Character Templates
There are a number of character types that recur frequently in comics, and comic
book RPGs. I've made a few templates that make generating these types of characters
quicker and easier. Just follow the basic instructions included with each template.
Need a quick group? Roll one of each! These templates work equally well for both
player characters and NPCs, except for the Master Criminal. For use with the Rules Upgrade,
just use the same rules that apply for rolling random characters.
Aquatic |
Cyborg |
Energy Projector |
Martial Artist |
Master Criminal
Predator |
Robot/Android |
Speedster |
Stretcher |
Strongman |
Weapon Specialist
Aquatic Template
Description: They work well both beneath the waves and above. They come from
lost cities, civilizations, and races beneath the sea. Examples of this type include
Sub-Mariner, Aquaman, Namora, Dolphin, Namorita, Aqualad, Marina, Abe Sapien, and
Tiger Shark.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Water Breathing
- Speed Bonus (swimming)
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Animal Powers (Fish)
- Animal Control (Fish or Undersea Creatures)
- Flight
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Senses (Radar, Sonar, Magnetic Fields, Smell)
- Heightened Strength B
- Invulnerability
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
- Most Aquatics look slightly unusual (pointed ears, etc.) Only 1 in of 6 of these
types do not look normal at all. Roll a d6, a six means the character looks completely
human, 2-5 means the character has a slightly unusual appearance, a 1 indicates they
are extremely unusual (green or blue skin, obvious gills, etc.).
- Since Aquatics tend to be either hybrids or from non-human races (Atlantean or
Icthyosapien) they have a 2 in 6 chance of suffering the weaskness "Prejudice."
Cyborg Template
Description: These were once normal(?) people, changed into an amalgam of
natural and artificial parts. They may appear relatively normal, but often are obviously
different. Some notable examples are Cyborg, Creech, the Six Million Dollar Man,
Deathlok, Spiral, and the entire CyberForce team.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Bionics (see table below)
- Heightened Strength B
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers/devices from the list below:
- Armor B
- Bionics (yes, a second time)
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Senses
- Life Support
- Natural Weaponry (claws, blades, and such)
- Power Blast
- Special Weapon
- Speed Bonus
- Sample Bionics are listed below:
- Access Terminal (Control computers by 'jacking in', as in Lightning Control)
- Black Box (Record audio and video the character experiences for later playback)
- Extendible Arm(s) (up to 30" reach)
- Multiple Arms (+1d4 arms, +15 initiative per extra arm)
- Replacement Limb (effectively +20 STR in that limb only)
- Secret Compartments in Limb (could hold cash, tools, weapon, etc)
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
- At least 5 out of 6 of these types do not look normal at all. Roll a d6, anything
other than a 6 means the character has an unusual appearance, 2 or less means they have
the weakness "Predjudice" as well.
Energy Projector Template
Description: The purveyors of power. Ladies of lightning, and men of magnetism. They
hurl thunderbolts like the gods themselves. Some examples of this type are Cyclops, Dr.
Light, Heatwave, the Human Torch, Live Wire, and Tempest.
- Base Power (The character gets one by default, select one or roll 2d6-1):
- Darkness
- Disintigration Ray
- Flame Power
- Gravity Control
- Ice Powers
- Light Control
- Lightning Control
- Magnetic Powers
- Power Blast
- Sonic Abilities
- Vibratory Powers
- Most Energy Projectors have flight, either select flight or roll d6 (4 or less) to see if
the character has it.
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Absorption (Energy)
- Adaption
- Flight
- Force Field
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Expertise
- Heightened Inteligence A
- Heightened Strength B
- Heightened Senses (Sense Energy)
- Illusions
- Illusions (Solid Energy Projections)
- Invisibility
- Invulnerability
- Non-corpealness
- Paralysis Ray
- Regeneration
- Speed Bonus
- Transformation
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Martial Artist Template
Description: Masters in the art of war. These experts may have trained in the Far
East, the back alleys of Brooklyn, another dimension, or even the local Dojo. They are
usually calm and serene until prompted into action. Among the examples of this type are
Master of Kung Fu, Karate Kid, Iron Fist, Stick, Elektra, and Bronze Tiger.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Natural Weaponry (Martial Arts)
- Heightened Agility A
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Heightened Agility A (yes, a second time)
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance A
- Heightened Expertise
- Heightened Inteligence A
- Heightened Strength A
- Special Weapon
- Weakness Detection
- Willpower
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Master Criminal Template
Description: The insane, often inane, geniuses who have turned their prodigious
talents to criminal enterprise. These strange, pathetic creatures often leave some
calling card - or act in an obscurely predictible manner. Is it a call for help that
drives them to leave these clues, or are they playing a dangerous, but thrilling, game?
The legions of classic examples include the Joker, Lex Luthor, Arcade, Toyman, Riddler,
Penguin, Catwoman, Mad Hatter, Scarecrow, and .
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Heightened Intelligence B
- Heightened Charisma B
- Roll or choose a weakness from the list below:
- Low Self Control: Anti-Social or Homicidal Behavior
- Psychosis: Megalomania
- Psychosis: Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior (recurrent theme or motif in devices, crimes, hide-outs, etc.)
- Psychosis: Paranoia
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Heightened Agility A
- Heightened Charisma A
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance A
- Heightened Inteligence A
- Poison/Venom Device
- Special Weapon
- Vehicle
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Predator Template
Description: The animalistic hunters of the comic book world. They usually have sharp
teeth and claws, or occaisionally martial arts skill. The best examples of this template
are Ripclaw, Wolverine, Wildchild and Sabretooth.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Heightened Senses
- Natural Weaponry
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Animal/Plant Powers
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Expertise
- Heightened Inteligence A
- Regeneration
- Weakness Detection
- Willpower
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Robot/Android Template
Description: Men and women made of metal. These may have once been normal men
or women, but now occupy a high-tech body of steel and chrome. Examples of this
type include Robotman, Machine Man, Brainiac, Jocasta, Computo, Vision, Ultron, Noman, and
Nimrod.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Choice of Android Body or Robotic Body
- Heightened Strength B
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Adaption
- Armor B
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Intelligence B
- Heightened Senses
- Invulnerability
- Power Blast
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
- At least 5 out of 6 of these types do not look normal at all. Roll a d6, anything
other than a 6 means the character has an unusual appearance, a 2 means they have
the weakness "Predjudice", a 1 means they have "Reduced Charisma."
Speedster Template
Description: They move faster than any normal human. Some can run up walls
or even break the sound barrier. Examples of this type include the Flash(es), Quicksilver,
Johnny Quick, Whizzer, Killjoy, Impulse, Lightning, and Velocity.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Heightened Speed
- Heightened Defense
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Flight
- Heightened Agility B
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Senses
- Invisibility
- Invulnerability
- Natural Weaponry (speed punches)
- Regeneration
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Stretcher Template
Description: They can bend and stretch themselves to incredible length. They are
often quite maleable, and more than a bit twisted too! Some of the members of this rubbery
band are Mr. Fantastic, Shapeshifter, Elastic Man, Flat Man, Plastic Man, Amorpho,
and Madame Rouge.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Stretching Powers
- Heightened Agility B
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Heightened Charisma A
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Intelligence A
- Heightened Strength A
- Invulnerability
- Speed Bonus
- Transformation: Shapeshifter
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
Strongman Template
Description: Sheer power. Massive strength in a human, or more than human form.
Some are more powerful than a locomotive. Examples in this grouping are Black Anvil,
Colossus, Blockbuster, the Hulk, Impact, Savage Dragon, Strong Guy, and the Thing.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Heightened Strength B
- Heightened Strength B (again)
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below:
- Adaption
- Armor
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Endurance B
- Heightened Strength B
- Invulnerability
- Regeneration
- Size Change: Larger
- Speed Bonus
- Willpower
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
- At least 5 out of 6 of these types do not look normal at all. Roll a d6, anything
other than a 6 means the character has an unusual appearance, a 2 means they have
the weakness "Predjudice", a 1 means they have "Reduced Charisma."
Weapon Specialist Template
Description: These guys are the best they are at what they do, but they don't do
much. They specialize in one weapon - and have perfected the use of it to an artform.
They include archers (the most common form of this template), but may use bolas, swords,
boomerangs, guns, or any other type of alien or manmade weapon you can devise. Examples
are Black Knight, Boomerang, Captain Boomerang, Green Arrow, Hawkeye, and Dart.
- Base Powers/Skills (The character gets these by default):
- Heightened Expertise
- Special Weapon
- Roll or choose 1d4 additional powers from the list below, heightened abilities can
be either A or B depending on the campaign:
- Armor (device)
- Heightened Agility A
- Heightened Attack
- Heightened Defense
- Heightened Endurance A
- Heightened Expertise (yes, a second time)
- Heightened Inteligence A
- Heightened Senses
- Heightened Strength A
- Weakness Detection
- If the character has less than 5 powers you can roll or choose more from any table
until they have 5.
- You can also roll the table below for a weapon type if you can't think of one.
- Bow\Crossbow
- Staff
- Boomerang
- Bola
- Sword
- Darts (thrown, blowgun, dartgun)
- Throwing Stars (Shuriken)
- Throwing Knives
- Throwing Disks (Chakram)
- Slingshot
- Gun
- Grenade
Villains and Vigilantes Campaign Headquarters