"Which stereotype super most appeals to you?" Topic

It is a given that most players tend to blend the types (me included) but even so, we tend to lean one way or the other.

So in regards to super characters.

While there could be dozens of choices added to the list, look this one over and try to work with one of these…if you absolutely hate these and can't work with them then add your thought as an other :)

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Brick…the classic strong, tough, and usually large type

Robot (cybernetic, bionic, etc.)…those men made of metal/plastic/etc.

Non-powered Adventurer…the best version of these types are agents, ninjas, operatives

Psionic…those with powers of the mind

Gimmick…types with a focus to their theme…bats, arrows, mirrors, knives, etc.

Alien…not a particular power type, but the theme is focused on being an alien (there are those that look 100% human but are aliens, for those without imagination :)

Mutant…types that are usually mutated humans, though there are other mutants that fit the order, powers vary and some look 100% mundane human

Elemental…usually a whole body power type that becomes or is made of an elemental focus…though some just focus an element

Energy Projector…those that manipulate a particular type of energy, unlike the elemental these types are not usually wholly part of the energy

Avatar…not 13' blue catpeople…those that blend a theme, usually an animal or deity

Shapeshifter…those that can alter their bodies in part or whole

Gimmick, I find low to mid powers to be the most interesting

Power projectors. I just like the idea looking at some perp and smearing them with a blast of my huge ego. And it not leading me getting my @#$ whipped.

Brick. I love a good slugfest between Hulk and anyone in his powerclass like the Thing or Thor.

Avatar. Who doesn't want to answer disrespect with MORTAL YOU DARE CHALLENGE ONE WHO IS A LORD IN ANOTHER DIMENSION!

Elemental tough guy.
Specifically, The Thing.

The Thing is a good one too be sure!

He is a premier Brick type though.

I know the idea of the Fantastic Four is that they represent the four elements, but for gaming applications Ben does not control or manipulate any element…he is a great vision of a Brick…ultra strong, mega tough, big, willing to put hands on the bad guy, and with Ben you get a nice balance of intelligence and specialized training…being a test pilot, astronaut, and all :)

My Favorite was GrimJack

Not sure of her powers but I like them so far…..

If I had to be a more recognizable superhero probability the most disturbed er… I mean best.

Its clobbering time!

Well Ben Grimm of course aka the 'Thing'

Cheers Matt

Hmmm Grimjack…John Gaunt, alias Grimjack, was born in The Pit, a slum area of the pan-dimensional city of Cynosure, where both magic and technology, humans and aliens intermingle…is he a super type?

I would guess a Non-Powered Adventurer…

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Power Girl is a brick…not all that big…well not all of her :)

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And as for being a particular super or not, I was just asking which type rather than a particular named individual.

The Batman, being an icon, could fit into several types but mostly the Gimmick and Non-Powered Adventurer.

Those combined make a for a great street sweeper type :)

Here's another Thing fan. Because when it's clobberin' time, well, who else ya gonna call?

After that, a swashbuckler type like Grimjack, the Gray Mouser, Andrew J. Offutt's Shadowspawn, Mike Grell's Warlord, Errol Flynn's Captain Blood.

Supernatural: Spectre, Deadman, Doctor Fate, Doctor Strange, Zantanna, Phantom Stranger

Yes sir…I had left a couple stereotypes off the list, just to see what would happen :)

Good catch!

The Supernatural type is a fun one. Phantom Stranger and Etrigan the Demon are two personal favorites!

So in the theme of the thread…a supernatural type…tied to some curse or mixed blood history perhaps?

A character seeking redemption through good deeds and stopping evil…all skin covered…hiding the progression of the curse/blood line as he becomes a demon.

You left out Tech Wonder, e.g. Iron Man, Booster Gold, Rocket Red, War Machine… Normal humans who use advanced technology to give them powers, but are otherwise unexceptional, aside from possibly being genius inventors.

Another class might be Augments… Humans who have been biologically enhanced just above the range of typical human ability, but not exponentially so. Captain America is a prime example. Stronger, quicker and faster than even an Olympic athlete, but not so much as to be tossing cars around.

I'm also a fan of " one power" types. That is, they have one, narrowly defined super power, but are otherwise limited to human ability. For example, can fly, but that's it, or is invulnerable, but that's all. The show Heroes started out with this concept. Mutants seem to follow it, but some get too extreme for me.

Yep the Genius types…those that make equipment, armor, weapons, vehicles, etc…another left off to catch attention :)

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"I'm also a fan of " one power" types. That is, they have one, narrowly defined super power, but are otherwise limited to human ability. For example, can fly, but that's it, or is invulnerable, but that's all. The show Heroes started out with this concept"

Huge fan of this format.

I have always appreciated this aspect since my first Villains and Vigilantes game so many years ago; 1979.

We played the reality concept, meaning the characters started off as us the players…normal stats, students, 14-20yrs old, and one power…just one.

But the rest of the world of supers also had one, with an exceptional few having two, and the icons with a three or four.

I had super speed…could run x10 (I think it was a 15-18sec mile sort of speed)…I look back and issues of speed related injuries did not come up, so chalk it up to the innocence of the gaming times :) He was outfitted with a lightweight helmet, face shield, O2 tank (for shortness of breath and recovery), a cool suit with a cooling unit and water veins all over, special boots, and a bat…yes a aluminum bat, I was 14yrs old after all :)

The Rocket if I remember right…it has been a bit…or Red Rocket, something like that.

We had a super strong guy, a robot boy (human brain in the chest…as we found out when his head got knocked off later on), a flyer, and a fire breather.

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Yep one power can be empowering if the players are not bottom feeders…all the other supers are far and above them, then that is disheartening…but if done right, one power can be fun.

In a mundane world one power is certainly wiz bang in my book.

I've always liked Bricks, especially the streamlined female variety (i.e. She-Hulk, maybe Wonder Woman would also fall into this slot?)

Speedsters would be a close second.

I suppose villains have their own specific categories: I'll take Schemer/Puppet-Master, manipulating events behind the scenes

And the most obvious one of all: the Paragon/invulnerable guy in cape! Isn't that what most people think of first?

BTW, the ICONS rpg has some .pdf guides to character archetypes that I found interesting reading. . .

ICONS archetypes

THE DESCENDANT IS A HERO WHO HAS INHERITED HIS TITLE FROM AN OLDER HERO WHO HAS DIED, lOST HIS POWERS,
TURNED TO EVIL OR RETIRED. THIS GIVES THE NEW VERSION A HISTORY, BUT ALSO BIG SHOES TO FILl. HE MAY HAVE STARTED
OFF AS A SIDEKICK.

THE DIVINE HERO IS A CHARACTER WHOSE POWERS STEM DIRECTLY FROM A LIVING RELIGION LIKE CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM,
OR JUDAISM,
AN EMBODIMENT PERSONIFIES A UNIVERSAL FORCE, SUCH AS JUSTICE. THE EARTH, OR SPEED. HE OR SHE IS VERY
POWERFUL BUT ALSO HAS TO ANSWER TO AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL BOSS.

THE EX-CON IS A FORMER VILLAIN OR PETTY CRIMINAL WHO NOW FIGHTS CRIME. HE MAY BE A GOOD GUY WHO GOT
MIXED UP WITH THE WRONG CROWD OR A REAL SCOUNDREL WHO IS WORKING FOR JUSTICE ONLY UNDER DURESS.

THE FEMME FELINE IS AN ESPECIALLY POPULAR SORT OF ANIMAL HERO. A WOMAN WITH A CAT MOTIF, SHE IS MORALLY
AMBIGUOUS AND FLIRTY.

THE FERAL HERO IS A JECKYLL & HYDE CHARACTER THAT TRIES TO DO GOOD BUT STRUGGLES WITH A DARK, ANIMAL
NATURE. WHICH LEADS HIM TO KILL.

THE FOCUSED HERO IS A NORMAL PERSON WITH ONE SUPER-POWER SUCH AS FLIGHT. INVISIBILITY OR GREAT STRENGTH
-- WHICH HE HAS LEARNED TO MASTER.

A GADGET GUY OR GADGET GIRL IS USUALLY A SCIENTIST WITH A COLLECTION OF WEAPONS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.
INCLUDING A VEHICLE.

THE HANDICAPPED HERO OVERCOMES A SERIOUS DISABILITY THROUGH ADVANCED TRAINING. SUPERPOWERS, OR JUST
RAW GUTS.

THE JUNGLE HERO IS A CARETAKER OF A HIDDEN LAND AND WHO OFTEN HAS ANIMAL-RELATED POWERS.

…wacky…

Gimmick.

My faves were Batman, Zorro, and the Sea Devils.

Though I have to admit, I liked the Atom too.

John Gaunt.

Avatar and Brick for me… Thor and Hulk.

I would have to go with the telepath , but specifically machinepaths , those that control machines , I have always loved the idea of 'Box' from Alpha FLight, able to reconfigure the body to suit.