FOLDERNAME: The Watchtower Report

/Watchtower_R&D: C am Banks, Jason Corley, Jack Norris,

and Josh Roby
/Watchtower_Editorial: Amanda Valentine
/Watchtower_Graphic_Design: Tiara Lynn Agresta
/Watchtower_DC_Comics_Liaison: C hristopher Cerasi
and Shawn Kittelsen

/ Watchtower_QA_Testing: Chris Czerniak, Tony Delgado, Morgan Ellis,

Will Huggins, Colin Jessup, Judson Lester, Ryan Macklin, Sarah Miller, Mike Olson,
James Ritter, Meghann Robern, Benjamin Roby, Seth Roby, Sonja Roby, and
Mark Vallianatos

/ Watchtower_Stakeholders_and_Support: Adrian Agresta, Jessica Banks, the

Bear Swarm, Christi Cardenas, Town of Cloverdale, Kim Corley, Erica Durance,
Cassidy Freeman, Justin Hartley, Susan Kesser, Diana Pearson, Brian Peterson,
Meghann Robern, Source Comics & Games, Kelly Souders, Starkville House of El,
Clark Valentine, Margaret Weis, and Tom Welling

/This book is dedicated to all of the game hackers, bloggers, podcasters,

fanfic writers, cheerleaders, and supporters who continue to spread the
word and save the world. Stay out of the Phantom Zone.

Based on the SMALLVILLE Roleplaying Game created by Cam Banks, Roberta Olson, and
Josh Roby with Tiara Lynn Agresta, Joseph & Mary Blomquist, and Amanda Valentine

Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster

SMALLVILLE and all related names, characters and elements are trademarks of DC Comics
© 2011. All rights reserved. CW logo © 2011 The CW Network, LLC. All photo images © and TM
2011 WBEI. Margaret Weis Productions, the MW Logo, Cortex System, the Cortex System Logo
(and derivatives), and Project K are trademarks of Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd. © 2011.

™
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE VIEW FROM UP HERE 5 EXPANDING PLAY 39 CASEFILES: EXPANDING RESOURCES 97
LUTHORCORP PROJECTS. . . 64
Looking at the Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 THE ROLE OF WATCHTOWER 40 Variations on Resources . . . . . . . . . . . 98
PROJECT 1138
Looking at the Opposition . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Collaboration Vs. Competition . . . . . . 40 Buffy Sanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 CASEFILES:
What’s in this Book? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Watchtower Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . 41 PROJECT ARES ZONERS & ALIENS . . . . . . . . 102
Wes Keenan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Aldar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
SIDELINE EPISODES 43 PROJECT GEMINI
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS 7 Baern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Parallel Stories and Sideliners . . . . . . 43 Grant Gabriel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Bizarro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
The Role of the Villain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 PROJECT INTERCEPT. . . . . . . . . . 68
Identify the Sideliners . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Dr. Hudson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Villainous Archetypes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PROJECT MERCURY. . . . . . . . . . . 68
Identify the Leads and Traits Targeted Faora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
PROJECT PROMETHEUS. . . . . . . 69
Antagonists at the Table: by the Sideliners’ Actions. . . . . . . . 44 Gloria. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Villainous Leads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 PROJECT SCION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Create the Sideliners and Situation. . 44 Titan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
PROJECT STARKHAWK
Minor Features: Bad Made Easy. . . . . 14 Typical DDS Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Zod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Identify the Key Decision for
The Casefiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Each Sideliner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Zor-El . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

CASEFILES: Play the Episode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 EXPANDING ASSETS 71

BELLE REVE SANITARIUM. . . . 16
Play Out the Key Decision in the DISTINCTIONS 72
THE STORY SO FAR 113
Alicia Baker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Tag Scene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Eric Summers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Variations on Distinctions. . . . . . . . . . 72 Season Ten . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
But They’re So Cool!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 SEASON TEN
Ian Randall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 New Distinctions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
FEATURE UPDATES 132
Tim Wescott. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 What Do We Do in a Parallel Game?— Fighting Styles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Identifying the Goal. . . . . . . . . . . . 47 NEW SEASON TEN FEATURES 135
Tina Greer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Metamorph Heritages. . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Tommy Lee. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Kitty Brennan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Booster Gold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
ABILITIES 81
The Twins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Katrina O’Brien. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Cat Grant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Variations on Abilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Deirdre C. Loudermill . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Conner Kent. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 23 Holly Brennan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
New Abilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Deadshot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Introducing New Leads. . . . . . . . . . . . 24 GEAR 84
Create the Situation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Desaad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Variations on Pathways. . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Variations On Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Advancement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Emil Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Quick and Dirty Features. . . . . . . . . . . 30 New Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
CASEFILES: LEVEL 33.1. . . . . 49 General Slade Wilson . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
DISTINCTIONS CHART 32 Daniel Kim. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 CASEFILES:
General Sam Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
CASEFILES: Jed McNally. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
VERITAS SOCIETY. . . . . . . . . . 90
BLACK CREEK, MONTANA. . . 33 Lowell Wilson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Dr. Bridgette Crosby. . . . . . . . . . 91 Gordon Godfrey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Betty Sans Succi. . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Moira Sullivan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Laura Queen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Granny Goodness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Eva Greer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Mikhail Mxyzptlk. . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Robert Queen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Harriet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Leslie Willis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Molly Griggs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Dr. Virgil Swann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Isis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Neutron. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Nick Yang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Patricia Swann . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Jaime Reyes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Rudy Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Tobias Rice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Edward Teague. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Linda Lake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Genevieve Teague. . . . . . . . . . . 96 Lieutenant Trotter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Lucy Lane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Sebastian Kane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 EXPANDING DRIVES 55
Mera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
VALUES 56
Variations on Values 56 Rick Flag. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
RELATIONSHIPS 60
Variations on Relationships 60
FOREWORD //

/Smallville has been a prominent part of my life for a few years now.
Throughout my involvement with the show, I have been gifted with the
responsibility of playing Oliver Queen, aka Green Arrow – I even had a
chance to be part of writing an episode. I have learned countless things
from my time on the show, but perhaps none more important than the
following: the green suit is hot in the summer and cold in the winter –
who would have thought. Also, I’ve experienced that once you become
a part of Smallville, in any capacity, you inescapably become a fan of the
story of Clark Kent, and his hard fought journey to become Superman.
The character is fascinating, and so is the way the writers tell Clark’s
story. I’m not going to lie to you, probably like any other fan, there are
times when I wish the story had taken another turn, or that something
had or had not happened in a given script… or that I was Lois – that’s one
lucky girl. Well, now is my chance – yours, too. You can become a part of
Smallville by taking its storytelling to the limits of your imagination. Step
inside our world as your own character – find out how your Smallville
story will begin, how it will end…
or how Oliver looks in a pencil skirt.

/Thanks for watching. It’s truly

been a joy to be part of such a
special show, surrounded by
wonderful people – from the cast
and crew, to the fans. Now, enjoy
“your” Smallville. And let’s see if we
can make Clark fly!

…Justin Hartley
™
THE VIEW FROM UP HERE
 All of Metropolis spreads out beneath our feet; you can see
Smallville off on the horizon. These monitors are hooked up to CCTV,
security cameras, and traffic cameras—not all of it exactly legal—but
you can more-or-less see everywhere. And over here are the hook ups
to government databases, bank records, and…well, everything else
with an electronic network that can be peeked into. So basically from
here, you can see everything.
You can work from up here, manipulating things to poke and
prod the people down below to amuse yourself. Let me tell you,
though—that gets a little hollow over time. The real fun comes when
you invite them up here to join you.
And that’s sort of the idea for this book. Sure, the cover of the
book says Smallville: The Watchtower Report, but it isn’t the
Watchtower book, only for Watchtowers. This book is for everyone
at the table, written from Watchtower’s vantage point. When we say
“you” it usually directly addresses Watchtower—Play Advice boxes
and Antagonists at the Table: Villainous Leads being notable
exceptions—but you players know not to let that put you off.
This book takes the Smallville Roleplaying Game apart from the
top down, fiddles with all the parts and whirring gears, and then puts
it back together—possibly in a completely different shape than when it
started. It also goes behind the scenes a little, revealing more about the
nature of antagonists and throwing obstacles in the path of the Leads.
But this book also touches on the way that even Leads can be bad guys,
because Lex is just as important to the Smallville story as Clark.
Are you ready? Good. Let’s get started.
Looking at the Rules
This book talks about rules a lot. It expands the rules chapters in
the Smallville RPG, from Pathways to People, adding optional and
variant approaches to existing game mechanics. The reason for this
is simple—roleplaying games are fun to tinker with. The Cortex Plus
rules, especially, are open to a lot of hacks and mods; Smallville’s
already a kind of drama toolkit, so it makes sense that you might
want to add more tools.
In Smallville, the rules exist to help you tell dramatic stories
about people who come into conflict with each other and with the
forces that seek to drive them apart. You’ve probably noticed by now
that they don’t necessarily represent real world physics any more than
the Smallville television series does. Instead, the Smallville rules
step in and help you wrestle with that same kind of script logic that
powers all cinematic narrative, the one that emphasizes motivation,
connections, ambitions, and desire. The expanded rules in this book
go to greater lengths to help you achieve that, but there are also tweaks
and options to make it easier for you to justify those real world physics,
even if it’s just for the sake of clarity and good stories.
There are also basic expansions that take existing rules and
push them a bit further. Resources that use more than 2 dice, for
instance. Or new Distinctions and Abilities, some with new benefits
or drawbacks. This is the core of most RPG supplements, and that’s
all here, too.
Finally, we sprinkle a lot of troubleshooting advice throughout
the book in the form of Play Advice and Watchtower Alerts.
Want something clarified from the Smallville RPG? Curious as
to how to add something into your game without throwing it off?
Don’t understand what we meant by something? Many of these boxes
directly address actual feedback and questions we’ve had since the
6 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
Smallville RPG was published. With any luck, your questions
are all answered here. And, if not, it should at least get you started
on figuring out the answers yourself.
Looking at the Opposition
This book also talks a lot about the bad guys—the antagonists
and opposing forces that make Smallville a real drama of
conflicting ideals and ambitions. Casefiles between each of the
chapters cover important (or just interesting) Features from the
past ten years of the Smallville series, and Expanding the Story
So Far catches you up on Season Ten’s new characters.
The Casefiles are an important part of the Watchtower’s
repertoire, even if you don’t use them as written. Each meteor freak
and malevolent alien included in the Casefiles is an example of how
to create wedges between the Leads, or force them to come together
to overcome an obstacle they can’t take on alone. Some of Clark’s
foes over the years have been truly frightening (just look at Brainiac
in the Smallville RPG) while others are more significant for how
they created tension between Clark and Lex, or Clark and Chloe, or
any other tense relationship. You can use them as inspiration for your
own Features or as fuel for antagonistic Leads. Go crazy.
The antagonists in this book are also here for much the same
reason that new and expanded game rules are here—it’s always fun
to see how game rules represent characters and situations from
TV or movies. Because characters are always changing, and new
developments in the plot are always happening, you might decide
that the Value statements for Isis or Zod or Booster Gold don’t
quite match how you’ve always seen them. The good news is that
you can change any or all of those aspects of a writeup—we can
assure you that you’re not going to break the game.
What’s in this Book?
▼▼ The View From Up Here: That’s this bit. Listed here purely for
completists.
▼▼ Expanding Antagonists: More rules and suggestions for
running—and playing—villains and bad guys in Smallville.
Casefile: Belle Reve, Kansas Inmates of this infamous institution.
▼▼ Expanding Pathways: Advice for creating and modifying
Pathways charts for variant spinoff campaigns.
Casefile: Black Creek, Montana Some of the subjects of this
secret site.
▼▼ Expanding Play: Twists and turns on the rules of the game for
Watchtowers and players alike.
Casefile: Level 33.1 Lex and Lionel Luthor’s little-known
laboratory location.
▼▼ Expanding Drives: More ways to describe what motivates and
empowers you in the world of Smallville.
Casefile: LuthorCorp Projects Extra experiments of evil.
▼▼ Expanding Assets: Additional Distinctions, Abilities, and
Gear, with some variant rules to go with them.
Casefile: Veritas Society A cabal of the Krypton-curious.
▼▼  xpanding Resources: New spins on Extras and Locations.
E
Casefile: Zoners Jor-El’s Phantom Zone freaks and affiliated
alien fiends.
▼▼ Expanding the Story So Far: Updates for Season Ten,
including some old friends and new enemies.
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
FROM: MERCY@Watchtower
TO: ARCHER01, BOYSCOUT, SEAKING, JJMARS, JSA_ALL,
RUNRUNRUN, CYB_VIC, MISS_ZZ, EMILH
SUBJECT: Casefiles
I am distributing updated casefiles on the LuthorCorp
projects and major metahuman threats you have faced
in the last few years. Some of this was acquired at great
risk to me from LuthorCorp archives and government
task force databases. Chloe put the rest together. With
the recent VRA problems and increased scrutiny, this
information is encrypted content with rotating security
seeds to keep prying eyes away from what we know.
That said, I know some of you like to keep this on your
handhelds or laptops or whatever. Talk to me about
protocols to make sure those don’t become a liability. Best
practices, people. Best practices.
I know there are some gaps here. To be honest, I’m
surprised we have this much after several core breaches,
cover-ups, and mass file stripping. If by chance any of you
have more to add, let me know. But it’s not a wiki. I hope
most of you know what I mean when I say that. Victor, this
reminds me. I think there are some recognition templates
we can synch you up with later. Let’s dialogue about that
and make it happen.
A hero is defined by his villains. Without antagonists to
fight, banter with, and occasionally seek to redeem, protagonists
are just guys who stand around and wish there was something
to do. Villains define heroes and other characters by being what
they aren’t. This contrast emphasizes important qualities of the
characters in a story and makes them seem more real, fun, and
interesting. In other words, you need good bad guys.
But antagonists are tricky. They need to be active credible
threats, but they can’t overshadow everyone else. They need to
be dangerous, but if they just massacre everyone around there’s
no more story. They need to be believable and compelling, but
your players still need to feel good about beating them and
foiling their plans. And since there tend to be more antagonists
in most stories than protagonists, they need to come in various
shapes, sizes, and flavors.
None of this is particularly easy. But if you can create
the right villain or antagonist, the result is worth it. People
remember the truly great bad guys at least as much as they
remember the heroes who opposed them and the supporting
characters they menaced.
Smallville has had some really great villains. Scratch
that—they’ve had some of the most famous and best villains
of all time. Anyone who knows about Superman or Clark Kent
likely has heard of Lex Luthor, his bald-headed, super-genius
arch-nemesis. People know you kneel before Zod. Doomsday
8 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
isn’t just a monster; he’s a walking tragic event. These guys are
some of the nastiest, scariest, and most interesting antagonists
around. And they’re not alone.
The following section includes many of the types of bad
guys Clark and friends have faced over Smallville’s ten
season run. They range from cold-blooded alien killers to the
misunderstood meteor-infected. But that’s not all. We’ve also
included advice for playing villains as Leads, rules for Minor
Features, and a list of secret projects and locations primed to
produce even more threats for your spinoff campaigns.
Ready? Let’s bring on the bad guys.
The Role of the Villain
We’ve touched on this a bit already, but let’s really talk
about the roles of the villains in your spinoff. A villain isn’t
just everything the good guy isn’t. Even baddies like Bizarro,
who are supposed to be the hero’s opposite, aren’t just flipped
copies of the hero. They have their own desires, beliefs, and
personality. The more the villain shows up in a story, the more
important these things become. A purse-snatching thug can
be a thin character with a few distinguishing features. But the
long-running or prominently featured bad guys should be more
than that. They’re often the reason the heroes and their allies are
getting involved in various events. So they need to be interesting
and you need to know why they’re there.
Interesting villains are the ones you care about. That
doesn’t necessarily mean you like them. You might hate them.
You might despise what they represent, yet you want to reform
them. The exact emotions a good villain evokes do matter, but
it’s more important that they evoke some emotion. For the right
story, even pathetic, funny bad guys are entertaining. Of course,
you want the villain to hit the right notes. A funny loser is only
a good villain when you want a funny loser. If you wanted a
terrifying monster? That’s a problem.
VILLAINS ARE THEMATIC
So how do you make the right villain for the right story?
You look at your Leads, their Values, Relationships, and other
Traits. You look at your major Features and the overall feel of
your stories. You find a theme or idea that resonates with all
those things and select a villain that touches on that. You can
use an existing villain or create your own to accomplish this.
Either way, you’re looking for a character that will drive wedges
between your Leads, inspire them to action, and hopefully
be someone they care about. A villain might have the coolest
powers, name, or backstory around, but if he doesn’t motivate
and inspire the Leads then he’s a bad fit. Making this work isn’t
always easy, but it’s very rewarding.
VILLAINS ARE FOILS
Most villains are also foils for the other Leads. This isn’t
universal, but it’s pretty common and effective. Thus, when
adding a villain to your story, try to figure out what aspects of
another character you want to contrast and emphasize. Maybe
your villain is greedy to help showcase the charity of a Lead. Or
maybe he’s also charitable, but that virtue actually springs from a
selfish desire that a more heroic character lacks. The differences
between the villain and others can be subtle or blatant, minor or
major, important or trivial. All these variations tell something
about all the characters involved and can produce even more
ideas for scenes, conflicts, and plots.
THE LEADS LEAD THE WAY
One good way to approach villains is to decide what they’re
going to do, give the Leads a fair chance to find things out, and
then have them do that unless stopped by the Leads. This is
especially good for Smallville, where the focus is more on
story and drama than traditional victories. For example, if a
villain is funding a revolution to generate defense contracts
for his corporation, give the Leads clues and hints that this is
occurring. If they don’t notice or care? Start the revolution. It
isn’t necessary to have a Feature come in and fix things because
that revolution will likely be just as interesting and dramatic as
if the bad guy is stopped. After all, that’s what you’re looking to
the villain for: interesting drama. It also reinforces the idea that
the Leads are important. Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean
villains always succeed in their plans if not directly opposed by
Leads. Sometimes one Lead alerting the right person will do
the trick.
VILLAINS LOSE
Finally, your villains should usually lose. At least they should
lose when Leads really try to stop them. This defeat doesn’t
necessarily come fast or easy. But ultimately, after dramatic effort,
most bad guys should go down. In the end, the whole reason the
villains are here is to showcase what makes the Leads so great and
to know the sting of defeat—at least until the next time.
Villainous Archetypes
Villains fall into many categories, from Assassins to Zealots.
These villainous Archetypes aren’t meant as strict classifications
that can never be changed, altered, or adapted. Instead, they’re
general roles to look at when making your own bad guys or
choosing suitable Wedges and plots involving existing villains.
Some villains are a mix of villain types, but they usually tend to
favor one Archetype over the others.
The following list of Archetypes is by no means complete.
Feel free to add your own. Each Archetype entry consists of a
brief description of the Archetype, examples from Smallville
and other sources, recommended Assets and Resources, what
purpose the villain often serves in the story, and whether such a
villain usually makes a good Lead.
ASSASSIN
This villain kills for profit and he rarely makes it personal.
In many ways this just makes such a Feature more despicable, as
there are few emotional ties between his victims and himself. To
the Assassin, a dead body is just a paycheck. An Assassin may
be paid in money, favors, promises of power, or anything else he
values. If he fails in his mission, he might become obsessed with
finishing the job. Most Assassins operate in secret and avoid
media exposure, though many use signatures or gimmicks like
Deadshot’s “bullet with your name on it.”
Examples: Deadshot (Smallville), Cameron Mahkent/
Icicle (Smallville), Colonel Sebastian Moran (The Return of
Sherlock Holmes)
Recommended Assets: Marksman, Martial Artist,
Sneaky, and Weapons Master. Metahuman Assassins favor
Abilities or Gear that allow them to quickly kill a target or
escape detection.
Recommended Resources: Assistant, Order/Guild of
Assassins, Safehouse
Story Purpose: To show the emptiness of a life of violence
and greed, to menace an important Extra or Feature, and to
force a Lead to choose between saving a victim or stopping
another threat designed as a distraction.
Lead Suitability: Without motivations outside killing for
profit, Assassins usually don’t make good Leads. An Assassin
out for revenge after being betrayed or a killer trying to reform
or retire might make a suitable Lead.
POWER BROKER
This villain represents ambition taken too far. The Power
Broker usually has money, power, and everything most people
would want. Of course, he wants more. Maybe he wants to have
superhuman abilities, to be president, or to rule the world. He
might even convince himself he’s serving a higher cause, but
his ruthless methods tell a different story. He will lie, cheat, and
murder to get what he wants. Also, this guy is so used to winning
that he can easily become fixated on those who foil his schemes.
Examples: Lex Luthor (Smallville), Amanda Waller
(Smallville), Richard III (Richard III)
Recommended Assets: Manipulative, Mastermind,
and Wealthy are staples. Backhanded, Connected,
Cosmopolitan, Fixer, and Vicious are also common.
Recommended Resources: Corporate Holding,
Private Estate, Private Security Team
Story Purpose: To show the dangers of power lust and
amorality, to buy out and shut down important Resources, and
to use their underlings and intellect to uncover important secrets.
Lead Suitability: C’mon, it’s Lex flippin’ Luthor. Of course
Power Brokers make good Leads.
DARK MIRROR
This villain is a twisted reflection of a hero. He resembles
the hero in some way, physically or otherwise. However, his
methods and goals are so twisted that he’s a misguided and
dangerous duplicate. Most Dark Mirrors want something
unsavory from their heroic counterparts. They want to destroy
them, replace them, or torment them.
Commonly, Dark Mirrors actually are the hero in some
sense. They might be the hero from an alternate reality where
the hero went mad or became evil. They might be a deranged
clone or a long lost evil twin.
Examples: Bizarro (Smallville), Clark Luthor
(Smallville), Doomsday (Smallville), Mr. Hyde (The
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
Recommended Assets: Dark Mirrors typically have a mix
of very similar and vastly different Assets from the heroes they
reflect. Many Dark Mirrors share the Abilities and Heritage of
the hero they resemble.
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS 9
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
Recommended Resources: Dark Mirrors have whatever
Resources best reflect the differences and similarities between
them and their heroic counterparts.
Story Purpose: To replace the hero without others
knowing, to frame the hero for a crime the villain committed,
and to use abilities similar to a hero in evil ways to show how
careful the hero must be to not become a monster.
Lead Suitability: Dark Mirrors make interesting
Leads, as their mix of similarities and differences with their
counterparts creates natural conflicts. A Dark Mirror’s skewed
interpretation of the hero’s motives and goals can add depth
to the story.
EVIL ALIEN
This villain is a threat from beyond. He might be from
another planet, dimension, or an extremely remote place on
Earth. He’s not entirely human and might actually represent a
form of life unlike anything we’re familiar with. These differences
are central to the villain and often give him great and strange
powers, but that’s not why he’s dangerous. No, what makes him
dangerous is how he uses those powers. For whatever reason,
the Evil Alien is…well, evil. He wants to conquer, destroy, or
terrorize humanity and he must be stopped for the good of all.
Many Evil Aliens are terrible tyrants and criminals on their own
world. Some are unfathomable entities of evil, impossible to
reason with.
Examples: Darkseid (Smallville), Aldar (Smallville),
Titan (Smallville), Cthulhu (Stories of H.P. Lovecraft)
Recommended Assets: Criminal, Mastermind, and
Tyrant are common. Various Abilities or a Heritage to reflect
10 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
strange aliens powers is almost a must. Many Evil Aliens are the
Last of My Kind.
Recommended Resources: Alien Technology,
Fanatical Followers, Home Planet, Spacecraft
Story Purpose: To unite the Leads against the great threat
they pose, to kidnap Features and Leads for food or breeding
stock, and to reveal something important about the world they
come from. They usually stay behind the scenes for a long time
before confronting the Leads face to face.
Lead Suitability: More civilized and sophisticated Evil
Aliens make decent Leads, but many are too violent or possess
habits and customs too hostile to socializing for this to work.
KILLER MACHINE
This villain symbolizes technology gone wrong. It might
be a killer cyborg from the future, an insane supercomputer,
or a genocidal robot. The Killer Machine is either emotionally
twisted or has no emotions at all. It often uses cold
calculations and ruthless efficiency to deal with obstacles.
Its overall goal is usually embedded in its programming,
giving it a drive that—mixed with a lack of emotion—can be
very unsettling.
Examples: Brainiac (Smallville), John Corben/Metallo
(Smallville)
Recommended Assets: Gearhead, Genius, Hacker,
Mastermind, and On a Mission are common, as are
Abilities such as Invulnerability, Super-Strengh, and
Technopathy. Many Killer Machines use Gear as well.
Recommended Resources: Advanced Technology,
Constructed Minion, Secret Facility
 Story Purpose: To caution against the use of technology
without morality, to contrast an emotional Lead or Feature,
and to be programmed to eliminate or menace Leads, Features,
and Extras.
Lead Suitability: While cyborgs and even robots make
decent Leads, a Killer Machine usually doesn’t. If the other Leads
can reprogram it or give it a “soul” of moral understanding, then
it’s a good choice.
MAD SCIENTIST
This villain shows the danger of science unfettered by
morality. He might be an unethical researcher out to make
a buck, a geneticist trying to breed a killer virus or army of
monsters, or a well-meaning kook too insane to see how
dangerous he’s become. This villain usually can’t punch it out
with a hero, but he can provide a constant stream of science-
based threats. A Mad Scientist’s overall goal varies based on
what he uses his genius for, whether it’s profit or enforcing social
change from behind the barrel of a death ray.
Examples: Winslow Schott (Smallville), Dr. Victor
Frankenstein (Frankenstein), Dr. Moreau (The Island of
Dr. Moreau)
Recommended Assets: Genius is almost required,
and Clever, Gearhead, Hacker, and Mastermind are
common. Some Mad Scientists might carry Gear, possess
Extraterrestrial Knowledge, or develop a way to give
themselves Abilities.
Recommended Resources: Assistants, Laboratory,
Secret Lair
Story Purpose: To show the dangers of knowledge
used improperly, to create strange and dramatic threats to be
stopped, and to seek revenge on those who foil their plans. Also
an excellent source of Wedge Gear (described in Chapter 6:
Expanding Assets) that makes the Leads’ lives complicated.
Lead Suitability: Mad Scientists can be great Leads,
especially if they keep their twisted experiments secret or seem
to be trying to help mankind.
SUPERNATURAL MONSTER
This villain represents the fear of mortality and the
supernatural. From vampires to zombies to the spirits of the dead,
a Supernatural Monster is a terrifying foe. This villain’s usually
lost much of its humanity, though it might try to cling to relics of
its human life for stability and comfort. Even if it isn’t inherently
evil, it usually has bestial urges, inhuman hunger for blood or
flesh, or other traits that make it extremely dangerous. In many
cases, the Supernatural Monster must be destroyed utterly or it’s
just going to return repeatedly to menace the living.
Examples: Silver Banshee (Smallville), Dracula
(Dracula), Grendel (Beowulf)
Recommended Assets: Varies depending on the type
of creature. For example, vampires would have the Thirsty
Heritage and related Abilities. Many Supernatural Monsters
have some way of either possessing the body of a Lead or
Feature or turning a Lead or Feature into a creature like them.
Recommended Resources: Ancient Crypt, Human or
Animal Minions, Old Spooky House
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
What’s in a Name? Everything!
A villain’s name says a lot. It’s the name your heroes will
be cursing and that Extras and Features will be uttering in
fear, terror, and loathing. So make it count.
Alliterative names are popular. They stick in the mind and
roll easily off the tongue. Just ask Lex Luthor. Or Lionel
Luthor. Or Linda Lake. Or…well, you get the picture. Short
punchy names also work, especially for aliens and the like.
Zod uses this method. If you don’t like those options, try a
name that turns into a good nickname. This could be ironic,
like Mercy. Or it might be very appropriate, like The Wall.
In any event, take a moment to consider a good name for
your bad guys. It’ll be worth it when the hero is screaming
it at the top of his lungs.
Story Purpose: To instill fear in those it attacks, to threaten
Leads and Features with conversion into a terrible creature, and
to attempt to spawn an army of monsters to conquer the mortal
world. Time to break out the Empower rules.
Lead Suitability: Unless they just can’t be around people
without always trying to harm them, many Supernatural
Monsters make surprisingly good Leads. After all, morally
conflicted vampires, unjustly murdered ghosts, or reluctant
werewolves are no different from metahumans or meteor-
infected. Right?
ZEALOT
This villain is completely, utterly, and dangerously
devoted to his cause. This might be a political movement, an
ideal, a religion, or even a person. Even if he isn’t devoted to
worshipping dark gods or destroying the planet, he still takes
his beliefs to dangerous extremes. The Zealot might seem
normal at times, but when the subject of his fanaticism is
raised you can see the hint of madness in his eyes.
Examples: Zor-El (Smallville), Gordon Godfrey
(Smallville), Captain Nemo (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
Recommended Assets: Fanatic and On a Mission reflect
the villain’s zealous nature. Many Zealots are Manipulative,
Vicious, or even Savage. A Zealot may be a Pariah, cast out
for his views.
Recommend Resources: Followers, Religious/
Political Institution, Sacred Site
Story Purpose: To show how blind devotion to even
positive ideals can be dangerous, to push a Lead to question his
beliefs, or to menace Leads, Features, and Extras the Zealots see
as obstacles to their cause.
Lead Suitability: Zealots are hard to make into Leads
unless they can mask their fanaticism very well or they come
to it gradually through play. A former Zealot who is now a
Conscientious Objector to his cause could be an interesting
Lead, villainous or otherwise.
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS 11
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
ARCHETYPES IN PLAY
If you want to add a mechanical element to villain
Archetypes, you can treat them much like a Distinction. Some
Archetypes, such as Evil Alien or Killer Machine, might have
somewhat different triggers based on the specific background of
the character. For example, an Assassin Distinction might look
like this:
ASSASSIN TRAINING
You’re a trained killer who knows how best to track,
study, and eliminate a target. Roll this Distinction’s die
when attacking your chosen target, studying targets for
weaknesses, or planning an assassination.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
refuse to quit a difficult contract.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for the
episode with your target or a related Lead or Feature.
d12: Spend a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble to Increase
your Injured or Exhausted Stress pool two steps against your
chosen target only.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Alternate Realities and Bad Guys
A great trick to showcase a villainous Lead is to run an
episode set in an alternate reality. This can be a dream,
alternate timeline, or possible future. You can set this up
with a question like “What if our evil Lead wins?” These
episodes are usually bleak and perhaps prophetic. They
serve to motivate the heroes to stop the bad guy by
showing just how bad things can get.
It also lets the person playing the villain take center stage
and have fun relatively consequence free. He still shouldn’t
be too despicable, but such episodes can give everyone a
chance to see the why the bad guy needs to be stopped in
your regular continuity.
Antagonists at the Table:
Villainous Leads
So you want to be a bad guy. Why not? Villains can have
a lot of fun and good bad guys are as memorable as the heroes
they oppose. Lex Luthor is nearly as famous as Clark Kent
despite his lack of incredible powers, and Zod has such a great
catchphrase. However, given the nature of Lead dynamics, being
bad can be tricky. Some types of villains just don’t work well in
Smallville and others require thinking in atypical ways.
So how do you do wrong right? That’s an excellent question,
and one that requires an answer in several parts. Super-weapons,
secret bases, and henchmen might be a good place to start, but
there’s more to being a great villain than an army of fanatical
super-commandos. You need to understand not only the nature
12 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
of villainy, but how it applies to both a roleplaying game and
a good story. What’s more, you need to deal with the fact that
you’re a villain and a Lead. Unlike a “freak of the week,” you’re
in this for the long haul. Your Lead may be a major antagonist,
but you’re also part of the group. And that’s tricky. 
So how are you going to figure all that out? Fear not, evildoers;
the following section will help you be the worst you can be. From
how to craft a really Class-A evil persona to the art of losing
gracefully, the key elements of playing a villain lie ahead.
STEP ONE: EVIL, NOT VILE
Villainous Leads are still Leads. They can’t just conjure up
the worst atrocity they can think of, unleash it on someone, and
then call it a day. Sure that works once, but after you’ve forced a
hero to watch as you kill and eat his grandma, that’s pretty much
the end of nuanced and complex social interactions. Likewise,
finding some real-life trauma and mimicking that in play isn’t
cool either. None of this is particularly interesting, classy, or
fun—and good villains should be all three.
So what to do instead? Be subtle. Be complex. One veiled
threat often carries you farther than ten terrible acts. Work with
the other players to menace, stymie, and frustrate their Leads
in ways that don’t sever your Relationships in fun-killing ways.
Sure, every group is different; but if within a few episodes one
or more Leads want to just kill your villain and be done with it?
You’re probably doing it wrong.
This also means that when you finally do decide it’s time to
kill that Feature or blow up that Resource, it’s going to have real
impact. Spamming wanton acts of terror and torment gets old
pretty quickly. A surgical strike at a pivotal moment can be the
high point of an entire series.
Example: As monstrous as Davis is inside, he doesn’t go
around slaughtering the Daily Planet Bullpen or burning
down orphanages. When he finally crosses the line and
Jimmy dies? He leaves the series.
STEP TWO: YOU’RE NOT THE BAD GUY ALL THE TIME
Your Lead might be a black-hearted rogue, but you’ll get
more mileage out of him as a character if he’s not pure evil.
Look at the various villainous Leads in Smallville. From Lex
to Zod, they all have their moments of helping others, trying
to reach out to other Leads in friendship, and even trying to
reform. What makes them villains isn’t that they never do this
stuff. What makes them villains is that they suck at it.
So save the occasional puppy. Or have a code of honor
that you never break. Maybe be nice to old people and
children. Find a few laudable things about your Lead and
bring those up occasionally. These virtues make your more
nefarious actions seem all the worse and it’ll keep the heroes
from writing you off. They’ll want to help you. They’ll try
to find the good in you. Hey, they might even succeed—but
probably not.
Example: Lex tries to be more like Clark for years. These
efforts are twisted, selfish, and poisoned by Lex’s ego, but he
still keeps trying. When he finally gives up? He soon ceases
to be a regular Lead, dies, and is replaced by Tess.
STEP THREE: WORK THE SYSTEM, LITERALLY
Plenty of bad guys just show up and cause trouble. This is
fun and cool, but it lacks the staying power a Lead villain requires.
You don’t need to run your own corporation like Lex, Tess, or
Zod—though it helps—but you need Resources and Assets
that help you drive the plot forward in compelling ways. Look
for opportunities to drive a wedge between your fellow Leads
and Features. Find ways to make Leads challenge Relationships
and Values based on your actions. Exploit the Limits of other
characters’ Abilities. And definitely work those Stress pools. As
a bad guy with precious few true friends and hordes of potential
enemies, the rules are your friend. They exist to make a smart rich
guy like Lex as powerful as a hero who can leap tall buildings in a
single bound. And you’re keeping the drama real.
Example: Lex is always using LuthorCorp Resources to
manipulate, push, and spy on Clark, Chloe, Oliver, and
others. Several of the Casefiles are devoted to the villainous
Features and secret projects Lex brought into the story. Tess
later does the same.
STEP FOUR: YOU GOTTA HAVE GOALS
Heroes can afford to be reactionary. They can wait for the
giant gorilla to attack and then rush to the rescue. Villains need
to be the ones unleashing the gorilla. Great villains have big
plans, whether they’re overarching ambitions or very particular
plots. Either way, they’re the lens through which many
Relationships and Values in the story are viewed. Villainous
Leads need to step up and make things happen even more than
normal Leads do.
Villainous goals are often about gaining power, but not
always. Many things can be twisted to provide great inspiration
for a bad guy. For example, every Value in Smallville has a
dark side. Power is the obvious choice, but Glory, Love, and even
Duty, Justice, and Truth can be perverted to inspire evil acts.
Example: Zod didn’t stand around and wait for Clark to help
the Kandorians adjust to life on Earth. He sought allies and
resources to help him develop powers and pass those powers
to his loyal followers.
STEP FIVE: THE ART OF LOSING GRACEFULLY
Despite what the bad guys might tell you, the role of the
villain is usually to be a credible threat and then lose. They
are antagonists, not protagonists. Playing a bad guy means
accepting this and making it work for you. Sure, you could just
create that death machine and conquer the planet, but then
what? If you win, the game’s over—perhaps literally. It’s often
better to concentrate on being a fantastic menace and providing
a lot of interesting scenes before the heroes squeak out a win.
Sometimes you can even let them win to show your superiority
or because it’s just more interesting that way.
This is really different from how most characters are played.
Usually you want to win, beat the threat, and so on. Even in
roleplaying games like Smallville, most Leads are trying to
push their characters into a better place and keep them there. By
contrast, villainous Leads want to be cool, interesting, and fun,
but not necessarily victorious. They have much more invested in
the early stages of a plot, when plans are revealed and threats are
engaged, than in the end result.
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS 13
EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS
Note this does not mean you never win or try to win. A
villain who never beats anyone is a joke. You need to occasionally
best the hero, corrupt the occasional innocent, and so on. Just
keep the eventual final victory out of reach—aim to win several
battles, but lose the war. Also, don’t forget two things. First, a
plan you never really expected to succeed that you’re just using
to enable some later scheme isn’t really a failed plan. Second,
avoiding a final victory doesn’t mean you can’t push things to
the absolute limit. You can even conquer the planet—as long as
you eventually give it back.
And remember—even when you lose, there’s always next time.
Example: Zod manages to give powers back to the
Kandorians and he plans to conquer Earth. The battle
involves Clark and various other heroes. But in end, he’s
defeated and sent away.
Minor Features: Bad Made Easy
Sometimes you don’t need a full Feature. Maybe it’s a
“freak of the week” that probably isn’t coming back. Maybe it’s
someone important enough to warrant Feature status, but who
will always interact with the Leads in a particular way. Maybe
you’re just pressed for time. If you want the general staying
power of a Feature in a character who’s more like an Extra, then
what you want is a Minor Feature.
Minor Features are represented by two broad groups of
Traits: Defining and Depth.
Defining Traits are central to the Feature. They’re the Traits
you focus on during a session when using the Feature and they’re
the Traits the Leads are likely to notice. Mechanically, they
work like the Traits you already know. For example, Defining
Relationships have statements and die ratings. A Minor Feature
usually has no more than one to three Defining Traits in any
category (like Distinctions or Abilities). Otherwise he would be
a regular Feature and built as such. These cover most situations
that will pop up in the limited number of scenes where a Minor
Feature appears. For everything else there’s Depth.
Depth is a pool of dice that can be used for situations where
the Minor Feature is involved, but Defining Traits don’t fit or they
need to be augmented. It’s somewhere between the Trouble pool
and a Resource. Depth is written up like a statement that describes
what the Depth pool represents (like Angry Cheerleader or
Rapacious Appetite) and it has two or more dice, just like Extras
and Locations do. Depth can be used to fill in for Resources,
Assets, Relationships, or Values. Watchtowers who use these dice
for rolls far outside the Depth statement should give a Plot Point
to the Lead in such Contests—if it turns out that a Minor Feature
with Angry Cheerleader 2d8 is able to use her athletic talents like
a martial arts champ, then give a Plot Point as an award for the
mess you dumped on the guy trying to restrain her. Each time a
die is used from Depth it’s gone for the episode.
Now let’s go through the steps for making a Minor Feature
with a handy example.
STEP ONE: CONCEPT
You won’t get anywhere without an idea. Minor Features
don’t need to have complex or fully formed concepts. They
14 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
usually aren’t around long enough or in enough scenes to
require a detailed backstory. Usually, a short description will
do it.
Example: Tiara, who’s pulling Watchtower duties, needs an
escaped criminal to menace the Leads for her next episode.
She doesn’t need a full Feature, just a scary guy to mess with
things for a while. She considers for a moment and decides
to create Albert Earl Holmes, a twisted serial killer.
STEP TWO: DEFINING VALUES
Select as few as three to as many as all six Defining Values
for the Minor Feature. Assign a die rating for each. These aren’t
necessarily Values with high ratings; sometimes a character is
just as noteworthy for what he doesn’t care about. Then assign
a statement for each Value. Values of d12 are exceptionally rare
for Minor Features.
Example: Albert is defined by his desire to exert power over
others. He kills to show he’s superior and to feel in control.
In an interesting twist, Tiara decides Albert thinks he gains
power with each person he kills because he believes he’s
struck a bargain with a demon. She gives him the Defining
Value of Power d10 with the statement “I must feed souls
to my master.” She also figures Albert is quite loyal to this
“demon” which gives him Duty d8 defined as “I will serve
my master unto death.” Love is markedly unimportant
to Albert, so she gives him Love d4 with “All I need is the
approval of my master.”
STEP THREE: DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
Pick a few Relationships. These are the focus of the Minor
Feature’s interactions in the story. These can be Features or
Leads, though it’s usually a good idea to include at least one
Lead Relationship.
Example: Tiara figures that Albert wants to hurt the Hero
in her game, seeing him as a threat to his “master.” She
assigns this Relationship d10 and the statement “He must be
stopped!” She also figures that Albert views the series’ most
villainous Foil as a kindred spirit and adds a d6 Relationship
“Doesn’t know she serves the master.”
STEP FOUR: DEFINING DISTINCTIONS AND (OPTIONAL)
ABILITIES
Pick a few Assets that are central to the Minor Feature—
ones that are likely to come up in most or all scenes involving
him. These are rarely die ratings of d12, but exceptions occur.
Example: Since Albert is a crazy killer, Tiara adds Savage
at d8. She also figures he’s a Fanatic in his beliefs and adds
this at d8 as well. She wants him to be a meteor-infected who
thinks his powers come from his demonic patron, so she
adds Paralysis at d10 representing Albert’s metahuman
Ability to render his victims helpless but still aware.
STEP FIVE: ADD DEPTH AND FINISHING TOUCHES
Select a statement and die rating for Depth. Dice are usually
added in groups of two. A d6 is the standard. However, d4s can
represent a Minor Feature without much going for him except
his Defining Traits; d8s and higher suggest a lot of training or
Resources. Generally, any Feature who warrants lots of Depth
or high die ratings probably isn’t a Minor Feature and should
be fully developed. Though Depth might simulate the die rating
of a Distinction or even an Ability, it doesn’t have triggers or
Special Effects. After Depth is determined, add any last details
and you’re done!
Example: Tiara doesn’t see Albert as having much going for
him aside from his Defining Traits. She figures he knows a
few crazy occult types and is decent at staying off the radar.
She selects the statement “Sneaky occult kook” and assigns
it 2d6. If Albert ends up sticking around longer than his
few upcoming scenes, maybe his “demon” isn’t quite so
imaginary. She makes a quick note of that to remind herself
later and gets ready to unleash Albert on her Leads.

PROMOTING MINOR FEATURES

If a Minor Feature becomes popular or important to the
story, then make him a full Feature. Since this can happen quite
easily during a game, you should make notes on interesting
talents, facts, and whatever else your Minor Features display as
the story develops. This doesn’t need to be a novel—just a few
notes to help with fleshing out the character later.
The simplest way to turn a Minor Feature into a Feature is
to use the Quick and Dirty Features creation guidelines (see
page 30). This is much easier than building them with Pathways
since they already have some Traits. Depth is discarded once a
Minor Feature is promoted.

The Casefiles
Throughout this book you’ll find Smallville RPG writeups for a number of foes who have menaced Clark and his allies over the
years. Some of them worked for bad guy Leads like Lex, Tess, and Zod. Others were independent threats ranging from disturbed teens
to alien mass murderers. A few isolated cases were simply unfortunate enough to have powers and draw the attention of the wrong
people. For example, the worst thing Daniel Kim did was cheat at bowling. In any case, these Features are here for you to use in your
games either as bad guys or as inspiration for new antagonists.
Most of these Features aren’t suitable Leads for many of the reasons discussed in this chapter. After all, most groups can’t easily
accommodate a cannibal killer or psycho shapeshifter. On the other hand, characters like Grant Gabriel or Linda Lake could become
Leads in your Smallville spinoff—assuming they somehow survived their on-screen deaths. To use them as Leads you should
recreate them using Pathways since all of these writeups were created to model their appearances on the show; as written, they may be
over- or underpowered for your group of Leads.
Features are categorized according to where they were locked up most often. Information on these facilities is also provided unless
it has been already; for instance, the Phantom Zone was discussed in the Smallville RPG. Some of these characters are written up
as Minor Features, usually because their role isn’t as significant as that of other Features, or because they’re really just a step up from
Extras, or because there’s room for you to flesh them out in your own spinoff campaign.
Casefile: Belle Reve Sanitarium page 16 Casefile: Luthorcorp Projects page 64
Casefile: Black Creek, Montana page 33 Casefile: Veritas Society page 90
Casefile: Level 33.1 page 49 Casefile: Zoners page 102

EXPANDING ANTAGONISTS 15
 CASEFILES
Sporting the ironic French name meaning “Beautiful
Dream,” Belle Reve is a combination mental hospital and
government metahuman supermax prison. Many of the
meteor freaks Clark fought and put away over the years end
up here. This is nominally to treat them for their various
mental problems, but honestly the success rate is pretty low.
Due to corruption and security breaches—not to mention
the fact that many of the inmates have powers beyond mere
mortals—escape or recruitment into some secret project is
a better bet for release. This makes Belle Reve a who’s who
of superpowered crazies and villains. Both Lionel and Lex
Luthor were temporarily incarcerated here—usually because
the other one got him committed.
In addition to the inmates, many of Belle Reve’s staff
are pretty shady. Actually, they’re really shady. They become
obsessed with their patients, they forge admission and releases
for money, and they use prisoners for various illegal activities.
More than a few of these folks are willing to work for villainous
mastermind types like Lex Luthor. Several already do. At one
point an underground fight operation was grabbing its fighters
from among the inmates. Recently, Tess has recruited certain
inmates for her Injustice Gang (see page 34).
Despite this, Belle Reve isn’t exactly a revolving door.
The facility employs trained security guards and cutting edge
technology. These are often effective. However, human error,
corrupt staffers, and the unpredictable nature of superpowers
mean there are many cracks to slip through. Ultimately,
16 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M
the problem isn’t so much that the sanitarium can’t contain
dangerous metahumans but more that it often just doesn’t. This
is good news for Leads who find themselves imprisoned, but it’s
less encouraging if they’re looking for a secure place to lock up
bad guys.
Some of the most famous and troublesome Belle Reve
inmates are listed here. They can be used as they’re written or
they can serve as models for designing your own threats. Note
that not all the inmates have Belle Reve as a Resource, just those
already locked up when they first appeared or who received
actual helpful treatment.
Types of Scenes: Escape attempts and backroom deals
involving prisoners are probably the most common. Therapy
sessions may reveal some interesting opportunities for character
growth and self-realization. Relationships can be challenged or
built if a Lead finds himself imprisoned by a trusted friend or
hated foe. Despite nominally being a sanitarium, Belle Reve
generally isn’t that useful for rest and recuperation, though it’s
not impossible it could be used that way.
Specialties: Confined, Experiment, Guarded, Medicine,
Red Tape, Shady, Therapy, Unreliable
Extras: Doctors, Security, Staff
Leads and Features: Alicia Baker, Bette Sans Souci, Eric
Summers, Ian Randall, Lex Luthor (temporary inmate and
occasional behind-the-scenes operator), Lionel Luthor (former
inmate), Randy Klein, Tim Wescott, Tina Greer, Tommy Lee,
The Twins, The Weather Girls
 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M

ALICIA BAKER
Teleporter • Obsessed Girlfriend • Tragic Teen
VALUES
d8 Duty I want to be everything for Clark.
d4 Glory I just want a normal life.
d6 Justice Life is so not fair.
d10 Love Love means always being together.
d8 Power I must be careful with my abilities.
d6 Truth I need to keep my abilities secret.

Alicia Baker was a student at Smallville High School. She RELATIONSHIPS

met Clark on a field trip where the two discovered they both had ▼▼ Chloe doesn’t know as much as she thinks she does d6
superpowers. This secret grew into romantic interest and they dated ▼▼ Only Clark understands me d10
briefly. This was stymied by Clark’s shyness and Alicia’s stalkerish ▼▼ I know Jonathan and Martha don’t approve d4
▼▼ Lana is in my way d8
obsession. She was unwilling to share Clark with anyone, which
prompted the pretty blonde to attempt to murder Lana. Clark
blocked her powers with lead and Alicia was sent to Belle Reve. RESOURCES
Eventually, Alicia was believed cured and she was released.
▼▼ Belle Reve (Confined, Guarded) 2d6
▼▼ Dr. William McBride (Medicine, Therapy) 2d6
She and Clark went out again; he enjoyed being with a pretty girl
▼▼ Smallville High School (Education, Socialize) 2d4
who actually knew his secret. Things were fine until Alicia grew
unstable again. She exposed Clark to red kryptonite to break
ASSETS
down his inhibitions and the two almost married. Though angry
Impulsive d8
with Alicia, Clark forgave her after she literally took a bullet for
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
him when her own crazy stalker, Dr. William McBride, tried to
act rashly.
shoot Clark. Despite Clark’s wariness of his sometime unstable
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to Interfere in a
girlfriend, this act convinced him to give Alicia another chance.
Contest.
Alicia’s tragic story came to an end when fellow student Tim
Kryptonite Psychosis d6
Wescott attempted to frame Alicia for murders he’d committed.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
Alicia asked Clark to reveal his own powers to show people she
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
wasn’t alone, but he refused. Alicia discovered Wescott was the
threatening others.
true killer just before she became his next victim. Clark blamed
On a Mission (Clark) d8
himself for her death because he hadn’t believed her and wasn’t
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
there to protect her.
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
Current Events: Alicia is currently deceased and probably ▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that directly
isn’t coming back. She could easily appear in a game set earlier in
contributes to your mission.
Smallville’s history or an alternate reality where she didn’t die.
Teleportation d10
Classified: Before her powers became public knowledge, Limits: Lead (can’t teleport through or when in contact with)
Alicia was fiercely protective of her secret. Even afterwards, she
Spend a Plot Point to…
didn’t exactly flaunt them—though she would use them to help
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of
Clark or save people. She also discovered Tim Wescott was a
distance.
murderer, but she was killed before she could do anything with
▼▼ Quickly teleport away to escape from a scene.
this knowledge.
▼▼ Take another character with you.
Note: Alicia has essentially the same Relationship with
both Jonathan and Martha Kent, so they’re listed together on
her writeup. This technique is discussed in the Smallville
High School Yearbook and it’s a good way to summarize what
amounts to a single Relationship with a pair of individuals.

CASEFILES: BELLE REVE SANITARIUM 17

 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M

ERIC SUMMERS
Power Parasite • “Super Boy”
VALUES
d4 Duty I owe it to myself to be happy.
d10 Glory I’ll show everyone I’m special.
d6 Justice I’ll make my life fair.
d8 Love I want people to love me.
d8 Power Power is mine for the taking.
d6 Truth I don’t see much point in hiding anymore.

Eric Summers, son of Smallville High’s geology teacher, RELATIONSHIPS

was a quiet kid who was in love with a pretty girl named Holly. ▼▼ I need Clark’s power to make me special d8
Of course his dad constantly berated him and Holly barely ▼▼ Holly should be with me d6
realized he existed, but it wasn’t anything that unusual—then
Clark rescued him after an accident with lightning and meteor RESOURCES
rock and Eric ended up with Clark’s Kryptonian abilities. ▼▼ M r. Summers (Knowledge [geology],Vicious) 2d6
At first things were great. Eric helped people, stopped ▼▼ S mallville High School (Education, Socialize) 2d6
crimes, and did the whole super-hero thing. Chloe even wrote
about his “Super Boy” act for the local paper. Unfortunately, ASSETS
like so many other meteor-infected, Eric’s sanity began to slip. Kryptonite Psychosis d8
He lost control and drove off everyone he cared about. When ▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
he tried to beat up Holly’s boyfriend, Clark stepped in—and follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
then stepped out a moment later when Eric used his borrowed threatening others.
powers to flatten him. This triumph was temporary, as Clark ▼▼ A
 dd a d10 to Trouble and Reroll any die when another
figured out that Eric must have his weaknesses along with character attempts to talk you down.
his abilities. Using the same combination of kryptonite and Pariah d4
electricity, Clark subdued Eric and regained his powers. Eric ▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
was sent to Belle Reve. your disgraced status stymies you.
Now powerless, Eric hatched a plan to steal Clark’s powers. Power Leech d12
Working with Ian Randall and Van MacNulty—a non-powered Limits: Requires electrical charge and meteor rock,
inmate who wanted to kill metahumans and developed Kryptonians only
kryptonite bullets—he captured Clark and once again stole his Spend a Plot Point to…
powers. Using the tried and true electricity and meteor rock ▼▼ G
 ain an Ability possessed by another Lead or Feature
combo, Clark defeated Eric and restored his powers. Eric was by touching them (which may require a Contest). The
returned to his cell. die rating is the lower of the Ability and Eric’s Power
Current Events: Eric is presumably still locked up in Belle Leech. May Spend multiple Plot Points to leech
Reve and has not been seen for years. several Abilities at once. The target suffers a Shutdown
Classified: Eric obviously knows about Clark’s abilities, of any Ability Gained by Power Leech whose rating
having stolen them twice. In fact, he probably knows Clark’s is equal to or lower than the Power Leech rating.
powers more intimately than most, though he didn’t possess
them long enough to develop any particular skill in using
them. It seems he possesses these abilities until the process is
reversed using a large electrical shock and green kryptonite.
It’s unknown if Eric can steal non-Kryptonian abilities; Eric’s
writeup assumes he can only steal Kryptonian abilities.

18 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M

IAN RANDALL
Diabolical Duplicator • Obsessive Overachiever
VALUES
d8 Duty So what can you do for us?
d8 Glory I’m headed for success, no matter what.
d6 Justice It’s not fair to stop my success.
d6 Love Romance is fun as long as it doesn’t get in the way.
d8 Power My future is more important than anything.
d6 Truth There are two ways to look at anything.

Ian had the useful ability to split off a duplicate of himself, RELATIONSHIPS
which he used to push through school at an alarming rate. ▼▼ I deserve a hottie like Chloe d6
Already highly intelligent, Ian’s powers let him achieve even ▼▼ Clark is a real pain in our butts d4
more than your average A student. Unfortunately, his powers ▼▼ I also deserve a babe like Lana D6
▼▼ I need Lex to help my future plans d6
and out-of-control ambition led to his downfall. Ever the
overachiever, Ian killed a teacher at Smallville High who
endangered his hopes of a scholarship at a top college and he RESOURCES
also tried to date both Lana and Chloe at the same time. Clark
▼▼ Luthor Scholarship Program (Red Tape,
Resources) 2d6
started to get suspicious of Ian; with help from Pete Ross and
▼▼ Smallville Community College (Education,
Lex, Clark figured out Ian’s double life. When Clark managed to Research) 2d4
prevent the murders of Lana and Chloe, one Ian fell to his death ▼▼ Smallville High School (Education, Socialize) 2d6
and the other was sent to Belle Reve.
Ian remained at Belle Reve until he was part of a plan with ASSETS
Eric Summers (see previous page) to steal Clark’s powers and Clever d6
bust out. Ian annoyed Eric enough that he killed him, which ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to show off your
suggests that maybe Ian wasn’t as bright as he thought he was. smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner.
Current Events: Ian’s dead. But then, part of him died Duplication d8
before, suggesting he might be able to come back. To date, Limits: Number (only one Dupe at a time)
however, this hasn’t happened. Spend a Plot Point to…
Classified: Right before he died, Randall learned some of ▼▼ Merge the original and a Dupe together, sharing
Clark’s secrets. He might not have known all about Krypton, memories.
Jor-El, and the like, but he knew Clark wasn’t a normal Kansas Kryptonite Psychosis d6
farmboy. He was also smart enough to figure out a lot, if given ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
the opportunity. follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
threatening others.
Likeable d4
▼▼ Give your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die in a
Likeable roll.

CASEFILES: BELLE REVE SANITARIUM 19

 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M

TIM WESCOTT
The Sandman • Moralistic Serial Killer
VALUES
d8 Duty I have to do what’s right for Smallville.
d4 Glory I seek purification, not recognition.
d10 Justice I must punish the wicked.
d6 Love I’d like a girl who understands me.
d8 Power I must use my powers for my cause.
d6 Truth I can’t be discovered until my work is done.

Tim Wescott was a meteor-infected whose Kryptonite RELATIONSHIPS

Psychosis manifested in a deadly way. Tim’s father strongly ▼▼ Alicia needs to be removed d10
believed that Smallville was a great place until the meteor shower ▼▼ Clark is blind to the evils of this place d4
▼▼ Jason is immoral d6
ruined everything. After his dad died, Tim took this view to
▼▼ Lana is a harlot d8
extremes. He decided it was up to him to “fix” everything that
▼▼ Lois seems like a nice upstanding girl d6
was wrong with his town. Rather than save some trees or run
for public office, Tim decided the best way to fix things was the
brutal murder anyone who—at least in his twisted mind—was
RESOURCES
▼▼ Smallville High School (Education, Socialize) 2d6
corrupting the morality of Smallville. He started by trying to
kill Lana Lang because he disapproved of her relationship with
teacher Jason Teague. Then he decided to frame Alicia Baker by
ASSETS
Body Transformation (Sand) d10
attacking Jason and making it look like Alicia was responsible.
Limits: Heat
Alicia managed to figure this out, but Tim murdered her and
Spend a Plot Point to…
made her death seem like a suicide.
▼▼ Turn into sand and escape through a crack.
Tim might have gotten away with his plan if he hadn’t
▼▼ Hide by scattering across the floor.
revealed too much of himself to Lois during a fairly disastrous
▼▼ B ecome a cloud of sand, ignoring Injured and
first date. Lois shared her suspicions with Clark that Tim, not
Exhausted Stress.
Alicia, was responsible for the attacks. Feeling guilty and angry
▼▼ Form fists into super-hard sand and knock another
about Alicia’s death, Clark confronted Tim and severely injured
character out of the scene.
him; Clark stopped just short of killing him—partially due to
Kryptonite Psychosis d10
Lois’ intervention. His crimes revealed, Tim was shipped off to
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
Belle Reve.
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
A meteor-infected with the power to turn into living sand,
threatening others.
Tim was profoundly and totally bonkers. He was a self-righteous
▼▼ A dd a d10 to Trouble and Reroll any die when another
zealot too far gone to realize he’d turned into a wannabe serial
character attempts to talk you down.
killer. He wasn’t at all sorry for the harm he caused and was more
On a Mission (Purify Smallville) d8
than willing to kill or frame innocents so he could keep killing.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
Current Events: Presumably Tim is still locked up in Belle
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
Reve. Unless he’s gotten some serious help, that’s probably
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that directly
where he belongs. Should he break out and return to Smallville,
contributes to your mission.
there’s no reason to believe he wouldn’t return to his murderous
Sneaky d6
civic reform.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Sneaky roll.
Classified: Tim’s big secret was his criminal behavior. With
this exposed, it’s unlikely he has other major secrets. In a game
where his secret is still unknown, Tim would kill to hide his
twisted desires and strange outlook.

20 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M

TINA GREER
Identity Challenged Teen • Shapeshifting Stalker
VALUES
d6 Duty I owe it to myself to be happy.
d8 Glory I want a perfect life.
d4 Justice I’ll do whatever it takes to make things better for me.
d8 Love I can be whatever those I love want me to be.
d10 Power I can be exactly who I want now.
d6 Truth I don’t even know myself anymore.

Tina Greer was granted her meteor-infected abilities as RELATIONSHIPS

part of an experimental medical treatment when she was a ▼▼ Chloe is useful but nosy d4
child. The meteor rock that cured her illness also gave her ▼▼ Clark needs to leave me alone d8
shapeshifting powers and superhuman might. Tina took on ▼▼ Lana is everything I want d10
▼▼ Whitney is in my way d6
the shape of Lex Luthor and committed crimes to provide
money for her struggling family. However, when her mother
discovered her actions, the two argued and Tina accidentally RESOURCES
killed her. This sent the girl over the edge. Convinced her life
▼▼ Family Antique Shop (Antiques, Quiet) 2d4
was terrible, she decided to take the place of someone who had
everything she wanted—Lana Lang. Clark prevented her from
ASSETS
Kryptonite Psychosis d12
killing Lana and taking her place. Defeated, Tina was sent to
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
Belle Reve for treatment.
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
A short time later, Tina escaped by faking her own death.
threatening others.
Her incarceration and growing insanity caused her to change
▼▼ A dd a d10 to Trouble and Reroll any die when
her attitudes towards Lana. Instead of wanting to replace
another character attempts to talk you down.
her, Tina realized she was in love with Lana. She returned to
▼▼ Recover your own Afraid or Insecure Stress when
Smallville and tried to pose as Lana’s ex-boyfriend, Whitney.
you resolve to act and Boost your Angry Stress
As Whitney, Tina had a brief romance with Lana until Clark
one step.
discovered her ruse. Once again she and Clark fought as Tina
Invulnerability d4
tried unsuccessfully to kill Clark and replace him as Lana’s love.
This time Tina’s luck ran out and she was fatally injured due to
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
her own insanity and rage. In a touching but also fairly creepy
Shapeshifting d8
gesture, she asked Clark to take care of Lana.
Limits: X-Rays (can determine true identity)
Current Events: Tina is thought to be dead and she hasn’t
surfaced in years. However, if anyone is going to turn up alive,
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Imitate another character down to fingerprints and
a super-tough shapeshifter who once faked her own death is a
retinal patterns.
good bet.
Super-Strength d6
Classified: Tina shares a last name with fellow shapeshifter
Eva Greer (see page 35). Whether this is coincidence or if the
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object, like an automobile, as
two are related is unknown.
a weapon (and as a d8 Useful Detail).
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.

CASEFILES: BELLE REVE SANITARIUM 21

 CASEFILES B E L L E R E V E S A N I TA R I U M
THE TWINS
TOMMY LEE Force Field Freaks • Identical Weirdos
Electric Thug • Prototype • Meteor Experiment • Killer
DEFINING VALUES
DEFINING VALUES
d10 Duty We’ve got to stick together.
d8 Glory If you’ve got it, flaunt it. d8 Love Blood is thicker than water.
d10 Power It’s what’s really important. d8 Power We’re stronger as a team.
d6 Truth Lie to me and I’ll fry you.

Not much is known about Tommy Lee before he ran into
Clark Kent. The young man was a subject in Lionel Luthor’s early
experiments to use kryptonite to give humans metahuman powers.
Tommy received the ability to absorb and redirect electricity, plus a
nasty addiction to a drug made from the meteor rock.
Tommy was eventually locked up in Belle Reve where he
stayed until Lex Luthor “accidentally” freed him. Tommy tried
to make Clark get him a supply of meteor rock serum by taking
Jonathan, Martha, and Lana hostage. He didn’t work alone, instead
breaking out the Twins (see right) to help him. This was during
a period when Jor-El removed Clark’s powers, but eventually
a mortal Clark found his inner he-man and beat Tommy with a
combination sledgehammer and right cross. Tommy Lee was taken
back to Belle Reve, where he presumably remains.
Current Events: Tommy is likely still locked up in Belle
Reve. That is assuming Checkmate, the Injustice Gang, or some
other group didn’t recruit him.
Classified: Tommy Lee knew enough about Clark to know
he could get him more kryptonite serum and that there was
something special about him. He implied that many at Belle Reve
know the same. Considering how many of the facility’s inhabitants
had run-ins with the young hero, that’s really not surprising.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark can get me what I need d6
▼▼ Lioneldid this to me d4
▼▼ The Twins are useful tools d6
DEFINING ASSETS
Electrokinesis d10
Limit: Needs power source
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼  harge your body or a conductive material with
C ▼▼D
electricity to be released at a later point.
▼▼ Hurl someone out of the scene with an electric blast.
▼▼ Create an electromagnetic pulse to short out electronic
devices in the scene.
Savage d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble whenever you
act upon your base instincts.
Aside from their powers, little is known about the pair
known as the Twins. Recruited by Tommy Lee (see left) to
assist in his plan to bust out of Belle Reve, they were defeated
by Clark and sent back to the institution.
The Twins are, well, twins. In addition to their identical
physical appearance, the pair can read each other’s thoughts
and one feels the pain of whatever injury is inflicted on the
other. Their most impressive ability is creating and projecting
force fields, which they can only do when touching each other.
The Twins haven’t been seen since their run-in with Clark—
but their powers have been. When Lex used Project Ares to
give the powers of various metahumans to Wes Keenan, one
of Keenan’s pilfered abilities was the Twins’ force fields.
Current Events: The Twins are presumably still locked
up in Belle Reve.
Classified: Much of the Twins’ background is a mystery.
This includes how they got their abilities, their early life, and
even their real names. If you want to use the Twins in your
game, you’ll find that they’re mostly a blank slate to work with.
NOTE: The Twins’ stat blocks are identical and each has a d10
Relationship with the other.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ We can use Clark to escape d6
▼▼ Tommy can help us get out of here d6
▼▼ My Twin is the most important person there is d10
DEFINING ASSETS
Force Field d10
Limits: Contact with twin
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼Entrap another character in a force field.
 ecrease Injured or Insecure Stress on all characters
within the force field.
Telepathy d10
Limits: Twin only, Psychic feedback
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Read another character’s surface thoughts.
▼▼ Send messages psychically to a character in the same
or a different scene.

DEPTH DEPTH
▼▼ Violent Power-Seeking Psycho 2d8 ▼▼  elle Reve inmates 2d4
B
▼▼ Bizarre bond to each other 2d8

22 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

EXPANDING PATHWAYS

EXPANDING PATHWAYS
FROM: ARCHER01
TO: MERCY@Watchtower
SUBJECT: Origin Stories
So I’ve been thinking about this more, and I realize
now that the whole desert island thing sounds pretty
ridiculous. I’ve tried telling the story multiple times and it
EXPANDING PATHWAYS
never gets any less unbelievable. But you were there, so
you know it’s not made up.
Thing is, this is true of everyone on the team. Have you
heard about Bart and the “hard water” excuse he’s given
people? Or the one about the lightning bolt and the rack
of chemicals? He changes it every time I ask him. And
now that we know more about A.C., I’m ready to believe
anything. Truth is, how we got here’s just as important as
what we’re doing now, but I can’t get over the fact that if
you don’t have a skeleton in your closet or a spaceship in
your basement, you’re missing out on something.
Which reminds me, is there something you want to tell me
about the orphanage you grew up in?
In the Smallville Roleplaying Game, the Pathways
rules help you and your players populate, define, and set up
your spinoff campaign—plus you get to have a bit of fun while
you’re at it. Pathways is an example of using play even before
the game starts, and it’s an essential element of getting the
spinoff up and running. Something that does so much naturally
generates questions on how to proceed. It also opens up a ton of
possibilities for fiddling with the very foundations of the game.
This chapter, like all the chapters in this book, is primarily
addressed to the Watchtower, but it’s useful information for
any player at the table, especially since it’s the players who
initially get the most out of Pathways. The information in the
Play Advice boxes is primarily addressed to the players, which
includes Watchtower.
Introducing New Leads
You and your friends have been banging away on your
Smallville spinoff for months; now one of your other friends
has heard all your stories and he wants in, too. You could make
a whole new spinoff and start from scratch, but that’s not what
anyone wants. You and your friends want to continue the stories
that you’ve started, and the new guy wants to join in on that
fun. So you need to figure out how to introduce a new Lead into
the mix.
There are basically three ways to weave a new player into
a game, and all three start where the other Leads started—the
Pathways map. Whichever option you choose, be sure to make
the new player’s first episode memorable.
24 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
FEATURE-TO-LEAD CONVERSION
The easiest route is to offer the new player one of the game’s
existing Features. Maybe it’s a Feature that hasn’t reared his head
in an episode yet, but it could also be the Feature who’s been the
most central to the game thus far. Regardless, your new player
should select a Feature that he’s genuinely interested in, not
what would be most convenient for everyone else.
You need to make a few changes to convert the Feature into
a Lead. First off, turn the Feature’s double-circle on the Pathways
Map into a square. Then have the new player draw arrows to all
the squares he isn’t already connected to. The players of those
Leads draw arrows back and pick up a d4 Relationship with the
new Lead; everyone else steps up their Relationship with the
new Lead by one. Everyone next collaborates on how the arrows
should be labeled and what statements those new Relationships
should have. The new player then adds a new circle and a
new diamond to the map, with the corresponding Extra and
Location going on his Lead sheet.
If the Feature already has Traits, the new player can just
tweak the sheet with the new Relationships and two Resources
and start play like that. However, a little bit of customization goes
a long way towards a player’s sense of ownership. To start from
scratch, begin by listing all the Relationships and Resources that
already appear on the map. Rate each at d4. Otherwise, don’t
perform the map steps. Just add the die steps from Pathways for
each stage, up to the same stage the other Leads started from.
Then the new player steps up a few Traits so he “catches up” to
the Growth the other Leads have enjoyed over the course of the
game. If he steps up a number of Traits equal to half the number
of episodes he missed, he should be about even.
PLAY ADVICE
When Do I Add This To My Sheet?
The Pathways map adds Traits to your Lead Sheet
just as the Pathways charts do. You gain a Trait for every
arrow pointing away from your square. If the arrow ends
in another Lead’s square or a Feature’s double-circle, the
Trait’s a Relationship. If the arrow ends in an Extra’s single
circle or a Location’s diamond, the Trait’s a Resource.
Remember, when you draw a new arrow to an existing
Extra, you and whoever else is linked to that Extra choose
whether to keep the character as an Extra or to upgrade him
to Feature status. Do you want him to stay a bit character
who’s only there to help you out, or do you want to free him
up to be problems for the Leads? It’s entirely up to you.
Arrows pointing to your Lead’s square never give
you Traits. Those represent what other characters think
about your Lead or occasionally a Location’s connection
to your Lead. Perhaps, over the course of play, you’ll pick
up a Resource Trait for that Extra or Location, but for now
they’re either a complete mystery to you or something you
just don’t care that much about.
 WATCHTOWER ALERT: How Do I Make the Game About X?
So you’ve got your shiny new copy of the Smallville RPG
and you’ve told your friends all about it and in a week you’re
getting together to play. You’re going to be Watchtower,
either because you’re always the one who runs the games
in your group or because you’re the one who pitched the
game so you’re the one who’s going to run it. And you want
to do right by your friends who are going out on a limb with
this game because you said it would be cool. Bottom line?
You want to be prepared.
You start brainstorming about what kind of spinoff you
could play. You hit up the Internet and dive into Wikipedia,
tracing the relationships and histories of the characters
that the players might pick. You start thinking about what
bad guys you could use, what schemes they might hatch,
which characters’ girlfriends they might kidnap. You get out
a legal pad and start sketching out plotlines and season
arcs. And then some point later you wake up buried in
scribbled notes and realize that you have an entire epic
storyline already planned out. It’s a modern myth in its own
right and it’s ready for your players to take it on.
Then you look at the Pathways rules, and you start
wondering: if the players are going to pick who they play,
and then they’re going to pick who they add to the map as
Extras and then Features, how do you ensure that all your
awesome plans appear in the map? You have this whole
plot arc where Feature X tempts Lead Y to the dark side by
threatening Love Interest Z, and if X, Y, and Z aren’t on the
map that’s going to be…awkward. You could, ahem, strongly
FEATURE/LEAD DISPLACEMENT
If none of the existing Features appeal to the new player,
consider replacing one of them with a new character entirely.
Choose this option if the new player likes a given Feature’s role
but isn’t too keen on the specifics of the Feature’s methods,
history, or character. This allows him to play “like Feature X, but
more sympathetic,” or “like Feature X, but more demanding,” or
“like Feature X, but a woman.”
Replace the Feature’s double-circle on the Pathways map
with a square. Keep the arrows pointing to the circle, adding
a question mark to their labels. Add new arrows so that the
new Lead is linked to all the other Leads, and vice-versa. All
the existing Leads add a new Relationship at d4 to the new
Lead, but don’t worry about statements just yet. The new
player can then add arrows to a new circle and diamond. On
a blank Lead sheet, list this Extra and Location along with all
the other Traits implied by the Pathways map. Each begins
at d4.
The new player then chooses his way down the Pathways
chart, skipping all map steps. When he reaches the same stage
where the other Leads began, he can add a number of die steps
equal to half the episodes he missed. The new Lead is ready for play.
suggest what characters the players add to the map, but
that seems even worse.
So how do you make your Smallville spinoff about the thing you
want it to be about? There are two answers to that question.
The first is simple: you don’t. Unlike a lot of roleplaying games,
Smallville isn’t the kind of RPG where the person running
things decides where the game starts or where it goes.
Smallville is a collaborative game from the bottom up—and
we really mean the bottom, starting with the players building
the setting through Pathways. As Watchtower, you can’t
shoehorn your plans into that process. So you may have to
set aside your epic plans and listen to your players tell you
what they’re interested  in.
The second answer, though, is that you’re not a slave to your
players. In fact, you need to include things in your spinoff that
you’re interested in, if only so you stay engaged and want to
keep planning and running episodes. So what you do is talk.
Pitch your ideas to the players. Suggest the game where
everyone is a meteor freak dealing with the Isis Foundation
getting closed down, or where Bart Allen goes to college, or
where the Leads are all Checkmate agents. Even suggest the
bad guys who might crop up and the kinds of plots that you
might see. And then listen to what the players think of your
suggestions. Work together to pound out the basic shape of
things and come up with a spinoff that everyone would like to
see—and play. Then fire up Pathways and mold your rough
ideas into specifics.
The existing Leads, though, now have an outdated
Relationship for the Feature that just got displaced and a blank
d4 Relationship for the new Lead. In the first scene in which
they encounter the new Lead, they can write the statement for
their blank Relationship. The statement should reflect their first
impression of the new character. Over the course of the episode,
make it clear that the old Feature is gone—he’s either left town or
fallen afoul of some other permanent circumstances—like, you
know, a messy death. At any point after this has become apparent,
players may strike their Relationship with the old Feature off their
sheet and add those die steps to the Relationship with the new
Lead. Or they may decide to keep the memory of the old Feature
alive on their sheets (and, given how things work around here,
that old Feature might turn up again, dead or not).
GRAFTING ON A NEW LEAD
Of course, sometimes there’s just no existing Feature
that appeals. The new player wants to make a completely new
Lead and that’s that. In this case, the new player goes through
Pathways and carries out the map steps, grafting them onto
the existing Pathways map. The other players then make a
couple additions to the map as well, bringing the new Lead
into the game.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 25
 PLAY ADVICE
Extra-To-Lead Conversion
It’s also possible to turn an existing Extra into a Lead. Since
Extras are tied so loosely to the Pathways map, though,
it’s easiest to use the Grafting on a New Lead rules instead.
Just turn the Extra into a Relationship on everyone’s Lead
sheets and start grafting.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS
The new player does all the Pathways steps as normal.
He creates new circles and diamonds, links existing nodes to
other nodes, and all the rest. Some of the steps may be a little
problematic, and discussion and collaboration among the
players is key to making these additions work. While it may
seem like the new player can’t link an Extra to a Lead and
magically turn them into siblings, this sort of revision is easily
handled. Maybe the Leads unknowingly share a philandering
father (it worked for Tess’ player in Season Ten), or were even
twins separated at birth. Maybe the new sibling just appears
in the show…and the Leads need to figure out where he came
from. As long as everyone is on board with welcoming the new
player and his contributions, you can make anything work.
After the new player has caught up on his Pathways steps, the
other players have a turn adding to the map. In whichever order
feels most comfortable, they each add an arrow between two
circles or diamonds and add an arrow from their square to a circle
or diamond. These additions must include a circle or diamond
added by the new player. Each player picks up a new Resource
or—if an Extra is upgraded to a Feature—a new Relationship in
addition to a new Relationship with the new Lead.
PLAY ADVICE: But We Usually Make Characters Over E-mail…
Sometimes time is tight, or players are very eager, and you
want to get to the first episode the minute you sit down at the
gaming table. Believe you me, we're big fans of the Internet and
telecommunications technology, and in fact there are some
tools that allow you to run through the Pathways rules online,
so everyone can show up, characters in hand, to the first
session. You won’t get to “play Pathways” face-to-face—which
is a whole ball of fun—but you’ll hit the ground running.
The first method is to abandon the visual map and do Pathways
“database style.” In this option, replace the map with a list. Each
Lead, Extra, Location, and Feature is listed and bolded. Their
connections to each other are listed underneath the bolded
header. To increase clarity, list each connection under both
headers: Johnny’s connection to the Airport is listed under
Johnny as “works at the Airport” and under Airport as “Johnny
works here.” You can e-mail this list around, with each player
making his additions on his turn. It’s a little harder to grok, but
it’ll work. And you can always translate it into a visual map once
it’s complete.
26 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
THE NEW LEAD’S FIRST EPISODE
Whichever option you choose for setting the new player
up with a Lead and getting him onto the Pathways map, the first
episode in which he appears should focus on his introduction
to your spinoff.
When you prep the episode as Watchtower, look at conflicts
that involve Relationships to and from the new Lead as well as
the Values the new Lead has rated highly. If at all possible, the
episode should include the new Extras, Features, and Locations
that the new player added to the map.
It’s not just your responsibility to introduce the new Lead
into the game. The existing players should understand that
bringing him into the story means that his Lead gets a lot of
screen time during this episode. Instead of waiting their turn,
suggest to the table that they seek out reasons to interact with
him, making him an important part of the story.
Once that first episode’s in the can, the following episodes
can more subtly work the new Lead into the swing of things.
Eventually it’ll be like he was always there, making snappy
comebacks while sniffing after your secrets, or goading you into
bigger and grander feats of heroism and indiscretion.
Variations on Pathways
The Pathways chart included in the Smallville RPG is
ideal for creating young people finding their way in the world.
They all live in more-or-less the same town or city. And, of
course, some of them have superhuman abilities and others
don’t. That formula works for a whole lot of potential spinoffs,
but sometimes you want to go a little further afield. In that case,
you’ll need to build your own Pathways chart.
Pathways does three things in tandem. Each of them
is pretty simple, but putting them together gets you some
If databases aren’t your style, there are some other options.
As of the time of this writing (mid-2011) there are a number
of online collaboration tools like Google Docs or CMapTools
available. With these tools, everyone can log in and take their
turns adding to the document. You can even do this in real time,
if your hurdles are distance more than time.
Lastly, you can use diagramming software, e-mailing the
file between players. However, diagramming software isn’t
something everyone has, and finding a format that works on
everyone’s home computer may be difficult. Visio works on
Microsoft machines; Omnigraffle is a good choice for Macintosh
users. There are cross-platform solutions like ConceptDraw,
Inspiration, and MindMapper, but everyone grabbing a copy
may not fit into your budget, even if you do get an educational
discount! The best option here may again be CMapTools, which
is cross-platform and free.
CHECKMATE: Because the
Federal Government defines
vigilantes as domestic terrorists
whether they wear capes or not
peanut‑butter-and-chocolate goodness that you don’t get when
you do them by themselves. In addition to creating the Traits
for the Leads, Pathways also gets each player to think about
backstory just enough to flesh out his Lead, making him feel
real to the player. At the same time, it guides players to share bits
of their backstories to create a setting that all of the Leads can
play in. When you make your own Pathways chart, you need to
consider how it does these three things.
It’s easiest to consider the backstory element first. Pathways
needs to present the essential bits of character that you want
the Leads to be built out of. In Smallville, those bits start
with where you come from, how you grew up, and what your
interests are. Those become the Origins, Youth, and Focus
stages. Ask yourself what are the basic building blocks for the
kinds of Leads you want for your game? Pathways proceeds in
a loose chronological order, but nothing says you have to start
with birth and go through every stage of the character’s life. Is
his Youth really that important, or are you more interested in
what he was doing back on Black Thursday?
The default Pathways chart has nine stages with five
options at each stage. Each option lets you proceed to the
option directly below it or jig left or right on the way down.
When you make your own chart, you can change any of these
details. You can make a narrow chart with only three options
per stage, a short chart with only five stages, or a chart where
the connections aren’t fixed at all. Don’t feel like you need to fill
a 9x5 grid with rigid connections; start by brainstorming what
sounds important and interesting. Make lists first, and organize
them after your ideas are down on paper.
Once you’ve sketched out your chart, consider what
elements from each stage can be shared among the players. You
need to start off with new Extras and Locations to “seed” the
map with nodes, but after that you can decide what each stage
does. Is this a stage where you meet new people or go to new
places? Is this a stage where you learn what other people think
of you? Or perhaps it’s a stage where it becomes apparent that
the world’s more connected than you thought.
For each stage of your Pathways chart, have the players
add one or two things to the Pathways map. If they’re adding
new elements to the game, have them draw arrows to new
circles or diamonds. If they’re uncovering new connections,
have them draw arrows between circles and diamonds. If
they’re discovering what the world thinks of them, have
them draw arrows back to squares. If they might be turning
away from what they’ve already built up, allow them to
cross out arrows.
And then there are Traits. You need to sprinkle the right
number of Trait steps across your entire map. All the options in
each stage must have an equal number of steps up, and the total
steps up in a column need to hit your target: Novices have 21
steps, Veterans have 31, and Seasoned Veterans may have 38, 45,
or more. (It’s safe to wiggle a step or three in either direction.)
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 27
 CHECKMATE

CORNFED AMERICAN CRIMINAL CAPTURED METAHUMAN POLITICIAN

Start all Values at d8 Start all Values at d8 Start all Values at d8 Start all Values at d8
NEW Extra NEW Extra NEW Extra NEW Extra
NEW Extra NEW Extra NEW Extra NEW Extra
Love Glory Truth Power Justice Duty Truth Duty Justice Glory Truth Love
NEW Distinction NEW Distinction NEW Ability NEW Distinction
EXPANDING PATHWAYS

R elationship NEW Distinction NEW Distinction/Heritage Extra

W ild W
 ild W
 ild W
 ild

QUANTICO STREETS ON-THE-JOB

Link Any Link Any Link Any
Duty Truth Glory Glory Justice Love Justice Power Duty
NEW Distinction or Gear NEW Distinction NEW Distinction
Extra Extra Wild
W
 ild W
 ild W
 ild

GLORIOUS MESSY DISASTROUS COMPLICATED

Link Link Link Link
Glory Justice Truth Duty Truth Love Power Glory Duty Truth Duty Glory
NEW or Gear NEW or Distinction NEW or Gear NEW or Distinction
Relationship Relationship Relationship Relationship
Relationship Relationship Extra Extra
W
 ild W
 ild W
 ild W
 ild

BLACK (OPS) WHITE (INTEL) RED (ROGUE)

NEW Extra NEW Extra NEW Extra
Mirror Back Mirror Back Mirror Back
Justice Any Other Truth Any Other Duty Any Other
NEW or Gear NEW or Distinction NEW or Distinction or Ability
NEW or Distinction Relationship NEW or Distinction or Ability
Extra Extra or Relationship Wild

ANY

PAWN KNIGHT BISHOP KING/QUEEN

Link Link Link Link
Love Any Other Power Any Other Glory Any Other Power Any Other
Distinction NEW or Gear Relationship Relationship
Relationship Distinction Relationship Extra
Relationship Relationship E xtra E xtra
W
 ild W
 ild W ild W ild

28 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 Perhaps more important than the total number of steps,
however, are the number of Traits those steps can be invested
in. The more Traits available, the more scattered the players’
steps become, and the smaller their die ratings will be; the fewer
Traits available, the higher the die ratings will be.
Each stage where the players add a new circle or
diamond to the map adds a Trait to their Lead sheet. These
start as Resources but may become Relationships. In the
options that you list, put opportunities for new Distinctions,
Abilities, Gear, and Heritages. Don’t forget, too, that
each Lead has a Relationship with all the other Leads. See
The Absolute Basics on page 31 for how many Traits the
default Pathways gives Leads.
BUILDING CHECKMATE
Let’s say we want a different angle on the Smallville
universe: instead of playing Clark and his friends, we want
to play the Checkmate agents that try to hunt them down in
Season Nine (this also works for the VRA in Season Ten). These
aren’t young men and women finding their way in the world;
these are experienced agents pursuing a devious agenda. We’ll
need a new Pathways chart to create such characters.
A Checkmate character doesn’t start by deciding if he was
a geek or rich or an alien; a Checkmate character starts when
he’s recruited into the organization. Most agents are big, beefy,
cornfed Americans—picture crewcuts and flag lapel pins. But
Checkmate isn’t all selfless civil servants, either. They recruit—
and blackmail—criminals to work for them, and there are
always the politicians hovering around and sticking their fingers
into pies. And of course, there’s the odd captured metahuman,
which gives us the character option with Abilities. Those four
options seem pretty solid for our first stage, Recruitment.
After agents are recruited, the big differences are probably
training. Some of them get the real training—maybe there’s a
PLAY ADVICE: Why Can’t I Link to His Extra Yet?
In the early stages of Pathways, everyone needs to link to
NEW circles and diamonds—Extras and Locations. It’s tempting,
when the page is mostly blank, to want to link to the things that
other players have already created. That scheming friend, that
secret grove, that popular girl with a secret—who wouldn’t
want to get in on some of that action? But the rules say you
have to come up with a new Extra or a new Location. Wouldn’t it
be okay to just bend the rules here?
Pathways works by creating a network of Extras and Locations
through collaboration. Everyone pitches in making stuff and then
everyone knits that stuff together. When Pathways fires on all
cylinders, even knitting things together creates new connections
and new sides of the characters. That’s where the really juicy parts
come into play. But those new connections can’t happen if there
aren’t Extras and Locations for them to happen to.
So the first part of Pathways seeds the map with Extras
and Locations. Then the second part exploits that target-rich
environment to inspire players to make new and surprising
facility at Quantico with the FBI Academy—but others have to
fend for themselves, learning on the job or using the lessons they
learned on the streets. And then, once the bright-eyed recruitment
and training is over, the agents get their first taste of actual duty.
What’s their first encounter with metahumans and aliens like?
Glorious? Messy? Disastrous? Or maybe it’s complicated.
Checkmate has its juicy chess motif going on, and we can’t
pass that up. Is your character a Black operations agent or a White
intelligence agent? Maybe you’ve gone rogue as a Red agent
working for Martha Kent. Are you just a pawn, a field agent knight,
or a high-ranking bishop? Or are you running the show as the King
or Queen? Color and Rank seem like great options for stages, as
they neatly summarize what your assignment is. Since one agent
may have many assignments over the course of his career, we’ll set
up the chart so you can do Color and Rank repeatedly to build up
a history at Checkmate. That will also distinguish between Novice,
Veteran, and Seasoned Veteran characters.
Now we lay out all our options at different stages and
make connections between them. If you’re starting as an All-
American, you’re probably going to go into Quantico or maybe
get On-the-Job training. If you only get “Street” training, well
then, your first encounter probably isn’t going to be Glorious.
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty for die steps, we
need to decide when new Traits become available. A Novice
needs access to 4-10 Assets over the course of the five stages. In
addition, each assignment (i.e., the last two stages) should offer
access to 1-3 more Assets. Some quick subtraction tells us that
the first three stages need to offer 3-7 Assets. If each of those
stages has one or two available Assets, we’re fine.
Checkmate is going to be a loose, globe-hopping sort of
affair, so Locations seem like they won’t get used often. We
might consider ditching them or making sure they’re used for
frequently used headquarter-type places. We’ll need to seed the
map with Extras to link to, however, so the first stage will have
connections. Linking a Lead to a friend’s cool Extra in the first
stage is putting the cart before the horse. If everyone links to
that first Extra, the network falls down like a house of cards.
There aren’t as many opportunities to open up in the next stage,
and as a result everyone has fewer options for expanding their
Lead’s backstories.
Each player’s contribution is important in the first stages—
essential, really—for letting the map grow and for giving the
other players the most opportunities in later stages. Don’t
worry if you can’t come up with something cool and sexy right
off the bat. Just add in what seems natural and obvious. In a
later stage, when someone else links your starting Extra to
something else on the map, your “boring” idea might become
the surprise hit. But don’t worry about that yet. For now, add in
your dad or your grade school teacher or your priest or what-
have-you. By the time you reach the end of Pathways, you’ll
wonder what you were worried about in the first place.
And you can always link to that popular girl with a secret later.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 29
 each player draw arrows to two new Extras. The First Encounter
stage also seems like a good place to introduce new characters,
so we’ll have them add a new Extra there, as well. Lastly, each
assignment can have a character attached to it—old colleagues,
old targets, old exes—so we’ll add a new Extra in Rank, too.
Now we figure out how many die steps each stage in this
Checkmate-flavored Pathways gets. A Novice character needs
21 steps, which need to be split among five stages. We’ll put five
steps in the first stage to get things started, then four in each of
the other four stages, for a total of 21. Remember that one or
two of the die steps in Recruitment, First Encounter, and Rank
EXPANDING PATHWAYS
are spoken for because they add new Extras. We’re planning
for the last two stages, Color and Rank, to be repeatable to
represent multiple assignments. The second assignment moves
the Novice up to Veteran, with additional assignments pulling
double-duty as additional “seasons” for Seasoned Veterans.
Novice to Veteran (the second chart in the core Pathways) is
usually ten steps and additional seasons are each seven steps,
but for our purposes we’re going to average that out a little and
have Color and Rank each give eight steps.
Lastly, we need to add Values. Usually, Pathways builds up
your Values as you find your place in the world; but Checkmate
is the kind of place where your Values are worn down by
the sacrifices you make, so we’re going to do this backwards.
Everyone needs 15 steps when they’re done. We’ll start with
all Values at d8 (18 steps). The first three stages step back two
and step up one, for a net loss of one step each stage. The last
two stages can repeat for additional assignments, though, so
they need to zero out. Each one of those stages steps back one
and steps up any other except for King/Queen, which steps up
Power and steps back any other.
Of course, now we run into the possibility of driving
Values down to nothing. During the first three stages, if a Value
would get stepped back to d0, leave it at d4 and step back the
other Value twice. During Rank and Color stages, if a Value
would get stepped back to d0, don’t step back or step up any
Values for that stage.
Quick and Dirty Features
Pathways is great for making Leads, but it can be a little
unwieldy for making Features. Sometimes you just want to stat
up a guy and set him loose him on the Leads—especially when
the Leads’ players are showing up in half an hour and you, uh,
misplaced your prepared episode. So in the spirit of bailing out
overworked Watchtowers, we present the Quick and Dirty rules.
When making Quick and Dirty Features, there are two
numbers you need to worry about: the number of steps the
Feature has and the number of Traits those steps can be invested
in. We call these two things the Sketch and the Budget.
The Sketch is the bare-bones description of the Feature—a
list of Traits the Feature has. For instance, this Feature has
Relationships with Clark and Lex and is Not Born Yesterday
and Guilty. You get the basic idea right off the bat.
The Budget is the die ratings that the Feature has in the
Traits listed in the Sketch. Whether it’s a measly d4, a whopping
d12, or an in-the-middle d8, the Budget fleshes out the character
by providing weight and setting priorities.
30 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
THE SKETCH
In the Sketch, we’re just making a list of Traits. Values are
simple. There are six Values, and everyone has the same set. List
those out first. Then each character gets a different number of
Relationships, Assets, and Resources.
If you’re building a Feature who appears on the Pathways
map, give him a Relationship for every double-circle (i.e.,
Feature) or square the Feature is linked to. Don’t worry about the
statement or die rating yet; just list the Relationships. If you’re
creating any other Features for this episode, list them as well.
In general, those are all the Relationships the Feature will have.
However, if you’ve been playing for some time, there may be
some Relationships to Leads or Features that seem appropriate.
Go ahead and list these, too.
If you’re building a new Feature not on the Pathways map,
aim for a number of Relationships equal to two plus the number
of Leads in the game. Usually, this includes Relationships to all
of the Leads, but it doesn’t have to; some new Features may only
know one or two Leads and instead have a broader connection
to significant Features in that episode. The point is to tie the
Feature into the ongoing story.
For Assets, skim the lists of Distinctions and Abilities
in the Smallville RPG or the handy combined table at the
back of this book. Pick up four to eight of these—you might
want to jot down any that feel appropriate for the character,
then go back and prune it down to eight or fewer. Don’t forget
Heritage Distinctions!
For some heavy-hitting Features, you may want more
than eight Assets because you need a number of Abilities. Go
ahead and boost the quota up to ten for these characters, but
you usually don’t want to do this for more than one Feature in
a given episode.
Next add three Extras or Locations. Start with any Extras
and Locations that the Feature links to on the Pathways map.
You can poach other Extras and Locations off the map or create
entirely new ones—remember that Locations have a habit of
sticking around, so keep half an eye on the possibility of using
these new Locations after this episode is over.
THE BUDGET
Now it’s time to put some die ratings next to those Traits
in the Sketch.
Your Features should have a number of die steps roughly
equivalent to the Leads. Leads created with Pathways through
their Life Changing Events have 21 die steps outside of Values.
Leads  who did the whole Pathways chart have 31 die steps. For
Seasoned Veterans, each season beyond Pathways adds seven
die steps.
Assume that the Leads have succeeded in their Growth
rolls about half the time, so add half the number of episodes
you’ve played thus far. So if you started with Veteran characters
created through the Identity stage of Pathways and then played
six episodes, your Features should have 34 steps.
Now assign die steps to the lists of Traits you already have.
You can use hash marks (one for each step, with 5 hash marks
indicating a d12) or any other easy reference. Remember to start
by making everything you’ve got a d4 (which takes up a lot of
your budget right off the bat). Then decide which Traits are big
and which are small.
Each Ability gets one Special Effect for free; you can also
spend one die step out of the Feature’s Budget to pick up a
second Special Effect.
Again, you may feel inclined to make some heavy hitter
Features with more than their fair share of die steps. This is
especially appropriate when you’re aiming to build something
like Doomsday, who’s there to cause some serious carnage and
will require the combined effort of multiple Leads to take down.
To keep things balanced when creating a particularly powerful
Feature, consider spending die steps from the Budgets of other
Features from the same episode. Don’t borrow too heavily,
though, or the other Features won’t be able to pull their weight
in creating conflicts.
Lastly, spread fifteen steps among the Values, with a
minimum of one step, d4, in each one.
You’ll need statements for the Values and Relationships.
You can write those now, but consider saving a few Relationship
statements for later, especially if you want your Feature to have
a more organic feel. When your Feature meets a Lead or Feature
for the first time, use the first impression as the inspiration for
the Relationship statement.
For easy reference, you probably want to copy over the
triggers for any Assets. Settle on a name and a general look for
the Feature, and you’re done.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
The Absolute Basics
•W
 hen Leads are done with the default Pathways chart,
they have:
• A ll Leads and Features: 15 steps in 6 Values (i.e., 9 steps up
from all d4s)
• N ovices (to LCE): 21 steps split among 4-10 Assets, 1-3
Relationships or Extras, 1-3 Locations, and Relationships
to Leads (which all start at d4)
• V eterans (to ID): 31 steps split among 5-13 Assets, 1-5
Relationships or Extras, 1-5 Locations, and Relationships
to Leads (which all start at d4)
• S easoned Veterans: each season steps up Assets three
times and Relationships & Resources four times.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 31
 DISTINCTIONS
Wondering where exactly to find a specific Distinction? This handy list can help you out. Award and Heritage
Distinctions are marked with (A) and (H) respectively.

DISTINCTION BOOK PAGE DISTINCTION BOOK PAGE

Agile Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 Investigator Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Almeracan Noble Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 99 Karate Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 101
Heritage (H)
Kryptonian Heritage Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 100
EXPANDING PATHWAYS

Athletic Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 (H)

Atlantean Heritage (H) Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 99 License To Drive Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Attractive Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 Likeable Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Backhanded Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 Magical Legacy Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 100
Best Body (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16 Manipulative Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Best Coach (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16 Marksman Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Best Smile (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16 Martial Artist Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Best Sport (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16 Martian Heritage (H) Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 101
Big Brother/Big Sister Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 Mastermind Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 96
Big-Hearted Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92 Military Brat Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 96
Book Worm Smallville High School Yearbook Page 14 Most Dependable (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 17
Class Clown (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16 Most Likely To Go To Smallville High School Yearbook Page 17
Jail (A)
Clever Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 92
Most Likely To Smallville High School Yearbook Page 18
Confident Smallville High School Yearbook Page 14
Succeed (A)
Connected Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 93
Most School Spirit (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 18
Cosmopolitan Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 93
Not Born Yesterday Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 96
Cutest Couple (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 17
Observant Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 96
Cybernetic Systems Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 100
On A Mission Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 96
(H)
Persistent Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Daring Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 93
Popular Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Distraught Smallville High School Yearbook Page 14
Right Place, Right Time Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 97
Down With The Kids Smallville High School Yearbook Page 14
Savage Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 97
Extraterrestrial Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 93
Knowledge Shameless Flirt Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 97
Family Reputation Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94 Smartass Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 97
Famous Smallville High School Yearbook Page 14 Sneaky Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 97
Fast Talker Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94 Socially Invisible Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Favorite Teacher (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 17 Soldier Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 98
(Fill In The Blank) Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 101 Strictest Teacher (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 18
Knowledge
Teachers’ Pet Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Fixer Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Team Player Smallville High School Yearbook Page 15
Forged In Fire Smallville High School Yearbook Page 93
Toughest Coach (A) Smallville High School Yearbook Page 18
Gearhead Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Underage Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16
Genius Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Vicious Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 98
Guilty Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Wealthy Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 98
Hacker Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Weapons Master Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 98
Heroic Reputation Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 94
Weirdar Smallville High School Yearbook Page 16
Impulsive Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95
Willful Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 98
In Over My Head Smallville Roleplaying Game Page 95

32 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES
Black Creek was one of Lex Luthor’s personal meteor
freak detainment and experimentation facilities. Located in
the middle of Montana, the outside of the facility looks like
an old factory. Inside, the facility is a high-tech mix of prison
and laboratory. Prisoners are experimented on and detained
without much chance of release. Lex had Chloe locked up
here briefly; she was forced to reveal information on various
members of Oliver’s group. This led to most of the group
being temporary guests of Black Creek until Oliver and Clark
busted them out.
Eventually Tess took over LuthorCorp from Lex. When
she became aware of Black Creek, she shut the facility down
and let the prisoners go. She recruited a few to join her own
personal meteor freak hit squad and implanted them with
trackers and explosive chips that she could trigger remotely if
they got out of line, because that’s just the kind of girl she is.
And so the Injustice Gang was born.
Tess used her Injustice Gang to track down Davis
Bloome in her efforts to help the Traveler. The group consisted
of Eva Greer, Bette Sans Souci, Rudy Jones, Leslie Willis, and
Neutron. Each possessed incredible powers and appreciated
Tess’ offer of power, security, and opportunity.
Shame it didn’t actually work out that way. The group
wasn’t all that successful and several members were killed,
B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A
either by Bloome or by Tess herself. Despite this stunning display
of human resource management, Tess kept recruiting others,
such as unstable metahuman Randy Klein (see Smallville
Roleplaying Game, page 176). Now that Black Creek has gone
dark and Tess has joined Oliver and Clark’s cause at Watchtower,
she’s using the network and metahuman data she acquired from
Black Creek for more noble causes.
Types of Scenes: Black Creek, like Belle Reve, is a great
place for escape attempts and shadowy dealings. As a secret
non-government facility, it also makes a great place for Leads
to break into without worrying about angering the entire
US government. The question of what to do with dangerous
prisoners kept here against their will could easily fuel conflicts
among various Leads. Even deserted, the lab—as a Location
on a Lead or Feature’s sheet—could be a source of reflection or
motivation for former prisoners.
Specialties: Confined, Experiment, Hidden, Isolated,
Research
Extras: Private Security, Research Team
Leads and Features: Arthur, Bette Sans Souci, Chloe,
Dinah, Eva Greer, Leslie Willis, Lex Luthor, Linda Lake,
Neutron, Rudy Jones, Sebastian Kane, Tess Mercer
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 33
 CASEFILES
The Injustice Gang
The following Black Creek inmates were recruited by Tess to form the original group nicknamed the Injustice Gang. Other
members, such as the Weather Girls (see Smallville RPG, page 178) might be recruited to replace those who are dead or
incarcerated. It’s also worth noting that the group doesn’t actually tend to call themselves the Injustice Gang, especially early on
when they think they’re working to save tons of people from monsters like Davis Bloome/Doomsday. However, it’s a convenient
way to describe Tess’ little project, especially since they worked in opposition to Clark and Ollie’s own justice-promoting team.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS
BETTE SANS SUCCI
Plastique • Brunette Bombshell • Psycho Spice
VALUES
d6 Duty You got to watch out for yourself first.
d8 Glory I deserve better than I’ve got.
d10 Justice Cross me and it’ll be your last mistake.
d6 Love Love is just a lie to control you.
d8 Power Power means nobody messes with you.
d4 Truth Lies are so much easier and safer.
Bette Sans Succi was a troubled teen locked up and
experimented on at Black Creek. When she escaped, she fled to
Metropolis where she encountered Tess Mercer while on a bus.
Afraid of capture, she used her ability to create explosive blasts
to blow up the bus. Clark and Chloe found Bette when they
arrived at the scene of the explosion, but they were unaware of
her powers. Chloe and Davis Bloome helped Bette while Clark
took Tess to the hospital—marking the first time Clark and
Chloe met their villainous counterparts.
Chloe took Bette under her wing, but she and Clark soon
began to suspect the bombing had metahuman origins. Bette
blamed a kid named Tommy who she claimed was a meteor
freak and a maniac and whose death she later engineered. Bette’s
mistrust, paranoia, and poor impulse control resulted in her
revealing her explosive powers to Chloe. Despite Chloe’s offer
to help Bette, the girl decided it was safer to just blast her and
run. Fortunately for our little blonde Watchtower, Clark arrived
to save her and defeat Bette. Clark tried to convince Bette that
she needed help and that she should accept responsibility for
her actions. She was sent to Belle Reve and, hopefully, therapy.
Tess intercepted Bette’s transfer. Tess was gathering her
own little metahuman group, offering training, comfort, and
purpose. Bette took the name Plastique and agreed to work
with Tess and her team. This worked out fine until Doomsday
murdered Neutron and Tess killed two more of her metahumans
who went against her. Bette decided she’d had enough at that
point. She and Rudy Jones decided to put a permanent and
bloody end to their employment with Ms. Mercer. The pair
captured Tess and tortured her to get her to give up information
on Black Creek prisoners: Rudy and Bette intended to recruit
the other metahumans for their own personal Legion of Doom,
but Clark and Oliver managed to take them down.
34 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A
Current Events: According to Oliver, Bette was locked up
somewhere safe, presumably Belle Reve or a similar facility.
However, that was then. Recently, Bette was sprung from prison
and recruited by Checkmate. Given what Suicide Squad leader
Rick Flag said about the way this group operates, it’s possible
Bette has been reported dead through official channels.
Classified: As a prisoner of Black Creek and a member of
Tess’ little personal hit squad, Bette likely knows more than a
few dirty secrets. However, given that Tess didn’t even entrust
her with the names of her fellow Black Creek alumni, this
information is likely limited to whatever events, facilities, and
operations Bette was personally involved with.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Tessis such a bitch! d10
▼▼ SorryChloe, I don’t need a mom d6
▼▼ Clark seems nice, but he’s probably as bad as the rest d6
▼▼ Rudy had better watch my back d6
RESOURCES
▼▼ T he Streets (Contacts, Safe) 2d6
▼▼ Suicide Squad (Resources, Tactics) 2d8
ASSETS
Combustion d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Cause an explosive sweep effect that inflicts
Injured Stress.
▼▼ Plant an explosion near another person or object that
will detonate after a certain amount of time has passed.
Fast Talker d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you’re caught in a lie or exaggeration.
Kryptonite Psychosis d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
threatening others.
Not Born Yesterday d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to buy a reasonable lie.
Vicious d6
▼▼ A dd a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Angry
or Afraid Stress pool.
 CASEFILES B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A
EVA GREER
Shapeshifting Spy • Tess’ Assistant
VALUES you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
d10 Duty I’ll take care of you, you take care of me.
d4 Glory It’s better to not stick out.
d6 Justice Sometimes the greater good is messy.
d8 Love Love is loyalty.
d6 Power I like to stay close to the powerful.
d8 Truth So many secrets…tell me one.
Eva Greer possessed the ability to change shape. As Tess’
assistant, she used her powers to spy for Tess, often posing as
others to get information. She posed as Chloe to get some juicy
secrets from Clark.
Tess and Eva seemed to get along well enough until Eva
discovered that her boss had killed Livewire and had sent
Neutron to his death. She decided to contact the remaining
Injustice Gang members and tell them of Tess’ actions. She also
posed as Chloe to try to help Clark. Unfortunately, Eva didn’t
realize her benefits package included an explosive chip in her
head. Tess activated the chip and Chloe-Eva died, reverting
back to her normal form.
Not much is known about Eva’s past before working for Tess.
She was a capable assistant and talented spy and spent some time
in Black Creek. She shares the same last name and powers as Tina
Greer (see page 21) but their relationship, if any, is unknown.
Current Events: Like several other metahumans Tess
recruited, Eva is dead. Emil Hamilton examined her right after
her death, so it’s unlikely this was faked.
Classified: Eva probably knew more secrets than most
of Tess’ agents. She was privy to many of Tess’ plans and even
uncovered information about Clark and Davis such as their
alien origins. It’s unclear just how much Eva knew, but given her
powers it’s possible her secrets could fill volumes.
Note: Eva has essentially the same Relationship with
other Injustice Gang operatives, so they’re listed together on
her write-up.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ TheInjustice Gangers are foolish but powerful d6
▼▼ Clark is a Boy Scout d6
▼▼ Chloe is useful for information d8
▼▼ Tess is the boss d10
RESOURCES
ess’ Office (Contacts, Tactics) 2d8
▼▼ T
uthorCorp Plaza (Information, Resources) 2d4
▼▼ L
ASSETS
Manipulative d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition d6 when
Right Place, Right Time d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6
when somebody confronts you about your presence
somewhere off-limits, secret, or prohibited.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to join a scene you weren’t in.
Shapeshifting d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Imitate another character down to fingerprints and
retinal patterns.
▼▼ Join a scene by revealing you were disguised as a
nearby Extra.
LESLIE WILLIS
Livewire • Electric Thief
VALUES
d4 Duty I’m not keen on sticking my neck out.
d6 Glory Fame is nice, but it’s not worth dying for.
d8 Justice Don’t screw me over and we’re fine.
d6 Love I’m more interested in money and comfort.
d10 Power I can use my powers to get me things I want.
d8 Truth Play straight with me or I’m outta here.
Leslie Willis was a car thief when Tess found her and
recruited her for her electrical powers. For a time she
bought into Tess’ talk about banding together to save the
world. But after Neutron got killed fighting Doomsday, she
decided it wasn’t worth the risk. She tried to leave the group
but ended up power leeched by Rudy for her troubles.
Having no further use for her, Tess activated the explosive
chip in Leslie’s head and killed her.
Leslie was spunky, that’s for sure. She stood up to Tess
and expressed serious doubts about her boss’ claims of caring
about them and wanting to make them heroes. Unfortunately,
she did go after Doomsday with only Neutron for backup
and seemed to expect she could just leave the team whenever
she wanted. So she wasn’t that bright.
Current Events: Leslie is dead. Given she died after
Rudy Jones stole her powers, it seems unlikely they would
somehow be able to resurrect her. However, much stranger
things have happened.
Classified: Not a lot is known about Leslie. She didn’t
seem like a black ops covert type, but she’d engaged in some
criminal activities prior to her appearance on the team.
Like her fellow teammates, she knew at least a few secrets
involving Black Creek and Tess Mercer.
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 35
 CASEFILES B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A

RELATIONSHIPS DEFINING ASSETS

▼▼ Bete isn’t as sharp as she thinks d6 In Over My Head d6
▼▼ Neutron is a good partner d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
▼▼ Rudy thinks he’s all that d6
get into trouble over your head.
▼▼ I don’t think Tess is being completely straight with us d8
Kryptonite Psychosis d4
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
RESOURCES
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
EXPANDING PATHWAYS

▼▼ C ar Thieves (Contacts, Resources) 2d6

threatening others.
ASSETS Radioactive Blast d10
Electrokinesis d10 Spend a Plot Point to…
Spend a Plot Point to… ▼▼ Create a wide angle sweep effect that inflicts

▼▼ Charge your body or a conductive material with Insecure or Afraid Stress.

electricity to be released at a later point.
▼▼ Hurl someone out of a scene with an electric blast. DEPTH
▼▼ Create an electromagnetic pulse to disable all electronic ▼▼  lack Creek Inmate 2d6
B
devices in a scene. ▼▼ Injustice Ganger 2d6
Willful d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you put
your foot down. RUDY JONES
Parasite • Power–Leeching Punk
NEUTRON VALUES
Atomic Metahuman • Cannon Fodder
d8 Duty Gotta stick with the team.
DEFINING VALUES d8 Glory With the right powers I’ll get the job done.
d6 Justice You can’t let people push you around.
d6 Duty I gotta do what I gotta do.
I’m more worried about survival
d8 Glory With this team I’ll be somebody. d4 Love than romance.
d8 Power I’ll show everyone what I’m made of. d10 Power That’s a nice ability; I think I’ll take it.
d6 Truth Play straight with me and we’re fine.
Not much is known about the metahuman code-named
Neutron. Not even his real name is revealed, though Nathaniel
Not much is known about Rudy Jones before he joins up
Tyron is one possible identity. He was a Black Creek inmate recruited
with Tess’ Injustice Gang. He possesses the power to rob people
by Tess Mercer for her group. He ran afoul with Davis Bloome in
of their own abilities and then return them if he desires. He
his Doomsday guise and died quickly. His death sparked the events
also seems to have no trouble with torturing Tess when she
that caused the split between Tess and the original Injustice Gang
betrays the team. Along with Bette, Rudy was part of the failed
members. Shame he wasn’t around to enjoy it.
assault on Doomsday and the subsequent ill-advised plan to
Current Events: Neutron is dead. Given Doomsday’s
kidnap and torture Tess. During this event he took Clark’s
savagery and thoroughness, it wasn’t a pretty end.
powers. However, once Oliver taught him about the damage a
Classified: Nearly everything. At least, almost nothing is
kryptonite ring could do, Rudy decided that giving Clark back
known about Neutron. His true name, background, and how he
his mojo was a fine idea.
was imprisoned in Black Creek are a mystery. Even his powers
Like all of the original Injustice Gang, Rudy is a Black
aren’t clearly defined beyond being a type of radioactive blast.
Creek survivor. He’s pretty cocky, especially when it comes to
The statistics below are based on what little is known about
using his powers. It’s not clear how long he was locked up, but
Neutron. If you want to use him in your spinoff campaign, you
given his willingness to commit torture and murder it’s safe to
can develop this mysterious metahuman to suit your needs.
say he was there long enough to either develop serious mental
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS issues or for the kryptonite psychosis to take hold.
▼▼ Bette is a tough chick d6 Current Events: Like Plastique, his partner in crime,
▼▼ Leslie will watch my back d6 Rudy is presumably locked up somewhere. Before his
▼▼ Rudy seems like a decent guy d6 encounter with the Blur and Green Arrow, he took Livewire’s
▼▼ Tess is looking out for us d8

36 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES
powers. It’s unknown if he still has these; it’s possible he should
have Electrokinesis d10 on his stat block.
Classified: Aside from any dirty secrets Rudy learned while
working with Tess, he doesn’t seem to know much of interest.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Bette seems to know what she’s doing d10
▼▼ Clark is more powerful than I thought d6
▼▼ Just keep Oliver away from me! d6
▼▼ Tess shouldn’t have crossed us d8
ASSETS
Kryptonite Psychosis d4
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
threatening others.
Power Leech d10
Limits: Touch
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ G
 ain an Ability possessed by another Lead or Feature
by touching them. The die rating is the lower of the
Ability and Rudy’s Power Leech. May Spend multiple
Plot Points to leech several Abilities at once. The target
suffers a Shutdown of any Ability Gained by Power
Leech whose rating is equal or lower than the Power
Leech rating.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Oh, How Times Change
Before Tess betrays the team and kills Livewire and Eva,
the Injustice Gang’s Relationships with her are much more
cordial and less aggressive. If you want to set your game
during this period or you’re working with an alternate
setting where Tess never betrayed the group, use the
following Relationships instead:
BETTE: TESS really cares about us d10
RUDY: TESS is the boss d8
Note that the other members of the gang don’t have to
change their Relationships because they died before
they got the chance—lucky them. However, if any of the
deceased Injustice Gang are somehow resurrected, their
Relationships should be changed to reflect the current
situation. Also, any Injustice Gangers still alive would be
included as Relationships for their fellow members.
B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A
Other Black Creek Inmates
In addition to Tess’ merry band, there are two other Black
Creek inmates who deserve special mention. Both managed to
cause quite a bit of trouble for Clark and the gang.
LINDA LAKE
Gossip Columnist • Daily Dish Writer • Hydro Witch
VALUES
d6 Duty I’m out for myself.
d8 Glory I deserve to have it all.
d4 Justice It’s wrong to keep things from me.
d6 Love Romance creates such juicy gossip.
d8 Power I’m better than the little people.
d10 Truth The truth can make me famous.
Linda Lake was the gossip columnist for the Daily
Planet and a meteor freak. It’s hard to say which one
made her more dangerous for Clark. Gaining water-based
powers in the second Smallville meteor shower, Linda was
determined to reveal that Clark was the Blur. She came close
to pulling this off.
Linda used her abilities and lack of scruples to ruin
lives and promote herself. She revealed that Lana still had
feelings for Clark when she was engaged to Lex, found out
about Clark’s special powers, ruined a professional athlete’s
career and then murdered him. She nearly killed Chloe,
but she was struck by a car and splattered into a million
tiny droplets.
This wasn’t nearly enough to kill Linda, and she returned
to threaten to expose Clark unless he gave her an exclusive
that would make her famous. While Clark was trying to
find a way out of this, Linda discovered Davis Bloome was
the monstrous killer Doomsday. This turned out to be her
undoing—while she was hospitalized after a fight with Clark,
Davis smothered her to keep his secret.
Current Events: Linda is dead, though she has survived
an apparent death once before.
Classified: Linda Lake knew a multitude of secrets,
gathered from unscrupulous reporting and by skulking around
with her powers. The biggest was Clark’s identity as the Blur.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Chloe knows too much d8
▼▼ Clark is my ticket to the big time d10
▼▼ Davis is a beast inside d6
▼▼ I can get some good secrets from Lana d4
▼▼ Lex is always news d6
EXPANDING PATHWAYS 37
 CASEFILES B L A C K C R E E K , M O N TA N A

RESOURCES Sebastian took Lois out on a date. Offering to “read her

▼▼ D aily Planet Bullpen (Rumors, Social) 2d6 fortune,” he used his abilities to discover she was actually
aware he had been locked up in Black Creek and had files on
ASSETS him. Terrified this information would get out and he would
Backhanded d8 be locked up again, Sebastian threatened Lois at gunpoint,
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point for another Lead and Increase your intending to get his files from her. With her awesome karate
Angry or Insecure Stress against him. skills, Lois nearly took Sebastian out, but in the end she
EXPANDING PATHWAYS

▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Decrease another Lead or needed a bit of help from the Blur. Sebastian ended up in the
Feature’s Angry or Insecure Stress pool against you or hospital where, to protect Clark’s secret, a Brainiac-enhanced
another character. Chloe overloaded his brain with information, killing him.
Investigator d8 Current Events: Sebastian is dead, killed by the sheer
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to spend a scene amount of information downloaded into his brain. If he
investigating instead of taking immediate action. somehow actually survived or was resurrected, it’s unclear
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll an effort to poke around
how that experience would change him; considering that the
and find something. information was derived from Brainiac, it would probably be
a very bad thing.
Kryptonite Psychosis d6
Classified: Tess forced Sebastian to use his powers for her
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
three times before she sent him after Lois. The details of these
follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
operations are unknown, as are the identities of the women he
threatening others.
stalked and killed shortly after his powers manifested. His real
Water Transformation d10 name was Wilson Turner.
Limits: Electricity
Spend a Plot Point to… RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Turn into water and escape through a crack.
▼▼ Loisis a good person but she can’t stand in my way d8
▼▼ Hide in a large volume of water. ▼▼ Tesswill push me until she gets what she wants d10
▼▼ Travel as water through streams, pipes, etc.
Resources
▼▼ Black Creek (Confined, Motivation) 2d6
▼▼ Daily Planet (Contacts, Information) 2d4
SEBASTIAN KANE
Memory Thief • Psychic Stalker ASSETS
Kryptonite Psychosis d6
VALUES ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
d8 Duty I will do anything to avoid prison. follow your base instincts to the point of hurting or
threatening others.
d4 Glory I just want to stay out of the spotlight.
Memory Thief d12
d8 Justice I don’t believe in locking people away.
Limit: Contact, Psychic feedback (too much information)
d6 Love Romance can’t get in my way.
Spend a Plot Point to…
d6 Power Those with power can control you. ▼▼ Read a person’s most recent memories (from the last
d10 Truth I can’t let anyone find out about me. day or so).
▼▼ Pick out a particular memory from someone’s head.

▼▼ Suck the memories from a target’s head, inflicting

Sebastian Kane arrived in Metropolis claiming to be a Insecure or Injured Stress.
former embedded journalist assigned to the Daily Planet. In
Observant d6
reality, he was a metahuman with the power to steal people’s
▼▼ A dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll your first roll in any
memories. Released from Black Creek and given a cover identity
Contest or Test where you have been surprised,
by Tess, Sebastian was supposed to steal Lois’ memories to
ambushed, or caught off guard.
determine if she had stolen the Crystal of Knowledge recovered
from the Arctic. Sebastian tried to refuse the job, but Tess Willful d6
threatened to expose murders that Sebastian had committed ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
during a period when he claimed he couldn’t control his power. put your foot down.
Reluctantly, Sebastian agreed to get close to Lois and determine
if she had what Tess wanted.

38 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
EXPANDING PLAY
 EXPANDING PLAY
FROM: MERCY@Watchtower
TO: ARCHER01
SUBJECT: Support staff
Last week I outlined some thoughts about our support
staff which I want to follow up on here. I don’t just mean
Emil, either. Have you given any more consideration
to repurposing some LuthorCorp or Queen Industries
personnel for assisting us with Watchtower operations?
I can vouch for the loyalty of at least some of them.
Obviously we wouldn’t want any located here in the tower
proper. Also, I have a feeling you’ve been repurposing
funds for this kind of thing anyway, so we really should
talk about it.
On a related matter, who maintains all of those satellites
you’ve been putting up there? Is there some list of Queen
Industries projects? You know I’ll be very discreet. Next
time something explodes or goes offline, it would be a
EXPANDING PLAY
good idea to make sure you’re not crawling through any
more ductwork. I think Chloe would agree.
As discussed in the Smallville RPG’s Scenes and Episodes
chapters, an episode of game play is a series of scenes framed
by Watchtower, centered on the Leads and their supporting
characters. If you’ve already been playing a while, you may have
brought your own Watchtower techniques and ideas of story
structure to the table. In this chapter, we throw some more ideas
into the mix, starting with a few helpful hints and ending with a
whole new way to tell Smallville stories when your spin-off ’s
season needs a little ratings boost for sweeps week or a couple of
your Leads need a break to film a movie.
THE ROLE OF WATCHTOWER
When we refer to “players” in this game, that doesn’t
include Watchtower—but Watchtower does play the game. If
you’re Watchtower, you don’t have a Lead of your own; instead,
you get to play with all the Features and other characters that
populate the game. Without you, the game would crumble.
It’s not hard to pin down what you do as Watchtower; it’s
making a comprehensive list of the many things you do that’s
hard. So instead of thinking about it in terms of what tasks you
perform, let’s look at why you do what you do.
Collaboration Vs. Competition
Many games have winners and losers, but the Smallville
RPG has a different goal. Everyone around the table works
together to make the best show possible. Smallville is about
collaboration—and that goes double for Watchtower. Despite
40 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
your varied responsibilities as Watchtower, you’re still a player
at the table, working with the other players to create the plot
of the episode. You might play the antagonists and Wedges,
but defeating the players isn’t one of your responsibilities. The
Smallville RPG spreads the triumphant victories and bitter
failures around, and that includes Watchtower.
Watchtower’s sort of the chief collaborator, which doesn’t
actually mean you do the most collaboration. It’s your job to
make the most of the collaboration that’s happening around the
table; that might be conflicts that you’re directing participating
in, or it might be the Leads’ players riffing off each other. You
may want to dial back the overt confrontation with Features
and Wedges and focus on prodding and nudging your Leads
into conflict with each other—then you can sit back and watch
the fireworks.
The question is how do you know when it’s time to
stop pushing?
PUSH UNTIL THE LEADS ACT
The first thing on your plate is pushing conflicts until the
Leads start taking action of their own. Some players need more
pushing than others. Also, as players get more and more used to
how the game works—and once they’ve created a shared history
through the episodes they’ve been playing—they’ll find it easier
and easier to leap into action before they get the whole story
from you.
But once your Leads are moving, there’s more pushing
to do.
PUSH UNTIL THE LEADS BICKER
Once the Leads are in motion, you need to start pushing
them into each other. Throw a spotlight on how two Leads
are working at cross-purposes or how one is taking steps the
other wouldn’t approve of. Play a Feature as sympathetic to one
Lead and diabolical to another. Engineer the situation so that
one Lead needs another Lead’s help and Resources to pursue
his goals—and then make yet another Lead need the same help.
Pretty soon, the Leads are getting up in each other’s faces or
getting in each other’s way. And that’s great drama.
When players start initiating Contests against each other,
you can lean back just a little. You don’t need to roll dice, after
all. But you’re still not quite done pushing.
PUSH UNTIL THE LEADS CHALLENGE
The real goal for Watchtower is to push the Leads
into situations where they can challenge their Values and
Relationships. Leads may get into little spats with each other
that don’t escalate to challenges. Fan the flames after such
Contests, so that during the next Contest the finger-pointing
and assumption-challenging will be dialed up to eleven.
You can also throw in some Features for direct
confrontations that beg for Leads to challenge their Drives.
However, keep in mind that if a Lead and a Feature are in a
Contest with challenges, that’s only one Lead challenging
Drives. When two (or more) Leads are getting into Contests
that challenge their Relationships or Values, it puts the Leads’
character development front and center.

PLAY ADVICE
Can’t We All Just Get Along?
Players may be hesitant for their Leads to get into conflicts
with each other—especially knock-down drag-out fights
(to say nothing of harsh language and hurt feelings).
There are many reasons for this reluctance, but one of
the big ones is that, in many games, player versus player
(PvP) conflict weakens the whole team. The Smallville RPG
doesn’t work this way. PvP conflicts actually strengthen the
Leads that participate in them by providing opportunities
for Growth.
Even when you “lose,” your Lead never has to do anything
you don’t want him to do—such as admit he’s an alien from
another planet who can shoot lasers out of his eyes. A good
motto for the game is “Secrets Maintained, Friendships
Strained.” And friendships can always be patched up with
Stress Relief.
And that’s your final goal as Watchtower—push and poke
and prod the Leads until they challenge their Drives, giving
them a reason to examine what really motivates them and
illustrating the give and take of their Relationships. Your goal is
to help the players develop their Leads, and the way that happens
in Smallville is through challenging and being in conflict.
Challenging is the best way to acquire Growth dice, and for
those players who like to see their character development right
on their Lead sheet, that’s a good thing.
WATCHTOWER AS MOTHER MAY I
Watchtower’s often pushed into another role at the table—
that of the person who says “Yes, you can do that” or “No, you
can’t do that.” When a player gets all excited and says, “I want
to play a cyborg Kryptonian intergalactic fugitive!” the rest of
the table might look over at you to see if you’re going to say yea
or nay.
The best answer is to look right back at the other players
and ask them, “What do you guys think?” ‘Cause here’s the
thing—whatever the character concept, you can play a game
that includes it. The only real limit is what kind of game the
players around the table want to play. Maybe the cyborg
Kryptonian fugitive works for everyone; maybe it’s a little
outside what folks had in mind. You should participate in the
ensuing conversation—maybe you don’t want to run the sort of
game that involves that character—but you participate as just
another player at the table.
Watchtower Resources
So those are some of the whys and wherefores of
Watchtower; now let’s take a look at the tools you can use to
make those things happen. Some of them are obvious, some less
so, but together they give you a pretty well stocked toolbox.
SCENE FRAMING
Watchtower’s biggest, baddest, strongest tool is the
responsibility of framing scenes. It’s also the least obvious of
your tools. It doesn’t have a Lead sheet or an index card or
anything; it’s just the way the game is structured, and that’s
where its power comes from.
When two Leads are both acting to resolve a problem,
you can put them into the same scene. When they interact,
maybe they exchange information, maybe they team up, or
maybe they interfere with each other. You can heighten the
chances of drama by framing a scene where they both need
the same thing—a piece of tech, an Extra’s help, information
from an enigmatic figure, or the same lookout point on
the rooftop.
When one Lead is taking decisive action against a Feature
that another Lead wants to protect, you can frame them into a
scene with similar results. You can also frame a scene where the
first Lead enacts his decisive plan before the second Lead can
stop him. Or you can frame a scene where the second Lead has
a chance of warning the Feature before something bad happens.
Or there’s always the scene where they both show up to where
they expect the Feature to be and only find each other…and
a bomb.
When all the players have agreed on a plan of action and
are about to enact it, you can frame a scene where one of the
Leads is about to go gear up and she gets a frantic phone call
from a Feature begging her not to do anything rash. You can
frame a scene where a Lead goes to get an essential piece of gear
and finds it’s missing. You can frame a scene where a villainous
Feature approaches the Leads and offers to help them with their
plan to put the hurt on that other Feature.
Now, you could frame a lot of these scenes just to
monkeywrench what the Leads are doing, but where’s the
benefit in that? You need to frame scenes to forward your
goals—getting the Leads to Act, to Bicker, and to Challenge
(hey, look at that—it’s your ABCs). If that essential piece of
gear isn’t going to provoke a conflict, then don’t bother. If,
however, the hapless Lead who finds the gear is missing is the
one who was in charge of keeping it safe and is trying to prove
himself to the rest of the Leads, well then, you’ve got yourself
a plotline!
FEATURES
Features are your most prominent and visible tools.
Whether they begin their lives on the Pathways map or are
created specifically for a new episode, Features enter the picture
as a Wedge—their primary purpose is to create conflicts.
Sometimes the conflict is with the Feature; sometimes the
conflicts are with other Leads and occur because of the Feature’s
presence or influence. Bonus points if the Feature provokes the
Leads into conflicts with himself and among themselves at the
same time.
The most obvious Features are the big bad guys, the
characters who roll into town with strange abilities and
stranger agendas, who always want something that the Leads
can’t let them have. The most interesting villains, though, don’t
appear in an episode just to hatch an evil plot. An interesting
EXPANDING PLAY 41
 villain challenges what the Leads believe about themselves,
about each other, or about their place in the world. Maybe his
methods are uncomfortably similar to one of the Lead’s. Maybe
he seems to be a natural ally for one of the Leads but not the
others. Maybe he preys on the foibles of a Lead who the others
think is incorruptible. Maybe he just leverages all the Leads’
uncertainties and insecurities. And if only they grew up a little,
or trusted each other a little more, or were a little more aware
of the situations they put their friends in…well, they wouldn’t
be in this mess, would they? And they’d never get to experience
the kind of dramatic growth that comes with all of that chaos
and confusion.
However, there are friendly Features, too—characters who
really do have the best interests of the Leads at heart. Characters
who want them to be better people, who worry about them,
who want them to lay low and stay out of trouble, who want
them to step up and be all that they can be. Whatever the Leads
want to do, these Features want the exact opposite, always for
very good reasons.
And then there are the questionable ones, the ambiguous
ones, the shady figures who show up with information or advice
or this week’s MacGuffin. These Features help the Leads, but
EXPANDING PLAY
they don’t explain themselves or their motives. They know more
than they should. They’re involved in things that no one should
be involved in. They keep secrets—and as we all know, those
secrets have a tendency of getting revealed, and not in clean,
tidy ways.
Some players try to classify everyone as either friend or
foe; let them. Then take a Feature they labeled as unfriendly
and make him the only guy who can save them. Take a Feature
42 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
that they count on and rely on and give him a goal he wants so
much that little things like “ethics” aren’t going to trouble him.
Just like on the show, the Leads’ friends might become their
enemies and vice-versa. And then they’ll do it again. Growth,
both system-wise and in the story, is a natural outcome of
these reversals.
EXTRAS
Don’t forget the little guys. Extras are sometimes the
perfect tool for giving a nudge in the right direction. Although
the comfort level with this differs from table to table, and
sometimes episode to episode, as Watchtower you can “play” the
Extras on the Leads’ sheets, giving them actions and dialogue to
flesh out the world around the Leads, making the Extras more
than just dice on the Lead sheet. Extras should never work at
cross-purposes to the Leads they belong to—unless a Feature
also has them on his sheet—but a little friendly friction never
hurt anyone, either.
Extras also come in handy when you’re rolling Trouble
for Tests. Tapping your Features’ Extras is a great way to
immediately raise the tension in a scene, especially in opening
scenes when Trouble is a mere 2d6. If the players need to beat
a higher result, they’ll need more dice, which often means
they’ll have to bust out their own Resources early in the game
or challenge their Drives, either of which keeps the players on
their toes.
Usually, all of the Extras from the Pathways map are on
some player’s Lead sheet. However, any Feature that you make
as a Wedge can bring in a new mess of Extras, ready to bring
their own flavor of Trouble.

WATCHTOWER ALERT:
“Kryptonite”
The Smallville Roleplaying Game has a whole section
devoted to kryptonite and the various ways you can
implement it in your game; kryptonite plays a major role in
empowering and depowering the characters in Smallville.
If you aren’t playing with Kryptonians, though, the chapter
might feel a little useless. If you have a kryptonite-shaped
hole in your spinoff, start thinking about what you could fit
into it. Does your Telepath react poorly to strong emotions?
Start thinking about Feedback as a source of depowers.
Or perhaps you have a Lead who’s powered by custom
pharmaceuticals. What can you do with spoiled batches or
other drugs? Take these ideas and look over pages 128-
130 in the Smallville RPG again and see if you get inspired.
LOCATIONS
Consider having a Feature share a Location with the Leads.
This lets you emphasize familiarity, perhaps lull the players into
a false sense of security, and have fantastic turf wars. And since
an inside man using a Location exhausts its dice, they can be
doubly insidious. Don’t abuse this, though. Players have those
Resources on their sheets for a reason, and having your Features
burn up their dice every episode is a big downer.
EMPOWER AND DEPOWER
An often-overlooked tool in your toolbox is the occasional
empower and depower (page 75 in the Smallville RPG).
These little index cards can really spice up an episode. Whenever
a Lead’s getting comfortable in his Abilities, drop a depower
on him and place him in a situation where he really needs his
PLAY ADVICE
Playing a Sideliner
Your Leads’ decisions create consequences that may
have far-reaching effects; likewise, the ripple effects of
the decisions of people they barely know may end up
creating major consequences for the Leads. The guy
whose vacation pictures accidentally captured your
costume change might put those photos in an album, or
sell them to a tabloid, and his decisions are based on his
Values and Relationships, not yours. The woman you
saved from a burning building had to get up and go to work
the next week, and maybe she’s scared by the abilities you
demonstrated, or maybe she’s emboldened to be a hero
herself when the opportunity comes unexpectedly to her
door. And your bratty cousin and his garage band might be
solving kooky mysteries in that van they drive to gigs all
over the state.
Abilities, and quick. Or if the Relationships between the Leads
need a little kickstart, hit one or more of them with an empower
that gives them a Distinction like Daring or Shameless
Flirt. Then build a situation around the Leads where these
Distinctions are handy—and likely to get the Leads in over their
heads in short order.
Break out these tricks at some point in the first few episodes
of your spinoff—it establishes how they work and how the world
of the show works, and it prepares the players to expect more of
the same in later episodes. Also, players being what they are,
they’re likely to pick up on the idea and use it themselves as they
make their plans.
SIDELINE EPISODES
The Smallville RPG puts the Leads smack in the center
of the story, where they belong. There’s a risk, however, that
while they’re questioning their Values and challenging and re-
evaluating their Relationships, the game can become insular.
The world beyond the Leads and the Wedges they’re currently
dealing with needs to feel real—there are people living their
lives and events occurring that may not be directly connected
to your Leads, but that doesn’t mean they won’t have an impact
on the story. But how do you show the wider world, while still
keeping the Leads at the story’s center?
Parallel Stories and Sideliners
Just outside—but connected to—the lives of the Leads, a
wide world beckons where everyone is the star of their own lives.
The actions and decisions of some of these characters affect the
Relationships and Values of the Leads, whether they know it or
not. These characters are called Sideliners, and occasionally you
and your group might have fun bringing them front and center
for an episode or two.
Consider playing an episode like this when:
▼▼ The campaign is getting too narcissistic. The Leads are
going around in circles—they’re not just involved with
each other; they’re tied up with each other and can’t
seem to get anywhere.
▼▼ Everyone at the table needs a short break. They’re not
ready to leave the characters behind and start a new
game, but they want to do something new for a week
or so.
▼▼ Everyone at the table feels the Leads have gotten too set
in their ways. They need a shake-up that comes from
outside their Relationships and Values.
▼▼ One or two of your regular players can’t make it to a
session or two and you’re at a point where the main plot
needs their Leads to be there. A sideline episode lets
the rest of the group continue to play in a way that still
matters, while ensuring that the absent Leads don’t miss
out on anything important.
▼▼ And when it’s all over, the game comes back to the Leads,
who now have to contend with the consequences of
someone else’s decisions. The world changes whether the
Leads want it to or not, and now they have to deal with it.
EXPANDING PLAY 43

WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Sideline Summary
Here’s a short rundown of the process of creating a
sideline episode for your spinoff campaign:
• Identify the Sideliners; pick Sideliners at least two
Relationships removed from the Leads.
• Identify the Leads and Traits targeted by the Sideliners’
actions.
• Create the Sideliners and situation; assign Values to your
Sideliners and, if you like, some Assets and Resources.
• Identify the key decision for each Sideliner; they don’t
actually make this decision until the end of the episode.
• Play the episode—instead of a Relationship of their
own, Sideliners roll the rating of the Relationship, Value,
Asset, or Resource of the Lead that their decision targets
most directly.
• Play out the key decision in the tag scene; the players
EXPANDING PLAY
describe their Sideliner making their key decision.
Identify the Sideliners
The characters in a sideline episode should be at least two
Relationships removed from the Leads; that means that none of
the Leads have a Relationship with any of the Sideliners, though
they may know some of them and vice versa. They’re probably
not on the Pathways Map prepared at the beginning of the game.
Using the Ninth Season example from the Smallville RPG,
we wouldn’t use Dr. Hamilton, since he’s connected directly
to the Leads. However, we could use a set of “Dr. Hamilton’s
colleagues” or “the corporate team that’s trying to adapt one of
Dr. Hamilton’s discoveries into a new product.” We’ll use this
latter idea as an example—a set of new characters who, up to
this point, haven’t been in the spotlight.
Identify the Leads and Traits Targeted
by the Sideliners’ Actions
Once you have a general idea of who the Sideliners are,
identify the Traits of the Leads that the episode targets. A Lead’s
Resources, Assets, or Distinctions might be put at risk because
of what the Sideliners do. It’s likely that you don’t have a real
meaty scene unless you can target at least two Traits of a Lead
(or Traits of two different Leads). Unless you know what the
actions of the Sideliners put at stake for the Leads, the sideline
episode won’t really illuminate the rest of your game.
Targeting highly rated Traits of the Leads will make the
players extremely interested in what happens. After all, the
biggest elements of their characters will be on the line—their
most powerful qualities, their most beloved friends, their most
useful skills.
44 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
NINTH SEASON TARGETED ASPECTS
The players will be playing the corporate team trying to
adapt Dr. Hamilton’s discoveries, and their actions will impact
any Lead that has him as a Resource. That’s two Leads—Chloe
and Oliver—right there. Why not threaten LuthorCorp’s
profitability and bring in Tess that way? Now we have a decision
that will definitely shake up the game and change everything
around the Leads.
Dr. Hamilton is connected directly to Oliver (Dr.
Hamilton 2d6) and Chloe (Dr. Hamilton 2d8). Add in
corporate problems for Tess, and her Power d10 might be
called into question as a result of this episode.
Create the Sideliners and Situation
First, individualize the characters. Take the standard array
of Value die ratings: d10, d8, d8, d6, d6, d4. For each Sideliner,
assign those dice to the six Values. Then write the Values
statements, aiming at the kinds of issues that’ll come up when
the Sideliner pursues his goals.
If you want, you can pick some Assets or Resources to give
to the Sideliners, though it’s not necessary. Give approximately
the same number of Assets or Resources to each Sideliner, so
everyone has an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to
the events of the episode. These Traits should rarely be rated at
more than a d8.
Sideliners don’t have Relationships; you’ll find more about
this in the Play the Episode section.
Develop the situation much as you’d develop one for
a standard episode—look over the Value statements of the
Sideliners and see what would get everyone involved and in each
other’s way. You can do this together with your players at the
same time they’re writing up their Sideliner’s Value statements,
then fine-tune it as the episode plays out.
NINTH SEASON SIDELINERS AND SITUATION
Like any massive multinational conglomerate, LuthorCorp
has hundreds of subsidiaries and projects that occasionally
operate under the radar of even the corporate executives
who oversee LuthorCorp’s business functions. Embedded in
laboratories and institutes worldwide, many of these subsidiary
companies have gotten lost in the shuffle, especially with the
reported death of Lex Luthor and the transference of operations
to Tess Mercer. This situation involves one such subsidiary,
Project Scion, formerly known for its connection to Dr Milton
Fine, AKA Brainiac (see Casefile: LuthorCorp Projects). For
the purposes of this example, Project Scion has splintered from
LuthorCorp and is now pursuing even more radical biological
and pharmaceutical discoveries.
During one of those late-night shifts at Metropolis General
that make life so much fun, Dr. Emil Hamilton treated small-
time crook Damien Purcell and discovered, to his surprise, that
Purcell’s blood contained inert forms of several kryptonite-
laced lifeforms. Apparently, the last time the Blur picked him
up, Purcell’s immune system was boosted by his exposure to
something. Hamilton theorizes that Purcell’s boosted immune
system might be a way to help people with immune disorders.
Surely if he can fight off a Kryptonian flu, he can fight off
anything Earth has to throw at him!
However, Checkmate has been monitoring Hamilton’s
computers ever since he came onto their radar, and a rogue
Checkmate operative using the code name “Sam” discovered
the situation and kidnapped Purcell from Met Gen. Sam intends
to sell Purcell to Project Scion.
The sideline episode is about what happens when Project
Scion discovers Purcell doesn’t have a Kryptonian flu—after
all, that would kill everyone on the planet. He’s actually been
infected with a LuthorCorp bioweapon that got into the field
despite their best intentions when Purcell broke into one of
their facilities. If they reveal this, Project Scion draws unwanted
attention from its parent corporation and won’t have the
opportunity to profit from Purcell (or advance medical science),
but it could bring LuthorCorp down. Scion would finally be a
free agency. If they keep it a secret, Hamilton will have to be
discredited so that Project Scion can be first to the patent office,
and really, all the guy did was discover something. Oh, and
“Sam” wants to get paid too...
Let’s say we have a 5 person gaming group. Here’s our cast
of Sideliners:
Dr. Howard is our first character. He’s the head of
pharmaceuticals for Project Scion, and many other big Rx
companies before that. Inventor of such amazing pharmaceuticals
as Decnytrex, Pentvinlun and Ixfloxcy, Howard is a paranoid
bully who’s far more interested in protecting his own hide than
advancing health or science. He’s convinced that Ricky wants
his job. Howard is the only one who knows that Purcell didn’t
come exactly voluntarily to Project Scion and who knows what
position Sam holds. Howard decides what happens to Project
Scion’s Rx program—do they pursue the pharmaceutical
development no matter what happens? His Values are:
▼▼ Duty d6—You must save your own skin first.
▼▼ Glory d10—I’m a brilliant doctor!
▼▼ Justice d6—Nobody really gets what’s coming to them.
▼▼ Love d4—That’s what secretaries are for.
▼▼ Power d8—I fought for this position.
▼▼ Truth d8—Secrets are useful.
Marion Lockhart—A former girlfriend of Dr. Emil
Hamilton, Marion was booted from her position at Met Gen
when she got addicted to painkillers and started lifting from the
pharmacy. She landed a glum keypunching job at Project Scion,
though she knows more about medicine than her position
suggests. She decides whether Dr. Hamilton is warned of Project
Scion’s decision and/or discovery. Her Values are:
▼▼ Duty d6—Look out for number one.
▼▼ Glory d8—Can’t anyone see how far I’ve come?
▼▼ Justice d6—What happened to me was fair.
▼▼ Love d10—It makes the world go ‘round.
▼▼ Power d4—Nobody is perfect.
▼▼ Truth d8—Whistleblowing’s not a bad thing, is it?
Ricky Friedman—A Project Scion “compliance officer”—a
sleazy middle manager whose job is faking compliance with
various government regulations while covering up Project Scion
misdeeds—Ricky has a crush on Marion. Ricky’s decisions
center on whether someone outs LuthorCorp’s bioweapon and
whether Hamilton will be discredited. His Values are:
▼▼ Duty d8—The company is everything.
 lory d6—The nail that sticks up gets
▼▼ G
hammered down.
▼▼ Justice d4—Screw the police.
▼▼ Love d8—Who wouldn’t want to love me?
▼▼ P ower d6—Everything can change in a
Metropolis minute.
▼▼ Truth d10—Covering up stuff is all in a day’s work.
Murphy—A Project Scion technology consultant, formerly
with Queen Industries, Murphy is concerned about the
situation he finds himself in. He’s the one that discovers Purcell
was messed up by LuthorCorp and not by accidental exposure.
Murphy is the only one who’s actually taken the time to talk
to Purcell and learn that Damien was exposed when he broke
into a LuthorCorp facility. Murphy has formed a connection
with Purcell and, although excited about the possibilities of
what Purcell’s altered immune system might mean for medical
science, he’s nervous about the ethical implications. Murphy
decides whether and how Purcell is told about the decision,
and if Sam gets his money securely transferred to the offshore
electronic account.
▼▼ Duty d4—This company is scary.
 lory d6—I’d rather do something good than get a
▼▼ G
stupid certificate that says I did.
▼▼ Justice d10—We’ve got to do what’s right!
▼▼  ove d6—If we can’t connect with each other, what’s
L
the point?
▼▼ P ower d8—With all our resources we could
accomplish great things.
▼▼ T  ruth d8—Things are going to come out sooner
or later.
“Sam”—A rogue Checkmate operative, Sam has avoided
capture by making himself useful to various multinational
corporations and crime syndicates, using his spy skills for
personal gain. What his current prospective buyer doesn’t know
is that Sam has an insurance policy—he can tip off Checkmate
to the illegal experimentation and expose Project Scion’s shady
dealings, sending everyone to jail. However, if Scion reveals that
it was LuthorCorp who was responsible for Purcell’s condition,
Scion’s executives can deny responsibility. Sam wants, above
everything else, to get paid. Whatever Purcell has inside him is
worth something, and Sam is the only one of the Sideliners in
the position to deliver someone like Purcell—and he can take
him away just as easy.
 uty d6—Turn your back and see how long you can
▼▼ D
trust me.
▼▼ Glory d6—Everyone knows this fake name.
▼▼ Justice d8—You get what you deserve.
▼▼ Love d4—The one thing I’m not watching out for.
▼▼ Power d10—Feed the Caymans bank account.
▼▼ Truth d8—Just another tool in my utility belt.
EXPANDING PLAY 45
 Identify the Key Decision for
Each Sideliner
At the end of the sideline episode, each of the characters
will have a key decision to make—something that will affect
the world of the Leads. It should be a clear decision, but not
necessarily one with a limited number of answers. The players
should have the freedom to improvise and shake things up on
their own terms, so this is really just a big signpost for play,
something to aim for. Identifying these key decisions before
play helps you as Watchtower frame scenes, similar to how
reveals help in standard episodes.
NINTH SEASON KEY DECISIONS:
Dr. Howard: Does Project Scion continue with its investigation
of the LuthorCorp bioweapon in Purcell’s immune system?
Marion: Does Dr. Hamilton learn what Project Scion
is planning?
Ricky: Does the media learn of LuthorCorp’s bioweapon
accident? Is a smear campaign launched against Dr. Hamilton?
Murphy: Does Purcell learn of the decision? Does Sam
get paid?
EXPANDING PLAY
“Sam”: Does Checkmate come after Project Scion
and LuthorCorp?
At the end of the episode, Ricky’s player might suggest that,
rather than launch a smear campaign against the beloved Dr.
Hamilton, Project Scion instead attempts to recruit Dr. Hamilton
to provide assistance in developing the new pharmaceutical,
appealing to his humanitarian instincts. As long as the player’s
suggestion ties in one or more of the Resources, Assets, or
Drives of the normal campaign’s Leads, the answer is fine.
Play the Episode
Each Sideliner gets one Plot Point to use during the episode.
Since they probably lack Assets, the Plot Point will likely be used
to purchase Useful Details. Sideliners may obtain Plot Points
through Complications like anyone else.
Normally, Leads roll at least two dice and keep the two
highest, always rolling a relevant Value and Relationship.
Because Sideliners don’t have Relationships, they always roll
their Value and the die rating of the Lead’s Drive, Resource, or
Asset that their decision is most likely to affect. If there’s more
than one affected Trait assigned to a specific Lead, the player
rolls the highest Trait. If the Sideliner’s rolling in a Resource,
only roll in one of the dice, not the two the Resource normally
comes with.
NINTH SEASON SIDE EPISODE PLAY
Here are some of the Tests and Contests that might come up
in the Season Nine sideline episode. Many others are possible;
these are mostly centered around only a handful of Traits, for
instance, by way of example.
“Sam” decides that he’s going to try to break into Dr.
Howard’s office and find out who has the authority to release his
money. If Sam gets paid, LuthorCorp is safe from Checkmate
interference, so this action relates most closely to Tess’ Power
46 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Value. Sam rolls his Power d10 and Tess’ Power d10, and
adds the result together. He’s rolling against Dr. Howard’s Duty
d4 and Tess’ Power d10.
Dr. Howard tries to do a quick feasibility test to see if what
Purcell has can be isolated. If Dr. Howard succeeds, then it
moves his scientific study forward and puts Dr. Hamilton at risk,
so he rolls his Glory d8 and the highest Trait for Dr. Hamilton
(a d8 from Chloe’s Dr. Hamilton 2d8), and adds the result
together. He’s rolling against Trouble, since no character is
directly opposing him.
Marion tries to obtain documents from Ricky’s computer that
she can give to Dr. Hamilton to try to protect him, since she still
has feelings for him. She rolls her Love d10 and Dr. Hamilton
d8. Ricky is rolling his Power d6 and Dr. Hamilton d8.
Play Out the Key Decision in the
Tag Scene
In the tag scene for the sideline episode, each player narrates
their Sideliner resolving the decisions that they’ve faced over
the course of the episode. Take careful note of what they do and
which of the Lead’s Assets, Resources, Values, or Relationships
are targeted. When you start the next episode, give those Leads
a Plot Point to get them moving toward dealing with the crisis
the Sideliners have created.
NINTH SEASON TAG SCENE
Dr. Howard decides not to proceed with experimentation
on Purcell, Ricky decides to discredit Hamilton, Murphy tells
Purcell that LuthorCorp is responsible for his condition but
that he may have the key to saving millions of lives in his body,
Marion decides not to warn Hamilton, and “Sam” gets paid and
doesn’t tell Checkmate anything.
When we return to our main story, the Leads most directly
affected by Project Scion’s smear campaign against Hamilton
are Oliver and Chloe; they each get a Plot Point. If Purcell
undertakes some revenge or action against LuthorCorp, then
Tess will get one, too.
But They’re So Cool!
When a sideline episode is done, you and your players
may want to return to the Sideliners created for that episode,
perhaps even again and again, developing their own goals and
personalities. If you want, after the sideline episode closes, you
can use the framework of the Sideliners to construct a “parallel
game”—still not quite as robust as the main game starring the
Leads, but enough to return to multiple times. Or you might want
to plan for a “parallel game” from the beginning. We still refer
to the main characters in a parallel game as Sideliners, though
they’re much more complex than the one-shot characters from
a typical sideline episode.
Your Sideliners already have Values. If you decide to
generate new Sideliners, just use the method above—assign
the standard array of die ratings to the six Values, with Value
statements that address the issues that you anticipate will come
up in the parallel game.
 There are different levels of detail that you can give to the
Sideliners depending on how involved you want the parallel
game to be. You can give them just Assets, just Relationships,
or both.
Assets—Give each character 2-3 Assets at d4, and split 5
steps among them. This can include Abilities that you didn’t
know the character had before.
Relationships—Give each Sideliner a d4 Relationship
to each other Sideliner in the parallel game, and give out
a number of steps to improve those Relationships equal
to the number of players. Allow players to establish a new
Relationship to an existing Feature from the core campaign
(i.e., someone on the Pathways map) or have two Sideliners
create a new Feature if they want (in essence, modeling the
manner in which an Extra is created and upgraded to Feature
status during Pathways).
You may find that some Sideliners don’t really fit in or aren’t
really motivated by their Relationships with the other Sideliners.
For example, “Sam” in our example doesn’t have any particular
reason to do anything for or to the Project Scion characters after
the deal is done. In that case, discard the Sideliner and create a
new one—someone close to the existing Sideliners.
this to work, Watchtower notes that Eddie will have to target
various Traits of the Leads’ regular campaign. Thus, when the
Sideliners come chasing after him, they might expose or alter
those aspects of the Leads’ lives.
Here are the parallel game characters. Having some idea for
how to deal with each other will help the players roleplay and
pursue their interests, so Watchtower also creates roleplaying
notes addressing the lower-case relationships among the
characters. Note that several Assets have colorful flavor tags on
the end, which is more shorthand for the players to riff off.
Kitty Brennan
Kitty’s the lead troublemaker, pot-stirrer, big little sister,
and loudmouth of the group. She’s read one too many Dashiell
Hammett books and thinks “chin music” is a great way to
describe a brawl.
Notes: Cocky, brash, two steps in front of everyone, self-
appointed leader. Thinks Katrina needs to get set up with a
guy, thinks Deirdre needs to be smarter, and thinks she has to
protect her big sister Holly.
VALUES

What Do We Do in a Parallel Game?— d8

d10
Duty
Glory
What the cops can’t fish out, we will.
Oh yeah, I’m front and center.
Identifying the Goal d8 Justice Grifters, gunsels, and gonifs beware!
Unlike in a sideline episode, where the decisions of d6 Love I’ve got my peepers open...
individual characters are discrete and contained, a parallel game d4 Power We don’t need no stinkin’ badges.
should have a broad goal that the characters pursue. As before, it d6 Truth It’s a hard world, no question.
should put some of the actions and Values of the original Leads
in question. Otherwise, your games aren’t parallel—they’re ASSETS
running off into different universes! Clever d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to show off your

NINTH SEASON PARALLEL GAME smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner, or when
So, let’s say that in our normal game, Chloe and Zatanna tied to a chair by some no-neck thug. “Let me give you
loogans the lay.”
have teamed up to thwart Amanda Waller and Checkmate.
Zatanna’s father previously helped Waller stop a demon- Investigator d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to spend a scene
possessed killer, thinking Waller to be a benevolent FBI agent.
When he found out differently, he severed all ties with her. investigating instead of taking immediate action. “I ain’t
after any two-bit hop-heads, I want the high pillow!”
However, the demon returned when a Checkmate agent picked
up the item the demon had been bound in. While Chloe,
Zatanna, and Waller managed to stop the demon and Waller
Katrina O’Brien
Katrina, secretly a practicing witch, has weak magical
kept Checkmate from being thrown into the public eye, they
capabilities, but extensive knowledge. For some reason, none
also attracted the attention of a nosy group of young women.
of her pals have any clue that she has any abilities—even when
The interaction between the women and the Leads was so much
they’re used right in front of them.
fun that the Watchtower and players decide to make them a
Notes: Thorough and thoughtful, admires Kitty and thinks
parallel game.
Deirdre is underrated and should be listened to more. Holly
The demon was inside a talisman, which has now fallen
looks at her like she has two heads.
into the hands of Yakuza gangster “Electric” Robbie Kai; he’s
using the talisman to claw his way to the top of the criminal
underworld…and as the demon takes over, that clawing is
VALUES
getting more and more literal. The goal of the parallel game d8 Duty We’ve got to do something!
is to stop Electric Robbie and banish the demon once and d6 Glory Who, me?
for all. d8 Justice There aren’t any easy answers.
Watchtower decides she wants the characters to have Assets d4 Love What, you mean, like with a potion?
and Values, but still rely on the Assets, Values, and Relationships d10 Power If I could just find the right spell...
of the Leads for the other Trait to roll in situations. In order for d6 Truth Hey, look over there!

EXPANDING PLAY 47
 ASSETS Holly Brennan
Luck d6 Holly is Kitty’s older sister, but usually takes a subservient
Limits: Magic position to her. She’s more protective and kind-hearted than her
Spend a Plot Point to… more cynical sister and often takes the role of conscience to the
▼▼ … Reroll a die in a Test or Contest that includes a group. Holly can find the good side of clients, or even enemies.
Complication. “Huh! Would you look at that!” Nevertheless, she is absolutely loyal and will never turn on
▼▼ …Force your opponent to Reroll the highest die in a a friend.
Test or Contest. “Better luck next time, maybe?” Notes: The “nice girl;” she’s not be dumb, but she thinks the
Occult Knowledge d6 best of people until proven otherwise. Kitty is the greatest, she
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too takes care of everyone even if she pretends to be tough. Katrina
much about magical information. “Ummm...I saw this is…interesting. Deirdre is hilarious.
on a TV show one time?”
VALUES
Deirdre C. Loudermill d8 Duty We have to see this thing through.
Deirdre, the ditz of the group, was blind since birth;
d6 Glory Let’s turn the spotlight onto the ones who need it.
however, an experimental cybernetic implant returned her
the use of both eyes, and a third implant in her forehead gave d4 Justice Who am I to judge?
those eyes the ability to scope in for microscopic use. Her mad d8 Love The quality of mercy is not strained.
scientist father was often the target of unscrupulous persons, so d6 Power It’s hard to trust those who pull all the strings.
before you knew it she was neck deep.
d10 Truth There is no such thing as a comforting illusion.
Notes: Ditzy cyborg—layer “Valley Girl” mannerisms with
computer and technological phrases.
ASSETS
EXPANDING PLAY

Katrina is completely awesome and, like, her best friend!

Kitty can be mean and kind of weird but is usually right. Holly Big-Hearted d6
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to buy somebody’s
would be great if she’d just let Dierdre take her shopping.
sob story. “Of course we’ll help. Won’t we, Kitty?”
VALUES Martial Artist d6
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when you redirect an
d4 Duty Um, if I say no, what are you gonna do?
opponent’s momentum. “Kii yah! You could have made
d6 Glory Like, whatever. this easy.”
d8 Justice Hands off, buster!
d10 Love Compassion is the most important thing. Create the Situation
d8 Power Hee hee, watch this! The Sideliners are now ready to pursue their goal. To get
things moving, create an immediate obstacle—something that’s
d6 Truth We all have our own version. in the Sideliners’ way right now. Just like creating Wedges for the
normal campaign, here you want the obstacles to be connected
ASSETS to things on the “normal” campaign’s Lead sheets.
In Over My Head d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add d6 to Trouble when you get NINTH SEASON PARALLEL GAME EXAMPLE
into trouble over your head. “Gosh, like, what’s going on The goal of the four young women is to stop the demon
in here?!” and the Yakuza. They get the word that Electric Robbie is
making a move to take over Metropolis hotspot Ace of Clubs.
Super-Senses d6 (Telescopic Sight, Microscopic Sight)
This puts Oliver’s club at risk. Perhaps, while investigating at the
Limits: Interference
club, they uncover evidence of Chloe’s secret Big Sister-ing of
Spend a Plot Point to…
Oliver as well and mistake her for one of the Yakuza’s spies. And
▼▼ … See microscopic details greater than what is possible
everything gets weirder when the Blur turns up...
with an electron microscope. ”This thing is covered in
The more tangled a situation you create, the more chaos the
cooties.”
parallel game will sow in the Leads’ lives as the Sideliners storm
▼▼ …See into a nearby scene that you’re not in. “Like, you
through, trying to get what they want.
guys, you would not believe this.”

Advancement
Because these Sideliners are more robust, they can advance just like the Leads can, with tag scenes, Stress and Stress Relief,
and a Growth pool. When you end an episode in the parallel game, don’t forget to give Plot Points to all the Leads whose lives have
been turned topsy-turvy by the actions in the parallel game. And expect your next episode to have new life and energy in this wider
world you’ve revealed!

48 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES LEVEL 33.1
Level 33.1 was Lex Luthor’s private testing ground and
essentially a prison for holding various meteor-infected and
other metahumans. It has its roots in Level 3, a project of his
father’s based in a fertilizer plant in Smallville. When Lex
moved operations off the farm and to LuthorCorp Plaza, he
hid Level 33.1 between the 33rd and 34th floors of his offices,
hence the name.
For years, the employees on Level 33.1 conducted
experiments and housed whatever metahumans Lex could
capture or make disappear. Several projects such as Ares
operated out of the facility. Clark, Chloe, Oliver, and others
found their way into 33.1 on occasion to investigate, acquire
some device or secret, or try to expose the whole thing.
However, Lex always managed to protect it and hide it from
the authorities. During Lex’s early foray into politics, he
temporarily shut down 33.1 to avoid any potential scandals;
but after a time it was up and running again. Disastrous
operations, a supposed change of heart in Lex, and other
factors resulted in 33.1 finally being shut down. Of course,
it turns out operations were just moved to Black Creek (see
Casefile: Black Creek, Montana), but at least Lex had the
decency to move his secret prison-lab somewhere more secret.
Many of 33.1’s prisoners and test subjects were dangerous
metahumans who were made even more so by experiments.
However, much like its successor Black Creek, more than a few
of the people who spent time in 33.1 were relatively harmless
folks who had the misfortune of coming to LuthorCorp’s
attention due to some sort of superpower.
If you’re looking to use 33.1 in your spinoff campaign, you
have several options. Campaigns set to coincide with earlier
seasons of Smallville benefit from 33.1 as a constant source
of secrets, adversaries, and victims to rescue. Campaigns set
more recently might still feature lost or rogue 33.1 experiments
surfacing from under layers of cover-up. Maybe the facility
still exists; maybe it was moved again before Lex’s death. Tess,
Chloe, and Smallville’s other resident secret mongers may not
know anything about it. If so, it’s up to your spinoff campaign’s
Leads to tie up these loose threads.
Types of Scenes: Common scenes include attempting to
liberate prisoners or breaking in to find some secret weapon
or piece of research. Meteor-infected or the excessively
nosy might find themselves locked up for interrogation and
experimentation. Even a defunct 33.1 might be the source of
efforts to dig up dirt on Lex or LuthorCorp.
Specialties: Confined, Experiment, Hidden, Research, Secure
Extras: Private Security, Research Team, Test Subjects
Leads and Features: Chloe, Clark, Daniel Kim, Jed McNally,
Lex, Lionel, Lowell Wilson, Mikhail Mxyzptlk, Moira Sullivan,
Molly Griggs, Nick Yang, Oliver, Tobias Rice, Wes Keenan
CASEFILES: LEVEL 33.1 49
 CASEFILES
DANIEL KIM
Minor Telekinetic • Bowling Alley Attendant
VALUES VALUES
d6 Duty Man, I just want to do my job and have some fun.
d6 Love The ladies love Danny.
d4 Power Despite my powers I don’t see the need to be pushy.
Daniel Kim was a pretty regular guy who worked at
the Smallville Lanes bowling alley. Sure, he had some minor
metahuman powers of telekinesis, but he never went crazy or
used them to do much more than move some balls and pins
around. The most suspicious thing he ever did with his powers
was help Lana score a strike, presumably so he could try to
score with her.
Daniel’s pleasant and harmless nature didn’t save him.
When Tobias Rice outed Daniel as a meteor-infected, Lex’s
men grabbed him, experimented on him, and then dumped
EXPANDING PLAY
him with his memory wiped. Daniel laughed this off, thinking
he just had too much to drink. Unfortunately for him, Lex
wasn’t taking any chances and he had Daniel killed. In the
end, it was probably for the best that Lex never found out that
Daniel was flirting with his fiancé.
Current Events: Daniel is dead, one more tragic victim
in a long line of people Lex has killed.
Classified: Daniel kept his powers secret from most
people. Maybe he could have told you which bowling shoes
give you the best traction. Other than that he had no secrets.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Lana sure is cute d6
▼▼ That Chloe chick has some crazy ideas d6
DEFINING ASSETS
Shameless Flirt d6
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
flirt with someone you know you shouldn’t.
Telekinesis d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Subtly push or pull an object without being noticed.
DEPTH
▼▼ Bowling alley attendant 2d8
▼▼ Likes to have a few after work 2d4
50 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
LEVEL 33.1
JED McNALLY
Tunneling Farmer• Migrant Slaver
d8 Duty I’ll do anything to protect my farm.
d6 Power The weak should serve the strong.
d6 Truth Keep out of my business!
Jed was a local farmer who gained his ability to
tunnel underground during the second Smallville meteor
shower. He was held in 33.1 briefly, then released. Back
on the farm, Jed went a little funny and started holding
his migrant workers as prisoners and forcing them to
work without pay. With the help of a young worker, Javier
Ramirez, Clark exposed McNally’s plans. Jed didn’t take
this lying down underground and he tried to kill Clark.
This didn’t work as well as the farmer hoped, and he
ended up back in 33.1 in a coma.
Current Events: As far as anyone knows, Jed is still
in a coma.
Classified: It’s unknown if Jed suffered from
kryptonite psychosis or was just a jerk whose powers let
him hurt people. His write-up assumes the former.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark is trying to destroy my livelihood d8
▼▼ Martha can’t control her boy d6
DEFINING ASSETS
Kryptonite Psychosis d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when
you follow your base instincts to the point of
hurting or threatening others.
▼▼ A dd a d10 to Trouble to Reroll any die when
another character attempts to talk you down.
Tunneling d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Escape a scene by digging an escape tunnel.
▼▼ Make tunnels that last for the remainder of the
episode in the form of d8 Useful Details.
▼▼ Collapse a tunnel after you so you can’t be
followed.
DEPTH
▼▼ Deranged Farmer 2d8
▼▼ Enslaves migrant workers 2d6
 CASEFILES LEVEL 33.1

LOWELL WILSON
Metahuman Bruiser • Lex’s Heavy
VALUES hospital. She remained there for years and slipped into
d8 Duty I do what I’m told.
d6 Justice I’m more about enforcement than the law.
d8 Power Might makes me right.
Lex used Lowell’s incredible strength to intimidate Chloe’s
mom, Moira Sullivan, into using her powers. Lowell seemed
completely obedient to Lex and was only stopped by Moira’s
powers. Chloe and Moira later used Lowell in an escape attempt.
Lowell laid into a few guards and then was knocked out, but the
pair escaped anyway thanks to Clark’s intervention. Lowell was
still a 33.1 subject when it was shut down.
Current Events: Unknown. Likely Lowell was either sent to
Black Creek after 33.1 was shut down or somehow escaped. He
might have been part of Tess’ “tag and release” program, where
she implanted most of Lex’s subjects with explosive tracking
implants and let them go.
Classified: Not much is known about Lowell, including how
he came to 33.1 or how exactly Lex managed to control him so well.
was the ability to mentally control her daughter, Chloe.
Shocked by her powers and fearing she would inadvertently
harm her daughter, Moira committed herself to a mental
a catatonic state. For most of her childhood, Chloe was
unaware of her mother’s whereabouts.
Eventually Lex was able to wake Moira. It turned out
that Moira could control any meteor-infected metahuman,
not just Chloe. Lex intended to intimidate Moira so she
would make metahumans do what he wanted them to, but
Moira instead used her ability to get other metahumans to
attempt to kill Lex and cover her escape. Lex survived, but
Moira escaped with Chloe and Clark’s help. Unfortunately,
the mother and child reunion was cut short as the anti-
catatonia drug wore off. Moira was once again reduced to
a vegetative state and placed in professional care by Oliver.
Current Events: Though a drug to bring her out of her
state exists, Moira is in a vegetative state and has expressed
a desire not to be revived. This is presumably to avoid any
chance that her powers could again be used against Chloe
and others. She is currently in private care in Star City.
Classified: Moira doesn’t have many secrets outside her
powers. How she was exposed to meteor rock is unknown.

DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS

▼▼ Ineed to do what Lex says d8
▼▼ Chloe must be protected, even from myself d12
▼▼ Nothing personal, Moira d6
▼▼ Take care of my daughter, Clark d6
▼▼ Lex is dangerous and wants to use me d6
DEFINING ASSETS
Athletic d8
DEFINING ASSETS
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll. Mind Control d10
Limits: Meteor-infected only, Must see target or have an
Super-Strength d8
object owned by target
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Make a target into your stalwart defender without
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
having to maintain control over every action.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object, like an automobile, as a
▼▼ Make a target oppose his friends without having to
weapon (and as a d8 Useful Detail).
maintain control over every action.
DEPTH On a Mission (Protect Chloe) d8
▼▼ Former test subject turned goon 2d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when
you foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that
MOIRA SULLIVAN directly contributes to your mission.
Chloe’s Mom • Mental Patient • Meteor Freak Controller
VALUES DEPTH
▼▼ Overprotective mom 2d6
d8 Duty Family comes first. ▼▼ Seeking reconciliation 2d8
d10 Love I must protect those I love.
d4 Power Power can hurt those you care for.

Like several Smallville residents, Moira gained metahuman

abilities after being exposed to meteor rock. In Moira’s case it

CASEFILES: LEVEL 33.1 51

 CASEFILES LEVEL 33.1

MIKHAIL MXYZPTLK ASSETS

Exchange Student • Mind Controller • Cosmopolitan d6
Impish Troublemaker ▼▼ Give your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die when

DEFINING VALUES dealing with other cultures.

Family Reputation d4
d8 Duty I come from a long line of special people. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
d8 Glory It’s all about the green. your Family Reputation precedes you.
d6 Justice Can’t catch me! Manipulative d6
d6 Love Romance shouldn’t get in the way of business. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
d8 Power I make my own luck. you ask them to trust you even if you don’t mean it.
d6 Truth Truth is often inconvenient. Mind Control d12
Limits: Controls actions not thoughts, Auditory, Specific
frequencies
Mikhail was a metahuman and a Balkan exchange student. He
Spend a Plot Point to…
had the powerful ability to control people’s actions with his voice;
▼▼ Make another person choke or suffer some
he could make people do everything from trip to choke. He used
other physical ailment, inflicting Injured or
these abilities to run a gambling ring in Smallville, fixing football
EXPANDING PLAY

Exhausted Stress.
games by making Clark and other players fumble crucial plays.
▼▼ Force an opponent to fumble or trip, forcing him to
Eventually, Chloe discovered the operation. Mikhail took control
reroll the highest die in a physical Test or Contest.
of Chloe to stop her investigations, but she and Clark still managed
to find out about Mikhail’s powers. Doing a bit of research, Chloe
figured out that a particular frequency could counteract Mikhail’s
powers. With his powers nullified, Mikhail was defeated.
MOLLY GRIGGS
Brainwave • Killer App Maker
Lex lured Mikhail to 33.1 with the promise of restoring
his powers. Eventually Mikhail regained his powers and tried VALUES
to use them to bring 33.1 down. Unfortunately he also ran
afoul of Oliver during a failed recruitment attempt. Oliver d8 Duty I will do anything to help my friends.
was forced to take Mikhail down when he refused to believe d4 Glory I’m not interested in fame.
Oliver wasn’t working with Lex. d8 Justice If you hurt me you should pay.
Current Events: Mikhail’s current whereabouts are d8 Love I want someone I can trust.
unknown. He’s likely locked up somewhere, back home in the
d6 Power Knowledge is power.
Balkans, or using his powers to run another shady operation.
d8 Truth Information wants to be free.
Classified: Mikhail’s abilities seem to be hereditary, though
little is known of his people. It’s possible there’s a whole clan
of Mxyzptlks with potent mind control powers. Legends
Molly Griggs was building her reputation as a young
surrounding his family characterize this ability as controlling
super-genius until she broke down at MIT. She ended up
luck, which suggests other powers the bloodline might possess.
at the Summerholt Institute in Metropolis. She claimed
Given that LuthorCorp sponsored Mikhail’s foreign exchange
to be doing fine when intrepid reporter Chloe Sullivan
program despite his average grades, it’s reasonable to suspect
interviewed her, but Chloe discovered some questionable
that they know a fair amount about the Mxyzptlks.
practices at Summerholt spearheaded by Dr. Lawrence
Garner. She intended to expose these abuses, which would
RELATIONSHIPS shut the whole place down. Molly didn’t care for that.
▼▼ Chloe needs to keep out of my business d10
▼▼ ControllingClark will make me some money d6 Spurred on by Dr. Garner, Molly used her super-smarts
▼▼ Lex wants a piece of the action d6
to design and release a computer program that controlled
▼▼ Oliver just wants to use me, too d4 people’s minds. Using the program, she nearly got Lana to
kill Chloe but Adam Knight stepped in. She did manage
RESOURCES to kill Daily Planet editor Max Taylor, but failed in her
▼▼ G ambling Ring (Resources, Shady) 2d8 attempts to use Martha and Jonathan to kill Chloe. Finally
▼▼ S mallville High School (Education, Socialize) 2d4 Molly was captured and, thanks to Lex’s intervention, sent
▼▼ LuthorCorp Exchange Program (Contacts, to 33.1.
Influence) 2d4

52 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES LEVEL 33.1

During Lex’s run for senate, Molly and her new boyfriend Impulsive d4
Nick Yang were eventually released and managed to avoid ▼▼ Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you

recapture. They joined up with Andrea Rojas (see Smallville act rashly.

RPG, page 152) to take down Lex. At first Molly and Nick Savage d4
wanted to use one of her programs to force Lex to commit ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble whenever
suicide. However, Nick had a change of heart and, with you act upon your base instincts.
Andrea, managed to convince Molly to back down. The trio Brainwave Program d10
instead tried to expose Lex’s crimes to the world. This effort Limit: Gear
was well meaning but not terribly successful. Molly ended up Spend a Plot Point to…
institutionalized at Belle Reve. ▼▼ Make a target attack his friends or allies without
Current Events: Molly is still locked up at Belle Reve. She having to maintain control over every action.
probably doesn’t have email privileges. It’s unknown if she and
Nick are still together.
Classified: The exact method Molly used to make a NICK YANG
computer program that could control people and turn them Energy Controller • 33.1 Fugitive • Agent of Vengeance
into killers is unknown. Given that the eyes of the person
affected would glow briefly after they were controlled, there’s VALUES
a chance the power to control people through computers lies
d8 Duty We need to help those being hurt.
with Molly and not her programs.
d4 Glory It’s not about me.
d8 Justice People should pay for the harm they cause.
RELATIONSHIPS d6 Love I’m just a normal guy when it comes to love.
▼▼ I want to help Andrea d6 d8 Power Power can be so easily abused.
▼▼ Chloe tried to ruin my life d8
d8 Truth I’ll expose the powerful and unethical.
▼▼ Lex needs to pay d8
▼▼ I love Nick d6

Nick Yang gained his metahuman power to manipulate,

RESOURCES absorb, and redirect energy from an unrevealed LuthorCorp
▼▼ C omputer Lab (Information, Technology) 2d8
▼▼ Summerholt Institute (Restore, Therapy) 2d6 experiment. When Lex found out about Nick’s abilities he
was kidnapped and taken to 33.1. During this time he met
ASSETS and fell in love with Molly Griggs. Nick was experimented
on for a year as a potential solution to the energy crisis. The
Clever d8
two were released when 33.1 was shut down during Lex’s
E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to show off your
▼▼
state senate race. Angry at Lex’s actions, the pair contacted
smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner.
Andrea Rojas, the Angel of Vengeance. Nick saved Andrea
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you know a piece of
from a 33.1 goon squad and informed her that Lex was still
useful trivia.
collecting metahumans for his own ends. Nick and Molly
Gearhead d8 intended to kill Lex using one of Molly’s mind-controlling
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point when you inconveniently Choose to computer programs. Andrea talked Nick out of it, convincing
stop and admire fine technology. him it was better to expose people like Lex instead of
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal information about a car or murdering them.
other non-unique tech. Current Events: Nick’s current whereabouts are
Genius d6 unknown. His girlfriend Molly is in Belle Reve, but Nick
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve studied a isn’t. He’s probably still no fan of LuthorCorp and secret
subject and know its basics. projects to hunt down or experiment on metahumans,
Hacker d12 but he seems to now be focusing on justice instead of
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Reroll a die in a simply revenge.
Hacker roll. Classified: Nick possessed a fair amount of information
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal a fact about security about 33.1 and knew many of the test subjects and prisoners
holes or other exploitable weaknesses in the target of there. He also knows Andrea Rojas is the vigilante hero
your hacking. known as the Angel of Vengeance.
▼▼ A
 dd a d10 to the Trouble pool to Gain a 2d8 Extra or d8
Relationship for an ally you’re working with.

CASEFILES: LEVEL 33.1 53

 CASEFILES
Some of these meteor-infected were captured, studied, and
RELATIONSHIPS released. This group included Chloe. Others, like Daniel
▼▼ Andrea is devoted to justice d8 Kim, were killed to cover up the whole affair.
▼▼ Lexcan’t keep getting away with everything d8 Clark and the gang managed to figure out what was
▼▼ Molly and I have been through a lot together d8
going on and convinced Tobias to stop helping Lex and Dr.
Bethany. Dr. Bethany tried to kill Tobias to cover his tracks.
RESOURCES Clark and Lana saved Tobias; Dr. Bethany was killed by a
▼▼ 33.1 (Experiments, Motivation) 2d4
ricochet from the weapon he’d intended to use to kill Tobias.
The medical community didn’t seem too upset by this loss
ASSETS and Oliver managed to arrange the surgeries necessary to
Energy Absorption d10 restore Tobias’ sight.
Spend a Plot Point to… Current Status: Assuming his surgery went well,
▼▼ Absorb energy to Decrease your opponent’s Injured
Tobias should be able to see again and is hopefully living a
or Exhausted Stress pool against you or another happy life somewhere. It’s unknown if his powers are linked
character. to his blindness in some way. If so, he might no longer have
▼▼ Absorb the energy out of an attack on you or another
his abilities.
character. Classified: Tobias can detect meteor-infected and
▼▼ Drain the energy from a device, disabling it.
as such knows of meteor abilities of anyone he meets—
Energy Blast d8
EXPANDING PLAY

even if they’re keeping it secret or don’t even realize they

Limit: Energy must have already been absorbed; type of energy
also determines additional Limits (water against fire, etc.).
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Make a wide-angle sweep attack that inflicts Afraid
or Insecure Stress.
Impulsive d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
act rashly.
Right Place, Right Time d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6
when somebody confronts you about your presence
somewhere off-limits, secret, or prohibited.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to join a scene you weren’t in.
have them. However, Tobias’ Ability can’t detect Abilities
acquired by other means, such as those naturally possessed
by Kryptonians or granted by cybernetics.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ I’msorry I helped hurt Chloe d6
▼▼ Clark is just a normal decent guy d6
▼▼ Lana helped me out when others wouldn’t d8
▼▼ Dr. Bethany is using me, but I need his help d8
DEFINING ASSETS
Metahuman Detection d12
Limits: Meteor-infected only, Line of sight
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Identify Meteor-Infected based Heritages, such as

TOBIAS RICE Kryptonite Psychosis.

On A Mission (Regain Sight) d6
Metahuman Detector • Blind Puppet
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
VALUES foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
d6 Glory I just want my life back.
d6 Justice I don’t want to hurt anyone.
DEPTH
▼▼ Well meaning student 2d8
d8 Truth I might not be able to see, but I’m not blind. ▼▼ Up to his ears in trouble 2d4

Tobias was orphaned and blinded in the second

Smallville meteor shower. However, this same incident
gave Tobias the ability to detect other meteor-infected.
Lex wanted to use Tobias’ ability to find, study, and abduct
more meteor freaks. He hired Dr. Robert Bethany, who
promised he could restore Tobias’ sight; he strung Tobias
along, getting him to identify numerous meteor-infected.
Lex’s men then nabbed the metahumans for study at 33.1.

54 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
EXPANDING DRIVES
 EXPANDING DRIVES
FROM: ARCHER01
TO: MERCY@Watchtower
SUBJECT: Why We Fight
It’s true that with the VRA crisis hanging over our heads
and losing people that are close to us, we haven’t exactly
had the time to sit down and have a heart-to-heart
Kumbaya moment with Clark and the others. I mean, we’re
spread all over the world, and some of us can’t go outside
without wearing Groucho glasses and fake mustaches.
But every day I pull out the bow and strap on the arrows, I
remind myself that we’re doing this for a reason. Because
it means something. Because it matters.
Whether I’m trading blows with Kandorian clones or
fighting corporate raiders in the board room, I know that
I’m carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. It’s
a world I believe in. Justice, truth, all of that stuff. When
you signed on with us, you knew it would be full of risks.
Right? And as we all found out, you’d been doing this for
years undercover as one of those Checkmate agents,
anyway. You believe in it too, don’t you? Or you’d have
turned in your badge long ago.
But, I do have to say that when push comes to shove, and
everything’s on the line, I think the reason we do this is
not just because it’s Big Picture Important, but because
of the people who’re counting on us. You, me, Clark, Chloe,
Bart, even Emil Hamilton. We’re connected. We’re a team.
It’s messed up, but it’s motivational.
EXPANDING DRIVES
True love, great justice, lasting rivalries. It’s what drama is
all about, especially the kind of drama we want to see the Leads
engaging in episode after episode. A Lead’s Drives may not be
who he is, but they are how he interacts with his world, and
sometimes that’s the more important part. Players get to create
their own statements for their Values and Relationships, so they’re
already invested in the story right there. But there’s always room
for more tricks up that sleeve. This chapter introduces a range of
new options for using Drives in Smallville, as well as clarifying
a few issues that might still be floating around at the table.
VALUES
Power and Glory, Truth and Justice, Love and Duty.
These concepts fuel the drama of Smallville, and when you play
the Smallville Roleplaying Game, you play with these toys. You
put ‘em forward, you challenge them, you argue over them. In
many ways, these six concepts are what any Smallville game is
going to be about—unless of course you swap them out for other
Values. Here are some guidelines and optional rules to make your
game’s Values—whatever they are—the stars of the show.
56 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Shutdown Drives
You may know that Assets can get Shutdown by Limits
or specific triggers, but the same description also applies
to any Trait that’s been stepped back below d4. This is
especially important with Drives, because the players
are going to be challenging them frequently in the game.
If a player chooses to step back a Relationship or Value
when it’s already at d4, then it’s considered Shutdown
and can’t be used until he recovers it during tag scenes or
it’s stepped up by some other effect during the course of
play. In the case of Values, this means that the Lead can’t
draw upon that Trait for Contests or Tests, maybe due to a
psychotic break, a crisis of belief, whatever. In the case of
Relationships, it means the Lead can't get directly involved
with the person in the Shutdown Relationship. He needs to
find some other way to influence that individual, usually by
exploiting another Relationship.
This is obviously a big deal, and you should remind your
players next time they declare that they’re going to
challenge the living daylights out of their Drives. Remind
them that while it’s good for Growth, it’s going to severely
impair them for the short term.
Variations on Values
Not every spinoff is about the Big Six Values outlined in
the Smallville Roleplaying Game. Maybe you want to switch
out the Values for new ones. If you want a different angle on the
classic Values, you might find that having each Lead act as the
paragon of a specific Value makes your spinoff click a lot better.
Here’s how to bring added value—see what we did there?—to
these important core Traits.
OWNED VALUES
In a game with a strong focus on the differences among the
Leads’ beliefs—such as, say, a group of heroes who all fight crime
but for different reasons—you can elect to use owned Values. In
this variation, each player picks one Value that belongs to him.
Only that Lead may have that Value at d12, and when the Lead
uses that Value, he gets a free Reroll once per Test or Contest.
That Lead’s the paragon of that Value.
Over the course of the game, this Value ownership may
change. This only occurs in a tag scene at the end of an episode
in which a player challenged his owned Value. He may trade
Value ownership with another Lead who also challenged an
owned Value, or he may discard his current ownership in favor
of a Value that no one currently owns. If a player changes his
ownership of a Value, he adds a d12 to his Growth pool. This is a
big, character-defining moment, so encourage the player to sell
it and play the transformation to the hilt.
PLAY ADVICE: I Never Challenge Anything ‘Cause I’m Already Right!
In the Smallville RPG, the Leads confront challenges to
how they think the world works—what they think is right
and wrong, how they should act, what they should do. This
constant tension is an essential part of the game, and it makes
the Leads into ever-evolving characters, learning how to find
their place in the world.
The problem comes when you try to bestow your hard-earned
wisdom on your Lead who hasn’t necessarily had all of that
experience. Usually in the Smallville RPG, your Lead is just
beginning to really figure out who he is. When you impart your
experience to your Lead, there’s nothing for him to learn and no
journey for him to take.

The thing is, you may already have a pretty good idea of how
the world works. Perhaps you’ve already found your place in
the world, and you’re comfortable and happy where you are.
It doesn’t take long after high school to realize that the rules
that apply there don’t necessarily apply to “the real world.”
That happens again after you graduate from college. And
after you get your first job. And after you start a family. And
after your kids leave the house. Typically, with experience
comes wisdom and a fuller understanding of the world
around you.
Trying to make your Lead “right” is a sure way to make your
Lead’s story pretty boring. Instead, intentionally give your Lead
room to grow. Give him Value statements that are just asking to
be savaged by circumstance. Make him believe things that are
easily proven wrong. You can even make him believe things that
you find reprehensible.
The key to all of this is to remember and embrace that your Lead
is going to change. If you make your Lead perfect, there’s no
reason for him to change. If you make him flawed, it’ll be that
much more gratifying when he does.

Example: Cam, Josh, and Amanda are playing Clark, Oliver,
and Lois, respectively, and they want to sharpen up their
Values. They decide to use owned Values. Amanda quickly
claims Truth for Lois. She’ll be the only one with Truth at
d12, and she’ll get a Reroll whenever she’s trying to uncover
those awkward secrets. Cam and Josh have it a little harder.
Both feel strongly about Justice but in different ways,
and both have that Value at d10. They decide that neither
owns that Value, freeing it up so it can be argued about and
fought over. Instead, Cam selects Love for Clark while Josh
selects Glory. Neither of them have this Value at d12—and
it’s possible they never will—but they still get that Reroll.
Each player puts an asterisk next to their owned Value as a
reminder of their once-a-Contest/Test Reroll.
ALTERNATE VALUE SETS
The world of Smallville centers on Truth and Justice,
Power and Glory, Duty and Love, and those themes are
appropriate for a surprisingly wide variety of spinoffs. The farther
afield you go, however, the less this set of Values may work for
what your group wants to play. If you’re doing a truly break-out
spinoff, you may need to come up with an alternate set of Values.
It’s best to maintain six core Values for your set. Ask
yourself what things you think Leads will stand up for, work for,
hold up as important or sacred—essentially, what they value.
You don’t necessarily need six entirely new Values; you can
get a lot of oomph out of changing just two or three and letting
Selfishness on the Value list, players can make statements
both ways—not only I look out for #1 but also I put the needs of
others before my own. Adding in a Selflessness Value on top
of that would be redundant, and players will tend to write the
opposite of what they already have for Selfishness.
Instead, find pairs or sets of Values that are related but are
not necessarily in direct opposition. Duty and Love is a great
example; sometimes those two are in opposition, sometimes
they are complementary. That gives players a lot of opportunities
in play as they challenge them into and out of opposition.
Keep in mind that, by making something a Value,
you’re putting it on the line to be questioned. If you make
Righteousness a Value, one or more characters are going to
question the Value of Righteousness. If there’s something that
you or your players hold very dear and don’t want to challenge,
don’t make it a Value.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Some Possible Alternate Values
▼▼ Advancement ▼▼ Indulgence
▼▼ Ambition ▼▼ Luxury
▼▼ Appearances ▼▼ Mortality
▼▼ Destiny ▼▼ Nature
▼▼ Exposure ▼▼ Opportunity
▼▼ Family ▼▼ The Past

the rest stand. Your first step should be thinking about which of ▼▼ Fate ▼▼ Peace

the default six still work for your spinoff. Then ask if the others ▼▼ Freedom ▼▼ Pride
▼▼ Fun ▼▼ Rage
only need a little shift to make it work, such as Justice to Peace
▼▼ The Future ▼▼ Reputation
or Truth to Freedom. If that hasn’t filled out your six, spend
▼▼ Guilt ▼▼ Revenge
some time determining the core themes of your spinoff.
▼▼ Honor ▼▼ Righteousness
Although it might seem like a good strategy, avoid
▼▼ Identity ▼▼ Self
using pairs of opposites in your Value set. If you already have

EXPANDING DRIVES 57

PLAY ADVICE
Challenging Two Values At Once
Anytime you roll the dice, you can include one of your
Values for free. You can challenge that free Value to get
the three dice and the addition to your Growth pool. If you
spend a Plot Point, you can roll in a second Value. Can you
also challenge this second Value? Absolutely!
Sometimes a die roll is fraught with challenges to all the
things you hold dear; in those cases, challenging multiple
Values at once isn’t just acceptable, it’s exactly what you
should be doing. With a handful of dice and several Values
being questioned, you’re well on your way to a Sure Thing
Growth pool. Way to play the game!
The next question is how the Leads actually get steps in
these Values. You can swap out the Values listed on the Pathways
map, picking the most appropriate Values for each option. Make
sure that each stage has a relatively equal representation of all
six Values across its options. If you’re making an entirely new
Pathways chart, sprinkle steps in Values as you see appropriate—
just be sure that each Value is represented at least once in any
stage that provides Values.
Example: Let’s say we’re building a spinoff about some
meteor-infected kids trying to make it through life with
strange abilities they never asked for. The Isis Foundation
brings them together as a counseling group but—at least for
our spinoff—its doors closed when Chloe shut herself up in
the Watchtower. So now they’re on their own.
EXPANDING DRIVES
Of the original six Values, Power is an obvious shoo-in.
Assuming the Leads want to investigate where their powers
come from (which could raise some difficult questions),
Truth also figures prominently.
Justice and Glory are only appropriate if the Leads try
to take their abilities into primetime, and that’s not the direction
we want this spinoff to go—at least, not as an uncomplicated or
obvious choice. So we'll change Glory to Publicity—what
happens when and if they go public?—and Justice to Peace—
where do they stand on violence and conflict?
Without any powerful organizations, wealthy families, or
great destinies, Duty isn’t as useful. We do want some romantic
conflicts and love triangles, though, so Love is definitely in.
To give Love a little something to generate friction with, we
can drop in Family. These kids all have families, and some of
them are probably keeping the truth from their parents—that
sounds like some dramatic gold. Sure, there’s a little Love in
Family, and a little Family in Love, and a little Duty in
both. Crossover isn’t just unavoidable, it’s desirable. This is the
stuff conflicts are made of.
So our final list is: Family, Love, Peace, Power,
Publicity, Truth.
58 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
UNIQUE VALUE SETS
If you can’t get all of your ideas to fit into six Values, you
might try a game with eight or even ten Values available. Each
Lead, however, only ever has six on his sheet.
As long as there are fewer than twelve available, Leads
always have some overlap. That overlap is key—it drives
conflicts and drama in the story. Keep an eye out for the one or
two (or five) Values that everyone has—these are what the game
is about. Each Lead also has one or two Values that he shares
with only one or even no other Leads; that Value is what that
Lead’s stories are about.
If you’re using unique Value sets, it’s easiest to remove
Values from the Pathways chart entirely. At each stage, players
pick a new Value to add to their sheet; after the first stage, they
also step up a Value that’s already on their sheet. If you’re only
going through the Life-Changing Event, step up two Values
each stage after the first. After players have six Values on their
sheet, stop adding new Values. At the final stage, players step up
Values until they have a total of fifteen steps in six Values.
Example: Tiara is running a new Smallville game and wants
to “spread out” from Smallville and Metropolis to the wider
world. She suggests to the table that she’d like to include the
Justice Society, Suicide Squad, and Checkmate as important
organizations and sources of Features and Leads. That’s a lot of
ground to cover, so she decides to use a lot of different Values
and let players select unique Value sets for their Leads. She
starts with the default six Values, and then adds Appearances,
Destiny, Pride, and Righteousness to the mix.
Jack is going to play Carter Hall, AKA Hawkman; he
glances over the list of ten Values to see where he’ll aim his Lead
as he goes through Pathways. In Origin, he thinks of Carter’s first
happy days with Shayera, so he picks Ordinary and adds Love at
d4. In Youth, he imagines running afoul of a pesky sorcerer and
figures it was probably Carter’s fault; he picks Jock (Carter being
all about the physical at this period of his life), adds Destiny,
and bumps Love to d6. In Focus, he skips over to Technology
for his Wing Harness, scoops up Pride, and brings Destiny
up to d6. For Road, he takes Lofty, adds Justice, and bumps
Love to d8; this stage represents when Carter and Shayera
founded the JSA. But those happy times end at Life-Changing
Event where Shayera is killed and Checkmate sweeps them all
under the rug; he selects Family Tragedy, adds Truth, and steps
up Love to d10.
At Priority, he selects Looking Back for obvious
reasons; he adds Power and steps up Pride to d6. For
Modus Operandi, he selects Against the Grain for his gritty,
heartbroken pragmatism. He now has six Values (Destiny,
Justice, Love, Power, Pride, and Truth), so he steps
up Truth to d6 but doesn’t add another Value. Carter’s
Motivation, Jack decides, is The Job of taking care of the
JSA’s relics and making sure nobody else falls to Checkmate;
he bumps up Power to d8. Lastly, in Identity he selects
The Rebel and puts his last step up in Justice. That leaves
him with the Values: Destiny d6, Justice d6, Love d10,
Power d8, Pride d6, and Truth d6.
ICONIC VALUES
In a game where the main Leads come from very different PLAY ADVICE
backgrounds, each one may bring some wildly different Values
to the story. You can handle such a situation with owned
Coming Up With New Statements
Values or unique Value sets, but if you want to distill these
After you challenge a Value, you need to rewrite the
backgrounds into essential characterization, you might want to
statement during the tag scene if you want to bring the
go the distance and use iconic Values, which combine the two.
Value back to the original die rating. Sometimes it’s hard
Choose five Values that all Leads share. In addition to these
to come up with a statement that summarizes the new
Values, each player creates a unique Value of his own to represent
viewpoint when you aren’t even sure what that is yet.
his Lead and background. Sprinkle the five common Values and
“Iconic Value” across the Pathways map. When a player selects an
Here’s an alternative familiar to most teenagers: overreact.
option that lists Iconic Value, he steps up his unique Value. The
Have your Lead go off the deep end, concluding that since
only other characters who may start with a Lead’s iconic Value
his old Value statement of Power corrupts kept getting
are Features who come from the same background as the Lead.
in his way, he should try out Power is my birthright. If he
Over the course of the game, maybe a player wants to
just got his heart stomped on, maybe discard Love is what
abandon his iconic Value and adopt that of another Lead or
keeps me going in favor of Love is a vicious lie.
Feature. In any tag scene where he can rewrite the Value, he can
instead replace the old Value with the new one.
What’s the worst that could happen if you overreact? An
Example: Cam, Joe, and Bobbi are playing Clark, Zod, and episode of emotional carnage as your Lead ricochets off
Chloe, respectively. To sharpen the differences in where of the other Leads, challenging his overreaction of a Value,
they come from, they decide to try out iconic Values. Cam and ending the episode with dice in his Growth pool. And
decides that Clark needs a Destiny Value to represent his maybe then you’ll be able to think of something appropriate
struggle with his preordained place in the world. Joe gives Zod that better sums up his changing worldview.
Patriotism, citing his nigh-jingoistic obsession with Kandor.
Bobbi thinks for a bit about where Chloe is coming from and
decides to go with Humanity, both in terms of standing up
for the “normals” of the world and putting a check on Clark’s
own humanity. All three players look at the default six Values
and agree that their iconic Values will work to replace their
individual Duty Values, so they strike that off the list.

EXPANDING DRIVES 59
 RELATIONSHIPS
Who loves whom, and who hates whom, and who really
wants to follow in whose father’s footsteps? Welcome to the
world of Relationships. In the Smallville RPG, big chunks
EXPANDING DRIVES
of the action take place around the foundation and battlefield
of Relationships between the Leads. Watchtower takes pairs
of Relationships as inspiration for preparing an episode, and
once play ramps up, Relationships are a big source of dice and a
fantastic means of filling your Growth pool.
Variations on Relationships
Relationships are funny things and they work in all sorts
of different ways. The default rules in the Smallville RPG
describe how to use Relationships just between individuals,
but there are many more options. Here’s a selection of the most
entertaining ways to expand Relationships to their full potential.
RELATIONSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS
In this variation, players can create Relationships with
organizations like the Department of Domestic Security or
LuthorCorp (see the Clique rules in the Smallville High
School Yearbook for more on creating and using groups
as Features). These Relationships have die ratings and
statements like any other Relationship. When confronted
with operatives, agents, or employees of the organization, the
player rolls in the appropriate Relationship according to the
associated statement.
60 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
When a player challenges a Relationship with an
organization, the same rules apply. When faced with a member
of an organization who acts differently than a Lead might
expect, the Lead’s player can challenge the Relationship to roll
three dice instead of one. However, when it comes to tag scenes,
a new option opens up. The guy from the organization might
make the Lead revise his opinion of the organization, or the
player might conclude that he’s just different.
If a player’s Lead revises his opinion of the whole
organization, rewrite the Relationship as normal.
If a player’s Lead concludes that this particular guy is
different, leave the Relationship with the organization with
the same statement and at the level it was stepped down to.
The player creates a new Relationship with the “rogue agent”
and gives it a number of die steps equal to the number of times
the organization’s Relationship was challenged. One challenge
starts it at a d4, two challenges at a d6, three challenges at a d8,
and so on.
Example: After his interactions with the Department of
Domestic Security, Clark has acquired the Relationship The
Department of Domestic Security doesn’t know what
they’re dealing with d8. DDS agents burst into the room
where Clark is having a tense argument with a conflicted
young man suffering from kryptonite psychosis. The DDS
agents want to arrest the kid and have scientists poke at
him; Clark wants him to go free to try to live a normal life.
In the ensuing Contest, Clark rolls his DDS Relationship
because the agents are acting without understanding the
whole picture.
PLAY ADVICE: Troubled Team Relationships
For some players, roleplaying is all about the team. You and
your friends get together, combine your different strengths,
and topple the baddie from his fiendish plan. For you folks,
it might be a little awkward at first to create and play out
disagreements and arguments between members of the team.
Aren’t you monkeywrenching the camaraderie and teamwork
by picking fights with each other? There are two answers: the
light answer and the hardcore answer.
The light answer goes like this: the way the Smallville
RPG works, Leads grow by challenging their Values and
Relationships. That’s how you get better. And if you want to
help your teammates get better, you offer them opportunities
to challenge. Maybe you’re the rookie of the group, and
everyone thinks you’re a little clueless and need protection.
When you put yourself out there in the line of fire, demand
the hard assignments, and proclaim that you can handle it,
everyone else gets to challenge their Relationship with you.
And you, by contrast, think the group’s leader is harsh and
the stone-cold killer is scary, and whatever else. By doing so,
you offer them opportunities to flesh out their Leads into three
dimensions with the occasional kind word or show of support.
Later, a single DDS agent by the name of Casper approaches
Clark on the street. He tries to make amends, explaining that
they didn’t know what was happening—a problem that Clark
could certainly help them with, since he seems to know a lot
of interesting things. Agent Casper starts a Contest to recruit
Clark, so the dice get broken out. Clark challenges his DDS
Relationship since Casper isn’t acting like Clark expects DDS
agents to act.
At the end of the episode, Clark decides that Casper
is different than the DDS, and he isn’t going to change his
statement for the DDS Relationship. It stays at d6, the level
he challenged it down to. He writes a new Relationship with
Agent Casper (willing to talk), which starts at d4. Clark rolls
his Growth pool to step that up to d6. Clark’s tag scene shows
him fingering Casper’s business card and picking up a pay
phone. “So there are a few things you should know for your
own safety…”
RELATIONSHIPS WITH TITLES AND OFFICES
Outside of Martha Kent, the Leads of Smallville don’t
often interact with politicians, non-governmental organization
employees, ecclesiastical offices, or the like. Your spinoff,
however, might have a greater call for dealing with the Mayor,
the Chief Operations Officer, the Special Agent in Charge, or
the Archbishop. The thing about these interactions, however,
is that the man in charge—or the guy filling the seat—might
change, sometimes on a regular basis.
In this variation, Leads may have Relationships with
titles or offices, not necessarily the people who fill them. The
statement applies to whoever is the current bearer of the title or
All of this can happen without interfering with the mission—in
fact, all these things can advance the mission.
The hardcore answer goes like this: the way the game works,
Leads grow not only through challenges but also through Stress
and getting patched up. The best thing you can do is throw
yourself at your fellow players, getting into fights that allow both
of you to challenge, inflict Stress both ways, and then in a later
scene make amends and patch each other up. The external
threats of Features and villainous plots aren’t just problems to be
tackled but fodder for your conflicts with other Leads. By keying
into what the Features are throwing at you, you can power up
your friends to be more awesome in the next episode.
There’s also the third, entirely non-game mechanic answer:
people don’t always get along, even when they’re in love,
best friends, or close relatives. It’s the inherent nature of a
good drama that misunderstandings, confusion, and divided
loyalties arise among people who would, in ordinary situations,
get along just fine. So think of Smallville as a game filled with
extraordinary situations, and you’ll understand why friction is a
good thing, not a bad thing.
office-holder, and the Relationship gets rolled when that person
lives up to the Lead’s assumptions. When he surprises the Lead
by breaking out of the mold, the Lead’s player can challenge the
Relationship. Later, when someone else takes up that position,
he can do this again as the same approach still applies.
As Watchtower, these sorts of Relationships are great
opportunities, since you can swap one person in that position
out for a new one—one with very different views and who
is likely to conflict with the established Relationships with
the title.
Leads might also have a Relationship with both the title
and the Feature who holds it—especially if someone they
know takes up the title they have a Relationship with. In such
a case, the player may use whichever Relationship has the
most appropriate statement—or spend a Plot Point to roll in
the second Relationship, challenging one, the other, or both.
This brings hefty amounts of context to the Contest that’s on
the table, and gives the player Growth opportunities as well.
Example: Both Clark and Lois could easily have a
Relationship with The Editor-in-Chief of the Daily
Planet (it’s a real revolving door position). Clark’s
Relationship might be something like The Editor-in-
Chief can’t find out what’s really happening d6. Lois, by
contrast, might have something more like The Editor-in-
Chief needs to recognize my talents d10. When there’s a
Contest over whether the person in charge should send them
to investigate something that Clark knows is extraterrestrial,
both Clark and Lois could roll in their Relationship with the
Editor-in-Chief.
EXPANDING DRIVES 61
 Watchtower could throw both of them for a loop in an
episode in which Tess Mercer replaces the old Editor-in-
Chief. Tess already knows most of what Clark wants to keep
under the radar and, given the history between Tess and
Lois, will Lois really want her recognition?
RELATIONSHIPS WITH SECRET IDENTITIES
This is a fun one. Under this variation, Leads may
have Relationships with secret identities distinct from their
Relationships with the character behind the mask. So Lois might
have The Blur is a real hero d8 as well as Clark may be the
one d12. When she deals with Clark, she rolls Clark d12; when
she deals with—or defends—The Blur, she rolls The Blur d8.
When you’re talking about a Lead’s secret identity, the
player taking the second Relationship is probably aware that
she’s doubling up. This can lead to a lot of fun and drama,
especially when the secret identity Relationship is used in a
Contest against the “normal” friend—“But Clark, I don’t think
you understand what the Blur is doing!”
When a Feature is first introduced in an episode, Leads
might buy a new Relationship with That Girl in the
Mask and Leather Tights. In a later scene, they might be
introduced to the same character without the mask and buy
another Relationship with her—and do so without realizing
it’s a doubled Relationship. This is fine, especially if you make a
point of revealing or withholding the masked woman’s mundane
identity for the rest of the episode. Bonus points if you reveal it
in scenes that don’t include the two-Relationship Lead!
If and when a secret identity is revealed, the Leads who
have dual Relationships have a choice to make. First, they can
keep everything as-is—it may be a little schizophrenic, but
thinking about a person one way when they’re in street clothes
and another when they’re suited up still works, as far as the
EXPANDING DRIVES
PLAY ADVICE
Buying & Challenging Relationships
At any point in the game, you can use a Plot Point to buy
a new Relationship with a Feature at d6. Peanut butter. In
any Contest, you can challenge a Relationship to add a die
to your Growth pool. Chocolate. Can we possibly put these
two great tastes together?
It’s perfectly legal to buy a new Relationship with a Feature,
and then challenge it not once but twice. This puts a d6
and a d4 into your Growth pool at the low, low cost of one
Plot Point and some entertaining interactions with the new
character. However, it also means your Relationship with
that Feature is Shutdown for the remainder of the episode,
so you can’t do this trick more than once with any Feature.
RETARGETING RELATIONSHIPS
On occasion, a player’s faced with a Relationship on his
sheet that’s getting obsolete fast. This Feature hasn’t shown up
for a number of episodes. Maybe she moved to Cairo. Maybe
she’s dead. Maybe her story is over (which is usually more
permanent than death). The Lead won’t be seeing her any time
soon, but that Relationship is still sitting there on the player’s
sheet, taking up space…and die steps. The player could keep
knocking that Relationship down when he fails Growth rolls,
but that’s going to take forever. He’d rather take those die steps
and put them into a Relationship with some other character.
To speed this process up a little, offer to let the player
retarget the Relationship. When you introduce a new Feature,

game mechanics go. the player might have his Lead decide that the new gal is “just
The second option is to start challenging either of those like” that gal who isn’t coming back. Maybe they look alike;
Relationships into the ground. If one of the overlapping maybe they act similar. Maybe he meet her in the same place he
Relationships is Shutdown (see page 56), during the tag scene met that other gal. Whatever the case, encourage the player to
the player may strike the Shutdown Relationship off his sheet draw a similarity between them. Be sure the Lead explains this,
and step up the other Relationship for free. This is a kind of at length, to the new gal or to some confidante. Does the new gal
brute force game mechanic, but it works for some people. Just have to be at all like the old gal? Not really. In fact, it often makes
make sure it also works in the context of the story. for a better story when it turns out they aren’t.
Then the player rolls the obsolete Relationship when he’s
Example: Lois already had a Relationship with Clark
dealing with the Feature who’s just like the old Feature. Even
(Clark may be the one d12), but when she deals with the
better than that—the player challenges it. Then, when he gets
Blur in play, she spends a Plot Point to buy a Relationship
to the tag scene, he rewrites the Relationship to include the
with the secret identity as well, such as The Blur needs my
new gal’s name as well as the old gal: Jane is more honest than
help d6. She uses Growth to make it permanent and gets
Cherie ever was.
some use out of it for a few episodes. And then the fateful
In the next episode or even the one after that, the player
season finale comes, and she discovers that Clark is the Blur.
challenges that Relationship again. In the following tag scene,
Lois could challenge her understanding of the Blur down
he rewrites the Relationship and remove the old gal’s name from
to nothing (a Shutdown), questioning whether he really does
it entirely. From there on out, the Relationship is now about the
need her, or whether she actually needs him, and so on. When
new gal, and the player can safely forget the old gal was ever in
she gets to a tag scene, she could scratch The Blur off her
your spinoff...
sheet and bump up her Relationship with Clark. But she
…until you bring her back in as a Wedge.
already has Clark d12—it can’t go any higher. So she elects
to keep both Relationships on her sheet. After all, she can play
them off each other, challenging one or both, to pump dice
into her Growth pool.

62 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

PLAY ADVICE
Challenging Two Relationships At Once
As with Values, yes, you can spend a Plot Point to roll in
a second (or third, or fourth) Relationship and challenge
more than one Relationship at the same time.
You know what else you can do? You can spend two Plot
Points to roll in an extra Value and an extra Relationship,
and then challenge two Relationships and two Values, all
at the same time. That’s four dice to the Growth pool. And
likely a completely life-changing moment for your Lead…
ROLLING RELATIONSHIPS IN SHARED TAG SCENES
It’s easy to fall into a rut where a tag scene is a super-short
one-sentence description. That’s usually fine—in fact, for most
tag scenes, that’s perfectly adequate. If that’s all your players ever
do, however, their tag scenes might start getting slightly anemic.
In this variation, whenever a player has a tag scene with
another player and roleplays back and forth a bit, he can add his
Lead’s Relationship with the other Lead to his Growth pool. The
other player may do the same, adding his Relationship with the
first Lead to his own Growth pool.
EXPANDING DRIVES 63
 CASEFILES
EXPANDING DRIVES
Thanks to Lionel, Lex, and Tess, LuthorCorp has a lot of
secret projects. Some—such as Level 33.1 and the compound at
Black Creek, Montana—have Casefiles of their own. The rest are
included here. Most of these don’t have the scope and history of
LuthorCorp’s more infamous endeavors. Instead they produced
one or two extraordinary results and then were shut down,
destroyed, or simply faded back into the shadows.
These casefiles aren’t a definitive list of every dirty little
black op or pet experiment that LuthorCorp has ever authorized.
Odds are good that there are dozens of such endeavors hidden
in facilities across the world, just waiting to be uncovered—or
unleashed. As Watchtower, you’re strongly encouraged to use
the following entries as inspiration for creating your own secret
projects that Lex or someone else decided were a great idea.
64 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
LUTHORCORP PROJECTS
Given LuthorCorp’s record, such experiments are
probably dangerous, ill-conceived, inhumane, or all of the
above. That’s not to say there aren’t a few attempts to cure
diseases or help feed the hungry buried somewhere, but
even those tend to go horribly awry given the company’s
general callous approach to research and development. Lex
had a thing for naming his projects after classical mythology.
It wasn’t universal—there was no Greek goddess named
Intercept—but it serves as a good guideline if you’re stuck for
a name.
The following projects range from super soldiers to
cloning to things that approach legitimate medical research.
Their most notable results and the current status of each
project are also discussed.
 CASEFILES LUTHORCORP PROJECTS

PROJECT 1138
Unlike so many LuthorCorp operations that involved aliens, Project 1138 involved vampires. Okay, technically it involved
mutated vampire bats with a strain of kryptonite-mutated rabies. But since anyone bitten by these critters grew fangs, gained
superhuman strength, hated sunlight, and craved blood, it’s fair to say there was something vampiric going on. The main victim
and head vampire meteor-freak was Buffy Sanders, president of Metropolis University’s Tri-Psi Sorority. After being trapped in
a cave where she was infected by the bats, someone from LuthorCorp rescued her; Buffy went back to her sorority and began
to turn her sorority sisters into blood-sucking harpies. Funny thing is nobody noticed this until Lana pledged the sorority in a
desperate attempt to secure housing for college.
Lana was inducted into Tri-Psi, bitten, and turned into a vampire. Clark, Chloe, and Lex figured out what was going on and
how to cure the infected, but not before Lana bit Clark and gained some of his powers. The sorority overpowered Clark and was
about to turn him into a snack when Lana intervened; she wanted to make him into a vampire due to her strong but kryptonite-
twisted feelings for him. Buffy tried to stop her and Lana killed her. Then Clark staked Lana with the antidote and she went back
to normal.
Current Status: Project 1138 never bared its fangs again. It’s unknown if the infected bats were destroyed or cured, but it
seems plausible that a large enough chunk of kryptonite could do the same thing to rabies-infected creatures elsewhere.

Super-Strength d8
BUFFY SANDERS Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
Sorority President• Vampire Co-Ed
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
DEFINING VALUES
Thirsty Virus Heritage d8
d8 Duty Once a Tri-Psi… Limits: Blood, Sunlight
d8 Glory I’m fabulous. ▼▼ I ncrease this Heritage or any Connected Ability and Add a
d6 to Trouble when you feed on someone’s blood.
d6 Justice Don’t cross me, sister.
▼▼ Grant another character this Heritage Distinction at d4
d8 Love I like cute, tasty boys. and Add d10 to Trouble by sharing blood with them.
d8 Power I’m the queen around here. Watchtower may also use the Empower rules to grant levels
d4 Truth Whatever! in connected abilities.

Buffy was your standard—one might even say

stereotypical—sorority-girl-turned-vampire. Her turn-ons
included sisterhood, parties, and the blood of the innocent. Her
turn-offs were sunlight, last year’s fashion, and being upstaged.
Her actual name wasn’t Buffy Sanders—Chloe created that
pseudonym in the article she wrote about the whole bloody mess.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark is yummy d6
▼▼ Lana will make a good sister if she plays along d8
RESOURCES
▼▼ M etropolis University (Contacts, Education) 2d6
▼▼ T ri-Psi Sorority (Exclusive, Social) 2d10
ASSETS
Attractive d6
▼▼ Earn a Plot Point when your looks draw unwanted attention.
Regeneration d8
Limits: Blood, Sunlight
▼▼ Recover Exhausted or Injured Stress.
▼▼ Recover Afraid or Insecure Stress.
PLAY ADVICE
Introducing Cliques
If you’ve already picked up the Smallville High School
Yearbook, or taken a look at Chapter Five: Expanding
Drives, you should be familiar with the concept of Cliques—
groups of individuals treated as a single Feature and given
game statistics. Cliques can be used for more than just
spinoff campaigns set in high schools. Treating the various
Greek organizations on college campuses as Cliques helps
bring them into the spotlight. This also works for college
administration and other campus clubs and societies.
If you were to use this option, Buffy Sanders could have
a Relationship with the Tri-Psi Sorority Clique at d10,
dropping it from her list of Resources. Leads could take on
Buffy alone, or her entire bloodsucking sorority at once!
Similarly, the various LuthorCorp Projects in this Casefile
might be represented by the Clique rules, giving your
spinoff campaign more of a focus on corporate intrigue
and espionage.

CASEFILES: LUTHERCORP PROJECTS 65

 CASEFILES LUTHORCORP PROJECTS

PROJECT ARES WES KEENAN

Prototype Mark IV• Super Soldier
Named for the Greek god of war, Project Ares was Lex’s DEFINING VALUES
attempt to make a private army of metahuman soldiers. By
bonding the DNA of various metahumans and aliens to a human d10 Duty I will serve my country.
host, Ares’ scientists were able to give a subject metahuman I care more about the mission and my fellow
d6 Glory
abilities from a variety of sources. In addition to their powers, soldiers.
Ares soldiers were conditioned to follow orders and could be d6 Justice I’m fighting to protect my country and its citizens.
reprogrammed for special tasks. d8 Love I won’t hurt those I love.
Controlling the Ares subjects was another thing completely. d6 Power Power must be used to protect and serve.
Though technically programmed to follow any order, at least d6 Truth I will never forget who I am.
one prototype busted loose and killed a few scientists. Oliver
and his team encountered this subject and were barely able
to bring him down. Ares had similar problems with its chief By all accounts Wes Keenan was a good man and a loyal
success story, Wes Keenan. As a child, Wes was friends with Lois soldier. He loved his country and his fellow soldiers. He was
Lane and her father, General Sam Lane. As an adult, Keenan a loving husband to his wife, Jodi; she died trying to uncover
was a soldier fighting in Afghanistan before he was seriously his fate after he disappeared. He cared deeply for Lois and
injured. Lex offered him a chance to serve his country and assist her father as well—enough to shake off Lex’s brainwashing on
with experiments that would help other wounded soldiers. multiple occasions. As a member of Project Ares, Wes was a
Wes accepted. dangerous opponent—a trained ex-Green Beret with a variety
Using the alien Titan’s DNA as a base (see Casefile: Zoners of metahuman powers. Wes’ stats can serve as a model for any
and Aliens), the Ares enhancement process gave Wes numerous surviving clones of him and for other Project Ares soldiers,
powers, such as super-strength and force field generation. Wes though the exact Abilities might vary based on the subject
was renamed Mark IV and sent to kill Senator Ed Burke who, and the genetic material used for the enhancements.
after initially supporting Ares, was now threatening to shut it
down before the authorities discovered it. Wes killed the senator RELATIONSHIPS
but couldn’t bring himself to eliminate witness Lois Lane, who ▼▼ I’msorry, Jodi, but duty calls d8
he remembered from his old life. Wes was reprogrammed ▼▼ Lex is helping me get back in the fight d8
▼▼ Lois always meant a lot to me d8
EXPANDING DRIVES

and sent after Lois again, but he again fought against the
programming. Wes explained to Lois what Ares did to him and
then succumbed to his brainwashing for the last time. Clark RESOURCES
arrived before Wes could kill Lois. Wes didn’t survive this battle. ▼▼ P roject Ares (Research, Security) 2d8
Lex managed to secure Wes’ body and mostly cover up Ares;
without more alien DNA, the project was put on hold. ASSETS
In addition to their superhuman soldiers, Ares Force Field d10
experimented with cloning. Lex cloned Lana at one point using Spend a Plot Point to…
Ares technology, though this clone was only a body with no ▼▼ D ecrease Injured or Insecure Stress on all characters
mind. Lana used this clone to fake her death—a very creative within the force field.
▼▼ Slip from the grasp of an adversary by sliding out of your
method of spousal separation.
force field.
Current Status: Ares never did get that new alien DNA
before it was shut down. However, it’s highly unlikely the Invisibility d8
research and remaining test subjects from such a largely Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Disappear and escape from a scene.
successful experiment just disappeared. A reliable source of
▼▼ Hide for an entire scene to listen in without being
alien DNA would be enough to jump-start Ares again. It’s likely
noticed.
Lex’s secret lab of flawed clones that Tess recently discovered at
▼▼ Shadow someone for a whole day without them noticing
Cadmus are based at least partially on Ares’ clone experiments. you at all.
Marksman d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of
ammunition.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Marksman
roll.

66 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES LUTHORCORP PROJECTS
Krav Maga d8
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when you redirect an
opponent’s momentum.
▼▼ Give your opponent a d6 in a Contest during an aggressive
fight to Increase your Injured or Exhausted Pool.
Soldier d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to follow orders, stick
to protocol, or maintain strict discipline when it would
benefit you more to do otherwise.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Soldier roll
because of your discipline and training.
Super-Speed d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of distance.
▼▼ Catch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
Super-Strength d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object, like an automobile, as a
weapon (and as a d8 Useful Detail).
PROJECT GEMINI
Named for the twins Castor and Pollux from Greek myth,
this project dealt with human cloning. However, duplicating
the physical form of a person was only part of Project Gemini.
The end goal was to reproduce a person exactly, by copying
and creating memories as well as physical traits, even aging the
clone of an infant to adulthood. The chief goal of this project
was the resurrection of Julian Luthor, Lex’s infant brother. Lex’s
mentally unbalanced mother killed Julian, though Lex accepted
the blame to protect her. After several failed attempts, the
project finally was successful and Grant Gabriel was born.
Grant was a genetic match for Julian and was raised to
believe he was the real thing. He was given false memories of
growing up in an adopted family before discovering his true
parentage. He was then brought in as editor of the Daily Planet
and dated Lois for a time. He even managed to form something
of a normal and mutually protective bond with his “brother,”
Lex. Given the Luthor talent for eventually ruining anything
positive, this didn’t last.
Grant discovered he was a clone, which caused tension
between him and Lex. Lex warned Grant to stay away from
his father, apparently half from genuine concern and half from
jealousy. When Grant ignored Lex’s wishes and contacted
Lionel, he was surprised to find his “father” accepted him
unconditionally. In fact, it was pretty clear Lionel preferred
the clone of his dead son to the man Lex had become. This
didn’t sit well with Lex. Deciding he no longer wished to be his
CASEFILES: LUTHERCORP PROJECTS
brother’s keeper, Lex had Grant murdered. Grant died in
Lionel’s arms.
Current Status: After Grant’s death, Lex seemed
uninterested in trying again and Project Gemini was shut
down. However, it’s likely any developments made with
the project were used in LuthorCorp’s other cloning and
genetic manipulation projects at Cadmus Labs.
GRANT GABRIEL
Daily Planet Editor • Julian Luthor 2.0
DEFINING VALUES
d8 Duty I will protect my family.
d8 Glory There’s no shame in fame.
d6 Justice What’s right is a matter of perspective.
d6 Love Family and loved ones make us whole.
d6 Power Power can protect those important to you.
d8 Truth I want the truth but I might not share it.
Especially given his family tendency for treachery,
Grant was a decent enough guy. Sure, he was smug, a bit too
sure of himself, and prone to bury stories to protect Luthor
secrets; but he truly cared about Lois, Lex, and Lionel.
It’s likely he would have been a pretty decent guy to have
around and a good editor for the Planet if he hadn’t caught
an assassin’s bullet. Who knows what would have happened
if he’d had the opportunity to team up with Tess?
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Chloe isn’t as interesting as her cousin d4
▼▼ Lex is my brother, but he doesn’t own me d10
▼▼ Lionel and I need to make up for lost time d10
▼▼ I like you, Lois, but it’s complicated d8
RESOURCES
▼▼ Daily Planet Editorial (Influence, Publicity) 2d10
▼▼ Daily Planet Bullpen (Research, Rumors) 2d6
▼▼ Implanted Memories (Comfort, Inspiration) 2d6
ASSETS
Clever d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to show off your
smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you know a piece of
useful trivia.
Genius d6
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal you’ve studied a subject
and know its basics.
67
 CASEFILES
Manipulative d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have a
Relationship.
Willful d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you put
your foot down.
▼▼ Add a d10 to Trouble to put your foot down and Reroll a
die in a Willful roll.
PROJECT INTERCEPT
Project Intercept created a memory-sharing device.
Actually, “sharing” makes it sound much nicer than the reality.
Intercept’s Interrogator device allowed a person to enter
someone’s mind without his consent and take information
directly from his brain. Subjects were kept unconscious and
helpless while this occurred.
Clark used the device on Lex when he was desperate to
locate his cousin, Kara. Inside of Lex’s mind, Clark had a brief
encounter with Lex’s underdeveloped and child-like good side
named Alexander. This implies the device can push deeply into
the psyche of the subject, as “child-like” and “good” are not
things usually associated with Lex. Tess later used the device
to find out what happened to Lois when she was transported
to a possible future.
EXPANDING DRIVES
While inside a subject’s mind, the user is like a phantom
stranger inside the subject’s memories. The user can observe
but not interfere with the memories in any direct way.
Normally, the people in the memories don’t notice the
user, either. This makes Clark’s encounters with Alexander
interesting, as he was able to interact with him. It’s possible
that if a part of someone is buried deeply enough, as Alexander
was inside of Lex, it can interact with the user on some level.
To exit the maze of memories, the user must locate a red door
planted as a mental exit point.
Current Status: Project Intercept is technically still
active. Given the unfolding events of late, it’s unclear if Tess or
LuthorCorp are taking steps to shut it down.
68 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
LUTHORCORP PROJECTS
INTERROGATOR DEVICE
This is a large piece of Gear that requires at least one
outside technician to operate safely. It looks like a pair of
medical platforms with glowing green wires that attach to a
subject’s head. To use it, a subject is placed on one platform
and the user lies on the other. When the device is activated,
the user finds himself inside the head of the subject.
Effect: Sensory
Descriptor: Memory Reading Device
Limit: Gear
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ View a scene from the subject’s past.
▼▼ Locate a specific memory inside the subject’s head.
▼▼ Find a subject’s hidden secret or repressed
personality trait.
PROJECT MERCURY
Named for the Greek messenger god of medicine,
Lex Luthor and Dr. Milton Fine (Brainiac) created Project
Mercury to develop a vaccine that could cure all disease. In
addition to the obvious health benefits, Fine convinced Lex
that Mercury was needed to fight an upcoming alien plague.
Lex agreed to provide Fine with LuthorCorp resources to
develop the project, though the two never trusted each
other. Since Fine was really Brainiac and Lex was Lex, this
was clearly wise in both cases.
It soon became clear that the vaccine being developed
wasn’t going to do what it said on the label. Lex feared it
was going to unleash a terrible plague, but Fine had other
plans. He took the vaccine and injected Lex with a single
dose, admitting that that’s all he ever needed. In truth, the
vaccine created by Project Mercury prepared Lex’s body
so Zod’s spirit could come to Earth and possess him. This
worked for a time until Clark managed to free Lex and
banish Zod to the Phantom Zone.
Current Status: Brainiac used the only sample created
by Project Mercury and the research was destroyed. Though
the vaccine wasn’t the global cure Lex thought it was meant
to be, it did make Lex incredibly fit and healthy when
he was injected. It’s possible some secret lab is working
on recreating the positive effects and purging any nasty
surprise Brainiac hid in the process, though no one has
admitted to doing so. Such a vaccine could be a wonderful
cure for a diseased Feature or Lead, or it could go horribly
wrong and accidentally unleash a global pandemic.
 CASEFILES LUTHORCORP PROJECTS
PROJECT PROMETHEUS
Named for the Greek Titan who stole fire from the gods and
gave it to man, Project Prometheus was LuthorCorp’s attempt
to make a device that would give the wearer Kryptonian-level
powers. The first version was functional, if not exactly sleek and
fashionable; it was an armored suit that protected the wearer
and boosted his abilities. The second version was even more
impressive, being a sheath of nanites that bonded to the wearer
and granted him incredible powers. This version was effectively
invisible and became a part of the wearer. The bonding process
was more or less permanent, meaning once Lana Lang got the
suit meant for Lex, he was out of luck.
The suit gives the user Super-Strength, Super-Speed,
Invulnerability, and the ability to absorb large amounts
of radiation (Absorption). This last power is a bit tricky; it
seems absorbing enough radiation will cause the wearer to
emit low levels, making them harmful to those vulnerable to
such energies. This happened with Lana and a massive dose of
kryptonite radiation (see Smallville RPG, page 140).
Current Status: Project Prometheus seems to be shut
down and the only functioning version of the Prometheus
Suit is bound to Lana Lang. It’s unknown if the project created
other devices that would give the wearer superpowers.
CASEFILES: LUTHERCORP PROJECTS
PROMETHEUS SUIT
This is the suit worn by Lana Lang, but prior to the
absorption of a massive amount of kryptonite radiation;
therefore it lacks the Kryptonite Descriptor. Unlike most
Gear, the Prometheus Suit is treated as a Heritage and can
be developed over time. Based on the suit’s interaction with
Lana, the normal die rating for a starting bond is d8.
Descriptors: Nanotech
Effect: Enhancement
Limit: Gear, Permanent Bond (Empowered with the
Heritage described below, with starting die ratings equal to
the Heritage rating and three Special Effects for each Ability)
PROMETHEUS SUIT (HERITAGE)
Descriptors: Nanotech
Limits: Gear, Permanent Bond
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when the
suit keeps you from a normal life.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any Test that involves
one of the suit’s Abilities.
d12: Add a d10 to Trouble to reconfigure your nanites to
Grant you an unconnected Ability at d6 for a scene.
Connected Abilities: Absorption (Limit: Radiation
Only), Invulnerability, Super-Strength, Super-Speed
69
 CASEFILES
PROJECT SCION
Created to study the black goo that turned out to be the
Brain Interactive Construct, or Brainiac, Project Scion was
another of Lex’s plans to protect Earth from aliens. Hidden away
in LuthorCorp’s Plant Four, Scion studied the black liquid until
a temporarily Kryptonian-powered Lana Lang busted the place
up. During this event, Brainiac escaped by entering the body of
lab tech Casey Brock. Brock hosted Brainiac long enough for it
to escape. She died a short time later.
Without the samples to work from, Project Scion wasn’t
of much use; presumably, all the data gathered and research
conducted was used in other projects. Project Scion’s staff also
had the knowledge to contain Brainiac in his black liquid state
barring outside intervention, a process that could be repeated
if necessary.
Current Status: Project Scion has either been shut down
or else it’s been reduced to a skeleton operation that continues
to study the data collected while they still had active samples to
study. More than likely, it’s the former, but a rogue scientist with
a USB drive filled with secrets wouldn’t be out of the question.
PROJECT STARHAWK
Project Starhawk was created by the US government
to monitor potential alien threats. Though technically a
LuthorCorp project, most of Starhawk’s heavy lifting was
EXPANDING DRIVES
carried out by the Department of Domestic Security. The DDS
is one of those government entities with a wide mandate and
agents who tend to view everything strange, odd, or unusual as
a threat to national security and our way of life.
It was DDS agent Carter who found Kara’s ship and took
the blue power crystal from inside. They then nabbed Kara and
exposed her to kryptonite. Things would have ended badly for
the Maiden of Might if not for Lionel and Clark’s intervention.
Ironically, in an alternate reality seen briefly where baby Clark
didn’t arrive in Smallville, Kara was actually the head of the
DDS under the name Linda Danvers.
Not to be outdone in the abuse of power department, DDS
agent Vanessa Webber decided Chloe was a dangerous domestic
terrorist. Not bothering with due process, Webber decided to
just torture and kill her instead. Jimmy and Lex managed to save
Chloe and get her taken off DDS’ radar. All this nasty shadow
government stuff was done in the name of protecting the Earth
from extraterrestrial threats—though it’s possible the DDS just
hates cute blondes.
Current Status: The DDS is still active, though it hasn’t
reared its bureaucratic head in awhile. Presumably Starhawk
still exists in some form, watching aliens and their allies, and
may be at least partially connected to Checkmate.
70 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
LUTHORCORP PROJECTS
TYPICAL DDS AGENT
Alien Hunter • Government Agent
DEFINING VALUES
d10 Duty I will protect my nation and this planet.
d6 Justice Local law enforcement needs to get out of
our way.
d8 Truth The truth is out there and it’s dangerous.
This is your average Department of Domestic Security
agent, someone with a lifetime of dedication and service to
his or her country, and frequently a touch of arrogance or
entitlement. DDS agents dress in suits, wear dark glasses,
and use earbuds to communicate with each other and their
directors. When they’re back at the office, they can let their
hair down a little. Drink a little black coffee, push around a few
classified documents, and plug some holes in shooting range
targets. In the field they travel in pairs, drive unassuming black
sedans, and they’re every bit as intimidating and mysterious
as they look.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
Select a Lead who is the focus of the agent’s investigations
for a d8 Relationship. Assign d6 Relationships to two other
Leads or Features who are involved with the agent or his work.
DEFINING ASSETS
Big Brother/Big Sister d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reveal that you have video or
audio surveillance of a Lead or Feature.
▼▼ Add a d10 to Trouble to Reroll a die whenever secrets
you know come into play.
Investigator d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to spend a scene
investigating instead of taking immediate action.
Marksman d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of
ammunition.
DEPTH
▼▼ Trainedto deal with alien threats and ferret out secrets
2d6/2d8
EXPANDING ASSETS
 EXPANDING ASSETS
FROM: EMILH@Watchtower
TO: MERCY@Watchtower
SUBJECT: RE: Biochemical processes in Kryptonian DNA
Ms. Mercer, here are the latest biometrics you requested.
I assume this is merely precautionary research? Clark’s
abilities have developed just fine without any monitoring
or additional external stimulus. Unless this is for someone
else, in which case, how many other Kryptonians are
extant at this stage? Just Kara? I admit to wondering
what this is all about. You’re not keeping any Kandorians
in your basement, are you?
In any event, as you can see from the accumulated
data, UV, IR, and visual light at approximately 93 lumens
per watt of radiant flux is our benchmark for optimum
photosynthetic absorption. Kryptonian cells store vast
amounts of converted energy in an autotrophic fashion
to engender the bulk of Clark’s recuperative processes.
We’ve seen this in other terrestrial life forms only on a
limited scale and certainly not in humans, so it’s likely the
cause for his abilities, too. I have a full scientific paper on
this just waiting to be deleted; it’s not like I’m ever going
to be allowed to publish this in the Biochemical Society
Transactions.
Obvously we have only just scratched the surface of what
Clark is capable of. And that’s leaving aside the potential
for his future development. I hope this data is of some use
to you.
And yes, I’m available next Friday night. But you have my
phone number.
Assets are flashy and exciting. They’re some of the most
entertaining and easiest to grasp Traits on the Lead Sheet. This
guy’s the hotshot pilot who can shoot lasers from his fingertips.
This guy’s got a suit that makes him super-tough but he’s really a
compassionate, genuine kind of guy underneath. This guy’s been
trained by a secret order of assassins but has since gone rogue!
The two flavors of Assets—Distinctions and Abilities—
EXPANDING ASSETS
together with their subtypes of Heritage Distinctions and Gear,
afford a broad range of capability and characterization. There
are lots of moving pieces that all work together. Sometimes that
can be a bit confusing, but once you understand how the gears
mesh, you can do some fantastic things.
DISTINCTIONS
It’s tempting to think of Distinctions as the normal, even
mundane end of the Assets pool. However, while Distinctions
generally aren’t powered by alien technology or mutant genes,
they serve as the backbone of who the Lead or Feature is as
72 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
PLAY ADVICE
But I Don’t Have an Appropriate Distinction!
You’re in the thick of things, and your Lead has wandered off
to do something dangerous or ill conceived that he’s been
driven to by circumstance (don’t worry; this is normal).
Your Lead’s snuck into the Suicide Squad’s hideout and
wants to cut power to the whole base. He’s armed with a
giant pair of insulated wire cutters and is staring right at
the power line. You go to pick up dice and…you don’t have
a Distinction you can reasonably apply to cutting power to
an evil lair.
On any roll, you get to roll three Traits for free—a Value, a
Relationship, and an Asset—and you add the two highest
rolling dice together. If your Lead has wandered this far out
of his area of expertise, it’s probably because he’s been
driven there by the things he believes in and the people
he cares about. So you have a Value and a Relationship
to roll, and you only add the two highest dice together
anyway, so there’s no problem. Roll your two dice and add
them together.
a  person. Distinctions make each character stand out from
the other characters by bringing into play the parts of him that
we sympathize with and that provoke him to make interesting
choices in the story. Distinctions are vital.
Distinctions are also one of the main ways to personalize
the game—our lists of Distinctions are only examples to get you
started. When you’re designing all-new Distinctions of your own,
the tricky part is triggers. With twelve benefits and drawbacks
(and six new ones in this section), there are seventy-seven possible
combinations, and that’s before we add the all-important character
action that makes the trigger go. That’s a lot of possibilities and
opportunities to get lost in. Consider this chapter your trail map.
Variations on Distinctions
Here’s a couple of simple twists you can add to your
Smallville spinoff campaign, mainly in the form of expanding
on triggers. Use them as you like; they won’t alter the experience
of play but they can give you ideas for new Distinctions (or
modifying older ones).
NEW BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS
The Boost benefit and Reduce drawback are two sides of
the same coin. Boost allows the character to step up a certain
Trait while Reduce requires the character to step back a certain
Trait. Each use of the trigger modifies the Trait by one step.
Both Boost and Reduce only apply to a handful of Traits or a
Heritage’s connected Abilities; the affected Traits are listed
in the trigger. This modification lasts through the end of the
episode, although Leads and Features can attempt to reverse the
effects with a Test or Contest. Leads never begin an episode with
a Boosted or Reduced Trait.

PLAY ADVICE
But I Don’t Want to Roll Just Two Dice!
First of all, what’s the worst that could happen if your two
dice fail you? You might take Stress—which is going to
turn into Growth at the end of the episode. You might get
captured and get into trouble—which will drive the episode
forward. Watchtower has a list of Reveals she needs to get
out there, and you sitting there, strapped to a chair with a
bag over your head, is a prime opportunity for the bad guys
to discuss their plans in front of you. Or maybe the other
Leads have to rescue you, and then there are the awkward
questions…which lead to Contests in which everyone can
challenge their Relationships with you, and then everyone
gets Growth!
Example: The Shoulder to Cry On Distinction has a d12
trigger that allows a player to spend a Plot Point to Boost
a Relationship die when he’s using it for Stress Relief. If his
Lead is comforting a stricken friend with Afraid Stress,
he could spend a Plot Point and his Relationship with that
friendly Lead would step up by one when rolling to relieve
that Stress.
The Grant benefit allows you to give another Lead or Feature
a Trait from your Lead sheet, usually the same Distinction that
includes the Grant. This Trait is temporary and will be removed
PLAY ADVICE: No, Really—I Don’t Want to Roll Just Two Dice!
Okay, fine. Here’s a list of other dice you can pick up:
The Opposition’s Stress Traits. Have the opposition mixed it
up with the Leads yet? Maybe they’re carting around a little
Stress from their prior encounter. Ask Watchtower if they have
any Stress, and then play off of that. Taunt the Angry, mock the
Insecure, and overpower the Injured.
Useful Details. Turns out you have a Giant Pair of Insulated
Wire Cutters after all. Spend a Plot Point to roll in a d6 for your
forethought at being well equipped. While you’re at it, spend
another Plot Point for the Exposed Main Wiring that you found.
And another for the Crawlspace that gets you there without
anyone noticing. And remember that some Distinctions and
Abilities make Useful Details into d8s.
Add A Relationship. You’re playing hide-and-seek with that
guard, right? Spend a Plot Point to add a Relationship with him.
Make it something juicy and disparaging, like Joe sleeps on
the job or Joe wouldn’t know an intruder if he sneaked up and
punched him in the face. Roll in your d6.
from the target character’s sheet at the end of the episode. It’s
basically the same as the Gain benefit; it just works on others
instead of the Lead or Feature who has it.
The Use benefit allows you to use the Special Effects of a
short list of Abilities as if you had them on your Lead sheet.
This always costs a Plot Point in addition to whatever drawback
the benefit is paired to. This benefit is already common among
Heritage Distinctions; classifying it as a benefit is just a formal
way of addressing its appearance in those Heritages in the
Smallville RPG.
The Exacerbate drawback steps up a Stress Trait. This
drawback works on two kinds of Stress, which must be listed
in the trigger. It only affects the Lead or Feature who has the
Distinction; for harming others, see Increase. Each use of the
trigger steps up the Stress Trait by one. If you don’t currently
have any of the appropriate Stress, you pick up a d4 Stress Trait
of that type. This is basically the “affects self ” version of Increase.
The Shift benefit allows the Lead or Feature to move die
steps from one Stress Trait to another. The trigger must state
which two kinds of Stress the steps can be shifted away from
and which one Stress the steps can be shifted into. This trigger
is an all-or-nothing proposition, moving all die steps in the first
Stress into the second Stress. If this would put the second Stress
higher than d12, the trigger just doesn’t work.
Example: The Fanatic Distinction (which is really all about
moving Stress around) has a d8 trigger that lets you Shift
Injured or Exhausted Stress to Angry Stress when you
blame someone for setbacks to your cause (and Add a d6
to Trouble).
Add A Relationship And Challenge It. As above, but give the
statement some teeth. Try out Nothing gets past Joe or Joe
is a capable henchman. Then immediately challenge it to roll in
3d6. This can come across as a really cheap way to grab three
dice, unless your initial statement is purely based on a first
impression that your Lead quickly learns is mistaken. It makes
no sense to add a Relationship like Joe is a bee swarm in a
people suit and then challenge it when you find out he’s not.
Aid From Extras Or Locations. Where’d you get those wire-
cutters? Maybe from the supply closet back at home base? Or
did you “borrow” them from your mom’s toolshed? Maybe your
uncle taught you a little about home wiring, back before the
accident. Maybe your minions are creating a distraction outside.
Roll those dice and add the highest to your result.
Aid From Other Leads. Everyone has a cell phone and a wireless
headset or earwig, right? Make a call to a friend who maybe
knows a little more about electrical engineering than you. If you
don’t want anyone to know what you’re up to, make up a story
about why you need to cut the power. I’m sure that won’t come
back to haunt you later. Convince your friend to help and you’ll
get the highest die he rolls.
EXPANDING ASSETS 73
 USING “OR” IN TRIGGERS
This isn’t a benefit or a drawback, but it can be very useful
for putting them together. Sometimes you want a Distinction
to do something important, but you don’t expect it to happen
often in an episode. For instance, the Wraith Distinction in
the New Distinctions section has characters Revealing how
they can be banished. That will only happen once or twice in an
episode, so that trigger gets pretty spare use. Using “or” makes
the trigger a little more useful—you can add a second drawback
to the same trigger, so that the character earns a Plot Point when
they Reveal how they can be banished or when they actually
get banished. “Or” can also be used to pair benefits if you don’t
expect the first benefit to be regularly useful.
“Or” should never link together two benefits or drawbacks
that occur often; nor can it be used to link together two instances
of the same benefit or drawback—for instance, something
like “Increase Injured or Exhausted or Increase Angry or
Afraid” is pretty obviously exploitive.
New Distinctions
You’ve probably already taken a stab at creating your own
Distinctions, but here are a few more for you to use, fresh
from the Watchtower Casefiles. Many of these fill in areas that
weren’t otherwise covered in the big list of Distinctions from
the Smallville RPG, while others demonstrate how to use the
new benefits and drawbacks included with this book.
COVER STORY
Whether you’re an undercover agent, a fugitive from the
law, or fleeing from your former life, you’re posing as someone
you’re not. You’ve acquired false documents and established a
reliable paper trail that will stand up to casual scrutiny. Now
all you have to do is sit and wait, living your new life while
trying not to worry too much about blowing your cover. Roll
this Distinction’s die when you convince another character that
you are who you say you are, when you bluff on expertise your
cover ought to have but you don’t, or when you take action only
possible because of the access your cover gives you.
d4: Exacerbate your Afraid or Insecure Stress to Reroll
a die while maintaining your cover.
d8: Add a d6 to Trouble to Boost a Useful Detail connected
to your former life.
d12: Add a d10 to Trouble and Gain a 2d8 Extra when you
make contact with a connection from your former life.
EXPANDING ASSETS
FANATIC
You’re not on a mission; you have a cause. It might be
saving the rainforests, it might be returning your country to its
“traditional” values, or it might be proving that costumed vigilantes
are a dangerous criminal conspiracy. Whatever your cause, you
are devoted to it utterly—even to the detriment of your own well-
being. Roll this Distinction’s die when you pursue your cause, when
you sacrifice yourself, or when you defend your beliefs.
d4: Exacerbate your own Injured or Exhausted Stress
to Reroll a die for your cause.
d8: Add a d6 to Trouble and Shift Injured or Exhausted
Stress to Angry Stress when you blame someone for setbacks
to your cause.
d12: Add a d10 to Trouble to Increase your Afraid or
Injured Stress pool when confronting enemies to your cause.
FIFTH WHEEL
Surrounded by people of great skill and powerful abilities,
you feel the need to prove your own worth. You may or may not be
less effective in an objective sense (and generally won’t have fewer
die steps), but you worry that you aren’t contributing as much as
others. This leads you to bold, risky, even foolhardy action, all
in the pursuit of living up to your friends. Roll this Distinction’s
die when you act from the sidelines, when you support others in
mundane ways, or when you stand up for yourself.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Exacerbate your Afraid or
Insecure Stress when you are outshone by those around you.
d8: Reduce your Fifth Wheel die rating to Reroll any die
when others are relying on you.
d12: Earn a Plot Point and Increase your opponent's
Insecure or Afraid Stress pool when they confirm your
feelings of inadequacy.
HOT SHOT PILOT
A genius in the cockpit or at the wheel, you know how to
squeeze every ounce of maneuverability and advantage out of
your vehicle. Your expertise extends to benefit your passengers
by expediting their getaway or giving them the opening they
need. Roll this Distinction’s die whenever you’re at the wheel or
in the cockpit, performing feats of vehicular prowess.
d4: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to take control of a
vehicle when you're not suposed to.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Hot Shot
Pilot roll when you make use of expert manuevering.
d12: Spend a Plot Point when you’re piloting a vehicle to

Increase your passengers’ Injured or Afraid Stress pools

against their opposition.
CRIMINAL
You break the law on a regular basis, and you’re pretty good at
it. You’ve no small measure of experience with the seedier side of life
KRYPTONITE PSYCHOSIS (HERITAGE)
When humans are infected with kryptonite and develop
and have grown accustomed to living on the other side of the tracks.
strange abilities, a certain mental instability often follows. Prone
Roll this Distinction’s die when you break the law, when you deal with
to following their base instincts to their extreme ends, they end
law enforcement, or when you call on your larcenous background.
up hurting if not killing those around them in irrational pursuit
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
of otherwise rational goals. Not all meteor-infected suffer
avoid or interfere with law enforcement.
equally from Kryptonite Psychosis; some suffer more than
d8: Add a d10 to Trouble to Boost your Guilty, Savage, or
others, some struggle while others embrace it, and some seem
Vicious die rating when you display the scars of your criminal past.
to be free of the illness entirely. Roll this Distinction’s die when
d12: Spend a Plot Point to Gain a 2d8 Extra when you call
your psychosis drives you toward obsessive and irrational acts.
on a criminal contact.

74 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

PLAY ADVICE
How Can I Make a Disability a Distinction?
Whatever source material your spinoff is riffing off, you’ll
quickly find Leads who are blind or wheelchair-bound, and
it’s natural to want to put these “disabilities” on their Lead
sheets. Distinctions seem ideal, and a fat stack of Earn
triggers is the most obvious option.
However, if you take a hard look at how those characters
work in the source material they’re from, you typically
won’t find them ever doing anything that might qualify as
activating those triggers. You also won’t find them rolling
their Paraplegic dice. It may surprise you to find that a
“disabled” character will play just fine without any note
on his sheet that says he can’t use his legs. Trust us; try
it sometime.
Kryptonite Psychosis functions as a Heritage Distinction,
adding to your Growth pool when you roll to step up a
kryptonite-derived Ability already on your sheet. You may pick
up Kryptonite Psychosis in the Power Manifestation stage of
Pathways.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you follow
your base instincts to the point of hurting or threatening others.
d8: Add a d10 to Trouble and Reroll any die when another
character attempts to talk you down.
d12: Recover your own Afraid or Insecure Stress and
Exacerbate your Angry or Exhausted Stress one step when you
resolve to act, preferably with a frantic, half-sensible monologue.
LAST OF MY KIND
Your people are distinct from the masses of humanity; you
might be an alien or simply a member of an obscure ethnic
group. Your people had secret knowledge and dabbled in the
hidden corners of history, perhaps leaving behind powerful
artifacts or mysterious prophecies. You and a few others are the
last bearers of this legacy—and that legacy is about to become
a prominent force in the world. Roll this Distinction’s die when
you call on your people’s legacy, act on your grief or loss, or
when you defend your people’s memory.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
conceal or hide your origins.
d8: Add a d10 to Trouble to Grant another Lead or Feature
In Over My Head, Extraterrestrial Knowledge,
or another appropriate Knowledge at d4 when you share
information about your people.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to Gain a previously-hidden
Location at 2d8 that’s connected to your people.
PARIAH
You’ve been disgraced and disowned by the people you
once—and perhaps still do—cared for. Alone in the world,
you’ve had to make your way on your own power. Perhaps you
blame the people who turned you out, or perhaps you’ve stolidly
pushed on without their help. Roll this Distinction’s die when
you deal with the people who turned their backs on you, when
you prove them wrong, or when you express your sense of loss
and abandonment to others.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
your disgraced status stymies you.
d8: Add a d6 to Trouble and Shift Afraid or Insecure Stress
to Angry Stress when you are shunned, abandoned, or alone.
d12: Exacerbate your Insecure Stress and Gain a 2d8
Extra when you call on the assistance of someone else disgraced
or disowned.
SCOUNDREL
You have a certain ethical flexibility that allows you to
act and speak in ways that other people might find…what’s
the word…reprehensible. While they may disdain your ethics,
they always come back to you when they need something
only you can provide. Roll this Distinction’s die when you
disparage loyalty or doing what others expect, when you call
on your shady experience, or when you can play on your
ambiguous reputation.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you act
for purely selfish purposes.
d8: Add a d10 to Trouble and Gain a 2d8 Extra when you
have a shady contact in the area.
d12: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to betray a Lead
or Feature with whom you have an existing Relationship.
PLAY ADVICE
I Have Two Distinctions. Which Should I Use?
Say you’re snooping around the home base of the Suicide
Squad and they come tromping in. You want to find some
dirt on their plans. You reach for dice, grab a Value and a
Relationship, and then look to your Assets. You’ve got both
Sneaky and Observant. Both could work here, as you’re looking
for clues while remaining hidden. Which should you roll?
The simple, pragmatic answer: whichever one is higher.
Since they’re both applicable, roll in the one that gets you
the better chance of success.
The savvy answer: start with the lower one. When you kick
off a new Contest, you want the other side to buy in and
roll dice. That way, assuming you win, you get a Plot Point
from them. The best way to get them to pick up their dice
is to present them with a result they think they can beat.
So start off your Contest rolling the small die, hoping to get
a tiny opening result. You can always switch to the higher
Distinction in a subsequent reaction roll.
The expensive answer: spend a Plot Point and roll both.
This is especially potent when combined with the savvy
answer. Start with the smaller die, and then once you’ve
reeled them in, hit ‘em with the hammer!
EXPANDING ASSETS 75
 SHIRKER
You have a job, a duty, a destiny—and you want no part
of it. You’ve abandoned your higher calling in favor of base
pleasure, freedom, or doing good deeds in simpler and more
immediate terms. Roll this Distinction’s die when you refuse to
live up to your obligations, when you counsel others in similar
situations, or when you find ways to escape your destiny.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Exacerbate your Insecure or
Afraid Stress when you’re confronted with your destiny and
refuse it.
d8: Add a d6 to Trouble and Reroll a die in any roll
attempting to escape your destiny.
d12: Boost an Asset any number of steps and Reduce Shirker
by the same when you take up your destiny, however temporarily.
SHOULDER TO CRY ON
Your friends have troubles, anxieties, and worries—and
they know that you’re the one they can talk to. You offer them an
ear and the occasional word of advice, and they always seem to
walk away a little bit lighter on their feet. Roll this Distinction’s
die when you have a heart-to-heart with another character and
when you counsel someone to follow his heart. Of course, you
can also roll this when you use their confidences against them.
d4: Recover your own Insecure or Angry Stress when
you Choose to perform Stress Relief for someone else.
d8: Earn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you share someone else’s troubles with a third party.
d12: Spend a Plot Point and Boost a Relationship die when
you’re using that Relationship die for Stress Relief.
THIRSTY VIRUS (HERITAGE)
Buffy Sanders fell into a cave threaded with kryptonite
stalactites and mutated vampire bats; when she and her
rescuers  emerged, they exhibited strange powers and a thirst
for blood. They’d picked up a strange, rabies-like virus that gave
them superhuman abilities but prevented their red blood cells
from regenerating. Buffy went on to join the Tri Psi sorority at
Met U and spread the virus to her sisters; LuthorCorp treated
them under the auspices of Project 1138.
You can use this Distinction for bloodsuckers from sources
other than the kryptonite-laced caves under Smallville. We’ve
also included a few more classic vampire Abilities in case you
want to explore the idea further.
d4: Add a d6 to Trouble and Boost this Heritage or any
EXPANDING ASSETS
connected Ability when you feed on another Lead or Feature
(not an Extra).
d8: Add a d10 to Trouble and Grant another Lead or Feature
this Heritage Distinction at d4 by sharing blood with them.
Watchtower may also use the empower rules (see page 75 in the
Smallville RPG) to grant a die rating in connected Abilities.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to Use a Special Effect of a
connected Ability not on your Lead sheet.
Connected Abilities: Animal Control (Bats), Claws
(Fangs), Invisibility, Invulnerability, Mind Control,
Regeneration, Super-Strength
Limit: Blood, Sunlight
76 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
PLAY ADVICE
My Lead Is Possessed!
Sometimes in the course of an episode, some ghost or
spectral force will overwhelm your Lead and you’re left in the
passenger seat of your own body. That’s a rough position to
be in. The Possession Ability and, to a lesser extent, the Mind
Control Ability each present the possibility of a Feature or
another Lead taking control of your Lead for a period of time.
The Wraith Heritage is all about this concept, in fact.
Unless you and the other players are fine with handing over
a Lead Sheet to the Watchtower or to another player, it often
works best to have the player retain control of the Lead
but instead play as the possessing character. In Season
Ten’s “Isis,” Lois is possessed by the spirit of the Egyptian
goddess, but we all know that Erica Durance is still playing the
part. Watchtower just needs to brief you on the motivations
and goals of the possessing character, hand over an index
card with new Drives and possibly Assets, and let you take
a break from being good! If it’s another Lead, of course, it’s
best that they play “you” for only a short duration. Don’t
worry, you can seize control back soon…
TYRANT
You have a tremendous amount of power and you wield it
with an iron fist. Perhaps you came into this power legitimately,
but you maintain it with a ruthlessness that cares little for the law
or right and wrong. Roll this Distinction’s die when you exercise
your power, when you threaten or intimidate, and when you
square off against challenges to your authority.
d4: Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll any die when you
intimidate, coerce, or threaten others.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Gain a 2d8 Extra when you call
on a useful minion.
d12: Add a d10 to Trouble to Grant another Lead or
Feature the Tyrant Distinction at d4 when you make him
your lieutenant.
WRAITH (HERITAGE)
Whether you’re a disembodied criminal from the
Phantom Zone, a witch from the seventeenth century, a
cursed Irish lass, or what-have-you, you no longer have a
physical body. As a wraith, you can’t interact with the world
beyond the most trivial ways; for instance, you can’t pick up
objects or speak with other characters. Instead, you must
possess other characters, making them your vessel. They
may struggle against you or accept you willingly, but once
you’re in control, you can make them act or speak however
you like.
Most Wraiths have Abilities outside their Heritage or
from a different Heritage; many Phantom Zone Wraiths are
both Wraiths and Kryptonians, for instance; Margaret Isobel
Thoreaux was a Wraith and also had Magical Legacy.
 When you’re not possessing a vessel, you don’t have
Injured or Exhausted Stress; when you take a vessel,
you take on and share the vessel’s current Injured or
Exhausted Stress. When you’re without a vessel, you can’t
use any Abilities besides Wraith Abilities.
d4: Earn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can
be banished OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by
being banished.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Use an Asset of your vessel.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to Recover your Injured or
Exhausted Stress as well as that of your vessel.
Connected Abilities: Astral Projection, Dream
Manipulation, Possession (required)
Limit: Banishment (choose one or more means of banishment)
Fighting Styles
Depending on the nature of your spinoff campaign,
Martial Arts may just be a generic Distinction as written in
the Smallville RPG, or it could be a whole collection of
unique and interesting styles that serve as a replacement for
superhuman Abilities. To accommodate the latter, here’s a
range of new fighting styles to bend your spinoff campaign in
new directions.
BA GUA ZHANG
Dizzying and whirling, the martial art of Ba Gua Zhang is
an energetic exercise in not being where your opponent expects
you to be. While it may be mistaken as overemphasizing defense,
the form teaches its practitioners to unbalance their opponents
before striking the final blow.
d4: Reroll a die when avoiding blows and Give your
opponent a d6 for the opening you may give him in the process.
d8: Earn a Plot Point when you Increase your opponent’s
Exhausted Stress pool when you tire during or after an
energetic fight.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to Decrease your opponent’s
Injured or Insecure Stress pool by misdirecting the force of
your opponent’s blows.
FENCING
With a rapier in hand, a fencer can be a formidable
opponent. The body is turned to present the smallest target
possible, the blade is extended, every muscle is tuned to snap
into thrust and parry in the well-worn lines of attack.
d4: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when parrying with
your blade.
d8: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to merely disarm
your opponent instead of giving him Stress.
d12: Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die when you
incorporate an impressive acrobatic stunt into your attack.
EXPANDING ASSETS 77

PLAY ADVICE
My Earn Trigger Never Happens!
Your little stack of Plot Points sits in front of you, looking
all small and sorry and ineffectual. You have three different
Earn triggers on your sheet, but they never seem to come
up. What to do?
Make sure everyone knows your Earn triggers and invite
them to help you trigger them. If you have a trigger that
allows you to Increase your opponent’s Exhausted Stress
roll, then tell him as much. Describe your character getting
tired in the midst of a Contest, and then if you fail to beat
EXPANDING ASSETS
the last result, tell your opponent you can earn a Plot Point
if he gives you Exhausted Stress. Few players turn down an
offer to upgrade their dice.
Similarly, try to engineer situations where your Earn
triggers come up. If you get Plot Points when you ask
characters to trust you, do something a little shady and
then try to get them to play along. If they resist and start a
Contest, just Give In and let them disbelieve you. You’re still
walking away with a Plot Point under your belt.
78 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
HUNG GAR
With feet planted and the whole body set, the martial art
of Hung Gar gives its practitioners a steady vantage against
combatants. The solid stances provide strong defense against
attack; punches are envisioned as going through their targets,
with the full force and weight of the body behind them. This
visualization aids in delivering devastating attacks.
d4: Reroll a die when you are in the deep, low “horse
stance” and Give your opponent a d6 for your reduced mobility.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Increase your Injured or
Exhausted Stress pool by planting a solid blow on your opponent.
d12: Add a d6 to Trouble and Recover your own Afraid
or Insecure Stress when you indulge in a fight you don’t have
to take part in.
KRAV MAGA
A martial art created for the Israeli Defense Forces, Krav
Maga is an aggressive form that focuses on neutralizing threats
quickly and efficiently. All defensive maneuvers are immediately
followed by a counter attack.
d4: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when you target a
vulnerable part of the body, such as the eyes, throat, or back of
the knee.
d8: Give your opponent a d6 in a Contest and Increase
your Injured or Exhausted Stress pool when you attack
aggressively.
d12: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to roll your
opponent’s Afraid Stress against him.
PLAY ADVICE: How Do I Make Temporary Traits Permanent?
You can pick up temporary Traits from Grant (new, see page 73)
and Gain triggers or by adding a Relationship with a Plot Point.
Gained Traits start at d8; Relationships bought with Plot Points
start at d6. They may be used at that level for the duration of the
scene, after which they are stepped back by one step for the
duration of the episode. Granted starts you at d4 but doesn’t
step back. They’re all removed at the end of the episode.
Temporary Traits may be made permanent in tag scenes by
rolling Growth as normal. Watchtower rolls the Trait’s current
(usually reduced) rating plus the die for whatever type of Trait it
is. If the Growth roll is successful, the Trait becomes permanent,
starting at its current level. Temporary Traits may not be
stepped back to step up a different Trait in the case of a failed
Growth roll.
Features may always keep temporary Traits for “free,” although
it still counts towards their total budget of Traits.
NORTHERN SHAOLIN KUNG FU
An agressive martial art focusing on strong open-palm
strikes and sweeping kicks, Northern Shaolin Kung Fu is one of
the most visually distinctive fighting styles in the world. While
its style can stray into the excessive and risky, its relentlessness
often beats back opponents so they never have an opportunity
to take advantage of the openings offered them.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Give your opponent a d6 when you
execute an extravagant attack, risking giving them an opening.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Increase your Injured or
Afraid Stress pool when you press an aggressive strike on
your opponent.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to take an acrobatic fall and
Decrease your opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress pool.
TAI CHI CHUAN
Graceful and elegant, Tai Chi Chuan is not just a fighting
style but also a means of meditation and physical therapy. Tai
Chi focuses on wide, round movements that redirect rather
than stop the force of incoming blows.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Decrease your Stress pool for
Injured or Afraid Stress when you use soft force instead of hard.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die by deflecting the
force of a blow around and away from you.
d12: Recover your own Exhausted or Angry Stress
when you Choose to perform meditative katas for an hour.
A new scene may open with you finishing or end with you
beginning this meditation. You may also perform Stress Relief
for other Leads and Features throughout this period, using the
rules on page 59 of the Smallville RPG.
Example: Chloe is hacking the network of Cadmus Labs,
tracking a squad of Kandorian soldiers breaking in to get at
sensitive research. Chloe’s player Bobbi uses her Hacker d12
trigger to gain an Extra, Cadmus Security 2d8. She uses it during
that scene at 2d8 to send them after some Kandorian mooks.
In her next scene, Chloe’s trying to get material evidence that
the clones left behind. She uses the Extra a second time—it’s
only a 1d6 at that point (it’s stepped back by one after the scene
where it’s introduced, and the first use of the Extra knocked
off a die), but it’s still an extra die. She explains this as Chloe
convincing Cadmus Security to hand over the goods.
In the tag scene at the end of the episode, Bobbi decides to keep
the Cadmus Security guys. They were useful, after all. She rolls
her own Growth pool while Watchtower rolls a d6 (since it’s an
Extra) and a d6. Bobbi rolls higher, so she adds Cadmus Security
2d6 to her Lead sheet.
Metamorph Heritages
Some super heroes change into their powered form by
uttering a magic word, while others have no control over
when they become all muscle and sinew…or teeth and claws.
Davis Bloome was Smallville’s pre-eminent metamorph, but
Skinwalkers also qualify. Here’s a couple of brand new Heritages
dealing with metamorphs and some new rules to go with them.
Unlike the Shapeshifting Ability, a Metamorph has
only two forms—a mundane form and a powered form. The
Metamorph Heritages can be picked up from an Alien Origin,
from a Paranormal Focus, or from the Power Manifestation,
First Contact, or Destiny Life-Changing Events.
There might be many different kinds of metamorphs
in the world, and each one will have a slightly different set of
Connected Abilities and Limits. The Conscious Metamorph
is based on the Kawatche skinwalkers; the Uncontrolled
Metamorph is based on Doomsday.
CONSCIOUS METAMORPH (HERITAGE)
You’re a metamorph and you’re in control of your
transformation. You can change your form at any time, although
if you want to keep your alternate identity a secret, you’ll need to
change out of sight. When you’re in your powered form, you have
access to fantastic superhuman Abilities and other benefits; when
you’re in your mundane form, you can go about your life as normal.
d4: Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to change out of
your powered form.
d8: Spend a Plot Point to Reveal some convenient set
dressing that allows you to change form unobserved.
d12: Spend an additional Plot Point to activate any of your
Special Effects while not in your powered form.
Connected Abilities: Animal Control, Claws, Insect
Control, Invulnerability, Regeneration, Super-
Senses, Super-Speed, Super-Strength
Limit: Silver
EXPANDING ASSETS 79

PLAY ADVICE
Multiple Heritages
There’s absolutely no reason why a Lead can’t have two
(or even more) Heritages. Kryptonians divorced from
their bodies in the Phantom Zone, for instance, have both
Kryptonian Heritage and Wraith. The thing to guard against
is letting your Lead lose focus. Make sure the Heritages
complement each other and aren’t just piling awesome
on top of cool. Also remember you only have so many die
steps to spread across all of your Traits.
UNCONTROLLED METAMORPH (HERITAGE)
You’re a metamorph, but you’re not in control of your
alternate form. When you transform into your powered form,
you lose control of yourself. A transformation can be brought
on by stress or extreme emotion. You regain control of yourself,
in your mundane form, some time later after you run out of
steam. Of course, as a player you’re in control of your Lead in
both forms. Watchtower controls the trigger, which you can
define with her before play; she may frame scenes that set you
up as either powered or mundane, depending on the needs of
the ongoing story. This is a change from most Assets that you
have direct control over.
d4: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
change back into your mundane form and lose access to all of
your Abilities.
d8: Earn a Plot Point and Add a d10 to Trouble when
you claim you don’t remember what you did in your alternate
form—regardless of whether you actually do remember.
d12: Spend a Plot Point to trigger a change to or from your
powered form in the middle of a scene.
Connected Abilities: Adaptation, Blast, Claws,
Invulnerability, Regeneration, Super-Speed, Super-
Strength
Limit: Bloodthirsty
POWERED VS. MUNDANE
While in your powered form, you possess all of your
Abilities as created through Pathways. As a result of being a
Metamorph, you may step up one or more Abilities connected
EXPANDING ASSETS
to your version of the Heritage based on the Heritage’s die rating.
Controlled Metamorphs may step any connected Ability by one
for every step of die rating (with d4 being one step, d6 being
two, etc.) Uncontrolled Metamorphs get two steps for every
step of Heritage die rating. Unless you have the d12 trigger for
Controlled Metamorph, you lose all access to your Abilities in
your mundane form; they are considered Shutdown.
80 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
You may also decide to shuffle around your Distinctions in
your mundane form. Your powered and mundane forms may
differ in die ratings for Distinctions by as much as two steps,
not to exceed d12. Reducing a die rating below d4 means it's
effectively Shutdown the entire time you’re in that form (which
is the case with Abilities, above). Each step up or step back you
make in a Distinction should be balanced by a corresponding
change in die rating in other Distinctions. You may add a
new Distinction in your mundane form by stepping back a
Distinction you possess in your mundane form, though it
should be no more than a d6 (two steps back on one Distinction
adds two steps to zero, giving a d6).
You can also redistribute your Values when in your other
form. Every step up that you apply to one of the powered
form’s Values must be balanced by a step back in another
Value. It’s up to you whether you want your statements to be
different; Uncontrolled Metamorphs generally don’t have the
same outlook on life when they’re powered up, but Controlled
Metamorphs are basically the same mind and thus the same
point of view. More or less.
PLAY ADVICE
Should My Distinction Use Choose or Add?
When building a new Distinction, you might get stuck on
whether a new trigger works best with an unfortunate
Choose or with Adding a die to Trouble. Remember that
each trigger always includes a little something that the
player needs to put into the story. So whether you go
Choose or Add, the character still needs to do something.
If that “something” is clearly bad for the individual
character in a way that is plain, obvious, and unavoidable,
use Choose. This includes triggers where the required bit of
story is only sometimes bad, like Agile’s “drop everything”
or Manipulative’s “trust me.” When it’s bad, it’s bad. There’s
no confusion.
When it’s not so black and white—such as when it would
require Watchtower or other players to follow up on it or
especially when the fallout affects more than the individual
character—that’s when you use Add. To put it another
way, the Trouble pool represents the possible problems for
everyone, so use Add drawbacks as shorthand for “you
just made everything worse.”
ABILITIES
If your Lead is a little more than human—or a little less—
then chances are, you’ve got Abilities. These are things that you
can do that others can’t—walk through walls, pick up fully-
loaded dump trucks, read minds, that kind of thing. With great
power comes a die to roll and Special Effects to spend Plot
Points on. Not to mention the Limit.
Abilities come with a die rating to roll in when the Ability
comes into play. Most of the time, that’s constrained by the
Ability’s Effect. A Movement Ability is about getting from here
to there, whether it’s really quickly or by tunneling through
the ground or without going through the space between at all.
Occasionally you might use the die for something outside the
Effect—you might teleport yourself out from under a rockslide
to avoid, you know, being crushed by tons of rocks. Is that really
Defense, or still Movement? The important thing is that it’s
definitely Teleportation.
The real toys of the game are Special Effects, the big flashy
spectacles that are yours for a Plot Point. A roleplaying game doesn’t
have a special effects budget, so the sky’s the limit. Essentially,
Special Effects are things you can add to the story by spending
a Plot Point—no die roll necessary. It’s not quite a guaranteed
opportunity to show off, but it’s as close as the game gets.
The Limit is the equalizer for Abilities, the thing that makes
superhuman power not always the best thing in the world. It
also prods the other players and Watchtower to add a little to
the ongoing story. There’s always something to be discovered,
found, dug up, or serendipitously stumbled across. It’s not just
an Achilles’ heel; it’s also a plot hook.
Variations on Abilities
There’s a lot of flexibility with the Cortex Plus system used
by Smallville, and it’s easy to tweak or hack the game to
suit your group’s needs. One area that’s ripe for exploration is
Abilities, so here are a few ideas to consider. Before the game
begins, you’ll want to decide as a group which of these are and
aren’t in play.
STARTING WITH MULTIPLE SPECIAL EFFECTS
Usually you start play with one Special Effect and use the
challenge mechanic to add more. If that doesn’t work for you, you
can implement this variant rule. Whenever the Pathways chart
directs you to step up an Ability, you may instead add two Special
Effects to any of the Abilities you already have on your sheet.
If everyone at the table wants in on the pile of Special
Effects, you can implement a variation where Abilities pick
up a new Special Effect at d4, at d8, and at d12, similar to the
triggers for Distinctions. In Pathways, whenever a player buys
a new Ability or steps up an Ability to d8 or d12, they add a
new Special Effect. Once play begins, the same applies to tag
scenes—when you pick up a new Ability or hit the d8 and d12
thresholds on existing Abilities, you get a new Special Effect.
To get even more Special Effects into the mix, you can
apply the same rule to Heritage Distinctions, which give a free
Special Effect to a connected Ability at the d6 and d10 levels.
PLAY ADVICE
When to Use Special Effects
Special Effects can be used inside and outside of Contests
and Tests, and most of the time they function independently
of the die mechanics. It’s that “most of the time” that can
get a little complicated, though.
Outside of dice rolling, a Special Effect works without a
hitch, especially when there’s nobody else with an Ability
that could reasonably counter it. About 80% of Special
Effect use probably lands right here.
When there’s another character wanting to counter your
action, the Special Effect can start a Contest, during which
you’ll almost certainly be rolling the Ability’s die rating.
Within any die roll, you can use Special Effects for colorful
descriptions of what you’re doing. The Plot Point that you
spend to activate your Special Effect also lets you roll in the
Ability as a second Asset if it comes down to a Contest.
Some Special Effects allow Leads and Features to escape
a scene, and this can be done in the middle of a Contest.
The Contest simply ends, deflated, with no Give In and no
Stress. You obviously can’t escape a scene and the Contest
with Super-Speed if your opposition also has Super-Speed
and follows after you; all you’ve done now is turn the
argument or fight or what-have-you into a chase scene.
Example: Under the Multiple Special Effects rules, Cam starts
the game with five more Special Effects on Clark. At d10,
Invulnerability, Super-Speed, and Super-Strength
each start with two Special Effects. Super-Senses at d8
also gains a second Special Effect. Clark has Kryptonian
Heritage at d8, so it adds another Special Effect to any
connected Ability. Heat Vision and Super-Breath, at d6,
start with the same initial Special Effect.
LIMITLESS ABILITIES
Around these parts, superhuman power always comes with
a quirky escape clause. You can bounce bullets off your chest,
but not green glowing rocks. You can shape-shift and fly and
heal your own wounds, but fire will stop you cold.
For some spinoffs, though, thinking up Limits for your
characters will tie your brain in knots. That’s because Limits
don’t belong in every spinoff. Let’s face it: if you don’t have
someone like Clark getting menaced with variously-colored
rocks, you might not need to worry about what innocuous
things Shutdown everyone else’s abilities.
If cramming Limits into your game is causing you and
your friends fits, skip ‘em—but make sure you remove Limits
for everyone. This works best in an “everyone has Abilities” sort
of spinoff, since Limits are an equalizer, but it can still work with
a few just-folks Leads in the mix. And if doesn’t work for your
game, you can always introduce Limits in the next episode!
EXPANDING ASSETS 81
 LIMITLESS GEAR
There are two basic options for Gear when using Limitless
Abilities. First, just don’t worry about them getting stolen,
broken, or lost through Complications or Contests. It can
happen, but when it does it’s a Disempower. Alternately,
use the implicit “I Don’t Have It” Earn trigger described on
page 89.
MUNDANE ABILITIES
Your spinoff might go way out there to the point where
you don’t even have metahumans or strange powers (what a
strange world that would be!). For that game, you might not use
Abilities at all, but there’s another option.
Abilities are things that your Lead can do that normal
people can’t. Around here, that means shooting laser beams
out of your eyes. If you were setting your game in Renaissance
EXPANDING ASSETS
Special Effects could include excommunicating
characters, enacting new laws, just happening to know
where a pile of ready cash can be found, and sending
characters to the Tower of London. There’s a long list of
things that these powerful men could do—often as easily as
snapping their fingers—that were far beyond the reach of the
common man.
And let’s not forget that Noble Blood would make a fine
Heritage for picking up most of these Abilities.
New Abilities
For some people, this is where the money is. Well, we can’t
promise you'll get rich taking these new Abilities, but we can
guarantee a wealth of new options. These Abilities follow all of
the rules introduced in the Smallville Roleplaying Game and
fill out the roster of potential superpowers beyond those listed

England, though, you might consider titles and positions like the
in the RPG.
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of Buckingham,
or the Chancellor of the Exchequer. These positions
allowed their occupants powerful authority to enact laws, spend
ANIMAL MIMICRY
Perhaps you have a special tie to the natural world or your
fantastic sums of money, and make religious proclamations—
genetic structure slips back and forth along the evolutionary
not things that just anyone could do. They’re perfect candidates
ladder. You can call upon the gifts and abilities of animals,
for Abilities.
gaining the speed of an antelope, the fantastic sense of smell
Effects in these Abilities will skew towards Sensory (for
of a bloodhound, or the jumping ability of a kangaroo.
information-mongering and spymasters), Control (for political
Roll the Ability’s die when you use the gifts of the
power), and Enhancement (for proclamations and access),
natural world.
although not all. For instance, Abilities like Postmaster might
Effect: Enhancement
play out as Movement, leveraging the network of horses and
Descriptors: Genetics, Primal Power, Tribal Traditions
barges that comes with that position.
Limits: Concentration, Fire, Natural Enemies

82 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Mimic the natural abilities of an animal.
▼▼ Combine the natural abilities of two animals to use in
conjunction.
▼▼ Grow claws to Increase your own Injured and Afraid
Stress pool.
▼▼ Grow a thick hide to Decrease your opponents’ Injured
and Afraid Stress pools.
▼▼ Retire in feline seclusion and Recover your own
Injured or Exhausted Stress.
CHI MASTERY
Through training and mastery, you’ve taught your body to
respond to your conscious control. You can manipulate your
own metabolic rate, sense other characters and animals around
you, and direct your life force into your every movement. Roll
the Ability’s die when your body and your expert control of it
come into play—when you fight, run, or leap, and when you
perceive the life force of others.
Effect: Enhancement
Descriptors: Discipline
Limits: Dark Chi, Distraction, Sorcery
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Channel your chi into a powerful blow, Increasing your
Injured or Exhausted Stress pool.
▼▼ Recover your own Injured or Exhausted Stress.
▼▼ Sense an incoming attack, avoiding surprise.
▼▼ Act in the darkness as if you could see.
▼▼ Boost your Martial Artist or Weapons Master
Distinction.
ENERGY AURA
A swirl of flame, a looming patina of decay, or a shining halo—
whatever form it takes, you’re surrounded by an aura of energy. It
protects you and repels your opponents through force or violence
or perhaps just sheer nausea. Roll the Ability’s die when your aura
protects you or when you extend it out into the world around you.
Effect: Defense
Descriptors: Fire, Radiation, Holy Light
Limits: Water, Corruption, Concentration
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Use your aura to envelop another Lead or Feature who’s
in the same scene as you.
▼▼ D ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted
Stress pool.
▼▼ Cause feedback and interference with electronics in
your presence.
▼▼ Set flammable objects on fire.
▼▼ Increase your own Injured or Afraid Stress pool.
FORCE CONSTRUCTS
You have the ability to create objects out of sheer energy.
Whether you build towers to the sky, wrap chains around your
enemies, or create a parachute when you fall out of an airplane,
your constructs last just long enough to be of use and then
disappear into nothing. Roll the Ability’s die when using your
force constructs as tools, obstacles, or any other clever thing
you think up. This Ability should be added to the Magical
Legacy Heritage as a Connected Ability.
Effect: Control
Descriptors: Hypertech, Magic, Psychic
Limits: Specific Substance, Concentration, Line of Sight
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a wall of force that prevents another character
from escaping a scene.
▼▼ Create a net of force that catches a large, falling object.
▼▼ Dispel a force construct made by another character.
▼▼ Create a force construct inside a machine that causes it
to malfunction.
▼▼ Create a path through the air that you can run along.
PLAY ADVICE
Special Effects in Action
Jason’s playing Bart Allen, who’s on a mission for Oliver
Queen and is fleeing a group of thugs (an Extra group) down
an alleyway. He thinks he’s in the clear, but then more thugs
appear at the other end of the alley. Jason spends a Plot
Point to activate his Super-Speed Special Effect, Run so fast
you run up a vertical surface. Since all he’s facing are thug
Extras, that’s exactly what happens. He dashes up the wall
of a brownstone and taunts the toughs from a safe distance.
The next week, Bart has done it again. Another mission for
Ollie, and more thugs are chasing him down an alleyway. This
time, however, Baern shows up on the other end of the alley
and shouts that Bart won’t get away with those documents
he stole. Baern has Super-Speed, himself, so when Bart goes
to zip up the wall, Baern is having none of it. Watchtower
picks up dice to start a Contest and describes Baern lunging
forward to grab Bart before he builds up speed.
Baern’s initial roll is a 12. Jason, describing Bart ducking
and dodging as he makes for the wall, collects his own dice
pool—his Glory d10, his Oliver d8, his Impulsive d8, and his
Super-Speed d12. He rolls that Super-Speed die on his first
roll for free, since he’s still describing the Special Effect that
started the Contest. On his next roll, though, he’ll need to
spend a Plot Point to get that second Asset.
Jason can’t escape the Contest entirely by using his other
Special Effect to switch to a new scene. Baern also has
Super-Speed, so he can follow. At best Jason would be
spending a Plot Point to roll in Super-Speed again, shifting the
action to yet another location. Of course, at least that leaves
the Extras behind! So, figuring he’d rather conserve his Plot
Points, Jason rolls the dice and gets a result of 16 (from a
10 on his Glory and a 6 on his Super-Speed). Watchtower
hands over a Plot Point and says that Baern Gives  In…for
now. Bart races off with the documents.
EXPANDING ASSETS 83
 METAHUMAN SENSE
You can identify those with power like your own. That
information may come to you through a sixth sense or be a
variation of your other senses like sight or smell. By default,
you can only detect metahumans like yourself—if you’re
meteor-infected, you can only detect other meteor-infected
metahumans. Roll the Ability’s die when you find other
metahumans or when you use that information to your benefit.
Effect: Sensory
Descriptors: Perception, Insight, Experience
Limits: Line of Sight, Lead, Time/Focus
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Get a vague sense of a metahuman’s Abilities—usually
their Descriptors.
▼▼ Identify power sources beyond your own.
▼▼ Identify a target’s Limit.
▼▼ Identify the Heritage Distinction the Abilities are linked to.
▼▼ “ Tag” a metahuman so that you can track his location
for a day.
SIZE ALTERATION
Six feet tall? A demure five four, perhaps? How about twenty feet
toes to nose or a mere six inches? You can grow and shrink your body
size to incredible proportions. Contrast this with Shapechanging,
which is about fooling other characters—nobody will be fooled by
a twenty-foot-tall you. Roll the Ability’s die when your shifting size
plays to your advantage—towering over others, shrinking down to
slip through small crevices, or simply parlaying your size advantage.
Effect: Enhancement
Descriptors: Strange Biology, Physics, Wishes
Limits: Insecurity, Concentration, Air
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Grow to terrifying proportions, Increasing your
Injured or Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ B e so tiny you’re not detected.
▼▼ Grow so big you destroy the building you’re in.
▼▼ Shrink and escape any bonds that are constraining you.
▼▼ Grow into the way of an attack against another character,
Interfering with a Contest.
SUMMONING
Whether they come from the lumineferous ether, another
plane of existence, or are conjured up from your own imagination,
you can summon forth all manner of creatures. They assist you,
EXPANDING ASSETS
defend you, fight for you, and perform tasks for you. Roll the
Ability’s die when your creatures assist or defend you or when
you use their powers as your own. This Ability should be added to
the Magical Legacy Heritage as a Connected Ability.
Effect: Control
Descriptors: Magic
Limits: Magic
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Summon a creature which serves as a 2d8 Extra. This
creature disappears once it reaches zero dice.
▼▼ Boost a summoned Extra’s die rating.
▼▼ Grant a summoned creature an Ability appropriate to
its nature.
▼▼ Banish a creature summoned by you or another summoner.
84 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
TIME TRAVEL
Yesterday, today, tomorrow—these are all open to you
as destinations. You can travel through time. Whether you
disappear now and appear then or hit some sort of cosmic
rewind or fast forward button, the result is the same. When
you travel through time, you remain in the same place
relative to the Earth; if you travel from 2011 Quebec to 1400,
you’ll meet some Algonquins. Roll the Ability’s die when
you seek information or resources in another time or when
you slip back or forward for tactical advantage. Careful,
though—this Ability is prone to causing serious amounts of
continuity trouble.
Effect: Movement
Descriptors: Psychic, Hypertech, Unmoored in Time
Limits: Grandfather Paradox, Observer Effect, Lead
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Find a cache of necessary items you left for yourself.
▼▼ Receive a message from your possible-future self (not
that this is guaranteed to be accurate).
▼▼ Escape a scene you are in.
▼▼ Travel in space as well as time.
▼▼ Take another character with you to another time.
TRANSMUTE
You can make stuff out of thin air—and other things. You
can reconfigure the basic attributes of matter. At the smallest
level, you can change an object’s atomic or molecular structure;
you can also change its overall shape or structure. You can’t
change an object’s mass, only shift it around; nor can you change
the amount of energy the object stores as heat or chemical
energy. Roll the Ability’s die when you turn air into useful tools,
convert the stable ground under an opponent into a slippery
morass, or bend your surroundings to assist in a chase.
Effect: Control
Descriptors: Magic, Super Science, Divinity
Limits: Distraction, an “Unworkable” Substance, Scarcity
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create exactly the tool you need as a d8 Useful Detail.
▼▼ Create a hole or doorway in a wall or other obstruction.
▼▼ Sense if an object has been transmuted.
▼▼ Change an object’s mass.
▼▼ Create a bomb, the explosion of which counts as a sweep
attack inflicting Injured Stress.
GEAR
Gadgets and gizmos and everything in between—Gear is
the techno-geek’s version of Abilities. Gear can do anything that
a metahuman might do, plus it might break down right when
you need it most! On the other hand, Gear is—slightly—easier
to explain when it comes to the authorities, which means fewer
secrets to keep. And Gear’s easy to upgrade—just design, build,
and install that new chip, drive, software, device, mechanism,
thingamajig, and you’re good to go.
Variations on Gear
Here are a couple of options for playing around with the
way Gear works in your spinoff campaign. Like with the Ability
variations earlier, it’s unlikely all of these will be used by all
groups; but make a decision up front at your table if you’re
considering one or both of them. Wedge Gear is more of a
Watchtower trick, however, so you might not need to poll your
table first. Surprise them! They’re going to love it.
WEDGE GEAR
Not all Gear is attached to Leads and Features. Some Gear
gets dropped into the mix just to stir up trouble. It doesn’t belong
to anyone, and it’s rarely in anyone’s hands for long. Such Gear is
usually quite powerful, often to the point where it’s dangerous.
When Gear is used in this way, it’s Wedge Gear.
Wedge Gear begins its life on the episode map as a conflict
between two Leads. The best conflicts breed (or re-use) Wedge
Features, but sometimes you need a piece of technology or a
strange artifact to float around the game for a bit. Instead of
putting that gizmo on the sheet of a Wedge Feature as Gear, write
up the Gear Trait on an index card. That Wedge Feature begins
the episode with that Gear in his possession (or sometimes he’s
on the cusp of putting his hands on it), but it won’t stay with
him for long.
As easily as Wedge Gear enters the game, it also tends to
make an exit. Wedge Gear can be built with a certain number of
uses, usually five or fewer. To keep track, you can cut little tags
along the side of the Gear’s index card, then tear them off as the
uses are expended. When there are no tags left, the Wedge Gear
is consumed, depowered, or simply nonfunctional. Or you could
just check off a series of five boxes, or collect hashmarks. Whatever
works.
The other option for removing Wedge Gear is to allow it
to transform into a Resource. The Crystal of Knowledge,
for instance, converts into the Fortress of Solitude, a
2d8 Location. A Strange Serum might be handed over to a
Curious Scientist, adding him to the list of Extras that can
be called on later. Any players who wish to add these Resources
to their sheet may do so with their Growth roll at the end of the
episode. As Watchtower, you roll a d8 for its rating and either a
d8 for a Location or a d6 for an Extra; if the player’s Growth roll
beats your result, the Resource is added to his Lead sheet at 2d8.
PLAY ADVICE
Is Gear Just Abilities?
Gear Traits are Abilities with the Limit: Gear (can be stolen,
broken, or lost). That’s how they always work—except
in Pathways and tag scenes. In Pathways, a given option
may give you steps in Abilities or Gear; while you can use
an Ability step up on Gear, you can’t use a Gear step up on
Abilities. In tag scenes, a Gear Trait is a little easier to step up
with Growth. Its Limit is always obvious, so it’s a little more
vulnerable. To balance things out, it’s easier to upgrade.
PLAY ADVICE
I Rolled a 1 While Using Gear…
Gear doesn’t work its mojo just because its user wants
it to work. It does its thing when its user pushes buttons
or pulls triggers—and that means that someone else can
mash buttons or jostle trigger fingers. It’s perfectly legal
for your opposition to fire off a Gear Trait’s Special Effect
as a Complication. That’s why flamethrowers are so much
fun. Fwoom!
MUSICAL CHAIRS WITH THE WEDGE GEAR
When Wedge Gear first appears, make it clear to the players
that this particular piece of Gear isn't stuck on any Feature’s
sheet—it's represented by an index card. It’s designed to move.
Then, whenever any Lead manages to get hold of the
Gear—through Contests, Complications, or simple narrative
circumstance—he gets the index card. You should remember
that the Wedge Gear exists to create conflicts, and it won’t do that
clutched in the hands of a Feature. Especially when we’re talking
about exceedingly dangerous Gear, you might wait until a player
rolls a 1 and generates a Complication in order to give him the
Wedge Gear. It’s going to cause trouble in his hands, after all.
Don’t add the die to Trouble, but do hand over the Plot Point and
the Wedge Gear.
In general, Wedge Gear should never stick around for
more than an episode or two. You should be mercenary about
this. Use Contests and Tests to expend uses. If a player gets very
attached to a piece of Wedge Gear, he can always use tag scenes
to start building his own version of what was initially there just
to cause trouble.
INTEGRATED GEAR
Each piece of Gear has a single effect—attack, sensory,
movement, control, defense, or enhancement. These are defined
on page 102 of the Smallville RPG. A hologram projector has
a control effect (it’s basically the same as the Illusions Ability);
a personal translator has an enhancement effect. Sometimes,
though, you want one piece of technology that does a couple
different things. Maybe you want a mobile tech lab inside a
van—that’s enhancement and movement—or a medallion that
bestows the ability to telekinetically chuck heavy objects and
to catch incoming bullets—that’s control and defense. Piling
multiple effects onto a single piece of Gear gets breaky real fast;
instead, use Integrated Gear.
Integrated Gear links multiple pieces of Gear so that they work
together. Think of it as a couple pieces of tech inside the same box.
One piece of Gear is flagged as the “Chassis”—that’s the box. The
rest list what piece of Gear they’re integrated with.
The Chassis is the most important Gear; all the other Gear
is dependent on it. Instead of the normal Gear Limit (stolen,
broken, lost), it has the Limit Chassis: Takes damage for other
systems. It also gains the Special Effect, When another piece
of Integrated Gear might be stolen, broken, or lost, you may
EXPANDING ASSETS 85
 Spend a Plot Point to Reduce this Trait instead. Reduce is a
new Benefit introduced in this chapter under Variations on
Distinctions, page 72.
All the other pieces of Gear get an extra line in their
description, saying what Chassis they are integrated with. So
you might build something like this:
ARMORED FIGHTING SUIT D10
Effect: Defense
Special Effect: When another piece of Integrated Gear might
be stolen, broken, or lost, you may Spend a Plot Point to
Reduce this Trait instead.
Limit: Chassis
ONBOARD EXPERT SYSTEM D6
Effect: Enhancement
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to have a piece of opposing
tech, a robot, or enemy fighting suit “on file,” bestowing a
Reroll when attacking its weak points.
Limit: Gear
Integration: Armored Fighting Suit
PLASMA CANNON D8
Effect: Attack
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to destroy any inanimate
object.
Limit: Gear
Integration: Armored Fighting Suit
The primary advantage of Integrated Gear is that the
usual problems with Gear—getting knocked out of your hand
or some villain running off with it—are instead converted into
damage to the Chassis. This lets you play big knockdown, drag-
out fights or tense holdout scenarios.
As with any normal Reduce trigger, the Chassis returns to
its full die rating at the end of the episode. If a player wants to
repair his Gear halfway through the episode, you can call for a
simple Test, or a Contest if someone is getting in his way.
New Gear
Need some Gear in a hurry? Grab it from this list, which
complements the list of example Gear in the Smallville RPG.
Some of these are perfect as Wedge Gear, while others could
work well for players who don’t know what to take for their
EXPANDING ASSETS
Lead’s new Gear Trait.
COSTUME
You have a special costume that you use when fighting crime
(or whatever you do) that protects your identity. Be sure to describe
what it looks like. Do you have a color scheme? Most costumes are
mostly for show, but some may also incorporate some measure of
armor or communications gear like a wireless headset.
Effect: Enhancement
Descriptors: Perception
Limit: Gear
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
86 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
▼▼ Intimidate Extras into running away.
▼▼ Convince an Extra to help (Gain a 2d8 Extra until the
end of the episode).
▼▼ Get recorded or photographed as your alternate identity.
FLAMETHROWER
A backpack with two big tanks, a tube, a nozzle, and a pilot
light—this thing works exactly as you think it does.
Effect: Attack
Descriptors: Fire
Limit: Gear
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Incinerate an inanimate object.
▼▼ Keep at bay any number of flammable attackers.
▼▼ Create a wide-angle sweep effect that inflicts Afraid or
Injured Stress.
PLAY ADVICE
When Should I Use Gear’s Limit?
The greatest vulnerability of Gear is that it isn’t intrinsic to its
bearer; it’s a thing, a gadget, a gizmo, a suit, a ring, or an item
held in the hand. As such, it can be snatched out of a hand,
bashed in until it doesn’t work, or misplaced along with the
car keys. Which is all fine and dandy to say, but when the
rubber meets the road and you’re playing the game, how do
you make these sorts of things happen?
The two ways that Gear can get stolen, broken, or lost are
embedded in the game: Contests and Complications.
In the back-and-forth of a Contest, your opposition might grab
at the weapon or doomsday device or what-have-you in your
hand. Especially if the die results are getting pretty high, you
might elect to Give In. You lose the Gear, sure, but you don’t take
Stress and you can be assured that nothing worse happens.
And there’s nothing to stop you from immediately starting a
new Contest to get that Gear back—a very strong opening die
roll, supplemented with Aids or Plot Points might convince the
thieves to immediately Give In while it’s still free.
Alternately, Complications can activate the Gear Limit as well.
When Watchtower does this to you, she gives you a Plot Point.
If your Lead is in a Contest with another Lead and you activate
the Limit on his Gear, you pay the Plot Point to the other player.
The die doesn’t go to Trouble; instead it goes into your own
pool as a Useful Detail. This may represent the disarmed Lead
or Feature’s surprise at losing his Gear or your character’s
use, however awkward, of the stolen bit of Gear. It may also
represent your Lead slinging the Gear over the balcony to get
it out of the way permanently; if you elect to go dramatic like
this, you lose the die on future rolls. Watchtower may then
claim the die for Trouble as if it rolled a 1.
HACKING RIG Effect: Control
Souped up, optimized, and overclocked, this computer is the Descriptors: Perception
hacker’s scalpel, able to wreak havoc on the computer networks of Limit: Gear
the world. Packed into a laptop for portable convenience, this rig Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
has wireless connectivity and a database of passwords the user has ▼▼  reate a terrifying apparition, causing panic in large
C
already broken, stored up for a rainy day. crowds.
Effect: Control ▼▼ Duplicate the image of another person.
Descriptors: Electronics ▼▼ Cover your exact position with a light-bending empty
Limit: Gear space; moving will blow your cover.
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Shut down (or isolate from the network) a computer MEMORY PENDANT
system you’re connected to. The Kryptonian memory pendant allows the user to
▼▼ Gain access to a system operating public utilities or record experiences and associate them with places or objects.
services (subway router, traffic lights). Later, the same user or others may access those memories by
▼▼ Find all public knowledge that's been recorded touching the pendant to the key object. The memory is relived
electronically anywhere in the world on a given subject. as an interactive experience. The memory pendant that Clark
encountered was a small, silver pentagon; other memory
HOLOGRAM PROJECTOR pendants might take other forms.
A clever little gizmo, probably using technology that’s not Effect: Sensory
quite available off-the-shelf, this handheld device can project Descriptors: Kryptonian
a deceptively lifelike hologram. It requires a little know-how to Limit: Gear
operate well; it has an extensive library of images and can scan Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to relive memories
new items into its database for projecting later, but getting the associated with a place or object or to record an
image just right and making it move believably can be tricky. important memory.

EXPANDING ASSETS 87
 PERSONAL TRANSLATOR
Usually worn as a pendant, the personal translator is
capable of translating any language into something the user can
understand, and vice-versa. Some models can do this for other
characters, as well.
Effect: Sensory
Descriptors: Database
Limit: Gear
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Understand and speak a language you don’t know.
▼▼ Convert someone’s speech into a language you
understand for all to hear.
▼▼ Read a language you don’t know, including operating
technology labeled in that language.
RL65
EXPANDING ASSETS
Developed by Dr. Pamela Black, a Queen Industries
biologist, the drug RL65 speeds natural cell regeneration in
humans, providing its users with dramatically faster healing.
However, it also aggravates the amygdala, making the subject
less capable of handling anger and stress. Consequently,
frequent users often descend into cycles of rage and violence.
This is also an excellent example of Wedge Gear; if you decide
to go that route, it has 5 uses.
88 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Effect: Defense
Descriptors: Drug
Limit: Gear
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to Shift Stress from Injured
or Afraid to Angry.
CRYSTAL OF KNOWLEDGE
Formed out of the three Stones of Power, the Crystal of
Knowledge looks like a large, blue, pentagonal gem. Appearances
are deceiving, however, as it is a repository of all Kryptonian
knowledge, essentially functioning as a hard drive for their
own Library of Alexandria. It can also construct crystal walls to
protect itself; Kryptonians call this the Fortress of Knowledge.
Clark calls it the Fortress of Solitude.
Effect: Enhancement
Special Effects: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Counter another piece of integrated Gear being stolen,
broken, or lost; Reduce this Trait.
▼▼ Transform this Gear and all its Integrated Gear into a
2d8 Location, the Fortress of Knowledge, specialties
Knowledge and Training.
Limit: Chassis
Note: When the Crystals of Air, Fire, and Water are combined,
they form the Crystal of Knowledge and become integrated to
it, with the Crystal of Knowledge serving as a Chassis.
CRYSTAL OF AIR
One part of a crystal pentagon, the Crystal of Air is PLAY ADVICE
primarily a beacon for other Kryptonian devices. As such, it's
potentially very powerful in knowledgeable hands.
Do I Always Have My Gear?
Effect: Sensory
You’re in the middle of a scene where Oliver is in a tux,
Descriptors: Kryptonian
schmoozing with the Board of Directors; suddenly, the
Limit: Gear
doors burst open and in walk some ethically-challenged
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
individuals who announce that they’re taking the board
▼▼ Locate a nearby Kryptonian artifact.
hostage. All the players at the table look to Oliver’s player.
▼▼ Activate a Kryptonian artifact’s Special Effects; if the
What’s he going to do? Whip out his bow and take out these
user isn’t aware of what Special Effects the artifact has,
mooks? But does he have said bow on him? He is, after all, in
Watchtower chooses its targets.
a black tux, and a green laminate bow would clash.
▼▼ Signal a Kryptonian artifact to travel towards the Crystal

of Air’s location.
This question can be easily resolved by invoking the
Integration: Crystal of Knowledge
optional “I Don’t Have It” rule. When it comes to Gear, Leads
are always assumed to have access to those dice until it’s
CRYSTAL OF FIRE
stolen, broken, or lost. However, the Lead’s player may elect
The second part of a crystal pentagon, the Crystal of Fire
to not have that Gear available for a scene—such as in the
is one of three objects encoded with the sum of all Kryptonian
case above where anachronistic weaponry is frowned upon
knowledge. It also has strange and perhaps unknowable powers,
in polite company but sure would be handy. The player who
including healing.
voluntarily disarms himself earns a Plot Point for his trouble.
Effect: Enhancement
Descriptors: Kryptonian
In any subsequent scene, the Lead may recover his Gear at
Limit: Gear
will. Oliver might have a back-up bow stashed in his office at
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
the LuthorCorp building, just down the hall—or a quick trip
▼▼ Recover your own Injured or Exhausted Stress.
through heating ducts.
▼▼ Burn a would-be thief; spending a Plot Point in this way

counters an attempt to steal this Gear.

▼▼ Revoke any Shutdown of Kryptonian abilities.

Integration: Crystal of Knowledge PLAY ADVICE

CRYSTAL OF WATER
The third and smallest part of the crystal pentagon, the
Crystal of Water is also the most potent, capable of manipulating
the consciousnesses of living creatures.
Effect: Control
Descriptors: Kryptonian
Limit: Gear
Special Effect: Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Switch bodies with another character.
How Does a Disempower Work with Gear?
Oliver in a tux. Yeah, we’re still using that example, except
this time Watchtower needs Oliver to refrain from going all
Green Arrow on the baddies. Let’s say they have to spill
some information for an important Reveal. If Watchtower
doesn’t want to count on Oliver’s player voluntarily
disarming himself, she can use the Disempower rule.

▼▼ Grant a Lead or Feature Extraterrestrial
Knowledge at d8.
Integration: Crystal of Knowledge
She hands over an index card (or tells Oliver’s player to jot
down these notes in the margin of his Lead sheet) reading,
“Shutdown all Gear; Earn a Plot Point when Gear would be
useful; Regain all Gear when…” Watchtower can stipulate
when and how the player can recover his Gear, or simply
ask the player, “Your Gear isn’t here. Where is it?” Either
way, the player has a definite goal for gearing up again.

EXPANDING ASSETS 89
 CASEFILES
The Veritas Society was a group of wealthy and connected
individuals from powerful families who united in an effort to
watch the skies for alien visitors. Specifically, they awaited the
arrival of a being known as the Traveler, whose journey to Earth
was prophesied in numerous ancient cultures and religious
traditions. The Society was founded in 1987 by Dr. Virgil Swann,
an astrophysicist and philanthropist (and father of Patricia
Swann), and included Robert and Laura Queen (parents of
Oliver Queen), Edward and Genevieve Teague (parents of
Jason Teague), and Lionel Luthor (father of Lex Luthor), whose
wife Lillian was kept out of the Society’s activities. Dr. Swann’s
assistant, Bridgette Crosby, also acted on the Society’s behalf.
The Society’s collected knowledge and observations were
kept in various journals, each scribed by one of the Society
members. Swann’s journal included extensive notes on
Kryptonians—their science and technology, their language,
EXPANDING ASSETS
notable artifacts or objects suspected to be left behind by
them, and so forth. Robert and Laura Queen’s journal held
many translations of prophecies and beliefs, including that of
the Light that opposes the coming Darkness. Although most
of these books fell into the hands of Lionel Luthor, a few may
remain extant, albeit incomplete.
The Veritas Society members weren’t always in agreement
about the role of the Traveler or what they should do with him
when they found him. Genevieve Teague’s focus was on acquiring
power and influence. Lionel wanted to reap the benefits of the
collected knowledge, a goal hindered by the existence of the
other members. Robert and Laura Queen, together with Dr.
90 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y
Swann, were probably the least objectionable members, but
all three were killed or died prematurely.
Veritas is tied to a number of artifacts, including the
three Stones of Power, the Veritas Cryptograph (which was
unlocked with a pair of keys), and the journals. Veritas was
also responsible for finding and processing Davis Bloome,
AKA Doomsday. They failed to retrieve Clark or his ship,
which led to massive reprisals from Lionel Luthor.
At your discretion, any interesting or useful alien artifact
or device could have been studied by Veritas and eventually
lost into the wild.
Types of Scenes: Veritas plays into scenes of intrigue,
mystery, alien visitations, secrets, and skeletons in family
closets. If you’re basing your spinoff campaign in Smallville
or Metropolis, much of the involvement from Veritas will be
via LuthorCorp or Oliver Queen. Alternately, Clark or Chloe
might volunteer some nuggets of detail for your Leads when
they’re pursuing something in Veritas’ area of expertise.
Because the Society was always so well funded, the actual
size of Veritas can vary based on your needs.
Specialties: Experiment, Extraterrestrial, Hidden,
Occult, Research
Extras: Black Ops, Long-Lost Family, Rogue
Linguist, Science Team
Leads and Features: Dr. Bridgette Crosby, Chloe, Clark,
Dr. Virgil Swann, Edward Teague, Genevieve Teague, Lex,
Lionel, Oliver, Patricia Swann, Tess
 CASEFILES V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y

is the future of Veritas d6

DR. BRIDGETTE CROSBY ▼▼ Patricia
▼▼ The Queens were murdered d6
Virgil’s Emissary • Conspiracy Agent • Veritas Scholar ▼▼ Virgil is my guiding inspiration d10

DEFINING VALUES DEFINING ASSETS

d8 Duty I do what is expected of me. Big Sister d6
The only challenge to a father’s will is a ▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reveal that you have audio or
d8 Love video surveillance of a Lead or Feature.
mother’s love.
d10 Truth Knowledge leads us all to truth. Connected d6
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship with a

As a young woman, Bridgette Crosby showed promise Feature for the rest of the scene.
and talent in the fields of astrophysics and archaeology, which Extraterrestrial Knowledge d8
brought her to the attention of Dr. Virgil Swann. Dr. Swann’s ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too

research into possible life on other planets and the influence much about an alien culture.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll associated
of other civilizations on Earth’s history appealed to Crosby,
with understanding alien cultures.
too, so their working relationship quickly blossomed. After
she achieved her doctorate, she worked full-time for the On A Mission (Veritas) d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
Swann Foundation, which was something of a cover for the
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
Veritas Society. Dr. Crosby’s role within the society was largely
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that directly
functional until Swann’s health curtailed his once extensive
contributes to your mission.
travel. From that point on, while Dr. Swann conducted most
of his research and managed the Society from his New York
RESOURCES
observatory, Dr. Crosby took on the role of his emissary, ▼▼ Swann Foundation (Research, Travel) 2d8
traveling the world to meet with other members of the Society ▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d8
as needed and preparing the way for the Traveler.
Current Events: Dr. Crosby responded to a call from Martha DEPTH
Kent about Clark, who had fallen under Jor-El’s influence and ▼▼ Continuing the Legacy 2d6
lost all sense of humanity. Delivering a chunk of black kryptonite
to Martha, Dr. Crosby was instrumental in Clark reasserting
his normal personality. Dr. Crosby was already involved in the LAURA QUEEN
internal struggle between Dr. Swann and Genevieve Teague when Shareholder • Devoted Mother • Veritas Member
the latter became aware of the existence of the Stones of Power.
Dr. Crosby managed to acquire the Stone of Water in Smallville, DEFINING VALUES
but she didn’t keep it for long. She was killed by Genevieve’s son d8 Duty I must not shirk my responsibilities.
Jason, and buried on the grounds of the Luthor Mansion.
d10 Love Without love we are lost.
Classified: Dr. Crosby didn’t live to see the Traveler embrace
What I know would shake the world
his destiny or witness the three Stones of Power unite to form the d6 Truth
if it were revealed.
Crystal of Knowledge. Her notes, along with those of Dr. Swann,
fell into the possession of Swann’s daughter Patricia, who was killed
by Lex Luthor. Before she died, she passed along her father’s journal Everyone who knew her saw Laura Queen as the
to Clark, but it’s not known whether that also included whatever stereotypical high society wife and mother. Supportive of
research Dr. Crosby had gathered after Dr. Swann’s death. her husband in his entrepreneurship and dedicated to her
son’s education and upbringing, Laura could have been like
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS Lillian Luthor—left out of the affairs of the secret society
▼▼ Clark needs help to become the Traveler d8 her husband belonged to, focused only on fundraisers and
▼▼ Edward doesn’t know how evil his wife is d6 corporate dinners. Instead, Laura was an equal partner in
▼▼ Genevieve has betrayed the Society’s mission d8
both Queen Industries and the Veritas Society, as privy to
▼▼ Jason is an instrument of his mother’s ambition d6
the affairs of both as anyone. She grew suspicious of Lionel
▼▼ Lex is a potential threat d6
▼▼ Lionel has lost his way d8
Luthor’s opposition to Dr. Virgil Swann’s plans to prepare
▼▼ Martha is a powerful influence over the Traveler d8
for the Traveler, but never truly understood how ruthless he
or the Teagues were. Her husband had the important role

EXPANDING ASSETS 91
 CASEFILES
of safeguarding one of the keys that would open the Zurich
deposit box, and Laura was ready at any moment to take on
that responsibility.
Current Events: Laura spent the last day of her life
encouraging her son Oliver to look beyond his own self-
interest. She accompanied Robert on a plane to Seoul to meet
an important diplomat, but Lionel Luthor had paid someone
to plant an explosive device on the plane. It exploded, taking
out an engine and forcing the aircraft to crash, killing Robert
and Laura.
Classified: Had Laura survived the crash, she would have
inherited the responsibility of being Dr. Swann’s emissary
and keyholder from her husband, as well as her husband’s
company. It’s unknown how this would have affected Oliver’s
upbringing. As it is, his parents’ deaths were a major influence
on Oliver’s pursuit of crime and injustice.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Bridgette is a trusted ally d6
▼▼ Edward is only interested in his symbols d8
▼▼ Genevieve is unpleasant d6
▼▼ Lionel only wants to control the Traveler d8
▼▼ Oliver makes me proud d10
▼▼ I am Robert’s partner in everything d12
▼▼ Virgil has great vision d10
DEFINING ASSETS
Cosmopolitan d8
▼▼ G ive your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die when dealing
with other cultures.
▼▼ G ive your opposition a d10 to Reroll two dice when
dealing with other cultures.
Extraterrestrial Knowledge d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
much about an alien culture.
Not Born Yesterday d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to buy a
reasonable lie.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
confronted by a problem that defies normal common
sense or logic.
EXPANDING ASSETS
Wealthy d10
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll one die in a Contest or Test
swayable by money.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you own a large non-
unique item such as a car, call center, or evil corporation.
RESOURCES
▼▼ Queen Industries (Society, Technology) 2d8
▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d6
DEPTH
Steadfast Partner in Life and Business 2d8
92 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y
ROBERT QUEEN
Electronics Pioneer • Loving Father • Veritas Keyholder
DEFINING VALUES
I must keep the Veritas Society on the
d10 Justice
straight and narrow.
d8 Love My family is the reason I work so hard.
I must keep those secrets that are
d8 Truth
entrusted to me.
Robert Queen wasn’t the world’s most talented
electrical engineer, but he knew when to move quickly in a
competitive market and he knew how to hire the best. Under
his direction, Queen Industries grew from a small start-
up company in Star City to an international powerhouse,
designing and implementing satellites and other cutting-edge
communications technology. Robert and his wife Laura were
approached by Dr. Virgil Swann to join the Veritas Society.
Queen Industries provided much of the initial technological
support for the Swann Foundation and the Society itself,
primarily satellites and radio telescopes to augment the
search for the Traveler. Robert was also driven to a higher
purpose by the visions and prophesies uncovered by Edward
and Genevieve Teague. Dr. Swann trusted Robert more than
the others, giving him one of the two keys that unlocked a
Zurich deposit box holding the Veritas Cryptograph. It was
this responsibility that ultimately led to Robert’s death.
Current Events: Robert was dedicated to his son Oliver’s
upbringing and moral fortitude, but Oliver saw him as a
distant and absent father. On the last day of his life, Robert
gave his son an antique bow and arrows, but Oliver rejected
them. Robert and his wife then departed for Seoul on their
private jet, but the aircraft was sabotaged with an explosive
device. Robert died when the plane crashed; Lionel eventually
recovered the key around Robert’s neck.
Classified: Robert’s death, like Laura’s, was instrumental
in shaping his son’s attitudes toward justice. Had he lived,
Robert would most likely have been caught up further in the
Veritas Society’s eventual breakdown and the search for the
Stones of Power. He was no friend of Lionel’s, but he may have
sided with Edward and Genevieve out of respect for what
they brought to the Society.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Bridgette handles herself with professionalism d6
▼▼ Edward has been given a gift of insight d8
▼▼ I can forgive Genevieve for her standoffish attitude d8
▼▼ Laura is my primary ally in every endeavor d12
▼▼ Lionel is a dangerous man d10
▼▼ Oliver will be a great man someday d10
▼▼ Virgil is a trusted friend d10
 CASEFILES V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y

DEFINING ASSETS the Kent Farm’s barn. Clark learned from Dr. Swann where
Connected d6 he’d come from and who his people were. Dr. Swann held
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship with a Clark’s secret up to the day he died and never used it against
Feature for the rest of the scene. Clark or held the knowledge of his heritage over his head.
Extraterrestrial Knowledge d8 Dr. Swann’s personal assistant, Bridgette Crosby, was a
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too remarkable scientist in her own right. He also had a daughter,
much about an alien culture. Patricia, to whom he left all of his worldly goods when he died.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll associated Current Events: Dr. Swann seemed to have settled into
with understanding alien cultures. his role as Clark’s mentor for the time that he knew him. From
Genius d4 Swann, Clark learned much about his homeworld, not the
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve studied a subject least of which was its name and how to read the Kryptonian
and know its basics. language. In addition, Dr. Swann’s journals and documents
Likeable d6 gave Clark context and assurance as he grew into a man.
▼▼ G ive your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die in a Classified: Dr. Swann’s death remains a mystery, but it’s
Likeable roll. believed that Lionel had him killed. Ironically, Lionel later
On A Mission (Veritas) d8 became a vessel for Jor-El and Clark’s greatest ally within the
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you Veritas Society. At the time of Dr. Swann’s death, however, this
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk. was definitely not the case. If you plan on using Dr. Swann,
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that directly or any other advisory character, be sure to provide him with
contributes to your mission. sufficient Traits to Aid the Leads in their actions rather than
Wealthy d10 boost his own combat expertise or other skill sets.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll one die in a Contest or Test
swayable by money. DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you own a large non-
▼▼ Bridgette is my loyal agent in the world d10
unique item such as a car, call center, or evil corporation. ▼▼ Chloe is a forward thinker d6
▼▼ Clark must be guided toward his destiny d10
RESOURCES ▼▼ Edward’s visions have misled him d8
▼▼ Queen Industries (Business, Technology) 2d10 ▼▼ Genevieve has left the true path d6
▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d8 ▼▼ Laura is dedicated d8
▼▼ Lionel has succumbed to darkness d8
DEPTH ▼▼ Robert is a trusted ally d10
▼▼ Loyal Agent of the Veritas Society 2d8
DEFINING ASSETS
DR. VIRGIL SWANN Big-Hearted d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to believe
Mentor • Veritas Patriarch • Friend of Krypton somebody’s sob story.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool when
DEFINING VALUES you risk yourself to help someone in need.
d8 Duty I will uphold the ideals of the Veritas Society. Extraterrestrial Knowledge d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
d6 Power I will inspire responsibility in the powerful. much about an alien culture.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll associated
d10 Truth The lantern of truth lights the path ahead.
with understanding alien cultures.
Genius d8
Dr. Swann was a pioneer of astronomy, mathematics, ▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve studied a subject

physics, and engineering. Although wheelchair bound for
most of his adult life, Dr. Swann was quite capable of carrying
out extensive research and planning through his network of
contacts and the other members of the Veritas Society, which
he founded. Dr. Swann identified Clark as a Kryptonian, based
on a key sequence of symbols that his satellites picked up being
beamed from space—one of which was burned on the side of
and know its basics.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
assume others can’t follow your complicated thinking.
On A Mission (Veritas) d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a roll that directly
contributes to your mission.

EXPANDING ASSETS 93
 CASEFILES V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y
Wealthy d8
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll one die in a Contest or Test storyline and giving Clark another ally against the forces that
swayable by money. oppose him. She didn’t have time to become fully conversant
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you own a large non- in Kryptonian lore, but she was a quick learner.
unique item such as a car, call center, or evil corporation.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
RESOURCES ▼▼ Bridgette was in on this the whole time d6
▼▼ New York Planetarium (Academia, Quiet) 2d10 ▼▼ Clark has a bright future if he is aided along the way d10
▼▼ Swann foundation (Investigation, Resources) 2d10 ▼▼ Jason is his mother’s son d6
▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d8 ▼▼ I hope Lex chooses the path of Light and not that of
Darkness d8
DEPTH ▼▼ Lionel is a monster d8

▼▼ Visionary Man of Science 2d10 ▼▼ Oliver is a spoiled brat d6

▼▼ Virgil should have told me about this earlier d10

PATRICIA SWANN DEFINING ASSETS

Attractive d6
Swann’s Heir • Veritas Rookie • Lex’s Ex
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your looks draw you unwanted

DEFINING VALUES attention.

Big-Hearted d4
d8 Duty I will follow in my father’s footsteps. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to believe somebody’s
d6 Power I respect those with the power to help others. sob story.
I must uncover the lies and deception that Extraterrestrial Knowledge d4
d10 Truth
threaten us all. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
much about an alien culture.
Patricia Swann was the daughter of Veritas Society Investigator d10
founder Dr. Virgil Swann. As a child, she played with Lex, ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to spend a scene

Jason, and Oliver—the other children of the Veritas Society
members. She dated Lex when they were older, never
realizing what their parents were truly up to during their
society gatherings. Patricia received the proper education
investigating rather than taking immediate action.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll an Investigator roll.
On A Mission (Veritas) d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you

and the best life her father could possibly arrange for her, but foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
he never included her in the society, probably for much the Wealthy d8
same reason Lex and Oliver weren’t included—they hadn’t ▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll one die in a Contest or Test

yet matured enough to share the weight of responsibility the swayable by money.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you own a large non-
Veritas Society had.
unique item such as a car, call center, or evil corporation.
Current Events: When Patricia’s father died, he left all
of his research and notes to Patricia, although Dr. Swann’s
assistant, Dr. Bridgette Crosby, also had copies. This sudden
RESOURCES
▼▼ Swann foundation (Investigation, Resources) 2d8
burden changed Patricia’s life, and she immediately looked
▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d6
into the nature of her father’s death and those of other
Society members, such as the Queens. She deduced that
EXPANDING ASSETS

DEPTH
Lionel Luthor was involved—if not directly responsible—so ▼▼ Suddenly a Secret-Keeper 2d8
she went to Metropolis to continue her father’s mission and
protect the Traveler. She helped Clark and passed along her
father’s Veritas journal to him, but her fate was sealed. She
was shot and killed by her driver—a man paid off by Lex
Luthor—hours after she left Clark for the last time.
Classified: Patricia Swann is the only one of the Veritas
children without a significant role in Clark’s story. One
option for a spinoff campaign is to elevate her to a Feature
or even a Lead, bringing her father’s legacy back into the

94 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
 CASEFILES
PLAY ADVICE
The Heirs to Veritas
The Veritas Society members all had children, each of
whom stood to inherit the knowledge and resources of
their parents. However, they were also involved in the
politics of the Society, often without knowing it. Patricia, Dr.
Swann’s daughter, barely had time to acquaint herself with
her father’s true vocation before she was killed. Lex rose
to the challenge, becoming as obsessed as his father with
the Stones of Power and the Traveler. Jason never got out
from under his mother’s ruthless shadow. And Oliver, who
inherited everything else from his parents, never took part
in the Society as an adult. Fortunately, his father’s notes
were available to him when the League had to face the
Darkness of Apokolips. Tess Mercer, Lionel’s illegitimate
daughter, joined Oliver in this noble cause before she, too,
was killed by Lex.
If you want to continue the Veritas Society story, it’s easy
enough to set a spinoff campaign earlier, introducing
more of the mystery around the Traveler and involving
the children as young adults or even teenagers. Another
option is to have secondary Veritas Society members,
similar in stature to Dr. Crosby, take over the reins.
EDWARD TEAGUE
Reclusive Priest • Veritas Patriarch • Ex-Lawyer
DEFINING VALUES ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
d6 Glory I’m just waiting for my moment.
d8 Power Untapped power is waiting for us to find it.
Let the truth be covered from those who
d10 Truth
would abuse it.
Edward Teague was always trying to get his son Jason
to go to law school, study hard, and follow in his footsteps.
Unfortunately, Jason decided to become a football coach,
thereby ruining all of Edward’s plans. Edward and his wife
helped found the Veritas Society based on the visions and
dreams both Teagues had of their past lives and ancestors. Based
on his own notes and those of Dr. Virgil Swann, Edward set
out to find the so-called Stones of Power, three crystals of great
significance. He became obsessed with finding them, but when
other members of the group began to die under mysterious
circumstances, Edward fled to Canada. There, he became a
priest at St. Christopher’s Cathedral, guarding a few last Veritas
V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y
secrets. His wife, even more ambitious than he was, took over
the search for the Stones.
Current Events: Clark went to Montreal to find Edward,
believing that the priest would help him uncover more about
the Traveler and the alien artifacts associated with Veritas.
Edward was initially proud to help him, but soon realized
that Clark wasn’t going to kill Lex, a decision Edward couldn’t
understand. Rather than face this, Edward attempted to kill
Clark, but failed to do so. Later, Brainiac accosted him on a
private plane, taking on the form of Kara Kent and asking
about the Kryptonian Orb. Teague directed Brainiac to Lex,
but after the construct left the plane it spiraled into a crash
and killed Teague.
Classified: Edward Teague is a great example of a bad
guy who is sure everyone’s out to get him. Of course, in his
case, this turned out to be true.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Bridgette suspects that I’m crazy d10
▼▼ Clark is the Traveler! d8
▼▼ Genevieve is ruthless d10
▼▼ Jason needs to follow in my footsteps d8
▼▼ Lex is a villain in the making d8
▼▼ Lionel tore everything apart d8
▼▼ The Queens didn’t deserve to die d6
▼▼ Virgil knew we were onto something from the
beginning d10
DEFINING ASSETS
Connected d6
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship with a
Feature for the rest of the scene.
Extraterrestrial Knowledge d8
much about an alien culture.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll associated
with understanding alien cultures.
Fanatic (Veritas) d10
▼▼ E xacerbate your own Injured or Exhausted Stress to
Reroll a die for your cause.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble and Shift Injured or Exhausted
Stress to Angry Stress when you blame someone for
setbacks to your cause.
DEFINING RESOURCES
▼▼ St. Christopher’s Cathedral (Faith, Quiet) 2d8
▼▼ Teague Holdings (Red Tape, Resources) 2d4
▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d8
DEPTH
▼▼ Reclusive Former Lawyer Living as a Priest 2d6
EXPANDING ASSETS 95
 CASEFILES V E R I TA S S O C I E T Y

GENEVIEVE TEAGUE DEFINING RESOURCES

▼▼ Teague Holdings (Red Tape, Resources) 2d10
Crazy Mom • Veritas Matriarch • Wicked Bloodline ▼▼ Veritas Society (Contacts, Knowledge) 2d8
DEFINING VALUES
DEFINING ASSETS
d6 Love A mother deserves love and respect. Attractive d8
d8 Power I get what I want by right and privilege. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your looks draw you unwanted

Nothing will stand between me and attention.

d10 Truth
ultimate knowledge.
Some mothers dote on their children and want what’s
best for them. Others want their children to follow in their
footsteps. And then there are mothers like Genevieve Teague.
She was beautiful, elegant, wealthy, and donated generously
to charities and museums, but if you spent enough time with
her—especially when her son Jason was in the room—you got
those chilling Alfred Hitchcock flashbacks.
Genevieve was descended from French aristocracy, a
Duchess no less, and thought nothing of using people to get
what she wanted. Sadly, many people were more than happy
to do that for her, because she was just so beautiful, elegant,
and wealthy. The first was only skin deep, the second was all
show, and the third was an excuse to brush you aside like lint.
Current Events: Genevieve was rumored to have
orchestrated many things, including the match between Lana
Lang and her son Jason, Lionel Luthor’s release from prison,
and even worse. The tracks were all covered, of course. She
was the perfect counterpoint to the Luthors—just as rich
but with a son who actually did what she asked him to do,
regardless of how he felt about the people who got in the way.
Her death remains mysterious, though it occurred at the same
approximate time as her son Jason’s death in Smallville. Her
husband Edward, sequestered as a priest in Montreal, Canada,
survived her for a time.
Classified: Lana Lang, who at the time was possessed
by the spirit of Isobel Thoreaux, killed Genevieve. The witch
drove the Kryptonian Crystal of Air into Genevieve’s heart,
which not only released Lana from Isobel’s influence but also
precipitated the second meteor shower.
EXPANDING ASSETS
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in an Attractive roll.
Big Sister d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reveal that you have video or audio
surveillance of a Lead or Feature.
▼▼ Add a d10 to Trouble to Reroll a die whenever secrets you
know come into play.
Cosmopolitan d10
▼▼ Give your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die when dealing
with other cultures.
▼▼ Give your opposition a d10 to Reroll two dice when
dealing with other cultures.
Extraterrestrial Knowledge d4
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
much about an alien culture.
Family Reputation (Teagues) d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when your
family reputation precedes you.
Manipulative d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when you
ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have a
Relationship.
Vicious d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure or
Exhausted Stress pool.
Wealthy d10
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll one die in a Contest or Test
swayable by money.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you own a large non-
unique item such as a car, call center, or evil corporation.

DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Iwill find out where Clark fits into all of this d6 DEPTH
▼▼ Edward didn’t have the stomach for this work d10 ▼▼ Globetrotting Philanthropic Sociopath 2d8
▼▼ Jason is a loyal son d12
▼▼ Lana holds a power she does not understand d8
▼▼ Lex is a rebellious brat d8
▼▼ Lionel will not stop me d10
▼▼ Patricia is a clueless young brat d6
▼▼ The Queens were too trusting d6
▼▼ Virgil had no vision d8

96 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
EXPANDING RESOURCES
EXPANDING RESOURCES
EXPANDING RESOURCES
FROM: ARCHER01
TO: , MERCY@Watchtower
SUBJECT: Balancing the Books
Mercy, I just wanted to shoot you a quick note to have
you go over the latest financials. With Watchtower being
shut down, re-opened, the window shattered by Carter
throwing me through it last year, followed by the computer
core melting, and then the whole place being refurnished
for you…it adds up. Queen Industries is still funneling
money into this headquarters of ours, which was a real
trick to hide when I “came out” to the public. But I think
we’re all square.
We also have to do something about paying Emil for his
work. I know the guy’s happy with pro bono, but we do
dump a lot onto him. He’s a friend. Come on. Let’s fake
some invoices and send him some money, okay? It’s
the least we can do. And I always try to do the very least.
Ha ha ha.
As the last little category on a player’s Lead Sheet, it can
be easy to overlook Resources. But these little powerhouses
help knit the Leads into the sprawling network of the spinoff
campaign and ground them in the here-and-now. Resources are
often shared, which leads to occasional ambiguity about who or
what that Extra or Location really “is.” That’s a good thing—it’s
an opportunity for drama and conflict. In fact, Resources might
be the section of the players’ Lead sheet that changes the most,
reflecting the changing nature of your spinoff.
Variations on Resources
We were only getting started with the rules for Resources
in the Smallville RPG. Here you’ll find a slew of new and
interesting hacks on the core concept of Extras and Locations,
from increasing the number of dice to letting players sacrifice
them to promote their own schemes.
SACRIFICING RESOURCES
When you’ve been playing for a while, your players’ Leads
will outgrow some Extras or Locations. They used to mean
something for that Lead, grounding him in his current situation,
but the Lead has grown and he isn’t the person he used to be. He
doesn’t go to that high school anymore; he’s not living with his
parents; he no longer lives a double life on the wrong side of the
tracks. That Resource has become dead weight.
The player can whittle that Resource down whenever he
fails a Growth roll in a tag scene, stepping down the Resource
to step up something else. However, especially if we’re talking
about a big 2d10 or 2d12 Trait, that could take a long time.
Instead he can sacrifice it—show everyone it’s no longer useful
to him and send it packing to the episode archives.
98 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
PLAY ADVICE
Whose Resource Is It?
Unlike any other Trait in the game, Resources can be shared
between players. When you have Roof of the Daily Planet
on your sheet and another player has the Roof of the Daily
Planet on his sheet, this raises a question: whose is it?
Having a Location on your sheet doesn’t mean your Lead
owns that Location, so there’s no need for complicated
legal paperwork for who owns what percentage of the Daily
Planet’s roof. It just means that both Leads have access to
that Location and its help. So one Lead might be the owner
of a Location, while the other Lead is a welcome visitor.
Alternately, two characters might be frequent customers at
the same coffee shop or members of a certain gym.
The same goes for Extras—nobody “owns” an Extra, they
just have access to their help. The Extra might be one Lead’s
mom and another Lead’s confidante. Or the Extra might be
a shared best friend—and if you’re not expecting drama
out of that one, you’re crazy. If one or both Leads employ
the same Extra—Dr. Emil Hamilton is a commonly shared
Extra among Clark’s team—you might want to work out the
corporate hierarchy that all happens in. Or the shared Extra
might be both Leads’ boss. However it works in the story,
having the Extra on your sheet just means that he can help
you and you can roll his dice to Aid you.
To sacrifice a Resource, a player must use it twice to exhaust
it down to zero dice. Then he uses the Resource once more—at
the cost of removing it from his Lead Sheet permanently. He
rolls the Resource’s full value—all of its dice as if it was fresh at
the beginning of the episode—and adds the highest die to his
result as normal. He either destroys the Resource or sets it free
in the process.
The player strikes the sacrificed Resource from his sheet
and writes in Available Resource Slot. He gives it a die
rating one step lower than the sacrificed Resource and adds the
former value to his Growth pool. In the episodes to follow, he
may adopt an Extra or Location as his new Resource. He may
do this at any time and roll the Resource in immediately. He also
selects both of its specialties when he does this.
When a Resource is shared among multiple Leads,
sacrificing can be a little complicated. If a player’s got a hunky
Extra on his sheet that happens to be another Lead’s brother and
an Extra on her sheet, it’s dirty pool to throw the guy off a cliff
just because you’ve moved on. The first player should talk with
the other player involved. If she’d like to sacrifice the Extra, too,
then he can double the drama: if one of them sacrifices, they can
all sacrifice. If she’d like to keep the Resource around, though,
his Lead can cut ties rather than utterly destroy the Resource.
Example: Josh has been playing Oliver for a while, and he’s
come to the conclusion that he has too many offices. He’s got
Queen Industries 2d8, he’s got LuthorCorp Plaza
2d8, he’s even got a Private Jet 2d8 that he takes meetings
in. He decides that LuthorCorp Plaza is on the chopping
block. Tess uses the Location once in the episode, so Oliver
only needs to use it twice more—the first time to exhaust it
down to zero dice, and the second time to sacrifice it.
Oliver calls Tess to his office and picks a fight explicitly so
he can do exactly that. The second time Josh uses the Location,
he strikes it off his sheet. He adds a d8 to his Growth pool
and adds Available Location Slot 2d6 to his Resources.
Since LuthorCorp Plaza is shared with Tess, Josh asks
Tess’ player Mary if she wants to have the place go down in
flames. Mary declines, so it will be staying in the show, just
not as a place Oliver uses. Oliver grabs a cardboard box and
packs up his desk, telling Tess that she can have the run of the
building; this office makes his skin crawl.
In a later episode, Oliver stumbles onto Vortigen’s
mansion, complete with windy hedge mazes. He takes a liking
to it and makes a few inquiries about its legal status. You say
it’s getting auctioned off since its owner disappeared, forfeiting
significant debts? Well then! Oliver buys the property and
uses it to fill his empty slot: Hedge Maze Mansion 2d6
(Collaboration, Comfort). He’ll use it as a place to coordinate
his team and other metahumans, as well as a place to relax.
PLAY ADVICE
What Die Rating Is It, and What Are this
Resource’s Specialties, Really?
When the same Resource shows up on more than one
sheet, it often carries a different die rating, which might
raise the question of whether the die rating on that
Resource is the 2d4 on your sheet or the 2d8 on another
player’s. The answer is both—the Resources on your sheet
don’t list how useful they are in general; they list how useful
they are to you. That very well may change from Lead to
Lead. Maybe another Lead’s mom is more of a nuisance to
him than anything else, so he’s got her at 2d4; your Lead,
though, confides in her and values her advice, so she’s a
2d8 for you.
It’s also quite possible that he’s got his mom with specialties
Information and Wallet while you’ve got her with the
specialties Comfort and Guidance. That’s fine; the Traits on
your sheets represent how they help you—and the same
Resource might help you in different ways.
EXPANDING RESOURCES 99
EXPANDING RESOURCES
PLAY ADVICE
Can My Location Be Inside Your Location?
You’re in the midst of Pathways and you get to draw an
arrow from any circle or diamond to any other node on the
map. You draw an arrow from the Location “Apartment”
(which you’re linked to) to the Location “Queen Tower”
(which another player is linked to) and you label the arrow
“inside.” Your apartment is inside his Queen Tower.
In a scene set in your apartment, you might roll your
Apartment dice to Aid you. In the same scene, the other
player might roll Queen Tower to Aid him—you are, after all,
still in Queen Tower. You can both tap your Resources in a
Contest against each other, assuming the specialties make
sense for what you’re doing. If his Queen Tower specialties
are all about Networking and Repair, he won’t be rolling
those dice when he hassles you about the rent.
Unlike a shared Resource, exhausting one of these Locations
doesn’t exhaust the other, since they’re not technically the
same Location. Try to keep this kind of thing to a minimum,
and definitely try to avoid stacking Locations on your Lead
sheet just to get lots of dice in a single episode.
100 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
CHANGING RESOURCE SPECIALTIES
So those two specialties that a player picked for a Resource,
way back when he made his Lead, turn out not to be as useful as
he’d like. He’d like to change them. No problem.
Whenever he steps up or steps back a Resource in a tag
scene, he may swap out one of its specialties for a new one.
He can only change one specialty at a time and only once per
episode because things tend to change slowly.
Example: In one episode, it becomes plain to Lana Lang that
the Talon Coffee Shop 2d8 is not so much for Restoration
as it is for Status. In her tag scene, she tries and fails to
increase Cosmopolitan with her Growth roll and elects to
step back The Talon to 2d6 to step up that Distinction. As
she does so, she replaces Restoration with Status.
Later, maybe even the next episode, Lana realizes
The Talon also isn’t so much a place for Comfort as it is
a place to gather Information. In the following tag scene,
she uses Growth to step up The Talon to 2d8. As a bonus,
she switches Comfort for Information. What used to be a
comfortable little hangout has been transformed into the
center of her web.
3D, 4D, 5D RESOURCES
If two uses per episode isn’t cutting it for your group, you
can let them upgrade Resources to three, four, or even five dice
with their Growth pools. You roll a d6 (for Extras) or a d8 (for
Locations) plus the full die value of the Resource the player’s
shooting for. So if Lana wants to upgrade her Talon Coffee
Shop 2d10 to 3d10, Watchtower rolls a d8 and 3d10.
Exercise some care, however—Resources with more than
two dice tend to show up more and more often and might
quickly outshine the Leads. You don’t want to be the gal who’s
more about her lonely tower full of cold computers than about
the friends and family she loves and wants to protect!
Example: Joe has found that Zod uses his Kandorian
Soldiers 2d8 quite a bit, which is understandable since
a central part of his character is the general to the refugee
army. He decides to use Growth to increase the number of
dice the soldiers are worth. He rolls his Growth pool while
Watchtower rolls a d6 (since they’re Extras) and 3d8 (which
is what Joe wants to increase the Trait to). Joe rolls higher,
so the soldiers can now show up and Aid him three times
an episode.
RETARGETING LOCATIONS
Sometimes, interests don’t so much transform as shift
slightly to the left. When a character’s been going to the Talon
for coffee since it opened and then moves into the upstairs
apartment, she might want to change things on her sheet. Sure,
she could sacrifice the Talon Coffee Shop and replace it
with the Talon Upstairs Apartment, but that seems a little
severe. It’s not like she’s never going downstairs for a caramel
macchiato again.
Instead, consider letting her “retarget” the Location.
Whenever players step up or step back a Location in a tag scene,
they may rename it to reflect a slightly different use for the
place. They may do this as well as changing one of its specialties.
Example: When she was new to town, Lois grabbed The
Talon Coffee Shop 2d4 (Information, Restoration). She
used it for socializing and a little information-mongering.
Later on, she moved into the apartment upstairs. To
celebrate, she used Growth to step up the Trait to 2d6. At the
same time, she renamed it to just The Talon so it would
cover both the coffee shop below and the apartment above.
EXTRA-TO-FEATURE CONVERSION
One of the best sources for Features is the list of Extras on
the Pathways Map. They’re already enmeshed in the setting,
the Leads have opinions and relationships with them, and by
adding them to the map, the players have already said, in effect,
“I want this in the game.”
Before you snap one up, though, you might want to make sure
the players with that Extra on their sheets are okay giving up their
Girl Friday. This is especially the case for Extras that have more than
one Lead connected to them; those players have already decided
not to make that character a Feature. They may have changed their
minds since then, but it’s always a good idea to check.
The best options for Extra-to-Feature conversion are
those Extras who are connected to other Extras, Features, and
Locations but only one Lead. These are tightly involved with
the setting but are less likely to be an essential element of many
Leads’ character sheets.
Create the new Feature as normal, either performing
Pathways for him or using the Quick and Dirty rules on page
30. Whichever option you choose, be sure to use the character’s
old Extra specialties as a guideline for what Relationships and
Distinctions you choose for him. Include a Relationship to
every Lead and Feature that had the character listed as an Extra.
Any Leads who had the erstwhile Extra on their sheet
gain a new Relationship Trait with the new Feature at the same
die rating. Any dice invested in the Extra beyond the first go
straight into their Growth pool. So Lucy Lane 3d8 becomes
Lucy is in over her head d8 and 2d8 in the Lead’s Growth pool.
If you’re looking at an Extra that’s a group of characters—
like Tess’ LuthorCorp Security Team—your best bet is
to create a new Feature who’s the group’s leader. He’ll have the
same group as an Extra on his sheet, but he’ll be an individual
to serve as a “face” for the group and have his own goals and
agenda. If any character with the Extra group on his sheet
wants to buy a Relationship with this leader, it starts as a d8.
Like other temporary Traits bought with Plot Points or certain
Distinctions, it loses a die step after the first scene but can
be made permanent in tag scenes. Depending on how the
episode plays out, the Feature may stick around or be removed
from leadership.
FEATURE-TO-EXTRA CONVERSION
If an episode ends with one of its Features dedicated to
helping out one or more Leads and that Feature is more-or-less
free of entangling plotlines or character hang-ups, it might be
worthwhile to convert the Feature into an Extra. Any Leads
or Features with a Relationship to the character turn those
Traits into a new Extra Trait, with whatever specialties feel
appropriate. The die rating is the same as the Relationship was,
rated at two dice.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Cliques and Hangers-On
If you’ve got the Smallville High School Yearbook, you
already have a great set of rules for handling large groups
and pulling Features out of them—the Clique rules. Cliques
can be imported almost whole-cloth into any Smallville
spinoff campaign, even ones outside of high school.
It’s a nice alternative to having groups act solely as
supporting Extras.
EXPANDING RESOURCES 101
 CASEFILES
Not all bad guys are from around here. Many of the worst
villains to menace Clark and his friends in Smallville are of
extraterrestrial origin. This collection of alien monsters, Kryptonian
criminals, and other such threats give even a super hero pause.
Many alien antagonists hail from the Phantom Zone (see
Smallville RPG, page 188). Over the years the Kryptonian
authorities and allies such as John Jones imprisoned numerous
intergalactic threats and terrible criminals in the extra-
dimensional prison. Included were various Kryptonians serving
under Zod. Not all Zoners are criminals; Kara and Clark both
were imprisoned there for a time. But most of the inhabitants
are bad news, and since the Zone was created by Jor-El, they
aren’t exactly fans of Clark and his allies.
The number of potential alien threats out there is virtually
limitless. The Kryptonians knew of 28 inhabited galaxies. Even if
each galaxy only has a few inhabited worlds and even making the
shaky assumption that other than Earth those worlds are mostly
crime free, that’s a lot of bad guys. If you want to create alien
menaces, you literally have a universe of ideas to draw from.
Aliens in Smallville are surprisingly human in their
values, flaws, and failings. They might look strange, possess
incredible powers, and have bizarre customs, but they aren’t that
different. They have Values and Relationships just like human
Leads and Features and often want love, comfort, and a sense of
purpose. Unfortunately, this similarity means their criminals,
murderers, and tyrants can be just as terrible and twisted as any
found on Earth.
102 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
ZONERS AND ALIENS
ALDAR
Marrow Eater • Alien Murderer
DEFINING VALUES
d6 Duty I serve myself and my appetites.
d8 Glory The universe will fear me again.
d10 Power I hunger!
History: Aldar was a massive alien criminal with
Kryptonian-level strength and incredible resistance to injury.
Aldar escaped the Phantom Zone along with eight others,
retaining his physical form as he did—unlike many Zoners.
What made Aldar dangerous wasn’t just his might, but his
eating habits. Aldar fed off bone marrow, which he acquired
by ripping people to pieces and sucking it from their bones.
Arriving on Earth, Aldar massacred a whole ship’s crew in
Seattle. Clark arrived on the scene to investigate and encountered
the brute, who overpowered Clark and escaped. Clark finally
managed to track Aldar down and the two fought a titanic battle.
Clark was again beaten. Just as Aldar was about to kill Clark and
have his skeleton as a snack, he fell dead. John Jones, in his first
encounter with Clark, looked over his handiwork before flying off.
Current Events: Aldar’s dead, killed by John Jones—
presumably because bone-eating alien powerhouses with
 CASEFILES ZONERS AND ALIENS
terrible table manners can’t be allowed to roam free. It’s possible History: Baern was a Zoner Phantom with a particular
that something in Aldar’s alien physiology might allow him to affinity for technology. Originally an alien who wiped out
return to life; but, given John’s vast experience dealing with alien his own people, Baern came to Earth along with eight other
criminals, it’s unlikely he used unreliable methods of dealing Zoner escapees. Possessing a young man named Lamar, Baern
with such a foe. went on a rampage. Draining power plants along the way, he
Classified: Though not much of a talker or a thinker, Aldar traveled to Smallville to confront the son of Jor-El and destroy
was an alien and therefore presumably knew a fair amount about him. He even assimilated the data from Brainiac’s hard drive.
at least some alien cultures and locations outside normal human Using his powers, the alien faced Clark and Jor-El’s assistant,
understanding. It’s unknown what these secrets might be. Raya, herself a refugee from the Phantom Zone.
Baern fought Clark and Raya using his Abilities and the
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS power he had absorbed. Clark managed to banish the alien
▼▼ Clark will not stop me d8 using the Crystal of El, but Raya was mortally wounded in
▼▼ I will feast on your bones, John Jones! d6 the battle. She died with Clark by her side, another victim
of Baern.
DEFINING ASSETS Current Events: Baern is again trapped in the
Athletic d8 Phantom Zone.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll. Classified: Not much is known about Baern’s race.
▼▼ Earn a Plot Point when you use brute force instead of finesse. It’s possible others of his kind exist, though they are not
Invulnerability d8 necessarily as dangerous or twisted.
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress Pool. RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress. ▼▼ I will take all I want from Clark d6
Savage d10 ▼▼ R aya will pay for her master’s crimes against me d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble whenever you
act on your base instincts. RESOURCES
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Injured or Afraid ▼▼ A ssimilated Data (Information, Research) 2d8
Stress pool. ▼▼ P ower Grid (Resources, Restore) 2d8
Super-Strength d12
Spend a Plot Point to… ASSETS
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength. Absorption (Radiation) d12
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene. Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object as a weapon (d8 Useful Detail). ▼▼ Absorb energy to Decrease your opponent’s Injured or
Exhausted Stress pool against you.
DEPTH ▼▼ Drain the power from a device.
▼▼ Marrow Eater 2d4 ▼▼ Use absorbed energy to blast attack a target or destroy an

▼▼ Serial Killer Alien 2d8 inanimate object.

▼▼ Use absorbed energy to perform a feat of great strength.
▼▼ Use absorbed energy to propel yourself along at
great speeds.
Gearhead d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you conveniently Choose to stop
BAERN and admire fine technology.
Technowraith • Genocidal Phantom Technopathy d10
DEFINING VALUES Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Break through a computer system’s firewall.
d8 Duty I serve only myself. ▼▼ Control any electronic device in the same scene; you may

d8 Glory I am a force of nature! use it as a d8 Useful Detail.

▼▼ Override security codes on electronic doors and vaults.
d6 Justice I will have revenge for my imprisonment.
Wraith Heritage d8
d4 Love I care not for this human failing.
Limit: Banishment (Crystal of El or equivalent)
d10 Power All power will be mine. ▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be
d6 Truth Truth is less valuable than might. banished OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by being
banished.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Use an Asset of your vessel.

CASEFILES: ZONERS AND ALIENS 103

 CASEFILES ZONERS AND ALIENS

which is why he sought the help of those like Brainiac, but

BIZARRO he knew far more about these subjects than most.
Twisted Duplicate • Kryptonite Leech • No Am Clark
RELATIONSHIPS
DEFINING VALUES ▼▼ Brainiac can help me destroy Clark d8
▼▼ Chloe is too nosy d6
d8 Duty I will be everything Clark isn’t. ▼▼ Clark is my ultimate obstacle d10
d6 Glory People should fear my powers. ▼▼ I will do anything to be with Lana d12
d8 Justice I protect myself.
d10 Love I want love and a life with someone. RESOURCES
d4 Power Power enables. ▼▼ Kent Farm (Comfort, Restore) 2d4
d6 Truth I won’t hide my feelings, just my face.
ASSETS
Impulsive d8
History: The creature known as Bizarro was born in a lab ▼▼ Earn a Plot Point and Add d6 Trouble when you act rashly.
▼▼ Earn a Plot Point when you Choose to interfere in a contest.
on Krypton. It was one of the eight Zoners who escaped the
Phantom Zone together. Unlike the other Phantoms, Bizarro Flight d10
was immune to the banishing effects of the Crystal of El. Spend a Plot Point to…
Bizarro encountered Clark Kent and was able to use Clark’s ▼▼ Dive bomb an enemy and Increase your Injured or

Kryptonian DNA to make an identical body for it to inhabit.
This form was permanent but imperfect—its skin turned
white and fragmented in direct sunlight, which also sapped
its abilities. Using its new body, Bizarro fought Clark to a
standstill, destroying Reeves Dam during the fight. Bizarro
escaped in the ensuing chaos and was not seen again for some
time. Clark continued unsuccessfully to track him down.
Bizarro returned when Clark was trapped in his arctic
fortress by Jor-El. Bizzaro-Clark secretly took over Clark’s
life. He began a relationship with Lana and tried, without
success, to counteract his imperfections with the help of
Brainiac. Bizarro was able to fool Lana and Clark’s friends,
but he still wasn’t Clark. He was too willing to kill to keep his
secret and had little of Clark’s humanity. Still, he developed
feelings for Lana and in his own twisted way tried to build a
life with her. He also sought sources of meteor rock; unlike
Clark, kryptonite made him stronger instead of weaker.
Clark eventually returned to expose Bizarro. Seeking to
defeat his Zoner clone he sought Dax-Ur, a Kryptonian scientist
living a secret life on Earth. Dax-Ur gave Clark blue kryptonite
to overload Bizarro’s powers and destroy him. During the pair’s
final confrontation, Bizarro attempted to convince Lana to side
with him so they could have a life together. Lana confessed she
was happy with Bizarro-Clark, but in the end she gave him the
blue kryptonite to save the original Clark. The rock worked as
advertised, overloading Bizarro’s body and destroying him. In
the end, it was beauty that killed the Bizarro.
Current Events: Bizarro was destroyed by the power
of blue kryptonite—and arguably love. This killed him by
supercharging him to the point where he was too powerful
for his body to handle, so let’s all hope he’s really dead.
Afraid Stress pool for this attack.
▼▼ Change direction quickly to fly around an obstacle; you
may use this obstacle as a d8 Useful Detail.
▼▼ Join another scene you aren’t a part of, even if you can’t
get there by ground.
Heat Vision d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a wide angle sweep effect that inflicts Insecure or
Afraid Stress.
▼▼ Destroy an inanimate object as big as a car. Spend two
Plot Points for an object as big as a house. Spend three for
an object as big as a river.
Invulnerability d10
Limit: Yellow Sun (direct sunlight)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress
pool.
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
Kryptonite Absorption d12
Limit: Blue kryptonite
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Drain a piece of kryptonite, rendering it inert.
▼▼ Use kryptonite to Increase one of your Abilities for a scene.
▼▼ Use kryptonite to heal yourself and Recover your Injured
or Exhausted Stress.
Manipulative d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
Savage d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 Trouble whenever you act
upon your base instincts.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Injured or Afraid

Classified: Bizarro knew much about Clark’s life, Stress pool.

Kryptonian technology, and the like. He wasn’t a scientist,

104 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES
Super-Breath d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Trap someone in a sheath of ice. They must win a contest
against you to break free.
▼▼ Clear a scene of all dust, smoke, loose debris, or sand.
Super-Senses d6
Limits: Lead (Sight), Sonic (Hearing)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ See through objects to find specific people or objects.
▼▼ Hear or see into a nearby scene you’re not in.
Super-Speed d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of distance.
▼▼ Catch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
▼▼ Race across water as if it were solid ground.
Super-Strength d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object as a weapon (d8 Useful Detail).
▼▼ Break through a wall to grab someone on the other side.
Wraith Heritage d10
Limit: Banishment (Kryptonian science)
▼▼ Earn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be banished
OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by being banished.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Use an Asset of your vessel.
Note: The above stats are for Bizzaro-Clark. As a Phantom possessing
a normal person, Bizarro did not have access to most of his Abilities.
He still possessed Super-Strength and Invulnerability in these
forms, though they were reduced by one step. As a Phantom he could
also use Possession d10 to gain a new host.
DR. HUDSON
Zoner Psychic • Mentalist Mastermind • Terrible Therapist
DEFINING VALUES your psychic creations as real.
d8 Duty I must tend to my own security.
d8 Glory My mind is the superior weapon!
d4 Justice I am more interested in control.
d4 Love Love is an illusion.
d8 Power Controlling perceptions controls reality.
I must make my victims embrace their
d10 Truth
new reality.
History: Dr. Hudson was actually a Phantom with impressive
mental powers. He used his abilities to possess Clark and build an
elaborate delusion, trying to convince Clark he was a crazy human
who only thought he had alien powers. Clark believed this psychic
construct was real, and he encountered figures plucked from his
own memories but twisted by Hudson to promote the fantasy.
CASEFILES: ZONERS AND ALIENS
ZONERS AND ALIENS
Hudson’s goal was to convince Clark to accept the “reality”
that he wasn’t really a Kryptonian and to surrender himself for
treatment. This treatment would have actually destroyed Clark’s
mind and let Dr. Hudson take over his body.
Hudson’s plan would have worked if it wasn’t for that
meddling Martian, John Jones. John entered Clark’s mind and
managed to convince him that the good doctor was actually a
mind-sucking Zoner. Clark tried to escape Hudson’s psychic
cuckoo’s nest, which gave John the chance to absorb the distracted
doctor into the red crystal he used to trap escaped Phantoms.
Current Events: Dr. Hudson is once again trapped in the
Phantom Zone.
Classified: Dr. Hudson’s real name is unknown and
he almost certainly wasn’t a real doctor. He called himself
“Hudson” when posing as a psychiatrist in his plan to take
over Clark’s body. Before he was first trapped in the Phantom
Zone, Hudson used his powers to learn countless secrets
from his victims. It’s anyone’s guess what these secrets are.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark must accept my “help” d8
▼▼ John Jones could ruin my plans d8
RESOURCES
▼▼ Psychic Asylum (Confined, Secure) 2d10
▼▼ Psychic Asylum Staff (Security, Treatment) 2d8
ASSETS
Fast Talker d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you’re caught in a lie or exaggeration.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a Fast Talker roll.
Mental Manipulation (Mind Control) d12
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a psychic environment that seems real to all senses.
▼▼ Draw people from target’s memories to populate a scene.
▼▼ Control the body of someone who has fully accepted
Manipulative d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your oppositon a d6 when you
ask them to trust you even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have a
Relationship.
Vicious d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress Pool.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Insecure
or Exhausted Stress Pool.
Wraith Heritage d6
Limit: Banishment (Crystal of El or equivalent)
▼▼ Earn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be banished
OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by being banished.
105
 CASEFILES ZONERS AND ALIENS

known as Davis Bloome. A short time later, Faora and Zod

FAORA were locked in the Phantom Zone and Krypton was destroyed.
Wife of Zod • Mother of Doomsday Faora came to Earth when Clark and Lois were briefly
trapped in the Phantom Zone. During her escape, Faora
DEFINING VALUES possessed Lois’ body. She immediately started searching
d8 Duty Our family is meant to rule. for her son and eventually recognized him from files Chloe
had. Meeting a rather confused Davis, Faora explained to
d6 Glory I am the wife of Zod!
him who he was and that he was destined to become “Earth’s
d6 Justice Those who wrong us must pay. ultimate destroyer.” Davis wasn’t keen on that career path;
d8 Love Love cannot breed weakness. frustrated, Faora figured some tough love was in order. She
d8 Power I am so far above these humans. wounded Davis terribly and gave him some parting pseudo-
d6 Truth Might dictates truth. Nietzschean advice about that which kills him making
him stronger.
Clark then confronted Faora, but he was handicapped
History: Faora, a soldier and fierce warrior, was General by not wanting to hurt Lois. Although Faora quickly got the
Zod’s second wife and the mother of the creature known as upper hand, Kara used John Jones’ red crystal to draw Faora
Doomsday. She and Zod married after his first wife and out of Lois’ body, again trapping her in the Phantom Zone.
child were killed during the destruction of Kandor. Unable Current Events: Faora is once again imprisoned. Note
to conceive a child, Zod and Faora used DNA from the most that a younger clone of Faora was part of Major Zod’s forces
powerful creatures on their planet to create a son. Faora wasn’t here on Earth. While they’re made from the same genetic
particularly interested in doing the whole stay-at-home-mom material and have the same memories, the two are not exactly
bit, so they attached the genetic material of their child to Kal- the same—much like Zod is similar but not identical to his
El’s spaceship and sent him to Earth. This was Doomsday, also older self. When the cloned Faora sided with Clark against

106 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES
Zod, he murdered her, also unknowingly killing his unborn
child. Faora’s clone was generally kinder and less manipulative,
though she was still capable of deception and violence when
her duties called for them.
Classified: Zod’s wife and Doomsday’s mother, Faora
knows much of her husband’s plans and her son’s capabilities
and vulnerabilities. She also possesses knowledge of various
Kryptonian military operations and projects, though most of
these were destroyed with the destruction of her homeworld.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Chloe knows much that can help me d6
▼▼ Clark will suffer for his father’s sins d8
▼▼ Davis must be made strong like his father d10
▼▼ Lois is a suitable vessel d6
▼▼ Tess is transparently manipulative d6
RESOURCES
▼▼ K andor (Courage, Inspiration) 2d8
▼▼ P hantom Zone (Confined, Vicious) 2d4
ASSETS
Flight d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Dive bomb an enemy and Increase your Injured or
Afraid Stress pool for this attack.
▼▼ Change direction quickly to fly around an obstacle; you
may use this obstacle as a d8 Useful Detail.
▼▼ Join another scene you are not a part of, even if you can’t
get there by ground.
Heat Vision d4
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a wide angle sweep effect that inflicts Insecure or
Afraid Stress.
▼▼ Destroy an inanimate object as big as a car. Spend two
Plot Points for an object as big as a house. Spend three for
an object as big as a river.
Invulnerability d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Decrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress
pool.
▼▼ R ecover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
Kryptonian Heritage d8
Limits: Kryptonite, Magic, Red Sun
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your Abilities are Shutdown by
green or blue kryptonite or you Choose to act on baser
instincts under the sway of red kryptonite.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble pool to use a Special Effect from a
connected Ability you don’t have.
CASEFILES: ZONERS AND ALIENS
ZONERS AND ALIENS
Soldier d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point to follow orders, stick to protocol, or
maintain discipline when it would benefit you to do
otherwise.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any Soldier roll due to
your discipline and training.
Super-Breath d4
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Trap someone in a sheath of ice. They must win a
contest against you to break free.
▼▼ Clear a scene of all dust, smoke, loose debris, or sand.
Super-Senses d4
Limits: Lead (Sight), Sonic (Hearing)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ S ee through objects to find specific people or objects.
▼▼ Hear or See into a nearby scene you’re not in.
Super-Speed d8
S pend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ J oin a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of
distance.
▼▼ C atch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
Super-Strength d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object or break off a sharpened
piece of metal or stone to use as a weapon (d8 Useful
Detail).
Vicious d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress Pool.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Insecure
or Exhausted Stress Pool.
Wraith Heritage d10
Limit: Banishment (Crystal of El or equivalent)
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be
banished OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by being
banished.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Use an Asset of your vessel.
Note: Faora can’t effectively use most of her powers without
a host. However, when inside a host she keeps all her
Kryptonian Abilities and has access to Assets of her host
through her Wraith Heritage, such as Lois’ Attractive
Asset. As a Phantom she can also use Possession d10 to
gain a new host.
107
 CASEFILES ZONERS AND ALIENS

GLORIA ASSETS
Killer Plant • Alien Escapee Attractive d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your looks draw unwanted
DEFINING VALUES attention.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in an Attractiveness
d8 Duty I will spread the green.
Roll.
d10 Glory I will take over this planet.
Invulnerabilty d8
d6 Justice Let nature take its course. Limits: Electricity
d6 Love Love is growth and fertility. Spend a Plot Point to…
d8 Power Power means survival. ▼▼ Decrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress pool.

d4 Truth I don’t care for human secrets. ▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.

Plant Control d12

History: The creature known as Gloria was an alien plant-
based life form. Imprisoned in the Phantom Zone, she escaped
along with eight others. Gloria was locked up for her tendency
to turn planets into her own personal gardens filled with her
seedlings. She exhibited no attempt to change her inclinations
while on Earth.
Taking the form of a park ranger, Gloria attacked couples
at and around a make-out spot, Lone Point. She killed the girls
and took the boys off to be impregnated by her plant seedlings.
Limits: Electricity
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Make vines burst from below, binding a character to the
ground. Anyone but the target may use vines as a d8
Useful Detail.
▼▼ Speak to plant life around you.
▼▼ Implant a seed into a helpless host; this will burst free
and cover the area in plant life within several hours.
Shameless Flirt d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add d6 to Trouble when you flirt

The seeds would grow inside the hosts and then burst out and
cover the area. She could also control plants and produce vine-
like protrusions that could strangle, crush, and restrain targets.
Her vines could even cut through Kryptonian skin.
Gloria eventually decided she wanted Jimmy as a potential
seed-daddy, which brought her to the attention of Clark and Chloe
who discovered that Gloria and her plants were vulnerable to
with someone you know you shouldn’t.
Super-Strength d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
Vicious d6
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble Pool to Increase your Angry or

electricity. This saved Jimmy and also proved to be Gloria’s undoing Afraid Stress Pool.
when Clark finally fought her. Despite fighting a plant-monster
in a greenhouse, Clark fought off Gloria’s strangling vines and
caused the lights and sprinklers in the greenhouse to go haywire.
The electricity from the lights augmented with the water from the
TITAN
sprinklers destroyed Gloria. Alien Gladiator • Ares DNA Source
Current Events: Gloria was destroyed. However, being DEFINING VALUES
a plant-creature, it’s always possible she could be regrown or
otherwise resurrected in some way. I am beholden to the rules of the
d8 Duty
Classified: The worlds Gloria and her plants overran are death match!
unknown. It’s fair to assume these planets might host life similar d10 Glory There is honor and glory in combat.
to Gloria, spawned from her seeds. Perhaps an angry tree-man d10 Power None are stronger than Titan!
or rose-woman might come to Earth, trying to find out what
happened to their mother.
Titan was an escaped Zoner who was the star of a series
RELATIONSHIPS of underground deathmatches. Battling various opponents,
▼▼ Clark will not stop me d10 Titan beat his opponents mercilessly and then finished them
▼▼ Jimmy will make a suitable host d8 off with a bony spike that grew from his hand. Oliver Queen
discovered these fights were being broadcast over the web
RESOURCES and asked Clark to help shut them down. Lois heard about
▼▼ Lone Point (Remote, Romantic) 2d6 this fight club as well and tried to infiltrate it herself, with
▼▼ Park Services (Information, Security) 2d4 limited success.

108 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES
Clark confronted Titan and discovered he was a Zoner
escapee. The pair fought, Titan nearly defeating Clark with
his incredible physical power and fighting prowess. Cutting
loose where usually he restrained himself, Clark was able to
overpower Titan and the unfortunate warrior was accidentally
impaled on his own bone spike.
After his death, Titan was taken by Lex to 33.1 to be used as
part of Project Ares (see Casefile: LuthorCorp Projects). Titan’s
DNA provided a base which Lex’s scientists used to augment
test subjects, giving them Titan’s abilities as well as those of
several metahumans.
Current Events: Titan is dead. Project Ares apparently
used his DNA, so it’s unlikely there’s even much left of the body,
but a clone would not be out of the question.
Classified: Titan, like most Zoners, knew of Kal-El and
Krypton. He also presumably had some connections with
Earth’s underworld from his time as a fighter.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark should prove a worthy foe d8
▼▼ Lois is meddlesome d6
DEFINING ASSETS
Athletic d8
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you use brute force instead
of finesse.
Bone Spike d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Increase your Injured or Afraid Stress pool.
Invulnerability d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D ecrease an Opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress Pool.
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
Super-Strength d12
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object as a weapon (d8
Useful Detail).
DEPTH
▼▼ Deadly alien gladiator 2d6/2d8
CASEFILES: ZONERS AND ALIENS
ZONERS AND ALIENS
ZOD
Kneel! • Kandorian General • Kryptonian Tyrant
DEFINING VALUES
d6 Duty I will remake Earth as I would have Krypton.
d10 Glory I will found a mighty dynasty.
d6 Justice I will have revenge.
d6 Love I will have a family again.
d10 Power Kneel before Zod!
d4 Truth I will dictate truth.
General Zod was one the most feared of the Phantom
Zone prisoners and perhaps the most dangerous criminal
in Kryptonian history. He developed a hatred for Jor-El
when the scientist refused to clone Zod’s dead son. Zod
desired power—ultimately, he raised an army and sought to
conquer all of Krypton and nearly succeeded. Allying with
Zor-El, Zod brought the end of Krypton by destroying the
planet’s core. Zod was locked in the Phantom Zone for his
crimes; ironically this allowed him to survive his world’s
destruction.
Zod languished in the Zone for years until Brainiac
came to Earth. Brainiac wished to free Zod from the
Phantom Zone but was faced with a problem unique to
Zod. Due to the extreme nature of his punishment, Zod
could not simply possess any individual. Instead he needed
a special vessel prepared to host his Kryptonian spirit.
Using Lex Luthor’s body prepared by Braniac, Zod was able
to come to Earth.
Now on Earth in physical form and possessing all the
powers of a Kryptonian, Zod-Lex planned to use Lana to
start his personal harem. He would sire heirs and use his
powers to rule the planet. He nearly succeeded, besting
Clark with his superior training and Kryptonian powers.
However, in the end his arrogance proved his undoing.
Desiring the son of Jor-El to kneel before him, Zod didn’t
notice until it was too late that Clark had the Crystal of El.
Slapping it into Zod’s hand, he exorcised Zod’s spirit from
Lex’s body.
Current Events: Zod’s spirit is once again imprisoned.
Without a specially prepared vessel and a way to escape
the Phantom Zone once more, it’s unlikely he can return.
However, a clone of Zod’s younger self came to Earth
and became an important adversary for Clark. More
information about Zod and this clone can be found in
the Smallville Roleplaying Game (page 150). The clone
and Zod’s spirit merged, but remain trapped in the Zone.
Classified: Zod possesses vast military knowledge and
109
 CASEFILES ZONERS AND ALIENS

likely knows many dirty secrets about various Kryptonians. ASSETS

How much of this is still useful and relevant today is uncertain.
Note: The following game statistics are for Zod’s spirit in
Lex’s body. They would also presumably work for any similarly
prepared vessel. Though more powerful than his clone, Zod in
this state can be banished like a Phantom.
RELATIONSHIPS
Flight d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Dive bomb an enemy and Increase your Injured or
Afraid Stress pool for this attack.
▼▼ Change direction quickly to fly around an obstacle; you
may use this obstacle as a d8 Useful Detail.
▼▼ Join another scene you are not a part of, even if you can’t

▼▼ Clark will kneel before me or die! d10 get there by ground.

▼▼ Brainiac has served me well d8 Heat Vision d8
▼▼ I trust my dear Faora d8 Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Lex is a suitable vessel for a living god d4 ▼▼ Create a wide angle sweep effect that inflicts Insecure
▼▼ Lana will give me many heirs d6 or Afraid Stress.
▼▼ Zor-El and I are allies, but not friends d6 ▼▼ Destroy an inanimate object as big as a car. Spend two
Plot Points for an object as big as a house. Spend three
RESOURCES for an object as big as a river.
andor (Courage, Inspiration) 2d6
▼▼ K Invulnerability d10
ollowers of Zod (Security, Power) 2d6
▼▼ F
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Decrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress
pool.
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.

110 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT

 CASEFILES
Kryptonian Heritage d10
Limits: Kryptonite, Magic, Red Sun
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your Abilities are Shutdown by
green or blue kryptonite or you Choose to act on baser
instincts under the sway of red kryptonite.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble pool to use a Special Effect from a
connected Ability you don’t have.
Manipulative d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when you
ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
Scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have a
Relationship.
Mastermind d8
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll when dealing with characters
you have a history of manipulating.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve planned for this
eventuality and have the resources necessary for your plan.
Soldier d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point to follow orders, stick to protocol, or
maintain discipline when it would benefit you to do
otherwise.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any Soldier roll due to your
discipline and training.
Super-Breath d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Trap someone in a sheath of ice. They must win a contest
against you to break free.
▼▼ Clear a scene of all dust, smoke, loose debris, or sand.
Super-Senses d6
Limits: Lead (Sight), Sonic (Hearing)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ See through objects to find specific people or objects.
▼▼ Hear or see into a nearby scene you’re not in.
Super-Speed d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of distance.
▼▼ Catch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
Super-Strength d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object or break off a sharpened
piece of metal or stone to use as a weapon (d8 Useful
Detail).
Tyrant d12
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll any die when you intimidate,
coerce, or threaten others.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a 2d8 Extra when you call on a
useful minion.
▼▼ Add a d10 to Trouble to Grant another Lead or Feature
the Tyrant Distinction at d4 when you make him your
lieutenant.
CASEFILES: ZONERS AND ALIENS
ZONERS AND ALIENS
Wraith Heritage d8
Limit: Banishment (Crystal of El or equivalent), Only
Prepared Vessels
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be
banished OR when your Abilities are Shutdown by being
banished.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Use an Asset of your vessel.
ZOR-EL
Brother of Jor-El • Kara’s Dad •
Destroyer of Krypton
DEFINING VALUES
A true Kryptonian embraces his destiny no
d10 Duty
matter what.
d4 Glory I am just a tool of prophecy.
d6 Justice Disobedience must be punished.
d6 Love I will have my love, even after death.
d8 Power Power is a tool of fate.
d8 Truth Rao shows us the true way.
Few people had more of an impact on Clark’s life than
his uncle, Zor-El. A Kryptonian scientist with an obsession
with prophecy and destiny, Zor-El decided he had to speed
Krypton’s destiny along by blowing it up. This was after
he tried to kill Jor-El, allied with Zod, and generally made
himself a threat to everyone on his planet. He even cloned
himself and Clark’s biological mother, Lara, as part of his
continued obsession with her. About the only good thing he
did was save his own daughter, Kara. However, wiping her
memories and trying to use her for his own schemes tainted
even that act.
Zor-El made several trips to Earth in the past, both to
study it and as part of various schemes. After Zor-El’s death
and Krypton’s destruction, Zor-El’s clone eventually came
to Earth. He brought along the clone of Lara and a blue
kryptonite ring that both stripped Clark of his powers and
allowed Lara and Zor-El’s clones to remain on Earth. Zor-El’s
attitude hadn’t improved; he planned to wipe out humanity
and rule the planet as a New Krypton. He even went so far
as to try to kill his own daughter when she disobeyed him.
In the end Clark was able to destroy the ring, regaining his
powers and destroying Zor-El’s duplicate—though at the cost
of losing his mother again.
Current Events: The original Zor-El, like most of
Krypton, is dead. So is the clone duplicate he created.
However, given Kryptonian technology and Zor-El’s twisted
brilliance, he could easily return.
111
 CASEFILES
Classified: Zor-El had plans within plans. Plans to destroy
his world, kill his brother, steal his brother’s wife, rob Clark
of his powers, and rule Earth. He seemed to always have
another scheme, usually with numerous steps that took years
to accomplish. In addition, he was a brilliant Kryptonian
scientist with vast knowledge of technology and the universe
outside Earth.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Brainiac is a tool of Rao’s will d6
▼▼ Clark is an obstacle to my plans d6
▼▼ Do not disobey me, my dear Kara d8
▼▼ We will be together, Lara d10
▼▼ Zod is a useful but dangerous instrument d4
RESOURCES
▼▼ Kandor (Information, Technology) 2d8
▼▼ Prophecies of Rao (Inspiration, Zealotry) 2d10
ASSETS
Flight d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Dive bomb an enemy and Increase your Injured or
Afraid Stress pool for this attack.
▼▼ Change direction quickly to fly around an obstacle; you
may use this obstacle as a d8 Useful Detail.
▼▼ Join another scene you are not a part of, even if you can’t
get there by ground.
Genius d8
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal you’ve studied a subject and
know its basics.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
assume others can’t follow your complicated thinking.
Heat Vision d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a wide angle sweep effect that inflicts Insecure or
Afraid Stress.
▼▼ Destroy an inanimate object as big as a car. Spend two Plot
Points for an object as big as a house. Spend three for an
object as big as a river.
Invulnerability d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress pool.
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
Kryptonian Heritage d10
Limits: Kryptonite, Magic, Red Sun
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your Abilities are Shutdown by
green or blue kryptonite or you Choose to act on baser
instincts under the sway of red kryptonite.
▼▼ Add a d6 to the Trouble pool to use a Special Effect from a
connected Ability you don’t have.
112 THE WATCHTOWER REPORT
ZONERS AND ALIENS
Manipulative d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
Scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have
a Relationship.
Mastermind d12
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Reroll when dealing with
characters you have a history of manipulating.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve planned for this
eventuality and have the resources necessary for your
plan.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when your plan comes
to fruition.
Fanatic (Prophecies of Rao, Lara-El) d8
▼▼ E xacerbate your own Injured or Exhausted Stress to
Reroll a die for your cause.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble and Shift Injured or Exhausted
Stress to Angry Stress when you blame someone for
setbacks to your cause.
Super-Breath d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Trap someone in a sheath of ice. They must win a contest
against you to break free.
▼▼ Clear a scene of all dust, smoke, loose debris, or sand.
Super-Senses d6
Limits: Lead (Sight), Sonic (Hearing)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ See through objects to find specific people or objects.
▼▼ Hear or see into a nearby scene you’re not in.
Super-Speed d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless of
distance.
▼▼ Catch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
Super-Strength d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object or break off a sharpened
piece of metal or stone to use as a weapon (d8 Useful
Detail).
THE STORY SO FAR

FROM: ARCHER01
TO: MERCY@Watchtower, BOYSCOUT, SEAKING, JJMARS,
JSA_ALL, RUNRUNRUN, CYB_VIC, MISS_ZZ, EMILH, SONGBIRD
SUBJECT: We Who Are About to Die
Everything’s coming together so quickly here that I
wanted to shoot off this brief note to let you all know
that, whatever happens with this whole Darkseid thing,
we need a game plan. We need an exit strategy. Could be
that the world’s going to end, but you know how I like to
remain optimistic. I’m not copying Chloe on this. You can
guess why. As I type this up, I’m making plans to follow
up on some leads, and I think they’re going to pan out, but
just in case…
Anyway, I’ve attached a few options for you all to look at,
plus a summary of the major issues we’re likely to deal
with. Do with it what you can. Keep on target.
And Tess? Great job this year. You almost had me going
with the secret clone thing, but that turned out OK. Right?
Don’t do anything crazy while I’m out.
THE STORY SO FAR
[ORION.DOCX] [QUEENFINANCIALS2011.XLSX]
[MIA_CASEFILE.DOCX]
Season Ten is the big finale, the culmination of ten years
of Smallville. And it’s been a wild ride, one that we covered
9/10ths of in the Smallville Roleplaying Game’s Story So Far
section. And because we’re completists here at Watchtower,
you can bet we’re not done covering that story. So here it is,
a chapter full of updates, new Features, episode summaries,
and fun stuff. Take it, make of it what you will, and keep telling
those Smallville stories. We know you’ve got a Season Eleven
in you.
Season Ten
Leads: Clark Kent, Lois Lane, Oliver Queen, Tess Mercer, with
Chloe Sullivan
The principal story in Season Ten is Clark facing up to the
fact that he’s not yet ready to embrace his destiny and become
the hero he needs to be, and then doing what he needs to do
to be ready. In a very literal sense, he needs to step out of the
shadows of his past and into the Light.
Clark begins the season having fallen to his death after
the battle with Zod. After shades of the past, including
Jonathan Kent, usher him through a near-death experience,
Jor-El denies him his heritage. Clark needs the advice and
counsel of family, friends, and even former enemies in
order to overcome the Darkness within him before the
real Darkness—the being known as Darkseid—threatens
to destroy everything he loves. Betrayal, redemption,
life, and death all play a significant part this year. Even as
Clark struggles to make his way into the future, as a hero,
a husband, and a worthy son, his allies must each confront
their own demons.
114 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Lois begins the year knowing Clark’s secret—he and the
Blur are one and the same. She keeps this to herself initially,
turning the tables on her super-powered boyfriend, trying
to decide what sort of future they might have together. She
spends time soul-searching but returns to join the heroes of
Watchtower in their battle against the Vigilante Registration Act
and General Slade Wilson. Being brought into the circle of trust
surrounding Clark has its dark moments, of course, and Lois
finds herself in even greater peril than before. Is this the life she
wants? Will Clark be honest with her?
Oliver’s own happiness is shattered when the Suicide Squad
kidnaps then releases him, only to learn that his freedom comes
at the cost of Chloe’s own incarceration. His path quickly turns
to shadow and he wrestles constantly with his inner demons, his
guilt, and his fate. In order to oppose the Vigilante Registration
Act, Ollie comes clean to the public about his identity as Green
Arrow. This confession immediately draws the attention of
friends and foes alike, setting Oliver on his final journey of self-
discovery as a hero.
Tess stumbles upon a plot hatched years ago by Lex to
clone himself in the event of his death. At Cadmus Labs—a
location supposedly mothballed and defunded—row after
row of clone vats are found. Although Tess brings Clark in on
the investigation, she doesn’t let him know that she’s given a
home to a young clone, Alexander, who appears to be growing
rapidly. Throughout the season, Tess’ care for Alexander leads
to startling revelations about Alexander’s genetic heritage
and Tess’ own origins. Clones, both good and bad, mark Tess’
primary plotline for Season Ten.
Who lives? Who dies? And how many secrets will finally be
uncovered before the end?
10.01 LAZARUS
Writers: Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
Director: Kevin Fair
Features: Jonathan Kent (shade), Lex Luthor (LX-3 clone),
Alexander Luthor (LX-15 clone), Rick Flag
Clark has fallen from the crow’s nest where he fought Zod,
the blue kryptonite dagger in his abdomen. Lois finds his lifeless
body and removes the dagger, which allows his regenerative
powers to bring him back to life. Clark experiences a dream-like
vision in which Jor-El rebukes him for his sacrifice, followed by
a prophetic glimpse of Lex in a cornfield. Lois departs before
Clark awakes—aware of his secret, but not ready to tell him
she knows.
Clark returns to Watchtower, where Chloe is reviewing
footage of Oliver’s abduction. A mysterious figure (Rick Flag)
declares he’s coming after the rest of Oliver’s team. Chloe sends
Clark looking for information about Lex’s hidden facilities; then
she travels to the Justice Society brownstone to seek help from
the Helm of Nabu regarding Ollie’s disappearance. While Clark
and Lois dance around their respective secrets in the Daily
Planet archive room, Chloe experiences her own prophetic
vision while wearing the Helm of Nabu and then collapses.
Clark learns that LuthorCorp subsidiary Cadmus Labs is still
secretly active.
 Clark is not ready yet, and that Lex was not the Darkness Jor-El
Oliver finds himself in the custody of Rick Flag, leader of
spoke of. Dejected, Clark returns to Smallville where Jonathan
the Suicide Squad. Flag tries to extract information about the
Kent's shade visits him and provides him with encouraging
Kandorians and other recent events from Oliver, but he resists.
advice. Clark must step into the Light and be the man he needs
While this is going on, Tess awakens at Cadmus Labs to find
to be, regardless of what either of his fathers wants of him.
that not only has her face been healed of its terrible burns, but
Chloe exchanges herself for Oliver, who gets released. Tess
also the laboratory has been used to create multiple clones of
brings Alexander to the Luthor Mansion, where she hopes to
Lex. She finds a young clone, Alexander (LX-15), and helps him
raise him herself. Lois travels to Africa, hoping to process all
escape from an older degenerate clone, LX-3. The older Lex
she’s recently learned. And at the crow’s nest where Clark and
locks Tess in a room, sets the lab on fire, and leaves.
Zod battled, a terrifying black phantom emerges—Darkseid has
Clark brings Chloe back to Watchtower to recover. She says
arrived on Earth.
she foresaw him as the hero he’s meant to be, telling him that he
needs to go to the burning Cadmus Labs. After he leaves, Chloe
10.02 SHIELD
makes a decision and bids Watchtower farewell. Clark arrives at
Writer: Jordan Hawley
Cadmus and frees Tess, who says that the older Lex clone asked
Director: Glen Winter
to meet Clark at Lawson’s Field in Smallville.
Features: Carter Hall, Cat Grant, Deadshot, Gordon Godfrey
Clark super-speeds to the field and confronts LX-3. The
(voice), Plastique
clone provokes Clark, who is overcome by anger and almost
With Lois on assignment in Egypt, the Daily Planet hires Cat
chokes LX-3 to death. This is the Darkness inside him, the clone
Grant, a chirpy new reporter, to be Clark’s new partner. Clark's
says; he tells Clark that he has a choice: save Lois, who is crucified
unhappy with the arrangement, especially since Cat’s favorite
somewhere in the burning cornfield, or save Metropolis from a
radio personality is hero-hating pundit Gordon Godfrey. While
bomb at the Daily Planet. Clark chooses to do both, using the
out on a story, the two reporters are targeted with crosshairs by
vacuum caused by his super-speed to extinguish the burning
a menacing figure in a hat and coat—Deadshot. The marksman
cornfield and pushing his limits to reach Metropolis. In a
shoots Cat’s car with unerring accuracy, causing the engine to
tremendous feat of superhuman ability, Clark leaps up the side of
explode, but Clark super-speeds them to safety. He encourages
the Daily Planet, catches the falling globe and sets it back in place.
Cat to stay somewhere safe for the time being, giving her the
Feeling that he’s done what he needs to do, Clark returns
key to Lois’ Talon apartment. When Cat arrives at the Talon
to his barn to retrieve the red and blue suit his mother gave
apartment, she runs into Oliver Queen in Green Arrow garb.
him. However, Jor-El transports him to the Fortress of Solitude,
Oliver’s looking for a clue about Chloe’s location, but all he does
where his suit has been encased in a column of crystal. Jor-El says
is scare Cat, confirming her fears about vigilantes.

THE STORY SO FAR 115

 With Tess’ help, Clark determines that the bullet is special
ammunition used by Deadshot, an assassin Tess knows of from
her time in Checkmate. Each bullet has a name engraved on it;
Clark mistakenly believes this one’s engraved with Cat Grant’s
name, though only a few letters are visible. In the course of
investigating, they learn that Cat isn’t her real name. Clark goes
to the Talon apartment to question Cat further and learns that
she’s been hiding the existence of her son, hoping to protect him
from his father. Cat also says that vigilantes like Green Arrow
are out to get her.
Tess urges Clark to return to Watchtower where she reveals
that the name on the bullet is his, not Cat’s. However, Cat may
still be in danger, as Deadshot could target those close to Clark
to provoke him into action. Clark races off to find Cat, who
has packed her bags and slipped out of the Talon in disguise.
At the train station, Deadshot confronts Cat, who tries to flee.
Deadshot’s bullet is intercepted by Clark, who knocks Deadshot
out and uses his super-speed to make it appear that Cat’s
bulletproof vest stopped the bullet. Cat, none the wiser, thanks
Clark for showing up to see if she’s all right and insists that
ordinary people like him are the real heroes. Clark is unaware
that he’s been marked with a mysterious skull symbol.
THE STORY SO FAR
Meanwhile, in Egypt, Lois meets Carter Hall on his
archaeological dig site. She confides in him about her fears and
he shares stories about the goddess Isis, the god Ra, and about
the tragedy of love and death. Carter mistakenly kisses Lois
during a vision of his wife, Shayera, and then apologizes; Lois
realizes that the tales he’s been telling are his own past lives, and
that she needs to live in the present rather than worry about her
future. After Lois leaves to return home to the USA, a disguised
Plastique marks Carter with the same skull symbol…
10.03 SUPERGIRL
Writer: Anne Cofell Saunders
Director: Mairzee Almas
Features: Kara Kent, Gordon Godfrey
Radio personality Gorden Godfrey holds a press
conference, covered by Clark and the newly-returned Lois Lane.
Godfrey, who has become an agent of the power of Darkseid,
is spreading his anti-hero message to the gathered crowd. Lois
stands up to him, but a billboard collapses on her when Godfrey
unveils it. Clark races to save Lois, just as his cousin Kara swoops
in and saves the day. Clark is stunned to see Kara again, and Lois
comments that his cousin appears to now have super powers.
When Clark later meets Kara at a photo shoot, she admits that
Jor-El sent her to Earth to fight the coming Darkness, as Clark
isn’t yet ready to do so.
Lois chases down Godfrey at a church and confronts him
about his vitriolic message. Godfrey responds by revealing that
he knows Oliver Queen is really Green Arrow and that his new
book will spill the beans. Lois warns Oliver, who’s upset over
Chloe’s recent disappearance, but his grudging acceptance of
his own fate compels Lois to seek alternative solutions. She
masquerades as Godfrey’s limo driver; after driving him to a
fetish club called Club Desaad, she takes on another guise as a
club worker. Although she’s able initially to tie him up, he frees
himself and then subdues her.
116 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Clark and Kara arrive at Club Desaad to save Lois and
oppose Godfrey. Darkseid’s power reaches out to Clark, but
Kara stops it with her own purity of heart. The danger averted
for the time being, Clark accepts that he needs more training if
he’s going to turn back the Darkness both in himself and in the
days to come.
Lois later meets with Oliver and gives him all the material
Godfrey had on Green Arrow, assuring him that his secret is
safe. Despite this renewed anonymity, Oliver decides it’s time
to make his identity public. He calls a press conference and
announces to the world that Oliver Queen and Green Arrow
are one and the same.
10.04 HOMECOMING
Writers: Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Features: Brainiac, Greg Arkin
Clark and Lois return to Smallville High for their 5-year
reunion celebration, despite Lois having only been a student for
a matter of days during Clark’s senior year. As a result, all of the
people she meets fail to recognize her, causing her no end of
frustration; the memories of Lana Lang that the reunion brings
back for Clark also pain her.
At the reunion are Brainiac, who takes steps to ensure
that Clark isn’t confronted by the school principal, and Greg
Arkin, who seems intent on confronting Clark himself. For
his part, Clark experiences several flashbacks to his school
life, remembering his absent friends. He and Lois meet the
new editors of the Smallville Torch, who are embracing social
networking and the digital age. They’re as ready to believe that
Chloe’s disappearance is a conspiracy as Chloe was to believe in
meteor freaks in her day.
Clark and Lois are crowned Homecoming King and Queen,
but Clark spots Greg in the crowd. Before he can act, time stops
around him. Brainiac appears in front of Clark and announces
that he’s from the future of the Legion, a new version of Brainiac
with a moral center. In truth, he’s here to show Clark how
important he is to history. Using Legion technology, Brainiac
reveals pivotal moments in time: the death of Jonathan Kent,
which Clark blamed himself for; Oliver Queen in the present,
following his public unveiling as Green Arrow, waiting for a
call back from Clark that hasn’t come; Lois back at the reunion,
alone on the dance floor and questioning whether Clark loves
her. Clark sees that he’s a slave to the past; his friends and loved
ones are suffering because he won’t let go of the Darkness that’s
holding him back.
Clark sees that Greg Arkin is closing on Lois and tries to
wrestle the Legion ring from Brainiac’s finger. Brainiac resists,
and as a result Clark accidentally triggers a flash-forward to
2017, leaving Brainiac behind. He sees his life at the Daily Planet
with Lois, who’s aware of his identity. In this future, he and Lois
are successful reporters, he’s maintaining an alter-ego through
the use of glasses and a meek demeanor, and he’s the hero of the
people. He runs into his future self, who enlists his aid in saving
Lois while future-Clark prevents a reactor explosion. Racing
to the roof in time to keep the Daily Planet helicopter from
crashing, Clark realizes how much others will depend on him.
Brainiac appears and claims that, while he didn’t intend for it
to happen this way, he nevertheless intended to show Clark the
future. He wants Clark to see that this is his destiny and that
Lois is his partner in it.
Back in the present once again, Clark sees that Greg’s just
trying to tell Lois how Clark set him on the right path and gave
him the opportunity to be more than just a meteor freak. Clark
reunites with Lois, but the reunion ends before they can have
their promised dance together. Later, after Clark spends time at
his father’s grave and stands beside Oliver at a press conference
for moral support, he returns to the barn at the Kent Farm to see
that Lois has decked it out with lights and a mirror ball. They
finally have their dance, their partnership restored.
10.05 ISIS
Writer: Genevieve Sparling
Director: James Marshall
Features: Alexander Luthor (LX-15), Cat Grant, Isis (in Lois’ body)
The Metropolis Museum is about to open its newest exhibit,
a display of Egyptian artifacts recently sent to the United States
by Carter Hall. As part of the exhibit’s unveiling, Oliver Queen
will be making an entrance as Green Arrow. Tess arrives and
teases Oliver about the spectacle, and Oliver jabs back by asking
if Tess even knows what love is. It’s revealed that one of the prize
artifacts of the exhibit is missing: the amulet of Isis. In truth,
Lois has it—it fell into her luggage while she was in Egypt. As
she heads into work at the Daily Planet, grabbing some of her
clothes from her still-unpacked suitcases, the amulet of Isis
comes with her.
Clark meets with Oliver to talk about honesty, love, and
revealing one’s secrets. Clark wants to tell Lois that he’s the Blur,
unaware that she already knows. Oliver cautions him, claiming
that Lois left Ollie over the whole super hero identity business.
Clark isn’t dissuaded and goes to see Lois. Cat Grant interferes
with his conversation, however, by suggesting that she and Clark
investigate the missing amulet story. Frustrated, Clark tells Lois
to meet him on the roof because he has something he needs to
tell her. While she’s up on the roof waiting for him, Lois finds
the amulet in her bag; when sunlight is refracted through the
amulet, it triggers a spiritual metamorphosis: Lois is possessed
by the spirit of the ancient Nile goddess, Isis.
Clark arrives on the roof, only to be brushed off by
Lois/Isis. Announcing that she cares nothing for him, she
flies off, leaving him stunned by both this revelation and
her newfound abilities. He goes to Watchtower to get more
information from Oliver, but the two of them are clearly
missing Chloe’s expertise at this point. Tess is brought up
as a possible replacement, but Oliver nixes the idea. They’re
at least able to determine that Isis plans to bring back her
consort, Osiris, which would be very bad indeed. It’s up to
Clark to prevent this from happening—though Oliver has no
plans of staying out of the operation.
Isis retrieves the heart of Osiris from museum storage,
witnessed by Cat Grant, who’s snooping around. Clark blurs in,
sees that Cat’s about to get in trouble, and whisks her away at
super-speed. Cat takes the news of Lois’s apparent superhuman
powers to Tess, hoping for a front-page story. Tess laughs it
off, but knows enough to take this to Oliver. Although at first
Oliver doesn’t want Tess’ help, Clark joins them and encourages
Oliver to let her help. Tess says she has a way of returning Lois
to normal, and Clark takes this knowledge to the Metropolis
Museum in order to interrupt Isis’ ritual.
Unfortunately for Clark, Isis overpowers him. She’s learned
that the heart of Osiris is only dust, but Clark’s heart may be
just what she needs. Oliver arrives before Clark gets his heart
cut out by a ritual dagger. Cat Grant is also on scene, but Oliver
stuffs her into a sarcophagus to get her out of the way. When Isis
realizes she can’t have her husband back, she announces that
Clark won’t have his beloved’s heart, either, and prepares to stab
herself in the heart. Oliver uses his peerless archery to knock the
amulet from around Isis’ neck, and Clark uses his heat vision
to channel solar power through it and back into Lois. Isis is
exorcised and Lois is saved.
Oliver and Clark welcome Tess into the inner circle of
Watchtower. Tess is glad of their trust in her, but later goes back
to her mansion to the secret that she can’t reveal to either of
them—Alexander Luthor is living with her and growing at an
alarming rate. She tells his doctors that she’ll try to give him the
love he needs.
Later, Cat’s convinced that Lois is the Blur and confronts her
at the Daily Planet. After stabbing Lois in the hand with a pen
and flashing around photographic proof, Cat seems determined
that she knows the truth. Clark throws her off, however, by
saying that it was merely the spirit of Isis giving Lois powers.
Once Cat leaves, Lois and Clark finally reveal their own secrets
to each other—Clark is the Blur and Lois already knows.
10.06 HARVEST
Writers: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
Director: Turi Meyer
Features: Alexander Luthor (LX-15)
Clark and Lois are on assignment covering a cherry
festival out in the country. The car ride offers an opportunity
to catch Lois up on all things Kryptonian, including the
Phantom Zone, Kara’s space ship, and the fact that Clark is
an alien from another planet. Out in the middle of nowhere,
the car blows a tire. A young girl named Charlotte arrives on
the scene, forcing Clark to eschew his super-speed and instead
just walk to the nearest mechanic for a new tire. Charlotte
gives Lois a glass of lemonade. When Clark gets back, they’re
nowhere to be found.
Clark meets a deputy who offers to accompany him to
the nearest village. Clark discovers he’s unable to use his
powers, so he accepts the offer. Lois already arrived there,
led by Charlotte and promises of directions to a train station.
The village resembles an Amish community, and Charlotte’s
family insists that Lois stay for dinner. Clark, on his way to
the village, discovers that their water supply is tainted by blue
kryptonite, which explains his lack of powers. The deputy
explains that since the meteor shower of 1989, nobody in their
town has gotten sick, the crops have always been good, and
their lives have been blessed. Clark argues that he needs to
find Lois and get back to Metropolis, but the deputy knocks
him unconscious.
THE STORY SO FAR 117
 When Clark wakes, he’s been locked up in a house with
Lois, who’s wearing old-fashioned clothing. Lois has learned
that she’s here to be a sacrifice, part of a yearly ritual that the
villagers believe is the cause of their prosperity and good crops.
Clark confesses that he’s powerless due to the Blue K, and Lois
confesses that she’s the one who removed the Blue K dagger
from Clark after his battle with Zod. They try to slip out of
town, but the villagers notice Lois’ painted nails and grab them
again. Clark is mortally wounded with a farm implement and
tossed into a grave; Lois is tied up to an altar, with a cauldron of
molten blue kryptonite above her, poised to drop. Being below
the ground puts Clark out of range of the Blue K’s influence. His
wounds heal and he bursts out of the grave, racing off to save
Lois from a fiery death.
Although the villagers succeed in upending the cauldron
above the altar, Clark arrives in time to shield Lois with his
body. Clark is horribly burned but soon heals from his wounds,
to the shock and awe of the villagers. Together, he and Lois
proclaim the sacrifices must end, and he’ll return to punish
them if they try it again. Clark and Lois leave the village and
head back to Metropolis.
The story of the sacrificial cult hits the front page of the
THE STORY SO FAR
Daily Planet, thanks to Lois and Clark’s reporting. The two
reporters spend a night of intimacy with each other for the first
time, marking a major shift in their relationship.
While Clark and Lois have been enduring their trial in the
village, Tess has been enduring a trial of her own. Alexander
continues to show accelerated growth and reveals that he has
the original Lex’s memories. Despite Tess’ efforts, he rebukes
her and announces that he is not Alexander but Lex, the enemy
of Clark Kent.
10.07 AMBUSH
Writers: Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
Director: Christopher Petry
Features: General Sam Lane, LaSalle, Lucy Lane, Rick Flag
Clark and Lois are surprised when Lois’ father, General Sam
Lane, and her sister Lucy show up on the doorstep of the Kent
Farm for Thanksgiving. General Lane is a known opponent of
superhuman vigilantes, so Lois warns Clark to steer clear of talk
of the Blur and the Vigilante Registration Act. It also appears
that Clark’s mother Martha, as US Senator, is General Lane’s
key opponent in Washington DC over the Act. To top it off, it’s
obvious that the whole reason General Lane is here is to observe
Clark and determine his suitability as a match for his daughter.
Suicide Squad leader Rick Flag also tracks the General’s
arrival in Smallville. Flag has a mobile HQ and has brought his
agent LaSalle along with him to keep an eye on the General’s
progress. Flag himself is the subject of a discussion between
Tess Mercer and Oliver Queen, who find a Suicide Squad brand
imprinted subdermally on Oliver’s body. Tess says she knew of
Flag when she was with Checkmate. Oliver identifies Flag as the
man who tortured him when he was kidnapped. It’s clear that
Rick Flag has taken the Suicide Squad and gone rogue—a man
with his own agenda.
Oliver travels to the Kent Farm to tell Clark about the
brands and finds that Clark has one also (from “Shield.”) Lucy
118 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
arrives; Oliver has to sneak out and the mystery of the brand is
put on hold. Lucy flirts with Clark, even kissing him just as Lois
arrives. Lois and Lucy have a heated discussion outside where
it becomes clear that Lucy’s trying to cause trouble for Lois
with the General. As the tension between Clark, Lois, and the
General rises, Lucy goes to get ice and runs into Rick Flag. He
shows her incriminating photos of Clark with his cousin Kara;
in her current state of mind, Flag has no trouble convincing her
to slip a pen-shaped tracking device on her father.
The General confronts Clark with the photos and they
argue about Lois, the VRA, and responsibility. He informs Lois
and Lucy that they’re leaving, heading for Lois’ Talon apartment
instead of staying at the farm. There, Lois turns on her family
and says that if they can’t respect her choices then they need
to stay out of her life. General Lane leaves with Lucy, absent-
mindedly setting the pen with the tracking device down on
a counter.
Oliver and Tess learn to their horror that it's General Lane,
not Clark, who's Flag’s target. In fact, Flag is an opponent of
the VRA, as he supports metahumans and would recruit Clark
before trying to hurt him. They tell Clark, who realizes that the
Lane family is now a target for Flag’s Suicide Squad. As a missile
is launched from the mobile HQ, Clark super-speeds to the
Talon, rescues Lois, and races her to safety before the missile
blows up the Talon. Clark and Oliver stop Flag before he gets
away, but Flag claims that he’s on their side and a patriot. Before
the two heroes can grab him, Flag is teleported away by LaSalle.
General Lane admits that he’s glad his daughter was rescued
by the Blur, and that Lois stood up to him in a way that she never
did when her other boyfriends were “tested.” He’s not certain
that all metahumans have the same moral character as the Blur,
however, and warns Clark that they shouldn’t be ignored. The
VRA passes through Congress, and Flag declares war.
10.08 ABANDONED
Writers: Drew Landis & Julia Swift
Director: Kevin Fair
Features: Ella Lane (recording), Granny Goodness, Harriet,
Jor-El (hologram), Lara Jor-El (hologram)
Tess has a nightmare about herself as a child, trying to
escape an orphanage after playing with a music box. When
she wakes, she finds that someone has left a music box in the
Luthor Mansion that’s identical to the one in the nightmare.
She contacts Clark and together they piece together the music
box’s origin: St. Louise’s Orphanage, in Metropolis. They go to
the orphanage, with Clark using his Daily Planet credentials
to justify their visit. When they arrive, the orphanage’s matron,
Granny Goodness, gives them a tour.
Lois, meanwhile, has received a box of things her mother
Ella left to her when she died. She finds a video recording in the
box, which turns out to be a tape Ella made before her death.
Ella tells Lois how much she loved her and her sister; she didn’t
want them to see her on her deathbed, but to remember her as
a mother.
At the orphanage, Clark hears a little girl crying with his
super-hearing and excuses himself. He finds the girl tied up in
a basement room and frees her. The girl says that Granny did
this, but when Clark asks her for more information the sound
of metal scraping on stone reaches his ears. He hides the girl but
is confronted by a group of young women. Their leader, Harriet,
wears kryptonite-powered claws. Weakened, Clark is taken
prisoner to await Granny’s interrogation.
Granny reveals to Tess that the orphanage is a training
home for women, raised to go out into society and conquer
it. Many of her former wards are now in positions of power,
Tess included. Tess is shocked to learn that her nightmare was
a memory of her time here. It was Granny who took Tess from
the hospital after her battle with Zod and enabled her to be
healed at Cadmus. Tess refuses to side with Granny and runs,
but the matron displays great telekinetic power and stops her.
Tess is locked away in her old room while Granny goes to deal
with Clark.
Clark is strung up in chains in a room with Harriet and
Granny’s other girls and a forge stoked with glowing green
kryptonite. He offers to rescue the girls, but they’re too far gone
with brainwashing and indoctrination. Granny arrives and says
she’ll remove Clark’s painful memories, leaving him ready to
side with her. Harriet and the others go to check on Tess, but
she’s broken out of her room. Tess and Harriet fight, and Tess
wins; however, another woman strangles Tess with a whip and
prepares to hang her. Clark uses his arctic breath to cover the
kryptonite forge and breaks free of Granny, but she’s already
disappeared. He rescues Tess from being hanged.
Lois goes to Clark’s loft in the barn and finds the Fortress of
Solitude portal key. She travels there and asks to speak to Jor-El,
demanding that he take up his role as Clark’s father. In response,
Jor-El raises Lois up in a pillar of light. Clark, back from his
trials at the orphanage, tracks Lois to the Fortress and tells
Jor-El to release her. Holographic images of Jor-El and Clark’s
mother Lara materialize before Clark and Lois; they tell Clark
that they love him and wish him a life of happiness. Comforted
by this admission by his parents, even if it was recorded years
ago on Krypton, Clark takes Lois back to the farm and suggests
they go out on a real date.
Granny meets up with her fellow Prophets of Darkseid,
Godfrey and Desaad. They form a trinity of evil, the front line
in the coming war of Darkness. Tess, meanwhile, has acquired
a birth certificate that reveals she was born Lutessa Lena
Luthor, daughter of Lionel Luthor and Pamela Jenkins. Granny
was right…
10.09 PATRIOT
Writers: John Chisholm
Director: Tom Welling
Features: Arthur Curry, Emil Hamilton, General Slade Wilson,
Mera
A cabal of military officers and government officials
reviews the current state of the VRA at Fort Ryan, in Kansas.
VRA offices have been targeted by bombers (as in “Ambush”).
Even as they meet, Arthur Curry—AKA Aquaman—and a
mysterious red-haired woman are destroying an oilrig. General
Slade Wilson says the Office of the President has put him in
charge of the VRA and it’s time the vigilantes stepped forward
to be registered.
Clark and Oliver meet at Watchtower where Dr. Hamilton
removes their brands. Oliver’s nervous about being there,
especially now that he’s gone public. He doesn’t want to put the
THE STORY SO FAR 119
 others in the League in danger, and AC’s actions are making
the “good guys” look like terrorists. Clark offers to sign up with
the VRA, but Oliver challenges him, saying that as he’s already
outed, he should be the one to do it.
Later, Oliver meets Lois by her desk at the Daily Planet. He
tells her that he’s going to sign up and that Clark's considering
registering as well. Oliver says that Clark needs her, and that his
friends need to keep him from trying to do everything alone.
Even as they talk, Clark is super-speeding to Miami, where he
confronts AC about his actions. AC is upset that Clark has no
trust in him, and he introduces Clark to his new wife, Mera—
the redheaded woman who’s been helping him. He tells Clark
that they’re not going to stop fighting back against the VRA—
the oilrig was a holding facility, a prison for metahumans. Clark
agrees to go with Arthur to one of the facilities.
Lois uses her press credentials and her father’s name
to get an “interview” with Slade Wilson. Slade admits that,
while he respects her father, the real reason he agreed to talk
to her was because she’s responsible for so many Blur-related
news articles. Lois manages to snap a picture of a blueprint of
a metahuman holding facility, narrowly avoiding giving away
her motives to Slade. She heads to the Daily Planet to cover
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Oliver’s press conference and finds that government operatives
have essentially taken over the building while it’s going on. She
suspects that Oliver will be taken to one of the prisons and pleads
with Tess to stop them. Tess says her hands are tied. Frustrated,
Lois tracks down Dr. Hamilton at Met Gen and threatens him
until he reveals where Clark may have gone—Miami.
AC and Clark show up at an empty holding facility and
Clark recognizes the technology as related to that used in
LuthorCorp’s Level 33.1. Tess calls to warn them that Oliver
has been captured; the two heroes split up and search other
holding locations for him. Meanwhile, Oliver finds himself
undergoing rigorous trials to test his abilities and performance.
Slade’s impressed, but he says that they’re really trying to get
metahumans to sign up. Oliver’s just a highly skilled human.
Oliver refuses to give the other heroes’ names to the VRA, but
Slade shows that he’s already working on it. He reveals that AC
has been caught and is being held in the facility under heat
lamps; he then knocks the uncooperative Oliver unconscious.
Lois arrives in Miami and meets Mera, who says she knows
about Lois’ past with AC and that Lois isn’t worthy to be a
partner with men like AC and Clark. Lois brushes this off and
says she’s just trying to find Clark, so Mera takes her to him.
Clark’s surprised to see Lois, but Lois is even more surprised
when Tess appears on a monitor to update them all on the
situation. Lois vents her frustration at Clark for not including
her when she’s so obviously trying to support him. Tess alerts
them that the facilities are equipped with holding cells designed
to counter metahuman powers, and AC should have returned
by now. The only holding facility that seems to still be active is
in Alaska; Clark and Mera leave immediately.
Mera finds that Slade has been dunking Oliver in a tank of
water to torture information out of him. AC is in the same room,
dehydrated under heat lamps. She uses her power over water to
burst the tank and send the contents at AC, reviving him. Slade
activates another set of heat lamps, trapping Mera before fleeing.
120 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Oliver smashes the heat controls and together the heroes pursue
Slade. Clark finds him first, and the two face off in a hallway.
The facility’s self-destruct sequence has been activated. Slade
is confident, arrogant, and Clark sees an Omega symbol on his
forehead using his X-ray vision—he’s a servant of the Darkness.
Slade reveals the hallway is a green kryptonite cage, rendering
Clark helpless. Clark says he can save them both, but Slade would
rather die than let a threat like Clark live. The facility explodes,
apparently taking Slade and Clark with it.
Clark survived the blast, but Slade isn’t found. Clark and
AC talk about their different approaches to heroism, and AC
says that Lois needs to be brought into the loop. For him, having
a strong woman like Mera as his partner has been critical. Inside
the farmhouse, Mera tells Lois that she was wrong about her—
Lois is up to the challenge of being an equal partner. Clark and
Lois reconcile, agreeing to be more forthcoming about each
other’s activities. Clark takes Lois to Watchtower, where Tess,
Oliver, and the others welcome her to the team.
And in an undisclosed location, Slade Wilson is alive, now
wearing an eyepatch and more determined than ever to bring
down the Blur and his friends.
10.10 LUTHOR
Writers: Bryan Q. Miller
Director: Kelly Souders
Features: Clark Luthor (Earth-2), Lionel Luthor (Earth-2)
Now that she’s officially the heir to the Luthor empire, a
LuthorCorp lawyer gives Tess a package that contains one
of Lionel’s treasured artifacts. It’s a mirror box, possibly of
Kryptonian origin. Clark contacts her and asks her to meet
him at Cadmus Labs. When she arrives, he reveals that there’s
a clone of Lex unaccounted for, and that he’s found a lead-lined
room that was obviously being used to hide him. Tess confesses
that she’s been watching Alexander (LX-15) but before she can
explain, Clark spots the mirror box in her purse. He grabs it and
it activates, sending him into another universe.
Clark finds himself in a parallel world to his own, one
in which he was found by Lionel Luthor, not the Kents. Here,
Clark Luthor is a murderous villain who killed Lex Luthor and
goes by the name of Ultraman. Clark manages to play along,
convincing Lionel that he’s the Clark of this universe. Clark goes
to the Kent Farm where he runs into Tess. In this universe she’s
romantically involved with Clark. He’s shocked to learn that
she’s a Luthor, too, and he tells her he’s not the Clark she knows.
Tess realizes that the mirror box was involved. When Clark
returns to Metropolis to find Lois, he finds that she’s involved
with Oliver Queen in this reality. Lois accidentally hits him with
her car and is terrified that he will fire her. Apparently, Clark
Luthor also owns the Daily Planet.
In the Earth-1 reality, Clark Luthor has taken Clark Kent’s
place. He finds Tess in her office at the Daily Planet and she
realizes he’s a different Clark—he has a LuthorCorp scar on
his arm, and his behavior is much darker. Tess warns Lois after
Clark leaves, and the two women meet at Watchtower to figure
out what’s happened. When Clark arrives and threatens them,
Lois suspects red kryptonite is involved. When Clark asks about
the mirror box, however, Tess puts two and two together.
 On Earth-2, Tess and Lionel argue about Clark and the
mirror box; Lionel accuses her of being unworthy and Tess
declares that he’ll eventually be destroyed. Lionel has security
throw her out. Clark arrives at this universe’s Fortress of
Solititude, only to find that it’s been taken over by LuthorCorp
technology and mined for data. Lionel surprises him here, and
they talk. Clark says he wants the mirror box, so he can destroy
it; Lionel tells him that Oliver Queen has it. Clark races off
and comes up with a plan to kidnap Lois and force Oliver to
exchange her for the box. He convinces Lois that he might not
be the Clark Luthor she hates, but then Oliver arrives.
Clark’s plan fails when it turns out Oliver doesn’t have
the box at all. In this universe, Oliver Queen learned Clark’s
secret and has been buying up land from farmers and other
people, mining the earth for kryptonite. He uses a chunk of it
on Clark, weakening him. Lionel arrives and confesses that he
had the mirror box all the time. He and Clark fight, and Oliver
realizes that Clark has been telling him the truth. He covers
up the kryptonite, and Clark regains his strength, seizing the
mirror box. Lionel closes in on him, but he activates the box and
returns to his own universe.
Later, Clark apologizes not only to Lois for being put in
the hospital by Clark Luthor, but to Tess for his confrontational
attitude earlier about the Luthors. All seems well for the time
being—then it’s revealed that Lionel Luthor of the other Earth
made it across the dimensional barrier as well, ready to reclaim
what his counterpart lost before he died.
10.11 ICARUS
Writers: Genevieve Sparling
Director: Mairzee Almas
Features: Carter Hall, Cat Grant, Courtney Whitmore, Emil
Hamilton, General Slade Wilson, Lieutenant Trotter
Clark proposes to Lois on a Metropolis street beside a
phone booth. Although he intended to take her to dinner, the
Vigilante Registration Act is being enforced and Lois wanted
them out of the public eye. Showered with rose petals thanks to
Clark’s super-speed, Lois says yes.
The next day at the Daily Planet, Lois flashes her ring and
Cat Grant offers her own marital advice before spilling the
beans to Tess. Tess says that Lois needs to come to Watchtower
that evening to have her retinal scans made for security reasons.
In fact, this is just a ruse to get her (and Clark) to show up to a
surprise party in their honor. Carter Hall, Courtney Whitmore,
and Dr. Emil Hamilton toast the newly engaged couple and
counsel them on matters of the heart.
Oliver later sneaks out of Watchtower and heads back to his
hideout, but he chances on a mugging in progress. He thwarts
the mugger, but a crowd of onlookers gathers and assaults him.
Courtney and Carter rescue Oliver, who has taken a beating.
The story hits the news and Tess is brought in for questioning
by the VRA for any knowledge she may have on Oliver’s
activity. Dr. Hamilton is also detained. When Clark, Carter,
Oliver, and Courtney see that General Slade Wilson is alive and
well and stirring up anti-metahuman sentiment via the VRA,
THE STORY SO FAR 121
 they decide that Watchtower needs to be shut down and they
must all go into hiding.
Slade’s number two, Lieutenant Trotter, grabs Lois when
she arrives at the Daily Planet. She’s interrogated along with Emil
and Tess. Lois slips away when she’s left alone in Tess’ office, but
she runs into Cat Grant outside the building. Cat threatens to
turn Lois in to the VRA but Lois reminds her that the Blur has
saved her multiple times. Cat covers for Lois and warns her that
Slade’s people are gathering information on the heroes at that
moment thanks to Oliver’s records.
Despite their oath to go underground, Oliver, Clark, and
Carter all break into Slade’s office at the same time. They discover
that Slade’s been monitoring and watching them for some time
and that, not only is he marked with the Omega brand, but so
are most of the VRA and even the civilians who attacked Oliver.
Carter reveals that this is the mark of Darkseid—a powerful
entity that he defeated in one of his prior incarnations, but at
great cost. Only true heroes can defeat him.
Clark frees Emil and Tess from the VRA while Lois breaks
into LuthorCorp Plaza to stop Oliver’s records from being
seized. There she encounters Slade, who shows off his new
enhanced abilities. Carter flies in as Hawkman to save her, and
THE STORY SO FAR
he battles the berserk general. Slade cuts through a gas line with
his sword and stabs Carter in the back. The gas catches fire and
the room explodes. Lois is knocked out of the window and falls,
but Carter, his wings burning, flies after her.
Meanwhile, Slade escapes LuthorCorp Plaza but runs into
Clark who realizes that Slade is beyond all reason. He imprisons
the mad General in the Phantom Zone after Slade gloats about
122 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Carter’s and Lois’ deathes. Clark speeds off to LuthorCorp
Plaza; he finds Lois unharmed but Carter mortally wounded.
Carter implores Clark to keep the fight going against Darkseid
and to keep Lois beside him. He then goes to join his beloved
Shayera in the wheel of the afterlife.
Clark and the others in the League stage a burial for Carter,
burying him in his tomb in Egypt beside the grave of his wife.
Just as the ceremony ends, however, a white light flashes and all
of the heroes fall unconscious…
10.12 COLLATERAL
Writer: Jordan Hawley
Director: Morgan Beggs
Features: Deadshot, Dinah Lance, Lieutenant Trotter, Rick Flag
Some time has passed since the heroes were knocked
unconscious at Carter’s tomb. Lois is at Kent Farm, trying to
get through to the government, who apparently has Clark,
Oliver, Dinah, and the others in custody. Clark arrives on the
front porch, dressed in government-issue clothes, and reveals
that somehow the VRA removed his powers. He’s been having
flashbacks of some kind of treatment or experimentation,
including visions of Chloe hovering over him, giving orders.
Neither Clark nor Lois can remember all the details of their
capture. Meanwhile, Oliver returns to his offices in LuthorCorp
Plaza, only to find that they’re taped off. His nerves are shot,
reflexes not at their usual peak level. He suffers a flashback
hallucination, much like Clark’s, and smashes a glass table in
frustration.
Clark goes to Watchtower where he finds Dinah Lance,
also returned and without her powers. She shares her own

WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Vigilante Registration Act
This act of Congress, enacted in episode 10.07 Ambush
and repealed in 10.13 Beacon, forms the central conflict of
the middle of Season Ten. It gives you a perfect excuse to
play around with episodes that focus on vigilante behavior,
secret identities, government agents, and the like. You
might decide to present an alternate timeline, one where
registered heroes are forced to work for the government,
while others side with Flag’s Suicide Squad in resistance.
Or, you might consider using the VRA as a metaphor for
fear and paranoia, much as it was on the show, a means
of driving wedges between Leads who have Abilities and
those who don’t. And even though it’s repealed, some
dangerous politician—maybe even General Slade Wilson,
if he wakes up from his coma—might try to pass a similar
bill through Congress in the future.
similar experiences. The two heroes consider the possibility that
Chloe really is involved in their power loss somehow, but then
Dinah gets word that Oliver has been checked into the psych
ward at Metropolis General. Clark goes to visit him and realizes
that Oliver’s had the same visions as he and Dinah. He promises
Oliver he’ll find out what’s happened and get him out of the
straitjacket. Just after he leaves, a white-suited Chloe walks out
of the wall of the cell and greets an astonished Oliver.
Chloe explains that all of this is a virtual reality—Oliver,
Clark, Dinah, and the others are still unconscious and in
government custody. She tried to get them out, but their vital
signs spiked in the process. As an alternative, she’s created an
avatar and entered their shared virtual reality in the hope that she
can help them wake themselves up. Oliver makes his straitjacket
vanish, further proof of Chloe’s explanation. He follows Chloe
out of the psych ward, aiming to get to the virtual world’s exit
portal and wake up. Before they can leave the hospital, black ops
security goons appear and Chloe shows off her avatar’s enhanced
skills by shooting their way out.
Clark, Dinah, and Lois meet at the Daily Planet to discuss
their next move. They find video footage of Oliver and Chloe’s
violent escape from the hospital and try to make sense of what’s
happening with Chloe. Dinah believes that she’s turned to the
Dark side, but Lois refuses to believe her cousin would do that.
Clark gets a text from Chloe, asking him to meet her on the
roof. He slips away and finds Chloe and Oliver ready to make
the jump off the Daily Planet rooftop. Chloe explains that it’s the
only way out, but despite her urging Clark isn’t sure he trusts it.
As the VRA closes in, Chloe and Oliver leap off the roof and
vanish before they hit the ground.
In the real world, Oliver wakes up on the gurney he’s been
strapped to and finds that Chloe has taken over as the leader
of the Suicide Squad. Rick Flag and Deadshot are present—
they helped defend the unconscious heroes from VRA agents.
As Flag gives Oliver and Deadshot the best tactics to defend
their position, Chloe gets back into the virtual reality system to
retrieve the other sleeping heroes. Her first target is Dinah, who
engages Chloe in battle until Chloe’s virtual reality-warping
skills convince the Black Canary that she’s not in the real world.
Once Dinah returns, she joins Oliver and the Suicide Squad
in facing off with the VRA black ops troopers, and Chloe goes
back in for Clark, Lois, and the others.
Clark and Lois talk about Chloe and Clark’s uncertainty
about his old friend’s behavior. Lois reminds him of her cousin’s
past experiences with him, the adventures they’ve shared, and
the trust they’ve built up. Clark’s ready to believe that Chloe is
the real deal when the two of them run into her at the Daily
Planet, telling them they’re suffering from PTSD. However, this
isn’t Chloe; in the real world, Lieutenant Trotter of the VRA
and some of her men have broken into the console room and
knocked Chloe out. This new Chloe is a fake, under the control
of a VRA engineer. Trotter takes a blindfolded Chloe outside
and toward a waiting chopper, but Flag’s team—including
Oliver and Dinah—take out the VRA just in time.
Back in the virtual world, Clark and Lois have ignored
Chloe and headed to the Daily Planet rooftop. Again, Chloe
appears, trying to talk them out of jumping, even multiplying
herself to interfere, but Lois keeps Clark focused. The two of
them leap off the roof and Clark flies, circling the building with
his fiancée in his arms before exiting through the portal.
Later, Clark and Chloe reconcile, talking about trust and
how hard it is to keep when you don’t have all the answers.
Chloe and Oliver renew their romance. Flag has made sure that
Lieutenant Trotter and her VRA team won’t be bothering the
heroes for a while, locked up in the virtual reality mainframe.
And Lois assures Clark that one day—sooner rather than later—
he’ll be able to fly the way he did in the virtual world.
10.13 BEACON
Writers: Don Whitehead & Holly Henderson
Director: Michael Rohl
Features: Alexander Luthor (LX-15), Lionel Luthor (Earth-2),
Martha Kent
After learning about some editorial decisions she never
approved, Tess walks into her Daily Planet office and finds
Lionel Luthor there, taking back his old job as owner of the
Daily Planet. Although she knows this is really the Earth-2
Lionel, there’s nothing she can do—he’s explained his apparent
death away and seized the LuthorCorp assets. He tells her that
he knows she’s been raising Alexander, the clone of his son,
and demands to know where he is. Tess won’t tell him, but she
knows it’s only a matter of time until he finds out.
Public resistance to the VRA is in full swing, resulting in rallies
to defend the world’s heroes from those who would force them to
register. Martha Kent, Senator from Kansas, heads up one rally
and tells those in attendance to reject fear-mongering. As Clark
and Lois watch her on live TV, they’re shocked when a shot rings
out and Martha collapses. Clark super-speeds to the scene but he
doesn’t get there in time to stop the bullet or catch the killer. Martha
is treated for a mild injury, but she says this won’t stop her from
speaking out. Clark is reminded that his parents swore to protect
him, even at the cost of their own lives. He resolves to find out who
did this before Martha or anyone else gets hurt.
THE STORY SO FAR 123
 Clark and Oliver examine the crime scene and, when Clark
grows weak, they determine that the bullet was fashioned from
kryptonite. The shooter knew Clark’s weakness and that he’d
show up to save Martha. Lois asks Martha for advice about
getting the public to see the value of heroes like the Blur, and
Martha suggests a grassroots approach just like Perry used to.
Lois reaches out to Chloe for assistance in collecting pro-Blur
videos and messages and spreading them virally online.
Lionel tracks Alexander to an abandoned building in
Suicide Slums and learns that it was Alexander who shot
Martha. Lionel convinces the wary clone that he only has
Alexander’s best interests at heart. He confesses that, on his
world, he chose Clark over Lex, but this time he wants to
correct his mistakes. When Oliver arrives later at his office
at LuthorCorp Plaza, he finds Lionel and Alexander there,
assuming control of all LuthorCorp assets. Lionel tells Oliver
that it’s all his fault for telling the world who he is, and that
this VRA affair has made it much easier for Lionel to seize the
holdings back from Oliver.
Clark figures out that Alexander is the shooter and goes
to see Tess. She catches Clark up on the identity of Lionel and
where he came from, and Oliver arrives to confirm that Lionel’s
THE STORY SO FAR
taking over. Since the mirror box is destroyed, Clark tells them
to wait until he asks Jor-El for advice on how to deal with this
new threat.
Lionel brings Alexander to the Luthor Mansion, but
Martha is waiting for them. She reveals to Lionel that she knows
he’s from another world and tells him not to try to use Clark
to kill Lex again like he did on Earth-2. Lionel fails to charm
her; she starts to leave, but Alexander knocks her unconscious.
He confronts Lionel about what Martha revealed, and Lionel
admits that he’s seeking a second chance at creating a dynasty
with his son. Alexander, who by now has all of Lex’s memories,
renders Lionel unconscious and leaves, setting the mansion on
fire as he goes.
Clark finds Tess in his barn loft, looking for his Phantom
Zone crystal. Clark says he only sent Slade to the Phantom
Zone (in “Icarus”) because he was left with no choice, and
that he planned to bring him back later for trial. Alexander
interrupts them both, holding his kryptonite-loaded gun. He
tells them that he’s set the mansion on fire and that Martha
and Lionel are trapped inside, that his body is breaking down,
and he has nothing to live for. Clark tries to reason with him,
but it’s Tess’ appeals to Alexander that finally convince him to
drop the gun and get help. Clark super-speeds off, saving his
mother and dumping Lionel in front of the mansion to watch
it burn.
Clark is depressed that he can’t make a difference against
the imminent VRA vote. Chloe and Lois show him the viral
video campaign of ordinary people declaring their love and
respect for the Blur, and he realizes he’s still needed. The next
day, Clark and his friends watch the VRA bill get successfully
repealed and they celebrate their victory. Watchtower is
re‑opened. Tess comforts Alexander, who says he’s losing the
memories he had. Wishing to spare him the pain, she tries
to inject him with a syringe of cyanide…but it breaks on his
apparently super-dense skin.
124 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
10.14 MASQUERADE
Writer: Bryan Q. Miller
Director: Tim Scanlan
Features: Bert Camp, Desaad
As Clark adjusts to the Blur’s newly restored and global
popularity, Lois advises him to keep his face out of the news or
his whole secret identity will be very public. Chloe and Oliver
deal with Oliver’s public persona by having a night out at the
Ace of Clubs incognito. When they overhear a hostess calling
out a reserved table for a couple who doesn’t show, they decide
to take on their identities, continuing their under-the-radar
evening. The spell is broken, however, when there’s a phone call
for “Mr. Jones” and it’s the real Mrs. Jones, clearly in trouble.
We flash to a dark room where bodies are arrayed, wrapped
in plastic, blood streaming from their eyes. Mrs. Jones screams,
and a mysterious voice tells Oliver that he’s next. Chloe and
Oliver ditch their table and take off to chase down the mystery,
grabbing a waiting limo on their way out. Unfortunately, the limo’s
occupants aren’t the friendly type…and they believe Oliver to be
Mr. Jones. Thrown into the trunk, they at least get an opportunity
to talk about the ups and downs of their relationship.
Clark arrives at a crime scene where bodies have been
dumped in plastic. CSI reporter Bert Camp is already there, and
he recognizes Clark from another crime scene. While trying to
figure out what happened, Clark must deflect Bert’s persistent
questions about who he is and why he looks like a face from a
viral video from China. Bert then falls into an open manhole,
but he’s saved at the last minute by Clark. Once again, Clark
draws a lot of attention.
Oliver and Chloe are dragged into a brownstone where they
quickly dispatch their kidnappers and learn that they’re actually
FBI agents, as are Mr. and Mrs. Jones. These FBI agents are on
the trail of someone who’s marking people’s skulls with the
Omega brand, much like Slade and the others had in “Patriot.”
Meanwhile, Clark stops by the morgue and checks in on
the bodies from the mass grave. The coroner’s assistant, Blayne,
is actually the Dark Prophet Desaad in disguise. Clark, none the
wiser, asks him about the bodies but there’s nothing much to
reveal, until Clark’s micro-vision picks up microscopic ink spots
on the bodies’ skin. Blayne passes it off as an ink smudge from
his handling of the bodies. When Clark returns to Lois, she
tells him the ink dots are connected to a serpentine ink symbol
that Bert from Forensics found on the warehouse bodies. Clark
realizes Blayne was actually trying to cover his tracks.
Chloe and Oliver use the FBI’s casebooks to locate a sex club
where all of the Omega-branded people had been recently—
whatever imprinted their skulls with the mark operated out of
the club, owned by a man named Desaad. Chloe breaks into
the building and is caught by the real Mr. Jones, who points a
gun at her. Before she can explain, Mr. Jones drops dead, blood
streaming from his eyes and nose. Desaad reveals himself and
says he wants to get to know Chloe better.
Oliver arrives at Watchtower, frantic. Clark’s already there
and explains that Desaad is an agent of Darkseid. Desaad has
been branding the people he can convert and killing those he
can’t. Clark’s found an address for him and races off to save
Chloe. Oliver grabs his Green Arrow outfit and follows suit.
 Chloe is hanging from bonds in Desaad’s gothic chamber.
Desaad uses a series of illusions and hallucinations to try to
tempt Chloe into Darkness, cycling through the Seven Deadly
Sins. She proves to have a stronger will than most; when Desaad
finally decides he’s just going to kill her like the others who
resist him, Clark super-speeds in and whisks her to safety. Clark
and Desaad stand off, with Desaad revealing that Clark is now
incorruptible. He says he’s a servant of Darkseid and he doesn’t
want to spoil the big surprise that’s coming. Throwing Clark
against a wall with telekinesis, Desaad slips away. He makes it
as far as the street when Oliver ambushes him. Sensing Oliver’s
potential, Desaad goads him into anger, telling him that Chloe
has died and that Oliver wasn’t able to save her. Oliver succumbs
to the sin of wrath, but he manages to keep himself from killing
Desaad just in time.
Later, Clark and Lois talk about Clark’s public face and the
fact that he needs some kind of mask that doesn’t cover up the
face of the Blur. He settles on a pair of glasses and the classic
“Clark Kent” act—mild-mannered and easily overlooked. Oliver
and Chloe meet at Watchtower to discuss their developing
relationship, and Chloe ensures that Desaad’s actions didn’t
brand her with an Omega. As they move to leave, Oliver tells
Chloe he’ll shut things down. Unseen by either of them, the
monitor reveals that Oliver has an Omega brand on his skull…
10.15 FORTUNE
Writer: Anne Cofell Saunders
Director: Christopher Petry
Features: Amos Fortune, Dr. Emil Hamilton
It’s time for Clark and Lois’ respective bachelor and
bachelorette parties; the couple invites Oliver, Chloe, Tess, and
Dr. Emil Hamilton to the Kent Farm to kick off an evening of
fun and stress release. As they toast their friendship, we cut
ahead to the following morning. Clark, somehow hungover,
wakes to a lemur in his bedroom and Chloe—wearing a bridal
gown—in his closet. Worse, they’re both wearing matching
wedding rings. They inspect the bottle of champagne they
drank the previous night and realize it was sent by Zatanna,
complete with forgetfulness spell and magical enhancements.
Clark’s wallet is downtown, and when the couple finds the limo
it’s been decorated as if they were just married. Chloe finds one
half of a marriage certificate, the half with her name, inside the
limo cab.
Clark and Chloe find out that Emil has been impersonating
Elvis all night and is at a nightclub, inspiring a legion of fans
with his impressions of the King. Clark goes to the club and
sees police arrest Emil for stealing an armored car. Oliver and
Lois wake up near a railroad track, looking much the worse for
wear. Lois has lost her engagement ring and neither of them
have cellphones or wallets. And Tess is nursing a headache at
Watchtower, where Chloe and Clark meet her to decide their
next course of action. The armored car is actually stashed
at Clark’s barn and there’s no record of Dr. Hamilton being
arrested—the police were fakes.
Lois finds a $500 casino chip in her pocket from the
Metropolis Fortune Casino, so they decide to check it out.
Amos Fortune, who at that moment is having his thugs take
out his frustration on Emil, owns the casino. Oliver and Lois
are shocked to discover that the video camera shows them
and the rest of the gang approaching the armored car before it
vanishes from sight. Fortune’s men were planning on stealing
the armored car themselves, but Clark and his friends got to it
first. And to top it off, someone stole Fortune’s pet lemur. When
Lois and Oliver arrive, they ask around for any sign of Lois’
engagement ring. Amos Fortune comes out, having left Emil to
his thugs, and Lois sees that he’s wearing her ring. She causes
a scene, which gets Lois and Oliver taped to a chair out back.
Although they free themselves without too much effort, they
have to cook up a new scheme to get the ring back—dress up
as showgirls.
Clark and Chloe arrive just as the “showgirls” come out
on stage. Fortune spots Chloe and recognizes her as one of the
people who stole his armored car. A big fight breaks out, with
guns blazing, engagement rings tossed, Dr. Hamilton freed from
captivity, and general mayhem. When the smoke clears, Oliver
has knocked out Amos Fortune, and Clark and his friends
have managed to leave with most of what they needed. Later,
it’s revealed that Fortune was trying to cash in on an insurance
scam by stealing his own casino money, all of which was in the
armored car. Clark and Chloe learn that the “wedding” was
a prank, and that all’s well for Lois and Clark to get married.
Chloe confides in Clark, saying that she needs to leave, that she’s
got a new job in Star City, but can’t break it to Oliver. Clark says
he’ll be there for her no matter what.
The friends all gather at Watchtower and sit down to
watch the video Emil shot of that night. During the replay of
the drunken hijinks, LuthorCorp logo-stealing, armored car
vanishing, and Tess and Emil’s making out, Chloe slips out
of Watchtower building and tries to leave. Oliver follows her,
confessing to her that he knows she’s trying to leave him again.
He says he never intended for her to be Watchtower forever, and
that her new job at the Star City Register, his hometown’s paper,
can’t be a coincidence. He also shows that he has the other half
of the marriage certificate, and it’s his name at the bottom.
United, the secret newlyweds depart Metropolis.
10.16 SCION
Writers: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
Director: Al Septien
Features: Conner Kent (formerly Alexander Luthor), Lionel
Luthor (Earth-2)
When Clark returns home to the Kent Farm after a patrol,
he finds Tess waiting for him. Tess re-introduces Clark to clone
LX-15, formerly known as Alexander Luthor, now a dark-haired
young man who goes by Conner. It turns out that this clone
features DNA from both Lex Luthor and Clark, obtained from
the blood sample Lex took years ago. Conner’s Lex memories
are almost gone, replaced slowly by rapid learning from the
Internet and media. Conner also displays most of Clark’s
Kryptonian abilities, which means Clark must step in and be a
mentor—or big brother—to the teenager.
Lionel Luthor discovers Cadmus Labs; he looks around
for signs of Alexander and runs into Tess. She claims that
Lionel has no business looking for his “son,” but Lionel uses the
THE STORY SO FAR 125
 occasion to belittle Tess and her failures. Tess shows Lionel a
tube containing what she claims are LX-15’s remains, all that’s
left after the accelerated mitosis took the clone’s life.
Clark and Conner spend some time getting to know each
other. Conner’s amazed that Clark has the same abilities, which
leads Clark to say that he’s something of a big brother to Conner.
When Lois arrives, Conner is sufficiently attracted to her that his
heat vision kicks in for the first time. Clark realizes he needs to help
Conner control his abilities in case things go desperately wrong.
Tess later meets with Lois to beg for her help with Lionel.
She wants Clark to take care of Lionel for good, but Lois says
that Clark hopes he can redeem Lionel the way he did with
the Earth-1 version of him. Tess says that’ll never happen, but
she does suggest that if they can find evidence that the Earth-2
Lionel is a fake, they can ruin him in that way. Meanwhile,
Lionel’s scientists conclude that the remains of Alexander that
Tess gave to Lionel are from one of the other clones, not LX-15.
Lionel sets his next plan into motion.
Tess checks in with Clark and asks about Conner’s progress.
Conner overhears the two of them talking about the genes he
gained from Lex Luthor, and he super-speeds off. Lois snoops
around Lionel’s office, looking for incriminating evidence,
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but she's caught. Lionel then goes to the burned out wreckage
of the Luthor Mansion and finds Conner there, examining
a photograph of Lionel and Lex. Lionel offers Conner the
information he seeks and presents him with a red kryptonite
ring. Conner puts it on and his impulsive nature takes over.
Lionel takes him to where he’s stashed Lois, a slaughterhouse
in Metropolis, and explains that Clark uses others to do his
126 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
dirty  work. Conner, remembering Lois, saves her from being
shot by Lionel and whisks her away.
For a time, Conner attempts to impress Lois, telling her that
she doesn’t need Clark when she’s got him. She turns him down,
so he takes her to the Luthor Mansion ruin and tries again to
change her mind. Clark’s imminent arrival distracts Conner,
giving Lois a moment to slip away. Conner and Clark clash, with
the young clone saying he doesn’t need Clark, and Clark trying
to get Conner to shake it off. Conner’s ring is smashed against a
wall, freeing him from its Red K influence. Lionel then emerges
with a chunk of Green K, assuming that Conner will join him
in killing Clark. Instead, Conner destroys the Green K with heat
vision and saves Clark. Lionel escapes.
The next morning, however, Lionel’s shocked to see
security teams and legal officers show up at LuthorCorp to
arrest him. Lois and Tess have managed to find the real Lionel’s
fingerprints—on Tess’ adoption documents, something Earth-2
Lionel would never have known about. Lionel’s dragged off, but
not before telling Tess that she’ll always be a Luthor.
Clark apologizes to Conner for keeping his true heritage
a secret, but Conner explains that he fears his Lex side will
come out again. Clark reassures him that he’ll always be around
to help him out and that he’ll also do what he can to give the
teenager a “normal” life. For starters, he’s enrolled at Smallville
High. Lois praises Clark for his handling of his “brother.”
Lionel, meanwhile, visits Lex’s grave and admits that he
would do anything to have him by his side. A dark cloud gathers
before him, materializing into the terrible form of Darkseid.
10.17 KENT
Writer: Genevieve Sparling
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Features: Dr. Emil Hamilton, Jonathan Kent (Earth-2), Lionel
Luthor (Earth-2)
Martha Kent’s early wedding present to Clark and Lois is
the deed to the Kent Farm. Lois reads this as a sign from Martha
to make the farm their home, but Clark wonders if he should
instead sell the farm and move to Metropolis for good. Lois
is surprised one morning when a real estate agent shows up
and begins poking about; she realizes Clark must have called a
realtor already.
Clark is in the loft of the barn, talking with Martha on
the phone, when the Clark of Earth-2 appears behind him and
forces Clark to activate a mirror box (from “Luthor.”) Clark is
sent to that other Earth, while Clark Luthor settles in to what
he expects will be his new home. First, however, he crushes the
mirror box, trapping Clark on Earth-2.
On Earth-2, Clark learns of the burial of Oliver Queen,
whose service is interrupted by a still-living Jonathan Kent. That
world’s Lois corners Clark and uses kryptonite to weaken him,
angry that he dared to show his face at the funeral. Clark tells
her he’s the “good” Clark, but Lois informs him that, now that
everyone knows his weakness, he won’t find anyone who doesn’t
have some on their person. On this Earth, Clark is a wanted
man with a death sentence.
Clark Luthor finds Lois at the new Metropolis studio
apartment. He masquerades as her Clark long enough to
get an idea of where Lionel Luthor is. Lois realizes he’s not
the real Clark; once he leaves she quickly calls Tess to warn
her, but she fails to get through. Tess is at the burned out
Luthor Mansion, her cellphone off to one side. Clark Luthor
appears, turning on his usual dark charm. She, too, figures
out that he’s not the real Clark. He tells her he intends to
eliminate Lionel and leaves.
Lois and Dr. Hamilton attempt to piece together the broken
remnants of the mirror box. Meanwhile, Tess says she’ll try to
distract Clark Luthor to give them time to finish the job. She
finds a giftwrapped dress in her office at the Daily Planet with a
note saying to meet Clark Luthor at the Ace of Clubs. Tess meets
him there, and Clark Luthor informs her that she can spend the
rest of her life with him—he realizes that she harbors feelings
for the Clark of this world, feelings he’s willing to reciprocate—
or, he says, she could die.
On Earth-2, Clark goes to the Kent Farm to see what
happened to Jonathan and Martha. Jonathan, angry and bitter,
ambushes him with a chunk of kryptonite and knocks him out.
When he comes to, Clark sees that he’s strapped to a chair—a
prisoner of Jonathan Kent, who has called the authorities.
Clark learns that on this Earth, Martha left Jonathan years ago,
unable to pull him out of his depression. Before the authorities
arrive, Clark convinces Jonathan that, on his world, Jonathan
Kent was a great man who raised him well and gave him his
moral center. Jonathan relents, freeing Clark, but not before
the authorities arrive and try to bust in. Before Clark can do
anything, the mirror box portal activates and drags Clark back
through to Earth-1.
Tess confronts Clark Luthor at LuthorCorp Plaza, apparently
trying to give Clark the details of Lionel’s whereabouts, but
only buying time with a rerouted GPS. The plan fails, and
Clark Luthor doesn’t fall for it. He’s about to throw Tess out the
window when Clark Kent intervenes, whisking Tess to safety
before clashing with his Earth-2 counterpart. The two battle,
smashing through walls and delivering powerful blows. Clark
manages to leave the scene and lure Clark Luthor all the way to
the Fortress of Solitude. There, he reveals to Clark Luthor that
the Fortress is his true heritage—one that could redeem him.
Clark Kent asks Jor-El to send Clark Luthor back to his own
world, which he does. There, Clark Luthor activates the Fortress
console for the first time, and the Earth-2 Jor-El welcomes him.
Tess and Emil Hamilton talk about gold kryptonite and its
potential for removing Kryptonian abilities. They also talk about
Clark Luthor’s “date” with Tess, and how Tess felt about it. Emil
assures her that he knows exactly who she is, even if she doesn’t
know it herself. Back at the Kent Farm, Clark and Lois talk about
the deed to the farm and the fact that Clark has trouble letting
go of his past, that it helps him feel grounded. Lois says that it’s
her role to do that for him. They decide that they will go ahead
with the sale of the farm. And, on Earth-2, a newly determined
Jonathan Kent tracks down Martha in Metropolis and rings her
doorbell, hoping for the start of a new life.
10.18 BOOSTER
Writers: Geoff Johns
Director: Tom Welling
Features: Booster Gold, Cat Grant, Jaime Reyes, Ted Kord
There’s a new hero in town, and his name is Booster Gold.
Wearing a blue and gold outfit covered in sponsor logos, Booster
is everything that Clark Kent is not—public, a media hound, and
full of self-confidence. Lois is trying to teach Clark to be more
“normal,” getting into the habit of being meek and clumsy in public.
She indicates a teenager named Jaime Reyes with no self-esteem,
the brunt of his friends’ jokes. Clark should try to act more like that,
draw attention away from the Blur persona. Jaime finds himself
facing down a Kord Industries armored truck, but before the truck
hits him, Booster rockets in and puts up a force field, saving his life.
Jaime manages to get away from the scene, but not before a strange
blue beetle-shaped artifact stows away in his backpack.
At the Daily Planet, Lois and Cat Grant are up for the same
job in an upstairs office—the job Steve Lombard had before he
left for the Daily Star. Cat thinks that Booster Gold is her ticket to
a promotion, and she obsesses about him. She even finds her way
into Gold’s entourage, hoping to also get an interview with the
new hero and win the headline and the fancy office space. Gold,
however, seems more intent on having Lois be his pet reporter,
much to Cat’s chagrin (and Clark’s frustration). Lois leaves to
grab coffee on the street and runs into Jaime Reyes again. She
tells him to stand up to his friends and then leaves him to his own
devices. Jaime ducks down an alleyway when his backpack begins
to hum; the scarab climbs out and fuses to Jaime’s body.
Clark and Lois learn that the armored truck that almost hit
Jaime belonged to Kord Industries. One of the items in the truck,
a kind of super weapon, has gone missing. Clark, in his meek
reporter mode, interviews the CEO, Ted Kord, and tries to get
THE STORY SO FAR 127
 more information from him. Although Kord blows him off, Clark
overhears Kord calling Booster Gold and asking him where his
artifact is. Armed with this knowledge and stealing some scarab
blueprints from Kord’s desk, Clark super-speeds out.
Booster Gold holds his big media event, hoping to prove
to the city that he’s the real man of steel. Jaime shows up, asking
Booster for help, but Booster gives him the cold shoulder.
As he moves to leave, Jaime’s scarab activates, encasing him
in powerful blue armor with a mind of its own. Booster calls
Clark, telling him that he knows who he is and that he intends to
replace him. Clark wants Booster’s help in finding the scarab, so
he super-speeds to the media site and speaks to Booster. Booster
confesses that he stole a Legion flight ring and other tech, and
that he’s from the 31st Century. With no real popularity where
he comes from, Booster thought he’d have more luck starting a
new career in the 21st Century. Shortly after Booster begins his
big rehearsal, Jaime’s armor attacks the site, causing much chaos
and destruction. Booster’s personal computer buddy, Skeets,
says that none of this happened in Booster’s past, so the new
hero’s presence has created an alternate timeline.
Clark joins Booster in fighting the scarab-possessed Jaime,
but chooses to protect Cat Grant from a stray energy blast rather
THE STORY SO FAR
than take Jaime head-on. Booster powers up and attacks Jaime, but
Jaime holds him up and prepares to choke him to death. Booster
tells Jaime that he can fight it, that he’s got it in him to be a hero.
Jaime manages to will his armor to withdraw into the scarab, and
then surrenders. Ted Kord arrives and agrees to let Jaime keep the
scarab, learning to use the abilities wisely. Booster encourages Cat
to interview Jaime, not himself, which is a good sign.
Lois manages to score the big promotion and moves
upstairs, leaving Clark to share a desk with Cat Grant. Clark
confides in Lois that, while he thinks he can pull off the look,
he’s worried that if people see Lois with a meek, mild-mannered
guy like Clark Kent, they might start to talk. Lois says she has no
such concerns, and kisses him.
10.19 DOMINION
Writers: John Chisholm
Director: Justin Hartley
Features: Zod
Clark and Tess learn that General Slade Wilson has
appeared again on Earth and is now in a coma under military
observation. Alarmed that Slade managed to escape, Clark
decides to go into the Phantom Zone himself and ensure that
there will be no more escapes from Zoners. Back from Star
City, Oliver arrives at Watchtower and declares that he’s tagging
along. Clark refuses, saying it’s much too dangerous. They open
the portal using a jury-rigged laser device and the Crystal of El
that Clark used to send General Slade to the Phantom Zone;
Tess tells Clark that, thanks to some future-tech from Booster
Gold, Clark’s wrist-communicator should send a signal across
dimensions. Tess activates the portal and Clark leaps in, but
Oliver does, too. Both heroes vanish into the Phantom Zone.
Clark and Oliver arrive in the blasted landscape of the
Phantom Zone, among the twisted spires of rock that surround
the Zone Portal chamber. Upon examination, however, the
crystal on this side of the portal is missing, which means Clark
and Oliver are trapped. Phantoms shriek into the chamber and
128 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
assault the two heroes. Clark has no access to his powers here, so
he’s no more able to fend off the phantoms than Oliver. They’re
captured and brought before the new ruler of this dominion—
Zod. When Clark sent him off at the end of their last battle,
he arrived with the other Kandorians on their new world.
They, however, punished him for his crimes by sending him
into the Phantom Zone, where his older, phantom self merged
with the younger body. This new Zod has the experience and
memories of both, and he's lured Clark into the Zone to exact
his vengeance. Around his neck he wears the missing Phantom
Zone crystal—their only way out.
Zod entertains himself by staging gladiatorial fights,
watching other Zoners battle each other to the death. He
determines that Clark's fate will be to fight in the arena. Oliver
has already been enlisted, and the two heroes watch as a Zoner
ends the life of his opponent in the ring. Clark is forced into the
ring to fight the victor; although the battle is tough, he manages
to subdue his opponent. Zod calls for the defeated Zoner’s death,
but Clark refuses. In response, Zod kills the Zoner himself.
Back on Earth, Lois learns about Clark’s journey to the
Phantom Zone and confronts Tess about it. Tess has been
working on a means of getting Clark back, as all communication
has ceased. It appears that the plan is to reactivate the crystal, but
Lois notices that among Tess’ instructions are plans to destroy
the crystal and seal the Phantom Zone forever. She holds a gun
to Tess and demands that she forego that option and instead
work on getting her fiancé back.
As they wait for their next fight, Clark tells Oliver that he
came up with the plan to have Tess destroy the crystal if something
goes wrong. Oliver is shocked but can see the logic to it. Oliver is
brought before Zod, who reveals that he’s working for Darkseid.
In return for dominion over this place, Darkseid merely wants
Zod to eliminate Clark. As Zod can see the mark upon Oliver,
he decides that Oliver will carry out this execution…in the
gladiatorial arena. Oliver is shaken by Zod’s words, knowing that
he has felt the Darkness building in him all his life. And if he
doesn’t draw on it, he’ll lose to Clark in the arena.
Clark and Oliver are released into the arena and their battle
begins. Oliver draws first blood, but Clark manages to knock his
friend back. As they struggle, Oliver gets close enough to run
Clark through with his sword. Zod is pleased, but he tells Oliver
to stop before he delivers the killing blow. After all this time, he
wants to do it himself. As Zod brings his weapon down, Oliver
blocks the blade with his own. Clark uses the moment to seize
the Phantom Zone crystal from around Zod’s neck, activating it
with his blood. The portal opens, shedding yellow sunlight onto
Clark and healing his wounds. Before Zod can retaliate, Clark
crushes the crystal with his hands, and he and Oliver throw
themselves through the rapidly closing portal. The Phantom
Zone collapses all around Zod, reduced to two dimensions,
spinning away through space like a panel of glass.
Returned to Earth, Clark and Oliver talk about the reach
that Darkseid seems to have—one that extends even to the
Phantom Zone. Oliver asks Clark what would happen if one of
them were taken over by the Darkness, and Clark admits that
they would have to lock him away, that the Darkness is too
powerful to resist. Oliver realizes he can’t tell Clark that he’s
been branded with the Omega.
 Clark finds Lois at their apartment, waiting for him to
return. It’s been three weeks, even though to Clark and Oliver
it was only 3 hours. Lois tells Clark that he must keep her in the
loop and not hide things like this from her. Even though he did
it to keep her safe, Lois explains that he needs to trust her. She
also tells him that the wedding is in two days…
10.20 PROPHECY
Writers: Bryan Q. Miller & Anne Cofell Saunders
Director: Michael Rohl
Features: Courtney Whitmore, Granny Goodness, Kara Kent,
Winslow Schott
Clark determines that, before he can marry Lois, he
needs to take her to the Fortress of Solitude to receive his
father’s blessing. He hopes to prove to Jor-El that he respects
his Kryptonian heritage and tradition. They travel there and
Clark makes his plea. Jor-El asks Lois to stand forward, and
he envelops her in a beam of light. Just then, a section of the
Fortress collapses, landing on top of Lois. Stunned, Clark rushes
to her side, but she lifts the enormous pillar off herself. Jor-El
has stripped Clark of his powers and given them to Lois until
the next sunset.
Oliver is following information—found in his parents’
Veritas Journal and Carter Hall’s diary—which should lead
him to something called the Bow of Orion. He finds himself
in a subterranean tunnel that ends in a room where Kara Kent
is trapped in a circle of light. Kara helps him translate the old
Kryptonian symbols on the walls; Oliver pushes a stone marked
with an Omega and Kara is freed. She offers to help him locate
the weapon that could help defeat Darkseid.
Clark attempts to help Lois master her newfound abilities,
but she’s having plenty of fun using them to finish her workload
in record time. Lois reveals that someone’s buying up property all
over Metropolis—property with a direct influence over the city’s
water supply. While Lois is trying to master super-hearing—
hoping to overhear something about the water supply mystery—
she picks up on a fight going on, and she and Clark race to stop
it. Lois knocks the attacker out, and Clark removes the attacker’s
mask and sees that it’s Courtney Whitmore, AKA Stargirl.
Oliver and Kara find a place that requires two archers
working in tandem with each other. Oliver hands Kara a bow
and the two of them release an arrow at the same time, opening
a hidden doorway into a chamber filled with light. Before Kara
can accompany Oliver into the room, Jor-El summons her away.
She makes her apologies and leaves. At the Fortress of Solitude,
she complains that she was so close to confronting Darkseid and
aiding in his defeat. Jor-El tells her this is no longer her battle—
she must leave for her own path.
Tess, Lois, and Clark learn that Courtney was mind-
controlled through the use of a star-shaped diode created by
Winslow Schott, AKA the Toyman. Lois super-speeds off to
Winslow’s jail cell where she confronts him and demands that
he spill the beans about the big citywide buyout. Winslow
admits that he’s the mastermind behind the whole plan. He says
he’s formed a league of his own, and they’re on their way to take
down the Blur as they speak. Winslow says he’ll call them off
if Lois puts on one of his diodes. She accepts the deal and puts
on the diode. Winslow points out that he never said anything
about not sending her to kill the Blur and makes the order. Lois
super-speeds away.
THE STORY SO FAR 129
 Oliver enters the chamber of the Bow of Orion and reaches
out to take it. Granny Goodness arrives and uses her telekinesis
to snatch the bow away. The bow disintegrates in her hands,
much to Oliver’s horror. She reveals that she and the other
Dark Prophets planned this all along—Oliver would lead them
to the only weapon that could stop Darkseid and now that it’s
destroyed, he can’t be beaten. She forces Oliver to kneel and says
that he’s now one of their servants.
Lois arrives at Watchtower and seizes Clark by the neck.
Tess says he needs to hold on just a little longer, as sunset is
almost upon them. Clark tries to break through the diode’s
conditioning by appealing to Lois’ love for him. It works, briefly,
but the diode proves too powerful. The moment of hesitation is
nevertheless long enough for the sun to set and Clark’s powers
to return to him. He destroys the diode and then super-speeds
off to confront Winslow Schott.
The Toyman is preparing his secret society—including
Metallo, Roulette, the Dark Archer, and others—to strike, but
Clark crushes Winslow’s phone and puts an end to his scheme.
Winslow threatens to reveal Clark’s identity but Clark says that
if he were going to do that, he’d already have done it. He leaves
Winslow powerless in his cell. He journeys to the Fortress of
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Solitude, where he informs Jor-El that the time of trials and
tests is over. He’s his own man, and he’s ready. He deactivates
the console and leaves the now-darkened Fortress.
Kara, in her Supergirl suit, is hovering outside of
Watchtower where Clark and Lois are reunited. She activates a
Legion ring and vanishes. Inside, Clark consoles Lois about the
danger she put him in, but she says she’ll always be his weakness.
She can’t put herself before the people in the world who need
130 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Clark, and she calls off the wedding. Meanwhile, Oliver digs
up a chunk of gold kryptonite, the one metal that can remove
Clark’s powers forever.
10.21 FINALE (PART ONE)
Writers: Al Septien & Turi Meyer
Director: Kevin Fair
Features: Gordon Godfrey, Granny Goodness, Jonathan Kent,
Martha Kent
An older Chloe is telling a story to a young boy with blond
hair. She relates the tale of Clark Kent, who grew up in Smallville
and had great adventures. Now a man, Clark turned away from
both his fathers, but his greatest challenge is about to come. The
boy’s solar system mobile transitions to a shot of a terrifying
planet, covered in fire pits, hurtling toward Earth: Apokolips.
It’s Lois and Clark’s wedding day, but Lois has called it
off. Clark makes an appeal to Lois to change her mind, using
his super-speed to take her cancellation lists and even her
cellphone. She reminds him that every minute he spends with
her is a minute he’s not saving others, but he refuses to accept it.
Hoping he’s made his point, he super-speeds off, leaving Lois to
wrestle with the love in her heart and the cold logic in her head.
Tess is overseeing the work on the Luthor Mansion when
Granny Goodness arrives. She’s proud of Tess’ growth into a strong
woman, even though Tess has turned toward the Light. Granny
appeals to Tess to let her save her, as she can’t bear to see one of
her girls suffer. Tess will have none of it. Granny informs her that
Apokolips is coming; when Tess pushes her to know more, she leaves.
As Oliver and Chloe set up the chapel for the wedding,
they talk about their own secret marriage (see “Fortune.”) They
confess that, even if they hadn’t been affected by Zatanna’s
magical wine, they’d both have agreed to marry each other.
Oliver takes out a box and displays two brand-new gold wedding
bands he had made earlier. As they leave the chapel, Oliver’s
passing befouls the water in a baptismal font—Darkseid’s
influence is upon him.
Clark finds Martha Kent at the farmhouse, which is
cluttered with packing boxes. He asks her why she’s there, and
she explains that she didn’t intend for Lois and Clark to sell
the farm when she gave them the deed. She says that Clark is
cutting out parts of his history that make him who he is, and
that he shouldn’t do that or he’ll lose what made him the man
he was destined to be. Clark denies that he’s doing this and tells
her that he wants to move forward. After he departs, the shade
of Jonathan stands beside Martha, offering a comforting smile.
Lois is impatiently waiting at the Daily Planet for her
call to get onto Air Force One with the President and the
biggest news story of her career. Chloe arrives and tells her to
reconsider leaving Clark at the altar. She hands Lois a copy of
Clark’s wedding vows. Reading them, Lois realizes she’s made
a terrible mistake and leaves to patch things up. Meanwhile,
Tess finds that all of Watchtower’s satellite links are down. She
runs through each of them and sees Oliver has disconnected
them all. There’s one that Oliver didn’t know about, however,
and she patches into that feed to see that the planet Apokolips
is swiftly approaching. As this is revealed, Gordon Godfrey
sends his ominous words of dark prophecy out to his millions
of listeners, proclaiming this to be the end of days.
At Jonathan Kent’s grave, Clark talks to his father’s
memory, unburdening himself of his worries and concerns.
Jonathan’s shade responds to him, but Clark can neither see
nor hear him. Full of doubt, Clark looks up to see Oliver
arriving to escort him to the chapel. Clark tells Oliver that
maybe Lois is one of the things he needs to leave behind if he’s
to truly embrace his future. Oliver tries to talk him out of it,
but Clark seems to make a decision and super-speeds away. He
finds Lois at the Metropolis apartment, but doesn’t go in. They
talk through the door, Clark spilling his worries about the
wedding; Lois countering him with her renewed fervor and
desire to be wed. She manages to clear his head of his doubts,
reminding him of his father’s love and her own support.
Tess is en route, trying to get hold of anyone by cellphone.
She manages a garbled message before a black van pulls up in
front of her car and armed guards jump out and drag her from
the vehicle. Unaware of her plight, Lois arrives at the chapel,
and the wedding music starts up. Their friends and family fill
the hall. She approaches the altar but Clark isn’t there. Then
she feels him take her hand, and together they walk up to
the front of the chapel, Clark seeing Jonathan’s shade in the
seat beside Martha. All seems perfect as the bride and groom
prepare to exchange their vows. Oliver presents the two gold
rings, but Chloe sees that they’re different. Gold kryptonite!
She leaps up and knocks the rings away.
Oliver’s eyes have turned black, his voice dark and
menacing. Clark tells Chloe to get everyone out of the chapel
and he turns to face the Darkseid-influenced archer. Oliver
delivers a blow that sends Clark smashing out of the chapel,
then turns to knock Lois clear across the room. Clark blurs
in and catches his bride-to-be, taking her to safety before
returning to battle Oliver. They trade powerful blows, Clark
using every opportunity to get Oliver to fight the Darkness.
Oliver recovers the ring, but before he can use it on Clark,
Clark’s words hit home. The sunlight comes in from outside
and the Omega brand burns out of Oliver’s forehead. Even as
Clark welcomes his friend back into the Light, Oliver points
outside. Up in the sky, Apokolips is visible, approaching Earth
with gathering speed and eclipsing the sun.
10.22 FINALE (PART TWO)
Writers: Brian Peterson & Kelly Souders
Director: Greg Beeman
Features: Desaad, Gordon Godfrey, Granny Goodness,
Jonathan Kent, Lex Luthor (LX-0), Lionel Luthor (Earth-2)
Tess awakens on a gurney, with Lionel Luthor standing
over her. Lionel informs her that Lex created many clones to
achieve the right number of ideal organs, and that Lionel has
pieced them all together. He’s only missing a heart—Conner
was meant to be the donor, but if he can’t get Conner’s, he’ll
have to take it from Tess.
Oliver arrives at Watchtower as Apokolips’ fearsome
shadow is cast over the sun. He flashes back to when he, his eyes
black with Darkseid’s influence, deactivated all of the satellites
and retrieved the gold kryptonite wedding bands from Godfrey,
Granny, and Desaad. Now, he reactivates the satellite uplinks
and locates the gothic building where the Dark Prophets had
met with him. He takes his bow, flashing back to the Bow of
Orion, and heads off on his grim mission.
Clark and Lois arrive at the Daily Planet, which is a tumult
of activity. The President is addressing the nation, and all
satellites are down. Clark explains that the dark planet that’s
approaching Earth is being pulled there by the power of the
Omega brands on people’s skulls. If they can break that dark
connection, they can save the world. Even though Clark was
able to bring Oliver back from the Darkness, he has no idea how
to do that for millions of others—they need to locate Tess.
Clark retrieves Tess’ cellphone from her car; using images
captured on her phone, they determine that the van that took
her belonged to Lionel. Apparently, Lionel’s been funneling
money into genetic research and his last known GPS location
was the Luthor Mansion. Clark kisses Lois and then super-
speeds away. Lois, meanwhile, overhears the President’s words
and realizes they’re planning to nuke Apokolips. She knocks out
a political correspondent, Janet, and takes her security badge.
Tess struggles to break free of the surgical team who seek
to take her heart and transplant it into the waiting body of the
LX-0 clone. She manages to knock them aside and grab a gun,
shooting Lionel point blank. As she escapes, Lionel calls out to
Darkseid, who appears as a smoking figure before him. Lionel
offers up his soul in return for Darkseid bringing his son back
to life. The dark figure reaches in and tears out Lionel’s heart.
Soon, a hand pulls aside the respirator mask on the Lex clone’s
face, and the clone’s eyes snap open.
Oliver arrives at the Dark Prophet’s sanctum, where the
three servants of Darkseid await their master. They’re surprised
THE STORY SO FAR 131
 to see that Oliver’s mark has been lifted; they mock him, saying
that he doesn’t have the power to stop them. Oliver recalls
the words of the Bow of Orion: The only true power comes
from within. He draws back his bowstring, three glinting
arrows nocked, and releases it. The three villains explode in a
horrendous purple light, defeated.
Clark arrives at the Luthor Mansion, where he’s shocked
to find Lex Luthor, the now-perfect clone, waiting for him. Lex
explains that he doesn’t intend to stop Clark—every villain
needs a hero. This isn’t their time to fight. Instead, he encourages
Clark to be the Light that was prophesied in the Veritas Journals,
the only power that can defeat Darkseid. Stunned by Lex’s
encouragement, Clark super-speeds away to the barn loft where
he had stowed the console crystal of the Fortress.
As Clark unwraps the console crystal and moves to
super-speed away, he’s blocked by the figure of Lionel. It isn’t
Lionel, however, but Darkseid in Lionel’s body, speaking in
a demonic rasp. Darkseid tells Clark that he had a son, once,
who sought to be the Light that would conquer the Darkness,
but Darkseid banished him. Clark says he will prevail against
Darkseid as he believes that there is always hope, even in
Darkness. In response, Darkseid flexes his powerful telekinetic
THE STORY SO FAR
ability and rips Clark up off the ground, choking him, before
violently hurling him through the air. With a flash, everything
grows still, and Clark hears Jonathan’s voice telling Clark that
Jor-El will guide him. Clark sees himself in a column of light,
witnessing all of his many heroic saves from the past decade,
all of it leading up to this moment. You are ready, says Jor-El.
Seize your destiny. Clark halts in mid-air, and a look of defeat
crosses over Darkseid’s face. Clark rockets at full flying speed
toward and through Darkseid, obliterating him in a blinding
concussion of sound and light.
Clark finds himself back in the Fortress, where the voice
of Jor-El praises him for his actions. Humbled by Jor-El’s
pride, Clark looks up to see the red and blue caped suit finally
presented to him. Jor-El and Jonathan’s voices unite to remind
Clark that, despite his Kryptonian heritage, he must always hold
on to Smallville—the time and the people that made him who
he is. Jonathan’s shade hands the suit to him, and Clark takes it,
rocketing up, up, and away from the Fortress.
Tess arrives at LuthorCorp Plaza to find Lex waiting for
her in her office. She accuses him of using her, and he says she
seemed to do all right for herself. She says she only wanted
redemption, but she can never have it. She strokes his face, and
he drives a dagger into her abdomen. As she drops, she looks at
her glove, and Lex realizes he’s been contact-poisoned. Tess has
delivered a neurotoxin that will paralyze cognitive recognition,
effectively erasing his memory leading up to this point. As she
dies in peace, Lex looks out upon Metropolis and the collapsing
LuthorCorp sign that now reads LexCorp.
Lois is on Air Force One, aware that the President has ordered
the launch of nuclear weapons against Apokolips, an act that will
result in the deaths of millions from radioactive fallout. Unable to
convince the Secretary of Defense and other officers, she pleads
for them to wait for a hero to save them. As Apokolips approaches
Earth’s atmosphere, the plane shakes from the impending doom, but
Lois sees something out the windows of the plane that makes her
smile. She grabs a microphone and a camera, and seizes her destiny.
132 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
As millions look up in fear, a streak of red and blue rockets
up from Metropolis and toward Apokolips. Moments later,
the giant burning orb moves slowly away, letting a crescent of
sunlight past it to bathe the people below. As the Omega brands
light up and fade away from those who bear them, their pull on
Apokolips is gone. Clark turns back to look at the planet he has
just saved; the iconic moment is captured in the comic panel of
the young boy from the finale’s opener. An older Chloe kisses the
boy goodnight and then steps outside, her cellphone buzzing.
Many time zones away, Lois Lane tells her cousin that she got
the package she’d sent: a blue ribbon. Moving through the Daily
Planet, barking out orders and responding to the chaos of the
newsroom, Lois finally runs into Clark. He shows her a ring box
containing two ornate gold rings, and she asks him if he’s ready.
As they’re about to leave for the ceremony they’ve waited seven
years for, a reporter bursts in and announces that a bomb has
been found in an elevator. Clark apologizes, but she smiles. He
runs to the roof, tearing off glasses, tie, and shirt, and launches
himself into the air—Superman.
SEASON TEN
FEATURE UPDATES
Several characters in Smallville are changed after the fall
of Zod and the departure of the Kandorians. Some have grown
into great heroes, while others have become more villainous.
The following changes to their existing writeups brings them up
to date with the show’s tenth and final season.
AQUAMAN/ARTHUR CURRY
Arthur got married, embraced his Atlantean Heritage,
and seemed to become even more focused in his desire to do
good with his powers.
▼▼ Step up Arthur’s Glory Value to d6 (this corrects an
error in the Smallville RPG entry for A.C.)
▼▼ Rewrite Arthur’s Love statement as I’ve found the one
I’m looking for.
▼▼ Rewrite Arthur’s Relationship to Lois Lane as Lois is the
right partner for Clark d6.
▼▼ Add the Relationship Mera is my soulmate d12.
▼▼ Step up Arthur’s Atlantean Heritage to d12.
▼▼ Add Atlantis (Hidden, Inspiration) 2d8 and Marina
(Comfort, Restore) 2d6 to Resources.
CARTER HALL/HAWKMAN
Carter embraced his role in helping usher in a new age of
heroes. He also returned to Egypt to continue his academic work.
He was killed during the conflict with General Slade Wilson,
but not before saving Lois Lane’s life. He now looks forward to
being born again with his beloved Shayera beside him. These
changes apply to his writeup prior to his death.
▼▼ Add the Relationships Lois possesses Shayera’s strength
d6 and Slade has to be stopped d6.
▼▼ Step up Carter’s Relationship with Clark to d10.
▼▼ Add Cairo Dig (History, Knowledge) 2d6 to his
Resources.
CHLOE SULLIVAN
Chloe sacrificed herself to save Oliver, eventually ending
up in charge of Amanda Waller’s band of metahumans. She
found new love with Oliver and is seeking to reconnect with the
world at large while still keeping an eye on everyone. Her future,
while uncertain, looks brighter than it ever has.
▼▼ Remove Chloe’s Relationship with Zod and step back the
Relationship with Jimmy to d4.
▼▼ Step up Chloe’s Relationship with Oliver to d12.
▼▼ Remove The Talon from Resources and replace it with
The Suicide Squad (Covert Operations, Security)
2d8 and Star City Editorial Desk (Information,
Restore) 2d6.
▼▼ Remove Emil Hamilton from Resources and add the
Relationship Emil is a dependable ally and friend d8.
▼▼ Step up Big Sister to d12.
CLARK KENT
Clark found a new threat to oppose and finally told Lois
his secret. He’s developing his identity as a mild-mannered
reporter, further developed his powers, and even found a “little
brother” in Conner Kent.
▼▼ Drop the Zod Relationship and replace it with I must
overcome The Darkness (Darkseid) d6.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Relationship with Lois to Lois is the one
I’m meant to be with and step back his Relationship with
Lana to d4.
▼▼ Add the Relationships Conner needs guidance and
support d6 and Emil can be trusted to aid us d4.
▼▼ Step up Kryptonian Heritage to d10 and Heat
Vision to d8.
▼▼ Step up Clark’s Daily Planet Bullpen Resource to 2d6.
▼▼ Post “Finale,” add Flight d10.
CLARK LUTHOR (VARIANT)
A version of Clark raised by Lionel Luthor from Earth-2,
this Clark was selfish, vain, and corrupt. Use Clark’s writeup as
the baseline, but make the following changes.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Glory as I am the true heir of the Luthors d10.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Justice as Justice is what I make of it d6.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Love as Love is a distraction d4.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Power as I am power d8.
▼▼ Remove all the Relationships except Tess and Lois.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Relationship with Tess as My dear
twisted sister, Tess d10.
▼▼ Rewrite Clark’s Relationship with Lois as Lois is far more
trouble than she’s worth d4.
▼▼ Add the Relationship Lionel helped make me the man
that will one day surpass him d12.
▼▼ Replace Big-Hearted with Manipulative d8 and
Guilty with Mastermind d6.
▼▼ Step up Kryptonian Heritage to d10 and add Family
Reputation (Luthors) d10 and Wealthy d10.
▼▼ Replace all of Clark’s Resources except the Fortress
of Solitude with those of Lex Luthor from the

Smallville RPG (page 143).
DINAH LANE/BLACK CANARY
Dinah came out of hiding to rejoin the fight against the
anti-metahuman forces of the Vigilante Registration Act.
▼▼ Add the Relationship Tess knows how to handle
things d4.
▼▼ Increase Marksman to d8.
▼▼ Step back her Metropolis Talk Show Resource to 2d4
and increase Oliver’s Team to 2d10.
KARA KENT
Kara Kent went public in a big way by showing off her
powers and rescuing civilians. She and Oliver sparked the trend
of some heroes going public with their abilities. She also alerted
Clark and the others to the threat of Darkseid. Once her latest
mission was completed, she departed for new adventures using
a Legion ring.
▼▼ Remove the Relationship with Jimmy and rewrite Kara’s
Relationship with Chloe as Chloe looks out for my cousin.
▼▼ Add the Relationship The Darkness (Darkseid) must
be stopped at all costs d8 and step up her Relationship
with Lois to d8.
▼▼ Add a Legion Ring as Gear, statistics equal to that
possessed by Booster Gold on page 135.
LEX LUTHOR
Various flawed clones of Lex pop up in Season Ten, part
of his desperate attempt to cheat death. All the clones share
Lex’s Values and Relationships but lack most of his Resources
save for the Underground Lab. They also don’t possess Lex’s
Wealthy Asset. With the exception of Conner Kent, who was
saved by melding Lex and Clark’s DNA together, all the other
clones age and die very quickly.
LIONEL LUTHOR (EARTH-2)
The Lionel Luthor of Earth-2 is as twisted and terrible as
his counterpart on Earth-1 at his worst. He raised his Earth’s
Clark to be his son and allowed Lex’s death so that Clark
could replace him. Earth-2 Lionel followed Clark Kent back
to his Earth and immediately set to work regaining control
over LuthorCorp. He could not, however, escape his own fate.
▼▼ Remove all his Relationships except Clark and replace
them with Tess is a disappointment as a daughter d10
and Lex was too weak d4.
▼▼ Remove Jor-El as a Resource but step up LuthorCorp
to 2d12.
▼▼ Remove his Guilty Asset.
▼▼ Very recently, Lionel became a vessel of Darkseid’s
power. In essence, this allows Darkseid to manifest his
own Abilities and Distinctions much like a Wraith.
Consider him to have Blast d12, Illusions d12,
Super-Strength d12, Telekinesis d12, and
Tyrant d12, each with the Limit of Light (both literally
and figuratively). As Darkseid, Lionel is an almost
unstoppable opponent, though thankfully we don’t get to
see him like this for too long.
Sanction

THE STORY SO FAR 133
THE STORY SO FAR
LOIS LANE
Lois discovered Clark’s secret and accepted her role as his
partner, confidant, and primary supporter. She’s helping Clark
better protect his identity and pushing him to become an even
greater hero, even as she grows as a reporter and a hero in her
own right.
▼▼ Rewrite Lois’ Love statement as We’re going to make this
work.
▼▼ Remove the Relationships with Jimmy, Lana, and Zod,
but step up her Relationship with Martha to d8 and with
Tess to d10.
▼▼ Add the Relationships Carter understands how crazy
this is d6 and Emil can help us fix it d4.
▼▼ Step up her Perry White Resource to 2d6.
MARTHA KENT
Martha continues to use her government contacts to
protect Clark and his fellow heroes. Even in the face of world-
ending catastrophe, she stands as a force against the Darkness
and those who would keep Clark from his destiny.
▼▼ Step up her Relationship with Lois to d12.
▼▼ Rewrite Martha’s Relationship with Tess as Tess is
finding out who she really is d6.
▼▼ Drop the Relationship with Zod.
▼▼ Add the Connected Asset at d8.
OLIVER QUEEN
Oliver’s been through a lot. He went public, lost the love of
his life, got her back again, and then got married. And those are
just the highlights.
134 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
▼▼ Rewrite his Relationship with Chloe as Chloe is the
love of my life d12.
▼▼ Rewrite his Relationship with Tess as Tess and I are
finally real friends.
▼▼ Drop the Relationship with Zod and add the
Relationship Slade wants to destroy us heroes d6.
▼▼ Increase Marksman to d12.
TESS MERCER
Tess finally picked her side and she’s chosen to ally with
Clark and the other heroes. She takes over as the current
Watchtower in Chloe’s absence and, though she still has a
tendency to keep a few too many secrets, she does far more
good than harm. She learns that she was born a Luthor—real
name Lutessa Lena Luthor—and later placed into an orphanage.
She discovers that Lex cloned himself multiple times at Cadmus
Labs, which leads to her guardianship of one unique clone who
becomes Conner. This writeup represents Tess before the final
lead-up to the series finale and her confrontation with Lex.
▼▼ Rewrite Tess’ Love statement as I’m starting to see the
value of Love.
▼▼ Rewrite her Relationship with Chloe as Chloe is an
inspiration d10.
▼▼ Rewrite her Relationship with Oliver as Oliver has
become a real hero and true friend d10.
▼▼ Add the Relationships Emil is surprisingly interesting
d6 and Conner is at a dangerous place d6.
▼▼ Drop the Relationship with Zod.
▼▼ Drop the Injustice Gang under Resources and instead
add Watchtower (Research, Tactics) 2d8.
NEW SEASON TEN FEATURES enabling him to travel back in time to the 21st century. Unlike them,
however, Booster stole this tech, acting under the misguided notion
that he could replace Clark Kent as the world’s greatest hero. While
With new stories and new challenges come new characters. it’s unlikely that Clark or his friends will ever make this information
Many of these Features are villainous and they oppose Clark public, it’s certainly not something that would endear him to his fans.
and his friends; others are allies in the fight against Darkseid
or the Vigilante Registration Act. As with any list of Features, VALUES
you should feel free to tweak or change these writeups to d6 Duty Of course I’ll do what needs to be done.
better match your own spinoff campaign. Specifically, the
d10 Glory I’m front-page material!
Relationships provided here are keyed to the Tenth Season
Leads of Clark, Oliver, Lois, Tess, and Chloe. d8 Justice I fight crime, especially when the cameras are on.
d6 Love The ladies love a hero.
d8 Power Can’t be a hero without superpowers.
d4 Truth I can’t give away all my professional hero secrets.

RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Cat Grant is cute d6
▼▼ Clark is a true hero d8
▼▼ Jaime Reyes is a good kid and has potential d8
▼▼ Lois is a hero-maker d8

RESOURCES
▼▼ Skeets (Information, Wi-Fi) 2d12

ASSETS
Athletic d6
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll.

Booster Suit (Attack, Defense, Enhancement) d10

Limit: Gear
Booster uses the die rating of his suit as an Asset in rolls that
require him to perform enhanced physical actions, as it boosts
his own strength and durability.
Spend a Plot Point to…
Booster Gold ▼▼ Direct concussive blasts of energy that Increase your

Public Defender • Ex-Football Star • Greatest Hero Exhausted or Injured Stress.

You Never Heard Of
History: Booster Gold is a bombastic, charming, and
popular super hero and champion of justice. Or, at least, that’s
what he and his marketing people are saying. Booster’s ability
to fly, project blasts of power or force fields, and demonstrate
enhanced strength and durability combine with his winning
personality to make a hero for the masses. He saves people,
stands up to injustice, delivers great speeches to the cameras,
and generally does what any man with astonishing powers and
abilities would do. Plus, look at all of his sponsors.
Current Events: Booster swiftly made a name for himself in
Metropolis. He tried to get Lois Lane to interview him, but he had
to settle for plucky reporter Cat Grant. The Blur’s popularity rose
after the Vigilante Registration Act was overturned, but the Blur
remains elusive to the public—Booster offers a hero who isn’t afraid
to be on screen or have his picture taken. He recently tangled with a
dangerous new blue armored individual, but reports state that this
was settled amicably after substantial property damage.
Classified: The man known to the media as Booster Gold
was born in the 31st century, a contemporary of Rokk Krinn,
Imra Ardeen, and Garth Ranzz. Like those members of the
Legion, Booster possesses advanced technology and a Legion ring,
▼▼ Create a force shield that Decreases your opponent’s
Exhausted or Injured Stress.
▼▼ Extend a force field around others that Decreases their
opponent’s Exhausted or Injured Stress.
Fast Talker d10
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opponent a d6 when
you’re caught in a lie or exaggeration.
▼▼ A dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die in a Fast Talker roll.
Legion Ring (Travel) d8
Limit: Gear
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to join a scene you’re not a part of, even
if you can’t get there by ground.
▼▼ Dive bomb an enemy and Increase your Stress pool for this
attack.
▼▼ Travel through time to a point in the future or the past
(this Special Effect might no longer work).
Likeable d6
▼▼ G  ive your opposition a d6 to Reroll a die in a Likeable roll.
Right Place, Right Time d4
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
somebody confronts you about your presence somewhere
off-limits, secret, or prohibited.

THE STORY SO FAR 135

 DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Booster Gold sure has potential d6
▼▼ Clark is a true hero d10
▼▼ Lois is bossy and blinded by the Blur d8
▼▼ Tess rewards good work d8

DEFINING ASSETS
In Over My Head d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you get
into trouble over your head.
▼▼ Add a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Insecure or Angry
Stress pool against opponents who outclass or capture you.
On a Mission d6
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.

DEPTH
▼▼ Spunky, overly perky reporter 2d8
THE STORY SO FAR

Cat Grant
Spunky Girl Reporter • Hero Hater • Godfrey Fangirl
History: Cat Grant was brought into the Daily Planet
to replace Lois while she was on foreign assignment. She was
partnered with Clark and quickly revealed herself to be extremely
unsympathetic to the Blur, Green Arrow, and other heroes. She
also sang the praises of anti-hero pundit Gordon Godfrey.
On Clark and Cat’s first assignment she found herself
targeted by the assassin Deadshot. She thought this was because
of her own dark past involving her son and his obsessed father.
In truth, it was all a ploy by the Suicide Squad to hit Clark with a
tracking bullet. She ended this encounter even more convinced
vigilantes were dangerous, but she was convinced that Clark,
who had kept his identity from her, was a “real hero.”
Current Events: Shortly afterwards, forces of the VRA
took over the Daily Planet and questioned various staff
members under suspicion of aiding “metahuman terrorists and
vigilantes.” Cat at first supported the VRA, but she softened
her stance after an encounter with Lois who explained how
much good the Blur and other heroes have done. She helped
Lois and others evade the VRA. When Booster Gold arrived
on the scene, she had a brief period of idolizing him for his in- Conner Kent
the-public-eye nature, but she realized at the end that he was Young Clone • Part Luthor • Part Kryptonian
something of a fake. The teenager now known as Conner Kent began life as
Classified: Cat is almost amazingly straightforward. Her LX-15, a clone of Lex Luthor. LX-15 was rescued by Tess
past with her son and having to get away from her scary ex isn’t Mercer from Cadmus Labs, where the cloning project was
public knowledge, but that’s about the only secret she seems to housed; he was kept at the Luthor Mansion under great
be keeping and it’s one Clark and a few others now know. secrecy. LX-15 was a child when she found him, but he
aged rapidly; Tess had her scientists investigate his genetic
DEFINING VALUES status and learned that his rapid aging would soon kill him.
d8 Duty I have to do the right thing for me and my son. She called him Alexander and tried to provide him with as
“normal” a childhood as she could, but the personality of the
d6 Justice People should have to obey the rules.
original Lex emerged as he began to remember fragments of
d10 Love I’ll protect my son with my life. Lex’s life.

136 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

 Now a teenager, Alexander fled from Tess’ custody and
wrestled with his growing anger and resentment, not only at
Clark Kent, but at the Luthors in general. He made an attempt
on Martha Kent’s life, hoping Clark would blur in and stop the
kryptonite bullet and be killed. Alexander’s plan was foiled,
however, and it also attracted the attention of the Lionel
Luthor of Earth-2 who had arrived on the mainstream Earth
to continue his plans of domination. Alexander rebuked Lionel
and returned to Tess, clearly degenerating. Tess attempted to
end his life humanely, but the hypodermic she planned to use
failed to puncture his skin.
Tess’ scientists and geneticists learned that Alexander—
or, more properly, the Cognitional Neuroplastic Replicant
(CNR)—not only had Lex’s DNA but Clark Kent’s as well. This
meant that his body was undergoing a metamorphosis, with
Kryptonian abilities and traits emerging. Many of his memories
as Lex were erased during this change, and his personality began
to stabilize. With Tess and Clark’s help, Conner established his
own identity.
Current Events: Lionel Luthor gave the newly changed
Conner a red kryptonite ring, knowing it would remove all
of Conner’s inhibitions and unleash his impulses. Together,
they kidnapped Lois Lane, but Conner’s rebellious nature and
attraction to Lois led him to whisk her away to safety. Conner
later sided with Clark against Lionel after the ring was destroyed.
Aware of the need to become a part of society, Conner enrolled
at Smallville High and established a relationship with Clark’s
mother, Martha.
Classified: The general public is completely unaware that
Conner Kent is a clone, let alone a hybrid clone of Clark and
Lex. As far as anyone is aware, he’s just another dark-haired
Smallville High student with a Blur obsession. It’s unclear
what effect his hybrid DNA will have on his growing powers,
or what his life will be like once he masters them. His writeup
represents the current state of his training as of Season Ten,
with plenty of room for growth.
VALUES
d4 Duty I need to be more responsible.
d6 Glory I’ll have time later for fame.
d6 Justice Injustice must be opposed by those who can.
d10 Love I’ve finally got a family I can count on.
d8 Power I need to use these abilities wisely.
d8 Truth Don’t hide the truth from me.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark is a big brother to look up to d8
▼▼ Iwon’t be part of Lionel’s plans d8
▼▼ Lois is a heck of a woman d8
▼▼ Martha will keep me on the right track d6
▼▼ Tess has been like a mother to me d10
RESOURCES
▼▼ LuthorCorp (Information, Recovery) 2d6
ASSETS
Heat Vision d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a wide-angle sweep effect that inflicts Insecure
or Afraid Stress.
▼▼ Destroy an inanimate object as big as a car. Spend two
Plot Points for an object as big as a house. Spend three
for an object as big as a skyscraper or a river.
Invulnerability d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted
Stress pool.
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress.
Kryptonian Heritage d6
Limits: Kryptonite, Magic, Red Sun
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point when your Abilities are Shutdown by
green or blue kryptonite or you Choose to act on baser
instincts under the sway of red kryptonite.
Manipulative d4
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
Super-Senses d4
Limits: Lead (Sight), Sonic (Hearing)
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Hear or see into a nearby scene you’re not in.
Super-Speed d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join a scene or switch to a new scene regardless
of distance.
▼▼ Catch bullets or other missiles out of the air.
Super-Strength d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock another character out of a scene.
▼▼ Wield a large inanimate object or break off a sharpened
piece of metal or stone to use as a weapon (d8
Useful Detail).
Deadshot
Master Assassin • Killer Cowboy • Suicide Squad Member
History: Not a lot is known about the master gunman and
assassin known as Deadshot. He’s killed countless targets and
has a reputation of never missing. His signature is a bullet with
the victim’s name carved onto it, which he crafts along with all
his other equipment.
Deadshot arrived in Metropolis with the assignment of
shooting Clark Kent with a special bullet that would allow Rick
Flag and his Suicide Squad to track him; he used Cat Grant
as a fake target to accomplish this. After Clark apprehended
Deadshot, Flag freed him almost immediately.
Current Events: Deadshot is still a member of the
Suicide Squad. Though still a cold-blooded killer, he joined the
rest of the Squad under Chloe's direction in saving Clark and
his fellow heroes from the VRA.
THE STORY SO FAR 137
 Marksman d12
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of
ammunition.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Marksman roll.

▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die in a Marksman roll.
Savage d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble whenever you
act on your base instincts.
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Injured or Afraid
Stress pool.

Classified: Little is known about Deadshot’s past, including

THE STORY SO FAR

his real name. It’s a bit unclear exactly why he serves on the
Suicide Squad—whether it’s money, the challenge, or some
leverage they have on him.

VALUES
d10 Duty A contract’s a contract.
d8 Glory Nobody else does what I do as well as I do.
d6 Justice We all have it coming.
d4 Love Don’t have much use for it.
d8 Power Power comes from the barrel of a gun.
d6 Truth Don’t have use for that, either.
Desaad
RELATIONSHIPS Fetish Mogul • Minion of Darkseid • Prophet of
▼▼ Chloe’s the boss right now d8 the Darkness
▼▼ Clark doesn’t get how the world really works d6 History: Masquerading as a club owner specializing in
▼▼ I don’t like Flag but I respect him d8 live adult shows and fetish clubs, Desaad is secretly an agent
of the dark power, Darkseid. Little is known about Desaad’s
RESOURCES history before facing Clark and his allies on behalf of his
▼▼ Suicide Squad (Information, Resources) 2d6 dark master.
▼▼ Workshop (Comfort, Weapons) 2d6 Desaad ran afoul of Chloe and Oliver when the pair took
the identity of “Mr. & Mrs. Jones” to allow the outed-as-a-
ASSETS superhero Oliver a quiet night out on the town with his lady.
Custom Arsenal d8 Unbeknownst to the happy couple, Desaad had been torturing
Limit: Gear and killing various individuals who could resist Darkseid’s
Spend a Plot Point to… corrupting influence. This included the real Mr. Jones and his
▼▼ Attack a target in another scene with a remote controlled wife. Desaad kidnapped Chloe and Oliver and was trying to
weapon or extreme range shot. corrupt them when Clark arrived to save them. Desaad was
▼▼ See through smoke, fog, or other obscuring conditions taken to Belle Reve, though not before it was revealed that
with special scopes and optics. Darkseid had at least temporarily marked Oliver.
▼▼ Craft a bullet that can overcome a foe’s known Limits. Current Events: Belle Reve couldn’t hold Desaad for
Daring d6 long. Together with the other prophets of Darkseid, he was a
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die in a Daring roll. key element in that dark god’s efforts to bring an Apocalypse
to Earth.

138 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

 Classified: Only Clark, his allies, and Darkseid’s fellow Vicious d12
minions and agents know Desaad’s true identity and goals. ▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress pool.
VALUES ▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure
d8 Duty All hail Darkseid! or Exhausted Stress pool.
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Injured
d6 Glory I am a valued agent of my master.
or Afraid Stress pool. You can combine this with the d4
d8 Justice My lord’s will is the only justice. trigger to Increase the Afraid Stress pool by two dice.
d6 Love Love is pain.
Those who control pain and pleasure
d10 Power
hold all the power.
d4 Truth Truth is malleable.

RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark can be a powerful tool for my master d6
▼▼ All glory to Darkseid d12
▼▼ Godfrey is a useful pawn d8
▼▼ Granny is pleasantly strict but lacks my vision d8
▼▼ Oliver isn’t as unbreakable as he thinks d8

RESOURCES
▼▼ Fetish Clubs (Comfort, Information) 2d8
▼▼ Minions and Thugs (Brawl, Security) 2d8

ASSETS
Clever d6
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you choose to show off your
smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner.
Manipulative d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have
a Relationship.
Illusions d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Appear as another Lead or Feature in the mind of the
target.
▼▼ Create an illusion pleasing enough to Decrease an
Afraid or Insecure Stress pool.
▼▼ Create an illusion scary enough to Increase an Afraid
or Insecure Stress pool.
On a Mission d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly
contributes to your mission.
Telekinesis d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Knock a character out of a scene.
▼▼ Shoot bolts of kinetic force.
▼▼ Cause someone to suffer an internal hemorrhage and
start bleeding from the eyes, mouth, or other orifices.
This inflicts Injured or Afraid Stress.
Emil Hamilton
Brilliant Doctor • Confidant to Heroes • Elvis
Impersonator
History: Dr. Emil Hamilton appears to split his time
between Metropolis General and Queen Industries, but he
actually sinks most of his effort into aiding Oliver, Clark, and
various members of their hero team. He’s exceptionally talented
when it comes to dealing with the strange physiologies of aliens
and metahumans. He first used these talents to protect John
Jones’ alien heritage and save the Martian’s life after he had been
shot. He later assisted Clark, Chloe, and others in investigating
the nature of such alien menaces as Doomsday. As time passed,
he became the go-to science guy, doctor type, and good friend
to Clark and his allies.
Current Events: During a Zatanna-enhanced wine-fueled
engagement party for Clark and Lois, Emil found himself in two
interesting situations. First, he ended up becoming an overnight
Internet sensation with his renditions of various classic rock n’
roll songs. Second, Tess and he slept together. What will come of
either of these revelations is currently unknown.
Classified: Emil has a ton of secret medical knowledge,
Queen Industries secret projects, and the identities of various
heroes locked inside his brilliant brain. He also isn’t revealing
where he got that Elvis costume.

THE STORY SO FAR 139

 DEFINING VALUES
d8 Duty Do no harm.
Our love and compassion is what separates
d6 Love
us from the bad guys.
d10 Truth I am devoted to the pursuit of knowledge

DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Chloe is extraordinary d8
▼▼ Clark will become someone very important d8
▼▼ Lois knows what she wants d6
▼▼ Oliver means well but is sometimes too impulsive d8
▼▼ Tess sure is something d8

DEFINING ASSETS
Clever d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to show off your
smarts in some annoying or frustrating manner.
▼▼ S
 pend a Plot Point to Reveal you know a piece of
useful trivia.
Extraterrestrial Knowledge d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
much about alien culture.
THE STORY SO FAR

vigilantes “to justice.” He arrested Lois, Emil, and others,

▼▼ S  pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll associated
attempting to learn more about the vigilantes and their
with understanding alien cultures.
identities. His actions finally led to a showdown with Carter
Genius d12 Hall, who died saving Lois from an explosion triggered by his
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal you’ve studied a subject and
battle with Slade. Unwilling to let Slade roam free, especially
know its basics. under the influence of Darkseid, Clark banished him to the
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you Phantom Zone.
assume others can’t follow your complicated thinking. Current Events: Slade was trapped for some time in
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any academic or
the Phantom Zone. Clark planned to return him to Earth
intellectual roll. for trial after the threat of Darkseid was over, but Zod
sent him back ahead of schedule. He’s now in a coma,
DEPTH prognosis uncertain.
▼▼ Genius doctor, scientist, and confidant to heroes 2d6 Classified: Slade knows countless military secrets, much
of them having to do with secret projects and initiatives
General Slade Wilson run by the VRA. The public at large doesn’t know about
his connection to Darkseid, though Clark and his allies are
Anti-Vigilante Official • Super-Soldier • “Beyond aware of this.
Death’s Stroke”
History: Slade Wilson was a career military man who was VALUES
one of the chief supporters of the Vigilante Registration Act. Slade
I will save my country from all threats: foreign,
hoped to use the VRA to bring various masked vigilantes under d10 Duty
domestic, or alien.
the government’s control and either turn them into effective
weapons or eliminate them. He used his influence and reputation d8 Glory I am a proud soldier who serves my country.
to push the VRA even as he was secretly building prisons and d6 Justice Special abilities don’t give you special rights.
testing facilities for anyone who didn’t cooperate fully. d4 Love Love isn’t as reliable as fear and firepower.
Slade managed to capture Arthur during one of the hero’s
Power should be in the hands of those with the
raids on a secret VRA facility. He then took Oliver into custody d8 Power
will to use it.
when he agreed to ally with Slade as part of a plan to locate and
free his friend. Clark, Mera, and others worked to free Arthur d6 Truth Truth is for those who can handle it.
and Oliver. Slade refused to back down and tried to self-destruct
his base in an attempt to kill Clark and the others. Before the RELATIONSHIPS
base exploded, Clark saw the omega shaped brand on Slade’s ▼▼ Arthur Curry is a terrorist d6
skull that marked him as one influenced by Darkseid. ▼▼ Clark/The Blur is one of the greatest threats to our
national security d6
Surviving the blast, Slade was rebuilt by the government
▼▼ All glory to Darkseid d4
and given powers of his own. He renewed his efforts to bring ▼▼ Shame about Lois, but she picked her side d8
▼▼ Oliver is a cocky little cuss d8

140 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

RESOURCES
▼▼ SecretPrison (Confined, Isolated) 2d8
▼▼ VRA Facilities (Information, Resources) 2d8
▼▼ VRA Soldiers (Security, Tactics) 2d6

ASSETS
Athletic d6/d8*
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll.

▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to use brute force
instead of finesse.
Manipulative d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have
a Relationship.
Marksman d8/d10*
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of
ammunition.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Marksman roll.

On a Mission d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ S
 pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly
contributes to your mission.
Regeneration—/d8*
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Recover Exhausted or Injured Stress.
▼▼ Recover Afraid or Insecure Stress.
Soldier d12
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to follow orders,
stick to protocol, or maintain strict discipline when it
would benefit you more to do otherwise.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Soldier roll
because of your discipline and training.
▼▼ A dd a d6 to Trouble when you draw upon your military
expertise to Increase your Injured or Afraid Stress
pool.
Weapons Master d8/d10*
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Decrease your opponent’s Injured
or Afraid Stress pool against you when you’re armed.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Increase your Injured or Afraid
Stress pool when you’re armed.
Willful d8
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you put
your foot down.
▼▼ A  dd a d10 to Trouble to put your foot down and Reroll a
die in a Willful roll.
Vicious d8
▼▼ A  dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ A  dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure
or Exhausted Stress pool.
*Denotes Assets and ratings after Slade was augmented to
superhuman levels.
General Sam Lane
The General • Lois’ Dad • Really Tough Father-in-Law
History: Sam Lane is a career military man and a devoted,
if uncompromising, father. He always expected the best of his
men and his two daughters, Lois and Lucy. He even made Lois
repeat her senior year in Smallville, which admittedly ultimately
worked out well for Clark and company.
Over the years, General Lane has provided a fair amount of
behind the scenes aid and support for his daughter and her friends.
He helped Chloe with the occasional tidbit of useful information
and was almost universally respected by his men and peers.
Initially, General Lane supported the Vigilante Registration
Act and thought superhuman vigilantes were a threat to
domestic order and security. He was also pretty sure Clark
wasn’t fit to marry his daughter. However, the Blur’s actions
and Clark’s integrity won him over and he moved to oppose the
VRA and bless the marriage.
Current Events: General Lane has been using his influence
recently to aid and protect vigilantes and heroes—at least the
ones he feels are responsible and upstanding, like the Blur.
Classified: General Lane likely knows a ton of military
secrets, but personally he’s pretty open. He’s capable of deception
and trickery on the battlefield, but he tends to play it straight
with his family, friends, and those under his command.
DEFINING VALUES
d10 Duty I will serve my country and honor my command.
d8 Glory I am proud of my service and my rank.
d6 Love I may not show it much, but I love my girls.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Chloe is a fine young woman d8
▼▼ Clark has more guts than I thought d8
▼▼ Lois always makes me proud d12
▼▼ Martha has a lot of integrity d6

THE STORY SO FAR 141

 DEFINING ASSETS Eventually Kara informed Clark about the threat of
Big Brother d8 Darkseid and the two discovered Godfrey’s possession. The
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reveal that you have video or Darkness nearly claimed Clark as well, but Kara fended it off.
audio surveillance of a Lead or Feature. However, Godfrey escaped.
▼▼ A dd a d10 to Trouble to Reroll a die whenever secrets Current Events: Godfrey met up with Darkseid’s other
you know come into play. agents on Earth, Granny Goodness and Desaad. The three allied
Connected d8 to bring their dark lord to Earth.
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship with a Classified: Godfrey takes great care to hide he’s possessed
Feature for the rest of the scene. by the corrupting spirit of an ancient evil Darkness bent on
▼▼ S  pend a Plot Point to Reveal you “know a guy” who can destroying free will and hope. Instead, he just pretends to be
provide you with information or material goods. a conservative talk show pundit. So far, most people haven’t
noticed the difference.
Soldier d10
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point when you Choose to follow orders,
stick to protocol, or maintain strict discipline when it
VALUES
would benefit you more to do otherwise. d6 Duty I owe it to my fans to give them what I want.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Soldier roll d10 Glory I am the Glorious One!
because of your discipline and training. d6 Justice I’ll tell you what justice is…

DEPTH d4 Love Love is for fools and saps.

▼▼ High ranking in the Department of Defense 2d8 d8 Power My words have power.
d8 Truth Truth is what I say it is.
THE STORY SO FAR

RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark/The Blur is a menace…unless he can be
controlled d8
▼▼ All glory to Darkseid d12
▼▼ Desaad is a decadent fool, but we’re on the same side d8
▼▼ Granny understands control but doesn’t think globally d8
▼▼ Oliver is a rich boy playing a dangerous game d8

RESOURCES
▼▼ Rabid Fanbase (Fear, Rumors) 2d6
▼▼ Radio Show (Intimidation, Resources) 2d8

ASSETS
Backhanded d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point for another Lead and Increase your
Angry or Insecure Stress pool against him.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Decrease another Lead or Feature’s
Angry or Insecure Stress pool against you or another
character.
Fast Talker d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
you’re caught in a lie or exaggeration.
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die in a Fast Talker roll.
Manipulative d8
Gordon Godfrey ▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
Glorious One • Loudmouth Pundit • Servant of Darkseid you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
History: Gordon Godfrey was a mouthy radio host whose ▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one

career was beginning to wane when he hit upon his current shtick scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have
of hating vigilantes and heroes. Of course, he had a little help with a Relationship.
that idea in the form of being possessed by the malevolent dark Mastermind d6
force known as Darkseid. Godfrey used the airwaves to stir up ▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die when dealing with
fear and paranoia against heroes like the Blur and Green Arrow. characters you have a history of manipulating.
He also managed to sway many to his way of thinking, including On a Mission d8
Daily Planet reporter Cat Grant. ▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you

142 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

 foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk. little angels. She even had the memory of her past wiped,
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly causing her to forget her father for many years. Eventually
contributes to your mission. Tess—as she became known—began to look into her past
Possession/Corruption d10 and this led her to Granny. Clark accompanied Tess to the
Limits: Kryptonian artifacts orphanage, and they nearly fell prey to Granny and her army
Spend a Plot Point to… of “female furies”—girls in training to serve Darkseid. The pair
▼▼ Corrupt an Extra in the same scene as you for the rest of managed to escape Granny’s clutches and defeat her, though the
episode or until they break control. old woman escaped.
▼▼ Corrupt all the Extras in a scene, pushing them to act on Current Events: Granny is currently at large, working
your behalf. with Desaad and Godfrey to bring Darkseid to Earth and turn
▼▼ Corrupt a Lead or Feature for the remainder of the scene this world into a place of terrible Darkness and torment. She’s
or until they break free. This requires a Contest against also probably baking cookies and pinching the cheeks of cute
the target. children just a bit too hard.
Super-Strength d6 Classified: Only Granny knows the identities of all
Spend a Plot Point to… the girls she’s “helped.” No, really—since she can steal and
▼▼ Break free of bonds or restraints using pure brute force. alter memories, she’s the only one who knows. She’s also
keeping her role as Darkseid’s servant under wraps for
obvious reasons.

VALUES
d10 Duty I teach my girls to be obedient.
d4 Glory It’s not about me, it’s about my little angels.
d6 Justice Everyone should do their chores.
Granny loves you. And remember we only
d8 Love
hurt the ones we love…
d8 Power Power is useful to make children behave.
Oh, truth can be so messy and Granny hates
d6 Truth
a mess…

RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark/The Blur could be such a good boy if he’d just
forget his painful past d8
▼▼ All glory to Darkseid d12
▼▼ Desaad is a sly one d8
▼▼ Godfrey doesn’t understand patience, but he’s generally a
good boy d8
▼▼ Such a shame, Tess was such a promising child d10

RESOURCES
▼▼ Female Furies (Intimidation, Security) 2d10
▼▼ St.Louise’s Orphanage For Wayward Girls (Hidden,
Granny Goodness Secure) 2d10
Headmistress from Hell • Servant of Darkseid •
Evil Old Bat ASSETS
History: Granny has run St. Louise’s Orphanage for as Manipulative d10
long as anyone can remember. She’s helped all sorts of troubled ▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6 when
young girls find strength and character. Many of these girls went you ask them to trust you, even if you don’t mean it.
on to become extremely successful and Granny is so proud of ▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Gain a d8 Relationship for one
her girls. Of course, she’s also a memory stealing sadistic witch scene with a Feature with whom you don’t already have
bent on raising an army of killers and warriors to serve her a Relationship.
master, Darkseid, but nobody’s perfect.
Mastermind d8
Years ago, Lionel Luthor sent his illegitimate daughter,
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die when dealing with
Lutessa Lena Luthor, to Granny. It’s unclear if Lionel knew
characters you have a history of manipulating.
exactly what he was sending his little girl into; but honestly,
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reveal that you’ve planned for
back then he probably didn’t much care. Lutessa was trained,
this eventuality and have the resources necessary for
tortured, and conditioned by Granny to be one of her perfect
your plan.

THE STORY SO FAR 143

 Memory Manipulation d12
Limits: Touch
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Alter or erase an Extra’s memory permanently or until

reversed by some other process.

▼▼ Alter or erase a Feature’s memory of a scene, person, or

event.
▼▼ Alter or erase a Lead’s memory of a scene, person, or

event. This requires a Contested roll.

On a Mission d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly
contributes to your mission.
Telekinesis d8
S pend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Knock a character out of a scene.

▼▼ Shoot bolts of kinetic force.

Vicious d10
▼▼ A  dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ A  dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure
THE STORY SO FAR

or Exhausted Stress pool. Harriet

WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Darkseid and the Omega
Darkseid is one of those villains who spends most of his
time behind the scenes—a dark and monstrous threat
that Clark doesn’t usually have to face directly. Indeed, he
spends very little time on screen in Season Ten, preferring
to act through his Dark Prophets and those branded with
the Omega symbol. If you’d like to use Darkseid yourself, we
encourage you to follow this lead. If he chooses a vessel, as
he did with Lionel Luthor, apply his Abilities and Distinctions
as described under Lionel Luthor’s update. It’s more true to
his kind of villainy for his power to be expressed through
sin and Darkness, perhaps leading to challenging some
Drive statements along the way.
The Omega brand’s primary effect is story-based, but you
might treat it as an Empower effect that steps up a Lead
or Feature’s Vicious and/or Savage Distinctions by one, or
adding it at d6 if it didn’t already exist. Players should be left
with the choice of altering their Drive statements to match
their new, corrupted point of view. If another Lead manages
Female Fury • Granny’s Favorite • Little Orphan Angry
History: Harriet was the leader of Granny’s little band of
brainwashed orphan killers known as the Female Furies. She
used her Green K powered claws to do a number on Clark until
Tess managed to take her down. Harriet was supposedly the
most merciless and brutal of Granny’s girls and nothing about
her suggested this wasn’t true. She certainly seemed to enjoy
torturing Clark for the brief time he was in the Furies’ clutches.
Current Events: Tess knocked Harriet out, but the Fury
presumably survived and still serves her beloved Granny Goodness.
Classified: It’s unknown if Harriet and the other Furies can
be cured or rehabilitated. After years of being tortured, memory-
wiped, and conditioned by someone like Granny Goodness, they
might be beyond help. If not, then Harriet and the other girls could
have relatives or other past connections out there somewhere.
DEFINING VALUES
d8 Duty I’m Granny’s favorite.
d10 Glory I can cut anyone down to size.
d4 Love Love is for the weak.
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark can’t stand up to me d6
▼▼ Allglory to Darkseid d8
▼▼ Granny loves me and has made me strong d10

to Stress them out with empowering words or the light ▼▼ Tess has embraced weakness and sentiment d4

of hope (Insecure or Afraid, depending) the brand will be

eliminated. DEFINING ASSETS
Agile d10
▼▼ R
 eroll a die in an Agile roll when you Choose to drop
what you’re carrying.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Decrease your opponent’s Injured
or Exhausted Stress pool.

144 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

Energy Claws d8
Limit: Gear
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Augment the user’s strength, allowing her to perform
feats of superhuman might.
▼▼ Cut through metal, stone, and steel like paper.
▼▼ Treat the claws as kryptonite for purposes of affecting
Kryptonians.
Savage d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble whenever you
act on your base instincts.
▼▼ A dd a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Injured or Afraid
Stress pool.
Weapons Master d10
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Decrease your opponent’s Injured
or Afraid Stress pool against you when you’re armed.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Increase your Injured or Afraid
Stress pool when you’re armed.
DEPTH
▼▼ Brainwashed orphan 2d8
Isis
Nile Goddess • Seeker of Lost Love • Fashion Accessory
History: The Egyptian goddess Isis is the wife of the
god Osiris and the mother of the vengeful god Horus. After
her husband was killed, the goddess tried to resurrect him
but she failed. Eventually her essence was imprisoned in a
necklace by the evil god Set.
Fast-forward several thousand years to when the necklace
was unearthed during Carter Hall’s latest Egyptian dig. The
necklace found its way into Lois’ possession and when she
held it up to the sunlight the goddess did a little possessing
of her own. Taking over Lois’ body, Isis rejected Clark and
renewed her search for Osiris’ remains, eventually finding
them at the Metropolis Museum’s new Egyptian exhibit. Isis
nearly succeeded in resurrecting Osiris by sacrificing Clark,
but Oliver managed to arrive in time to help Clark defeat Isis
and banish her back to the necklace.
Current Events: Isis is once again trapped in the
necklace and will remain so as long as no one holds it while
standing in the sun. Note that Clark’s heat vision also worked
in place of sunlight.
Classified: Being an immortal goddess trapped in a piece
of jewelry, Isis probably has knowledge far beyond mortals.
In fact, she basically said as much to Clark. The exact nature
of this knowledge is fuzzy, but it probably includes vast lore
about Egypt, gods and goddesses, and ways to resurrect
the dead.
VALUES
d6 Duty I do not serve others. They serve me.
d10 Glory I am a goddess!
d4 Justice I will reclaim what is mine.
d10 Love I will do anything to restore my beloved to me.
d8 Power I am power incarnate!
d4 Truth The truth often lies buried by time and loss.
RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark/The Blur is nothing to me but a sacrifice d8
▼▼ Loisis a suitable vessel d8
▼▼ My beloved Osiris, we will be together again one day d12
RESOURCES
▼▼ Ancient Egypt (Inspiration, Mysticism) 2d8
▼▼ Metropolis Museum (Artifacts, Knowledge) 2d6
ASSETS
Flight d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Join another scene you’re not part of, even if you cannot
get there by ground.
▼▼ Change direction quickly to fly around an obstacle; you
may use this obstacle as a d8 Useful Detail.
Occult Knowledge d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Reveal you know way too
much about magic, demons, gods, and spirits.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any roll
associated with understanding magic or supernatural
beings.
On a Mission d10
▼▼ E  arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
▼▼ S  pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly
contributes to your mission.
Super-Strength d8
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength.
▼▼ Throw or knock a character out of a scene.
THE STORY SO FAR 145
 Super-Senses d8 The stowaway was an alien artifact shaped like a beetle and
Spend a Plot Point to… made out of some blue metal. Not long after Jaime left the scene
▼▼ See or hear into a nearby scene you’re not in. of the accident, the beetle attached itself to Jaime’s back. Now in
Telekinesis d10 a symbiotic relationship with Jaime, the alien artifact triggered a
S pend a Plot Point to… spectacular change in its host, covering him in a protective blue
▼▼ Knock a character out of a scene. armored shell. This conferred upon Jaime great strength, speed,
▼▼ Shoot bolts of kinetic force. and the ability to project blasts of energy, but the suit seized
▼▼ Restrain someone with telekinetic bonds. control of Jaime’s actions when active.
Telepathy d6 Current Events: Jaime went on a rampage at Booster Gold’s
Spend a Plot Point to… big press event and engaged in a battle with the gold-and-
▼▼ Read another character’s surface thoughts.
blue media darling. Fortunately for Booster, Jaime’s willpower
eventually won out; Booster convinced him to withdraw the suit’s
Wraith Heritage d12
power back into the beetle and return to normal.
Limit: Necklace, Sunlight
Classified: Details are still sketchy about the blue beetle’s true
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point when you Reveal how you can be
origins. It killed its previous hosts, including a Kord Industries
banished or your Abilities are Shutdown by being banished.
employee named Dan Garrett. It’s likely that Ted Kord, Kord
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to use an Asset of your vessel.
Industries founder, will step in to help Jaime lead a regular life.
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Recover your Injured or
Booster Gold, too, may be on hand to mentor the kid, for what
Exhausted Stress, as well as that of your vessel.
that’s worth.
Note: When possessing Lois, Isis also has access to Lois’ Assets
via her Wraith Heritage.
VALUES
I should listen to people who know what they’re
d6 Duty
THE STORY SO FAR

doing.
d8 Glory I want people to see that I’m a hero.
d10 Justice I should do what’s right.
d4 Love I don’t…I can’t…are you serious?
d8 Power I just need to use this gift wisely.
d6 Truth I have to come clean when there’s something wrong.

RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Booster Gold is an inspiration d8
▼▼ The Blur could learn a few tricks from Booster d6
▼▼ Cat Grant wants the scoop on real heroes d6
▼▼ Lois is a caring person d6

RESOURCES
▼▼ Kord Industries (Recovery, Research) 2d8

ASSETS
Big-Hearted d6
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to buy somebody’s
sob story.
Blue Beetle Armor (Attack, Defense, Enhancement) d10
Jaime uses the die rating of his armor as an Asset in rolls that
require him to perform enhanced physical actions, as it boosts his
Jaime Reyes own strength and durability. The die rating also stands in as the
Hapless Teenager • Blue Beetle Bearer • Rookie Hero armor’s own willpower, should that be necessary to represent.
History: Jaime Reyes was just a normal Metropolis teenager Limit: Gear, Concentration
who suffered the mockery and ridicule of his fellow students before Spend a Plot Point to…
a Kord Industries truck nearly ran him over. New hero Booster ▼▼ Direct concussive blasts of energy that Increase your
Gold, whose force field protected Jaime and almost demolished Exhausted or Injured Stress.
the truck, saved Jaime at the last moment. While the authorities ▼▼ Absorb physical blows by Decreasing your opponent’s
and media crowded Booster, Jaime slipped away—but not before a Exhausted or Injured Stress.
remarkable piece of Kord Industries tech slipped into his backpack. ▼▼ Lift or throw objects as heavy as a small car.

146 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

In Over My Head d12 would benefit you more to do otherwise.
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you get Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Soldier roll
▼▼
into trouble over your head. because of your discipline and training.
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Insecure or Vicious d8
Angry Stress pool against opponents who outclass or ▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
capture you. Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ A
 dd a d6 to Trouble to Reroll a die when trying to gain ▼▼ A dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure
important information while you’re in over your head. or Exhausted Stress pool.

Lieutenant Trotter DEPTH

▼▼ Anti-vigilante fanatic 2d6
Slade’s Lapdog • VRA Second-in-Command
History: Lieutenant Trotter was General Slade Wilson’s
aide. After Slade embraced the VRA initiative, Trotter was
put in charge of various operations, interrogations, and other
activities. Most notably, she forcefully interrogated Lois and
other people close to Clark and Oliver in an attempt to bully
information out of them. Trotter displays loyalty to Slade, an
extreme willingness to justify questionable activities as “just
following orders,” and a fairly thuggish approach to doing her
duty. She’s even willing to execute American citizens if she’s
convinced or told they’re a threat by someone like General
Wilson. As such, she’s not very well liked by Clark and
his allies.
Current Events: Since Slade was banished to the Phantom
Zone, Trotter has been working with DDS strike teams
securing various places that once held metahumans. With
the VRA Bill struck down, however, Trotter’s current status
is unknown.
Classified: A member of the United States Military and
General Wilson’s aide, Trotter was privy to a number of military
secrets, including secret VRA holding facilities and various
black ops projects.

DEFINING VALUES
d8 Duty I will serve my superior officer and my country.
Lucy Lane
Lois’ Kid Sister • Cute Troublemaker • The General’s
These freaks, vigilantes, and their lackeys
d8 Justice Other Daughter
shouldn’t escape us.
History: Lucy is Lois’ kid sister. She’s spent a lot of her
d8 Power We’re the government; we are power. time in overseas boarding schools and growing up on military
bases. She’s also got a major penchant for trouble. She’s lied
DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS and cheated, and she even tried to rob Lex Luthor once. She’s
▼▼ Clark/The Blur is our number one target d8
made a lot of trouble for Lois and her friends, mostly out of
▼▼ Emil gives aid and comfort to the enemy d6
▼▼ Lois is a mouthy little tramp d6
youthful rebellion and jealousy for her sister’s relationship with
▼▼ Tess is a traitor and a terrorist sympathizer d6
their father. Recently, she tried to mess up Lois and Clark’s
relationship and even managed to nearly get the whole family
DEFINING ASSETS killed. To be fair, she thought she was exposing Clark as a
vigilante sympathizer, but she was really helping Rick Flag get
On a Mission d8
close enough to assassinate her father. Clark saved the Lanes
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you
and, after being smacked in the face with how badly she handles
foolishly pursue your mission despite the risk.
things, Lucy finally wised up.
▼▼ S
 pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die that directly
Current Events: Lucy and Lois have worked out their tensions
contributes to your mission.
and differences. She’s currently trying to find something constructive
Soldier d8 to do with herself now that she’s not a roving storm of trouble.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to follow orders, Classified: Lucy probably knows a few secrets about Lois
stick to protocol, or maintain strict discipline when it and her father. She’s not a great store of classified knowledge,
but being General Lane’s daughter she’s bound to have picked
up a few things.

THE STORY SO FAR 147

 DEFINING VALUES
d8 Glory I’ll make Daddy proud.
d10 Love Even if I sometimes screw up, I love my family.
d6 Power I should be able to do what I want.

DEFINING RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Clark is cute but he’s hiding something d6
▼▼ I wish The General was as proud of me as he is of my sister
d12
▼▼ I love Lois when I don’t want to punch her d10

DEFINING ASSETS
Attractive d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when your looks draw you unwanted
attention.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in an Attractive roll.

Backhanded d10
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point for another Lead and Increase your
Angry or Insecure Stress pool against him.
▼▼ S
 pend a Plot Point to Decrease another Lead or Feature’s
Angry or Insecure Stress pool against you or another Classified: Mera knows the location, current status, and
THE STORY SO FAR

character. other secrets involving Atlantis and its people. She guards these
In Over My Head d8 secrets closely, so far not even sharing them with Arthur’s close
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Add a d6 to Trouble when you get friends and allies.
in over your head.
▼▼ A dd a d6 to Trouble to Increase your Insecure or Angry VALUES
Stress pool against opponents who outclass or capture you. I will stand by my husband, my king, and
d10 Duty
Military Brat d8 my people.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose to have your military d6 Glory There’s no point in being shy.
knowledge get you into trouble. d8 Justice Evil and tyranny should be punished.
▼▼ S pend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when you call in a
favor to get you out of trouble.
d8 Love I love openly and without shame.
Power is useful if tempered with wisdom
d6 Power
DEPTH and grace.
▼▼ General Lane’s troublesome younger daughter 2d6 d4 Truth Secrets and honesty can both protect you.

Mera RELATIONSHIPS
▼▼ Arthur is my husband, partner, and king d12
Aquaman’s Wife & Partner • Atlantean Beauty • ▼▼ I understand why my husband thinks so highly of
Marine Activist Clark d8
History: Not a lot is known about Mera before she showed ▼▼ Lois has her own strength and is learning to be strong for
up and introduced herself as Arthur Curry’s new bride. She’s others d6
an Atlantean and refers to Arthur as King of Atlantis on a few ▼▼ Oliver is a brave man d6

occasions. She has powers similar to her husband, which she ▼▼ Slade is far too dangerous to be allowed to run

used to help Arthur attack secret VRA facilities and protect rampant d6
marine life. She also helped bust Arthur and Oliver out when
they were captured by the VRA. RESOURCES
Mera sees herself as a full partner and equal to Arthur in ▼▼ Atlantis (Hidden, Inspiration) 2d6
spite of his newfound royal status. She impresses on Lois the need ▼▼ Marina (Comfort, Restore) 2d6
for a similar relationship between her and Clark, though she’s not
very subtle about it at first. Still, Mera proves herself a valuable ASSETS
and loyal ally to her husband and his surface dwelling friends. Agile d6
Current Events: Mera is at Arthur’s side, aiding him in ▼▼ R
 eroll a die in an Agile roll when you Choose to drop
opposing evil and working to protect the seven seas. She’s not what you’re carrying.
considered an official member of the Justice League, but where
Aquaman goes, Mera isn’t far behind.

148 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME

Atlantean Heritage d10
Limit: Dehydration, All of Mera’s abilities are stepped back by
one out of water.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when dehydration forces a Shutdown
of your Abilities.
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when you Choose the welfare of the
oceans over that of the surface world.
Attractive d8
▼▼ E arn a Plot Point when your looks draw you unwanted
attention.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in an Attractive roll.

Hydrokinesis d10
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ Create a ball of water you can hurl to Increase your
Injured or Exhausted Stress pool.
▼▼ Knock someone out of the scene with a watery shove.

▼▼ Cause a water tank, pipe, or other container to burst by

manipulating the water inside, spraying the scene with water.

Invulnerability d6
Spend a Plot Point to…
▼▼ D  ecrease an opponent’s Injured or Exhausted Stress pool. Current Events: Flag and his team are still working with
▼▼ Recover your Injured or Exhausted Stress. Chloe, doing shadow ops and other things a bit too shady for
▼▼ Ignore the effects of exposure to extreme temperatures most heroes. Ideally, with Chloe’s influence and direction, Flag
such as arctic cold or volcanic cores. and his cohorts are operating in less sinister ways than under
Super-Strength d6 their old boss, Amanda Waller.
Spend a Plot Point to… Classified: Most of Flag’s background is unknown and
▼▼ Perform a fantastic feat of strength. presumably ultra-classified. Also, a veteran black ops member of
Swimming d10 a secret organization called the Suicide Squad almost certainly
Spend a Plot Point to… knows where at least a few bodies are buried—both literally
▼▼ Move through the water at high speeds­−join another and figuratively.
scene regardless of distance if it’s accessible by water.
▼▼ Escape a scene by jumping into a nearby body of water VALUES
and disappearing into its depths. d10 Duty I’m a loyal soldier, even unto death.
▼▼ Leap from water onto a nearby shore, boat, or low-flying
d6 Glory I’m not important.
aircraft to surprise your foes.
Those who sacrifice should be honored and
▼▼ Resist the pressure of very deep water without a pressure d8 Justice
protected.
suit or submarine.
▼▼ D  ecrease your Injured or Exhausted Stress pool while d4 Love Love is a liability in my business.
you are in water by dodging around your opponent. d8 Power Sometimes you have to hit hard to make a point.
d6 Truth The truth is hard to see from the trenches.

Rick Flag RELATIONSHIPS

Suicide Squad Leader • Anti-VRA Extremist • ▼▼ Chloe is a real asset d8
▼▼ Clark/The Blur needs to be protected so he can protect
Covert Operator
us d4
History: Not much is known about Rick Flag’s background. ▼▼ Deadshot is useful but dangerous d6
It’s presumed he’s ex-military or intelligence, but that’s just ▼▼ Oliver is a means to an end d6
speculation based on his training and his position as leader of ▼▼ Plastique is turning into a good soldier d6
Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad. Flag first appeared when he ▼▼ Tess understands the need for sacrifice d8
kidnapped Oliver and helped engineer Chloe ransoming herself ▼▼ Waller is using us, but correctly d10
for her boyfriend’s freedom. Flag then tried to kill General Sam
Lane in an attempt to stop the VRA and allow heroes and other RESOURCES
superhumans to operate covertly. Flag’s involvement in this ▼▼ Checkmate (Information, Resources) 2d6
failed assassination gave Chloe the leverage to blackmail Flag ▼▼ Checkmate Agents (Security, Tactics) 2d4
and his team into working for her. To Flag’s credit, he didn’t ▼▼ Suicide Squad (Intimidation, Retrieval) 2d8

seem all that bothered by having a new, blonder, perkier boss.

THE STORY SO FAR 149

 ASSETS
Athletic d8
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in any Athletic roll.
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to use brute force
instead of finesse.
Marksman d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to run out of
ammunition
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die in a Marksman roll.
Martial Artist (Krav Maga) d8
▼▼ Give your opponent a d6 in a Contest and Increase your
Injured or Exhausted Stress pool when you attack
aggressively.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll a die when you target a
vulnerable part of the body, such as the eyes, throat, or
back of the knee.
Right Place, Right Time d8
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point and Give your opposition a d6
when somebody confronts you about your presence
somewhere off-limits, secret, or prohibited.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to join a scene you weren’t in.
Soldier d10
THE STORY SO FAR
▼▼ E
 arn a Plot Point when you Choose to follow orders,
stick to protocol, or maintain strict discipline when it
would benefit you more to do otherwise.
▼▼ Spend a Plot Point to Reroll any die in a Soldier roll
because of your discipline and training.
150 SMALLVILLE ROLEPLAYING GAME
Weapons Master d6
▼▼ S
 pend a Plot Point to Decrease your opponent’s Injured
or Afraid Stress pool against you when you’re armed.
Vicious d8
▼▼ A dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Angry or
Afraid Stress pool.
▼▼ A dd a d6 to the Trouble pool to Increase your Insecure
or Exhausted Stress pool.
WATCHTOWER ALERT:
Suicide Squad Agents
Rick Flag has many rogue metahumans and operatives
working for him in the Suicide Squad, though perhaps
none as prominent as Deadshot or Plastique. LaSalle’s
a good example of a character who might make a good
Minor Feature, but he’s more likely just a representation
of Rick Flag’s Suicide Squad Resource. LaSalle has a
Teleportation d8, which is a nice benefit, but that’s more or
less it. Similar one-Trait agents could be brought into the
game if you’re using Rick Flag or someone like him. Pick an
Ability, a name, and a basic description, and you’ve got a
Suicide Squad agent. If the agent ever becomes a little more
significant, upgrade him to a Minor Feature and see where
it goes. Until then, have him act as Resources for Features
like Rick Flag or Amanda Waller.