once. Richard saw in that terrible moment the true nature of war the widowmaker.

The tradition still stands, the blade still exists, passed down from farther to son, each Lion records his life within the 'Diaries' so that each later Lion can learn from their mistakes.

The latest son now prowls Paragon sent from England on her majastys request he fights for God, Queen and Country within a city far from all, he rarely strikes to kill for he fears what he might become. Bred for glory, trained for war and dedicted to all that is more than one man. The English Lion now faces the task of living up to the ghosts of those who went before andthose who will come herafter.

(this is just one of my three 'Mains' but I reckon its enough for nowthe others my pop up later. Sorry its longwinded Lion is my 'Epic' figure. Consider this still a Work in progress.)

Here are the Toons I have 'On Trial' perhaps this will help me choose the ones to keep around.

Name: Buzz Killer
Archtype: Blaster (elec/elec)
Origin: Technology
Server: Victory
Inspiration: Iron Man. Hes always been my favorite Hero, the idea of a very fragile man covering himself in Armour to fight his disability and hide from the world behind a persona whos 'Invincible' just stuck with me. As a Tribute I created Buzz Killer, a genius in the feild of Micro electronics she created Super-Tranistors capable of boosting any electic source many times over. A direct copy of Tony Starks transiors during the earlyest years of Iron Man. Giving here a weak nervoussystem I decided that her Transistors boosted the signal avoiding paralysis and death. She then constructed a belt, Gloves and so on to allow her to do some good before her Nerve web fails. So yeah she's my Iron Man tibute.

Name: SpringHeel Jack
Archtype: Scrapper (Martial Arts/Dark Armor)
Origin: Natural (naturally a HobGoblin)
Server: Victory
Inspiration: I've a fondness for monsters and weird stuff. A semi famous figure from English Myth is Spring Heeled Jack. Argubly the last goverment recorded Hobgoblin, hes known to have leapt buildings in a single bound and cause intense fear in those who tried to apprehend him. Being fascinated by the nature of a Super Heros costume, that as long as their wearing one people don't mind that they can fly, blow stuff up with eye vison and so on. I stuck the figure of Jack inside one. The idea being that a soceity that feared him for his powers has now reached the stage where hes accepted, as long as hes dressed like a 'Superhero'. I then threw a ton of Pat Mills style mythology into his character to give him a background.

Name: The Mambo
Archtype: Defender (rad/rad)
Origin: Magic
Server: Victory
Inspiration: I like Vodoun as a religion and decided to make a more mystical figure of a Preistess. The radiation seemed to provide mutiple effects allowing me to claim she channled many differnt Loa than Just the famous Samedi. Thinking of redisigning the Concept to channel different Angels and Saints. As a Christian I think I should probably avoid making figures based on other religions than my own, worried about not doing a good job of it and being offensive.

Name: El Santo Fuego
Archtype: Blaster (fire/fire)
Server: Victory
Origin: Mutant
Inspiration: The discusiosn about createing a 'European Army' inspired me and soem friends to create Team Typhoon an EU sponsered SG, El Santo was to be the Spanish representative. Sadly I had other SG concerns with OHMS to concentrate much and others dropped out of teh SG. I made him a mutant for teh same reason mutants exist at all in the Marvel comics, couldn't think of an Origin for him.

These are what have become Known as the 'Three Keepers'. Basically since this game began I've deleted 4 toons, and curantly have 3 'on trial'. These three however have for a number of Reasons Stuck fast and they are as a result the ones I use the most.

Character: Ad-Hoc
Server: Victory
Archtype: Science/Defender (kinetic/Energy)
Inspiration: I've had an 'Ad-hoc' for years now. It started as becomeing my sign in name and MSN name but slowly took on a life of its own. For example I Played Diablo 2 as a Necromancer, since then all Ad-Hocs have had White Hair. Playing a game called Hunter: AR 0038 we ended up with an Ad-hoc with a pair of Goggles who was very fast, and that stuck as well. Other Ad-Hocs have appeared in DnD, NWN, Star Wars games, PBEM RPGs well pretty much everywhere

Then This game came along and I Knew I needed Ad-hoc for it as well. He Kept teh White Hair and goggles as was dressed in an obviously Super Hero Costume with small elements desinged to make it look more modern. Kientics was chosen Because the powers were fun and Ad-hocs always been Frantic, goes with the name. The Energy was picked because I could explain them away as Kinetic bolts.

As For personality I designed Ad-hoc as me without any of the insecurities. Or perhaps more, he doesn't understand his powers very well (since I didn't at that point) so theres always a few hints that he is infact simply 'making it up as he goes along' and bluffing like crazy. Once again goes well with the name.

Character: The English Lion
Server: Victory
Arctype: Magic/Scrapper (Broad Sword/Regeneration)
Inspiration: I wanted a patriotic hero. Being English so was the hero. I finally decided to do one closer to the Knightly Ideals and St. George rarther than a Captian Britian style character.

It was then the idea of the Eternal Warrior turned up. A hero trought out tiem would explain the Knightly nature I wanted, being a Phantom fan I decided that the Sword would be handed Down farther to son. Decideing I wanted an obviously magic power of the sword I went for regeneration, this later grew into the idea that the sword kept its bear alive untill he handed it over to his son, dying soon after from the wounds the sword had been protecting him form.

This left me with a Character bred to do what was right but with very large Shoes to fill. the Guy I play when I want to be Noble and Just.

Caracter: Iron Duke
Server: Victory
Archtype: Technology/Tanker (Invulnrability/Energy Melee)
Inspiration: I wanted to do a Tanker and have alove for Robotics, however electronics I don't like. I adore the whole Steampunk imagery and Victorian Iron working and it occured to me that This was the way to go, a Victorian built Steam powered Tanker. Sadly someone else had almost the same Idea in an PnP RPG, as such I desingned Iron Duke as a tribute to this chararcter. I have altered alingment to hero and thrown in personality changes and expalined a goodly amount of stuff about him. I also threw out stuff about fighting Lovecraftian monsters, altered as much as I could while still keeping the core Elements. Iron Duke was juct to cool a name not to use though.

All characters are Members of On Her Majasteys Sevice. A british Super group on Victory.

If you wnat a points based Xp system...

Silver Age Sentiniels d20 everything champions does but clearer and better thought out.

Plus great sections on running Super Heroes/villian and campaigns.