Name: Blue Beetle (1939) Val Char Cost 28 STR 18 15 DEX 15 28 CON 36 20 BODY 20 18 INT 8 15 EGO 10 20 PRE 10 16 COM 3 15 PD 9 15 ED 9 3 SPD 5 15 REC 6 56 END 43 STUN Characteristic Rolls: STR: 15-, DEX: 12-, CON: 15-, INT: 13-, EGO: 12-, PER: 17- Run: 13", Swim: 7", Jump: 5-1/2", Lift: 1,200 kg Cost Powers END/Roll 17 "Chain Armor," Armor 10 PD/10ED, -1/2 Limit OIF Costume, -1/4 Limit Activation 15- 14 "Abnormal Vitality," Running 7" (Total 13") 5 "Abnormal Vitality," Swimming 5" (Total 7") 12 "Keen Senses," +4 with All Perception 7 "Enhanced Mentality," Mental DEF 10 15 "Magic Ray Gun," RKA 2d6, Armor Piercing (+1/2) (45 Active Points), OAF (-1), 8 Charges (-1/2), No Knockback (-1/4) 8 "High-Intensity Spotlight," Images, Sight Group, 4" Radius (+1/2), 0 END (+1/2) (20 Active Points), Only to Create Light (-1), OIF (-1/2) 5 "Wireless Telephone," Radio Perception/Transmission, OAF (-1) Cost Skills, Talents, Perks Roll 3 Acting 13- 3 Breakfall 12- 3 Bureaucratics 13- 3 Climbing 12- 3 Combat Driving 12- 3 Concealment 13- 3 Contortionist 12- 3 Conversation 13- 3 Criminology 13- 3 Deduction 13- 3 Interrogation 13- 2 AK: York City 11- 2 KS: Criminal Law 11- 2 PS: Policeman 11- 3 Mimicry 13- 3 Riding: Horses 12- 3 Shadowing 13- 3 Stealth 12- 3 Streetwise 13- 2 Familiar with Small Arms 2 Familiar with Energy Weapons 1 Familiar with Police Baton 15 +3 Levels with Hand-to-Hand Combat 20 Perk: Vehicle, Fast Car 10 Perk: Contact 14-: Dr. Franz, chemist/pharmacologist, extremely useful skills and resources, loyal to Blue Beetle 2 Perk: Local Police Powers (as Dan Garrett) 200+ Disadvantages 15 Social Limitation, Secret ID: Daniel Garrett, rookie policeman 10 Distinctive Features: Leaves Beetle Insignia At Crime Scenes, easily concealed, always noticed 15 DNPC 11-: Mike Mannigan, normal partner, useful skills, unaware of Garrett's adventuring persona 10 Reputation 11-: Ruthless Vigilante 20 Psychological Limitation: Tries to Obey the Law, Won't Harm Police, common, total 15 Psychological Limitation: Impulsive, Craves "Action," common, strong 20 Hunted 11-: The Police (as Blue Beetle), more powerful 20 Hunted 11-: The Mob, more powerful 10 Watched 8-: Local Police Department (as Dan Garrett), more powerful 5 Unluck 1D6 OCV: 5 (8 with HTH Combat); DCV: 5; ECV: 5; Mental Def.: 10; Phases: 4, 8, 12 PD/rPD: 15/10 ; ED/rED: 15/10 Costs: Char.: 149 Disad.: 140 Powers: + 189 Base: + 200 Exp.: + Total: = 338 Total: = 340 Other Gadgets From Dr. Franz' Laboratory "Electric Stun Gun," 6d6 EB, NND (+1, defense is Resistant ED or Insulated Suit) (60 Active Points); OAF (-1), 6 Charges (-3/4); Total 22 points "Invisibility Belt," Invisibility to Sight Group, 0 END (+1/2) (30 Active Points), IAF (-1/2), Burnout 14- (-1/4); Total 17 points Source: "Mystery Men Comics," Fox Features Syndicate, 1939; "The Blue Beetle," syndicated radio show, 48 episodes, 1940. Background: Young Dan Garrett followed his highly decorated father into law enforcement after the elder Garrett was gunned down by mobsters. He quickly distinguished himself as a rookie patrolman. Despite his dedication to upholding the law, Garrett began to see the limitations of the criminal justice system and to chaffe under the tediousness of its processes. When he expressed his frustrations to Dr. Franz, who operated an apothecary shop on his beat, the chemist supplied Garrett with a suit of blue mesh "as flexible as silk but stronger than steel." Instead of wearing it beneath his uniform, Garrett began slipping it on when off duty and stalking criminals the law hadn't been able to catch. He adopted the name "Blue Beetle" because the armor reminded him of the metallic blue carapaces of beetles he'd seen at the York City Museum. He nearly emulated his father's death while he and partner Mike Mannigan were confronting dope peddlers on the street. Occupants of a fast-moving sedan machine-gunned both Garrett and the drug pusher he was grappling with. The crook died immediately. Garrett lay in the hospital for days, so weak that physicians were afraid he wouldn't recover from the removal of bullets. Dr. Franz slipped into his room at night and made him eat a tablet of Formula 2K, an experimental substance Franz promised would give him the strength to survive. Garrett was back on his beat the following afternoon, fully healed and eager to locate the drug ring. As the Beetle, Garrett launched a one-man anti-crime wave, battling arsonists, payroll bandits, a horseback-riding "ghost," a sea serpent, diamond smugglers, kidnappers, the sinister director of a mental hospital, and even a squad of false Blue Beetles. Feared by the mob and hunted by the police, the Blue Beetle found average York City citizens sympathetic to his cause, especially when he'd just prevented them from getting beaten up or robbed. His successes while on duty gained him unusual flexibility of schedule and assignment -- although apparently not a promotion since he remained a humble beat cop. The police chief was willing the overlook the inordinate amount of time he spent at Franz's store as long as he continued to solve crimes. Dan Garrett is an engaging and earnest young man who hasn't lost the idealism that made him want to become a cop. As long as player-characters are on the right side of the law, he'll be helpful and friendly -- and downright gallant toward female characters. If the adventurers are less than law-abiding, Garrett will be polite but cool and will attempt to find out what they're up to. As the Blue Beetle he is rather abrupt, seeking to startle or intimidate criminals, bystanders, or the PCs into cooperating with him. He won't mind stepping on their toes to gather the evidence he requires. If the PCs resent his high-handed tactics and try to get tough, well, the Blue Beetle likes a good scrap. He'll threaten them with his (for the period) high-tech weapons but will use lethal force only as a last resort. Powers and Abilities: Garrett was an athletic and capable police officer even before he ingested Formula 2K. He is an effective investigator and has a good knowledge of his home city and its residents. The vitamin supplement gave him "enhanced mentality, keen senses, and abnormal strength and vitality." He is now ten times stronger and healthier than an ordinary man. The mesh armor supplied by Dr. Franz is capable of deflecting most small arms fire. The Blue Beetle occasionally makes use of other gadgetry provided by the pharmacist: a "magic ray" gun (1930s laser), a high-intensity light, a portable sound recording device, an electric stun gun, an invisibility belt, and a remote wireless telephone (a 1930s cell phone). But his only regular equipment besides the armor is a fast car he bought at a police auction. In combat, the Blue Beetle is a brawler rather than a scientific fighter. He relies on intimidation and enjoys bashing a few heads together to gather the evidence he needs to convict a malefactor. He is perhaps too confident in his armor's ability to protect him because he's used to battling thugs packing conventional firearms. This has caused him to fall before more thoughtful villains armed with tear gas and electric stun guns. Dr. Franz has since insulated the armor against electric shock. Disadvantages: Although he's the terror of the underworld, Garrett's alter ego is hunted by his brother officers, who consider the Blue Beetle a ruthless vigilante. More than once he's had to grapple with Mannigan while collecting evidence or dodging crooks. He plays practical jokes on his partner as the Beetle but Garrett won't harm policemen and won't blatantly break the law (although he's willing to bend it). His scruples -- and his love of adventure -- have nearly gotten him captured on more than one occasion. He also feels compelled to leave small beetle insignias on the bodies of captured criminals. Height: cm ( ' "), Weight: kg ( lbs), Sex: Male, Race: Caucasian Appearance: Dan Garrett is an athletic man in his twenties. He usually wears his York City police uniform. After he partook of Formula 2K his boyish voice grew deeper and his face and physique became more mature. As the Blue Beetle, Garrett dons a blue metallic mesh bodysuit that covers everthing but his face. The costume includes a black mask that covers the upper half of his face, red elbow-length gloves, and a wide red belt. ======= Hero System write-up by Kevin Scrivner