TDM800 Superhero roleplaying

LArrimore Pivik
Kotz Rosenberger Turpin
 Superheroic Roleplaying

Mike Larrimore
Brian Pivik
 Contributors
Written and developed by: Internal Art:

Mike Larrimore & Brian Pivik Dean Kotz

Roena Rosenberger
Additional material, Pete Nash & Lawrence Whitaker James Turpin

Editor: Cartography:

Lisa Truesdale Ronan Salieri

Art Direction & Layout: Project Management:

Sophia Conner Brian Pivik

Proofreading, Indexing and Corrections: Playtesters:

Amanda Rogers, Gretchen Woitte Adam Adkison, Chandra Bezjak, Steve Burk,
Robert Colondo, Dave Cunningham, Tony Hornsby,
Cover Art: Pat Lenz, Chuck McGinnis,
Virginia García Ovejero Pivik, Bill Yon
Dean Kotz

Artist links

Dean Kotz: https://outlandentertainment.com/

Ronan Salieri: https://etherneofzula.artstation.com/
Roena Rosenberger: https://www.artstation.com/larvl

I dedicate this book to my wife Jenn and my daughter Victoria for supporting and encouraging me along on this journey. I want to
thank Loz and Pete for giving me the opportunity, and my friends for helping Destined get to where it is today. And finally I want to
thank all the amazing writers and artists who bring the superheroes we all know and love to life. Excelsior!

- Mike Larrimore

I would first like to dedicate this book to my wife Virginia and my daughter Mila for their everlasting love and support. To Loz and
Pete for their encouragement, belief in the book, and in us as writers. Without your love of gaming, none of this would be possible. A
sincere thank you to my playtesters: Thank you, Adam, aka ‘Doc,’ aka ‘Gruntwork,’ for your friendship through the years and your
unique perspectives on roleplaying superheroes. Tony, aka ‘Frostbite’, for playing with me since day one of picking up the dice again.
Chandra, aka ‘Weather Witch,’ for keeping me up to task on the rules for fire! And to Virginia, aka ‘Lograg,’ for playing her
characters close to her heart and looking for the positive in even the most dire roleplay situations. Thank you to my mom, for pushing
me to read (and write) at an early age, and my dad, for showing me the value of hard work. And finally, to you, dear reader, for
making this book possible. Your support and purchase means so much to all of us here at The Design Mechanism.

- Brian Pivik

Destined © 2022 by The Design Mechanism

Mythras is a Registered Trademark ® of The Design Mechanism. All rights reserved. This edition of Destined is copyright © 2022.
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without permission from The Design Mechanism, except as quoted for purposes
of illustration, discussion and game play. Reproduction of the material in this book for the purposes of personal or corporate profit, by photographic,
electronic, or other methods of retrieval is strictly prohibited.

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 Contents
Introduction 4 Combat 149 Welcome to Gemelos City 262
What Makes a Superhero? 4 Key Aspects of Combat 149 Early History 262
How the Game Works 5 Running Combat 150 A History of Heroes 263
Overview of the Contents 5 Combat Rounds 151 The Godstrand 265
Game Conventions 6 Combat Actions 152 Gemelos City Today 267
Anatomy of a Hero 7 Non-Combat Powers in Combat 155 A Guide to the City 267
How Combat Works 156 The Ossuary 273
Hero Creation 7 Special Effects 158 The Gangs of the Ossuary 279
Step 1: Determine Power Level 9 Optional Rule: Team Maneuvers 163 Entertainment 280
Step 2: Develop Your Hero Concept 12 Movement in Combat 165 Other Cities 281
Step 3: Choose Your Origin 12 Aerial Movement in Combat 166
Step 4: Determine Your Characteristics 14 Other Forms of Movement in Combat 168 The Righteous and the
Step 5: Determine Your Attributes 16 Mounted or Vehicular Combat 169 Irredeemable 283
Step 6: Calculate Your Skills 20 Close Combat 170 Heroes 283
Step 7: Cultures 21 Ranged Combat 178 Villains 291
Step 8: Choose Your Career 24 Injury and Wounds 179 Supporting Characters 320
Step 9: Spend Your Bonus Skill Points 27 Rabble and Underlings 182
Step 10: Choose Your Powers 28 Index 330
Step 11: Determine Your Allotments and Gear Spot Rules 183
31 Chases 183
Step 12: The Final Details 33 Fatigue 186
Background Events 33 Falling 189
Important People 34 Feats of Strength 190
Passions 46 Healing from Injuries 191
Optional: Quick Hero Generation 50 Inanimate Objects 192
Interrogation 192
Skills 51 Investigation 194
Using Skills 51 Luck Points 197
Extended Tasks 57 Movement Outside of Combat 198
Standard Skills 59 Perils 201
Professional Skills 63 Visibility 206
Advancing Your Hero 70 Weather 206

Powers 73 The Life of a Hero 208

Core Powers 73 Great Power 208
Boost and Limits 74 Great Responsibility 209
Borrowing Boosts and Limits 78 Heroic and Secret Identities 213
Creating New Boosts and Limits 79 Organizations 218
Powers Descriptions 81 Creating Superteams 228
Bases of Operation 231
Tools of the Trade 123
Allotments 123 Creating Your Comic 236
Armor 128 Basic Superhero Themes 236
Weapons 130 On Being a Games Master 238
Gear 135 World Building (and Destroying) 239
Optional: Items of Power 138 Length 244
Miscellaneous Allotments 138 Scale 244
Vehicles 139 Superhero Cities 247
Handling and Maneuvers 144 Lethal Vs Non-Lethal Force 248
Vehicle Shields 145 Customizing Powers 249
Vehicle Weapons 145 Villains 252
Sample Vehicles 145 Villainous Motivations 253
Keeping Villains in the Fight 254
Villainous Powers, Skills, and Limits 256
Dastardly Designs 258
Keeping Heroes in the Fight 258
Superhero Adventures 260
 Destined
Introduction
E
ven several blocks away he could hear the alarm.
The steady cadence of the ringing bell echoed
through the empty streets and up to the rooftop where
The Mortician stood watch over the neighborhood.
It seemed every night there was something to pull him away
from his quiet vigil, and the alarm meant tonight would be no
different. He took a few seconds to make sure his belt of
throwing blades was secure; that the weighted fighting cane on
his back was within reach, its polished silver skull topper
glinting under the moonlight. The Mortician pulled up his
hood and took the line launcher from his belt, aiming it towards
the rooftop across the street. With a quick hiss of pressurized air,
the line spun out into the darkness and the grapple found
purchase, and in grim silence he stepped off into the sky towards
whatever waited him at the source of the alarm.
We live in an age of superheroes. They’re in our
movie theaters, on our televisions, we wear their
symbols on our clothes, and we read the comics that
created the genre. From video games to cinematic
blockbusters, superheroes are all around us.
As much as we enjoy watching and reading about
them, deep down there is a part of us that secretly wants
to be a superhero. Who wouldn’t appreciate zipping
through rush hour like The Flash or being able to
know exactly what our boss (or romantic partner) is
really thinking like Professor X? As useful as powers
would be during our normal day, the true appeal would
be swooping in and stopping a crime or saving the day,
soaring down from the sky, cape fluttering in the wind,
as the city cheers and celebrates our heroism. Comic
book stories are wish fulfillment fantasies, allowing us to
dream of being a hero like the four-color ones on
the page.
4
Most of us would not fare well if we strapped on a
utility belt and mask and prowled the streets looking for
crime, so the benefit of a game like Destined is that we
can do so in the safety of our own home, surrounded by
friends who want to live the lives of heroes alongside us.
With some dice, some heroes, and the power of
imagination, we can live out the fantasy and be the
superheroes we all want to be.
What makes a
Superhero?
Creating a superhero of your own starts with a concept,
a framework of ideas that come together to make the
hero you imagine. The rules presented within Destined
help to bring that concept to life, defining physical,
mental, and social aspects of your hero through
Characteristics and Skills that represent who your hero
is and what they can do.
You’ll give them special Powers that put them above
ordinary people, allowing them to reach the peak of
their ability and go beyond into the superhuman. You’ll
equip your hero with Gear that helps you in the field,
including an array of amazing gadgets found on the
pages of your favorite comics. Finally you’ll flesh out
why your hero risks their life to battle crime, defining
the Passions that drive them and what happened in
their past to put them on the path to becoming a
superhero. All this will serve as the basis for your hero,
and over the course of your adventures your hero will
learn and grow, becoming one of the iconic legends of
your own personal comic book.

How the game works
At their core, the rules of Destined are simple. The
referee, known as the Games Master, presents obstacles,
problems, challenges, and situations to the Players. The
players then use the dice to resolve the situation to see
if they succeed or fail.
Normally this is accomplished by rolling against the
percentage value of the best skill that applies to the
situation on percentile dice (here, two 10-sided dice are
rolled together with one being designated as the Tens
result, and the other the Units) - if the roll is equal to or
under the value of the skill, the Action is successful. This
mechanic is the most common way to resolve tasks and
deal with conflicts in the game.
Sometimes an action might be more challenging
than normal, or another person might oppose what
your hero is trying to do. The rules cover how to handle
these circumstances in a straightforward manner so you
can carry on with your collaborative story as quickly and
easily as possible. Destined also has rules for handling the
superheroic battles that are part of comics, using a
tactical and dynamic system that makes every punch
count and ensures that combat tells its own narrative
that adds to the story.
While we’ve tried to make the rules simple and
intuitive, ultimately they are your rules to do with as
you please. If you find something is not working to your
liking, or there is a variation or house rule you read
about on an online forum and would like to add to your
game, you can change and alter the game to match your
preferences. Destined is also part of the Mythras line of
games, which builds upon the long-standing legacy of
d100 games that go back to the earliest days of the
hobby. There are many resources out there to add and
expand your game as you see fit, and within these pages
we offer suggestions to tweak the rules and systems to
make the game your own.
Overview of the
Contents
Chapter 1: Hero Creation
All the rules to start creating your own hero can be
found here. Decide on a Power Level for your stories,
generate Characteristics and Attributes that define
your core abilities, then pick your skills, powers, and
gear before heading out into the dark streets of the city
to bring villains to justice.
1. Introduction
Chapter 2: Skills
This chapter explains how the skills system in Destined
works, including how and when to make rolls to
determine if you are successful. It gives detailed
descriptions of the various Skills used in the game, from
Standard Skills that everyone knows, to Professional
Skills that represent specialized training and education.
Chapter 3: Powers
Laser beam eyes, invisibility, and super speed can all be
found here, along with many other powers to customize
the fantastic abilities of your hero to suit your needs.
This chapter also includes Boosts and Limits for
powers, allowing you to further customize your abilities
through added perks or limitations.
Chapter 4: Tools of the Trade
Superheroes love their toys, and this chapter details
armor, weaponry, gadgets, and vehicles to further aid
the heroes in their war on crime. It also introduces
Allotments, a new rules system to allow heroes to
choose their gear each session without having to worry
about tracking money or other resources.
Chapter 5: Combat
When words fail, fists (and energy blasts) might be
traded. This chapter covers the rules for combat,
including close combat and ranged attacks, ways heroes
defend themselves, and specialized forms of attack such
as grappling opponents or charging headlong into
battle. It also includes Special Effects that allow heroes
to perform extra maneuvers when they are successful in
combat that can give them the advantage or impair
their enemies.
Chapter 6: Spot Rules
The chapter details the other important rules of the
Destined system, such as handling Fatigue, conducting
investigations, and all the special forms of movement
heroes have access to. It also has a system for Perils,
noncombat threats that can be just as dangerous as
rampaging supervillains.
Chapter 7: The Life of a Hero
The life of a superhero has its own unique
complications, and this chapter talks about the specific
challenges of playing comic book heroes. It also details
Organizations, special benefactors and groups the hero
can belong to, and how the heroes can create their own
super team and establish a base to call home.
5
 Destined

Chapter 8: Creating Your Comic Rounding of numbers

This chapter is for the Games Masters and talks about
how to create a setting for your stories and customize it
to fit the type of comics you would like to emulate. It
discusses the different styles of comics, how to create
your own setting (or recreate one from your favorite
comics), and how to design villains to populate it.
Chapter 9: Welcome to Gemelos City
The metropolis of Gemelos City is overrun with
criminals, both of the garden variety and a new
generation of superpowered villains. It is in desperate
need of heroes to defend it and its people. This chapter
presents an example setting and introduces the
mysterious “Godstrand” that gives heroes their powers.
You are welcome to use Gemelos City to set your
own stories in, or take what you need for your own
original setting.
Chapter 10: The Righteous and the
Irredeemable
Heroes need villains to fight, and this chapter contains
a section of nefarious ne’er-do-wells ready to wage war
against all that is right and good. It also includes several
example heroes from Gemelos City and statistics for
supporting characters such as criminal goons, killer
robots, rampaging monsters, and, of course, ninja.
When rounding fractions, round up to the next whole
number.
The last robber fell like a wet sack of garbage, his jaw dislocated
after he made the mistake of trying to stick his knife in The
Mortician’s back. All around the black-clad vigilante lay the
moaning, battered, and unconscious petty thugs who thought
they were above the law because the law was too scared to
venture into this part of the city. Methodically he picked up his
throwing knives, including one embedded in the shoulder of
one of the fallen, before wiping it off on the man’s jacket. The
Mortician was no expert, but he was pretty sure the robber
wouldn’t bleed out before the police arrived. With practiced ease
he disassembled their discarded guns, tossing the pieces down a
nearby sewer grate. Then he noticed movement out of the corner
of his eye. One of the criminals was trying to crawl away, his
broken leg dragging behind him as the man desperately tried to
put distance between him and The Mortician. It didn’t work.
With a strangled cry the robber felt one hundred kilos of muscle
land on him, and his eyes widened as he was face-to-face with
the vigilante’s skull mask. The man fainted dead away before
The Mortician could say a word, and under the mask he smiled.
As distant sirens grew closer, he launched a line up to the
rooftops. He knew there was still a lot of work to be done, but
someday the city’s criminals would be too afraid of him to ever
hurt anyone again.

Game Conventions
There are a few standard conventions to keep in mind
while playing Destined, and no matter how you
customize the game to suit your needs you should
always try to keep these aspects part of the game system.

Dice Used in the Game

Destined uses a standard range of polyhedral roleplaying
dice: d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, and d20. Additionally, the
game calls for the use of a d2 and d3 which can be
handled using the following options:

• d2: Roll any die. An odd number equals 1 and an even

number equals 2. Alternatively, flip a coin.

• d3: Roll a six-sided die; 1-2=1, 3-4=2, 5-6=3. Many

hobby retailers also have d3 dice available for purchase.

• For a d100, use a pair of d10 dice and decide which

one will be the 10s and which will be the 1s. The result
is a number between 01 and 00 (100).
6

Hero Creation
I
n comic books and other superhero media,
there are brave and bold men and women who
use their special gifts, their unique skills, and
their courage to do battle with the worst of the
worst. In Destined each player takes on the role of one of
these heroes or heroines, poised to make their mark
against the forces of evil that threaten the safety of
the world.
The exact nature of each hero is up to the individual
players. Perhaps they want their hero to share aspects of
themselves, or maybe they want to emulate or even
recreate their favorite superhero. Maybe the player
wants to create a new legend all their own. All of these
possibilities are in your reach with the rules presented
within this book, and players are only limited by their
imagination when it comes to creating their own
superhuman (or alien or android).
Since Destined is a collaborative group game, it is
important for the players and the Games Master to
work together to determine what kind of story they
would like to share, and what type of heroes best fit the
narrative. Before you start your campaign, sit down and
talk about comic books as well as superhero television
shows and movies. Talk about your favorite characters,
the villains you love to hate, and the stories that stand
out as the most memorable or the most iconic. This is a
good way to determine what type of stories would be
best for your group, or what stories you’ve never
encountered that you would like to tell together. The
Games Master can use this information to craft a world
that will be enjoyable for everyone involved, and once
you are ready grab a Hero Sheet, a set of dice, and get
ready to create your own hero.
2. Hero Creation
Anatomy of a Hero
In Destined each hero is created through a series of steps
designed to flesh them out and determine what they
can do within the campaign world. In roleplaying
games the abilities of each hero are represented by
numerical and narrative values that as a whole paint a
picture of who the hero is and what they can do. The
steps below are the standard way to create a new hero,
and what each specific aspect means in terms of playing
the game.
While it is not necessary, it is recommended that the
players create their heroes together prior to the start of
the game. Since they will be working together, creating
the heroes as a team helps the players determine where
each of their heroes fits within the group and how they
can support each other in their crusade against villainy.
This does not mean that each player needs to share
every aspect of their hero with the group. A hero who
has some deeply held secret or flaw that they hide from
even their closest allies can add a bit of tension and
drama to the story if played well.
Before you start creating your heroes, every player
will need a copy of the Destined Hero Sheet, which is at
the back of this book and can also be found as a free
download on the Design Mechanism website. This sheet
keeps all aspects of your hero close at hand and is
invaluable while playing the game. It is also
recommended that you have some blank sheets of scrap
paper available, as heroes can change significantly
along the way during the creation process, so working
in pencil on scrap paper before transferring all the
7
 Destined
The Nature of Heroes
I n Destined we use the term ‘hero’ to describe the
character each player controls, but not every
group wants to play paragons of truth and justice.
In fiction the best characters are often flawed in
some way, allowing people to identify with them
and their struggles as they progress through the
story. The same thing often holds true for
roleplaying games, and even the city’s most
stalwart defenders have personal demons to
overcome. While some groups may prefer to play
the Silver Age style (see Chapter 8 for more
information on the traditional ‘ages’ of comics)
with black and white morality, most modern
comics fill in the cracks of their heroes with shades
of gray and your group may wish to do the same.
Also, keep in mind that not all groups may want
to play heroes in the traditional sense. The Iron
Age of comics was rife with violent “antiheroes”
who often used tactics that weren’t much better
than those of the villains they faced. They used
guns, tortured enemies, and racked up staggering
body counts. There may even be some groups that
want to play the villains in a superhero world,
battling the forces of law and good. Your group
may wish to tell grim and gritty stories of deeply
flawed protagonists (or sinister antagonists), and
Destined can handle those tales as well.
Although we use the term ‘hero’ in the book, the
characters in your shared story can take on
whatever roles you and your group feel
comfortable with.
information over to your Hero Sheet can save you time
and wear and tear on your favorite eraser (or hands if
you are typing up a digital sheet). Now that you have
everything you need, here are the steps to create your
own hero, and the rest of this chapter goes into greater
detail of how it all comes together.
1. Determine Power Level: Every Destined campaign has
a Power Level, which determines how potent your
heroes are. The three Power Levels for campaigns are
Street, Epic, and Paragon, and they are explained on
pages 9 to 11.
2. Develop Your Hero Concept: Who is your hero?
Before you start creating your hero, you need to
ask yourself this question to help guide the rest of the
creation process. Hero Concept is described on page 12.
8
3. Choose Your Origin: Your Origin determines how
your hero got their powers and serves as another piece
to their backstory. Origins are explained on page 13.
4. Determine Your Characteristics: Characteristics
represent the intrinsic abilities of your hero: how
physically fit, intelligent, and agile they are. All heroes
have seven primary Characteristics and they are
detailed on page 14.
5. Determine Your Attributes: Attributes are derived
from a hero’s Characteristics and represent critical
values that are used during and after conflicts and
challenges. They are explained starting on page 16.
6. Calculate Your Standard Skills: Every hero has ways
of interacting with the world and knowledge based on
their raw natural ability. This is represented by
Standard Skills that all heroes and supporting
characters have available, and they are detailed on page
20 onwards and in Chapter 2.
7. Choose Your Culture: Every hero comes from
somewhere, and the knowledge and training they
gained from their Culture helps shape who they are in
the present. Cultures are described on page 21.
8. Choose Your Career: Heroes eventually seek their
own path in the world, and their career helps give them
specialized skills to meet challenges head-on. Careers
are detailed starting on page 24.
9. Spend Your Bonus Skill Points: The hero’s Bonus
Skill Points are used to customize their training and
knowledge, as well as add skills that their Culture and
Career did not cover. Bonus Skill Points are detailed on
page 27.
10. Choose Your Powers: Powers are special abilities
and gifts that make heroes stand apart from the average
person, and allow them to do truly amazing things.
Powers are explained on page 28 and in Chapter 3.
11. Determine Your Allotments and Gear: A hero’s
Allotments are the resources they can call upon to equip
themselves with gear to aid in their battle against crime.
Allotments and equipment are discussed on page 31
and in Chapter 4.
12. The Final Details: Who are your hero’s closest
friends and family? Who are their rivals and enemies?
What events happened to them before they took on the
mantle of a hero? What are the things that drive them
and stand at the core of what they believe? All of these
details are covered in the final step of hero creation
starting on page 33.
Step 1:
Determine
Power Level
The Power Level of a campaign
serves as a guideline for the types of
stories you want to tell. Each level
corresponds to specific types of comic
books, and factors in to nearly every
aspect of hero creation. The Power
Level determines how many points
your hero has to spend on their
Characteristics and Skills, and how
many special Powers they have. It
also determines the maximum
amounts they can have in each of the
aspects that measure how your hero
functions in the game. Each of the
steps of hero creation has specific
information on how the Power Level
affects that part of your hero, and the
following summaries of the three
levels will give you an idea of what
each one means and what types of
stories it would work best for. Finally,
there is a summary table below which
details each Power Level so you can Street campaign: gangbangers from the 52nd Street Hundred have
compare them when your group is been been extorting the stallholders in Gemelos City’s food markets.
building its campaign and decide Grim vigilante The Mortician brings the hammer down on the thugs,
which is right for you. and sends a message to their boss, Morax.

Street Campaigns Street heroes are often vigilantes operating outside

A lone martial artist battles with an ancient ninja clan that
seeks control the bowery slums.
A former soldier uses his training and arsenal to wage war on
the gangs threatening his neighborhood.
A girl cursed with psychic powers evades the corporation that
seeks to turn her into a weapon.
the law, their actions making them just as wanted as the
criminals they fight. There may be a few sympathetic
officials that side with the heroes, but there are often
just as many corrupt ones, and the authorities of the city
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 1

Street campaigns follow heroes that are exceptional in

some way, but also very much human. They feel, they
bleed, and sometimes they even die. They fight against
real-world crime and problems like street drugs,
organized crime, and twisted serial killers.
Some Street heroes have Core Powers, but the scope
is often more limited compared to their tights-wearing
counterparts from the brighter parts of the city. Most
Street heroes rely on their wits, their fists, and
determination to win the day.
M aria is starting a Destined campaign and sits
down with her players to work out what kind
of story they would like to tell. She decides to set
her campaign in Gemelos City as presented in this
book, and the group decides they’d like to try an
Epic Power Level campaign so their heroes can
play around with some cool powers but there is
still an element of danger and risk. Sam, one of
the players in the group, wants to create a hero
named Shadowstalker, and throughout this
chapter we will follow Sam and Shadowstalker as
they go through the hero creation process.
9
 topics might be off-limits or offensive for
members of your group. Street stories
sometimes feature antiheroes who aren’t
afraid to get their hands dirty in the
pursuit of justice. It is recommended you
establish from the beginning how your
group feels about their heroes’ views on
killing and breaking the law to ensure that
everyone is on the same page.

• Example heroes: Marvel’s Daredevil,

DC’s Green Arrow, Will Eisner’s The Spirit

Epic
A young hero enrolls at an academy for powered
individuals to learn how to control his special
gifts.

After a fateful experiment, a scientist decides to

use her strange new powers to defend the
defenseless.

A band of neophyte heroes forms a team to

investigate a mysterious force taking over the
city’s underworld.

Epic heroes begin to push the boundaries

of what is human and what is superhuman.
While many of them still fall in the range of
what would be considered normal in terms
of what human potential is, they often have
several Core Powers, or one ability honed
to a focused edge. At this level the Core
Powers themselves often factor into the
story, with heroes coming to terms with
their new abilities and how it affects the
world and people around them. Epic
Epic campaign: The hero Eclipse has been alerted that heroes still deal with ordinary street crime,
superpowered thug for hire Char is assaulting a suburban mall. but have distinct advantages over the
She leaps out of the way of a burning SUV flung at her, and average punk with a knife or pistol. They
moves to curtail the molten steel menace’s rampage. also come into conflict with their dark
counterparts: supervillains. Clad in sinister
end up as another adversary. The scale of Street variations of the same garish costumes of the heroes,
campaigns is more limited, focusing on a single borough these villains have their own Core Powers and often
or neighborhood that is rife with crime and corruption. control lesser criminals who do their dirty work.
The heroes are the only ones who can clean up their
home turf, although they may have a crisis of faith when Epic heroes can still fall into the category of
faced with the scale of the task at hand. vigilantes, and may still come into conflict with the
authorities during their attempts to do the right thing.
You should choose the Street Power Level if you They may be seen by governments as threats, or
want your stories to be more grounded in reality, and if recruited (or kidnapped) to serve as living weapons.
you want to deal with the darker side of comic book Normal people might revere them as the heroes they
lore. You should work together as a group to decide strive to be, or persecution and prejudice may turn the
how “real” you want your campaign to be, and what heroes into pariahs. In some settings being a hero might
10
 2. Hero Creation

be legitimized and even sanctioned by the authorities,

but this may also lead to regulations and laws that
hamper the heroes as they try to serve the greater good.
Epic campaigns scale up the scope of the heroes to an
entire city, missions around the globe, or sometimes
even out into outer space.
You should choose the Epic Power Level if you want
your stories to still have elements of reality, but also
have all the fantastic things that are part of comic book
lore. You should work together to decide how much
‘comic book reality’ you want in your stories, from the
types of costumes the heroes wear (if any), to the
frequency of powered villains and powerful global
Organizations. Heroes of this level can bring significant
power to bear, but are not much more durable than
their Street counterparts, so keep that in mind when
developing stories together.
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 2
W hile Sam has a name in mind, he still isn’t
quite sure who Shadowstalker is at this
stage. Sam has always been a fan of stealthy
superheroes who get the drop on their foes, so he
sits down and comes up with the concept ‘A grim,
black-clad vigilante who uses the shadows to prey
upon evil.’ From that basic idea, Sam starts
thinking about who Shadowstalker is and jots
down ideas to give the hero powers that aid in his
ability to sneak and hand-to-hand skills that make
him formidable when he gets into a fight. Sam
takes out some scrap paper and begins to work on
other aspects of his new hero…

• Example heroes: Dark Horse’s Hellboy, DC’s Teen
Titans, Marvel’s X-Men.
Paragon Campaigns
A stranger from a strange world arrives on Earth looking to
protect her adopted home from forces of evil.
With super-crime on the rise, a secret government organization
creates a powerful champion in a secret lab to fight back.
The elite of the city’s heroes form an unbreakable bond to face
any threat together, no matter what the cost.
Paragon heroes are beyond human, capable of amazing
feats, and of facing threats that endanger whole cities or
even the world itself. They often have a wide array of
abilities to call upon, or a few Powers that are versatile
and formidable. While the heroes are more capable, the
people they care about are not, so heroes must work
diligently to separate their ‘super’ identity from their
civilian one to keep their loved ones safe. To them street
crime is still a plague, but their adventures focus more
on super-criminals who endanger far more innocents
than the average drug pusher or mob enforcer. In some
cases the heroes must battle cabals of supervillains bent
on destruction and chaos, or vast secretive
Organizations that seek to dominate the world.

Power Slots (based on origin and characteristics)

The following table outlines the basics of the Power Levels and the impact on all parts of hero creation. More detail on these is given in the
following chapter.
Power Level Street Epic Paragon
Characteristics Points 80 90 100
Maximum per Characteristic 18 20 22
Bonus Hit Points 0 +1 +2
Culture Skill Points 100 110 125
Career Skill Points 100 110 125
Bonus Skill Points 150 180 200
Maximum Skill Points 15 per category 20 per category 25 per category
Power Slots (based on Origin and Characteristics)
6 or less 0 2 4
7-12 1 3 5
13-17 2 4 6
18+ 3 5 7
Maximum Core Powers 4 6 8
Bonus boosts 0 1 2
Maximum Limits 3 4 5
Power Points (POW) POW-2 POW POW+2
Power Point Recovery 1/hour 2/hour 3/hour
Base Allotments 30% 40% 50%
11
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 3
L ooking through the Origins, Sam keeps coming
back to Mutation and decides
Shadowstalker’s powers were the result of
that
something that changed his body. He decides that
in utero, Shadowstalker was exposed to a tainted
batch of an experimental drug that altered his
physiology, granting him exceptional abilities, and
allowing him to bend light around himself. His
powers didn’t manifest until his teens, and he is
still working out how to control them as an adult.
Paragon heroes can still operate outside of the law,
but more commonly they are sanctioned by
government officials. In some settings there are whole
Organizations dedicated to supporting heroes. Even if
that is the case, common people still have fears about
their superpowered guardians, and some worry that
the heroes will decide their gifts give them the right to
rule. While many Paragon campaigns are based in a
single city, adventures rarely stay there for long, and
heroes end up hopping the globe, traveling into space,
or even traveling to alternate dimensions to battle evil.
You should choose the Paragon Power Level if you
want to play comic book legends in all their four-color
glory. Heroes of this level battle villainy, stop man-made
and natural disasters, and aren’t afraid to wear their
underwear on the outside of their costume. You should
work together to decide on the scale of your stories and
the types of villains you want to face, and be mindful
that while heroes of this level are very capable, they are
still not invulnerable.
• Example heroes: DC’s The Flash, Image’s Savage
Dragon, Marvel’s Spider-Man.
Step 2: Develop Your
Hero Concept
When formulating your new hero, you need to have an
idea in mind of who (or what) you want to create. This
makes the next steps of the hero creation process easier
by giving you a direction to focus on as you work on
your hero. The easiest way to start with your hero
concept is to describe your hero with a short phrase or
sentence. For a superpowered hero, it often details what
sort of special abilities your hero has, as well as some key
aspect of their personality. Here are a few examples to
help spark your imagination:
12
• A temperamental human fire elemental
• A fearsome vigilante who haunts the shadows
• A patriotic champion of the people
• A benevolent alien seeking a new home amongst
humanity
• A nearly-feral savage in tune with animals
• An android trying to fit into human culture
• A former villain atoning for past deeds
As you can see, even these short phrases already start to
tell the story of a hero and can give you many directions
to branch off from as you work through the creation
process. Keep in mind that at this stage you do not need
to know every aspect of your hero. Some players like to
come up with intricate character backgrounds, deep
psychological profiles, and hand-drawn art for their
heroes even before they have the Hero Sheet in their
hands. Others like to play it loose and create things on
the fly, figuring out the hero as they go and allowing the
process to develop the burgeoning champion’s story.
Neither way is wrong, and you may end up with a mix
of both styles, or may come into hero creation with no
ideas at all. The creation process is designed to provide
you with ideas along the way to stimulate your
imagination, and the hero you came up during
the concept stage may be completely different when
you finish.
Step 3: Choose Your
Origin
Every hero has some event that starts them down the
path to becoming a costumed crimefighter, and in
Destined we refer to that as the hero’s Origin. The
Origin focuses on how the hero gained their special
powers and abilities, and it serves as a narrative aspect
that further develops each hero’s story. The seven
Origins listed below cover the most common ways comic
book characters become heroes, and players are
encouraged to expand on the descriptors to flesh out
the exact circumstances that turned the hero into who
they are at the start of the campaign.
Alternatively, the group may decide to play out the
circumstances of how each hero came into their powers,
telling a “secret origin” story as part of the campaign’s
overall story. The main difference between styles is if
you want to start your campaign with the heroes
 2. Hero Creation

already in their heroic identities or want

to develop their transition into heroism
as part of the story.

As part of the hero’s backstory, Origins

also factor into other aspects of hero
creation, specifically determining how
many powers a hero starts with (page 28),
Background Events (page 33) that
occurred prior to the start of the
campaign, and Passions (page 46) that
motivate and drive their actions and
behaviors. Refer to the sections below on
how you can tie your hero’s Origin into
these other aspects of hero creation.

• Created: The hero was manufactured

or built by someone else, and their
powers are a result of this process.
Created heroes include androids, robots,
golems, the undead, swarms of sentient
nanobots, or anything else that could be
created by another. A Created Origin
hero’s powers often tie into their artificial
nature, allowing them to survive and
endure things that would adversely affect
a living being. Created heroes often
struggle with their artificial nature,
seeking to gain acceptance from living
beings or trying to be more like their
flesh-and-blood counterparts.

• Experimentation: The hero was

transformed through testing, either
willingly or unwillingly. This process
could have a basis in science, or
something unusual like alchemy or the
whims of cosmic entities. Heroes that Paragon campaign: city skyscrapers are being toppled by an
result from Experimentation run the Animus earthquake machine. Sorcererous hero Lord Storm
gamut of powers, and often they were not calls up his power to shield the citizens from the falling rubble
the first or the last to undergo whatever and steel.
process gave them their gifts. The hero
may not be aware of whom or what gave
them their powers, and they may seek out their creator to a larger group of their kind, their brethren may come
for answers, especially if they were an unwilling test calling for good or ill.
subject.
• Mutation: The hero gained their powers through
• Inherent: The hero’s powers are inborn, a natural genetic mutation, either naturally occurring or
part of their physiology. Inherent Origin heroes could triggered by some external event. While once human,
be aliens, interdimensional refugees, or members of an mutants often have traits that distinguish them enough
isolated or lost offshoot of humanity that exists in some that they are sometimes considered a separate species.
legendary or hidden location. Inherent heroes often Most mutants have either a singular power or a small
have augmentations to their physical being, making group of related powers based on a central theme. In
them superior to baseline humanity, and this can comics and superhero media, mutants are often the
sometimes lead to prejudices both on the part of the target of prejudices, but that doesn’t necessarily have to
hero and their new neighbors. Also, if the hero belongs be the case in your campaign.
13
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 4
S am decides that Shadowstalker is in good
physical condition, has a quick mind and
reflexes, but is not a big guy and his inner strength
is pretty average. Looking over the options for the
Epic Power Level (and with his Games Master’s
approval), he decides the Standard Array will work
well and assigns the values as follows for
Shadowstalker: STR 13, CON 15, SIZ 11, DEX 15,
INT 14, POW 10, CHA 12. Shadowstalker has
above average strength, speed, and fortitude, and
his willpower is about average. He’s quite a talker,
and has the smarts to keep his foes on their toes.
Standing at just below average height, he doesn’t
intimidate with his size, but his toned and
muscular body is enough to make the average
villain think twice.
• Mystical: The hero’s powers come from some
paranormal source, such as magic or psychic ability.
Mystical abilities often originate from training with an
ancient order or sect that keeps those practices alive,
and requires great dedication and focus on the hero’s
part. Mystical Origin heroes often have rites and rituals
that are part of their powers, or use focus items to
channel their abilities. Whether mystical sources are
known or secret depends on your campaign, and
mystical heroes often deal with paranormal enemies
that represent the dark side of supernatural power.
• Technology: The hero’s powers are from advanced
technology that mimics the abilities of powered
individuals. The hero may possess an array of devices,
each of which possesses one or two powers, or a single
source of all their powers such as a suit of powered
armor. Technology Origin heroes often have powers
that augment them, usually granting exceptional
physical ability or attack powers from high-tech
weaponry. It’s also important to decide if the hero is
the creator of the technology, or if they gained it from
someone else (and if the creator is aware the hero
has it).
• Training: The hero has no powers, but has honed
their body and/or mind through intense training and
hard work. Even non-powered heroes have “powers”
that represent exceptional ability and special training
and techniques that give them an edge, even against
powered foes. Training Origin heroes rarely have flashy
abilities and are more limited in their choices of powers,
but often make up for it with crimefighting gear that
helps them keep up with powered counterparts. Also,
many non-powered heroes feel the need to prove
14
themselves when in a group with allies with special gifts,
or take on the role of leader and strategist for the
group.
Step 4: Determine
your Characteristics
Characteristics represent your hero’s raw potential,
outlining their base physical, mental, and social abilities
that they build upon with training and experience.
Characteristics form the basis for the hero’s Attributes
and initial levels in their skills, so they are an integral
part of the hero creation process. Destined uses seven
Characteristics to define a hero’s capabilities:
• Strength (STR): Strength represents a hero’s raw
physical power and how well they use their muscles to
carry, lift, and strike. It helps determine how much they
can lift (see page 93) and how hard the hero hits with
any attack that uses muscle power. If a hero is reduced
to 0 STR they can no longer lift their own weight to
move and are unable to lift anything around them.
• Constitution (CON): Constitution represents how
tough a hero is and how well they can shrug off things
that would compromise their health and well-being,
such as diseases, intoxicants, and poisons. It also helps
determine how much injury a hero can withstand and
how quickly they recover from their wounds. If a
hero is reduced to 0 CON their body gives out and
they perish.
• Size (SIZ): Size represents a hero’s height, weight, and
body mass, and also serves as a general indicator of their
physical hardiness. It is used to help determine how
hard a hero can hit with muscle-based attacks and how
much injury they can sustain. A reduction in a hero’s
SIZ results in the hero shrinking across all dimensions.
• Dexterity (DEX): Dexterity represents agility as well
as their balance and reaction time. It helps to determine
how often the hero can act during a conflict and how
quickly they react when danger arises. If a hero is
reduced to 0 DEX, they lose the ability to move their
body or react to any threat and are functionally
paralyzed.
• Intelligence (INT): Intelligence represents a hero’s
cognitive reasoning, memory, and ability to process new
information. It is an important part of determining how
quickly a hero reacts to danger when it arises. If a hero
is reduced to 0 INT, they lose the ability to reason or
interact with the world around them and they enter a
persistent vegetative state.
• Power (POW): Power represents a hero’s
force of will and potential to tap into the
extraordinary. It is an important part of
determining how much fortune favors the
hero as well as their potential for using special
boosts to their powers. If a hero is reduced to
0 POW, they lose the ability to act
independently and no longer have the ability
to call on their special powers.

• Charisma (CHA): Charisma represents a

hero’s personal charm, their raw magnetism,
and the force of their personality when
interacting with others. It is used to determine
how well the hero can use their ability to
influence others when training. If a hero is
reduced to 0 CHA they lose the ability to
effectively communicate or interact with
others.

Determining
Characteristics
In Destined, a normal person has a range of
Characteristics rated from 3 (for someone with
severely limited ability) to 18 (for someone at
the peak of human potential), with a rating of
9 to 10 representing an average score. Heroes
are cut from different cloth than ordinary
people, and the Power Level of the campaign
provides a pool of points, used to assign
numerical values to the seven Characteristics,
which determine their ratings.

It is recommended that heroes avoid

Characteristics lower than 6, and the At the New York offices of Detective Mystery Comics, artist
campaign’s Power Level determines the Sarah Wilson has been assigned to create a new hero.
possible maximum. Heroes spend the points Shadowstalker is born - villains beware!
from their Characteristic pool on a one-for-
one basis, so For example, if a player wants their hero • Epic: Epic heroes have 90 points to spend on their
to have a rating of 12 in their CON, it would cost them Characteristics with a maximum value of 20 for each.
12 of their Characteristic Points. Another option to the Alternatively, they can choose one of these Arrays:
point spread is the three predetermined Arrays of
Characteristics for the Power Level given below, which * Standard: 15, 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10
helps in rapid hero creation. * Balanced: 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 12
* Focused: 18, 16, 15, 11, 11, 10, 9
• Street: Street heroes have 80 points to spend on their
Characteristics with a maximum value of 18 for each. • Paragon: Paragon heroes have 100 points to spend on
Alternatively, they can choose one of the following their Characteristics with a maximum value of 22 for
Arrays: each. Alternatively, they can choose one of these Arrays:

* Standard: 14, 13, 12, 11, 11, 10, 9 * Standard: 18, 16, 14, 14, 13, 13, 12
* Balanced: 12, 12, 12, 12, 11, 11, 10 * Balanced: 15, 15, 15, 14, 14, 14, 13
* Focused: 16, 13, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8 * Focused: 20, 17, 16, 13, 13, 11, 9
15
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 5
O nce Sam has all of Shadowstalker’s
Characteristics figured out, he can start
calculating all of his new hero’s Attributes.
• As an Epic level hero, Shadowstalker has
3 Action Points.
• Adding his STR of 13 and SIZ of 11 together,
Sam determines he has no Damage Modifier.
• With a CHA of 12, Shadowstalker also does not
have an Experience Modifier.
• Based on his CON of 15, his Healing Rate is 3.
• Adding together his CON and SIZ, Sam
calculates Shadowstalker’s Hit Points and adds the
modifier for Epic Power Level, so Shadowstalker’s
Hit Points are 7 for his Legs, 8 for his Abdomen, 9
for his Chest, 6 for his Arms, and 7 for his Head.
• Taking the average of his DEX and INT and
rounding up, his Initiative Bonus is 15.
• With his POW of 10, Shadowstalker starts with 2
Luck Points.
• At the Epic level, he starts with 10 Power Points
and recovers 2 points every hour.
• Finally, Sam writes down the standard
Movement Rate of 6 meters.
Looking over the final numbers, Sam notes that
Shadowstalker is as strong and tough as most
people of his build and size, and while he is not
without his charms, he doesn’t have enough self-
confidence to really push himself harder to learn.
He is very quick, and his strong inner spirit will help
fuel his special gifts and let him call on a little luck
to get out of tight spots.
While the standard point buy system works well for
determining Characteristics and keeps things balanced,
some players may prefer different options when
crafting their heroes. The following three options are
available with the Games Master’s permission. Keep in
mind the maximum Characteristic limit given above for
each Power Level.
•Dice Roll: Based on the Power Level of the campaign,
roll a number of dice for each Characteristic and assign
values as appropriate.
* Street: Roll 3d6 for STR, CON, DEX, and CHA; roll
2d6+6 for SIZ and INT.
* Epic: Roll 4d6 and drop the lowest result for STR,
CON, DEX, and CHA; roll 3d6+6 and drop the lowest
result for SIZ and INT.
16
* Paragon: Roll 4d6+2 and drop the lowest result for
STR, CON, DEX, and CHA; roll 3d6+8 and drop the
lowest result for SIZ and INT.
• Dice Pool: Roll a pool of d6 dice as listed below based
on the Power Level of the campaign and assign three
rolls to each Characteristic, save SIZ and INT which
only get two but start at a base value of 6.
* Street: Roll a pool of 19 dice.
* Epic: Roll a pool of 23 dice.
* Paragon: Roll a pool of 27 dice, and two
Characteristics may add four dice (three for SIZ and
INT), up to a maximum value of 22.
• Alternative Point Buy: While the regular point buy
system makes it easy to maximize critical
Characteristics, Games Masters may choose the
following third alternative method to help balance out
point expenditures. All heroes start with a base 8 rating
in all Characteristics, and they gain an additional pool
of points based on the campaign Power Level to add to
each as they choose.
* Street: 24 points
* Epic: 34 points
* Paragon: 44 points
Step 5: Determine
Your Attributes
A hero’s Attributes represent the second part of their
raw natural ability, although where Characteristics are
general gauges of a hero’s physical and mental abilities,
Attributes have specific purpose within the Destined
game. They are based on one or more of a hero’s
Characteristics and the Power Level of the campaign.
Most Attributes come into play when the hero is
involved in conflict, especially combat against the
criminals and villains who wish to do them harm.
Attributes determine how often your hero can take
action, how hard they hit, how quickly they react to
threats, and how much punishment they can take
before falling. They also cover other important aspects
of the hero such as how quickly they move, how fast
they recover from injury, and how much they can call
on luck and special tricks with their powers.
Action Points
When heroes come into conflict with their foes, the
game switches to Combat Time (see page 150) and a
hero’s Action Points determine how often they can act
 2. Hero Creation

or react while facing danger. Each time a hero takes an Derived Action Points
Action, or reacts to a threat, they must spend one of
their Action Points. The Combat chapter starting on INT+DEX Action Points
page 149 goes into detail about how conflicts work 12 or Less 1
within Destined. Heroes gain a number of Action Points 13-24 2

based on the Power Level of the campaign: 25-36 3

37-48 4
Every additional 12 points +1
• Street: Street heroes have 2 Action Points to use
during each round of combat.
• Epic: Epic heroes have 3 Action Points to use during Damage Modifier
each round of combat.
• Paragon: Paragon heroes have 4 Action Points to use STR + SIZ Damage Modifier
5 or Less –1d8
during each round of combat.
6–10 –1d6
11–15 –1d4
16–20 -1d2
Optional: Derived
21–25 0
26–30 +1d2
Action Points
31–35 +1d4
36–40 +1d6
As an alternative to the static number of Action Points
41–45 +1d8
presented above, some groups may prefer to have their
46–50 +1d10
Characteristics impact how often heroes can act during
51–60 +1d12
conflicts. If you choose to use this alternative system, a
61–70 +2d6
hero’s Action Points are based on their INT+DEX as
71–80 +1d8+1d6
detailed in the table below.
81–90 +2d8
91–100 +1d10+1d8

Damage Modifier 101–110 +2d10

111–120 +2d10+1d2

When a hero strikes someone or something where their 121–130 +2D10+1D4

physical strength and size might apply, they may inflict Each additional 10 points Continue progression as above

more damage than normal, or less if the hero is weaker

or has a small frame. Experience Modifier
The die or dice from a hero’s Damage Modifier is CHA Experience Modifier
added or subtracted from any strike with an unarmed 6 or Less -1

attack or melee weapons. It is also applied to most 7-12 0

thrown weapons and Ranged Weapons that use the 13-18 +1

wielder’s strength such as bows. If the hero has a Each 6 points +1

negative Damage Modifier and it reduces the attack’s

damage to 0 or less, the hero’s strike is not powerful
enough to inflict any harm on the target. Add a hero’s
STR plus their SIZ to determine their Damage Modifier
and consult the table below.
Experience Modifier
Some heroes are adept at making connections and
contacts thanks to their natural charm and personality,
and as the hero progresses through their Career they
can use these connections to aid them in finding the
best sources for training and education. Other heroes
have a strong sense of self and inherent determination
that makes them work harder and strive for perfection.
A hero’s Experience Modifier represents how well a
hero can use their connections or motivate themselves
when they are learning new abilities or enhancing the
ones they already have. Whenever the hero gets
Experience Rolls (see page 70) to help learn new
abilities or advance current ones, they add or subtract
the Experience Modifier to the amount they gained. If
the modifier would ever reduce the number of rolls
gained to 0, the hero always gets a minimum of 1
Experience Roll.
Healing Rate
After a climatic battle the hero returns to their lair to
bind their wounds so they’re ready for whatever
tomorrow night brings.
17
 Destined

The hero’s Healing Rate determines how quickly To calculate Height and Weight, cross reference SIZ
their injuries heal, and they recover Hit Points equal to with the body frame selected. The result is a range of
their rate to every wounded part of their body after a values that your hero’s Height and Weight falls into.
certain time has passed. The amount of time it takes to You should choose the actual value from within this
heal naturally depends on the type of wound the range. Note that some powers can alter your SIZ, so this
location suffered, and full rules for how healing works chart can help determine what your new values are
in Destined can be found on page 191. A hero’s Healing after your form changes. The Height and Weight Table
Rate is based on their CON. can, of course, be used to determine the physical
properties of anything, but is primarily designed to
Healing Rate reflect humanoids. Other creatures (such as animals or
aliens from a distant planet) can have more extreme
CON Healing rate body frames beyond those given here.
6 or Less 1
7–12 2
13–18 3 Hit Points
Each 6 additional points +1

A hero’s body can only withstand so much punishment

Height and Weight
A hero’s Height and Weight depend on two things: SIZ
and their body frame. Three body frames are provided:
lithe (slender, athletic, underweight), medium, and
heavy (broad-shouldered, barrel-chested, overweight).
Players are free to pick their preferred frame
depending on how they envisage the hero.
before they can no longer continue to fight, and if they
take too much damage it can result in long-term injuries
that put them out of the action for a while. A hero has a
number of Hit Points for each main part of their body,
referred to as Hit Locations in Destined, and as they
suffer injuries the location struck is worn down until it,
or the hero, is unable to function and must heal.
Humans have seven distinct Hit Locations, each with its
own Hit Point total: the head, chest, abdomen, two
arms, and two legs. Non-humans and animals have
different body configurations; some example tables for
non-human Hit Locations can be found on page 284
onwards. A hero’s Hit Points are based on their CON

Height and Weight

SIZ Height (cm) Lithe (Kg.) Medium (Kg.) Heavy (Kg.)
1 1-45 1-5 1-7 1-9
2 46-80 6-10 8-14 10-18
3 81-105 11-15 15-21 19-27
4 106-120 16-20 22-28 28-36
5 121-130 21-25 29-35 37-45
6 131-140 26-30 36-42 46-54
7 141-150 31-35 43-49 55-63
8 151-155 36-40 50-56 64-72
9 156-160 41-45 57-63 73-81
10 161-165 46-50 64-70 82-90
11 166-170 51-55 71-77 91-99
12 171-175 56-60 78-84 100-108
13 176-180 61-65 85-91 109-117
14 181-185 66-70 92-98 118-126
15 186-190 71-75 99-105 127-135
16 191-195 76-80 106-112 136-144
17 196-200 81-85 113-119 145-153
18 201-205 86-90 120-126 154-162
19 206-210 91-95 127-133 163-171
20 211-215 96-100 134-140 172-180
21 216-220 101-105 141-147 181-189
Each point +5 cm +5 Kg +7 Kg +9 Kg

18
 2. Hero Creation

Hit Points per Location

Location CON+SIZ
1–5 6–10 11–15 16–20 21–25 26–30 31–35 36–40 +5 pts
Each Leg 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 +1
Abdomen 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +1
Chest 3 4 5 9 7 8 9 10 +1
Each Arm 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 +1
Head 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 +1

and SIZ added together.
While Street heroes fall in the same ranges as normal
people for most things, those of the Epic and Paragon
Power Levels are beyond what is considered “normal,”
and can withstand a bit more punishment than the
typical person. When calculating Hit Points for your
hero, apply the following modifiers to the Hit Point
value for each Hit Location, based on the Power Level:
• Street: No modification
• Epic: +1
• Paragon: +2
Initiative Bonus
Reaction time is critical when the hero is in danger, and
it can literally be the difference between life and death.
A hero’s Initiative Bonus helps determine when they act
in combat situations, which is added to their Initiative
Roll (see page 152) at the start of the conflict. The
higher the bonus, the faster the hero can react when
danger strikes. Worn armor hampers reaction speeds
and lowers the Initiative Bonus (see Bulk page 129), so
the hero must decide if the protection offered is worth
the cost. A hero’s Initiative Bonus is equal to the
average of their DEX and INT.
game somehow manage to survive odds that seem
insurmountable, and Luck Points are what helps keep
them alive. A Luck Point can be spent to allow the hero
to do any of the following:
• Reroll an unfavorable die roll to try to get a better
result.
• Turn a severe injury into a lesser wound.
• Act when the hero has exhausted all of their Action
Points for the round.
• Regain lost Power Points that help fuel some of the
hero’s special abilities.
More detailed rules for how Luck Points come into play
can be found on page 197. When a hero spends one of
their Luck Points, it is no longer available for that game
session and once all their points are gone, the hero is
literally out of luck! A hero regains their Luck Points at
the start of a new game session, although the Games
Master may grant a hero an extra Luck Point during
the session after a bold action, a funny comment, or
something else the player does that adds to the
enjoyment of everyone playing. Note that if the hero
somehow ends the session with more Luck Points than
their starting value, at the start of the next session their
total is reduced to their normal starting amount. A
hero’s Luck Points are based on their POW.

Luck Points Power Points

Fortune favors the bold, and heroes often need all the
luck they can get when facing down the forces of evil.
Every hero has a pool of Luck Points which represent
their ability to twist fate and gain an edge when the
chips are down. You can think of Luck Points as another
factor that separates heroes from ordinary people. Just
like in superhero media, the heroes of your Destined
Over the course of their careers, heroes learn new and
interesting ways to use their powers to overcome
adversity. In Destined these special tricks and techniques
are called Boosts, and they augment and modify a
hero’s powers to let them go beyond what the base
ability can do. Boosts are fueled by a hero’s Power
Points, a reserve of energy, willpower, or stamina that

Luck points Power points

POW Luck Points Campaign level Street Epic Paragon
6 or Less 1 Power Points POW-2 POW POW+2
7–12 2
13–18 3 Point Recovery 1 per hour 2 per hour 3 per hour
Each 6 points +1

19
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 6
U sing Shadowstalker’s Characteristics, Sam
looks over the list of Standard Skills and
begins adding up all the base values to see how
his skills are shaping up prior to further training.
When he is finished, Shadowstalker’s base
Standard Skills look like this: Athletics 28%, Brawn
26%, Combat Style 28%, Conceal 25%, Deceit 26%,
Drive 25%, Endurance 30%, Evade 30%, First Aid
29%, Influence 24%, Insight 24%, Native Language
26%, Perception 24%, Research 24%, Stealth 29%,
Streetwise 22%, Unarmed 28%, and Willpower
20%.
Sam also adds the standard bonuses to his Native
Language (English) and Streetwise skills, raising
them to 66% and 47% respectively. Sam is pleased
to see that Shadowstalker is naturally adept at
being stealthy and at investigation, and that he
can hold his own in a fight if need be.
Skills and Powers
Many of the Core Powers presented in Destined
require the hero to make specific skill rolls to
either activate the power, or to effectively use it
during an action scene within the adventure. To
help you determine what skills may help with the
use of your hero’s special abilities, here is a list of
the Core Powers most commonly associated with
the skills listed above. Refer to Chapter 3 for
detailed information on what each Core Power
does and how they work.
• Art/Craft: Creation, Elemental Control,
Transform
• Athletics: Adhesion, Enhanced Reactions
• Brawn: Enhanced Strength
• Combat Style: Blast, Close Combat Attack,
Combat Expert, Deflect, Entrap, Kinetic Control,
Negation
• Deceit: Morph, Phantasm
• Endurance: Vaporous Form
• Perception: Heightened Sense
• Stealth: Invisibility
• Unarmed: Combat Expert, Elemental Field,
Negation
• Willpower: Empathy, Sensory Overload,
Telekinesis, Telepathy
20
gives them the energy to push their powers past their
normal limitations. Power Points are a finite resource,
so a hero can only push themselves so far before they
exhaust those reserves. Once Power Points are spent,
the hero is still able to use their Core Powers normally,
but they can’t pull off their special techniques until they
have time to recover. The number of Power Points is
based on the hero’s POW and the Power Level of the
campaign. How fast they recover is also based on the
campaign’s Power Level, and heroes get the listed
amount back per hour automatically without resting,
although a hero who takes time to rest or sleep recovers
double this rate per hour. For more information about
how Powers and Boosts work, refer to Chapter 3.
Movement Rate
Heroes are always on the move. They run across
rooftops, dash after fleeing villains, and rush out of
burning buildings carrying innocent civilians to safety.
When a hero moves on foot, their Base Movement Rate
is 6 meters at a brisk walking pace, or faster if they Run
or Sprint. For more information on how movement
works in Destined, see page 198.
Step 6: Calculate
Your Skills
When a hero needs to interact with the world around
them, they rely on their inherent ability and training to
help them get through whatever they are facing. In
Destined, this is handled with the use of Skills, which
represent how heroes apply their natural ability,
experience, and education to the challenges they face.
Every person, hero, and supporting character alike, has
Standard Skills, which represent physical, mental, and
social aptitudes that everyone can try to some degree.
Anyone can try to spot something unusual in the
environment, lift something heavy, or know which
street in their hometown will get them where they need
to go. The degree to which they succeed depends on
their inherent knack for the task, represented by
Characteristics, and any effort or training they put into
improving the skill. At this point in creation, the hero
calculates their base rating in the 18 Standard Skills
listed opposite.
The base rating is determined by either adding two
Characteristics together or doubling one Characteristic
and recording the total. Since they are assumed to be
fluent in their own language and familiar with their
home area, heroes also add +40% to their Native
Language skill and +20% to their Streetwise skill at this
 2. Hero Creation

Standard Skills Professional Skills

Skill Basic Percentage Skill Basic Percentage
Athletics STR+DEX Acrobatics STR+DEX
Brawn STR+SIZ Art* INT+CHA
Combat Style STR+DEX Boating STR+CON
Conceal DEX+POW Computers INT x2
Deceit INT+CHA Courtesy INT+CHA
Drive DEX+POW Craft* DEX+INT
Endurance CON x2 Culture* INT x2
Evade DEX x2 Demolitions INT+POW
First Aid INT+DEX Electronics DEX+INT
Influence CHA x2 Engineering* INT x2
Insight INT+POW Forgery DEX+INT
Native Language INT+CHA Gambling INT+POW
Perception INT+POW Intimidate INT+CHA
Research INT+POW Knowledge* INT x2
Stealth DEX+INT Language* INT+CHA
Streetwise POW+CHA Mechanisms DEX+INT
Unarmed STR+DEX Medicine INT+POW
Willpower POW x2 Navigation* INT+POW
Perform* DEX+CHA
Pilot DEX+INT
time. For example, a hero with STR of 12 and DEX of
Ride DEX+POW
13 would have a base value of 25% in their Athletics
Science* INT x2
skill. Heroes will have the opportunity to further
Seduction INT+CHA
advance some or all of these skills as the creation
Sleight DEX+CHA
process continues.
Survival CON+POW
System Ops INT+POW
The ability to attempt more complex or specialized
Track INT+CON
tasks are represented by Professional Skills, which are
bodies of knowledge and training that not everyone
possesses. While anyone can patch up a cut with a few Step 7: Cultures
bandages and some antiseptic, only someone with
proper medical training should attempt surgery. Unlike Cultures describe what kind of society the hero was
Standard Skills, Professional Skills can only be raised in, and the skills they acquired as part of their
attempted by those who take time to train in them. How formative years. A hero’s Culture also influences their
to acquire Professional Skills and get training in them is outlook on the world and the ideals they were raised
covered later in this chapter, but a list of all the skills with. Culture also factors into the hero’s core beliefs,
available in Destined follows to give you an idea of the and finally, it can influence their Passions (see below). In
different areas of training you can focus on for your a campaign set in a typical superhero world either set
hero. Further details on how skills work is provided in on our Earth or a variation of it, there are four primary
Chapter 2. Cultures available: Urban, Rural, Archaic, and
Advanced. These four Cultures represent the main
types of regions that most heroes will come from, and
Specialized Professional Skills Games Masters are invited to determine which Cultures
best apply to the campaign or to create new Cultures to
Professional Skills marked with an asterisk in the table further define the setting. Each culture in Destined has a
(*) must have a specific field of study associated with list of Standard and Professional Skills that comprise
them when a hero learns the skill. Referred to as the types of knowledge, training, and experience a
Specializations, each distinct field of study the hero member of that Culture would be exposed to. When a
knows counts as its own separate skill. For example, a hero chooses a Culture, they can also choose three of
hero who has Science (Biology) would not be able to use the listed Professional Skills that the hero is trained in,
the skill for tasks related to chemistry or physics unless and they gain those skills at the base rating listed. The
he learned those variants of the Science skill as separate hero may also choose a Combat Style associated with the
Professional Skills. See Chapter 2 for more details on Culture, picking one of the listed examples or creating
how Specializations work. one of their own that fits the chosen Culture.
21
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 7
Sam likes the idea that Shadowstalker is a
hometown boy and that he was born and raised in
the campaign setting of Gemelos City, so he
chooses the Urban Culture for him and decides he
is from the downtrodden neighborhood of Asphodel
Park. He writes down his 110 skill points from his
culture and looks over the list of available skills. He
chooses Culture (Underworld), Computers, and
Language (Spanish) as his three Professional Skills,
reasoning that Shadowstalker learned a lot about
the criminal side from growing up in a rough
neighborhood, and his mother was from Mexico
and taught him her Native Language growing up.
He records the base values for those skills as 28%,
30%, and 26% respectively. He adds 15 of his
available points to each of them, raising his skill
ratings up to Culture (Underworld) 43%, Computers
45%, and Language (Spanish) 41%. With 55 points
left to spend, he puts the full 20 points allowed into
Combat Style (Back-Alley Brawler) to give him a
48% and raises his Stealth to 49%. He puts 10 points
into Perception to give him a 34%, and 15 into
Willpower to raise it to 35%. With all his cultural
points spent, Sam moves on to Shadowstalker’s
Career.
Heroes also get a pool of Skill Points based on the
Power Level of the campaign, and these points can be
assigned to any of the Standard Skills or the chosen
Professional Skills. Each point added raises the skill
level by 1%, and each Power Level also lists the
maximum amount of Skill Points that can be assigned to
one skill at this time. For example, if a hero with an Urban
Culture background in a Street campaign wants to raise their
Insight skill, the player can add up to a maximum of 15 of the
character’s Skill Points to increase it by up to 15% from the base
rating. Heroes should spend all available Skill Points,
but they are not required to put points into all of the
skills listed below.
Urban
Hailing from a large metropolis, a modest sized city, or
a large town, urban areas grew from a mix of many
other Cultures that all came together in a relatively
small area. Urban areas often revolve around a few or
many industries, have complex but well-established
bureaucracies, and a broader distribution of wealth
amongst the large but tightly packed population. They
can also be hubs of educational institutions, the arts,
22
and diverse subcultures who relocated to the area,
bringing new ideas and traditions along with them.
Despite the population density, Urban Cultures can be
fiercely independent and insular, sharply divided by
Social Class and background. All too often some sections
of urban area, or even entire cities, have fallen to urban
decay as industry relocated and the gap was filled with
poverty and crime. For this reason, and the presence of
advanced technology and extreme wealth, urban
environments are often the primary setting for
superhero stories.
A hero from an Urban Culture usually comes from a
major city or its outlying suburbs in the setting. If the
campaign is set in a city, the hero doesn’t necessarily
have to come from there, but many times heroes stick to
defending their hometown because of the connections
they have with the people and cultures there. The
Urban Culture can represent any relatively modern,
densely packed highly populated area, so it could also
be used for space stations, huge military bases, or even
post-apocalyptic underground nuclear shelters.
Skills
Standard Skills: Deceit, Drive, Influence, Insight,
Perception, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Art (any), Computers,
Culture (any), Knowledge (any), Language (any),
Perform (any)
Example Combat Styles: Back-Alley Brawler (Baton,
Club, Knife, Light Pistol, Throwing Blade), Law
Enforcement (Baton, Light Pistol, Riot Shield,
Shotgun, Stun Gun)
Rural
Although they inhabit the largest sections of land, rural
areas are regions with low population density and
limited access to resources compared to their urban
neighbors. Even within small towns, rural regions
remain relatively open and they are usually dependent
on a single industry, often agriculturally based. Wealth
distribution is much narrower and the richest members
of rural society are rarely in the same category as the
wealthy of urban areas. The distribution of subcultures
is also narrower, but the local culture is more involved
with each other and sometimes community-focused and
wary of outsiders. Some rural regions fall prey to the
societal ills of poverty and crime, especially when local
industries fall victim to big business and changing
demands by the marketplace. With more limited
bureaucracies and law enforcement, it can be easy for
more organized criminal elements to establish
themselves in rural regions. While not traditionally the

setting of superhero stories, many heroes have their
roots in rural settings.
A hero from a Rural Culture usually comes from the
heartlands and farming regions of the campaign
setting. They may still reside in that area, or have
moved to the “big city” before the campaign starts, but
the common trope in comics is that the rural hero
maintains their small town personality in stark contrast
to fast-paced city life. The Rural Culture can represent
any outlying or wilderness area that still has access to at
least some modern conveniences, so it could also be
used for poor or underdeveloped countries, isolated
space settlements, or insular backwoods communities.
Skills
Standard Skills: Brawn, Drive, Endurance, Influence,
Insight, Streetwise, Unarmed, Willpower
Professional Skills: Boating, Courtesy, Knowledge
(any related to animals or agriculture), Ride, Survival,
Track
Example Combat Styles: Bar Brawler (Baton, Club,
Knife, Staff, Thrown Weapons), Survivalist (Axe, Knife,
Hunting Rifle, Shotgun, Throwing Blade)
Archaic
While access to modern technology has spread to most
of the world, there are still regions which live by
traditions and practices that seem primitive by twenty-
first-century standards. Sometimes this is due to
populations living in remote or difficult to reach areas,
but other times their isolation from technology is
purposeful.
Archaic populations live much as humanity did in a
time long ago, using simple tools, and keeping their
history in written forms or passed down orally via
cultural leaders. Their people are very close knit,
working together for mutual benefit and sometimes for
survival. To Modern Cultures an Archaic society can
seem naïve or quaint, but the people are often self-
sufficient and show more wisdom than those with
advanced education and technology.
Members of Archaic Cultures may have difficulty
coming to terms with modernized settlements and the
fast paced lifestyle that is the norm. They also may have
Culture Skill Points by Power Level
Power Level Street
Culture Skill Points 100
Maximum Skill Points 15 per category
2. Hero Creation
difficulty with modern technology, even viewing it as a
form of magic or something even more sinister.
A hero from an Archaic Culture sometimes comes
into the modern world purposefully, or is sometimes
taken from their home and thrust into a society far
beyond what they know. Like their Rural counterparts,
the archaic hero is often a fish out of water, but over
time they learn to adapt to a new home. The Archaic
Culture represents any society that does not have access
to modern conveniences and technology, and it can also
be used for a “lost civilization” that often is based on an
ancient or mythological culture, a hidden or alien
primitive species, or even someone displaced in time
from an earlier part of history.
Skills
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Endurance, First
Aid, Perception, Stealth, Streetwise, Unarmed
Professional Skills: Boating, Craft, Knowledge
(Limited to archaic topics), Navigation, Ride, Survival
Example Combat Styles: Gladiator (Bola, Club, Net,
Short Sword, Small Shield), Spear Fighter (Bow, Knife,
Large Shield, Small Shield, Spear)
Advanced
The flip side of Archaic Cultures, Advanced societies
come from a place where technology is far beyond what
is considered normal for the modern world. To them
technology is the standard, and many members of the
Culture are completely dependent on their devices and
machines. Members of Advanced Cultures may hail
from the future, a hidden enclave of scientists, alien
worlds, or alternate dimensions. In some cases they
share similarities with Urban Cultures, but their tech
dependency can lead to difficulty with normal
interactions and with performing almost any task
without the aid of a machine.
Advanced cultures often have a sense of superiority
to cultures they view as more primitive than them. At
best they view less advanced people as simple and naïve,
and at worst they can be condescending or come across
as arrogant. A hero from an Advanced Culture might
live on the edge of modern society, or somehow find
themselves there unexpectedly, and can be just as out of
place as one from an Archaic Culture. Adapting to
Epic Paragon
110 125
20 per category 25 per category
23
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 8
A fter thinking about Shadowstalker’s back-
ground, Sam decides that he played basket-
ball in college and works as a physical education
teacher and basketball coach in a high school in
his civilian identity of Ron Peters. Looking over the
careers he thinks Athlete is the obvious choice and
picks Acrobatics, Gambling, and Survival as his
Professional Skills. He decides Shadowstalker
spent time training in gymnastics and survival
techniques in preparation for becoming a
vigilante, but also struggled with gambling issues
that caused him issues with his college basketball
career. He takes his 110 Career Skill Points and
assigns 20 each to Acrobatics (giving him a 48%),
Evade (raising it to 50%), and Unarmed (which
makes it 48%). With his remaining 50 points, he
raises Perception and Willpower by 5 each (to 39%
and 40% respectively), and puts the remaining 10
points into Endurance bumping it up to 40%. Sam
looks over his skills and sees Shadowstalker is
starting to form into the vigilante crimefighter he
wants him to be.
simpler or old technologies can be a challenge to the
hero, and if they have a sense of superiority it can make
it hard for them to interact with their so-called
“primitive” neighbors. The Advanced Culture
represents any society that relies heavily on technology
and cutting-edge knowledge, so it could also be used for
a time-displaced civilization, a hidden group of
intellectuals isolated from the rest of the world, or
people from an alternate timeline where technology has
advanced faster than the campaign setting.
Skills
Standard Skills: Deceit, Drive, Influence, Insight,
Perception, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Computers, Craft (Any related to
technology), Knowledge (Any), Language (Any), Pilot,
System Ops
Example Combat Styles: Security Agent (Baton,
Blaster Pistol, Net Gun, Riot Shield, Stun Gun), Neo
Ganger (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Knife, Machine Pistol,
Shotgun)
Career Skill Points by Power Level
Power Level Street
Career Skill Points 100
Maximum Skill Points 15 per category
24
Step 8: Choose your
Career
Even heroes need to pay the bills and earn a living,
and at some point in a hero’s life they probably were
part of the workforce or were training for some form of
gainful employment. A hero’s Career represents
education and training they undertook to pursue a
particular vocation or profession, and the player must
decide if the Career was part of the hero’s past, or if they
still engage in their chosen line of work (most likely in
the guise of their normal identity). No matter what the
player decides, a hero’s Career is another component of
who they are, and is an important part of their
background and who they are today. Careers are also
sources of friends, contacts, and other people who may
still be part of their social circle or, after a dip in a vat of
industrial effluents, a villain who curses the hero’s name
to this day.
It should be noted that the hero’s chosen Career
does not necessarily influence their Allotments (see
Chapter 4) that provide them gear and their Social
Status (see below), but their chosen vocation can be a
good gauge for determining those aspects of the hero’s
life at that stage in the creation process.
Like Culture, a hero’s Career provides a list of
Standard and Professional Skills that make up the most
common knowledge and training someone received if
they were part of that vocation. When a hero chooses a
Career, they may also pick up to three of the listed
Professional Skills and gain them at the base level. If
there is a Combat Style listed, the hero may choose the
one listed or, alternatively, keep advancing one they
picked for their Culture, if the Games Master agrees it
fits the chosen Career.
The hero once again gains a pool of Skill Points to
spend based on the Power Level of the campaign, but at
this stage, these points may only be spent on skills that
are part of the hero’s Career, and each individual skill
has a maximum number of points that can be added at
this stage based on the Power Level. For example, if an
Epic level hero decided he was a Brawler before he became a
Vigilante, he would have 110 skill points to spend on any
Standard Skill or his three chosen Professional Skills from the
Brawler listing below, and he could add no more than 20 points
to any of those skills. He would not be able to add his Career
skill points to the Survival skill he picked up as part of his
Epic Paragon
110 125
20 per category 25 per category
Eclipse is attending an exclusive - though tedious - charity gala as part of her Career as one of Gemelos
City’s leading socialites. Suddenly a huge explosion rocks the city center. It’s time for Eclipse to slip away
from the party and go fight crime.
Rural Culture. however. Just like with Cultures, the hero
should spend all of their Career Skill Points they have
available. The following careers are common paths for
heroes to take, and players are encouraged to come up
with new Career choices with the Games Master’s
approval. To create a new Career, the player needs to
come up with a list of 7 Standard Skills that pertain to
the vocation and choose up to 6 Professional Skills that
would apply as well.
ATHLETE
Basketball Star, Gymnast, Mountain Climber…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Endurance, Evade,
Perception, Unarmed, Willpower
Professional Skills: Acrobatics, Boating, Courtesy,
Gambling, Ride, Survival
BLUE COLLAR
Construction Worker, Dockworker, Factory Worker…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Drive, Endurance,
First Aid, Streetwise, Unarmed
Professional Skills: Boating, Craft (equipment related
to job), Culture (Underworld or Working Class),
Demolitions, Gambling, Survival
BRAWLER
Bouncer, Martial Arts Instructor, Street Fighter…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Brawn, Combat Style
(choose five melee weapons), Endurance, Evade,
Insight, Unarmed
Professional Skills: Acrobatics, Craft (melee weapons),
Culture (specific fighting schools or Underworld),
Intimidate, Sleight, Survival
Example Combat Styles: Stick Fighter (Baton,
Boomerang, Club, Spear, Staff), Urban Samurai
(Compound Bow, Knife, Long Sword, Short Sword,
Sword)
CRIMINAL
Assassin, Con Artist, Thief…
Standard Skills: Conceal, Deceit, Insight, Perception,
Stealth, Streetwise, Unarmed
25
 Destined
Professional Skills: Culture (Underworld), Forgery,
Gambling, Intimidate, Mechanisms, Sleight
ENTERTAINER
Actor, Dancer, Musician…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Influence,
Insight, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Art (Any), Courtesy, Culture
(Artistic or High Society), Forgery, Language (Any),
Perform (Any)
EXPLORER
Adventurer, Thrill-seeker, Treasure Hunter…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Drive, Endurance, Evade,
First Aid, Perception, Research
Professional Skills: Boating, Culture (Any),
Knowledge (Any), Language (Any), Navigation,
Survival
JOURNALIST
Blogger, Newspaper Reporter, Photographer…
Standard Skills: Influence, Insight, Perception,
Research, Stealth, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Art (Photography and Writing),
Computers, Courtesy, Culture (Any), Knowledge
(Any), Perform (Any)
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Detective, Policeman, Private Investigator…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Combat Style (Law
Enforcement, see page 22), Drive, Insight, Perception,
Streetwise, Unarmed
Professional Skills: Courtesy, Culture (Legal or
Underworld), Knowledge (Bureaucracy or Law),
Intimidate, Navigation, Track
Example Combat Style: SWAT Officer (Baton, Combat
Shotgun, Heavy Pistol, Heavy Shield, Machine Pistol)
MYSTIC
Arcanist, Guru, Shaman…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Insight,
Perception, Research, Unarmed, Willpower
Professional Skills: Acrobatics, Culture (Fringe and
Occult), Knowledge (Mystical), Language (Any),
Medicine, Survival
26
PHYSICIAN
Doctor, EMT, Nurse…
Standard Skills: Endurance, First Aid, Influence,
Insight, Perception, Research, Willpower
Professional Skills: Courtesy, Culture (Medical),
Knowledge (Anatomy and Psychology), Language
(Any), Medicine, Science (Biology, Chemistry, and
Pharmacology)
PILOT
Air Force, Bush Pilot, Commercial Pilot…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Endurance, Insight, Locale,
Perception, Research, Willpower
Professional Skills: Courtesy, Craft (Aircraft),
Electronics, Mechanisms, Navigation, Pilot, System
Ops
PLAYBOY/GIRL
Idle Rich, Rake, Socialite…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Deceit, Drive, Influence,
Insight, Perception, Streetwise
Professional Skills: Art (Any), Boating, Courtesy,
Culture (High Society), Language (Any), Seduction
SCHOLAR
Academic, Librarian, Professor…
Standard Skills: Influence, Insight, Native Language,
Perception, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Art (Any), Computers, Culture
(Any), Knowledge (Any), Language (Any), Science
(any)
SCIENTIST
Biologist, Chemist, Physicist…
Standard Skills: Influence, Insight, Native Language,
Perception, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Computers, Engineering (Any),
Knowledge (Any), Language (Any), Medicine, Science
(Any)
SOLDIER
Marine, Mercenary, Special Ops…
Standard Skills: Athletics, Combat Style (Any), Drive,
Endurance, Evade, Stealth, Unarmed
Professional Skills: Craft (Armor and Weapons),

Culture (Military), Demolitions, Navigation, Survival,
Track
Example Combat Styles: Infantry (Assault Rifle,
Grenade, Heavy Pistol, Knife, Light Pistol), Sniper
(Assault Rifle, Hunting Rifle, Knife, Light Pistol,
Sniper Rifle)
TECHNICIAN
Computer Scientist, Engineer, Inventor…
Standard Skills: Endurance, Influence, Insight,
Perception, Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Computers, Craft (Any),
Electronics, Mechanisms, Science (any), System Ops
WHITE COLLAR
Broker, Lawyer, Politician…
Standard Skills: Deceit, Influence, Insight, Perception,
Research, Streetwise, Willpower
Professional Skills: Computers, Courtesy, Culture
(Financial, Legal, or Political), Knowledge (Any related
to job), Language (Any), Perform (Acting or Oratory)
Step 9: Spend your
Bonus Skill Points
While a hero’s Culture and Career form the basis of
their training, they are not the only contributing
factors, and the hero makes choices on their own to
further their knowledge base. Bonus Skill Points serve
to round out the hero, representing additional training
or experience they had prior to the start of the
campaign. Where a hero’s Culture and Career can
inspire players in developing the backstory of their
heroes, Bonus Skill Points are more free form and the
player can go off in whatever direction they choose, if
they want to define where this training came from.
Perhaps the Rural Blue Collar hero spent time at
martial arts schools picking up fighting skills that give
them an edge, or maybe they decided on their own to
pursue an interest in chemistry that they never
explored in high school. On the flip side, Bonus Skill
Points can also be used to develop the same skills they
learned growing up and through their vocation.
Bonus Skill Points by Power Level
Power Level Street
Bonus Skill Points 150
Maximum Skill Points 15 per category
2. Hero Creation
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 9
S am thinks Shadowstalker’s Combat Style
should be sufficient, so he looks over the
Professional Skill list and adds the Mechanisms
skill to his list in case he ever needs to get past a
lock or sabotage a villain’s vehicle. With 180
Bonus Skill Points to spend, Sam really wants to
flesh out his hero’s skills to make him competent
in the areas he thinks he will need the most. He
spends the maximum amount of 20 each on
Athletics, Combat Style, Evade, and Stealth. He
spends 15 points each on Conceal, Insight,
Mechanisms, and Unarmed. Finally he puts10
points each into Brawn, Endurance, Perception,
and Willpower. Looking over Shadowstalker’s final
skill ratings, Sam sees his hero is pretty good at
fighting and sneaking, which is precisely what he
wanted, and has a broad range of skills to call
upon, even if he isn’t an expert at a lot of them.
With all his points spent, Shadowstalker’s final
skill ratings are: Acrobatics 48%, Athletics 63%,
Brawn 51%, Combat Style (Back-Alley Brawler)
68%, Conceal 40%, Culture (Underworld) 43%,
Deceit 26%, Drive 40%, Endurance 50%, Evade
70%, First Aid 29%, Gambling 24%, Influence
24%, Insight 39%, Language (Spanish) 41%,
Mechanisms 45%, Native Language (English)
66%, Perception 49%, Research 24%, Stealth 69%,
Streetwise 42%, Survival 25%, Unarmed 64%, and
Willpower 50%.
At this point, the hero can opt to choose one more
Professional Skill as a personal interest, or add an
additional Combat Style of their choice, gaining
whatever is decided at the base rating. The hero then
gains a final pool of Skill Points based on the campaign’s
Power Level, and a maximum amount that can be spent
on each individual skill. These points can be used to
raise any Standard Skill, any Professional Skill the hero
is trained in, or any Combat Style they know.
Alternatively, a hero can also choose to use Bonus Skill
Points to raise any of their Passions (see below). A hero
may not spend Bonus Skill Points on any Professional
Skills or Combat Styles that they have not received
training in.
Epic Paragon
180 200
20 per category 25 per category
27
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 10
W ith Characteristics, Attributes, and Skills
tackled, Sam begins sifting through all the
Core Powers available to see which ones really
stand out for his vision of Shadowstalker. His
character is a Mutant, so the number of Power
Slots he starts with is based on his CON of 15, thus
Sam has 4 Power Slots to spend, and at Epic level
he also gets one free Boost to start. After reviewing
the Core Powers he chooses the following abilities:
• Enhanced Reactions so Shadowstalker can act
fast when in danger.
• Enhanced Speed so he can get to people in
danger quickly.
• Invisibility so villains won’t see him coming.
• Regeneration so he won’t stay down if the bad
guys overwhelm him.
With his free Boost he adds the Parkour ability so
Shadowstalker can maneuver in the tight alleys
and rooftops of Gemelos City with ease. Sam
wants to add a few more Boosts and maybe
another Core Power, so he looks over the Limits
available. He thinks about how Shadowstalker
grew up in a rough neighborhood and how it may
have made him brash, so he adds the Impulsive
Limit to his Enhanced Reactions. He also likes the
idea that his Invisibility Core Power is more him
fading into shadows instead of completely
disappearing, so he adds Partial Invisibility to
that. Looking over the general list, he decides to
add Concentration to his Regeneration power,
thus Shadowstalker needs to enter a meditative
state to recover. He also likes tying his powers to
the lunar cycle to emphasize his ties to the night,
so he takes Impaired Recovery, so
Shadowstalker can only recover Power Points while
in moonlight and can’t recover any during the
New Moon. With four Limits he opts to add the
Teleport Core Power and add the Fast Task Boost
to his Enhanced Speed and Stealth Strike to his
Invisibility. Shadowstalker’s mutations allow him
to fade into a ghost-like form, move as fast as a
shadow, and slip into the realm of shadows for an
instant to reappear somewhere else. He can also
enter a meditative trance learned from one of his
mentors that lets him rapidly heal his injuries.
28
Step 10: Choose Your
Powers
While many things make a hero stand out, in terms of
comic books the most defining trait is their special
powers. Lifting cars, running faster than then eye can
see, or blasting the robot minions of the villain make
superheroes something beyond the norm, and in
Destined your hero can do all those things and more.
Heroes can acquire Core Powers, which are the base
special abilities that allow them to do fantastic things. A
hero is always able to use their Core Powers, unless
some external circumstance takes them away (being
Incapacitated for example), or the hero applies some
limitation to them that alters how they can be accessed.
A hero’s Core Powers come in three forms: they are
either activated as part of something the hero is trying
to do as an Action, the power is always in effect, or the
hero can activate it at will. For example, a hero who can fire
blasts of energy from his hands would zap foes when he attacks
them, while one who can shrug off bullets like they were gnats
would always be tough even if he was caught off guard.
Chapter 3 goes into detail about how Core Powers work
in play.
A hero can modify their Core Powers with
enhancements called Boosts and weaknesses known as
Limits. Boosts allow the hero to use their power in a
new or different way, making it more effective, or
enable them to accomplish something beyond what the
base Core Power is capable of. For example, a telepathic
hero might learn how to probe a criminal’s memories to search
for vital information, or a teleporter can take an ally with him
when he vanishes.
On the flip side, Limits inhibit or add restrictions to
a hero’s Core Powers, reducing their effectiveness or
requiring more effort to use. For example, that same
telepath may accidentally share his own deepest, darkest secrets
when he’s in the mind of his foe or the teleporter may come out
the other side disoriented and nauseated. Some Limits affect
the hero as a whole, inflicting physical limitations, or
altering how they use their powers. Taking Limits
allows heroes to add additional Boosts or even more
Core Powers, but players should consider the effects
of Limits before they decide to modify their powers
with them.
Power Slots
Heroes gain a number of Power Slots based on their
Origin and the Power Level of the campaign, and these
slots are used to purchase Core Powers and Boosts. One
Power Slot may be used to acquire a Core Power, or it
 2. Hero Creation

can be exchanged for two Boosts that can be added to

any Core Powers the hero has. So, a hero with 4 Power
Slots available could take four Core Powers, three Core
Powers and two Boosts, or any combination they wish
using those slots. A hero is limited in how many Core
Powers they can have during their Career based on the
Power Level of the campaign, as detailed below, and
without the Games Master’s permission the hero may
not exceed this number even by spending Experience
Rolls (see Hero Advancement below). There are no
restrictions on how many Boosts a hero can have, and
each new trick or technique learned allows the hero to
further enhance their already potent powers.
Optional: Static
Power Slots
T he system for determining Power Slots keeps
any one Characteristic from becoming too vital
during creation, but it also can be abused by
players who maximize the Characteristic linked to
their Origin, giving them a larger number of
powers than someone who diversifies their hero.
If the Games Master wants to keep the initial
number of powers balanced, considering the
following optional rule:

Heroes determine their initial Power Slots based on
a Characteristic tied to their Origin. Use the following
Characteristics to determine how many Power Slots you
start with as detailed on the table below.
• Created and Mutants Origins use CON. Their powers
are tied to the physical changes that occur in their
altered bodies.
• Experimentation, Technology, and Training Origins
use INT. Their powers are tied to their intellect and
their ability to learn and retain new information.
• Inherent and Mystical Origins use CHA. Their
powers are tied to their inner self, allowing them to tap
into the power within.
A Single Power Slot Allows:
• 1 Core Power or
• 2 Boosts
Static Number of Powers
The number of Power Slots you start with is a static
value based on the Power Level of the campaign.
All heroes of the same Power Level will have the
same amount of slots available. This is the most
fair and balanced option, but it does remove the
variable aspects of creation that some groups
prefer.
• Street Level heroes start with 2 powers.
• Epic level heroes start with 4 powers.
• Paragon level heroes start with 6 powers.
The maximum amount of powers available,
maximum Limits, and bonus Boosts remain the
same if you use this option. Note that if you use
this optional rule, Power Points remain tied to the
POW Characteristic.

Boosts and Limits

Heroes can use their Power Slots to add Boosts to their
Core Powers, giving the base power more options. This
helps to give a hero who focuses on a specific power, or
limited group of powers, a set of tricks to make their
power choices shine. At the Epic and Paragon Power
Levels, heroes receive bonus Boosts to augment any
Core Power of their choice. A hero can also take Limits
to their powers as noted above, which give access to
more Core Powers and Boosts than the standard Power
Slots allow. Taking a single Limit to a Core Power or to
the hero as a whole allows them to take one additional
Boost to any of their available Core Powers, while taking
two Limits allows them to gain a new Core Power.

Power Slots by Campaign Power Level

Characteristic Street Epic Paragon
6 or less 0 2 4
7-12 1 3 5
13-17 2 4 6
18+ 3 5 7

Maximum Core Powers 4 6 8

Bonus Boosts 0 1 2
Maximum Limits 3 4 5

29
 Destined
Like Core Powers and Boosts, heroes can only take a
maximum number of Limits based on the campaign’s
Power Level as detailed below. If the hero wants to add
Limits beyond this maximum (or gains a Limit in play
somehow that puts them above the normal maximum),
they do not gain any additional Boosts or Core
Powers from it. The Limits available to heroes can be
found in the Powers chapter, with a list of general Limits
available for any Core Power starting on page 75. Limits
that affect the hero as a whole start on page 77, and
Limits specific to each individual Core Power within
their descriptions start on page 82.
POWER TEMPLATES
If you are using the quick creation option (see below),
or if you want to emulate a specific type of superhero
from the comics, here are several common categories of
comic book heroes and suggested powers to help bring
them to life. Note that the listed Primary Powers are
suggestions that we feel best fit the type of hero and are
highly recommended. Full information on all the
powers below are found in Chapter 3.
• Bruiser: The Bruiser is strong and tough, often
serving as a front line fighter, and is the team’s muscle.
Primary Core Powers: Durability, Enhanced Strength,
Inherent Armor, Resistance
Other Core Powers: Close Combat Attack, Flight with
Single Bound Limit, Growth, Life Support,
Regeneration
• Champion: The champion mixes strength with
durability and flight, and is considered the generic
power set for superheroes.
Primary Core Powers: Durability, Enhanced Strength,
Flight
Other Core Powers: Blast, Enhanced Speed,
Heightened Sense, Inherent Armor, Life Support,
Resistance
• Elemental: The Elemental controls some form of
substance or energy, and all their powers revolve
around this element.
Primary Core Powers: Blast, Elemental Control,
Energy Field
Other Core Powers: Creation, Entrap, Flight, Force
Field, Inherent Armor, Life Support, Resistance,
Summon
• Inventor: The Inventor uses technology to emulate
powers or create things on the fly, and often has a wide
array of devices to aid them in crimefighting.
Primary Core Powers: Creation, Savant, Summon
30
Other Core Powers: Any, with the External Power
Source Limit
• Metamorph: The Metamorph is a shapeshifter,
altering their body into different forms or even taking
on the form of something or someone else.
Primary Core Powers: Growth, Morph, Shrinking,
Stretching
Other Core Powers: Adhesion, Close Combat Attack,
Duplication, Durability, Heightened Sense, Life
Support, Regeneration, Vaporous Form
• Power Armor: The Power Armor uses a suit of high-
tech armor, with the External Power Source Limit.
Primary Core Powers: Blast, Durability, Flight,
Heightened Sense, Inherent Armor, Life Support
Other Core Powers: Close Combat Attack, Deflect,
Energy Field, Enhanced Strength, Force Field, Savant
• Psychic: The Psychic is gifted with powers of the
mind which allow them to tap into the consciousness
of others or manipulate the world with a thought.
Primary Core Powers: Empathy, Heightened Sense,
Lucky, Precognition, Telekinesis, Telepathy
Other Core Powers: Blast, Deflect, Flight with Levitate
Limit, Force Field, Phantasm, Savant, Sensory
Overload
• Sorcerer: The Sorcerer wields the powers of magic
to create versatile effects to alter reality and bend it to
their will.
Primary Core Powers: Blast, Creation, Deflect, Force
Field, Invisibility, Phantasm, Summon, Telekinesis,
Teleport
Other Core Powers: Any, with the Conditional:
Gestures and Incantations Limit
• Speedster: The Speedster is fast and uses that speed
to confound opponents and rush to save the day.
Primary Core Powers: Enhanced Reactions,
Enhanced Speed
Other Core Powers: Duplication, Kinetic Control,
Lucky, Teleport
• Vigilante: The Vigilante lacks powers, but makes up
for it with amazing skill and an array of gadgets.
Primary Core Powers: Combat Expert, Enhanced
Reactions, Savant
Other Core Powers: Close Combat Attack, Deflect,
Durability, Lucky
Note: Vigilantes often trade Power Slots for extra Skill Points
and Allotments to allow for better natural ability and gear.
• Warrior: The Warrior is gifted with abilities that aid
them in battle, sometimes with weapons and
sometimes just with their fists.

Primary Core Powers: Close Combat Attack, Combat
Expert, Deflect, Durability, Enhanced Reactions,
Savant
Other Core Powers: Enhanced Strength, Heightened
Sense, Inherent Armor, Regeneration, Resistance
Step 11: Determine
Your Allotments
and Gear
As much as we get excited about a hero’s powers, we
also love the gadgets and the cars. We watch the
montage of the hero suiting up, strapping on their
crimefighting gear, and roaring off into the night to face
whatever evil threatens the city. For some heroes,
gadgets are accessories that help them when their
powers fail to defeat the danger. For others, the gadgets
are all they have and help them keep their edge
alongside allies and foes with "real" powers. Once you
have all the important game statistics down for your
hero, the next step is figuring out what wonderful toys
they have to play with. Heroes in comics doesn’t usually
carry cash in their utility belts, and they typically gloss
over how mild-mannered newspaper employees can
afford extensive lairs, an endless supply of tailored
costumes, and a rocket ship the same color as their logo.
In the same vein, Destined uses a system called
Allotments to account for how heroes get their special
gear without worrying about the exact cost of a grapple
gun or a turbo-powered supercar. Each hero starts with
Allotments based on the campaign’s Power Level and
modified by their Social Status. More detail on
Allotments can be found in Chapter 4.
Allotments
Allotments serve as an abstract measure of all the
resources the hero has available to provide specialized
gear used during their crimefighting endeavors. A hero
could have a vast fortune to call upon, they might create
what they need from scratch, or they may rely on an
outside benefactor to provide the tools they need.
Whatever the source, Allotments can be critical when
the hero needs something special or unique to deal with
Allotments by Campaign Power Level
Power Level Street
Base Allotments 30%
2. Hero Creation
Optional: exchanging
Power Slots
S ome heroes rely more on their skills and gear
than extranormal powers, and this optional
rule allows players to exchange Power Slots to
increase their base skill percentages or available
Allotments for equipment. A hero may trade a
Power Slot for one of the following options at the
time of hero creation:
• Skills: The hero gains 30 additional Bonus Skill
Points to spend on skills for each Power Slot
exchanged. The hero is still limited to how many
points can be spent on a single skill based on the
Power Level of the campaign.
• Allotments: The hero gains a +20% bonus to
their Allotments rating for each Power Slot
exchanged. The bonus can be used for either
Personal or Organizational Allotments
Heroes may trade as many Power Slots for the
above options as they have available, including
additional slots gained from taking Limits, subject
to the Games Master’s approval.
an obstacle their skills and powers can’t defeat alone.
A hero’s Allotment Rating is expressed as a percentage,
with a higher value representing better access to
resources. Allotment Slots are equal to one-tenth of a
hero’s Allotment Rating and they serve as a form of
currency to purchase the items a hero needs, so a hero
with a base Allotment Rating of 43% will have
5 Allotment Slots available to start. A hero has two
different categories of Allotments they can call upon:
• Personal Allotments are the hero’s own finances,
equipment stores, or inventions that they have
available. A hero may spend their Personal Allotments
as they chooses, but it is more difficult to get expensive
or regulated items with personal resources.
• Organizational Allotments are equipment and
vehicles provided by a benefactor or a group such as a
government or a Superteam. Organizations provide
specific gear based on the group’s purpose, and heroes
are subject to the rules of the group, but they also have
Epic Paragon
40% 50%
31
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 11
S am refers to the chart and determines that at
Epic level Shadowstalker has a base Allotment
Rating of 40%. Maria is allowing her group to
choose their Social Status within reason, and Sam
feels that as a teacher Ron would be in the Middle
Class, so there are no modifiers to his base
Allotment Rating. As the players talk before the
game starts, they decide they would like to begin
the game as part of a Superteam operating in the
Ossuary district of Gemelos City. Maria tells them
of a group called the Night Wardens that the
heroes could be fledgling members of. Sam
decides to divide his Allotments in half, putting
20% each in his Personal Allotments and into the
Night Wardens Organizational Allotments and
giving him two slots to spend in each. After looking
over the equipment lists, Sam decides to give
Shadowstalker a staff and some throwing blades
with his Personal Slots and uses his connections
within the Night Wardens to acquire a suit of
padded leather armor to keep him safe out in the
field. Now Shadowstalker is ready for action!
an easier time acquiring expensive or restricted items.
The Games Master will work with you to determine
what Organizations are available as patrons in the
campaign setting. More detail is provided in Chapter 7.
At creation heroes have a base Allotment Rating
determined by the campaign’s Power Level as detailed
below. Allotments and how they work are further
detailed starting from page 123 onwards.
Social Status
1d100 Status Allotments Modifier
01 Poverty -10% to base rating, no more than 10% in One old and worn outfit, outdated, or well-used personal items,
Personal Allotments to start
02-15 Impoverished No more than 20% to Personal Allotments Run-down apartment or home, uses public transportation, other
to start
16-50 Working Class No more than 30% to Personal Allotments Apartment or small home, later model used vehicle, moderately
to start
51-90 Middle Class No restrictions to start
91-99 Professional +10% to Personal Allotments to start
Class
100 Wealthy +20% to Personal Allotments to start
32
Social Status
A hero’s Social Status serves to define the hero’s general
lifestyle and finances in their civilian life as well as
indicate their normal living conditions and mundane
resources. Remember these resources serve as a
background element for the hero and are separate from
the gear they acquire with their Allotments, but some
can affect the percentage of their Personal Allotments.
They account for amenities and necessities that help
them maintain their civilian persona, and bringing
them into their heroic activities could risk any secret
identity they have developed.
The hero can use their twelve-year-old subcompact
car to drive around on patrol, but that same car is
registered in their civilian name, and if it gets destroyed
they may have trouble getting to work the next day.
The hero rolls on the chart below to determine their
Social Status, or optionally the Games Master can allow
the player to choose a status appropriate to the hero’s
concept and chosen career. Some Social Statuses have
modifiers that are applied to a hero’s base Allotment
Rating before the hero assigns the Allotments as
detailed below.
Assigning Allotments
Once the hero has their base Allotment Rating and
Social Status, they can decide how to divide the rating
up among their Personal and any Organizational
Allotments available. The hero can have all their
Allotment Rating in one, divide it up among several
Organizations, or mix and match as they see fit. The
only restriction at creation is any assigned Allotments
must have a minimum rating of at least 10%. For example,
a hero with an initial Allotment Rating of 50% who does not
belong to an Organization could have all 50% in her Personal
Background Resources
resides at a local shelter or with family
inexpensive personal possessions
priced personal possessions
Comfortable apartment or modest home, recent model vehicle,
high quality possessions
One or more luxurious dwellings, new high end vehicle, many
expensive personal possessions
Several luxurious dwellings or a stately mansion, several luxury
vehicles, personal servants, and assistants

Allotments; another hero with the same percentage who belongs
to a supergroup could have 40% in that Organizational
Allotment and 10% in Personal, or if she belongs to two
groups, keep 20% in her Personal, 20% in one Organization,
and 10% in another. Once all the Allotments are assigned,
the hero can figure out their Allotment Slots available
and move on to acquiring their initial gear for the
adventure.
Purchasing Gear
Each piece of gear in Chapter 4 has a Cost associated
with it, and that is the number of Allotment Slots a hero
must use to acquire that piece of gear. Heroes in
Destined determine what gear they have at the start of a
new adventure and can spend all available slots from
different Allotment sources to obtain what they need.
So if a hero has five Personal Slots available, they can
acquire any number of items whose total cost is not
more than five. Also note that what gear is available and
what the final Cost is depends on whether the hero is
using their Personal Slots or ones from a patron
Organization. Complete details on how Allotments are
used to purchase gear can be found in Chapter 4.
Step 12: The Final
Details
By this stage your hero’s physical and mental abilities
are defined, you know where their areas of expertise
lie, and you’ve outfitted them with superpowers and
special gear to fight crime. All of that is very important
for playing the game of Destined, but in this last step you
breathe life into your new hero and figure out who they
were, who they are now, and you give some direction on
who they eventually want to be.
This final step focuses on the narrative aspects of
your hero, and since Destined is a roleplaying game, this
part can be one of the most essential. A hero’s costume
and powers are very important, and the drawing you
did of their cool-looking plane made everyone “ooh
and ahh,” but in comic books the most enduring and
memorable superheroes are the ones that feel like they
could walk off the page and be flesh and blood instead
of ink and words because so much time has been spent
fleshing out who the hero is.
While we believe these final steps are some of the
most important, we also realize not all groups are
worried about what happened in a hero’s past or who
the most important people in their life are. Some
groups just want to tear into some villains and fly
2. Hero Creation
Can’t we all be
billionaires?
I f the Games Master allows players to choose
their Social Status, the group may end up being
a team of multimillionaires and billionaires
trotting around in colorful tights. To be fair, comic
books often support this. While some heroes
struggle to make ends meet, many of the most
popular heroes are all members of the wealthy
elite with seemingly limitless resources and little
accountability to their shareholders unless the plot
demands it. The plus side of allowing this is heroes
will have access to many gadgets and vehicles that
make their adventures a bit easier since they all
have resources available to cover whatever is
needed. The downside is it can lead to heroes
having every essential piece of gear under the sun
and it takes away some of the inherent challenges
of being prepared or having to scramble for the
right piece of equipment before the next
challenge. It also leads to a suspension of disbelief
if there is a disconnect between the hero’s chosen
Career and their massive bank account. As long
as the players are willing to be fair about choosing
their Social Status, the Games Master should not
be adverse to allowing them to choose
appropriate Social Status levels and remember
that a billionaire or two in the group is not outside
the realm of comic possibilities.
around the city shooting laser beams from their eyes.
There is nothing wrong with that, and Destined can
easily accommodate a more casual style of game where
action steps to the forefront. So the steps here should be
considered optional if you would like to play that type
of game. But if your group really wants to develop the
personalities and histories of your heroes, or if after a
few sessions of villain stomping you decide you want to
know exactly who Captain Laser-Eyes is behind the
mask, explore any of the options given below.
Background Events
Unless the hero sprang up from the ground fully-
formed, they probably had a life and history prior to the
start of the campaign. Several steps during the creation
process provide some details as to who the hero was, or
what direction their life went in prior to the events that
made them decide to become a hero. Culture
represents where they spent their formative years, and
their Career is the path they chose to follow into
adulthood, or is starting to follow if the hero is younger.
33

The hero Sky Raven has a Background in weird science
(Technology Origin). Here she tests one of her high-tech
inventions, a device to sabotage Animus cyborgs.
But those are only pieces of a larger puzzle, and taking
time to map out some significant or life-changing events
in the hero’s life can help further explain who they are
now. Was there some great tragedy or triumph? Did
they come from a loving household or were they vat-
grown in a lab? Were they affected by some great power
or were they part of a world-changing event? These
extra details can be very important in shaping a hero’s
beliefs and motivations, and give threads the group can
pull on to further explore each of the heroes involved
in the campaign.
Players are encouraged to come up with some key
Background Events that occurred in the life of their
heroes, writing out a few or coming up with pages of
backstory if they are so inclined. Background events
34
might be completely mundane,
exceptionally strange, or a nice mix of
both, but they are important to the
hero. It can be difficult to come up with
details when you are still trying to
figure out who your hero is, so below
are several tables of example
Background Events to use wholesale or
to serve as a spark of inspiration for
your own tale. Simply choose one or
more events for your hero, or let the
dice fall and see what comes up. The
first tables relate to the Heroic Origins
detailed earlier in this chapter, as that
critical event is often defining in the life
of a superhero. There is also a general
table of Background Events that are not
tied to any specific Origin but offer
some intriguing story details to add to
your hero if you so choose. It may also
help the player to at least briefly detail
some key aspects of the hero’s life
beyond the Background Events below.
Some possible questions to ask are:
• Where did the hero grow up?
• Where is their family now? Are they
still close and in contact?
• Where did the hero go to school?
• What brought them into the Career
they trained for?
• Are they still involved in it?
• How exactly did they get their
powers?
• Did they make any enemies along the way? Do those
people still have it out for the hero?
• Are they involved with any important Organizations
or groups?
Important People
As we move through the world we encounter people
who touch our lives, people who have the most
influence and impact on us, and heroes are no different.
They have family, friends, romantic interests, and allies
who are the ones they try to defend over all others.
They also have bitter rivals and enemies who motivate
 2. Hero Creation

Created Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 Your master created you but you don’t have any memory of them. Why did they leave you and who are they? Are there more
mysterious circumstances surrounding your creation than your master?
06-10 Government forces developed you as an experiment, but you managed to escape your captivity. Are they still looking for you? If so,
how do you keep yourself hidden in plain sight?
11-15 You were not the only one of your kind created, but for some reason, you were the only one kept during a purge of some sort. All you
have to remember your kin is a small metal cylinder with no markings. Who remains that still remembers why the others were purged
and you remained? And what is the significance of the metal cylinder?
16-20 You were an accident. At least that’s what your creator told you as they prepared to destroy you. Frightened, you fought back, and
you think you killed them when their lab was destroyed. Recently you have been seeing signs you believe are from them. Are they still
alive, or is someone else involved in your creation using their memory to torment you?
21-25 As far as you remember there was no time before your existence. It is as though you sprang from the earth itself, and that may not be
far from the truth. For no matter where you look, you find no evidence of your source. But surely someone or something made you.
Yesterday, a letter written in a cipher was sent to you. What does it say and does it hold the key to your creation?
26-30 Forged in the bowels of the earth in a laboratory, you remember men and women in labcoats. Then the soldiers came, shooting your
makers. You managed to escape and made your way to the surface, but all you have left from your time below is a key with a strange
symbol.
31-35 You believe that an alien rock was vital to your creation. Without the small rock near you, you feel that you’d dissipate into
nothingness. Is it just superstition, or is there some truth to it?
36-40 Created as an alien child’s plaything, you were cast aside as they aged beyond the needs for such diversions. You eventually found
yourself on the third planet from the sun and called it home, but lately you feel that something or someone is calling you back to your
home in the stars.
41-45 Raised from the dead by a sorcerous cabal, you once followed them blindly. After they were defeated by the forces of good and
imprisoned, you changed your ways. Many people still distrust you and you continuously strive to prove yourself. Recent rumors
suggest one of your former masters has escaped their imprisonment, and if they come calling, will you be able to resist?
46-50 Half-human and half-machine, your life depends on your implants, which have given you your powers. Recently a villain contacted
you with a way of restoring your former life so you can be human once more. Is there offer genuine, and do you want to give up your
powers for the chance to lead a normal life?
51-55 When you were created, a twin was created alongside you. At some point you and your twin were separated, and you lost track of
them. Now your twin has returned claiming they will die unless you are willing to sacrifice a portion of your power to sustain them.
Can you turn your back on your brethren, and can you even trust your long lost “sibling”?
56-60 You have always felt that some part of you was missing, and if you had it, your heart’s desires would be fulfilled. What is this missing
part, and with your creator missing or gone is there a way for you to find it?
61-65 Even though it should be impossible, you have recently started to dream. Your nights are filled with visions of a former life before
your artificial one, and it has begun to make you question your very nature. Are you really an artificial being, or were you once alive
and are now trapped in a manufactured body?
66-70 Although you have allies and friends who rally around you, you still feel isolated because you aren’t truly like your flesh and blood
companions. You feel a growing desire to either locate or create another of your kind as a companion. How will you go about
crafting another being life yourself, and how will your living allies feel about your desire for a “mate”?
71-75 Some form of supernatural power was involved in your creation, and recently you feel like the power that gave you life is starting to
fade. Who can you seek out to find a new source of power, and what risks are involved with tampering with mystical forces?
76-80 You were found during an archaeological dig and somehow revived after being dug up. The researchers who found you still have no
idea where and when you came from, and they are as interested as you are in finding the truth behind your creation.
81-85 You are made up of mismatched or disparate parts, but somehow all together you function without any significant problems. Where
did all your parts come from, and are any of the former owners out there looking for what was taken from them?
86-90 You were created by another artificial being much like yourself, but far more powerful. Is your creator still around, and what was its
ultimate plan in crafting more artificial beings like itself? If it finds you, will it attempt to recruit you or destroy you?
91-95 There is a living being that you have great affection for, but your artificial nature limits your ability to truly be together. What will you
do to keep this relationship? What happens if a villain offers you the chance to become a living being like the one you care about?
96-100 Deep down you feel a growing desire to do something terrible or to commit acts that go against your beliefs. Is there some deeper
programming in you that you weren’t aware of, and will you be able to resist it before you find a way to purge yourself of your dark
desires?

35
 Destined

Experimentation Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 The place where you were experimented on no longer exists and no one you’ve talked to has any memory of it except for you. You
believe there must be some record of its existence, and after years of searching you recently stumbled across intel that indicates the
group behind the experiments may have opened a secret lab nearby. What will you find when you investigate?
06-10 Whoever performed the experiment that gave you your powers still keeps tabs on you and checks in often. While they seem like they
care about your welfare, recently you’ve picked up on an undercurrent of fear in their voice. What are they afraid of? What if it’s you?
11-15 You were not the only product of the experiment, and you try to keep track of the other test subjects. You recently discovered several
of them have died in horrific ways for no apparent reason. Is this is side effect of the experiment, or is it something more sinister?
16-20 You managed to escape the place that gave you powers thanks to the aid of one of the scientists who had a change of heart. You find
yourself being drawn to your savior more and more, but what happens when the forces behind your powers come looking for you?
21-25 The lab that made you was shut down and all records were locked up in a restricted vault by the government. You have many
unanswered questions about your powers, and when a mysterious person offers to help get you access to the vault, will your curiosity
cause you to take them up on the offer?
26-30 The lab that granted you your abilities has remained an important part of your life, and the scientists have become a second family to
you. Now personnel from the lab are going missing. Who is behind these disappearances, and will you be able to keep your adopted
family safe?
31-35 You have no idea what happened to you to give you your powers, but sometimes you have flashbacks of a mysterious lab and
masked scientists. Now the flashbacks are becoming more frequent, and you know that you need to find answers about what
happened if you ever want to move past your waking nightmares.
36-40 You were experimented on by something from beyond this world. Maybe it was aliens, beings from another dimension, or a powerful
godlike entity. Why did they pick you, and what happens when they come back?
41-45 A close friend or family member was a genius with science, and you volunteered as a willing test subject. Your powers grew out of
their experiments, but shortly before the final test, he or she disappeared. You’ve spent most of your time looking for them, and only
recently stumbled upon a clue to where they’ve been. Did they get taken by someone or did they choose to leave, and if so, why?
46-50 You volunteered for treatment at the facility. The doctors and nurses seemed nice enough, and the cash was good. But soon after you
started showing signs of having powers, you returned to the facility with questions, and it was empty. Where did they go? Will you
ever find out if there were others like you?
51-55 You mastered the field of science that gave you your powers, and you alone hold their secrets. But others, both nefarious and good-
willed, are attempting to steal your knowledge. Will you give away the means to obtain your powers or are you holding on to your
secrets closely?
56-60 A freak accident in your laboratory caused you to gain your powers, and you can’t recall what mixture or series of events produced
your abilities. But lately the call to experiment again is calling to you. Will you try to replicate your experiment or will you try to
overcome the urge?
61-65 Injecting yourself with the burning liquid was a mistake. You’re sure of it. But it did give you the powers you use today. Where did you
obtain the liquid and why were you given it (or did you take it forcefully)? And will you ever accept the powers you’ve obtained as part
of you now?
66-70 You remember a bright light, a sharp stab in your arm, and blackness. Then you awoke in your own bed. You don’t recall anything
about who took you for experiments, or why, but you’re obsessed with finding the ones responsible. Are you angry about the powers
that were the result of the experiment and looking to hold them accountable, or are you looking for them to thank them?
71-75 A strange bald man with a lab coat and goggles with a green tint prepared the electrical device that hummed strangely, under the
careful watch of a group you trusted. The laboratory was makeshift, but because of your relationship, you allowed them to experiment
on you. Now they’ve become your arch-nemeses because they want to create others like you for nefarious deeds. Can you turn them
back to the good side or are they irredeemable?
76-80 You were chosen because you were strong, smart, or capable in some way for an experiment, and it was a resounding success. Your
"experimenter" is still a close ally, but they refuse to recreate the experiment. They do want you to obtain something for them,
however. Who are they, what is it, and why do they want it?
81-85 You accidentally received the serum meant for another, which gave you your powers. Now you feel that the original candidate is
hunting you, wanting to study you to get what is "rightfully" theirs.
86-90 Success! You (or someone experimenting on you) did exactly what you intended, and now you have powers. But you feel as if recently
they’re waning. Can you recreate what you did and stabilize yourself, or will the powers you’ve grown to love eventually fade away?
91-95 The experiment caused you to briefly die, but when you were reborn you had the powers you have, and no one else who was
experimented on survived. You feel as though you were chosen, but to what end, and why?
96-100 Your mother always told you that the powers you have were a blessing, but you have vague memories as a child of a lab and
numerous injections. Now that she’s gone you have no one to ask, but who were they, and why did they choose you?

36
 2. Hero Creation

Inherent Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 The gate to your world has closed, but mysterious artifacts keep getting through. You know that on the other side of the gate your
people lost a great war and the enemy is trying to force the gate open again. Can you completely close the passageway to protect
your new home? And what are these strange artifacts that keep slipping through?
06-10 Space and time were once your playthings, until you encountered a far more powerful being that stripped you of most of your powers
and left you for dead. Awakening on a foreign planet, you’ve retained some powers but nothing compared to your former glory. Who
was this being and will it seek you out to finish the job?
11-15 You have always lived on Earth but have felt a pull to somewhere else beyond your adopted world. Recently you’ve been having
dreams of walking through a strange place and one morning you woke up with alien mud caked on your feet. Are they just dreams or
are you traveling to this other world? Is it your real home?
16-20 You are a refugee from somewhere else, arriving on Earth alone as a child with few memories of your former home. The only clue
you have is a mysterious artifact from your birthplace, but you have no idea how it works. Does it hold the key to your history?
21-25 You were sent as an envoy from your civilization to learn about humanity and determine if your people should make contact. Do you
feel your people should become involved with humans? Are the motivations of your civilization purely diplomatic?
26-30 You come from a lost or hidden society within the campaign setting, and your people are all gifted with strange and powerful
abilities. Why did you leave your people to come to the outside world? Were you sent, did you escape, or are you an outcast?
31-35 Your people lived long ago in the campaign setting, but some catastrophe caused them to disappear. You were somehow spared and
awoke in the time of the campaign. Are you truly the last of your people, or do others of your kind exist somewhere out in the world?
36-40 You come from an alternate dimension where your species possessed extraordinary abilities, but something caused you to travel
through dimensions to end up in the campaign setting. Was this trip voluntary, or were you sent away against your will?
41-45 You are clearly not human, and your abilities are something you were born with. Do you hail from another world, or are you part of
another civilization hidden somewhere on Earth? Are you accepted by your new neighbors or persecuted?
46-50 Someone or something deep in the cosmos birthed you fully developed and filled with knowledge. You know nothing about where
you came from, but every now and then you think you feel some distant pull calling you home.
51-55 You have little memory of your childhood, and most of your life you have been part of a traveling show that showcased your strange
gifts. Recently you learned the owner of this show found you as a child and your gifts were already part of you. Where did you come
from, and does the owner know more than they are letting on?
56-60 On your home world people with special powers like you are considered to be abominations and are hunted down. You managed to
find a way to the campaign setting in an attempt to escape persecution. But did you truly escape, or is someone from your former
home still hunting you?
61-65 You lived a seemingly normal life until a traumatic accident awakened your powers. Only then did you learn that your parents
adopted you and had someone put mental blocks in your mind to prevent you from knowing about your gifts. Why did your parents
do this? Was it to protect you or protect the world from you?
66-70 As long as you can remember people have used you for your special powers, taking advantage of your good nature to benefit
themselves. Are you still capable of trust or do you assume that anyone around you just wants to use you for their own purposes?
71-75 You have lived for countless years, entering into a state of involuntary stasis for long periods of time before awakening in a new era.
You recently woke up in the current time of the campaign setting, and you are still trying to get accustomed to this new world. What
woke you up, and how long before you enter another period of slumber?
76-80 The place you originally came from is gone, and you are one of a handful of survivors. What happened to your former home? Are
you protective of your remaining people? What will you do when you see the same signs that foreshadowed your home’s destruction
on your new adopted world?
81-85 You do everything in your power to forget your past. You never speak of it, look for ways to excise your memories, or remain in a
near perpetual state of intoxication. What about your old life are you trying to forget? When will those memories come back to haunt
the life you are making for yourself now?
86-90 On your old world you were a criminal or a would-be conqueror, and you fled to your new home to escape your own misdeeds. Are
you trying to turn over a new leaf or will you go back to your old ways? Is someone pursuing you to bring you back to face justice on
your former home?
91-95 Your species is dying and you were sent to your new home to look for a way to help your people. How much time do you have to get
back home before it is too late? What are you willing to do to save your species?
96-100 Although you are human, you were born with special powers. Did your parents possess the same abilities or are you unique in your
gifts? Were you allowed to use them or did your parents restrict you to keep you safe from those who would study or exploit you?

37
 Destined

Mutation Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 You were raised in an orphanage for special children with unique gifts, and when you asked the staff never talked about your true
parents. Where did you come from, and will you like the answer if you manage to find out?
06-10 You were part of a hidden community of other mutants, but you were restless, and one day you ran away to see the world outside.
Sometimes you feel homesick for your former life, but would you be accepted if you try to return?
11-15 When you were a child some mysterious force enveloped your school bus and everyone on board blacked out. As a teen you and
several other children on the bus began manifesting strange abilities. What happened on that fateful day and will it happen again?
16-20 When your mutation emerged, your family ostracized you because of your differences. Has that made you a loner, unwilling to
connect to anyone, or have you sought out a new surrogate family?
21-25 Puberty was harder on you than most. Your powers began to emerge then, and you struggled to control them along with all the other
changes to your body. Now you feel that those changes are happening again. Are you changing or is it just a strange imbalance with
your mutation?
26-30 After your powers manifested, they were unstable for some time and you vacillated between several different abilities before settling
on the ones you have now. Are your powers finally stable or will your abilities change again?
31-35 The town you came from suffered at the hands of a powerful criminal mutant for some time, and you have been reluctant to use your
powers out of fear of becoming like this villain. What happened to make you want to become a hero despite your fears, and what will
you do when the villain returns?
36-40 As part of your mutations you developed a very distinctive trait that marks you as a mutant (See the Distinctive Appearance Limit on
page 77). Do you hide your true nature or do your let your freak flag proudly fly?
41-45 You learn that people have been disappearing from the mutant community you were raised in, and recently an old friend vanished.
Who is behind these disappearances and will you be targeted?
46-50 Someone close to you did not take your mutation well and shunned you after you gained your powers. You recently learned they
became part of an anti-mutant hate group that is growing increasingly violent. Do you want to try to save this person or are they now
your enemy?
51-55 A messianic figure has recently appeared on the scene preaching tolerance and solidarity for all mutants. Mutants from around the
world are flocking to them, including several that you know well. Is this person the savior for mutant-kind or do they have more
nefarious goals?
56-60 When your mutations manifested you were lucky enough to be found by an older mutant who acted as your mentor. They taught you
to control your powers and live with your mutations. Who is this mentor and are they still part of your life?
61-65 It recently came out that a local chemical plant near where you grew up was dumping toxic chemicals into local streams that fed the
town’s water supply. Is this why there were so many mutations in the town, and will you or someone you know seek revenge?
66-70 When you were young you were taken to a special, secret place, and something there changed you and mutated your body. Who
took you there and why? Does this place still exist, and what would happen if someone with darker motives found it?
71-75 Someone has begun hunting mutants for sport, and several associates from your youth have fallen to whoever is doing this terrible
deed. Can you discover who is hunting your kind before you’re next?
76-80 You were approached by a secret community of mutants that wants to strike back at those who torment your kind. Listening to them,
you can see they are going down a dark path that will lead to conflict. Will your join their cause or oppose it?
81-85 When you were a child something happened and you were shunted to another world or dimension, and when you returned your
exposure to this place mutated your body. What happened that sent you there in the first place? Were you the only one this
happened to?
86-90 You were caught in a terrible accident at your work and while many were killed, you somehow survived, and your body was changed.
Why were you spared when so many others were not? Was it truly an accident or did someone trigger it deliberately?
91-93 You recently learned mutations have been part of your family for some time, although they skip a generation. Which of your
grandparents was also a mutant? Are they still alive? If so, are they part of your life or did something cause them to be ostracized?
94-95 You were uplifted from a normal animal (or human or even animal/human hybrid if you choose) by being exposed to radiation,
genetic manipulation, or mutagenic goo. Martial arts training and being named after Renaissance artists optional.
96-100 You used to have special powers, but something happened, and you lost them. You sought out a dangerous source of power to
become a mutant to get back what you lost. How did you lose your powers in the first place? What did you do to become a mutant
and will it have unexpected effects?

38
 2. Hero Creation

Mystical Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 You grew up in a secret order and studied under a great master within the group. One day your master vanished without a trace, and
no one within the order speaks of it. What happened to your master? Was the order behind their disappearance?
06-10 When you were young you made a bargain with a powerful entity to gain access to your powers. At the time you weren’t concerned
about the price you paid, but now it weighs on you. What did you offer for power? Is there a way to get out of your contract?
11-15 Even though your powers are mystical in nature, you remain a skeptic, and continuously try to find a logical or scientific explanation
for your abilities. Why do you doubt the nature of your own powers? What will you do if you face something you can’t explain?
16-20 The source of your powers is a mysterious pool in a distant, inaccessible place that only you know about. Once a year you must return
there to recharge your abilities. What is in this pool that grants your powers? What will you do to protect it from discovery, even by
your closest allies?
21-25 Something else resides within your body and it is the true source of your powers. What is the nature of this being you share your
existence with? Did you allow it entry willingly or were you cursed with its presence? Do you get along with this being or do you both
jockey for control?
26-30 You were told in a vision during your youth that you were destined for something greater, and shortly after this event you gained
access to your powers. What are you destined for and do you believe you are fated?
31-35 You spent years studying the strange and mystical in a quest for power, and finally you managed to achieve your goals. What set you
on the path to power? Are you satisfied with your abilities or do you want more?
36-40 You were cursed by a powerful practitioner of magic or a supernatural entity. What is the nature of your curse and what did you do to
suffer your fate? Is there a way to break the curse?
41-45 You sometimes slip into another place during your dreams, and it was in this strange place that you found your powers. Is this other
realm a real place? Who else knows about your dream realm and are you the only one who can access it?
46-50 You come from a world where magic is as common as water, but something happened that caused you to end up in the world you
live in now. How are you adjusting to a world where magic is rare? Do you want to go home or are you content where you are?
51-55 You are part of a hidden species of magical beings such as elves or fairies, and this allows you to wield the power you have. Are you
still part of your secret community and what is the nature of your people?
56-60 You were tasked by an ancient being of great power with acting as its champion, and your patron gave you the secrets of the powers
you use. What is the nature of your patron and what does it ask of you in return?
61-65 In your youth you studied at a secret academy of magic, learning all the esoteric knowledge you needed to gain your abilities.
Recently you learned this academy was destroyed by unknown forces. Who is behind the destruction of the school? Was it someone
you knew while you were there?
66-70 Your powers come from an ancient mystical artifact of great power. How did you come by this artifact? Do you know its history? Is
there someone out there who is seeking the artifact for their own needs?
71-75 You were approached in your youth by a strange person who offered to be your mentor in the mystical arts. You learned much under
their tutelage, but then your mentor vanished as mysteriously as they came. Who was your mentor? Are they off teaching someone
else or did something happen to cause them to vanish?
76-80 When you delved into the realm of magic, it made you a conduit for the weird and the strange. It’s not unusual for genies to come to
your house for tea and for you to be whisked off to unknown lands by mysterious portals. Have you adjusted to your unusual life or
do you seek a way to escape?
81-85 You participated in a contest in your adolescence, and when you emerged as the victor you were granted your powers as a reward.
What was the nature of this contest and who was behind it? Were any of the losers bitter about your victory and do they seek to steal
the power you gained?
86-90 You studied under a powerful wizard during your youth and gained your powers from this instruction. As you grew older you realized
the wizard was actually evil, and you managed to escape before your teacher did something terrible to you. Do you fear the return of
your former master or do you actively seek them out to put an end to their wicked deeds?
91-95 You come from a family of magical practitioners, and magic is literally in your blood. You work to carry on your family’s traditions,
but their long history of magic has also given your lineage quite a few rivals and enemies. Is your family still involved in your life, or
are you the sole remnant of your lineage?
96-100 You awoke one day branded with strange mystical runes and marks all over your body, and since that time you have had your
abilities. What happened to you and where did you gain your markings?

39
 Destined

Technology Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 You remember the traumatic event that changed your life but never discuss it with others. After you re-created yourself from the
ground up, the technology behind your powers urges you forward. But will your past come back to haunt you?
06-10 You get your inspiration for your inventions from strange flashes of insight and vivid dreams. Is this just how your mind creates things
or is someone (or something) feeding you your ideas for its own purposes?
11-15 You made your name with an innovative piece of tech, but it was not yours. You stole the idea from an old colleague to build your
reputation, and the actual creator was never able to prove you took it. Do you regret your actions? Does your former colleague want
to get back at you for what you did?
16-20 While you are not technologically adept, someone close to you is and they create all of your gear. Recently there has been a growing
tension between you, and while it hasn’t affected your heroic career yet it may if things keep going this way. What caused the
tension? What would you do if you lose access to this person?
21-25 While exploring an old house, you uncovered a stash of high-tech gear from a long-lost hero of the city. You decided to take up the
mantle of this hero as your own. What happened to this lost hero? Which enemies from their past are still out for revenge?
26-30 You have always had a gift for technology, even from a young age. You created your first inventions when other kids were more
concerned about their junior soccer leagues. Are you just a prodigy with technology or is there some other reason you are so gifted
with machines?
31-35 You had to don the equipment that gives you your powers during a crisis to ensure the survival of someone important to you, and you
were caught saving their life by the media. You don’t really want to be a hero, but now you have been cast in that role. Will you keep
risking your life for the greater good, or find someone else to carry on the mantle you reluctantly gained?
36-40 While out in a remote area you came upon a strange craft and found the technology you use inside of it. Where did the craft
originally come from? Will the original owners come to Earth to try to recover what they lost?
41-45 You were developing your tech for the government to use in military applications, but the funding for your project was pulled when a
bureaucrat deemed it ‘not cost effective.’ You decided to become a hero to prove that your tech is viable in the hopes of regaining
your lucrative contract.
46-50 You were developing your tech to help those who suffered a debilitating injury, but then you suffered the same type of injury yourself
(see the Physical Limitation Limit on page 78). Now that you are your own test subject, how are you adjusting to the traumatic injury
you suffered?
51-55 Years ago you were approached by someone who claimed to be from the future, and they gave you designs for the amazing tech you
now use. Who was this mysterious benefactor? Were they really from the future and what is their true agenda?
56-60 You used to work for a villain, but when you saw the writing on the wall you stole some of their gear and made a run for it. You
decided the best way to hide from your former boss (and your own shady past) was the play the role of a hero. What happens if
someone recognizes you or you run into your former boss?
61-65 When you were a child you were taken by beings from another world or dimension, and eventually you used some of their advanced
technology to escape. What happens if your abductors come back to find you?
66-70 You used your technical skills to create and maintain the gear of a well-known hero in the city. When that hero succumbed to injuries
they suffered in battle, you decided it was better to keep the hero’s legacy going and took up their mantle. How do you feel about
being the hero instead of the support staff?
71-75 You were suffering from a terrible illness that would one day claim your life. In desperation you integrated some experimental
technology into your body to attempt to cure the disease. The cure seems to have worked and had the unintended side effect of
granting you powers. Will there be any other side effects from your technology? Will your condition ever return?
76-80 You have a sibling who developed fantastic powers, and you were jealous. You threw yourself into the study of advanced technology
as a way of gaining powers of your own. Now that you are a hero too, will you finally give up your jealousy of your sibling or will it
turn into a bitter rivalry?
81-85 While you have a gift for technology, you lack the resources or connections to make your dreams become reality. You use scavenged
junk and old technology to create amazing devices that you use to fight crime. Do you still want to have access to better resources, or
are you content being a junkyard hero?
86-90 While you were in college you were headhunted by a major corporation and put in their R&D department. You created some amazing
innovations for them, but the more you advanced in the company the more corruption you saw. You decided to use some of your tech
to try and fight back against your employer in secret, but what happens if they find out what you have been doing?
91-95 After a terrible accident, the only way to save your life was to have most of your body replaced with advanced technology and
cybernetics. Now you have abilities far beyond the normal, but are you able to retain your humanity when most of you is artificial?
96-100 You have always had a gift with technology, but your keen mind gets bored easily. You invented your hero tech to use on a lark and
so far your exploits as a superhero have kept your attention. Will you be able to maintain being a hero or will something else distract
you from your good deeds?

40
 2. Hero Creation

Training Background Events

1d100 Event
01-05 Notes you found in various books from the family collection led you to learn the secrets of the martial way. While you honed your
skills and developed your powers, another family member secretly watched from afar. Were they supportive of your endeavor or are
they plotting your downfall?
06-10 An ancient academy of superheroes took you in, training you from a young age. But a fire decimated the group’s headquarters and
you went your separate ways. Where are they now and are they still following the ideals of good or have some strayed?
11-15 You were raised to be a champion for a secretive order of philosophers and warriors, and told you were chosen for a higher purpose.
But then you uncovered a history of other “champions” who were told the same story. What happened to your predecessors? And will
the same thing happen to you?
16-20 You have taught yourself everything you know, not wanting to rely on anyone but yourself in your quest for justice. What set you
down this path and why are you so reluctant to rely on others?
21-25 As a youth you were caught up in a street gang and they taught you how to fight and some criminal skills to help you gain entry into
anywhere you wanted. Eventually you saw the error of your ways and decided it was better to fight against crime. What happens
when you come up against your former gang?
26-30 You were taken in by a veteran hero who intended to train you as their protégée, but after your training was complete your mentor
changed their mind and dismissed you. You decided to become a hero to prove your worth, but why did your former mentor change
their mind?
31-35 You have a knack for developing superhero gear and helped provide equipment for several notable heroes in the city. When you
learn that some of the heroes you help are actually doing some terrible things, you decide to use your own gear to put a stop to their
secret criminal activities.
36-40 When you were young you met a legendary hero and were awestruck by their nobility and powers. Even though you were not gifted
with fantastic abilities, the hero’s example set you on a path to hone yourself so you could fight crime like them.
41-45 You were stripped of your powers by one of your foes. You still feel the pull to fight against crime, so you have started training to find
a way to contribute to the fight against evil. Are you truly content with not being powered, or would you jump at a chance to regain
your lost abilities?
46-50 You were drafted into a special covert spy Organization and were trained in combat arts as well as espionage techniques. When a
double agent allowed the Organization’s enemies inside, your patron was destroyed, and you managed to escape. Now you use your
training to help others, all while looking for a way to take down those who destroyed the group that took you in.
51-55 You were once part of a top-secret program to develop a powered super soldier, but you didn’t make the cut and another candidate
was chosen. Unfortunately the one they picked became unstable after the experiment gave them powers and they went rogue. You
decided to use your training to take down the rogue super soldier and help others along the way.
56-60 You became involved with a local dojo as a teenager and took to your martial arts training. The teacher eventually revealed to you
they were part of a lost group of warrior monks, and when you helped them fend off an attack by a deadly ninja clan your master
decided to train you further to help defeat those who use martial arts for evil.
61-65 You have never been wanting for anything, and when superheroes became popular in your city you decided you wanted to be one as
well. You have the finest gear and training money can buy, but do you really have the heart to be a true hero?
66-70 You lead a double life: working for the mob on the inside by day, hunting criminals as a vigilante at night. You hope to use your ties
to organized crime to bring them down from within, but you’ve started to become friends within someone within the group. When the
time comes, will you be able to betray your friendship with this criminal to do what needs to be done?
71-75 You’ve spent much of your life training with weapons as part of a group that simulates warfare from medieval times, and you’ve
gotten quite good at it. After stopping a robbery using your skills, you’ve made the decision to become a warrior for justice.
76-80 Most of your formative years were spent in the woods hunting, camping, and trapping. You’ve also had to watch your neighborhood
fall victim to crime, and you believe your wilderness skills can be used on the mean streets of the city.
81-85 When someone you cared about became a victim of crime, something in you snapped. You adopted a new persona and decided to
become a vigilante to ensure no one else is hurt by crime. What is your new identity, and are you able to separate reality from the
fantasy you have constructed?
86-90 You admired a crimefighter during your youth, and when you finally got to meet them as an adult you realized their whole public
persona was a sham. The hero was nothing more than a glory hound and liar. You’ve decided to adopt their persona to try to bring
honor to the hero people believe in, but what will the original version of the hero think about your efforts?
91-95 While you play the part of being a hero, in reality you are not as skilled as people believe you are. You’ve gained your reputation due
to good luck and happenstance, and you are fearful one day you will be found out. Will you keep hoping your luck holds out, or will
you push yourself to be the hero everyone believes you are?
96-100 You served in the military and when you got home you found another warzone waiting for you. Crime is rampant and no one seems
to be stepping up to stop it, so you plan to use your military training to wage a new war to take back your home.

41
 Destined

General Background Events

1d100 Event
01 When you were a child a mysterious person confronted you, claiming to be you from the future. They gave you a cryptic warning of
disaster before vanishing into thin air. Now as you get close to the age of the person, you wonder when the disaster is coming.
02-03 Years ago while traveling abroad you stumbled upon evidence of a powerful hidden civilization, but someone stole your proof in the
dead of night and you want to get it back.
04-05 You lost a beloved relative, perhaps a parent or a sibling, to a violent crime years ago. The perpetrator was never caught and to this
day you seek clues to their identity.
06-07 Since the start of your hero career you have been getting cryptic notes from someone who knows who you really are. Who knows
your true identity and what will they do with this knowledge?
08-09 Your memories from your youth are a blur, but recently you’ve been dreaming of a childhood in an alien and strange world. Are your
dreams lost memories?
10-11 You have a loyal retainer, close friend, or ally that knows your secret and assists you in your crimefighting activities, despite their
objections to you endangering yourself nightly.
12-13 You have a dependent that relies on you, such as an elderly relative, a youthful ward, or a romantic partner. They don’t know about
your heroic side and would be at great risk if they got involved with your battle against crime.
14-15 You originally came from an alternate Earth, arriving on this one through an accident or random chance. You hide this fact for fear of
being captured by government agents looking to study you, or because you don’t want someone or something from your home to
know you are here.
16-17 Sometimes you randomly slip through time, space, dimensions, or all of the above with no warning and no control over where you
go. Sometimes people in your immediate vicinity (like other player-heroes) are caught up in your bizarre unwilling journeys.
18-19 You were abducted by what you believe were aliens prior to the emergence of your abilities. You are not certain if they did something
to bring about your powers, or if they were really extraterrestrials.
20-21 You were once part of a villainous Organization of great power and secret influence. You managed to get free, adopting a new
identity to hide from your wicked former masters because if they find you, they would destroy you and everything around you.
22-23 The town you were born in was subjected to secret experiments by either the government or a powerful corporation. The experiments
were covered up, but you seek to expose what they did to your home and the people you care about.
24-25 You became stranded in a dangerous or inhospitable place for an extended period of time, learning to survive there through sheer
determination or thanks to your special abilities. You occasionally have flashbacks of that terrible place, and worry that someday
something will bring you back there.
26-27 You have no recollection of your early youth, only that the main person in your upbringing refused to answer your questions. Could
this be linked to your powers in some way? Where are the answers to your missing memories?
28-29 In a dream, a strange figure gave you something that, when you awoke, you found was a real item. Since that time, you’ve had
powers. Is there really a link? And who was the figure?
30-31 As a child, you were taken by men in black suits to a complex far underground. You were raised in a concrete cell with only the head
of the experiments as your “father” or “mother,” and you learned to bide your time and escape. Who were these people, and will you
ever reconnect with your parental figure?
32-33 You were once a criminal, although you may have escaped prosecution for your past misdeeds. Are you honest about your criminal
past with those around you, and are you simply hiding out under the mask of a hero or are you seeking redemption?
34-35 At some point in your life a person of great influence, ability, or both took you under their wing and now serves as your mentor. You
can call upon this person for advice and occasionally assistance, but they may also call upon you to undertake a task for them.
36-37 You have a twin, although you were separated early in life and at some point you will cross paths with them again. Does your twin
have powers, and are they on the straight and narrow or did the separation lead them down a dark path?
38-39 Your abilities were meant for someone else, but through bad luck or pure happenstance you fell into them. Is the person they were
meant for supportive of your heroic career, or are they bitter and want to gain back what was rightfully theirs?
40-41 When your special gifts first manifested it was not a gentle process, and someone important to you was either hurt or killed. You still
carry this guilt of this event with you, and it either spurs you on to use your gifts to help others or makes you leery of utilizing your
powers for fear of harming someone else.
42-43 You were shocked to discover the town you were raised in no longer exists, and there are no records of it ever existing and no one
seems to have heard of it, even within your close family and friends. Was it all some delusion on your part or is there something more
sinister going on?
44-45 You have a deep and powerful affection for someone that motivates your actions. Do they reciprocate this love, have they spurned
you, or are they unaware of your feelings or even your existence?
46-47 A criminal or villain has leverage over you. Perhaps they know your true identity or some dark secret from your past. What are you
willing to do to keep them from revealing it?

42
 2. Hero Creation

General Background Events

1d100 Event
48-49 You have a secret place that only you know about. It could be a cave, an abandoned site, or something bizarre like a hidden world or
an extra-dimensional space.
50-51 You recently learned someone close to you has been hiding a double life. Maybe they are a superhero, a spy, or even a villain. Will
you confront them about it, and how will it affect other people close to you?
52-53 You used to be afflicted with a strange, unknown malady. One day it went away or went into remission, possibly when you gained
your powers. What was the source of this condition and will it reappear?
54-55 You are much older than you look. Perhaps you were kept in cryogenic stasis, were shunted through time, you have an extended
lifespan, or what gave you your powers somehow de-aged you. How do you adjust to being from another time?
56-57 You have someone who admires you and wants to emulate you. Maybe their adoration is genuine or maybe it borders on unhealthy
obsession. How will you handle this would-be fan?
58-59 You were once something or someone else. Maybe you were evolved from an animal, had your mind switched into another body, or
were part of witness protection. How do you adapt to your new life and are there lingering issues from your old one?
60-61 You sometimes get visions of alternate versions of yourself, living lives eerily similar or wildly different. Are these actual visions of
alternate realities or is fate tempting you with what could have been?
62-63 You have a voice in your head. It might be related to mental illness, but it could also be a spirit, an angel, a demon, or another
consciousness that somehow got trapped in your mind.
64-65 You come from a legacy of heroes, possibly stretching back for generations. Are you following the path of the hero out of tradition,
personal desire, or were you forced into it by your heroic kin?
66-67 The funding for your heroic ventures comes from a dubious or illicit source. Perhaps you stole from criminals, embezzled from your
employer, or accepted bribes or protection money from those you saved. What happens if the source of your funding is found out?
68-69 You are being tracked. Perhaps someone is hunting you, or maybe you were tagged by an Organization you currently or once
worked for. You know they know your every move, and you want to find a way to escape from them.
70-71 You were approached by an entity of great power to serve as its champion. It might be a force of nature, an ancient god, a powerful
A.I., or a being from another dimension.
72-73 A villain once trapped you in a virtual scenario in which your life as a hero was all presented as a lie. Did you really escape, or is the
life you are leading now all a lie?
74-75 You were once the sidekick of a great and famous hero. Are you striking out on your own to prove your own worth, or did something
happen between you and your former mentor?
76-77 You were once a different hero in another city, but you made a mistake and had to give up your former identity. Will some part of
your former life come back to haunt you in your new one?
78-79 You have a lucky talisman that you carry with you on all your adventures. Where did you get it and does it really have some form of
luck attached to it?
80-81 You recently learned of some ancient artwork that depicts someone who looks remarkably like you. Are you the reincarnation of an
ancient hero, or should you expect a trip to the past in your future?
82-83 You have a nemesis that you have an attraction to despite your best efforts. Will you attempt to turn them to the side of the angels, or
will your feelings cause you to give into temptation?
84-85 Your powers made you an outcast, and you found asylum among a traveling group of performers or a circus. Are your former
traveling companions friends you can count on, or enemies that want to get you back?
86-87 Somehow you acquired a useful piece of highly advanced technology. Is this item from a secret lab, an alien civilization, or the
future? And what will you do when someone comes looking for it?
88-89 Someone close to you claims to have psychic ability, and their predictions about your life have been eerily accurate. Will you use their
visions to further your career, and what do you do when one of these visions predicts some dark fate for you or someone close?
90-91 After you gained your powers you performed a heroic deed that was viewed by the media. Now you have gained a measure of fame,
whether you want it or not, and you have to worry about paparazzi in addition to supervillains.
92-93 Whatever gave you your powers also created a clone or duplicate with the same powers. Does this “twin” share your goals or are
they your polar opposite?
94-95 Somewhere along the way you wronged an ancient and powerful sect of assassins. You know one day their mark on you will come
due, and what will you do when that day comes?
96-97 A powerful Organization has taken interest in your hero career. They have granted you membership if you so desire, but what are
their motivations for bringing you into the fold?
98-99 You have acquired items from a superhero that is no longer active. How did you get these items from them, and what happened to
the hero?
100 Your life has always been very normal. Normal family, normal friends, normal childhood, and normal career. Maybe it’s all a little too
normal...
43
 Destined

them to be the better person. Part of defining who the
hero is also involved detailing the people who are most
important to them, for good or for ill. While you don’t
need to write out the name of your hero’s great-aunt,
their high school acquaintance, and the guy in the
mailroom at work, taking time to figure out the most
critical people in their lives can not only help develop
your hero’s background and character, but it also gives
the Games Master people to use to help make the stories
more personal to you and your hero.
When determining who the most important people
are for your hero, there are two groups to consider.
First, who are the hero’s family? These can be blood
relatives, adoptive or foster families, spouses or love
interests, or close friends who are viewed like relatives.
The second group to consider are the hero’s allies,
contacts, rivals, and enemies. While the hero may not
share the intimate connection they have with their
family members, this group can be equally important
because it tell you who your hero can call on for help or
information, and who they have to worry about. You are
welcome to come up with as many as you feel are critical
or important enough to flesh out for both types, or if
you are unsure you can roll on the tables below to give
you a starting point for developing these important
people in the hero’s life.
anything to protect. For superheroes, that often means
an intricate web of lies to keep them safe. Despite being
the ones closest to him or her, the hero often hides their
double life from their family more than anyone else
around them. Usually this is done to keep them safe
from their enemies, but it can also be out of fear that
they will judge the hero’s decision to risk their life, or
worse yet, they will try to become involved in that part
of their life and be at risk.
You are welcome to describe any significant family
members and close friends the hero would have
moderate to frequent contact with. The hero’s parents,
who live across the country and they video chat with
once a week, are probably not going to factor into many
stories, but their feisty grandfather who they live with
will most likely get caught up in a few adventures. At
this stage they only need a name, the nature of the
relationship, and maybe a note or two about interesting
details or quirks they have. When detailing the hero’s
family, consider the following questions:
• Do they live in the same area as the campaign setting?
• Are they close to the hero, or is there some distance or
conflict there?
• Are they aware of the hero’s powers?

A Hero’s Family • Do any of them have a tendency to wander into

danger?
People that are part of the hero’s family are those who
have the most meaning and importance to them. They • Did the death of a family member drive the hero to
are the people he or she cares about and is willing to do their current life of crimefighting?

Friend or Foe? • If any of the hero’s family is dead, are they really
dead?
1d4 Relationship
1 Ally
• Do any family members have secrets of their own?
2 Contact
3 Rival
• Are they biologically related to the hero? If not, is the
4 Enemy
hero aware?

Family Complications
1d10 Trouble
1 The family member’s health is fragile and any significant shock will cause them serious problems.
2 The family member is part of a group in the setting that actively opposes or hates superheroes.
3 The family member is nosy and is always showing up unannounced.
4 The family member disappeared mysteriously a long time ago.
5 The family member had some hand in the hero’s Origin and is hiding it from the hero.
6 The family member is romantically involved with one of the hero’s rivals or enemies.
7 The family member is romantically involved with one of the hero’s allies or teammates.
8 The family member was dead, but somehow is alive again.
9 The family member is starting to manifest powers of their own.
10 The family member is secretly a villain.

44
If you would prefer to let the dice
make the decision for you, roll 1d4+1
to determine the number of significant
family and friends who are a regular
part of the hero’s life and then decide
what each one’s relationship is to the
hero. If you want to spice things up,
consider rolling on the table below for
some complications related to one or
more of the hero’s family.

Allies, Contacts,
Rivals, & Enemies
Although they are not as close as the
hero’s family, the other important
people in their life can have just as
much of an impact on the hero. These
are people whom the hero has built
positive or working relationships with,
or past conflicts have turned them into
people who want to see the hero fail or
come to harm. Each one serves a
different role within the hero’s life:

• Allies are friends or close associates

that share similar values as the hero
and will lend aid and provide advice
when the hero calls upon them.
Sometimes these favors are free, but
sometimes the ally expects something
in return for their aid.

• Contacts are people with influence

or knowledge that the hero knows or
has some connection with. They are as Shadowstalker’s mum, Dr. Angela Peters, suffered a laboratory
invested in the hero’s well-being as accident while working with rare chemicals at Aletheia University.
allies, but will usually only offer The incident would have far reaching consequences for her unborn
counsel and information if it serves child.
their interest or the hero promises
them favors in return for their aid. related to their life outside of crimefighting and can be
just as dangerous as powered foes.
• Rivals are those who who oppose the hero in
competition for some goal they both share, or who wish When detailing allies, contacts, rivals, and enemies,
to humiliate or discredit the hero for their own benefit. you only need to provide some basic details such as a
While they may interfere with the hero or harass them, name and the nature of the relationship, with further
they seldom seek to do lasting harm. details being fleshed out as the campaign progresses.
Over the course of the campaign heroes will gain more
• Enemies hate the hero for some genuine or perceived of each type, but heroes can also start out with a few
slight, and they seek to ruin or destroy the hero if they from their early days, prior to the start of the campaign.
have the opportunity. They may attempt this through Roll 1d4-1 to see how many of these supporting
direct action, or indirect means that erode the hero’s characters the hero has, and then roll on the chart
resolve, reputation, or resources. Although they are below to determine the nature of the relationship for
often supervillains, some of the hero’s enemies are each.
45
 Destined
The Secret Origin of
Shadowstalker, Part 12
S am has been thinking a lot during the creation
process about who Shadowstalker is and where
he came from, but there are still a few blank areas
in his background he hasn’t filled in. He decides
to roll on the Mutation Background Events table
and gets a result that Ron’s family ostracized him
for his mutations, and he likes the idea that this
event fed into him being a bit of a loner. He
decides that he still has “family” in a social worker
named Karen Harbor who took him in and helped
him get an education. He then rolls to see who his
allies, contacts, rivals, and enemies are. He gets
3, one ally, one contact, and one enemy. He
makes the ally Lila, a member of a local support
group for mutations, his contact is a street person
named Jangles, and his enemy is actually his
brother Douglas who is part of a mutant
hate group.
Building off this information, Sam works out his
Passions based on what he developed for
Shadowstalker’s background. As his primary, he
ties it to his Origin and writes down “Keep
Innocents Safe, Especially Mutants” to reflect his
own difficulty growing up as a mutant. As an ideal
Passion, it has a base rating equal to
POW+INT+40, so the final value is 64%. His
secondary is based on his close relationship to his
surrogate mother Karen, so it is based on
POW+CHA+30 and he writes down “Keep Karen
Safe, 52%.” His final Passion is another ideal plus
20 to the base value, and he writes down “Don’t
Allow Anyone to Get Too Close, 44%.”
Looking over his final information, Sam has a lot
of thoughts on how to play Shadowstalker once
Maria starts the first campaign session. With this
last step completed, Sam has finished his hero
and he is ready to step out into the mean streets
of Gemelos City to take it back from the criminal
scum who live there.
Passions
Heroes have core convictions, beliefs, and desires that
influence their actions, and in Destined these are
represented by Passions. Passions are at the core of who
the hero is and what their most important ideals are,
and they can influence their activities in nearly every
aspect of their life. Within the game, Passions serve as a
roleplaying tool to help guide how you play your hero,
46
but they also have mechanical effects that can both aid
the hero when someone tries to force them to
compromise their values, or hinder them when they
need to act against their true nature.
A Passion can be for anything or anyone that has
value or importance to the hero, such as a person, an
Organization, an ideal, or even an object. Passions are
best described with a short phrase that includes a verb
that defines the nature of the relationship to the
Passion, for example: Desire, Destroy, Fear, Hate, Love,
Loyal to, Protect, Respect, Seek, Torment, or Uphold.
Passions are very personal to the hero, but that doesn’t
mean several members of the group can’t share one in
common. For example, if every member of the group is deeply
involved with an Organization they all value, they may all
share loyalty to their common patron.
Keep in mind that sometimes one hero’s Passions
may conflict with that of another member of the group.
A good example from comics would be two heroes who
have different views on the use of lethal force as part of
their heroic mission. While this can lead to some great
roleplaying if handled well, it can also derail the
adventure or lead to in-game conflicts that may cause
out-of-game tensions. The Games Master and the
players should work together to make sure each hero’s
Passions can be played out effectively so the game
remains fun for all.
Passions are rated in the same manner as Skills, with
a percentage between 1 and 100 or even higher. They
can be improved in the same way as Skills with
Experience Rolls (see below), or Passions can be
increased or decreased by the Games Master based on
the actions of the hero and different events within the
campaign. This is called Deepening and Waning, and it
is discussed in further detail below in Changing
Passions.
Origin and Passions
A hero’s Origin is a defining event in their life, quite
literally changing everything about them and putting
them on a new path. Because of its significance, at least
one of your Passions should somehow relate to the
events that led to the hero’s Origin. The hero may be
driven by the events that caused them to take up the
mantle of protector, they may still be adjusting to the
changes that occurred, or it may have connected them
with someone who is now the focus of their attention. A
good example from the comics is DC Comics’ Batman, who was
put on the path of heroism by the murder of his parents. That
event serves as a central theme for his character, and even
influenced his decision to never kill as part of his crusade.
Shadowstalker is now fully fleshed out and ready for adventure. His first mission is to infiltrate the
mansion headquarters of vicious would-be dictator Baron Malycer and discover information on the
Baron’s latest evil plans. Using his stealth skills he slips past the guards and into the grounds..

When thinking about your Origin, think about how
it would have affected someone if it had occurred to
them, or internalize it and think how it would affect you.
If you were given fantastic powers after a strange event
or tragic accident, would you want to use those powers
to protect others or for your own gain? If there are
mysteries around that event, would you seek out
answers? How would it change the way you see the
world and yourself? Would it make you value certain
people in your life more, or would you want revenge on
someone who was responsible for what happened?
Tying your hero’s Passions to their Origin cements its
importance in their life and helps you build from those
events as they develop and grow.
Starting Passions
Beginning heroes can choose up to three Passions, each
based on two Characteristics in the same way as Skills
are calculated. The most important Passion gains a
bonus of +40, the next gains +30, and the last adds
+20 to the base value. As mentioned above, Passions
should be tied to some aspect of the hero, such as their
Origin, their Career, Background, or the important
people in their life. They can also represent ideals that
guide their actions, such as morals, a code of conduct,
or deep-rooted fears and phobias. Refer to the table
below for some suggested starting values for Passions.
47
 Destined
Using Passions
A hero’s deeply held beliefs have the ability to affect
events during play, with the strength of the hero’s
convictions serving to help them in their darkest
moments. At times the hero’s Passions may also hamper
them, forcing them to act according to their nature,
even when doing so may make the situation worse. As
hero traits in their own regard, Passions can be used in
the following ways:
• To Augment another skill, reflecting the depth of the
hero’s feelings and how it drives them. When used in
this way the Passion adds 1/5 of its value to the skill
being used, as long as the Games Master rules the
augmentation is appropriate for the situation. For
example, a hero’s love is in danger and he asks to Augment his
Parry check with his Passion to block an attack aimed at her.
• Passions can be used in situations where the hero may
be conflicted as to the best course of action to see if their
Passions direct their choices. This type of use is only
appropriate if the situation either involves the object of
the Passion, or one course of action would come into
direct conflict with it. The hero makes a check against
their Passion rating. If the roll is successful, the hero
acts in line with their Passion. If the roll is failed, the
hero can act freely and is not constrained by their
Passion. For example, a hero with a Passion to Protect the
Innocent must decide if he should pursue a villain to finally
capture him, or stop and deal with people in a trapped car who
may be in danger. If he fails his check, he dashes off after the
villain, but if he succeeds he must follow his beliefs and let the
villain escape so he can help the citizens.
• Passions can be used to Oppose other Passions, even
those held by the same hero, when they come into
conflict. This is handled as an Opposed check (see page
56) between the Passion of the hero and whoever they
are opposing, or their own conflicting Passion. For
example, a hero has just learned his beloved father was taken
to the hospital, but he also knows the city he has vowed to defend
is in peril. In a case such as this, the hero would roll an
Opposed check between the two Passions to determine which one
takes priority in the situation.
Starting Passions Values
Object of Passion Base Characteristics
A person or persons POW+CHA
An Organization or group POW+INT
A species or culture POW x2
A location POW+INT
An object or substance POW x2
A concept or ideal POW+INT
48
• Passions can serve as a general measure of the depth
of the hero’s beliefs, commitments, and loyalty to an
Organization or a cause. The higher the value, the
more committed the hero is to it. This is often used as a
factor in increasing rank within an Organization the
hero is committed to, and is discussed in more detail in
Chapter 7. For example, a hero who is a member of the
peacekeeping Organization Omega has proven her loyalty
again and again and her commitment is reflected in increases
in her Loyalty to Omega Passion.
• Finally, Passions can be used to resist some forms of
psychological manipulation or Powers that control the
hero’s mind. If the hero would be forced into taking an
action that would Oppose one of their Passions, they
may substitute the Passion’s rating for Willpower in
attempts to resist the effect. For example, if the hero was
under the control of a villain and was asked to fire his blasts
into a group of police officers, he could choose to roll against
his Protect the City Passion instead of his Willpower to resist
the command.
Connecting Passions
Heroes forge strong bonds with each other in their
never-ending battle against villainy, and establishing
connections between teammates can help strengthen
these bonds. Passions can serve as a means of
developing not only the individual hero, but also the
entire group of heroes by connecting them via
previously established relationships or shared ideals.
This can also explain why the heroes came together in
the first place, and what keeps them together through
the danger and adversity they face on a daily basis.
When players are developing their group, they should
consider linking some or even all of the heroes
by connecting Passions that represent the ties that bind
them together.
A good example of this in comics is Marvel’s First
Family, the Fantastic Four. Sue and Johnny Storm are
siblings, Ben Grimm and Reed Richards are friends,
and Sue and Reed are romantically involved. All of
these relationships would be Passions within Destined,
helping to motivate the heroes and keep them together
Changing Passions
Change Score +/-
Weak 1d10
Moderate 1d10+5
Strong 1d10+10
 2. Hero Creation

even when they disagree or squabble. As mentioned
above this link can even be similar values and ideals.
DC’s Superman and Batman are polar opposites in their
methods, but they share a deep Passion for justice that
makes them staunch allies and friends.
Even heroes who are bitter rivals have a strong
connection that motivates them and links them together.
As the players create their heroes, they should consider
developing some connecting Passions to strengthen the
team of heroes and create roleplaying opportunities
based on these drives.
From a mechanical standpoint, creating connecting
Passions also helps with something called Team Luck
Points, a pool of extra Luck Points the whole group has
access to. Each hero with a Passion that links them to
another teammate adds an additional Luck Point to this
pool to represent the linked fate heroes have with their
allies. For more information on Team Luck Points and
how they work, see page 198.
change their outlook on their life and the world around
them, the Games Master may rule that the hero can
add a new Passion related to it. The new Passion starts
at the base level as listed above and if the experience
that created it was especially emotional, complex, or
challenging, the Games Master may add or subtract
points based on the Deepening and Waning table
above. For example, a hero just learned that the villainous
Organization Animus murdered a close, long-time ally after he
got too close to uncovering their operations. The hero’s player
believes this will deeply affect him and fuel a burning hatred
of the terrorist group. The Games Master rules that the hero
may add the “Take Down Animus” Passion at a base level
equal to her POW+INT to reflect this new drive.

Changing Passions
A hero’s Passions can fluctuate over the course of their
career, growing and ebbing as the hero’s life changes.
This is called Deepening and Waning, and it often
results from an encounter that either bolsters or shakes
the hero’s convictions. The amount of change depends
on how much the Games Master believes the situation
would affect the hero’s beliefs, and some example
amounts are shown below. The event that triggers it
should be something significant to the hero and it
should not be the result of something random such as a
good or bad die roll. The Games Master should also not
arbitrarily change a hero’s Passions without good reason
or as a punishment, but it can be a result of a player not
following their Passions or making an effort to actively
oppose them. For example, if a hero who has always been
against violence suddenly starts smacking around every
criminal he sees, there is a good reason to start lowering his
Violence is Never the Answer Passion. Usually a Passion
should only Deepen or Wane once over the course of a
single session unless circumstances would dictate several
changes. Heroes may also spend Experience Rolls to
increase or even decrease a Passion if they wish, and
rules for that are covered in the next section.

Heroes can also gain new Passions, representing new

drives and motivations they gain. There is no limit to the
number of Passions a hero can have, but players should
be wary that more Passions can also mean more conflicts
both internally for the hero and externally within the
group and those around them. When the player
believes something occurred to the hero that may
49
 Destined

Optional: Quick Hero Generation

3. Characteristics: Players should use the pre-
T he hero creation process in Destined is
designed to help the player build the hero’s
story as they build the mechanical side for the
determined arrays appropriate to the Power Level.

game. But players and Games Masters have busy
lives that don’t always allow for extended time
crafting heroes, and sometimes players just want
to get to the action and sock a few supervillains in
the jaw.
As an optional rule, here are some rules to help
speed up the process and get into the game faster.
1. Power Level: The Games Master and the
players decide the campaign Power Level as
normal.
2. Hero Concept and Origin: The player still
chooses an Origin and basic concept, but it should
be limited to describing the hero’s abilities. For
example, Mutant Fire Elemental or Technological
Gadgeteer.
4. Determine Attributes: These are determined
as normal.
5. Skills: Players choose seven Professional Skills
for the hero and assign the values listed in the
“skill pyramids” below to the base value of any
Standard Skill or any of the Professional Skills
trained. All of the skill pyramid values must be
used, and no skill may receive more than one
value from the pyramid.
6. Powers: These are determined as normal
from Chapter 3.
7. Gear: This is determined as normal, chosen
from Armor, Weapons, and Super Gear described
in Chapter 4.

Skill Pyramid Table

Power Level
Street Epic Paragon
50 60 70
40 40 45 45 55 55
30 30 30 40 40 40 40 40 40
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 25 25 25 25
10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

50

Skills
T
he nefarious Scatter Brain’s bomb is strapped to
Mayor Locke, the time ticking down with audible
clicks as the desperate politician’s eyes bulge and
sweat drips down his forehead. The hero Nightleaf
only has seconds left before the mayor and most of City Hall is
destroyed in a massive explosion. The only problem is should he
cut the blue wire or the green wire?
When a hero is faced with a difficult task or must rely
on their own knowledge to overcome some obstacle,
they turn to their skills to help them. Skills represent a
combination of natural ability and focused training in
specific fields that encompass a wide range of different
things the hero can attempt during the course of an
adventure. They are used when the success of a task is
not absolute, and failure could have real consequences
for the heroes. Driving to the grocery store should not
require a skill test, but driving through busy streets
while pursuing an escaping bank robber should. The
dice should only come into play if the given situation
has some effect on the story, and the goal of a skill check
is to add tension and drama to a given scenario the
heroes are involved in. Even failing at the task can help
drive the plot in new directions, or make the players
think of a new way to overcome a challenge. Skills are
rated in a percentage score that reflects the chance the
hero has to succeed at the given task, so a hero with 65%
in their Athletics check should succeed 65% of the time
under normal conditions. Sometimes this rating is
modified by the relative ease or difficulty of the task,
and this modifier is known as the Difficulty Grade of the
task and it is explained below. While skill level does not
equate to a specific measure of ability, as a general
guideline the following are rough examples of what a
rank in a skill means:
3. Skills
• 1–25%: an amateur or dabbler
• 26–50%: a novice or apprentice
• 51–75%: a trained professional
• 76–100%: an expert in the field
• 101%+: mastery, one of the best in the world
Using Skills
Using a skill is a simple process in Destined. When the
hero is faced with a challenge or task that could be
resolved by their ability or training, roll 1d100 and
compare it to the relevant skill value:
• If it is equal to or less than the skill value, the check is
a Success. The task is achieved as expected or the
challenge is overcome.
• If the roll is equal to or less than one-tenth the skill
value, it is a Critical Success. The task is achieved better
than expected, providing some perk or benefit to the
hero based on what was attempted. Perhaps it took less
time than expected or extra information was found.
• If the roll is greater than the skill value, it is a Failure.
The task did not achieve the intended results or the
challenge was not overcome.
• If the roll is a 99 or a 00, it is a Fumble. Not only was
the task failed, but the hero suffers some additional
setback or is put in greater peril.
51
 Destined
Narrative Time
I n Destined, time spent inside and outside of
combat are handled differently. Anything outside
of combat is considered “Narrative Time,” and the
Games Master only tracks specific passage of time
when it is crucial to the current situation. For
example, if there is nothing pressing going on and
the heroes want to take “a few days” to relax and
work on their own personal projects, the Games
Master doesn’t need to know the amount of time
down to the hour or minute, unless there is some
other event that is time sensitive. If there is some
time sensitive matter, or if the heroes only have a
specific amount of time to accomplish something
before another event occurs, then the Games
Master needs to keep a more precise record of
how long their actions, travel, and skill checks
take. For example, the villainous Dust has
unleashed a deadly tainted batch of one of his
designer drugs into the city streets, and users will
die within 12 hours unless the heroes find a way to
counter the effects. The Games Master will need to
record how much time they spend researching
treatment, hunting down Dust, and traveling to
know how soon tragedy will strike.
The key thing to remember with Narrative Time
is that you only need to worry about the exact
amount when it really counts.
• No matter what the skill value is, a roll of 01-05 is
always a Success and a 96-00 is always a Failure.
Each of these different outcomes represents the hero’s
Level of Success, and knowing how well a hero
succeeded can be important for different types of skill
checks presented later on in this chapter. Examples of
Skill Difficulty Grade Table
Difficulty Grade Skill Modifier
Automatic No roll is needed
Very Easy Double the skill value
Easy Add half again to the skill value
Standard None
Hard Reduce the skill value by one-third One adverse circumstance under normal conditions such as poor equipment, a
distraction, or poor working conditions.
Formidable Reduce the skill value by half
Herculean Reduce the skill value to one-fifth Multiple adverse circumstances or several extreme factors affecting the hero at the
same time
Hopeless No attempt can be made
52
possible Critical Successes and Fumbles are given for
the skills listed below, and players and the Games
Master are encouraged to come up with their own
suggestions based on the situation at hand.
Automatic Successes
There will be some occasions where a roll against a
particular skill just isn’t necessary – either because the
task at hand is easily accomplished, or because, with
enough time and concentration, success is guaranteed.
Driving a car at a normal speed in normal traffic is an
example of an Automatic Success for anyone with the
Drive skill. Climbing a gentle slope while carrying
standard hero gear should not require a roll against
Athletics.
This becomes particularly important in Destined,
where the heroes may have Core Powers that make
normally difficult skills second-hand. If the Games
Master rules a task is an Automatic Success, the hero
simply needs to spend the amount of time required to
accomplish it. Alternatively, the hero can attempt a skill
check if they would like to try to achieve a Critical
Success, applying any relevant modifiers to the
Difficulty Grade based on the ease of the task, usually at
the Very Easy level.
If the check fails, the hero still succeeds but has
suffered some unexpected setback or complication. If
the result is a Fumble, not only did the hero somehow
fail, but they also suffer a complication on top of that.
Keep in mind that Automatic Successes are used to
speed up game play and keep every task the heroes
attempt from needing a roll of the dice. The player
must have good cause for calling for a roll for a task that
normally would succeed automatically, and the Games
Master has final say if it is allowed.
Example
Perfect conditions, ample time to accomplish task with few consequences
Several favorable circumstances such as superior equipment, extra time, or excellent
working conditions
One favorable circumstance under normal conditions
Normal conditions with no external factors affecting the check
Several adverse circumstances occurring at the same time, or one extreme circumstance
such as severe weather, near-darkness, or not having the proper equipment
Current circumstances are too adverse to even attempt a roll

Skill Time
The amount of time it takes to perform a single skill
check depends on the task being attempted. A simple
quick task such as recalling a fact or lifting an object up
off the ground might take a few seconds or up to a
minute. A more involved task such as repairing an
engine, doing research on a topic, or debating a rival
might take an hour to several hours. The Games Master
determines how long a given task takes (if time is
relevant to the scenario), otherwise a task simply takes
as long as it takes. If the hero could benefit from taking
extra time on a task, the Games Master may allow them
to double the normal amount of time required to gain
make the skill roll one Difficulty Grade easier. For
example, a hero creating a new device wants to take extra time
to test each component before assembling it and the Games
Master rules that her careful and methodical approach makes
the final skill check easier.
Modifying Skills
Sometimes there are other conditions that affect a skill
check, making the task simpler or more challenging
than normal. Things like weather, lighting, the quality
of equipment, and distractions can all have an impact
on the hero’s ability to use their training effectively.
When the Games Master rules a situational difficulty
modifier could affect the outcome, one of the following
Difficulty Grades is applied to the hero’s skill before the
roll is made. If the difficulty modifier is listed as an
adjustment to the grade, such as “one Difficulty Grade
harder,” modify the base difficulty of the check by the
Example Difficulty Modifiers
Activity
Sneaking up on a guard in a noisy factory while they are distracted
Using a stolen password to access a company’s network
Swaying a small crowd of bystanders to your side
Climbing up the side of a building in light rain
Driving through a busy shopping mall without hitting anyone
Following a faint blood trail down a filthy back alley
Shooting the gun out of a robber’s hand at long range at night
Alternative Difficulty Modifiers
Difficulty Grade
Very Easy
Easy
Standard
Hard
Formidable
Herculean
3. Skills
Optional Rule: Simplified
Difficulty Modifiers
T he modifiers listed in the Example Difficulty
Modifiers table are meant to reflect the growth
of a hero’s skills, giving them a better chance as
they improve, but the additional math can slow
down play. For groups that would prefer to speed
things up, or for situations where the Games
Master would prefer a quick modifier to a roll, the
Alternative Difficulty Modifiers table may be used.
Please note that these simplified modifiers do not
scale with the hero’s skill level, so bonuses are not
as beneficial and penalties are not as severe for
heroes with high skill values.
amount listed. For example, Shadowstalker is attempting to
climb up a fire escape to capture a fleeing crook. Normally this
would be a Standard Athletics check, but it is raining, making
the fire escape slick. The Games Master rules this would make
the check two grades harder, so the final difficulty would be
Formidable.
The chance of rolling a Critical Success is also
adjusted by the Difficulty Grade of the check, using the
final skill rating to determine the Critical Success range.
So a hero with a Computers skill of 60% making an Easy
check would score a Critical Success on a roll of 01-09
due to having an adjusted skill total of 90%.
If the hero has multiple modifiers to the same roll,
the final Difficulty Grade depends on the types of
Skill Check Difficulty
Very Easy Stealth check
Easy Computers check
Hard Influence check
Hard Athletics check
Formidable Drive check
Formidable Track check
Herculean Combat Style check
Skill Modifier
+40%
+20%
None
–20%
–40%
–80%
53
 Destined
modifiers involved. If all the modifiers are of the same
type, simply use the best or worst applicable one for the
roll. For example, a hero who is attempting a Mechanisms
check to repair her motorcycle is using poor quality tools (Hard
difficulty) and she is trying to do it in a garage at night with
no good light source (Formidable difficulty), so for her final
check she would make her check at Formidable difficulty. If
there is a mix of positive and negative modifiers, count
the number of steps the negative modifier is from
Standard difficulty, and then calculate the final
difficulty using the positive modifier as the base. For
example, if in the example above the hero had good quality tools
(Easy difficulty) instead, she would change the Formidable
difficulty for the poor lighting to two negative steps from
Standard and modify the Easy check for a final difficulty of
Hard for the roll.
Retrying Skills
There are times when a hero is in a situation where they
failed at a task but could potentially try again because
there is no serious, immediate consequence of Failure,
such as climbing over a fence or picking a lock with no
risk of being seen. The Games Master may permit a
second attempt at the check, but at one Difficulty Grade
harder to reflect a lack of confidence on the hero’s part
from the first Failure. If this second attempt fails, the
hero is assumed to have tried their best and needs to
find a different solution to the task at hand.
Augmenting Skills
Sometimes knowledge in one skill can help with the use
of another, and in game terms this is referred to as
Augmenting. The skills in question must either be
related to each other, or the player must give good
reason why one skill can help with another. The Games
Master has final say if the Augmenting is allowed and
should be careful to not allow it to be used to the point
of abuse. The active skill can only be Augmented by a
single other skill, and heroes can also try to Augment
the action of another hero who is visible and able to
hear the aiding ally. This also includes a scenario where
the hero is assisting another over a communicator or via
telepathic contact, as long as the task is something that
someone could guide someone through via voice (or
thought) alone. There are also times a hero may use
their Core Powers to Augment a skill check if the power
in question could provide a benefit to that skill’s use. In
most cases the Power description itself details how it
can be used to enhance certain skills, but additional
rules are provided below for creative usage of powers to
help with skill checks. Augmenting and aiding work
as follows:
54
• An Augmenting skill increases the rating of the active
skill by twice its Critical range (i.e. 20% of the skill), but
the chances of a Critical Success and Fumble remain
unchanged from the base skill. For example, Captain
Monarch is attempting to pick a biometric lock to gain entry
into a villain’s lair. He has Mechanisms at 64%, and the
Games Master rules he can use his Electronics of 54% to
Augment the attempt. His final skill rating for the check is
76%, but he still only scores a Critical Success on a result of 07
or less.
• To aid another hero, the assisting hero must be
trained in the skill in question and have some means of
communicating or interacting with the person they are
aiding. This is treated as Augmenting as normal, but
uses the twice the Critical range of the aiding hero. The
person being aided gains the bonus to their next check
with the active skill. If the aid occurs in combat, the
hero providing the aid must use an Action Point to
grant the bonus. For example, if Captain Monarch is aiding
an ally in picking the lock instead, he would increase their skill
rating by 14%.
• When a Core Power can be used to Augment a skill,
the skill check is one Difficulty Grade easier. For example,
Shadowstalker is attempting to cross a trapped floor in a hidden
temple under the streets. His Enhanced Speed would aid him
in crossing the pressure plates fast enough to be past the dart
launchers before they activate, so the Games Master allows him
to make an Athletics check at one grade easier to attempt to
bypass the trap.
Capping Skills
To ‘cap’ a skill with another means that for a particular
roll, the primary skill is restricted by the value of a
secondary skill, providing the latter is lower. This is
normally done in situations where a hero’s full
knowledge or ability is limited by unusual
circumstances.
Capping is a useful alternative to applying a
difficulty modifier, especially in circumstances where
the hero is limited by their own capability. For example,
the hero Torc has pursued Baron Malycer all the way to Peru
in an effort to stop the villain from discovering a powerful
weapon left behind by an ancient civilization. In a small
mountain village he attempts to persuade the elder to tell him
the location of a lost Incan temple using his Influence skill of
66%, but the woman only speaks Spanish and Torc’s skill in the
language is only 24%. While normally Torc is pretty
persuasive, the Games Master rules his limited command of the
native language will hamper his charms and his Influence roll
is capped at the value of his Language (Spanish) skill.
Shadowstalker is being chased across the roofs of the Ossuary slums by Jade Tiger ninjas who are after
his head. He makes a death-defying leap across the chasm between two buildings in an attempt to
shake off the pursuing assassins.
Group Rolls
When a group of participants need to make skill checks,
there are several options to resolve the situation without
having to make a large number of individual die rolls.
Known as Group Rolls, these options serve to speed up
play to keep the story and the action moving. Games
Masters need to judge when to use multiple rolls or a
Group Roll. Multiple rolls – one roll for each individual
in a group – are more realistic, but time consuming. For
the purposes of game flow, especially when dealing with
Rabble (see page 182), individual skill successes are not
so important and Group Rolls are more effective.
Whenever a Group Roll is needed, choose one of the
following options that best fits the current situation.
Team Rolls
In Team Rolls, success is cooperative, with everyone
involved reaping the benefits of a single success roll.
After the skill needed is determined, one roll is made
using the highest value of all members of the group. If
it is successful, everyone in the group succeeds at the
task, but a Failure means everyone in the group fails.
For example, Shadowstalker is trying to hide from a team of
ninja assassins in the narrow alleys of the Ossuary. The Games
Master uses the highest Perception rating for the ninjas to see
if they spot the hero, and if successful all the ninjas are aware
of his position.
The “reverse” team test can be used in situations
where one Failure can spell disaster. In this case the
lowest skill value of the group is used, and if the roll
succeeds everyone succeeds, but Failure means
everyone fails. For example, after he manages to escape,
Shadowstalker tries to regroup in the city park. The ninjas are
attempting to sneak up on him to launch a Surprise attack, and
the Games Master rolls against the lowest Stealth value in their
group. If he fails, Shadowstalker becomes aware of them before
they gain the advantage.
Normally Team Rolls are used by the Games Master
for groups of supporting characters in the story, but
they can also be used when several heroes need to make
the same check and it could affect the group as a whole.
55
 Destined
Sorting Rolls
In Sorting Rolls, success is individual, and failure for
one is not failure for the group as a whole. A single die
roll is made and compared to all the skill values of the
group members to measure Success or Failure for all
group members involved. For example, the same group of
ninjas are chasing Shadowstalker across the rooftops of the
Ossuary. Some ninjas have an Athletics skill of 40%, some
50%, and some 60%. The Games Master makes a Group Roll
for the ninjas, resulting in a 48%. Those with skills of 50% or
more succeed, while the slower ninjas – those on a skill of 48%
or lower – begin to fall behind.
Opposed Rolls
Heroes frequently face opposing forces when trying to
complete a task, or must overcome a challenge where
the situation itself is against them. Perhaps the hero is
trying to sneak past a squad of the villain’s henchmen,
or trying to resist a potent poisonous gas released by a
death trap. These are known as Opposed Rolls and are
used when different sides are attempting to overcome
each other to see who succeeds and who fails. When
heroes must make an Opposed Roll, all participants roll
their respective skills at the same time, and the winner
is the one who gains a better Level of Success. If the
participants all score the same Level of Success (each
getting a Standard Success, or everyone scores a Critical
Success for example), the winner is the one who has the
highest dice roll within the Success range of their skill.
For example, the hero Lord Storm is pitted in a test of strength
with his arch-enemy, Doctor Infamous. Lord Storm rolls a 67
against his Brawn skill of 72% and the Doctor scores a 34
against his Brawn of 84%. While both succeeded, the hero’s roll
was higher and he beats his foe in the challenge.
If both participants fail the Opposed Roll, or end up
rolling the same value and Level of Success on the
check, then you can either:
Opposed Roll Examples
Activity
Bargaining Influence or Knowledge (Commerce) vs. Insight or Knowledge (Commerce)
Chasing Athletics vs. Athletics, Drive vs. Drive, Pilot vs. Pilot
Deceiving
Dispersing a crowd
Getting out of the way Evade vs. Combat Style, Evade vs. Potency of a Peril (see page 203)
Resisting or avoiding a toxin Endurance or Evade vs. Potency of the toxic Peril
Sneaking
Test of Strength
Test of Will
56
• Describe the ongoing contest to maintain dramatic
tension then repeat the Opposed Roll to try to establish
a winner. Using the above example, if both Lord Storm and
Doctor Infamous both rolled a 67, their contest would be at a
stalemate for the moment and then both would grit their teeth
and try again.
• Produce some circumstances that account for the
mutual failure for the opposing forces. If instead Lord
Storm and Doctor Infamous both failed their Brawn checks, the
strain of their mutual super strength is too much for the floor
they are standing on, and as it crumbles away both tumble in
opposite directions cursing the other.
Differential Rolls
Differential Rolls are similar to Opposed Rolls, except
that instead of a simple win or lose result, the difference
in Levels of Success is calculated. When a hero is
involved in a Differential Roll, all participants roll
against their respective skills and determine the result
as if they made the check in isolation. Whoever gains
the higher Level of Success gains an advantage equal to
the difference in success levels between them, assuming
one participant rolls a higher Level of Success. If both
participants score the same Level of Success (or
Failure), there is no additional effect or advantage for
either side.
Just as in normal skill checks, a Critical Success still
provides an advantage over a regular Success by
providing a Level of Success. If one side fails and the
other rolls a Fumble, neither gains an advantage in the
Differential Roll but the one who rolled to Fumble still
suffers the effect of the roll. Primarily used as part of
Combat (page 158), Differential Rolls can also be used
in situations where the Games Master believes the
degree of Success or Failure matters. For example, two
heroes are trying to impress a fickle cosmic being with a song,
and the one who succeeds at a Perform (Singing) check with a
better Level of Success is the victor.
Opposing Skill Examples
Deceit vs. Insight
Influence vs. Willpower
Stealth vs. Perception or Tracking
Brawn vs. Brawn or Endurance
Willpower vs. Willpower
 3. Skills

Differential Roll Results

Result of Rolls Antagonist Critical Antagonist Success Antagonist Failure Antagonist Fumble
Protagonist Critical No benefit Protagonist wins 1 Level of Protagonist wins 2 Levels of Protagonist wins 3
Success Success Levels of Success
Protagonist Success Antagonist wins 1 Level of No benefit Protagonist wins 1 Level of Protagonist wins 2 Levels of
Success Success Success
Protagonist Failure Antagonist wins 2 Levels of Antagonist wins 1 Level of No benefit No benefit
Success Success
Protagonist Fumble Antagonist wins 3 Levels of Antagonist wins 2 Levels of No benefit No benefit
Success Success

Opposed or Differential Skills Task Rounds

Over 100%
If one of the participants in an Opposed or Differential
Roll has a skill in excess of 100%, that participant
subtracts the difference between 100 and their skill
value from the skill values of everyone in the contest,
including themselves. This reduces the effective skill
value of the opponents while allowing the skilled
participant an advantage. If two or more participants in
the contest have skill values higher than 100%, use the
highest skill level of the participants to determine the
amount to subtract. For example, Shadowstalker is trying to
out-muscle the HeadCrusher, who has a 102% Brawn, against
Shadowstalker’s 51%. The 2% above 100 is subtracted from
both, making the final percentages 100% for HeadCrusher
and 49% for Shadowstalker.
The amount of time it takes to attempt each check in an
Extended Task is referred to as a Task Round, and just
like normal skill checks it can vary greatly, depending
on what is being attempted. A foot chase through the
back alleys of the city could have Task Rounds of five
seconds each, while creating an anti-toxin for a villain’s
poison gas could take an hour for each step of
the process. The Games Master will decide on how long
each attempt takes based on the circumstances of the
Extended Task. In most normal circumstances a hero
has five Task Rounds to succeed at the task, but
sometimes the Game Master may rule they have fewer
rounds to try to accomplish it. In circumstances where
it only matters how long it takes the hero to succeed, the
Games Master may not limit the number of Task
Rounds, but instead records how long of a time period
it takes for the hero to achieve the goal.

Extended Tasks
Using Extended Tasks
Sometimes the tasks a hero faces can’t be resolved in a
single die roll, because a simple Success or Failure is not Attempting an Extended Task requires a roll against the
the best way to decide the outcome. Perhaps the hero relevant skill, just like any other skill check, but
needs to know how long it takes to complete a task, or attempts are made for each Task Round of the task or
the Games Master wants to draw out a non-combat until the goal is achieved. For each check, the Level of
challenge to ramp up the tension. In those cases, Success is tallied and shows the percentage of the task
Extended Tasks can be used to determine what that is completed as shown below:
happens. Extended Tasks use a series of skill checks,
with each successful roll contributing to the overall • Critical: 50%
completion rate of the task towards the end goal. The • Success: 25%
goal of each Extended Task must be established before • Failure: 0%
the checks are made, such as completing an invention, • Fumble: -25%
reaching the destination, or evading capture from
pursuers (see Chases on page 183)

Sample Extended Tasks

Task Appropriate Skill Task Round Unit
Creating a drone Mechanisms (Robotics) 2–6 hours
Investigating a crime scene Perception or Science (Criminology) 10–30 minutes
Making repairs to a car Mechanisms (Automotive) 1–6 hours
Researching an occult entity Research, Knowledge (Occult) 1–4 hours
Speeding across town Athletics, Drive, Pilot 3–5 minutes
57

Using his supernatural brawn, Torc rips the
armoured security door of an Animus hideout off
its hinges, allowing the heroes access to the
villains’ lair.
When 100% is achieved, the task is complete, and the
hero accomplishes whatever the end goal was. Failure to
accomplish the task in the given amount of time does
not necessarily mean the attempt was a total failure, and
the Games Master determines if the hero can achieve a
partial Success based on the final percentage of the
Extended Task. For example, a hero trying to repair his
damaged superbike only manages to score a final tally of 75%,
so the Games Master might rule the motorcycle only gets back
75% of its total Hit Points, or the hero is capped at 75% of his
normal Drive skill when using it.
Sample Opposed Extended Tasks
Opposed Task Appropriate Skill(s)
Chasing a criminal across the rooftops Athletics or Acrobatics vs. Athletics or Acrobatics
Debating a rival in the courtroom Influence or Knowledge (Law) vs. Influence or
Knowledge (Law)
Stalking an escaped convict in a swamp Perception or Track vs. Stealth or Survival
58
One Skill or Multiple Skills
The Games Master must determine what skill or skills
are needed to complete the Extended Task. Sometimes
the hero may have multiple choices of skills that can be
used to accomplish the goal, such as a hero being able
to use Athletics or Acrobatics to pursue a fleeing villain
across the city rooftops. Any of the listed skills can be
used if the situation allows and can contribute to the
total needed.
Other times the task requires Success from several
different skills, all of which are required to complete the
task. Each skill listed needs to be rolled against to finish
the task, and failure at one either makes the task take
longer or results in a reduced effect or Failure. For
example, Baron is attempting to design a complex energy
blaster to counter the villain Scarlet Dauphin’s personal Force
Field. He may need to make a Science (Physics) check to see
which electromagnetic frequency will work best, an Electronics
roll to design the complex focusing array and power source, and
two Craft (Gunsmith) rolls to create the housing and assemble
the blaster. The Games Master will determine what skills
are needed, what order they need to be tested in, and
what the consequences are for failing.
Assisting with Extended Tasks
The hero performing the Extended Task may have
their skill rolls Augmented by allies just like any other
skill check, but other heroes may also make skill checks
to contribute to the tally needed to complete the task.
They act in place of the primary hero, and their result
is used for the given Task Round. This allows heroes
with differing skills to contribute, especially in tasks that
require several different skills to complete. Note that
some Extended Tasks may require all heroes to
contribute to their own tallies separately, such as in a
race where all heroes are seeing who reaches a
destination first.
Opposed Extended Tasks
Just like normal skill checks, Extended Tasks may be
opposed by another person, or by some other opposing
force attempting to counter the hero’s efforts. This is
handled in a manner similar to Differential Rolls above
Task Round Unit
1–3 minutes
1–4 hours
1–6 hours

in that each participant rolls in isolation from each
other, attempting to reach the end goal before each
other. The winner of the task is the one who reaches
100% first, accomplishing whatever they set out to do
before the opposition. It is possible that multiple
participants may reach the goal at the same time, and in
that circumstance the final result can be resolved like a
Standard Opposed Roll based on the final check, or the
Games Master may simply rule they both succeed at
their respective goals simultaneously if it would make
sense for the situation.
Exceptional Effort
At times a hero will succeed at an Extended Task before
the given time limit is up. They may choose to stop, or
attempt further skill checks to see if they can achieve
exceptional effort. The main risk of continuing on is
that a Fumble might turn a well-earned Success into
Failure, but if successful the end result will be much
better than expected. Perhaps a created machine
functions more efficiently, a negotiation produces better
results, or research reveals more information than
expected. The Games Master determines what benefit,
if any, a success level past 100% provides.
Standard Skills
Standard Skills are common to everyone. They
represent abilities and skills that nearly everyone has at
least some aptitude in even without formal training.
Athletics (STR+DEX)
Athletics covers a wide range of physical activities,
including climbing, jumping, running, and swimming.
It is used most often when the hero tries to accomplish
a physical task related to movement or wants to push
themselves to go faster while moving. Detailed rules for
how movement works are found on page 198 onwards.
• Critical: The hero climbs more quickly, jumps
further, or manages to run or swim faster. See page
199 for more details.
• Fumble: The hero falls, twists an ankle, tears a
muscle, or begins drowning.
Brawn (STR+SIZ)
Brawn is the efficient application of technique when
using raw physical force. The skill covers lifting,
breaking things, and contests of strength, but it is also
3. Skills
used in Combat when the hero’s strength applies to
moving a foe or preventing themselves from being
grappled or moved. To determine how much a hero can
lift, see the Feats of Strength rules on page 190.
• Critical: The hero lifts more than normal or does
more damage to whatever is being broken.
• Fumble: The hero drops what is being lifted or pulls
a muscle.
Combat Style (STR+DEX)
Combat Style is training in specific weapons and the
techniques to use them in battle. The hero chooses five
specific weapons (i.e. light pistol, baton, crossbow, and
so forth) that the skill applies to, and the Games Master
may allow it to be used for weapons similar to those
known (such as a longsword if the hero knows
shortsword) at one Difficulty Grade harder. Heroes may
choose “Powers” as one of the options to apply their
Combat Style to offensive powers that require an attack
roll (see the Powers chapter, page 80). Heroes may not
learn to use Improvised Weapons as part of their
Combat Style, but see the Combat Expert power on
page 85 for options to help with makeshift arms. Heroes
may learn additional Combat Styles that include
different weapons as if learning a new Professional Skill
(see page 72). The effects of a Critical Success or Fumble
in combat are detailed on pages 156-158.
Conceal (DEX+POW)
Conceal is the ability to obscure or disguise objects that
are large in size or in scale. A hero could use it to hide a
vehicle behind some crates, cover their tracks on a trail,
or camouflage a trap they are setting. Conceal is
countered by the Perception skill, or Track when
covering a trail.
• Critical: The hero has hidden the object so
cunningly that attempts to discover it are one
Difficulty Grade harder.
• Fumble: The hero’s attempt at concealing backfires
spectacularly, with the object falling, rolling, or
blowing out of its hiding place so blatantly that it draws
the attention of everyone nearby.
Deceit (INT+CHA)
Deceit covers all instances where a hero attempts to
mask the truth through barefaced lies, misleading
someone, or bluffing. The skill also covers instances
where hiding true emotions or motives is necessary
59

Sky Raven’s mastery of all forms of weaponry and
the combat arts allows her to silently pick off
Animus goons as they exit their raid on the
Gemelos City Trust Bank.
(feigning pleasure when one is bitterly disappointed
perhaps, or attempting to seem welcoming and open
when the opposite is true). Deceit forms a counterpart
to the Insight skill, and can be used to Oppose Insight
rolls when others are attempting to discern either truth
or motive.
• Critical: The hero has pulled off the deception to
the point where the truth will not be questioned in the
future by those who are subject to the trickery – unless
something happens to expose the truth.
• Fumble: This represents a miserable failure to
deceive – one so transparent that others may have
difficulty believing the hero at a future time.
First Aid Actions
Injury
Asphyxiated
Bleeding
Impaled The impaling item is removed without causing further impaling damage to the victim.
Incapacitated As long as the unconsciousness is not the result of poisons or narcotics, the injured party is restored to awareness.
Minor Wound Minor Wound Treatment restores 1d3 hit points to the injury.
Serious Wound Treatment removes any penalty to checks for the location for 1d3 minutes.
Persistent Wound
60
Drive (DEX+POW)
Drive covers the control of motorized ground vehicles,
from motorcycles to 18-wheel trucks. Drive rolls are
needed when a hero wants to do something out of the
ordinary with a vehicle – traverse treacherous terrain,
jump obstacles, and so on. It also includes the ability to
make basic repairs and perform routine maintenance,
but fixing more substantial problems requires the
appropriate Craft skill. See the Vehicles section on page
139 for more information. If a hero prefers to get
around the city via ridesharing and has little knowledge
or ability in driving, they can use the base percentage to
still attempt to maneuver a vehicle.
• Critical: The hero coaxes more speed from the
vehicle, jumps it spectacularly, or reduces the time of a
journey.
• Fumble: The vehicle suffers a malfunction or a
crash. If using the vehicle rules (see page 139), the
vehicle suffers 1d3 System Hits to a random location.
Endurance (CON x2)
Endurance is a hero’s capacity to endure physical stress,
pain, and fatigue. It is used most often to resist illness,
toxins, need for sleep, and deprivation. Refer to the
section on Fatigue (page 186), Injury (page 191), and
Perils (page 201) on how Endurance is most commonly
used.
• Critical: The hero not only fights off the condition, but
checks to resist it for the next hour are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero is completely overwhelmed and
either becomes Incapacitated or automatically fails the
next check to resist an ongoing situation.
Evade (DEX x2)
Evade is used to escape from known impending danger,
and can be used against attacks, avoiding traps, and
generally getting out of the way of a potential physical
hazard. Refer to the Combat chapter (page 154) and the
section on Perils (page 201) for how Evade is most
commonly used.
Successful Treatment
The victim begins breathing again.
The blood flow is staunched.
First Aid does not affect Persistent Wounds.
 • Critical: The hero not only avoids the danger,
but is able to make checks easier for allies who
also need to make Evade checks against it.
• Fumble: The hero fumbles into the danger,
taking maximum damage from it.

The effects of Evading with a Critical Success or

Fumble in combat are detailed in the Combat
chapter on page 157.

First Aid (DEX+INT)

First Aid measures a hero’s ability to treat minor
injuries and stabilize more severe ones. First Aid
may be applied only once per specific injury and
heals 1d3 Hit Points to a single damaged location
that has a Minor Wound. See the table on page 60
for First Aid Actions, and page 191 for more
information on recovering from damage.

• Critical: The hero heals the maximum

amount (3 Hit Points) or may apply the result to
a Serious Wound instead.
• Fumble: The hero worsens the damage to the
location, inflicting 1 Hit Point of damage
instead.

Influence (CHA x2)

Lord Storm uses his influence with Police Department
This is a measurement of a hero’s ability to brass to get backup for a mission from the city’s
persuade others through personal charisma, Extranormal Response Unit.
debate, or reason into a desired way of behaving.
It is used in a wide variety of situations; changing determine if someone is telling a lie or to determine
someone’s mind, calming someone in an agitated state, their current emotional state to gauge how they will
or bribing an official or guard. Influence can also be react in a given situation. It is usually Opposed by social
used on a group of individuals, but the Games Master skills such as Deceit and Influence.
may apply a difficulty penalty to the check roll
depending on the size of the group and their general • Critical: The hero gains deeper insight into the
attitude. Influence is usually an Opposed Roll against individual, and subsequent attempts to glean insights
the target’s Insight or Willpower skills. are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero completely misjudges the
• Critical: The hero’s next check to influence the person’s motives and actions. In additional to
same person is one grade easier. influencing the person’s behaviors, it makes
• Fumble: The hero manages to offend the person, subsequent checks to Influence or gain Insight into
and further attempts to influence them are one grade the person one grade harder.
harder.

Native Language (INT+CHA)

Insight (INT+POW)
Insight is the ability to read or intuitively determine
someone’s verbal and non-verbal behavior (such as
body language or the manner of speech) to establish
their motives and state of mind. Insight can be used to
Native Language is the ability to speak one’s own
language, the one learned while growing up in one’s
home Culture. It measures articulation, eloquence and
the depth of the speaker’s vocabulary. Skill in Native
Language also covers literacy in the language, and the
61

Using her research skills, Eclipse uncovers the network of
shell companies and offshore trusts that fund Dr Vellaro’s
crime sprees and super-weapons development.
same percentage is used for both. The hero must
specify their Native Language during creation. Keep in
mind languages change all the time, and this skill covers
knowledge of things such as common idioms, slang, and
terminology used for communication on electronic and
social media platforms. Typically heroes should never
have to roll to speak their own language, but if someone
is using technical terms, or obscure wording, or when
dealing with a particular subculture within the native
speaking population the Games Master may require a
roll to see if the hero understands. Native Language can
also be used to complement other skills, such as finding
the best wording for a speech or when writing
something. As mentioned in the Hero Creation chapter,
all starting heroes gain a +40% bonus to Native
Language at creation.
• Critical: The hero is able to express themselves so
eloquently that subsequent checks with the person
conversed with are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero either says the opposite of what
was intended or manages to offend the person they
are conversing with, making subsequent checks with
that person one grade harder.
62
Perception (INT+POW)
Perception is used for both passive
observation and focused detection; whether
hunting for something specific, a general scan
of an area, or simple awareness of their
surroundings. Perception usually involves
visual or auditory detection, but it can apply
for any of the hero’s senses. It is also used to
detect hidden objects or people, and in those
cases is Opposed by the Stealth skill.
• Critical: The hero notices things that
otherwise would not have been immediately
apparent with the initial check.
• Fumble: The hero misses even the most
blatantly obvious details, and subsequent
checks related to the initial Perception
attempt, including resisting an unnoticed
danger, are one grade harder.
Research (INT+POW)
Research uses various resources such as a
library, newspaper archives, or the internet to
discover desired pieces of information. A
successful check provides the heroes with the
information they are seeking if it is available
on the source they are searching. If
attempting to get information from other
people, social skills such as Influence or
Deceit are used instead.
• Critical: The hero gains additional information
about the subject being researched beyond what the
check would have normally found.
• Fumble: The hero either finds the wrong
information or a source of misinformation about the
topic, and subsequent checks related to it are one
grade harder.
Stealth (DEX+INT)
Stealth is the skill of hiding oneself or moving while
making minimal or no sound. It not only covers the
physical action of the hero to remain undetected, but
also utilizing things like shadow, concealing objects, and
distractions. Stealth is usually Opposed by the
Perception or Track skills.
• Critical: Any subsequent checks to try to notice the
hero are one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Fumble: Instead of hiding, the hero does something
to make their location obvious to all onlookers.

Streetwise (POW+CHA)
Streetwise measures a hero’s understanding of the local
region, including native flora and fauna, rumors, and
different subcultures within the area where they have
spent the majority of their life. This could be a single
city or town, but could be more expansive depending
on the setting. For example, in a space-based campaign
following galactic defenders, the Streetwise skill may
represent a specific sector of space or a single planet.
Streetwise also represents basic knowledge about the
shadier aspects of a community, from major criminal
Organizations to places in the area best to avoid unless
you are looking for trouble. For a deeper knowledge of
the criminal aspects of an area, heroes should take the
Culture (Underworld) skill. As mentioned in the Hero
Creation chapter (page 20), all starting heroes gain a
+20% bonus to Streetwise at creation.
• Critical: The hero is able to find additional
information or exactly what he is looking for, and
subsequent Streetwise checks for the same subject are
one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero simply can’t find the information
or comes up with the wrong information, and
subsequent Streetwise checks about the same subject
are one grade harder.
Unarmed (STR+DEX)
Unarmed measures the ability to defend oneself
without the aid of weapons, and it is one form of combat
that all heroes have access to. Unarmed can represent
many different styles of martial arts, from karate to
street fighting, and heroes looking to expand their
fighting abilities may want to look at the Combat Expert
Core Power on page 85.
• The effects of an Unarmed Critical Success or
Fumble are detailed on page 177.
Willpower (POW x2)
Willpower is a measure of a hero’s ability to concentrate,
channel their force of will in a particular direction, or
harden their psyche to possible mental shock. It is also
a measure of personal resolve, allowing the hero to
resist certain effects and powers that attempt to
subjugate their will.
• Critical: The hero’s will is bolstered, making
subsequent checks to resist the effect one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero’s will falters, making subsequent
checks to resist the same effect one grade harder.
3. Skills
Silver Age
Specialization?
I n comics, when a hero is a ‘scientist,’ they seem
to have some level of knowledge in every field of
science if the situation at hand demands it. The
same applies to an ‘inventor’ who is just as adept
fixing a toaster as they are making a rocket ship
out of rusting debris in a junk yard.
The Savant Core Power (page 110) has options
to allow for a hero to access Specializations they
don’t normally possess, but Games Masters
playing a more four-color campaign may simply
eliminate Specializations entirely to allow heroes
to have generalized expertise in all needed fields
of study without worrying about purchasing
dozens of Specializations.
Professional Skills
Professional Skills represent more specialized forms of
training and experience. Some Professional Skills are
learned as part of a hero’s Culture and Career, while
others are gained by seeking out an experienced
teacher or attending a formal institution to increase the
hero’s knowledge base.
Specializations
Professional Skills marked with an asterisk (*) represent
diverse fields of study and require the hero to pick a
specialized field of knowledge when the skill is first
chosen. The rating in the skill applies only to the
particular Specialization, and additional fields of
knowledge under the base skill must be learned as
separate skills. Professional Skills that require
Specialization have examples listed in their description,
but heroes are free to add new options with the Games
Master’s permission. For example, The Mindmelt has the
Science skill as one of her Career options, so when she chooses
the skill, she must also pick a field such as Chemistry, Biology,
or Physics that she has expertise in. If she wants to specialize in
a different field of study, she must learn it as a new
Professional Skill.
Acrobatics (STR+DEX)
Acrobatics covers acts of balance, gymnastics, juggling,
and tumbling. The skill can be used as a way to impress
an audience, by flipping over obstacles and people in
63
 Destined
the environment as part of movement, and also to help
mitigate damage from falls (see page 189). Acrobatics
can be substituted for Evade if the situation warrants it
and the hero has room to maneuver, and if successful
the hero does not end up prone after the evasion.
• Critical: The hero moves faster, juggles more
objects, or reduces the damage from a fall even
further.
• Fumble: The hero drops what was being juggled or
falls, suffering an injury. If used to reduce falling
damage, the hero lands hard and suffers damage as
if the fall was the next damage level higher (see
page 189).
*Art (POW+CHA)
The Art skill covers the various creative forms of art, be
they visual or using the written word. Heroes can use
the skill to create a work of art, or to evaluate the quality
and value of artwork they see. Upon taking the skill the
hero must choose a Specialization representing the type
of art that they know best. Some example
Specializations for Art are listed below.
Example Specializations: Crafts, Drawing, Literature,
Painting, Photography, Poetry, Sculpture
• Critical: The hero’s art is flawless and earns the hero
far more than normal, resulting in a bonus to the
hero’s Personal Allotment Rating equal to twice the
Critical range of the Art skill for the next session. In
social settings, the art impresses all who see it and
checks to Influence them are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The art is flawed, amateurish, or offensive,
hurting the hero’s reputation within the community
for that particular form of art.
Boating (STR+CON)
Boating includes the operation of non-motorized
(propelled by oars, paddles, or sails) and motorized
water vehicles from speedboats up to large yachts and
submarines. It also includes the ability to make basic
repairs and perform maintenance, but fixing more
substantial problems requires the Mechanisms skill. See
the Vehicles section on page 139 for more information.
• Critical: The hero coaxes more speed from the
vehicle or reduces the time of a journey.
• Fumble: The vehicle suffers a malfunction or a
crash. If using the Vehicle rules (see page 139), the
vehicle suffers 1d3 System Hits to a random location.
64
Computers (INT x2)
The Computers skill reflects the hero’s ability to solve
complex problems or extract complicated information
using computer systems – be it through programming
code, detailed use of a particular piece of software,
hacking, and even diagnosing/repairing software and
hardware problems. General use of Computers does
not usually require a roll, while searching for readily
available information uses the Research skill.
• Critical: The hero resolves the situation in half
the normal time, or gains a backdoor into another
system that makes subsequent checks to access it one
grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero’s computer system crashes or
acquires a virus, requiring repairs before it is usable
again, or another computer gains access to the hero’s
system, learning her location and identity.
Courtesy (INT+CHA)
This skill covers understanding how to act
appropriately in a social or formal situation: modes of
address, rituals, and conventions of behavior. It
includes everything from whom to bow to and when, to
how low; from when to use a particular title or piece of
silverware, to when it is appropriate to act informally. It
is the most essential skill for faithful butlers everywhere.
• Critical: The hero is so impressive that subsequent
checks in the situation are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero does something embarrassing or
humiliating, and no further social checks are possible
in the situation after the Fumble.
*Craft (DEX+INT)
Craft is the skill of designing and creating small or
personal scale objects that do not have complex
electronics. Craft can be used to forge blades, build
houses, or piece together a hero’s flowing leather cape.
Each different area of expertise requires its own
Specialization, allowing heroes to create items of that
type if they have the proper tools and raw materials.
Many Craft checks are Extended Tasks, and adding in
electronics or complex gears requires other skills such
as Electronics or Mechanisms to be used in conjunction.
Example Specializations: Blacksmith, Bookbinding,
Carpentry, Glassblowing, Gunsmith, Leatherworking
• Critical: A Critical Success creates an item of
superior quality.
 • Fumble: A Fumbled roll creates an item that
is functionally useless and valueless.
Alternatively an accident occurs during the
crafting process, causing damage to property,
stock, or the crafter themselves; a pottery kiln
collapsing or a smith striking his hand with a
hammer, for example.

*Culture (INT x2)

Culture is the more specific form of the
Streetwise skill, relating instead to specific
subgroups within a larger community or
societies foreign to the hero’s own. It covers
knowledge of the subculture, including
etiquette, customs, and history. Each Culture
Specialization covers a particular group,
nation, or society to which it applies, and some
common examples for subcultures within a
larger community are detailed below.

Example Specializations: High Society, Law

Enforcement, Mystical, Online, Specific Ethnic
Group, Specific Geographic Area, Underworld,
Working Class

• Critical: The hero is able to find additional

information or exactly what he is looking for,
and subsequent checks for the same subject
are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero simply can’t find the
information or comes up with the wrong
information, and subsequent checks about the
same subject are one grade harder. The Mortician has decided to blow up the Jade Tigers’ main
heroin distribution centre. His demolition skill allows him to
prepare charges to level the building.
Demolitions (INT+POW)
Electronics (DEX+INT)
This skill permits a hero to safely handle and utilize
explosive materials to demolish a specific structure or This skill allows the user to tinker with, bypass, or repair
target. It is also used when attempting to disarm an electronic devices. It has many applications, most often
explosive device that has been set by another, using the to temporarily patch up damaged equipment or replace
Demolitions result of the one who set the device. Both broken circuits with spares. A more covert aspect of the
setting and disarming complex explosives are usually skill is the circumventing of electronic security,
Extended Tasks. providing the hero can gain access to the system or the
wiring. Electronics can also be used to design and create
• Critical: The hero sets the device so well that checks new electronic devices, often as part of an Extended
to locate or disarm it are one grade harder, or when Task. Complex devices may also require skills such
disarming the device, the hero locates important as Craft or Computers to be used as part of the
information from the device on whoever set it. creation process.
• Fumble: The explosive device detonates, inflicting
full damage to the hero and normal damage to anyone • Critical: The hero is able to bypass or repair the
else within the normal blast radius. electronic device faster than normal, or the item works
as well as or better than new.

65
 Destined
• Fumble: The electronic device is severely broken,
causing future Electronics rolls to be one Difficulty
Grade harder.
*Engineering (INT x2)
Engineering covers the design and construction of
large-scale projects such as buildings, infrastructure,
and power plants. It also covers the ability to
comprehend the architecture of such facilities. Heroes
with this skill understand how these sites work, how to
achieve various tasks within the site, and how to
perform routine maintenance and repairs. The most
common Specializations for this skill are listed below.
Example Specializations: Agricultural, Civil, Electrical,
Energy, Environmental, Industrial, Structural
• Critical: The design can be built more quickly than
expected, requires fewer materials, or has a lower cost.
A process within the site can be performed more
quickly or more efficiently than normal.
• Fumble: The design has a critical flaw that is not
immediately apparent and won’t be discovered until it
is built. Something critical malfunctions at the site,
either causing a total shutdown or severe damage.
Forgery (DEX+INT)
The Forgery skill permits the creation or falsification of
official documentation, and in the electronic age, it can
also be used to falsify digital identification and records.
The Forgery skill also is used to determine if a
document or record has been created or altered. It is
normally resisted by the Perception skill to notice flaws
in the fake.
• Critical: The forgery is flawless, and attempts to
discern its falsehood are one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Fumble: The forgery has a flaw that is obvious to
everyone but the hero and is immediately discovered
when used.
Gambling (INT+POW)
The Gambling skill measures a hero’s competence in
games of chance, especially where money is staked on
the outcome. It is used to assess the odds of success or
failure, or to spot when someone is cheating, Opposed
by the Gambling skill of the cheater.
• Critical: The hero wins a substantial amount,
resulting in a temporary increase of Personal
66
Allotment Rating equal to twice the Critical range of
the Gambling skill for the next session.
• Fumble: The hero loses a substantial amount,
resulting in a reduction of Personal Allotment Rating
equal to twice the Critical range of the Gambling skill
for the next session.
Intimidate (INT+CHA)
Intimidation is the art of using violence or the threat of
unpleasant consequences to get what you want out of
someone. Heroes often use it to get foes to back down
or get a vital piece of information out of a criminal.
Intimidation checks are modified by the method being
used and the target’s perception of the threat level of
the hero. It is usually Opposed by the target’s
Willpower, but in some cases it may use Endurance
instead. More detailed rules on using Intimidation are
found on page 193.
• Critical: The hero’s attempts to Intimidate anyone
in the same group as their target are one grade easier
(those in the same crime syndicate for example).
Alternatively, the intimidated target spreads the word
of the hero, making the next Intimidation roll against
their next foe one grade easier.
• Fumble: The target shrugs off the Intimidation and
refuses to give up any additional information. All
subsequent social rolls by the same hero against the
target are one grade harder.
*Knowledge (INT x2)
Knowledge covers a specific body of knowledge not
covered by another skill, representing expertise and
education in a specific subject or field. Skill in a
Knowledge means the hero understands the topic’s
fundamentals and how they can be applied to
immediate challenges and problems, and can use the
Knowledge to recall useful information. There are
countless areas of knowledge that a hero could know,
but some common Specializations are listed below:
Example Specializations: Bureaucracy, Commerce,
Extranormals, Geography, History, Law, Occult,
Politics, Tactics
• Critical: The hero gains additional information
beyond what the check was trying to discover, and
subsequent related checks are one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero either discovers false knowledge
or believes the wrong information. Subsequent checks
related to the knowledge are one grade harder.
*Language (INT+CHA)
This skill covers the speaking and
comprehension of a language other than
the hero’s own, including literacy in written
forms of the language. The skill is treated as
a static representation of overall fluency.
1–25% a few basic words, 26–50% simple
sentences, 51–75% fluent for general
conversation, 76+% able to converse
eloquently. Its value is used by the Games
Master to limit the level of spoken
interaction when the players converse with
other people in the game. There are as
many Specializations as there are languages
in the real world, both active and dead. If
the campaign extends out into space or
across dimensions, this skill also covers
alien or unusual forms of communication
found anywhere in reality.

• Critical: The hero is able to express

themselves so eloquently that subsequent
checks with the person conversed with are
one grade easier.
• Fumble: The hero either says the
opposite of what was intended or manages
to offend the person they are conversing
with, making subsequent checks with that
person one grade harder.
Shadowstalker has successfully penetrated Baron Malycer’s
mansion and discovered his office. Using his Mechanisms skill
Mechanisms (DEX+INT) he attempts to open the Baron’s safe. No doubt there is a
wealth of highly incriminating evidence about the Baron’s
The Mechanisms skill permits the repair, plans hidden within.
disassembly, and maintenance of
mechanical devices, from simple locks to automobiles to Medicine (INT+POW)
refrigerators to airplanes. The skill cannot repair
something completely destroyed, but could permit a Medicine is the in-depth knowledge of medical
brief jury-rigged fix if enough spare parts are available. procedures, based on established practices developed
It is also used for lockpicking most types of mechanical within the Culture. In an Archaic Culture, for instance,
locks, although locks with electronic components may Medicine will be based on the knowledge of herbs and
require the Electronics skill to be used as well. natural cures. In Urban or Advanced Cultures, drugs
and more cutting-edge treatments such as robotic-
• Critical: On a Critical Success the hero achieves assisted surgery will be more common. In all Cultures,
success in half the usual time, and with flawless results. Medicine includes the ability to set bones, suture
Any future rolls attempting to disable or circumvent wounds, and perform surgery. Medicine may be
the Mechanisms are one grade harder. applied only once per specific injury and heals 1d6 Hit
• Fumble: On a Fumble the mechanism is utterly Points to a single damaged location that has a Minor
broken, and has to be thrown away and started again Wound, or 1d3 Hit Points to a location that has a
from scratch or further attempts to access it fail and an Serious Wound. See page 191 for more information on
alternate solution must be found. recovering from damage.

• Critical: The hero is able to treat the injury with

greater skill, resulting in the complete restoration of

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 Destined
Hit Points to a single location with a Minor Wound, or
1d6+1 Hit Points to a location with a Serious Wound.
• Fumble: The injury being treated is aggravated
instead of healed, resulting in an additional 1d3 Hit
Points damage to the location.
*Navigation (INT+POW)
Whether using prominent landmarks, the stars, or the
subtle currents of the sea, the ability to accurately direct
travel is covered by the Navigation skill. Each
Navigation skill covers a specific region or
environment, allowing for safe travel to the desired
destination as long as the check is successful. It should
be made during unusual journeys or when in
completely unfamiliar territory to make sure the hero
knows where they are going.
Example Specializations: Air, Desert, Forest, Jungle,
Open Water, Outer Space, Subterranean, Urban
• Critical: The hero finds a shortcut and arrives at the
destination sooner than expected, or consumes fewer
resources and fuel to get there.
• Fumble: The hero becomes hopelessly lost, and
subsequent attempts to reach the intended destination
or even return back to the starting point are one
grade harder.
*Perform (CHA+DEX)
Perform represents skill in the performance arts, from
dancing on stage to delivering a speech to shareholders.
It covers the hero’s ability to successfully engage in their
chosen style of performance, potentially impressing or
swaying an audience if the roll succeeds. It also covers
the development of a new performance, or evaluating
how well another person does when they perform.
The following are the most common Specializations
for Perform:
Example Specializations: Acting, Costuming, Dancing,
Filmmaking, Oratory, Singing, Special Effects
• Critical: The performance is stunning to the viewer,
leaving them awestruck. If done for monetary gain, it
earns the hero a bonus to Personal Allotment Rating
equal to twice the Critical range of the Perform skill for
the next session. In social settings, the performance
impresses all who see it and checks to Influence them
are one grade easier for the hero.
• Fumble: The performance is so poor that the hero is
booed off the stage or laughed out of the room,
hurting the hero’s reputation within the community
for that particular form of performing art.
68
Pilot (DEX+INT)
The Pilot skill permits the control of powered and non-
powered flying vehicles, such as gliders, prop-driven
planes, jet engines, spacecraft, and so on. It also
includes the ability to make basic repairs and perform
routine maintenance, but fixing more substantial
problems requires the appropriate Mechanisms or
Electronics skill. The skill only applies to vehicular
flight, and heroes with the Flight Core Power use the
movement rules given on page 165. See the Vehicles
section on page 139 for more information.
• Critical: The hero coaxes more speed from the
vehicle or reduces the time of a journey.
• Fumble: The vehicle suffers a malfunction or a
crash. If using the Vehicle rules (see page 139 on), the
vehicle suffers 1d3 System Hits to a random location.
Ride (DEX+POW)
Ride covers the ability to control and remain mounted
on those creatures that are trained to be ridden. The
skill can be applied to a diverse range of beasts,
everything from mules to elephants; even flying or
swimming creatures such as giant Pteranodons or
dolphins. It can also be used to soothe or calm a trained
beast, or tend to minor wounds and ailments. The Ride
skill also covers the use of animal-drawn vehicles such
as chariots, carts, and carriages.
• Critical: The hero is able to perform an amazing feat
or maneuver with the mount, or spurs it on to even
faster speeds.
• Fumble: The hero is thrown off or the mount suffers
an injury that prevents it from moving.
*Science (INT x2)
Science is the study and knowledge of the physical and
natural world, seeking to unlock its mysteries and better
understand it. This skill is used for practical application
of scientific principles as well as research and
experimentation. There are many fields of science to
have Specialization in, and some of the most common
are listed below.
Example Specializations: Astronomy, Astrophysics,
Biology, Chemistry, Forensics, Genetics, Physics
• Critical: The hero conducts research or an
experiment in half the normal time, or makes a
breakthrough that provides more information than a
normal result would provide.
Genetically engineered Pterodactyls soar over the heart of Gemelos City as part of Dr Echidna’s latest
fiendish plot. Sky Raven uses her pilot skills to dogfight with the beasts and shoot them down with her
helicopter gunship.
• Fumble: If conducting an experiment, it goes wrong
and either produces a dangerous or embarrassing
result. If searching for information, the hero believes
the wrong information is correct and subsequent tests
related to the information are one grade harder.
Seduction (INT+CHA)
Seduction is the romantic or sexual persuasion of
another person. It uses explicit signals – verbal and
non-verbal – to elicit a positive response and foster
attraction to the hero by the intended subject. Using
this skill takes a significant amount of time: successful
Seduction may take hours, days, or weeks to achieve
depending on the target, who always has the
opportunity to resist a Seduction attempt with
Willpower or see through it with Insight.
• Critical: A Critical Seduction roll yields a potent
result, entrancing the victim or causing them to fall
passionately in love (or lust). Subsequent skill rolls
taking advantage of this attraction become one
grade easier.
• Fumble: A Fumble ends up causing emotional hurt
or insulting the target. This completely ruins any
further chances of Seduction for the time being; it also
makes subsequent skill rolls one grade harder. A
disastrous Seduction attempt can lead to intensely
grave consequences.
Sleight (DEX+CHA)
Sleight covers attempts to palm or conceal small objects
(legerdemain and prestidigitation) and also includes
attempts to pick pockets, plant a small object, or cause a
visual distraction. Naturally it is an essential thieves’ skill
and the tool of street magicians everywhere. Sleight is
often Opposed by the Insight or Perception of the
intended target.
69
 Destined
• Critical: The hero has performed so well that
attempts to notice the manipulation are one grade
harder.
• Fumble: The object is not only visible, but the target
of the manipulation sees through it and can respond
accordingly.
Survival (CON+POW)
This skill covers surviving in a rural or wilderness
environment: foraging, building a fire, finding shelter
or a safe place to sleep. When properly equipped, rolls
are usually unnecessary since the hero may be carrying
a tent, food supplies, and so on. Only when separated
from their equipment or when environmental
conditions turn bad does it become essential to utilize
this skill. A roll is usually made once per day in such
conditions, but may be required more often if the
environment is alien or especially dangerous.
• Critical: The hero finds ample food and resources,
and does not need to make another Survival check in
the same environment for a number of days equal to
the Critical range of the Survival skill.
• Fumble: The hero not only fails to locate the
resources needed, but either encounters an aggressive
natural predator or accidentally is exposed to or
consumes a dangerous substance in the environment.
Optional: Advancing
Characteristics
A hero’s Characteristics represent the hero at
their peak level of natural ability based on
hard work, lifestyle, and training. Normally
people do not improve much beyond their peak
ability, but heroes are not normal people. If the
Games Master allows it, heroes can spend
Experience Rolls to permanently increase a
Characteristic, which also increases any Attributes
or Skills associated with it. The cost of this increase
is a number of Experience Rolls equal to the new
value of the Characteristic. For example, a hero
with a 12 STR starts hitting the gym and lifting
weights, and once she has enough Experience Rolls
banked, she spends 13 of them to permanently
increase her STR to 13.
It is recommended if you allow this option in
your game, a given Characteristic can’t be
increased more than two or three points above its
starting level, and never above the maximum for
the Power Level given in the Characteristics
section in this chapter.
70
System Ops (INT+POW)
This skill allows the accurate use and analysis of sensor
devices from chemical sniffers up to military long-range
scanners. It also grants the ability to use
communications equipment to detect, conceal, or
block communications traffic as well as crack encrypted
messages, Opposed by the System Ops check of the
other person.
• Critical: If using sensors, the hero gains additional
information beyond what a normal success would
provide and subsequent checks related to the subject
are one grade easier. If using comms, attempts to
intercept or scramble the message are one grade
harder.
• Fumble: If using sensors, the hero interprets the
data incorrectly and subsequent checks related to the
subject are one grade harder. If using comms, the
message is automatically intercepted or scrambled.
Track (INT+CON)
The Track skill is used for tracking any form of game or
quarry, not only in the wilderness but also in urban
environments. It uses signs of passing to remain on the
quarry’s trail, including footprints, bruised leaves,
scattered pollen, displaced rocks, and so on; small,
telltale signs that are invisible to the non-skilled. Track
rolls need to be made periodically, especially if
conditions change abruptly (a rain shower, for example,
will disturb certain signs). How often depends on how
cunning the quarry has been and their Stealth check.
• Critical: The hero homes in on the trail and does not
need to make subsequent checks to track the quarry
unless the environmental conditions change.
• Fumble: The hero loses the trail and is unable to pick
it back up, or follows a false or different trail and either
wanders into an ambush or becomes lost.
Advancing your
Hero
With each new challenge conquered and each nefarious
villain locked away, heroes continuously grow and
hone their abilities so they can take on bigger and
bolder threats.
To simulate this development, at the end of every
session heroes gain Experience Rolls that can be used to
increase their skills, adjust Passions, add new Boosts to
their Core Powers, remove Limits, and even learn

brand new abilities. Experience Rolls can be spent
whenever there is a natural break in the story, such as
when the heroes are resting after a hard-fought battle,
or in between adventures when they have time to train
and work on their abilities. They can also be banked to
save up for more expensive advancements or to make
several changes at once.
The exact amount of Experience Rolls awarded
depends how quickly the Games Master wants the
heroes to advance, what was accomplished in the
session, and how well each player contributed to the
game and helped entertain everyone at the table. On
average heroes should be awarded between two to four
Experience Rolls per session, although this rate can be
adjusted as the Games Master sees fit. It is
recommended that all heroes get the same amount of
Experience Rolls to maintain balance and a sense of
fairness for the players. Bonus Experience Rolls
granted by a hero’s Experience Modifier are added
after the Games Master rewards the group, if
applicable.
The following are the ways players can spend their
hard-earned Experience Rolls to improve their hero.
Advancing Skills and Passions
A hero can spend an Experience Roll to increase their
rating in any Standard or Professional Skill they are
trained in. The hero spends 1 Experience Roll and
makes a d100+INT roll compared with the skill they
wish to improve:
• If the result is equal to or greater than the current
skill rating, the hero increases the value by 1d4+1%.
• If the hero successfully used the skill during the
session, they may reroll a result of a “1” on the
improvement roll but must take the second result.
• If the result was less than the current skill rating, the
hero increases the value by 1% only.
• Anytime the hero rolls a Fumble for a skill during
play, that skill gets a free increase of 1%. We always
learn more from failure than we do from success.
If the Games Master wishes the heroes to progress
faster, they can increase the rate of increase to 1d4+3%
if the result was greater than the current skill level, or
1d3% if it was less. Any given skill can only be improved
with an Experience Roll once per game session,
although the free increase for rolling a Fumble does not
count towards this.
3. Skills
Optional: Teachers
H eroes may seek out people with exceptional
ability in a skill that they want to train. These
teachers can help the hero reach new heights in
the skill, but at a cost. The teacher must have the
skill to be trained at a rating at least 20% higher
than the hero, and at least a week of time must be
spent training with the instructor. The hero then
spends a temporary number of Personal Allotment
Slots (representing money or resources spent on
training) and 1 Experience Roll. The hero is
treated as if they exceeded the skill rating when
checking for advancement, gaining +1% for each
Allotment used on the Experience Roll spent to
increase the skill, up to a maximum of 3
Allotments. For example, a hero spends a week
with her mentor training to increase her Acrobatics
skill. After that time she spends her Experience Roll,
3 Personal Allotment Slots, and rolls 1d4+4 to
increase the skill.
Allotment points spent on training with a teacher
are not available to use the session after the
training is completed, but are restored to their
normal amount in the session after that. Teachers
can only be used to increase the rate increased for
skills, not for Allotments or Passions.
Passions may also be increased using the same
system as Skills, although players may instead choose to
decrease a Passion if they want to remove it or lower its
value due to something that happened to the hero
during the session. For more information on advancing
or decreasing Passions, see Changing Passions on page
49.
Learning a New Skill
A hero can learn a new Professional Skill or add an
additional Specialization as a new Professional Skill by
spending 3 Experience Rolls. The new skill or
Specialization starts at the base rating and can be
improved normally by spending Experience Rolls after
the session it is gained. The Games Master may require
the hero to spend time training a new skill unless the
player specifically took time during previous sessions
studying or practicing in preparation of learning the
skill. Heroes can also add a new Combat Style using the
same method, and again the Games Master may require
a period of tutelage to learn it. The exact amount of
time spent learning a new skill is up to the Games
Master, but generally in comics it is handled “off panel”
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 Destined
or as a montage, so it should not be so excessive that it
impairs the hero’s ability to participate in adventures.
Advancing Allotments
A hero may spend 1 Experience Roll to increase
Personal Allotments the same way as skills, adding
1d4+1% to the rating if they roll equal to or above their
current rating on a check, or 1% if they roll under. This
represents gaining access to more funds, acquiring
increased resources, or creating new equipment.
Organizational Allotments can only be increased
through actions that increase the hero’s standing in the
Organization, as detailed in Chapter 7.
Advancing Powers and Boosts
Over the course of their careers, heroes learn to use
their fantastic abilities in new or unusual ways to battle
the forces of evil, and some even gain entirely new Core
Powers. A hero may purchase a new Boost for an
existing Core Power by spending 5 Experience Rolls, or
may purchase a new Core Power by spending 15
Experience Rolls. Heroes are still subject to the
maximum amount of Core Powers they can possess
Hero Advancement Summary
Hero Advancement
Increasing Characteristic (optional)
Increasing Trained Skill
Increase or Decrease Passion
Learning New Professional Skill
Increasing Personal Allotment
Learning New Core Power
Learning New Boost
Removing Limit
72
based on the campaign’s Power Level (see above), and
the Games Master may require justification within the
narrative for the acquisition of an entirely new Core
Power. If the hero applies Limits to the new Core Power,
the cost is reduced by 3 Experience Rolls per Limit
added, but as above, the hero is restricted by the
maximum amount of Limits they can have based on the
campaign’s Power Level.
Removing Limits
Heroes learn to overcome the limitations that plagued
them early in their careers, becoming stronger through
the process. A hero may remove a Limit that affects a
single Core Power for 5 Experience Rolls, or one that
affects the whole hero by spending 10 Experience Rolls,
with the Games Master’s permission. While removing a
Limit from a Core Power can be justified by the hero
training to overcome the fault in their ability, removing
a Limit that affects the whole hero, such as Physical
Limitation, must have a good explanation to justify the
change. It’s one thing for a hero to teach themselves to
upgrade their power armor to work better, but it’s
entirely different to have them regrow a lost leg
(however, developing a cybernetic leg is possible!).
Experience Roll Cost/ Effect
Spend a number of Experience Rolls equal to new Characteristic value
Spend 1 Experience Roll to add 1d4+1 to skill
Spend 1 Experience Roll to add or subtract 1d4+1 from the Passion
Spend 3 Experience Rolls to learn at base level
Spend 1 Experience Roll to add 1d4+1
Spend 15 Experience Rolls to learn power, up to maximum allowed by
Power Level
Spend 5 Experience Rolls to learn new Boost
Spend 5 Experience Rolls for a Limit that affects a single power or 10
Experience Rolls to remove Limit that affects the whole hero

Powers
H
igh above the city, the sworn defender of the
people soars through the clouds, his hawk-like
eyes focusing on the alleys and streets far below
looking for trouble. In a back-alley dojo, a young
vigilante practices the many fighting techniques she learned
under the tutelage of great martial arts masters, preparing for
her nightly war on crime. The drug dealers open fire, but the
burly mutant interposes himself in front of the innocent
civilians who were teasing him moments ago, the 9mm slugs
feeling like bee stings through his rocky skin.
At the heart of every hero are the powers that
differentiate them from normal people. Some heroes
are born with them, some develop them after
experimentation or an accident, and others gain them
through advanced inventions or years of training. Even
a single superpowered gift grants a distinct advantage,
and some heroes have half a dozen or more exotic
powers at their disposal. No matter where they came
from or how many a hero possesses, powers represent
abilities beyond the ordinary.
It’s important to note that the term “powers” is a bit
of a misnomer. Comic book heroes run the gamut of
cosmic powered demigods to scarred and grizzled
vigilantes who get by on nothing but grit and
determination. The cosmic hero flies faster than a jet,
shoots blasts of force, and can survive in outer space
without protection, all granted by exposure to black
hole radiation. Master of several martial arts, the
vigilante can throw any small object with uncanny
accuracy, and has skills learned from years of intense
training with their sensei. While only one has
superpowers in the traditional sense of the term, in the
game system of Destined, both of them have “powers.”
4. Powers
How a hero acquired their powers is largely a narrative
factor (see Origins on page 12), and powers themselves
are largely mechanical effects that allow the hero to do
something extraordinary.
The system presented here is meant to provide a
diverse toolkit to create a wide range of comic book
heroes and villains. The Core Powers listed represent a
broad group of abilities commonly found in
superpowered stories, and with some creativity and
ingenuity nearly any superpower can be created. It is
recommended that the Games Master be familiar with
the power system, and work with players to help them
choose the Core Powers that best represent the heroic
concept they have in mind. The power system can also
be customized to best fit your campaign, as discussed on
pages 9-12. Keep in mind that this system is not
exhaustive, and Destined’s power system is not designed
to create truly godlike paragons of heroism or villainy.
However, future supplements will expand on the Core
Powers and Power Levels presented in this book.
The Destined power system is designed around three
components that make up nearly every hero and villain:
Core Powers, Boosts and Limits, defined below.
Core Powers
Core Powers form the basis of a hero’s superpowers,
and they represent something that they can always do,
even if the hero is out of Power Points. Core Powers
allow the hero to fly, shoot energy beams, run faster
than a car, or shrug off a bank robber’s bullet. A hero’s
Core Powers are what make them “super,” defining
73
 Destined
Using Mythras Resources
W hile Destined is a standalone superhero
game, it’s firmly rooted in and based on the
Mythras ruleset. It’s quite possible that players will
want to create a character with Sorcery powers, or
utilize any of the myriad of other supplements
available in the Mythras line. While there are no
set rules given here for incorporating these into
Destined, it’s completely possible to do. Games
Masters and players should work together to
balance the rules across books and incorporate a
given supplement for their game.
For example, perhaps an evil magician sends
fantasy Mythras or Classic Fantasy magical heroes
to a modern setting where superheroes exist but
no one else has magic, or that the player
character superheroes ended up stranded on
Monster Island. Perhaps the Martian landing of
Worlds United caused powers to occur in the
human genome, or humans in that setting
captured were experimented on, creating a sub-
race of supervillains. Maybe the plot of White
Death invariably causes superpowers to kick off in
our world.
On the flip side, a campaign using Luther
Arkwright parallel dimensions could incorporate
Destined rules for a strange world where powers
exist, giving players a chance to explore their
characters in a world of superpowered villains
(and heroes). Or, superheroes in a fantasy setting
would certainly make dungeon crawls different...
The only limit is your imagination, and we
heartily encourage you to explore how any given
book in the Mythras line would work for your
game.
exactly what kind of hero or villain they are. When a
hero chooses a Core Power, the player should decide on
a description on how the power manifests when they
use it. Do they fly using telekinetic force or through
wings made of coalesced air? Do they create earthen
structures or are they made from the glowing force of
their will made real? The descriptions of Core Powers
are intentionally left vague, allowing players to
customize what their power does and what it looks like,
even if mechanically it functions the same way for every
hero that has it. So two heroes may have the same Blast
Core Power, but one shoots jolts of electricity and the
other launches piercing quills from their arms. While
both of their powers mechanically work the same, both
74
manifest in different ways. Normally the hero’s power
manifestation doesn’t change, but the Games Master
may allow players to alter the narrative appearance
of their powers if the player has a good reason for
the change.
Boost and Limits
As mentioned in the creation chapter, a hero’s Boosts
are augmentations to a Core Power that allow to hero to
do more with it and Limits weaken a Core Power or
reduce some of its abilities. They are a key part of the
Destined power system and can help each Core Power
feel unique for each hero, so it is important to
understand how they work as you design your hero.
Boosts
Where Core Powers represent what a hero can do,
Boosts are the tricks, refinements, and training that
further define what can be accomplished with Core
Powers, and differentiate the hero from other supers,
even those with the same Core Power. Maybe the hero
learns to fly at supersonic speeds, ricochet an energy
beam off the wall, run fast enough to create a vortex, or
create portals to allow their allies to teleport with them.
When purchased (see below), Boosts add additional
effects to Core Powers, enhancing them beyond what
they normally can do. Unlike the Core Powers, most
Boosts sap away a hero’s reserves, represented by an
expenditure of Power Points. When a hero’s Power
Points are reduced to 0, he or she can no longer use any
Boosts that have a cost until those points are recovered
(see Power Point Recovery, page 81).
Unlike Limits, which can pertain to Core Powers or
to the hero as a whole, Boosts are linked to specific Core
Powers. For a list of Boosts, see the Core Powers
descriptions, starting on page 81.
Limits
Just as their name suggests, Limits add constraints to a
hero, or to one or more of their Core Powers. Perhaps
the flying hero can barely maneuver when they fly, an
armored hero must take time to activate their personal
Force Field before the bullets start flying, or the most
powerful defender of the city can be laid low by
exposure to a rare mineral. There are two different
categories of Limits available to heroes: Core Power
Limits and Hero Limits.

Core Power Limits
Each power has several Limits listed in its description
that impart an impairment or constraint on the normal
function of the Core Power. Perhaps the power is unable
to affect certain materials, or it does not function at the
same level as someone who has the power without
the Limit.
In addition to the Power Limits listed under each
Core Power below, there are general Core Power Limits
that can affect any specific Core Power of a hero. These
generic Core Power Limits can be applied to nearly any
Core Power available, with Games Master permission.
• Activation Cost: The hero’s Core Power saps more of
their reserves to use. The Core Power requires the
expenditure of 1 Power Point to activate, and any
Boosts applied to it cost 1 additional Power Point to use.
If the hero’s Power Points are reduced to zero, that
Core Power becomes inactive until they can regain their
Power Points.
• Activation Time: The hero’s Core Power requires
some time before it can be used. A power that normally
takes a single Action or Reaction to activate requires a
full Combat Round to use, or a Core Power that
requires a Free Action takes an Action. If activating the
Core Power takes longer, multiply the activation time by
a factor of 10. For a Core Power that does not normally
require activation or is Always On, such as Inherent
Armor, it now requires an Action to activate before the
Core Power’s effect applies. It remains active until
the hero takes another Action to shut it down or an
hour passes.
• Boosted Only: The hero can only use an enhanced
version of the Core Power, or only one specific part of
the power. The Core Power can only be used with
specific Boosts that are always active any time the power
is used, and the hero must pay any required Power
Point costs when the Core Power is activated. Choose
what Boosts are always active when this Limit is taken,
and any additional Boosts the hero has can be applied
as normal. If the Boost has a separate effect from the
Core Power, the hero can only use the Boost’s effect and
can’t use the Core Power. For example, Killer Kangaroo
wants to be able to leap great distances but doesn’t want to have
super strength, so he takes the Boosted Only version of the
Super Leap from Enhanced Strength.
• Concentration: The hero must focus their attention
on the Core Power for it be used. A power that doesn’t
normally require Concentration gains the Trait while in
use. This Limit normally can’t be applied to powers with
the Always On Trait unless that Core Power also has the
4. Powers
Optional Boost: Variable
Manifestation
N ormally in comics heroes always remain true
to their theme, and their powers always
manifest in a specific way throughout their
careers. This is not true for all heroes, especially
those who have Origins that may account for
variation in how their powers manifest. For
example, a sorcerer may conjure spears of ice one
minute, then blast away with gouts of fire the next.
If you would like your hero to be able to have
different manifestations of their powers, and if
your Games Master allows, you may apply the
following Boost to a Core Power to allow the
manifestation to be altered.
• Variable Manifestation: The hero can alter
how their Core Power manifests when they use it.
When the hero takes this Boost, they may choose
a second manifestation for the power and may
switch how the power manifests by spending 2
Power Points as a Free Action. For example, the
hero Flashfreeze has Elemental Control of ice and
adds this Boost so he can also use the Core Power
to control fire. The hero may take this Boost
multiple times, adding a new manifestation for the
power each time.
Activation Time Limit above.
• Conditional: The hero’s Core Power can only be used
under specific circumstances, and outside of those
circumstances the hero is unable to use the power. The
exact condition should be worked out between the
player and the Games Master, but here are some
examples: only during the day/night; requires intricate
hand gestures, incantations, or both; only usable for a
minute after consuming a specific substance; only works
against robots/undead/aliens; only usable after the hero
fails a Passion check. If the same condition applies to
more than two of the hero’s powers, such as a sorcerer
having “requires intricate gestures and incantations”
for all their spells, Conditional counts as a maximum
of two Limits for the hero no matter how many times it
is applied.
• Fatiguing: The hero’s Core Power takes so much
energy that it tires them out. Whenever the hero uses
the power, they must make an Easy Endurance check as
a Free Action or suffer a Level of Fatigue.
• Latent: The hero has a Core Power that they are
unaware of and only manifests under extreme or
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 Destined
stressful circumstances. The player may know which
Core Power is latent, or optionally the Games Master
chooses it and the player is unaware. A Latent power
manifests only at times of extreme duress, such as when
the hero fails a Passion check, suffers a Serious Wound,
gains a Level of Fatigue, or rolls a Fumble. At that time
the Core Power activates, but the Games Master dictates
what happens and may even apply Boosts and Limits
that the hero does not normally possess. If the player
uses Experience Rolls to remove this Limit, they gain
the Core Power and have full control over it.
• Limited Power: The hero has a lower-powered
version of a Core Power, and can’t utilize it at the
normal level for their Characteristics. If the power has
elements based on a single Characteristic, such as POW,
the hero uses two-thirds the Characteristic’s value for
any calculated aspects. If it uses two Characteristics,
such as CON+POW, the hero uses half of the higher
Characteristic in the calculation. For example, Cloudburst
can fire small jolts of lightning with her weather powers and
she takes a Limited Power Blast. When she calculates her
damage for the power, she uses two-thirds of her POW of 15,
or 10, and does 1d10 damage with her blasts. Alternatively,
the hero does not gain every aspect of the Core Power
if it offers several benefits. For example, a hero with
Limited Enhanced Reactions either gains the bonus to
Initiative or does not go prone after an Evade, but
not both.
• Limited Targets: The hero’s Core Power only affects
a limited category of targets. This must be determined
at the time this Limit is taken, and the category must be
reasonably narrow such as only men, animals, or
machinery. The power has no effect on a target that is
not part of the category. This Limit cannot be applied to
a Core Power that normally affects a limited group of
targets, such as the Core Power Technopathy.
• Poor Control: The hero has poor control over the
Core Power, and when they fail, they fail spectacularly.
The power must require a skill check as part of its use,
and the hero’s Fumble range is increased to 90-00 for
any rolls while using the Core Power.
• Power Outage: The hero’s Core Power is unreliable
and sometimes it stops working. The Core Power must
require a regular skill check as part of its use, and
whenever the hero fails a check while using the power,
they must make an Easy Willpower check as a Free
Action. If the check fails, the hero loses use of the Core
Power for 1d6+1 minutes. If the result is a Fumble, they
lose use of the Core Power for 1d3+1 days instead.
• Side Effect: The hero’s Core Power causes them some
detrimental effect while it is being used. The exact effect
76
is determined at the time this Limit is taken, and the
Games Master has final approval on any side effect
applied to a Core Power. The effect is active while the
hero is using the power, and stops when the power
stops. For Instantaneous Core Powers such as Blast,
non-damaging effects persist for 1d3+1 Turns after the
power is used. For Core Powers that have the Always On
Trait, the side effect is persistent and always affects the
hero. Some example side effects are:
* A one-step penalty to skills that share a
Characteristic. For example, whenever Cerebellum uses his
Telepathy Core Power, he gets painful headaches that inflict a
penalty on all INT-based skills.
* A lowered Attribute rating while the Core Power is
active equal to one-tenth of a Characteristic related to
the power. For example, the villain Rockslide’s stone skin
slows him down and his base Movement is reduced by one-
tenth his CON from 6 meters to 4 meters.
* A distinctive sensory effect while the Core Power is
being used that makes the hero obvious to anyone
nearby. For example, the heroine Eclipse emanates bright
light from her body whenever she uses Flight, making her
stand out distinctly in the night sky.
* The hero suffers minor damage (1 Hit Point to a
random location, ignoring armor) as a result of the
Core Power’s use or activation. For example, any time
Crimson Pulse uses his bioelectric Blast he suffers damage
from the internal strain to his body. This option cannot be
chosen for powers with the Always On Trait.
• Unstable Power: The hero’s Core Power is unstable
and unpredictable at times, with variable effects they
have no control over. Whenever the hero rolls a Fumble
while using the power or on a Passion check, the Games
Master rolls 1d6. On a 1, nothing happens. On a 2-3,
any Boosts are changed to different ones of the Games
Master’s choice or a new Boost is added. On a 4-5, the
power gains a Limit of the Games Master’s choice. On a
6, the Core Power either changes on a fundamental
level (for example, a fire Blast or Elemental Control
changes to ice) or the power is changed to a completely
different Core Power of the Games Master’s choice. The
Core Power changes back to normal after 1d3 days.
As the next section explains, there are some Limits that
affect the hero as a whole, giving them unusual features
or vulnerabilities that other heroes lack. Hero Limits
can also affect how a hero is able to use their powers or
even limit how the hero can access them.
Special Note: The restrictions placed on the hero or their Core
Powers by a Limit supersede anything else in the rules given
below.

Hero Limits
Hero Limits affect the hero as a whole and can change
them in fundamental or even drastic ways. They can
alter how the hero looks, how several of their powers
function, or add dangerous and even deadly
weaknesses that their enemies can exploit. As
detrimental as they can be, these types of Limits are an
integral part of many superheroes, giving modern
demigods an Achilles Heel that further defines the
struggles they must endure. Hero Limits are treated
just like any other Limit, allowing the hero to gain
additional Core Powers and Boosts just like Power
Limits. Note that some of the options below can count
as more than one Limit and this should be noted when
a hero takes one of these Limits at a higher level.
• Distinctive Appearance: The hero has a very
distinctive appearance that sometimes unnerves or
frightens people they encounter. The player determines
the nature of the hero’s appearance when they choose
this Limit, but it must be obvious or mark them as being
different in a noticeable way and it often ties into the
nature of their powers. Perhaps they have armored
plating, have a strange skin color, or share features with
a type of animal. Whenever the hero encounters
someone new, or someone the Games Master feels
would judge their appearance, the hero makes any
social skill checks (Deceit, Influence, or Perform) with a
one-step difficulty penalty. In some cases the hero’s
strange appearance might even benefit them, such
as using Intimidate on someone who is unnerved by
their appearance.
• External Power Source: The hero’s Core Power
comes from an external source, such as a piece of
equipment, a magical talisman, or an alien artifact. If it’s
small or handheld, the power source is vulnerable to
Special Effects such as Disarm or Take Item; if large, it
requires at least one minute to don or activate before its
powers can be used. If someone else obtains the power
source, it is up the Games Master if they are able to use
the hero’s Core Powers while in possession of the item.
For example, the hero Tortoise has power armor that conforms
to his physical limitations as a quadruple amputee so only he
could use it, but if someone gained access to Azure Knight’s
energy armor they may be able to access its powers. If the
External Power Source applies to one or two of the
hero’s powers, it counts as a single Limit; if it applies
to three or more of the hero’s powers, it counts as
two Limits.
• Fatal Flaw: The hero requires a specific substance to
survive, or suffers when in the presence of a particular
material.
4. Powers
If the flaw is a requirement, the hero must have
access to it every four hours, and if they are unable to
meet this need, they must make a Hard Endurance
check. If this check is failed, the hero suffers a Level of
Fatigue that can’t be recovered until the material is
obtained. This check must be repeated every hour until
the requirement is obtained or the hero perishes. As
examples, the hero might need a special medicine,
require specific atmospheric conditions, or need a
unique source of food.
If the flaw harms the hero by a material’s presence,
the hero makes an unmodified Endurance check when
they are first exposed to it and every Turn they
remain within ten meters of it, or suffer a Level of
Fatigue. The substance is usually something relatively
uncommon but normally harmless, such as a specific
mineral, atmospheric pollution, or a frequency of
sound or light.
• Impaired Recovery: The hero’s energy reserves
return at a much slower rate or under very specific
conditions. The hero recovers Power Points at a rate of
every 6 hours, or can only recover them under a specific
condition such as when hooked up to a power source,
only at nighttime, or while meditating in a site of
mystical or spiritual significance. When the condition is
met, the hero recovers at the normal rate for the
campaign (see Power Point Recovery, page 81). For
example, as noted earlier, Shadowstalker is only able to recover
Power Points if he’s directly in the light of the moon, and on
nights with a new moon, he can’t recover any. So Ron Peters
(Shadowstalker’s secret identity) has outfitted a comfortable
sleeping arrangement on the roof of his condo.
• Linked: The hero has two or more powers that can
only be used in conjunction with each other. When the
hero takes this Limit, they choose one Core Power to be
the “primary” ability in the Link, and this Core Power is
used normally. A primary Core Power cannot have the
Always On Trait or be Instantaneous, such as Blast.
Other Core Powers are Linked to this primary power,
and they can only be used while the primary Core Power is
active. So if Luminous has Flight Linked to her Energy Field
Core Power, she can only fly while her light aura is activated.
The hero may choose to use any powers Linked when
the primary Core Power is activated, but using more
than two Core Powers at the same time imposes a one-
step difficulty penalty to any rolls required for power
usage. These “secondary” Core Powers can have Boosts
and Limits of their own, but Boosts can also only be
used while the primary Core Power is in effect and their
Power Point cost is increased by 1 for each Linked Core
Power being used at the time. The benefit of a Linked
Core Power is that secondary Core Powers can be
activated as a Free Action when the primary Core Power
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 Destined
is activated. For example, the Superslayer has Negation
Linked to his Close Combat Attack. When he strikes a foe with
his spear, he may choose to also Negate their powers as part of
the strike as a Free Action. If the primary Core Power is
somehow negated, any other Core Powers Linked to it are also
negated at the same time.
If there is one power Linked to the primary Core
Power, this counts as one Limit. If there are two or more
Core Powers Linked, it counts as two Limits.
• Omnipower: The hero has a suite of Core Powers that
are all related in some way, often coming from the same
source. Each power in the suite can have its own Boosts
and Limits, but only a single Core Power can be used
from the suite at any given time. For example, if the hero
Mindflight has Flight, Force Field, and Telekinesis in his suite,
he could not use his protective field or manipulate objects at a
distance while flying.
The hero can switch their current active Core Power
from the suite as an Action, or as a Free Action by
spending 1 Power Point. Anything that would remove
the use of one of the powers in the suite, such as the
Negation Core Power, affects every power in the
Omnipower simultaneously. If the Omnipower applies
to two or three of the hero’s powers, it counts as a single
Limit; if it applies to four or more of the hero’s Core
Powers, it counts as two Limits.
• Physical Limitation: The hero has a persistent
limiting condition, such as permanent wound or an
impaired sense. The exact details of the limitation
should be decided by the player and the Games Master;
it should debilitate but not entirely hamper the hero in
some way. Some examples of Physical Limitations are:
* The permanent loss of a sense. Perhaps the hero is blind
or deaf, or has no sense of taste and smell.
* A damaged, missing, or disabled Hit Location. Perhaps
the hero is missing an arm or leg, or suffered a
permanent injury to their abdomen. This is
represented by a reduction of Hit Points in the
location to half its normal value, and even with a
prosthetic, tasks with the location are one Difficulty
Grade harder.
* Limited or impaired movement. The hero has trouble
walking or requires use of an assistive device to move
such as braces or a wheelchair. Movement rate is
halved and the hero can Run but is unable to Sprint.
* Difficulty or impairment of communications. Perhaps the
hero is mute, or only speaks an alien language that no
one where they are understands. This makes any skill
that relies on verbal communication at least one
Difficulty Grade harder.
78
• Powered Form: The hero has a normal and powered
physical form, and must switch between them to use
their powers. The hero can switch between these forms
as an Action, and they may have completely distinct
appearances. The normal form is built as a separate
hero using the Street Level hero guidelines (see page
29), but with only 75 Characteristic Points and no
powers. Experience Rolls can be spent on either the
normal form or the superpowered form. Damage from
one form carries over to the other, and if the hero is
rendered Incapacitated in their powered form, they
immediately revert to their normal form unless they
succeed at a Hard Endurance check. Often the hero has
a specific condition that causes the transformation,
such as uttering a magic phrase, being in a certain
state of mind, or activating an artifact or other piece
of equipment.
• Vulnerability: The hero is more susceptible to certain
forms of damage. The hero takes double damage from
a specific form of attack, such as bludgeoning weapons,
cold and ice, electricity, or light-based attacks. Even if
the hero has sufficient armor or other protection to
negate the damage, they always take at least 1 Hit Point
of damage to any Hit Location affected.
Borrowing Boosts
and Limits
Each Core Power below has several Boosts and Limits
listed to further modify the ability. While they are
geared towards the Core Power they are listed under,
many Boosts and Limits can be adapted to work with
other Core Powers with a little effort. This helps further
expand the given list, and allows players to adapt
specific abilities to serve the concept of their character
without the need to take Core Powers just to get the
enhancement they want.
The main combat powers (Blast, Close Combat
Attack, and Combat Expert) are good examples of this,
as many of their Boosts and Limits are easily
interchanged. For example, if Glaive wants his mystical
polearm (Close Combat Attack) to have the ability to cleave
through armor, he can take the Armor Piercing Boost from
Blast and apply it to his Core Power. This applies to any
Core Power below, so a telekinetic hero that wants to use
their power to leap great distances can easily use the
Super Leaping Boost from Enhanced Strength to gain
the ability, or a speedster that wants to run up walls
could take the Wallrunner Boost from Adhesion.
The Games Master has final approval on adapting
Boosts and Limits to other Core Powers, but should

allow players to get creative when designing the abilities
of their heroes.
Creating New Boosts
and Limits
While there are many options for Boosts and Limits
given below, the lists are far from exhaustive, and you
may want to develop your own ways to modify Core
Powers to create the heroes (and villains) you imagine.
The examples given below can serve as a good basis for
any new power modifications, and adapting an existing
Boost or Limit may be the easiest way of creating your
own. For example, a hero who is a robotics expert wants to be
able to quickly repair his robot servitors. Looking at the powers,
he decides to use the Shared Healing Boost from Regeneration
and modify it so it only works on machines. As long as the
general effect of the Boost remains the same, any Power
Point cost remains the same as well, but the Games
Master may decide the cost is raised or lowered
depending on the effect.
New Boosts
A Boost is a way of adding a special modification or trick
to a Core Power, often at the cost of several Power Points
representing the effort to pull off the modification. In
game terms, spending Power Points also helps curb
abuse of these special tricks and adds a level of strategy
to using them at the best time. Boosts usually enhance
one of the Core Powers’ inherent benefits, or add a new
benefit to what is already there. Most of these benefits
are relatively minor, adding a slight enhancement or
“breaking the rules” of the Core Power of some aspect
of the Destined game system. Players should work with
the Games Master to determine if a new Boost is
appropriate and is not underpowered or overpowered.
The degree to which the Boost modifies the base
Core Power determines how many Power Points it costs
to use.
• No Cost: The Boost adds an additional narrative
option to a Core Power that doesn’t change how the
base power operates and only enhances it in limited
situations. For example, a hero wishing to have their Blast
Core Power do either Fire or Ice damage may create a Boost that
generates an additional type of effect.
• 1 Power Point: The Boost adds a small bonus to
specific skill checks or allows the character to make a
non-attack Action as a Free Action. For example, a heroine
wants her Enhanced Reactions Core Power to let her do certain
Athletics checks one grade easier.
4. Powers
• 2 Power Points: The Boost enhances a numerical
value of the existing Core Power or adds a new ability
to the power under a specific circumstance. For example,
a hero adds a Boost to their Teleport Core Power to allow them
to briefly teleport just their hand to grab something at a distance
and bring it back to them. This is the standard cost for
most Boosts.
• 3+ Power Points: The Boost changes the Core Power
significantly, or allows the hero to modify an Action
(including attacks) to work differently than the rules as
written. For example, a villain develops a Boost for their
Telepathy Core Power that allows them to edit the memories of
their victims, erasing details and adding in new ones of the
villain’s design.
Example: Creating a New Boost: The villainess Vagabond
uses the Portals variant of the Teleport Core Power to commit
her thefts and to escape from the law. The Games Master likes
the idea of her being able to use small, short-lived portals to
reach through to snatch items or deliver a quick punch to an
unsuspecting guard from across the room. Since there is not an
existing Boost that provides this ability, he decides to create a
new one he calls “Far Reach.” He looks for other Boosts that
allow a close-range power to be used at range and sees the
Distant Creations option for Creation and uses that as a basis.
Since the function allows her to perform a regular Action or
skill check at range, he doesn’t see this as a huge enhancement
but decides it should cost at least 2 Power Points since it gives
Vagabond an entirely new option for her Core Power. So he
writes up the following Boost to add to her Portals Core Power:
Far Reach: The hero can use a short-lived portal to
extend a limb through to perform a quick Action. The
hero spends 2 Power Points to deliver a melee attack or
perform a skill check that takes a single Action at a point
with half the hero’s POW in meters.
New Limits
Limits are designed to impose some form of limitation
on a Core Power, so when creating a new Limit, look at
what the power does first to see how it can be changed
or modified to work less effectively under specific
conditions. In most cases this hampers or eliminates
one of the benefits of the Core Power, perhaps giving it
a reduced effect overall or removing an ability under
specific circumstances. Like creating Boosts, look at
existing Limits for both Core Powers and the general
list starting on page 81 for examples that can be
adjusted or modified to suit your needs.
The key thing to keep in mind when creating a Limit is
that it must weaken the power in some way, but not
completely strip the hero of their power. A Limit that
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 Destined
takes away a hero’s ability to feel super also takes away
the player’s fun. As with Boosts, the Games Master has
final say if a Limit can be added to the game.
Purchasing Powers,
Boosts, and Limits
As detailed in the Hero Creation chapter, heroes gain a
certain number of Power Slots upon creation that can be
used to choose superpowers, gaining one Core Power
for each Slot spent. Alternatively, a hero can spend a
Power Slot to gain two Boosts that can be applied to any
Core Power. Taking a Limit grants an additional Boost,
or taking two Limits allows another Core Power to be
chosen. During Character Creation, please note the
maximum amount of Core Powers and Limits that can
be taken based on the Power Level of the campaign (see
page 29).
For example, Torc’s CHA of 14 grants him 4 base Power
Slots at the Epic Power Level. He assigns those to Durability,
Enhanced Strength, and Inherent Armor, and uses the last
Power Slot to give him two Boosts to add to the free one he gets
for his Power Level. He takes one Limit each on his Durability
and Enhanced Strength, and also takes External Power Source
to account for the magical necklace that grants him his powers.
With those three Limits, he could add another Core Power
and a Boost, or he could choose to add three more Boosts to
his powers.
Using Powers
Most powers are used as part of a hero’s Action or as a
Reaction (see page 152), producing the effect detailed in
the description when activated. If a skill roll is required,
it will be listed as part of the Core Power’s description
and is made as part of the Action on the Turn the power
is used. If the required check is successful, the power
activates as intended and the desired effect occurs. If
permitted, targets make any required Opposed
resistance rolls if they are able to avoid the effect. When
a Core Power requires a Combat Style, Unarmed,
Evade, or Parry check, it is treated as a normal Combat
Action of the appropriate type (see Combat, page 152).
Combat powers can also use Special Effects just like any
other attack or defense roll, with choices based on the
end result of the power (see Special Effects on page 158).
Some powers, such as Enhanced Strength or
Inherent Armor, do not require an Action to activate
and as such have the “Always On” Trait (see below). The
effect given in the descriptor always applies if the
situation warrants it, such as damage being inflicted on
80
a hero who has Inherent Armor. Unless a specific Limit
comes into play or another Core Power can negate
them, Always On powers cannot be removed from the
hero.
Boosts can be applied to a Core Power as noted in
their description (usually as a Free Action; see page
155), but the hero must decide whether to use the
Boost prior to making any applicable skill checks or
resolving the effect of the power. The Power Point cost
is paid at the same time the decision to use a Boost is
made, so even if the Core Power fails to work, the
Power Points are still spent. Multiple Boosts can be
applied to the same power as long as the hero has the
Power Points to spend. Boosts can often enhance each
other in addition to the Core Power. For example, a
hero with Telepathy and the Mind Control Boost can
use another Boost to try to control the minds of several
targets at once. If the hero is at 0 Power Points, or does
not have the full amount needed, the Boost cannot be
applied at that time, but the base Core Power can still be
used. Heroes can spend Luck Points to recover some of
their Power Points if needed (see below). At the Games
Master’s discretion, desperate heroes can take Levels of
Fatigue on a one-for-one basis in place of the Power
Points needed, but this is risky, and should only be used
when the situation is dire.
POWERS OUTSIDE
OF COMBAT
Many of the rules for powers presented below apply to
action scenes and combat situations. That is due to the
fact that most of the rules in Destined relate to resolving
these tense encounters, and most of the time heroes
will be using their fantastic gifts to help themselves and
innocent civilians survive. In most sessions, powers will
come into play primarily during combat scenes, but
heroes have access to their abilities all the time. Outside
of their costumes or while working their day jobs,
heroes can still use their powers to help overcome
mundane situations that are part of normal life.
Superspeed comes in handy when trying to type up the
TPS reports your boss wants on their desk by the end
of the day, and being super strong or invulnerable
would come in handy while working on a dangerous
construction site. As long as they are not abusing their
abilities, the Games Master should not discourage
players from finding creative ways to use their powers
in all situations. Just keep in mind that if the hero has
a secret identity, they need to be careful not to reveal
their special abilities or they may compromise their
secret double life (see Heroic and Secret Identities,
page 213).

Another thing to keep in mind with powers is how
they can be used creatively to overcome perilous
situations such as disasters and accidents that seem to be
a constant occurrence in superheroic settings. Most
heroes can’t walk down the street without seeing an
elderly woman about to get struck by an inattentive
driver, people crying for help from a burning building,
or a massive wave/earthquake/spontaneous volcano in
the middle of the business district threatening lives.
This is where superpowers can really make a difference
and allow the heroes to feel heroic as they come up with
solutions to the bizarre and dangerous situations that
are part of their every day. The Games Master should
allow the players some leeway when it comes to finding
inventive ways to overcome these types of situations.
Just because Flight doesn’t specify how much wind a
hero can generate from flying past at top speed doesn’t
mean the Games Master shouldn’t allow them to
try to put out a fire by rushing past. Comics are ripe
with examples of heroes rescuing people in danger
with their powers, and these situations might be a
good opportunity to let your players be creative and
feel empowered.
Power Point Recovery
Power Points represent the inner reserves of energy,
resolve, and stamina that fuel the special abilities of
heroes. Their exact nature is determined by the Origin
and source of a hero’s powers, so in a Street campaign,
the crimefighter’s points might be their stubborn
determination to keep fighting, while a master
sorceress’s Power Points are energy taken from the
dimension of magic that fuels their potent incantations.
Normally they are only used to power Boosts to a Core
Power, but some Limits and unusual situations may
cause them to be depleted for any Core Power use.
When a hero reaches 0 Power Points, the only negative
effect is that they can only use their unmodified
Core Powers.
Power Points default to a recovery rate per hour
determined by the Power Level of the campaign (see
page 11). Heroes may also spend a Luck Point as a Free
Action to immediately recover 1d4+1 Power Points,
which can come in handy when reserves are gone and a
dangerous threat is looming.
Powers Descriptions
Below is a list of the powers available in Destined, and
each description details how the Core Power is used and
what effect it has in-game. Following each Core Power
is a list of common Boosts available and specific Limits
4. Powers
that can be applied to that specific Core Power. While
names are given for powers, Boosts, and Limits, players
are encouraged to come up with their own unique titles
for their heroes’ abilities. For example, Jake is playing the
Jade Raptor, who has the Core Power of Heightened Sense,
specifically sight. He decides he’s going to term the power
“Owleye,” reflecting his hero’s affinity with birds.
It should be noted that some of the Core Powers
listed here can be quite powerful and are open to abuse
by unscrupulous players. Some Games Masters may
want to limit the availability of some to keep the game
balanced, or impose mandatory Limits on certain Core
Powers. Players should also keep in mind that if the
Core Power is available to them, the supervillain they
face may have the same Core Power as well, using their
own tactics against them. There are three additional
Traits that may be listed below the name of each
Core Power:
Always On: These powers do not require an Action to
activate. Instead, they are innate to the hero.
Characteristic: Many Core Powers are tied to one or
more Characteristics, which determine the effects of the
power, and the relevant Characteristic(s) will be listed
here. As a general guideline powers are linked to
specific Characteristics as follows:
• Those that affect or alter the hero’s body directly are
linked to STR, DEX, CON, and SIZ.
• Those that manipulate energy or elemental forces
are linked to INT and POW.
• Those that alter fundamental laws of nature or are
supernatural in nature are linked to CHA.
Concentration: The Core Power’s effect only continues
as long the hero specifically concentrates on it. While
concentrating, all skill checks the hero makes are one
Difficulty Grade harder. A hero can only concentrate on
a single Core Power at a time, and attempting to use
another Core Power that requires a Proactive Action or
requires Concentration causes the first Core Power to
stop immediately. If the hero is subjected to a
detrimental or damaging effect, including any effect
that requires a resistance check, the hero must make an
immediate unopposed Willpower check or lose
Concentration on the Core Power.
Resist (Endurance, Evade, Parry, Special, Willpower):
Powers that are offensive in nature or somehow inhibit
or alter someone allow the affected target to make an
Opposed Test of their Endurance, Evade, Parry, or
Willpower skill (as specified by the Core Power) to resist
or avoid the effect. To resist using Evade or Parry, the
affected target must spend a Combat Action as normal.
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 Destined
Optional Boost:
Swapping Resist Skills
T he skills used to resist a power are based on
logical assumptions of how a target would
avoid a particular effect, but they can prove
limited if a hero wants to try to circumvent a
villain’s defenses in a new and interesting way.
This is especially true if the hero has a slim chance
to utilize their powers because the target’s skill
values in the relevant defense are extremely high.
Your psychic hero feels very useless when the
archvillain has a 99% in their Willpower skill. To
help with this, heroes can take the following
optional Boost if allowed by the Games Master.
• Alternate Resist: The hero can change tactics
to try to circumvent an opponent’s defenses. By
spending 2 Power Points, they can change the
Resist skill of the power to another skill for a single
action. The hero can use one of the following as
the alternate Resist skill: Endurance, Evade, or
Willpower. The player must justify the use of an
alternate skill to the Game Master before this
Boost can be used. For example, the villain Brain
Drain is having trouble overcoming the Shaman’s
high Willpower skill to use his Telepathy power, so
he opts to try to overwhelm the hero’s synapses
with a potent psychic assault, and rolls against
Shaman’s Endurance instead. With the Games
Master’s approval heroes can change the Resist to
another Standard Skill with an appropriate
reason. For example, Eclipse wants to use her light
powers to flash a bank robber’s eyes when he is
looking at her, so the Games Master allows her to
substitute Perception for the Resist roll. If the power
would normally be resisted by an Evade or Parry,
and therefore require an Action Point, switching it
to another skill eliminates the target’s need to use
an Action Point to try to avoid the effect.
Some powers have other skills that are used to resist,
and this will be noted in the Trait listed after the Core
Power’s name.
ADHESION
Always On
The hero is able to stick to any surface and climb it as
easily as a spider. As a Free Action the hero is able to
make their hands and feet sticky, moving at their
normal Movement Rate on vertical surfaces and at half
82
speed on ceilings and overhangs, although they cannot
Run or Sprint. If the hero must make an Athletics check
to climb while the power is active, the Difficulty Grade
of the check is one step easier.
Boosts
• Expert Grappler: The hero’s stickiness makes it
easier for them to grab onto their foes. When the hero
uses the Grip combat Special Effect or grapples in
unarmed combat (see page 161), they can spend 2
Power Points to make the target’s escape check one
grade more difficult.
• Sticky Fingers: Once the hero grabs something, it’s
hard to make them let go. When making a Sleight skill
check or attempting to resist a Disarm Special Effect,
the hero can spend 1 Power Point to make their check
one Difficulty Grade easier.
• Sudden Stop: The hero can use their stickiness to
stop themselves whenever they are falling and there’s
something they can grab. While the hero is falling, and
if they are able to reach a nearby surface, they can
spend 2 Power Points to latch onto the surface and
stop the fall immediately.
• Wallrunner: The hero can move as fast on walls as
they can on the ground. Spend 2 Power Points while
clinging to a vertical or horizontal surface to Run or
Sprint as part of a Move Action. On overhangs or
when moving upside down, the hero can Run but is
unable to Sprint (see Movement in Combat, page 165).
As with normal Run and Sprint checks, this consumes
the hero’s Actions for the entire round and they may
move from vertical to horizontal surfaces during the
movement, although they are still subject to penalties
and possible skill checks if they encounter difficult or
hazardous conditions during the movement.
Limits
• Limited Surfaces: The hero is only able to adhere to
certain types of surfaces, such as metal, wood, stone, or
glass. Any attempts to climb other surfaces must be
handled like any normal climbing check.
• Low Speed: The hero is not able to move quickly
while climbing, and can only move up to half their
speed while on vertical surfaces and quarter normal
speed while on ceilings and overhangs.
• Uncontrolled Stickiness: The hero quite literally
has a hard time letting go, and must make an Easy
Brawn check to detach from a surface when using
this power.
BLAST
POW, Resist (Evade)

The hero can fire some form of projectile from their

body (the location is up to the player). The form of this
projectile is determined when the power is chosen, and
it can be a physical missile (bullets, spikes, and so on) or
a burst of energy (fire, electricity, radiation, and so
forth). Blast uses the hero’s relevant Combat Style for
attack rolls and has a range equal to the hero’s CON at
Short Range, CON times 3 at Effective Range, and CON
times 10 at Long Range. The damage inflicted and
Force of the attack is determined by the hero’s POW.

Boosts

• Armor Piercing: The hero’s Blasts are potent

enough to pierce through whatever protection the
target has. For each Power Point the hero spends,
reduce the target’s effective armor by one in the
location struck. If the Blast is capable of striking
multiple locations at once, the points
spent only reduce armor in a single area, or they can
be divided up to reduce it over several locations.
• Detonate: The hero can generate a powerful
explosive Blast that can strike several enemies at once.
The hero spends Power Points to have the Blast affect
a radius around the target equal to 1 meter for every 2
Power Points spent. Anyone within the area of effect
can Evade as a Reaction to halve the damage inflicted.
Shields in the area of effect absorb damage as normal.
• Ongoing Damage: The hero’s Blast inflicts an effect
such as burning or powerful shocks that continue to Evil Robot Locusts from Outer Space are
damage the target after it hits. The hero spends 3 attacking Gemelos City. Tortoise treats one of the
Power Points to inflict additional (but lower) damage to monsters with a missile to the face.
a target on subsequent Turns after the initial hit. On
the target’s next Turn, it takes two die steps lower Ongoing Damage above). If launched against a single
damage (2d12> 2d10> 2d8> 1d12> 1d10> 1d8> target, a successful hit strikes as many locations as the
1d6> 1d4) to the location struck and makes an number of shots fired. If attacking multiple targets,
unopposed Endurance check as a Free Action. If the attack roll is one Difficulty Grade more difficult,
successful, the Ongoing Damage stops. If unsuccessful, and shots may be divided up among the targets as the
the Ongoing Damage is inflicted again on the target’s hero sees fit and the attack roll is applied to all
next Turn. The Ongoing Damage only affects a single enemies targeted. For example, the villainous Kraken
location, even if multiple locations are hit, and the decides to fire several shots at police officers who are standing
Games Master can allow a different roll to stop the in his way. He spends 6 Power Points to launch three shots,
damage, depending on the type of attack (Athletics to
roll around to put out flames, Willpower to stop a Blast Damage
psychic attack, and so on), or stop it immediately if the
target can find a way to counter it (diving into water to POW Damage Force
8 or less 1d8 M
put out a fire attack, for example).
9-12 1d10 M
• Salvo: The hero is able to launch a barrage of smaller
13-15 1d12 L
projectiles at a single or multiple enemies. The hero
16-18 2d8 L
spends 2 Power Points for each additional projectile
19-21 2d10 H
past the first one, and each of the shots inflicts damage
22+ 2d12 E
two steps lower than the hero’s normal damage (see
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 Destined
each of which inflicts 1d12 damage, two steps lower than his
normal damage of 2d10. He may choose to launch them at a
single hapless officer and hit the poor man three times, or make
the attack roll one Difficulty Grade harder to target three
police officers instead.
Limits
• Inaccurate: The hero’s Blast has difficulty hitting
targets that are beyond point-blank range. The hero
suffers no penalty to attacks at targets within half their
CON in meters. Out to their normal Short Range, attack
rolls are one Difficulty Grade harder. Attacks out to their
Effective Range are two grades harder, and Long-Range
Blasts are three grades harder. These penalties replace
the normal range penalties for the attack.
• Low Penetration: The hero’s Blasts are not as
effective against armored targets. If the target’s Hit
Location has Armor Points greater than 2, the Blast’s
damage is halved.
• Short Range: The hero is only capable of using their
power at targets close to them. The hero’s Blasts only
go out to the Short-Range value of the power, and are
ineffective past that range.
CLOSE COMBAT ATTACK
CON, Resist (Evade or Parry)
The hero can create a potent melee weapon such as
sharp claws, a mystical blade, or sheathing their fists in
dangerous energy. They manifest a melee weapon by
taking the Ready Item Action, choosing its form when
the Core Power is chosen. It can be a physical weapon or
be made of a specific type of energy, and it remains
active until the hero dismisses it as a Free Action or is
rendered Incapacitated. The weapon cannot be
damaged, dropped, or disarmed, and it may appear as
part of the hero’s body. The hero may add their
Damage Bonus as normal, and if the Games Master
allows, the hero can calculate it based on POW+CHA for
mystical or psychic weapons. The melee weapon has a
base damage and Size based on the character’s CON
if a physical weapon, or CHA for an energy or mystical
weapon.
Close Combat Attacks
CON/CHA Damage Size
8 or less 1d4 S
9-12 1d6 M
13-15 1d8 M
16-18 1d10 L
19-21 2d6 H
22+ 2d8 E
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Boosts
• Quick Draw: The hero is able to manifest their
weapon in an instant. The hero spends 1 Power Point
to ready the Close Combat Attack as a Free Action.
• Ranged Parry: The hero is able to use their weapon
to block ranged attacks. The hero spends 1 Power
Point to use the weapon to Parry a ranged attack. The
Parried attack cannot be one that affects an area, and
the hero must still have a Reaction available to
attempt to Parry as per the normal rules.
• Toxic: The hero’s weapon is poisonous, causing
targets to grow weary and possibly pass out. The hero
spends 2 Power Points to make the weapon attack
poisonous. If the attack is successful and inflicts
damage, the target must make an Opposed
Endurance check against the hero’s initial attack roll.
If this check fails, the target is affected by a
debilitating toxin and suffers a one-step difficulty
penalty to all Actions. At the end of each of the target’s
Turns, it can make an unopposed Endurance check to
shake off the toxin. If the roll is critically failed, the
target is rendered Unconscious for 1d4+1 minutes
instead. Alternatively, the Games Master can allow the
hero to create their own toxin using the Perils rules
found on page 201, giving it a total Intensity equal to
one-fifth the hero’s CON.
• Weapon Traits: The hero’s weapon is capable of the
same benefits as normal weapons of its type. The
weapon gains a number of Traits (see page 131) equal
to one-fifth the hero’s CON, chosen from the
following list: Defensive, Entangle, Reach (may be
chosen multiple times), or Sunder.
Limits
• Handheld: The hero’s created weapon manifests as
an object in their hands. It is subject to the Disarm
Special Effect and it can be dropped. Other people
may wield it if they pick it up (inflicting base damage
as above), but they may not use Boosts associated with
it. The hero can cause it to return to their hands by
taking a Ready Item Action, even if it is held by
another person. Handheld close combat weapon
attacks can also add the Thrown Weapon Trait, and
the hero can return a thrown weapon to their hand as
a Free Action by spending 1 Power Point.
• Poor Defense: While it may be good for attacking,
the hero’s weapon is not as effective when defending.
The hero’s weapon is treated as one Size smaller when
Parrying. Close Combat Attacks with this Limit may
not take the Defensive weapon Trait.
• Slow: The hero’s manifested weapon is especially
large, cumbersome, or impairs the hero’s reactions in
some way. The hero’s Initiative is reduced by 5 when
using this power.
COMBAT EXPERT
The hero is an expert in one or more forms of combat
or knows special fighting techniques that make them
more effective. When the power is chosen, the hero
gains one Expertise listed below. Additional forms of
Expertise can be gained by taking a Boost for each
additional form known. While some Boosts only apply to
certain forms of Expertise, Limits affect every Expertise
the hero knows. Many of the following use Special
Effects. Refer to pages 159-163 for details on these.
• Archery Expertise: The hero is an expert with the
bow and the crossbow. The hero reduces the load time
of any bow or crossbow by 1, and if reduced to 0, they
can load as a Free Action. Additionally, the hero may
shift a random Hit Location to an adjoining body
location when using a bow or crossbow.
• Bleeding Attack: The hero can cut foes with their
blade, causing a deadly hemorrhaging wound. After a
successful hit with a weapon possessing a sharp edge,
such as a sword, axe, or knife, and if the hero gains a
Special Effect, they can use it to inflict a Bleeding
wound if the target takes any damage. The target must
make an Opposed Endurance check against the hero’s
original attack roll. If this roll is failed, the target suffers
a Level of Fatigue at the start of each Combat Round
until they or another person uses an Action to make an
unopposed First Aid or Medicine check to staunch the
flow of blood.
• Dual Weapon Expertise: The hero has mastered the
art of using a weapon in each hand. When the hero
uses a Ready Item Action to draw a weapon, they can
draw a second weapon at the same time. The hero may
also use the Flurry Special Effect when armed with two
weapons, but the second attack must come from the
second weapon drawn, even Ranged Weapons.
• Duelist Expertise: The hero is an expert at fending
off foes with a single weapon. The hero gains one
bonus Action Point that can only be used for Parries,
and their effective weapon Size is increased by one step
for Parries.
• Grappling Expertise: The hero is skilled at getting in
close and incapacitating foes with clinches and grabs.
When initializing a grapple, the target’s Opposed Roll
to resist is one Difficulty Grade harder. When
grappling a target, instead of inflicting damage, the
hero can automatically use the Disarm or Trip
Opponent Special Effects on the target.
• Impaling Attack: The hero is able to lodge their
weapon in their opponent, impairing them until the
weapon is removed. After a successful hit that causes
damage to the target with a sharp-pointed weapon,
such as an arrow or spear, and if they have gained a
Special Effect, they can use it to inflict an Impaling
wound. The weapon remains in the location hit, and all
Actions the target takes are one Difficulty Grade
harder as long as the weapon remains impaled.
Removing the impaled weapon requires a Ready
Item and an unopposed Brawn check, and if
successful, the weapon is removed, and the target
takes half its damage to the affected location. One
minute of time and a successful First Aid or Easy
Medicine check removes the impaled weapon without
any additional damage.
• Improvised Weapon Expertise: The hero is able to
use nearly anything at hand as a weapon. The hero
does not suffer a difficulty penalty to attack rolls when
using an Improvised Weapon of Size Large or
smaller. Additionally, when using an Improvised
Weapon of Size Large or larger, the effective damage
when calculating Knockback or the Bash Special
Effect is doubled.
• Longarm Expertise: The hero is a master of
firearms such as rifles. When aiming, the hero
reduces the Situational Difficulty Modifiers by two
grades instead of one, and if the hero is able to brace
the weapon, the next attack is one Difficulty
Grade easier.
• Pinning Attack: The hero is able to use their
weapon to trap their target. After a successful hit with
a piercing weapon, such as an arrow or a throwing
blade, or with a weapon with the Entangling Trait, if
the hero earned a Special Effect they can use it to pin
the target’s garb or a held item to a nearby (within 1
meter) object or structure. The target must be
wearing something that could be pinned, such as
loose clothing, a cape, or a belt, or be holding
something, and the attack inflicts no damage to the
target. Whatever location struck cannot be used, and
the target is unable to move from the spot as long as it
remains pinned. The target can free itself by spending
an Action Point and making a Brawn check, or by
dropping the item or removing the article of clothing
that is pinned with a Ready Item Action.
• Pistol Expertise: The hero is an expert with one-
handed firearms. The hero can draw a loaded pistol
as a Free Action, but the first attack with it is one
Difficulty Grade harder. The hero can also use the
Flurry Special Effect to double tap, but both attacks
must be against a single target.
• Reach Weapon Expertise: The hero uses long
melee weapons to great effect to keep opponents at
bay. When armed with a Reach weapon, such as a
quarterstaff or spear, if anyone attempts to engage the
hero with a shorter weapon, they both make Opposed
Combat Style checks as a Free Action. If the hero is
successful, the opponent is kept at bay and is unable
to attack the hero that turn.
• Throwing Expertise: The hero is a master of
thrown weapons, and can turn nearly anything they
throw into a deadly object. The hero inflicts a base
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 Destined
Dangerous Objects
T he Creation and Transform powers are very
potent, and are easily abused when put into the
wrong hands. Clever players can use them to
create valuable items to swindle others, litres of
dangerous chemicals, or simple blocks of stone to
drop on every supervillain’s head. It is important
for the Games Master to monitor use of these
powers, and even impose mandatory Limits to help
curb some of their potency. But in the hands of a
responsible player, they can be very useful and
allow for some creative solutions to the problems
that heroes routinely face.
1d3 damage with anything larger than a coin, and +1
damage with weapons designed to be thrown. The
hero can also ready a thrown weapon as a Free Action.
• Unarmed Expertise: The hero has mastered some
form of unarmed combat or martial arts style. The
hero’s base Unarmed damage is 1d4+1 and they count
as Medium sized weapons.
Boosts
• Expert Strike: The hero knows how to make every
hit count and inflict maximum damage. They spend 1
Power Point to inflict an additional 1d2 damage
on a successful attack, or 3 Power Points to inflict 1d4
extra damage.
• Precise Strike: The hero can quickly focus and make
attacks that would be too challenging for others. The
hero can spend 1 Power Point to reduce any penalty to
their attack rolls by one, or reduce penalties by two
steps by spending 3 Power Points.
• Ready for Action: The hero strikes fast and strikes
often. The hero spends 2 Power Points to gain an
extra Action Point that can only be used to Attack or
Ready Item.
• Speed Load: When using a Ranged Weapon, the
hero can get back into the action quickly when they run
out of ammo. The hero can reduce the Load time of a
weapon by 1 for every Power Point spent.
Limits
• Signature Weapon: The hero can only use their
Expertise when using one specific weapon, or for
Unarmed when wearing a significant item such as a
special headband or wrist wraps. The weapon may or
may not have mystical or extranormal abilities in and
of itself, but it is significant to the hero and acts as the
focus of their skills.
86
• Weapon Focus: The hero's expertise only applies
to a specific make or model of weapon with any
expertise that applies to armaments. For example a hero
may only be able to use a crossbow with Archery Expertise or
Pinning Strike, while another hero with Pistol Expertise can
only use it with a Colt Peacemaker.
• Weapon Wear: The hero is very hard on their
weapons, and any time they fail an attack check
with one it suffers 1 Hit Point of damage that ignores
armor. On a Fumble the weapon is broken or
malfunctions, requiring repairs to be made before it is
further usable.
CREATION
INT, Concentration
The hero can create matter from nothing with will
alone. With a successful Willpower roll as an Action, the
hero can create an amount of solid or liquid material
up to half their INT in SIZ within their hands or
anywhere within one meter of their body. The material
can take on crude, basic shapes such as spheres,
cylinders, or cubes, and it can be made of any substance
up to one-fifth the hero’s INT in Armor Points (see
page 128). If formed into something that could be used
as a simple melee weapon, such as a club or a staff, it is
treated as an Improvised Weapon of the appropriate
Size (see page 131). Materials created cannot be
innately harmful or dangerous in nature, so a hero
could create water or ice, but not liquid nitrogen. This
does not mean that heroes cannot create substances
that could capitalize on a villain’s vulnerabilities, such
as making a bucket of water to throw on a robot. Also,
while the power is not offensive in nature (see Blast and
Close Combat Attack for ways of creating direct
damage objects), Creation can be creatively used to
impair foes by creating barriers, generating slippery
puddles of oil, or placing a net above a villain’s head.
The material lasts as long as the hero concentrates, and
vanishes if they dismiss it as a Free Action, or their
Concentration is broken.
Boosts
• Complex Creations: The hero can create intricate
objects with their power. By spending 3 Power Points
the hero can create objects with multiple moving
parts, advanced electronics, or complex chemical
formulas with this ability. The hero must have the
appropriate Art, Craft, or Science skill with the
appropriate Specialization to make the object in
question and succeed at a skill test to create it. The
hero must also be able to make the appropriate
materials for the Creation to work. For example, a hero
may be able to create the housing of a miniature nuclear
 4. Powers

reactor, but they won’t be able to create the

fissionable material needed to power it.
• Distant Creations: The hero can manifest
their Creations much farther away. By
spending 2 Power Points the hero can
create something up to half their INT in
meters away.
• Durable Creations: The hero is able to
manifest much stronger materials with their
ability. For every 1 Power Point the hero
spends, they can increase the Armor Points
of the materials they are able to create by 1,
up to a maximum of the hero’s INT.
• Large Creations: The hero can manifest
much larger objects with their power. By
spending 2 Power Points the hero can
create objects up to their INT in SIZ, or
they can spend 4 Power Points to make
objects up to double their INT in SIZ.

Limits

• Fragile Creations: The hero’s Creations

have the inherent strength of the material,
but break easily. No matter what the form
or material used, the hero’s Creations only
have a single Hit Point per 3 SIZ generated,
with a minimum of 1 Hit Point.
• Limited Creations: The hero is limited to
one specific category of materials or a single
state of matter. The hero must choose one Torc has been caught searching a suspicious warehouse
specific category of material or item they down by the docks. His magic protective cloak swirls around
can create with the power, such as only him as it deflects the bullets from a pair of goons with sub-
wooden items, only weapons, or only walls. machine guns.
Alternatively, the hero can only create solid
items or only make liquids. Boosts
• Obvious Creations: Materials manifested by the hero
are obviously a product of their abilities and can’t be • Extra Parry: The hero is able to use the shield to
passed off as the genuine article. The hero’s Creations block nearly any attack. The hero spends 2 Power
are made of energy, have a distinct color, or some other Points to gain an Action Point that can only be used
obvious trait that marks them as artificial and any to Parry.
attempt to pass them off as real automatically fails. • Fast Shield: The hero’s shield springs into existence
with a mere thought. The hero spends 1 Power Point
DEFLECT to create the shield as a Free Action. If spent as part
of a defensive Reaction, the hero may create the
The hero is able to produce a small energy or physical shield as part of a Parry.
shield that can be used to Parry (see page 157) melee • Ranged Redirect: The hero is able to send a ranged
and ranged attacks. The hero takes a Ready Item Action attack back at their foes. After a successful Parry of a
to produce the shield, which has an effective Size of ranged attack, the hero can spend 2 Power Points and
Large and inflicts a base 1d4 damage if used as a melee an Action Point to redirect the attack back at the
weapon. Even if the hero does not use a Reaction to attacker with a successful Combat Style check, or
Parry with it, the shield protects up to 3 contiguous another target in Short range of the attack with an
locations if one of those locations is struck with an attack. attack roll at one Difficulty Grade harder.
The shield cannot be damaged or disarmed, but it
vanishes if the hero is rendered Incapacitated or
dismisses it as a Free Action.
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 Destined
• Tower Shield: The hero is able to increase the Size of
their shield to block more powerful attacks. By
spending 2 Power Points, the hero increases the
effective Size of the shield to Huge. It inflicts 1d6
damage if used as a melee weapon and it protects 4
contiguous locations for Passive Blocking. By spending
3 Power Points, the shield’s Size increases to Enormous
and it blocks 5 contiguous locations.
Limits
• Active Blocking: The hero’s shield only works on
attacks they actively defend against. The hero’s shield
can only be used to actively Parry opponents, and it
does not offer passive protection to the hero.
• No Attack Option: The hero’s shield can absorb
incoming force, but can’t inflict it back. The shield
cannot be used in melee to inflict damage.
• One Attack Form: The hero’s shield is limited in the
types of attacks it can block. The hero can only use
Deflect against either melee or ranged attacks, not
both. Alternatively, the hero can only Deflect physical
attacks or energy attacks, but not both.
DUPLICATION
CON
The hero is able to create a near-perfect copy of their
own body. The hero creates the duplicate as an Action,
physically identical in nearly every way. The duplicate
can appear in any unoccupied space chosen by the
player within half the hero’s CON in meters. It has the
same Attributes and Characteristics as the hero, and has
access to all of their skills at the same level. The duplicate
also takes its own Actions, but shares the same Initiative
as the creator and it only has 2 Action Points. Duplicates
do not have access to any of the hero’s Core Powers and
do not have any equipment except for the clothes on
their backs. Duplicates are treated as Underlings (see
rules on page 182), and when reduced to 0 Hit Points in
any location they vanish immediately. Duplicates
normally last for an hour, but the hero can dismiss them
as a Free Action.
Boosts
• Additional Duplicate: The hero is able to make more
than one copy of their body. The hero spends 2 Power
Points to create an additional duplicate within normal
range. The hero can never have more duplicates than
half of their CON.
88
• Army of One: The hero is able to create multiple
weaker copies of their body. The hero spends 3 Power
Points to create a number of duplicates equal to half
of their INT, but these crude facsimiles make all skill
checks at one Difficulty Grade harder and they only
have a single Action Point. They automatically fail any
checks to resist Special Effects in combat and only
have a single Hit Point in all locations, vanishing
immediately if they take damage.
• Human Target: When the hero is attacked, they
swap places with one of their duplicates instead.
When the hero is subjected to a damaging or harmful
effect, he or she can spend 2 Power Points as a
Reaction to instantaneously switch places with an
active duplicate. The duplicate is targeted by the
attack or effect instead.
• Parallel Lives: The hero’s duplicates are alternate
versions of him or her, possibly from another
dimension or timeline. By spending 2 Power Points,
one duplicate can switch three trained skills the hero
has to other skills that share at least one Characteristic
in common with the ones being changed. By spending
4 Power Points, every duplicate present can switch out
three skills, determined by the player at the time of
their creation. The hero takes any points added to the
base rating in the skill(s) they are swapping and adds
them to the ones the duplicate is trained in. For
example, the villain Multiplex is attempting to rob a
laboratory but he lacks proper scientific knowledge to know
what the most valuable items are to steal. He creates a
duplicate and uses this Boost to swap the 40 skill points he
has in Research, Culture (Underworld), and Knowledge
(Movie Trivia) to give his duplicate knowledge in three
Specializations in Science with 40 points each above the base
rating. After figuring out the duplicate’s new skill totals, the
two Multiplexes begin looting everything his scientifically
minded duplicate points out that isn’t nailed down. Tapping
into these alternate skills requires considerable effort,
since the hero is reaching across probability to call
forth their alternate selves, therefore each use of one
of these skills costs the hero 1 Power Point.
Limits
• Passionate Duplicates: The hero’s duplicates
represent different aspects of their personality. Each
duplicate the hero creates possesses one of the
creator’s Passions, and acts in a manner appropriate
to the specific Passion. Often this manifests as negative
aspects of the Passion, which may cause the duplicate
to take actions contrary to what the creator wishes.
• Sympathetic Bond: The hero is bound to their
duplicates, suffering pain when they are hurt.
Whenever a duplicate takes damage, the creator takes
a single Hit Point of damage to the same location,
ignoring armor or other defenses.

• Weak Duplicates: The hero’s duplicates are not as
effective as the real thing. The hero’s duplicates are
treated as Rabble (see page 182) and any skill higher
than 50% is reduced to 50% maximum.
DURABILITY
CON
The hero is tougher than normal, able to absorb more
punishment and recover from it quickly. The hero
calculates Hit Points using STR+CON+SIZ, and their
Healing Rate is calculated using CON+1/2 SIZ.
Boosts
• Natural Detox: The hero is able to fight off toxins
and viruses more easily. The hero spends 1 Power
Point to make any Endurance check to resist poisons or
diseases one Difficulty Grade easier.
• Second Wind: The hero is able to rally even when it
looks like they might falter. The hero can spend 3
Power Points when they suffer a Serious Wound to
immediately recover their Healing Rate to the location.
If this puts them back to a positive Hit Point total,
they do not need to make an Endurance check for
the injury.
• Shake It Off: When it really counts, the hero can
ignore pain from their injuries. The hero spends 1
Power Point to ignore pain or any penalties from
Serious Wounds for a single Action.
• Tireless: The hero has seemingly endless reserves of
stamina. The hero spends 2 Power Points as an Action
to remove a Level of Fatigue.
Limits
• Crash: The hero’s stamina has its limits, so when they
rest it all catches up with them. The hero requires 2
additional hours of sleep to gain any benefit, and any
attempts to rouse the hero are one Difficulty Grade
harder. If the hero is rendered Unconscious, the
duration is twice the normal amount of time.
• Glass Jaw: While the hero is generally pretty tough,
they have one weak point that can be exploited.
Choose one location for the hero, and that
location’s Hit Points are calculated with CON+1/2 SIZ
instead.
• Lightweight: While the hero has toughness to spare,
their system can’t handle intoxicants or toxins. Any
Endurance checks to resist intoxicating substances or
poisons are at one Difficulty Grade harder. Heroes with
this Limit may not take the Natural Detox Boost.
4. Powers
ELEMENTAL CONTROL
INT, Concentration
The hero is able to manipulate one of the four classic
elements (air, earth, fire, or water), or is able to control
another force of nature (electricity, light, plant-life,
shadow, weather, and so forth). The hero can control
up to half of their INT in SIZ of the element as an
Action, changing the shape or moving it at a rate equal
to POW in meters per Turn. The hero can also form it
into specific shapes with an Art or Craft check
(depending on what is being created) and the element
will maintain the shape as long as the hero
concentrates. The power does not create the element if
it is not present (see Create Element below), so the hero
can only use what is available. Elements that are
harmful are treated as a Peril (see page 201) with an
Intensity equal to one-fifth the hero’s INT, and targets
within the area may Evade as a Reaction if the hero
attempts to harm them with the element. For Weather
impacts, see page 207.
Boosts
• Create Element: The hero can generate their
chosen element. The hero creates one-fifth their INT
in SIZ when they use their power, and can double this
amount for every 2 Power Points they spend up to
their maximum amount they can control.
• Elemental Movement: The hero can travel through
their chosen element. The hero can spend 2 Power
Points to move their INT in meters through the
element they control as an Action, but they must
reach an empty space on the other side. The element
is displaced by the hero during the movement, but
returns to its original form after the hero passes. If the
element would normally cause harm to the hero, they
do not suffer damage while passing through it.
• Increased Area: The hero is able to manipulate
more of their chosen element. The hero spends 2
Power Points to increase the amount of the element
they control up to their INT in SIZ, or double their
INT in SIZ for 4 Power Points.
• Independent Element: Elements controlled by the
hero retain their shape even when they stop focusing
on them. The hero spends 2 Power Points to allow the
element to retain its form for up to an hour without
the need to concentrate on it.
Limits
• Crude Shapes Only: The hero is limited to
simplistic shapes. They cannot sculpt elements into
intricate designs or shapes, and are limited to forming
them into simple forms such as blocks or walls only.
89
 Lord Storm uses his Elemental Control power to blast the brutal giant Geryon with a lightning bolt.
• Elemental Vulnerability: The hero takes 1d6 extra
damage from an element considered to be the opposite
of the one they control while the Core Power is active,
such as water for a hero who controls fire or light-based
attacks for one that controls shadow. If the element
would not normally cause damage, the hero takes 1d6
damage to a location that comes into contact with the
opposing element while this power is active, ignoring
any armor the hero possesses.
• Willful Element: The hero sometimes loses control
of their chosen element and it gains a will of its own.
Whenever the hero fails a check to control their
Core Power or maintain Concentration, or anytime
they Fumble a check involving the power, they must
make an immediate Easy Willpower check. If this check
fails, they lose control and the element becomes a free-
willed Elemental that lashes out at anything and
everything around it. The Elemental is treated as a
construct (see Summon below) and is based on the
hero’s appropriate Characteristics to determine its
statistics. It remains active until destroyed, or until the
90
hero makes a Hard Willpower check to regain control
of the element.
EMPATHY
CHA, Concentration, Resist (Willpower)
The hero is able to perceive the emotions of living
beings around them. The hero is able to read the
emotional state of someone who is visible and they are
aware of within their CHA in meters as an Action. If the
target is unwilling, the hero must succeed at an
Opposed Willpower check to gain access to the target’s
emotions. The hero can use this knowledge to gain an
advantage when interacting with the target, and all
CHA-based social skill checks as well as Insight checks
are one Difficulty Grade easier. If the hero is in
empathic contact with a target prior to combat, they
also gain a bonus to Initiative checks equal to one-tenth
of their Willpower.

Boosts
• Emotion Control: The hero is able to manipulate the
emotional state of their target. The hero spends 2
Power Points and attempts to dictate the emotional
state of a target that they are in empathic contact with.
The hero makes an Opposed Willpower check against
the target, and if successful imposes the desired
emotional state as long as they maintain
Concentration. The emotional state is treated as a
Passion with a rating equal to the hero’s Willpower,
and it supplants all other Passions the target has. For
example, if The Empath imposes feelings of fear on someone,
they would gain a Passion of “Be Afraid of Everything” equal
to the hero’s Willpower and would need to make a Passion
check to take any action except running away in terror. If the
target travels outside of the hero’s line of sight, it can
make an unopposed Willpower check to regain
control of its emotions. If this check fails, the
emotional state lasts for 1d3 hours.
• Empathic Healing: The hero is able to use their
empathic abilities to ease the mind of another. The
hero spends 2 Power Points to attempt to counter a
target’s negative emotional state related to a Passion or
to end someone else’s unwanted control of the target.
If the emotional state is from a Passion, the hero makes
an Opposed Willpower check against the value of the
Passion and if successful the target is restored to a
normal state of being. If the target is being influenced
by another, the hero makes an Opposed Willpower
check against the one who is controlling the target,
even if they are not present. Success breaks the control
over the target, but a Fumble results in the hero also
being controlled.
• Global Empathy: The hero expands their empathic
range to cover a wide area. The hero spends 3 Power
Points to increase the range of Empathy to twice their
CHA in kilometers instead of meters. Additionally, the
empath can use their powers on targets that can be
seen through any live visual medium, such as
television, or CCTV.
• Read the Room: The hero is able to read an entire
group at once, learning all of their emotional states.
The hero spends 2 Power Points to read the emotions
of everyone within a radius equal to their CHA in
meters. The hero is able to distinguish each
individual’s emotional state, and gains the Core Power
bonuses in any interactions with specific targets or with
the group as a whole.
Limits
• Emotional Mimic: Whenever the hero reads the
emotional state of someone, they gain the same
emotional state while in empathic contact. This is
treated as a Passion with a rating equal to the target’s
4. Powers
POW+CHA+ half of its Willpower.
• Primal Empath: The hero is only able to read and
affect the emotional states of animal life. Unless
controlled, animals still act according to their nature
but the Core Power makes any checks to Influence
them easier than normal.
• Specific Emotion: The hero can only read and
influence one specific emotional state, such as fear,
anger, love, or peace.
ENERGY FIELD
INT
The hero generates a field of damaging energy around
their body as an Action, projecting it a few centimeters
out from the skin. This includes energy like cold, fire,
electricity, and radiation, and it does no harm to
anything they are wearing or carrying. Anyone who
comes into contact with the hero suffers damage as
listed below, and they inflict additional damage when
making unarmed attacks. Sustained contact with the
hero inflicts the damage each Turn, and they can
perform mundane tasks related to the element such as
igniting flammable objects with fire or freezing water
with a cold field. The field does damage based on the
INT of the hero as detailed in the following table.
Boosts
• Energy Flare: The hero can cause their Energy Field
to expand out into a deadly sphere. The hero expands
the field from their body in all directions out to a
radius of one meter for every 1 Power Point spent,
affecting anything in that range. Targets can attempt
an Evade check as a Reaction to avoid the damage,
which affects 1d3 random Hit Locations.
• Energy Weapons: The hero can channel their
energy into a weapon they are holding. The hero
spends 1 Power Point to add the bonus damage to a
melee weapon they are wielding, or 2 Power Points to
focus it into a Ranged Weapon that fires physical
projectiles.
• Fast Field: The hero can create their Energy Field in
an instant. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
generate the field as a Free Action.
• Selective Field: The hero has mastered their field
well enough to selectively lower it on select locations
on their body. The hero spends 1 Power Point to drop
the field on a single Hit Location, allowing them to
manipulate items or people without damaging them.
Additional locations can be dropped for 1 Power Point
each, and reactivating the field on those locations is a
Free Action.
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 Destined

Energy Field damage vault over, and things to grab, they can make an Easy
Acrobatics check to ignore movement penalties from
Con Damage Damage Bonus to small obstacles and impairments while taking a Move
unarmed
Action. The hero can also make an unmodified
8 or less 1d3 -
Acrobatics or Athletics check to climb or descend at
9-12 1d4 +1
normal speed under the same conditions.
13-15 1d6 +2
• Superior Balance: The hero is very skilled at
16-18 1d8 +2
keeping their balance while navigating narrow
19-21 1d10 +3
surfaces. The hero spends 2 Power Points to make any
22+ 1d12 +3
check to maintain or move while balancing on a
narrow surface (such as a tightrope) at two Difficulty
Grades easier, and the hero can move at their normal
Limits speed. The hero maintains the bonus until the narrow
surface is crossed or the hero fails a check.
• Always On: The Energy Field is Always On, and the
hero must wear special gear to avoid causing harm to Limits
anyone around them, although the Core Power is
negated while the hero wears their protective gear. • Impulsive: The hero reacts without fully assessing
• Destructive Field: The hero’s field inflicts harm to the situation, and their first check in combat is one
anything they are wearing or carrying. Unless their Difficulty Grade harder.
gear is specially protected, the field inflicts its normal • On the Move: The hero has a hard time staying still
damage to any equipment or clothing the hero has on and does their best when on the move. On any Turn in
their person. combat that the hero doesn’t move, even the Quick
• Reactive Shield: The hero’s field does not remain Move Action, they suffer a one-grade Difficulty penalty
active, but instead flares whenever they react to attack. to their next Action.
The hero does not activate the field as detailed above, • Overwhelmed: The hero gets overwhelmed by too
but when they are attacked in close combat they may much information sometimes and freezes. When the
use a Reaction to lash out at their attacker and inflict hero rolls a 1 or a 2 on the Initiative die, the bonus to
the damage listed above. If the hero has the Fast Field Initiative from the power is treated as a penalty
Boost, they can use it to activate the field as part of a instead.
normal Reactive Action such as a Parry or an Evade.

ENHANCED SPEED
ENHANCED REACTIONS
Always On, DEX
Always On
The hero is able to move at extremely fast speeds. The
The hero reacts with exceptional skill or speed, gaining hero applies a multiplier to their base movement, as
a bonus to Initiative checks equal to one-tenth their listed below. Outside of combat, the hero’s maximum
Athletics skill. Also, when the hero uses a Reaction to speed is equal to the enhanced movement multiplied by
Evade, they never end up prone. 20 in kilometers per hour. See the boxed text on page
142 for Vehicle and Hero Speed for chases. Fast-moving
Boosts heroes can use their velocity to inflict greater damage
on a Charge Attack but risk injury, as explained on page
• Additional Reactions: The hero can react to nearly 171. The hero’s Movement Rate multiplier is based on
any danger they encounter. The hero spends 2 Power their DEX+CON as detailed in the table below.
Points to gain an extra Action Point that can only be
used on Reactions such as Counter-Power, Evade,
Interrupt, or Parry. Enhanced Speed
• Nimble: The hero is extremely adept at physical
DEX+CON Movement Multiplier
action. The hero spends 1 Power Point to make the
12 or less X2
next Athletics or Acrobatics check one Difficulty Grade
13-24 X4
easier.
25-36 X8
• Parkour: The hero has mastered the art of
37-48 X16
movement in close quartered urban environments. If
Each additional +12 Double the previous multiplier
the hero is in a location with lots of walls, objects to
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Boosts

• Hyper Action: The hero is able to keep

running while taking down their foes. The
hero spends 2 Power Points to gain an extra
Action Point which can only be used on the
Move or Outmaneuver Actions.
• Hyper Speed: The hero is able to push
themselves to move even faster than
normal. The hero spends 3 Power Points to
double their speed for a single Move Action
in combat or for a single task or Extended
Task outside of combat. Alternatively the
hero can perform a task or Extended Task
much faster than normal, dividing the
normal amount of time by their speed
multiplier by spending 2 Power Points.
• Speed Charge: The hero can attack their
opponents quickly while staying on the
move. The hero spends 2 Power Points after
taking a Move Action to perform a Charge
Attack as a Free Action. They can hit
additional targets during the Charge by
spending an additional 1 Power Point per
target affected. Due to the sudden nature of
the Charge, attempts by the target to Evade
or Parry the Charge are one grade harder.
See page 171 for more information on
Charge Attacks.
• Whirlwind: The hero is able to Run so fast
they create a powerful vortex. The hero
spends 3 Power Points during a Move
Action to Run in a circle with a radius equal
to half their DEX in meters. Anyone within
the radius who has a SIZ equal or less than Hare uses her Enhanced Speed to overtake a fleeing villain
the hero’s DEX must make a Brawn check on the Freeway.
(Hard difficulty if there is nothing to grab
on to) or be sucked up into the whirlwind
the hero creates. Loose objects that have a SIZ less Master’s discretion, heroes with this Limit may need to
than the hero’s DEX are also lifted up. Anything in the allocate one Slot from their Personal Allotments for
whirlwind remains aloft as long as the hero continues their large and frequent meals.
to take Move Actions to generate the funnel, and when • Jogger: The hero has no out-of-combat high-speed
the hero stops moving, anything inside falls a number movement, and only gains the multiplier to their
of meters equal to the radius of the whirlwind. normal speed from this Core Power.

Limits
• Easily Winded: The hero’s speed takes a toll on
them. After any movement greater than half of their
maximum speed they must make an Endurance check
or suffer a Level of Fatigue.
• Hyper Metabolism: The hero requires an enormous
amount of food to maintain their body. The hero must
eat a full meal after a number of hours equal to one-
third their CON or suffer a Level of Fatigue that can’t
be removed until the hero has eaten. At the Games
ENHANCED STRENGTH
Always On, STR
The hero has superhuman might. Their Damage Bonus
is calculated using STR+SIZ+CON, and their
unarmed attacks count as Large sized weapons. Any
melee or thrown weapon the hero wields has its Size/
Force increased by one step, and the amount the hero
can lift without a Brawn check is determined by
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 Destined
Enhanced Strength
STR+CON Normal Lift
12 or less 500 kgs.
13-24 1,000 kgs
25-36 2,000 kgs
37-48 4,000 kgs
Each additional +12 Double the previous amount
STR+CON, and heroes can lift more using the Feats of
Strength rules found on page 190.
Boosts
• Clobber: The hero can send their foes flying. The
hero spends 2 Power Points after a successful unarmed
or melee strike with a bludgeoning weapon to
triple the effective damage value for the purpose of
determining Knockback and the Bash Special
Effect. For example, if mighty Torc punched a villain for 8
damage and used this Boost, when calculating Knockback he
would treat it as if he rolled 24 damage and send the
villain flying.
• Ground Pound: The hero smashes their fists into the
ground to create a localized tremor. The hero spends
3 Power Points and makes a Brawn roll as they strike
the ground at their feet. Anyone standing within a
radius of half their STR in meters must make an
Opposed Athletics or Acrobatics check against the
hero’s Brawn roll or be knocked prone.
• Power Lift: The hero is capable of astounding acts of
Optional: Enhanced
Strength and Weapons
I n comics the strong heroes use their fists more
than melee weapons, and when they do resort to
picking something up to bash a foe with it rarely
stays intact after one or two good hits. Outside of
enchanted or specially crafted armaments (see
Items of Power, page 138), heroes with Enhanced
Strength can be rough on weaponry. If you want to
reflect this in your game, considering adding the
following optional rule to your game. Whenever a
hero with the Enhanced Strength Core Power uses
a weapon that relies on muscle power to inflict
damage, including melee weapons, thrown
objects, or ranged weapons like bows, if the
maximum value of the hero’s Damage Bonus is
equal to or greater than the maximum Hit Points
of the weapon it will automatically break after the
first use in combat. Weaponry specifically
designed for the hero, or that gained from the
Close Combat Attack power, is not subject to this
optional rule.
94
strength. The hero spends 2 Power Points to double
their maximum lifting capacity for a single Brawn
check or for an Extended Task involving physical
strength, but they gain a Level of Fatigue once the
task is complete. The hero can also spend 5 Power
Points to quadruple their maximum lift, but after the
task is completed they immediately suffer 1d3+1
Levels of Fatigue.
• Super Leap: The hero can jump astounding
distances. The hero spends 2 Power Points to add one-
fifth of their Athletics skill in meters to the distance for
a horizontal leap, or one-tenth of the value in meters
to a horizontal leap. Outside of combat the hero can
travel by leaping, jumping a distance equal to half
their STR in meters at a time.
Limits
• Bull in a China Shop: The hero has a difficult time
controlling their strength. If a skill check is failed while
they are holding or manipulating an object, it either
breaks or suffers damage as if the hero struck it with
an unarmed attack.
• Focused Strength: The hero is better at direct,
forceful applications of strength, but not at prolonged
lifting. The hero’s maximum lift values are halved.
• Muscle Strain: Anytime the hero rolls the maximum
value on their Damage Bonus or scores a Critical
Success on a Brawn roll, they make an immediate Easy
Endurance check. If it is Failed, they suffer a Level of
Fatigue.
Variant Power: Enhanced Body
In comics some heroes are just a little bit stronger,
tougher, and faster than average people, but not quite
enough to qualify for Core Powers such as Durability,
Enhanced Speed, and Enhanced Strength. Sometimes
even so-called “non-powered” heroes seem to be able to
take an inhuman amount of punishment and are
capable of feats that are on the edge of superhuman.
You can accomplish this with the Limited Power Limit,
but it may still create heroes that are far beyond the
normal, and it takes up multiple powers out of the
limited number of Core Powers available to the hero.
To make heroes that are at the maximum level of
human ability or slightly beyond, you can introduce the
following optional Core Power: Enhanced Body.
Note that this Core Power does not have Boosts or
Limits like other powers, but if the Games Master allows
it, heroes can take Boosts and Limits from the three
powers listed above that could apply to this Core Power.

ENHANCED BODY
Always On, CON
The hero is either at the peak of human physical ability,
or slightly beyond what normal people are capable of.
They calculate Damage Bonus and Feats of Strength
based on STR+SIZ+1/2 CON, Hit Points based on
CON+SIZ+1/2 POW, and gain a bonus to ground
Movement Rate equal to one-fifth of their CON.
ENTRAP
DEX, Resist (Brawn, Evade)
The hero can trap targets in some form of ensnaring
bindings, holding them fast unless they are able to
escape. The hero makes a Combat Style check against a
target within their DEX in meters, and the target can
attempt to Evade as a Reaction. If the attack is
successful, 1d3 contiguous locations on the target are
entrapped and can’t be used. If the target’s head is
bound, it is blinded until freed. When targeting the
head of an opponent that needs to breathe, the Games
Master must determine if the manifestation of the
power would be permeable enough to allow air
through. For example, an Entrap that creates webbing or nets
would not restrict the target’s breathing, but one made of ice or
thick glue would subject the target to Asphyxiation (see page
187). The target remains bound until it uses an Action
to make an unopposed Brawn check. If successful, the
target frees one entrapped location, or two on a Critical
Success. The target (or another character) can also
damage the bindings, which have Hit Points equal to
one-third the hero’s DEX.
Boosts
• Guide Line: The hero’s binding can be used to move
and manipulate whatever they attach it to. The hero
spends 1 Power Point as part of an Entrap attempt to
launch a binding that remains tethered to them, and if
it hits the target, they can use the tether to affect the
target as if they were physically grappling it. This
allows them to move it or swing it (if they have
sufficient strength), or even attempt to knock it off-
balance. The target can also use the tether to affect the
hero if it has locations free that can manipulate the
line.
• Strong Bindings: The hero’s bindings are tougher
than normal. The hero spends 2 Power Points when
making the Entrap attempt to make the Brawn check
to escape one Difficulty Grade harder. The bindings
have Hit Points equal to one-half the hero’s DEX for
attempts to damage them.
4. Powers
• Swinging: The hero is able to use their bindings to
swing around. In combat the hero can spend 1 Power
Point during a Move Action to use a binding to swing
a distance equal to half of the hero’s DEX in meters.
The line must be anchored to a solid object for the
swing to work. Outside of combat the hero can travel
by swinging, covering up to a maximum distance equal
to the hero’s DEX with each swing. Like the in-combat
use, the hero must have sufficient anchor points to
travel this way and they must spend 1 Power Point for
each minute they use this form of travel. Refer to the
Movement rules on page 200 for more information on
swinging.
• Wide Net: The hero casts a wide net to trap several
foes at once. The hero spends 3 Power Points to shoot
out a large binding that covers a radius equal to one-
fifth the hero’s DEX. Anyone in the target area can
attempt to Evade as a Reaction. A single target is
completely entrapped by the net and is incapable of
taking any physical action until freed. For several
targets, the net traps 1d3 contiguous Hit Locations on
each target affected. Escaping the net is the same as a
normal use of this power.
Limits
• Fragile Bindings: The hero’s bindings are made of
weak materials. Any Brawn check to break free is one
Difficulty Grade easier and the Hit Points of the
bindings are equal to one-fifth the hero’s DEX. Note
that a hero cannot have both this Limit and the Strong
Bindings Boost.
• Single Location: The hero casts smaller, thinner
bindings. The hero’s Core Power only entraps a single
Hit Location when it strikes a target. Note that the hero
cannot have both this Limit and the Wide Net Boost.
• Slowing Bindings: The hero’s bindings don’t fully
trap the target, but impede and slow their ability to
function. Bindings make skill checks with the location
one Difficulty Grade harder, and entrapped legs cause
the target to move at half speed.
FLIGHT
Always On, CON
The hero can fly under their own power. The hero
gains a flying speed equal to their CON in meters and
can reach a maximum altitude equal to their CON times
500 meters. Note that without proper protective gear or an
appropriate Life Support Core Power (see page 103), the
hero would be subject to the dangers of thin atmosphere and
cold temperature at higher altitudes. See the Movement
section on page 199 for special rules on Flight, and the
boxed text on page 142 for Vehicle and Hero Speed
for chases.
95
 Boosts
• Afterburners: The hero is able to kick in a burst of
speed while flying. The hero can spend 1 Power Point
to double their flying speed during a Move Action, or
2 Power Points outside of combat to double it for one
task or Extended Task.
• Dive Bomb: The hero can quickly dive to deal a
devastating blow to their enemies. After taking a Move
Action with Flight, the hero can spend 2 Power Points
to immediately initiate a Charge Attack as a Free
Action. See the velocity-based movement rules on page
172 for the effects of Charging at high speeds.
• Space Flight: The hero is able to fly outside the
planetary atmosphere and can propel their body in a
vacuum. The hero no longer has a maximum altitude
with their Flight power and can travel normally in the
vacuum of space. Note that the hero needs special
equipment or the Life Support Core Power to survive in
vacuum conditions.
• Supersonic: The hero is capable of reaching high
speeds when unimpeded. Outside of combat the hero
can 10x fly their normal flying speed in kilometers per
hour. The hero can move 50x this speed for 2 Power
Points for every hour of increased flight time, or 100x
it for 3 Power Points, but afterwards they must make a
Hard Endurance check or suffer 1d3 Levels of
Fatigue.
Limits
• Gliding: The hero loses altitude as they fly, and
cannot gain altitude without using thermals or other
air currents. Under normal circumstances the hero
loses 1 meter of the altitude the Flight started at per 10
meters traveled, so launching from a higher position
will produce a longer Flight.
• Levitate: The hero’s Flight is limited to a slow,
hovering speed. The hero only gains half the
base combat flying speed, and may not take the
Supersonic Boost.
• Sky Rider: The hero “flies” by riding on another
medium specified when taking this Limit, such as long
ice slides or while standing on power lines. Altitude of
their flight depends on the amount of the medium
available or the physical location for pre-existing
objects. If a substance is required to fly, the hero must
have the ability to create it if none is present, often
linking Flight to Creation or Elemental Control with
the Linked Limit (see page 77). For example, Rock Rider
can “surf ” on earth and stone using his Flight power and he
has CON 15 and INT 12. When he’s in a location with ample
amounts of soil and stone he can use his Linked Elemental
Control to raise up a pillar of earth up to 6 meters high to
“fly” at a movement speed of 15 meters.
96
Variant Power: Super Swimming
In comic books and superhero movies, heroes with
swimming powers move and maneuver underwater in a
manner similar to Flight. They dive, climb, twist, and
turn just like their compatriots in the sky, so in-game the
movement mechanics for the Super Swimming Core
Power below work just like Flight but are limited to
underwater. To compensate for the environmental
restriction, heroes with the Super Swimming power
automatically gain the ability to breathe underwater for
free. Heroes may only choose the Afterburners, Dive
Bomb, and Supersonic Boosts above, and the Levitate
Limit, obviously replacing any references to flying with
swimming. A new Boost and Limit are listed below that
specifically apply to Super Swimming.
SUPER SWIMMING
Always On, DEX
The hero is able to move quickly and naturally under
the water, and is capable of greater speeds than normal
people. The hero gains a swim speed equal to their
DEX while submerged and they are able to breathe
underwater normally. Note that while the hero can breathe
underwater, they are still subject to the effects of pressure if they
dive too deeply and require special gear or the appropriate form
of Life Support to survive in the depths of the ocean.
Boosts
• Surface Launch: The hero is able to launch their
body out of the water so they are ready for action.
After taking a Move Action near the surface of a body
of water, the hero can spend 2 Power Points to launch
out up to a maximum height/distance equal to their
DEX in meters and land safely.
Limits
• Aquatic: The hero is adapted to life under the water,
and they can only remain on dry land for a short time.
The hero can remain out of water a number of hours
equal to one-fifth their CON before they start to dry
out and have trouble breathing. For every 30 minutes
outside of water past their limit, the hero must make a
Hard Endurance check or suffer a Level of Fatigue.
The hero can only recover from this Fatigue by being
fully submerged in water for the time needed to rest.
The Games Master may rule that arid environments
such as deserts and extreme heat or cold can cause the
hero to dry out more quickly.
Sky Raven uses the wings of her costume to glide down to battle from a high ledge on City Hall.
FORCE FIELD
INT, Concentration
The hero is able to create a transparent field of
pure energy to protect themselves and others. The hero
generates an immobile dome of force as an Action,
centered on their location with a radius in meters equal
to one-third the hero’s INT. The field has an
Armor Point value equal to one-quarter the hero’s
CON+INT, and it provides that value to anything
under the dome, but it also applies to any attacks made
from within the field. Any time an attack penetrates the
Force Field, the Armor Points are reduced by one, and
if an attack inflicts damage equal to twice the current
Armor Points, the Force Field immediately collapses.
Nothing can move the Force Field from its initial
location, but the hero (and anyone under its protection)
can’t move either as long as it is active.
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 Destined
Boosts
• Bolster: The hero can repair damage to the field or
strengthen its ability to protect. The hero can increase
the Armor Points of the field by one for every 1 Power
Point spent, up to a maximum of twice the original
Armor Points. They can also repair damage to the field
as a Free Action on their Turn by spending 1 Power
Point for every point lost.
• Fire Point: The hero can create a small breach in the
field to allow their allies to launch attacks. The hero
spends 2 Power Points to make a small area of the field
temporarily permeable, allowing anyone inside to
launch attacks from within until the start of the hero’s
next Turn. Foes outside the dome can target the
permeable point to bypass the field, but attack checks
to target the point are one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Mobile Field: The hero’s field is able to move as they
move. The hero spends 2 Power Points when creating
a field to make it mobile, allowing the hero to move at
half speed and simultaneously keeping the field
centered on themselves.
• Shapeable Field: The hero can shape the Force
Field into any form. The hero spends 2 Power Points
to alter the field into any shape no greater than their
INT in meters. The total area is divided up among the
height and length of the field, so for example a hero
with a POW of 16 could create a wall 2 meters high
that was 8 meters long. The field’s shape must be
contiguous, but it can be any shape that fits within the
area allowed.
Limits
• Limited Protection: The hero’s Force Field only
works against certain types of damage, such as ballistic
or fire. Any other types of damage pass through it.
• Opaque: The hero’s Force Field is not transparent,
even blocking the hero’s ability to see out.
• Weak Point: One area of the Force Field is weaker
than the rest, and the hero must choose a cardinal
direction when creating a field. That side of the dome
has its Armor Points halved, as long as the field is
active. If the hero can shape the field, they choose one
section equal to one-quarter of the total area covered
to be weakened.
GROWTH
SIZ
The hero is able to grow to immense size. By spending
an Action, the hero increases their SIZ, along with
anything they are wearing, by the appropriate
multiplier listed below. The hero does not have to grow
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to their maximum height, instead using a lower
multiplier if they so choose. This increase in SIZ affects
any Attributes based on it, so the hero’s Damage
Modifier and Hit Points increase based on the adjusted
value. When calculating their maximum lift (see page
118), the hero adds their STR to their adjusted SIZ and
multiplies the value by their size multiplier. They are
also capable of taking longer strides and add the value
of their multiplier to their normal Movement Rate. So
for example, Colossal (STR, CON, and SIZ 14) has a size
multiplier of x4, so at his maximum SIZ of 56 his Damage
Bonus is +2d6, he has +8 Hit Points to all locations, he can
lift 1,300 kilos without a Brawn check, and his Base
Movement Rate is 10 meters. While the increased size has
its advantages, the hero reacts more slowly and suffers
double the value of their size multiplier as an Initiative
Penalty. Also, each multiplier step reduces the hero’s
Action Points by 1, to a minimum of 1, reflecting the
ponderousness of their huge size. They also become a
larger target, and enemies make attack checks to hit
them at one Difficulty Grade easier. The hero can
remain at their increased size until they take another
Action to shrink back down. If they suffer a Serious
Wound while their size is increased and the hero fails
the Endurance check against the injury, or if the hero is
Incapacitated, they also shrink down automatically. The
hero’s size multiplier is based on their CON+SIZ in the
Growth Size Multipliers table.
Boosts
• Fast Change: The hero can rapidly change sizes
when needed. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
grow or shrink back down as a Free Action.
• Giant Strength: The hero can use their size to
perform amazing Feats of Strength (see page 190).
When calculating the hero’s maximum lift, they add
double their STR to their multiplied SIZ value before
the size multiplier is applied. By spending 2 Power
Points, they can double their maximum lift for a single
task or extended Action, or lift five times their normal
maximum for 3 Power Points. So if Colossal had this
Boost, he could lift 1,520 kilos without a Brawn roll, 3,050
kilos by spending 2 Power Points, or 7,600 kilos by spending
3 Power Points.
• Swat: When the giant hero hits, they send their foes
flying. When the hero makes an unarmed or melee
Growth Size Multipliers
CON+SIZ Size Multiplier
12 or less X2
13-25 X3
26-36 X4
37-48 X5
Each additional +12 +1 to previous multiplier

attack, they can spend 2 Power Points to apply double
their size multiplier to the damage rolled only for
determining Knockback and the Bash Special Effect.
• Titanic: The hero can briefly grow to the size of a
titan. The hero can spend 3 Power Points to double
their normal size modifier for a single Action in
combat, or one single task or Extended Task outside of
combat. Immediately after the Action or task is
resolved, the hero must make a Hard Endurance
check or gain 1d2+1 Levels of Fatigue.
Limits
• Always On: The hero is always at their maximum
size. This can be extremely limiting to the hero’s daily
life and their ability to perform normal, routine tasks.
• Growth Strain: The hero is taxed by growing past a
certain height. If they attempt to grow to a height
greater than half their maximum size, they must make
an Endurance check as a Free Action or suffer a Level
of Fatigue.
• Slow Motion: The hero may be big, but they react
very slowly. The hero’s penalty to their Initiative is
equal to triple their size modifier, and any Reactive
Actions they take are one Difficulty Grade harder.
HEIGHTENED SENSE
Always On
The hero has special senses that are enhanced beyond
normal levels, or has access to a special sense outside the
range of human ability. When this Core Power is
chosen, the hero chooses one of the following two
options as their heightened senses:
Enhanced Sense: The hero chooses one of their normal
senses, such as sight, smell, or touch. All Perception
checks with the sense are at two Difficulty Grades easier.
The Games Master may also grant this bonus to other
checks if it applies to the situation.
Special Sense: The hero has a sense outside of the
normal realm of human perception and may choose
one of the following options:
• Dark Sight: The hero can see in the complete absence
of light. Dark Sight is in black and white, and if the area
suddenly becomes brighter, the hero must make a Hard
Endurance check or be blinded for 1d3 Turns.
• Echolocation: The hero can detect objects using the
reflection of sonic waves. This allows the hero to
determine what objects are around them out to their
INT in meters and to detect motion of those objects.
4. Powers
• Esoteric Sense: The hero can sense something
unusual, such as hearing radio waves or Wi-Fi, smelling
fear, or seeing magic, at a range of their INT in meters.
The Games Master has final say on if a particular sense
is allowed.
• Night Vision: The hero treats partial darkness as
illuminated and total darkness as partial darkness.
• Vibration Sense: The hero can feel vibrations on any
surface they are in contact with, out to a range of
their INT in meters. Anyone moving on the ground
in that range makes Stealth checks at two Difficulty
Grades harder.
Boosts
• Additional Sense: The hero has an even greater
range of special senses. The hero gains one additional
Heightened Sense from the options listed above.
• Telescopic Sense: The hero is able to extend their
senses beyond their normal range. The hero spends 2
Power Points as a Free Action to double the range of
any Heightened Sense for one Action in combat, or
one task or Extended Task outside of combat.
• Tracking Sense: The hero is able to use their special
senses to find a fleeing foe. The hero spends 1 Power
Point to make a Track check with an enhanced sense at
one Difficulty Grade easier, or if the hero does not
have Track, they can spend 2 Power Points to attempt
it with an enhanced sense using their Perception skill.
• X-Ray Sense: The hero can use their special senses
through solid objects. The hero spends 3 Power Points
to use a special sense through a barrier or obstacle that
is no thicker than one-fifth their INT in meters.
Limits
• Overload: Sometimes the hero is overwhelmed by
the stimuli their enhanced senses pick up. When the
hero fails a Perception check using a Heightened
Sense, or when they are in an area with a lot of strong
sensory input related to their Heightened Sense, they
must make an Endurance check as a Free Action or
suffer one Level of Fatigue.
• Sensory Static: Something in the environment
interferes with the hero’s special sense. Choose a
particular substance such as smog or engine noise, or
a type of relatively common energy such as radio
waves or flashing light. When in an area with the
interfering stimuli, the hero suffers a two-step
difficulty penalty to any Perception checks with their
enhanced senses. If the stimuli are weak, the penalty is
reduced by one step more difficult.
• Weakened Sense: One of the hero’s other senses is
weakened to compensate for the Heightened Sense.
99

The massive plates of Tortoise’s power armor easily shrug off damage. He uses this Boost and avoids the damage
a death ray from an Animus cyborg.
Choose one normal sense and the hero makes
Perception rolls with that sense at two Difficulty
Grades harder.
INHERENT ARMOR
Always On, CON
The hero has natural protection against damage in the
form of powered armor, durable skin, or a personal
Force Field. The hero gains Armor Points based on
their CON+SIZ. This armor does not stack with any
worn armor, but the highest rating is increased by 1.
With the Games Master’s approval, the character may
choose to lower the Armor Points of a location by up to
two points to permanently increase the value of another
location, but this must be done when the Core Power is
taken. For example, Tortoise wants his armor to provide better
100
protection to his Head, Torso, and Abdomen. He
lowers the Armor Points on his
arms and legs by 1 point each and distributes those
4 points among the locations he wants to
protect better.
Boosts
• Armor Up: The hero is able to bolster their
protection against especially dangerous
incoming attacks. When struck by an attack
that would exceed the hero’s Inherent Armor
value, they can increase the Armor Points
against the attack by one point for every 1
Power Point spent as a Free Action.
• Human Shield: The hero is able to use
their inherent protection to keep others safe.
If the hero uses Delay Action (see page 153),
they can use Interrupt to apply their Armor
Points to one target they are in contact with.
Since the hero has time to brace for the
attack, their Armor Points are treated as
being 1.5 times their normal value, or twice
their normal value if they spend 2 Power
Points.
• Nigh Invulnerability: The hero is able to
shrug off damage from some forms of attack.
The hero spends 2 Power Points to ignore a
single attack that inflicts damage no greater
than twice their Inherent Armor value. The
hero is still subject to any Special Effects that
do not rely on damage being inflicted. For
example, Torc (Armor Points 6) is blasted in the
chest by a shotgun that inflicts 10 points of
entirely, but he is still is knocked down by the goon’s
Special Effect.
• Stand Fast: It is hard to knock the hero off their feet.
The hero spends 2 Power Points to reduce the
effective damage used to calculate Knockback or the
Bash Special Effect by twice their Armor Points, or to
gain a two-step bonus to Brawn checks to resist the
Trip Opponent Special Effect.
Limits
• Ablative: The hero’s armor can be worn down by
repeated attacks. When any damage exceeds the
hero’s Armor Points from this Core Power, the rating
is reduced by one in the locations struck to a minimum
of one Armor Point. The hero recovers lost Armor
Points in all depleted locations equal to their Healing
Rate per hour.
• Bulky: The hero’s armor limits their reactions due
to size or inherent Bulk. The hero’s Initiative suffers a
penalty equal to half their total Armor Points.
 Inherent Armor Values
CON+SIZ Armor Points
12 or less 2 Boosts
13-25 4
26-36 6
37-48 8
Each additional +12 +2
• Partial Coverage: The hero’s protection covers only
parts of their body. The hero only has 1d4+1 locations
on their body armored by this Core Power,
determined at the time of hero creation.
Variant Power: Material Mimic
A variation on the standard Inherent Armor Core
Power, Material Mimic allows a hero to gain Armor
Points based on whatever substance or material they are
in contact with when they activate the power. While this
may allow the hero to gain significant durability if they
have access to tougher materials, in certain situations
they will be far more limited and their resistance will be
lower. For example, battling a villain in an auto factory
will allow for better armor options than fighting one in
a store that sells pillows and mattresses. The hero may
use any of the Limits for Inherent Armor above, and
may also gain the Nigh Invulnerability and Stand Fast
Boosts. Some additional Boosts for the Core Power are
listed below.
MATERIAL MIMIC
CON
The hero gains the durability of whatever they are in
contact with. The hero spends an Action while touching
an object to gain Armor Points equal to the normal
Armor Points of what they are touching. The hero can
only use this Core Power on materials with Armor
Points equal to half their CON or less, and attempting
to absorb the durability of something stronger
automatically fails. This armor covers all locations on
the hero’s body and lasts for 1d6+1 minutes before it
fades and the hero needs to activate the power again. If
the hero is rendered Incapacitated, they immediately
lose their armor. Some sample Armor Points for
different objects can be found in the Inanimate Objects
section on page 192. If the hero wishes to change the
material they are using, they simply need to touch the
new material and spend another Action. Note that the
hero also gains the appearance of the material they
contacted, and this may impact any social rolls they
make as determined by the Games Master. Boosts are
listed below, but Limits should be used from the core
Inherent Armor listing as appropriate.
• Increased Duration: The hero can retain the armor
much longer than normal. If the hero spends 2 Power
Points when activating the Core Power, they retain the
Armor Points for 1d6+1 hours instead.
• Thicker Armor: The hero can add layers of the
material to their body to bolster their defenses. The
hero remains in contact with the material for an
additional round and spends 2 Power Points to
increase their Armor Points by +1 above the normal
value, even if this puts them above their normal
maximum.
INVISIBILITY
Concentration, Resist (Perception)
The hero can turn completely invisible to the naked
eye. The hero and everything they wear and carry
becomes invisible to sight as an Action. The hero
remains visible to other forms of visual detection, such
as infrared or ultraviolet sensors, still makes sound, and
has a scent. If someone has reason to suspect the hero is
present, they can make an Opposed Perception check
against the hero’s Stealth skill, which gains a one-step
difficulty bonus to the roll. In terms of targeting the
hero, an opponent must have an idea where the hero
might be, and the invisible hero is treated as being
Heavily Obscured (see page 178). If the hero takes any
Action that would break their Concentration, such as
making an attack, the Invisibility immediately fades.
Opponents who are unaware of the hero are considered
to be surprised if the hero takes an offensive Action (see
page 153).
Boosts
• Additional Senses: The hero is able to hide from
other forms of detection. The hero spends 2 Power
Points to become invisible to another sense or form of
detection, such as hearing, scent, or infrared.
• Afterimage: When the hero disappears, their image
remains behind. When the hero uses the power, they
can spend 2 Power Points to create an image of their
last movement at the point where they disappeared.
The image lasts until the end of the hero’s next Turn,
moving in the same direction the hero was last moving
in, and anyone who wants to determine if the image is
false must make a successful Perception check or
believe that it is still the hero.
• Shared Invisibility: The hero is able to share their
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 Destined
Invisibility with another person or object. The hero
spends 2 Power Points to make someone or something
they are in contact with invisible. If the hero loses
contact, the other item or person immediately
becomes visible.
• Stealth Strike: The hero is able to strike and then
quickly fade away. The hero spends 2 Power Points
after making an attack to become invisible again as a
Free Action. The hero can briefly be seen after making
the attack, so astute observers can learn their position
with a Hard Perception check. If the roll is successful,
the observer can make an attack against the hero on
their next Turn at only one Difficulty Grade harder
unless the hero is able to move before that time. For
example, Shadowstalker uses his Invisibility Core Power to
strike a villain from hiding and starts to fade away with this
Boost. If he uses a Quick Move to change his position before
the villain can attack, his foe still treats Shadowstalker as
being Heavily Obscured.
Limits
• Chameleon: The hero blends into the environment
around them, and is invisible only while standing still.
If the hero moves or takes an Action, anyone who
could see them gets an immediate Perception check to
notice their location.
• Obvious Tell: While the hero is invisible, there is
some sign of their passing that can be detected. When
the hero uses the Core Power, they give off something
that can be detected by other senses and Perception
checks to perceive the hero with this other sense are
only one Difficulty Grade harder. Perhaps the
hero leaves behind a distinct scent of ozone, there is a
faint crackling sound as they pass by, or there
is a strong sickly-sweet taste in the air where they
have walked.
• Partial Invisibility: The hero is only partially
invisible. Perception checks and combat rolls to notice
or target the hero are one Difficulty Grade harder.
KINETIC CONTROL
Resist (Evade)
The hero can impart kinetic energy into objects they are
holding, increasing the force of their impact. The hero
must take an Action to charge an object, and when it is
used as a melee weapon or thrown, the hero’s Damage
Modifier is increased by two steps it if hits, its Size/Force
is treated as one Size larger, and the Range is doubled.
The increased force is very damaging to the object, and
it takes double the damage inflicted, ignoring any
Armor Points it has. For example, if El Cañón charges a
baseball bat and inflicts 8 points of damage against a
102
criminal’s head, the bat immediately takes 8 Hit Points,
ignoring its Armor Points, and likely shatters from the impact.
But the criminal is most likely Incapacitated.
Boosts
• Fast Charge: The hero is able to impart energy
quickly. The hero spends 1 Power Point to charge an
object as a Free Action.
• Kinetic Shield: The hero is able to drain kinetic
energy from attacks launched at them. The hero
spends 2 Power Points as a Reaction to slow down a
physical object or attack directed at them, such as a
bullet or unarmed attack. The damage die of the
attack is reduced two levels and the weapon’s effective
Size/Force is reduced by one level. If this would reduce
the damage below 1d2 or the Size below Small, the
attack inflicts no harm on the hero. Alternatively,
the hero can choose to lower the Damage Bonus
of a weapon attack as long as the hero can see
the attacker.
• Supercharge: The hero is able to impart even more
kinetic energy into objects. The hero spends 2 Power
Points while Charging an object to increase the
Damage Modifier three steps and the Size/Force of the
object by two steps.
• Torpid Bubble: The hero creates a bubble of null
kinetic energy that slows down anything entering it.
The hero spends 2 Power Points as an Action to
create a bubble centered on them with a radius equal
to half of their INT. Any movement within the
field is halved, and close combat and ranged attacks
against anything within or out of the field are
one Difficulty Grade harder. Every Turn that the
bubble is maintained the hero must pay an additional
1 Power Point.
Limits
• Body in Motion: The hero is so full of kinetic energy
that sometimes they have a hard time stopping.
Anytime the hero takes a Move or Quick Move Action,
they must make an Easy Athletics roll. If they fail, the
hero moves past their intended destination a number
of meters equal to one-fifth their INT.
• Inaccurate Charge: The kinetic energy the hero uses
is difficult to control. Any attacks the hero makes with
charged objects are one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Kinetic Drain: The kinetic energy the hero uses
comes from their own potential. After the hero uses
this Core Power, any Acrobatics, Athletics, or Evade
checks they make are one Difficulty Grade harder for
the next 1d3 Turns.
LIFE SUPPORT
Always On

The hero has adapted to survive under adverse

conditions. The hero gains immunity to one
environmental condition (intense heat, high
pressure, vacuum, and so on) or biological
requirements (eating, breathing, sleeping, and
so on). While this makes the hero immune to
detrimental effects of natural conditions, it does
not grant resistance to related types of
damage. So a hero with immunity to intense
heat could walk near a blast furnace or survive
under the sweltering desert sun, but would still
be burned by a fire-based attack (see the Limited
Resistance Boost below). Here are some of the
most common conditions heroes can take with
this power:

• Intense Cold: The hero is able to endure sub-

zero temperatures, freezing water, and frigid
weather.

• Intense Heat: The hero can endure arid

deserts, volcanic heat, and sweltering tropical
conditions.

• Intense Radiation: The hero can endure high

levels of hard and soft background radiation.

• No Breathing: The hero no longer needs to

breathe and cannot be asphyxiated.

• No Sleep: The hero does not need to sleep, Shadowstalker is infiltrating a secret government facility
but they still need to rest to recover from Fatigue where nefarious things are going on. His invisibility powers
and injury. enable him to duck a passing patrol of soldiers.

• No Sustenance: The hero does not need to eat or
drink and never is at risk for starvation.
• Underwater: The hero can breathe underwater and
is not at risk for the bends if they ascend too quickly.
• Vacuum: The hero suffers no adverse effects from
Exposure to a hard vacuum, including the effects of
background cosmic radiation, but it does not grant the
hero the ability to breathe in such conditions.
Boosts
• Additional Environments: The hero has adapted to
a different adverse situation. The hero gains immunity
to two additional environments or requirements.
• Environmental Adaptation: The hero can adapt to
nearly any adverse situation they encounter. The hero
spends 3 Power Points and an Action to shift one of
their Life Supports to a different type of environment
or requirement for one hour. The hero must spend
two Boosts to gain this ability.
• Limited Resistance: The hero can briefly adapt their
body to deal with more harmful effects. The hero can
spend 1 Power Point as a Free Action to take half
damage after Armor Points are applied from an attack
or damaging Peril related to their Life Support. For
example, the Dervish is adapted to hot environments, and
when he is subjected to a fire Blast from a villain, he can use
this Boost to take half damage from the attack.
• Survivalist: The hero can withstand adverse
conditions better than most. The hero can spend 1
Power Point to make an Endurance check to resist a
dangerous environment or condition at one Difficulty
Grade easier.
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 Destined
Limits
• Limited Environment: The hero’s Life Support only
applies to specific conditions where the dangerous
environment occurs, such as a specific situation or
locale. For example, an aquatic hero is able to breathe in salt
water but would still be subject to drowning while in fresh
water.
• Opposite Environment Susceptibility: The hero is
more susceptible to an environment opposite of one
that they have immunity to, and any checks to resist it
are at one Difficulty Grade harder. For example, a hero
with immunity to intense cold would be more vulnerable to
extremely hot locales.
• Unusual Requirement: While the hero is able to
withstand adverse conditions, their body requires
some need that is unusual. The hero requires a new
physical requirement beyond the normal, such as
needing to breathe a different type of atmosphere or
requiring daily exposure to sunlight. This new
requirement is treated just like any normal form of
Deprivation or as Asphyxiation (see page 187) related
to the new environment, and the Games Master will
work with the hero to determine the exact game
effects of this new requirement.
Variant Power: Artificial Being
The rules for Life Support work well for heroes who
only need to survive under a few adverse conditions,
but creating an artificial being such as a robot, android,
or mystical construct can consume a large amount of the
hero’s available powers to give them all the life supports
needed for a non-living creature.
As a variant, Games Masters can allow artificial
beings to take the following Core Power instead. The
hero may take the Boosts and Limits above if the Games
Master allows, to represent additional environments
the artificial being can survive in, and many take the
Unusual Requirement Limit to account for needs such
as recharging batteries or having to “sleep” at the
intersections of magical ley lines daily.
ARTIFICIAL BEING
Always On
The hero is a non-living being who does not have the
same requirements as its living counterparts. The hero
does not need to breathe, drink, eat, or sleep like a
living being and is not subject to Deprivation rolls. The
hero also does not heal naturally under normal
circumstances, and it must be repaired to recover
104
damage. Normally this requires an appropriate Craft or
Mechanisms roll, with a Specialization for the former
related to the type of being the hero is. A repair check
takes one hour of time for Minor Wounds, or 6 hours of
time for Serious Wounds. Success restores the hero’s
Healing Rate in lost damage, dividing the amount
among any injured locations. For example, if Scrapyard
had suffered 5 Hit Points of damage to his Right Arm and
Abdomen, after a successful repair check he would get back his
Healing Rate of 4 and could restore 2 points to each damaged
location or 4 to his Abdomen.
LUCKY
Always On
The hero is favored by the fates, can subtly manipulate
probability, or leads a charmed life. Double the hero’s
starting Luck Points.
Boosts
• Bad Penny: The hero is able to turn the good
fortune of their enemies to bad. Spend a Luck Point to
downgrade the Success of a target the hero can see by
one level, so a Critical Success becomes a normal
Success, a normal Success becomes a Failure, and a
Failure becomes a Fumble.
• Environmental Editing: The hero is able to subtly
change the world around them to give them a slight
edge. The hero spends a Luck Point to make a minor
alteration to the environment. The change is small and
must not directly contradict the Games Master’s
description of the location, but it will provide the hero
a slight advantage (reduced damage or making a check
one grade easier) or allow them to overcome a minor
obstacle. The Games Master has final say on whether
the change is allowed, and what benefit it provides.
Some example Environmental Editing effects are:
* When trying to access a secure building the hero
spends a Luck Point to say a security guard propped
open a side door and forgot to close it.
* After she was knocked off the roof by a villain, the
heroine spends a Luck Point to say that there is a
convenient flagpole/awning/dumpster directly below
that will soften the impact.
* While trying to escape the police, the hero ducks into
a recessed doorway in an alley and spends a Luck
Point to say the light bulb above is burned out, making
their Stealth check one grade easier.
* The hero needs a specific piece of Common or
Uncommon gear, like a weapon or a vehicle, and
spends a Luck Point. If the item is small enough to be
on the hero’s person, they ‘forgot’ they had it. If it is a

larger item, it is accessible somewhere close by. For
example, Dame Fortune needs a car to pursue an escaping
bank robber. She spends a Luck Point, and the Games Master
says she notices a valet stepping away from a running car at
the restaurant across the street. With a quick apology she
jumps inside and races off after the criminal. If the hero has
Allotment Slots available equal to the item’s cost, the
hero can retain it for the remainder of the adventure.
• Luck of the Devil: During combat, the hero can
spend a Luck Point to negate a Special Effect being
used against them, or to gain an additional, non-
Critical, Special Effect when they gain an Effect in the
usual way.
• Shared Luck: The hero can share their luck with
someone close by. The hero spends a Luck Point for
another hero that they can see, applying any normal
effects of spending a Luck Point to the target
determined by the hero.
Limits
• Black Cat: While the hero might have luck on their
side, they spread misfortune to those around them.
Whenever the hero spends a Luck Point, someone
within twice the hero’s POW in meters makes their
next skill check at one Difficulty Grade harder or
suffers a minor mishap (drops an item, falls prone,
and so on). If there are multiple targets within range,
the Games Master rolls randomly to determine which
one suffers the bad luck.
• Fickle Fate: Sometimes fate shines upon the hero,
but sometimes it ignores their pleas. Whenever the
hero spends a Luck Point on anything except
mitigating damage, roll a d10. If they roll a 3 or less,
the Luck Point fails to work as intended. The hero
does not lose the point unless the roll is a natural 1.
• Karmic Backlash: The hero can only push their luck
so far before it pushes back. If the hero rolls doubles
on a skill check where they spend a Luck Point (e.g.
44), even on the initial roll, the next time they roll dice
for any reason (skill check, damage, and so forth) they
must roll twice and take the worse result.
MORPH
CON, Resist (Insight, Perception)
The hero can shift their shape into something or
someone entirely different. Upon taking this Core
Power, the hero chooses whether they can change into
one of the following categories: animals, objects, or
people. As an Action, the hero can adopt an entirely
new form based on the category they chose, and they
can increase or decrease their SIZ by a number of
4. Powers
Optional: Extra Luck
L uck-based heroes in comics find that fortune is
always on their side, but within Destined, Luck
Points are finite resources that normally don’t
replenish until the start of the next game session.
If you’d like to simulate heroes that manipulate
probability in their favor, you can add the optional
rule: When a hero with the Lucky Core Power runs
out of Luck Points, he may spend 3 Power Points in
place of a Luck Point to activate any Boost
associated with the power.
points equal to one-third their CON to accommodate
the new form. Anything the hero is wearing or carrying
changes along with the hero into the new shape.
Morphing into a new form is purely cosmetic and does
not alter any of the hero’s other Characteristics, but
they do gain basic traits that would be inherent to a new
form such as special movement forms (at the hero’s base
Move) or environmental adaptations. For example, if
Zookeeper used his animal Morph Core Power to assume the
shape of an eagle, he could fly, or if he changed into a fish he
could swim and would be able to breathe underwater (but not
outside of it). The hero can retain the form until they
choose to change back to their original form or assume
a different one as an Action, or if they fall asleep or are
rendered Incapacitated. If the hero suffers a Serious
Wound to any location, they must make an immediate
Willpower check or be forced to return to their normal
form. The hero can attempt to trick people into
believing they are whatever or whomever they are
attempting to impersonate with a successful Hard
Deceit or Standard Perform (Acting) check Opposed by
the Insight (for animals or people) or Perception (for
objects) check by any observer that has reason to suspect
something is amiss. Note that if the hero’s adjusted SIZ
does not match whatever form they are trying to
assume, Opposed Rolls to impersonate something are
either at a much higher difficulty or automatically fail,
depending on the Games Master’s decision. No
matter how convincing the hero is, someone will suspect
something is off about a cockroach the size of a
small dog.
Boosts
• Doppelganger: The hero can make themselves into
a near carbon copy of someone. The hero can spend 2
Power Points while touching the target they want to
impersonate, and make an Opposed Willpower versus
Willpower check against them. If the hero succeeds,
they absorb basic details about the person’s life such as
their address, names of immediate family and close
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 Destined
Morph and the
Linked Limit
S ome shapeshifters in comics are capable of
assuming a wide variety of forms of many
different shapes and sizes, even gaining unique
abilities based on the shapes they take on. The
base Morph Core Power is quite diverse, but still
has limitations on what heroes can do with it. If
the hero wants to assume a wider range of forms,
players should consider using the Linked Limit (see
page 77) to add in additional capabilities to the
base Core Power. For example, linking in Growth
or Shrinking allows new forms to have vastly
different sizes from what the base power can do.
Linking Close Combat Attack lets the hero create
weaponry from their body, while powers like
Enhanced Speed and Flight can simulate the level
of speed that animals like cheetahs and peregrine
falcons can achieve.
friends, and where they work. The hero can also
mimic the person’s voice perfectly, as well as
mannerisms and quirks. This makes checks to
impersonate that individual one grade easier with
people who know the target well, or two grades easier
with casual acquaintances or people who only know
the target in passing. The target is not immediately
aware that the hero did something when making
contact, but they can make a Hard Insight check to
realize that something unusual happened when
contact was made.
• Expert Shifter: The hero has mastered their ability
to assume new forms. They can now adjust their SIZ
by half of their CON instead of one-third. Additionally,
they can swap a number of points on a one-per-one
basis from their other Characteristics to account for
their new shape, up to a total maximum of swapped
points equal to their CON. The hero must pay a
number of Power Points equal to one-fifth the total
number of Characteristic Points exchanged, but the
swapped points remain as long as they maintain the
new form. For example, Zookeeper changes into a silverback
gorilla to help in his fight against a villain. His CON is 14,
so he can increase his SIZ by 7 points and can swap up to 14
points from his other Characteristics to account for the
gorilla’s abilities. He decides to use the full 14 points to reduce
his INT and CHA each by 7 and increase his STR by 10 and
his CON by 4. It costs him 3 Power Points, but now he is better
suited to trade blows with the villain in his simian form.
• Metamorph: The hero can take on nearly any shape.
When taking this Boost, the hero chooses a different
category (animal, object, or person) from the one they
took when they gained this Core Power and can now
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change into that form by spending 2 Power Points. By
taking this Boost a second time, the hero can now
change into anything, but they must still spend 2
Power Points if it is from a category that they did not
initially choose when they gained the Core Power.
• Quick Change: The hero is able to change form
almost faster than the eye can see. The hero spends 2
Power Points to change shape as a Free Action,
including reverting back to their original form.
Limits
• Body Only: The hero’s natural body is able to
assume new forms, but nothing else. When the hero
assumes a new form, any worn or carried gear does
not change with the hero. Costumes and armor slough
off and worn or carried items drop down to the
ground around the hero.
• Persistent Flaw: The hero’s new forms always have
some trait or marker that reveals it is the hero. This
could be an unnatural color based on the hero’s
normal form or costume, or each new form has
something distinguishing such as a noticeable scar, or
any sound it makes is clearly the hero’s voice. This
makes it nearly impossible for the hero to pass off their
new form as something naturally occurring.
• Specific Form: The hero’s alternate forms are very
limited even within the category that they can Morph
into. The hero chooses a narrow subcategory within
their normal available shapes and they can only
change into new forms within that subcategory. For
animals, the hero may only be able to Morph into
canines, birds, or fish. For objects, they may only
assume forms made of a specific material such as wood
or metal, or can only change into a specific type of
items such as furniture or vehicles. For people, they
may only be able to assume forms of one specific
gender, age, or ethnicity. Note that if the hero has this
Limit, they may not take the Metamorph Boost.
NEGATION
Resist (Endurance)
The hero is able to prevent a target from using their
special powers temporarily. The hero negates the
target’s ability to use one Core Power of the hero’s
choice by touching the target with a successful Combat
Style or Unarmed roll, which the target can attempt to
Evade as a Reaction. If successful, the target makes an
Opposed Endurance check against the attack roll, and
if failed, one of the target’s Core Powers of the hero’s
choice is rendered inactive for 1d6 minutes. If the target
critically fails the Opposed Roll, the power is negated
for 1d6 hours instead. If the Negation Core Power is

magical or psychic in nature, the hero makes an
Opposed Willpower test against the target instead.
Boosts
• Additional Powers: The hero is able to counter
multiple Core Powers with a single touch. The hero
spends 2 Power Points for each additional Core Power
negated on a successful use of the power.
• Energy Drain: In additional to countering powers,
the hero can also drain away the energy of their foe.
The hero spends 2 Power Points to drain 1d6+1
Power Points from the target if the Negation attempt
is successful.
• Power Thief: The hero is able to temporarily gain
any powers they remove. The hero spends 3 Power
Points to steal whatever Core Power is negated for the
amount of time the power is negated (see above), and
if multiple powers are affected, the hero can spend 1
Power Point for each additional Core Power gained.
• Ranged Negation: The hero no longer needs to
touch their foes to take away their abilities. The hero
can spend 2 Power Points to affect a target up to their
POW in meters away with a successful Opposed
Willpower check.
Limits
• Backlash: If the hero fails to Negate the Core Power
of a target, they lose the Negation power for
1d6 hours, or 24 hours if the Opposed Roll was
critically failed.
• Power Trade: The hero risks transferring their own
powers to their foe if they are not careful. If the target
rolls a Critical Success on its attempt to resist the
power, it gains one of the hero’s Core Powers
determined at random for 1d6 minutes, and the hero
loses that Core Power for the same amount of time.
• Specific Power Origin: The hero is limited in what
types of powers they can Negate. The hero can only
Negate powers from one particular Origin, such as
Mutation, Mysticism, or Technology (see Origins, page
13).
PHANTASM
CHA, Concentration, Resist (Insight, Perception)
The hero is able to craft visual illusions to fool the senses
of those around them in an area no greater than their
CHA in SIZ, or about 1 cubic meter in volume per point
of SIZ. The illusion can be as simple or complex as the
hero wishes, from a flying spiked metal ball to a
marching band, but complex phantasms require a
successful Deceit check or the image is flawed in some
4. Powers
manner. The image can be seen by electronic devices
such as cameras and by artificial beings such as robots.
The image can be static or in motion, but moving
objects require the hero to take an Action each round to
adjust the image to account for continuous motion. The
illusion has no physical substance and won’t affect other
senses unless the hero takes the appropriate Boost(s)
below. Anyone interacting physically with the illusion
realizes its nature upon contact, and someone observing
it who has reason to suspect it’s not real can make an
Insight or Perception check Opposed by the hero’s
Deceit roll. The difficulty of the observer’s check is one
Difficulty Grade easier if the illusion is flawed.
Boosts
• Additional Senses: The hero is able to fool the other
senses of observers. The hero spends 1 Power Point to
add an additional sense to the illusion. This Boost can
add sound, smell, or taste. To add tactile sensation,
refer to the Psychosomatic Boost below.
• Greater Phantasm: The hero can craft truly massive
illusions. They spend 2 Power Points to affect an area
equal to double their CHA in SIZ, or 4 Power Points to
affect an area equal to triple their CHA.
• Independent Illusion: The hero is able to craft a
lasting illusion that does not need their attention. The
hero spends 3 Power Points to create an illusion that
remains for up to an hour without the need to
concentrate on it. If the illusion involves some form of
motion, it repeats the same pattern dictated by the
hero at the time of creation, and observers who notice
this treat the illusion as flawed in their attempts to see
through it at one Difficulty Grade easier.
• Psychosomatic: The hero’s illusions now feel as real
as they look. The hero spends 2 Power Points when
creating an illusion to add tactile sensation to it. While
they are unable to support weight (see the Core Power
of Telekinesis below), the illusions are able to trick
observers who touch them and can even cause
psychosomatic pain if the Phantasm attacks. If the
hero uses an Action to cause the illusion to attack a
target, they make an Opposed Deceit check against the
Insight of the target. If the hero is successful, the target
suffers a Level of Fatigue and believes the attack was
real. If the target is successful, it recognizes there is
something off about the attack and gets an immediate
test to see through the illusion as a Free Action.
Limits
• Certain Senses Only: The hero’s Phantasm only
affects a sense other than sight with the base Core
Power, such as the ability to create phantom noises or
manifest pungent odors, which are subject to the same
skill rolls as the Core Power. If the hero takes this
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 Destined
option, they are unable to create visual illusions until
they remove this Limit.
• Psychic Illusion: The hero’s illusions only affect a
single target’s mind, and they cannot be seen by
anyone else. The hero’s illusions have no obvious
manifestation to anyone but the intended target, they
can’t be seen or recorded on any form of electronic
medium such as security cameras, and they are unable
to affect artificial beings such as androids or robots.
• Specific Phantasms: The hero is limited in the type
of illusions they can create. The hero can only create
illusions of a single specific category of objects or
beings, such as structures, animals, or people. The
Games Master is the final arbiter regarding what is or
is not included in a category.
PRECOGNITION
Always On, INT
The hero is able to see brief visions of the future that aid
them in the present. Whenever the hero completes a
period of rest or meditation lasting at least 6 hours, they
gain a number of visions into the future equal to one-
third of their INT. The hero can use one of these visions
as a Free Action when attempting a skill check, making
the roll one Difficulty Grade easier. When the hero
takes another rest, any unused visions are lost and a
new pool is gained.
Boosts
• Danger Sense: It is difficult to catch the hero off
guard. Whenever the hero is surprised before a
combat, they can spend 2 Power Points to be able to
act normally.
• Psychometry: The hero is able to see visions of
something or someone’s past. The hero spends 2
Power Points while touching an object or a person, and
they are able to view past events that occurred to the
target. The hero must succeed at an Opposed
Cosmic Backlash
1d6 Effect
1 The hero suffers 1d2 Levels of Fatigue
2 The hero immediately loses 2d6 Power Points
3 The hero suffers 1d3 points of damage to a random
location, ignoring armor
4 The hero makes their next 1d3 skill checks at one Difficulty
Grade harder
5 Anyone opposing the hero makes their next 1d3 skill
checks at one Difficulty Grade easier
6 The hero gains the unwanted attention of a cosmic entity
linked to fate or time
108
Willpower check against the target if they are
unwilling. The hero can go back one hour for every
minute they remain in contact, up to a maximum
number of hours equal to their Insight skill rating.
The hero can only see what directly occurred to the
target, and if it is a person, they can only perceive what
the subject noticed with their own senses.
• Remote Viewing: The hero is able to see events at a
great distance from their body. The hero spends 3
Power Points to project their senses out into the world
beyond their body. The sensor usually appears as an
invisible, insubstantial projection of the hero, and it
can fly at twice the hero’s INT in meters per Turn, up
to a maximum distance of the hero’s INTx2 in
kilometers. The sensor can pass through solid objects
and the hero can perceive normally though its “eyes.”
While the sensor is active, the hero’s body is inert and
helpless, and any damage inflicted on the hero in that
state causes the sensor to immediately return to their
body and they must make a Hard Willpower check or
be stunned and unable to act for 1d4+1 Turns. The
sensor is visible to anyone who can see invisible objects,
and while it is immune to damage, anything that
targets the hero’s senses can affect them in that state.
• Shared Fate: The hero’s visions of the future can
help aid their allies and hinder enemies. The hero
spends 1 Power Point as a Free Action to use a vision
on a target that is making a skill check within the
hero’s INT in meters. The hero can choose to either
make the target’s check one Difficulty Grade easier or
one grade harder.
Limits
• Cosmic Backlash: The universe is not pleased with
the hero’s tampering with fate. Any time the hero uses
a vision, the Games Master rolls a d100. If the roll is
ever a 96-00, they suffer some debilitating effect as the
universe punishes the hero for imposing their will on
fate. Roll 1d6 on the Cosmic Backlash table to see what
fate befalls them.
• False Visions: Sometimes the hero’s glimpses into
the future are incorrect. Whenever the hero uses one
of their visions to modify a skill check, roll a d100
before making the check. On a 96-00, the vision was
from an alternate or false future and the hero makes
the check at one Difficulty Grade harder instead.
• Nightmares: When the hero leaves their mind open
to the future, sometimes dark visions creep in. After
the hero completes a rest to regain their visions, make
an Easy Willpower check. If this roll is failed, the hero
suffered terrible nightmare visions while resting, and
they gain 1d3+1 Levels of Fatigue.
REGENERATION
Always On
The hero can recover quickly from their wounds. When
suffering a Minor or Serious Wound (see page 180), the
hero regains Hit Points equal to their Healing Rate at
the end of each Combat Round. These Hit Points can
be divided among any wounded locations as the hero
chooses. If the hero is Incapacitated, the Regeneration
rate slows to once per minute until the location is
healed above the negative value.
Boosts
• Back from the Dead: Just when their enemies
count them out, the hero springs back up to rejoin the
fight. If the hero is Incapacitated by having a Hit
Location reduced below the negative value of its total
Hit Points, they can spend 2 Power Points to
immediately heal enough damage to that location to
restore it to one less than the negative value.
• Instant Healing: The hero heals even faster. The
hero spends 2 Power Points to gain back their Healing
Rate in lost Hit Points as a Free Action.
• Reptilian Regeneration: The hero is able to recover
from traumatic injury. The hero spends 3 Power
Points and enters a deep sleep for a period of eight
hours. If the rest is not interrupted, at the end
of the recuperative sleep a single location that has
suffered a Persistent Wound is restored. This also can
restore lost limbs and sensory organs. The Power
Points spent on this Boost do not recover until the
healing sleep is complete.
• Shared Healing: The hero is able to share their
restorative gift with others. The hero spends 2 Power
Points and touches an adjacent target. The target
immediately regains lost Hit Points equal to the
target’s Healing Rate to the location touched.
Limits
• Down for the Count: When the hero is knocked out,
their healing abilities cease to function. If the hero is
Incapacitated, they lose the power until they are
restored to consciousness or the damage to the
location that Incapacitated them is healed by some
other means, such as normal natural healing or a
successful Medicine roll.
• Single Location Only: The hero’s healing abilities
focus on one damaged location at a time. When the
hero Regenerates at the end of the round, they must
apply all the healing to a single location and cannot
divide them up among multiple injured Hit Locations.
Any excess healing is lost if the location is healed back
up to its full value.
BULLETPROOF?
T he power system in Destined is not designed to
create the invulnerable heroes at the apex of
comic book pantheons, and heroes even at
Paragon level remain vulnerable to common
weapons such as firearms and blades. A
combination of powers like Inherent Armor,
Regeneration, and Resistance can make extremely
durable heroes, so the Games Master should be
careful to monitor the use of these powers. While
a hero can still be resistant to a surprising amount
of damage or take a lot of punishment, it will take
up quite a few of that hero’s available powers to
be able to resist every form of damage. Villains
often have a wide variety of damage sources at
their disposal, as do military and villainous
Organizations in superhero settings. The hero can
withstand the submachine guns used by the local
gangs, but what will he do when the sinister forces
of Animus start blasting away with plasma rifles?
Also note that Resistance applies after armor is
subtracted, so even resistant heroes will still take
some damage under normal circumstances.
One other thing to keep in mind is while the hero
might be hard to hurt, those around him might be
far more fragile. A common tactic used against
invulnerable heroes in comics is to put the softer,
squishier people at risk to keep the hero occupied
while the villain makes off with his ill-gotten gains.
• Traumatic Regeneration: The hero’s regenerative
abilities only kick in when they suffer severe injury,
working long enough to heal the trauma. The
Regeneration Core Power only activates when the
hero suffers a Serious Wound, and only remains active
until any location with a Serious Wound or worse is
restored to a positive Hit Point total. Minor Wounds
must be healed as normal.
RESISTANCE
Always On
The hero gains resistance to a single form of damaging
effect, such as acid, edged weapons, or radiation. When
subjected to an attack or Peril that inflicts that specific
type of damage, any damage remaining after armor is
halved. For example, Luminous has the Core Power Resistance
against light-based attacks. If she is hit by a laser beam for 7
damage from a villain’s deathtrap, she first subtracts her Armor
Points of 2 and halves the remaining 5 points of damage,
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 Destined
taking 2 Hit Points to the location struck. Note that this Core
Power only works against effects that inflict Hit Point
damage, not environmental effects that cause Fatigue
damage. Example Resistances include: acid, ballistic
weapons, cold, electricity, explosions, fire, kinetic
damage (includes unarmed damage, blunt, edged, and
piercing melee weapons, and velocity-based damage as
detailed on page 172), light (includes lasers), radiation,
and sonic.
Boosts
• Absorption: The hero is able to use the energy they
absorb from attacks to fuel their abilities. The hero
regains one lost Power Point for every 5 points of
damage inflicted upon them from an attack they are
resistant to. This cannot raise the hero’s Power Points
above their starting level.
• Attack Redirection: The hero is able to turn the
resisted attack back on their foes. When the hero is hit
by an attack they have Resistance to, they can spend 2
Power Points to redirect the amount of damage
resisted back at the attacker or another target within
the normal range of the original attack. The hero must
make a Combat Style check and the target of the
redirected attack can attempt to make an Evade or
Parry check as a Reaction as normal. For example, if
Luminous had this Boost when she was struck by the laser
attack, she could redirect the 3 Hit Points she resisted back
at the laser projector in the deathtrap, potentially destroying
it completely.
• Environmental Adaptation: The hero’s Resistance
Core Power carries over to harmful environments.
The hero gains immunity to one environmental
condition related to the Resistance, as per the Life
Support Core Power (see page 103). For example, the
villain Char has Resistance to fire damage, and adding this
Boost also makes him immune to extreme heat.
• Immunity: The hero is able to shrug off the effects
of the effect they are resistant to completely. The hero
spends 2 Power Points to completely ignore the
source of damage they have Resistance to. They are
still subject to any Special Effects that result from
the attack.
Limits
• Damage Conversion: The hero is able to dissipate
the energy of an attack, but sometimes it wears them
out. Whenever the hero uses this power to resist
damage, they must make an Easy Endurance check. If
that check fails, the hero gains a Level of Fatigue from
the effort it takes to resist the damage. This also
applies if the hero uses the Immunity Boost above.
• Linked Absorption: The hero must have the
Absorption Boost, and any Power Points absorbed can
110
only be used for a specific other Boost. For example, a
hero with Absorption Boost has it linked to the Salvo Boost for
his Blast Core Power, thus any Power Points absorbed can only
be used for the Salvo Boost.
• Living Bomb: The energy resisted is stored in the
hero, and eventually it explodes out from them. The
hero keeps track of damage stopped by the power, and
when the total damage reaches the hero’s CON, they
must make an Endurance check. If this check
succeeds, the hero is able to dissipate the stored energy
harmlessly, but still takes a Level of Fatigue from the
process. If the check is failed, the energy erupts from
the hero’s body, inflicting half of the hero’s CON in
damage of the same type as the Resistance to
everyone and everything within one-fifth their CON in
meters affecting 1d3 random locations. Should they
wish to stop this at the last minute on the Turn the
energy erupts from the hero, and with a
successful Willpower check, they can internalize the
energy instead and suffer half of their CON in
damage, divided amongst Hit Locations as the hero
sees fit. If the hero rolls a Fumble on this check, they
instead take their full CON in damage. The hero’s
stored energy fades at their Healing Rate
per day.
SAVANT
Always On
The hero has an affinity to certain aspects of their
training or natural ability. The hero is an expert in
three skills that are picked when this Core Power is
chosen, and any check with those skills is one Difficulty
Grade easier. The skills must have one Characteristic in
common, such as being a Savant in Computers,
Mechanisms, and System Ops (which all are based on
INT). Skills that require Specialization count as
separate skills for this Core Power, and any that are not
part of the Savant skills do not normally gain the
benefit. For example, if the villainous Doctor Vellaro is a
Savant in Science (Biology) and Science (Physics), he does not
gain the bonus from this Core Power in any other Science
skill rolls.
Boosts
• Instant Specialization: The hero uses their expertise
in one field to help with a task from another. The hero
spends 2 Power Points when using a Savant skill that
requires Specialization (such as Craft or Science) to use
a Specialization that they do not have for a single task
or Extended Task. For example, if a hero is a Savant in
Craft: Vehicles, she could use this Boost to use Craft: Robotics
for a single task, even though she doesn’t have the skill.

• Jack of All Trades: The hero can figure out skills
they don’t know, or at least convincingly fake their way
through them. The hero spends 2 Power Points to be
considered trained in a Professional Skill that they
normally don’t know. The skill must share a
Characteristic with one of the hero’s Savant skills,
and they can only use it at the base level (for
example, the Pilot skill at DEX+INT) for a single task or
Extended Task.
• Observational Mastery: The hero can temporarily
copy someone else’s ability by closely observing them.
The hero spends 3 Power Points after observing
someone for at least one minute using a skill that
shares a Characteristic with one of the hero’s Savant
skills. The hero gains that skill at the same level as the
target for one combat encounter, or for a single task or
Extended Task.
• Parallel Knowledge: The hero can effectively apply
their knowledge to a different task. The hero spends 2
Power Points to substitute the value of one of their
Savant skills for another skill that has a Characteristic
in common. This lasts for one combat encounter, or
for a single task or Extended Task. The two skills
should have some aspect in common to justify the
substitution, such as using Athletics in place of
Acrobatics to make a series of quick jumps and flips,
and the Games Master has final say if the switch
can occur.
Limits
• Educational Limits: The hero is so advanced in
their knowledge they have a hard time learning more
in their chosen skills. When the hero spends
Experience Rolls to advance one of their Savant skills,
the skill is treated as if it were 20 skill points higher
when determining how much the hero adds to their
skill rating. For example, a hero has Streetwise at 65% as
one of her Savant skills, and wishing to improve, her player
uses an Experience Roll. She will need to roll above 85% on
INT+1d100 to gain the 1d4+1 standard improvement.
Failing that, she’ll still gain 1% in the skill.
• Knowledge Gap: The time spent mastering certain
skills has caused the hero to have difficulty learning
others. The hero chooses two non-Savant skills. If they
are Professional Skills and the hero attempts to learn
them, it costs them 5 Experience Rolls to gain the skill
at the base level. When they use Experience Rolls to
advance those skills, they only gain 1d2+1 points on a
successful advancement instead of the normal amount.
If the chosen skill requires Specialization (such as Art),
this Limit applies to any Specializations with the skill.
• Skill Deficiency: While the hero excels at certain
areas, other skills are more challenging for them. The
hero chooses two skills, and any check with one of
those skills is one Difficulty Grade harder.
4. Powers
Combat Savants?
W hile Savant can be applied to almost any
skill, it is recommended that combat skills
such as Combat Style, Evade, and Unarmed not
be allowed to be chosen as part of this power.
While there is precedent in comics of heroes
who are true masters of the combat arts, for a
game this can become unbalancing since combat
checks can happen quite often, and extremely
skilled combatants can be nearly unstoppable.
It is up to the Games Master to decide if Savant
can be taken for these kinds of skills, and if so, the
hero will need to spend 1 Power Point each time
they use a combat skill enhanced by this power.
This will make them expert combatants but also
provide a limitation so it does not become
unbalancing. Keep in mind that if heroes are
allowed to be combat Savants the villains also will
have the ability to use the power for this purpose
as well.
SENSORY OVERLOAD
INT, Resist (Endurance)
The hero can temporarily disable the senses of others
with blinding flashes, deafening sounds, or numbing
cold. The hero chooses one of the five primary senses
this Core Power affects when they choose it, and they
can attempt to overload that sense in a target within
their INT in meters. The hero makes a Willpower roll,
resisted by the target’s Endurance (or Willpower if the
power is psychic or magical in nature). If the hero is
successful, the sense is rendered inoperable for 1d4+1
Combat Rounds. If the target’s Endurance roll is
Fumbled, the affected sense is lost for 1d4+1 hours
instead. Targets treat everything around them as
Heavily Obscured (see page 178) related to the lost
sense, and any checks related to the sense are at least
two difficulty steps harder.
Boosts
• Additional Sense: The hero is no longer limited to a
single sense. The hero can spend 2 Power Points to
impair an additional sense or change the primary
sense affected by spending 1 Power Point.
• Esoteric Senses: The hero is able to disable unusual
senses. The hero chooses one unusual sense (see
Heightened Sense for examples, page 99) that they
can affect with this power.
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 Destined
A little dangerous
W hile it may seem counterintuitive to think that
Shrinking is a potent power, in the right (or
wrong) hands, it can be incredibly dangerous.
Heroes that can shrink down to an extremely small
size can gain access to places no normal person
can. While this is very handy when sneaking
around, what happens when a miniature hero
sneaks into a crack in the villain’s power armor to
start tearing it up from the inside? What if they try
to expand to full size while inside something, or
someone?
The Games Master should encourage creative
use of powers, but also must monitor that things
don’t get out of hand and come up with new
challenges for the hero. Once inside the power
armor, the hero might have to dodge gears, avoid
electrical surges, and deal with the nanobot self-
repair systems that see him as a threat to be
purged. Trying to return to full size inside a solid
body might cause great harm to the target, but
odds are it will also cause great harm to the hero
as his expanding body meets resistance. It’s
important to keep in mind that there are still
dangers in the miniature world that can pose as
great a threat as those in the full-size world.
• Flashbang: The hero can affect multiple targets. The
hero spends 3 Power Points to affect a radius around
the target equal to half their INT in meters. All targets
in the area must make Opposed Endurance checks
against the hero’s Willpower roll to avoid the effect.
• Increased Range: The hero can disable the senses of
far-off targets. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
increase the range of the power to double their INT in
meters, or 3 Power Points to triple the range.
Limits
• Feedback: If the hero fails to disable their target’s
sense, they suffer feedback from the attempt. Anytime
the hero fails the Opposed Roll to disable a sense, they
suffer a partial loss of the same sense. Any skill rolls
Shrinking Table
CON+SIZ Size Divider (STR, SIZ, Move)
12 or less 10
13-25 20
26-35 50
36-48 100
Each additional +12 Double the previous divider
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related to that sense are one Difficulty Grade harder
for 1d3 Turns.
• Partial Sensory Loss: The hero’s ability only
partially disables the target’s sense. If the target
is affected, it treats everything related to the sense
as lightly obscured and rolls are one difficulty step
harder.
• Quick Flash: The hero’s ability only disables the
sense for a few seconds. Targets affected by this power
only lose the affected sense for 1d3 Turns instead.
SHRINKING
SIZ
The hero is able to shrink their body down. The hero
can reduce their size as an Action, and any items on the
hero’s person are shrunk as well. While shrunken, the
hero’s STR, SIZ, and Movement Rate are reduced by
the divider on the table below, based on their
CON+SIZ. The Size Divider is also applied to the
Visibility distance the hero can be seen from normally
(see page 207). They also have a reduction in Hit Points
per location, but anyone attempting to target them in
combat or notice them with a Perception roll also suffers
the difficulty penalty listed in the Shrinking Table.
When dealing with objects and creatures relative to
their new SIZ, the Games Master may rule that the hero
is treated as their normal SIZ. For example, if the Silver
Flea is reduced down to only an inch in height, things like ants
and mice would be treated as giant versions of normal animals
relative to his new “normal size,” and he would use his
standard statistics when dealing with them. Returning to
normal height takes an Action, and they can decide not
to reduce down by the full amount whenever they
change size.
Shrinking can reduce a hero’s SIZ well below a value
of 1 but as the Height and Weight Table on page 18
shows, 1 is the lowest value. The SIZ Characteristic does
not go into negative values, so how do you determine
how small your hero is once they go below the lowest
values presented? The simplest way to determine the
hero’s new height is to divide their height by the
Shrinking divider below. So a hero who is normally 163
Hit Point Reduction Difficulty Penalty
-1 One step
-1 One step
-2 Two steps
-2 Two steps
-3 Three steps
Surrounded by a mob of Dr Vellaro’s killer robots, Eclipse emits a searing blaze of light to overload the
creatures’ sensors. The horrible machines are knocked back and stunned.
cm tall would be 16.3 cm tall with a divider of 10, or a
little over an 2.5 cm high with a divider of 50. The
hero’s weight can be calculated in the same manner.
Boosts
• Growth Punch: The hero is able to deliver a
powerful strike while returning to normal size. While
already shrunk, the hero spends 2 Power Points to
quickly grow to normal size while simultaneously
making a melee attack. The quick shift in size increases
the hero’s normal size Damage Modifier by two steps,
and if the target attempts to Evade or Parry, the
attempt is one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Microscopic: The hero is able to shrink down to a
truly minuscule size. The hero spends 2 Power Points
to increase their size reduction factor by ten times the
normal number for a single Action in combat, or a
single task or Extended Task outside of combat. After
the task is complete, the hero returns to normal size
and must make an Endurance check or suffer 1d3+1
Levels of Fatigue.
• Quick Shrink: The hero is able to reduce their size
in an instant. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
reduce their size as a Free Action.
• Shrinking Dodge: The hero can reduce their size to
make them harder to hit. When the hero is attacked at
normal size, they can spend 2 Power Points as part
of a Reaction to shrink down to avoid the attack,
and their Evade or Parry check is two Difficulty
Grades easier.
Limits
• Disorienting Reduction: The Shrinking process
disorients the hero. Any subsequent rolls they make
the Turn after Shrinking or returning to normal size
are one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Growing Pains: While Shrinking is easy, returning
to normal size can harm the hero. When they return
to their normal size, they must make an Easy
Endurance check or suffer 1 Hit Point of damage to
1d4+1 random locations, ignoring armor.
• Stressful Reduction: The hero has limits when they
shrink, and if they push past them it taxes their body.
When the hero shrinks to a size smaller than half their
normal divider, they must make an Endurance check
as a Free Action or suffer a Level of Fatigue.
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 Destined
STRETCHING
Always On, CON
The hero can stretch out their body to amazing lengths.
The hero can extend their body up to a maximum
number of meters equal to half their CON. Stretching is
a Free Action as part of another Action or movement,
and the hero can extend any part of their body as long
as the total length stretched does not exceed their
normal maximum. For example, if Rubberband Man can
stretch a total of 8 meters, he could extend his arms out 4
meters, his abdomen 2 meters, and his legs 2 meters. A hero
can extend their arms and torso to increase their reach,
stretch out their neck to see over obstacles, or stretch
their legs to step over obstacles and increase their
Movement Rate by half their maximum Stretching
length. Limbs can be either individually extended or as
a duo for the same amount as long as the total extension
does not exceed half the hero’s CON. Extended limbs
can be targeted like any other body part in combat at
the range they are from the attacker, but they also allow
the hero to target enemies with unarmed and melee
attacks at whatever distances the limbs are stretched.
The hero can retract parts of their body as a Free
Action on their Turn as long as they did not extend
them on the same Turn. If the hero is wearing
polyweave armor or special clothing, it stretches along
with them. Normal clothing and armor, especially rigid
forms of armor, won’t expand with the hero, and
enemies can make attack checks at one Difficulty Grade
harder, or use the Choose Location Special Effect to hit
a section of the hero’s body where the armor isn’t
covering them. The hero can have special armor made
that stretches, but its Allotment Cost is increased by 1
(see page 125).
Boosts
• Malleable: The hero is able to stretch their body in
new and exciting ways. The hero can alter the depth
and width of their body in addition to the length by
taking an Action, or as a Free Action by spending 2
Power Points. This allows them to flatten themselves to
a few centimeters thick, expand out like a balloon,
twist like a snake, and assume basic shapes like spheres
and cubes (assuming more intricate shapes requires
the Morph Core Power. See page 105.). They also take
on a rubbery texture, allowing them to move by
bouncing at their modified Movement Rate (see
above) and take half damage from falls. The hero can
use this to squeeze through small openings (up to SIZ
1), flatten out to work as a parachute or net, or use
their malleability to gain a one-step bonus to escape
grapples or wrap around foes to make their attempts
114
to escape grapples one-step harder. Additional uses
are up to the imagination and creativity of the hero,
but they are still limited to their normal maximum
distance in terms of how much they can expand their
body, and the Games Master has final ruling on what
the hero can accomplish with this Boost.
• Maximum Stretch: The hero is able to stretch their
body far beyond their normal limits. The hero spends
2 Power Points to stretch out to their CON in meters
(instead of half their CON) for a single Action, task, or
Extended Task. By spending 3 Power Points, the hero
can stretch out to 1.5 times their CON, but once the
Action or task is complete, they immediately suffer 1d3
Levels of Fatigue.
• Slingshot: The hero is able to turn their body into a
giant living slingshot. The hero spends 2 Power Points
after Stretching their limbs or body between two solid
objects to act as a giant slingshot. The hero can launch
their own body up to a distance of ten times the
maximum Stretching distance, or launch another
object or person the same distance. Unwilling targets
can Evade attempts to launch them as a Reaction, or
try to escape if the hero has them grappled.
• Stretchy Evade: The hero is able to stretch out of the
way of danger. The hero spends 1 Power Point when
making an Evade check to stretch their body to avoid
the attack, making the attempt one Difficulty Grade
easier. In addition, the hero does not end up prone
afterwards.
Limits
• Rubbery: The further the hero stretches their body,
the harder it is to control. If the hero stretches their
body more than half their maximum length, it
becomes rubbery and harder to control and any
Actions with it are at one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Slow Retraction: While the hero can extend their
body as a Free Action, going back to normal size and
shape takes an Action. Alternatively, the hero can
choose to make extending their body cost an Action
and retracting it back to normal a Free Action.
• Weakened Limbs: The act of Stretching makes the
hero’s body more vulnerable to damage. Any Hit
Location extended has its Hit Points halved, and
Armor Points from a Power or special stretchable gear
are also halved. When back to normal, any damage is
applied to the normal Hit Point value of the location,
and if it suffered a Serious Wound while stretched, the
hero’s Hit Points in that area are reduced to one point
below the threshold of a Serious Wound in the location
as well.
 4. Powers

SUMMON they want to empower, and assigns one of the following

CHA, Concentration
The hero is able to Summon an entity known as a
‘construct,’ linking it to their will to perform tasks for
them. Constructs can take any form, but even ones that
look alive are just temporary products of the hero’s
power and they are not truly living beings. The hero
spends an Action to create a single construct within
their POW in meters, and the abilities of the construct
are based on the creator’s INT+CHA as detailed on the
table below. With the Core Power the hero can only
make one construct at a time, and if they attempt to
create another one while one is still in existence, the
first construct vanishes. Constructs only have three
Characteristics (STR, DEX, and SIZ), and the hero can
assign values to them as they see fit, determining at the
time of creation which is primary, secondary, and
tertiary (see the Summoned Construct Stats Table).
They have a Base Movement Rate of 5 meters, have Hit
Points based on their SIZ divided by 2, and do not have
distinct Hit Locations. They have a base number of
Armor Points equal to one-tenth of their STR
(minimum of 1). When a construct is reduced to 0 Hit
Points, it immediately disappears back to wherever it
came from. Constructs are incapable of independent
activity, and the hero that created them must spend an
Action Point to give them direction. The construct has 2
Action Points and acts on the creator’s Turn, following
its last instruction until it is given a new command.
Constructs use physical skills such as Athletics, Brawn,
Endurance, Evade, and Unarmed, with a base level
equal to twice their STR+DEX, or the values of their
creator, whichever is lower. If a construct does not have
a current command it will take no Action until given a
new order. If the creator fails to maintain Concentration
or is rendered Incapacitated, all active constructs
disappear immediately.
Boosts
• Empowered Construct: The hero is able to imbue
their construct with a special ability upon creation.
The hero spends 2 Power Points, plus 1 for each
additional construct (if they have the Legion Boost)
powers to their creation(s): Adhesion, Blast, Close
Combat Attack, Energy Field, Enhanced Strength,
Flight, Growth, Life Support, or Resistance. The
construct uses its Tertiary Characteristic (or double
that if required by the power) to determine any
variable traits and it may only use the base Core Power
with no Boosts. Alternatively, the hero can imbue a
single construct with several Core Powers, each costing
2 Power Points to add.
• Guardian Constructs: The hero’s constructs remain
behind even if they fall, keeping them safe. If the hero
is Incapacitated, their constructs remain behind and
immediately move to protect them. The constructs will
take any Action necessary to keep the hero safe,
attacking anyone who attempts to do them harm. The
constructs will remain there until the hero recovers,
they are reduced to 0 Hit Points, or 1 hour has passed.
Additionally, the hero can spend 1 Power Point to
make Willpower checks to avoid losing their
Concentration one grade easier.
• Homunculus: The hero is able to physically step
inside of and embody one of their constructs, gaining
its abilities as long as they remain inside. The hero
spends 2 Power Points to physically embody a
construct adjacent to them, gaining its physical
Characteristics, Armor Points, and base damage as
long as they concentrate. The hero takes their
Actions normally while embodying the construct, and
any damage taken while they are inside is
subtracted from the construct’s Hit Points first. If the
construct is reduced to 0 Hit Points, the hero is ejected
in the same location as where the construct was
destroyed, and any excess damage is applied to them.
If the hero has multiple constructs active, they must
still spend an Action to direct their other creations
as normal.
• Legion: The hero is able to Summon multiple
constructs at a time. For every 2 Power Points the hero
spends as an Action, they can create a single construct
or two lesser constructs that only have a single Hit
Point each. The hero can mix and match types of
constructs as they see fit when using this Boost, so by
spending 6 Power Points they could have one normal
construct and four lesser ones. The hero can
command all their constructs with a single Action,

Summoned construct stats

INT+POW Primary Characteristic Secondary Tertiary Base Damage/
Characteristic Characteristic Weapon Size
12 or less 2d6+6 (13) 2d6+4 (11) 1d6+4 (8) S/1d4
13-19 2d6+8 (15) 2d6+5 (12) 1d6+5 (9) M/1d6
20-27 2d6+10 (17) 2d6+6 (13) 1d6+6 (10) L/1d8
28-35 2d6+12 (19) 2d6+7 (14) 1d6+7 (11) L/1d10
36-48 2d6+14 (21) 2d6+8 (15) 1d6+8 (12) H/2d6
for each +12 +2 +1 +1 +1 die step
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 Destined
even giving them separate orders or targets.
Limits
• Limited Form: The hero can only create a specific
type of construct with the Core Power, such as
skeletons or combat robots. The construct always has
the same Characteristics when summoned and always
takes the general form, although the hero can vary the
appearance as long as the Characteristics are the same.
For example, Zookeeper can Summon predatory animals to
serve him in combat. He could Summon wolves, panthers, or
boars, but no matter what the form, with this Limit they always
have the same Characteristics when summoned.
• Material Required: The hero creates their
constructs from materials around them. The construct
is made up of a specific material determined when this
Limit is taken. It can be any relatively common
material, such as dirt, stones, or wood, or something
more specific such as corpses, building materials, or
molten lava. The material must be within the hero’s
POW in meters and there must be a sufficient amount
to create the construct(s) based on the SIZ chosen.
When a construct created this way is destroyed, it
reverts to whatever base material was used in its
construction.
• Sympathetic Link: The hero is linked to their
constructs, and he or she hurts when they hurt. When
a construct takes damage, the hero takes 1 Hit Point to
a random location. This damage is not reduced by
armor or any resistances. If the construct is destroyed,
the hero must make an unmodified Endurance check
as a Free Action or take 1d3 Hit Points to a random
location as above.
TECHNOPATHY
INT, Concentration, Resist (Willpower)
The hero is able to interface their mind with machines,
tapping into the information stored there. The hero can
connect their mind with a machine that they can see
within their INT in meters as an Action. The power
only works with machinery that has electronic or
computerized components, and machines without these
parts are unaffected by this Core Power. If the machine
is sentient, such as an advanced robot or android, and
unwilling, the hero must win an Opposed Willpower
check against it to connect. Machines with security
measures, such as firewalls on networks, use the skill
rating of the programmer (if known) or have a
percentage rating assigned by the Games Master that
the hero must overcome in an Opposed Willpower test
to gain access. Heroes must also be able to speak any
relevant languages to understand text and information
116
retrieved from a device, but their natural connection
with machines allows them to comprehend various
programming languages and code without the need for
a specific skill. Once the hero has connected, they can
access any data or information stored on the machine.
They can also control any other systems the
machine has access to while the connection is active,
such as opening electronic locks, tapping into security
camera feeds, or making vending machines spit out
their contents. Depending on the complexity of the
machine, the hero may be required to make a Research
or Easy Computers check to search through the data to
find what they are looking for. Sentient machines
can attempt to stop the hero’s connection by taking
an Action and making another Opposed Willpower
check.
Boosts
• Data Transfer: The hero is able to copy information
stored on a machine into their own mind. While
connected to a machine, the hero can spend 2 Power
Points to copy information stored on the machine to
their mind or to transfer previously stored
information to a different machine. The hero is able to
access the information even once they disconnect from
the machine. While the human mind can store
amazing amounts of data it is not designed for keeping
digital information, so the strain of keeping the
information in the hero’s mind inflicts a one-step
penalty to any INT-based skill checks as long as they
keep the information there. Normally the hero can
store specific information about one topic found
or the contents of an average desktop computer or
tablet with a successful Research check, but if the
hero attempts to retain a large amount of data (such as
an entire server or government database), they must
roll 1d100 to see what percentage of the data they
managed to obtain from the system. The hero can
choose to remove the information at any time as a
Free Action.
• Memory Probe: The hero is able to access hidden or
damaged information. The hero spends 1 Power Point
to make any Willpower check to gain access to
information on a machine or overcome security
measures one Difficulty Grade easier. Alternatively, the
hero can spend 2 Power Points and make a Hard
Willpower check to attempt to access corrupted or
erased information that was previously stored on a
machine they are connected to. If the hero is
successful, they are able to access such data going back
a number of days equal to their Research skill rating.
For example, Data Miner is attempting to locate security
footage that will help exonerate one of her allies falsely
accused of a crime, but unfortunately the footage was erased
a week prior. Luckily she makes her Willpower roll and is able

to recover the footage, as well as some incriminating video of
the man trying to frame her friend.
• System Control: The hero is able to give a machine
orders that it will carry out even when the hero is no
longer connected. The hero spends 2 Power Points as
an Action to issue an order to a machine they are
connected to. If the machine is sentient, the hero must
succeed at an Opposed Willpower check to implant
the order. If successful, the machine will follow the
order to the best of its ability and will act even after the
hero is no longer in contact. In most cases machines
can only carry out orders for tasks that they could
normally accomplish, and the machine follows the
directive until it is finished. So a computer could be
commanded to wipe all of its data at a certain time or
a drone could be sent to a specific location. The Games
Master has final say if an order is beyond the ability of
the machine in question, or if the hero’s order is too
complex for the machine to successfully complete. If a
sentient machine is given an order that opposes its
Passions or would cause it to inflict harm on itself or
someone important to it, it gets an immediate
Willpower check at one Difficulty Grade easier to
resist. For non-sentient machines, someone who
becomes aware the machine has been compromised or
controlled can attempt to stop it from performing the
Action dictated by the hero with a successful
Computers, Craft, or Mechanisms check as
appropriate to the type of machine being controlled.
• Wi-Fi Enabled: The hero is able to use wireless
networks to connect to any machine on that network.
The hero spends 2 Power Points as an Action in an
area with wireless internet, allowing them to attempt
to access any device or machine connected to that
network, even if it is beyond their normal range or out
of sight. Alternatively, the hero can use a cellular tower
in the same manner, allowing them to attempt to gain
access to any device using that tower while they are
utilizing the tower.
Limits
• Direct Connection: The hero must physically be in
contact with a machine to connect to it. The hero’s
power has no range and they must be physically
touching the machine they wish to access. If the hero
loses contact with the machine, their power stops
working immediately.
• Limited Access: The hero is only able to access
certain types of machines. The hero chooses one type
of machine, such as computers, vehicles, or security
systems. Their Core Power only works with those types
of machines.
• System Short: If the hero is stopped from gaining
access, they suffer for it. If the hero fails a Willpower
check to gain access to a machine, they suffer painful
4. Powers
feedback, and must make an Easy Willpower roll. On
a Failure they suffer 1d3 damage to their Head,
ignoring any armor or resistances. If this roll is a
Fumble, they suffer 1d6+1 damage to the Head
instead.
TELEKINESIS
CHA, Concentration, Resist (Brawn, Evade)
The hero is able to move objects at a distance with
psychic force, invisible mystical hands, or some other
manifestation of their power. The hero can lift and
manipulate visible objects that they are aware of at a
distance of their CHA in meters by using an Action
Point, moving them at a rate of one-third the hero’s
CHA in meters per Turn. The force used to lift is
unseen, and anyone unaware of the hero’s abilities may
be surprised by objects moving unexpectedly.
Telekinesis is treated as any other strength-based
Action, with the hero using INT+CHA to determine
Damage Bonus and Willpower in place of Brawn for
any checks required; however, the hero’s maximum lift
with Telekinesis cannot be increased as per Feats of
Strength (see page 190). It can also be used to grapple
targets or wield objects or weapons at the listed distance
using the hero’s Willpower, but the telekinetic force
cannot normally be used to directly attack (see below for
an exception). Targets can Evade or Parry objects and
wielded weapons as normal, but attempts to defend are
at one Difficulty Grade harder since there is no
“opponent” to study and the attacks can come from any
angle or direction. While the telekinetic force is crude,
the hero can perform tasks requiring fine motor skills
such as typing on a keyboard or lifting delicate objects,
but all checks required are one Difficulty Grade harder.
The maximum weight the hero can lift using
Telekinesis is determined by their INT+CHA as
detailed in the Telekinetic Lifting Table.
Boosts
• Distance Manipulation: The hero can manipulate
objects at greater range. The hero can spend 2 Power
Points to increase the range to twice their CHA in
meters, or triple their CHA in meters for 3 Power Points.
• Size Matters Not: The hero is able to lift far more
than normal. The hero can spend 2 Power Points to
double their maximum weightlifting limit for the Core
Power, or 3 Power Points to quadruple it.
• Telekinetic Shove: The hero sends out a wave of
telekinetic force to knock a foe back. The hero spends
2 Power Points to attempt to push a target with an
Opposed Willpower roll against the target’s Brawn. If
the hero is successful, the target suffers Knockback as
if struck with damage equal to the hero’s INT+CHA.
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 Destined
Alternatively, the hero can spend 3 Power Points to
release a burst of force centered on their location.
Everyone within one-fifth their POW in meters must
make an Opposed Brawn check against their
Willpower or suffer Knockback as if struck by damage
equal to the hero’s CHA.
• Telekinetic Strike: The hero launches a pinpoint
“punch” of telekinetic force at their foe. The hero can
spend 2 Power Points to attempt a telekinetic strike at
their normal range, using Willpower for the attack
check. The target resists with Evade as a Reaction, but
the check is one Difficulty Grade harder. If successful,
the attack inflicts damage based on the hero’s
INT+CHA (see the Telekinetic Strike Table).
Limits
• Limited Objects: The hero is very limited in what
they can manipulate with their Core Power. The hero’s
Telekinesis only affects a certain broad category of
targets, such as only metallic objects, plant-life, or
living creatures.
• Telekinetic Strain: While the hero can lift
tremendous weight with their power, pushing too
hard can tire them out. If the hero attempts to lift
weight greater than half their maximum lifting
capability, they must make an Endurance check or
suffer a Level of Fatigue.
• Visible Force: The hero’s telekinetic force has a
visible manifestation, such as hands of energy or
tendrils of darkness. Checks to Evade or Parry any
attacks with the force are at normal difficulty and it is
obvious to onlookers that the hero is the source of any
use of the power.
TELEPATHY
CHA, Concentration, Resist (Willpower)
The hero is able to use their mind to contact the mind
of another. As an Action the hero can initiate a
telepathic link with another being that is within sight of
the hero, and no further than twice their CHA in
meters. This link allows instantaneous communication
of surface thoughts and images, although both of them
must share a common language to understand words.
Telekinetic Lifting
INT+POW Maximum Lift
12 or less 50 kgs.
13-24 250 kgs.
25-36 500 kgs.
37-48 1000 kgs.
Each additional +12 Double the previous amount
118
The link remains active as long as the hero and the
target remain in range, although once established they
do not need to remain in sight of each other. An
unwilling target can resist the link by making an
Opposed Willpower check against the hero, or attempt
to force the hero out by making an Opposed Willpower
check as an Action.
Boosts
• Gestalt Mind: The hero is able to not only share
minds, but also can share knowledge. While in
telepathic contact with someone, the hero can spend 2
Power Points to use the target’s skill values in place of
their own (but only if the skill is based on INT), and
the target can do the same. If it is a skill the hero or the
target does not have training in normally, any checks
are one Difficulty Grade harder. The Core Power lasts
for the duration of one task or one Extended Task.
• Mind Control: The hero is able to take control of a
mind that they are linked with. The hero spends 3
Power Points to attempt to gain control of a target that
they have established a telepathic link with. The hero
makes an Opposed Willpower check against the target,
and if successful, the hero can direct the target’s
Actions. At the end of each round that the target is
being directed it can make an Opposed Willpower
check against the hero to break free. If the hero directs
the target to perform an Action that would be contrary
to its Passions, or if an act would harm the target or
someone important to them, the Opposed Roll can be
attempted again prior to the Action at one Difficulty
Grade easier. If the target Fumbles the initial Opposed
Roll to resist, the control lasts until the hero releases
the target or until it is directed to perform anything
that opposes its Passions or risks harm as per above, in
which case a Willpower check is made as normal.
• Mind Probe: The hero is able to delve deeply into
the memories of someone. The hero spends 2 Power
Points to reach past the surface thoughts of the target
and into deeper memories. If the target is willing, the
hero can view any of their memories as if he or she was
physically present, going back a maximum number of
years equal to one-fifth the hero’s Insight skill rating.
If the target is unwilling, or if an external force is
protecting those memories, the hero must succeed at
an Opposed Willpower roll against the target to
Telekinetic Strike
INT+POW Damage Force
12 or less 1d6 M
13-24 1d8 L
25-36 1d10 L
37-48 1d12 H
Each additional +12 +1 damage step C

access a single memory. Additional attempts to access
the memories of an unwilling target require additional
expenditures of Power Points and Opposed Willpower
checks, and if the target rolls a Critical Success on
any chance to resist, the hero is unable to probe their
memories for a number of days equal to the target’s
POW.
• Party Line: The hero can serve as a mental hub so
multiple willing people can communicate. The hero
spends 1 Power Point to add an additional target to the
telepathic link, and all linked targets can interact with
each other as long as they remain in range.
Limits
• Limited Access: The hero is incapable of
communicating verbally using Telepathy, and can only
share and receive images, basic emotions, and sounds.
Any visual representations of words or sounds of
language are garbled and indistinct.
• Mental Overload: If the hero is unable to pierce the
mind of another, the psychic backlash impairs their
mind for a time. If the hero fails an Opposed
Willpower roll as part of a Telepathic Action, all skill
checks based on INT or POW are one Difficulty Grade
harder for the next hour.
• Oversharing: Sometimes when the hero contacts
another mind, they share a bit more of themselves
than intended. When the hero establishes a mental
link, they must make an Easy Willpower check or
accidentally share a secret, hidden thought, or
memory with the target.
TELEPORT
CHA
The hero is able to disappear from one location and
reappear in another. As a Move Action, the hero can
Teleport to any spot within their CHA in meters that
they can see, along with anything they are wearing or
carrying. The target space must be clear of objects and
creatures, and the hero maintains the same momentum
and orientation upon reaching the destination. The
hero can Teleport into the air or to a location without
solid footing, but immediately falls once they arrive at
their destination.
Boosts
• Full Stop: The hero is able to alter their velocity and
facing when they Teleport. The hero spends 1 Power
Point as part of a Teleport to reduce any previous
momentum and change orientation to any direction
upon reaching the target location. This may be used to
4. Powers
Losing Control
T he ability to strip free will from another person
is one that has serious potential for darkness
and misuse, and this is why it is often relegated to
villains in the comics. Powers like Emotion Control
and Mind Control are ripe for abuse, and heroes
who use them on a regular basis to overcome
threats and obstacles can quickly fall away from
their noble ideals. Games Masters who overuse
mind-controlling villains can make the game less
fun for their players, as few people like to have
control of their heroes taken away from them. It is
also important to consider the comfort level of
your players with topics related to mind control.
Stories like Marvel’s Jessica Jones and DC’s
Identity Crisis talk about the true evils and
ramifications of manipulating the will and minds
of others, and while some groups may be
comfortable with exploring mature topics related
to such powers, some may want to avoid them
entirely and Games Masters should be careful how
such powers are used in the game, if they are
allowed at all.
prevent damage from a fall if the hero is able to
Teleport before landing.
• Long Jump: The hero is able to transport themselves
great distances. By spending 2 Power Points, the hero
can Teleport up to twice their CHA in meters. By
spending 3 Power Points the distance teleported is
tripled. The hero still must be able to see the
destination point for the Teleport to be successful.
• Quick Jump: The hero is able to Teleport faster than
the eye can see. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
Teleport up to half their CHA in meters as a Free
Action. If the hero does this as part of an Evade, they
do not end up prone when they reach their
destination.
• Teleport Other: The hero can take a passenger
along with them, or send an enemy away. The hero
spends 2 points to Teleport something or someone
within half of their CHA in meters, sending them to
any point within the hero’s CHA in meters from their
original location. If the Teleportation is unwanted, the
target can resist with an Opposed Willpower check
against the hero. The target must be teleported to an
open space free of any obstructions, but maintains the
orientation and momentum it had before.
Alternatively, the hero can spend 2 Power Points while
in contact with someone to Teleport them their normal
distance as a Move Action. If more than one person is
in contact with the hero, they can spend 2 Power
Points per individual who travels with them. If the
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 Destined
target is unwilling, the hero must succeed at an Easy
Opposed Willpower check as detailed above.
Limits
• Conditional Jump: The hero is only able to Teleport
under specific circumstances. The hero can only
Teleport to and from areas that correspond to a
specific condition specified when the Limit is taken.
Some examples are teleporting between areas cloaked
in shadow or darkness, only through physical portals
such as doorways or windows, or through reflective
surfaces such as mirrors or still pools of liquid.
• Dangerous Passage: The hero Teleports by traveling
through another dimension or realm, and sometimes
gains the attention of a denizen of that other place.
The hero Teleports by instantaneously jumping
through another place outside the normal world, and
each time they Teleport the Games Master rolls 1d100.
On a 96-100, the hero draws the attention of an entity
that resides in that realm that may cause trouble for
the hero or seek entry into their world.
• Jump Disorientation: The hero and anyone
teleporting along with them is disoriented by the
jump. When the hero and any passenger arrives at
their destination, they must make an Easy Endurance
check or suffer a one-step penalty to all Actions for
1d3+1 Turns from dizziness and mild nausea.
Variant Power: Portals
Normally, Teleport allows a hero to simply vanish and
reappear, but this variant allows them to travel by
creating Portals with a distinct start point and end
point. Often the preferred variation of sorcerers, the
benefit to Portals is that adjacent allies who are quick
can also use the Portal to move. This also means
enterprising villains can use the gateway as well, so
heroes should be wary where they place their portals.
PORTALS
CHA
The hero is able to open gateways that allow them swift
travel to a distant location. The hero can briefly open a
Portal to any point within their CHA in meters and step
through it as a Move Action. The Portal is large enough
to accommodate the hero’s SIZ, and it is clearly visible
to anyone who can see the hero. The gateway remains
open on both sides until the end of the Turn when the
hero uses it, so anyone of sufficient SIZ using the Delay
Action before the hero acts can Interrupt to travel
through the Portal to either side.
120
Boosts
• Far Gate: The hero is able to open a Portal to a point
several kilometers away. The hero spends 3 Power
Points as a Move Action to create a Portal to a point
within the hero’s CHA in kilometers. The hero must
know the destination point, either with a successful
Streetwise roll or with an appropriate Knowledge
check for the desired location.
• Invisible Door: One of the hero’s Portals is invisible
to the naked eye. The hero spends 2 Power Points
when creating a Portal to either make the starting
point or the destination point invisible, which makes it
difficult for enemies to know where the hero plans to
travel to.
• Persistent Portals: The hero is able to maintain their
Portal longer to allow others to use it. The hero can
spend 2 Power Points to keep the Portal open until the
end of the current Combat Round. The hero can keep
it open longer, but the power gains the Concentration
Trait and the hero must spend 1 Power Point for each
additional Turn it is kept open. Anyone can use the
Portal from either side while it remains open.
Limits
• Inaccurate Portal: The hero’s gateways don’t always
end up where they intended. When the hero creates a
Portal, they must roll an Easy Willpower check as a
Free Action. If they fail this check, their destination
point is 1d6 meters from where they intended and
they are unaware of this until after they step through.
The Games Master determines what direction the new
destination point is, and if the Willpower check is a
Fumble, the hero’s destination point is 1d6 meters
straight up from where they intended.
• Other Limits: The Limits from the Teleport Core
Power can apply to Portals as well at the Games
Master’s discretion.
TRANSFORM
CHA, Concentration
The hero is able to change the form and shape of
Inanimate Objects (see page 192) into something
completely different. As an Action, the hero can
Transform any inanimate object by touching it and
succeeding on a Willpower roll. The difficulty of this
roll depends on the SIZ of the object. The roll is at
Standard difficulty for objects with a SIZ equal to half
the hero’s CHA or less, Hard for a SIZ above half up to
the hero’s CHA, or Formidable if the SIZ is greater than
the hero’s CHA but no greater than twice their CHA.
Heroes are unable to use Transform on objects with a

SIZ larger than twice their CHA. If the object is being
held or carried by another person, the hero must make
a successful Unarmed roll to make contact with the item
as part of the Action to use the power. The hero is able
to change the form of the object into anything they wish,
although they can only use the materials and mass
available and may not change the state of matter of the
object (such as changing normal water into ice). The
transformed object must also remain in one piece and
may not be separated into multiple objects. With a
Willpower roll, the hero can change what they touch
into relatively simple things such as altering it into basic
forms such as simple blocks or machines. Anything more
intricate or complex requires a successful Art or
Craft roll with the appropriate Specialization for
whatever the hero wishes to make. All the appropriate
components must be necessary if the object is
transformed into something complex, so a hero could
change a steel rod into the shape of a pistol but wouldn’t
be able to make the gunpowder or make the same rod
into a functioning smartphone. The object remains in its
transformed state as long as the hero is able to maintain
Concentration, and it reverts back to its original form if
the hero stops concentrating.
Boosts
• Alchemy: The hero can alter the material
composition of an object into a different type of
substance. By spending 2 Power Points the hero can
change the base material of the object into a different
substance in the same category. So if the hero touches
a steel object, they could use this Boost to change it into
copper, iron, or even gold. By spending 4 Power Points
the hero can change the base material of the object into
something completely different, such as changing a
steel object into glass or wood. The hero can only
Transform objects into new materials with Armor
Points no greater than their CHA, and the object
reverts back to its original make-up when it changes
back.
• Lasting Transformation: The hero’s transformations
last past the time they stop concentrating on them. The
hero can spend 2 Power Points to make the
transformation last up to 1 hour without the need to
concentrate, and can extend the duration by 1 hour for
each additional 2 Power Points spent.
• Ranged Transformation: The hero is able to
Transform objects at a distance. The hero can spend 2
Power Points to Transform objects up to their CHA in
meters away. If the object is being held or carried by
another person, the hero must succeed at an Opposed
Willpower check against them to make the
transformation.
• Size Transformation: The hero can add or subtract
mass from the object to alter its size after transforming
4. Powers
it. By spending 2 Power Points, the hero can increase
or decrease the SIZ of the transformed object by up to
half their CHA. By spending 4 Power Points, they can
alter the SIZ by up to their CHA instead. When the
object reverts back to its normal form, it also goes back
to its normal SIZ.
Limits
• Limited Transformation: The hero is only able to
Transform a limited category of objects. When the
hero takes this Limit, they must choose a specific
material or category of item they can Transform, such
as only metallic objects, only furniture, or only glass.
• Unattended Objects: The hero is only able to
Transform objects that are not on the person or in
possession of someone else. The hero can only use this
power against objects that are not held or in contact
with another person, and attempting to Transform
items in the possession of someone else always fails.
• Unstable Transformation: Sometimes when a hero
transforms an object, they have a hard time
maintaining its new form. The hero must make a
Willpower roll as a Free Action on each round they
attempt to maintain Concentration to keep an object
in its new form, and if they fail it automatically reverts
back to its original form. The hero cannot take the
Lasting Transformation Boost if they have this Limit.
VAPOROUS FORM
CON, Concentration
The hero can turn into a cloud of vapor or fine
particles, achieving a nearly insubstantial state. The
hero assumes this form as an Action and can remain in
this state as long as they choose. While in this form the
hero is incapable of interacting with objects or people
in the physical world, their misty body flowing
around them. The hero is also immune to physical
sources of damage such as unarmed strikes and melee
weapons, and they take half damage from energy-based
attacks such as fire or electricity. The hero can pass
through openings of any size and gains a slow flying
speed equal to one-fifth of their CON. The hero still
retains their normal shape and size while in the
Vaporous state, and if an attack can inflict harm it still
affects their Hit Locations as normal. If the hero takes
damage while in their Vaporous state, they must make
an Endurance roll. If this check is failed, or anytime the
hero loses Concentration, they immediately revert back
to solid form.
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 Destined
Boosts
• Non-Corporeal: The hero shifts out from the world
to become as insubstantial as a ghost. The hero spends
2 Power Points to become completely non-corporeal.
In this form the hero can pass through solid objects
and people, and is immune to all forms of energy
damage in addition to physical harm. The hero can
remain in this state for a number of Turns equal to
their CON, and after that time they must spend 1
Power Point for each additional Turn. If something
would cause them to return to their solid or Vaporous
state while inside a solid object, such as having this
Core Power negated, the hero is shunted out to the
nearest open space and they take 2d6 damage to any
location that was still inside the object at the time,
ignoring armor or resistances.
• Partial Manifestation: The hero is able to manifest a
single part of their body to interact briefly with the
physical world. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
solidify one Hit Location of their body for a single
Action or attack, along with anything carried if they
manifest a limb. Any opponent who took the Delay
Action can attempt to strike the location when it
manifests as a Reaction if they are able to either roll to
hit that location or if they take the Choose Location
Special Effect.
• Quick Mist: The hero can shift into their Vaporous
Form in an instant. The hero spends 2 Power Points to
turn into their Vaporous Form as a Free Action.
122
• Spectral Dodge: The hero is able to render part of
their body Vaporous to avoid an attack. The hero
spends 3 Power Points as a Reaction while in their
physical form to render a single Hit Location that has
been struck by an attack Vaporous, thus nullifying the
damage done.
Limits
• Dissipated Lungs: When the hero assumes their
Vaporous Form, they are unable to breathe while they
remain in that state. The hero must hold their breath
while in the Vaporous state and is subject to
Asphyxiation (see page 187) once their breath runs
out, if they remain in that state.
• Grounded: The hero’s Vaporous Form is dense or
heavy and is unable to take to the sky. The hero’s
Vaporous Form does not grant the ability to fly, and is
restricted to their normal forms of moving while in
that state. The hero flows close to the ground but can
still maneuver under or through objects they could
normally reach, such as doors or first-floor windows.
• Mist Vulnerability: The hero’s Vaporous Form is
subject to damage from certain sources, such as fire or
electricity, and takes full damage from such attacks.
This can also include physical attacks made of a
certain material, such as being vulnerable to steel,
silver, or flesh.

tools of the
trade
T
urning invisible and being able to break
through walls with your bare hands are
impressive, but they aren’t much of a help
when you don’t have a computer to hack into
the doomsday satellite about to vaporize the city. Even
the greatest heroes need tools to help them in their
struggles against the forces of villainy, and those lacking
in powers make up for it with cutting-edge gear to give
them the advantage they need.
In this chapter you’ll find all the wonderful toys that
superheroes use during their battles against evil,
including armor to protect them, weapons to fight back,
gadgets and gizmos, and the cool vehicles that get them
to where they need to go. This chapter also gives the
rules for Allotments, a system that allows heroes to
easily manage their resources and equipment without
worrying about how much grappling hooks cost.
Allotments
It’s rare that you see a comic book where the hero fishes
around in their utility belt for loose change for parking,
or the dramatic scene where we see them talk to their
accountant about allocating money from their holdings
to purchase that new turbocharged motorcycle they’ve
been wanting. Although it does factor into some stories,
comics don’t really concern themselves with where
superheroes get all their high-tech gear or go into great
detail about their finances. Destined follows this example
by using a system called “Allotments” to track what a
hero has available to them for a given adventure and
how they can switch out equipment if the situation
demands it.
5. Tools of the Trade
Allotments are divided into two key components for
how resource management works in Destined: Allotment
Rating and Allotment Slots. These Allotment Slots can
be filled from Personal and Organizational Allotments,
as outlined below.
Allotment Rating
Much like skills, a hero’s Allotment Rating is
represented by a percentage, based on the Power Level
of the campaign and modified by either Experience
Rolls or advancement in an Organization (see page 124)
as the campaign progresses. It serves as an abstract
representation of the level of resources available from a
particular source, and the percentage is rolled against
just like a skill when the hero needs to obtain a rare or
dangerous piece of gear, or when they want to switch
their equipment in the middle of an adventure.
For example, after his first year of crimefighting,
Shadowstalker has built his Personal Allotments up to 83%,
has the government task force Omega as a patron at 74%, and
is part of a Superteam known as the Free Fists at a rating of
56%.
Allotment Slots
An abstract system of currency for the hero, Allotment
Slots are spent on gear at the beginning of an adventure
to determine the hero’s loadout of equipment available.
A hero has a number of slots to spend equal to one-
tenth the Allotment Rating they have available. Each
piece of gear in this chapter has a cost associated with it,
123
 Destined
and the hero uses any or all their available Allotment
Slots to purchase gear they want (that is, if it’s readily
available – see below). Normally once a hero assigns
their slots they are unavailable to them for the
remainder of the adventure, but when the hero has the
opportunity, they may reassign some or all of their slots
to change the gear they have available (see below).
Continuing the above example, Shadowstalker would have 9
Personal Slots, 8 Organizational Slots with Omega, and 6
Organizational Slots available with the Free Fists.
Personal and
Organizational
Allotments
Allotments represent the entire resources a hero has
access to, from their own personal stores of equipment
and finances to the deeper pockets of patron groups
that they are associated with. Heroes often draw from
multiple sources when they need something, tapping
into their own resources to get personal gear such as
body armor and asking their patrons to provide them
with equipment far beyond the hero’s means, such as a
supersonic jet. Most heroes have two different types of
Allotments at their disposal, both of which can provide
gear to aid them in their crimefighting: Personal
Allotments and Organizational Allotments.
Personal Allotments
A hero’s Personal Allotments represent resources that
they have accumulated on their own to help them in
their heroic endeavors. Perhaps the hero has significant
financial resources, is a genius inventor always
tinkering with devices, or has scrounged or borrowed
useful items from many different sources in preparation
for their war on crime.
Personal Allotments are always available to the hero,
although Restricted or rare items may be harder to
acquire (see below). They can also be used as a gauge
for the hero’s financial standing, but even high-status
heroes can have limited Personal Allotments if the bulk
of their wealth is tied up in business holdings. Personal
Allotments can be increased by spending Experience
Rolls as detailed on page 71.
For example, Shadowstalker is headed out to patrol the
streets of the Ossuary for crime. He looks through his supplies
and picks out what he has available to prepare for the night. He
dons his body armor, his grapple gun goes into his backpack,
and his smoke bombs are attached to his utility belt.
124
Organizational Allotments
The groups that back the hero can provide resources
and equipment to help them when they are out in the
field. Be it a government agency, a massive corporation,
or superhero team, Organizations have access to items
that would either be highly expensive or Highly
Restricted, and in some cases the hero will only be able
to obtain certain gear through their patrons.
Organizational Allotments are generally only available
when the hero is performing a task or mission for their
patron, although they can attempt to persuade their
patron to loan them gear (see below).
Patron Organizations also only have certain types of
gear available based on their function, and if the hero
needs something the Organization doesn’t have access
to, she’ll need to find another way to obtain it. A hero
may have membership in several different
Organizations, but they can usually only call upon one
per adventure to lend their assistance. Organizational
Allotments can only be increased according to the
guidelines of the specific group as detailed on page 126.
For example, Shadowstalker is going on a mission for
Omega, and they provide weapons, armor, and transportation
for members. He can use his available slots for their
Organization to acquire any of those types of items for
his mission.
Dividing Allotment Slots
As mentioned in Chapter 1, starting heroes can divide
up their initial Allotments between both Personal and
Organizational Allotment resources, but as the
campaign progresses they may acquire multiple
resources to aid them. Each type of Allotment has its
own separate rating, and when the hero is required to
roll against their Allotment Rating, they use whatever
type of Allotment is most relevant to the current
situation. As mentioned above, Organizational
Allotments usually come into play when the hero is
doing something to serve their patron. Even if the
situation could allow access to the resources of multiple
Organizations, disparate groups rarely work together
seamlessly, even if their goals in a situation are the same,
and the Games Master may restrict heroes to accessing
only one patron Organization during an adventure.
For example, Shadowstalker needs access to a fast vehicle.
He only has 2 Allotment Slots available from Omega
remaining, not enough to borrow the Omnispeeder, and he can’t
ask the Free Fists because they’re not involved with his mission
at this time. He’ll have to hoof it to the villain’s lair.

Allotment Costs and
Restriction Levels
Each piece of gear has an associated Allotment Cost
listed below, ranging from 1 (for easily acquired items)
to 10 (for something either very expensive,
experimental, or Highly Restricted), and this number
represents the number of Allotment Slots needed to
acquire that item for use during the adventure. Each
piece of gear below also has a Restriction Level, which
measures how easily it can be obtained or how highly it
is regulated by legal or governing bodies.
There are four Restriction Levels for gear in Destined:
1. Common: Items with few or no regulations that can
easily be purchased at stores or online. This level
includes items like outdoor gear, civilian vehicles,
smartphones, and basic self-defense weapons.
2. Uncommon: Items that have some regulations
involved with their purchase, or require a greater
expenditure of effort to obtain than common items.
This level includes commercial vehicles, larger civilian
small arms, and common but plausible superhero gear.
3. Restricted: Items that are highly regulated and may
be restricted to individuals with proper licenses, law
enforcement, and the military. This level includes
commercial aircraft, heavy body armor, and military
grade weaponry.
4. Highly Restricted: Items that are restricted to the
highest levels of authority, or are highly dangerous or
experimental. This level includes military vehicles,
heavy weaponry, and cutting-edge technology that only
exists on the pages of comics. The costs and Restriction
Levels of gear are meant to be abstract representations
of the “price” associated with obtaining the item, and
they do not directly translate into real world purchase
prices. So a Common item with a cost of 1 (such as a
simple knife) is far easier to acquire than a Highly
Restricted item with a cost of 1 (such as a miniaturized
Machine Pistol), even though in their relative levels of
restrictions they are considered to be “low cost.”
Personal Allotment Slots and
Restriction Levels
When a hero uses their Personal Allotment Slots to
obtain gear, they pay the listed cost for any Common
items. Uncommon items cost one point higher than the
listed amount, representing a greater expenditure of
5. Tools of the Trade
resources to get the item. So a hero who wants to
purchase a grapple gun (Uncommon, cost 1) with their
Personal Allotment Slots would pay 2 slots to get it. Past
the Uncommon level, items become more expensive
and harder to obtain with Personal Slots. Acquiring a
Restricted item requires the hero to have a source for
the item, such as an appropriate contact within an
Organization that could obtain it, or scouring the black
market for the gear. Normally this requires a
Formidable Deceit or Influence check, or a Hard check
in Streetwise for black-market items, or an appropriate
Hard Culture roll to use contacts.
For example, if Shadowstalker wanted to get military-grade
body armor for three locations (listed cost 1, Restricted Level),
he could attempt a Hard Culture (Military) roll to call on some
old army buddies to help him out.
If the roll is successful, the hero is able to obtain the
item, and as long as it is not destroyed, lost, or stolen,
they can access that item again in future adventures
without having to make another check. Restricted items
cost the listed value plus two in Personal Slots (so
Shadowstalker’s price for the mentioned combat armor would
be 3 rather than 1).
Highly Restricted items are even harder to obtain,
requiring Herculean Deceit or Influence checks, or
Formidable Streetwise or Culture rolls, and their base
cost is increased by four. So getting that jet fighter
for your hero with their personal funds is possible, but
not easy.
Heroes attempting to obtain gear of the Restricted
or Highly Restricted levels with their Personal
Allotment Slots also run the risk of leaving a trail that
could compromise their secret identities. If the hero
fails a check to obtain such an item, they will alert any
Organization that monitors the purchase of such items,
or someone involved with the attempt could pass the
hero’s attempt on to an interested party.
After nearly being killed trying to fight Baron Malycer,
Shadowstalker tries to get a laser rifle from a local weapons lab
to give him a better chance at cracking the villain’s force fields.
Unfortunately he fails his check to acquire the item and the lab
flags the attempt and alerts their security.
Smart heroes will not use their real name or personal
bank account when trying to get Restricted items, but
the alert could raise red flags to someone who could
make trouble for the hero in the future. If the check was
a Fumble, the hero left behind some incriminating clue
that leads to their actual identity even if they were being
careful to cover their tracks. The Games Master has
final ruling on how a failed check could affect the hero,
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 Destined
How much gear
Is too much?
A s heroes gain more and more Allotments, it
allows them to potentially load up on more
and more gear when out in the field. Destined has
no hard and fast rules for how much a hero can
carry, although you can use the lifting capacity
based on the Feats of Strength rules on page 190
to see what would be reasonable. Generally a
hero should be able to wear armor and carry one
personal item in each hand, a few items strapped
to their back, small items or worn weapons on
their abdomen, and perhaps a small hidden
weapon or two in their boots. If the Games Master
feels the amount a hero is carrying is
unreasonable, or the hero is holding bulky or
cumbersome gear, they can impose difficulty
penalties to Actions, a reduction in movement,
and/or reduced Initiative to reflect the impairment
caused by the hero being overloaded.
if at all. A billionaire playboy trying to buy a private jet
would not be an unusual occurrence, but if he tries to
buy a tank, someone will probably pay attention.
Organizational Allotment
Slots and Restriction Levels
Using Organizational Allotment Slots to acquire gear
depends on the type of gear the Organization has
available and the Access Level of the group (see
Organizations on page 218). Most Organizations have
three to five categories of gear available, and some may
only have specific items within a category. For example,
Aceso Industries gives access to vehicles for its employees, but
only to civilian automobiles and company helicopters and jets
for higher ranking members.
Each Organization also has an Access Level listed
that details the highest Restriction Level of gear the
group can obtain. Any item of that level or below can be
acquired at the listed cost, if the hero has the
appropriate Rank in the Organization (see page 221).
For example, at his current rank, Shadowstalker has an Access
Level of Restricted for his missions with Omega. If he wants to
pick up some explosive throwing blades (Restricted Level) he
can get them at their normal cost of 2.
As mentioned above, heroes may only use slots from
their patron Organizations when they are working for
them or working towards their goals, so the Games
126
Master may decide the hero will not have access to those
slots, or the Organization itself may restrict what gear
the hero may access depending on the nature of their
mission. For more information on how Organizations
work, see page 218 onwards.
Spending Personal and
Organizational
Allotment Slots
Heroes have Allotment Slots equal to one-tenth the
rating in all available types of Allotments. Available slots
are used at the start of the adventure to assign gear and
other resources to the hero, which remain available
until a new adventure starts or the hero opts to swap
out their equipment for something different (see
below). So continuing the above example, if Shadowstalker
was getting ready to go out on patrol he could spend his 9
Personal Slots on body armor, a climbing kit to scale walls, a
belt of throwing blades, and a communicator in case he needs
backup from his allies. As long as the hero has the Personal
Allotment Slots available and can match the cost of the
item (as noted in Personal Allotment Slots and
Restriction Levels above), they have access to any piece
of gear the Games Master allows.
Organizational Allotment Slots work differently from
Personal Allotment Slots since they are tied to patron
groups that the hero is associated with. Because
Organizations often have access to specialized gear, they
have an Access Level associated with them. This gives a
Restriction Level for the gear the Organization can
provide to its members, and the hero can purchase any
gear their patron provides at the listed cost for that
Restriction Level or lower. Any gear above that level is
not accessible by that Organization and cannot be
purchased even at a higher cost. Organizational
Allotment Slots can only be spent on gear when the
adventure involves the Organization or its interests in
some way. So if Shadowstalker was going on a mission for
Omega, he would be allowed to access their stores of gear to
equip him with whatever he needed for his assignment up to his
8 Allotment Slot limit. If he was doing something for another
patron, or simply doing his nightly patrol, Omega would not
provide him any gear beyond what he can access from his own
personal resources. Heroes can attempt to requisition
equipment from their patrons as detailed in the next
section, but there are risks involved.
The one universal restriction to spending Allotment
Slots from both Personal and Organizational sources is
that a hero cannot use slots from one pool to contribute
to the cost of an item from another pool, as they represent

separate resources, with each having specific types of
equipment or Restriction Levels available.
For example, Shadowstalker has 9 Personal Slots and 7
Organizational Allotment Slots currently available from
Omega and is heading out for a mission. He wants a fast
vehicle to get him where he needs to go and would really like a
high-speed aircraft to get to his destination as quickly as he can.
His Organization has access to them, but the Allotment Cost is
7. He can’t use his Personal Slots to make up the difference in
Cost, so he has to look for a cheaper option for transportation.
Perhaps this time he can borrow the Omnispeeder...
Switching Out Allotments
Heroes are often well prepared, but challenges often
come up mid-adventure that require a change of tactics
or equipment that they didn’t anticipate, or they may
come up with a strategy that requires something other
than what’s currently in their possession. When heroes
have a moment of downtime, they can opt to swap out
the gear they have for something else, if the Games
Master allows it. This is accomplished by making a roll
against the appropriate Allotment Rating (Personal or
Organizational) to see if the equipment they need is
available and accessible given the rules above. The
difficulty of the rolls starts at Standard, and it is
modified by the factors listed in the Switching
Allotments Table. Note that penalties and bonuses
cancel each other out, and the hero rolls against the
final modifier.
If the roll is successful, the hero can switch out up to
half their Allotment Slots of the source Allotment
Rating they rolled against, or swap out all their slots for
that rating on a Critical Success. On a Failure, the
equipment isn’t available, or is down for repairs and is
currently unusable. On a Fumble something happened
to the hero’s resources, such as their accounts were
overextended or their gear was damaged in an
accident, and their Allotment Rating (and associated
Switching Allotments Table
Situation
Hero has ample time (4 hours or more)
Hero is within a few kilometers (less than 5) of their base or an equipment cache
Hero has allied non-player heroes who have access to equipment and are close by
Hero is in very good standing with the Organization
Hero has limited time (less than 1 hour)
Hero is between 20 to 50 kilometers from their home area
Hero is beyond 50 kilometers from their home area
Hero is suffering an Allocation reduction from previous adventure
Hero is in poor standing with the Organization
Hero has previously been careless with the Organization’s equipment
5. Tools of the Trade
Optional Rule: Caches
C lever and resourceful heroes plan for nearly
any contingency, and that includes making
sure the gear they need is always close at hand.
With this optional rule, heroes can maintain
several caches of supplies in different locations to
make whatever they need easily accessible. The
hero has a number of equipment caches equal to
one-twentieth their Personal Allotment Rating,
and the player can place these caches in different
regions of the area where the campaign is set. For
example, Shadowstalker has a Personal Rating of
83%, which means he has four caches available.
He can place them anywhere within the Ossuary
where the campaign is set. Each cache contains
items from two different categories of gear (from
Armor, Weapons, Hero Gear, Super Gear, or
Miscellaneous), and the hero may only acquire
items from those equipment types if they access
the cache. So if Shadowstalker heads to a cache
with only Weapons and Hero Gear, he could pick
up a Taser or night vision goggles, but not body
armor or a grapple gun.
The main benefit of caches is to make equipment
more accessible when the hero needs to swap out
items, especially when the situation is critical and
the hero doesn’t have time to switch out
Allotments. The downside to using the cache rule
is that players divide up their equipment among
several different locations. So for example, when
the characters (who happen to be at their main
base) attempt to access any of the types of gear
stored in caches, Allotment Rating checks are one
Difficulty Grade harder.
slots) is reduced by 1d3x10% for the next adventure. A
hero may normally only roll to switch out Allotments
from one of their available sources (either Personal
Allotment Check Difficulty
One Difficulty Grade easier for every four hours of time
One Difficulty Grade easier
One Difficulty Grade easier
One Difficulty Grade easier
One Difficulty Grade harder
One Difficulty Grade harder
Two Difficulty Grades harder
One Difficulty Grade harder
One Difficulty Grade harder
Two Difficulty Grades harder
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 Destined
Rating or one of their Organizational Ratings), but if
there is sufficient downtime available the Games Master
may allow heroes to swap out equipment from more
than one pool. Again, all the rules above apply to the
switched-out equipment.
Allotment Reduction
Over the course of their career, a hero’s fortunes will
rise and fall, and the same can be said for their
Allotments. Adverse circumstances can cause reductions
in the hero’s resources, and depending on their status
with patron Organizations, their willingness to lend
assistance can change as well.
For a hero’s Personal Allotments, changes are usually
temporary. Oftentimes this is a result of a Fumbled roll
to change gear mid-adventure, but other plot-related
situations may also cause reductions in the hero’s
resources. Perhaps a villain learns the hero’s identity
and attacks their bank accounts, or a rival from their
personal life does something that damages their
reputation, resulting in difficulty in accessing
previously used resources.
Sometimes the situation has nothing to do with
enemies or rivals. If the hero’s Personal Allotments are
related to money they obtain from investments and
something happens to the stock market, the hero may
be at a loss until things recover. If a situation arises
where the personal resources of a hero would be
reduced, their Personal Allotment Rating is lowered by
a value determined by the Games Master (usually
several d10s+10), with a corresponding reduction
in slots available. The reduction is temporary, lasting no
more than a few game sessions or over the course of a
single adventure.
Equipment Damage and Loss
Heroes can be very hard on their gear, and
unfortunately the occasional stray fire blast from a
supervillain destroys the supercar they worked so hard
to borrow (or purchase). While the destruction or loss
Armor table
Armor Type AP Bulk
Polyweave 1 0 (0)
Padded Leather 2 1 (2)
Light Combat Armor 3 2 (3)
Combat Armor 4 3 (5)
Heavy Combat Armor 7 4 (6)
Exosuit 9 6 (9), see text
128
of gear during an adventure has its own complications,
it can also affect the hero’s available resources for the
next adventure to cover the replacement costs. This is
represented by a temporary reduction in the Allotment
Slots available from the pool where the lost gear was
purchased from (either Personal or Organizational).
Note that the following are not cumulative, but the
highest penalty for the cost or type of gear is applied.
• If the gear had an Allotment Cost of 2 or fewer slots
and was either Common or Uncommon, there is no
reduction in the hero’s Allotment Slots.
• If the gear had an Allotment Cost of 3 to 4 slots, or was
Restricted, the hero’s available slots from the pool are
reduced by 1d2 at the start of the next adventure.
• If the gear had an Allotment Cost greater than 5, or
was Highly Restricted, the hero’s available slots from
the pool are reduced by 1d2+1 at the start of the
next adventure.
• If the hero is already suffering from an Allotment
Reduction and loses additional gear, when a new session
starts their Allotment Slot value is reset back to its
normal amount before any newly acquired penalties
are applied.
Armor
When the bullets and energy beams start flying, armor
may be the only thing that stands between surviving to
fight another day and weeks of recovery in the hospital.
Armor helps protect the wearer from harm, reducing
the amount of damage to a Hit Location covered by the
listed Armor Point value. The downside to worn armor
is its Bulk, which restricts the reactions of the wearer,
represented by a reduction in the hero’s Initiative.
Armor in Destined has the following Traits:
• AP: The amount of Armor Points provided for the
location the armor is worn. This is subtracted from
any physical or energy source of damage unless noted
otherwise.
Cost RL
-/1 Common
1/2 Common
1/2 Uncommon
1/2 Restricted
2/3 Restricted
-/5 Highly Restricted
• Bulk: The bulkiness of the armor worn. The
listed number is for each Hit Location covered
by that type of armor, and the Bulk rating for all
types of armor worn are added together and
divided by five. That amount is deducted from
the hero’s Initiative rating while the armor is
worn. In the chart opposite, the number in
parentheses is the total Initiative Penalty for a
full suit of armor.

• Cost: The cost in Allotment Slots for the given

type of armor. The first number is for armor
that covers three locations or fewer, and the
second is for four locations up to a full suit. If
the wearer has armor of different types, use the
cost for the more expensive type of armor based
on all locations covered.

• RL: The Restriction Level of the armor.

Armor does not stack with other types of

worn armor, but powers like Inherent Armor do
add a small degree of protection in addition to
that gained from worn armor. The hero uses the
highest value or protection for the location and
adds +1 from the secondary form of defense as
long as both types of armor have an Armor
Point value of 2 or higher. For example, the hero
Torc has 6 Armor Points to all locations from his
Inherent Armor Core Power. If he puts on a suit of
polyweave armor it would have no benefit, but if he
wore Padded Leather he would gain +1 Armor Points
to every Hit Location it covered.

Types of Armor
Polyweave: A special fabric interwoven with
high strength filaments and special materials,
polyweave is a durable, flexible cloth commonly
used to construct superhero costumes and
provides a small measure of protection. If
polyweave covers three or fewer locations, there
Allotment Cost for it.
Padded Leather: Similar to biker’s leathers, padded
leather armor uses thicker leather pads over vital areas
to provide increased protection from impact and other
dangers.
Light Combat Armor: Often constructed of protective
materials such as Kevlar or carbon fiber composites,
light combat armor offers solid protection but can still
be concealed under shirts and jackets for undercover
operations.
Flight is the power par excellence of superheroes. Sky
Raven’s super-armor not only protects her but enables her
to glide through the sky above the city and swiftly reach the
scene of the action.
is no Combat Armor: Built of the same materials as the
lighter version, combat armor is too bulky to be
concealed but offers better protection while remaining
less constrictive than heavier forms of armor.
Heavy Combat Armor: The most durable form of
standard armor, heavy combat suits use ceramic or metal
plates to offer superior protection to vital areas and are
often used by military units and SWAT teams.
Exosuit: The cutting edge of personal body armor,
exosuits combine the best materials along with built-in
servos to enhance the wearer’s physical abilities. While
powered up, the wearer can lift up to 500 kgs., their
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 jump distance is doubled, and the effective Bulk of
the suit is halved. The armor has a power supply that
is good for up to four hours of use, and requires four
hours directly connected to a power source to
recharge it.
Adaptive Armor
Heroes that can burst into flame at will should be hard
on their clothes, but in comics whatever they are
wearing is often unaffected by their powers. It’s a
common trope that superhero spandex seems far more
invulnerable than the heroes themselves, so if you want
to simulate this you can handle it in one of two ways.
• Naturally Indestructible: The simplest way is to
hand-wave the adverse effects of powers on whatever
the hero is wearing, saying the material is adaptive to
their abilities or some trait of the Core Power protects
anything on the hero’s person. Intentionally striking
armor with the Damage Item Special Effect can harm or
destroy it as normal, but otherwise a hero’s armor and
clothing endure anything that is thrown at them.
• Adaptive Modification: If you use this option, a hero
must purchase specific modifications to ensure that
their armor is not damaged or destroyed by their
powers. It might be special materials such as flame-
retardant cloth or a fictional substance such as
“multi-adaptive fibers” that only exists in a superhero
setting. This increases the Allotment Slot cost of armor
by 1, and without it any damaging powers that affect the
hero’s person also inflict their damage to anything
they wear.
Powers damaging the hero’s personal gear should only
factor into campaigns that have a realistic or gritty tone
since they will force some heroes to use up precious
Allotment Slots on preserving their equipment. These
same options can be applied to any other gear the hero
carries at the Games Master’s discretion, such as
weapons and equipment that might be harmed by a
power.
Weapons
While some heroes can manifest energy blades or fire
off bolts of lightning, others must rely on standard
weaponry when battling their enemies. There are many
options available for up-close and personal fights and
long-range exchanges, but heroes should be mindful
that just because they can purchase an assault rifle does
not mean walking down the street with one won’t get
them in trouble. The following are the most common
weapons found in Destined, from close combat melee
weapons up to rockets that can stop an armored car.
Weapons in Destined have the following Traits:
• Dam: The amount of damage the weapon inflicts on
a successful attack.
• DM: Whether a Ranged Weapon can benefit from the
user’s Damage Modifier or not.

Melee weapons
Weapon Dam Size AP/HP Cost RL Traits
Axe, Fire 1d6+1 M 4/8 1 C Sunder
Baton 1d4 M 4/6 1 C Thrown 5/10/20
Brass Knuckles +2 S 2/4 1 C Adds to base unarmed damage
Club 1d6 M 4/4 1 C -
Knife 1d4+1 S 6/8 1 C Thrown 5/10/20
Improvised, Small 1d4 S 2/4 - - Improvised, Thrown 5/10/20
Improvised, Medium 1d6 M 4/4 - - Improvised, Thrown 5/10/20
Improvised, Large 1d8 L 4/6 - - Improvised
Improvised, Huge 1d10 H 6/10 - - Bulky, Improvised, Thrown 5/10/20
Improvised, Enormous 2d6 E 6/15 - - Bulky, Improvised, Thrown 5/10/20
Shield, Regular 1d4 L 4/12 1 U Passive Block 3
Shield, Heavy 1d4 H 6/15 1 U Passive Block 4
Spear 1d8+1 L 4/8 1 U Reach 2, Thrown 5/10/20
Staff 1d6+1 M 4/4 1 C Defensive, Reach 2
Sword, Long 1d10 L 6/12 2 U Two-handed
Sword, Medium 1d8 M 6/10 1 U -
Sword, Short 1d6 M 6/8 1 C -
Unarmed 1d3 S - - - Normal human unarmed damage
Whip 1d3 S 4/4 1 C Entangle, Reach 3

130
• Size/Force: The amount of impact the
weapon inflicts upon a hit, used to
determine the effectiveness of Parries.
Measured in Small (S), Medium (M),
Large (L), Huge (H), and Enormous (E).

• Range: The effective distance in meters

the weapon can reach:

Close: At this range Choose Location can

be used as a non-Critical Special Effect, if
the target is stationary and unaware or is
unable to defend against the attack.
Effective: The normal optimal range of
the weapon.
Long: The maximum range of the
weapon. Between Effective and Long
range, damage is halved, and Force is
reduced by one step.

• Load: The amount of Turns using the

Ready Item Action required to reload the
weapon to fire again.

• AP/HP: The Armor Points of the

weapon and how many Hit Points of
damage it can take before breaking.

• Ammo: The amount of shots the weapon

can fire before it needs reloading.

• Cost: The cost in Allotment Slots for the

weapon. If it requires Ammo, this includes
3 full loads of the maximum ammo
capacity for the weapon.

• RL: The Restriction Level of the

weapon.
His throwing knife at the ready, The Mortician prepares to
• Traits: Special Traits that apply to the ambush a pair of 52nd Street Hundred gangsters in their lair at
weapon. the abandoned Husk shipyard.

* Auto: Able to switch from normal fire to automatic
fire by taking the Ready Item Action. The weapon can
fire 3 round bursts or fully automatic fire as an attack.
* 3 Round Burst: Increase the difficulty of the attack
to Hard; upon a success the target is hit 1d3 times in
random locations. Uses 3 rounds of ammo.
* Fully Automatic: Increase the difficulty of the attack
to Formidable; divide 10 shots evenly between any
number of targets within a 10-meter long line, with
excess shots being lost. If successful, roll randomly to
determine how many shots hit each target in random
locations. For example, a mob enforcer unloads on
Shadowstalker, Torc, and Eclipse, dividing 10 shots evenly
between them with each getting 3, and 1 shot is wasted. If any
of the heroes are hit, the enforcer rolls 1d3 for each to
determine how many shots actually hit.
* Bulky: The weapon is cumbersome or awkward to
use, or is a Ranged Weapon that normally requires
bracing or a bipod to use effectively; the user’s
Initiative is lowered by 5, and attack rolls with it are
one Difficulty Grade harder.
* Dazzle: The weapon releases a bright flash and loud
noise, and targets within the radius must make a Hard
Endurance check or be blinded and deafened for 1d3
Turns, making all checks or attacks related to those
senses Formidable. Within twice the radius the
Endurance check is Standard difficulty and beyond
that no check is needed.
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 Destined

weapon free with a Formidable Brawn check as an

Tracking Ammunition Action, someone else can remove the weapon with a
Standard Brawn check, or if the wielder is in control of

C omic heroes and villains who use firearms

rarely run out of ammo, producing endless
magazines as long as they remain in the fight. If
this is how you’d like to play your game, that is
perfectly fine, and the only drawback of using a
firearm is that you occasionally need to take time
to reload it. If you’re playing a game where you
want to track ammunition, then as noted above
any Ranged Weapon that requires ammunition
either has enough for 3 full loads of the weapon’s
maximum capacity, or has the amount of ammo
included when the weapon is acquired. Heroes
that want to purchase extra ammunition can
obtain an additional 3 full loads for every weapon
they carry for every 1 Allotment Slot they allocate
for additional ammunition. The Games Master
may rule that extra ammunition for a weapon with
a Restriction Level of higher than Uncommon must
be purchased at the same Restriction Level as the
weapon it is being used with.
* Defensive: The weapon’s effective Size when
Parrying is considered one Size category larger.
* Entangle: The weapon may use the Entangle Special
Effect.
* Improvised: The weapon is not designed for normal
use and attack checks with it are one Difficulty Grade
harder.
* Incapacitating: If the weapon hits and inflicts
damage after armor is subtracted, the target is unable
to use Actions or Reactions while the weapon remains
connected to the target. The target can pull the
the weapon, they can stop applying the effect as a Free
Action. The effect will also stop after 1d3+1 Combat
Rounds if the target is unable to get free prior to that
time. Once the target is freed, or the effect is stopped,
the target must make a Hard Endurance check to act
normally. If this check is failed, the target can try again
on their next Turn at Standard difficulty. If this check
is Fumbled, the target remains Incapacitated for one
minute before they can attempt the Endurance check
again. Targets resistant to electrical damage are
immune to this effect.
* Incendiary: Flammable items ignite if hit by the
weapon and are treated as an Intensity 3 Ongoing
Peril (see page 201).
* Passive Block: During a round where the weapon is
not used to Parry, and the Ward Location Action is
taken (see page 155), the weapon covers a number of
contiguous locations equal to the number listed. If one
of the covered locations is struck by an attack, it is
treated as if the weapon Parried it.
* Radius: The weapon inflicts damage or its effect in a
radius in meters equal to the number listed around the
point of impact. Radius weapons that inflict damage
usually hit 1d3 random locations on any target hit.
* Reach: The weapon is able to strike opponents a
number of meters away equal to the number listed.
* Returning: If the attack roll misses, the user can
attempt to catch the weapon as it arcs back with an
Athletics check as a Free Action.
* Scope: The weapon has a scope, and when used to
aim the Close and Effective Range are multiplied by
the number listed, up to the weapon’s maximum
range.

Ranged weapons
Weapon Dam DM Force Range Load AP/HP Ammo Cost RL Traits
Pistol, Light 1d6 N L 50/100/200 3 4/12 15 1 C -
Pistol, Heavy 1d8 N H 50/100/200 3 4/12 10 1 C -
Pistol, Machine 1d6+1 N L 50/100/200 3 4/12 30 1 R Auto
Rifle, Hunting 2d8 N H 100/300/2000 3 6/12 5 1 C Scope 5
Rifle, Sniper 2d10+4 N H 900/1500/5000 3 6/12 10 2 R Scope 5
Rifle, Assault 2d6+1 N H 200/500/2000 3 6/12 30 2 R Auto
Shotgun, Combat 3d6 N H 20/100/200 3 6/12 6 1 U -
Blaster Pistol 1d8+1 N L 10/30/120 3 6/12 20 3 HR -
Blaster Rifle 2d6+2 N H 30/100/300 3 6/12 50 4 HR -
Taser 1 N M 10/-/- 3 4/4 1 1 C Incapacitating
Bolas 1d4 N M 10/25/50 - 2/2 - 1 C Entangle, Cost is for 5
Boomerang 1d4+1 Y M 10/20/50 - 2/3 - 1 C Returning, Cost is for 5
Bow, Compound 1d8 Y L 15/100/200 2 4/8 - 1 C Cost includes 20 arrows
Crossbow 1d10 N H 20/150/300 4 4/8 - 2 C Cost includes 20 bolts
Crossbow, Hand 1d6 N M 10/30/120 3 4/6 - 1 C Cost includes 20 bolts
Throwing Blade 1d4 Y S 5/10/20 - 6/8 - 1 C Cost is for 10

132
 5. Tools of the Trade

* Sunder: The weapon may use the Damage Item
Special Effect on armor.
* Thrown: The weapon can be thrown up to the
ranges listed.
* Two-Handed: The weapon requires two hands to be
used effectively. If the wielder attempts to use it with
one hand, all rolls with the weapon are two Difficulty
Grades harder.
• Small: a broken bottle, a fist-sized rock, a brick, a pool
cue.
• Medium: a 2”x4” timber, a length of pipe, heavy
chain, a bar stool.
• Large: a stop sign, a manhole cover, a garbage can, a
fence post.

• Huge: a small tree, a small boulder, a motorcycle, a

Custom Weapons mailbox.

If the Games Master allows, a hero may customize an
existing weapon as follows: add an additional special
Trait, increase the damage by one die step, increase the
Armor Points and Hit Points by 25%, or increase the
range by 25% in all categories. Doing so increases the
base cost of the weapon by 1 for each customization
option added, although each individual modification
can only be added one time. For example, a hero wants a
baton that hits hard and has a built-in Taser, so the cost for
increasing damage and adding the Incapacitating Trait would
rise from 1 to 3.
• Enormous: a lamppost, a steel girder, a large boulder,
a dumpster.
Heroes with Enhanced Strength or Telekinesis may
bring even larger improvised items to bear in combat.
Cars may be thrown, trees uprooted, or sections of
buildings could be brought down on hapless enemies.
In these cases, the Games Master should refer to the
Perils section starting on page 201 to determine exactly
what such large objects can do and how much damage
they can inflict to anyone caught in their path.

Improvised Weapons Trick Weapons

Heroes and villains are well known for their rampant
property destruction, and often part of the destruction
is caused by using whatever is on hand to smash their
hated foes. Nearly anything can be turned into a
weapon by an enterprising hero or villain, but to keep
things simple Improvised Weapons are broken down
into the relative Size of the item as listed on the weapons
list above. They all share the same general Traits as well,
but the Games Master may rule that certain items may
add additional Traits due to their nature. Since they
originally were not intended to be used as weapons, any
Combat Style check to attack or defend with an
Improvised Weapon is one Difficulty Grade harder.
Heroes must be able to lift the item to use it as a
weapon. To get an idea of what types of items might be
used for each of the various sizes, here are a few
examples:
Comic heroes who rely on gadgets more than Core
Powers often have arsenals of specialized weaponry to
deal with difficult or unusual circumstances. They are
most commonly used with archaic weapons such as
bows and arrows, throwing blades, or boomerangs, but
they could easily be adapted to more modern
armaments such as firearms or grenades.
Known as Trick Weapons, these specialized
armaments are one-use items that provide a special
benefit or attack form when used. The hero must first
purchase the weapon from above and for each
additional Allotment Slot added to the base cost of the
weapon, the hero gains 10 Trick Weapons to use per
adventure. They can be of any of the varieties listed
below and the hero can mix and match as they choose,
but note that some of the options below have higher

Heavy weapons
Weapon Dam Force Range Load AP/HP Ammo Cost RL Traits
Flamethrower 1d8+3 - 5/10/- - 4/6 10 2 R Incendiary
Grenade, Flashbang - - 10/20/30 - 4/4 - 1 R Radius 2, Dazzle
Grenade, Frag 3d6+2 - 10/20/30 - 4/4 - 1 R Radius 4
Grenade, Incendiary 2d6+4 - 10/20/30 - 4/4 - 1 R Radius 3, Incendiary
Grenade Launcher As grenade - 50/250/500 4 6/12 1 3 R -
Machine Gun 2d8+2 E 800/1500/4000 6 6/15 200 3 R Auto, Bulky
Blaster Cannon 3d6 E 600/1000/3000 4 6/15 100 6 HR Bulky
Rocket Launcher 5d8+5 E 500/800/1500 4 6/15 1 3 R Radius 5

133
 • Explosive: Upon impact, the
projectile explodes in a 2-meter
radius for 2d6 damage to 1d3
locations. Alternatively, the
projectile has a shaped charge
that inflicts 3d6 damage to the
impact site or object. The hero
must decide which type of
explosive projectiles they have
when taking this item, but if they
have multiple explosive
projectiles, they can take some of
each type. This is a Restricted
item.

• Flash: The projectile works

like a Flashbang Grenade (see
the Heavy Weapons Table, page
133), but has a Radius 1 and uses
the projectile’s normal range.

• Gas: The projectile releases

knockout gas upon impact, and
anyone within 1 meter of the
Deft use of a flashbang grenade allows Hare to stun the guards at the impact site must make an
entrance to mad scientist Dr. Echidna’s secret laboratory. immediate Endurance check as a
Free Action. If this check is
Restriction Levels and may not be accessible to the failed, the target suffers 1d3 Levels of Fatigue, or is
hero or may increase the cost. This applies even if the knocked Unconscious on a Fumble. The gas remains in
hero only picks a single Restricted item for their the area for 1d3 Turns unless there are windy
Trick Weapons. conditions, and anyone who remains in the area must
repeat the check again on their Turn.
For example, Crossbolt, a hero with a heavily-modified
crossbow, wants to include some explosive bolts in her quiver. • Homing: After using an Action to aim at a specific
These are at the Restricted Level, and if using her Personal target, if the hero’s initial attack misses they can attempt
Allotments to acquire them, she would have to use 3 slots another attack on the same target with the homing
instead of 1 for every 10 bolts she wanted, even if just a single weapon as a Free Action on their next Turn. This is a
one was explosive. Restricted item.

• Knockout: This projectile is designed to knock the

Example trick weapons
• Bola: Upon impact, the projectile releases weighted
cords that wrap around the target, automatically
inflicting the Entangle Special Effect to the location
struck unless the target Evades. A bola trick weapon is
designed for capture purposes, and it never inflicts
more than 1d3 damage, no matter what type of
projectile is used.
Trick Weapons costs
target for a loop without killing them. If the target is
dropped below 0 total Hit Points by the weapon, it does
not suffer a Serious Wound but still needs to check to
see if the location is Incapacitated. Additionally, if the
Stun Location Special Effect is chosen, its effects last for
minutes instead of rounds.
• Line: The projectile has a 50-meter line attached and
if it strikes a solid anchor point, the hero can either use
the line to climb or slide down it like a zip line if the
anchor point is lower than the hero’s current elevation.

Weapon Cost Restriction Level

• Taser: The projectile works like a Taser (see Weapons
Normal +1 to base cost for every 10 U
above), but uses the projectile’s normal damage and
Explosive +1 to base cost for every 10 R range.
Homing +1 to base cost for every 10 R

134

• Tracking: The projectile is made of a special
breakaway material, and upon striking a solid object it
falls apart and leaves a tracking device behind. The
tracker has built-in GPS transmitters that make
attempts to Track the target one Difficulty Grade easier.
Gear
Gear in Destined represents the wide variety of
equipment that heroes can access to assist them in their
nightly pursuits of justice. Gear is broken down into two
subcategories:
• Hero Gear: These items can be found in the “real
world,” but still have useful applications for
superheroes. Most of this gear is easily accessible and
can be obtained by anyone who has the appropriate
contacts and resources to obtain it.
• Super Gear: These items are only found in comics
and either rely on fictional science to work or are
beyond what current technology levels are capable of.
While some of this gear is easily obtained, much of it is
regulated or restricted, so it is commonly found in the
hands of established Organizations within the setting.
Like armor and weaponry, Gear has a Cost that
denotes how many Allotment Slots are required to gain
it and a Restriction Level to show easily heroes can
access it.
Hero Gear
• Climbing Gear: Housed in a nylon bag, this kit has 50
meters of rope, a safety harness, carabiners, chalk, and
grapples to assist in scaling as well as rappelling. While
using the kit, Athletics or Acrobatics rolls to climb or
descend are one Difficulty Grade easier.
• Communicator: Whether it’s a commonplace
smartphone or a nearly invisible earpiece,
communications equipment is vital for heroes to get in
touch with each other, coordinate tactics out in the field,
or call in the cavalry when things get tough. If it
operates on a cellular signal and one is available, the
range is global. For items like two-way radios, range can
reach from several kilometers up to several dozen
kilometers (in optimal conditions).
• Computers: Computers come in all different shapes,
sizes, and power levels, but the basic functions remain
the same. In game terms the actual cost of a computer
is not as significant as what benefits it provides the hero,
so a room-filling server with a screen the size of a small
5. Tools of the Trade
football field looks impressive, but if it performs the
same function as a laptop or a tablet, it shouldn’t have a
high cost. Many computer-oriented heroes have custom
systems with specialized software that aids in specific
tasks. In game terms, a special system makes certain
types of tasks easier for the hero, usually Computers
and Research rolls. For every skill the computer assists
with, the difficulty of checks with that skill is one grade
easier, and both Cost and Restriction Level of the
system are increased by one level each. So a hero with
an A.I.-assisted search engine that grants a bonus on
Research checks would pay 2 slots, and the computer
would have a Restriction Level of Uncommon.
• Forensics Kit: Contained in a bulky case, this kit
includes supplies to gather and store evidence from
crime scenes as well as reagents to do on-site testing of
samples collected. When doing an investigation of a
crime scene, Perception and Science (Forensic) checks
are one Difficulty Grade easier. See page 194 onwards
for more information on investigations.
• Handcuffs: Either metal shackles that can be locked
with a key, or nylon zip ties that need to be cut,
handcuffs are used to bind someone’s wrists or ankles to
limit movement and to aid in capture. An unwilling
target can have the cuffs placed on a location with either
a successful Unarmed attack against the affected limb
(requiring the Choose Location Special Effect), or as
part of a grapple if the hero succeeds at an Opposed
Brawn or Unarmed test against the target. Metal cuffs
have 6 AP and 12 HP, while nylon cuffs have 4 AP and
8 HP. Breaking them while worn requires a Formidable
Brawn check.
• Night Vision Goggles: While wearing these bulky
goggles, the hero treats partial darkness as illuminated
and total darkness as partial darkness. Vision is
monochrome when using the goggles. Thermal
imaging goggles are available for the same cost, which
allow the wearer to see heat signatures of creatures and
objects in partial and total darkness in either differing
shades of color or black and white.
• Rebreather: From hooded masks to bulky SCUBA
gear, rebreathers use a supply of oxygen and recycle
exhaled carbon dioxide to allow wearers to breathe
while in contaminated air, thin or absent atmospheres,
or underwater. The device supplies breathable air for
up to six hours for the largest tanks. Miniaturized
versions are treated as Super Gear (see below), and they
usually provide up to 30 minutes of breathable air.
• Smoke Bombs: Appearing as small spheres the size of
a golf ball or as large grenades, smoke bombs produce
thick clouds of obscuring smoke when dropped or
135
 Destined
thrown. The bomb creates a cloud that heavily obscures
a radius of 5 meters and lightly obscures out to 10
meters from the impact point. The cloud lasts up to one
minute, or much less depending on wind conditions in
the area it is used.
• Surveillance Kit: Packed in a thick case, the
surveillance kit contains binoculars, sound
amplification gear, miniature cameras, listening devices,
and GPS tracking bugs. Use of the kit makes Perception
checks to observe a target one Difficulty Grade easier,
and attempts to Track a bugged target two Difficulty
Grades easier. Concealing a listening device, camera, or
tracking bug requires a Conceal roll, or Sleight if placed
on a person, which is used for Opposed Rolls against
the target’s Perception to locate the device.
• Utility Belt: A utility belt is a special piece of gear
designed to hold other items to allow for easy access
when needed. While it may be some item other than a
belt, such as a bandolier or gauntlets with storage areas,
the function remains the same. If the hero is not
surprised, they may use the Ready Item Action as a Free
Action the first time they need a piece of gear stored in
the belt during combat. Alternatively, they can use an
item in the belt as part of a Reaction with Games Master
approval. Utility belts can store about a dozen small
items, usually small enough to fit in one hand, and
weapons with a Size/Force no greater than Small.
Larger items can be attached to the belt via hooks and
clasps, but they must use the Ready Item as a normal
Action to draw as normal.
Gear Table
Gear
Hero gear
Climbing Gear
Communicator
Computer
Forensics Kit
Handcuffs 1 for 5 sets
Night Vision Goggles
Rebreather
Smoke Bombs
Surveillance Kit
Utility Belt
Super Gear
Elemental Aegis Suit
Flight Pack
Glider Cape/Suit
Grapple Gun
Miniaturized Gear
Power Suppression Bindings
136
Super Gear
• Elemental Aegis Suit: A suit that covers the entire
body, including a full helmet or hood, this item helps
protect the wearer from a specific form of damage from
one of the following options: acid/corrosive, cold/ice,
electricity, fire/heat, radiation, sonic/vibration. While
wearing the suit the hero suffers half damage from
attacks using the chosen energy type, and is immune to
lesser incidental damage from dangerous
environmental conditions related to the damage type.
For example, someone wearing a Faraday suit would take half
damage from electricity and would be immune to
electromagnetic pulses that could damage sensitive equipment,
while someone in a Vulcan suit would be resistant to fire and
would be able to tolerate very hot environments without
accumulating Fatigue.
Elemental aegis suits are very bulky, reducing the
wearer’s Initiative by 6, and the suit often has an
internal supply of breathable air that lasts up to one
hour. The same technology can be incorporated into
full suits of armor, adding the cost of the aegis to
the suit’s base cost and increasing the penalty from Bulk
by 6.
• Flight Pack: The size of a large backpack, a Flight
Pack allows the wearer to fly using anti-gravity,
miniaturized jets, or some other form of propulsion.
The basic Flight Pack grants a flying speed of 15 meters
in combat, or up to 50 MPH outside of combat. The
pack can be used for up to 3 hours before it needs to be
refuelled or recharged. See the Movement section on
page 199 for special rules on flight.
Cost Restriction Level
1 C
1 C
1 C
2 U
C
2 C
2 C
1 C
2 U
1 C
3 R
2 R
1 U
1 U
- +1 level higher
3 R
• Glider Cape/Suit: This device is either a large
cape or a specialized suit with retractable wings
under the arms that stretch down to mid-thigh
when extended. The wearer uses an Action to
either grip the ends of the cape or extend the
wings of the suit, gliding a base distance equal to
10 times the height they launched from. This
distance can be extended by using thermals to
gain altitude, and with a successful Athletics
check the wearer can also avoid damage from
a fall as long as they are free to use the cape
or wings.

• Grapple Gun: A small device the size of a bulky

pistol, the grapple gun launches a strong
monofilament line attached to either a small
grappling hook or a spike that can embed into
concrete, wood, or stone. The gun has 25 meters
of line in the spool and a powerful winching
mechanism that can pull up to 160 kilos when
activated. This aids in climbing or swinging, and
it can also be used as an improvised Ranged
Weapon that does 1d6 damage, has a Force of
Medium, and has the Entangle Trait.

• Miniaturized Gear: The item is a normal piece

of gear that has been reduced in size so it is
either easily concealable or can be integrated
into another piece of equipment, such as a glove,
body armor, or a mask.

With the Games Master’s permission,

miniaturized gear can also be installed in items
the hero has via the External Power Source Limit
(see page 77). Choose a base piece of gear from Shadowstalker has received information that Baron
Weapons or the Hero Gear list (page 136). The Malycer’s henchmen plan to raid a high-tech facility in the
Allotment Cost of the gear remains the same, but city. In the well-stocked armory of his HQ he selects gear
its Restriction Level is increased by one step (e.g. to help him to foil the Baron’s schemes.
from Uncommon to Restricted) to account for
the cutting-edge or experimental nature of the While worn, the device suppresses all Core Powers,
equipment. If this would take it past Highly Restricted, Boosts, and Limits pertaining to the Origins it works on,
the gear cannot be miniaturized. If the gear is concealed although the wearer can attempt a Formidable
on the hero’s person or in another piece of equipment Willpower check as an Action to try to use a single Core
such as armor, Perception checks to notice it or find it Power on their next Turn. The captor can use a control
during a search are one Difficulty Grade harder. device or app as an Action to inflict a painful shock on
the wearer, who must make a Hard Endurance check or
• Power Suppression Bindings: Often used by law suffer a Level of Fatigue. Power suppression bindings
enforcement agencies who deal with superpowered are usually bulky collars that fit around the wearer’s
criminals, power suppression bindings dampen the neck, or they might be a set of shackles that also acts as
wearer’s powers and can inflict damaging shocks to the handcuffs (see above). The bindings are made of
wearer by whoever holds the control device. The durable materials with complex locks, and Mechanisms
bindings work on specific types of Origins, although checks to pick the lock or Brawn rolls to break the
most bindings impair several Origins at once. For shackles are two Difficulty Grades harder. The control
example, a generic suppression device might stop all device has the ability to release any collars it is
powers related to the Experimentation, Inherent, or linked to with the press of a button or by entering a
Mutation Origins. special code.
137
 Destined
Re-skinning gear
T he items above are modern age or near-future
equipment that are common tropes in comic
books, but some heroes rely on magical items,
alien technology, or some other strange form of
gear. Instead of creating brand new items, look at
the ones above and see if it can simply be
changed to suit the needs of the player. For
example, for a magical hero a Flight Pack could be
a Witch’s Broom, Night Vision Goggles are the
Owl’s Monocle, a Grapple Gun is the Rope of
Rising, and a Blaster Pistol can be a Wand of
Blasting. Mechanically they all function the same
way, but they fit the hero’s background without
having to reinvent the wheel.
Optional: Items
of Power
Normally if a hero wants a piece of gear that provides a
Core Power, they need to use Power Slots to purchase it
and take the External Power Source Limit. Sometimes
the heroes may stumble upon an advanced item of
equipment, an alien artifact, or be assigned something
from a patron Organization that would best be
simulated with the Core Powers system. Other times an
ally of the heroes, or even one of the heroes themselves,
may invent some remarkable item that would simulate
the special abilities of Core Powers. In this case the
Games Master may allow an optional piece of gear
known as an Item of Power.
Item of Power: The device is an experimental
technology or comes from a mystical or alien source,
and it possesses abilities far beyond those of normal
gear. The item has a single Core Power (see chapter 3),
and any Characteristics used in determining the Core
Power’s level are treated as a score of 12. For example, the
hero’s Organization issues her a Teleportation wristband that
allows her to make jumps of 12 meters as a Move Action, as if
she had the Core Power of Teleport with a CHA score of 12.
Petty Cash Table
Social Status Petty Cash Multiplier
Poverty x 0.5
Impoverished x1
Working Class x5
Middle Class x 10
Professional Class x 20
Wealthy x 50
138
The Core Power works as normal, but after each use
the hero must roll 1d100. If the result is 90-00, the Item
of Power stops working or malfunctions. It cannot be
used until repaired with a Hard Craft (Specialization
based on the item’s type) and at least four hours of
work. If the Games Master allows, an appropriate Boost
can be added, but a Limit must be added to counter it.
The cost of an Item of Power is 4 and it has a Restriction
Level of Highly Restricted.
Miscellaneous
Allotments
Sometimes heroes may want to use their Allotments for
something that is not listed above, or to apply their
resources to sources of information that may aid them
in their current adventure. The following are a few
examples of other ways to apply the hero’s Allotments.
• Informants: Sometimes what a hero needs most is
someone with their ear to the crime-ridden streets. A
hero can use Personal (or even Organizational)
Allotment Slots to gain informants, sources of
information on local criminals, corporations, or
anything else the hero needs intel on. For each Slot
assigned to informants, the hero picks a skill they
already know, such as a Specialization of Knowledge or
the Streetwise Standard Skill. If the hero contacts the
informant, the next check they make with the assigned
skill is one Difficulty Grade easier, and if successful the
hero gets two pieces of information, or three on a
Critical Success. On a Fumble, the informant rats the
hero out to whomever or whatever they are seeking
information about, or simply feeds the hero false
information that puts them on the wrong path.
• Mundane Gear: Sometimes a hero needs something
mundane and relatively inexpensive such as a
backpack, another set of clothes, or a flashlight. In most
cases if the request is reasonable and not expensive, the
Games Master should simply allow the hero to have it
without spending slots. If the adventure is underway
and the hero requires it, the hero can make a Personal
Allotment Rating roll during a period of downtime to
see if the item is available. The difficulty of this check is
determined by the Games Master based on similar
guidelines to Switching Allotments on page 127, but
most mundane things shouldn’t be too difficult for the
hero to obtain.
• Petty Cash: Sometimes heroes need some petty cash
to bribe snitches, take an attractive intrepid reporter
out for dinner, or pay for a taxi when their supercar
breaks down. A hero can devote a Slot to petty cash, and
 5. Tools of the Trade

whenever money is needed, they can make a Personal

Allotment Rating roll to see if the cash is available.
The difficulty of this check depends on the cost of
whatever is needed and is determined by the Games
Master. For example, lunch at a fast food restaurant
would be Very Easy, but a fancy meal at Chez Pompier
might be at Hard difficulty. Each additional Slot
devoted to petty cash makes the check one Difficulty
Grade easier.

Vehicles
The role of vehicles in a comic book can vary greatly
depending on the setting, the heroes, and the
current storyline. Sometimes a vehicle is nothing
more than a plot convenience to get the heroes to
their destination, and in this circumstance no game
statistics are needed and the use of the vehicle is just
part of the narrative.

Sometimes, however, the heroes find themselves

in breakneck chases, deadly dogfights, or fighting a
foe that only the weapons systems of their trusty
supercar are effective against. In these cases, the
vehicles rules presented here come into play. These
rules apply to all types of vehicles, from motorcycles
up to star cruisers.

Shadowstalker bribes a Kadre informant for Russian

Vehicle Characteristics GRU military intelligence files on the atrocities Baron
Malycer has committed in Eastern Europe.
Like heroes, vehicles have a set of Characteristics that
help quantify what they are capable of: Spaceships have their own set of values different from
terrestrial vehicles.
• Size: All vehicles have a Size rating of 1-5, which helps
determine the value of the rest of their statistics. • Hull: The Armor Points of a vehicle.

Optional: How Much Petty Cash do I have?

T he Allotment system as presented is designed to simplify the economics of purchasing to match the way
comic books hand-wave money to get on with the story. Petty cash is also framed this way, boiling it down
to an Allotment check to see if the hero has the money available. While this may work for most groups, it can
also lead to a disconnect in the story when your multimillionaire crimefighter can’t afford a $50 bribe to an
informant thanks to a bad die roll but the hero who lives at homeless shelters is able to take their date out to
the fanciest restaurant in town. For players that want a more realistic portrayal of cash on hand for their heroes,
you can use the following optional rule for heroes that dedicate an Allotment Slot to petty cash.

• Petty Cash: The hero has a set amount of money available for unexpected expenses that occur during the
course of the adventure. For every Allotment Slot assigned to this, the hero has a number of dollars equal to
their Personal Allotment Rating percentage multiplied by the factor listed below based on their Social Status,
as detailed in the Petty Cash Table. For example, if The Mortician (Working Class) and Luminous (Wealthy) both
have a Personal Allotment Rating of 70%, if they devoted one slot to petty cash The Mortician would have $350
on hand and Luminous would have $3500 to spend.
139
 Destined

Vehicle Speed Rating damage. Any remaining damage is subtracted from its
Structure Points, and has a percentage chance equal to
Speed Rating Notes the damage that got through of affecting a System
Ponderous Fastest speed for Enormous vehicles (see below). When a vehicle is reduced to 0 Structure
Sluggish - Points, it is either destroyed or so badly damaged it
Slow Fastest speed for Huge vehicles must be scrapped.
Mediocre -
Gentle Fastest speed for Large vehicles
Moderate - Speed
Rapid Fastest speed for Medium vehicles
Fast - To simplify the complexity of calculating things like
Fleet Fastest speed for Small vehicles velocity and acceleration, vehicles in Destined are given
an abstract Speed Rating. Speed is used to roughly
• Structure: The vehicle’s Hit Points. judge if one vehicle can catch up with or overtake
another in chases and combat, and to determine how
• Speed: The basic Speed Rating of the vehicle, quickly a vehicle can get from point A to point B.
represented by an abstract measurement. Although the same Speed Ratings are used for all
vehicles, the scale for ground, water, air, and space
• Systems: Vital components of the vehicle such as the vehicles are vastly different, and flying craft always
power plant, cockpit, weapon systems, and so on. trump their ground and water-based counterparts.

• Traits: Special abilities and capabilities of the vehicle,
either inherent to its type or added on as
enhancements.
• Shields: Some vehicles have special Shields that help
protect against damage, but ablate under duress.
• Cost: The cost of the base vehicle in Allotment Slots.
• RL: The Restriction Level of the vehicle.
Size
The vehicle’s Size is integral to determining many of its
key statistics, and below are tables detailing several
Characteristics based on the Size. Note that the Hull
and Structure statistics represent average ranges for
that Size category.
Hull and Structure
The Size and function of a vehicle affect how resilient it
is to damage and how much punishment it can take
before it stops working. Whenever a vehicle suffers
harm, the Hull value is reduced by the incoming
A vehicle’s Speed can be increased beyond its
standard value with a Successful Drive (or Boating or
Pilot) check. The operator must decide if they want to
increase it one level or two, but both carry the risk of
damaging the vehicle if it is sustained for long, and the
Drive check for raising it two levels is at Herculean
difficulty. A vehicle can tolerate a one-step increase for
no more than 1d6 minutes (1d12 on a Critical), or 1d3
minutes for a two-step increase. Maintaining the Speed
any longer than this immediately causes 1d3 System
Hits to the vehicle’s power plant. A vehicle can decrease
its Speed gradually down one level per round up to a
full stop with no risk of harm. Making a sudden
reduction in Speed can cause damage to the vehicle’s
Engine/Propulsion System (or Sublight Drive for space
vehicles). Decreasing Speed by two levels requires a
Successful Drive check, with Failure inflicting 1 System
Hit to the Engine. Decreasing it by more than three
levels requires a Herculean check, with Success
inflicting 1 System Hit to the Engine and Failure
resulting in 1d2+1 System Hits to the Engine.
Fumbling a check to decrease Speed results in 1d2+1
System Hits to the Engine and a roll of the Loss of
Control Table (see page 145).
When engaging in chases or races, compare the
Speeds of all vehicles involved. The faster vehicle will

Vehicle Size/Traits
Size Terrestrial Vehicle Spacecraft/ Enhanced Terrestrial Vehicle Enhanced Spacecraft
Small 1 4 6
Medium 2 5 7
Large 3 6 8
Huge 4 7 9
Enormous 5 8 10
140
 5. Tools of the Trade

win by default unless the slower vehicle can increase its
Speed to the same level or uses fancy maneuvers or the
environment to gain some advantage. If the vehicles are
both able to maintain the same speed, refer to the Chase
section starting on page 183 for ways to resolve the
situation.
vehicles often have abilities far beyond the norm, just
like the heroes who drive them. The maximum number
of Traits a vehicle can have is based on its Size as listed
below, but heroes also have the option to purchase
enhanced versions of normal vehicles by paying double
the normal Allotment Slot cost listed below.

All vehicles have a Trait that details the primary

Systems
In addition to loss of structural integrity, damage that
penetrates a vehicle’s Hull can also harm vital internal
Systems, which can render the vehicle inoperable long
before its Structure Points are exhausted. If a System
Hit is indicated after a damaging attack, the attacker
rolls on the appropriate table at the end of this chapter
to see what System was damaged. The amount of hits a
System can take before being destroyed is determined
by the vehicle’s Size as listed above, with a single hit
destroying the systems of a Small vehicle, while those of
a Large battle tank endure more damage before failing.
If a System has taken hits but has not been
destroyed, its effectiveness is reduced by a proportion
of its current hits to its total capability. For example, the
Huge warship, Turtle, has taken 2 hits to its maneuvering
Systems out of a total of 5, which is 40% of the total hits it can
take. The Games Master decides that Pilot checks by the hero
Aremag are at a base difficulty of Formidable, or 40% the
normal difficulty. If a vehicle’s drive Systems are
damaged, its Speed is reduced by one category per
System Hit taken, down to a minimum speed of
Ponderous as long as the System is operational.
Vehicle Traits
Traits are inherent or modified qualities of a vehicle
that further define its capabilities, and in comics
travel mode of the craft, such as Airborne for planes
and Seaborne for boats. This inherent Trait does not
count towards the maximum number of Traits for the
vehicle given in the table below.
Secondary travel modes can be chosen as part of the
extra Traits the vehicle possesses, but do count toward
the Trait limit. For example, a Medium sized plane (2 Traits)
that a hero wishes to make Submersible must use one of its extra
Traits, meaning they have one left to add Enhanced
Performance. The Games Master has final say on what
Traits are available in the campaign.
• Airborne: The vehicle is capable of atmospheric
flight.
• All-Terrain: Only available on Ground vehicles, the
craft is capable of traversing difficult, steep, or
inhospitable terrain without risking damage to its Drive
or Systems.
• Automated System: The vehicle has an onboard
computer dedicated to the operation of one specific
System such as an autopilot, passive sensors, or
computer-controlled weapon Systems. The operator
can activate the automated System by spending an
Action Point, and the System has two Action Points and
a base skill in the specific task of 50%. This Trait can be
taken multiple times, either adding a new automated
System or increasing the skill level of an existing System
by 10%, to a maximum of 80%.

Terrestrial Vehicles
Size System Hits Civilian Hull Military Hull Structure Examples
Small 1 1-3 4-6 1-20 Motorcycle, Jet Ski
Medium 2 1-6 7-9 21-40 Sedan, Gyrocopter, Speedboat
Large 3 4-9 10-12 41-60 Truck, Small Aircraft, Helicopter, Tank
Huge 4 7-12 13-15 61-80 Yacht, Airliner
Enormous 5 10-15 16-18 81-100 Airship, Cruise Liner

Space Vehicles
Size System Hits Civilian Hull Military Hull Structure Examples
Small 1 4-9 10-12 10-50 Starfighter
Medium 2 7-12 13-15 51-150 Light Freighter, Shuttle
Large 3 10-15 16-18 451-1350 Heavy Freighter, Cruiser
Huge 4 13-18 19-21 1351-4050 Escort Frigate, Light Battle Cruiser
Enormous 5 16-21 21-24 4050-12000 Generation Ship, Heavy Battle Cruiser
141

Vehicle and hero speed
H eroes with Enhanced Speed or the Flight Core
Power with the Supersonic Boost are capable
of traveling at inhuman speeds, fast enough to
match pace with or even overtake many terrestrial
vehicles. For simplicity’s sake, assume that most
flying heroes operate at Ponderous Speed without
the Supersonic Boost, or Moderate speed if they
have it, and speedster heroes operate at Fast
speed, both modifying upward by one level if they
have Boosts that enhance their Movement Rate
further.
• Burrowing: The vehicle is designed to tunnel
through the ground to a maximum depth equal to its
Hull Rating x 5 meters at a Speed Rating three levels
lower than the vehicle’s normal speed (minimum of
Ponderous).
• Camouflaged: The vehicle has an adaptive Hull or
cloaking technology that makes attempts to spot it one
Difficulty Grade harder. The vehicle cannot attack while
cloaked, but the Trait does Surprise anyone who hasn’t
seen it in combat.
• Cargo: The vehicle is designed to hold cargo and
strips out passenger space to accommodate it. Cargo
space can be specialized to account for specific
conditions, and when fully laden (equal to the vehicle’s
Structure in tons), the craft’s Speed is reduced by two
steps, to a minimum of Ponderous.
• Carrier: The vehicle is designed to carry smaller
vehicles or remote-controlled craft such as drones. A
vehicle can hold one craft that is one Size level smaller
than it, 5 craft that are two sizes smaller, 20 craft that are
three sizes smaller, or 50 craft that are four sizes smaller.
Carrying vehicles of different sizes divides up the
amount by a proportional equivalent to the maximum
amount of each type carried, rounded down. For
example, an Enormous war carrier could carry 25
Small starfighters and 10 Medium shuttlecraft.
• Construction: The vehicle is designed for heavy
construction work. It automatically has the All-Terrain
Trait, but its maximum Speed is reduced by two steps to
a minimum of Ponderous. Construction vehicles are
fitted with task appropriate tools such as cranes,
excavator attachments, and dump trucks.
• Dimensional Travel: The vehicle is capable of
traveling to alternate and parallel dimensions. This
form of travel is usually a narrative tool and based on
142
the campaign, and the Games Master will establish how
often the craft can traverse dimensions and how much
control the heroes have over where they end up.
Alternatively, this Trait could also serve as a basis for
time travel.
• Enhanced Performance: The vehicle’s Speed Rating
is one step higher than the normal maximum for
its Size.
• Escape Systems: The vehicle is outfitted with
emergency Systems to get the pilot and crew off the
craft in the event of catastrophic damage or System
failure. If the craft suffers damage that would result in
destruction, the crew can spend a Reaction or a Luck
Point to eject from the craft if they are within a few
meters of the escape System. On terrestrial vehicles this
is usually an ejector seat or life boats, while on space
vehicles it is escape pods with limited thrust and life
support for at least a week.
• FTL (Faster than Light): Only available for
spacecraft, the vehicle is fitted with a special engine that
allows it to travel faster than the speed of light. The
speed of the drive determines how fast the ship can
travel a single parsec (or 3.26 light years) over a time
factor (minutes, hours, days, and so on), determined by
the Games Master. In most cases this speed factor is
universal for all ships in the setting, so if the Games
Master determines the rate is hourly, then all ships with
FTL drives can travel a single parsec in one hour. A
successful check of either Craft (Spacecraft) or
Navigation (Astrogation) can speed up this rate by a
factor of 1d3 parsecs per time factor, but the ship suffers
a System Hit to the FTL engine after the trip is
completed.
• Ground Vehicles: The vehicle is capable of ground
travel.
• Hover: The vehicle hovers a few meters above the
ground on a cushion of air or via anti-gravity Systems.
• Jump Jets: Only available for ground craft, the
vehicle has pneumatic actuators, short burst thrusters,
or antigravity pulse generators that allow it to more
easily vault over obstacles and impediments. With a
successful Drive check the vehicle can jump twice its
height vertically or five times its length horizontally.
• Luxurious: The vehicle is designed to carry
passengers, and excess cargo space is converted into
luxurious passenger accommodations including private
staterooms, swimming pools, entertainment facilities,
and extra crew to cater to their needs.
Doctor Vellaro is fleeing the scene of his most recent outrage in a super-tank. Sky Raven gives chase on
her motorbike, skillfully dodging fire from the mad scientist’s contraption.
• Military-Grade: Only available for military vehicles,
the craft is built according to military specs and its Hull
increases to the mid-range of a military vehicle of
its Size.
• Pocket Dimension: The vehicle has an extra-
dimensional space in its interior, allowing it to hold far
more cargo and passengers than a craft of its normal
Size. The vehicle is considered to be two sizes larger for
purposes of determining System Hits for cargo, crew,
and passenger Systems.
• Rails: The vehicle relies on a rail system, which
restricts the path of its movement but allows it to
achieve speeds up to three steps higher than its Hull
Size would normally allow.
• Ram: The vehicle is outfitted with a reinforced ram
that reduces damage when the operator performs a
ramming maneuver against a target (see page 170).
• Resilient: All Systems in the vehicle can withstand one
additional hit than normal as determined by their Size.
This Trait can be stacked, so Resilient 2 would allow
Systems to take two more hits than normal.
• Resistant: The vehicle is protected against a specific
type of dangerous substances or forms of energy, such
as acid, EMPs, or fire. If this Trait it taken one time, the
vehicle takes half damage from the source. If this
Trait is taken twice, the vehicle is immune to that source
of damage.
• Seaborne: The vehicle is buoyant and can travel on
the surface of water.
• Spaceborne: The vehicle is capable of leaving and re-
entering an atmosphere, and sustained flight in space
and within an atmosphere. It is also sealed against
vacuum and shielded against cosmic radiation.
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 Destined
• Stealth: The vehicle is designed to avoid detection by
radar, sonar, and other long-range sensor Systems.
Attempts to spot the vehicle using electronic sensors are
one Difficulty Grade harder.
• Submersible: The vehicle is capable of submersing
beneath the surface of water to an operating depth of its
Hull Rating x10 meters. Its collapse depth, the absolute
maximum the vehicle can reach without being crushed,
is 1.5 times its operating depth.
• Superior Handling: The vehicle’s handling is one
Difficulty Grade easier, based on its Size.
• Targeting Systems: The vehicle has advanced
targeting Systems that aid in attempts to lock on to
targets. See page 170 for more information.
• VTOL: (Vertical Takeoff Or Landing), the vehicle can
lift up into the air without needing to gain
speed and momentum first, and can hover in place while
airborne.
• Walker: The vehicle propels itself using articulated
legs. Walker vehicles are capped at Gentle Speed no
matter what their Size, but they can be built much larger
and remain more stable than other forms
of locomotion.
• Wall Rider: Only available for ground vehicles, the
craft can drive up vertical surfaces by using specialized
wheels, gravity Systems, or a powerful winching
mechanism. Its Speed Rating is reduced by one while
using this form of movement. The vehicle cannot end its
movement while on a vertical surface or it will fall. If this
Trait is taken a second time, the vehicle has specialized
mechanisms that allow it to travel at normal Speed, and
it is capable of stopping and “holding on” while on a
vertical surface.
Vehicle Handling and Maneuvers Table
Vehicle Size
Large or smaller
Huge
Enormous
Example Maneuvers and Terrain
Quick Turn/Dive or Ascent
Sharp (90 degree) Turn
Reverse (180 degree) Turn/Loop
Light Obstacles/Bumpy Terrain
Moderate Obstacles/Rough Terrain
Heavy Obstacles/Nearly Impassable Terrain
144
• Weaponized: The vehicle has hard points for weapon
Systems equal to one-tenth of its Structure Points,
rounded down. The owner must still pay the cost of any
Systems the vehicle has, (see Vehicle Weapons on page
146). Military vehicles have this Trait for free.
Handling and
Maneuvers
For routine travel, heroes are not required to make
rolls to operate a vehicle, but the lives of heroes rarely
are routine. Evasive or sudden maneuvers, such as
tight turns during a chase or avoiding other vehicles
and pedestrians on busy city streets, requires a
successful Drive (or Boating or Pilot) check to maintain
control of the vehicle. The difficulty of this check is
based on the inherent handling of the vehicle and how
ambitious the maneuver is. Failure on this roll means
the vehicle is out of control and the operator must
roll on the Loss of Control Table below to find out
what happens.
The handling of a vehicle is based on its Size and
serves as the base difficulty for any checks the vehicle
makes, modified by the difficulty of any maneuvers the
vehicle makes. The default handling is Standard for
vehicles Large Size or smaller, Formidable for Huge
vehicles, and Herculean for Enormous ones. The
Superior Handling Trait modifies this, and damage to
a vehicle’s control Systems can make the handling
difficulty harder. The Difficulty Modifier for
maneuvers is determined by the complexity of what
the operator is attempting and any obstacles or
difficult terrain the vehicle is traveling through, with
the Games Master ruling on what difficulty modifiers
are applied, or if the vehicle can even attempt the
maneuver. Some example maneuvers and terrain
modifiers as well as their difficulties are listed below,
Base Handling Difficulty
Standard
Formidable
Herculean
Difficulty Modifiers
One grade harder
Two grades harder
Three grades harder
One grade harder for speeds higher than Gentle
Two grades harder for speeds higher than Slow
Three grades harder for speeds higher than Ponderous
 5. Tools of the Trade

and difficulty penalties from multiple sources are • Size: The minimum Size a vehicle has to be for the
cumulative. weapon to be mounted to it.

The cost for vehicle weapons is only to add

Vehicle Shields
Energy shields provide an additional layer of protection
for vehicles that possess them, but they work slightly
differently from Hull Rating. Incoming damage that is
equal to or less than the shield’s rating is blocked
completely, inflicting no damage on the craft. If the
damage exceeds the shield value, any excess damage
reduces the shield’s rating by that amount. Once the
shields have dropped to zero, they collapse, and
damage is applied to the Hull as normal. The shield
System also suffers a System Hit when they collapse that
must be repaired before they can recover. Shields
recover one point of their rating per full minute of
inactivity, or a crew member can attempt to repair 1d3
points of lost shields as an Action with a successful Hard
System Ops roll. Typically, shields have ratings similar
to the Hull value of the craft.
Vehicle Weapons
Military vehicles are designed with special hard points
for weapons, and the control Systems and ammunition
storage necessary for them to function. Normally,
civilian vehicles are unable to mount weapons unless
they possess the Weaponized Trait. The maximum
number of weapon Systems a vehicle can support is
equal to one-tenth of its Structure Points, rounded
down. Vehicle weapons use similar statistics and have
Traits just like their smaller counterparts, but they have
one additional Trait:
additional armaments to a vehicle, and if there are
weapons already listed, they are included in the cost of
the vehicle.
Sample Vehicles
Below are some common vehicles for a superhero game
set in modern times, as well as a spacecraft for when the
heroes are pulled into the middle of an intergalactic war
(it happens). Some vehicles also have optional variants
that allow you to use the base statistics to serve as other
vehicle types by modifying a few Traits.
Airplane (Jet Fighter)
Hull: 10 (Large Military)
Structure: 45
Speed: Moderate
Handling: Standard
System Hits: 3
Traits: Airborne, Enhanced Performance, Escape
Systems
Shields: None
Weapons: Gatling Gun, 6 Missiles
Cost/RL: 6/HR
Description: A standard twin seat military jet fighter.
Variant (Starfighter): Space-based versions of the jet
fighter, starfighters add the Spaceborne Trait, and the
Gatling Gun is replaced with a Blaster Cannon.

Loss of Control Table

1d100 Result
01-25 Swerve. The loss of control is temporary and vehicle drops its speed by 1 step for 5 seconds.
26-40 Skid/Spin. The driver must fight to keep control as the vehicle’s speed drops by 2 steps for 10 seconds.
41-50 Severe Skid/Stall. Vehicle ends up facing the wrong direction and stops for 15 seconds. Aircraft engines stop
for 10 seconds.
51-60 Roll/Clip. The vehicle either skids and rolls or clips another object, sustaining 3d10 damage to its Structure.
Occupants must make a successful Endurance roll or sustain 1d10 damage to 1d3 Hit Locations.
61-70 Severe Roll/Clip. As above, but the vehicle sustains 3d10+10 damage to its Structure. Occupants sustain 1d10
damage to 1d3 locations, or 2d10 if they fail an Endurance roll.
71-80 Write-Off. The vehicle sustains damage from a crash that reduces its Structure to 0. Occupants suffer the same
damage as for a Severe Roll/Clip.
81-90 Explosion. As above, but the vehicle’s fuel System ignites and will explode in 1d20+10 seconds. If unable to
get clear, occupants and anyone within 5 meters takes 1d6 burn damage to 1d6 locations.
91-98 Immediate Explosion. As above, but the explosion is immediate.
99-100 Catastrophic Crash. Damage to the vehicle is the same as for Write-Off. Occupants must successfully roll
Endurance or are reduced to negative their starting Hit Point value in 1d6 locations.

145
 Destined

Airplane (Private Jet) Traits: Seaborne, Luxurious

Shields: None
Hull: 5 (Large Civilian) Weapons: None
Structure: 50 Cost/RL: 8/U
Speed: Gentle Description: A large pleasure craft designed for 2 to 8
Handling: Standard crew and up to 20 or more passengers. Popular targets
System Hits: 3 for water-based villains.
Traits: Airborne, Luxurious
Shields: None
Weapons: None Car (Sedan)
Cost/RL: 5/R
Description: A private jet used by corporations and Hull: 4 (Medium Civilian)
the elite with room for 2 crew and up to 10 passengers Structure: 25
comfortably. Speed: Rapid
Handling: Standard
System Hits: 2
Boat (Speedboat) Traits: Ground Vehicle
Shields: None
Hull: 3 (Medium Civilian) Weapons: None
Structure: 24 Cost/RL: 3/C
Speed: Fast Description: A standard 2 or 4 door sedan, featuring
Handling: Standard enough space to comfortably seat a driver and 3
System Hits: 2 passengers, or 5 if they are friendly. A typical SUV uses
Traits: Seaborne, Enhanced Performance similar statistics, but the Structure is raised to 30.
Shields: None Variant (Sports Car): High end sports cars trade
Weapons: None durability for speed and tight controls. Reduce
Cost/RL: 3/C Structure to 22, but add the Enhanced Performance
Description: A typical 2 or 4 seat speedboat built for and Superior Handling Traits.
performance and speed.

Helicopter
Boat (Yacht)
Hull: 4 (Medium Civilian)
Hull: 10 (Huge Civilian) Structure: 22
Structure: 75 Speed: Rapid
Speed: Slow Handling: Easy
Handling: Formidable System Hits: 2
System Hits: 4 Traits: Airborne, Superior Handling, VTOL

Vehicle Weapons
Weapon Damage Range Ammo Load Size Cost RL Traits
Machine Gun 2d8+2 800/1500/4000 200 4 M 2 R Auto
Gatling Gun 3d6 300/1000/2000 200 4 M 3 R Auto
Missile/ 5d6 5000/50 km/ 1 5 L 3 HR Radius 5
Torpedo 100 km
Large Missile 6d10+10 Max 2000 km 1 10 H 6 HR Radius 10
Ballistic Missile 10d10+20 Max 30000 km 1 20 E 8 HR Radius 40 kilometers
Tank Cannon 3d8+2 1000/4000/8000 1 5 L 3 HR Radius 5
Blaster Cannon 4d6 300/1000/2000 500 5 M 4 R Incendiary
Heavy Blaster 5d6 1000/3000/6000 300 5 L 5 R Incendiary
Cannon
Artillery Battery 5d6+6 Max 100 km 1 5 H 6 HR Radius 10
Blaster Battery 6d6+6 Max 100 km 10 5 H 7 HR Incendiary, Radius 8
Spiral Mount 10d6+20 Max 40000 km 1 10 E 9 HR Incendiary
Cannon

146
 5. Tools of the Trade

Shields: None System Hits: 1

Weapons: None Traits: Ground Vehicle, Superior Handling
Cost/RL: 4/U Shields: None
Description: A standard helicopter used by hospitals, Weapons: None
news outlets, and law enforcement, it holds two crew Cost/RL: 2/C
and up to four passengers. Description: A standard motorcycle with room for the
Variant (Attack Copter): Government versions are driver and a single passenger. Some add on a sidecar
Large Military craft with 11 Hull and 50 Structure. allowing for a third passenger or extra cargo space.
They are typically armed with a Gatling Gun and Variant (Hoverbike): The standard craft of high-tech
4 missiles. Organizations, hoverbikes replace the Ground Vehicle
Trait with Hover. Some advanced models replace
Ground Vehicle with Airborne and add VTOL.
Light Interstellar Freighter Variant (Personal Watercraft): Essentially motorcycles
for the water, Personal Watercraft replace the Ground
Hull: 10 (Medium Civilian Spaceship) Vehicle Trait with Seaborne.
Structure: 80
Speed: Rapid
Handling: Standard Tank
System Hits: 2
Traits: Airborne, Cargo, FTL, Spaceborne, VTOL Hull: 12 (Large Military)
Shields: None Structure: 60
Weapons: None Speed: Gentle
Cost/RL: 7/R Handling: Standard
Description: This light transport is used to haul goods System Hits: 4
from one part of the galaxy to another, and it requires Traits: Ground Vehicle, All-Terrain, Resilient
a minimum crew of 2 and can carry up to 4 Shields: None
passengers. Most pilots make heavy modifications to Weapons: Tank Cannon, Machine Gun
their ship to personalize it. Cost/RL: 6/HR
Description: A standard military main battle tank that
can hold up to 4 crew.
Motorcycle
Hull: 2 (Small Civilian)
Structure: 12
Speed: Fast
Handling: Easy

Terrestrial Vehicle System Damage Table

1d8 System* Partial Damage Result Total Failure Result
1 Cargo Hold Cargo in the hold is destroyed proportional to Everything in hold is destroyed
damage
2 Communications Difficulty of communications checks increases one Vehicle can no longer use communications
grade for each hit
3 Controls Difficulty of Boating, Drive, or Pilot checks are one Vehicle can no longer be steered or change course
grade more difficult per hit
4 Engine/Propulsion Speed is reduced one level per hit Vehicle can no longer propel itself
5 Pilot/Passengers A proportion of passengers equal to the hits suffer Everyone on board suffers 3d6 damage to all locations
3d6 damage to 1d3+1 locations
6 Power/Fuel Core An additional powered System goes off-line for each Vehicle will explode in 1d6 Turns
hit inflicted
7 Sensors System Ops checks for sensors, Navigation, and Vehicle is rendered blind and Weapon attack rolls are
Weapon attack rolls are one Difficulty Grade harder Herculean
per hit
8 Weapons A number of weapon Systems proportional to hits are Vehicle can no longer fire weapons
rendered inoperable
*Re-roll if vehicle does not have the system
147
 Destined

Truck (Panel Van) Truck (Tractor Trailer)

Hull: 5 (Medium Civilian) Hull: 6 (Large Civilian)
Structure: 35 Structure: 50
Speed: Rapid Speed: Gentle
Handling: Standard Handling: Standard
System Hits: 2 System Hits: 3
Traits: Ground Vehicle, Cargo Traits: Ground Vehicle, Cargo
Shields: None Shields: None
Weapons: None Weapons: None
Cost/RL: 3/C Cost/RL: 4/C
Description: A large van used for transport of goods Description: A truck and trailer combo used for
that holds a driver and one passenger. transporting large amounts of cargo and goods long
Variant (Armored Car): This armored truck is used to distances.
transport money and valuables. It adds the Military-
Grade Trait and has a Hull of 8 and a Structure of 40.
They are common prey for criminals and
supervillains.

Space Vehicle System Damage Table

1d8 System* Partial Damage Result Total Failure Result
1 Controls Pilot rolls suffer one additional grade of difficulty each Ship can no longer be steered or change course
time they are hit
2 Communications Difficulty of communications checks increases one Ship can no longer use communications
grade for each hit
3 Crew A proportion of passengers equal to the hits suffer Everyone on board suffers 3d6 damage to all locations
3d6 damage to 1d3+1 locations
4 Cargo Hold/ Cargo or vehicles in the hold are destroyed Everything in hold is destroyed
Hangar proportional to damage
5 Hyperdrive FLT speeds are reduced by an amount proportional to Ship can no longer use FTL travel
hits
6 Power Core An additional powered System goes off-line for each Ship will explode in 1d6 Turns
hit inflicted
7 Sensors System Ops checks for Sensors, Navigation, and Ship is rendered blind and Weapon attack rolls are
Weapon attack rolls are one Difficulty Grade harder Herculean
per hit
8 Shields Shields are reduced by an amount proportional to hits Shields no longer function

9 Sublight Drive Speed is reduced one level per hit Ship begins to drift and is helpless

10 Weapons A number of weapon Systems proportional to hits are Ship can no longer fire weapons
rendered inoperable
*Re-roll if vehicle does not have the system

148

combat
A
fter a tense chase through the rain slicked streets,
Starry Night finally has her nemesis cornered in a
blind alley. She relishes the look of panic on his face,
but then it slips away and turns into a cruel sneer.
From the shadows all around her black-clad assassins emerge,
weapons gleaming in the moonlight. With a snap her
collapsible batons slide out of their holsters and she enters a
fighting stance...
While heroes sometimes are able to diffuse a
situation with their words, too often the only language
the forces of evil understand is that of the fist. Action-
packed fights are a staple of comic books, from
vigilantes taking out gang members from the shadows
to caped heroes trading blows and blasts with their
archnemesis high above the city. The combat system in
Destined is flexible enough to cover everything from
gritty street fights to epic brawls involving fantastic
powers and hurled cars. It is also fast-paced and tactical,
with actions resolved quickly and options to make every
fight tell its own story. There are a few core concepts
that are part of the Destined combat system you should
keep in mind when you run a conflict:
• Combat is dangerous. One good punch or blast can
drop a combatant, and while Destined leans towards
making combat less lethal than the standard Mythras
rules, heroes can be seriously injured or knocked out of
the fight quickly if they are not careful.
• Combat never needs to last until one side is
completely incapacitated. Enemies surrender, are
captured, or escape to plague the heroes another day.
Sometimes foes can even be talked down, reasoned
with, or intimidated into submission.
6. Combat
• Combat is both abstract and tactical. Most of what
occurs during a battle is in the imaginations of everyone
playing, but the rules also make it simple to determine
how to resolve nearly any situation and what options
are available to each combatant. While battle maps and
miniatures (or virtual tabletops) are not required, the
rules also support their inclusion for groups that prefer
a visual representation of the battlefield.
• Combat is exciting. The inherent risk involved with
combat in Destined helps ramp up the excitement and
the tension. Seeing good planning and tactics rewarded
will exhilarate players, and seeing the enemy gain the
upper hand will make them scramble to turn the tide of
battle. Each Turn of combat is one more thrilling panel
in the comic that your group is creating together.
Whether gritty or cinematic, the combat system
presented in this chapter is designed to handle
whatever conflict the heroes find themselves in the
middle of. The rules also cover how to run superheroic
combats and how powers and special forms of
movement factor into each battle.
Key Aspects
of Combat
Combat in Destined introduces a few game concepts
that apply only to battles, so several of the most
important aspects are defined here to help you keep
track of them moving forward. Each of these aspects is
explained in detail throughout this chapter.
149
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 1
S hadowstalker learns from one of his informants
that the archvillain Baron Malycer has sent his
henchmen to rob a high-tech engineering company
in the city to gain vital equipment for creating a
new super-weapon. Eager to foil the Baron’s plans,
he calls up his allies, including a superstrong
brawler named Torc, and Eclipse, who can
manipulate light and shadow, to help him deal with
the situation.
The heroes rush down to the factory, and upon
arriving at a skylight overlooking the main floor,
they witness half a dozen goons tearing up the
place and terrorizing several members of the
custodial staff. A security guard lies still on the floor,
blood pooling under him. Before Shadowstalker
and Eclipse can come up with a plan, brash Torc
smashes through the skylight and leaps down to the
factory floor. With a sigh, the other heroes head
inside to help their friend as Malycer’s thugs turn
towards them.
• Combat Style, Evade, and Unarmed: These three
skills are the most commonly used during Combat.
While heroes do not need high ratings in all three to be
successful in battle, investing some training in each will
help them survive when negotiations fail (see page 71
for more information on training skills).
• Combat Rounds: When combat begins, heroes switch
from Narrative Time (which is tracked more loosely), to
Combat Rounds. Combat Rounds are defined as a
period of roughly five seconds, during which everyone
involved can take whatever Actions they are allowed.
• Combat Actions: During combat each participant can
take a number of Actions equal to their Action Points.
Each Action, such as a move or attack, or a Reaction to
someone else’s Action such as defending against an
attack, utilizes one Action Point.
• Weapon Size and Force: Each weapon used has a Size
rating (for melee weapons) or Force rating (for Ranged
Weapons) that measures how hard it strikes and how
difficult it is to block or Parry the attack. Unarmed
attacks and powers that inflict damage have Size and
Force ratings as well.
• Special Effects: If one combatant is able to gain the
upper hand over their foe, they can perform a Special
Effect, which is a combat maneuver or technique that
150
can potentially give the user an advantage or turn the
tide of battle.
• Hit Points and Wounds: When damage is inflicted it
is subtracted from the Hit Point value of whatever area
of the target’s body was hit. When damage reaches a
certain threshold, the target will suffer a wound to the
area struck or even be Incapacitated and no longer able
to fight.
Running Combat
When the fight starts, heroes do everything in their
power to make sure they can endure until their foe is
defeated, knowing that each fight could be their last. To
emphasize the dramatic style of combat in Destined,
combat is tracked on a blow-by-blow basis, with each
attack and defense representing a single strike, blast,
Parry, or dodge. Combatants go back and forth, each
taking Turns to act or react to their opponents until one
side is either incapacitated, surrenders, or flees. The
goal is to make each fight tense and exciting, and to
have each action tell its own part of the story.
Setting the Scene
Before combat starts the Games Master will describe the
scene, noting any important objects in the environment
and the starting positions of everyone involved. The
scene can give the players ideas for strategies, objects to
manipulate or use as cover, and any other factors that
could complicate the combat such as innocent
bystanders or environmental dangers. The more
detailed the scene and the more complications, the
more dramatic the action. A battle on a deserted street
is fine, but one during rush hour with downed power
lines and out-of-control cars makes for a tense and
exciting conflict.
Also keep in mind that the heroes may not be aware
of every foe or potential danger on the battlefield.
Enemies may be hidden, there may be structural
integrity issues with something in the environment, or
some unknown complication may be lurking that will
affect everyone involved. When the Games Master
describes the scene, they will tell the players what they
can perceive with their senses and what is immediately
present. They do not have to tell them about the enemy
reinforcements inbound or the runaway semi truck that
will arrive on the scene in a few rounds.
Having descended into the darkness at the edge of the factory floor, Shadowstalker and his companions
see a mob of heavily armed goons tearing up the place looking for their prize. The heroes steel
themselves to put a stop to the mayhem.
Visualizing Combat
In roleplaying games there are two typical styles of
handling the visualization of combat. The Destined
rules support both types of gameplay, and it comes
down to whichever your group prefers to use.
The first is known as “theater of the mind,” and it
relies entirely on the spoken descriptions of actions and
the environment to paint a picture in the imaginations
of everyone involved. While it can be challenging to
come up with the details needed and keep track of
everything, it makes the game feel like everyone
involved is contributing to a collaborative novel, and
can be good for groups who are not stuck on exact
ranges and every detail of the battle.
The other option involves use of some form of “battle
map,” with tokens or miniatures that represent
everyone involved in the conflict. As mentioned above,
Destined does not require the use of a battle map or a
virtual tabletop, but some groups find this helps them
visualize the battle better so they can plan their tactics.
Games Masters can draw on the maps to set the scene,
or use terrain to add elements and more visual flair. To
keep things simple, each square or hex on the map is
roughly one meter in diameter, and the rules below give
the opportunity to help support tactical movement and
action, if this is the style your group prefers.
Combat Rounds
In combat, time is measured in Combat Rounds, each of
which lasts approximately five seconds. In comic terms,
you can think of a Combat Round as a single page
during an action scene in the story.
Each participant acts on their Turn, which
represents a second or two of each Combat Round.
Heroes can strike at a foe, launch a ranged attack,
maneuver around the battlefield, unleash their powers,
151
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 2
T hanks to Torc’s reckless action, the battle has
begun, so everyone involved must roll their
Initiative. Shadowstalker rolls a d10 and gets a 5,
and adding his Initiative Bonus of 15 gives him a
total of 20. Eclipse rolls a total of 18 for hers and
Torc rolls, only getting a 12. The Baron’s goons roll
together since they all have the same basic
statistics, and they score a 14. So Shadowstalker
will act first, followed by Eclipse, then the goons,
with Torc going last.
dodge out of the way of an enemy attack, and so on.
When all participants have performed all the Actions
they are capable of, a new Combat Round begins and
any participants remaining can act again.
Initiative
Once combat has begun, it’s important to know how
quickly everyone involved reacts and acts within the
fight. Initiative determines when each participant can
act in the Combat Round. At the start of a fight, each
combatant rolls 1d10 and adds their Initiative Bonus
(see page 19). The Games Master may choose to roll
Initiative for groups of similar supporting characters as
a single Initiative Roll to speed up play; for example,
rolling one die for all the goons in a group.
Whoever scored the highest result acts first, followed
by the second highest and so on until everyone has
acted. If two or more participants tie, they all act
concurrently and resolve the effects of their Actions
simultaneously. Once everyone who can act has acted
(i.e. their Action Points are depleted), a new Combat
Round begins using the same Initiative values from the
initial rolls.
Unless something causes the situation to change, the
initial Initiative values remain in play until something
forces all participants to reroll. If all participants in the
combat Withdraw from the battle to take a breather,
deal with another situation, or simply to reassess the
circumstances, combat starts anew. Initiative is rerolled
and a new order is determined.
Heroes wearing armor are hindered by the Bulk
rating of the protection worn, which lowers their
Initiative by the amount listed. For more information
on how Bulk affects Initiative, see page 129.
152
Turns
Whenever it’s a hero’s Initiative, it is considered to be
their Turn in combat to take action. Where a Combat
Round could be considered a page of a comic, a Turn
would be a single panel. On a hero’s Turn, they can
spend a single Action Point to take a Proactive Action,
where the hero is initiating some Action such as making
an attack or moving around the battlefield. A hero
can also spend an Action Point outside their Turn to
take a Reactive Action against something an opponent is
attempting to do to them, such as Parrying an unarmed
strike or countering a Core Power with their own. A
hero can only take one Reactive Action against a specific
attack or threat, but they can react to different threats
as long as they have the Action Points to spend.
Once everyone involved in the combat has had a
Turn, the Initiative cycle begins again, until everyone
has spent all the Action Points they have available.
When everyone has taken all the Turns they can, a new
Combat Round begins and everyone who is still present
and able to act resets their Action Points to their starting
value and the battle continues.
Combat Actions
Once battle has begun, heroes must take Action to
defeat their foes as they maneuver around the
battlefield. They might launch an attack, dash over to a
fallen ally, or draw a throwing blade from their utility
belt. All of these are examples of Combat Actions, and
heroes have many options available to them both on
and outside their Turns.
A hero can act a number of times during the Combat
Round equal to their Action Points. Once a hero has
used all of their Action Points for the round, they can no
longer take any Actions until a new Combat Round has
started. Heroes should carefully consider what Actions
they take, or what Actions of their foes they need to
guard against. There are three categories of Combat
Actions available to heroes in Destined:
• Proactive Actions can only be attempted on the
hero’s own Turn. Proactive Actions are initiated by the
hero, and can include such Actions as making an attack.
All Proactive Actions cost one Action Point.
• Reactive Actions are those taken by the hero in
response to an Action used against them, such as
Parrying an attack or resisting a Core Power.
One Reaction attempt can be made for each specific
threat or attack, although the hero can react to
threats from multiple sources, if they have the Action
 6. Combat

Points to spend. All Reactive actions cost one Action
Point.
• Free Actions are quick and can be accomplished
during the course of the hero’s other Actions. Free
Actions do not cost an Action Point to use.
Below are the different Actions available for use by
heroes in Destined. Each also notes what type of
movement, if any, a hero can perform while attempting
the listed Action. Refer to the Movement in Combat
section (see page 165) for more information on how
heroes can move around the battlefield.
Proactive Actions
The following are further explanations of the Proactive
Actions available to use on the hero’s Turn. The hero
must take some form of Action on their Turn if they
have an Action Point available, even if that Action is to
Delay or take no Action. Note that some Actions like
activating certain powers or reloading a weapon may
take several Turns (and therefore several Action Points)
to complete.
• Attack: The hero attempts an attack with a melee
weapon, an unarmed strike, an offensive Core Power, or
a Ranged Weapon.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move, either
immediately before or after the attack. If moving after the
attack, the hero must roll to disengage (see below) unless the
opponent is unable to act on their next Turn.
• Brace: The hero assumes a firm stance and leans into
the impending attack. The hero’s effective SIZ is treated
as 50% larger against Knockback or Leaping Attack, or
twice the normal amount against the Bash Special
Effect. The benefit is lost if the hero moves or is moved
from where they braced themselves.
Movement: No movement is possible.
• Delay Action: The hero reserves an Action Point to
use on either a defensive action (Evade or Parry), or to
take the Interrupt Reactive action. If the hero is not
able to use the Delayed Action before their next Turn,
or before a new Combat Round starts, the Action Point
is lost for the round.
Movement: Movement is determined when the Delayed
Action is taken.
• Move: The hero can move up to their Movement
Rate, or use a movement Core Power such as Flight or
Teleport to move the amount detailed in the ability. The
hero can also move into a vehicle or mount a riding
animal as a Move Action. If the hero is engaged in close
combat with an opponent and that opponent is still
capable of Action, they must win an Opposed Athletics
roll against their foe to be able to move away from them.
If this check is failed, the hero is not able to disengage
from the enemy and the Action is wasted.
For example, The Mortician is engaged in unarmed combat
with the assassin Obake and he wants to move to help a
wounded ally. Both he and Obake make Opposed Athletics
checks and unfortunately the villain wins. Obake quickly moves
in front of The Mortician to keep their deadly duel going.
Additional rules on Movement in Combat are detailed
on page 166 onwards.
• No Action: The hero takes no meaningful Action on
their Turn but still uses an Action Point.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move.
• Non-Combat Action: The hero attempts a skill roll
that is not related to the combat. For example, while his
allies fend off a group of deadly robots, Shadowstalker makes a
Mechanisms roll to try to pick the lock of a door blocking their
escape route. If the Action is part of an Extended Task, or

Proactive
Attack your enemy
Brace against being knocked back
Delay Action to later in the round
Move up to your Movement Rate
No Action
Non-Combat Action
Outmaneuver a foe or foes
Ready Item on person
Regain Footing after being prone
Struggle against bring grappled
Use Power that uses an Action
Combat Actions
Reactive
Counter a Core Power with one’s own
Evade a danger or attack
Interrupt with a Delayed Action
Parry with a weapon or shield
Free
Activate Boost on a Core Power
Assess Situation to see changes
Drop Item at one’s feet
Quick Move (at 1/3 Movement Rate)
Speak a short sentence
Use Luck Point to change fate
Ward Location to prevent harm

153
 Destined
the Games Master rules what is being attempted is
involved or time-consuming, the hero may need to use
this Action for several Turns to accomplish their goal.
Movement: The movement allowed is determined by the skill
being attempted. If the skill would require the hero to remain
in one place to accomplish his goal, no movement is allowed.
• Outmaneuver: The hero engages multiple foes in an
Opposed contest of the Evade skill. Those who fail to
beat their roll, or who are unwilling to spend an Action
to contest them, cannot make attacks against them that
Combat Round. See page 175 for more information on
Outmaneuvering.
Movement: If the hero is successful at Outmaneuvering
at least one opponent, they may perform a Quick Move after
the Action.
• Ready Item: The hero may draw an item from
somewhere on their person, retrieve a dropped item
from the ground, or grab something within their reach.
This Action is also used to reload a weapon, open a
door, turn on a device or vehicle, or any other activity
involving another object that doesn’t require a skill roll
(see Non-Combat Action above). If reloading a weapon
with the Load Trait, the hero must have the appropriate
ammunition and this Action must be taken a number of
rounds equal to the rating listed to ready the weapon to
be used.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move, but must
make a Standard Athletics check as part of the move. If this
check is failed, a handheld item is dropped and moves 1d4+1
meters away. If the hero does not move while taking this
Action, no roll needs to be made.
• Regain Footing: If the hero is prone and no opponent
is adjacent, they may rise to their feet. If an opponent is
adjacent, the hero must win an Opposed Athletics or
Brawn (hero’s choice) check against them to rise.
Movement: The hero can perform a Quick Move after
regaining their footing. If an opponent is adjacent, the hero
may only move after if the Opposed check was successful.
• Struggle: The hero attempts to extricate themselves
from something that has them held or bound, such as
being grappled in unarmed combat, the Grip Special
Effect, or bindings from the Ensnare power. Each
specific effect details how the hero can get free from the
situation.
Movement: The hero is unable to move while bound or held,
but if his attempt to get free is successful he can perform a
Quick Move once freed.
154
• Use Power: The hero may use a Core Power that
requires an Action to activate. Some powers may
require multiple uses of this Action to activate if they
have Limits that make them take longer to work.
Alternatively, the hero may use this Action to activate a
Core Power and hold its effect till a later time, waiting
for the right moment to use it. The hero may use the
power as a Free Action at any point up until their next
Turn. The hero may continue to hold the Core Power
by taking this Action on subsequent Turns, and they
may use the Counter Action below freely while the
ability is held. Any skill checks involved with the use of
the Core Power are not made until it is activated.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move before or
after the Core Power is used.
Reactive Actions
The following are details on the Reactive Actions a hero
can attempt outside of their normal Turn as a response
to an imminent threat.
• Counter: The hero can attempt to use a Core Power
to counter the use of another person’s Core Power. The
power must be one that requires a single Action to
activate or be held in reserve (see above). The Games
Master determines if the two Core Powers could cancel
each other out (for example, using an ice power to
counter a fire power), and both parties make Opposed
checks of the relevant skill related to the Core Power
use, or Willpower if no skill is specified. If the hero is
successful, the Core Power is completely negated, even
if it would normally affect multiple targets or an area.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move before the
counter is attempted.
• Evade: The hero can attempt to use the Evade skill to
dive clear of an attack or danger. Normally this leaves
the hero prone unless mitigated by a Core Power,
Special Effect, or other circumstance. If the hero uses
the Acrobatics skill instead of Evade, they do not end up
prone if they are successful.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move as part of
the Evade. If the hero was running as part of their previous
Turn they may also Evade, but not if they were sprinting.
• Interrupt: If the hero chooses Delay Action on their
previous Turn and the circumstances dictated come to
pass, they may use the reserved Action Point to
Interrupt an opponent to attempt the declared Action.
Unless the opponent is no longer able to act due to the
hero’s action, they may take their Turn normally once

the hero’s action is completed. Interrupt can also
be used against anyone close by the delaying hero,
within the Reach of their weapon or unarmed attack.
Movement: As per that of the Interrupting Action.
• Parry: The hero can attempt to defend themselves by
blocking, leaning away, or using fancy footwork to
minimize the blow. The hero must either use an object,
weapon or shield in hand to Parry, or their body if
unarmed.
Movement: The hero may perform a Quick Move after the
Parry if it is successful.
Free Actions
Free Actions can be performed at different times during
the Combat Round, as specified in their description,
and cost no Action Point to use. The hero may take
multiple Free Actions when allowed within reason.
• Activate Boost: The hero may spend Power Points to
apply any Boosts available to a Core Power they are
using as part of another Action. The hero may apply
several Boosts at once if they have the Power Points.
Movement: As per that of the Action the hero used on
his Turn.
• Assess Situation: If there are no opponents engaged
with the hero, they can make a Perception roll on their
Turn to note any changes in the current situation.
Movement: As per that of the Action the hero used on
his Turn.
• Drop Item: The hero drops a held item at their feet
on their Turn or during a Reactive Action.
Movement: As per that of the Action to hero used when
dropping the item.
• Quick Move: The hero can move up to one-third
their normal Movement Rate, as long as they did not
take the Move Action during their current or previous
Turn. The Proactive and Reactive Actions detail times
when a hero is able to use a Quick Move, and if
attempting to disengage from a foe in close combat the
hero must win an Opposed Athletics check as detailed
under the Move Action above.
• Speak: The hero says a short phrase to someone who
can hear them, or gestures to someone who can see
them. The hero can do this as part of their Turn or
during a Reactive Action.
6. Combat
Movement: As per that of the Action to the hero used while
speaking or gesturing.
• Use Luck Point: The hero uses one of their Luck
Points. This can be done under any circumstance when
a Luck Point can normally be spent (see page 197).
Movement: As per that of the Action the Luck Point is being
spent on, or no movement if used on someone other than
the hero.
• Ward Location: On their Turn, the hero positions a
held weapon (usually a shield) to protect a single Hit
Location. If that location is struck, it is treated as if the
weapon successfully Parried the attack as a Free Action.
The location remains warded until the hero changes
the location protected, or uses the weapon to make an
attack. Due to their design, shields can ward multiple
locations (see pages 130 and 132).
Movement: The hero may be moving no faster than running
speed.
Non-Combat Powers
in Combat
While Core Powers like Blast, Inherent Armor, and
Regeneration have obvious applications in combat
situations, creative heroes can use nearly any power at
their disposal to give them an edge or take down their
foes. Using Adhere to get out of reach of a foe, Empathy
to notice an enemy goon is hesitant to attack, or X-Ray
Heightened Senses to see an opponent’s hidden gun
are all tactical applications of powers that may normally
be overlooked. The Games Master should encourage
creative use of Core Powers in combat, especially when
heroes find ways to use their abilities in unexpected
ways. For example, a hero with Creation could make a weapon,
but he could also form something in the path of a Charging
enemy to cause his foe to Trip. If there would be a
detrimental effect that would require a roll to resist on
the part of the target, here are some general guidelines
to keep in mind in determining what skill to use for the
resistance roll:
• Athletics is used to resist something that would
impair a target’s movement or balance.
• Brawn is used to resist something that would
overwhelm a target through physical force.
• Endurance is used to resist something that would
affect the target’s health or physical well-being.
155
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 3
T he heroes all have 3 Action Points to use during
the Combat Round, while the six goons only
have 2 each. Shadowstalker is the first to act, and
he decides to Quick Move behind a nearby
machine to get some cover and Use Item to draw
his staff. Eclipse uses a Quick Move to float high
above the factory floor and spends her first Action
Point on Use Power, activating Sensory Overload
with the Flashbang Boost to attempt to blind three
of the goons standing close to each other. Two fail
their rolls to resist and stumble back, cursing as
they try to rub the effects of the bright flash from
their eyes. The remaining four goons Use Item to
draw weapons, two with heavy pistols and two with
shotguns, and Quick Move towards any cover they
can find. Finally, Torc barrels ahead with a Move to
get closer to the goons, bellowing fiercely as he
locks eyes with one of the criminals.
• Evade is used to resist something that the target can
dodge out of the way of.
• Insight is used to resist something that tries to mask
the attacker’s intentions or behavior.
• Perception is used to resist something that deceives
the target’s senses.
• Willpower is used to resist something that would
overwhelm the target’s self-determination or emotions.
This is normally an Opposed check, and if the given
Core Power has no active skill associated with it, use the
hero’s Willpower for the roll.
How Combat Works
In Destined, each time the hero acts or reacts in combat,
it represents a single strike, block, or dodge against
their foe. This ebb and flow is meant to keep battles
dynamic and tense, where tactical decisions and a bit of
luck can turn the tide of even the most desperate fights.
Combatants attack and resist the attacks of their
opponents, giving both sides a chance to change their
fate and turn the battle in their favor.
This back and forth mechanic applies to any combat
situation, whether the hero is diving for cover behind
crates to avoid machine gun fire, or someone trying to
break free from the iron grip of the mad scientist’s
robot servitor.
156
Attacks and Defense
One of the most common parts of combat is the
mechanic of Attacking and Defending, which applies to
both close combat and ranged attacks. It follows the
steps below:
1. On their Turn the attacker spends an Action Point,
rolls against their Combat Style or Unarmed skill, and
notes the result.
2. If desired and able, the defender spends an Action
Point, rolls against their Combat Style or Unarmed if
Parrying, or Evade if attempting to dodge out of the
way, and notes the result.
3. The success level of both results are compared as per
a Differential Roll (see pages 56 and 159).
4. Any difference grants the combatant with the
successful superior roll one or more Special Effects (see
pages 158-163).
5. If the attacker achieved a Success or a Critical, they
may roll weapon damage (and Damage Modifier if
applicable) and roll to see the Hit Location for the
attack. If the attack does not inflict direct damage, such
as from certain Core Powers or via non-lethal weapons,
resolve its normal listed effects.
6. If the defender achieved a Success or Critical, for a
Parry reduce any damage inflicted based on the
comparative Size(s) or Force(s) of the weapons involved.
If the defender used Evade, the attack inflicts no
damage and the defender is prone unless they have
some special ability.
7. Reduce the damage by defender’s Armor Points (if
any) and apply any remaining damage to the location
struck.
Note that any Special Effects generated by the
exchange are independent of whether or not damage is
inflicted. It is quite possible for the defender to gain the
higher success level and still suffer damage, or the
attacker’s blow to be completely deflected and the
defender still suffer some consequence.
Weapon Size/Force and Damage
Reduction
The bigger the weapon the hero uses, the harder the
impact of the hit. Every damaging weapon and special
attack in Destined is given a Size (for close combat) or
 6. Combat

Force (for ranged combat) that represents how hard it
strikes when it connects, and how easily it can
overwhelm a target’s defenses. For close combat
weapons, unarmed attacks, and shields, Size is also used
to determine how well it can block other attacks when
used to Parry. Size and Force categories are Small,
Medium, Large, Huge, and Enormous.
If the defender is successful in Parrying, then they
can reduce the attacker’s damage based on the
comparative Size or Force of the attacker’s weapon
against the Size of the Parrying weapon or object.
• Parrying an attack with a weapon or shield of equal or
greater Size deflects all damage.
• Parrying with a weapon or shield of one Size less only
deflects half of the damage.
• Parrying with a weapon or shield two or more Sizes less
fails to deflect any damage.
For example, if Torc successfully Parried a Huge block of
concrete with a Huge heavy shield he would block all the
damage and Parrying it with a Large stop sign would halve the
damage, but Parrying it with a Medium staff wouldn’t stop any
damage at all.
While it may seem counter-intuitive to Parry with a
weapon incapable of blocking the damage, defenders
may choose this option in the hopes of gaining a Special
Effect that will grant an advantage in the battle.
to pay compared to being struck by whatever danger
they were facing.
In melee or ranged combat, attempts to Evade are
handled as Differential Rolls just like attempts to Parry,
and a successful evasion may grant the hero Special
Effects just like any other combat roll. While going
prone may actually aid the hero against ranged attacks,
it can put them at a disadvantage against Close Combat
Attacks. If the hero is unable to regain their footing
after Evading, they can continue to try to attack and
defend against their foe, but they suffer a situational
penalty to checks from Fighting While Prone (see page
171).
Against other dangers, such as avoiding being struck
by a vehicle or leaping clear of a Peril (see page 201), the
Evade skill roll is Opposed by the opposition’s skill
check or the Potency of the Peril (as rolled against by the
Games Master). If the hero succeeds, they either
manage to avoid the threat entirely or suffer a reduced
effect, depending on the nature of the danger.
Heroes with Acrobatics may substitute that skill for
Evade, with the same limitations as above, except they
will not be prone after a successful roll.
Evading requires some room to maneuver and
freedom of movement on the part of the defender.
Evading may be difficult or impossible under certain
circumstances:
• The hero is helpless or entangled.

Evading • There is nowhere to run to, such as when standing on

There are times when all a hero can do to avoid an
attack is throw themselves out of the way and hope for
the best. This is often done to avoid a dangerous
environmental hazard, a large obstacle, the effects of
some powers, or an attack that the hero has no hope of
blocking successfully. The main disadvantage of
Evading is that the hero usually ends up prone after
dodging out of the way, but this might be a small price
a tightrope between two skyscrapers or while climbing
up a building.
• A mounted hero or one on a vehicle may only Evade
by throwing themselves clear of the conveyance.
• A hero using Acrobatics in place of Evade must have
a clear open space or be able to vault over the attacker.

Weapon Size/Force Examples

Size/Force Example Weapons
Small Unarmed strikes and light single-handed weapons such as knives and brass knuckles. Thrown knives and small thrown rocks.
Medium Single-handed weapons such as swords, batons, or fire axes. Thrown bolas, boomerangs, and one-handed crossbows.
Large Unarmed strikes with Enhanced Strength, heavier single-handed weapons such as shields, or long-hafted thrusting weapons
such as spears. Pistols, blaster pistols, or compound bows.
Huge Large two-handed weapons such as massive clubs or signposts. Rifles, shotguns, or crossbows.
Enormous Weapons used by the strongest heroes such as telephone poles, large pieces of debris, or steel girders. Heavy Ranged
Weapons such as machine guns or rocket launchers.

157

Hovering in the air, Eclipse lets loose blazing rays
of light at the villains, blinding two of them.
Armor
Even the toughest heroes need protection to keep them
safe when the bullets start flying, and armor can be a
lifesaver when out fighting crime. Any damage that gets
through the target’s defenses is further reduced by any
Armor Points the hero has from powers, worn armor, or
other protective measures. If armor reduces the
damage to zero, the hero is spared from harm but may
still be subjected to Special Effects that don’t require
damage to be inflicted.
Defending Against a
Missed Attack
If the attacker misses their roll, the defender still has the
option to spend an Action Point to Parry or Evade.
While this may seem like a waste of an Action Point, a
skilled defender can use this to their advantage to gain
one or more Special Effects to give them an edge against
their opponent. For example, if a goon tried to stab
158
Shadowstalker and missed, the hero might still make a Parry
roll to use the opportunity to Disarm the goon or Trip and send
him sprawling to the ground.
Unable or Unwilling to Defend
In a situation where the target is unable to defend due
to a lack of Action Points, or they believe they can
withstand the attack and decide not to defend, the
defender is treated as if they automatically rolled a
Failure. This grants the attacker one or more Special
Effects to use against the defender as normal.
Failed rolls and Fumbles
If both combatants fail their rolls, or a defender decides
not to take advantage of a missed attack, combat
continues on to the participant with the next highest
Initiative. Fumbles have no additional effect aside from
the fact that an opponent can inflict several potentially
severe Special Effects on the combatant. If both sides
roll a Fumble, the Games Master is encouraged to come
up with some implausible, unfortunate, or hilarious
result for both parties involved, depending on the
overall tone of the campaign.
Special Effects
There are many ways for a hero to best their foe,
sometimes without needing to lay a hand (or fist) on
them. Special Effects represent different combat
techniques and maneuvers that heroes can use to gain
an advantage over their foes or put their enemies at a
disadvantage that the hero can exploit. Proper use of
Special Effects can quickly turn the tide of a battle or
give a hero a fighting chance against a seemingly
untouchable foe.
As mentioned above, skill rolls in combat are treated
as Differential Rolls, with the combatant who gets a
higher Level of Success gaining one or more Special
Effects to use against their opponent. For example, if the
attacker rolls a Success and the defender Fails his attempt to
Parry, the attacker gains one Level of Success and one Special
Effect. Refer to the table below to see how Differential
Rolls are used in combat.
Any Special Effects won in an exchange must be
determined before damage and Hit Location are rolled,
and any Endurance rolls that result from Serious
Wounds are rolled after the effect is applied. If more
than one Special Effect is won, the combatant can freely
mix and match from those available to them, and some

effects can be stacked as detailed in the descriptions.
Special Effects cover a diverse range of situations and
techniques. Some are just for offensive Actions, some
just for defense, and others can be applied in both
situations. Some are limited to certain types of weapons,
and others can only be applied if the attacker or
defender rolls a Critical Success or a Fumble, as
detailed below.
Special Effect Descriptions
The following Special Effects are available for all
combatants.
Arise: The hero exploits an opportunity to jump up or
roll back up to their feet if they are prone. This is
automatic, even if the hero is engaged in melee combat
with an opponent.
Bash: The hero knocks the target back one meter for
every two points of damage rolled with a shield or if the
hero has Enhanced Strength, or one meter for every
three points of damage with any other bludgeoning
weapon or normal unarmed attack. This effect uses the
damage value before Armor Points or reductions from
successful Parries or powers are applied. Bashing only
works on targets up to twice the hero’s SIZ. If the target
is forced back into an obstacle, they must make a Hard
Athletics or Acrobatics check to avoid being knocked
prone.
Choose Location: In melee combat the hero chooses
what location the attack strikes as long as it is within
reach. Choose Location can only be used on a Critical
Success for a ranged attack, unless the attacker is within
short range and the target is stationary or unaware of
the attack.
Compel Retreat: The hero attempts to force the
surrender of a disadvantaged or helpless foe, such as
one who has been disarmed, is lying prone, or has
suffered a Serious Wound. Damage is not inflicted on
the target, but they must make an Opposed Willpower
Combat Differential Roll Results
Result of Rolls Attacker Critical Attacker Success
Defender Critical No benefit Defender wins 1 Special
Defender Success Attacker wins 1 Special
Effect
Defender Failure Attacker wins 2 Special Attacker wins 1 Special
Effects
Defender Fumble Attacker wins 3 Special Attacker wins 2 Special
Effects
6. Combat
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 4
S hadowstalker spends his second Action Point to
stand up behind the machine and toss a
throwing knife at one of the goons. He is successful
on his attack roll, but the goon opts to spend his last
Action Point to Evade. He is also successful,
dodging out of the way and dropping to the floor as
the knife cuts through the air above him. Eclipse
tries to hit one of the men with her searing light
Blast, but she fails her roll and the beam sizzles into
the floor at his feet. The two blinded goons stumble
around and fire wildly at the ceiling, their shots
going wide. The other three use their last actions to
open fire, one at each of the heroes. The one
shooting at Shadowstalker misses thanks to the
cover he has from the machine, but the one firing
at Eclipse manages to hit. She decides to use her
last Action Point to try to Evade and is successful,
the bullet striking the ceiling just above her head.
The last goon hits Torc with a shotgun blast, but he
decides to rely on his dense skin to weather the
shot. He takes the shot to his right leg and it causes
8 points of damage, and Torc uses his Nigh
Invulnerability Boost to ignore the damage
completely. The goon still gets a Special Effect for
the successful attack and tries to knock Torc off
balance. The big hero fails his roll to resist and
crashes to the floor right in front of the man who
just shot him. Torc uses an Action Point to slowly
stand up, pointedly looking down at his uninjured
leg as the goon who shot him does the same, the
smoking shotgun trembling in his hands.
check against the original attack or Parry roll. If the
target fails, it surrenders to the hero and ceases
hostilities until the situation changes, or the target flees
from the scene if they are able. This should only be used
against supporting non-player characters, rabble, and
underlings, unless the Games Master rules otherwise. If
this is allowed against major villains, the foe will cease
Attacker Failure Attacker Fumble
Defender wins 2 Special Defender wins 3 Special
Effect Effects Effects
No benefit Defender wins 1 Special Defender wins 2 Special
Effect Effects
No benefit No benefit
Effect
No benefit No benefit
Effects
159
 Destined

hostilities and seek a way to escape the situation if
possible, only surrendering if it seems they have no
other option.
Damage Item: The hero strikes an item the target is
holding or carrying, or if using a weapon with the
Sunder Trait, the hero can damage the target’s worn
armor. This can be done as an attack or as part of a
Parry and inflicts the weapon’s damage to the item and
not the target. Weapons and other items subtract their
Armor Points, and if the object’s Hit Points are reduced
to zero, it is broken or destroyed. Armor subtracts its
Armor Points from the damage, and any excess damage
reduces the armor’s AP in the location hit as plates are
cracked and bindings are torn.
Disarm: The hero knocks, yanks, or twists an item out
of the hand of their target. The target makes an
Opposed Combat Style roll against the original attack
or Parry, and if the target loses, the item is either
knocked away a number of meters equal to the hero’s
Damage Modifier or at the target’s feet if the modifier is
not a positive value. If the disarming hero’s weapon is
larger, the target’s Opposed Roll is one grade harder. If
the disarming weapon is smaller, the target’s check is
one grade easier. Disarming only works on targets no
more than twice the hero’s SIZ. If the hero has a free
hand and made an Unarmed roll to attack or Parry,
they can instead take the weapon if the target is
unsuccessful. The weapon size doesn’t matter, but the
disarming hero can’t take a weapon from a target more
than twice their SIZ.
Distract: The hero intimidates, tricks, or taunts the
target as part of the attack in an attempt to distract
them. The hero makes a Deceit (for tricks), Influence
(for taunts), or Intimidate (for intimidation) roll as a
Free Action, Opposed by the Insight of the target.
Alternatively, the hero may instead use a non-damaging
effect of a Core Power as part of the distraction, such as
Stretching to tap the foe on the shoulder or using
Enhanced Speed to make their body move in a quick
succession of motion. If there is no skill roll specified as
part of the power, the hero may roll Athletics for
physical Core Powers or Willpower for mental Core
Powers. If the target is unsuccessful, the next check they
make as part of an Action (Proactive or Reactive) is one
grade harder.

Special Effects summary

Special Effect Offensive Defensive Notes
Arise to your feet X
Bash your foe back X Bludgeoning attacks and Unarmed only
Choose Location to strike X Only on Critical for ranged attacks
Compel Retreat of your foe X Opponent helpless or defenseless
Damage Item on your enemy X X
Disarm your foe’s weapon X X Can take weapon with Unarmed
Distract your enemy X X
Duck Back under cover X X Cover must be adjacent
Entangle with a binding weapon X X Entangling weapons only
Flurry of attacks X Unarmed normally
Grip your foe with a free hand X
Impact with a telling strike X Roll damage twice and take higher
Marksman to hone your aim X Ranged attacks only
Pin Down a foe with ranged attacks X Ranged attacks only
Press Advantage against your foe X X
Rapid Reload of your weapon X May be chosen multiple times
Silent Takedown of your enemy X Foe must be surprised or unaware
Stand Fast against Knockback X
Stun Location on your enemy X Bludgeons or Unarmed only
Trip Opponent to the ground X X
Withdraw away from an enemy X X

Critical Effect Offensive Defensive Notes

Circumvent Defense of your foe
Enhance Defense of yourself
Force Failure with another effect
Maximize Damage of your strike
Select Target other than you
160
X Attacker Criticals
X Defender Criticals
X X Attacker or Defender Criticals
X Attacker Criticals
X Attacker Fumbles

Duck Back: If the hero was previously under cover, and
that cover remains adjacent, they can escape behind
cover without using a Move Action or a Quick Move.
Entangle: The hero can use a weapon with the Entangle
Trait to immobilize the location struck. Alternatively, a
hero can use a Core Power or Boost that could
potentially bind or disable the target to entangle as well,
such as an extended limb using Stretching, force
manifested with Telekinesis, or a whip-like plant
directed with Elemental Control. An entangled arm
can’t use what it is holding, a leg prevents the target
from moving, or the head, chest, or abdomen make all
skill checks one grade harder while bound. On their
next Turn the hero can spend an Action Point to
automatically attempt the Trip Opponent effect (see
below). Entangled targets can spend an Action Point to
make an Opposed Brawn roll against the hero to pull
free, or use Special Effects such as Damage Item or
Disarm to remove the entangling weapon or effect, or
Slip Free to escape automatically.
Flurry: The hero spends an Action Point to make an
immediate follow-up unarmed attack with a different
body part from the one used to make the initial attack.
For example, Shadowstalker strikes a goon with a baton for his
initial attack, then uses Flurry to deliver a hook with his other
hand or a knee to the gut. This attack occurs on the same
Turn as the initial attack that triggered the effect. The
advantage is allowing the hero to make several
successive attacks before the target can respond.
Grip: If the target is within unarmed combat reach, the
hero can use a free hand (or similar limb such as a claw,
robotic tentacle, or telekinetic fist) to grab hold of the
opponent, preventing them from moving away. The
target can spend an Action Point on their Turn to make
an Opposed Brawn or Unarmed check (determined by
the hero gripping them) to attempt to break free. Note
that heroes with a high Brawn skill may be so strong
that no amount of brute force or cunning plan can
overcome their Grip, so the target may need to be
creative or seek help from their allies.
Impact: The hero strikes a telling blow, rolling the
weapon or Core Power’s damage twice and taking the
higher result. Note that Impact only allows the hero to
reroll the base damage inflicted by the weapon, power,
or unarmed strike, not any extra damage caused by
their Damage Bonus.
Marksman: The hero may shift the Hit Location result
of a ranged attack by one step to an adjoining body part.
For example, if Shadowstalker lobbed a throwing blade at a
villain with this Special Effect and hit the abdomen, he could
instead shift the hit to the villain’s chest or one of his legs
6. Combat
Optional: Damaging
External Power Sources
N ormally powers with the External Power
Source Limit are considered invulnerable to
harm, with the main disadvantage being they can
either be taken from the hero or require some
time to prepare before being used. With this
optional rule, these items can be damaged just
like any other piece of equipment. These items are
treated as if they have Armor Points equal to one-
third the hero’s CON and a number of Hit Points
equal to two-thirds the hero’s CON. For items that
grant the Inherent Armor Core Power, such as
battlesuits, they are treated like normal armor and
can have locations sundered as detailed above. A
damaged or destroyed External Power Source is
unavailable until the next play session (with the
assumption that the hero has the means to repair
or restore it), or it can be automatically repaired if
the hero spends 1d3+1 hours of fixing it.
If you are using this optional rule, it is
recommended it only applies to items that are
technology-based or are not unique artifacts. It’s
one thing to break the hero’s experimental omni-
gun, but another entirely to say a club-wielding
goon snaps Excalibur in two.
instead. This Special Effect can be stacked, allowing the
hero to shift the location an additional time for each
success level applied.
Pin Down: The hero uses a ranged attack to force their
opponent down or to stay behind cover. The opponent
makes an Opposed Willpower roll against the hero’s
attack roll. If the opponent fails, they must hunker
down behind whatever cover is available on their next
Turn and they are unable to attack. Note that the Pin
Down effect works even if no damage is inflicted by the
attack, relying on the intimidating nature of
suppression fire. Although the pinned opponent can’t
make an attack, they can perform other Actions such as
crawling to a new position, reloading a weapon, or
shouting something to their allies.
Press Advantage: The hero keeps their foe on the
defensive or causes them to overextend themselves,
preventing the opponent from using an Attack Action
on their next Turn. Used wisely this can lead to an
unbroken sequence of attacks by the hero, but
opponents are free to take other Actions aside from
attacking.
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 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 5
A t this point only Shadowstalker and Torc have
Action Points remaining. Shadowstalker uses
his Enhanced Speed to dash next to the man who
shot at him with a Quick Move. With no Actions
remaining, the goon stands there helplessly as the
hero successfully delivers a devastating kick to him
with a Critical Success. Shadowstalker opts for
Choose Location to hit the goon in the head and
Maximize Damage thanks to his Critical, inflicting
3 damage as the goon stumbles back with a sore
jaw from the hero’s boot to his face.
Torc winds back and connects with a powerful
punch to the chest of the man who shot him,
inflicting 7 damage. He also chooses the Bash
effect to send the goon flying 4 meters across the
room into the assembly line. The goon takes 6 more
damage from the impact, enough to Incapacitate
him as he slumps down and is out for the count. At
the end of the first Combat Round, there are five
criminals still left.
Rapid Reload: When using a weapon with the Load
Trait, the hero reduces the load time of the next shot by
one Turn for each time this Special Effect is applied. If
the load time is reduced to zero, the weapon can be
reloaded as a Free Action.
Silent Takedown: The hero’s first attack against a
surprised opponent with this effect prevents the target
from crying out or alerting others for the remainder of
the Combat Round. If the attack inflicts a Serious
Wound or would Incapacitate the opponent, the target
automatically fails its Endurance check.
Stand Fast: The hero braces against the force of the
attack, avoiding any Knockback or the Bash Special
Effect from the damage inflicted.
Stun Location: The hero uses a bludgeoning weapon or
Unarmed attack to temporarily disable the location
struck. If the attack overcomes the target’s armor and
inflicts damage, the opponent must make an Opposed
Endurance check against the attack roll. If the
opponent fails, the location struck is rendered unusable
for a number of Turns equal to the damage inflicted. A
blow to the abdomen or chest staggers the target, and
they can only defend themselves until they recover. A
blow to the head renders the target incapable of Action
for the duration.
162
Trip Opponent: The hero attempts to knock the target
to the ground. The opponent must make an Opposed
Brawn, Evade, or Acrobatics (target’s choice) check
against the attacker’s original roll. If the target fails,
they are knocked prone. Targets with more than two
legs may use Athletics instead and the roll is one
Difficulty Grade easier.
Withdraw: The hero may make a Quick Move away
from their opponent without the need to roll to
disengage from them.
Critical Special Effects
Circumvent Defense: When the hero rolls a Critical
Success during an attack, they can bypass one of the
target’s defensive measures. They may choose one of
the following options:
• Circumvent Armor: The hero ignores the Armor
Points of the location struck by finding a small gap in
the armor. Alternatively, if the target is protected by
Armor Points granted from an external source, such as
the Force Field Core Power, the hero finds a brief lapse
in the protection and can ignore them for this attack.
• Circumvent Cover: The hero ignores any cover the
target is behind, finding a gap or momentary slip-up
of the target to exploit. The target does not gain
protection from the Armor Points and Hit Points of the
cover against the attack. If it would not make sense for
the cover to be compromised (the target is hunkered
down behind a foot-thick steel wall), the hero can
instead perform a trick shot to bypass it, but they must
roll the attack’s damage twice and take the lower value
to account for the reduction caused by the maneuver.
• Circumvent Evade/Parry: The hero overcomes what
seemed like a successful Evade or Parry check by the
target, scoring a hit as if the defense check was
unsuccessful.
Enhance Defense: When the hero rolls a Critical
Success while defending (Evading or Parrying), they
can further enhance their defense with one of the
following options:
• Enhance Parry: The hero can deflect the full Force
of their opponent’s attack no matter what size of
weapon the attacker is using, negating all the damage.
• Prepare Counter: The hero notices something in
their opponent’s attack patterns that they can exploit.
The hero chooses a specific Special Effect. For the
remainder of the combat the hero can negate this
effect any time the opponent uses it against them and
can instead inflict a non-Critical Special Effect of their
choice on the opponent.
 • Slip Free: The hero automatically escapes
being Entangled, Grappled, or Gripped
without needing to use an Action Point.

Force Failure: When the opponent Fumbles,

the hero can combine Force Failure with any
other Special Effect which requires an
Opposed Roll to work. This causes the
opponent to automatically fail their resistance
roll against the effect, such as being disarmed,
tripped, and so on.

Maximize Damage: On a Critical Success while

attacking, the hero delivers a powerful strike
and may treat one of the damage dice of their
weapon as if it rolled the full value. For example,
if Eclipse hit a villain with her light Blast that
normally does 2d8 damage, with this effect she would
treat one die as if it rolled an 8 and add the result of
the other d8 to it. This effect can be stacked if the
weapon normally rolls multiple dice of
damage. This effect cannot be used for the
hero’s Damage Modifier, which is rolled
normally.

Select Target: When an attacker Fumbles, the

defender maneuvers or deflects the attack to
strike someone else instead. If it is a Close
Combat Attack, it strikes a target that is
adjacent to the defender and still in reach of
the weapon. If it is a ranged attack, it strikes a
different target that is in the line of fire of the
original attacker. Since the new target does not With a mighty blow Torc sends one of the villains flying
anticipate the attack, it automatically hits but across the factory floor.
no Special Effects are scored. Alternatively, the
attacker is struck by their own attack, if it is possible, pull off these special skills. Outside of combat they
hitting a random location for normal damage. usually take as much time as a normal Combat Action
(usually a few seconds), and creative heroes can use
these techniques to overcome many different types of
OPTIONAL RULE: obstacles with their teamwork. For example, heroes could
use Coordinated Strike to punch through a brick wall blocking
TEAM MANEUVERS their way or Human Cannonball to launch an ally across a
wide chasm.
A superhero team can be one of the most powerful
forces of good in the world, and part of what makes
them so effective is their ability to work in unison. Over Learning Team Maneuvers
time and with a lot of training, team members learn to
play off each other’s strengths and compensate for each It takes a lot of hard work and practice to perfect Team
other’s weaknesses, and as a unit they are more Maneuvers, and everyone who plans to use the special
powerful than as individuals. As an optional rule, ability must dedicate themselves to learning it. How
heroes can learn special Team Maneuvers that allow much time this takes is up to the Games Master (if they
them to gain special benefits by coordinating their are concerned with keeping track of it), but on average
Actions with each other. These maneuvers require the it should take from a couple of days to a few weeks. In
expenditure of an Action Point from all heroes addition to the time spent training, every hero who
involved, and often makes use of the Delay Action and wants to use the maneuver must also spend 2
Interrupt Actions to coordinate the timing needed to Experience Rolls to have access to it.
163
 Destined
Executing Team Maneuvers
When two or more heroes want to use a Team
Maneuver in combat, they must make sure they act at
the same time to make the maneuver work correctly. If
they both share the same Initiative, all they need to do
is spend the requisite Action Points as dictated by the
maneuver. If they act at different times during the
Combat Round, the faster hero must use Delay Action
on their Turn and Interrupt on the slower hero’s Turn.
Outside of combat, the heroes are assumed to be well-
practiced enough that they can time the maneuver
easily, but a Failure or Fumble on a skill check involved
can be interpreted as one of the heroes getting the
timing wrong. In that case, the maneuver fails, and if
the result was a Fumble, it affects every hero involved in
the Team Maneuver.
Example Team Maneuvers
The following are some example Team Maneuvers,
representing common team-based Actions that are
found in comics. Note that many of the maneuvers
below require that the heroes possess specific Core
Powers (or Boosts) to accomplish, as these special moves
are formulated for superheroes. If the Games Master
allows, the heroes may substitute other powers or
abilities if it would be appropriate for the type of
maneuver being attempted. For example, the Human
Cannonball maneuver is normally accomplished with a
strength- or movement-based Core Power, but creative
heroes could use something in the environment such as
a fast-moving vehicle to accomplish the same technique.
The Games Master should encourage their players to
develop their own unique maneuvers that cater to their
special skill sets, but ultimately has the final say if a new
Team Maneuver is allowed in the campaign.
• Assisted Ricochet: The heroes learn to use a
defensive Core Power such as Deflection or Inherent
Armor to reflect a ranged attack at a target behind cover
or to launch an unexpected attack. For example, a hero
may reflect an energy Blast off an ally’s armor or shield to
angle it around a wall. If circumventing cover, the hero
with the defensive power must be in a position where
they have an unimpeded line of sight to the target. The
attacker makes an attack check as normal, and the
defensive hero must either take an Action Point to brace
for the impact or make a Parry against the attack roll at
one Difficulty Grade easier since they are expecting the
attack. If successful, the target gains no benefit from the
cover. If attempting an unexpected attack, the process
is the same but the target’s checks to Evade or Parry are
one Difficulty Grade harder.
164
• Coordinated Strike: Two or more heroes strike an
opponent simultaneously to inflict more harm, usually
as a way to overcome strong armor or one of the foe’s
resistances. All heroes involved in the attack must act on
the same Initiative, and the Games Master may limit the
number of them who can attack the target, especially
with melee attacks. Attackers who are successful must
take the Choose Location Special Effect to target the
same Hit Location. One hero is designated the
“primary attacker” and they inflict normal damage, and
each additional successful attack adds half of its rolled
damage to the value of the primary attacker.
• Give Me a Boost: By using powers or skills effectively,
the heroes create an effect similar to a Boost that they
do not normally possess. This maneuver is very
versatile, but is also subject to the Games Master’s
approval. The players must give a plausible way that
coordinating their powers would give an advantage
similar to a Boost for one of the powers used. For
example, a hero with water-based powers might create a large
puddle, allowing his ice-powered ally to freeze multiple targets,
or one with electricity powers supercharges their battlesuit-
wearing companion so he can deliver a powerful blast. If the
Games Master allows it, both heroes make the
appropriate checks to use their powers (or Athletics for
physical powers without a skill, or Willpower for mental
power), and one hero involved must spend a Luck
Point. If the checks are successful, the desired Boost can
be used for a single Action or as part of one out-of-
combat skill check or Extended Task.
• Human Cannonball: A fast-moving or exceptionally
strong hero launches another hero to either help them
cover a great distance or deliver a powerful attack
against a foe. The hero with an appropriate movement-
based Core Power (Enhanced Speed, Flight, and so
forth) takes a Move Action with the other hero in tow
and lets them go, or one with the ability to lift heavy
weights (Enhanced Strength or Telekinesis) makes an
Easy Brawn check while throwing the other hero. If this
maneuver is being used as an attack, the launched hero
is treated as if they performed a Charge Attack without
needing to move prior to the attempt. If successful, they
may use their modified Damage Bonus or that of the
launching hero, whichever is greater. If using the
optional Velocity-Based Damage rules (see page 172)
after use of a movement-based Core Power, the
launched hero applies the bonus damage gained from
the distance moved as well. If used to enhance the
movement of the launched hero, they travel a distance
equal to the launching hero’s Movement Rate in meters,
or the throwing hero’s maximum lift in kilos, divided by
the launched hero’s weight in meters. The launched
hero must make an Easy Acrobatics or Standard
Athletics check to land safely. Failing to land or missing

the attack subjects the launched hero to falling damage
equal to the distance travelled.
• Pay it Forward: One hero gives up an Action to give
an ally another chance to act in the round. The hero
sacrificing an Action must be adjacent to the one
gaining the Action, who must have no Action Points left
for the round, and must be able to communicate with
the ally in some way. The sacrificing hero spends a Luck
Point and encourages or directs their ally, and the ally
is granted an extra Action Point to use for any Action
they are normally capable of taking.
• Set-Up Strike: After successfully attacking or
defending against a foe, a hero allows an ally to take
advantage of the situation to exploit an opening created
by their Action. If the hero setting up an ally gains a
Special Effect from their successful attack or defense,
then instead of using it themselves, they may declare an
appropriate effect and grant it to an ally. The ally must
be in range or an appropriate position to use the
Special Effect granted, and must take an Action or
Reaction that would normally grant the effect. If the
action is successful, it gains the Special Effect even if one
would not normally be granted. For example, two heroes
are battling criminals in an alley. One of them is having
difficulty, so after a successful attack, his friend decides to use
his Special Effect to grant his ally the Trip Opponent effect.
When the ally manages to Parry an attack by his opponent, he
uses the granted effect to drop the thug to the ground and get a
quick respite.
• Stalwart Defender: A hero with a defensive Core
Power uses that power to protect an adjacent ally from
harm. If they are next to each other, the hero with a
defensive Core Power (Deflection, Inherent Armor, or
Resistance) or Boost can use Delay Action to prepare to
leap to the defense of their ally. By taking the Interrupt
Action, the defender grants whatever benefit the Core
Power has to their ally, or in the case of Deflection may
make a Parry to block the attack. The defending hero is
then subjected to the attack instead of their ally, taking
whatever damage is inflicted or suffering a Special
Effect if it was successful.
Movement in Combat
Heroes are always on the move in combat, rushing to
intercept a villain, flying up to blast down at their foes,
or vanishing into the ether to appear in a puff of smoke
next to the thug about to shoot an innocent civilian. As
noted above, movement is often part of anything the
hero can do once combat starts. This is usually
accomplished with the Move Action or the Quick Move
Free Action, although certain powers and skills afford
6. Combat
Enhanced Speed in
Combat
T he Enhanced Speed Core Power gives heroes a
much faster ground Movement Rate even at the
lowest levels (see page 92), and this can allow
them to race around the battlefield and escape
from difficult situations very easily. Normally the
hero’s speed is the main advantage, allowing
them to close distance with enemies with a Move
Action or even a Quick Move Action. The sniper
100 meters away has the advantage against
slower moving heroes, but a speedster can be on
them in an instant. Speedster heroes also take
advantage of the Charge Attack (see page 171),
especially the option of Charging Through
Contact so the hero can strike and be long gone
before their foe can react. Normally speedsters
gain no special advantage for their velocity prior
to striking enemies except for the normal bonuses
for Charge Attacks, but refer to the optional
Velocity Damage rules listed on page 172 if you
would like to allow fast-moving heroes to turn
themselves into living bullets. They can also utilize
Special Effects such as Withdraw to strike and
move away before enemies can retaliate. When
using the Bash Special Effect, the Games Master
should also allow them to use the values for
shields and Enhanced Strength if the speedster
moved prior to making the attack. Fast-moving
heroes should always be in motion, and can be
hard to pin down as long as they remain on the
move. To reflect this, when a hero with Enhanced
Speed runs or sprints, the Situational Modifiers
(see page 178) to target them are one grade more
difficult. This applies to both close combat and
ranged attacks while the speedster is moving. For
example, if Hare was running around the
battlefield to serve as a distraction, anyone
targeting her would be at a base difficulty of
Formidable due to her speed. Clever villains and
enterprising mooks who know the hero is fast-
moving might set up traps, or in combat utilize the
Delay and Interrupt Actions to be prepared for the
hero’s speed.
heroes other options to maneuver around the
battlefield. Heroes also must overcome obstacles and
impairments that either limit their mobility or force
them to seek out an alternate path or means of travel to
advance. This section covers specific rules on moving
while in combat and special considerations for all the
different modes of movement heroes might have at
their disposal.
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 Destined
Difficult or Impairing Terrain
Fallen debris, fissures in the pavement, and patches of
ice from a cold villain’s freeze ray are just a few
impediments that make it hard for a hero to get around
the field of battle. There are two types of adverse
terrain heroes have to worry about on the battlefield:
Difficult Terrain and Impairing Terrain.
Difficult Terrain slows down heroes when they cross
over it, with each meter of actual movement costing two
meters of the heroes’ Movement Rate. For example, if Torc
attempted to move through waist-high water, he would only
move 3 meters but spend his full 6 meters of Movement Rate.
Difficult terrain includes things such as wading through
water or mud, rocky or uneven surfaces, thick
vegetation, or steep inclines.
Impairing Terrain caps the hero’s physical skills (see
page 54) due to adverse conditions, limiting their ability
to perform other tasks while moving through the
situation. For example, Shadowstalker is battling agents of the
villain Kraken on top of a submarine in rough waters, and all
his skill checks are capped at his Athletics value as he tries to
account for the pitch of the vessel. The Games Master
chooses a skill that would be most appropriate to the
conditions of the terrain, but it is usually Athletics for
terrain relating to balance, Brawn when strength is
needed, Endurance if the terrain tests stamina, or
Evade if there are hampering obstacles to avoid. Some
example forms of Impairing Terrain (and their
connected skills) are: balancing on moving surfaces or
terrain (Athletics), fighting in heavy winds or driving
rain (Brawn), combat in a thin atmosphere
(Endurance), or battling foes while avoiding falling bits
of debris, volcanic ash, or hail (Evade).
Ground Movement in Combat
Even if they can’t soar through the air or burrow under
the street, the hero always has their own two legs to get
them around in combat. When a hero takes a Move
Action on foot, they can move up to their normal
Movement Rate on their Turn. Ground-based
movement has three additional options when a hero
chooses to move.
Running in Combat
A hero may choose to Run during a Combat Round,
moving up to a maximum of 3 times their normal
Movement Rate (for most humans, this is 18 meters for
the Combat Round). This consumes all the hero’s
Action Points for the Combat Round, and the total
166
amount moved is divided up among the hero’s available
Turns to determine how far they move on each of their
Actions. For example, if Torc ran across the battlefield, he
would move a total distance of 18 meters during the round
(Movement Rate of 6 times 3) and on each of his 3 Turns (for
3 Action Points) he would move 6 meters. Heroes may only
take the Evade or Ward Location Actions while
running, or attack with a Charge Attack during the Run
or immediately after (see below).
Other forms of movement heroes have access to
from Core Powers such as Flight or Super Swimming
may also “Run” to increase their movement, tripling
their Base Movement Rate for the ability. Refer to the
sections below on other forms of movement for any
special rules related to alternate movement forms.
Sprinting in Combat
A hero may choose to Sprint during a Combat Round,
moving up to a maximum of 5 times their normal
Movement Rate (15 meters for most humans). Like a
Run, this consumes all of the hero’s Actions for the
Combat Round and the total amount moved is divided
up among the hero’s Turns to determine how far they
moved on each Action. For example, if Torc sprinted instead
he would move a total of 30 meters, moving 10 meters on each
of his Turns. Heroes may not take any other Actions
while sprinting, although it makes them a bit harder to
target with Ranged Weapons (see below).
Just like running, aerial and aquatic heroes may also
“Sprint” while using their special forms of movement
(see page 199).
Crawling in Combat
A prone hero may crawl up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet)
per Turn of movement, but they are also more difficult
to target with ranged attacks (see below).
Aerial Movement in
Combat
Flying heroes are a common sight in superhero cities,
and all too often the skies are awash with the sounds of
battle as these aerial champions fight with evil high
above the streets. The Flight Core Power is the most
common way heroes will have access to the sky, as it
allows heroes to hover in place or soar around the
battlefield high above the action. Normally heroes don’t
need to make skill checks to remain aloft, but the Games

Master may require Athletics or Acrobatics checks if
there are adverse conditions or obstacles that could
pose a danger. Some flying vehicles such as helicopters,
rocket packs, or advanced anti-gravity craft can hover
just like heroes, but most aerial conveyances and many
flying creatures need to constantly be in motion to
remain in the air, and if they stop they fall.
As mentioned above, flying heroes may choose to
“Run” or “Sprint” to increase their base movement
while in the air and are subject to the same restrictions
on available Actions as their ground-based allies. Skill
checks to avoid obstacles or difficult environments are
one Difficulty Grade harder if the hero is flying at
“running” speed, or two grades harder while at
“sprinting” speed.
Attacking Ground-
Based Targets
Heroes in the air often have a distinct advantage when
dealing with ground-based foes. If the hero has access
to ranged attacks, they can easily hover in place and
rain fire down on their enemies, but if they have ranged
weaponry or powers they can just as easily return fire.
When calculating range for and against aerial heroes,
determine the range from the target and the altitude of
the flying hero and use the higher value to determine
the range of the attack. For example, if Eclipse is 40 meters
away from a villain and 50 meters up in the air, she would use
50 meters when determining her range with her laser blasts.
While this method is not completely accurate to real-
world conditions, it is easier to calculate and helps to
speed up play.
For flying heroes without ranged attacks, the most
common strategy outside of landing is to swoop down
and deliver an attack before rising back up into the sky.
This is treated as Charging Through Contact (see
Charge Attacks on page 171), allowing flying heroes to
strike and return to the sky. Ground-based opponents
may have difficulty with airborne heroes who use this
tactic, and without access to ranged attacks, opponents
either need to take cover or use the Delay and Interrupt
Actions to try to catch the diving hero off guard.
Aerial Combat Aloft
If a hero and their foe both have the ability to fly,
combat proceeds like a ground-based conflict if both
sides hover and trade blows. If both parties wish to
maintain their flying speed, combat turns into a
situation similar to a dogfight where the hero and their
foe jockey for position to make an attack. At the start of
6. Combat
Underwater and Space
Movement
H eroes gifted with the ability to swim quickly
underwater move as if they are flying through
the currents, and when out in space the laws of
physics seem to fly out the window as heroes twist
and turn through the vacuum. For simplicity’s
sake, heroes with the Super Swimming Core
Power or those capable of flying in space outside
of a vehicle use the rules for Aerial Movement to
simulate their combat movement in those
environments.
each round, the hero and their foe make Opposed
Athletics checks and the winner is the only one who can
make an attack that round. If facing multiple aerial foes,
the individual must make a group Opposed Roll against
their enemies and all who succeed can attack. Aerial
melee combat is handled in the same manner as Charge
Attacks, where the target can attempt to Counterattack,
Evade, or Parry. With ranged attacks, the Effective
Range is based on 10 times the difference in speed
between the parties involved with a minimum of 10
meters. For example, Eclipse (flight Movement Rate 15) is
engaged in an aerial battle with Baron Malycer (flight
Movement Rate 19), and if she shot at him with her Blast the
range would be 40 meters. If the faster-moving combatant
wins the Opposed Roll and can attack, they can choose
any distance up to 10 times the difference between their
relative speeds. Using the above example, when the Baron
was able to attack he could choose a range anywhere from 40
meters away down to a point-blank shot on the poor hero.
While combat can be dangerous enough on its own,
aerial battles carry the added risk of being incapacitated
and falling, so heroes should be careful when battling
foes in the sky.
Note that this same mechanic can be used for any
battle between fast-moving combatants with the same
Core Power such as two speedsters with Enhanced
Speed or two aquatic combatants with Super
Swimming.
Aerial Evasive Maneuvers
Heroes have all the same defensive options available to
them in the air as they would on the ground. When
using the Evade skill, instead of falling prone after the
attempt a flying hero is instead rendered “off-balance.”
Any skill checks while in this state are one Difficulty
Grade harder, and the hero can spend an Action Point
at the next available opportunity to right themselves
167
 Destined
Sonic Boom!
H eroes with the Supersonic Boost for Flight (see
page 96) can reach tremendous speeds, and if
they are able to reach at least Mach 1 (767 MPH),
they will generate a sonic boom as they travel. For
the hero this is generally not an issue as their
powers protect them from the negative effects of
travel at such high speeds, but anyone or anything
around them at that moment may not be so lucky.
Reaching that speed causes a shock wave behind
the hero in a cone shape and the change in
pressure can be damaging to people and objects
in the immediate area. This is treated as a Peril
(see page 201) with an Intensity equal to one-third
of the hero's SIZ, inflicting Immediate damage on
anyone within a number of meters equal to twice
the Intensity of the Peril. It also can cause the
Deafness condition to anyone within this range
unless they succeed at an Endurance check against
the Potency of the Peril. Heroes with powers like
Enhanced Speed can also generate similar sonic
booms if they are able to reach such speeds and
should use the same rules.
and remove this condition. Just like Evade, if the hero
uses the Acrobatics skill to dodge instead, they do not
become off-balance after the attempt.
Other Forms of
Movement in Combat
While ground and aerial movement are the most
common forms of travel heroes use, they are by far not
the only options available to them. Here are some
specific rules on other forms of movement available to
heroes in Destined.
Climbing in Combat
Heroes clinging to the wall can attack foes from
unexpected angles, but they suffer some limitations to
their combat abilities due to their precarious position. A
climbing hero has all their combat skills capped by the
value of their Athletics skill, and humanoid heroes are
limited to fighting with a single limb as the other three
must remain connected to the surface being climbed.
Heroes with the Adhesion Core Power can fight with
two limbs, but they are still subject to the above skill cap.
168
Leaping in Combat
Leaping and bounding around the battlefield can be an
extremely useful ability, both to avoid hampering
terrain and to deliver powerful attacks from above. In
addition to having access to the Leaping Attack option
(see page 174), heroes who jump down on opponents
may use their momentum and gravity to inflict extra
harm on their foes. In this case the hero’s combat skills
are capped by their Athletics rating, but if they connect
after leaping at a foe from above, their Damage
Modifier is increased by one step (see page 17). If the
hero fails to hit with a jumping attack, they are subject
to falling damage from the height they jumped from.
Swinging in Combat
Heroes swinging on a line, whether a tether from the
Ensnare Core Power or an old-fashioned rope and
grappling hook, can cover a lot of distance with a Move
Action based on the length of the line they are using.
They can also swing over gaps between buildings, use a
convenient chandelier to soar over a burning room, or
swing over the heads of dangerous enemies just out of
their reach. Swinging heroes can also use the Leaping
Attack option listed below, or can use the momentum
of their swing to slam into foes with greater Force. After
swinging as a Move, the hero’s next attack against a foe
is capped at their Athletics rating, but if it connects the
hero’s Damage Bonus is increased by one step.
Teleportation in Combat
Teleporting in combat (most often from using the
Teleport Core Power; see page 119) allows a hero to
circumvent many obstacles and circumstances that
would hinder other heroes. Heroes with this ability can
move past difficult terrain, escape from grapples with
ease, or disappear from foes they are engaged with (or
appear suddenly next to an enemy). A teleporting hero
can use a Move Action to teleport away from any effect
that binds or traps them, such as the Grip Special Effect
or the grappling unarmed maneuver (see page 177).
With a Move Action the hero can also immediately
disengage from a foe they are in close combat with, or
appear behind a foe. In the latter case the hero can
attempt a Hard Stealth check as a Free Action Opposed
by the Perception of the foe. If the enemy is aware the
hero has the Teleport Core Power, their check is one
grade easier. If the hero is successful, their next attack
against that foe has Surprise (see page 176). If the hero
has some Limit on the power that makes teleportation
obvious (such as bright flashes of light), they cannot
attempt this Surprise maneuver.

Mounted or
Vehicular Combat
While astride a mount or riding in or on a vehicle,
heroes can still deliver most normal attacks, but there
are some special rules governing combat under those
circumstances. A hero must be able to have access from
the mount or vehicle to freely use their attacks, so a hero
inside a jet fighter can’t swing their sword, but one on a
motorcycle can. When attacking from a mount or
vehicle, the hero’s combat skills are capped by the
appropriate vehicle operation skill (Boating, Drive, or
Pilot) or by the Ride skill for mounts. If someone else is
operating the mount or vehicle, the hero’s combat skills
are capped by the skill level of the operator instead.
There are still several benefits to attacking while
mounted or on a vehicle that offset these limits:
• If the mount or vehicle gives the hero an elevated
attack position, they roll 1d10+10 for Hit Location with
melee or unarmed attacks against targets at a lower
position.
• As long as the mount or vehicle has a higher rate of
movement than the target and the hero is not attacking
with their conveyance, they can freely Withdraw from
engagement with a foe without needing to roll.
• The hero may substitute their own Combat Style,
vehicle operation, or Ride skill to defend their vehicle or
mount against attacks if they spend an Action Point.
• A hero may combine their SIZ with their mount for
the purposes of avoiding Knockback or the Bash Special
Effect, provided they pass an unopposed Ride roll. As
long as the hero is either inside or astride a vehicle, this
rule applies to them as well. If the hero is atop a vehicle
and is not strapped in or connected via a tether, they
gain no bonus against Knockback or the Bash effect.
• When the hero performs a Charge Attack with a
braced melee weapon while mounted or using a vehicle,
the hero may have their effective Damage Bonus
increased. While mounted, the hero may substitute the
mount’s Damage Bonus for their own if it is higher. With
a vehicle, the hero’s Damage Bonus increases by one
step for every level of Speed Rating the vehicle is
moving at above Mediocre. For example, Torc is jousting the
villain Char with a lamppost while riding a motorcycle. While
traveling at Rapid speed, his effective Damage Bonus is three
steps higher. Weapons braced for this type of attack cannot
be used to Parry, and the force of the impact inflicts the
new Damage Bonus to the weapon used.
6. Combat
• On vehicles, if the hero can brace a Ranged Weapon
on a flat surface, their Combat Style while using the
braced weapon is not subject to the cap above.
Vehicular Combat
When the hero is in their supercar, bullets bouncing off
the reinforced hull, they’re ready to use their souped-
up vehicle to take the fight to evil. When using vehicles
in combat, Destined tries to keep the rules simple to
ensure the action keeps going. It’s a good idea to
familiarize yourself with the vehicle rules found in
Chapter 4, especially the sections on movement and
crashes. When two or more vehicles are engaged in a
pursuit or chase, the rules presented on page 183 offer
a simple system to resolve any conflicts that may arise.
These rules can be used for any situation where
vehicles are traveling in the same direction at the same
relative speed, even if there is no pursuit. In the case of
something like an aerial dogfight where two vehicles
jockey for position to get the upper hand, the Aerial
Combat Aloft rules above work well for resolving such
battles, using the appropriate vehicle skills. There are
a few specific rules just for vehicular combat to keep
in mind.
The Role of Passengers
When the heroes are all in the same vehicle, one
usually takes on the role of the operator. This may lead
the other heroes to take on other necessary roles, such
as someone operating weapons Systems or a hero
acting as co-pilot to aid the operator’s skill checks.
Depending on the vehicle, some heroes may be able to
launch attacks with personal weapons or powers from
within or atop the vehicle as it is moving. A hero could
also be in charge of sensors, communications, or
targeting Systems to aid operations of the craft. A
mechanically-minded hero could be ready to fix
damage or tweak Systems to get more performance out
of them. Vehicular combat can be tense and exciting, so
it is important to include everyone at the table and give
them some role within the conflict.
Locking On Targets
Advanced vehicles, especially military craft, have
targeting Systems and countermeasures to avoid being
targeted by another craft. Chapter 4 has the option to
add such Systems to vehicles, and they can play an
important role in combat. To that end, vehicular
combat adds two new Actions that heroes can use:
169
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 6
A s a new Combat Round begins, the heroes take
stock of the situation and plan their tactics
against the remaining thugs. Shadowstalker decides
to slip through the shadows and vanish from in front
of the man he just kicked, reappearing behind the
goon to get the drop on him. He manages to
succeed on his Stealth check and the goon outright
fails his Perception check, so he has no idea
Shadowstalker is now right behind him. Eclipse
decides to fly up higher into the rafters over the
factory floor to put some distance (and range)
between her and the gun-wielding goons, and
glides behind one of the steel beams to get some
cover. The man whom Shadowstalker kicked delays
his Action, hoping to get a shot off if he finds the
hero, shouting taunts and curses as he eases
forward. The two blinded goons are still stumbling
around with one ducking down behind some crates
and the other working his way towards his shouting
ally, but after this round their eyes will finally
readjust and they will be back in the fight. Two of
the men decide to take pot shots at Eclipse, using
her higher altitude as their Effective Range. Between
that and her cover, both their shots miss her. Torc
continues his battle song as he moves over to the
men shooting at his friend, cracking his knuckles as
he walks. Across the factory, a massive figure has
been running across the floor as fast as it can. As of
yet the heroes are unaware of this new threat as it
charges towards them.
• Lock-On: The hero spends an Action Point and
attempts to use the vehicle’s targeting systems to get a
lock on a specific target. The hero makes a System Ops
roll. If the vehicle is in an open, unobstructed area, this
check is at a Standard difficulty. If there are many
obstacles or adverse environmental conditions, the
check is a Hard difficulty or higher, as determined by
the Games Master. If successful, the Systems have locked
on to the target and attack rolls against the target with
vehicular weapons are one grade easier as long as the
lock-on is maintained. Normally the lock-on remains in
effect until the target is obscured by a solid obstacle, goes
past the Long-Range value of the vehicle’s weapons, or
uses the Break Lock-On Action below.
• Break Lock-On: The hero spends an Action Point to
break the lock-on of another vehicle targeting the craft.
The hero makes an Opposed System Ops roll against
the result of the other craft’s initial check to establish the
lock-on. If this check is successful, the other vehicle is no
170
longer locked on to the hero’s craft. Alternatively, if the
hero spends an Action Point as a Reaction when
another vehicle is attempting to lock on, both sides
make an Opposed System Ops. If the hero is successful,
the lock-on is not established.
Ramming Speed
Vehicles can be used as weapons themselves, crashing
into each other to inflict damage. To ram another
vehicle, the attacker must succeed at an Opposed
vehicle operation skill check against the target, or
against the Evade skill of a person or creature being
targeted. If successful, the vehicle inflicts 1d6 damage
per Size level plus an additional 1d6 for every level of
Speed Rating it is traveling faster than the target. For
example, if a Large truck traveling at Gentle speed crashed
into a car moving at Slow speed, it would inflict a base 3d6
damage for its Size and an additional 2d6 damage for
traveling two Speed Rating levels faster. The vehicle
performing the crash takes the same amount of
damage it inflicts, or half that damage if outfitted with
a ram. Armor does apply to damage inflicted by a
crash. Any vehicles involved in a ramming attack,
including the one initiating it, must make vehicle
operation rolls or immediately roll on the Loss of
Control Table on page 145. If the ramming vehicle hit
from behind or sideswiped the target, this check is at
Hard difficulty. If it was a head-on collision, the
difficulty is Herculean.
Evasive Maneuvers
Just like heroes, vehicles can dodge incoming attacks to
avoid damage. This is performed as a Reactive Action
and costs an Action Point, and the operator uses the
appropriate vehicle operation skill to perform the
evasive maneuver. If this check results in a Fumble, the
vehicle must also roll on the Loss of Control Table.
Close Combat
When the hero gets up close and personal with the
villain, fists fly, swords flash, and anything in reach can
become a weapon. The following are clarifications of
previously mentioned rules and special close combat
options that can help make combat more varied and
interesting. Note that while some of the following
(Charging, Leaping Attacks, Sweep Attacks) apply
primarily to close combat, many of the rules below can
be applied to all combat situations.
Situational Modifiers
Situational Modifiers are applied under certain
conditions that might affect a combatant’s fighting
ability, for good or ill. The Games Master
determines the modifier applied to a combatant’s
skill rolls, and when two or more modifiers would
apply, uses the most severe.

Charge Attacks
A hero can move full bore at their foe, slamming
into them with the added Force of their Charge to
deliver a powerful strike. A Charge Attack can be
used after a hero has spent an entire Combat
Round moving towards a foe, and if successful the
hero can either remain engaged with the target or
keep moving past them, if they have movement
remaining. The following rules apply to all
Charge Attacks:

• The attacker requires at least one full Combat

Round of movement at running or sprinting
speed prior to contact with the target. Charge
Attacks can also be used with different forms of
movement capable of “running” and “sprinting”
such as flying or swimming.

• On the attacker’s first Turn on the following

Combat Round they may attempt the Charge
Attack. The roll for this attack is one Difficulty
Grade harder.

• The attacker’s Damage Modifier is increased by
one step for this attack (or two steps if the attacker
has four or more legs). In addition, the Size of the
attacking weapon is increased by one step.
The target of a Charge Attack has three options by
spending an Action Point: attempt to Parry, Evade, or
try to Counterattack the Charging hero. Attempts to
Parry can be risky due to the increased effective Size of
Baron Malycer’s favorite enforcer, Char, bursts into the
factory to back up the goons. The stakes have just gotten
a lot higher for Shadowstalker and friends.
the attacker’s weapon, which may be able to penetrate
some or all of the target’s defenses. The target may also
be subjected to Knockback from the attack, even if they
are able to deflect some or all of the blow, which may
leave them in a vulnerable position. Evading has the

Close Combat Situational Modifiers

Situation Difficulty Grade
Attacking a defenseless target Automatic
Defending while on lower ground Hard
Fighting in a confined space Hard
Fighting with an unfamiliar weapon Hard
Fighting in poor visibility (thick smoke, heavy rain) Hard
Fighting when prone Formidable
Fighting in partial darkness or shadow Formidable
Defending against an attack from behind Formidable
Fighting in pitch blackness or when blinded Herculean

171
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 7
W ith a bellow of rage the running figure reveals
itself to be Char, the molten steel mob enforcer
who is aiding the goons in the looting of the factory.
Having spent the first round moving across the
factory floor, on his first Turn of the second round
Char opts to make a Charge Attack against Torc.
He covers the remaining distance to the hero and
attacks, succeeding despite the penalty to his roll.
Torc tries to Parry the hit, and while normally both
the superstrong combatants’ unarmed strikes would
be considered Large Size, Char’s momentum from
the charge raises his attack up to Huge Size. Torc is
able to Parry, but he still takes half damage from the
attack. Char’s molten fists normally inflict 1d4+3
base damage from his Expertise in unarmed
combat and his heat aura, plus his Damage Bonus
of 1d8. The Charge raises his Damage Bonus up to
1d10, and he rolls near maximum damage,
inflicting 16 points of damage to Torc’s abdomen.
Even halved, Torc still takes 2 points of damage and
grunts as a superheated fist punches him in the
stomach. Even through the pain he smiles, happy to
finally have an opponent worthy of his might.
advantage of throwing the target clear of the Charge if
successful, but it also leaves the target prone under
normal circumstances.
Attempting to Counterattack sacrifices the target’s
ability to defend, but they may be able to injure the
Charging hero as part of the exchange. Both sides are
treated as if they were unable to defend, although they
can still benefit from a shield or Core Power with the
Passive Blocking Trait. Both attack each other
simultaneously unless one side has a weapon with the
Reach Trait, in which case that side gets to resolve its
attack first. If the target has a Reach weapon and is able
to brace it before the Charge Attack, they may substitute
the attacker’s Damage Bonus for their own if it is
greater.
Charging into Contact
Sometimes heroes use a Charge Attack to cover enough
ground to crash into their opponent and then continue
the melee face-to-face. After the hero makes the Charge
Attack, whether it was successful or not, they remain
engaged. All additional benefits of the Charge Attack are
lost after the initial attack and combat proceeds
as normal.
172
Charging Through Contact
Sometimes a hero uses their momentum to clash with
their foe and keep moving past. This form of Charge
Attack is usually limited to mounted heroes, those
astride vehicles from which they can deliver a melee
attack (such as a motorcycle), or very large creatures or
heroes (at least twice the SIZ of the target). Heroes
capable of extremely fast movement, such as those
capable of flying or possessing the Enhanced Speed
Core Power, can also Charge past their target. Charging
Through Contact only allows for a single exchange
between the hero and the target, and the hero may
keep moving on after the exchange up to their normal
Movement Rate for a standard Move Action. For
example, if Shadowstalker was performing a Charge Attack
and he can move 48 meters per Turn with his Enhanced
Speed, if it took him 12 meters to reach his target on the Turn
he delivered the Charge Attack, he could continue on up to 36
meters past his target once the exchange is resolved. If the
target is able to deliver a Counterattack or use a Special
Effect that prevents the hero from moving, they stop at
the target and are considered engaged with them.
Optional: Velocity Damage
Heroes with the Enhanced Speed or Flight powers are
capable of moving extremely fast, but normally their
velocity doesn’t make them inflict any additional
damage when they charge. This is consistent with most
comics where speedsters can charge halfway across the
city to deliver a punch and not turn their foe into a fine
crimson mist. If you want to factor the velocity of these
fast heroes into their attacks, you can add the following
optional rule to your game.
With this optional rule, when a hero initiates a
Charge Attack, they inflict extra damage based on the
total amount they moved before making the attack.
Add together the Movement Rate the hero traveled for
all of their Turns prior to resolving the Charge, and if
the attack is successful, refer to the table below to see
how much extra damage the hero inflicts in addition to
their normal damage for the attack. For example,
Shadowstalker is having a hard time getting past Char’s steely
Velocity Damage
Total Distance Moved Extra Damage
Less than 30 meters No extra damage
31-50 meters +1d6
51-100 meters +2d6
101-150 meters +3d6
151-250 meters +4d6
Every additional 100 meters Continue progression
skin, so he decides to use his Enhanced Speed to Charge the
villain. He spends three Turns running towards his foe, and
with his power he moves 48 meters per Move Action. Having
moved 144 meters, if he connects with his Charge Attack he
will inflict an additional +3d6 damage.

A hero is limited to the maximum amount they can

move during the course of one Combat Round, their
effective “terminal velocity,” and additional Turns spent
taking the Move Action do not add to the distance
moved when determining extra damage. If this is used
outside of combat, such as a hero using their velocity to
break through an obstacle blocking their way, calculate
the extra damage based on any value up to the hero’s
maximum amount moved during a Combat Round as
normal. For example, if Shadowstalker wanted to get a
running start to break through a door, he would still be limited
to a maximum of 144 meters for his effective speed to determine
his extra damage against the door.

Unfortunately for the hero, using their own body as

a missile can harm them as well as the target. The hero
takes whatever extra damage was inflicted, affecting the
body part used to deliver the attack. So if Shadowstalker
punched Char using his velocity, his arm would take 3d6
damage. If he slammed his shoulder into the brutish villain
instead, he would take the damage to his chest. If the hero
used a weapon as part of the Charge, the damage is
inflicted to the weapon, and if it is destroyed, any excess
damage is inflicted to the hero as above. If the hero is
wielding something that is immune to damage, the limb
used to wield the weapon takes the full amount. If the
hero is wearing armor, it only provides half its normal Shadowstalker takes cover behind a handy industrial
protection against this damage. Powers like Inherent robot to consider his next move while the villains
Armor provide their full Armor Point value. If the open up on him with their weaponry.
Games Master allows it, heroes can take the Resistance
Core Power against damage they would suffer from depends on the Armor Rating and Hit Points of the
making a Charge Attack using velocity. material it is made of (see Inanimate Objects on page
192) and how much of the hero it actually covers,
Keep in mind this rule makes fast-moving heroes expressed in Hit Locations protected by the object.
extremely dangerous, especially if they have armor or Passive Blocking (see page 132) functions in a similar
the Resistance Core Power to reduce the damage they manner to cover, allowing heroes to use shields and
suffer when using their velocity. It is recommended that other improvised objects to block specific locations.
if you allow heroes to take Resistance to their own
velocity attacks, you do not allow them to use the When an attack hits one of the hero’s Hit Locations
Immunity Boost for this type of damage. Otherwise you that the cover blocks, the attack must break through
may have heroes rushing around the battlefield like the cover before any remaining damage affects the
living bullets, blowing apart anything and anyone in hero. For example, if Shadowstalker was hiding behind a low
their path. concrete wall that covered his legs and abdomen, if an attack
struck one of those areas it would have to get past the Armor
Points and Hit Points of the cover before he was at risk. The
Cover Choose Location Special Effect can negate partial cover
by striking an area the obstruction does not protect.
Cover helps protect a hero by physically blocking the Crouching down behind limited cover or a shield
attack or obscuring the hero’s true location so they can’t doubles the amount of locations it is able to protect.
be targeted. The amount that cover protects a target
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 Destined
Collateral Damage
S uperheroic battles often leave a lot of damage
in their wake. Cars are smashed, streets are
pitted and cracked, and walls of surrounding
buildings lie in ruins on the street. In some comics
there are dedicated public works offices that exist
to clean up after superhuman brawls. While some
damage is obvious, such as a fire hydrant being
used as an impromptu hurled weapon, it might
bog down combat to track every missed energy
blast or punch to determine what objects in the
environment might be in their path. It can be easy
to trace the direction of missed attacks to
determine if something (or someone) might be in
the path, especially if you are using a map and
miniatures, but tracking every missed attack can
add a lot of bookkeeping to the game and take
away the fun of big, action-packed comic book
fights. Players may become overly cautious about
their tactics so they don’t risk inflicting collateral
damage, especially if there are legal or financial
consequences for the damage they cause. To keep
it comic book in feel, it is recommended that
heroes only worry about collateral damage if they
roll a Fumble on their attack check. Villains, on the
other hand, don’t usually have such concerns, and
they often use collateral damage to attack or
distract heroes.
In situations where the cover totally obscures the
target, the attacker can attempt to strike through the
cover in hopes of hitting their target. The attack roll is
one Difficulty Grade harder and the Choose Location
effect cannot be taken if the attack hits. This assumes the
cover is not so large that the attacker would have a
difficult time predicting where the target might be. For
example, if Shadowstalker was hiding behind a small bush,
someone attacking him would not have too much difficulty
guessing where he was, but if he was behind a long row of
hedges it would be far trickier.
Knockback
Heroes are capable of powerful attacks that can send
their opponents stumbling back, and unfortunately
heroes are often on the receiving end of such attacks.
Whenever a target is subjected to an attack that inflicts
damage more than their SIZ before Armor Points or the
Resistance Core Power are applied, the target is knocked
directly back from the attacker one meter for every five
points of damage above their SIZ. If the target is
knocked into an object or another person, the target
174
(and the other person) must make an Easy Acrobatics
or Standard Athletics roll or fall prone. If the target is
knocked back into a dangerous Peril or off a precipice,
the Games Master may allow them an Athletics roll as a
Free Action to catch themselves before they reach the
danger. Heroes can only Knockback opponents who
are no greater than twice the heroes SIZ, and attempts
to affect larger targets automatically fail to inflict
Knockback.
Note that Knockback is the result of a very powerful
strike, while the Bash Special Effect is a deliberate
attempt to drive an opponent back.
Optional: Cinematic Knockback
The default rule for Knockback tries to keep things
fairly realistic, where only extremely powerful attacks
send an opponent reeling. In comics this is often not
the case, with heroes and villains alike being tossed
around the battlefield like rag dolls. If you would like
to simulate more cinematic fights, use the following
optional rule in place of the base Knockback rules:
whenever someone is hit with an attack, the target is
knocked back one meter for every five points of
damage inflicted before Armor Points are applied. All
other rules for Knockback above apply normally.
Leaping Attacks
Some animals, monsters, and even certain heroes have
the ability to leap on top of their foes, pinning them
down and putting them at a disadvantage. Often the
result of a Surprise attack or done as part of a Charge,
some creatures and heroes with certain powers can
jump on top of foes without the need to run up or have
a height advantage. A Leaping Attack is resolved with
an Opposed Roll of the leaper’s Athletics skill against
the defender’s Brawn or Evade skill. Quadrupeds or an
attacker whose SIZ is twice or more the defender’s
make the Athletics check at one Difficulty Grade easier.
If the attack succeeds, the defender is knocked prone
with the leaper astride them. No damage is inflicted,
but the defender is unable to get up until the attacker
gets off of them or the defender gets a Special Effect
such as Arise, permitting them to get up. If the
defender wins, they are able to dodge out of the way or
knock the leaper aside. Just like a normal combat
check, a combatant that achieves one or more Levels of
Success in the Opposed Roll can select suitable Special
Effects. Leap attacks only work against targets no larger
than twice the attacker’s SIZ, and attempts against
larger opponents fail to knock them down but may
leave the attacker clinging to them instead.
The heroes face off against Char. Shadowstalker and Torc risk the villain’s flaming touch as they move
into melee range, while Eclipse lets loose a potent beam of energy at the thug.
Multiple Opponents
When a hero finds themselves up against multiple foes,
the tide of battle can quickly turn against them as
enemies whittle down their Action Points. This leaves
the hero unable to defend themselves and vulnerable to
increasing damage and Special Effects that further
inhibit their combat ability. The best tactics to use when
outnumbered are:
• Use the battlefield against opponents so only a few can
engage with the hero, such as using a doorway or
narrow alley as a choke point.
• Have heroes fight in formation or back to back,
limiting the number of foes that can attack each
individual hero.
• Outmaneuver around the enemies so they interfere
with each other, preventing them from attacking.
• Use ambushes and stealth to pick off foes before they
can overwhelm the hero.
• Retreat to either find a better position or Withdraw
from the combat completely. A hero can only live to
fight another day if they survive the fight in the
first place.
Outmaneuvering
Heroes often find themselves in situations where they
are outnumbered by their foes, and as mentioned
above this can be a very dangerous situation. As long as
they are not in a confined area, a hero facing multiple
foes can use movement and tactics to limit the number
of potential attackers by constantly shifting position,
forcing foes to stumble into each other and/or obstacles
in the environment instead of attacking the hero. Note
that the hero can only use this technique if multiple
opponents are actively targeting them in combat, and it
may not be used against a solitary enemy. For example, if
Shadowstalker were facing a group of thugs in a warehouse
alone he could outmaneuver them, but not if he and Obake
were dueling one-on-one.
175
 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 8
S hadowstalker emerges from his hiding place and
catches the man he previously struck off guard,
just as one of the blinded goons stumbles up to
them. Gaining Surprise, he scores a Success on his
attack roll. He gets two Special Effects since the
goon was also surprised, so he uses Choose
Location to target the man’s head again and Flurry
to perform a follow-up attack. He inflicts another 6
damage to the man’s head with his quarterstaff,
enough to cause a Serious Wound. The goon fails
his Endurance check and with a spray of spittle
mixed with blood he collapses to the ground.
Shadowstalker spends his last Action Point for the
Flurry and connects with a roundhouse kick to the
blinded goon, who does not defend. He connects
with the man’s right arm and chooses the Disarm
effect, inflicting 2 damage while also knocking the
gun from his hand. Eclipse uses her Phantasm Core
Power to create several holograms of herself, each
one flying off in a different direction. The Games
Master calls for an Opposed Deceit check against
the thugs’ Insight, and Eclipse manages to win
against the two targeting her. Both men fire
ineffectively at the illusions, allowing her a brief
respite. The other blinded goon takes no Action this
Turn except to hunker down behind some crates
until he can see again. Torc uses his Super Leap
Boost from his Enhanced Strength to jump into the
air and come down on Char as part of a Leaping
Attack. Unfortunately Torc Fumbles his Athletics roll,
landing prone at the villain’s feet. Char raises up a
heavy boot and tries to bring it down on Torc, but
the hero uses his last Action Point to Evade out of the
way. He makes the roll despite being prone, but still
is on the ground with the enraged Char standing
right above him.
Outmaneuvering requires that the hero engage their
opponents in a group Opposed Roll of the Evade skill.
Every participant, both the hero and their opponents,
must spend an Action Point and roll against their skill.
Anyone who fails to spend an Action Point is considered
to have automatically lost the contest. Any opponents
who fail to beat the hero in the Opposed Roll cannot
attack them for the remainder of the Combat Round.
Opponents who succeed at the Opposed Roll can attack
the hero, and if the hero fails their roll opponents can
attack them as normal.
If the Outmaneuvering hero beats all their
opponents, they can choose to safely attack a single foe
176
for the rest of the round or can Withdraw from the
fight completely. While opponents cannot target the
hero directly, they are still free to perform other
Actions or attack other heroes who did not
outmaneuver them.
Pulling Punches
When dealing with heroes who can bench press cars
and hurl particle beams, combat can be a dangerous
affair. Sometimes a hero wants to take down a target
without risking them being maimed or killed by
lessening the impact of their attack. A hero may choose
to “pull their punch” before making an attack check. If
the attack is successful, it inflicts half its normal damage
before Armor Points are applied.
Surprise
Dark-garbed vigilantes are fond of using stealth and
guile to get the drop on their foes, often to devastating
effect. Surprise occurs when one side of a combat is
unaware of the other side’s presence or intentions. This
could occur as part of an ambush or when a seemingly
benevolent or unassuming person launches an
unexpected attack. The effects of Surprise on a target
are as follows:
• The target suffers a -10 penalty to Initiative.
• Until their Initiative arrives, the target is not
permitted to take defensive Actions.
• The first successful attack on the target gains a bonus
Special Effect.
• For the rest of the Combat Round, the target cannot
perform offensive Actions. For example, if Shadowstalker
managed to sneak up on an unsuspecting agent of Animus, if
he succeeded on his attack roll he would get two Special
Effects, one from the target being unable to defend and the
other from the Surprise attack. He decides to use Choose
Location and Silent Takedown, cupping his hand over the
agent’s mouth while putting him in a sleeper hold around
the neck.
Because Surprise attacks are so dangerous, targets
should get an opportunity to detect them before it is
too late. For example, the target should be allowed to
roll Perception to detect a hero using Stealth or Insight
to see through the attacker’s Deceit skill. The Games
Master may impose bonuses or penalties based on the
alertness of the target, the approach of the attacker, or
the target being forewarned.

Sweep Attacks
As the rampaging monster stomps through the streets
or the villain with the Growth Core Power swats with
their huge hand, their massive attacks may target
several heroes at once. Sweep attacks occur when a
weapon or creature of unusual size could effectively
strike a closely clumped group of opponents, perhaps
from a swung telephone pole wielded by a super-strong
villain or the massive fist of a building-sized robot. A
single attack roll of a sweep attack is applied to all
targets in its path, and each defender must resolve the
effects of the attack separately. Any Special Effects that
result from the attack or as part of the defense are
treated as having occurred concurrently.
Unarmed Combat
Unarmed combat is the default Combat Style for all
heroes, and in comics fists, feet, and grapples are part
of most fights. For animals and some monsters,
unarmed attacks are their only combat options, and
many are equipped with natural armaments that
enhance their deadliness. Unarmed combat may not
seem as effective as weaponry or potent powers, but it
still provides several advantages.
• Unarmed combat can be used interchangeably with
other weapon styles, provided the target is in reach of
the hero’s unarmed strikes. For example, The Mortician
uses the Flurry Special Effect after striking a mobster with his
fighting cane, following it up with a quick kick to the shin.
• Unarmed combat is versatile in that a hero can either
strike to cause harm or grapple a foe to limit their
movement or impair their ability to act effectively. Some
Special Effects such as Flurry, Grip, and taking a
weapon as part of a Disarm are specifically designed for
use during unarmed combat.
• Unarmed combat can be used to Parry just like any
other Close Combat Attack, even against weapons.
Damage is reduced as normal based on the Size of the
weapon being Parried. Even if no damage was stopped,
the defending hero may gain valuable Special Effects to
hamper the opponent. Parrying while unarmed is often
a combination of techniques such as deflecting the flats
of blades, stepping close to foes to hamper their ability
to strike with a long weapon, or fancy footwork to keep
out of reach.
• Most importantly, unarmed combat is a form of attack
that is always available. Even if stripped of all their
weapons and powers, a hero can always use their body
as a weapon.
6. Combat
Striking
Striking consists of using a body part to inflict direct
damage to a foe, such as punching, kicking, elbow
strikes, headbutts, or knees to vital areas. Normal
human unarmed attacks have a Size of Small and inflict
1d3 base damage. The unarmed Specializations of
Combat Expert and Enhanced Strength increase these
values. Animals and other creatures may have increased
Size and damage for their attacks naturally, and some
examples of these are found on page 320.
Grappling
Grappling consists of latching onto some part of the
target’s body and attempting to maintain the hold to
impair the foe in some way. Often this is done using the
hands or arms, but heroes may also use their legs to
wrap around enemies to grapple them. Grappling
attacks are Opposed Rolls of the hero’s Unarmed skill
against the combat skill used by the target. If the hero
wins, they establish the grapple, but if the target wins
they manage to slip away before the hero can get ahold
of them. As with other Combat Rolls, if one side gets
one or more Levels of Success they gain Special Effects
to use against their opponent. For example, if The
Mortician managed to grab a guard and got one Level of
Success, he could use the Trip Opponent effect to flip the man
to the ground as part of the hold.
The effects of the grapple depend on the locations
struck. A grappled limb is rendered inoperable as long
as the hold is maintained, while holding onto the head,
torso, or abdomen makes all of the target’s skill checks
one Difficulty Grade higher. If the grappler is able to
maintain the hold, on subsequent Turns they may make
another Unarmed roll to inflict damage equal to their
Damage Modifier to the held body part by crushing,
twisting, or strangling it. The defender may spend an
Action Point to Oppose their roll with their own
Unarmed or Brawn skill in order to avoid the damage.
The grapple continues until the target is
Incapacitated or manages to break free by taking the
Struggle Action or gaining the Slip Free Special Effect.
This requires an Opposed Roll of either Brawn or
unarmed against whichever of the two skills the
grappler prefers. If the grappled target wins, they
manage to break free. Note that someone with a high
Brawn skill may be so powerful that it may be nearly
impossible to escape their iron grip.
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 Destined

grade. Additional rounds spent aiming grant no

Ranged Combat further bonus.

Heroes often find themselves dodging bullets and Distance Penalties

energy blasts, or returning fire to take down their
enemies. Ranged combat works in a similar manner to
close combat in terms of game mechanics, although
heroes without ranged options may have a difficult time
when their foes have distance and guns on their side.
Normally Ranged Weapons can only be Parried by
shields or special powers such as Deflect, and those
without them must rely on cover or Evade to dodge out
of the way of fire. Specific rules for ranged attacks are
listed below.
The further a target is away from the hero, the harder
they are to hit. Destined opts for speed of play over
realism when it comes to penalties imposed by range, as
is fitting for the comic book genre. Attacks made against
targets at Close Range are at Standard difficulty, those
at Effective Range are at Hard difficulty, and those at
Long Range are at Formidable difficulty. Note that
these base difficulties are before any other modifiers
that might apply to the attack roll or benefits from
aiming or equipment such as scopes.

Situational Modifiers
Optional: Realistic Ranged
Just like with close combat, ranged attacks have
Situational Modifiers that may be applied in specific Modifiers
circumstances.
For games where you would like to make penalties for
ranged attacks a bit more realistic, the following
Aiming optional penalties may be used in place of the simplified
penalties above. In these rules the actual distance to the
A hero that spends additional time aiming with a target relative to its SIZ is what determines any
Ranged Weapon can potentially increase their chances modifiers to the base difficulty of the shot, and the
to hit. If the hero spends an entire Combat Round range of a weapon or Core Power is more of a
aiming with their weapon, any difficulty penalties from performance characteristic than a factor in difficulty.
range or Situational Modifiers are reduced by one The base difficulty of the shot is Standard, modified by
the range modifiers below as well as any other modifiers
Range Base Difficulty affecting the attacker. The following modifiers assume
an active target in an open area, and a static object at
Weapon Range Base Difficulty known range (such as a building) should reduce the
Close Standard
difficulty by a step or two.
Effective Hard
Long Formidable

Ranged Combat Situational Modifiers

Situation Difficulty Grade
Light Wind* Hard
Moderate Wind Formidable
Strong Wind Herculean
Heavy Storm or Hurricane Hopeless
Target is Running Hard
Target is Sprinting Formidable
Target is partially obscured by cover, mist, or shadow Hard
Target is heavily obscured by cover or thick smoke Formidable
Target is completely obscured Herculean
Target is prone Formidable
Attacker is prone** Herculean
Attacker is on unstable ground Hard
Attacker is blind or in pitch darkness Hopeless
*Assumes a thrown weapon or one with light ammunition that would be vulnerable to crosswinds
**Penalty can be negated if weapon is able to be braced on a solid object or a bipod

178
 6. Combat

Firing Into a Crowd Humanoid Hit Locations

1d20 Location
Firing into a group at a specific target can be a risky
1-3 Right Leg
maneuver, due to the danger of hitting someone else
4-6 Left Leg
instead of the intended target. When firing at a specific
7-9 Abdomen
target on the edge of a crowd or in close combat, the
10-12 Chest
attack difficulty is increased by one Difficulty Grade. If
13-15 Right Arm
trying to fire through a group to hit someone in the
16-18 Left Arm
midst or on the other side, the difficulty is increased by
19-20 Head
two Difficulty Grades. Aiming (see page 178, opposite)
can help mitigate these penalties.
suffers damage. In close combat, attackers on higher
If the attacker is successful, the intended target is hit ground or with a significant height advantage are more
as normal. If the attacker fails but would have normally likely to hit high on a target, so 1d10+10 is rolled to
succeeded if the ‘firing into a crowd’ penalty had not determine location, while attackers on lower ground or
been applied, they hit an adjacent bystander in the with a height disadvantage roll 1d10 instead.
group instead. If there are multiple possible targets, the
Games Master should determine who is hit randomly. Note that the standard Hit Location table below and
Unintended targets are still allowed to Evade or Parry on the included Hero Sheet is for humanoid beings.
as normal, if they are aware of the shooter. Any Special Animals and other differently-shaped creatures have
Effects that would have been gained would only apply their own set of Hit Locations, and some example tables
to the original intended target, not those accidentally are provided in Chapter 10.
caught in the crossfire.

Damage and Wound Levels

Injury and Wounds
Heroes get hurt. Sometimes it is from conflict with
villains, while other times it is from the dangerous
conditions they work under. The following rules cover
the different types of wounds they can suffer and how
they can affect the hero in the short and long term. For
rules on how to heal from wounds, see page 191.
Hit Locations
A successful strike hits the target somewhere on their
body, and this can be specified by using the Choose
Location Special Effect or determined randomly.
Under normal circumstances the attacker rolls 1d20 to
determine where the target is hit, which also determines
what Armor Points, if any, apply to where the target
Whenever a hero is hit by a damaging effect or attack,
they lose Hit Points from the area or areas struck and
accumulate wounds. Weapons, unarmed attacks, and
damaging powers all list the amount of damage they
inflict on a successful attack. Rolled damage for these
attacks can be modified by certain conditions:
• The Damage Modifier is added to any attack that
would benefit from application of the attacker’s physical
strength, including close combat weapons and those
hurled or thrown.
• Certain Situational Modifiers or benefits may apply
and alter the base damage. For example, if the hero is
using a club that is on fire, they may inflict addition
damage from the flame.

Optional Ranged Modifiers

Distance Target SIZ
10 or less 11-20 21-40 41-80 81-150 151-300+
1-20 m. 1 Step Harder No effect 1 Step Easier 1 Step Easier 2 Steps Easier 2 Steps Easier
21-40 m. 1 Step Harder 1 Step Harder No effect 1 Step Easier 1 Step Easier 2 Steps Easier
41-60 m. 2 Steps Harder 1 Step Harder 1 Step Harder No effect 1 Step Easier 1 Step Easier
61-80 m. 2 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 1 Step Harder 1 Step Harder No effect 1 Step Easier
81-100 m. 3 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 1 Step Harder 1 Step Harder No effect
101-120 m. 3 Steps Harder 3 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 1 Step Harder 1 Step Harder
121-140 m. 4 Steps Harder 3 Steps Harder 3 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 2 Steps Harder 1 Step Harder
Each +20 m. Follow table progression

179
 Destined

The Adventures of Shadowstalker, Part 9

A t the end of the round, only Eclipse and Char have an Action Point remaining. High above, Eclipse decides to
use her laser Blast Core Power to try to take down one of the men shooting at her. She is at the Effective Range
of her power so the difficulty of her shot starts at Hard, but fortunately she is able to make the roll. The goon is
unable to Evade the Blast since he is out of Action Points, so he is hit in the right leg for a whopping 10 points of
damage. This incapacitates his leg and he drops to the floor screaming in pain, a hole burned through his thigh.
Across the factory floor, Char decides to unleash some of the heat within his mutated body as a short-range fire
Blast against poor Torc. Unable to defend and lying prone, Torc is hit with a Critical Success and Char is able to
use the Choose Location effect since it is at Short range and his foe is prone. He also picks Maximize Damage,
inflicting 16 points of damage against the hero! Even with his tough skill, Torc still takes 10 points of damage,
enough to give him a Serious Wound. He fails his Endurance check and falls Unconscious from the pain of the
burns. Just as Char is about to finish him off, the factory’s fire-suppression systems are activated as a result of the
villain’s molten body and fire Blast. The mutated mobster cries out in pain as the foam reacts with his molten hide,
and he reluctantly yells for his remaining men to retreat. Seeing their friend gravely injured, Shadowstalker and
Eclipse decide to let the criminals go for now and rush to Torc’s side to tend to his burns.

• If the attack is Parried, reduce the damage based on
the relative Sizes of the weapons.
• If the Hit Location is armored, reduce the damage by
the Armor Points value of that location.
If the damage inflicted by the attack is above zero
after all the above are applied, the location struck
reduces its Hit Point value by the damage inflicted.
Note how many Hit Points remain to determine what
type of wound the location suffers.
cumulative, so if a hero has a Serious Wound to their
chest and then suffers another to their right arm, their
skill checks will be at two grades harder if they use their
injured arm. This penalty persists until the location is
healed back to a Minor Wound. If the Endurance check
is failed, a seriously wounded limb is unusable, or the
hero is Incapacitated if the injury was to the head, chest,
or abdomen. The hero remains Incapacitated until
treated with a successful First Aid or Easy Medicine
check, but they still suffer any penalties from the
wounds until they are healed.

Minor Wound Incapacitated

Minor Wounds are cuts, scratches, bruises, and sprains.
They hurt and may even bleed, but they don’t
significantly slow the hero down. If a Hit Location is
damaged but remains above zero Hit Points, it has a
Minor Wound.
Serious Wound
Serious Wounds are deep lacerations, mild concussions,
severe contusions, or minor fractures. If a Hit Location
is reduced below zero Hit Points but is still above the
negative value of its normal Hit Points it suffers a
Serious Wound.
When a hero suffers a Serious Wound in combat,
they need to make an immediate Opposed Roll of their
Endurance versus the attack roll that causes the wound.
If successful, the hero can fight on, but any skill check
that uses that location is one Difficulty Grade harder, or
all checks suffer the penalty if it was the hero’s head,
chest, or abdomen that was injured. These penalties are
180
If any location is reduced below a negative score equal
to or greater than its starting Hit Points, the hero is
immediately Incapacitated (for example, going from 13
Hit Points to -13). Incapacitated heroes are
Unconscious or insensible, incapable of any action or
communication. They are also helpless, unable to
defend themselves or perceive dangerous situations
around them. When a hero is rendered Incapacitated,
they must make an immediate Endurance check against
the attack roll that caused the damage or against the
Potency of a Peril (see page 203). If successful, the hero
remains Unconscious. Once successfully treated, they
are restored back to a Serious Wound in the location. If
the check is unsuccessful, the location suffers a
Persistent Wound. If the Endurance check is a Fumble,
the hero is dying and will expire unless successfully
treated with First Aid or an Easy Medicine roll within a
number of Combat Rounds equal to their Healing Rate
(see also Kill Shot, page 181 opposite).
Persistent Wounds
A Persistent Wound is a long-
term injury that debilitates the
hero long after their other
wounds have healed and
includes such injuries as
fractures, internal damage, or
serious bodily trauma. Heroes
can recover some of their lost
Hit Points while under the
effects of a Persistent Wound,
but cannot be restored to full
functionality while the wound
remains (see Healing from
Injuries on page 191). While
suffering from a Persistent
Wound, the hero suffers the
following penalties depending
on the location of the wound:

• Head: All skill checks are one

Difficulty Grade harder, and all
Perception checks are two
Difficulty Grades harder.
As the villains flee from the battle, Shadowstalker and Eclipse tend to
• Arm: The arm cannot be used their fallen comrade’s injuries. There will be a time for a reckoning with
and all checks related to it Char later.
automatically fail. The hero is
incapable of using items that need both hands to even in comics, film, and other media, heroes still die,
operate. and some villains are ruthless enough to not leave their
hated foes alive if the opportunity presents itself. A hero
• Chest: All skill checks are one Difficulty Grade harder, can perform a Kill Shot on a helpless or Incapacitated
and all Endurance checks are two Difficulty Grades target by taking an attack Action while adjacent to them.
harder. If this attack does enough damage to reduce a vital
location such as the head or chest below a Serious
• Abdomen: All skill checks are one Difficulty Grade Wound, the target is killed instead. Note that this
harder, and all Endurance checks are two Difficulty option should not be used lightly if the campaign
Grades harder. normally avoids lethal force.

• Leg: The hero’s ground Movement Rate is halved,

and all Athletics, Acrobatics, and Evade checks are two
Difficulty Grades harder. If both legs are suffering a
Persistent Wound, movement is impossible without
some kind of assistive device.
While a location is under the effect of a Persistent
Wound, any damage suffered to the location after
reductions from Armor Points and Parries is doubled.
Kill Shot
The injury and damage system of Destined intentionally
makes it difficult to perish, taking inspiration from the
durability and survivability of comic book heroes. But
Optional: Major Wounds
In grittier or more realistic stories, the low lethality of
the standard damage system may not be sufficient. As
an optional rule the Games Master can replace the
Incapacitated rules above with the following.
Major Wound
If a location is reduced to a negative score equal to or
greater than its starting Hit Points, the hero suffers a
Major Wound. The hero is immediately Incapacitated,
and must make an Opposed Endurance roll against the
attack roll result that inflicted the damage. Failure
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 Destined
The Adventures of
Shadowstalker, Part 10
W hile hunting for clues to where Char and his
men are hiding, Shadowstalker tries to shake
down an informant but doesn’t realize until too late
that the man has friends hiding in the shadows of
the alley. The hero is caught off guard by the
ambush, and three burly thugs lay into him before
he can even react. The first smashes his right arm
with a piece of pipe, inflicting 6 points of damage,
enough to drop the arm to a Serious Wound.
Shadowstalker manages to make his Endurance
roll against the damage, but any checks with that
arm will be one Difficulty Grade harder. The second
thug hits the hero in the abdomen with a baseball
bat, inflicting 8 damage to the area and another
Serious Wound. This time Shadowstalker fails his
check and is dropped to the ground, reeling and
barely conscious. The final thug unloads a heavy
caliber pistol into the helpless hero, inflicting
another 5 damage to his abdomen from a gut shot.
Again Shadowstalker fails his Endurance check,
and he suffers a Persistent Wound to his abdomen.
Before the men can finish him off, Eclipse arrives on
the scene and scares them off with a massive
illusionary monster, then glides down to try to help
her seriously injured friend.
results in a Persistent Wound for a limb, or instant death
if the head, chest, or abdomen was struck. If the roll was
a Fumble, a limb is severed or damaged beyond repair
instead. Even if the check is successful, the hero will die
from shock and Blood Loss if not treated with a First
Aid or Easy Medicine roll within a number of Combat
Rounds equal to their Healing Rate.
Major Wounds do not heal naturally unless the hero
is under some form of professional medical care, and
while under such treatment the hero gains back Hit
Points in the location based on their Healing Rate for
every week in treatment.
RABBLE AND
UNDERLINGS
Supporting characters in comics are usually not up to
the level of the heroes and villains, and even an average
superhero can easily take down standard street
criminals without breaking a sweat. The following rules
provide options to make opponents less challenging
individually to allow Games Masters to populate their
182
encounters with larger numbers to provide more of a
sense of dramatic action that is common to comic books.
Supporting characters may be designated as Rabble or
Underlings, each of which has its own rules detailed
below.
Rabble: Rabble are the nameless, faceless thugs and
minions that attempt to overwhelm characters by sheer
numbers but pose little threat on their own. Rabble
might be street toughs, nameless alien hordes, or
expendable shock troops that serve as a nuisance or as
support for a more formidable foe. Rabble use the
following rules:
• Rabble do not have skill values higher than 50%. If a
listed value for a skill is above 50%, reduce it to the
lower value.
• Rabble wear little or no armor.
• Rabble are unable to use Special Effects in combat.
• Rabble have one-fifth the normal Hit Points in any
given location, and when they suffer any damage they
are either knocked out, killed, surrender, or flee,
depending on the intention of the attacker.
• Once one-third of their number is out of commission,
the remainder of the Rabble break ranks and attempt to
flee or surrender if they are unable to escape.
Underlings: More competent than Rabble, Underlings
are sent in to delay, weaken, or take down the
characters. While they are weaker than standard
supporting characters, they are still just as skilled and
can prove to be capable foes if the heroes are
unprepared or cocky. Underlings use the following
rules:
• Underlings use the Standard Skill values listed for
their type.
• Underlings wear moderate armor if so equipped.
• Underlings are unable to use Special Effects in
combat.
• Underlings have one-third the normal Hit Points in
any given location, and when they suffer more than two
injuries they are knocked out, killed, surrender, or flee
as determined by the attacker.
• Once one-half of their numbers have been disabled,
Underlings attempt to Withdraw from the fight or
surrender if they are unable to escape.

Spot Rules
T
he rules for skill use and combat cover most
situations that can occur in a typical gaming
session. This section includes rules for
situations that require rules outside of what
has been covered in previous chapters, giving the
Games Master other ways to adjudicate different
encounters that fall outside the norm, or add to the
other rule systems previously discussed.
Chases
Heroes often find themselves embroiled in desperate
chases and tense pursuits, either as the pursuers or the
pursued. In Destined the mechanics for chases are
handled as Opposed Extended Tasks (see page 57),
where one side is attempting to escape (the Escapee)
and the other is trying to catch up (the Pursuer). The
exact distances involved are not important, with the
percentage completed representing how close each side
is to their goal. The first side to reach 100% wins and
either escapes or catches up to the other group, and
when conducting a chase there are a few things to
consider.
Starting the Chase
When a pursuit is started, the players and the Games
Master should establish where everyone is when the
chase starts and who is participating. If multiple
supporting characters are involved, the Games Master
may also divide them into smaller groups to make
handling them in the chase easier. The Games Master
must also decide if one side starts with an advantage,
7. Spot Rules
meaning they either anticipate the chase was about to
occur or they take advantage of the situation prior to
the chase to get a head start. For example, the villain Baron
Malycer is being confronted by a group of young heroes and he
decides to take his leave. He detonates an explosive device he
had planted before their arrival and the Games Master rules
that this distraction lets him start the chase with an advantage.
A hero’s powers can also give them an advantage, with
things like Enhanced Speed and Flight having obvious
benefits when engaging in a chase. A side that starts
with an advantage begins the chase with a tally of 25%
before any rolls are made, or 50% if the Games Master
rules they have a distinct advantage.
What Skills to Use
The skills used by the Escapee and the Pursuer depend
on their modes of travel during the chase, and both
groups don’t necessarily have to use the same skills.
Anyone traveling under their own power, either by
running, the Flight Core Power, or swimming, rolls
against their Athletics skill. Anyone using a vehicle uses
the appropriate skill to the type of craft they are
operating, either Boating, Drive, or Pilot. Using a
mount requires checks against the Ride skill.
Everyone involved keeps a tally of their current
percentage of success, and this can serve as a gauge for
how well they are doing in the chase. Because this
system is abstract, the players and the Games Master
will need to narrate how their respective characters are
faring in the chase based on their percentage. For
example, a hero that only has 25% after a few failed checks
might be stumbling over clutter in the environment or tripped
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 Destined
and is struggling to try to catch up. Note that sometimes the
Escapees may have a lower total than their Pursuers,
and this often represents them barely staying ahead of
their foes and puts them in a vulnerable place where the
Pursuers can end the chase with a well-placed attack
(see Make an Attack under Impediments below).
Environment
Where the chase takes place has an impact on the
difficulty of the checks involved. Racing after a villain
down a clear city street would not affect the difficulty,
but that same chase in the middle of rush hour traffic
would be much harder. Things like clutter, dangerous
environmental conditions, difficult terrain, or weather
all impact how hard it is to maneuver, especially when
the two sides are trying to move as fast as possible. The
Games Master sets the difficulty for the chase or adjusts
it for each Opposed check depending on changing
conditions. Normally the same difficulty applies to both
sides in the chase unless one side has the means to
circumvent any obstacles or impairing conditions. For
example, Shadowstalker’s Teleportation Core Power makes it
easier for him to get around crowds and obstacles when he
chases after a fleeing robber.
Impediments
In addition to the environment, the participants in the
chase can attempt to impede or harm the other side as
a way of improving their odds. In the case of a slower
participant trying to either escape from or catch up to a
faster one, impediments may be the only way they have
a chance of winning the contest. During their Turn, a
participant can attempt to cause an impediment that
makes the check of their opponent more difficult. Any
skill check the impeding participant makes for the chase
is one Difficulty Grade harder for that round, and they
choose one of the following options.
• Create a Distraction: The participant either says or
does something to distract their opponent, or uses
something in the environment to draw the opponent’s
attention elsewhere. This is handled as an Opposed Roll
with the target, and the skills used depend on the type
of distraction the participant hopes to accomplish.
Tricking or taunting the target requires an Opposed
Deceit vs. Insight, while attempting to redirect them or
frighten them requires an Opposed Influence or
Intimidate vs. Insight (or Willpower if attempting to
scare them). If the check is successful, the opponent’s
next check in the chase is one Difficulty Grade harder,
or two grades harder if the participant scored a Critical
Success or the opponent rolled a Fumble.
184
• Create an Obstacle: The participant either heads into
an area with Impairing Terrain or obstacles, or causes
something to block or slow down their opponent. If the
Games Master rules there is something in the
environment that could already be used, the participant
simply changes course, and everyone involved makes
their chase checks as normal using the base difficulty
imposed by the current situation. For example, the robber
ducks into a crowded dance club and both he and
Shadowstalker make their checks at Hard difficulty due to the
crowds and distracting lights. If the participant actively
creates an obstacle, they must either cause damage to
something in the environment to create the obstacle or
pull something down behind them. Causing damage is
handled as an attack roll against whatever is being
targeted to create the obstacle. Pulling something down
requires a Brawn check with a difficulty based on the
size of the object being used.
• Make an Attack: The participant uses an opportunity
to launch an attack at their opponent, possibly injuring
them or taking them out of the chase entirely. For
ranged attacks, the participants can’t have a difference
of more than 25% between their current tallies for the
Extended Task. Continuing the above example, the robber
pulls a gun and plans to fire a few shots at Shadowstalker. The
robber’s tally for the Extended Task is currently 75% and
Shadowstalker has 50%, so he can make the attack. If
Shadowstalker was only at 25%, he would be too far away or
not in sight for the robber to shoot at. For melee attacks, both
sides need to be Neck and Neck (see below). Because
both parties are still engaged in the chase, attack and
defense rolls are one Difficulty Grade harder. If the
attack hits, it is resolved normally, and if the target
suffers enough damage to be Incapacitated, or suffers a
Serious Wound to a location that would render them
incapable of continuing, the target is removed from the
chase. Also note that Special Effects such as Stun
Location or Trip Opponent (including going prone
after Evading) may prevent the target from making
their next check in the chase as they recover from the
effect.
These are the most common impediments someone
can cause during a chase, but the players and the Games
Masters are encouraged to come up with their own
creative ways of impacting the situation, using the above
examples as guidelines for how they can be resolved.
Multiple Participants
While a chase is sometimes a contest between two
individuals, more often it involves multiple participants
on each side trying to either catch the other party or get
away. For heroes, each individual player should roll
The team pursues Baron Malycer’s limo along the Gemelos City beachfront in their hovercar. Eclipse
fires a bolt of energy at the fleeing vehicle, while The Mortician takes aim with a missile launcher.
their checks separately and keep their own tallies for the
Extended Task. Some heroes may fall behind while
others keep in the chase to the bitter end. Important
villains and other main characters controlled by the
Games Master also make individual rolls and keep
separate tallies, but groups of less important supporting
characters (especially Rabble and Underlings) should
use the Sorting Roll option from page 56 and use a tally
for each group of similar characters.
Neck and Neck
Whenever the total for each side is equal, or when the
Escapees have a lower total than the Pursuers, all
participants are Neck and Neck and this opens up a few
more options for each side. At this point participants are
close enough to engage in melee or unarmed attacks
against each other (see above), and this also allows
Pursuers to attempt to grapple their quarry. If
successful, the grappler and their target are removed
from the chase until the target can get free.
If the chase involves vehicles or mounts, passengers
can attempt to leap onto the other side’s craft or mount
when they are Neck and Neck. The leaper must succeed
at an Athletics roll, with the difficulty determined by the
Games Master based on how fast everyone is traveling
and the current conditions (terrain, weather, and so
on). While dramatic, this can be a risky maneuver that
can lead to the leaper falling from the vehicle if they fail
the roll (see Falling From a Vehicle on page 190). Once
onboard, the leaper can attack the crew of the other
craft, try to dismount the rider of a mount, or sabotage
a vehicle to impair its operations.
Resolving the Chase
If one side reaches 100% before the other, the end
result depends on which side was the victor. If the
Pursuers won, they catch up to their quarry and may
either interact with them or engage in combat if so
desired. If the Escapees won, they give their Pursuers
the slip and must be located before the Pursuers can
attempt to give chase again. If both sides managed to
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 Destined

attack and luckily rolls a 03, which is a Critical Success. The

Optional: Fatiguing crook also succeeds, but only gets a normal Success, and now
Combat the two are tied at 75%. Tony then rolls his attack check with
the grapple gun at Hard difficulty and succeeds. The purse-

N ormally in Destined, heroes can keep fighting

on and only need to worry about their injuries
slowing them down, but combat is extremely
stressful and can take a severe toll once the
adrenaline wears off. If you use this optional rule,
combat is treated as a Strenuous physical activity,
requiring an Endurance check after each
participant’s CON in seconds to avoid gaining
Fatigue.
snatcher doesn’t Evade since it would put him prone, so The
Mortician uses the Entangle Special Effect to snare the man’s
legs and sends him sprawling to the ground. Now Neck and
Neck, the bound crook desperately tries to free himself as the
grim vigilante closes in…
The rules above can also be applied to races to a
common destination. If you would like more detailed
rules on conducting chases and races, check out the Hot
Pursuit chapter of the Mythras Companion.

achieve 100% at the same time and wish to continue the

chase, all participants have their tallies reduced to 0%
and start the chase anew. In the case of chases with
participants on foot or on a mount, they must make a
Standard Endurance check or suffer 1d2 Levels of
Fatigue from the effort of the chase before they
continue.
Example Chase
The Mortician is drawn by a cry for help and arrives just in
time to see a purse-snatcher race off after grabbing a woman’s
handbag. The hero rushes off in pursuit, and the Games Master
tells his player Tony this is a chase and decides neither side starts
with any advantage. Both men are on foot, so The Mortician
uses his Athletics of 70% and the purse-snatcher uses his rating
of 62%. Both sides start on a relatively clear street so they both
make unmodified rolls. The purse-snatcher succeeds with a 46,
but The Mortician rolls an 84 and fails. The Games Master
describes how the hero stumbles over a cracked sidewalk and the
crook puts some distance between them. The next round, the
purse-snatcher ducks down a garbage-strewn alley, and the
Games Master declares their checks will be at a Hard difficulty
due to the obstacles. Both of them succeed, so now the tally is
25% for The Mortician and 50% for the crook. On the
following round they head back into the streets again. Tony
decides to use The Mortician’s grapple gun to try to ensnare the
fleeing crook, and since there is no more than 25% between
them the Games Master says he can try. The Mortician has to
make his Athletics check at Hard difficulty since he is trying to
Fatigue
Even the toughest heroes have their limits, and
eventually the strain and stress of the life of a hero
begin to take its toll. Where Hit Points measure physical
damage and injury, Fatigue serves to measure the
physical and mental toll that heroes suffer for
overextending themselves or when they are exposed to
adverse conditions. It is tracked separately from Hit
Point damage, but it can be just as debilitating and
potentially lethal for a hero. The most common way to
gain Fatigue levels is through prolonged physical
activity, but it can also be accumulated as a result of
starvation, lack of oxygen, or exposure to extreme
environments. Each additional level gained carries
penalties for skill use, movement, Initiative, and Action
Points as listed on the table below. As detailed on the
table, going past the Incapacitated level renders nearly
any Action impossible, and those levels are reserved for
the most extreme effects of situations that could prove
lethal to the hero such as starvation, exposure to harsh
environments, or suffocation. Fatigue from different
sources is cumulative, so facing multiple potential
sources of Fatigue at once can be very hazardous. For
example, Shadowstalker was left for dead by Baron Malycer in
Death Valley and the hero has been without water under the hot
sun for quite some time. He is already Tired, meaning his next
check against the heat and dehydration will be difficult with the
penalties he is already suffering from. The most common
sources of Fatigue levels are detailed below.

Fatigue and Physical Activity

Effort How long? Example Skill Difficulty
Light CON in hours Light exercise (yoga, hiking), lifting objects weighing half the hero’s Very Easy
normal lift, basic activities at a steady pace
Medium CON in minutes Moderate exercise (running, cycling), lifting objects up to the hero’s Easy
normal lift, sustained manual labor
Strenuous CON in seconds Heavy exercise (sprinting, contact sports), lifting past the hero’s normal Standard
lift, sustained manual labor under difficult conditions

186
Overexertion
Heroes often push themselves far beyond what their
bodies are capable of when the situation demands it.
When a hero engages in long-term strenuous physical
activity, such as extended travel on foot, heavy lifting, or
long-term labor without periods of rest, they must make
an Endurance check to avoid suffering Fatigue. The
sections on Feats of Strength and Movement Outside
Combat below talk about how those activities can fatigue
heroes. Other physical activity is rated as either Light,
Medium, or Strenuous, and the Fatigue table on page
186 details how long a hero can engage in that level of
activity before they need to check to see if they become
fatigued. Once this time elapses the hero must make a
skill roll appropriate to the type of activity they are
engaging in: Athletics for exercise, Brawn for heavy
lifting, or Endurance for general activity or labor.

When a hero is embroiled in a mystery, or

desperately trying to stop a dangerous criminal, they
may forgo their body’s need for rest to push on until
they solve whatever dilemma they are facing. Just as
prolonged activity can tire a hero, not taking time to
rest and get a good night’s sleep can also wear them
down. A hero can remain awake for a number of hours
equal to twice their CON before they need to make an
Endurance roll. If successful, they can push on for half
their CON in hours before they need to make another
check, this time at one Difficulty Grade harder than the Searching for the secret entrance to an
last. Each failed roll accrues one Level of Fatigue. underwater Animus base, Hare is attacked by
deadly mechanical tentacles which attempt to
drown her.
Asphyxiation
hero was unprepared. Once that period of held breath
The hero may be able to shrug off bullets and blades is over, the hero must make Endurance rolls every
like they were gnats, but they still need to breathe. Combat Round with results as follows:
Asphyxiation occurs when a hero is deprived of
breathable air, such as being underwater or strangled • Critical Success: No further deterioration occurs.
by an assassin’s garrote. A hero can normally hold their
breath for a number of seconds equal to their • Success: The hero accrues a Level of Fatigue.
Endurance skill if they are prepared, or half that if the

Fatigue Levels
Fatigue Level Skill Grade Movement Initiative Action Points Recovery Time
Fresh No Penalties
Winded Hard No Penalty No Penalty No Penalty 15 minutes
Tired Hard -1 No Penalty No Penalty 3 hours
Wearied Formidable -2 -2 No Penalty 6 hours
Exhausted Formidable Halved -4 -1 12 hours
Debilitated Herculean Halved -6 -2 18 hours
Incapacitated Herculean Immobile -8 -3 24 hours
Semi-Conscious Hopeless No Actions possible No Actions possible No Actions possible 36 hours
Unconscious No Actions possible No Actions possible No Actions possible No Actions possible 48 hours
Dying Will die in a number of minutes equal to twice the hero’s Healing Rate unless treated

187
 Destined
• Failure: The hero accrues 1d2 Levels of Fatigue.
• Fumble: The hero accrues 1d3 Levels of Fatigue.
The cumulative skill penalties from Fatigue make
Asphyxiation extremely dangerous, so heroes should be
careful when they are in any situation where they could
be deprived of air. Fatigue lost to Asphyxiation recovers
very quickly, usually at a rate of one level per minute of
rest, but the Games Master may slow down this rate
depending on the circumstances. For example, a hero that
was drowning might have damage to their lungs and may
recover at the normal rate instead.
Deprivation
Heroes often find themselves in far-flung places or
trapped away from help, deprived of the basic
necessities everyone needs for survival. Deprivation
occurs when a hero is deprived of food or water for an
extended period of time. Games Masters may also apply
the effects for artificial beings such as robots that are
unable to recharge their power source or aliens that
require more exotic forms of sustenance.
• Food: Without a sufficient amount of food, starvation
begins to take hold. A hero can go a number of days
equal to half of their CON before they must check for
Deprivation. After this they must check every day they
are without food.
• Water: Without a sufficient amount of water the hero
begins to suffer from dehydration. A hero can go a
number of hours without water equal to their CON x4,
although arid or hot environments might reduce this to
CON x3 or even CON x2. After this time the hero must
make a Deprivation check and repeat this check again
every 4 hours without water, or every hour in extremely
arid or hot conditions.
After the listed time has passed, the hero must make an
Endurance check or suffer a Level of Fatigue. This
check must be repeated at the intervals listed above,
and like Asphyxiation the cumulative penalties can
make survival very difficult. Heroes are unable to
recover Fatigue lost to Deprivation until they have
access to sufficient food and/or water.
Exposure
When heroes are willing to go to extremes to keep the
world safe, they may find themselves in some extreme
conditions that make survival difficult. Exposure occurs
when a hero is in a hostile or extreme environment for
188
an extended period of time, such as when lost in a
blazing hot desert or trapped on an icy mountaintop.
Normally the hero begins to suffer the effects after a
number of hours equal to their CON if they have access
to proper clothing for the environment, but the rate
may be slower or faster depending on the conditions
(see Weather on page 206). Like Deprivation above, the
hero must make an Endurance roll after this time
period has passed and again for each interval of time
that passes within the environment or suffer a Level
of Fatigue.
Stress
Heroes lead stressful lives. They carry a lot of emotional
weight on their cloaked shoulders, and if it builds up
too much it can begin to take a toll. Heroes also face
villains who have abilities and powers that can alter
emotions, with the classic example being the bad guy
who creates fear and terror in their victims. Emotional
and mental strain can degrade a hero just as much as
physical exertion and the Fatigue system can be used to
simulate mental strain as well. If a hero is exposed to a
stressful situation, the Games Master can call for a
Willpower check using the guidelines listed above, but
based on POW instead of CON. If the hero fails this
check, they suffer a Level of Fatigue. This Fatigue is
cumulative with any caused by physical sources, as
different sources of stress build up. The Games Master
determines if Fatigue from mental sources can lead to
death, but normally this should be reserved for only the
most extreme sources of emotional toil. For example, a
hero subjected to the fear powers of his archnemesis could
literally die from fright if he keeps failing his Willpower checks.
Fatigue Levels
The Fatigue Levels table details the penalties suffered
for each Level of Fatigue accrued. The Skill Grade
establishes the base difficulty for any Actions the hero
attempts. For numerical penalties, the values listed are
not cumulative. So if Shadowstalker was at the Wearied level
and gained another Level of Fatigue, his Initiative Penalty
would go from -2 to -4 and he would lose 1 Action Point.
Recovering from Fatigue
Heroes recover from Fatigue based on their Healing
Rate and the Recovery Time listed for their current
Level of Fatigue. The amount of rest and recovery
needed from each level is equal to the Recovery Time
divided by the hero’s Healing Rate, although as noted
above recovering from Asphyxiation can occur much

more quickly. Heroes recover from the highest Level of
Fatigue first, working down until they are fully
recovered. So if Shadowstalker was Exhausted after his
ordeal in the desert, based on his Healing Rate of 2 it would
take him 6 hours to recover from the Exhausted level, 3 hour
from Wearied, one and a half from Tired, and another 8
minutes from Winded. All told it would take him almost 11
hours of rest to recover completely.
Falling
When you spend a lot of time battling evil on rooftops,
there is a good chance your hero may take the
occasional tumble. Anytime a hero falls, they take
damage based on the total distance fallen as shown on
the table below. Armor Points from worn armor do not
protect from this damage, but those gained from the
Force Field or Inherent Armor powers do. Damage is
rolled separately for each location; it is not spread
among them. So if Shadowstalker was knocked off the side of
a skyscraper and fell 12 meters to the street below, he would take
4d6 damage to four different parts of his body and would
probably be laid up for some time.
There are a few additional considerations and rules
pertaining to falls.
• A creature’s SIZ impacts how much of an impact it
makes when it falls. Smaller creatures take less damage
while Large creatures take more.
SIZ 1 or less: reduce the effective distance fallen by 10m.
SIZ 2-3: reduce the effective distance fallen by 8m.
SIZ 4-5: reduce the effective distance fallen by 5m.
SIZ 6-7: reduce the effective distance fallen by 3m.
SIZ 8-9: reduce the effective distance fallen by 1m.
Creatures add +1d6 to the damage from a fall for every
additional 10 points they are above SIZ 20. So a SIZ 35
robot dropping from a height of 2 meters would take
3d6 damage to a random location.
• The Acrobatics skill can be used to help reduce
damage caused by a fall. A successful check reduces the
effective distance fallen by 2 meters, or 4 meters on a
Falling Distance table
Distance fallen
1 m. or less
2 to 5 m.
6 to 10 m.
11 to 15 m.
16 to 20 m.
Each +5 m.
7. Spot Rules
Critical Success. A Fumble causes the hero to land
awkwardly, suffering maximum damage to all locations
affected. As long as the check is successful and the hero
doesn’t suffer a Serious Wound, they land relatively
safely and are not prone.
• Heroes with the ability to fly can attempt to halt their
descent with an Athletics check. If successful, the hero
reduces the effective distance fallen by their normal
flying Movement Rate, and if this reduces it to 0 or
below they are able to stop completely. Heroes that can
Teleport still travel at the same orientation and velocity
after falling and must take the Full Stop Boost to arrest
a fall with the power.
• Falling onto a soft surface, such as deep snow or a
large pile of straw, causes the effective falling distance to
be halved as long as the Games Master rules the surface
could help mitigate the damage. Heroes falling into
water can attempt an Athletics check to dive in and if
successful they take damage as if falling onto a soft
surface.
• Heroes falling onto a damaging surface, such as into
piles of scrap metal in a junk meter or a pit of lava, take
the normal damage of the surface in addition to the
falling damage.
Falling Objects
Gravity is harsh, and being struck by a heavy falling
object reinforces this fact. A falling object is treated as a
Peril based on its SIZ (see below), but it also adds an
amount of damage equal to the Falling Damage Taken
column above based on how far it fell, including a
reduction based on its SIZ as applicable. If the hero is
aware of the falling object, they can attempt an Evade
check to get out of the way as a Reaction. For example,
Torc stumbles upon Baron Malycer unleashing his deadly
energy blasts on an embassy building, and a large piece of
debris breaks away and heads right for the poor hero. The
Games Master rules that the debris is SIZ 30 and it falls 12
meters, so if Torc gets hit by it he will suffer 8d6 damage to four
locations! Let’s hope he makes his Evade check…
Falling Damage taken
1d6 points of damage to a random location
2d6 points of damage to two random locations
3d6 points of damage to three random locations
4d6 points of damage to four random locations
5d6 points of damage to five random locations
+1d6 damage
189
 Destined

Falling From a Vehicle
Battling a villain atop a fast-moving vehicle has its own
risks, but heroes may also be knocked off and subjected
to a painful tumble. Falling from a flying vehicle is
treated just like any other fall, and depending on the
altitude the hero may have some time to consider their
options.
flying vehicle (no higher than 20 meters in the air), the
distance below is added to the height of the fall. For
example, The Mortician attempted to get on board a mob boss’s
fleeing helicopter, but the boss’s bodyguard knocked him off with
a boot to the face. The helicopter was traveling at Moderate
speed and was 10 meters in the air, so The Mortician will treat
the fall as if he fell a total of 18 meters.

For a vehicle traveling on the ground or water, the Feats of Strength

Games Master notes the current speed the vehicle is
traveling and refers to the table below to see how far the There are many times when a hero needs to know how
fall is treated as for determining damage. For example, if much they can lift. Are they strong enough to carry an
Shadowstalker falls off the roof of a car traveling at Rapid unconscious civilian from a burning building? Or lift a
speed, he takes damage as if he fell 8 meters. Just like any massive beam off their teammate before the entire
other fall, heroes can attempt to use Acrobatics to building comes crashing down? In game terms this is
mitigate some of the damage as detailed above. referred to as a Feat of Strength. The rules presented
here are not entirely realistic, but are simplified for
Falling into water from a vehicle is treated as if the speed of play. A hero can lift up to 20x their STR in kilos
hero fell onto a soft surface without an Athletics check, without making a skill check, or twice that amount with
unless the vehicle was Very Large, such as falling from a successful Brawn roll. If the Brawn roll is failed, the
an oil tanker or a cruise ship. If the hero falls from a low hero is unable to lift the object and suffers a Level of
Fatigue. A hero can also push up to 5x their normal lift
Falling from vehicles across a relatively flat surface, or attempt to lift it with a
Hard Brawn roll. If this roll is successful, they lift the
Vehicle’s current speed Equivalent fall distance
item briefly and suffer a Level of Fatigue. If this check
Ponderous 1 m.
fails, they suffer 1d2+1 Levels of Fatigue and 1d3
Sluggish or Slow 2 m.
damage to their arms and chest (or legs for a leg press),
Mediocre or Gentle 4 m.
ignoring armor.
Moderate or Rapid 8 m.
Fast or Fleet 16 m.

Feats of Strength Lift Table

STR Normal Lift Normal Lift x2 Normal Lift x5
1 5 kgs. 10 kgs. 25 kgs.
2 10 kgs. 20 kgs. 50 kgs.
3 15 kgs. 30 kgs. 75 kgs.
4 20 kgs. 40 kgs. 100 kgs.
5 25 kgs. 50 kgs. 125 kgs.
6 30 kgs. 60 kgs. 150 kgs.
7 35 kgs. 70 kgs. 175 kgs.
8 40 kgs. 80 kgs. 200 kgs.
9 45 kgs. 90 kgs. 225 kgs.
10 50 kgs. 100 kgs. 250 kgs.
11 55 kgs. 110 kgs. 275 kgs.
12 60 kgs. 120 kgs. 300 kgs.
13 65 kgs. 130 kgs. 325 kgs.
14 70 kgs. 140 kgs. 350 kgs.
15 75 kgs. 150 kgs. 375 kgs.
16 80 kgs. 160 kgs. 400 kgs.
17 85 kgs. 170 kgs. 425 kgs.
18 90 kgs. 180 kgs. 450 kgs.
19 95 kgs. 190 kgs. 478 kgs.
20 100 kgs. 200 kgs. 500 kgs.
Each additional +1 +5 kgs. +10 kgs. +25 kgs.

190

Enhanced Strength Lift Table
Normal Lift Normal Lift x2
500 kgs. 1000 kgs.
1000 kgs. 2000 kgs.
2000 kgs. 4000 kgs.
4000 kgs. 8000 kgs.
Continue progression as per the Enhanced Strength Core Power on page 93
A hero with the Enhanced Strength Core Power (see
page 93) uses the same rules as above, but their normal
lift is determined by the Power.
Healing From
Injuries
After the fight is over and the threat is neutralized,
heroes need to take time to lick their wounds so they
can be ready for whatever the next challenge is. While
combat is the primary source of injury, heroes also run
risk of suffering wounds from Falling and from Perils,
but all damage recovers in the same way no matter what
the source.
A hero’s Healing Rate determines how many Hit
Points are recovered for each injured location while the
hero rests and recuperates, and the rate of healing for
each location depends on the type of wound the
location has:
• Minor Wounds: the injured location recovers the
Healing Rate after 12 hours of rest.
• Serious Wounds: the injured location recovers the
Healing Rate after 24 hours of rest.
When a Hit Location with a Serious Wound recovers
to where the hero is back to a positive Hit Point value,
they begin healing as if it were a Minor Wound. For
example, if Hare’s Healing Rate is 3 and she has been reduced
to -4 Hit Points in her leg, after a single day she would be at -1
and after two days she would be back up to 2 Hit Points and
would start healing every 12 hours instead. Heroes continue
to heal naturally as long as they are taking time to rest
until all wounded locations are up to their normal
maximum value. Also keep in mind that injured
locations heal independently of each other.
So using the above example, if Hare also started with a second
loss of 3 Hit Points to her chest (normal maximum of 7 Hit
Points), that injury would be fully healed after 12 hours before
she had even recovered any damage to her leg with the Serious
Wound.
7. Spot Rules
Normal Lift x5
2500 kgs.
5000 kgs.
10000 kgs
20000 kgs
There are a few other important considerations
regarding natural healing:
• The hero cannot engage in strenuous activity while
attempting to heal, including combat. If the hero does
anything more than light activity (minor household
tasks, slow walking, basic research, and so on), while
attempting to heal their Healing Rate is reduced by 1d3
for that time period. If it is reduced to 0 or below, the
hero does not heal at all during the normal time
interval for the injuries.
• If the hero is undergoing at least basic medical care
and observation by someone trained in Medicine while
healing, their Healing Rate is doubled for that time
interval.
• Powers such as Regeneration speed up the rate of
healing, and powers that heal injuries do so
instantaneously. If the hero would be dying from a
severe injury or from advanced Fatigue, such powers
automatically stabilize the hero unless further harm is
inflicted.
Persistent Injuries
Healing from Persistent Injuries is a long and difficult
process, and it can take a hero out of action for some
time. A Persistent Injury takes a number of weeks to
heal equal to the amount the hero was reduced below
the negative value of their normal total Hit Points. So if
the injury to Hare’s leg went to -7 Hit Points, which is 2 below
the negative value of the location’s normal maximum of 5, it
would take her two weeks of rest to recover if she suffered a
Persistent Injury.
Heroes can still benefit from natural healing to the
injured location, but it can’t be restored above 1 Hit
Point until the Persistent Injury heals, even with powers
like Regeneration. The hero may act while they have a
Persistent Injury, suffering the normal effects of the
wound, but recovery doesn’t start until the hero stops
and takes time to rest. If something interrupts that rest,
or the location is injured again, the hero must start the
healing process from the beginning.
191
 Destined

Optional: Healing inflict harm (such as breaking free of ropes or handcuffs

binding the hero). In those circumstances the hero
Major Wounds needs to make a successful skill check (usually Brawn,
Combat Style, or Unarmed) to try to break an object,
If you are using the Major Wounds option found on inflicting damage on a Success equal to the weapon
page 181, recovery to the Hit Location can’t begin until used (for direct attacks) or the hero’s Damage Modifier
it has been treated with a successful Medicine roll. The (for applied force). The object’s Armor Points are
hero recovers their Healing Rate to the area every week subtracted as normal, and any leftover damage is
of rest if they are under the care of someone trained in subtracted from its Hit Points.
Medicine, or every month if they are relying on natural
healing alone. If a Major Wound is left untreated for a The Example Materials Table lists common Armor
number of days equal to the hero’s Healing Rate, the Point values for specific material types and the Example
Games Master may rule it never fully recovers and the Inanimate Objects table lists example objects that are
location loses 1d3 Hit Points permanently. commonly found in modern cities. The objects below
can be used as examples for the relative Hit Points of a
similarly sized object, and for structural components
Inanimate Objects such as walls assume that the values listed below are for
a 2-by-2 meter area.
When heroes do battle with their enemies they often
leave a path of destruction in their wake, and sometimes
it may be important to know things like how much more Example Materials
damage the building across the street can take before it Material Armor points
collapses. All Inanimate Objects have Armor Points and Glass 1
Hit Points that are used to determine how resistant they Bone 4
are to damage and total destruction. When an object’s Wood 6
Hit Points are reduced to zero, it is either broken or Concrete/Stone 8
completely destroyed, depending on the overall size of Steel 12
the object. A small object, such as a handheld weapon or Diamond 14
a door, might be broken or rendered useless. A Very Fictional super-alloy 20
Large object, such as a building or a vehicle, might have
a section damaged or ruined but the bulk of the object
remains intact. For example, if Torc punches through a glass Attack Types against
window, it will shatter, whereas punching through a brick
wall might make a large hole but will not make the whole Inanimate Objects
structure collapse.
Some forms of attack are especially effective against
Heroes don’t normally need to make an attack roll to certain materials, while others may cause reduced
hit an inanimate object since it’s very unlikely it will damage or may not inflict any harm at all. For example,
dodge, but sometimes the Games Master may call for a launching a fire attack against paper would incinerate it
skill check if the hero is under duress (such as during quickly, while the same attack against a concrete wall
combat) or to see if the hero applied force correctly to might singe it but would not cause much damage. The
Games Master has final say if a particular attack form
would prove more effective (perhaps ignoring Armor
Example Inanimate Objects Points or inflicting extra damage) or be rendered less
effective (doubling Armor Points or reducing damage)
Object Armor Points Hit Points
against certain objects.
Ordinary Glass Window 1 4
Interior Wooden Door 4 20
Rope
Exterior Door
6
6
3
25
Interrogation
Brick Wall 6 30
It’s rare in comics when criminals give up information
Tree Trunk/ 6 50
Telephone Pole
willingly. Sometimes they can be tricked or reasoned
with, but in other cases heroes need to resort to threats
Concrete Wall 8 40
and intimidation to get what they need from their foes.
Bulletproof Glass 8 25
Interrogation is the art of getting information out of
Metal Lamppost 8 15
people who are unwilling or feel they are unable to
Steel Beam 12 50
192

share what they know. Most interactions in Destined are
resolved with a simple Opposed skill test between
the hero and whoever they are speaking to, but
interrogations can provide vital information that
can be integral to the adventure so there are a few
additional considerations to take into account when
using them.
The Approach
Heroes have different ways to approach interrogating
someone to get needed information, and each one
involves a different type of Opposed skill check based
on the method used.
• Deceit: The hero attempts to trick the subject into
revealing what they know, or uses lies to convince the
person that the hero is someone who can be trusted
with the information. Normally this is handled as a
Deceit check Opposed with the subject’s Insight, but
heroes can also use Perform (Acting or Disguise) if they
are attempting to pass themselves off as another person.
In such cases the subject resists with Insight against
Acting and Perception against Disguise. An example of a
Deceit-based interrogation would be a hero lying to a villain to
convince him that his duplicitous partner betrayed him, so the
villain will give up the location of his cohort.
• Influence: The hero attempts to bargain or appeal to
the good nature of their subject, or simply speaks the
truth about the situation to convince them to see the
need to share the information. It's best to think of this
as the more diplomatic approach and it may even
involve the hero offering the subject something in
exchange for the information. This exchange is
handled with an Influence check against the Insight of
the subject, or if there is a negotiation as part of the
exchange it would be an Opposed Influence check. An
example of an Influence-based interrogation would be the hero
telling a villain’s lackey that he will also be affected by his
Example Interrogation Situational Modifiers
Situation
The subject recently witnessed a potent ability possessed by the hero
The subject is the only one left from their group after a combat
The subject is in a dangerous situation (dangling over a great height,
sinking into water, and so on)
The subject is aware of the hero’s reputation (for example, the hero has The hero’s check is one Difficulty Grade easier
killed villains before)
The subject is surrounded by allies, witnesses, or has some distinct
advantage in the situation
Revealing the information will put the subject or one of their Passions at The subject’s check is one Difficulty Grade easier
risk
The subject is aware of a detrimental reputation the hero has (for
example, the subject knows the hero refuses to kill)
7. Spot Rules
Torture
I nterrogations utilizing torture can
uncomfortable for many players, and going into
the gory details should be avoided, especially
be
when keeping in mind the limits of their players
and the group. Instead, it’s suggested that the
actual details be handled “off screen” and keep
the interrogation to rolls that succeed or fail. After
all, the purpose of the game is to have fun, and
nothing is fun about real-life torture.
master’s doomsday weapon, and helping the heroes will save his
life as well as the people he cares about.
• Intimidate: The hero attempts to use the threat of
harm or dire consequences to force the subject to reveal
what they know. The hero may have no intention of
following through on whatever they are threatening the
subject with, but someone skilled at Intimidation will
never reveal that fact. On the other hand the hero may
plan to inflict harm if the Intimidation fails, which falls
to the next category. This exchange is handled with an
Intimidate check Opposed by the subject’s Insight, if
the hero is bluffing, or Willpower if the hero is truthful
about their intentions. An example of an Intimidate-based
interrogation is the classic dangling a thug from the rooftop or
other high place scenario from comics.
• Unarmed or Combat Style: The hero inflicts physical
pain or injury to break the subject to the point where
they spill their guts (hopefully not literally). Also known
as torture, inflicting pain to get information is not the
most ethical method, but some heroes are forced to
consider it when options are limited or time is short.
The hero makes an Unarmed or Combat Style check,
which inflicts half the normal damage (if the hero is
holding back) up to the full normal damage. The
Modifier to rolls
The subject’s check is one Difficulty Grade harder
The subject’s check is two Difficulty Grades harder
The subject’s check is one or more Difficulty Grades harder, depending
on the risk involved
The hero’s check is two Difficulty Grades harder
The hero’s check is one Difficulty Grade harder
193

The Mortician persuades a Syndicate underboss
to help him with his inquiries.
subject must make an Endurance or Willpower
(subject’s choice) check to resist, Opposed by the attack
check of the hero. An example of this form of interrogation
is slamming a villain’s head against a table or wall while
questioning them.
For most simple interrogations, especially with non-
significant supporting characters, the situation should
be resolved with one Opposed check between the
participants. Significant supporting characters or
villains may require a prolonged effort on the part of
the heroes to get the information they need, so the
Games Master may treat it as an Opposed Extended
Task instead (see page 57). In this situation the heroes
may change their approach during the interrogation,
such as the classic “good cop/bad cop,” so the rolls
required may vary as the heroes switch methods.
Heroes should keep in mind that how they approach
interrogations may have longer-lasting effects. Heroes
who routinely torture their prisoners will gain a
negative reputation among anyone aware of their
methods, whereas if someone discovers they were
194
tricked, they will be far less likely to help the heroes at a
later time.
The Situation
When the interrogation takes place has as much of an
impact as how the heroes are approaching it. If the hero
tries to threaten a thug in the middle of a crowded mall
surrounded by onlookers, it may be much more
difficult than dangling the same thug off a rooftop by
their ankle. The Games Master should consider the
events leading up to the interrogation as well as the
location chosen and apply modifiers to the hero’s roll
and/or the subject’s check to resist. What the hero says
may also factor into the final difficulty of the checks, and
the Games Master should reward clever ideas and good
roleplaying. Some example Situational Modifiers for
interrogations are listed on page 193, and they can be
used as a basis for other situations.
The Outcome
If the heroes are successful, they get whatever
information the subject of the interrogation knows
about the topics they are inquiring about. Since
interrogations serve to move the story along, the Games
Master should ensure that if the subject knows the
information the heroes want, it should be revealed.
Your average hired goon may not know every detail of
their employer’s schemes, but they should know
something that helps advance the narrative. A Critical
Success by the heroes, or a Fumble by the subject,
should reveal additional information beyond what the
heroes asked for.
On the flip side, if the heroes Fumble, or the subject
scores a Critical Success, the information may not be
accurate or the subject is able to convincingly pass along
false information. It’s also important to keep in mind
that if the heroes pursue the wrong subject, no matter
how well they roll, the information may just not be
there. Interrogating the villain’s second-in-command
may prove fruitful, but harassing their grandmother or
their landlord will probably not reveal the location of
their secret underwater base.
Investigation
When trying to stop a crime, heroes are often called
upon to piece together clues and do legwork to find the
villain before they can strike again. Investigation of a
crime is a vital part of the pursuit of justice in both the
real world and in the four-color worlds of comics, and

heroes may be called upon to play sleuths to foil
whatever plot is threatening the innocent people of
their fair city. In Destined finding a single clue may
require a simple Perception check, but many complex
investigations are handled as Extended Tasks (see page
57) to cover the complexity and legwork often required
to uncover the truth. Since they can be an integral part
of unraveling a mystery, investigations have special
rules and considerations all their own.
Just like all Extended Tasks, the heroes roll a series
of skill checks and gain 25% for each successful roll
towards an end goal of 100%. During investigations,
each successful check reveals some piece of the puzzle
or opens the door to the next task that must be
completed as part of the search for clues. Therefore
heroes may not need to find every single clue to figure
out what is going on, but the more clues found the more
information or evidence they have to work with. In fact,
sometimes if the heroes gain enough clues from several
successes they may not even need to continue the
Extended Task to complete their investigation and
move the story along.
Heroes can take many different approaches to
seeking clues, or may need to use the same technique at
different locations to get whatever information they
can. Here are a few examples of the types of skill
challenges heroes may have to make as part of an
investigation:
• Canvassing: The heroes travel around a specific
location and talk to people in that area in an attempt to
gather information. In most cases the people have no
direct connection to the incident, but they may be
potential witnesses to a crime or may have observed
something that is pertinent to the investigation. For
example, the heroes talk to people in the neighborhood after a
local activist was kidnapped to see if anyone saw suspicious
activity or strangers prior to the crime. Heroes engaging in
canvassing must make Influence or Deceit checks,
depending on their approach. The Games Master may
also allow Perform (Acting or Disguise) checks if the
heroes are adapting personas to elicit a better response
from the people they are talking to.
• Crime Scene Investigation: The heroes examine
the actual scene of the crime, looking for clues and
forensic evidence left behind by the perpetrator. While
advanced forensic techniques can often yield
compelling evidence, heroes without such a
background can uncover things that are vital to the
investigation by simple observation. For example, a hero
arrives at a murder scene prior to the police arriving and she
quickly searches around, finding a drop of blood the killer may
have left behind. She takes a swab and swiftly pockets it for
7. Spot Rules
The Three Clue Rule
I n the course of a game, there will always be
failed rolls, and it’s an oft-repeated gaming
aphorism that “no good plan survives contact with
the players.” Most Games Masters who have run
games including clues have horror stories about
their players overlooking said clue due to a bad
roll or just plain old player oversight.
We recommend that you follow the “three clue
rule” when designing a scenario for your game.
Featured initially on thealexandrian.net, the three
clue rule states that “For any conclusion you want
the PCs to make, include at least three clues.” This
means that there will be at least one clue that
points the players (and heroes) in the right
direction. Even if rolls for all three fail, one clue
should remain blatantly obvious or somehow fall
into the heroes’ laps so that the game doesn’t
stagnate. For example, a non-player character can
reach out to the heroes and provide some much-
needed information, or a clue can be moved to a
different location as the Games Master sees fit.
Above all, make sure that your investigations don’t
rely on a single clue that can be overlooked or
ignored with a failed roll.
later study. Heroes searching a crime scene make
Perception checks to study the area, or Science
(Forensics) to perform analysis and gather evidence.
• Evidence Analysis: The heroes take time to analyze
any clues or evidence they have gathered, looking for
additional information from what is available. This
often follows the investigation of a crime scene, but may
also involve evidence that was gathered by other
sources. For example, a hero uses a contact in the coroner’s
office to review the autopsy records on a recent victim he
suspects was targeted by a serial killer he is hunting.
Performing evidence analysis depends on what types
of evidence the heroes are investigating. Examining a
body or autopsy records would require a Medicine
check, studying DNA evidence would require Science
(Forensics or Genetics), and trying to figure out a
pattern of criminal behavior would need Knowledge
(Psychology). The Games Master will determine what
skill best suits the analysis.
• Interrogation: The heroes attempt to get information
out of an individual or other source that may be
involved with the crime, or may know vital information
but they are unwilling to cooperate. Refer to the section
195

Eclipse traces the links between prominent
underworld figures and a recent series of
spectacular heists plaguing the city.
on Interrogation (see page 192) for how to resolve
questioning suspects.
• Research: The heroes take time to gather information
from sources such as libraries, newspapers, the internet,
or other sources as a way of figuring out important
aspects of the investigation. Research can help uncover
patterns of incidents, uncover historical data that may
help, or discover evidence and witnesses that may have
been overlooked or tried to stay hidden. For example, a
hero goes back through university records to find old colleagues
of the supervillain she is hunting to see who the villain might
recruit into his inner circle. Heroes normally use the
Research skill for this task, but they may also roll against
specific Knowledge or Science skills if they would be
more appropriate to the information they are seeking.
• Stakeout: The heroes observe someone who is a
suspect, or a location may be involved with those who
committed the crime. Stakeouts are often conducted
from a hidden observation point, but a hero may also
“hide in plain sight” at an event or public location to
gather information. For example, a group of heroes position
themselves around the docks late at night, hoping to see if a
local shipping company is bringing in contraband for the mob.
A stakeout from an observation point requires
196
Perception or Insight, depending on what the heroes
are looking for, and possibly a Stealth check to remain
hidden. Hiding in plain sight uses Deceit or Perform
(Acting or Disguise) to ensure the hero doesn’t draw too
much attention.
The Games Master may modify the difficulty of these
checks depending on how beneficial the specific
approach is to the investigation and the circumstances
occurring during the task itself. For example, the autopsy
records above may have several vital details to the killer’s
identity, so the Games Master might lower the difficulty of the
roll to Easy, but if the hero has to search a murder scene during
a torrential rainstorm the check might be Formidable or even
Herculean. There may also be times when the heroes
choose an approach that will not yield results no matter
how well they roll. If the mob is not using the docks to
bring in illicit goods, the heroes can spend days staking
out the place and still come up empty-handed.
Note that while many investigation checks are simple
skill rolls, some may be treated as Opposed checks if
there is a party actively working against the heroes. For
example, if a corrupt cop tampered with the crime scene, The
Mortician may have to Oppose his Conceal or Deceit check to
notice that something is out of place or missing.
Piecing Together the Clues
Once the heroes have conducted their investigation,
they’ll need to look at whatever clues they gathered and
determine where the evidence is leading them. As
mentioned above, even a single success can yield
important information, and the Games Master should
consider what approaches the heroes took and which
ones would be most effective for providing the
information they need. For example, if the Games Master
knows a villain is actively recruiting an old friend from his
college days, successfully researching his time at the university
may produce a vital clue even if all other checks in the
investigation failed. Games Masters can use the above
approaches to map out the clues that are part of the
investigation and see what clues will be the most
significant.
Not only does this help the Games Master detail all
the information available, but it can also serve to tie all
the clues together to provide the larger picture if the
heroes are able to succeed at the Extended Task, or
detail the exact clues they find if they only succeed at
some of the tasks. Continuing the above example, the heroes
did not achieve 100% in the task, but managed to Research
who the villain previously worked with, Interrogate one of his
old colleagues who revealed he was contacted by the villain two
weeks prior, and Canvassed the university and learned from a

few faculty members that someone who looks a lot like the villain
has been seen around the physics department. That information
gives them some important leads to intercept the villain or lay a
trap for him.
If the heroes do manage to get 100% or above on the
Extended Task, the Games Master should provide them
with all the vital information available from the tasks
they completed and give them an additional piece of
information related to all the information they
discovered or something revealed by the pieces of the
puzzle they did uncover. For example, while The Mortician
is tracking a killer, he manages to succeed on his rolls to
examine the most recent murder scene, review his files on all the
killings, question people in the neighborhood near the murder
scene, and research the city sanitation records to see where local
sewer lines pass through. Since he got 100%, the Games
Master also reveals that there are manholes leading into the
sewers within a short distance from the murder scene.
Reluctantly The Mortician dons his waders and heads into
the sewers.
If the heroes roll a Critical Success on one of the task
checks involved, the Games Master should reward them
with additional information in addition to advancing
the tally further on the overall investigation. On the flip
side, rolling a Fumble should provide them with false
information, or even a red herring that could make the
investigation go off the rails.
Ongoing Investigations
In the real world, criminal investigations are prolonged
affairs that can take weeks, months, or even years to
resolve. In comics, most investigations take place over a
few panels or pages, but some mysteries can take several
issues to finally resolve. Investigations can occur in a
single session, or span the course of the current
adventure, but some may take several sessions to
resolve. These investigations often resolve around
important plot points of the overarching campaign or
relate to a specific mystery that is part of the
background of one or more heroes. For example,
Shadowstalker has been finding tidbits relating to a mysterious
terrorist Organization that is infiltrating the underworld. Over
the course of several adventures he uncovers clues that
eventually lead him to the source of all his recent troubles.
The Games Master may treat some mysteries as
ongoing investigations where the tally for the Extended
Task is advanced by actions taken over the course of
multiple sessions. When the heroes discover a clue
related to the ongoing investigation, the Games Master
adds 25% to the tally as normal and keeps track of their
overall progress. When the heroes finally reach 100%,
7. Spot Rules
an important part of the puzzle is revealed and it may
lead into a new part of the campaign, or perhaps cause
things to head in a new direction. Unlike normal
Extended Tasks, ongoing investigations work as a
“campaign timer” of sorts to allow the Games Master to
slowly reveal elements of an important plot point until
the eventual reveal. If heroes miss one of the clues that
are part of the ongoing investigation, it simply delays
the reveal until they are able to accumulate enough
information or details to resolve the investigation.
Luck Points
While skills and powers are invaluable, sometimes the
only thing that helps heroes survive is a little bit of luck.
Luck Points represent a hero’s ability to cheat fate and
turn a Failure into a Success, or escape a deadly
situation by the skin of their teeth.
Heroes gain a number of Luck Points as determined
by their Attribute at the beginning of each new game
session and they are spent as part of play. Luck Points
replenish to their normal value at the start of each game
session, so players should not be stingy about spending
them when needed. A hero can only spend a single
Luck Point as part of an Action, although opposing
sides in a conflict can each spend points if they are
available. Each of the following options is available at
the cost of 1 Luck Point:
• Twist Fate: The hero can reroll any die roll that affects
them. This can be a skill roll, a damage roll, or anything
else involving or affecting the hero. For example,
Shadowstalker is trying to punch out a mob gunman who is
about to open fire on him. His Combat Style with his baton is
68%, but he rolls an 83 on his attack. He spends a Luck Point
to reroll and this time gets a 23, a Success! The hero can
even force an opponent to reroll an attack or damage
roll made against them. Unfortunately the gunman isn’t
dropped by Shadowstalker’s attack, and he shoots at the hero
with his submachine gun. The gunman has a skill of 64% and
rolls a 47, a Success. Shadowstalker decides to spend another
Luck Point to force the mobster to reroll, but the second roll is a
14 and still a Success.
The hero must accept the result of the reroll, even if
it’s worse than the original roll. Sometimes that's the
chance you take when you push your luck.
• Desperate Effort: If the hero has exhausted all of
their Action Points during a conflict and needs a last
burst of energy, they can spend a Luck Point to gain an
additional defensive Action Point for that Combat
Round. Continuing the above example, Shadowstalker spent
his last Action Point for his attack and he really doesn’t want to
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 Destined
be on the receiving end of a hail of bullets. He spends his last
Luck Point to gain an extra Action Point, trying to Evade the
gunfire.
• Mitigate Damage: A hero who is Incapacitated by
damage can spend a Luck Point to reduce the effect to
a Serious Wound, reducing the damage to one Hit Point
less than would be required to Incapacitate them.
During another encounter, Shadowstalker gets clobbered by the
villain Char and takes a whopping 16 points of damage to his
head! This will immediately Incapacitate him, and he really
doesn’t want to be at the molten thug’s mercy. He spends a Luck
Point, reducing the injury so that he is at -5 Hit Points in his
head. While he is still reeling from the powerful blow, at least
now he has a chance to escape.
• Power Reserves: When the hero has exhausted all of
their Power Points, they can spend a Luck Point to
immediately regain 1d4+1 Power Points up to their
maximum value. For example, Shadowstalker has been trying
to free a nuclear power plant from occupying agents of
Chimaera, and has been using his Stealth Strike Boost to strike
and fade while taking down the guards without raising an
alarm so they don’t harm any hostages. By the time he gets to the
last ones, he only has a single Power Point left and needs 2 to
fuel his ability. He spends a Luck Point and rolls 1d4+1
with a result of 4. He regains 4 of his spent Power Points,
gaining a second wind just in time to try to take down the
last guards.
Optional: Escaping
Certain Death
C omic book heroes manage to escape certain
death on a regular basis, even when it seems
that survival would be impossible. There are times
in Destined when the heroes are placed in
situations where the hero’s Incapacitation or
worse are inevitable, and no amount of armor or
lucky die rolls could keep the hero from meeting
their fate. At the Games Master’s discretion,
heroes may spend a Luck Point to cheat certain
death as long as the player can come up with a
(relatively) plausible way the hero could have
survived. For example, while battling Gryphon on a
Chimaera airship, Shadowstalker is knocked off the
edge of the craft and would fall five thousand feet
to his death. His player spends a Luck Point and
says that a Chimaera attack craft happens to be
zooming past under the ship and the hero manages
to land on top of it. This does not mean the hero
completely escapes damage or consequences for
what happened, up to Incapacitation or a
Persistent Injury.
198
Team Luck Points
Heroes are stronger when they work together for the
common good, and the fates seem to favor their
growing legend. Heroes who work together gain a pool
of Team Luck Points that are shared among the group,
and any member of the group can draw from this pool
just like they would from their personal Luck Point
Reserves. The pool starts at a base of 2 Luck Points, and
heroes can add an additional Luck Point for each
member who has a Passion related to another member
of the team or a Passion in common with another
member of the team. For example, the sibling hero duo of
Tortoise and Hare each have a Passion related to protecting
each other, so each of them would contribute an additional point
to the Team Luck Points because of their bond. Torc is also on a
team with them, and while he doesn’t have the deep connection
his teammates share, he and Hare both share a common goal to
Protect the Innocent, so he also contributes one point, bringing
the total to 3 for the group.
No matter how many shared Passions members of a
team have, each individual hero can only add one Luck
Point to the pool. Note that these Luck Points are
available to all members of the team, even if someone
doesn’t have a shared Passion to contribute. If the
group forms their own superhero team (see page 228),
all members of the team contribute to the pool even
if they don’t have a Passion in common with the other
members of the group.
Using Team Luck Points
Heroes may draw from this pool only when they are
doing so to aid another member of the team, and a
single hero can’t use the points for themselves unless the
use somehow benefits at least one of the other heroes.
Since drawing from the Team Luck Points is a Free
Action just like using personal luck, a hero may use the
pool even when it is not their Turn to aid one of their
teammates. Normally Team Luck Points replenish at the
start of the session just like personal Luck Points, but if
the Games Master feels the pool is too much of an
advantage or is being abused, it can be made to
replenish at an appropriate time in the story, such as at
the end of an adventure or after downtime.
Movement Outside
of Combat
Heroes are frequently called upon to traverse difficult
and dangerous environments as part of their duties,
and some heroes are capable of moving in ways beyond
the norm. Chapter 5 details how movement works in

combat situations, while this section details
specific rules and considerations when heroes are
moving in non-combat scenarios.
Balancing
Moving while balancing on a surface such as a
narrow ledge or a rope requires a Hard Athletics
check or a Standard Acrobatics check. While
balancing, the hero may only move at one-third
their normal Movement Rate, and attempting to
go faster prompts another skill check at one
Difficulty Grade harder. Note that distractions,
slippery surfaces, and high winds can increase the
difficulty by one step or more, but using a safety
harness or a pole to help balance will make it one
grade easier. If the hero fails a check to balance
under normal conditions, they fail to make any
progress that round. If they fail while suffering a
penalty under adverse conditions, they may make an
Easy Acrobatics or Standard Athletics check as a Free
Action to grab hold of something to prevent themselves
from falling. If they fail this second check, or roll a
Fumble on the initial check, they fall.
Climbing
If a surface has ample handholds and the hero is using
proper equipment like ropes, climbing or descending is
a Very Easy Athletics check under normal conditions.
Ascending movement is one-third the hero’s normal
Movement Rate, although with proper gear a hero can
descend up to their normal rate. Not having proper
gear, trying to climb a surface with few handholds, or
attempting it in adverse conditions such as in high
winds or during a rainstorm will increase the difficulty
of the check by at least one grade or more. If the hero
fails a check to climb under normal conditions, they
either fail to start the climb or make no progress. If they
fail while suffering a penalty from adverse conditions,
they may make a Standard Brawn check as a Free
Action to maintain their grip on the surface or rope to
prevent them from falling. If they fail this second check,
or roll a Fumble on the initial check, they fall.
Flying
Heroes who are able to fly under their own power don’t
need to make checks to move under normal conditions,
such as flying in clear, open skies. Flying through
moderately cluttered urban areas requires an Easy
Athletics check, or a Standard one if there are
obstructions such as power lines, clotheslines, or narrow
7. Spot Rules
Optional: Temporary Boosts
M any comic book heroes pull off one-time tricks with
their powers to defeat a threat and never use the trick
again. This is more a function of individual comic book
writers getting the character out of a tough spot, but it is
such a common comic trope you may want to allow the
option for your players. As an optional rule, a Luck Point can
be spent to gain a one-time use of a Boost for one of the
hero’s Core Powers. In addition to the Luck Point, the hero
must also spend double the requisite Power Point cost of the
Boost. The Boost lasts for one Action or for one Extended
Task, and after the Action or Task is completed, the hero
must make an Endurance check as a Free Action. If this
check is failed, the hero gains a Level of Fatigue from the
strain of pushing their power in a new and unique way.
side streets and alleys. Unless the mode of flight is
limited in some way, flying heroes can hover in place
and even “Run” and “Sprint” using their ability. Flying
is adversely affected by wind and weather conditions,
with heroes taking penalties to movement and skill
checks to fly as detailed below in the Weather section
(see page 206). If something would ever negate the
hero’s Flight Core Power while they are in the sky, they
immediately fall but can attempt to lower the damage
with a successful Acrobatics check, if they are trained in
the skill (see pages 63-64).
Jumping
A hero who makes a successful Athletics check and
moves at least 5 meters beforehand can jump up to
twice their height horizontally or half their height
vertically. If the hero attempts to jump from a standing
position, these distances are halved. For every full 20%
the hero has in Athletics, they may add 1 meter to their
horizontal distance with a running start, or 15 cm to
their vertical distance with a running start. If the hero
jumps more than half their maximum distance, they
end up prone upon landing unless they roll a Critical
Success. Failing an Athletics check means the hero
aborted the jump before they started, while a Fumble
either halves the intended distance of the jump or the
hero falls and suffers 1d3 damage, or more if they failed
to clear a pit or other obstacle.
Running
As mentioned, heroes may choose to Run or Sprint
when they perform normal ground movement,
although doing either for prolonged periods of time
199
 Shadowstalker uses his grappling gun to swing from a nearby parapet and make a boots-first entrance
into the hideout where Malycer’s henchmen are lying low after the fight at the factory..
will accrue Fatigue (see page 186). For every full 25%
the hero has in Athletics, they can add an additional
meter to their Base Movement Rate while sprinting, or
half that when running over long distances. This also
includes movement prior to a Charge Attack, but if
space is limited the hero may forgo this extra
movement.
Swimming
Under normal conditions a hero can make an Easy
Athletics check to swim up to their normal Movement
Rate in calm water. Water that is choppy, is full of
obstacles, or has a strong current increases the difficulty
of this roll by at least one level or more. Failing an
Athletics check to swim normally means the hero makes
no progress or is forced to tread water, but in difficult
conditions it also imposes a Level of Fatigue. Fumbling
the roll means the hero begins to sink or breathes in
some water and begins to drown (see Asphyxiation on
page 187). Normal heroes may not increase their
movement by “Running” or “Sprinting,” but they can
increase their swimming Movement Rate by 1 meter for
every full 20% they have in Athletics. Heroes who have
200
the Super Swimming Core Power (see page 96) may
“Run” and “Sprint” normally when underwater.
Swinging
If the hero has a rope, chandelier, or some other form
of line, they can attempt to swing with a successful
Standard Athletics roll or an Easy Acrobatics roll. The
hero is limited to the length of whatever they are
swinging on and the distance they are from the ground
as the arc of the swing will reach down the full length of
the rope. For example, The Mortician wants to use his grapple
gun to swing between two rooftops 20 feet apart from one
another. It has a line 30 feet in length, enough to reach between
the rooftops, and at 50 feet off the ground he is in no danger
of hitting the streets below. If he was only 20 feet up, he would
either need to adjust the length of his line or risk hitting the
pavement during his swing. If the hero fails a check to
swing, they fail to land properly, resulting in a swing
back in the opposite direction. A Fumble on this check
either means the hero falls or they misjudge the
distance and strike an object or structure along the path
of the swing.
 7. Spot Rules

Teleportation environmental and situational dangers to a hero’s well-

Heroes with the Teleport Core Power (page 119) can
instantly disappear and reappear at a distant point
without the need to cross the intervening space. This
allows heroes with this ability to circumvent many
obstacles or perils in their way, or gives them an easy
way to gain access to places that are normally
inaccessible. This is the benefit of the power, and Games
Masters should account for it without preventing the
hero from using their special gift. If the hero is
attempting to teleport into somewhere unfamiliar, even
if they can see it, the Games Master may require them
to make an Easy Perception check to properly gauge the
distance or best landing point. Failure on this check
means the teleport was aborted, while a Fumble means
the hero misjudged the distance and ends up
somewhere unexpected or potentially dangerous.
Perils
being. Perils are defined by several Traits that
determine what kind of harm is inflicted, how much,
and how the hero can resist, if possible. These Traits are
Intensity, Damage, Conditions, and Potency, and how
they work in play is detailed below.
Peril Intensity
The Intensity level of a Peril serves as a marker for how
dangerous it is to the hero, with higher rated Perils
inflicting more damage, causing more Conditions, or
being harder to resist. Typically, a Peril has a single
Intensity rating that determines its threat level for all
other Traits, but the Games Master can also assign
different Traits of the Peril different Intensity levels to
customize it to their needs. For example, the poison
Shadowstalker accidentally ingested only inflicts a Peril
Intensity of 2 damage each Combat Round, but it is very
difficult to resist with an Intensity 5 Potency.

Not every threat heroes face comes from the
machinations of a devious villain or the machine gun of
a gang member. The life of a hero is subject to many
kinds of dangers such as insidious death traps, being
crushed by falling debris, or the venomous bite of a
deadly snake. In Destined, these other potential sources
of harm are known as Perils, and they represent
Note that some Core Powers have effects that are
treated as Perils with an Intensity detailed within the
power. This denotes the maximum level Peril Intensity
created with the Core Power, and the player should
work with the Games Master to develop appropriate
Perils based on what the power is capable of. For example,
the hero Siren can create up to a Peril Intensity 3 with her

Peril Conditions
Condition Effects
Agony Any skill roll with the afflicted Hit Location must also be less than or equal to the lower of the hero’s Endurance or
Willpower or it automatically fails, or all skill rolls are affected if the Condition targets the entire body.
Blindness The hero cannot see and automatically fails all checks related to vision.
Confusion All skills based on INT or CHA are two Difficulty Grades harder.
Contagion The hero transfers the Peril by touch or through the air within 3 meters of them.
Deafness The hero cannot hear and automatically fails all checks related to hearing.
Death The hero becomes Incapacitated and will die in a number of Combat Rounds equal to twice their Healing Rate if
left untreated. A Hard First Aid or a Standard Medicine check will stabilize the hero.
Exhaustion The hero gains a Level of Fatigue that can’t be recovered as long as the Peril is in effect.
Fever All skill checks are one Difficulty Grade harder from fluctuating body temperatures and body aches.
Hallucinations The hero experiences delusions that make it difficult to separate reality from fantasy. The effects of this are largely
determined by the Games Master, but are often perversions of the hero’s strongest Passions, past misdeeds, or a
theme taken from popular fiction or common fears.
Mania The hero gains a temporary Passion equal to their Willpower based on an irrational compulsion or obsession such
as acquiring new belongings, rampant paranoia, or fear of something mundane or harmless.
Nausea The hero is unable to eat and must roll against Endurance when undertaking any physical action that requires a
skill check. On a Failure the hero becomes violently ill for 1d3 Combat Rounds and is unable to act during that
time.
Paralysis The hero either can’t move the affected area or can’t move at all if the Peril affects the whole body.
Sapping The hero’s reserves of power are drained, losing a number of Power Points equal to the Immediate Damage value
of the Intensity of the Peril.
Unconsciousness The hero is rendered Incapacitated for the time period specified by the Peril and gains a Level of Fatigue upon
awakening.
Unsteadiness When the hero attempts to move, they must make a Hard Athletics check or immediately fall prone.
201
 Destined
Elemental Control of water. She commands the river to rise up
and flow onto the city streets to impair a group of thugs, and
the Games Master rules this would cause no damage but
potentially inflict up to 3 Conditions. She rules anyone caught
in the water would be Unsteady, and would suffer from
Exhaustion and Paralysis each Turn they failed an Athletics
check against a Potency of 65% as they are caught in the
rough currents.
Peril Damage
Perils that inflict direct harm to a hero can either cause
Immediate Damage or Ongoing Damage over a period
of time. When deciding which one best fits, consider the
following criteria for each type of damage:
• Immediate Damage is the result of an instantaneous
danger that does not have a lasting effect. It inflicts a
higher level of damage one time and unless there are
other instances of it, the threat has passed after the
initial harm. Examples of this include a large boulder falling
on someone, explosions, traps that launch direct attacks, or
getting struck by a vehicle or other fast-moving object.
• Ongoing Damage inflicts harm over a period of time
defined by the type of Peril, and while the damage is
initially less, it can be more dangerous if it occurs for an
extended time period. Examples include substances like
fires, diseases, poisons, caustic acid, or radiation.
The amount of damage each type inflicts is listed
below, based on the Intensity of the Peril. There are two
other factors to consider when it comes to damaging
Perils: do Armor Points provide protection from the
damage and is there a delay before the damage affects
the hero?
• Armor Points protect heroes from direct harm, either
from physical sources such as blades or damaging
Perils Intensity Table
Intensity Immediate Ongoing Conditions
1 1d6 1d2 1 40-50%
2 2d6 1d4 2 51-60%
3 3d6 1d6 3 61-70%
4 4d6 2d6 4 71-80%
5 5d6 3d6 5 81-90%
Each additional +1 +1d6 +1d6 +1
202
energy such as a laser blast. If the Peril would cause
harm much like a weapon would (cutting, burning,
piercing, crushing, and so on), then Armor Points
should apply normally. If the damage is something
more insidious, like poison gas or strong radiation, then
most types of armor will have no effect on it and the
hero would need specialized protection to keep safe,
such as a gas mask or NBC suit for the above examples.
• Some types of Perils don’t affect the hero immediately,
needing time to insinuate themselves into their system.
Poisons and diseases are good examples of this as they
need to infect the hero’s body before their effects
manifest. The Games Master can assign a time period it
takes before the harmful effects of the Peril come to
pass, anything from a few Turns to hours or even days
before the damage occurs. If the hero is aware of the
Peril, the Games Master must also determine if
something can be done to counter the effect before
damage occurs. For example, if Shadowstalker was exposed
to a deadly pathogen, a doctor may be able to treat the illness
before it does him any lasting harm.
While Perils normally only inflict one form of
damage, the Games Master may rule that some complex
or especially dangerous threats inflict both types.
Perhaps a virulent toxin does a large amount of
Immediate Damage when injected but then keeps
inflicting smaller Ongoing Damage as it works through
the hero’s body. Or a ruptured gas main might cause an
explosion initially, but also ignites deadly fires all
around the blast, and these continue to inflict damage
until the gas main is shut off and the fires extinguished.
Perils and Hit Locations
Unlike most attacks that only target a single Hit
Location, some Perils can damage a hero in multiple
locations or even affect their entire body. The Games
Potency Example
Objects up to SIZ 10, mild acid, small open flame,
mild radiation
Objects of SIZ 11-20, average acid, a blowtorch
Objects of SIZ 21-30, strong acid, bonfire, strong
radiation
Objects of SIZ 31-40, industrial solvent, burning
building
Objects SIZ 41-50, toxic chemical bath, molten
lava, exposure to a reactor core
+10% For each additional +10 SIZ for objects, extreme
threats such as solar surfaces, atomic bombs, and
so on

Master has final say if a Peril causes harm to multiple
locations, but here are a few guidelines to keep in mind
when determining what and how many Hit Locations it
can affect.
• Is it similar to a weapons attack? Perils that are similar to
weapons attacks, such as the launched dart of an
ancient trap inside a hidden temple, should be treated
like any other attack and target a random location.
Injected or ingested poisons may also fall under this
category, affecting the stomach (Abdomen) if eaten or
the location struck if used on an envenomed weapon.
• Does the danger cover a large area? A massive boulder,
falling debris from a collapsing building, or a wave of
toxic chemicals are likely to cause widespread harm to a
hero subjected to them. The important consideration is
would the hero be able to avoid any of the Peril? If the
answer is yes, then it might be best to have it affect a
random number of Hit Locations (1d3 or 1d6+1 for
example). If it would fully envelop the hero, such as
falling into a vat of acid, then it affects all locations
simultaneously.
• Does it affect an area in a spray or spread? A shattered
window throwing shards of glass, a burning building
with blazing hot fire on all sides, or a spray of venom
from an alien plant could potentially hit multiple areas
on a hero. In these cases, the Peril will target a random
number of locations, usually between 1d3 and 1d6+1.
Peril Conditions
Some Perils don’t cause direct physical harm, but affect
the hero in other ways by limiting their ability to
function normally or altering their perceptions of the
world around them. These Traits are called Conditions,
and if the hero fails to resist the Peril, they suffer the
listed effect for a period of time determined by the
Games Master (anywhere from a few Turns to hours or
even days). If the Condition is ongoing, the Games
Master may also allow the hero a chance to make
another attempt to resist the Condition after a certain
time has passed to shake it off. Some of the Conditions
below list what skill is used to resist their effects, and if
no skill is listed, Endurance is used for Perils that affect
the body, or Willpower for those that affect the mind.
If a Peril causes multiple Conditions, the Games
Master must determine if they all occur immediately, if
they occur in succession, or if some only occur if the roll
to resist the Peril is failed. Usually the progression of
Conditions occurs as subsequent rolls to resist are
failed, but they might also be linked to a certain amount
of time passing. For example, a deadly pathogen might cause
7. Spot Rules
Agony in the victim if the initial resistance check is failed, and
then Nausea for several hours before eventually leading to
Death. Keep in mind that Perils can inflict both damage
and Conditions, an especially dangerous combination.
Peril Potency
The Potency of a Peril is used when the threat is able to
be resisted, and it is treated as a skill rating for the
danger level of the Peril. This is used in an Opposed
Roll against a resisting skill such as Brawn, Endurance,
Evade, or Willpower. If the hero is successful, they are
able to avoid the Peril or suffer a reduced effect. If the
hero Fumbles this check, the Peril inflicts maximum
damage or the hero automatically fails the next
resistance check to avoid its effects. Potency is also used
in place of any other Opposed Roll caused by the effects
of a Peril such as the Endurance check when the hero
accrues a Serious Wound from the Peril or they are
Incapacitated. When the Peril is created, the Games
Master determines if the Peril can only be resisted once,
or how often the hero can attempt a new resistance
check against it for ongoing effects.
Example Perils
Below are some common types of Perils that heroes may
encounter as part of their adventures. The Intensity of
each is determined by the Games Master when using
them as part of an encounter.
• Caustic Substances: Acids, volatile chemicals, and
strange alien goo are all types of caustic substances that
can eat away at materials and flesh with deadly
efficiency. Caustics inflict Ongoing Damage and have a
Potency dependent on the strength of the substance.
Some cause nerve damage that inflicts Agony, others
can cause Blindness from their fumes, and many are so
volatile that even coming into contact with the affected
area passes it on to another (Contagion). Caustic
substances continue to damage the target until they are
scraped off, neutralized with another substance, or
washed off with water or a reagent. In most cases armor
does protect against caustics, but it can be eaten away by
the substance as well. Some caustics only harm specific
materials such as plastics or metals, eating through
armor and weapons but leaving the hero completely
unharmed.
• Death Traps: The standard of supervillainy
everywhere, death traps are elaborate contraptions
designed to torment captured heroes before causing
their demise. In some cases, death traps are a gauntlet
of different types of Perils a hero must overcome in
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 Destined

Example Death traps

V illains are always coming up with new and terrible ways to dispose of their foes in overly elaborate and
easily escapable ways. Here are a few ideas to spark your imagination for your own insidious traps. While
Intensity levels and damage values are not given, some general guidelines on how to structure each are given
so you can customize it for your group.

• Counterweight of Doom: One hero is bound to a table, above which is suspended a massive crushing
weight. Another hero, preferably a strong one, is positioned under another weight and must not let it fall or
the counterbalance will drop the suspended object down and crush their companion. Both weights inflict
Immediate Damage if they fall, and the heroes need to make a series of Opposed Rolls against the Potency to
beat the trap (Brawn for the lifter and Acrobatics, Athletics, or Mechanisms for the bound hero to escape). An
alternative to this trap is the Treadmill of Doom, which replaces one weight with a treadmill where a hero must
continuously Run (and make Athletics checks) to prevent the deadly weight/spikes/buzz saw from descending
on their ally. While the danger of this trap is obvious, the more insidious risk comes from accumulated Fatigue
from constant exertion, which can wear the heroes down before they can get free.

• Disco Inferno: The trap of choice for music-themed villains. The heroes are trapped in a room made to look
like a dance club. The only way to unlock the door is to move according to a pattern given on lighted floor tiles,
and any missteps cause gouts of flame shooting from the floor or walls to roast the clumsy hero. For an
additional challenge, the room slowly heats up to spur the heroes to dance like their lives depend on it. This
trap is an Extended Task using a Hard Athletics or Standard Perform (Dance) roll Opposed by the trap’s Potency.
Failing a check results in Immediate Damage from fire, and with the heating room option the trap slowly builds
up Ongoing Damage, raising the Intensity each Combat Round. The heating option can be treated as the
Exhaustion Condition, forcing the hero to make an Endurance check at a specific time interval or suffer
increasing Fatigue. As an alternative, villains can use the Last Dance version where the hero must continuously
dance to the beat or suffer ongoing damage from an electrified floor. In this version Potency is used to Oppose
Rolls to escape or disable the trap.

• The Drowning Pool: The heroes are bound within a compact room that is slowly filling with liquid. Usually
it fills with water so the heroes will eventually drown, but it could also be sand, mild acid, or a flammable
substance that will eventually come in contact with a pilot light on the ceiling. The heroes must make Athletics
checks to tread water or Endurance checks once it fills to avoid Asphyxiation (see page 187). A damaging
substance inflicts Ongoing Damage, while the ignition example above would cause Immediate Damage
followed by Ongoing Damage as the heroes burn. The trap’s Potency is used for Opposed checks to disable it
or escape by breaking out or bypassing the door. An alternative version is the classic crushing wall trap, where
the walls come together or the ceiling descends. This trap only inflicts damage after a specified time period,
and until then heroes can attempt Brawn checks against the Potency to hold back the crushing walls. The
Potency is also used for attempts to disable to trap by stopping the mechanism or any attempts to get free from
the room.

succession, while others are a single Immediate
Damaging effect that triggers under certain
circumstances or after a period of time. The Potency of
the trap is the skill rating for attempts to counter or
disarm it, and the Games Master may make this process
an Extended Task of several skills to make the trap
trickier to defeat. It should be noted that villains rarely
stay behind to see if their nefarious trap kills the heroes,
assuming their brilliant device is infallible.
• Fires: Fires are very dangerous and can quickly rage
out of control if enough flammable materials are
present. The intense heat it causes can burn just as
204
quickly as the blaze itself. Fires are Ongoing Damage
Perils with an Intensity equal to the size of the blaze (see
below). Large fires can also quickly remove breathable
air from an area by consuming oxygen and filling it with
smoke, which can cause Asphyxiation to heroes without
a source of breathable air (treat as the Exhaustion
Condition). Typically, fires don’t have a Potency rating,
but one can be used to oppose effects and powers that
try to put out or counter the blaze. For example, if Siren
was attempting to use her water powers to snuff out a
building on fire, the Games Master may have her roll
her Willpower against the fire’s Potency. If a fire is left
unchecked and occurs in an area with flammable

Hare’s ultra fast reactions and acrobatic skills enable her to deftly somersault over a blast of fire from
a flamethrower trap in Dr Vellaro’s underground lair.
objects, it can quickly grow in Intensity as it spreads into
a larger area.
• Large Objects: Superheroic battles often use nearby
objects as makeshift weapons, and having an
automobile hurled at you or dropped on your head can
quickly ruin a hero’s day. Large objects, whether
deliberately thrown or the result of some calamity
(debris from a collapsing building, runaway truck, and
so forth), are treated as Immediate Damage Perils with
an Intensity equal to their relative size and material
strength. For example, the aforementioned car might
be Intensity 4 for a typical mid-sized sedan. A
deliberately hurled or driven object does not use
Potency to Oppose the target, but instead uses the skills
of the attacker (Athletics or Drive, for example).
Large objects thrown or wielded as weapons are
treated as Improvised Weapons (see page 133). Large
objects that are the result of some environmental or
situational cause are given a Potency rating to Oppose
attempts to Evade them, or Brawn checks to catch them
(if the target is capable of doing so). Also note that large
objects can also pin targets under their weight, which
requires the target to spend an Action Point and make
7. Spot Rules
an Opposed check against the Potency with either
Athletics (to wiggle free) or Brawn (to move the object).
• Pathogens and Poisons: Deadly viruses and poisons
are all-too-common Perils in the lives of heroes,
potentially serving as a greater danger than any
gangster wielding a machine gun. They are usually
Ongoing Damage Perils, and their Potency is resisted by
the Endurance of the victim to see if they take effect.
Intensity is based on the virulence of the pathogen, how
hard it is to resist, or both. Armor does not protect
against them, and they either last a predetermined
period of time or until the hero is able to successfully
resist their effects.
Diseases and Poisons often delay their damage and
the damage reoccurs after a period of time either equal
to the initial Onset Time or as a separate value, which is
also the time a new resistance check is made. For example,
flesh-eating bacteria might inflict damage an hour after
infection, if the resistance check is failed, and again daily, at
which time the hero attempts to fight it off again. Many
poisons and pathogens also inflict a variety of
Conditions instead of or in addition to damage inflicted.
For example, a sleep poison would not inflict damage, but
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 Destined

Example Diseases and Poisons

Here are a few example Diseases and Poisons to use or to serve as a basis for your own deadly concoctions.

• Alien Spores: A dangerous alien fungus that affects any who breathe in the spores. It is an Intensity 3
pathogen that inflicts a Level of Fatigue every 10 minutes if an Endurance check against its Potency of 65 is
failed. Victims who fail the first check are afflicted with Confusion and Hallucinations until they can successfully
pass an Endurance check after an hour has passed, and every hour after that if the check is failed.

• Engineered Plague: A dangerous virus created by a dastardly villain that can either be ingested through
food or caught by being too close to one of the Contagious infected. It is an Intensity 4 pathogen that has an
Onset Time of 1 hour. At that time victims must make an Endurance check against a Potency of 80 or suffer
Nausea and Confusion. Those who fail the initial check must make another Endurance check every hour or
suffer Agony and a Mania that fills them with violent rage towards everyone around them. It can only be treated
with an anti-virus specific to the plague or by making 3 successful Endurance rolls while fighting off the virus.

• Neurotoxin: A deadly poison that can be lethal if it enters the blood through injection or a wound. It is an
Intensity 4 poison that causes Agony to all locations and Exhaustion and Fever unless an Endurance check is
made against a Potency 75. If this initial check is failed the target must make a second Endurance check 10
minutes later or suffer Death.

• Sleep Gas: A potent gas that can knock out anyone who breathes it in. This Intensity 3 poison causes any
who fail an Endurance check against a Potency of 70 to fall Unconscious for 1d6 minutes. Succeeding on the
roll still inflicts Exhaustion, but the victim is not knocked out. A Fumble on the resistance check knocks the victim
out for 1d6 hours instead.

would cause Exhaustion or Unconsciousness to the victim.

One final consideration for Diseases and Poisons is the
vector, or how they infect their victim: whether they are
breathable aerosols, injected into the bloodstream,
ingested in food or drink, and so on. This will
determine not only how the pathogen can affect the
hero, but what special immunities or resistances might
help keep them safe. If a pathogen or poison needs to
enter the bloodstream, it usually has to inflict at least 1
Hit Point of damage or be able to penetrate the hero’s
skin in the case of syringes. The Inherent Armor and
Resistance powers may prevent the hero from being
affected by such attempts.
• Radiation: Despite the tendency in Silver Age comics
to grant people superpowers from exposure to nuclear
materials, radiation is more likely to cause tissue
damage and terrible illness to anyone exposed to it.
Radiation is an Ongoing damaging Peril with Intensity
and Potency related to its overall strength. Without
proper protective gear and a successful Endurance
check, radiation damage occurs several hours after
exposure (for Intensity 1 or 2) to minutes or even
seconds after exposure (for Intensity 3 or higher).
Radiation can also cause Conditions such as Agony,
Confusion, Exhaustion, Fever, Nausea, and even Death
if exposure is severe enough and prolonged.
206
Visibility
Sometimes it is important to know if the hero can see
danger coming, especially when conditions are not
optimal. The table below gives the rough distance in
meters at which a SIZ 10 to 20 object can be seen if
there is a clear line of sight for someone with normal
human vision. Halve the listed values if the object is
smaller than SIZ 10, or increase the range by one
multiple for every 10 points of SIZ over 20. So a SIZ 22
robot could be seen at double the listed distance, while
a SIZ 38 dinosaur could be seen at triple the normal
distance. Heroes with special senses, such as Dark
Vision, will treat certain conditions differently or ignore
them entirely. The same values can be used for heroes
with Heightened Sense versions of other senses, such as
Enhanced Hearing or Smell.
Weather
The natural world has a way of reminding humanity
that it is still in charge, and severe weather can hamper
or even endanger unprepared heroes. Additionally,
heroes with the right Elemental Control powers can
harness and create weather to use to their advantage.
While more dangerous forms of weather can be treated
 7. Spot Rules

as Perils, for game purposes the following three weather
conditions are what are focused on in these rules:
• Precipitation: Moisture falling from the sky,
precipitation impairs a hero’s ability to perceive things
and may also slow movement. It also makes heroes wet,
which can make checks to avoid Fatigue from Exposure
to cold temperatures harder at the Games Master’s
discretion.
• Temperature: Varying dramatically based on climate,
season, and elevation, temperature extremes can cause
Fatigue from Exposure, with the rate of Endurance
checks listed below. Heroes with the proper Core Power
of Life Support do not need to make rolls against
extreme temperatures.
• Wind: Heavy winds can affect physical skills based on
STR and DEX, giving them a base difficulty listed
below, and can impair the rate at which heroes move. A
separate column lists the movement penalties for flying,
and hurricane-strength winds make flight impossible
unless the hero can make a Formidable Athletics check.
If successful, flight speed is one-tenth normal.

Visibility Table
Conditions Daylight Twilight Moonlight Moonless Night
Clear 500 m. 300 m. 50 m. 25 m.
Overcast 400 m. 250 m. 50 m. 25 m.
Moderate Fog 150 m. 100 m. 25 m. 15 m.
Dense Fog 50 m. 30 m. 15 m. 10 m.
Wind-Driven Snow 35 m. 25 m. 10 m. 5 m.
Sand/Dust Storm 20 m. 15 m. 10 m. 5 m.

Precipitation Table
Precipitation Type Visibility Effect
Light Clouds/Fog or Rain Two-thirds Visual skill checks are one grade harder
Heavy Clouds/Fog or Rain Half Visual skill checks are two grades harder
Severe Storm One-third Visual and auditory skill checks are three
grades harder
Light Snow/Ice Two-thirds Visual skill checks are one grade harder,
movement two-thirds
Heavy Snow/Ice One-third Visual skill checks are two grades harder,
movement one-third

Temperature Table
Climate Risk of Exposure Exposure Rate
Glacial Yes Every minute
Freezing Yes Every 15 minutes
Cold Yes Every hour
Normal No None
Hot Yes Every hour
Extremely Hot Yes Every 15 minutes

Wind Table
Wind Type Skill Grade Movement Rate Flight Movement
No Wind, Light Breeze Standard Normal Normal
Light Wind Standard Normal Two-thirds
Moderate Wind Hard Two-thirds Half
Strong Wind Formidable Half One-third
Hurricane Herculean One-third Impossible

207
 Destined
The life of a
hero
S
ky Raven returns to her lair after a long conflict with
her nemesis, landing her black helicopter in its rooftop
hangar. While she didn’t defeat him this time, she
found more information that could lead to his
downfall. Exhausted, she changes into her civilian clothing
and calls her girlfriend Hannah, trying to explain why she was
incommunicado for so long. However, it seems like this absence
might cause yet another argument, and it is getting harder and
harder to come up with plausible excuses. Sighing, she drives
her beat-up sedan out of her lair through the fake storefront
disguised as a mechanic’s shop, driving toward a completely
different fight.
Heroes in comic books often lead more complex lives
beyond wearing a cape and punching villains, often
juggling civilian lives, membership on teams or within
Organizations, and keeping those they care about safe.
While battling evil can be fun, taking time to develop
the other aspects of your hero can enrich the
experience and build a deeper collaborative story for
the entire group. This chapter focuses on some key
elements of comic book superheroes and how to
incorporate them into your game: Great Power, Great
Responsibility, Heroic and Secret Identities,
Organizations, Creating Superteams, and establishing
Bases of Operation.
Great Power
Just imagine having superpowers – being able to fly
through the air, shrugging off bullets, or being able to
stretch to reach that can up on the highest shelf of a big-
box store. Even something that is relatively “mundane”
like the ability to see in the infrared spectrum would be
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an incredible boon and save the hero a lot of money on
flashlights. Having powers would change your life in
significant and unexpected ways, and the same applies
to your hero. It’s an important thing to consider when
creating your hero, especially the time immediately
after their Origin when they are getting used to their
gifts. How did they react when they discovered their
powers? Did they tell anyone? How did those people
react? How did they learn to master their powers, or do
they have Limits that represent their continuing effort
to learn to control their abilities? Were they tempted to
use them in self-serving ways? Did they give in to that
temptation?
Another thing to consider is how the hero uses their
powers outside of their heroic life, if at all. Powers grant
a distinct advantage in situations related to whatever
ability they grant, such as using Enhanced Speed when
the hero is running late, or Teleport to get past the
bouncer outside a club. In comics, heroes often become
quite good at using powers surreptitiously when a
situation arises that warrants it, and in-game this may
require judicious use of skills like Deceit, Sleight, or
Stealth to pull it off. For example, if Shadowstalker wanted
to use his Enhanced Speed in his day job to get to a meeting he’s
running late for, he’d have to make a Stealth check to avoid his
co-workers and the CCTV cameras. It can be easy to abuse
powers as a way to overcome mundane challenges, and
while the Games Master should never restrict players
from using their fantastic abilities, getting caught using
powers could put the hero’s secret identity at risk, or
make them a target of those who would try to control or
exploit those powers.

Also keep in mind that powers are powerful. The
ability to fire an energy blast equivalent in power to a
high-powered rifle or being able to punch through a
brick wall are great when fighting supervillains, but
what ramifications are there for wielding such power?
Even using the standard rules for damage, hitting a
mugger with a full-powered energy blast could lead to
serious injury or even death, and missed blasts have to
go somewhere. What happens if they damage a
building or accidentally hit an innocent bystander?
Does the super-strong hero have to treat the world as if
it is made of glass so they don’t crush something or
someone important to them? On the flip side, powers
also have specific limitations that need to be taken into
account. A flying hero can hold themselves aloft, but are
they strong enough to carry a bystander to safety?
Boosts help overcome some of these issues, but having
powers does not make a hero all-powerful.
Powers as Resources
As mentioned above, a hero’s powers offer them
tremendous opportunities and advantages, and there
are those out there who will inevitably see those gifts as
a valuable commodity. Corporations, media outlets, and
governments may want to find a way to gain access to,
or to gain control of, a hero’s special powers for their
own benefit. A nearly invulnerable hero would serve as
a great pilot for experimental vehicles, while a hero
with Empathy or Telepathy would be invaluable during
negotiations. Powered individuals could serve as potent
weapons, extremely adept agents, or test subjects to
unlock the source of superpowers to replicate them.
Depending on the Organization, they may choose legal
or financial ways to gain access to the hero, such as
making them contracted employees or putting them on
retainer for their services. Other less scrupulous groups
would think nothing of black-bagging the hero and
whisking them off to some secret facility for
brainwashing or vivisection. Sometimes the most
dangerous villains aren’t the ones in dark-toned
spandex, but the ones who have limitless resources
and the ability to operate above the law to get what
they want.
Of course, not everyone who wants access to a hero’s
powers will be quite so nefarious in their approach.
Perhaps local community leaders approach the hero to
use their gifts to protect their beleaguered
neighborhood, or a community center asks if a flying
hero would be willing to give very special piggy-back
rides to underprivileged children as part of an event.
8. The Life of a Hero
Depending on the frequency of powers in the
campaign setting, powered individuals may also be
highly sought after in the regular workforce. Not
everyone who gains powers will want to risk their life
nightly, but may look for safer ways to use their abilities.
Someone with super strength would be a huge asset
loading ships at the docks, while one who could
manipulate earth and stone would be valuable for
construction or mining work. If powers are not
uncommon, a setting might see the rise of
superpowered sports leagues, movie stars who are both
their own stunt person and do their own special effects,
and rescue workers who can phase through collapsed
buildings to rescue those trapped underneath. In such
a setting, maybe your heroes are work-a-day powered
people who get drawn into the bigger world of
superheroics, whether they want to or not.
Great Responsibility
As the saying goes, power corrupts; absolute power
corrupts absolutely. In comics, the heroes make the
decision at some point to use their abilities for the
benefit of others. Some make their choice because they
have a strong moral base, while others are shaped by
tragic events and vow to use their powers to prevent
tragedy from occurring to others. Some heroes start out
with selfish motivations, but after they see the good they
can do, they have a change of heart. The villains are the
ones who decide to use their powers for self-serving
reasons, and this often is at the center of the conflict
between heroes and their foes. It can be important to
developing your hero to clarify why they made the
choice to use their powers for good, and what motivates
them to continue the never-ending fight against evil. Do
they feel that their abilities were gifted to them to serve
a higher purpose? Did they lose someone important to
them, either by tragedy or even the hero’s own
inaction? Does the hero thrive in the spotlight and
worry about tarnishing their image?
One other consideration is the burden of heroism. It
is not easy to venture out night after night, putting your
life in danger and risking everything you hold dear for
strangers who may not even appreciate what you do. In
many settings heroes are not revered but are reviled,
seen as something “non-human,” or are subjected to
scrutiny and cruelty by those who are jealous of their
gifts. Not all groups want to explore these heavier
themes, but taking time to consider them can help add
depth to the heroes and to the campaign as a whole.
Why does your hero continue putting on the mask
every night? How does the constant danger and threats
affect them? Are they ever tempted to give up the mask
and try to live a normal life? Are they ever tempted to
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 Destined

Optional: Heroic Reputation

B ecause of how significant a hero’s reputation can be to how the public views her, we’ve provided the
following optional rule to track exactly how the people view their protectors. A hero’s Heroic Reputation
functions like a specialized Passion, with the main difference being that it is not determined by the hero
themselves, but by their actions. Normally the players and the Games Master work together to decide an
appropriate Heroic Reputation based on some recent event or deed that drew attention to the hero. For
example, if Shadowstalker manages to take down a terrorist before he is able to detonate a bomb at a baseball
game, he may gain the “Savior of the Innocent” or “Terrorist Fighter” Heroic Reputation to reflect this deed.
The base value of this reputation is determined by how well known or publicized the event was, with examples
listed below.

A Heroic Reputation isn’t always something positive, and a hero can also gain a negative reputation based
on their actions, or their perceived actions. A hero who uses lethal force often might gain the “Brutal Killer”
Heroic Reputation, or one that mouths off to a reporter may earn something like “Angry and Unpleasant.”
While it may occasionally benefit the hero to cash in on their bad reputation, more often than not it will make
things difficult when dealing with people who know about it.

Just like Passions, Heroic Reputations can be used within the game to help or hinder the hero in specific
circumstances. Whenever the hero encounters someone who might have heard of them, the Games Master can
call for a Heroic Reputation check to see if they are aware of the hero’s reputation. If the roll succeeds, they
have heard of the hero and will react according to the reputation. If the hero has a positive Heroic Reputation,
perhaps supporting characters will be more likely to help them or may fawn over the hero, requesting
autographs and pictures. If the reputation is negative, the supporting character may be wary of the hero or may
even work against them if possible, withholding important information or threatening to call the authorities.
Alternatively, if the hero uses their negative Heroic Reputation as part of an Intimidation attempt, they may
actually benefit from it instead. If the roll fails, the person is unaware of the hero’s reputation and will not be
affected by it one way or the other. If the roll is a Critical Success, the supporting character will go out of their
way to help the hero, out of admiration or fear depending on the Heroic Reputation. On a Fumble, the Heroic
Reputation causes the hero some kind of trouble, even if it is positive. An admiring fan might not leave the hero
alone, following them around or even stalking them, or the person runs screaming from a hero with a negative
Heroic Reputation, possibly alerting others in the area to the hero’s presence.

Heroes can’t spend Experience Rolls to increase their Heroic Reputations, but they can Deepen and Wane (see
page 49) based on how the hero acts in accordance with them or against them. In fact, the deepening of some
reputations may cause others to wane. For example, a hero with a reputation for brutality may gain a new
Heroic Reputation for showing mercy after saving a villain. In this situation, that would lower their previous
negative reputation. There are no limits to how many Heroic Reputations a hero can have, but it is
recommended that they usually have no more than three to make bookkeeping easier.

stop risking their life for strangers and use their powers
for their own gain?
The Public Good
In comics heroes serve the needs of the people, often
selflessly, and are willing to risk their very lives to help
strangers and even those who would despise them.
When developing your hero, it is important to consider
why the hero would go out of their way to do this, and
how they view the people, the city, and the laws they
work to serve. Is the hero a true believer in the system
and the will of the people, using their own actions as an
210
example to those around them? Do they value only
certain populations of the place they have sworn to
protect, such as specific neighborhoods, ethnic groups,
or age ranges? Do they believe in the law and the
system, or do they believe they are corrupt and seek to
bring them back to the ideals they should serve? These
can serve as the basis for the hero’s Passions and work
as a tool to help roleplay the hero in different situations.
The true believer may not accept that their city’s police
force is riddled with corruption, while the one who
expects corruption within the system may be unwilling
to trust any authority figure. A good example of this in
comics is Marvel’s Daredevil, who wants to believe in the legal
system he works for, but focuses his energies on helping the
 8. The Life of a Hero

Returning to base after battling the Pterodactyls, Sky Raven receives a worried text message from her
partner Hannah asking where she’s been. The life of a hero can be tough on those around them.

people of crime-ridden Hell’s Kitchen as a vigilante. He serves
the good of his neighborhood, but is also willing to work within
and outside the system to see justice done for those who need
his help.
Life in the Spotlight
Wearing flashy costumes and flying across the city is
bound to get attention, and in our modern age of
technology and media scrutiny it would be difficult if
not impossible for any superhero to stay out of the
public eye. In some cases this may actually aid heroes in
remaining myths for a time when media footage first
appears, with comment sections full of claims the
footage is “fake” or “CGI.” But eventually heroes will
not be able to avoid the limelight, and how the public
and media react to them will have an impact on how
they operate. If the campaign is set in modern times,
heroes will have to be aware that with the proliferation
of traffic cameras, security systems, and smartphones,
nearly anything they do will most likely be filmed if
there is someone around to witness it. No matter how
many lives the hero saved, the constant news loop of
them slamming the villain’s head on the pavement
repeatedly may not help their reputation and may allow
the villain’s attorneys to find loopholes to get them back
out on the street.
Even if they are accepted by the public at large,
heroes will have to cope with their status as celebrities
and public figures. The press will hound them asking
their opinion on hot-button topics such as politics and
law, but they will also attempt to delve into the hero’s

Heroic Reputation Base Values

Scope of Reputation Base Value Example
Known within a small community 10% A few city blocks, a specific online community
Known within a single region within a larger area 20% A borough in a large city, a single county
Known within a large community 30% A major metropolis, an entire US state
Known within a country 40% The United States, France, and so on
Known globally 50% The event makes world news

211
 Strolling through his neighborhood one weekend, Torc comes upon a burning home. His heroic instincts
kick in and he saves the family. Sadly, the event is covered on City news channels, and villains now have
a good idea of what Torc looks like and where he might live.
personal life (Who are you dating? What are you
wearing? Who are your picks for the Oscars?). One
poorly worded comment, emotional reaction, or flub
may haunt the hero until the media latches on to the
next thing, but it can make their life a living hell until
that time. No matter how much good heroes do, there
will also be those who seek to tear them down for the
sake of morality, political gain, or ratings. Pundits and
news network talking heads will trash them and turn
public opinion against them. Politicians will spout
promises to enact laws to control the heroes due to their
being public safety risks. Religious groups will decry
them as inhuman monsters, granted powers by some
dark force seeking to corrupt the good people of the
world. Supervillains may be a big threat, but a hero’s
losing face in the public eye may take them down faster
than any villain ever could.
The Law and Heroes
In the real world there are strict laws in place that
restrict or prohibit the sale or use of weaponry to help
maintain public safety, but what happens when a person
has the ability to fire the equivalent of a LAW rocket
212
from their hands? Early on when powers are first
emerging, governments would most likely scramble to
take action to monitor, control, or restrict the use of
special powers.
Many comics address this issue by creating a
governing body that polices the activities of vigilantes,
either at the national, state, or municipal level. In some
campaigns, there may be laws on the books to protect
heroes when they take action to prevent crimes or
protect innocent people, acting as modified versions of
“citizen’s arrest” laws that account for the unique nature
of superpowered beings. In other settings there may be
an established agency or Organization that costumed
heroes are required to register with; or the hero must
apply for a license, and while membership affords the
hero certain legal rights, it also applies regulations and
restrictions that members must follow. Maybe they are
prohibited from using lethal force in any situation, or
they may be required to purchase special insurance
policies to cover collateral damage they may cause in
the field. This may cost the hero some Allotment Slots
to maintain their license, but will make things easier
when they use a vendor’s hot dog cart to clobber a
supervillain. Unlicensed heroes can be prosecuted for

their activities, and criminals they capture may be able
to avoid criminal charges due to technicalities of being
apprehended by an unsanctioned hero.
Hero support and regulatory agencies can serve as
allies and advocates for characters, and they give the
players freedom to be superheroes without worrying
about the legalities of hunting criminals in brightly
colored spandex. However, not all agencies are
benevolent, and governing bodies can change policies
and enact new and more restrictive laws depending on
which way the political winds blow. Characters may
soon find the same group that protected their activities
is now slapping sanctions on everything they do or
offering fewer legal protections while they are in the
field to kowtow to public favor. Heroes may also have to
follow the same strict regulations that law enforcement
officers and military personnel must abide by in the line
of duty. Keep in mind that it can be a lot of fun to burst
through a skylight onto the table of a drug lord to bring
them to justice, but needing to jump through legal
hoops to get a warrant first may take some of the fun
out of it.
One final legal consideration is whether heroes are
subject to lawsuits by private citizens, businesses, and
corporate entities. When facing down a dangerous
supervillain, heroes can be cavalier about property
damage, using a convenient parked car as a makeshift
weapon. It looks great and makes for an awesome
action set piece, but may not be as fun when the
character must pay out compensatory damages to the
owner of the car and the three storefronts wrecked in
the melee. If the character is part of a sanctioned agency
or maintains a public identity, they can be subjected to
legal action for certain things done while serving in
their heroic role. Property damage, accidental injury of
innocent civilians, and endangering teenage sidekicks
who are also minors are only a few of the legal snags
that can take down heroes quicker than any villain.
Unsanctioned heroes or those with private identities
may be able to escape from some of these legal
entanglements, but it can quickly undermine the hero’s
reputation and may even subject them to criminal
charges for their actions while in their heroic identity.
While all this may seem that it takes away from the
fun of playing a superhero, there is much that can be
done in-game if the heroes find themselves on the
wrong side of the law. Perhaps they must clear their
names by triumphing over the crooked politician who
“framed” them by changing the laws in their
(supervillainous) favor, or they must avoid being
arrested for being heroes, essentially making them
carefully choose their actions, especially when the police
are right around the corner. Ultimately, the Games
8. The Life of a Hero
Master and players should decide what level of
oversight and the consequences of certain actions, if
any, will take place in their game. Destined is your game.
Heroic and Secret
Identities
One of the classic staples of the superhero genre is the
secret identity and what lengths the hero goes to protect
it from everyone around them. Sometimes it is because
there may be legal consequences for operating as a
hero, or the hero wants to protect those who are near
and dear to them. Sometimes the hero just wants time
away from the cape and cowl to live like a normal
person before the next superweapon/alien invasion/
supervillain team-up rears its ugly head. While picking
Core Powers and characteristics serves to create a hero
mechanically, defining both the hero’s heroic and secret
identity are just as vital.
Public or Secret Identity?
The first question to ask is whether your hero has a
public or secret identity. A public hero always operates
as themselves, and they may not even wear a disguise or
mask. Whether they’re battling crime or trying to pick
out pasta in the grocery store, the hero is always on.
The other option is to develop two distinct personas:
the crimefighter and the civilian. In this case the hero
has a secret identity separate from the one they use to
fight crime, essentially leading a double life. Both have
their perks and drawbacks, and we discuss some of the
most significant ones below.
In most cases, comic book heroes do not use their
real names when out fighting crime, developing a
persona and disguise to hide their real features and
identity. Many wear masks, adopt different body
language, speak differently, or stage elaborate ruses for
the whereabouts of their civilian identity to account for
their constantly disappearing from social engagements.
Maintaining a heroic identity that is separate from a
civilian one can be a lot of work, but the end result
allows the hero “downtime” when not saving the
day and keeping their private life away from their
heroic one.
It also allows them to build their legend, becoming a
cloaked figure of mystery that foils the evil schemes of
villains that threaten the city. Civilians in comic books
often look up to the heroes that protect them, or stay on
the straight and narrow out of fear that a dark-clad
vigilante will hunt them down if they commit a crime.
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The legend can be essential for making a hero
superhuman, not just in their powers, but also in the
stories that are told about them. If the mask comes off,
the hero loses the mystique that the heroic identity
provides. The Masked Avenger’s nightly crusade
against villainy becomes far less impressive if the entire
city knows he’s just Bill from accounting.
On the flip side, not having a separate identity causes
fewer headaches since the hero can just be themselves
and doesn’t have to worry about elaborate steps to
safeguard their secret. There are many notable
precedents in comics of heroes who don’t wear masks
and even use their actual names when in costume, such
as Booster Gold from DC Comics and She-Hulk or Iron
Man from Marvel. While this may seem like less hassle,
it can also cause significant problems for the hero. First
and foremost, letting the world know who you really are
puts a target on anyone your hero cares about. It’s one
thing for the villains to come after your equally capable
teammates to get to you, but it’s another if they attack
your annual family reunion or kidnap your beloved
nana from the nursing home. For heroes with no
significant social ties or loved ones to endanger, this may
not be an issue, but it also limits the hero’s ability to
develop friendships since they can easily become
liabilities. The second major issue is how your loved
ones view your heroic endeavors. While there may be a
level of pride about the hero’s determination to help the
helpless, there may be equal levels of fear and anxiety
about what will happen to the hero while battling crime.
Caring for a costumed vigilante can be very stressful,
and it may make those most important to the hero
question whether they want to remain part of the
hero’s life.
The Perils of maintaining a
Secret Identity
As mentioned above, one of the biggest reasons for
maintaining a costumed identity separate from a
private one is the desire to protect aspects of the hero’s
life that are not involved with or equipped to deal with
their heroic double life. If the lines blur and the two
aspects cross, loved ones can be captured or hurt, jobs
can be lost, and the hero loses their escape from the
stresses of being a hero. Great pains need to be taken to
protect the hero’s secret identity, not only while wearing
the mask but also ensuring heroic problems don’t carry
over into the hero’s civilian life.
In costume the biggest risk to uncovering a hero’s
secret identity is being at the mercy of anyone who
unmasks the hero. In most cases a villain or criminal
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desires this, in order to gain the upper hand over the
hero, but it could also be law enforcement, the press, or
even a citizen. In fact, in the modern age the
accessibility of smartphone cameras and instant internet
access make it very difficult to avoid pictures and videos
of a hero being posted online. While domino masks may
have worked in the past, heroes may need to opt for
full-face masks or helmets to preserve their identity,
especially in an age where digital photo manipulation
can allow the removal of a mask while sitting behind
a keyboard.
In terms of game mechanics, a hero should be given
a chance to protect their identity, even if they are in a
situation where it would seem there is no hope. Comic
books are filled with unlikely circumstances or chance
encounters that prevent the hero’s identity from being
revealed at the last second. In Destined, the Games
Master can allow a hero to spend a Luck Point to avoid
a situation where they might be unmasked. The player
can work with the Games Master and the group to
determine what happens to keep the hero’s identity
safe. Here are a few examples:
• Another hero, an ally, or the police arrive on scene
just before the hero’s mask is removed and the villains
opt to flee instead of risking capture.
• Something in the environment occurs that separates
the hero from the villain before they are unmasked.
Maybe the pavement was weakened by the battle and it
crumbles away in the nick of time, sending the hero
falling to the sewer below.
• The hero prepared for such a scenario, and applied a
disguise prior to donning their mask for the evening.
The villain sees a face that they don’t recognize under
the mask.
• The villain decides at the last moment it would ruin
their game if the hero’s identity was revealed, opting to
leave or take the captured hero to their lair to test their
latest death trap.
While defeat in battle is the most likely place a hero
can have their identity compromised, clever villains,
corrupt officials, and curious reporters may also decide
to actively work to uncover who the hero is behind the
mask. The hero may even have to worry about close
friends and loved ones digging around as they search
for an explanation to why the hero keeps disappearing
every time a supervillain attack comes on the news. For
anyone actively trying to dig into the hero’s identity, this
would be handled as an Extended Task (see page 57),
opposed by the hero if they are aware of the attempt.
 8. The Life of a Hero

Optional: Villains and Secret identities

O ne of the worst things that can happen to a hero is for one of their enemies to learn their true identity. This
puts a target on everything and everyone the hero holds dear, and gives a villain leverage that can bring
the greatest heroes to their knees. It is a real possibility, especially if the hero finds themselves at the mercy of
a villain after being knocked out or captured.

Games Masters must work closely with the player to see how they feel about this possibility and how they
would like to handle it. If a villain learns the hero’s true identity, here are a few possible outcomes to consider.

• Who Is This?: Unless the hero is easily identifiable or famous, or carries their driver’s license in their utility
belt, chances are the villain will have no idea who the person is under the mask. If their civilian identity is just
another ordinary citizen, seeing the hero’s face may not even compromise their true identity.

• The Identity Is Inconsequential: For some villains, the heroic identity is the only one that matters and
learning who is under the mask is not even something they would consider. In their cat and mouse game, only
the costumes matter and knowing the truth will only ruin the mystique of their never-ending conflict.

• The Identity Is Leverage: If the villain knows who the hero is, revealing it to the world is potent leverage
over their hated enemy. While this will complicate the hero’s life, the villain may consider the information too
valuable to squander and the hero may need to find a way to even the odds with their foe or find a way to
induce plot-convenient selective amnesia in the villain (a comic book staple).

• The Honorable Rogue: Not all villains are absolute evil, and some even follow their own code of honor,
no matter how twisted. The villain may strike some sort of bargain with the hero in exchange for agreeing to
keep their identity secret, or it may be against their code to strike out at innocents such as loved ones as long
as the hero maintains the same agreement for the important people in the villain’s life.

• Burn It All Down!: Not all villains will play fair, and in some cases it can make for an interesting story to
follow what happens when someone truly heinous learns the hero’s identity. The villain may leak the identity
to the press, work to undermine the hero’s finances, or even attack or kidnap their loved ones to torment their
foe. A classic example of this occurs in the Frank Miller run on Marvel’s Daredevil when the villain Kingpin
discovers his identity. If the Games Master is pursuing this option it is highly recommended that the players
approve because it could completely change the direction of the hero’s life.

For example, after Shadowstalker exposes a local journalist
for printing fraudulent articles, the fired reporter vows revenge
and decides to expose the hero in turn. He begins looking at
patterns of Shadowstalker’s movements in the city (Streetwise),
tries to hack into local CCTV cameras at those scenes to discover
hidden footage (Computers), attempts to trick a local stoolie
who seems to be allied with the hero into giving him information
(Deceit), and has a friend at a local lab analyze what might be
a sample of the hero’s blood to make a genetic profile (Science).
If the reporter manages to reach 100% in the task, he is able to
piece together clues as to who Shadowstalker might be.
Anything less will give him some information, but not quite
enough to learn his identity.
If Shadowstalker learns of the attempt, he may try to oppose
it by changing up his patrol patterns (Streetwise), alter the
footage on the CCTV cameras (Computers), warn his stoolie or
pay him off to lie (Influence), and break into the lab to steal the
blood sample or taint it so it provides a false reading (Stealth).
Or he might find the reporter and punch him a few times. If the
reporter manages to nearly expose his true identity,
Shadowstalker’s player may opt to use a Luck Point to foil them.
Other times, the Games Master may call for a regular
skill check based on individual situations. If the hero’s
significant other is upset that they keep ditching them
on dates, they might need a Deceit, Influence, or
Seduction roll to convince them otherwise. If someone
sees the hero vanishing from a cocktail party on security
footage, they might use Computers to alter the footage
to they can still be seen at the event. Players are
encouraged to come up with clever ways to keep their
identities secret, from using Allotments to hire body
doubles to inventing advanced hologram projectors to
show them working at their desk all night.
Above all else, the heroes should always have a
chance to protect their secret, and the Games Master
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OPTIONAL: SEPARATE
LIVES, SEPARATE PASSIONS
I f you want to take the differentiation between
hero and person a step further, as an optional
rule you can allow players to give the hero’s heroic
and civilian identities their own sets of Passions.
These would be generated as per the normal rules
at creation, and the identities may share some
Passions, but they can also have distinct drives all
their own and are generated separately. This plays
into the dual nature of superheroes and also
reflects the efforts a hero must make to keep each
identity separate. It also means the hero may act
differently depending on which role they are in
currently, even though their Characteristics, Skills,
and Core Powers may be the same. For example,
the Night Valkyrie is a brutal street fighter with the
Passion “Let my fists do the talking,” but in her
civilian persona of Lena Eldridge she is a mild-
mannered community activist and social worker
driven by her desire to “keep my anger in check
and find peaceful solutions.” They are both the
same person, but each “person” plays very
differently, depending on the active identity.
should discuss the situation with them if there is no
option to avoid having their identity revealed.
Depending on what scale the reveal happens, it can
completely upend the campaign and ruin the fun for
the player if they wanted their secret to be maintained.
They might lose their jobs, their loved ones, or even
their freedom if superheroes are outlaws in the setting.
There is also the risk that other heroes in the group
suffer a domino effect from their association with the
revealed hero and find their identities compromised
as well. Done well, it can lead to a tense and exciting
change in the course of a campaign, but mismanaged it
can grind the story to halt and end the fun for everyone
involved.
Dependents and Loved Ones
While some heroes do good for goodness’ sake, others
do it because of the people nearest and dearest to them.
In terms of the people in a hero’s civilian life, it is
important to establish whether they know about the
hero’s nighttime activities or not. If they are unaware,
then the hero has to take extra steps to keep them from
finding out and must learn to come up with a lot of
excuses why they can’t make family functions and sneak
in at all hours with mysterious bruises and smelling like
the sewers.
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There are only so many times a hero’s boyfriend is
going to accept that they “are working late” or “have an
emergency” in the middle of a date before they decide
to move on to someone else. Letting your loved
ones know about your other life can make some
aspects easier, but it also opens the door to other
complications. If the hero’s loved ones are aware but do
not become directly involved, how they cope with the
knowledge depends on the individual. Some may have
great admiration for the hero and what they do, while
others may suffer from constant fear and anxiety every
time the hero leaves. It’s up to the player and the
Games Master to determine how the loved ones feel
about the hero’s other life, and this may play into a
hero’s Passions related to that loved one. For example, if
he knows his beloved wife has difficulty with the danger he puts
himself in, the hero may need to make a check against his
Passion towards her to see if he will answer the call to action or
decide to spend the night in.
Loved ones who attempt to aid the hero may prove
to be an asset or a hindrance. A support role, such as
staying in a secure bunker using surveillance
equipment and assisting with information retrieval,
makes them an important part of the hero’s activities,
but also keeps them safe from harm. If the loved one
decides they want their involvement to be more direct,
such as donning their own mask or having the hero
train them to be a sidekick, this can make things
potentially more difficult, and puts Passions towards the
loved one in the forefront while out in the field. Will the
hero act as boldly when they are concerned their little
sister/sidekick might get shot by the drug dealers they
are about to confront?
As mentioned above, one of the big risks with
dependents and loved ones is their becoming potential
targets if someone were to ever learn the hero’s true
identity. For all his amazing powers, DC’s Superman’s
most powerful vulnerability is his love for Lois Lane,
and a villain targeting her can quickly bring the Man of
Steel to his knees. If the loved ones are aware of the
heroic identity, they also become a potential avenue for
villains to exploit to learn the hero’s true identity. While
normally this may not be an issue, if the loved one is
present while the hero is active and someone notices the
connection, it puts a target on the loved one. For
example, if Shadowstalker is attempting to foil some terrorists
attacking a charity gala and he makes a point to save his
girlfriend before anyone else, someone paying attention may
wonder why the hero singled the young woman out. This
means the hero may need to mask their priorities (and
fail a Passion check) in such situations, or use skills such
as Deceit to hide any signs of affection for the one they
truly care about.
The heroes’ pursuit of Baron Malycer down the Gemelos City beachfront has made the national news.
Not all citizens are happy about their streets being made a battleground of superpowered violence.
Heroes’ friends and family may feel likewise.
The Real Mask
One question that is often explored in the pages of
comics is whether the superhero or the civilian is the
true identity of the hero. Leading two separate lives can
have serious consequences outside of the complications
of juggling dual identities, compounded by the nightly
dangers and stress that heroes face as part of their
crusade. It can be easy to lose the person behind the
mask as the hero becomes more engrossed in their
costumed persona, but it’s also just as viable that a
hero’s “normal” life could start pulling them away
from their crimefighting one, as they begin to
understand what they could lose by continuing their
nightly pursuits.
While it may not be as exciting as chasing
supervillains to their volcanic lairs deep in the Pacific
Ocean, this concept can lend itself to some excellent
roleplaying. Is the hero Crimson Mask consuming the
life of alter ego Mike Parsons, the CEO of Conglomco,
to the point where the board of the company he
founded is trying to oust him? Will the speedster Breeze
ever learn to slow down enough in her “real life” to
realize her son is heading down a path of crime? Taking
time to explore the secret identity instead of the heroic
one can be time well spent in fleshing out a hero into
something more than statistics and superpowers.
There are numerous ways to explore the
psychological and practical impacts of identity, and
Destined allows as much or as little of this exploration as
your group prefers. Comics are full of stories about how
leading the life of a costumed vigilante affects the hero’s
psyche, and how hard it can be to separate from the
heroic identity. Some examples of stories that explore
this are:
• A loved one or significant other of the hero is seriously
injured either as a result of the hero’s action or inaction,
and seeing this person in that state makes the hero
question the validity of their crusade.
• After a few too many sleepless nights (possible after a
series of linked adventures with little downtime), the
hero begins to experience vivid hallucinations or
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dreams that affect their judgment and focus. Is this
some plot of a mind-bending villain, or is the hero’s
mind cracking under the pressure?
• Something the hero does (or fails to do) causes them
to be lambasted by the press. Whether the stories are
true or not, the hero quickly becomes a pariah in the
public eye and people who previously supported them
are now distant or cold. Can the hero recover their
reputation and restore their confidence without public
support, or is it time to hang up the cape?
• A powerful being offers the hero a chance to see what
their life would be like if they had never donned the
mask or gained their powers. In this alternate reality, the
world seems a better place and even villains never head
down a dark path. Would the world really be better off
without the hero, or is the entity trying to trick them?
Not all campaigns and not all players and groups
may fit these more psychological/roleplaying-focused
stories, but if your group is receptive, they can be a
good break from the volcanic lairs, laser battles, and
giant robots.
Civilian Lives and Allotments
In comics there is a surprising amount of independently
wealthy heroes who have seemingly unlimited money to
purchase all the custom cars, costumes, and weaponry
necessary to wage their war on crime. It is perfectly fine
if you want your campaign to focus on the action and
not the logistics of financing a hero. Most players have
to worry about their own finances in the real world, so
worrying about them in the game may not be
appealing. But taking the time to explore where exactly
a hero’s resources come from can add another facet to
them and serve as something to challenge them in ways
that don’t involve powers or fisticuffs.
Personal Allotments (see page 124) represent the
income and assets that the hero has gained as part of
their private life. This does not include general housing
and assets such as civilian transportation and furniture,
which are covered by Social Status, but crimefighting
gear purchased with Personal Allotments still has to
come from somewhere. Where did the hero get this
gear from, and where did they find the means to
acquire it? Does the hero have a job they need to
maintain their heroic lifestyle? Did they scrounge parts
from junkyards, pawn shops, and used electronics
stores? Did they stumble upon a stash of gear from a
dead or retired hero? Was it bequeathed to them from
a relative or a mentor? The trope of a wealthy hero
makes it easy to explain their fabulous supercar away,
but it doesn’t always make for the most interesting story.
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Establishing where a hero acquired their resources
also can serve as a source of dramatic conflict and
tension in the campaign. It’s one thing for something or
someone to threaten the hero’s beloved great-uncle Sal,
but it’s an entirely different thing to threaten the hero’s
livelihood. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a villain
taking aim at the hero’s civilian life (although that is an
option if they discover their secret identity). Acquiring
expensive, restricted gear is going to leave some kind of
trail, no matter how well a hero tries to cover it up, and
that can be used by enemies or the authorities to trace
it back to the hero.
It can also be a more ‘mundane’ threat that may have
a short- or even long-term effect on the hero’s
Allotments. Perhaps someone stumbles upon one of the
hero’s equipment stashes and cleans it out, or some of
the hero’s investments are affected by the recent
rampage of a villain on the financial district. Maybe all
those sick days recovering from nightly fights cause the
hero to be suspended or even terminated from their
job, or the board of directors decides to accept a buyout
offer from another company and the hero is ousted.
This can lead to a reduction in the hero’s Personal
Allotment Rating, which can affect how the hero
approaches their crimefighting, especially for heroes
who focus more on gear. It is recommended that this
reduction is temporary, perhaps a few sessions at most,
and used as a way to challenge the hero and not punish
the player. This may also cause the hero to consider
different ways to protect their resources, such as tighter
security measures at their safe houses or switching their
investments to a different broker. It may also lead them
to seek out sponsor Organizations to help finance their
heroic activities, but as we discuss below this can lead to
its own complications.
Organizations
While some heroes prefer to prowl the night alone or
with a select group of trusted allies, others prefer the
security of having a well-established patron watching
their back while fighting the good fight. Be it a global
peacekeeping task force, an ancient society of mystical
monks, or a famous Superteam whose base sits at the
heart of the city, these Organizations can be a valuable
ally and essential asset when waging war on crime. In
Destined, Organizations serve as benefactors to the
heroes, providing resources and additional gear
through Organizational Allotments (see page 126).
They can also provide missions for heroes, valuable
information and intelligence, and access to non-player
supporting characters that can act as mentors, rivals,
and love interests to the heroes. In fact, an entire

campaign can revolve around an Organization that the
heroes are all members of, and comics are chock-full of
examples of this, such as Marvel’s various X-Men comics
that focus on teams of mutant heroes and DC’s Suicide
Squad which follows a (reluctant) task force of criminals
pressed into service by the government.
Not all heroes have to be members of the same
Organization, and each hero may have their own
separate groups they hold membership in. While this
gives each of them their own resources to tap into, it can
also lead to conflict if one hero’s patron stands in
opposition to another’s. For example, if Magicmaster is part
of an ancient order of sorcerers dedicated to the preservation of
magic, and fellow hero Inquisitor belongs to a group that wants
to purge all magic from the world, there are going to be some
tense moments during the adventure. Members are expected
to serve the Organization’s ideals and rules, and this can
create tension if one member of the group is more
concerned with serving their Organization’s needs
instead of what their allies want. Organizations can also
become a source of conflict for member heroes if they
recognize that some of the group’s goals or policies
don’t align with their own. If a hero begins to realize the
“peacekeeping” Organization they are part of actually
strives to enact an authoritarian level of control over the
population, will they compromise their ideals just to
keep getting access to their cool toys? Just like other
potential inter-party conflicts within the game, Games
Masters and players are advised to exercise caution
when exploring these conflicts. Not only can it lead to
tension at the gaming table, but it might make the
player regret the time and resources they invested in
the Organization they are part of.
No matter what purpose they serve in the campaign,
Organizations can serve as another way of fleshing out
the setting and providing much-needed assistance to
heroes who might have limited personal resources.
While there is a broad range of Organizations possible,
here are a few of the more common types found in
comic books:
• Superhero Teams: Banded together to fight the forces
of evil, superhero teams are a staple of comic books and
are made up of some of the greatest heroes in the land
or up-and-coming heroes who dream of one day being
the greatest. Some superhero teams have existed for
generations, and becoming part of one is one of the
highest goals any burgeoning hero can strive for. Other
teams are forged in the fire of conflict, coming together
after defeating some great evil to help prevent similar
threats from arising again. Superhero teams usually
have a central iconic base, training facilities, trophies of
past victories, and some means of rapid transportation
to get heroes to where they need to be. A variation of
8. The Life of a Hero
this is the duo, where two heroes form a partnership,
often with one as the mentor and the other as a
sidekick. Duos often have a common theme in terms of
their heroic identities and gear, and other heroes
consider the pair a singular entity due to their close
connection.
• Government Agencies: As the guiding force of a
nation, governments (often) work to serve the people
and establish laws that maintain the norms of society
and help keep the peace. In a world full of superheroes,
it is natural that the government would adapt and
develop Organizations to help monitor, police, and even
control the activities of powered individuals. These
groups are the ones heroes are most likely to be
involved with, serving as their patrons, allies, or even as
unwanted watchdogs making sure they follow whatever
laws and restrictions the setting has on superhumans.
An alternative to this is the global peacekeeping force, a
military or paramilitary Organization that either
supplements or operates outside of a government’s
established armed forces. These Organizations are
formed to deal with some usual threat such as an evil
counterpart organization, an alien threat, or the rising
tide of supervillainy. Sometimes global peacekeeping
forces employ or work with heroes, but other times they
actively oppose heroes or view them as part of the
problem.
• Corporations: Businesses and global conglomerates
are some of the biggest power players in the world,
shaping economies and the political landscape, and
providing much-needed goods and services to
consumers. Heroes who are wealthy may gain their
fortune from a corporation they have a vested interest
in. Some businesses may sponsor them, and the heroes
may even act as their spokesperson or public face. While
this gives the hero access to corporate resources and
publicity, it often puts them at the mercy of the contract
that binds their behavior in public. Depending on the
setting, a hero’s special abilities or high-tech equipment
might come directly from a corporation, so the hero
may be obligated to work with them to repay a debt, or
do it out of fear they will lose access to their powers.
• Secret Societies: Steeped in tradition and hidden
from the scrutiny of others, secret societies work behind
the scenes to mold and shape aspects of the world to
their ideals and goals. Some have been around for
centuries, with members ranging from average citizens
to high-ranking politicians and power brokers.
Some societies have a public face, but behind closed
doors they work at a different agenda from what they
project to the masses. Secret societies can have altruistic
goals that work toward the betterment of humankind,
or they could have hidden sinister agendas that even
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the hero may be unaware of until they rise to a sufficient
rank in the hierarchy.
• Mystical Orders: Ancient and secretive, mystical
orders hold the secrets to the powerful and mysterious
forces of the universe. In most cases, they are orders of
magic in whatever form it takes in the campaign setting,
either working to preserve hidden knowledge or trying
to unlock it for their own gain. Mystical orders might
also serve a powerful entity such as a god or inscrutable
alien presence, working for its glory or increasing its
power. This category also includes ancient orders of
martial artists, those who follow diabolical powers, and
societies of occultists and psychics who dabble with the
unknown and unseen. Even if magic does not exist in
the setting, there are still groups who wish to foster
belief in it or seek ways to bring it back to a world where
it has since been lost.
• Evil Organizations: Just like heroes have their
patrons, villains have their own Organizations to serve
their nefarious needs. Networks of terrorists, cabals of
supervillains, and paramilitary armies seeking global
domination all fall into this category. They primarily
serve as antagonists for the heroes, but some campaigns
may use them as patrons for heroes who are attempting
to infiltrate the group, or for heroes who are unaware
that those they serve are actually the bad guys.
Organizations all share several Traits that define the
makeup of the Organization, requirements on the
members to gain access and maintain membership,
what assistance the group provides, and what resources
members can access. The Traits of Organizations are:
Sphere of Influence, Structure, Requirements,
Protocols, Benefits, and Organizational Allotments.
Sphere of Influence
Every Organization has an agenda and goals that it was
designed to work towards, and its Sphere of Influence
outlines what specific areas the group has influence
over or what the group’s overall purpose is. For
example, a corporation would have influence over the
market for whatever goods and services it provides,
while an ancient order of sorcerers might seek out
magic spells and artifacts to strengthen their mystical
abilities. Organizations can have a narrow Sphere of
Influence that pertains to one singular focus or a few
related ideals, or they can have a broad scope that
covers multiple areas of society, culture, or resources.
In Destined Organizations, “Spheres of Influence” are
short narrative descriptors outlining the general
purpose of an Organization, and what parts of the
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setting the group focuses their resources and attention
on. An Organization can have one or many Spheres of
Influence, and they can be related or disparate. They
also help determine what sorts of tasks and missions an
Organization will assign heroes, and how serving those
goals or working against them can affect a hero’s
standing within the group. Some example Spheres of
Influence are:
• Anarchy: The Organization seeks to subvert ordered
society and the rule of law. For example, a street gang
works to undermine the authorities in their turf
through acts of chaos and fear, while a subversive
shadow cabal wants to overthrow the existing system
and allow mayhem to rule until they can determine and
implement a better system.
• Control: The Organization seeks to gain dominion
over a specific aspect of society, or society as whole. For
example, an aggressive business may seek to gain a
monopoly on the products it creates, while a ruthless
terrorist Organization may be determined to rule
the world.
• Discovery: The Organization seeks to uncover
something that is as of yet undiscovered. For example,
a society of explorers may want to discover lost
historical sites, while a research firm may want to find
cures for incurable illnesses.
• Education: The Organization seeks to expand
knowledge and make it available to those who seek it.
For example, a university wants to educate students on
a wide variety of topics, while a mystical order may want
to enlighten truth-seekers that find them.
• Financial: The Organization is focused on financial
and economic pursuits. For example, a corporation
may want to expand its holdings to continue to grow,
while an economic think tank may seek to find patterns
in the flow of money to predict market trends.
• Industrial: The Organization seeks to build and
manufacture the products or services it focuses on. For
example, a construction company wants to be part of
the city’s efforts to build up its downtown, while a tech
manufacturer wants everyone to have its latest smart
home devices.
• Legal: The Organization is focused on upholding
current laws or making changes to existing ones. For
example, a law firm works to defend its clients from
possible prosecution, while an advocacy group wants to
change the laws that stigmatize and restrict the
freedoms of mutants.

• Military: The Organization is part of a country’s
armed forces, or is structured like a traditional military
Organization. For example, a special operations unit
exists to deal with extranormal and paranormal threats
to the nation, or a private security firm maintains
military order and sells its services to the highest bidder.
• Occult Knowledge: The Organization seeks out
forbidden or lost knowledge about the supernatural
and unusual. For example, a secret coven of witches
tries to preserve endangered mystical beasts still hidden
in the wild, while a well-funded blogger goes out into
the dark places of the world seeking the truth behind
stories of monsters.
• Peacekeeping: The Organization is committed to
upholding peace and tackling anything that would
threaten it. For example, an international task force
uses high-tech gear and cutting-edge intelligence to
counter dangerous terrorists, or a human rights group
sends out volunteers to help provide support after wars
and disasters while preaching good will to those who
would listen.
• Superpowers: The Organization is dedicated to
advocacy, study, or control of those with special powers.
For example, a government bureau catalogues and
watches the actions of all known superpowered
individuals, while a private corporation uses its agents
and influence to capture those with abilities to use them
as lab rats in an attempt to weaponize their gifts.
• Upholding Tradition: The Organization seeks to
maintain long-standing traditions, rites, or practices.
For example, a secret society wants to preserve its
legacy as well as the influence it has in the halls of
power, while an ancient cult strives to keep its beliefs in
an inhuman god alive through unspeakable practices
and ritual murder.
Structure
Organizations by their very name are ordered in some
manner, and a group’s Structure describes the chain of
leadership and different subgroups within the larger
group. Some Organizations have intricate and complex
command structures, with a distinct hierarchy of
leaders and sub-leaders who micromanage members
and operations at different levels. Others rely on a small
group of leaders, or a single leader, that directs all
actions of those under them. For some groups the idea
of leadership is an abstract concept and the chain of
command is loose at best or completely nonexistent,
with all members having equal footing or operating
independently.
8. The Life of a Hero
Structure is presented as the description of the
hierarchy within the Organization, and it outlines who
the leaders are, what titles they hold, if any, and what
other divisions or subgroups exist within the larger
Organization. For Organizations with multiple Spheres
of Influence, details on which subgroups deal with
which Spheres should also be noted here. The
Structure can be as basic or complex as the Games
Master wishes, but the more detail provided, the easier
it is to know who the heroes need to turn to when they
have a problem and who they have to answer to when
they mess up. Outlining a few major supporting
characters within the Organization can help with this
and give some people for the heroes to interact with
when needed. In terms of defining an Organization’s
Structure, consider the following:
• Who is the leader of the Organization? Are they in
complete command, or do they answer to a higher
authority? For example, a CEO has great power within
a corporation, but ultimately answers to the board
of directors.
• What are the different levels of leadership? Does each
different section of the Organization have its own
leaders or command structure?
• When the heroes have a problem, who do they go to?
Do they have an immediate supervisor, or can they go
straight to the top?
• How well do the different parts of the command
structure get along? Are there conflicts within the
Organization over resources, importance, or bragging
rights after group activities like paintball outings?
• If an Organization has no formal leadership, how do
they get things done? Who makes the big decisions
when they come up?
Requirements
Prospective members need to meet certain guidelines to
become part of an Organization, and most if not all of
them must be met before the hero gains entry into the
group. Some Organizations offer membership to
anyone who seeks them out, and require little more
than a handshake and contact information in case the
member needs to be called upon. Other groups have
application processes similar to applying for a job or a
college, requiring forms to be competed, criminal and
security background checks, drug testing, and
references from current members of the Organization
or respected people within the community. Some
groups make the requirements so stringent or perilous
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 Destined
that few seek membership and even fewer succeed at
getting it. They may demand sponsorship from an
existing member, undertaking a task or quest to prove
the prospective member’s worth, or something
dangerous or illegal to show the prospective member is
willing to do whatever it takes to join (or to establish
leverage against them if they reveal the group’s secrets).
Requirements can be purely narrative, require
extensive roleplaying of the process, be based on game
mechanics such as certain Characteristics or skill levels,
or be a combination of all of the above. In game terms,
Requirements describe the procedures and tasks
prospective members need to complete successfully
before membership is obtained, and it should also be
noted if total success is required or if heroes will be
considered if they were unable to complete all of the
tasks asked of them. Some groups may even require
impossible tasks meant to be failed to see how the
heroes respond to stress and failure.
For example, the heroes are tasked with taking down a
dangerous terrorist to gain entry into an elite military group.
They fail to capture the terrorist, but manage to foil his plan
and arrest some of his top lieutenants. The group might
consider this enough, or not allow them entry until the terrorist
is finally brought to justice.
For requirements based on game mechanics, the
needed values are detailed for the relevant skill or
Characteristic and must be met to gain entry. For
example, a science-focused Organization may require all
applicants to submit to an IQ test that verifies they have at least
a 140 IQ (INT 14), and have professional levels and the
appropriate degrees in at least two fields of science (at least two
Science Specializations of 60% or higher).
Starting the game
as a member
A s noted in the Allotments section of the Hero
Creation chapter on page 31, heroes can
assign some of their initial Allotment Rating to an
Organization instead of their Personal Allotments.
In those cases, the hero is assumed to have met
the necessary requirements to join prior to the
start of the campaign, or somehow gained
membership through other means if they would
not meet the necessary requirements. The rating
the hero has in the Organization’s Allotments
determines what their current rank is within the
group as detailed below. The hero must still follow
the Protocols presented in this section to maintain
membership and to rise in rank beyond where
they began as normal.
222
Another option is to tie Requirements to Origins, so
only heroes who gained their powers from a specific
source are permitted entry. The most notable example
of this in comics is Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters
from the X-Men series, where only mutants are allowed
to attend. For example, an Organization focused on
magic may require members to have the Mystical
Origin, but one hero might be a sorcerer, another uses
a potent magical artifact, and a third is possessed by a
barely contained demonic force. Even though their
powers are quite different in nature, all three would
qualify under the requirement. Tying Origins to
Requirements can be a good option in a superhero
story, but works best if all the heroes have the same
Origin so no heroes (or players) feel excluded. Note
that using this option does not mean all heroes of the
same type of Origin must have the same type of powers.
Protocols
Once a hero is part of an Organization, they must abide
by the group’s rules and regulations established to
uphold their ideals and agenda. Like Requirements, the
policies and rules within an Organization can be simple
or complex, depending on the nature of the leadership
and the scale and scope of the group itself.
Organizations steeped in bureaucracy have myriad
rules, bylaws, policy manuals, and red tape that can stall
operations if implemented improperly but can run like
a well-oiled machine when followed correctly. Some
groups have minimal rules, which makes it easy when
things are going smoothly, but can result in chaos when
things hit the fan. For some groups, Protocols are
traditions that stretch back to the founding of the
group, while other Organizations adapt to the changing
times and their Protocols adapt right alongside them.
Protocols are primarily a narrative tool, establishing
rules the hero must abide by to remain in good standing
within the group. The Protocols are often closely
related to a group’s Spheres of Influence, representing
actions to take (or not to take) to preserve the
Organization’s ideals and goals. Protocols are also
linked to the group’s Structure, indicating who to
report to if there is an issue and what must be done if
someone violates policies or the chain of command.
Protocols can be as detailed as the Games Master likes,
and like Structure, the more detail given means the
easier it is to adjudicate issues that come up. Some
points to consider when defining Protocols are:
• What are the core policies of the Organization? What
are the unbreakable rules?

• What actions are taboo or illegal within the group?
What restricted actions outside the group are permitted
or tolerated by members? An example of this could be a
spy Organization giving its members a license to kill.
• Who do the heroes report to if they have a question
or problem? Who do the heroes report to if they have a
problem with the person they are supposed to normally
report to?
• What happens to members who break Protocols? Are
they demoted, removed, or punished? Can they
get back their status or rejoin the group, or are they
banned forever?
Benefits
Being a member of an Organization provides perks to
those who serve loyally, and these Benefits can be
primary motivations for joining the group in the first
place. Benefits are different from Allotments in that
they don’t represent material items, but are extra things
that members of the Organization can call upon or
access. Benefits include access to information,
personnel, and facilities that non-member heroes would
not normally have. It also can include social and legal
perks that would not normally be available to the
average person. The size and scope of an Organization
determines what sort of Benefits it can provide,
although even small groups can have one or two
extremely beneficial perks for itheir members.
Benefits are usually accessible based on the rank of
the member, with low-rank membership offering few, if
any, while higher ranks have access to more substantial
options. Like many other aspects of an Organization,
the Benefits are often related to the group’s Spheres of
Influence or specific areas the Benefit provides
assistance with. For example, a mystical order of mages may
have a secret library full of arcane lore, while a special task
force run by the city’s district attorney may grant members
certain legal perks or allow them to bypass certain city
regulations.
What perks are available to different ranks should be
detailed for the group, and a few examples of types of
perks a group can provide are listed below:
Benefit Ranks Table
Benefit Rank Level
10-25% Limited
26-50% Adequate
51-75% Standard
76-100% Superior
101%+ Peerless
8. The Life of a Hero
• Access: The group provides special access to normally
restricted locations, such as after-hours access to public
buildings or entry into restricted government sites.
• Facilities: The group has specialized facilities to aid
members, such as machine shops, computer labs,
medical treatment centers, or repair bays. Refer to the
Bases section (page 231) for rules on creating facilities
for this Benefit.
• Information: The group has access to repositories of
knowledge on topics related to its Spheres of Influence,
such as scientific databases, detailed astronomical maps,
ancient forbidden tomes, or registration records of
known superhumans.
• Legal: The group has the ability to assist with legal
issues or even bypass certain laws for its members, such
as utilizing company legal teams, licenses to carry
weapons, searches without warrants, or expunging a
member’s criminal record.
• Personnel: The group has trained individuals who
can be assigned to members for certain tasks, such as
combat troops, medical teams, computer hackers, or
academic experts.
• Social: The group has influence among certain
people and groups within society, and members can use
this influence to help aid their goals, such as accessing
politicians, celebrities, congresses, law enforcement
agencies, city officials, or other normally closed-off
social groups.
Benefits Rating
The Benefits provided by an Organization have their
limits, and to reflect this each Benefit is assigned a
percentage representing the maximum level of Benefit
the Organization can provide. Normally this value is
used as a general subjective measure of the Benefit, with
a lower value representing the Organization having
limited ability and higher values representing
significant ability. For example, if a paramilitary group has a
rating of 30% in Facilities, it might only have a few sites
available or limited options at a few locations, but if the same
group has 70% in Personnel, it might have squads of well-
trained troops, intelligence agents, and pilots. The following
Examples
Small facilities with limited function, limited library on a few topics
A small group of average troops, social pull with minor local political figures
A well-trained legal team, access to a known military base
Multiple well-stocked locations, different squads of specialists
Ability to bypass normal laws, access to top-secret military research base
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 Destined
Benefit Ranks Table (see page 223) gives some general
guidelines for measuring the level of a Benefit:
The listed rank can also be used as a general skill
level when members need to use the service or want to
check if it is accessible at that time if they can normally
access it. Heroes can use this rating to roll in place of a
relevant skill the hero doesn’t normally have (or has at
a lower rank) or use it to Augment a skill the hero
already has. For example, if Shadowstalker got himself into
some legal problems, he could use the legal arm of his patron
Organization Omega, rolling against their rating instead of his
Knowledge (Law) skill.
A member’s access to a Benefit is also limited by their
rating in Organizational Allotments for the group, even
if the normal rating for the Benefit is higher. For
example, when Shadowstalker called on Omega’s Legal Benefit
(80%) to get him out of a jam, he would be limited to his
Organizational Allotment Rating of 55% for Omega for any
rolls made using their legal defense team. This represents a
lower-ranking hero not having access to the best
resources their Organization has to offer, or that the
Organization is only willing to offer or risk so much on
its fledgling members.
Organizational Allotments
Another perk that Organizations provide their
members is access to resources and equipment to assist
in fulfilling any missions or duties that serve the group’s
goals. When working on an assignment for the group,
or when performing a function that promotes the
Organization’s ideals or purpose, members can access
these resources to support their endeavors.
If a task is not assigned by the group, or when
working in opposition to the Organization’s ideals,
members are denied access to these resources and
requests for them will be turned down. Misuse of
organizational resources may even lead to demotion or
removal from the group, so members need to be careful
about accessing the Organizational Allotments provided
by their group for personal reasons.
Rank and Allotment Ratings
Allotment Rating Rank
01-20 Recruit
21-40 Common
41-60 Dedicated
61-80 Proven
81-100 Overseer
101+ Leader
224
In addition, Organizations have access to resources
beyond those of most individuals, and some possess
gear that would otherwise be inaccessible or illegal
within the civilian sector (see Restriction Levels, page
125). This allows members to potentially requisition
items that are dangerous, restricted, or experimental,
each of which carries its own risks, especially if that gear
falls into the wrong hands while out in the field.
Organizational Allotments function much like
Personal Allotments, with a few notable exceptions.
First, Organizations have specific types of gear
available to members based on the primary role of the
group, and the gear available is noted in the group’s
description. For example, a military Organization has
weapons and armored vehicles, a mystical group provides
artifacts and talismans, and a research company provides
cutting-edge tech and experimental gear.
Second, Organizations are assigned a Restriction
Level for the gear they have available. Any items of this
level or lower are purchased at listed cost for members
using Organizational Allotments, but gear from higher
Restriction Levels is not available. Note that often a
member’s rank will also influence the Restriction Level
they have access to within the group.
Third, gear can only be requisitioned for missions
and tasks related to the Organization or to serve its
overall purpose. So a member of a high-tech spy ring
could ask for a high-tech laser watch if they were
pursuing one of the group’s enemies or following
orders to track down a double agent, but not if they
wanted it to help open cans at home. A member can
attempt to request gear for something unrelated to the
group’s goals or outside a mission, but this requires a
Hard Influence check against the Insight of whomever
the member is attempting to requisition the item from.
If the misappropriation of gear is discovered, the
member risks losing rank within the group or even
expulsion from the Organization (see below).
Finally, the Organizational Allotment level of a
member serves as a general guideline for their standing
within the Organization. The higher the rating, the
more the hero has been entrusted with, and this is
related to their status and rank within the Organization.
Note that the ranks listed are general titles, and
individual Organizations have their own rank structure
and names.
The forces of Omega, the international anti-supervillainy Organization, prepare for another battle
against the scum of the multiverse. Omega chief General Roger Bragg looks on, checking whether his
men and women have all they need for the dangers ahead.
Membership
Once a hero has jumped through the necessary hoops,
they are indoctrinated into the Organization and enjoy
all the perks of membership. Normally members start
out at the Recruit rank, gaining 1d10+10 points in the
Organizational Allotments for the group after they
complete the requirements for membership, but special
circumstances may allow them to start at a higher rank
if the Games Master allows. They also gain any Benefits
afforded to new Recruits, but will also be expected to
participate in activities and missions for the
Organization when called upon. This may impact the
campaign, especially if not all of the heroes are part of
the same Organization. While Organizations should not
serve to railroad the players into having adventures
related to the group, Organizations can serve as good
source for plot hooks for the Games Master and as great
roleplaying opportunities for the players.
If not all heroes are members of the same
Organization, individual members may be tasked with
separate agendas set for them by their patrons. This
may inadvertently help heroes who are not members,
such as being able to use a vehicle provided to a
member hero for transportation, but the Organization
may also have strict policies on use of their equipment
by non-members and the member hero must be careful.
Additionally, the Organization’s goals may conflict with
those of heroes who are not part of it. The member may
need to decide on their loyalty to their patron
Organization or to their teammates, and while this can
be another great opportunity for hero development
and roleplay, it should not be a source of tension among
the players. It is important to balance obligations for
Organizations against the needs of the players so they
never feel like the campaign is being pulled in a
direction against their wishes and goals for their hero.
Gaining and Losing Rank
Following protocols, undertaking missions, and serving
the Organization in good standing can allow the hero to
rise through the ranks, gaining more perks and access
to better resources. Shirking duties, bucking protocol,
and acting in ways contrary to the purpose of the group
have the opposite effect, leading to a reduction in rank
at best or being kicked out of the Organization at worst.
In some extreme cases, the offending hero may end up
with the Organization as an enemy instead of an ally. A
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 Destined
few general concepts are at the core of changes in a
hero’s rank within the Organization: Loyalty, Duty,
and Activity.
• Loyalty: How dedicated is the member to the group?
A loyal member follows the Structure of the group and
takes no actions to inflict harm on the group, its
members, or its reputation. Loyalty to a group is often
represented by a positive Passion related to the group,
and the higher the rating, the more loyalty the member
has to the group.
• Duty: How well does the member fulfil their role
within the group? A dutiful member follows the
Protocols of the group and does their best to see that
other members abide by those rules as well. Duty can
also be represented by a positive Passion related to
following Protocols, but it can also be demonstrated by
actions that support those rules.
• Activity: What does the member do to serve and
elevate the ideals of the group? An active member seeks
out opportunities to perform tasks for the group, serves
on committees, and undertakes missions assigned by
their superiors. An active member also finds ways to
help the group outside of assigned missions,
performing outreach or obtaining resources that could
benefit the group.
In many cases, a member’s actions and behaviors are
what determine if they deserve an increase or decrease
in their Organizational Allotments, which also have the
corresponding effect of changing their rank within the
Organization. The Games Master has final say if a
particular event affects a hero’s standing within the
group, and assigns a bonus or penalty to their
Organizational Allotment Rating from the group.
These changes are persistent and remain in place until
the hero takes some other action that affects their
standing. Generally, most routine changes to the rating
should be equivalent to spending an Experience Roll on
skills (1d4+1), but the Games Master may make a
higher adjustment if the action was especially
significant. Some examples of circumstances that could
trigger a modifier to Organizational Allotments are
listed in the Organizational Rank Modifiers table (see
page 227).
When a hero crosses the threshold into a higher
rank, they may advance to that rank immediately, or
they may need to undertake a special mission, ritual, or
other task dictated by the group’s Protocols for
advancement. Once the new rank is obtained, the hero
gains any additional Benefits related to it, but may also
have new duties related to their increased standing
within the group. Heroes whose Allotments are lowered
226
below the threshold of a lower rank are immediately
demoted, losing Benefits and access to privileges they
previously enjoyed. If the hero is lowered below a
rating of 10%, they are removed from the Organization
and lose access to everything they gained from it. In
some cases, there may be more serious consequences,
such as legal action or even gaining the group as an
enemy. Even if there is no extreme action taken, it is up
to the Games Master to determine if the hero can ever
rejoin the group.
Example Organizations
The following Organizations are examples of a few
classic superhero tropes that exist in many comic
book settings. You can use them in your own campaign,
within the Destined setting provided in this book, or
as a basis for creating your own groups for your
campaign.
Aceso Industries (Corporation)
Aceso Industries is a biotech company that specializes in
cutting-edge medical equipment and pharmaceuticals,
and recently they have been working on innovations to
help local superhumans and provide medical treatment
to people injured by powered villains. While Aceso is a
business, there is a strong focus on community outreach
and altruistic projects for the underprivileged.
• Spheres of Influence: Discovery, Medicine,
Technology
• Structure: Aceso is run by a board of directors headed
by company founder Dr. Allisa Roberts. Each
subdivision focuses on a specific type of medical
equipment and is headed by a Director.
• Requirements: Most Recruits must go through a
standard employment application, criminal back-
ground check, and drug testing. Those wishing to work
in research must also have a background in medicine,
science, and biomedical engineering.
• Protocols: As outlined in the employee handbook,
members of Aceso Industries are expected to perform
all their assigned job duties and respect other
employees and affiliated contractors. Members are also
expected to follow the appropriate chain of command
and not use company facilities or supplies for personal
gain or non-work-related purposes.
• Benefits: Aceso provides in-house medical care to all
members through its on-site clinic free of charge
(Facilities: Medical 90%). Members of rank Dedicated or

higher can utilize Aceso facilities after hours as long as
they report the usage to their supervisor (Access: Aceso
Facilities 70%). Those of Overseer or higher can use
company jets and helicopters for personal use
(Personnel: Pilots 80%) and have unlimited access to
any company facility (Access: Aceso Facilities 100%).
• Allotments: Members of Aceso have access to medical
technology up to the Uncommon level, or the
Restricted Level if they are of Proven rank or above.
This includes medicines, robotic-assisted surgical
equipment, experimental military exoskeletons, and
advanced cybernetics.
Omega (Military Unit)
Omega was developed by several allied world
governments to help deal with the rise of superpowered
individuals and to help curb the actions of rogue or
criminal superhumans. Originally working as an elite
covert military unit, Omega’s members remain highly
trained in combat and tactics, especially against
superpowered targets. Omega also employs
superhumans to help deal with extreme threats, either
as full agents or as freelance contractors who are called
upon when needed.
• Spheres of Influence: Control, Military,
Peacekeeping
• Structure: Omega is under the leadership of General
Roger Bragg, a tough, no-nonsense career soldier who
has firsthand experience dealing with superhumans.
Individual strike teams have a designated field
commander who makes critical decisions in the field,
and the entire operation is overseen by a secret
committee that answers directly to the United Nations.
Organizational Rank Modifiers
Member Activity
Finds an important item or resource for the group
Completes a routine mission for the group
Has a Passion related to the group at 50%
Defeats the group’s archenemy or enemy group
Completes an important mission for the group
Has a Passion related to the group at 75-89%
Completes an important public mission for the group, thereby vastly improving their standing in the community
Has a Passion related to the group at 90% or higher
Breaks, loses, or destroys an important item (a super-plane, the Talisman of Time, and so on)
Is insubordinate to a superior-ranked member
Fails in their assigned routine mission
Reveals confidential information about the group to a nonmember
Fails at an important mission for the group
Severely damages the group’s standing in the community, nation, and so on
Through action or inaction harms other members of the group
8. The Life of a Hero
• Requirements: No one asks to be part of Omega, and
if they do, they are usually turned away at best, or
disappear at worst. Instead, the group seeks out
potential members from all branches of the military in
cooperation with the armed forces of all allied nations.
Potential Recruits endure a grueling series of physical,
mental, and combat challenges to prove their worth,
and the final test is a solo field mission against a
superpowered threat. Superpowered members must
endure the same brutal training.
• Protocols: Omega follows strict military regulations,
and members have their days filled with training, drills,
and intelligence analysis. Chain of command must be
followed, and any insubordination or breach of conduct
is punished swiftly and harshly. While members are
expected to never “go rogue,” General Bragg has been
surprisingly lenient on members who break protocol to
take down a dangerous threat on their own.
• Benefits: Omega works to preserve the privacy of all
members, wiping away any information that could be
used against them or their loved ones (Legal: Expunge
Records 70%). All members also have quarters in the
unit’s secret and highly-guarded headquarters, hidden
under Fort Morrison in Virginia (Facilities: Fort Morrison
85%). Members of Dedicated rank or higher can access
the group’s extensive database on superhumans with
prior approval from their commanding officer
(Information: Superhumans 80%). Those of Proven or
higher rank may requisition Omega soldiers for special
missions (Personnel: Soldiers 75%) and have legal
protections against covert actions taken in the field
(Legal: License to Kill 90%).
• Allotments: Members of Omega have access to
Restricted weapons, armor, and military vehicles for use
in missions for the group. Those of Proven level or
Allotment Change
+5
+5
+5
+10
+10
+10
+20
+20
-5
-5
-5
-10
-10
-20
-20
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 Destined
higher have access to Highly Restricted weapons for use
in special combat missions.
Sect of the Silver Chalice (Mystical
Secret Society)
Dating back to the 17th century, the Sect of the Silver
Chalice was founded by a group of witches and warlocks
to help prevent the spread of dark magic and the rise of
malevolent extra-dimensional entities. The Silver
Chalice works behind the scenes to defend the innocent
against monsters and evil forces and to contain dark
magic that seeks to corrupt the world. The Silver
Chalice maintains strict secrecy to protect themselves
from their many enemies and to prevent their
accumulated mystical knowledge from falling into the
wrong hands.
• Spheres of Influence: Control, Occult Knowledge,
Peacekeeping
• Structure: The Silver Chalice is led by a triumvirate of
powerful spellcasters known as the Hooded Cabal who
rarely meet in person, but instead communicate often
through mystical means. Each one resides in special
pocket dimensions that are only accessible at select
Silver Chalice sites across the globe, and their true
identities are only known to each other. All information
and potential issues must be passed on to one of them,
and the Cabal decides on a course of action.
• Requirements: Potential members are provided with
a complex magical riddle delivered on a parchment
letter to their home. If they are able to solve this
enigma, they are transported to a sacred but isolated
site where members of the Silver Chalice challenge
them to magical duels and tests of their will against the
temptations of dark forces. Those who pass must drink
from the ancient silver chalice, which is said to turn the
unworthy to stone.
• Protocols: All members of the Silver Chalice must
respect magical traditions and the secrecy inherent in
the practice of the arcane arts. They must never use
magic for material gain, or against other members of
the Silver Chalice, unless those members are corrupted
by dark forces. Finally, members must contain or
destroy all artifacts of darkness and must never use
their corrupting powers, even if trying to serve the
greater good.
• Benefits: All members may seek sanctuary at one of
the three homes owned by the Silver Chalice (Facilities:
Silver Chalice Demesne 70%), and those of Dedicated
rank or above may also use the magical libraries at each
site for research and education (Information: Occult
228
Lore 80%). Those of Proven rank or higher may access
special magical gateways at each site that allow instant
transportation to any location where mystical ley lines
converge (Facilities: Mystical Gateway 90%).
• Allotments: Members of the Silver Chalice gain access
to mystical artifacts and talismans at the Uncommon
level. Those of the Overseer rank or higher can request
Restricted items, but only for the most important or
dire magical emergencies.
Creating Superteams
In the campaign setting there may be a preeminent
Superteam, the apex of what a group of heroes can
achieve when they work together. Perhaps your heroes
dream of being part of that team, or maybe they want to
create their own heroic group that will become the new
legends of the setting. Anytime a group of heroes comes
together to fight the good fight, they can be called a
"Superteam," but the rules presented below allow
players to make a team that functions like other
Organizations within the setting, with their own
resources, shared Allotments, and Superteam Benefits
that all members can take advantage of. These rules can
also be used to create any other type of player-
established Organization within the campaign, whether
the heroes want to make their own business, found a
sorcerous order in their grandfather’s old mansion, or
establish a security firm to assist them in their
crimefighting endeavors.
Setting up the Superteam
When the heroes make the decision to create their own
Superteam, they establish the Spheres of Influence,
Structure of leadership, Requirements for entry, and
Protocols for members just like any other Organization.
Since these are narrative tools, there are no specific
game mechanics for them and players can choose to
make them as minimal or as detailed as they like. These
aspects should be decided by all the players involved
with the team, and as the core members of the team
they should be able to make adjustments as long as the
other members of the team agree. Since this is a player-
created Organization, the Games Master should only
step in to arbitrate disagreements or if something would
be inappropriate or unreasonable for the group. In
terms of developing these four aspects, here are a few
things to keep in mind for Superteams:
• Spheres of Influence: These should serve to define
what the key goals of the team are. For most traditional
Superteams, this will include things such as Legal
The heroes gather to discuss their response to the wave of supervillain activity that is causing chaos in
the city. As they share information they begin to see a pattern behind the attacks and signs of a sinister
purpose directing them.
(upholding the law) and Peacekeeping, but players are
free to determine whatever aspects of the campaign
they want their group to focus on. Perhaps they are
deeply involved with their local community, or they
focus their efforts on keeping a specific group of the
population safe, such as children. Determining the
group’s Spheres of Influence can help guide where the
campaign focuses, based on their choices.
• Structure: In most Superteams the Structure is very
simple since all player-heroes will have equal ground
within the group. But in comics, traditionally
Superteams have someone who is the default leader of
the group and is called upon to make decisions when
the team can’t come to a consensus. While this is not a
requirement, the players can also choose someone to be
in charge or to serve as the group’s spokesperson.
• Requirements: This aspect only comes into play if the
heroes allow other people within the campaign to
become part of their team. This may include support
staff such as maintenance personnel, pilots, or security
for a base, but it may also include other heroes who wish
to become members. Players can decide how they will
test prospective employees and team members, which
can be a fun roleplaying opportunity or even an
adventure on its own.
• Protocols: In comics, Superteams have their own
rules and regulations, and members who violate them
are either reprimanded or removed from the team. In
terms of Destined, this is something that would work
better with supporting characters and not something
that should usually be applied to the player-heroes. If
there would be a player-controlled hero that would
“break the rules” of the team, the Games Master and
229
 Destined
Developing
Infrastructure
A s Superteams grow, supporting all the
vehicles, maintaining the bases, and filling out
the paperwork can take up valuable time that the
heroes should be spending out on patrol. While
the group may have a few trusted allies that may
be involved, cleaning a massive satellite or hidden
mountain fortress is probably beyond the means
of the hero’s trusted valet or elderly aunt. To make
things simple for the heroes, once their Superteam
has an Allotment Rating of at least 40%, it is
assumed they have the means to hire on some
additional staff to handle the minutiae of
maintaining the team (or Organization). The
players are free to detail these staff if they so
choose, naming the cleaning crew or drawing
pictures of their robot servants, but these support
staff are considered to be non-combatants and
only serve background roles for the team. If the
heroes wish to have support staff that has a more
active role, see the Superteam Benefits section
below.
players should decide how to best handle the situation
within the game. With the right group, it could be a fun
roleplaying opportunity as long as everyone is willing to
play along. Plus, just like in comics, the member who is
removed still seems to show up in the team’s
adventures, fences are mended and they rejoin.
Funding the Superteam
Superteams require resources to get off the ground,
and without them the group does not exist outside of
the dreams and ambitions of the heroes. Any hero that
is part of the team must devote some of their Personal
Allotments to the new group to provide initial funding.
Players can devote as little or as much as they like, but
once those Allotments are allocated to the group, they
are unavailable for the hero’s own Personal Allotments.
For example, if Shadowstalker devotes 10% of his total
Hero-Established Superteam Allotment Ratings
Allotment Rating
10-20%
21-40%
41-60%
61-80% Small corporation, powerful mystical order, or small peacekeeping Organization
81-100% Medium corporation or peacekeeping Organization, or extensive secret society
101% or higher Multinational corporation, large peacekeeping Organization, or ancient mystical order
230
Personal Allotments of 60% to a new Superteam, he will only
have 50% to use from his own resources as long as he remains
part of the team. A Superteam must have a minimum of
10% in its Allotment Rating to exist, and the total rating
can serve as a general guide for how large the group is.
Note that the examples below are equivalent
Organizations, and superhero teams can exist at any
Allotment Rating.
Increasing a hero-created Superteam’s Allotments
works differently from that of an independent
Organization’s. As the de facto leaders of the group,
heroes can continue to devote their own Personal
Allotments to the Organization, or they can spend
Experience Rolls to increase the rating by 1d4+1 for
each roll spent on increasing the group’s resources.
Increases to the Superteam’s Allotments are permanent
unless one of the heroes opts to leave the team for some
reason. In that case, the hero regains any Personal
Allotments allocated to the Organization, but any
Experience Rolls used remain part of the group and are
lost to the hero. If after a few months of active membership
Shadowstalker decides to leave the new Superteam, he regains
the 10% of his Personal Allotments he devoted to the group, but
not the five Experience Rolls he spent increasing the team’s
Allotments. Note that this only applies if a player-
controlled hero leaves the group, and not if a
supporting character hero departs.
Superteam Benefits
Just like the Organizations listed above, Superteams
created by the heroes can offer special perks beyond the
camaraderie of teammates and support in the never-
ending war on crime. When heroes create a new
Superteam, they gain an amount of percentage points
equal to the initial investment of Personal Allotments to
allocate to Benefits the group provides. These can be
divided up as the group sees fit to whatever Benefits fit
the team, with any Benefit added requiring a minimum
of 10%. For example, Shadowstalker’s new Superteam has a
total Allotment Rating of 40%, so they gain 40 points to spend
on Benefits. The group opts for 20% in Legal from an allied
attorney and 20% for an Information database on local crime
syndicates.
Example Organizations
Small business or detective agency
Medium business or small military unit
Large business, moderate secret Society or military unit

The Games Master has final say on what Benefits are
allowed, and may require the heroes to provide
justification for their choices. It is easy to explain how
your ragtag band of street heroes might have some
friends on the police force willing to look the other way,
but harder to justify them having squads of elite combat
troops. If points are allocated to the Facilities Benefit
and you are using the Bases of Operation rules below,
heroes gain a number of Allotment Slots equal to one-
tenth the percentage assigned to the Benefit that can
only be used on constructing a base.
Any time the Allotment Rating of the team is
increased, heroes gain the same amount of points to
spend on additional Benefits for the team. Heroes can
also devote Experience Rolls to increasing individual
Benefits, raising them by 1d4+1 for each roll used.
Note that a Benefit’s rating can never be greater than
the total Allotment Rating of the team.
Using Superteam Allotments
Organizational Allotments from a hero-created
Superteam are available to anyone that contributed to
the Organization. These Allotments are treated as a
shared pool for all members, and any used by one hero
are unavailable to other heroes who wish to spend slots
from this pool. For example, if a group of three heroes all
contribute to a new group and the Allotment Rating is 60%,
there are 6 slots available for the three members to share. Each
member could take 2 slots of equipment each or one could use 4
and the other two would have one slot each.
New Superteams start with a Restriction Level of
Uncommon for the group’s Allotments, and this level
can be raised by spending 5 Experience Rolls to
increase it to Restricted, and then 10 additional
Experience Rolls to increase it to Highly Restricted.
These Experience Rolls do not need to come from a
single hero, and all members can contribute to the final
amount needed.
Bases of Operation
Every good comic book hero needs a place to hang their
cape, stitch their wounds, and stare balefully at the
computer-screen image of their archnemesis. The
superhero base is an important part of the genre, and
comic books are full of iconic ones such as Marvel’s
Avengers Tower and DC Comics’ Batcave. In your
campaign there may come a time when the heroes get
tired of meeting at the local coffee shop or in someone’s
apartment and decide to create a place of their own.
8. The Life of a Hero
Superteams and
Alternate Heroes
O ne benefit of establishing a new Superteam is
that the group can attract other heroes
looking to join up in their fight against evil. In most
cases these will be non-player supporting heroes
who serve as allies and contacts for the players,
but the Games Master may also allow players to
create alternate heroes if they are looking for a
change of pace. Comic book Superteams often
have large rosters of members, some active and
others on reserve, and this can give players an
opportunity to try something new or switch up
their team to handle different types of adventures
and threats.
The rules presented here are a simple way to design
a special location for the heroes, and explores Benefits
a base can provide aside from somewhere to hang out.
While the rules are kept simple, players are encouraged
to design and detail their base as much as they want, but
ultimately the Games Master has final say on any game
mechanics related to the location. Bases are built on
four components that establish the most pertinent
details of the location: Size, Power Source, Security, and
Amenities.
Sponsored Superteams
W hile the system above assumes the heroes
contribute all the resources that the
Superteam uses, some heroes may seek out
sponsorship from an Organization they are
already part of to help fund the new group. If the
Games Master allows this, the hero can devote
some of their Organizational Allotments from a
group they are a member of to the new group.
Remember that unlike Personal Allotments,
heroes can lose standing in an Organization they
are part of and a loss of Organizational
Allotments from the sponsoring group is
immediately deducted from the amount allocated
to the Superteam. Also, contributing resources
from an outside Organization also means the
sponsor also has a degree of control over the new
Superteam, possibly influencing its actions,
Protocols, Structure, or other key aspects of the
group. Depending on the sponsor, they may also
make requests as part of their contributions, such
as public appearances by the Superteam, the
addition of corporate logos on team uniforms, or
adding their own personnel to the team’s roster.
231

The volcano island lair is a favorite for heroes
and villains alike; however, bases could include
castles, skyscrapers, caverns, sewer hideouts,
abandoned missile silos, or even spaceships or
pocket dimensions.
Base Cost
Just like other resources, heroes spend their Allotment
Slots to construct bases and have them available during
an adventure. Each of the four components for a base
has an associated cost listed in Allotment Slots, as well as
a Restriction Level of the feature. Just like equipment
(see Chapter 4), the hero must have the required
number of slots available and they must be able to access
the level of the feature. Heroes can use their Personal
or Organizational Allotments to construct a base, but
each type of resource has specific rules on how it can be
used when making a base.
• Personal Allotments: A base obtained with Personal
Allotments is the hero’s own private sanctuary, although
they can share this space with their allies if the hero
chooses. While many heroes in comic books have their
232
own personal lair, the base doesn’t always come into
play during a particular adventure. Additionally, heroes
often have multiple features within the base, but they
often focus on the ones needed for the particular
challenge. When a hero has a personal base, they create
it using the system below with as many Personal
Allotment Slots as they wish to spend, up to their
normal maximum, detailing the Size, Power Source,
Security, and Amenities that the base contains. Just like
equipment, the hero may choose if their base is
available during a session by paying the cost in
Allotment Slots when they choose their loadout for the
session. If the hero pays for a base, they may access it
during the adventure and use whatever features they
purchased for that session. Note that the only
components of a base that always must be paid for are
the Size and the Power Source. A hero is only required
to purchase Security and Amenities that they want to
use for the adventure, and anything else that is
normally available is always off-panel and can’t be
accessed unless the hero is able to change the loadout
for their Allotments. For example, The Mortician has a
secret lair under his butcher shop, and he uses his 7 slots of
Personal Allotments to create a Size 4 base that uses the city
grid for power, adding in computer systems and a training
area. During an adventure, he wants to make sure his
computers are available for any investigations he needs to
conduct, so he allocates 3 of his Personal Slots (2 for the Size
of the base and 1 for the computer systems) so they will be there
if he needs them. During downtime between adventures,
the hero has access to their full base and can use any
features as needed.
• Organizational Allotments: If the Organization the
hero is part of has the Facilities Benefit, and if the hero
is of sufficient rank within the group to access those
facilities, the Games Master will create an appropriate
base using one-tenth of the Facilities rank as Allotment
Slots. Heroes are normally stuck with whatever location
the Organization has available, but if the Games Master
allows they may spend Organization Allotment Slots
available to add additional features to the site. For
example, if a member of the Silver Chalice is staying in one of
their demesnes and wishes to add an alchemical laboratory, if
the Games Master allows it he could devote two of his available
slots from the group to add the feature. Just like with
Personal Allotments, a base for an Organization must
always use its available slots to purchase Size and Power
Source first, before any other features can be added. As
noted above, a player-created Superteam can also
devote any amount allocated to Facilities to create a base
for the team, but heroes are not permitted to use their
Personal Allotments to add features to the base unless
they devote them to the group’s Allotment Rating.
 8. The Life of a Hero

Base Size table

Size Cost/RL Example
2 1/C Loft apartment, small office, converted tractor trailer
4 2/C Large home, floor of office building, limited section of cavern or mine
6 3/U Mansion, small building, section of military base
8 4/U Several floors of a skyscraper, office park, abandoned mine
10 5/R Small skyscraper, aircraft carrier, expansive cavern system
12 6/R Large skyscraper, moon base, hollowed-out mountain
Each additional +2 Entire military bases, small cities, aircraft carriers (flying or otherwise)

Size
Size is a measure of the total space available in the base,
and it serves as a pool of points for Security measures
and Amenities. The location may be a single site, such
as a cavern or an abandoned factory, or spread out over
several contiguous sites, such as two floors of a
skyscraper or several buildings that are part of a larger
military base. Size is measured in slots which are used
for certain features listed below, and a base can only
have a number of features equal to its total Size rating.
For example, a Size 6 base can have special Security and
Amenities features that total no more than 6 points in their Size
cost. Note that heroes can increase the Size of their base
by paying the difference between levels, and expanding
does not necessarily mean they move to a new location.
Maybe other floors in the skyscraper become available
or they slowly renovate the abandoned military base as
they gain more resources.
• City Grid: The base is hooked into the local power
grid just like any other house or building. Obviously
this requires the base to be in a location that has an
established power grid available, so this option is not
available if the base is in a remote or exotic location such
as on a distant mountaintop or in a satellite in orbit.
While the city grid can provide sufficient energy for
nearly any base Size, there are a few drawbacks. First,
someone with access to the grid can trace back the base’s
power usage and use it as a means to locate the hero’s
sanctuary (checks to locate the base using this method
are one grade easier). Second, the base is subject to
blackouts, brownouts, or anything else that causes the
grid to go down. While there is normally no cost to this
option, the Games Master may decide if the heroes have
many power-draining features that the heroes may
have to start paying a cost representing their power bill
for the location. Teleporters are convenient, but they
use a lot of juice.

• Sustainable: The base uses some form of renewable

Power Source
While the physical site is essential, energy to run all the
fancy equipment and gadgets is just as important. Every
base must have a source of power to keep the lights on
and any special features running. Even if a hero’s base
is a spartan room in an abandoned warehouse, they still
need light and a heat source to make it serviceably
comfortable. While Destined does not go into the
specifics of how much power each feature needs, certain
energy sources are required to sustain larger bases as
detailed below. There are three types of power sources
available:
energy source to provide power such as solar panels,
wind turbines, or hydroelectric generators. The benefit
of these sources is they provide nearly limitless energy
as long as the conditions needed are available. The
downside is their power output is often more limited
than other energy sources and they work best for
smaller bases.
• Reactors: Using fission, fusion, or something more
exotic, reactors provide large amounts of power and
allow heroes to be self-sufficient in terms of their energy
needs. They are the best power source for bases in
remote or exotic locations, and depending on the size
of the reactor they can provide sufficient energy for

Base Power Source Table

Power Source Cost/RL Example Notes
City Grid - Tapped into municipal power grid See above
Sustainable 1/C Hydroelectric, solar panels Only usable for Size 6 or lower
Small Reactor 2/U Small fission reactor, large hydroelectric generator Able to power a base up to Size 8
Medium Reactor 3/R Medium fission or fusion reactor Able to power a base up to Size 10
Large Reactor 4/VR Large fission or fusion reactor, exotic power source such Able to power a base of Size 12 or
as antimatter larger

233
 Security
Security determines how well the base is
defended from outside attack or intrusion,
and covers factors such as the secrecy of the
base’s location and defense systems to protect
against physical, electronic, or exotic attacks.
A base with few security measures is a
tempting target for the heroes’ enemies.
Heroes with the means and space can build a
veritable fortress, but this might prevent them
from utilizing gear that could be just as
valuable. Like other aspects of bases, Security
takes up Size and has an Allotment Cost
associated with it, but some security features
require one but not the other. If both Size and
Cost are blank, the listed feature is considered
to be standard for any base that doesn’t have
an upgraded feature.

Amenities
Amenities are any perks or special facilities the
base has that provide additional features or
aid the heroes with specific tasks. Some
Amenities are simply creature comforts,
giving the heroes a place to rest and relax
between missions. Others have specific game
benefits related to certain skill rolls, or they
allow heroes to undertake certain actions that
require specific tools or workshops while
present at the base. Amenities use up a
portion of the base’s available Size and may
have a Cost associated with them that must be
paid to gain access to the perk.

Example Base Creation

Our heroes’ base is powered by a Silurium Energy Reactor,
which they ‘liberated’ on a mission to an alien world. It keeps After many adventures, Shadowstalker’s Superteam
the bills down, but lots of unsavory people would love to get has raised their Facilities Benefit up to 80% and
their hands on this potent artifact. their Allotment Rating up to 90% (Restricted
Level), so they decide it’s time to create a base for the
bases of nearly any size. The downside is reactors often team. They have 8 slots from the Facilities rating, so they choose
need rare or dangerous materials for the reaction a Size 8 location for 3 slots and a small reactor to power it for
needed to generate power. Obtaining the necessary 2 more slots. With the remaining 3 slots from the Benefit, they
amounts of uranium or Element X for the reactor add a reinforced structure and basic cybersecurity.
requires contacts in the proper channels or some less- Shadowstalker thinks they need some more Amenities, so with
than-legal markets that may draw unwanted attention. the group’s permission he allocates 5 more slots from their
Reactors are also complex in their operations, requiring Allotments to add a few more features. He adds a vehicle bay
skills such as Engineering, Science, and System Ops to for his motorcycle, some living quarters, computer systems, and
operate and maintain. A Fumble during a check a medical bay. All told the features use up 6 points of their 8
involving the reactor can lead to a bad day for the Size, leaving a little room for further expansions. Now they
heroes and most likely for their neighbors within several have a location to use during their missions and a place to relax
kilometers around the base. during their rare moments of downtime.
234
 8. The Life of a Hero

Security Measure Size
Basic locks
Normal structure
Public site
Upgraded locks
Reinforced structure
Basic weapon systems
Hidden location
Basic cybersecurity
Advanced locks
Armored structure
Advanced weapon systems
Remote location
Advanced cybersecurity
Force field
Cloaking device
Robot guards
Inaccessible location
Base Security
Cost/RL Notes
- - Requires a Standard Mechanisms roll to gain access through doors and windows
- - Exterior walls and doors have AP 6 and 30 HP, interior walls and doors are half that
amount
- - Difficulty to find the base with Perception is Standard
- 1/C Requires a Hard Mechanisms roll to gain access through doors and windows
1 1/C Exterior walls and doors have AP 8 and 40 HP, interior walls and doors are half that
amount
2 3/R Four external cannons that inflict 2d8 damage with a Force of E, requires System Ops
roll to use
- 2/U Base difficulty to find the base using Perception is Hard
- 1/C Computers rolls to access base systems are one Difficulty Grade harder
- 2/U Requires a Formidable Mechanisms roll to gain access through doors and windows
2 3/U Exterior walls and doors have AP 12 and 50 HP, interior walls and doors are half that
amount
4 5/R Eight external cannons that inflict 4d6 damage with a Force of E, requires a System
Ops roll to use
- 3/R Base difficulty to find the base using Perception is Formidable
- 3/R Computers rolls to access base systems are two Difficulty Grades harder
2 5/HR Easy System Ops roll to activate force field with AP of 12 that surrounds base, any
damage that penetrates the field reduces its AP by 1
3 6/HR Perception and System Ops rolls to notice base are two grades harder
2 4/HR 10 security robots (use statistics found on page 323)
- 5/HR Base difficulty to find the base with Perception is Herculean

Base Amenities
Amenity Size Cost/RL Notes
Computer systems 1 2/U Computers and Research rolls are one grade easier
Laboratory 2 3/U Craft, Engineering, and Science rolls are one grade easier
Living quarters 1* 1/C Can accommodate 4 people for each Size spent
Manufacturing room 2 3/U Craft rolls to create items are one grade easier
Medical bay 2 3/U First Aid and Medicine checks to heal are one grade easier
Repair facilities 2 3/U Craft and Mechanisms checks to repair items or vehicles are one grade easier
Storage 1* 1/C Can store up to 250 cubic meters per Size spent
Teleporter 2 5/HR Teleports up to 5 heroes a maximum of 1000 kilometers to known location
Training room 2 3/U After a week of training, roll Experience Roll spent to improve skills twice and take
higher roll
Vehicle bay 1* 2/U Accommodates a vehicle Size equal to the number of Size spent
Features marked * have variable size and costs.

235
 Destined
Creating your
comic
N
octurne walked up to the podium, his footsteps
echoing through the condemned concert hall. He
took a moment to let it all sink in, pulling down
on his vest to straighten it before raising his baton
up, letting the quiet surround him before the blare of the piece
started. Then with a flick of his wrist it began. Around him the
fanfare soared in volume and with it an image arose above the
stage, harsh light in the dimness. The lines of light coalesced
into a map of Gemelos City, and as the baton bounced,
pinpoints of light appeared. The first note of the downbeat
played as the pinpoints grew into locations, a local bank and
the site of an armored car stop. Each one seemingly
interconnected to the other, each one a robbery he planned.
Then he turned, directing more pinpoints all around the city.
The financial district. A shipment of medicine. The destruction
of a restaurant where three dons of the local mob were meeting
for lunch. Each one measures in the composition he had
written. As the music built to a crescendo, Nocturne moved at a
feverish pitch. More and more crimes all over the city, all
synchronized in perfect tempo to send the police and the city’s
heroes scrambling. All distractions. While the city was in chaos,
his baton found its final target: the museum where a valuable
collection of original sheet music by the great master was being
displayed. He smiled as he reached the culmination of his
perfect concerto of crime, the music in his head stopping as the
image winked out and plunged the concert hall into darkness.
The city is riddled with crime, from the lowest street
thugs to the vilest villains scheming in their lairs, just
looking for the opportunity to tear it all down and
rebuild everything in their scowling image. Every hero
needs a city to protect the innocent and do battle with
the evildoers who foster chaos and destruction, and this
chapter outlines how to create a campaign for Games
Masters to set their players loose in. In these pages are
236
discussions on running a Destined game, important
themes of comic book stories, how to create a campaign
setting, and designing villains to challenge your heroes.
Basic Superhero
Themes
Comic books run the gamut of lighthearted stories,
from brightly clad do-gooders with their underwear on
the outside to grimdark vigilantes who are only
marginally better than the scum they gun down. While
the tone and maturity level of comic book stories can
vary wildly, there are a few common themes that are
part of superhero tales throughout their near-century
of history. While the Games Master does not need to
explore all of these themes, keeping them in mind as
you craft your world and stories can help to maintain
the proper feel of the genre.
Modern Mythology
For nearly all of recorded human history, there have
been stories of people with abilities far surpassing those
of mortal beings. From ancient gods and heroes, to tall
tales, to oracles and prophets, there are countless
legends of people with superhuman gifts woven
throughout our past. Mythology serves to teach us
wisdom and valuable lessons and impart morality, with
the stories providing a form of entertainment. Although
these ancient tales have been relegated to the realm of
superstition in our modern “enlightened” culture of
cold, hard reason, something within us is still drawn to

mythology. Comic books are one avenue that has helped
fill this need. Larger-than-life beings with powers gifted
to them by otherworldly circumstances are the new
“gods” of our modern era. These four-color heroes
battle their own monsters and struggle with the demons
inside themselves, all the while protecting the fragile
mortals around them. Even ancient gods and heroes
have found their way onto the comic page, becoming
superheroes instead of demigods. Creating superhero
stories relies on this sense of “modern mythology” that
is found on comic book pages, and the heroes will build
their own legacies as they face labors and defeat beasts
in their quest to go down in the books of legend.
Duality
When a hero puts on a mask, they become someone
else. No longer a mild-mannered citizen, they turn into
forces of nature that wreak havoc on the seedy
underbelly of the city. As mentioned in the previous
chapter, the dual nature of a hero is an integral part of
telling superhero stories. Heroes must balance their
secret, ordinary life against their heroic one. They have
allies in costume and friends and family in their lives
outside of tights and masks. They skirt the law and even
break it in the pursuit of justice.
This sense of duality permeates nearly all aspects of
comic books, and can be a great source of roleplaying
and drama if explored. While the flashy fights against
villains thrill readers, it’s the deeper exploration of what
makes a hero tick that connects them to the fictional
person on the page. Sometimes the clashes of the dual
nature of the hero take them down harder than any
villain’s fist. It is best to focus on one or two aspects of
duality in the campaign so the players are not
overwhelmed by a constant barrage of deep moral
quandaries and internal struggles. For example,
street-level vigilante stories often focus on how heroes
operate outside the law while also trying to serve it, and
the mightiest superheroes are regularly challenged by
balancing their sense of duty as a hero against the
possibility of their secret life endangering those
around them.
Black, White, and Shades
of Gray
In typical comic book stories, it's easy to tell who is the
hero and who is the villain. Over time, our outlook on
the world has become more nuanced, and so have our
views of heroes and villains. Pick up a comic or watch a
superhero movie developed in the past 20 years and
9. Creating your comic
you may see that sometimes the heroes can be villains
and vice versa. Heroes such as DC’s Batman have
morphed from the campy ’60s TV version to the Dark
Knight, skirting the law and sometimes being viewed as
much a criminal as the villains that haunt Arkham
Asylum. It’s important to establish whether your players
want to play a game of stark contrasts of morality or
something more nuanced, where the protagonists (and
antagonists) fall somewhere in the middle.
Exploring the idea that even the most pure-hearted
and well-meaning hero can do things that would be
considered “bad” in society’s terms is a great
opportunity for roleplaying. If the White Lance,
defender of the weak, accidentally kills someone, even if
it’s his long-time nemesis who recently burned down
the local orphanage, the public could change their
minds about if they want him as their protector. He’s no
longer the hero; he’s a murderer, even if he feels the
ends justified the means.
Shades of gray come to the forefront when the
heroes do something that is questionable in the service
of what they view as “right.” This concept goes back to
the age-old question of the morality of stealing a loaf of
bread to feed a starving family.
For example, if a hero steals a multi-million-dollar
experimental aircraft to fly somewhere on a mission,
but returns it unscathed, it’s likely they’ll still be seen as
a criminal, especially by those he or she stole it from.
Society has written and unwritten rules around what’s
acceptable and what’s not, and if heroes break those
rules, they can quickly become anathema. It can also be
a challenge when the villains are not simply mustache-
twirling cads and the heroes (and players) feel sympathy
for them or see their point, even if the way they are
trying to make that point is dangerous. A one-note
villain who is evil for evil’s sake is quickly forgotten, but
the nemesis with layers, motivation, and a deeper
reason for their actions is one that will be talked about
long after the campaign has finished.
Comic Book Reality
While comic books are ostensibly set in the “real world,”
they exist in a fictional reality that often doesn’t follow
the natural laws that make up our reality. Instead of
suffering terrible illness or death, people exposed to
massive doses of radiation get amazing powers. Instead
of collapsing under its own mass, the airplane caught by
the hero remains intact as they hold it under the middle
of the fuselage. Heroes dodging bullets and lasers seems
no more difficult than getting out of the way of a slow-
pitch softball. Comic book reality favors the story and
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 Destined
the fantastic, bending the rules as needed to make the
heroes larger than life without worrying about real-
world science. Not all players (and Games Masters) feel
comfortable with playing it fast and loose with the laws
of physics, preferring to err on the side of reality over
fantasy. Others want the opposite direction, where
heroes toss cars like footballs and have buildings
dropped on them with little more than a few scrapes
and a bruised ego to show for it. It is important to sit
down as a group and discuss what level of reality is
expected in the campaign so everyone can enjoy the
shared world you are creating.
On Being a Games
Master
The Games Master has one of the most challenging
roles within the game, acting as director, referee, and
storyteller alongside the players. For most groups, the
Games Master is the one developing the setting,
planning the adventures, and adjudicating the rules to
keep the game moving. There are numerous articles,
books, websites, and videos giving great advice on how
to be a good Games Master, so instead of repeating
those tips here we will give you a few key suggestions on
how to run your games in Destined.
• It’s Your Group’s Game: This book is full of rules,
campaign ideas, and advice. Don’t be afraid to throw
anything out that you don’t like or doesn’t work for
your game. If you don’t like some of the powers, don’t
use them. If your group thinks there are too many
Special Effects to keep track of in combat, cut down the
list to the ones they use the most. Rules are made to be
broken, changed, or removed if they are hampering
your game, so nothing in this book should be
considered sacred if it doesn’t work for your game.
• Organization Helps: Games Masters build entire
worlds, all while still having to worry about the real
world outside of the game. We all have busy lives,
people we care about, and plenty of information to keep
track of, so finding a good way to organize the
information for the game can reduce the Games
Master’s stress level. This is especially important if your
group meets on an irregular or infrequent basis. A
sturdy notebook, a desktop spreadsheet, or a file in an
organization app can be a lifesaver and help you keep
tabs on the plot, events of previous adventures,
important non-player characters, locations, and all the
other details that make your campaign world live and
breathe.
238
• Make Sure to Play Fair: A good Games Master is fair
and impartial in their adjudication of the rules, and
does not play favorites within the group. If you give one
player a slap on the wrist for rolling a Fumble and
another loses a leg when they roll one, odds are you are
going to have some tension at your table. While rules
are made to be broken, they are also meant to be
consistent across the board. If you break a rule or fudge
a die roll to help one player, you need to do it for all
your players. Roleplaying games are collaborative and
cooperative, and the Games Master should be fair and
impartial so that everyone at the table feels they are
being treated the same or be on the players’ side since
you are all sharing the game together. When the Games
Master becomes an adversary to the players, chances
are the fun level of the game will quickly drop.
• Move the Spotlight Around: Roleplaying players
come in many different flavors, from timid wallflowers
to theatrical actors, with most falling somewhere in the
middle. It can be easy to focus on the players who are
the most gregarious, social, and in-character, but that
may leave other people at the table feeling like they’re
a bit player in the game. It’s important to engage all the
players and give them their time in the spotlight so they
all feel like they are contributing to the story. It’s also
important for the Games Master to meet players where
they are at when engaging them. One player may be
happy to act out a roleplaying scene in-character,
adopting a voice and always speaking as their hero.
Another player may be more interested in tactics and
battles, and that is where they really shine. Still another
is new to the hobby and is nervous about roleplaying
and still learning the rules, so they may need a little
encouragement. Finding a way to meet players where
they’re at and making sure they have time to shine can
help keep them invested in your campaign.
• Fun Comes First, Rules Come Second: Roleplaying
games, especially superheroic games, should be fun,
fast-paced, and thrilling. While Destined is designed to
be all those things, too much focus on the minutiae of
the rules can quickly grind the game to a halt. The
Games Master is there to help keep the game running
smoothly, and sometimes that means putting the game
rules second. Spending 15 minutes poring through the
book looking for the correct difficulty modifier for
shooting in a light rain is time for players to become
bored and distracted as well as taking them out of the
game. Sometimes it is better to use your best judgment
on the rules and not worry about the specifics so the
game can keep moving.
• Build the World Together: While the Games Master
is often the one crafting the campaign world, they are
not the only one playing in it. Everyone playing the
game should have the opportunity to add to the world,
collaborating to add details, coming up with new
supporting characters, and detailing history that fleshes
out the details. When a group works together on the
campaign world, players feel that the world is truly
theirs and they become more invested in it. The Games
Master should allow their players the freedom to
contribute to the setting as long as those contributions
are not solely for the benefit of their hero. Allowing
them to design archvillains for their hero, detail the
neighborhood where they grew up, or add a quirky
relative who occasionally causes them trouble also
fleshes out their hero and makes them more “real”
within the world.

World Building (and

Destroying)
Once you establish the basic themes of the campaign,
the next step is to start thinking about the campaign
world. This book includes a pre-made setting based
around the fictional metropolis of Gemelos City, and it
is yours to do with as you please. You may also adopt an
established setting from your favorite comic books,
either picking and choosing what you want or adapting
it wholesale. Some groups may even want to play in the
“real” world, layering the concept of superheroes onto
the reality we all know and live in. Finally, you may
design the whole setting from your imagination, either
fictionalizing the real world or creating something Shadowstalker’s first incarnation in the 1930s
completely original and unique. Whatever your group Golden Age. He had comparatively few
decides, there are a few things to consider that can help superpowers, and tended to battle gangsters,
determine what sort of setting you want to tell your bank robbers and Nazis.
stories in.
tone, not the time of history it needs to be set in. Just
because you want your story to emulate aspects of the
Style Golden Age does not mean you have to set it during the
1930s or 1940s.
What type of comics do you want to emulate? Do you
want to tell a throwback story from the yesteryears of
the medium? Do you want a story of optimistic heroes The Golden Age
with black and white morals and just a touch of camp?
Or do you want to tell complex tales of heroes The dawn of comics as we know them today, the Golden
struggling with life’s normal challenges while also Age saw the creation of the enduring icons of
exploring where they fit in a world of masked superheroes such as Superman, Captain America, and
vigilantes? The style of a campaign can vary wildly, but Batman. Comics as a medium were still in their infancy,
for simplicity’s sake we’ve included a few styles to but some of the tropes that are considered standard
consider based on the different eras of comic history. (garish costumes, sinister supervillains, heroic teams)
These styles of comics describe some possible themes for were created in this era and live on to this day. Many
your campaign, giving you a springboard to develop early heroes shared traits with the protagonists of the
the story in whatever direction you choose. Feel free to pulps popular in the day, but quickly developed into
pick and choose from the various eras as needed for their own characters as they lost some of their grimness
your game, and keep in mind that the eras are to help appeal to a growing audience of younger
presented as guidelines about the campaign’s style and readers.
239
 Playing in the Golden Age
If you want to set your story in the Golden Age of
comics, here are a few common traits of that era to
keep in mind when developing your campaign:

• Heroes are stalwart and unflappable in the face of

danger. Many have no powers or very limited
abilities, but there are a few with prominent powers
that seem to grow exponentially as the era
progresses.

• The Golden Age often addressed real-world

concerns such as organized crime, poverty, and the
looming threat of war. Once World War II started,
heroes were often found on the front lines or fighting
against spies and saboteurs back at home.

• The Golden Age also saw the rise of the optimistic

teenage sidekick, mainly to appeal to younger
readers. They often mirrored their mentor hero in
theme and costume, although many were prone to
getting into trouble which required the main hero to
come to the rescue.

• Morality is black and white, although early stories

feature heroes with shades of gray similar to the
protagonists from pulp stories of the time. Some
heroes were cavalier about using lethal force, but as
more young readers started buying comics, they
moved away from killing their enemies.

Silver Age Shadowstalker has left the legacy of the The Silver Age
Pulps behind and is recognizably a superhero in the
modern sense. Silver Age heroes are clean-cut good The Silver Age of superheroes revitalized a comics
guys, often with extremely potent abilities. industry that was starting to falter, bringing a whole
new generation of heroes and some enduring
Theme - The Dawn of Heroes: One idea to explore creators whose legacies live on today. It saw the rise of
from the Golden Age is setting the story at the heroes such as Spider-Man, the Avengers, and well-
beginning of the superheroic age in the setting. Starting known versions of heroes such as Green Lantern and
the campaign at the dawn of heroes allows for The Flash that persist to modern times. The Silver Age
exploration of what occurred to bring powered beings is often characterized by more lighthearted stories that
about and how the world reacts and changes to these often blend in aspects of science fiction, but some of the
strange new beings in their midst. The heroes most popular heroes of the day dealt with human foibles
themselves may suffer growing pains as they come to and flaws that helped readers connect with them.
terms with their powers (if any) and the moral struggles Heroes struggled with relationships, worked jobs, and
of whether to use their gifts for altruistic causes or for bickered just like regular families did, all while dealing
selfish reasons. Unlike settings where superheroes with masked madmen and cosmic threats.
already exist, the choices the heroes make along the way
can have serious impacts on how the world reacts to Theme - The Age of Heroes: The campaign setting for
their presence. This theme can be good for games this theme is a world where superheroes are a known
where you always want to explore how law enforcement factor, and may even feature into the daily lives of the
and the governments of the world deal with the rise of populace. Each city has its chosen defenders, tourists
heroes, and how criminals react and possibly up their flock to ornate hero bases at the center of town, and the
game to cope with superpowered do-gooders. news is filled with the most recent exploits of
240

superheroes and villains. This theme explores a world
where heroes are the norm, or so commonplace that
they are almost mundane. It is good to decide for this
theme how commonplace heroes really are. Are they
found everywhere or mainly in urban areas? Are they
still relatively rare, or are they like cockroaches
overflowing the rooftops and alleys? How would the
world change when people expect powered champions
to swoop down and save them? How would it affect
things like businesses and governments?
Playing in the Silver Age
If you want to set your stories during the Silver Age of
comics, here are a few common traits of that era to keep
in mind when developing your campaign:
• Heroes are still noble souls who fight for the good of
the world, and they have strong moral values that guide
their actions. Heroes of this era run the gamut of Power
Levels, but even the most powerful have relatable
human flaws and foibles that challenge them just as
much as villains and criminals.
• The common criminal is still part of the hero’s world,
but this era saw the rise of the garish supervillain to
serve as a foil for the hero.
• In addition to villains, heroes often contend with
dangers posed by science and threats from outer space.
The rising popularity of science fiction often seeps into
Silver Age stories, as well as fears of the nuclear age and
the rapid advancement of science.
• Stories are often lighter in tone, adding humor at
times but also avoiding bloodshed or graphic horror.
Heroes never take a life, and quite often the villains
seem to follow the same code. Morality is more black
and white in nature, more so than any other era of
comics.
• The Silver Age saw a rise in team-based books, and
while the individual members often clashed, they
always came together when danger loomed.
The Bronze Age
Starting in the early 1970s comics started to move away
from the sterile environment imposed by the Comics
Code and began tackling more of the issues of the day.
Heroes dealt with the growing dangers of illegal drugs,
battled against social injustice, and tackled political
scandals and civil unrest. Villains returned to their
darker roots as true criminals and murderers, although
9. Creating your comic
Approved by the Comics
Code Authority
O ne of the things that led to the lighter tones of
many Silver Age comics was
establishment of the Comics Code Authority, a
the
regulatory board that established a set of
guidelines for what was and wasn’t permitted in
comic book stories. Although the CCA was
primarily established due to the backlash against
graphic horror comics, it also filtered into more
traditional superhero stories thanks to books like
Fredric Wertham’s Seduction of the Innocent
(1954). While some publishers continued to create
books outside of the CCA, most agreed to the
guidelines to avoid the growing public outcry
about the “corrupting” influence of comics.
Superheroes became paragons of law and order
while criminals were portrayed as irredeemable
malcontents and in the end good always
triumphed over evil. While many see this era of
comics as more childish and kitschy, some of the
themes that arose during the Silver Age have
filtered back into comics during the Modern Age,
and a game set in this era can be a nice change
of pace from grim and gritty stories typical of some
roleplaying games.
they kept the same brightly colored costumes. Stories
became more mature in theme, with some even
questioning if heroes were truly saviors of humanity or
just another tool of authoritative regimes. Death found
its way back onto the pages, touching the lives of heroes
that had lasting impressions on them. A good example
of this is the death of Spider-Man’s girlfriend Gwen
Stacy, which continues to influence the hero to this day.
This era also saw the rise of the graphic novel, allowing
creators to tell stories that were self-contained but still
had a long-lasting impact on the genre as a whole.
Theme - Deconstruction of Heroes: With this theme,
heroes are a known commodity of the world but
attitudes about them are starting to change. Where they
may have been viewed as great champions at one point
in the world’s history, something has caused both the
heroes and the populace to have a change in attitude.
Maybe a terrible crisis occurred and the heroes failed
the people, or maybe it’s simply the changing views of
new generations. Whatever the cause, people have
become jaded or apathetic towards their champions
and the heroes themselves start to question their own
motivations and roles in society. While this theme may
seem a bit grim, taking time to explore how heroes
would fit into the world, especially when it seems the
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 Destined
world has turned its back on them, can be an interesting
story to explore. This theme can also explore
generational changes in heroes, where an established
old guard clashes with the next generation of supers
with their own views on their role in the world.
Playing in the Bronze Age
If you want to set your stories in the Bronze Age,
consider the following traits of the era when designing
your game:
• Heroes are often still noble in nature, but the weight
of what they do and the changing tides of the world
start to take their toll. Their lives are no longer immune
to tragedy, and heroes often explore their reasons for
continuing the good fight when it seems difficult to go
on. While they are still paragons, heroes often have
flaws that are explored or grow out of the struggles they
deal with.
• Real-world issues and threats are explored in the
stories, and how superheroes impact those issues or are
powerless to stop them. This also includes growing
corruption within the halls of power, which heroes
either rail against or become disillusioned with and seek
new ways to fight against. Stories are more mature in
their themes and often reflect pertinent events of the
times.
• Violence is no longer a bloodless affair and has real
consequences, both for the heroes and the ones they
care about. While heroes still shy away from lethal force,
they are not afraid to resort to brutal tactics or inflict
pain when needed.
The Iron Age
Occurring after the Bronze Age and considered part of
the Modern Age, the Iron Age saw the rise of a
generation of more brutal heroes who were not afraid
to cross the line in their efforts to deal with criminals. It
also saw a tearing down of the old guard, replacing
long-standing heroes with more edgy, “modern”
versions that lacked the boundaries of their
predecessors or reflected the attitudes of the current
generation of readers. Much like the Bronze Age, Iron
Age heroes struggled with real-world issues, but they
also grappled with the angst and internal struggles of
the lives they led. Villains also reflected this “edgier”
attitude, with vicious psychopaths and dangerous serial
killers tormenting the heroes and their loved ones. This
era also saw the rise in popularity of antiheroes: morally
ambiguous heroes that had no problem exacting bloody
242
vengeance on the scum who terrorize the streets.
Characters like DC’s Hitman and Marvel’s Punisher saw
a rise in popularity during this era due to their no-
holds-barred take on fighting crime.
Theme - Rise of the Antihero: In a campaign
influenced by the Iron Age, the antihero becomes a
viable option for player heroes. The antihero still battles
crime, but does so without the moral boundaries of
typical comic book superheroes. Antiheroes are not
afraid to use violence as a means to an end, with some
having no issue using lethal force. If you are exploring
the antihero theme, there are a few considerations to
keep in mind. First, are all the heroes antiheroes or just
a few? This can lead to potential conflict within the
group when differing moralities (or lack thereof) clash.
Second, how do the authorities view antiheroes in the
setting? In comics that feature them, the antiheroes are
hunted as much as if not more so than the criminals
they hunt. Finally, the Games Master needs to consider
the villains when designing a campaign for antiheroes.
In a standard game, villains are usually left alive after
battles to plague the hero another day. Antiheroes have
no reason to show mercy, so the villain you’ve built up
for five sessions becomes a lead sponge and any further
plans with them are no longer valid. In comics,
antiheroes usually battle “normal” criminals like the
mob and street gangs, so this kind of theme may work
best for a Street Level game using street criminals as
the antagonists.
Playing in the Iron Age
When planning games set during the Iron Age of
comics, there are a few important traits to keep in mind
for your campaign:
• Heroes are often grim, tormented figures with a bleak
worldview or deep-rooted issues that come up during
play. Many are the next generation of heroes, replacing
their more optimistic predecessors with harsher
attitudes and methods. Antiheroes often work alongside
more traditional heroes, and they battle each other as
much as they battle villainy. Morality for heroes has
more shades of gray than any other era.
• Stories often deal with the darkest side of society,
exploring more mature themes than the Bronze Age.
Violence is far more brutal and graphic than other eras,
and heroes often use it readily to defeat their enemies
and get information during interrogations. Villains also
become more violent, often going to extremes far
beyond the heroes, and many are little more than
senseless killers, making them far more despicable than
the heroes.
• Stories from the Iron Age lean more towards
style over substance, using violence and
controversial topics more for shock value than for
a meaningful discourse.

• Heroes favor military-style garb and more of

them carry weapons, especially guns. The most
popular accessories for costumes are pouches,
pouches, and more pouches, often found in odd
places such as on the wrists or calves.

The Modern Age

The current age of comics has seen a softening of
the more extreme edges of the Iron Age while
continuing the evolution of the more mature
stories of the Bronze Age. By this era the Comics
Code is an afterthought, but some of the ideals it
championed still remain part of most mainstream
comic books. Heroes are still heroic and villains are
still vile, but characterization remains complex and
at times it is hard to argue against the motivations
of some of the “bad guys.” The Modern Age also
saw the advent of the “crisis,” to borrow a term
used by DC Comics, where the old continuity of
50-plus years of comics was rebooted and
revamped, often multiple times as new editorial
staff and creators came on board to bring their
take to classic characters. This created more
accessible jumping-on points for new readers Iron Age Shadowstalker. Iron Age heroes live in a
without needing to read decades of stories to get morally complex and ambiguous world where any
caught up, and it allowed for the modernization of victories are won at great personal cost.
characters that had outlived their earliest readers.
The Modern Age has also seen comic books rise out of superpowered battles in the street the next time you
obscurity into the mainstream thanks to story lines play. Some groups may want to focus on a single style of
hyped by the media and the continued popularity of story and that is fine, but being able to mix up the tales
superheroes in big-budget blockbusters. you tell can also help to keep the setting fresh and
unexpected.
Theme - The Blended World: In the Modern Age,
comics cover a wide range of genres even within the
same setting. While this trend started in the Bronze Playing in the Modern Age
Age, it has become the norm in the current era of
comics. Superheroes fly over the streets where The Modern Age is the era most current comic and
vigilantes battle drug lords while mystical protectors try movie fans are most familiar with, as it represents the
to keep the world safe from inhuman things from stories of recent and current comic book history. As
beyond our world. There is a blending of themes and mentioned above, the Modern Age blends many
stories in one shared setting, and sometimes the themes from previous ages but it also has a few traits of
different genres cross over into each other and its own:
different types of heroes share the page. A good
example of this would be DC’s John Constantine, who • Heroes returned to their most popular and well-
went from his own dark world into mainstream known versions, although origin stories, personalities,
superhero stories while still retaining much of his and powers have been revamped to fit with the times.
original edge. The core conceit of this theme is that any Heroes run the gamut from Earth-sharing gods to
type of story has its place in the world, so you could tell gritty vigilantes, often working side by side on the same
grim tales of horror one week and switch to high-flying team.
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 Destined
• Morality has its basis in black and white views
tempered with grays, and villains sometimes switch
sides (for a time) to work as heroes, or at least
antiheroes. Sometimes heroes cross the line and kill, but
the weight of their choice impacts their character
moving forward.
• Stories remain mature at times and delve into
complex issues and deep examinations of the heroes,
but they also cover a wide range from throwback pulp
mystery men to over-the-top, fourth-wall-breaking
humorous heroes. Independent publishers also became
prominent, offering new worlds and characters outside
of the more established heroes of the larger publishers.
Length
How long is your planned campaign? Do you want to
tell a few adventures focusing on a specific threat or
plotline? Do you want to play a quick one- or two-
session game to try something different or are you
running a game for an event or convention? Or do you
want to tell a long-reaching story with multiple arcs that
gives players time to build their heroes and establish
their place in the setting? The length of a
campaign depends on what story you as the Games
Master want to tell and how long your players remain
interested and invested in the world. There are three
basic campaign lengths to consider when designing
your game:
• One-Shot: Usually only a single session, or up to two
or three sessions, a one-shot tells a narrative focusing on
a specific threat or theme. One-shots do not focus on
strong character development for the players unless
they are using heroes from a previous campaign, and
they usually focus on a single antagonist or small group
of villains, giving them time to shine before either they
or the heroes are defeated. One-shots can be a good way
to gauge player interest in a campaign before creating
something more extensive, or to tell “alternate history”
tales that explore variations on established heroes,
either from existing comics or ones from prior
campaigns. Finally one-shots are perfect for events such
as conventions and quick pick-up-and-play sessions.
• Limited Run: Designed for a short-term campaign,
the limited run is a finite series of interconnected stories
that have an overarching theme or antagonist. Most
limited series run from anywhere from five to ten
sessions, and they may explore several different
concepts or dangers over the course of their run. Even
though it is a short campaign, many limited run stories
take time to explore some important aspect of the
heroes, their characterizations, or even how they fit in
244
the setting. Limited runs may expand on a previous
campaign, or a series of them could form a larger
narrative if the players want to revisit the same heroes
again. Limited run stories often have multiple threats,
with minor villains leading up to the reveal of the
true antagonist of the story. Borrowing from the genre,
another term for this type of campaign is the “graphic
novel.”
• Ongoing Series: A long-term campaign designed for
many sessions of play, an ongoing series may or may not
have a specific end point in mind when the Games
Master develops it. It consists of multiple story arcs over
the course of its run, some connected and some
independent of each other. It allows for the most
development of the heroes and the setting, allowing
them to grow from neophyte crimefighters to the
saviors of the city. An ongoing series can last 15 or more
sessions, extending for months, or even years if the
group is enjoying the story. An ongoing series may
follow a single group of heroes, but it can also allow
players to try out different heroes along the way.
Ongoing series feature many different villains and
several reoccurring bad guys who serve as constant
thorns in the sides of the heroes, but they also change
things up with stories that focus on character
development and non-villain threats such as natural
disasters. For players who prefer superhero movies, this
type of campaign can also be referred to as a “cinematic
universe.”
Scale
Where do the heroes operate out of? Do they focus their
efforts on a single community or do their adventures
span the globe? Do they stick to planet Earth, or do they
traverse the galaxy meting out justice? Are they
constrained to a single reality, or are they able to hop
across different dimensions? The scale of the campaign
defines the location the heroes call home, and where
their adventures take them. Scale does not need to be a
constant factor, and it can change and adapt to fit the
story. Heroes who defend their small hometown might
be pulled into an intergalactic war or even into another
reality where they face evil doppelgangers of
themselves. While there are many options for a
campaign’s scale, here are a few common comic book
options to consider:
• Hometown Heroes: The campaign takes place in a
single area, such as a city or a county. This could be a
massive, sprawling urban area such as New York City,
London, or Los Angeles, or a small town and the rural
areas that surround it. Most of the adventures revolve
around this single location, focusing on the different

neighborhoods and regions within the community.
While a single city might seem like a limited site for a
campaign, many comics follow this format, where the
hero or heroes defend their hometown from a constant
stream of threats and villains.
Even within a large city, an entire campaign can be
set in a smaller section such as a borough or
neighborhood where the heroes work to take down a
powerful villain or crime syndicate. The benefit is that a
limited geographic area can be developed extensively
during a campaign, giving it strong flavor and life of its
own as it builds with each adventure. The risk is that if
the location is not properly developed, it can become
stagnant and Games Masters may need to shake things
up or even consider expanding the scope of the
campaign.
• Defenders of the Earth: The heroes face threats all
over the globe, never staying in a single location for
long. While they may be based in a specific city, their
adventures rarely keep them there. One week they may
be battling hollow Earth invaders at the Arctic, the next
the heroes are trying to stop the rise of the Mummy
Master in the Valley of Kings. A campaign that focuses
on global threats often involves the heroes being part of
a Superteam, either an established group or one they
create themselves. Alternatively, the heroes may be part
of a government-sponsored task force or covert agency,
sent out on missions to deal with threats to humanity.
Heroes for this type of campaign setting will need some
form of rapid transportation, often provided by their
team or through an allied Organization, and a central
base to call home. The main benefit of this type of
campaign is the wide variety of locations and
adventures, ensuring the players will always be off to
some new exotic locale and they will have a hard time
anticipating what they will face next. The downside is it
may be hard for the Games Master to constantly come
up with new destinations and dangers, and not focusing
on a single location means the setting and the heroes’
personal lives may not be as developed as a more
focused campaign.
• Cosmic Crusaders: The heroes are defenders of far
reaches of outer space, traversing the stars to battle
cosmic evils that threaten whole planets, galaxies, or
even the entire universe. The scale of a cosmic
campaign is vast, encompassing everything from a
single solar system to multiple galaxies. This opens the
door to near-infinite adventures, casting the heroes as
intergalactic space peacekeepers, a ragtag band of
lovable vagabonds, or agents of one side in a massive
war between empires. By default, heroes need some
way to travel through space, such as a spaceship that
can be a character all its own, or via some form of
9. Creating your comic
advanced technology, like teleporters or interplanetary
energy beams. Some heroes may have the ability to
travel the stars on their own, flying in the void under
their own power. Cosmic games mix in many popular
tropes of science fiction such as bizarre aliens, tech far
beyond what modern science can conceive, and great
cosmic societies that include multiple star systems. The
main benefit is the variety, since each new alien world
brings its own challenges and unique opportunities.
The downside is also the scale, since it can be difficult to
create countless new worlds and aliens. The other risk
is that as cosmic games often lean more towards science
fiction rather than traditional superhero stories so some
players may not enjoy the game if they are expecting
standard cowls and capes adventures.
• Historical Heroes: The heroes live in another time,
or have some means of traveling through time to battle
dangers throughout history. The campaign can be set
anywhere and anytime in history, leading to alternate
timelines where superpowered heroes change the
course of the world. The included Godstrand setting
(see page 265) posits the idea that superhumans lived in
the distant past and their genetic legacy has led to the
rise of a new generation of heroes in modern times, so
a campaign could focus on these ancient heroes instead.
Historical campaigns can also explore different eras
of comic history, allowing players to jump into the role
of a masked vigilante fighting organized crime in the
1930s, patriotic champions battling the Third Reich
during WWII, or optimistic heroes getting into
fistfights with their colorful archenemies with a BAM!
and a POW! in the swinging 1960s. As mentioned
above, heroes can also be time travelers who are trying
to stop a threat to the timeline or altering the course of
history to prevent some terrible calamity.
The benefit to a historical campaign setting is the
wealth of information available about different eras of
time, making it easier to slip the heroes into a historical
period and make it feel accurate. The flip side of this is
the challenge of capturing the feel of a specific era of
history, and the limitations it may place on modern-
minded players. For additional resources on classic eras
of history such as ancient Greece and Britain, refer to
the Mythic Earth line of books for Mythras.
• Alternate Realities: The heroes fight evil across
different dimensions, traveling to worlds that might be
slight variants of their own or something vastly
different. They might have some form of transportation
that allows them to travel to different worlds, or
perhaps they are being sent to parallel realities against
their will by some known or unknown force. The heroes
may face one central threat to the various universes, or
245
 * Champions of New Arcana: In the fantasy land of
Hallovia there is a mighty city known as New Arcana,
where magic has been distilled into a substance
known as aether. The magocracy of New Arcana
learned to harness this aether to create many
wondrous devices that have made the lives of the
people much easier. Artificial steeds of metal and
wood float on cushions of magic, self-loading pistol
crossbows are in the hands of the noble Lawtenders
and vile criminals alike, and tabletop scrying orbs
bring plays and minstrels to homes everywhere. But
dark forces covet the power New Arcana has
mastered, and the mages who rule the city devised a
means to channel aether into the bodies of brave
warriors to serve as the champions of the city. Gifted
with powerful mystical abilities, these champions
defend New Arcana and its people from terrible
threats and dangerous magical beasts that haunt the
lands outside the city’s walls.

* The Lost Unit: As humanity made its way out into

the unknown of space, they quickly realized there
were dark things on the edge of the galaxy that
sought to enslave or consume the people of Earth.
Desperate for a way to fight back, the Terran Global
Consortium tasked the military with creating a new
breed of super soldiers to wage war against the things
Shadowstalker’s powers first manifested - in an that threatened Earth. Using a combination of
extremely terrifying way - when he was a teenager. advanced cybernetics, genetic manipulation, and
The origins of heroes can be an excellent basis for a grafted alien tissue, an elite squad of soldiers was
campaign. created to venture into the deepest, darkest parts of
the galaxy and do battle with anyone or anything that
they may have to deal with whatever new danger faces was an enemy of humanity. Equipped with the latest
them on each world they visit. The benefit of this technology, the Lost Unit fights a never-ending war to
campaign is the infinite variety it allows. Quite literally protect Earth.
the heroes will travel to new worlds every adventure
and accustom themselves to the variation from the * Guardian High: At Omoikane High School, students
home dimension they knew while dealing with are taught arithmetic, language arts, and history just
whatever threat is looming over them. The challenge is like any other school. But for all the mundane lessons,
coming up with an infinite variety of worlds, and the the classes on channeling ancestral, natural, and
novelty of dozens of parallel dimensions could wear off elemental spirits are part of a secret curriculum that
quickly for both the Games Master and the players. A only Omoikane High teaches. This ancient tradition
good resource on running campaigns set in alternate has been part of the institution since its founding after
dimensions is Luther Arkwright: Roleplaying Across the the Third Great Spirit War, and the original staff
Parallels, part of the Mythras line of games. wanted to ensure that students were prepared in case
the dark forces of the Spirit Realm returned to the
Alternatively, the heroes are from a different world of mortals. Each student must find their special
universe entirely, possibly crossing over with another spirit, discover the ways to tame these fickle entities,
genre of roleplaying such as fantasy, horror, or science and bond with them to gain powers far beyond those
fiction. This can allow for interesting variations on of normal humans. Unfortunately the dark forces have
classic tropes, or allow you to recreate other genres found their way into the school, tempting the angry
where superpowered heroes can be found such as and disenfranchised to lure them to their cause. Will a
anime, high fantasy, or the syndicated action cartoons band of outcasts be able to find their spirit powers in
that were popular in the 80s and 90s. Some example time to discover the evil plot festering within the halls
alternative campaigns include: of Omoikane High?

246
 9. Creating your comic

Superhero Cities
As mentioned above, superheroes often have their
chosen city to defend. Superman has Metropolis and
Spider-Man swings across New York City. Over the
years of stories, the city becomes a character alongside
all the others in the comic, with its own locations
(sometimes named after legendary comic book
creators), supporting characters, and history. Gemelos
City, the setting included in this book, follows this
tradition of giving the heroes a sandbox to have their
adventures in and build their legends. If you are
focusing on a single location for your campaign, it is
important to breathe some life into it so your players
will want to keep coming back, or they may want to add
to the location to make it feel like their own.
While some Games Masters may want to develop
their cities down to each street corner and stop sign,
that level of detail is not necessary for most campaigns.
When you create your own superhero city, or when you
take an established city from the real world or comics,
consider the following questions to help flesh it out and
make it your own:
• Who is in charge of the city? In most cases this would
be the mayor and the city council as well as significant
public officials such as the chief of police and district
attorney. But are they really in charge? Is there a power
behind the throne? Do the elected officials fight against
corruption or are they part of it (or the ones behind it)?
• Who are the major players in the city? Are there
major corporations or businesspeople that have
influence within the city? Are there significant
community leaders or politicians who hold sway over
the people? What about celebrities and public
personalities?

Real-World vs. Fictional World

C omic books vary in their depiction of our world, with some gravitating towards entirely fictional locations
and others using actual cities and nations as the backdrop for their stories. It is the Games Master’s decision
to base the campaign world on actual reality or craft a fictional reality for their setting, and there are pros and
cons for each.

• Real-World: Using actual locations has the advantage of requiring less work in terms of building a place to
set the campaign. Real-world cities are well-mapped, street names and businesses don’t need to be generated
on the fly, and there are iconic landmarks that can serve as the backdrop for epic battles. Players are often
familiar with real-world locations, at least in name, so it helps ground the campaign, but sometimes this
familiarity can also be a disadvantage. Players who are very knowledgeable about a location may contest
descriptions or use their knowledge to gain an advantage. Keep in mind that sometimes too much “reality” can
pull players out of the fantasy of the game. It’s one thing to have the villain blow up a fictional landmark, but
destroying the Washington Monument or the Louvre may make it too real for the players.

• Fictional World: Creating a new setting has the advantage of building a world together, crafting new cities
and sites on the fly as a group. The locations can become characters all their own, developing and growing
alongside the heroes. A fictional setting also becomes the group’s own personal playground, with the heroes
serving as the main defenders of their fictional home. They know the non-player characters, the city’s quirks,
and whatever aspects that make the new setting unique. That connection can make it more personal for
players, especially if the Games Master makes the sandbox setting something collaborative, allowing players
to contribute to the world. The main disadvantage is the amount of work involved in crafting a new location.

Depending on the amount of detail your group prefers, maps need to be drawn, businesses and landmarks
created, and non-player characters developed to populate the landscape. Additionally, some players may feel
detached from a fictional setting. Just as some players don’t like too much reality in their fantasy, others prefer
a world that is more grounded and familiar.

Keep in mind that many comics blend the two together. The Earth of DC Comics may have Gotham City and
Central City, but it also has Chicago, Boston, and Paris. Even Marvel Comics, which sets most of its stories in
real-world settings, has fictional places like Latveria and Madripoor. The example setting included in this book
focuses on the fictional Gemelos City, which exists in California alongside San Diego, San Francisco, and Los
Angeles. Mixing and matching the two can work well, especially if you have players who have different
preferences on levels of reality in the setting.
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 Destined

• What are the authorities like in the city? Are the
police well-funded bastions of law and order? Are they
outmanned and outgunned by the criminal elements?
Is there rampant corruption that makes them no better
than the criminals they are supposed to stop?
• What are the surrounding regions outside the city
like? Are there smaller communities outside of the main
city? Is there a rival city not far away? Are there
wilderness areas not far from the city?

• Who rules the underworld in the city? Are there
major crime families? Are there outside groups trying
to make a play for the city’s criminal enterprises? How
do supervillains fit into the picture? Are they
independent operators, do they work for existing
criminal groups, or are they the new powers in the
underworld?
• What parts of the city do you want to focus on? Do
you want to focus on the city as a whole or confine your
stories to a specific region of the city? Which
neighborhoods are safe havens and which ones are rife
with crime and corruption? Are communities broken or
disillusioned or are they willing to fight to take back
their neighborhoods?
• Who are the important people in the main campaign
areas? Who are the important community members
apart from the mayor and such? Are there a few notable
supporting characters that will serve as allies or enemies
to the heroes?
Lethal vs Non-Lethal
Force
One of the most important questions to ask when
designing your world is whether heroes kill. Even prior
to the establishment of the Comics Code Authority,
comic books were moving away from heroes who used
lethal force as more and more younger readers came to
the medium. It is so ingrained in our psyches that the
superheroes utilize non-lethal force that the ones who
are willing to take a life are relegated to more “mature”
titles or become labeled as antiheroes.
The common conception of superheroes avoiding
lethal force is why it is important to establish the rule of
your setting right from the start. If most of your players
are expecting a standard universe where the heroes
bring in the bad guys alive but one player starts
shooting every villain they see in the head, it can be
jarring and can quickly derail the campaign.

• What are the important landmarks or interesting
locations? Where are the big tourist spots? Where can
the heroes go when they want to relax? What are some
places that would be valuable targets for villains? Are
there locations where you should never go alone? Are
there places of mystery? Who has the best pizza/
cheesesteak/shawarma?
The default rules of Destined lean towards the non-
lethal option for heroes, making accidentally killing
someone difficult so heroes can still enjoy their powers
without having to worry about pulling their punches.
This does not mean that death is impossible, but in most
cases the stray laser eye blast isn’t going to instantly kill
the hero your player has been building up for the past
20 sessions. It also means your villains have the staying

Death and Comics

I n many comic books, death is at best a temporary condition. Heroes and villains alike seemingly meet their
fate, only to return by some barely plausible explanation a few issues later. The reason behind this is probably
related more to the comics industry than some unexplained cosmic force within the setting. The death of a
major character sells issues, and when popularity of the replacement wanes the original is brought back in a
spectacular (and profitable) manner to return things to the status quo. Even characters like Marvel’s Bucky
Barnes and DC’s Jason Todd, whose deaths were considered “permanent,” eventually found their way back
onto the page. The trope is so well known that your players may expect a similar clause in your campaign. The
default rules make death difficult but it is a possibility with a few unlucky die rolls, so there is always the chance
that a hero may meet their maker while trying to save the day. While you may want to simulate this trope and
give players a chance to return their deceased heroes from the grave, removing the threat of death from a
game also removes the risk and tension from combat. Why worry about the devastating powers of the villainous
Nuclear Winter when you know your hero will just pop back into the game next session with longer hair and a
darker costume? If you do allow a hero to return from the grave, you shouldn’t simply hand-wave the “how”
of the hero coming back to life. The player should come up with a good reason and should probably suffer
some kind of consequence (temporary or permanent) for their strange resurrection.

248

power to be pains in the neck for the heroes for years to
come. This is done intentionally to help simulate some
of the most common tropes of comics.
Heroes who are willing to kill are often found in
grim and grittier street-level stories, but there are also
comics that show heroes of godlike power who don’t
mind taking down their enemies permanently. If you
opt for lethal force as an option for heroes, there are
several things you need to consider. One of the first
considerations would be the legal ramifications of
killing criminals. Heroes who leave behind trails of
bodies will end up on the wrong side of the law, having
to outrun the authorities while also dealing with
criminal scumbags seeking revenge. This will also affect
the public opinion of heroes, with some people and
human rights groups decrying them as no better than
the criminals they hunt and others supporting their
bloody crusade against evil. In some campaigns, heroes
may be sanctioned by some governing body, perhaps
working as part of a superpowered Special Forces team
or as government assassins. These sanctioned heroes
are permitted to use lethal force while on missions, but
not when taking out a robber trying to hold up the
neighborhood bodega.
Players should also keep in mind that in a lethal force
campaign, the villains won’t show them mercy either. If
they know the heroes will cross that line, the bad guys
won’t opt for the dramatic death trap and will simply
eliminate any hero that falls in combat. It may also lead
to an escalation of a villain’s tactics and approach when
confronting the heroes. If the good guys are all carrying
handguns, the bad guys may bring assault rifles or
rocket-propelled grenades. Criminals who start seeing a
trail of bodies wherever the hero goes may take extreme
measures to eliminate the threat, setting traps, targeting
innocents to lure the hero out, or even banding
together to deal with the hero once and for all.
One other thing to consider when allowing lethal
force is how it would affect the heroes themselves.
Generally human beings are not wired to be killers, and
it can have a substantial effect on a person and their
psychological well-being. This can open the door for
some great roleplaying if your players want to go down
that road, maybe even leading to stories where heroes
who were formerly cavalier about executing criminals
seek out the long road to redemption. Like everything
else in building your campaign world, the most
important thing is to consider your players and what
they would be most interested in seeing in the world.
For something like lethal force, it is important to
consider all their viewpoints and decide what is best for
your group to make the game fun for everyone.
9. Creating your comic
Customizing Powers
The power system in Destined is designed to simulate
numerous superpowered abilities to help cover many
different styles of games, but it may not be an exact fit
for the game that your group wants to play. Like any
rule in the game, the power system is meant as a
guideline but not an absolute, and altering the way
Core Powers work can change the tone of the game and
give it an entirely different feel. Here are a few
suggestions to alter the power system as presented to
tweak the game into a different direction to help find
the tone you want.
• Changing Power Levels: One of the easiest ways to
alter the game is to adjust the default Power Level
options of the campaign. The default Power Levels are
meant to encompass a range from low-powered heroes
up to near-gods with multiple abilities. Perhaps you
want to have characters that only have a single Core
Power no matter what their POW score is, and they can
only Boost and Limit their solitary special ability. On the
opposite end of the scale, you may want to run a
campaign where the heroes have numerous Core
Powers, increasing the amount of Power Slots they gain
at creation, or even granting every hero several free
Core Powers and Boosts to start. This can also be
applied to Characteristics and Skill points, creating
heroes with more Characteristic Points or higher
Characteristic maximums, more skill points, or a
number of Experience Rolls to represent experienced
heroes.
• Adjusting Power Points: By changing the amount of
Power Points a hero has access to, you change the role
Boosts play within the game. By increasing the amount
of available Power Points, heroes can utilize their special
tricks and techniques more often during their
adventures. If you reduce the total amount of Power
Points, heroes will need to rely more on their Core
Powers, saving Boosts for when they are needed the
most. Alternatively, you can adjust the rate at which
Power Points recover. If a hero recovers Power Points
every minute instead of every hour, Boosts will become
a routine part of any Core Power usage. On the flip
side, reducing the recovery time to every 12 hours or
once per day makes the use of Boosts far less common
as heroes try to preserve their reserves of power.
• Mandatory Limits: Another option is that all powered
heroes start with mandatory Limits that represent the
specific way that special powers work in the setting. All
heroes gain the same Limit(s) upon creation, although
these Limits do not count towards the maximum a hero
can have and no additional Core Powers or Boosts are
gained from them. In most cases the Limits are applied
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 Destined

to all powers the hero has, or to the hero as a whole. For
example, Dave decides that in his setting all powers come from
special high-tech implants, but the devices feed off a person’s
bioelectric energy and all heroes must apply the Activation Cost
and Fatiguing Limits to their powers.
If there are multiple Origins in the campaign, the
Games Master must decide if the mandatory Limits
apply to all power sources or only specific ones. If they
only apply to certain Origins, the Games Master should
give heroes with the limited Origins an extra Boost or
Core Power to compensate for their added Limits. For
example, in Sarah’s campaign heroes with powers all have the
Mystical Origin and are required to take the Concentration
Limit to represent their need to focus. If Dan wants to make a
non-powered crimefighter and Toni makes a hero who gets her
powers from Technology, Sarah decides the heroes with the
Mystical Origins gain an extra Boost to balance out their need
to have a mandatory Limit.
• Restricted Core Powers: In some settings, not all of
the listed Core Powers are available to heroes, and the
Games Master specifies which ones are allowed and
which ones are not. Perhaps in the campaign setting no
one is able to Teleport or move at Enhanced Speed, or
the only ones with powers are potent psychics, and
heroes can only choose from a limited pool of abilities to
represent these powerful gifts of the mind. The Games
Master may also restrict what Boosts and Limits are
available as well, or remove them entirely and only
allow Core Powers. Here are a few examples of limited
power sets and which Core Powers are available for
each one:
* Crimefighters Only: There are no superpowers at
all, and the setting’s heroes are all highly trained
people who use their fists, gear, and wits to battle
crime. Core Powers are chosen exclusively from the
following list: Combat Expert, Durability, Enhanced
Body, Enhanced Reactions, Lucky, and Savant.
* Enhanced Bodies Only: The source of powers in the
setting enhances natural physical and mental abilities
only, beyond that of normal people. Core Powers can
be chosen from the following list: Combat Expert,
Durability, Enhanced Body, Enhanced Reactions,
Enhanced Speed, Enhanced Strength, Heightened
Sense, Inherent Armor, Life Support, Regeneration,
Resistance, Savant, and Super Swimming.
* Psychics Only: All powers are gifts of enhanced
minds, and the will of those gifted can produce
astounding effects. Core Powers can be chosen from
the following list: Blast, Close Combat Attack, Deflect,
Energy Field, Empathy, Flight, Force Field,
Heightened Sense, Kinetic Control, Lucky, Phantasm,
Precognition, Savant, Sensory Overload, Telekinesis,
Telepathy, and Technopathy.
• Alternate Core Power Scaling: Instead of altering
how many powers heroes can have or what abilities are
available, you may decide you want to make changes to

Changing Power Levels in the Game

T here comes a time when the Street Level vigilante rises above their gritty roots and ends up accepting
membership in the city’s premier Superteam, but how does he or she stand against the threats faced by
these superpowered titans? As the campaign advances, you may reach a point where the heroes have
sufficiently advanced in both game and narrative terms that the current Power Level feels too limiting. Players
may feel constrained by the maximum amount of Core Powers or want to raise their Characteristics up higher
but are unable and have to settle for an improvement that is not ideal.

One option is to rule that when heroes earn a specific level of Experience Rolls in the campaign, they raise up
to the next Power Level and can now use the higher maximum amounts for Characteristics, Core Powers, and
Limits as well as increasing Action Points, Power Points, and Power Point Recovery to the new level. It is up to
the Games Master to decide how many Experience Rolls are needed for the change in level. For example, Pete
decides that after his players earn 25 Experience Rolls, their Heroic heroes are now considered Superheroic, and
can now raise their Characteristics to 22, have 8 Core Powers and 5 Limits, gain 2 more Power Points, and can
recover 3 of them per hour.

The in-game circumstances that could explain changing Power Levels are left to the Games Master, but some
ideas are: a major external event like exposure to a strange alien artifact or a dimensional shift; the culmination
of a harrowing chain of events that forever changes the heroes; or a blessing from some alien or godlike being.
In the end, the actual results are the same, but when paired with an interesting in-story idea, the level change
can be more than just hand-waved and become something remarkable that the heroes have in common and
can reminisce about.
250

how the power system works. The existing system is
based on a hero’s Characteristics, representing that a
person’s natural aptitudes factor into how powerful
their special abilities are. While we worked hard to
balance this system in play, there are those that would
find ways to manipulate it to maximize their hero’s
powers. That is why it is always a good idea for a Games
Master to work with players to create their heroes, and
for some groups it may be perfectly fine for heroes to
have the most potent Core Powers possible. But as an
alternative, you can divorce the power system from
Characteristics completely and allow heroes to adjust
their abilities as they choose.
When using this alternate system, powers are not
tied to one specific Characteristic, and any values
derived from Characteristics are calculated using a base
value of 10. For example, if Shadowstalker was being created
using this system and he took the Teleportation Core Power, it
would use a base value of 10 instead of his POW score to
determine the distance he could teleport. If the power
normally enhances an Attribute by adding in another
Characteristic, the additional value added to the normal
Attribute calculation is also a 10. For example, if a
player was creating a hero using this system and chose
the Durability Core Power, they would calculate the
hero’s Hit Points with CON+SIZ+10 and their Healing
Rate using CON+5 (half of the base value of 10). This
means that powers start at mid-range for everyone, and
heroes can take the following Boost to increase the base
value used for a power or add the following Limit to
lower it:
Boost
• Power Boost: The hero’s Core Powers become
stronger. Whenever this Boost is applied to a power,
the base value for any derived components of the
power increases by 3. For example, if Shadowstalker used
the base value of 10 for his Teleportation power, if he added
this Boost he would use 13 instead. This Boost can be
added to a Core Power a maximum of 2 times for
Street campaigns, 3 times for Epic level, and 4 times
for Paragon level.
Limit
• Weak Power: The hero’s Core Power is not as strong
as it should be. The hero calculated any derived
aspects of the power using a base value of 7 in place of
the normal Characteristic value. This Limit can only
be taken when the hero is created or whenever they
gain a new Core Power. The hero is still limited to the
maximum number of times they can add a Power
Boost based on the campaign’s Power Level.
9. Creating your comic
Adding Limits in Play
B ad things happen to heroes, and sometimes
those things have lasting repercussions on the
hero’s abilities or their person as a whole.
Exposure to strange mutagens, cosmic radiation,
or the whims of godlike beings can drastically
alter heroes, sometimes for ill rather than for
good. Sometimes the hero is subject to a crippling
injury or loses their powers and turns to some
other source to gain what they lost.
Typically, heroes do not gain additional Limits in
play unless they are applied to a new Core Power
they gain, but circumstances may arise where the
player or the Games Master decides a new
limitation is appropriate for the hero. The Games
Master should determine if the Limit is temporary
or permanent when it is applied.
• Temporary Limits: The limitation is either
short-term or plot-specific, such as exposure to a
strange chemical that throws the hero’s powers
off-balance or contracting an engineered virus
that makes it harder for the hero to activate their
Core Power until cured. The Games Master sets a
specific timeframe or set of circumstances when
the Limit will no longer apply, and once that has
occurred the hero no longer suffers from the Limit.
Heroes do not gain any benefit from Temporary
Limits.
• Permanent Limits: The limitation is gained
from a serious circumstance that has long-lasting
effects on the hero and/or their powers. Perhaps
the hero was mutated by cosmic rays while out in
space or a nefarious villain operated on the hero
while captured, inflicting a debilitating condition.
The hero gains the Limit(s) just like any others
chosen during creation, even if this would take
them above their normal maximum Limits. To
compensate, the hero also gains three free
Experience Rolls.
If you are using this alternative system, to compensate
for Core Powers being weaker at the start the Games
Master can give heroes an additional bonus Boost at
creation. This alternate system makes it difficult for
players to maximize their Core Powers by dumping
points into Characteristics linked to their powers. The
downside is everyone starts with the same range of
powers, leading to powers feeling the same without
investing precious Boosts to increase their potency.
251
 Destined

Villains • Archvillain: Standing at the top of the villain

They say a hero is as only as good as their villain. Every
hero needs a villain to challenge them, and comic books
are full of memorable bad guys, some of which have
been plaguing the good guys for decades. This section
is a discussion on how to create your own comic book
villains and ways to help keep them in the fight when
they come up against your heroes.
DESIGNING VILLAINS
Creating villains is no different from making heroes in
terms of game mechanics, and Games Masters should
start with a concept and origin for their nefarious
creations. Like superheroes, supervillains often have a
central theme to their powers, sometimes even serving
as a direct opposite to a specific hero or heroes. The
amount of detail put into the concept depends on how
important the villain is to the campaign and how much
time the Games Master wants to devote to their
creation. Villains are divided into three general
categories that describe their central role in the
campaign setting, each roughly equivalent to one of the
Power Levels of heroes.
hierarchy, Archvillains are powerful, are devious, and
have plots large in scale and far in scope. They have
powers to challenge multiple heroes, resources to bring
their evil plans to bear, and even when not being used
their presence still looms like a dark cloud over the
world. Archvillains may appear frequently, clashing
with the heroes before vanishing back to their lair, or
they could be like a sinister spider at the center of a web,
weaving threads that will eventually leave the heroes at
their mercy when they decide to strike. Archvillains are
often central to a campaign and serve as recurring
villains, and capture or apparent death does not stop
them for long. Archvillains are roughly equivalent to
the Superheroic Power Level for heroes and when
designing Archvillains use the table below.
• Villain: In the middle range are Villains who are
serious threats, but often operate on a more limited
scope than Archvillains. Villains can still be very
dangerous within the area they operate in, but they
usually lack the power or the resources to become a
global threat. Villains may torment the heroes for
several adventures, and can even serve as ongoing
threats, but their defeat is more a roadblock than the
end goal of the campaign. Some Villains employ Minor
Villains as fodder, or even work with other Villains or

The Mind of Evil

I n some roleplaying games, the antagonists are frequently inhuman menaces who are evil for evil’s sake.
Fantasy games have vicious monsters, horror games have the unquiet dead, and science fiction games have
aliens. Superhero games can have these as well, but most villains the heroes face are all too human in their
thinking and motivations. While it’s easy to disconnect and play the role of something truly monstrous, human
evil can be far more complex. When taking on the role of a villain, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

• Be Mindful of the Genre, because it establishes the type of villainy present. A Silver Age-style game has
villains who are criminals, but they are rarely psychopathic killers. On the flip side, Street games may feature
antagonists who reflect real world problems and crime, and the villains encountered can represent the worst
examples of humanity.

• What Motivates the Villain is important in exploring how they think. Villains have Passions just like the
heroes, and they serve as a great guide to determine how the villain will act in a given situation. While it is
entirely possible to give a villain Passions that simply reflect them being pure evil, such as “Cold-Blooded-
Killer” and “Kicks Puppies for Fun,” these make for one-note villains who are rarely memorable. Giving a villain
more complex Passions makes for deeper antagonists and gives them reasons for committing terrible acts.

• They’re Not Evil, at least in their own minds. Villains justify their own actions and choices, and they believe
they are either above the law or what they are doing is ultimately for the “greater good.” It’s good to keep in
mind that for some villains, they are the heroes in their own story.

• The Ends Justify the Means, meaning that villains are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.
Even if there is no good reason for their actions, they still feel any atrocity is justified. This does not mean that
all villains are incapable of guilt or regret, but often over time their despicable acts wear down what empathy
they have or they find new ways to justify the need for whatever they do.
252

even Archvillains as part of a team. Villains are roughly
equivalent to the Heroic Power Level for heroes. When
designing these people use the table below.
• Minor Villain: Often serving as an antagonist for a
single adventure, Minor Villains are usually not a
serious threat on their own but can still pose a challenge
to poorly prepared heroes. Minor Villains usually have
a limited group of Core Powers or a single potent Core
Power, and their one-note nature makes them a fairly
easy threat. A group of Minor Villains can serve as a
dangerous threat, but even together they lack the
cunning and resources of their more powerful kin. In
many cases Minor Villains don’t reoccur often, if at all,
and some serve the role of lackey to a more powerful
villain. Minor Villains are roughly equivalent to the
Street Level Power Level for heroes. Use the table
below as a guide for their stats.
At whatever level, villains should be created in the
same manner and follow the same general rules for
creation, and unlike most non-player supporting
characters they should also have Luck Points to use
when facing the heroes. The Games Master is
encouraged to adjust the villain creation above to suit
their campaign needs and create something that would
be a challenge to the heroes. This often means villains
will have higher Characteristics, skill ranges, and more
Core Powers than a hero of roughly the same Power
Level, but this helps them when faced with multiple
heroes at a time.
Villainous
Motivations
There is a reason someone decides to put on spiked
gauntlets and a black leather cape before they try to rob
the Federal Reserve, and determining your villain’s
motivation will make it easier to determine their place
in the campaign and what brings them into conflict with
the heroes. Typically villains have a primary motivation
that drives their actions, although most villains are not
guided by a single motivation. When the Games Master
creates villains, motivations can actually serve as a good
basis for developing their Passions. The following are
Villainous Power Levels
Characteristics Skill Points Core Powers
Archvillain
120/max 25 600-700 8-10
Villain
110/max 22 500-600 6-8
Minor Villain
100/max 20 400-500 4-6
9. Creating your comic
the most common motivations for comic book villains,
but Games Masters are encouraged to expand upon this
list when making their antagonists.
• Control: The villain wants to gain control of
something or someone. Perhaps the villain believes only
they are fit to rule the city, or they want one of the
heroes to join their cause. The villain may sincerely
believe what they are doing is for the best, and
opposition to their will is just another reason they
should be the ones in charge. Oftentimes if the villain
manages to gain control, they find the end result is not
what they expected and then they move on to another
person or place to bend to their whims.
• Destruction: The villain wants to tear it all down and
revel in the wasteland left behind. Bad guys who focus
on destruction are often mindless brutes, more force of
nature than force of evil. All they see is red and
anything that gets in their way is just another obstacle
to be crushed along the path of destruction. Other
times the villain is not mindless, but sees the destruction
of something as necessary or even beneficial. Good
examples are fanatics and eco-terrorists that see the
decimation of a population as instrumental to
preserving life, or laying waste to a city to pave the way
for something better.
• Greed: The villains desire something above
everything else and will do anything to get what they
want. The most obvious form of this is the desire for
material wealth in the form of money, but villains may
also want something that fits into their overall theme. A
literary-minded criminal may only steal rare books to
complete their collection, while one with an Egyptian
theme may target priceless artifacts from the tombs of
the pharaohs. Some greedy villains take things purely
for financial gain, while others steal for the thrill of
it. The objects they snatch are ultimately immaterial to
them, but they keep stealing out of boredom or for
the challenge.
• Madness: The villain is unhinged and their
motivations are just as erratic as they are. In comics
mental illness is rarely portrayed accurately, with
unstable villains acting impulsive and unpredictable, or
even committing random acts of violence to anyone
Maximum Limits Power Points
6 POW+5
5 POW+2
4 POW
253
 Destined
The Villainous
Monologue
A fter spending hours, days, or weeks coming up
with their dastardly plan, many villains really
want to rub their genius in the noses of their
heroic nemesis when they have them trapped in
their equally dastardly death trap. While this trope
has become somewhat of a joke, many players
expect villains to divulge their sinister plans in the
form of a villainous monologue. One option is to
allow heroes to attempt an Influence roll against
the villain’s Insight or Willpower when the hero is
trapped or otherwise at the villain’s mercy. If the
villain fails, they begin to gloat about their brilliant
scheme and it may give the hero a short breather
to come up with a plan or work out a way to
escape the situation. Villains may also spout off
their plans while the heroes are fighting against
their minions, offering some insight or clue that
will allow the heroes to continue the chase after
the villain escapes.
around them. A villain afflicted with madness can also
be portrayed as obsessive about something to the point
of it dominating their every action and thought. The
danger with an insane villain is that the heroes have a
hard time predicting what their next move is, and when
caught they are often relegated to a treatment facility
that is woefully unprepared to rehabilitate a
supervillain.
• Power: The villain wants to increase the power they
already possess and will stop at nothing to get it. This
desire could be quite literal, with mystical villains
searching for magical tomes and artifacts to increase
their abilities or technological ones stealing advanced
devices to upgrade their equipment. Power can also
encompass business, social, and political influence, such
as a villainous head of a corporation seeking to destroy
their rivals to dominate the market. Whatever they
seek, even when power-hungry villains succeed, they
simply continue their quest with a new target, driven by
a thirst that can never be fully quenched.
• Revenge: Someone wronged the villain and they will
not rest until their target is destroyed. The act the
villain seeks vengeance for could be something quite
tragic, such as the murder of a loved one or the
ruination of the villain’s life. In those cases, the heroes
may sympathize with the villain, even if they don’t
approve of the extreme methods they take to exact
their revenge. Other villains seek retribution for a
perceived slight or an action that would not warrant the
254
level of vengeance they seek. Anyone who stands in
their way gets added to the villain’s hit list, which means
the heroes will become targets once they interfere with
the villain’s plans.
• Superiority: The villain is the best at what they do and
they want to make sure the world knows how great they
truly are. Obviously, villains driven by a sense of
superiority have ego to spare, but often they are truly
skilled at whatever they claim they are the best at.
Perhaps the villain believes they are the greatest warrior
in the world and continuously tests their combat skills,
or a genius inventor might want to show the world he is
the smartest man by destroying his rivals. Even defeat is
only a temporary setback to these villains, motivating
them to come up with a new scheme to prove their prior
failure was simply a fluke or someone else was to blame
for their incarceration.
Keeping villains in
the fight
The way Destined structures combat, it can be
challenging to create a fight where a group of heroes
battles against a single villain. No matter how potent or
powerful the adversary is, typically the advantage goes
to the side with superior numbers. Even capable villains
will run out of Action Points quickly during a Combat
Round or they can become ineffective with good use of
Special Effects. Depending on the type of game your
group is playing, that may be a perfectly acceptable
outcome. If the story challenges the players along the
way and the villain proves to be a suitable menace, there
may be a sense of satisfaction when the heroes team up
and take them down. But if you want the fight to be
more dramatic and make the villain feel like more of a
threat, here are a few suggestions to keep them in the
fight longer.
• Bending the Creation Rules: As mentioned above,
villains equate to the Power Levels of player-heroes but
they have a slight advantage in abilities compared to
starting heroes. You can always give villains additional
Core Powers and Boosts to give them extra punch in
combat, or even give them powers such as Durability to
let them take a few more punches or Savant to make
them especially adept at fighting and dodging. Just be
careful to not make them so tough that the heroes
either stand no chance in taking them down or the fight
drags on and becomes dull instead of dramatic.
• Decoys: Extremely clever and resourceful villains
rarely put themselves in danger, especially if they have
time to prepare for the upcoming fight. One option is
The malevolent mutant Gryphon and her minions are robbing the Gemelos City branch of the Union
Trust Bank. Gryphon is a leading light in the supervillain organization Animus; all her crimes are aimed
at bringing Animus’ sinister goals one step closer.
to have someone else disguised as the villain, and when
their foe is dropped the heroes realize it was a decoy
and not their true nemesis. This is a common trope for
villains with a technological bent, who utilize androids
and advanced holograms to make it seem like they are
present. Be sure not to overuse this option, as it will
become frustrating if the players never actually get to
face their true foe.
• Luck Points: As mentioned earlier in the chapter,
significant villains should get a pool of Luck Points just
like the heroes. During a final dramatic confrontation,
you may consider giving the villain additional Luck
Points equal to the number of player-heroes. This
allows them to overturn poor die rolls and gives a pool
of bonus Action Points to help defend against the
heroes’ attacks. This works better than simply giving
them more Action Points since Luck Points are a
finite resource, and more Action Points can potentially
make the fight tedious if the villain consistently has
enough Actions to counter the heroes and still inflict
damage on them.
• Minions, Minions, Minions: A good villain rarely
commits their acts of evil alone, and having a group of
loyal lackeys can help extend the fight longer. It may be
a horde of faceless rabble that tries to overwhelm the
heroes while the villain stands back cackling and
pontificating, or a few more durable lieutenants or
lesser-powered villains that up the ante. If the villain
does not operate solo and has time to prepare, they will
rarely be alone when the heroes come calling. It’s
important to keep in mind with this option that being
overwhelmed by numbers goes both ways, so too many
minions can make the fight extremely difficult for the
heroes to survive.
• Outmaneuver: The importance of the Outmaneuver
Combat Action cannot be overstated when facing a
group of foes, and villains who use it to their advantage
255
 Destined
Optional: Off-Panel
Demise
O ne classic comic book trope is the villain
seemingly meeting their fate in a way that
happens off-panel or in such a way that the
heroes don’t actually see the villain’s body.
Examples include falling from a great distance or
into a body of water, or being caught in a
collapsing structure or in the midst of a massive
explosion. While the death seems certain,
somehow the villain manages to survive to plague
the hero another day. If you want to simulate this
in your game, you can give villains the option to
spend a Luck Point when they are Incapacitated to
twist the circumstances just enough to render their
fate uncertain. For example, after a tense battle
Shadowstalker manages to deliver a decisive blow
to the villainous Dust in the drug lord’s lab. The
Games Master spends a Luck Point and says Dust
is knocked back into a table full of chemicals, and
it ignites a massive explosion in the lab. While it
seems like Dust was consumed in the blast, the
police aren’t able to find a body in the remains. The
Games Master doesn’t necessarily have to come
up with a plausible reason for the villain’s survival
unless it would hurt your players’ suspension of
disbelief in the story. Like other options to keep
villains alive, it’s also important to not overuse this
trope in your games as it may frustrate your
players.
can prevent the heroes from overwhelming them. This
is especially effective for villains who are expert
combatants, using the environment and tactics to
whittle down the heroes while keeping just out of reach.
While it may be tempting to give such combatants a
very high Evade score, this can also backfire if the
heroes have no chance to land an attack against them
during a fight.
• Resistance: Instead of giving the villain more Hit
Points, consider giving them the Resistance power
(page 109) if it would be appropriate. This power halves
damage from specific sources, but still allows some
damage types to inflict their full amount. For example,
a powerful armored villain would most likely have
Resistance to most sources of physical damage, but
crafty heroes could use the overhead power lines
downed in the fight to give the villain a nasty jolt, or
heat up their armor with a broken steam pipe.
256
Villainous Powers,
Skills, and Limits
Designing a capable villain can be difficult, and it can be
easy to go a bit overboard when creating them to avoid
making them ineffective. It’s also good to keep in mind
that even well-designed antagonists can be taken out by
a few lucky die rolls, so it’s best not to overthink your
design choices as well. If you tell a good tale and your
players have fun, the fact that the villain wasn’t as
mechanically capable as you hoped is inconsequential.
Fun is the end goal of a game, so chalk it up as a success.
But since villains are such an important part of a
superhero game, here are a few general tips when
considering powers, skills, and limits for your
antagonists.
• Core Powers: Like heroes, the powers of villains are
usually related to a central theme. A brutish thug will
have powers such as Enhanced Strength and Durability,
a manipulative psychic will have Empathy or Telepathy,
and an elemental villain will have powers such as Blast,
Elemental Control, and Energy Field. Knowing the
villain’s powers and how they work is essential so the
Games Master can use them effectively both in and out
of combat.
As a general rule, a villain should have at least one
offensive and one defensive option with their powers.
Offensive powers don’t necessarily need to be damaging
powers, and something like Empathy or Entrap can be
very effective in impairing heroes in battle. Defensive
powers also don’t need to be abilities that prevent
damage. Being able to turn invisible or turn into mist
can help keep the villain safe just as well as Inherent
Armor and Durability.
• Skills: When it comes to skills, the Games Master
should focus on the ones that will be most used by the
villain. While you can give values to every Standard and
Professional Skill the villain has, it usually isn’t
necessary. The skills you detail should be based on the
villain’s role within the story. A manipulative villain
should have values for Deceit, Influence, Insight, and
Perform, while one that is combat-focused should have
values for Combat Styles, Evade, and Unarmed. You
should also detail skills to resist abilities heroes may use,
such as Brawn, Endurance, and Willpower. Other skills
can be given values as needed if they would come up in
play. You can also give them a generic value based on
the Power Level of the villain: Archvillain 60%, Villain
50%, and Minor Villain 40%.
• Limits: Limits can be essential for giving villains
weaknesses that the heroes can take advantage of. If a
Shadowstalker has tracked the archvillain Doctor Vellaro to his sewer lair deep beneath the city. From
his hiding place, Shadowstalker listens with horror as the mad scientist rants about his plans to slaughter
the unsuspecting people of Gemelos City.
villain only Regenerates while on the ground, heroes
can try to keep them airborne to keep the villain from
healing. If the villain’s Blast is only short-ranged,
heroes may rely only longer-ranged powers to stay out
of reach. While these Limits may not be initially
obvious, the Games Master should give the heroes an
opportunity to discover them.
Also keep in mind Limits that fit the villain's theme.
Tech-themed villains will have Limits such as External
Power Source, warlocks will have Conditional Power for
their incantations, and ones with variable effects have
Omnipower. All of these Limits have inherent
disadvantages that can be exploited by the heroes as
well, such as binding the hands of the warlock so he
can't cast his spells. Also keep in mind that a villain's
weaknesses do not have to be tied into their Limits.
Villains can be foiled by their plans, their allies, or even
their Passions. But Limits give the Games Master one
more option to use to give the heroes an edge.
The Fatal Flaw
No matter how powerful or unstoppable a villain seems,
there is always a way for the heroes to overcome them if
they can last long enough to find it. While some villains
can simply be taken out using the normal combat rules,
others are powerful enough to resist the heroes’ most
damaging attacks and shrug off their strongest blows.
Other villains are not physically adept, but are master
planners who always seem one step ahead and never
allow themselves to be cornered by their foes.
While this can be a good tool to build tension and
play up the threat of the villain, it can also frustrate
players who feel they stand no chance of defeating their
foe. There should always be some way for the heroes to
finally get the upper hand on the villain, no matter how
clever or powerful. The Games Master should engineer
a way for the heroes to discover this fatal flaw, either
accidentally or through research, interrogation, or trial
and error. Perhaps the master planner missed a detail
257
 Destined
Papier-mÂché Prisons
In comics, villains rarely seem to stay incarcerated for
long, no matter how well-built or well-guarded the
institution they are imprisoned in. Sometimes there is a
daring jail break, sometimes they manage to trick or
overpower their captors, and sometimes they just
reappear to plague the heroes without a good
explanation. Games Masters should keep this trope in
mind when designing adventures so they can reuse
favorite villains, but also be sure not to overuse it. Too
many prison escapes will have your players questioning
why they bother locking up the villains in the first place.
in the background of their taunting video transmission
to the heroes that allows them to hone in on the villain’s
location, or the seemingly indestructible overlord
winces in pain when he comes in contact with titanium,
allowing heroes who successfully notice it to realize the
villain’s one true weakness.
The Escape Plan
The villain is cornered, beaten to the edge of
consciousness by the heroes, seemingly with no way out.
Then suddenly a hidden bomb explodes in a nearby
building, and with a sneer the villain slips away as the
heroes rush to save the innocents trapped in the now-
burning structure. Clever villains often have a
contingency in place to escape before they are captured
or defeated. Sometimes they have an actual means of
escape, such as a vehicle positioned close by or a
miniature teleportation device installed in their battle
armor. Other times they place innocents in danger,
making the heroes decide between capturing their
hated foe or saving the lives of the people they swore to
protect. Some villains seemingly perish, disappearing
after a fall from a great height or after being caught in
a massive explosion, only to rise from the dead (real or
faked) to torment their foes. The escape plan can allow
the Games Master to reuse a villain again or help keep
them active in the current plot, but using escape plans
again and again can be frustrating for players who feel
the efforts in defeating their foes are constantly
thwarted and wasted.
Dastardly Designs
Villains always have a scheme. It can be a simple bank
robbery, or perhaps it’s a ploy that will cause the global
economy to collapse and send the world into chaos.
Knowing the villain’s plan helps the Games Master
258
determine what options the heroes have to try to stop
them. The easiest way to construct a villain’s plot is to
design the scenario where the plot succeeds,
outlining what the villain needs to do to achieve their
goal if left unchallenged. For example, if the brutish
Char plans to rob an armored car, he needs to find out what
route it will take, find the best place to strike when it will
have the most cash available, and decide on his approach in
stopping the vehicle and getting away with the goods. The
Games Master must also consider whether the heroes
will learn about the villain’s scheme beforehand or
will they only be able to react to it and prevent the
villain from making too big of a mess. In our example,
perhaps Char bragged to some lowlifes about his plan, and
word gets back to the heroes through one of their underworld
contacts. Or perhaps they only learn about the robbery when
word comes in over the police scanner, and they need to find
Char before he gets away with the loot.
Comic book villains often formulate plots that reflect
their motivations (see Villainous Motivations on page
253), so a Greedy villain will try to steal things while a
power-hungry villain will try to obtain something that
would grant them more power. The tone of the
campaign will also determine how the villains go about
their plans. A Silver Age villain might plan out an
elaborate heist using themed tricks, oversized props,
and henchmen who all wear the villain’s symbol on their
chests. On the other hand, an Iron Age villain may
think nothing of callously murdering anyone in their
way, even if the bystanders posed no threat to them. It’s
also important to keep in mind that while villains are
evil, there are some forms of crime that people at the
table may not feel comfortable with in the game. It is a
good idea to sit down as a group before the campaign
starts to see if there are any themes or topics that should
be off limits. A roleplaying game is meant to be a fun
experience for everyone, and it shouldn’t make players
uncomfortable.
Keeping heroes in
the fight
Heroes are just as susceptible to being overwhelmed in
combat or taken out by an unlucky die roll as the
villains. While this is part of the risk involved with
fighting crime, it can be frustrating for the player if
their hero spends more time unconscious than in the
fight. Or, worse yet, if all of the heroes are knocked out
it puts them at the mercy of the villain. In some
scenarios this might simply be part of the risks of being
a hero, but in most comic book stories the villains rarely
simply kill their defeated foes. Here are a few
suggestions for the Games Master to help ensure the
heroes survive the fight to have their chance
to save the day.

• Don’t Overwhelm Them: While powered

heroes can be potent compared to normal
criminals, they can still be overwhelmed by a
large number of weak opponents. Even if you
are using the Rabble and Underling rules
(page 182), a few lucky shots and good
damage rolls can drop a hero quickly. Add in
a superpowered villain and the most
powerful heroes can be outmatched. Be
careful not to add too many enemies to a
fight, and make sure the heroes have a
chance to defeat their foes, even if the fight
will be a tough one.

• Know When to End the Encounter:

Destined is not a game where every foe needs
to be defeated to win the encounter. Goons
flee or surrender and villains escape to
plague the heroes another day. The same
should hold true for heroes. If the fight is
turning against them, provide them with an
escape clause so they can lick their wounds
and rethink their strategies for next time.
Maybe the building they are fighting in is
damaged and the ceiling collapses,
separating them from their enemy, or the
villain is simply testing their mettle and flies
off after giving them a sound beating. Even
in comics heroes suffer setbacks and have to
break away from a fight to find another way
to defeat their foes.

• It Shouldn’t Always Be About Fighting: The archvillain Geryon delights in causing havoc for its own
Not every encounter needs to involve sake. The spiteful monster is one of the most physically
combat, even ones where the villains are dangerous opponents that Gemelos City’s heroes face.
present. Maybe instead of fighting, the villain
uses their powers to endanger some bystanders, and the villain enjoys the twisted game they play with their
heroes need to swoop in to save innocent lives while the enemy, and killing them would take away the villain’s
villain escapes. In superhero cities there are constant fun. Death traps offer a different kind of challenge for
accidents and disasters that need the special abilities of the heroes to overcome, and can be an opportunity to
heroes to overcome. A massive crane malfunctions and catch the villain off guard if they are able to escape.
causes damage to the construction site. A car accident Even if the villain leaves them to their fate, they may
on a bridge leaves several vehicles teetering on the learn something more about their foe or the plans they
edge, close to falling into the bay. Encounters don’t have for the city’s destruction.
require fisticuffs and energy blasts to be exciting.
• Unexpected Help: In a typical superhero city, there
• Capture Instead of Kill: A staple of the genre is the may be other heroes trying to bring justice to the city. If
villain gloating over fallen heroes before either leaving the heroes are in a tight spot, another hero might
the scene or placing them in a death trap to further swoop in to lend a helping hand. Maybe the police or a
torment them. Even when it would make sense for a special military unit arrives on the scene to apprehend
psychotic madman to simply shoot the hero in the head, the villain (or the heroes). While this can be a good way
comic books find some plot convenience to keep the to prevent the entire group from being killed or
hero alive. Sometimes the reason is simply because the defeated, if overused it can also make the heroes feel
259
 Destined
like they are bit players in their own story. The first time
Commander Awesome rushes in to save them from
Doctor Malicious, they may be relieved. The fifth time it
happens, the players aren’t really going to feel like
superheroes and it may be time to rework your
encounters or villains.
Superhero
Adventures
When designing a scenario for their players, a Games
Master needs to look no further than their favorite
comics, graphic novels, television shows, and movies for
a wealth of inspiration. With literally thousands of
issues, hundreds of major heroes, and nearly a century
of history, Games Masters have countless tools at their
disposal. Taking the time to define the campaign
setting, tone, and antagonists helps flesh out the shared
comic book the group is creating, but it is also vital to
take time to define the heroes and talk to the players
about what their expectations are for the game. Some
people just want to play around with cool powers and
bash on supervillains, while others want a deeper
exploration of what it means to be a hero and the
burden of devoting your life to fighting crime. Having
the group on the same page as to what everyone wants
out of the game makes things much more enjoyable
for everyone.
In terms of creating your own adventures, there are
a few common types of stories found in comic books
listed below. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it
can serve as a springboard for developing your own
ideas or give you a frame of reference in terms of what
comic book stories you would like to emulate in your
game. Also note that multiple story types can be
incorporated into an adventure or series of adventures,
which helps give variety to the scenarios.
• Secret Origins: How a hero came to be or how a
Superteam formed is an important part of a comic book
story, and the same applies to heroes in Destined.
Learning how each hero got their powers, what shaped
the hero they became, and how they determined their
heroic identity can help flesh out each hero. The
downside in a collaborative game is that it keeps the
spotlight on a single player (or several if their Origins
are tied together) instead of the group as a whole.
Origin stories can be worked in as long as the group is
okay with that, perhaps as short flashbacks, played out
as solo sessions, or shared as a brief narrative from each
player. Getting a team together can be accomplished by
having them come together to face a dangerous threat,
or if they all share a similar origin or belong to the same
260
Organization, that can be used as a way of explaining
how their group came to be.
• Villain of the Week: One of the most common stories
in comics is the battle against a specific villain or villains.
This story often serves as an “origin story” of that villain
when they first appear. The heroes discover the villain’s
initial schemes, clash with them or their minions,
eventually work out what the villain is planning, and
confront them one last time to try to foil their evil plot.
While this sort of story can seem trite, it has made up a
substantial amount of comic book stories since the
beginning of the genre. The variety of villains and the
constant stream of new and interesting crimes help
keep it fresh, but it can be taxing on the Games Master
to constantly craft new foes and new plots session after
session.
• A Day in the Life: Some stories take time to explore
the hero under the mask, giving the hero trials and
tribulations in their life outside of the costume.
Sometimes these are real-world struggles such as
financial problems, relationship issues, or helping a
friend in need. Other times it revolves around how the
hero’s heroic career impacts their civilian life, from
trying to balance the two to locating a new source for
the gadgets the hero relies on. Taking time to explore
both sides of the hero deepens their story and helps
develop their character, but some players may not like
dealing with the mundane when there are supervillains
to blast.
• Disaster Artists: Not all threats come from villains.
Sometimes the toughest challenges come from accidents
and disasters, both naturally occurring and engineered.
Laser vision is handy when melting a villain’s robot
minions, but how can it help when a suspension bridge
full of rush hour traffic is about to collapse? Just like in
the real world, comic book cities are subjected to
hurricanes, flooding, fires, earthquakes, and major
accidents. In a comic book reality there are also threats
such as rogue asteroids, freeze cannons gone amok, and
mutated zoo animals rampaging across the city. A
disaster story can be a nice break from the regular
villain-of-the-week story.
• A Machiavellian Plot: A hero battles their many foes,
faces the challenges of daily life, and works to stop the
disasters that threaten their city over the course of many
adventures. But just when they think they have time to
relax, they begin to realize that all these seemingly
disparate events are actually the workings of a villainous
puppeteer who has been pulling all the strings. The
revelation that a previously unknown archvillain has
been orchestrating all the events in a hero’s life can be a
big shock, and it can completely upend everything that
hero thought was true. These types of stories
work well at the end of a long series of
adventures, giving the players a new threat to
be concerned about while they try to get their
bearings after uncovering the devious plot.

• Strange Bedfellows: Many times in comics,

heroes are forced to work with their most
hated archenemies, either working towards
some common goal or forced together by
unforeseen circumstances. These stories can
be a good way to explore other aspects of
villains that previously were just one-note
antagonists, or challenge players to work past
their mistrust of their enemy while also being
wary of being double-crossed at any moment.
In many comics these tales are part of another
type of story, such as the hero needing the
villain’s help dealing with another enemy, or
the hero being stuck alongside their enemy
during a natural disaster that threatens them
both.

• The Contest of Champions: Heroes are

often pulled into strange contests by powerful
beings, often cosmic entities or gods, who wish
to learn who the best hero is or simply out of
divine boredom. In the contest the heroes may
be part of the same team working against
other teams of heroes and villains, or they may
need to fight each other until they can find a
way out of their predicament. The beings who
are in charge of these challenges are often
arrogant, inscrutable, or unhinged, but they
also have some form of code of honor they are A day in the life: early in his career, Shadowstalker prepares
bound by, or they can be tricked by clever to go out and face the forces of darkness in defense of the
heroes. A more mundane version of this is the city. What thrilling adventures and deadly foes lie ahead for
“superhero fight club,” where someone is the young hero?
pitting heroes and villains against each other
in a dangerous blood sport for the amusement
of others. • Crisis Situation: Many people cite the publication of
DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths as the end of the Bronze
• Strange New World: Either the heroes are Age, and since that time there have been many world-
transported to some strange and alien world, either by shattering crossovers and events that shake up the
accident or on purpose, or the heroes find themselves status quo. A crisis event in this context is some
in an alternate version of the world they knew. In many catastrophe that threatens all of reality, and is either the
of these stories the heroes face a challenge to their status result of a powerful entity or some cosmic anomaly that
quo, which forces them to find new ways to deal with the the heroes can’t just punch away. Crisis events involve
situation at hand. Perhaps something on the alien world not just the player-heroes, but also other non-player
weakens or robs the heroes of their powers, or the heroes as well as villains, all struggling to find a solution
alternate world is populated with villainous versions of before everything they know warps, is destroyed, or is
the heroes and their trusted allies. The heroes must find remade into something new. While tricky to pull off, a
a way to survive in this strange new place and figure out crisis event is a good way to end a campaign or even
a way to get back to the world they know. reboot it so the players can rework their heroes or take
them in a new direction.

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 Destined
Welcome to
Gemelos City
O
ne of the true gems of the West Coast, Gemelos
City has stood as a great beacon since the area was
first discovered by the great Spanish explorer
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Settlers
flocked here to enjoy the scenic view from atop Mount Aguilero,
the pristine beaches just down the coast, and the opportunities
and prosperity that awaited every man, woman, and child.
Today Gemelos City remains a great light shining forth from the
shadows, drawing in people from all around the world. As a
haven for cutting-edge technology, rich culture, and a nightlife
that can’t be beat, I am proud to call Gemelos City my home. So
won’t you come join us up here in the Crown, take in the sights,
and consider making our great city your great new home?
Silver Beacon, leader of the Fearless Force, taken from
the introduction of A Visitor’s Guide to Gemelos City
Also known by its more colloquial name “Gemini City”
due to its dual nature, the great metropolis of Gemelos
City sits on the West Coast of the United States in the
state of California, rivaling Los Angeles in size and New
York City in population. It is one of the largest cities in
the country, drawing on a long history of industry and
technology to make it an economic powerhouse. It is
also home to some of the most famous superheroes in
the country, the team known as the Fearless Force.
From the outside, Gemelos City seems to be a near-
flawless example of what an urban community should
be, but those who live there know differently. Resting at
sea level, the city borough known as the Ossuary is a
poverty-stricken hotbed of crime and corruption. High
above on Mount Aguilero, the Crown is the hub of
prosperity, but it too holds dark secrets within the walls
of the powerful corporations and detached elite who
call it home. Even the superhero protectors of the city
262
have skeletons in their closets. Unbeknownst to most
outsiders, Gemelos City is on the edge of collapsing in
upon itself, and only a new generation of heroes has any
chance of pulling it back from the brink.
Early History
During his exploration of the West Coast of North
America in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo charted a
hilly rise along the coastline that overlooked a small bay
at the mouth of a mighty river. His ships anchored there
briefly for repairs and one of the priests on board
dubbed the rise “El Santo Aguilero,” or “The Holy
Aerie,” after watching the sun rise as he conducted his
morning prayers there. The site became a stopping
point for subsequent explorers, and during contact with
local Chumash tribes, the natives talked of how the site
was sacred, a place where they felt they could commune
with the spirits that watched over them. No permanent
settlement was established until 1775 when a Franciscan
mission and presidio (military fort) were built atop the
rise, now called Mount Aguilero, and the community
grew steadily with the arrival of new settlers.
When California was turned over to the United
States in 1848, the fort was occupied by the US Army
and renamed Fort Crowne after General Edward
Crowne. The gold rush of the same year brought in an
influx of people looking to make a new life for
themselves in the untamed lands. What was once a small
fortification quickly expanded into a bona fide
community, with a small town growing around the fort
and farmlands stretching out on the marshy lands at the
base of the rise across the river. These lowlands also
became home to the first cemetery, which used above-
 10. Welcome to Gemelos City

ground vaults due to the water content of

the soil, and as the number of dead grew
The Coachman: the city’s first
and the first rendering plant was
hero
constructed nearby, the lowlands area
earned the nickname of the ‘Ossuary.’

The first true evolution of the area

A ccording to Kirby Kane, conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed
‘expert’ on the history of the region’s superpowered individuals:

occurred in 1874, when tycoons and ‘The Coachman remains one of the most fascinating figures of the
long-time friends Romulus Mattas and last few centuries. A man who took up the fight against street gangs
Remus Johnson decided to make Fort on his own, using nothing more than his fists and a specially
Crowne the center of their expansion weighted fighting cane topped with a silver skull. Many believe that
into the west. Mattas was well known in he was one of the few Extranormals to arise before the current wave
the steel industry and Johnson made his of superhumans, and back when he was active there were accounts
fortune in the railroad, and they saw the of him exhibiting inhuman strength, taking a bullet without even
area as ripe for development. Both men flinching, and transforming into a patch of living darkness.
invested heavily in the region, Personally, I believe he was nothing but an inventive, well-trained
constructing rail lines into the area and man who knew how to build his own legend and play up his
building train yards and steel mills in the mysterious nature.
Ossuary. Mattas also convinced investors
and bankers to take an interest in Fort There are of course many theories about his disappearance. During
Crowne, and the influx of industry and his career, the Coachman never took a life and left any criminals he
wealth caused the area to expand rapidly. stopped tied up or unconscious where the police could find them.
Mattas was soon elected mayor and Towards the end of his career there were rumors that he had given
alongside his friend they declared that up his non-lethal ways and was murdering criminals and law
the combined communities of Fort enforcement that crossed his path. I have found some evidence that
Crowne and the Ossuary would be suggests there may have been another force at work in Gemelos City
known as Gemelos City. at that time, a murderer akin to Jack the Ripper haunting the streets
of the Ossuary. My personal theory is that the Coachman either died
But with growth also came the ills of stopping this murderer, who also vanished around the same time, or
society, especially crime. Vicious gangs that something happened to unhinge the Coachman and he himself
arose in the Ossuary, looking to exploit was the killer. It’s interesting to note that Remus Johnson, the famed
the factory workers and use the rail lines railroad tycoon, also vanished without a trace at that time, leading
to transport stolen goods. The some to theorize that he was actually the Coachman.’
burgeoning police force struggled to stop
them, and shortly thereafter, rumors (Taken from the cable documentary show Ancient Extranormals,
started about a cloaked figure on a coal- originally aired January 14th 2020)
black coach riding through the streets of
the Ossuary at night. Known as the
‘Coachman,’ this mysterious person began fighting back industry and culture, while below the Ossuary
against the gangs and quickly apprehended the worst of languished under the smog belched out from the
their ilk. He operated for years, becoming a thorn in the factories and the constant warring between local gangs
sides of criminals while avoiding the authorities who and the Dallo Crime Syndicate that ruled the docks.
sought to stop his vigilante crusade. Then as suddenly Over the years, other individuals tried to follow the
as he appeared the Coachman vanished, and Gemelos Coachman’s example, but the police quickly
City enacted new laws to prosecute anyone who tried to apprehended these flash-in-the-pan vigilantes, or they
take the law into their own hands. became victim to the criminals they tried to stop. Then,
15 years ago, something happened that changed the
Over the course of the 20th century, Gemelos City world forever.
continued to expand and grow. The area of the city that
rested atop Mount Aguilero was officially named “The
Crown,” taking its name from Fort Crowne and from a A History of heroes
famous mural in City Hall that framed the skyscraper as
spines atop a crown against the setting sun. More and The gods of old were real. Not fictions from the simplistic minds
more businesses moved to the city, especially companies of our ancient ancestors. Their stories were certainly
that focused on advancing technology and medicine. embellished: there were no fiery chariots drawing the sun across
On the hills above, the Crown became the center of the sky or thunderbolts from Olympus, but these legends have
263
 Destined
C.O.P. Alerts
W ith both regular and ’super’ crime on the rise
in Gemelos City, the police force developed
a program known as Citizens Observe & Protect,
or C.O.P. Using a free app on mobile devices,
anyone can report criminal activity in their area
and the authorities can issue warnings to steer
clear of any dangerous situations while also
increasing response time of emergency services
and law enforcement to those locations. Local
heroes and vigilantes find the alerts useful to get
to the scene of a crime first, especially in the
Ossuary, where the police are already spread thin
or are just as bad as the criminals.
In game terms, C.O.P. Alerts can be a useful tool
for the Games Master to alert heroes to potential
situations that may require their intervention.
Anyone with a smartphone or tablet can download
the app for free, so most heroes should have easy
access to it. It can also be used to alert authorities
to either round up captured criminals or help out
the heroes if they get into a jam. Villains may also
access C.O.P. to create diversions or redirect the
heroes away from them so they have a chance to
escape.
Throughout this and the following chapter, there
are C.O.P. Alerts that outline various adventure
seeds and ideas based on different places and
supporting characters from Gemelos City. These
suggestions are there to help inspire Games
Masters to develop their own scenarios based on
the seeds provided, or to use as a jumping off
point for their own campaign in Gemelos City.
basis in fact. Today, I will outline and present to the
distinguished audience all the evidence I have uncovered
about these “gods,” and how it relates to our current state of
affairs with the rising population of humans with extranormal
abilities.
- From the keynote speech by Dr. Janet Echidna at
the 23rd Annual Conference of the Society of Human
Genetics
In ancient times there were beings of great power
with abilities far beyond those of normal humans. Some
generated lightning from their fingertips, others ran
faster than a cheetah, and some even shrugged off
swords and arrows like annoying gnats. These beings
arose spontaneously and randomly, some born with
their gifts and others developing them as they matured.
264
To mere mortals, they seemed like gods incarnate and
many of them were revered as such. Some were gifted
with humility and waved away worship while trying to
use their abilities to benefit their neighbors. Others
were happy to exploit those who venerated them,
forging great empires in their name and ruling from
gilded thrones. Their stories gave rise to the tales of
pantheons of gods and legendary heroes, and for
millennia they walked the world and used their gifts for
both good and ill. And then, for numerous reasons, they
were gone as quickly as they came.
Many were slain when they came into conflict with
others of their kind, clashing in titanic battles that
toppled temples, leveled entire kingdoms, and
sundered the earth. Others died of natural causes and
advanced age, as immortality was a blessing that none of
them seemed to enjoy. Still others simply vanished,
either going into self-imposed exile or falling prey to
some unknown circumstances. Whatever the cause,
eventually these “gods” died out, and only mortals
remained to tell their stories and speculate as to
what led to their demise. Humanity went on and
relegated these stories to myth. That is, until the gods
came back.
The first occurrence was almost 15 years ago. During
a protest against a major corporation’s mistreatment of
their workers, a young woman named Karen Karter
was caught in the middle of a confrontation between
demonstrators and local police. She spontaneously
manifested powerful telekinetic abilities, throwing
everyone around her back by half a dozen meters as she
rose into the sky on a pillar of invisible force.
The event was caught on camera by local media and
bystanders, and the videos quickly went viral.
Overnight, dozens more people demonstrated fantastic
powers all around the world, and each month
the number continued to grow. People panicked and
the press latched onto the occurrences, which were
now being referred to as “The Awakening,” while the
governments of the world struggled to understand and
control the situation.
Theories were tossed around about what caused the
rise of these individuals, dubbed “Extranormals,” or
“X-Ns,” by the press. Some believed it was a result of
growing climate change; others talked about rising
radiation levels from nuclear power plants and atomic
testing. Stranger theories appeared on the internet in
conspiracy forums, citing secret government
experiments or the interventions of extraterrestrial
beings. Finally, one person came forth with at least one
piece of the puzzle.
A view over Gemelos City looking northeast towards Mount Aguilero. The city contains both great
wealth and intense poverty; it is a bastion of science, art, and culture, and a den of the most cruel and
depraved villainy. The city’s duality is reflected in the natures of its superpowered inhabitants.

In time, a group of scientists at the University of

The Godstrand
Three years after the rise of the first Extranormals, an
eccentric but brilliant researcher named Dr. Janet
Echidna presented a controversial presentation at a
renowned convention on human genetics. She posited
that humans with special abilities existed long ago, and
their DNA remained hidden in the genetic code of
certain individuals from all over the world.
Her claim was that this genetic material, which she
dubbed the ‘Godstrand,’ lay dormant for millennia, and
some external unknown factor caused it to reactivate
and rewrite the bodies of those who possessed it. At the
time she was ridiculed by her peers, who saw her
theories as no better than the most outlandish
conspiracies presented on the internet. Even with a
mountain of anecdotal evidence and hard science to
back it up, Dr. Echidna’s work was dismissed and she
disappeared from the public eye.
Toronto conducted further testing on willing
extranormal volunteers and they were able to confirm
all of Dr. Echidna’s research. Several more studies
corroborated it, and the Godstrand was now
synonymous with Extranormals. If there was a kernel of
truth in the legends of old, the gods and heroes were
notorious for creating progeny to pass on their lineage,
and the researchers believed that this might account for
the presence of the trace DNA in the modern
generations. Those who possessed the Godstrand were
quite literally descended from the ancient beings who
were believed to be deities. However, the researchers
still could not determine what led to the rise of the
Godstrand millennia ago, or the resurgence of it in
modern times.
The discovery of the Godstrand caused fundamental
changes in the world, both in the beliefs of the populace
and the way governments and laws dealt with powered
individuals. While it was difficult to determine exact
265
 statistics, studies estimated at least 0.001% of the world
population possessed the Godstrand gene, although not
all of them were active. While some with active abilities
have limited levels of power and abilities that are not
considered dangerous, there were others who were
walking WMDs that could level buildings and even
cities if left unchecked. And while some Extranormals
decided to use their powers to benefit humanity, many
others saw them as a means to an end, or to make the
world work the way they wanted. The most powerful of
these superpowered criminals were more than normal
law enforcement and even some militaries could
handle, so some places began to embrace the heroic
Extranormals willing to fight against crime, and still
others actively recruited them into special units to deal
with dangerous X-Ns.

While research continues to explore the Godstrand,

Top geneticist Dr. Janet Echidna was the first
to discover the origin of the outbreak of
newly superpowered individuals. Dr. Echidna
disappeared some years ago and her current
whereabouts are unknown.
there is also a push to find a way to control it, subdue it,
or even reproduce it in people who are not gifted with
the gene. Some of these experiments were done under
the best circumstances and conducted within the limits
of the law, but far more unethical and illegal research
has been performed, often without the consent of the
subjects. Some nations have no qualms vivisecting
innocent people in their quest to create an army of
powered soldiers. Research has also led to the creation
of technologies that could emulate special abilities,
allowing those without natural gifts to simulate those
with the Godstrand, and has created devices that could
limit or suppress the powers of Extranormals. With
each passing year, more of those gifted with the
Godstrand manifest their abilities, and the world tries to
adapt to the new paradigm that Extranormals have
created.

The Awakening

T he exact cause of The Awakening is up to you if you base your campaign around this event, and that is why
the true event behind it is not detailed. Gemelos City as a setting is meant to be a toolbox of ideas and
inspiration for your campaigns, so you can take what you like and discard what you don’t to make the city your
own. The exact cause of the return of superpowered beings can be an integral part of the stories you tell, or
easily hand-waved away to focus on whatever your group would enjoy the most. If the players do decide to
delve into the reason they gained their powers, here are a few possibilities to present to them:

• The Awakening was a result of climate change or a rare cosmic storm that reactivated the Godstrand.

• The Awakening occurred because of some new additive, preservative, or vaccination that had an adverse
effect on those with the correct genes.

• The Awakening was done intentionally by some powerful group, perhaps a government, a secret society, or
a major corporation.

• The Awakening resulted from the interference of a powerful being or beings, such as extraterrestrials, a
mystical entity, or one of the ancient Extranormals seeking to rekindle the spark of heroism in the world.
266
 10. Welcome to Gemelos City

Gemelos City Today The Godstrand and Origins

Gemelos City changed when the Godstrand
activated, and like everywhere else it suffered
growing pains while adapting to the presence of
Extranormals in its city limits. Some of the first
people to manifest abilities did not have an easy
rebirth, resulting in widespread destruction across
the city before the police and military were able to
take them down. At first the people were fearful of
their powered neighbors, protesting officials to
incarcerate X-Ns or ban them from the city itself.
Baffled about how to deal with the threat of
individuals who could level a city block with power
beams, the authorities turned to technological
firms within Gemelos City to help develop ways to
suppress special abilities and to create tools to aid dimensions such as the villainous Xaal (see page 318). The
the police in stopping criminals with powers. This
led to the creation of the “Extranormal Response
Unit,” an elite group of officers equipped with
cutting-edge gear and special manacles that inhibit
abilities brought about by the Godstrand. The city
also cracked down on anyone who used their powers in
public, especially Extranormals trying to fight crime as
a vigilante.
D ue to the genetic nature of the Godstrand, it fits best
with heroes that have the Experimentation, Inherent,
and Mutation Origins. This does not mean that all heroes
in Gemelos City are required to have one of these Origins
if they want to have powers. As mentioned above,
technology in the setting has advanced to the degree that
devices that simulate powers have been created, allowing
for Technology to be a viable option. ‘Normal’ heroes like
The Mortician demonstrate that people without the
Godstrand gene can be just as effective in fighting crime
as those with powers. The rise of the Godstrand has also
altered the world in many strange and fascinating ways,
allowing things such as magic to re-emerge or come to the
Earth through the machinations of beings from other
Godstrand is one option to explain how powered
individuals get their fantastic abilities, but it should not
limit players from making whatever hero they want.
fight against the crime threatening to overwhelm the
Ossuary, but like the police there, it has not been
enough to turn the tide.

Like many large metropolitan areas, Gemelos City

has a substantial population of Extranormals residing
within the city, and officials keep a database of anyone
with known powers to monitor their activity. Over the
years the laws softened to allow a few X-Ns to operate
within the city to aid in stopping superpowered
criminals. The most well-known are a team of heroes
known as the “Fearless Force,” who are based in Force
Tower at the heart of the Crown. They are the only
officially sanctioned group of heroes in the city,
deputized by the mayor’s office to act alongside the
police force in taking down exceptional threats.
Another is the individually-sanctioned hero known as
Luminous, but recently the light-based crimefighter has
not been seen as often as he was when he first started his
career.
The Fearless Force and Luminous worked to defend
the people of the Crown, but the Ossuary did not
benefit from their assistance. Home to most of the city’s
working class and its most poverty-stricken areas, the
Ossuary is a hotbed of crime. Formerly it was controlled
by the Dallo crime family, but in recent years a powerful
street gang known as the 52nd Street Hundred has
established themselves as the head of the city’s
underworld. There have also been incidents of strange
mutated Extranormals terrorizing the darker places of
the Ossuary, although the source of these beings is
unknown. A few brave individuals have taken up the
A Guide to the City
Please refer to the map of the Gemelos City urban area
on page 325.
The Crown
And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.
Henry VI Part 3, Act IV sc. vii William Shakespeare,
quoted on the plaque under the Crown mural in
Gemelos City Hall
Originally known as Fort Crowne, the city section
known simply as the Crown encompasses all of the
sections of Gemelos City that rest atop Mount Aguilero
and the surrounding hillside regions. With the arrival
of Romulus Mattas, the Crown established itself as the
financial and cultural district of the city. Towering
skyscrapers dominate the skyline, and the old is
frequently torn down to make room for taller and more
elaborate structures. Some of the original buildings
remain, preserved as historical landmarks, and many of
them have architecture reminiscent of ancient Greece.
This is part of the legacy of the Mattas family, as
Romulus Mattas was a scholar of Greek history and
mythology, and the buildings reflect his interests.
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The Godscam

N otorious pundit and rabble-rousing demagogue Jack Forte has a few things to say on the subject of the
Godstrand and the rise of superpowered people. He says these things regularly and at great length on his
stunningly bigoted radio show The Truth Upload:

“Hello, Truth Believers! Jack Forte here with your weekly dose of the information they don’t want you to hear.
Once again it’s my civic duty to give you the real scoop, and not the typical lies that the quote ‘news’ unquote
tries to shove down your throats. Tonight, we’re talking about the rise of the so-called heroes that have become
a daily fixture in the dying newspapers and the nightly news ‘fraudcasts,’ trying to show us ‘lesser people’ how
much better they are than us. You’ve all seen them in their form-fitting glorified workout gear, having slap fights
to pass the time while the rest of us deal with the fallout of their need to compensate for their shortcomings in
front of the camera. Property damage and civilian casualties are nothing to them as long as they get their time
in the spotlight. These caped media whores want your likes and follows on social media, and don’t care one bit
about your safety. Now, you’ve heard me talk about them before and the way the sheeple out there have been
conditioned to believe they are real heroes. I know a few police officers and firefighters who might have different
opinions, but that’s another episode. Instead, tonight I want to focus on the biggest lie that’s been told to you
about these so-called ‘Extranormals’ and where they came from: the Godstrand. I’m sure you’ve seen some
alleged scientist being interviewed about it, or watched the footage of that whack-job who coined the term being
laughed off stage by her colleagues when she first talked about it. And right there is my first truth of the evening:
what caused the turnaround? I’ve seen the talking heads in their lab coats, smiling at the camera for their 15
minutes on cable news. ‘The Godstrand is real.’ ‘The Godstrand proves that our ancient ancestors had people
with gifts.’ ‘The Godstrand is part of human evolution.’

I say to you the Godstrand is just more <CENSORED> that they are trying to shove down your throats. They want
you to love these new heroes. They want you to give yourselves over to them, rely on them, lull you into
complacency and bend over to take whatever they have in their utility belts! Today on the Truth Upload I have a
panel of real experts from our Truth Believers Army that will be coming out here to tell you the real source of all
these powered people. It’s not some junk DNA that links these frauds back to Zeus or some other <CENSORED>
they use to elevate themselves. It’s a conspiracy at the highest levels, and you’ll hear the real story, right after
these commercials from our truth-seeking sponsors...”

Transcript from The Truth Upload, originally aired August 17th, 2020

The Crown has always been a place of growth and
innovation, as evidenced by the large number of tech
businesses and medical companies that have their
corporate offices near the city center. Several Fortune
500 companies call Gemelos City home or got their start
there, and the city tries to offer incentives for more
companies to relocate there to maintain their
reputation as a bastion of cutting-edge technology.
The area is also home to a majority of the city’s
wealth, with real estate within the city center priced in
the millions. Living out in the suburbs is not much
cheaper, and most of the working-class people
commute from the Ossuary. While this inflow of wealth
helps keep money flowing into the city, it also makes the
Crown a tempting target for criminals looking to make
a big score. For that reason, most of the resources of the
Gemelos City Police are concentrated in the Crown, and
the city’s most prominent superheroes are based there.
268
The Crown is made up of the city center (where the
financial and cultural districts are located), in the area
known as Center Court, and not surprisingly, where the
largest buildings can be found. There are also
expensive eateries, high-end stores, museums, theaters,
and concert venues to be found in and around the
central district. Surrounding that are kilometers of
suburb full of middle- and upper-class homes, shopping
centers, parks, and a small artificial lake known as Lake
Tethys. Near the cliff face of Mount Aguilero is Fort
Crowne, which remains a popular tourist attraction and
serves as the headquarters for the city’s historical
society. The Cronian Bank Stadium, home to the
Bighorns football team, also overlooks Brigadier Bay
close to Fort Crowne, and it is currently undergoing
renovations to add increased security measures after a
recent attack by the mad scientist Doctor Vellaro.
The Crown maintains the highest standards in
Gemelos City, keeping the streets clean and the subways
The Crown district is the oldest part of the city and its commercial, political, and cultural heart. As the
exclusive playground of the rich and powerful, it naturally has a lot of tempting targets for supervillains.
running on time. In the last decade, free Wi-Fi has been
added to all public areas and automated drones help
maintain the city parks and assist the police in
monitoring traffic. The Gemelos City Public Works
Department even claims the sewers are clean enough to
dine in, but no one has tested that theory. The Crown is
linked to the Ossuary by three bridges over the Porton
River, better known by the local population as the
Divide. The Golden Bough is the largest of the three
bridges, followed by the Argo Bridge and the Spiral, a
recently built corkscrew-shaped structure that leads
from the southern rise of the Crown to the
neighborhood of Elysium in the Ossuary.
Businesses and Locations
Aletheia University: Aletheia Mattas was the beloved
wife of Romulus Mattas, and a woman ahead of her
time. Outspoken, adventurous, and fearless, she was an
integral part of the development of Gemelos City, even
if the public originally denied her contributions. When
she died tragically during childbirth, her husband
honored her memory by establishing the city’s first
institute of higher learning in her honor. Aletheia
University remains one of the most prestigious colleges
on the West Coast, with a strong focus on science
programs as well as an excellent medical school. Many
of the world’s great minds have come from the
university’s hallowed halls, and employers fight to offer
positions to those who graduate from one of the
university’s many acclaimed academic programs.
• C.O.P. Alert: Higher Learning: Recently a new drug has
been making the rounds across campus. Known as “Eureka,”
it seemingly expands the user’s mind, giving them a much-
needed boost of energy to get through the toughest assignments
and test prep. As of yet no one is talking about where the drug
is coming from, but when a promising young med student
ends up dead from an overdose, an academic ally of the heroes
asks them to dig deeper. The culprit is one of the villain Dust’s
lieutenants named Juke who has infiltrated the school as part
of the custodial staff. He has blackmailed some of the students
to serve as his dealers, threatening to expose their habits to
administration if they try to rat him out. Can the heroes
manage to locate Juke and put a stop to Eureka before
someone else falls prey?
Archimedes Computing: One of the founders of
modern home computing, Archimedes Computing
remains at the forefront of technology, and their
devices, software, or operating systems can be found in
nearly every home in America. Edwin Shore made his
first million with their Daedalus OS, and now on its
twelfth version there seems to be no stopping the
company. They also popularized the ViewBox complete
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 Destined
The Extranormal
Response Unit
F ounded five years after The Awakening, the
Extranormal Response Unit was created to help
deal with threats posed by dangerous or
uncontrolled X-Ns. The unit was made up of elite
police officers trained to deal with the unexpected
and the unusual, and a federal grant helped
Gemelos City purchase Military-Grade armaments
and vehicles to contain and subdue exceptional
beings. Over time the unit also started recruiting
X-Ns who were committed to helping preserve the
safety of the people of Gemelos City, although
their inclusion in the unit is a closely guarded
secret. In a city that largely fears X-Ns after several
high-profile attacks from dangerous supervillains,
knowing there were powered individuals on the
city’s payroll outside of the Fearless Force would
cause uproar among the populace. These secret X-
N officers are placed on special teams to deal with
the most dangerous threats facing the city, ones
the Fearless Force can’t (or won’t, see page 284)
deal with.
The role of the Extranormal Response Unit in
your campaign depends on how the law views
powered heroes. If X-Ns are more accepted by the
population of the city, the heroes might be
recruited by the unit to serve on one of their
special teams or may work alongside them against
villains. If powered heroes are illegal or highly
regulated, the heroes may find themselves
pursued by the unit or they may have to face down
one of the powered teams.
home entertainment system, with the current iteration
approaching one hundred million units sold
worldwide. Edwin remains the head of the company,
and he is known for his philanthropic endeavors all
across Gemelos City, but some whisper it’s all just to
distract people from the many sins he committed to get
Archimedes where it is today.
The Dionysus Playhouse: One of the oldest operating
theaters on the West Coast, the Dionysus Playhouse was
built shortly after the arrival of Romulus Mattas to the
city. He modeled it after the great Theatre of Dionysus
in Athens, constructing a vast indoor space of tiered
seats surrounding a central stage. It was christened by a
production of the Oresteia by Aeschylus, and each year
the current theater troupe does a retelling of it to
commemorate the playhouse’s anniversary. Over the
years the theater has fallen on hard times as restoration
270
costs mounted, but several years ago an anonymous
donor pledged a small fortune to maintain the building;
in their honor, a box seat is always kept empty for
whomever this mystery patron is.
• C.O.P. Alert: Box Seats: During a production of
La Bohème the Dionysus is sold out, even the most expensive
box seats for the wealthiest patrons of the arts. At the end of
Act 3, as Mimi tells Rodolfo she is leaving, the stage lights
dim and when they come up the villainous Nocturne is center
stage. With a few sung notes he enchants the audience and
starts to steal their voices along with their life force, especially
that of the star diva Chiara Bianchi. Nocturne plans to sap
enough of their life energy to leave them weakened, take
valuables from the wealthiest patrons, and leave with the diva
in tow to add her to his coven of brides. Perhaps the heroes
hear of his deadly plot via a C.O.P. Alert from one of the
attendees who shrugged off the enchantment, or perhaps one
of them was running late to the show and arrives just as the
malevolent master of music begins his deadly performance.
Force Tower: One of the largest skyscrapers in the
Crown, Force Tower is both the main headquarters of
the Gemelos Police Department and the operations base
of the Fearless Force. The decision to relocate the police
to the building came from Police Commissioner
Rudolph, citing how advantageous it would be for law
enforcement and the deputized protectors of the city to
work together as one unit. The lower half of the
building houses the police headquarters, holding cells,
and offices for the Crown’s emergency call center. The
well-guarded upper part of the building is devoted to
the Fearless Force and their support staff, as well as
hangars for their fleet of Fearless Falcon quick-response
craft. The city’s elite Extranormal Response Unit also is
housed in the upper levels, serving to help contain
superpowered criminals alongside the Force. Access to
the upper levels is highly restricted, and the building
also contains defensive measures to help fend off attacks
against Force Tower by the heroes’ enemies.
• C.O.P. Alert: Joy Ride: Watching the Fearless Falcon race
across the sky in pursuit of some nefarious villain, brothers
Larry and Russ Wendt dreamed that one day they would be
right alongside their heroes in the pursuit of justice. But life
didn’t work out the way they planned. Both men found
themselves working as janitors in Force Tower but never
encountering the Fearless Force. Bitter about their lot in life,
the two hatch a harebrained scheme: use their access cards to
the Tower to sneak up to the hangar level and take one of the
Fearless Falcons for a ride. By their thinking, their ingenuity
and daring will get them noticed and they will be advanced to
work alongside the Force. Surprisingly, they manage to pull
off their plan and gain access to one of the VTOL craft.
Unfortunately neither has any flying experience outside of the
video games they play together, and soon they are tearing
 through the city in a dangerous, heavily armed vehicle with
no way of actually controlling it. With the Fearless Force off
on a mission out of town, it is up to the heroes to ground the
two hapless joy riders before they cause serious damage to the
city or themselves.

Gemelos City Hall: Dating back to 1867, Gemelos City

Hall remains an important landmark in the city, even
though the many expansions have obscured large parts
of the original building. Once serving as the city
courthouse, currently it houses the Mayor’s offices and
the many municipal departments that keep the city
running. Mayor Casales (see page 272) spends a large
portion of her time in her offices there, and it is well
known that she keeps late hours trying to come up with
new ideas to better her city. Over the past several years
the security in City Hall has been beefed up
substantially after the former mayor was killed during
an attack by the extremist known as Watchdog. Rumors
suggest that the real reason Mayor Casales rarely leaves
her office is out of fear of being attacked, but she is
quick to dismiss such suggestions during her weekly
televised address from City Hall’s secure media center.

• C.O.P. Alert: Safe Room: Mayor Casales has become more

and more paranoid after an attempt on her life, and recently
she enlisted one of the city’s premier private security firms to
construct a safe room in her office. After construction is
complete, she decides to broadcast her testing of the room as a
way of letting the city’s criminals know she will be safe from
their attacks. Unfortunately the villain Watchdog infiltrated
the construction crew and added a few deadly modifications
to the security measures in her office. During the broadcast he
activates his traps and locks the mayor in her safe room while
it slowly fills with water. Outside, several automated traps gun
down the mayor’s guards and anyone who attempts to gain
entry. The heroes may be the only ones resourceful enough to
get past Watchdog’s traps and reach the mayor before she
drowns in the same room designed to protect her.
Harper Labs: Once a rising star in the technology
market, Harper Labs has fallen on hard times over the
past year. Founder Jonas Harper was considered one of
the brightest minds in engineering, coming up with
countless innovations in environmentally sound
engines, industrial machinery, and water treatment
systems for impoverished countries. His marriage to
model Jennah Reese was well publicized, but not as
much as their messy divorce two years ago. A few
months prior to their split a new hero named Luminous
appeared on the scene and speculation was that it was
Harper himself using some secret technology. He
denied the rumors and the gossip that Luminous led to
his split from his wife (see page 289 for more
information on Luminous). Harper Labs continues to
produce new technology, but as their founder grows
Specialist officers of the Gemelos City Police
Department’s Extranormal Response Unit form
the city’s first line of defense against
superpowered evildoers.
more distant from his company, stock prices continue to
fall and there is speculation that Harper Labs could
shut down or be bought out within the year.
Iaso Healthcare: Pioneers in healthcare and low-cost
insurance options, Iaso Healthcare is the dominant
force in medical care in Gemelos City and throughout
the West Coast. Owning several dozen hospitals,
research labs, and home health agencies, Iaso
Healthcare continues to grow, and nearly every
physician in Gemelos City is associated with them on
some level. While there have been accusations of poor
treatment of workers and a push to monopolize
healthcare in the region, their outreach clinics in the
Ossuary and affordable insurance options keep Iaso a
popular choice among the city’s underprivileged and
poor. The board of directors also approved a recent
program to offer free emergency services to people
injured as a result of Extranormal incidents, a growing
concern for the populace of Gemelos City as more
heroes emerge.
• C.O.P. Alert: Tripping Populace: Recently, medical
professionals from Iaso are reporting an increase in stolen
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 Destined
medicines, particularly some highly-regulated experimental
drugs. While the company has kept the theft secret, just
recently a group of people in the Ossuary simultaneously had
a mass hallucination that caused them to wreak havoc on their
own neighborhoods. The heroes get an alert that the police are
overwhelmed and they must help stop these drugged innocents
from burning down the neighborhood until the drug wears
off. Is the villain Dust behind the use of the drugs, or is it the
sinister Animus Organization?
Kooky BoBo’s Pizza Playhouse: A recent addition to
the family-friendly options available in Center Court,
Kooky BoBo’s Pizza Playhouse is a theme restaurant
with games and attractions for the whole family. Based
on an obscure children’s show from the 1950s, the
restaurant is a throwback to the golden age of television
while also offering the most current innovations in
electronic and animatronic entertainment. Although its
upscale neighbors have complaints about the blaring
calliope music and the flashing lights, Kooky BoBo’s
Pizza Playhouse has proven a hit with children and
parents and there is talk about expanding the franchise
to locations around the country.
• C.O.P. Alert: Fears of a Clown: The show that inspired
Kooky BoBo’s Pizza Playhouse only lasted ten episodes, and
then it was relegated to the annals of television history until
the people behind the restaurant resurrected the property.
What few people knew was that there were many strange
things that occurred back during the original broadcast.
There were mysterious disappearances of crew members,
hidden messages in the audio, and tales that the titular clown
was played by someone unknown who showed up each day in
full makeup. One of the last surviving members of the crew
claimed the actual Kooky BoBo was always good to the
children on-set, but the adults felt unnerved and menaced by
him. Since the restaurant opened up last year, late-night
cleaning crews claim to hear laughter and feel like someone is
in the building with them. A security guard also revealed
footage of someone dressed like Kooky BoBo standing in the
darkened dining room, staring at the camera, unmoving for
several hours. The owners believe it’s all a hoax or prank, but
when the same security guard goes missing, a friend of the
heroes who works there asks if they will investigate to find out
what is going on. Is it just a prank, or is there something
sinister about the mysterious clown that seemingly has been
around for more than half a century?
Light Fantastic: The Crown is full of amazing night
spots, but the most popular is the legendary dance club
called the Light Fantastic. With celebrity D.J.s and A-list
bands headlining weekly, the club draws in packed
crowds every night. If that wasn’t enough, the custom
drinks, spectacular light show, and multi-tiered dance
floors keep people coming back for more. The Light
Fantastic was originally owned by Jonas Harper, but he
272
gave it to his ex-wife Jennah as part of their divorce
settlement. While she rarely makes public appearances
these days, she decided to make the club somewhere
that the superheroes of the city would be honored
and welcome. The Light Fantastic has a collection of
memorabilia from local heroes, and the Fearless Force
has been known to make appearances when they aren’t
out battling crime.
Mattas Museum of Natural History: Named after the
architect of the Crown and first mayor of Gemelos City,
the Mattas Museum of Natural History was constructed
shortly after Romulus Mattas’s death in 1921, and his
estate donated many of the current exhibits from his
private collection. Since then the museum has added a
full dinosaur wing, priceless artifacts from ancient
cultures, and pop culture memorabilia that draws in
fans from around the world. Since most of the items
have more historical than real-world value, the museum
is usually safe from the depredations of the city’s
supervillains. But the recent addition of a valuable
collection of rare gemstones and the upcoming History
of Ancient Extranormals exhibit may prove to be too-
tempting targets for the city’s criminals.
Pandora Pharmaceuticals: One of the largest drug
manufacturers in the country, Pandora Pharmaceuticals
rose from a small operation to a major corporation in
less than a decade. They cornered the market with
effective antidepressants, provided treatment options
for rare neurological disorders, and developed an
effective intervention for certain forms of cancer. They
also create medical imaging and surgical technologies,
and partnered with Iaso Healthcare to provide
affordable medicines to low-income individuals.
Pandora also maintains rehabilitation clinics within the
Ossuary to help with growing addiction problems, some
of which relate to medicines initially produced by the
company. While the company has a public board of
directors, little is known about who actually owns
Pandora Pharmaceuticals or who develops their latest
innovations.
Important NPCs
Silvia Casales: The current mayor of Gemelos City,
Silvia Casales does her best to serve the people while
also dealing with the strange new threats posed by the
growing Extranormal population. She has always been
a staunch supporter of the Fearless Force and
Luminous (while he was active), even petitioning for the
construction of Force Tower and arranging rallies to
help foster goodwill with the people regarding the city’s
chosen protectors. She encouraged Police
Commissioner Rudolph to go easy on non-sanctioned

crimefighters who were doing good works, although
her efforts to enact new regulations for them were
rejected by the city council and the courts.
Since her attempted assassination by the vigilante
Watchdog (see page 319), Mayor Casales has reinforced
her policies but rarely makes public appearances,
instead using televised broadcasts and radio interviews
to get her message out to the people. While Watchdog
failed to kill her, he seems to have seriously wounded
her resolve and sense of security.
The Fearless Force: See Chapter 10.
Jonas Harper: The head of Harper Labs, Jonas Harper
was patenting innovative ideas when he was still in
grade school. Considered to be one of the most gifted
minds in the world, he got his start in automotive
design but quickly moved past that to develop
technologies to help preserve the environment and
make communities less dependent on fossil fuels. He
also developed high-speed laser fiber optics to bring
communications and the internet to parts of the world
that lacked the infrastructure to keep up with the rest of
the globe. For all his accomplishments, the one thing
Jonas prized the most was his beloved wife Jennah.
They were the talk of the gossip columns and well
known for their philanthropic endeavors, but two years
ago they split and rumors sprang up that Jonas was
moonlighting as the hero Luminous and it came
between them. Since that time he has become a recluse,
holed up in his private lab on his estate. No one knows
if he is working on some new invention to get his
company back on track, but his continued isolation may
mean there is no company to go back to when he
decides to emerge from his self-imposed exile.
Warren Rudolph: Serving as police commissioner for
almost two decades, Warren Rudolph began his career
as a beat cop and worked his way up through the ranks
by being one of the most dedicated officers on the force.
He has stood as a shining example of the good the
Gemelos City Police Department can do, and his tenure
as commissioner has only reinforced his ability to
ensure the people of the Crown remain safe. He has
been criticized for the poor state of the police in the
Ossuary, and every year he makes the same speech
about stamping out corruption and getting the lower
district of the city back under control.
But every year the Ossuary gets worse and he is
called on the carpet by the people there. His recent
support of heroes such as the Fearless Force may be an
attempt to look at new ways to help curb the growing
influence of the gangs in the Ossuary, but his hardline
stance on non-sanctioned crimefighters seems to be a
10. Welcome to Gemelos City
step backward since the Fearless Force seldom leaves
the Crown.
Edwin Shore: The CEO of Archimedes Computing,
Edwin Shore has become the face of the company, a role
he seems to revel in. Whether speaking at a tech
conference or giving the commencement speech at a
university, Edwin rarely misses an opportunity to
appear in front of a crowd or a camera. He is also happy
to extol his many accomplishments that led to
Archimedes being where it is today, and deftly dodges
questions about the many programmers and computer
engineers that actually contributed to the company’s
most popular products. Recently Archimedes has
suffered some very public issues with their latest
operating systems for home computers and their
ViewBox entertainment system, resulting in the first
dip of their stocks in nearly ten years. Edwin has
brushed off the issues as minor glitches, but it is said
behind the scenes he has been very nervous and has
even added to his personal security in the last few
months.
The Ossuary
They think themselves above us up there on Olympus, but their
clouds would come crashing down if it were not for those of us
down here in Hades.
Remus Johnson, when asked about the difference
between the Crown and the Ossuary
Resting on the shores of Brigadier Bay, the city borough
known as the Ossuary was built around the original
docks that offered refuge to ships traveling to Fort
Crowne. With marshy soil and frequent flooding
during the rainy season, the area was largely
undeveloped until Remus Johnson arrived and efforts
were made to build up the foundation so construction
could begin. While it took years for the Crown to grow
and develop, once the land was stable the Ossuary
seemed to spring up overnight. Now it has become the
largest and most populated section of Gemelos City, but
it has also suffered from the changing nature of
industry and the growing urban blight that threatens to
consume it.
Unlike the majestic and modern Crown high above,
the Ossuary is a cramped place where the light barely
manages to make it down past the densely packed
buildings to the cracked streets below. Most of the
structures rarely reach more than a few stories high,
were made with little imagination, remain woefully
outdated, and are crafted of drab-colored stone and
bricks. Overhead, elevated trains 30 years past their
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prime clatter on rusting tracks, mixing with the sound
of sirens, squabbling neighbors, and the occasional
crack of gunfire. The air is thick with exhaust and
smoke from the few factories that are still in operation,
and if the wind blows in the right direction, the streets
smell of sewer gas, uncollected trash, or the runoff from
the waste processing plant feeding into the bay. The
more modern suburbs at the eastern end of the city
have a bit more color and life, but even they have a pall
that seems to hang over them and a stagnation that
seeps in.
The people of the Ossuary come from all walks of
life, but most of the residents are blue-collar workers
who eke out a living at one of the factories or chain
businesses that make up the bulk of the industry there.
There is a stark contrast between the prosperity of the
Crown and the near-poverty of the Ossuary, and many
sections have significant populations of homeless who
live on the streets or move from shelter to shelter. This
has been on the rise as more and more businesses move
their operations to cheaper locations overseas, and
nearly half the factories that once sustained the
neighborhoods have shut their doors. The economic
decline has allowed the many gangs to gain an even
greater foothold in the area, fueling the despair by
flooding the neighborhoods with drugs and pulling the
disenfranchised into their ranks.
The Ossuary is divided into many disparate and
diverse neighborhoods, from the dockside Siren’s
Wharf to the crime-ridden blocks of Asphodel Park and
Morning Fields to the quieter suburbs of Elysium. Each
section has its own quirks, architecture, and cultures,
but they all suffer from the same slow decay that infects
the streets and the people. Most city parks in the area
are poorly maintained, streets have more shuttered
businesses than thriving ones, and a passerby is just as
likely to avoid you as they are to swear at you. The few
bright spots are the scenic Pholos State Park that
borders the edge of Elysium and the venerable Carson
Memorial Stadium, which is home to the Cabezon
baseball team. There is also talk of renovating the GCF
Arena, where until recently the Kingfishers basketball
team played, but the owners have also talked about
moving to a location in the Crown after the arena was
damaged in an attack by the villain Geryon.
Like its people, the Ossuary has learned to make do
with what they have. The Gemelos City Public Works
Department is overworked and understaffed, so there
are routine power outages, backed-up sewers, and
potholes large enough to break an axle. It is so bad that
sometimes the locals end up either fixing things on
their own or they find their own options to allow them
to keep getting by. Cellular service is spotty thanks to
274
outdated towers, and the internet is a luxury most
people can’t afford. The constant petty wars between
the gangs mean that most blocks have quite a few bullet
holes in their buildings, and the murder rate keeps
climbing each year. Some places have made the effort to
try to improve conditions, such as a push for
gentrification in Siren’s Wharf and Morning Fields, but
the efforts rarely last long before things go back to what
the Ossuary considers “normal.”
Businesses and Locations
39th Street Precinct: Right in the middle of the
beleaguered Asphodel Park neighborhood, the 39th
Street Precinct is one of the most overworked and
corrupt police departments in all of the Ossuary. The
officers have more clashes with internal affairs and
more accusations of police brutality than all the other
city precincts combined. All of the bad behavior seems
encouraged by Chief Declan Hynkel, who earned his
position by framing his predecessor for a crime Declan
committed. The presence of the police in Asphodel
Park does nothing to ease the minds of the residents, as
most of the officers are on the take from the various
criminal groups that terrorize the area. The few officers
that have attempted to turn things around or curb the
actions of their compatriots disappear or meet with
violent ends. A young beat cop named Carmen Garza is
one of the few who try to serve the people of the
Ossuary, but she is fearful of becoming another statistic
in a long line of whistleblowers and recently is giving
more thought to asking for help from one of the
district’s costumed heroes.
Asphodel Park: Surrounded by the neighborhood
named after it, Asphodel Park was once one of the
loveliest places in the city, but like much of the Ossuary
it has fallen on hard times. It is full of rusted-out
playground equipment, patchy dead grass, and
benches that long ago rotted through or were
destroyed by vandals. The only things of beauty in the
park are patches of white asphodels, which were once
maintained but now have grown wild. If picked or
trampled on, it seems like the flowers are somehow
back the next day. Not many people venture into the
park, including the gangs who also stay away, and some
of the locals use the place as a sanctuary if they are on
the run or in trouble. There is also an urban legend that
Asphodel Park used to be a cemetery long ago before
the Parks Department reclaimed the land. It is said that
on nights of the full moon, anyone standing among the
flowers hears whispers from the dead, and if
they listen closely, they can hear secret truths only the
spirits know.
How the other half live. Poverty, corruption, decades of government neglect, and unchecked
gangsterism have made the Ossuary a dangerous, crime-ridden slum.
• C.O.P. Alert: Dead Man’s Tales: One of the heroes’
associates has recently suffered a loss when a friend of theirs
was murdered in cold blood. There are no leads and no clues,
and the police have shelved the investigation until more
evidence can be found. The associate approaches the heroes
with an odd proposal: go to Asphodel Park on the night of the
full moon and see if there is a way to contact the spirit of the
murder victim. If they agree to the unusual request, they soon
find themselves among the flowers under the light of the moon.
Surprisingly the rumors about the park are true, and at the
stroke of midnight the spirits of the dead emerge from the
ground and swirl all around them. But to speak with the soul
of the victim, the heroes must agree to face three challenges
from the Keeper of the Dead that also resides within the park.
If they win, they may get the information they need to find the
killer. If they lose, one of them will be forced to join the legions
of the dead. Will they risk their very souls to help their
associate?
Bloody Night Memorial: Two years ago on a cold night
in February, warring factions from the Dallo mob, the
Jade Tigers, and the Hundred all clashed in a dirt lot
between several tenements in Morning Fields. This
battle is known as the “Bloody Night,” when several
dozen criminals along with countless innocents in the
surrounding apartments were left injured or dead. To
this day, a lone pillar of rock left over from construction
still appears stained with the blood from that event.
Even the gangs were shocked by the violence, and not
long afterward graffiti and art covered the walls
memorializing the people who lost their lives on the
site. Although no formal truce was ever declared, the
memorial is viewed as neutral territory by all the gangs
in the Ossuary. Sometimes members from different
groups can be found there sharing a beer or a smoke,
but if they met a block away, they would be trading
bullets instead of jokes. Even the local residents talk
about a feeling of peace that hangs over the place to this
day, and some people claim the stone at the center has
some strange power brought about by the blood that
soaked into it.
• C.O.P. Alert: The Price of Peace: The piece of stone
sitting at the center of the Bloody Night Memorial is no
ordinary slab of rock. It landed on the site before the dawn of
man, part of an ancient alien artifact known as the War-
ender. It was made by a long-dead species from a distant
galaxy, and it required blood sacrifices to generate a special
field that pacified any violent urges while in its presence.
While it was designed for the blood of the aliens, human blood
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 Destined
still has some effect and the deaths of the Bloody Night have
kept it activated for the last two years. Now the effect is
beginning to wear off, and some of the locals believe the
growing aggression in the area is due to this. They are
hatching a plot to either incite another gang war near the
stone or capture members of the local gangs who meet at the
memorial and sacrifice them to gain more peace and quiet.
When the heroes hear of this plot, will they try to stop the locals
or is the price worth a place in the middle of a war zone where
no violence can occur?
Charon Industries: Comprised of a series of factories at
the edge of Brigadier Bay, Charon Industries is well
known for the thick clouds of acrid smoke billowing
from the tall smokestacks and the oily, multicolored
runoff that drains out into the bay. Despite the protests
of countless residents and pleas from environmental
groups, nothing has been done to stop the steady
stream of pollution that been linked to an increase in
health issues within the neighborhood.
The factory itself produces industrial solvents,
chemicals used in cleaning products, and a gummy
paste used as an additive in cheap foodstuffs and cat
food. The owner, CEO, and sole board member is only
known by the name of “Josef ”; his full name is not part
of the company’s public records and he is never seen in
person. His factory is run with brutal efficiency, and
anyone who dares speak out against him or Charon gets
a visit from a couple of burly goons or vanishes
completely, possibly becoming part of the runoff that
spills into the bay. Whispers link him to the Russian
mob, or even that the mysterious Josef is one of the
city’s many supervillains.
• C.O.P. Alert: The Fire Brigade: Recently a group of
criminals wearing fireproof armor wielding high-tech
flamethrowers have begun committing acts of arson all over
the Ossuary. They seem to be targeting local businesses that
produce industrial chemicals and people associated with those
businesses, and the few times the police have encountered them
the “Fire Brigade” has fought them off and managed to
escape. As of yet there have been no deaths during their
attacks, but several civilians and police officers have suffered
severe burns and were hospitalized. When the heroes
encounter the Fire Brigade attempting to burn down a
chemical storage facility, the criminals will use every
incendiary weapon at their disposal and will detonate the
facility and spread flammable chemicals on the surrounding
buildings to escape. If one of the men is captured or the heroes
are able to analyze the propellants used, a link is established
to Charon. Are the criminals stealing from Charon or are they
working for the mysterious Josef to take down his competitors?
The Crypts: Several decades ago, a strange discovery
was made within the Pholos State Park just outside the
276
Ossuary’s suburbs. Several underground tombs
thought to date back to a time prior to the Spanish
exploration of the area were found. Each one was
perfectly round and exactly six feet in diameter, and
each one was filled with bones. Some of the bones were
clearly human, some belonged to animals, and some
were not so easily identified. When the findings were
made public, the elders and historians of local Native
American tribes spoke of legends of an ancient spirit of
the underworld that once called that area home. After
several accidents occurred near the Crypts, the area was
declared off-limits by the Parks Department.
Teenagers and thrill seekers still sneak into the area
on occasion, and some of them speak of seeing a
mysterious cloaked figure that seems to float above the
ground lurking around the Crypts at night. Most
people brush the stories off as a hoax or intoxication,
but members of local mystical societies and alleged
psychics claim the figure is the spirit of the underworld
looking for a way back into the realm of the living.
• C.O.P. Alert: Restless Dead: A group of teenagers recently
went into the Crypts on a dare and read from an ancient book
to try to invoke the strange floating figure who haunts the
area. While they don’t call up the specter, their misguided
ritual causes the bones in the Crypts to gain a life of their own,
and they begin animating as massive skeletal humanoid
monsters. As these skeletal menaces start marching through the
park towards the city, the bones of the deceased animals in the
woods join their numbers and form a skeletal army. The heroes
must work to stop the advances of these undead creations
while also trying to uncover what happened and how to put a
stop to it.
Deimos Isle Penitentiary: Deimos Isle is one of the few
islands in Brigadier Bay, and in 1924 the city determined
it would be an ideal place for a prison to hold the
growing number of criminals filling the city jails. After its
construction, the state took over and turned the prison
into a maximum-security facility, believing the remote
location would be ideal for the most hardened prisoners.
To this day Deimos Isle Penitentiary remains one of the
toughest and most secure facilities in the state penal
system, and it is run with near military precision by
Warden Nathaniel Langford. He takes pride in the
facility’s reputation of being impossible to escape, and
on his watch that reputation has proven true. Deimos
Isle has also adapted to the presence of superhuman
criminals by adding a state-of- the-art containment wing
with advanced power-dampening cells for even the most
powerful villains.
The Gossamer Club: Originally a gentleman’s club, the
Gossamer Club was renovated and reimagined by the
previous owner into one of the few night spots in the
Ossuary. The club draws frequent
crowds of people looking for an
escape from the gangs and misery the
area fosters, and while it lacks the
high-profile acts that venues in the
Crown pull in, the Gossamer serves
as a showcase for talented locals
looking to make a name for
themselves. The décor reflects its
roots as a strip joint, but the new
owners have made that work by
hiring dancers and filling the dance
floor with infectious music and
pulsing lights. The Gossamer
recently became a battleground
involving several of the city’s lesser-
known heroes and villains, but like
most things in the Ossuary it has
managed to survive and continue on
despite the damage it suffered.
Deimos Isle Penitentiary stands on a rock in the frigid, shark-infested
The Husk: Like most businesses in waters of Brigadier Bay. The fortress prison is specially equipped to
the Ossuary, the ship construction hold superpowered inmates.
industry that once was part of the
region’s lifeblood suffered in recent years and one of son Romano is showing signs of having powers,
the largest shipyards closed almost 20 years ago. The something he keeps secret from his narrow-minded
site sat empty for most of that time, a graveyard of father. The boy has recently been keeping late hours,
rusting hulks and abandoned equipment. When the hoping that he might encounter one of the city’s few
52nd Street Hundred started to gain power in the heroes in the hopes of getting some guidance for what
neighborhoods, their members would use the shipyard he’s going through.
as a hangout and place to hide out from the police and
rival gangs. As the gang grew, they took over the site • C.O.P. Alert: New Recruit: The stress of hiding his
and made one of the largest ship hulls into their main burgeoning powers from his father is taking a toll on poor
meeting ground. The place became known as the Husk, Romano, and in a moment of weakness he confesses the truth
and it remains under the control of the Hundred. They of his abilities to a friend named Deacon, who unfortunately
no longer hide their presence there, tagging the has joined up with the Hundred. Deacon’s superiors instruct
shipyard with their sign and building new structures him to try to recruit Romano to their side so they can have
out of the rusting hulls of half-constructed ships. They access to his powers. Romano has uncontrolled telekinetic
also fortified the Husk with stolen military-grade ability, and so far it has only allowed him to move small
weapons and reinforced their home with massive deck objects, but when his emotions get the better of him his Power
plates to protect themselves against their rivals as well as Levels increase substantially. Deacon plans to turn Romano
the few superheroes who call the Ossuary home. against his father and then engineer a confrontation between
the two of them so the boy’s powers manifest in front of Mr.
Regular’s Pizzeria: While the pizza wars of Gemelos Angioli. If things go as planned, Romano will turn away
City lack the violence of the gang wars, they can be just from his father and fall right into the waiting arms of the
as vicious. One of the most well-known, almost Hundred as their newest weapon. The heroes may know of
infamous, pizza places is Regular’s Pizzeria in Siren’s Romano from a previous encounter with Mr. Angioli or may
Wharf. The owner, Will Angioli, takes a staunch anti- stumble upon him as his powers start to manifest, but no
superhero stance, one he’s happy to tell anyone who matter how they become involved, they may be his only hope to
walks in the door about. The walls are lined with avoid going down a dark path.
framed and signed photos of those politicians, public
personalities (including Jack Forte), and athletes who Saint Bridget’s Refuge: Built within an old firehouse,
oppose costumed vigilantes. It’s also considered to be Saint Bridget’s Refuge is one of the few points of light
the most authentic New York-style pizza in the city, so in the darkness that threatens to consume Asphodel
people who can get past Mr. Angioli’s views will find a Park. Founded by a group of nuns nine years ago, it was
good slice there. Unfortunately the owner’s 14-year-old opened as an outreach center for the beleaguered
277
 The city’s gangsters dress flamboyantly to show their affiliations and status. Left to right: Dallo Syndicate
hoods, Jade Tiger Triad agents, and Brass Band goons. Despite their unusual fashion sense, they should
not be underestimated; all of them are ruthless, bloody-handed murderers.

people of the neighborhood as well as offering limited
medical services at its free clinic. While its funding is
limited, the tireless efforts of community activist Harriet
Waldon have helped keep the lights on and even
allowed them to expand to add a youth center and start
support groups for those suffering from addiction or
violence-related losses. While the refuge has always
been considered neutral ground by the Ossuary’s
gangs, Harriet’s public tirades against the Hundred
have put a target on Saint Bridget’s and it is only a
matter of time before the Hundred decide the clinic and
its outspoken director need to be made an example of.
Scylla Shipping: Run by Petrulla Scylla, great-
granddaughter of the founder, Scylla Shipping is
responsible for much of the growth of Gemelos City’s
docks and shipping industry in the past few years. Even
today they hold a lion’s share of the business there, and
Petrulla runs a tight ship and expects her workers to
follow suit. With a fervor hearkening back to her
forefathers, she also abhors illegal smuggling and deals
278
harshly with any employee she discovers working with
the criminal groups of the city. Her workers respect her
immensely, and she compensates them fairly and
rewards hard work and loyalty. The company has come
into conflict with the Hundred and the Dallo mob many
times over the past few months, and there are rumors
that Petrulla has a target on her back, but she stands fast
against their intrusion and refuses any help offered by
the few honest cops in the Ossuary.
• C.O.P. Alert: Under the Sea: Recently several members of
the Hundred were found dead, floating out in the middle of
Brigadier Bay with a piece of metal wrapped around them like
a twist tie. The men all showed signs of being struck by
something of immense power, with multiple contusions and
broken bones. During the autopsy they showed the expected
signs of drowning, but what was unexpected was the presence
of deep-sea organisms in their lungs that should not have been
there. The culprit was Petrulla Scylla who, like her ancestors,
is a member of a lost race of undersea beings known as naiads.
The men attacked her and some of her workers one night, and

in a rage, she lashed out and tried to cover up her actions. The
workers who were present are so loyal they would never turn
her in to the authorities or reveal her secret, and Petrulla
herself is still grappling with what she did. Were Petrulla and
her men the only ones who saw her attack, and what will
happen when the Hundred try to kill her again?
Tartarus Institute: Formerly the Tartarus Home for the
Criminally Insane, after the asylum was purchased by
Iaso Healthcare they felt it needed a friendlier name. In
its former life, Tartarus had a reputation for being a
place where those with mental illness had little hope of
recovery due to poor conditions and an unsympathetic
staff, but the current administrator, Dr. Karl Walsh, has
vowed to make it a center for healing and employed a
highly qualified staff to provide the best care possible.
Unfortunately, the Tartarus Institute also handles the
city’s criminals who are mentally unstable (or claim to
be, to avoid Deimos Isle Penitentiary), and the recent
influx of violent and dangerous patients is beginning to
take its toll on the staff there.
Important NPCs
Aroldis ‘El Canon’ Alberto: Once the star pitcher of the
Cabezons, Aroldis Alberto emigrated from Cuba to live
his dream of playing baseball professionally and earned
the nickname El Canon for his fast ball. When The
Awakening happened, his powers manifested in a very
public way during the playoffs. Gifted with the ability to
infuse kinetic energy into anything he throws, Aroldis
nearly took the head off a batter when his power
manifested unexpectedly during the seventh inning.
Aroldis was removed from the team due to his
powers giving him an unfair advantage, and he found
solace by helping the people of the Little Cuba area of
the Ossuary and establishing an outreach center for
local children. Aroldis also found himself caught in the
middle of the growing gang wars, becoming a reluctant
crimefighter while trying to protect his neighborhood.
He continues to serve as a community leader in the
Ossuary, while secretly aiding other crimefighters in
trying to take back the Ossuary from the gangs.
Lucius ‘Cutright’ Edmunds: Not all of the Hundred
end up on the wrong side of the law, and Lucius
Edmunds is a good example of one who worked his way
back to the right side. While a teenager, Lucius was
angry and unfocused, making it easy for one of the
Hundred’s recruiters to sway him to their cause.
Earning the nickname ‘Cutright’ after disfiguring
another member with a switchblade, he spent three
years in the gang and another two in juvenile detention
after being caught for a robbery. While in juvie, and
10. Welcome to Gemelos City
with the help of a sympathetic corrections officer,
Lucius made the decision to avoid prison or worse, and
once he got out he enrolled in the police academy and
worked his way up to detective in his home
neighborhood of Morning Fields. Lucius is very
knowledgeable of the inner workings of the Hundred
and works to get other kids out of the gang, which often
puts him at odds with his former compatriots.
The Mortician: See Chapter 10.
Harriet Waldon: A social worker and community
activist in one of the worst parts of the Ossuary, Harriet
Waldon helped found Saint Bridget’s Refuge and works
there tirelessly to help the people of Asphodel Park. She
works to help children in crisis and conducts parenting
classes to help rebuild families to create a stronger
community. She also speaks out publicly against the
influences of organized crime and how it is destroying
the Ossuary. This has put a target on her back several
times, and Harriet gained a soft spot for costumed
heroes after several of them saved her after being
kidnapped by the Hundred. To this end she tries to
help crimefighters in the Ossuary if she can, providing
free medical services at the clinic and relaying
information she’s learned from listening to the people
who frequent the clinic.
The Gangs of the
Ossuary
The 52nd Street Hundred: Starting out as an outlaw
biker gang, the 52nd Street Hundred clawed their way
to the top of the food chain in the Ossuary’s
underworld. The gang got its name from the original
100 members, and new recruits had to take down a
current member to gain entry. While the gang now
numbers in the thousands, the 100 toughest members
serve as the leaders, and knocking one of them off is the
only way to advance. The current leader is a man called
Morax, one of the original members of the gang. He
holds court in the Husk (see page 277), aided by his
lieutenants Azza and Wormwood, and he has designs on
further expanding the Hundred outside of Gemelos
City. Currently, the Hundred oversee the city’s drug
trafficking and funnel money in from extortion rackets
and illegal gambling, but the ruthless Morax and his
lieutenants will do nearly anything if the price is right.
The Brass Band: Hailing from a bygone era, the bizarre
Brass Band is quite literally a gang from Gemelos City’s
past. Criminals enhanced by Victorian-era mad science
experiments conducted by the devious Professor Poe,
the original Brass Band were foes of the Coachman
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 Destined
until they vanished shortly before the crimefighter
disappeared. After being foiled by their nemesis time
and time again, Professor Poe decided to use cryogenic
stasis to allow himself and his lackeys to survive to
another time when the Coachman would be long gone.
They awoke shortly after The Awakening, emerging
from their slumber to work as mercenaries for the
highest bidder. The original five members still serve
Professor Poe, but the mad scientist has been recruiting
to expand his gang of steampunk cyborgs.
The Dallo Syndicate: One of the oldest crime families
in Gemelos City, the Dallo Syndicate once ruled the
Ossuary with an iron fist. Through corrupt officials and
union bosses, they controlled the docks and levied taxes
on any shipment coming in or going out of the city.
Throughout most of the 20th century, they had
countless judges and cops on their payroll, allowing
them to operate with impunity. Then the Hundred
came to town and upended all their operations.
The Dallo family operated with a twisted sense of
honor and respect, believing themselves to be
community pillars. The Hundred had no such codes
and rampaged across the Ossuary, sowing anarchy and
recruiting smaller gangs and criminal groups to bolster
their numbers. The current state of the Dallo Syndicate
is a pale shadow of their former glory. The current Boss,
Anthony ‘Tony’ Dallo, is increasingly desperate to
regain the group’s power within the Ossuary, and has
started employing superpowered criminals to do his
dirty work, a decision he may grow to regret.
Jade Tigers Triad: The Jade Tigers have been part of
Gemelos City since the 19th century when their
ancestors came over to America seeking a new life. The
triad is deeply ingrained in the city’s Chinatown
neighborhood, taking a cut from nearly every business
to provide protection and better access to needed goods
and services. Because of their deep roots in the
community, it has been hard for law enforcement to
topple the Jade Tigers as they are often defended by the
very people they extort.
While they have lost influence in the city’s drug trade
since the Hundred took control, the Jade Tigers are
starting to fight back and have entered into an alliance
with an ancient order of elite assassins known as the
Ghost Viper Clan. These deadly killers have been
silently striking out at the enemies of the Jade Tiger, or
sowing discord among the other gangs to whittle down
their forces through violent conflicts. Rumors persist
that the Jade Tiger and the Dallo Syndicate are in talks
to work together against the Hundred, and if true, they
could cause the Ossuary to erupt in an orgy of violence
heretofore unseen.
280
Kadre: Led by former members of various Eastern Bloc
intelligence agencies, Kadre has operated in secret
around the globe for years but only recently set their
sights on Gemelos City. While most criminal groups
traffic in stolen goods or narcotics, Kadre focuses solely
on information. They work primarily in industrial
espionage and computer crimes, but they have also
dabbled in traditional spy work and assassinations.
Kadre has many agents within the city, but the
Organization always operates in complete anonymity,
and agents do not know the true identity of their
fellows. One area Kadre has recently started to
investigate is learning the true identities of costumed
heroes. Kadre agents work to uncover these identities as
a means of blackmail or to sell the information to the
highest bidder among the city’s villains and criminals.
Entertainment
The following items are meant to add a little extra
flavor to campaigns set in Gemelos City or to serve as
details to flesh out the setting and the heroes.
Ancient Extranormals: With the rise of Extranormals
after The Awakening, media outlets looked for ways to
cash in on the growing interest in superhumans. One of
the most enduring and popular shows is Ancient
Extranormals, the brainchild of self-proclaimed
“Extranormal expert” Kirby Kane. The show originally
focused on the link between mythology and the
Godstrand theory, but recently it has shifted focus to
establishing parallels between current heroes and
villains and their ancient counterparts. Kane remains
the host and executive producer, and he is an advocate
for Extranormal heroes and writes many unauthorized
biographies of both them and well-known villains.
• C.O.P. Alert – The Kane Mutiny: If he’s even recognized
by the people of Gemelos City, Kirby Kane is seen as a D-list
cable TV personality who hosts a crackpot show about
superheroes. While that is true, what isn’t common knowledge
is that he is also the erstwhile heir to the massive Kane Media
conglomerate (he occasionally talks of his great-great-great-
uncle “Chuck” who founded the business). Although he has
been forced out of the day-to-day operations by more competent
members of his family, Kirby is ridiculously wealthy and enjoys
being the black sheep of his family. He was fascinated by
Extranormals from the moment of The Awakening, and they
have become his life’s work. His obsession is also seen as an
embarrassment to the Kane family name, so several of his
relatives have hired a trio of elite assassins to quietly take
Kirby out of the equation so he never comes to power within
the family business. Kirby either approaches the heroes asking
for their protection, or they learn about the plan to kill him in
time to intervene. If the heroes are able to save Kirby’s life,

they will gain a lifelong ally and he will be willing to fund
their endeavors in the hopes of creating a superhero team of
his own.
DAZL: One of the aftereffects of The Awakening was a
growing emphasis on the astounding abilities of the
Extranormals, something which caused resentment
in the so-called “normal” population. Looking to
capitalize on this, a small group of developers created a
social media app called DAZL to serve as a forum where
“the ordinary can be extraordinary.” Users upload
media of people showing off their special talents and
stunts (usually done with camera trickery, simple sleight
of hand, or even CGI), and other users vote on them.
The creators state the app is a platform to help
empower everyday people who feel unimportant and
unnoticed in a world of superheroes, but DAZL has also
become a haven for the growing movement against
Extranormals. Several hate groups have infiltrated the
app’s forums to preach their intolerance towards X-Ns
and incite violence against them and anyone who
supports them.
Gemini Global News: The largest cable news channel
on the West Coast and third-largest in the nation, GGN
broadcasts up-to-the-minute news from Gemini City
and around the world 24 hours a day. While the
channel started as an unbiased news outlet, changes in
management and demographics have caused GGN to
develop a political slant over the past decade that has
influenced its programming and underlying message.
One of those biases is the decidedly pro-Extranormal
outlook in their overall message. They prominently
feature stories about heroic deeds by Extranormals,
have several prominent public heroes as talking heads
during discussions, and even started a Hero of the Week
segment on their morning talk show. This puts them at
odds with the anti-Extranormal movement, especially
former broadcaster Jack Forte, who was fired for his on-
air tirades and intolerant rhetoric.
Sports: Gemelos City is home to three major teams:
Bighorns football, Kingfishers basketball, and the
Cabezon baseball team. The Bighorns are well-funded
and very successful, although it’s been a few years since
they made it to the Super Bowl. The Cabezons used to
be at the top of their division and have several
championships under their belt, but the current owners
are not as invested in the team and they have been
struggling to get out of a five-year slump. The
Kingfishers are without a home as repairs are being
made on their arena, and recently one of their star
players was killed during an attack by the villain
Geryon. Currently the team plays at Aletheia
University, and there is talk of a permanent move to
the Crown.
10. Welcome to Gemelos City
The Truth Upload: Brash pundit turned demagogue
Jack Forte was a GGN correspondent before he
managed to insult and offend nearly everyone who
crossed his path, especially people who supported
Extranormals and crimefighters. He managed to find a
home on satellite radio and the internet, and doubled
down on his anti-Extranormal stance. The move paid
off, with his ratings growing alongside increasing
intolerance against people with the Godstrand. This
emboldened Jack, who now sees himself as the lone
voice against what he calls the ‘abnormals.’ He has
made friends with politicians, celebrities, and
organizations that share his views, and for every
sponsor he manages to insult, two more are lined up
waiting to support him. In additional to spreading
unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about the
Godstrand being a hoax, Jack frequently preaches to his
“truth believers” that they need to be ready for an
uprising when the superpowered will try to take
control. His words have already incited violence against
Extranormals, but as long as his ratings climb Jack will
keep spreading his message of hate.
The ViewBox: The ViewBox combines a next-
generation video game console with a diverse streaming
platform to make it an all-in-one entertainment system
for the entire family. The ViewBox uses advanced
virtual reality goggles to augment its cutting-edge
games, and recently adopted a fee-based service that
allows members to use Archimedes Computing servers
to play the latest games. While the console seems
unstoppable, a recent operating system update caused
users’ private data to be released and “bricked”
thousands of consoles. Archimedes is still doing damage
control and working on locating the problem within the
patch, but despite the setback the console’s sales only
took a minor hit and millions of people remain glued to
their ViewBox every day.
Other Cities
The world of Gemelos City is much like our own, but
like many comic book universes it has fictional cities that
are based on familiar locations but have unique features
all their own. While this chapter focuses on a single
city, here are two other locations that can be used as
references within the setting, or fleshed out by your
group into your own locale within the campaign
setting.
New Leone: Sitting on the southeast coast of the Gulf of
Mexico, New Leone started as a small trading post for
French explorers and has expanded to a metropolis
with a rich culture and a diverse mix of people. Unlike
most major cities, New Leone keeps much of its history
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 Destined
intact, which can be seen in the classic architecture, the
landmarks, and the emphasis on traditions dating back
to the time of its founding. One of the best-known
traditions is called the “Saints March,” a yearly
celebration that takes place at the beginning of
November. The entire city becomes a massive party,
with parades, feasts, and a city-wide costume contest.
People come from all around the world to join in the
festivities, and many stay because of the hospitality they
find in New Leone. But for all the celebrations, the city
has its fair share of struggles. Crime is a growing issue,
and The Awakening affects the city just like any other.
Several heroes prowl the streets trying to protect the
people, but strange and dangerous villains are on the
rise and New Leone needs more defenders to keep it
from devolving into chaos.
Santa Libra: Once a Spanish monastery deep in the
Nevada desert, the city of Santa Libra is a far cry from
its humble, pious roots. Little more than a way-point for
282
travelers on their way to California, in the 1920s the
East Coast mafia moved in and set up a small casino to
lure in the gullible and weary. Santa Libra flourished
when the Hoover Dam was being built, and several
more casinos were built to take money from the workers
coming into the area. Vice was Santa Libra’s industry,
and legislators helped to make it one of the few places
where gambling and prostitution were legal. The city
has tried to shake some of its shadier aspects and
become more family-friendly, but the mob still owns the
casinos and they are the true rulers of Santa Libra. The
local capos have even hired villainous Extranormals as
bodyguards and enforcers, allowing them to tighten
their grip on the area and scare off would-be rivals. A
few heroes have tried to break the mob’s hold on the
city, but so far they have been unsuccessful, with most of
them ending up buried deep in the desert. Santa Libra
needs brave individuals willing to stand up to the
criminals and take it back before the mob becomes
unstoppable.
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable
THE RIGHTEOUS AND
THE IRREDEEMABLE
I
n my role as the preeminent authority on the
phenomenon of Extranormal beings and their influence
on our distant past and our immediate present, I’ve
spent countless hours carefully researching and
documenting the most significant figures in our new age of
heroes. While my work has been quite exhaustive on the subject,
I thought I would take some time to discuss some of the
significant heroes here in my hometown of Gemelos City, as well
as some of the most dangerous examples of powered individuals
that threaten our way of life. I’ll do my best to keep things
clinical and impartial, as any good authority on a subject
should do, but I must admit that sometimes I just can’t help but
let my feelings be known. It is truly an exciting time to be alive!
— Kirby Kane, self-proclaimed expert on ancient
Extranormals, from The Extranormals of Gemelos*
In the history of comics, the villains are often as
memorable as the heroes, sometimes even more so, so
taking the time to work out a suitable menace can serve
to enhance your campaign and motivate your players to
bring the foul fiend to justice. This chapter is all about
the antagonists for your campaign, giving you an array
of supervillains and more routine threats to challenge
your players. There are also a few of the heroes of
Gemelos City to serve as allies or rivals, or even
modified to serve as supervillains.
Each entry describes what comic archetype each
hero or villain represents, and gives a specific example
character from the included setting along with a short
introduction by the city’s resident “Extranormal
expert” Kirby Kane. You are welcome to use these
characters as presented, move them into your own
*Kirby Kane was kind enough to allow reprints of certain sections in this chapter from his bestselling book Godstrand City: An Encyclopaedia of
Heroes and Villains in Gemelos.
setting, or rework them to suit your needs to represent
a villain of your own creation. Each one is given a
Villainous Power Level (see page 253) to rate how they
compare to heroes of the same relative level.
In general most of the villains listed here would
represent a challenge to one or two heroes of their
Power Level on their own, or to a group of three or
more if teamed up with another villain or assisted by
supporting characters such as soldiers, robots, and
goons. Also note that the campaign’s Power Level will
greatly affect the threat level of the villains given here.
Dust may be a formidable foe for Street Level heroes,
but ones of Epic or Paragon level will most likely defeat
him easily in combat unless he is supported by other
villains.
Heroes
The Superteam
Diverse in powers and personalities, the Superteam is
drawn together to defend against the greatest evils that
threaten their chosen city, planet, or galaxy. The
individual members are capable on their own and may
still do solo work in their hometown, but as a unit their
seemingly disparate powers complement each other
and make up for any gaps an individual member would
have. Superteams often have internal struggles related
to conflicts in ideologies and personalities, but the
greater good keeps them together when they are
needed the most.
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 Destined

The Fearless Force Hit Locations

1d20 Location AP/HP
I’ve had the honor of meeting the Fearless Force several times
1-3 Right Leg 2/7
over my career, and when you’re in their presence you know you
4-6 Left Leg 2/7
are in the company of greatness. Circumstance brought them
7-9 Abdomen 3/8
together at a time when Gemelos City was still grappling with
10-12 Chest 3/9
the presence of X-Ns, and they quickly became shining examples
13-15 Right Arm 2/6
of what good things powered heroes can do when working
16-18 Left Arm 2/6
together. The team formed during Doctor Vellaro’s first attack
19-20 Head 3/7
on the Crown, taking the fight to his army of combat drones and
protecting the good people of the city. Silver Beacon had
stopped a few petty crimes prior to that, and Azure Knight had Combat Style
just arrived from Portland. Dame Fortune was hiding her
Beacon’s Bulwark: 70% (Baton, Club, Powers, Shield, Staff)
powers but had a change of heart when she saw people in
Unarmed 60%
danger, and Steel Atlas was testing his prototype armor when
he was called into action. Five amazing heroes coming together
to risk their lives for strangers. It’s what true heroism is. Attacks
After years of working to save the city, the Fearless Force is Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed M - 1d3+1d2 (+2
now the first fully sanctioned superhero team in the country. As
with Energy
deputized agents of the Gemelos City Police Department, they
Field)
work alongside law enforcement to deal with all the threats that
Beacon Blast L 14/42/140 1d12
our courageous police force can’t handle on their own. Force
Tower itself is fantastic, and I was lucky enough to be given an
exclusive tour just after its opening. Now the Force has a Skills: Athletics 65%, Brawn 55%, Courtesy 75%,
central location that overlooks the entire city. Deceit 65%, Drive 45%, Endurance 60%, Evade 65%,
Influence 75%, Insight 60%, Knowledge (Law) 65%,
Of course the team has had its share of recent controversies, Perception 70%, Perform (Acting) 75%, Pilot 65%,
such as the replacement of the original Steel Atlas by his young Stealth 55%, System Ops 65%, Willpower 75%
ward and the addition of Scrapyard, one of Doctor Vellaro’s Passions: Be an Inspiration for the People of Gemelos
creations that the team reclaimed. I’ve also heard the talk that City 78%, God and Country Above All Else 67%, Help
the Force is nothing more than a public relations invention by the Helpless 62%
the police, but if you meet them in person or if they’ve saved Core Powers: Blast (Radiant Energy: Detonate),
your life, you know they’re the real deal. Elemental Control (Radiant Energy: Create Element,
Increased Area), Energy Field (Radiant Energy 1d6:
Silver Beacon (Epic, Mutation) Fast Field), Flight (Supersonic), Sensory Overload
(Vision, Hearing: Flashbang)
The leader of the Fearless Force, Silver Beacon was one of the Limits: Linked (Energy Field and Flight),
first public Extranormal heroes here in Gemelos City. Gifted Vulnerability (Hard Radiation)
with the power of flight and the ability to project beams of force Gear: Padded Leather suit, Lt. Combat Armor chest
from his hands, he’s the most powerful member of the team not plate and helmet, communicator
only because of his special powers, but also his keen tactical
mind. Silver Beacon has been a role-model for all the people of Azure Knight (Epic, Technology)
our fair city, and between his unwavering patriotism and his
dedication to the safety and welfare of others, he’s truly the hero Formerly a member of the Portland police, Foster Fernandez
we need in these tough times. was also well versed in engineering and science. On his own
time he developed compact machines capable of generating flat
Silver Beacon planes of blue-hued force, fashioning them into a special suit
that could create a field of energy armor around his body.
STR: 12 Action Points: 3
Wielding a lance capable of generating the same energy, he
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
struck out as the Azure Knight in an effort to put his inventions
SIZ: 13 Power Points: 15
to good use. After moving to Gemelos City, he joined the police
DEX: 13 Movement: 6m, 14 m Flight (140MPH)
force and now works to develop new technologies to help his
INT: 13 Initiative Bonus: +13 (+11 w/ armor)
fellow cops as well as the city’s people.
POW: 15 Healing Rate: 3
CHA: 15 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Padded Leather with Lt. Combat Armor
284
The Fearless Force is Gemelos City’s officially sanctioned superhero team. Left to right, they are: Dame
Fortune, Steel Atlas, Silver Beacon, Scrapyard, and Azure Knight.

Azure Knight Attacks

STR: 12 Action Points: 3 Attack Size/Force Range Damage
CON: 13 Damage Modifier: +1d2 Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2
SIZ: 14 Power Points: 14 Azure Lance M 2/-/- 1d8+1d2
DEX: 12 Movement: 6m
INT: 15 Initiative Bonus: +14
Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 50%, Computers 70%,
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 3
Craft (Metalworking) 65%, Deceit 55%, Drive 65%,
CHA: 13 Luck Points: 3
Electronics 85%, Endurance 65%, Engineering
Armor: Polyweave and Azure Armor
(Electrical) 75%, Evade 60%, Influence 55%, Insight
60%, Mechanisms 70%, Perception 60%, Perform
Hit Locations (Acting) 55%, Pilot 70%, Research 80%, Ride 75%,
Stealth 45%, System Ops 70%, Willpower 65%
1d20 Location AP/HP Passions: Develop New Defensive Technologies 80%,
1-3 Right Leg 1 (7)/7
Put Myself in Harm’s Way Before Others 73%, Do
4-6 Left Leg 1 (7)/7
Better Than Silver Beacon 64%
7-9 Abdomen 1 (7)/8
Core Powers: Close Combat Attack (Azure Lance:
10-12 Chest 1 (7)/9
Quick Draw, Weapon Traits: Defensive, Reach x2),
13-15 Right Arm 1 (7)/6
Combat Expert (Reach: Expert Strike, Limit: Signature
16-18 Left Arm 1 (7)/6 Weapon, Azure Lance), Deflect (Azure Shield: Extra
19-20 Head 1 (7)/7 Parry, Fast Shield, Tower Shield), Inherent Armor
(Armor Up, Limits: Ablative, Activation Time),
Combat Style Summon (Azure Steed: STR: 13, DEX: 10, SIZ: 18,
Move: 5m, 14m Flight, 9 HP, Armor 2; Empowered
Blue Lancer: 75% (Lance, Shield, Spear, Staff, Sword), Unarmed
Creation: Flight, Limits: Limited Form, Limited Power:
55%
unable to attack)
285
 Destined

Limits: External Power Source (Azure Knight suit Skills: Acrobatics 75%, Athletics 85%, Brawn 60%,
and lance) Courtesy 60%, Deceit 65%, Drive 60%, Endurance
Gear: Polyweave suit, communicator, wrist-mounted 75%, Evade 75%, Influence 65%, Insight 70%,
computer Mechanisms 65%, Perception 60%, Perform (Acting)
75%, Pilot 55%, Sleight 65%, Stealth 75%, Survival
Dame Fortune (Epic, Mystical) 55%, Track 65%, Willpower 75%
Passions: Keep Up Your Training 65%, Teach Others
The woman known as Dame Fortune gained her powers as a to Protect Themselves 76%, Rely on Skill More Than
young girl during the original Awakening. She developed Luck 54%
uncanny luck and the ability to alter the fortunes of others, Core Powers: Combat Expert (Dual Weapon,
something that she hid from her family and friends. Not Unarmed: Expert Strike, Ready for Action), Enhanced
wanting to rely on her special gifts, she trained hard to become Reactions (Additional Reactions, Limit: Impulsive),
an Olympic-level gymnast and mastered several martial arts. Lucky (Bad Penny, Environmental Editing, Luck of
When local gang members threatened the people of her the Devil, Limit: Black Cat), Precognition (Danger
neighborhood, she donned a makeshift mask and sprang into Sense)
action to stop them. This got her noticed by Silver Beacon, and Limits: None
he recruited her into the fledgling Fearless Force. She remains Gear: Polyweave suit, Padded Leather chest plate, 2
a dedicated member and works to train the Extranormal Batons, Brass Knuckles, communicator
Response Unit in hand-to-hand fighting.
Steel Atlas (Epic, Technology)
Dame Fortune
Carver Cartwright served in the US Marine Corps as a
STR: 14 Action Points: 3
technology expert, and after leaving he dedicated himself to
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
working on solutions to help keep soldiers safe on the
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 16
battlefield. Alongside his assistant Daniel Donner, he was able
DEX: 16 Movement: 6m
to develop a prototype suit of powered armor outfitted with the
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +22 (+21 w/ armor)
latest defensive and offensive technologies. Unfortunately,
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 3
agents of the terrorist group Animus learned of the prototype
CHA: 13 Luck Points: 6
and sent a squad of soldiers to steal it. Carver donned the
Armor: Polyweave with Padded Leather
armor and managed to fight them off, wearing it again when
Doctor Vellaro attacked the city. Carver then adopted the name
Hit Locations Steel Atlas and was drafted into the Fearless Force. After
several years of service he decided to retire and recently passed
1d20 Location AP/HP on the armor to his protégé Daniel, who carries on his mentor’s
1-3 Right Leg 1/7
legacy.
4-6 Left Leg 1/7
7-9 Abdomen 2/8
• C.O.P. Alert: The Original Atlas: According to the press
10-12 Chest 2/9
release, Carver left the role of Steel Atlas because he wanted
13-15 Right Arm 1/6
to spend more time with his family, but that was a lie. Carver
16-18 Left Arm 1/6
took his role as a hero very seriously, and he was frustrated by
19-20 Head 1/7
the regulations placed on the Fearless Force by the police
department and city council. He was reprimanded several
Combat Style times for going off on his own to stop criminals or heading to
the Ossuary to try to curb gang activity there. When he
Lucky Strike: 75% (Baton, Club, Knife, Shield, Staff)
reached his boiling point, Carver submitted his resignation
and punched Silver Beacon before storming out. Carver now
works in a small tech firm in Morning Fields and sometimes
Attacks uses his inventions to prowl the streets fighting back against
the Hundred. Carver also knows the truth about the Force,
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
and recently he was approached by Jack Forte’s people with an
Unarmed M - 1d4+1d2+3
offer to tell his side of the story. While he has not agreed to the
Baton M 5/10/20 1d4+1d2
deal yet, word got out that he was approached and someone
has sent the assassin known as Obake to silence him. Will the
characters be able to help him in time, and who hired the killer
to slay the original Steel Atlas?

286
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Steel Atlas Scrapyard (Epic, Created)

STR: 16 Action Points: 3

Even with his combat drone army, time and time again Doctor
CON: 16 Damage Modifier: +1d4 (+1d8)
Vellaro’s plans have been foiled by the might of the Fearless
SIZ: 15 Power Points: 13
Force. Looking for a new way to defeat his hated foes, the
DEX: 11 Movement: 6m
sinister robotics expert created a highly advanced android made
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +12 (+9 w/ armor)
out of adaptive ‘living metal’ and sent it out to slay the Force.
POW: 13 Healing Rate: 3
While the android proved a worthy foe, the one thing Doctor
CHA: 13 Luck Points: 3
Vellaro didn’t count on was his creation’s artificial intelligence
Armor: Steel Atlas Armor
developing a conscience. When the collateral damage of their
battle threatened some innocent bystanders, the android
Hit Locations heroically leapt in the path of the debris and was destroyed.
Feeling bad for the artificial being and inspired by its self-
1d20 Location AP/HP sacrifice, Azure Knight and Steel Atlas managed to rebuild the
1-3 Right Leg 6/8 (10)
android and reprogram it to serve as a new member of the
4-6 Left Leg 6/8 (10)
Force. They dubbed their creation ‘Scrapyard,’ and the android
7-9 Abdomen 6/9 (11)
now works to foil the schemes of his former master.
10-12 Chest 7/10 (12)
13-15 Right Arm 5/7 (9)
16-18 Left Arm 5/7 (9)
Scrapyard
19-20 Head 7/8 (10) STR: 18 Action Points: 3
CON: 18 Damage Modifier: +1d6
SIZ: 18 Power Points: 12
Combat Style DEX: 10 Movement: 6m, 12m Leaping
Power Lifter: 70% (Baton, Club, Shield, Staff, Thrown Weapons), INT: 10 Initiative Bonus: +10
Unarmed: 70% POW: 12 Healing Rate: -
CHA: 8 Luck Points: 2
Armor: Armored Chassis
Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed L - 1d3+1d8
Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 6/9
Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 85%, Computers 65%,
4-6 Left Leg 6/9
Craft (Armorer) 70%, Deceit 45%, Drive 65%,
7-9 Abdomen 6/10
Electronics 70%, Endurance 80%, Evade 50%,
10-12 Chest 6/11
Influence 55%, Insight 50%, Mechanisms 65%,
13-15 Right Arm 6/8
Perception 55%, Pilot 55%, Research 65%, System Ops
16-18 Left Arm 6/8
65%, Willpower 65%
19-20 Head 6/9
Passions: Live Up to the Original Steel Atlas 75%,
Keep My Teammates Safe 87%, Mistrusting of Robots
and Androids 54% Combat Style
Core Powers: Durability (Shake It Off, Limited:
Killer Robot: 65% (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Club, Thrown
Limited Power: No Healing Rate bonus), Enhanced
Weapons), Unarmed 60%
Strength (4 tons: Clobber, Ground Pound, Power Lift,
Super Leap, Limit: Bull In a China Shop), Heightened
Sense (Dark Sight, Esoteric Sense: Wi-Fi, Limit: Attacks
Overload), Inherent Armor (Armor Up, Nigh
Invulnerability, Stand Fast, Limit: Bulky), Life Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S -/9m w/ 1d3+1d6
Support (Breathing, High Pressure, Intense Cold,
Stretching
Intense Heat, Vacuum)
Massive Fist L -/9 m w/ 1d10+1d6
Limits: External Power Source (Atlas armor),
Stretching
Vulnerability (Electromagnetic Pulses)
Gear: Integrated communicator, integrated wrist-
mounted computer Skills: Athletics 65%, Brawn 65%, Computers 65%,
Deceit 40%, Endurance 75%, Evade 60%, Influence
40%, Insight 45%, Perception 60%, Stealth 40%,
287
 Destined
Fearless Frauds!
H ello, Truth Believers! It is I, Jack Forte, the
purveyor of the genuine and the honest in a
world full of B.S. If you’re joining me, then you’re
tired of the lies and want to see the world as it
really is, so stay tuned to have your eyes opened.
On tonight’s show we’re tackling a homegrown
deception from our fair Gemelos City. I’m of course
speaking of the Fearless Frauds... I mean Force, the
so-called defenders saddled on us by the powers
that be and the corporate interests that fund them.
We’ve all seen Silver Beacon’s PSAs, watched
Steel Atlas’ ridiculous toothpaste commercials, and
looked at Dame Fortune’s spread in the swimsuit
issue. I’ll admit I’ve looked at that last one a few
times. And if we go by the daily propaganda
pushed on us by GGN and the rest of the preening
patsies of the press, we should be throwing them
parades, kissing their boots, and naming our
children after them. We’ve all seen them fighting
the robot minions of Doctor Vellaro, especially
since the cameras always seem to be right there
when it happens. We buy into the excuse that
they’re always on some “space mission” when real
danger strikes, like when Geryon rampaged
through the city. We’ve been told they’re the “true
heroes” of Gemelos City. Sorry, first responders and
members of the armed forces; guess you come
second these days… But are they really heroes?
The theory of the Fearless Frauds first gained hold
on that online bastion of truth and justice, DAZL.
Someone going by the username “Archnemizez”
posted some very revealing pictures, supposedly
taken of one of Doctor Vellaro’s flying killer drones,
recovered before the police could impound it. We’ll
be reviewing that footage, especially the part that,
according to truth seekers who’ve sent in
comments, shows Silver Beacon being struck by
one of the drone’s lasers and not reacting to the
blast at all. Almost as if the “laser” was fake!
We’ll also go over a deleted profile from IMDB
sent in by another one of our truth seekers of an
actor who looks remarkably like the so-called
villain Doctor Vellaro. Supervillain or out-of-work
failed actor? You be the judge! Get ready for your
nightly dose of truth straight into your earholes,
right after this word from our sponsors.
Transcript from The Truth Upload, originally aired
May 2nd 2020
288
System Ops 65%, Willpower 45%
Passions: Learn to Be More Human 65%, Don’t
Give In to Old Programming 75%, Serve the Fearless
Force 60%
Core Powers: Artificial Being, Close Combat Attack
(Massive Fist: Quick Draw, Ranged Parry),
Heightened Sense (Dark Sight, Enhanced Sight),
Inherent Armor, Stretching (Malleable, Slingshot,
Stretchy Evade, Limit: Weakened Limbs)
Limits: Physical Limitation (No sense of Smell, Taste,
or Touch), Vulnerability (Electricity)
Gear: Integrated communicator
The Fearless Force
(Superhero Team)
The premiere Superteam of Gemelos City, the Fearless
Force has grown from a band of Extranormal heroes to
a large peacekeeping force that operates under the
auspices of the Gemelos City police. They are
headquartered at Force Tower, a skyscraper located in
the heart of the Crown region of the city, ready to leap
into action if danger strikes.
• Spheres of Influence: Control, Law Enforcement,
Peacekeeping
• Structure: The Fearless Force answers to Police
Commissioner Reynolds and the mayor’s office of
Gemelos City, followed by the city council. The five
members of the Force are deputized agents of the law,
but also serve as commanders for Extranormal
Response Units that are housed in Force Tower.
• Requirements: Members of the Extranormal
Response Unit and support staff for the Force are
recruited from the Gemelos City Police Department or
directly out of the police academy. Anyone recruited by
the core members of the Force to join the team must be
vetted by the police commissioner and undergo full
training to become an active member of the police force
before they can serve on active duty.
• Protocols: Members of the Force are bound by all the
same regulations and rules of law enforcement for
Gemelos City, and violation of those regulations will
result in termination from the Force and possible
incarceration, depending on the infraction.
• Benefits: Once accepted into the Force, members of
Recruit or Common rank are granted access to Force
Tower (Facilities: Lower Levels 50%) only to perform their
assigned job duties there. Members of Dedicated rank
may be considered for the Extranormal Response Unit
if they have the right qualifications (Legal: Law
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable
Enforcement powers: 60%). Members of Proven rank or
above with appropriate powers or skill sets may be
considered for membership in the core Fearless Force
team, but they must be approved by all current
members, the police commissioner, and the mayor
before full membership is granted. If accepted, they are
given quarters within Force Tower and have full access
to all facilities there (Access: Fearless Force Facilities: Upper
Levels: 100%).
• Allotments: Members of the Fearless Force have
access to basic sidearms and standard police gear up to
the Restricted Level. If accepted to the Extranormal
Response Unit, members are granted full access to all
Restricted weapons, armor, and other gear available to
the city, and they may use Fearless Falcon craft for
assigned missions. Those of Proven rank or above who
are members of the core team have access to select
Highly Restricted weapons and Super Gear if needed
for their given assignment.
The Truth about
the Fearless Force
The default assumption of the campaign setting is that
the Fearless Force are not the heroes they present to be,
and real heroes like the player characters are needed to
save the city. While all five members have powers and
are quite capable, the city considers their public image
as role models for the populace. Thus it’s too important
to risk the lives of the core members of the team. The
Force is only sent out on missions where there is
minimal risk but sufficient press coverage to ensure
they are presented in the best light. The core members
have accepted this role and the celebrity that comes
along with it. Real dangers are handled by the highly
trained members of the Extranormal Response Unit,
and the core team is conveniently “out of town” or “off
on a mission in space.”
You are welcome to play the campaign setting with
this version of the story in mind, possibly allowing your
players to find clues that reveal the fraudulent nature of
the city’s premier Superteam. If they are complete
frauds, who will try to keep that knowledge secret and
what length will they go to to protect it? Ultimately it is
your setting, so you may prefer to make the Force actual
heroes that have the city’s best interests in mind. You
could also take the core assumption a step further and
have the Fearless Force be a bunch of arrogant
celebrities who believe their own press, and their fame
starts to corrupt them into darker versions who feel
they are above the petty concerns of mere mortals.
Ultimately how you use the Fearless Force is up to you.
The City Defender
In a world of heroes, cities often have a chosen defender
that works tirelessly to protect the people of their home
turf. The City Defender may have the support of their
neighbors, or they may not be accepted, but they do
what they do because it is right.
The City Defender often has a wide array of powers,
allowing them many options when battling different
threats. While they may seem nearly unstoppable when
compared to run-of-the-mill criminals, the villains they
face are often of the same Power Level or greater. City
Defenders also have things that make them vulnerable
no matter what their Power Level, such as weaknesses,
loved ones, or a code that their enemies can exploit to
get away.
Luminous (Paragon, Experimentation)
Making his first appearance within the last two years,
Luminous is a new but welcome addition to the growing
pantheon of heroes here in Gemelos City. He made his debut by
saving a train full of people when a bomb detonated on the
Golden Bough rail line, using his astounding “solid
holograms” to create a temporary track to get them to safety.
Since that time Luminous has proven time and time again that
he is a noble soul willing to use his gifts for good.
Luminous has the ability to create and control light,
generating searing laser beams, visual illusions, and the
aforementioned “solid holograms” that can also be used as
shields. How he gained these powers is unknown, but I theorize
he is one of the Awakened that only recently made their abilities
public. Famously shy, he avoids public appearances and never
speaks to the press, but that won’t stop me from trying to get an
exclusive with him.
In the last year, sightings of Luminous have been few and
far between. While he still appears when something threatens
the city, he is quick to disappear when the danger has passed.
No one’s sure why the hero is increasingly isolative, even
declining membership in the Fearless Force when it was offered
to him by Silver Beacon himself.
The rumor mill links Luminous to Jonas Harper of Harper
Labs, and some people speculate that Harper is in fact the hero.
His limited appearances reinforce this rumor, since Harper
himself has been secreting himself away after his very public
divorce from his wife, although this is often debunked by the
fact that Harper has been seen alongside Luminous. I would
like to remind those people that Luminous can generate
holograms, so personally I side with the people who believe
Harper is the man behind the light mask.
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 Destined

• C.O.P. Alert: Fading Light: Most people suspect that
Jonas Harper is Luminous, and that his decision to take up
the mantle of hero led to his divorce from his wife Jennah and
her subsequent avoidance of the public eye. The truth is that
Jennah is actually Luminous, gaining spectacular light
powers after an accident at Harper Labs. Unfortunately the
same accident that gave her powers is also killing her, causing
her solid form to slowly fade as her body converts to living but
unstable light. The divorce was just a ruse to hide her secret,
and she and Jonas are not only still together, but her husband
is desperate to find a way to save his love. He’s been isolating
himself in his private lab to research a cure for her condition.
Jennah, the good soul that she is, still sneaks out when she can
to help out as Luminous, but each time she does she comes back
a little weaker. Perhaps the characters need to save her when
she pushes her powers too far while out on patrol, or Jonas
contacts them to try to help him find a way to save her. Either
way, helping Jonas and Jennah is a good way for the
characters to gain some powerful allies.
Influence 75%, Insight 70%, Perception 65%, Perform
(Acting, Dance) 80%, Research 65%, Willpower 75%
Passions: Defend the Weak 75%, Keep Jonas Safe
75%, Protect My True Identity 65%
Core Powers: Blast (Laser Blast: Armor Piercing),
Creation (Solid Holograms: Distant Creations, Large
Creations, Limit: Obvious Creations), Elemental
Control (Light: Create Element, Decreased Area,
Elemental Movement, Increased Area, Limits:
Elemental Vulnerability: Darkness, Linked: Creation),
Flight (Afterburners, Supersonic), Invisibility (Sight:
Limit: Chameleon), Phantasm (Sight: Greater
Phantasm), Sensory Overload (Sight: Flashbang,
Increased Range, Limit: Quick Flash)
Limits: Fatal Flaw (Terminally ill, changing to living
light), Omnipower (Creation, Invisibility, Phantasm)
Gear: Polyweave suit with Padded Leather chest piece,
wrist-mounted computer/communicator

Luminous The Grim Vigilante

STR: 12 Action Points: 3
In the darkest parts of the city, where crime seems
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: -
unstoppable, the Grim Vigilante emerges from the
SIZ: 13 Power Points: 20
shadows to try to beat back the tide before it completely
DEX: 16 Movement: 6m, 18m Flight
overwhelms the beleaguered people who live there.
INT: 17 Initiative Bonus: +17 (+16 w/ armor) Often lacking extensive powers, if they have any at all,
POW: 18 Healing Rate: 3 the Grim Vigilante learns to be resourceful and fearless
CHA: 17 Luck Points: 3 and often survives on skill, gear, and sheer willpower.
Armor: Polyweave with Padded Leather Grim Vigilantes usually battle “normal” criminals such
as gangs and mobsters, but sometimes they also have to
Hit Locations deal with a powered or colorful villain. While they
usually work alone, Grim Vigilantes sometimes take on
1d20 Location AP/HP
protégés and may even join teams to help deal with a
1-3 Right Leg 2/8
greater evil.
4-6 Left Leg 2/8
7-9 Abdomen 1/9
The Mortician (Epic, Training)
10-12 Chest 2/10
13-15 Right Arm 1/7
Criminals in the Ossuary talk about a patch of shadow with a
16-18 Left Arm 1/7
leering skull face haunting the back alleys and city streets. They
19-20 Head 1/8
say this phantom comes at them from the darkness with swift
and silent fury, retreating once they are beaten and subdued.
Combat Style The more superstitious of their ilk claim it is some vengeful
spirit, perhaps of the legendary Coachman himself, come back
Blinded By the Light: 70% (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Powers,
to dispense justice and pull their souls down to hell. The more
Thrown Weapons), Unarmed 60%
rational ones I’ve interviewed say it’s no ghost, but a man in
black who fights like a demon with a skull-headed cane. Demon
Attacks or defender, this mysterious vigilante has done something few
have in the Ossuary: he’s made the criminals afraid. I’ve heard
Attack Size/Force Range Damage stories of drug dealers ignoring customers, robberies being
Unarmed S - 1d3
called off, and racketeers waiving their monthly visits for
Laser Blast L 14/42/140 2d8
protection money all out of fear of crossing paths with the man
the press has dubbed “The Mortician” for his grim
Skills: Acrobatics 70%, Athletics 60%, Brawn 50%, countenance. While I’ve encountered tales of paranormal
Courtesy 75%, Culture (High Society) 80%, Deceit beings and mystical powers in my years of research, I don’t
70%, Drive 45%, Endurance 60%, Evade 80%, believe that this Mortician is some demon from hell or spirit of
290
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

vengeance. I think he is actually a normal person pushed too Combat Style

far by the corruption of the Ossuary, taking up the mantle of the
Coachman’s legacy to strike fear into the gangs. He may possess Reaper’s Strike: 85% (Axe, Baton, Knife, Staff, Thrown Weapons)

powers of some kind, perhaps the ability to shroud himself in

darkness or travel through shadows, but he may have no powers
at all, only using his advanced combat training to fight back. Attacks
My personal, expert opinion is that The Mortician is former
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Special Forces, looking for a new war to fight, or one of the few
Unarmed M - 1d4+1d2+3
honest cops in the Ossuary, trying something different since the
Fighting cane M - 1d6+1d2
system there is awash in corruption.
Throwing blade S 5/10/20 1d4+1d2

• C.O.P. Alert: Legacy of Cane: The few people who’ve seen

The Mortician in action talk about the silver skull-topped
cane he fights with. A similar cane was seen in the hands of
the Coachman over a century ago, and this has caused some
to speculate that The Mortician is either emulating the
Victorian hero or is someone associated with him. The truth
traces back to who The Mortician really is. Elijah Evans was
born in Asphodel Park and learned quickly the only way to
survive was to never back down. He trained in multiple
fighting styles to keep himself safe from the gangs, and as an
adult he opened up a butcher shop in his old neighborhood.
One day while renovating his store, he uncovered some old
bones behind the wall. Clutched in the skeleton’s hands was
the original cane of the Coachman. Seeing the gangs growing
bolder and stronger, he vowed to fight back for his
neighborhood and took up the mantle of The Mortician.
Unfortunately, the essence of the supernatural foe that the
Coachman died fighting is still trapped in the cane. The
Mortician is becoming more aggressive and has nearly crossed
the line and taken a life. Can the characters learn the true
cause of his growing violence, and will they be able to free The
Mortician from the influence of the dangerous entity that lives
within the cane?
The Mortician
STR: 14 Action Points: 3
CON: 15 Damage Modifier: +1d2
SIZ: 14 Power Points: 12
DEX: 15 Movement: 6m
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +21 (+19 w/ armor) 10–12
POW: 12 Healing Rate: 3
CHA: 11 Luck Points: 2
Armor: Padded Leather with Lt. Combat Armor
Hit Locations
Skills: Acrobatics 75%, Athletics 70%, Brawn 65%,
Culture (Underworld) 70%, Deceit 65%, Drive 70%,
Endurance 80%, Evade 75%, Influence 65%, Insight
60%, Intimidation 75%, Mechanisms 70%, Perception
65%, Sleight 65%, Stealth 85%, Streetwise 65%, Track
70%, Willpower 80%
Passions: Battle My Inner Demons 60%, Fight to
Protect the Ossuary 75%, Live Up to the Legacy of the
Coachman 65%
Core Powers: Combat Expert (Duelist, Grappling,
Throwing, Unarmed: Expert Strike, Precise Strike,
Ready for Action), Enhanced Reactions (Additional
Reactions, Parkour)
Limits: None
Gear: Padded Leather suit with Lt. Combat Armor
chest plate, Brass Knuckles, Fighting Cane, 10
Throwing Blades, Grapple Gun, Smartphone
Villains
The Overlord
Capable and intelligent, the Overlord believes in his
innate (or learned) superiority, and that everyone
should submit to his will. The Overlord sometimes has
powers, but more often uses his evil genius to craft or
steal advanced technology to put himself on par with
superpowered heroes. In many cases Overlords have
wealth or political clout that allows them to avoid
consequences for their actions or bribe their way out of
prosecution. They are often served by legions of
slavishly loyal goons and tormented servants who help
to reinforce the Overlord’s overinflated view of himself.

1d20 Location AP/HP Baron Malycer (Archvillain, Technology)

1-3 Right Leg 2/7
4-6 Left Leg 2/7
Hailing from the tiny European country formerly known as
7-9 Abdomen 3/8
Zlobastan, Baron Ular Malycer was the last of an ancient royal
10-12 Chest 3/9
bloodline that stretched back to the country’s roots centuries ago.
13-15 Right Arm 2/6
Zlobastan won its independence from the Soviet Union in the
16-18 Left Arm 2/6
late 1980s, becoming a democracy, and at that time the
19-20 Head 2/7
Malycer family was seen as little more than antiquated
291
 deadly energy weaponry, he ended up vaporizing criminals
(and a few innocents) in his attempts to be a hero. The city
could not press charges due to his diplomatic immunity and
help from his high-priced lawyers, and over the years he has
continued his quest to prove himself superior to the actual
heroes that call Gemelos City home.

• C.O.P. Alert: Power Surge: Baron Malycer is always

looking for new ways to enhance his tech, and when he learns
of an experimental high-yield energy source being developed
at Harper Labs, he sends some of his best men there to obtain
it for him. The thieves are part of the Baron’s elite security
team and are highly trained and not above silencing anyone
in their way to get what their master wants. The heroes may
catch wind of this plot, or if they have an association with
Jonas Harper they may be asked to help with the project or the
security detail. If the Baron is able to obtain this potent power
source, he integrates it into his armor and immediately it
enhances the suit’s already formidable abilities. Flush with
power, the Baron decides to test his newfound boost in power
on any heroes that he can find, with the goal of eliminating
all the competition.

Baron Malycer
STR: 14 Action Points: 3
CON: 17 Damage Modifier: +1d2 (+1d8)
SIZ: 14 Power Points: 25
DEX: 13 Movement: 6m, 17m Flight (170MPH)
INT: 17 Initiative Bonus: +15 (+11 w/ armor)
Archvillain Baron Malycer has made an unholy
POW: 20 Healing Rate: 3
alliance with the molten menace Char. The
CHA: 14 Luck Points: 4
heroes must act quickly to stop the sinister duo’s
Armor: Malyce Armor
diabolical plans.

figureheads, given respect only out of tradition. That all Hit Locations
changed when Baron Malycer came of age. After his parents
died (under mysterious circumstances), he swept in with an 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 5/9 (13)
army of loyalists and declared himself President for Life, taking
4-6 Left Leg 5/9 (13)
over the country and renaming it Malyce. He disbanded the
7-9 Abdomen 7/10 (14)
parliament, raised a massive army, and began setting his sights
10-12 Chest 8/11 (15)
on the surrounding countries. Baron Malycer clashed with the
13-15 Right Arm 5/8 (12)
United Nations repeatedly for his unwarranted aggression and
16-18 Left Arm 5/8 (12)
countless human rights violations. Eventually he was
19-20 Head 7/9 (13)
overthrown in a bloody coup, and he fled to Gemelos City,
obtaining asylum as a political refugee thanks to his deep
pockets. The Baron used his wealth and scientific acumen to set Combat Style
himself up as a powerful and influential figure in the city and
Malyce Unleashed: 75% (Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Powers, Sword,
established a private security firm full of his loyalists. Even as
Thrown Weapons), Unarmed 70%
his influence grew, he still seethed about his lost country and he
fumed that the people of Gemelos City saw him as nothing more
than the displaced tyrant that he was. After the first of the Attacks
Extranormals emerged, he set out to establish himself as
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
superior to these enhanced beings and embarked on an ill-
Unarmed L - 1d4+1d8+1
advised career of “heroism.” Using advanced devices that
Plasma Blast L 17/51/170 2d8
granted him immense strength, nearly impenetrable armor, and
292
 Skills: Athletics 70%, Brawn 65%, Computers 65%, of a local steel mill. The police arrived and Kurt tripped while
Craft (Armorer) 80%, Culture (High Society, trying to escape and was left hanging over boiling metal while
Underworld) 65%, Deceit 70%, Drive 65%, Electronics his friends left him behind. Kurt lost his grip and fell into the
80%, Endurance 75%, Engineering (Weapon Systems) molten steel, and it was at that moment that his Godstrand
80%, Evade 70%, Influence 75%, Insight 65%, awoke. Kurt became a living steel furnace, with rock-hard skin
Intimidation 75%, Knowledge (Tactics) 70%, capable of emitting intense heat that could burn everything
Language (Zlobanian) 95%, Perception 80%, Pilot around him. Kurt renamed himself Char and immediately went
70%, Research 70%, Stealth 55%, System Ops 70%, back to the same people who left him for dead… and started
Willpower 85% working for them again. With the Dallo family on the decline,
Passions: I Am the Hero the City Needs 65%, Prove Char works as muscle for hire for whoever can pay his price.
Superiority to Extranormals 70%, Regain the Throne He is often employed by other villains, although they often show
of Zlobastan 75% him the same lack of respect as his former mob buddies. Despite
Core Powers: Blast (Armor Piercing, Detonate, Salvo), his naïveté, Char is a dangerous criminal who has no problem
Combat Expert (Improvised, Unarmed), Durability reducing anything that stands in his way into smoldering ash.
(Limit: Limited: no bonus to Healing Rate), Enhanced
Strength (Clobber), Flight (Supersonic), Heightened • C.O.P. Alert: Meet the New Boss: As presented here, Char
Sense (Enhanced Sight, Night Vision, Limit: is formidable in terms of his powers and physical ability, but
Overload), Inherent Armor (Armor Up, Nigh he is still a glorified thug that relies on others to do the
Invulnerability, Limit: Bulky), Life Support thinking. But what if Kurt were not as dumb as he seems?
(Breathing, Intense Cold, Intense Heat, Vacuum), Maybe he is far cleverer than he lets on, and before his
Resistance (Ballistic, Bludgeoning, Slashing: accident he was biding his time to make a bid for power and
Immunity) assume more control within the criminal underworld. Now
Limits: External Power Source (Malyce Armor) Gear: that he has powers, Char no longer has to hide behind the
Integrated communicator, Integrated computer façade of being the muscle and has decided to reveal his
devious intelligence and keen tactical mind. This would make
The Brute Char a formidable threat since he also would have the
intellect to back up his rise to power. If you are using this
Some villains come up with intricate plots and multi- option, make the following changes to the statistics presented
layered schemes, while others just like to hit stuff. The below: INT: 15, CHA: 14, Initiative Bonus: +13, Culture
Brute is not a complicated villain. Their powers often (Underworld) 75%, Deceit 65%, Influence 70%, Insight
focus on strength and durability, so they hit hard and 65%, Knowledge (Tactics) 65%, Perform (Acting) 60%. As
are hard to put down. Their crimes are not complicated a mob boss, Char would have access to a great deal of power
either, utilizing their might to break people and places, and unlike the current heads of the Dallo family, he would
or simple smash-and-grab robberies of whatever have no problem doing some of his own dirty work.
catches their attention. While Brutes are usually not the
smartest villains, they make up for it with savage fury or Char
thick-headed willfulness. In many cases the Brute
STR: 20 Action Points: 3
serves as muscle for smarter, more devious villains who
CON: 19 Damage Modifier: +1d12
focus their destructive urges on their own purposes, or
SIZ: 21 Power Points: 16
they use the Brute as cannon fodder to damage or delay
DEX: 11 Movement: 6m
heroes trying to stop them.
INT: 10 Initiative Bonus: +11
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 5
Char (Villain, Mutation)
CHA: 9 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Metallic Skin
The story of Kurt “Char” Burns is a tragic one, but all too
common for villains. Kurt was always the biggest kid on the
block in his neighborhood in Morning Fields, but he was a Hit Locations
follower and other kids used his size to their advantage. While
he wasn’t particularly malicious, he acted as an enforcer for the 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 8/12
real bullies, so it was no surprise that as an adult he found
4-6 Left Leg 8/12
himself working for the Dallo mob as a leg breaker and thug.
7-9 Abdomen 8/13
He was good at what he did, but he was expendable and ended
10-12 Chest 8/14
up doing a few stints in prison for his employer. Afterwards he
13-15 Right Arm 8/11
always ended up back with the mob, loyal to a fault and
16-18 Left Arm 8/11
oblivious to their complete lack of concern for his welfare. This
19-20 Head 8/12
was well illustrated when he was asked to rough up the owner
293
 The terrorist Organization Animus is a cabal of supervillains whose bodies have been mutated into
bestial forms. Seen here are three of Animus’ top operatives: Manticore, Kraken, and Gryphon.

Attacks Energy Field (Fire Aura 1d4: Energy Flare, Fast Field),
Enhanced Strength (Limit: Focused Strength),
Attack Size/Force Range Damage Inherent Armor (Nigh Invulnerability, Stand Fast),
Unarmed L - 1d4+1d12+1 (+2 Resistance (Fire: Absorption, Environmental
with fire aura)
Adaptation: Heat, Immunity, Limit: Living Bomb)
Fire Blast M 19/-/- 1d10 Limits: Omnipower (Blast & Elemental Field),
Vulnerability (Cold)
Combat Style
The Mastermind
Fiery Fury: 65% (Club, Knife, Pistol, Powers, Shotgun, Thrown
Weapons), Unarmed 85%
Often the head of a larger criminal Organization, the
Mastermind is a puppeteer who pulls countless strings
Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 80%, Culture to manipulate the world to their liking. They command
(Underworld) 55%, Deceit 45%, Drive 55%, these Organizations with an iron fist, and often employ
Endurance 85%, Evade 50%, Influence 50%, Insight other villains to work as lieutenants or as mercenaries
45%, Intimidation 70%, Perception 50%, Streetwise even though it can sometimes cause a clash of egos.
55%, Willpower 45% Masterminds are clever villains, and like a master chess
Passions: Burn Anything That Gets in My Way 70%, player they usually think several moves ahead. While
Prove How Tough I Am 65%, Serve Whoever Is In the Mastermind is more likely to allow their proxies to
Charge 75% do the dirty work for them, they are often quite
Core Powers: Blast (Fire Blast: Armor Piercing, dangerous in their own right and many are not afraid
Ongoing Damage, Limit: Short Range), Combat to get their hands dirty if need be as long as it doesn’t
Expert (Improvised, Unarmed, Limit: Weapon Wear), put them, or their schemes, at risk.
Durability (Shake It Off, Tireless, Limit: Crash),
294
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Chimaera Prime (Archvillain, Experimentation) Chimaera Prime

STR: 16 Action Points: 3
In intelligence circles, the name Animus makes even the
CON: 18 Damage Modifier: +1d8
most hardened agents quake in their boots. Originally believed
SIZ: 17 Power Points: 25
to be nothing more than a ghost story, we now know the secret
DEX: 18 Movement: 10 m
terrorist Organization to be a harsh reality. When I spoke to my
INT: 17 Initiative Bonus: +25 (+23 w/ armor)
contact in Omega, she told me even they don’t know where
POW: 20 Healing Rate: 3
Animus (the criminal Organization that Chimaera
CHA: 19 Luck Points: 4
leads), came from. Some believe they are a relatively new power
Armor: Padded Leather with Lt. Combat Armor
in the world, while others claim they date back to ancient
animist cults and have grown in power for years by keeping to
the shadows. Only Animus knows the truth, and the aggressive Hit Locations
bioterrorists are not very forthcoming about their origins. We do
1d20 Location AP/HP
know that Animus’ goals are linked to opposing the
1-3 Right Leg 2/11
extermination of lifeforms on the planet. While this seems like
4-6 Left Leg 2/11
a noble cause, they try to accomplish their aims through violence
7-9 Abdomen 3/12
and unlawful biotech experiments. Most of the rank- and-file
10-12 Chest 3/13
of Animus have been genetically altered with animal DNA,
13-15 Right Arm 2/10
granting them traits of the beast they share genetic material
16-18 Left Arm 2/10
with. This makes their soldiers stronger, tougher, and capable of
19-20 Head 2/11
surviving in extreme environments. I also suspect the enigmatic
leader, also known as Chimaera or Chimaera Prime, has also
been modified in some way like his fanatical followers. Animus Combat Style
is ruthless, well-funded, and single-minded in their goals.
Animus Commander: 85% (Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Sword,
Good thing for us we have some heroes to oppose their plans.
Thrown Weapons, Whip), Unarmed 85%

• C.O.P. Alert: Animal Farm: The origins of Chimaera

Prime are unknown to even his closest lieutenants, but most Attacks
assume he is either the product of scientific testing or an
Extranormal mutation. The truth is he was the result of a Attack Size/Force Range Damage
secret government experiment that took place in a secret Unarmed M - 1d4+1d8+1

animal testing lab. Researchers were attempting to create Tooth & Claw L - 1d10+1d8

human/animal hybrids by splicing genes and producing Blaster Pistol L 10/30/120 1d8+1

clones. Unfortunately some of the human DNA they used

contained the Godstrand, and one of the clones gained
tremendous power during The Awakening. Using his superior
abilities, he was able to kill all the guards and imprison the
scientists who birthed him, and he adopted the same moniker
his creators used to refer to him. He spent years learning all
he could about the science that created him and the world
around him, and he began to gather a cult of followers who
saw him as the next step in evolution. The being now known
as Chimaera Prime decided to declare war on humanity for
their cruelty against the animal world and turned his loyal
followers into a vast army. Chimaera Prime still controls the
secret lab that gave birth to him, and he had his forces create
a top-secret level under the main facility where his forcibly
mutated former creators slave away developing new and
terrible bioweapons for him. If the heroes learn of this lab, they
can deal a critical blow to Animus and learn some of
Chimaera Prime's most hidden secrets.
Skills: Acrobatics 85%, Athletics 75%, Brawn 65%,
Deceit 75%, Drive 55%, Endurance 75%, Evade 90%,
Influence 85%, Insight 105%, Intimidation 80%,
Knowledge (Tactics) 90%, Medicine 75%, Perception
90%, Research 85%, Science (Biology) 85%, Science
(Genetics) 110%, Stealth 75%, Survival 85%, System
Ops 65%, Track 75%, Willpower 85%
Passions: Preserve the Natural World at Any Cost:
85%, Unleash the Beast Within 75%, Wrest Power
From Those Who Don’t Deserve It 80%
Core Powers: Close Combat Attack (Claws and Teeth:
Quick Draw Limits: Poor Defense), Combat Expert
(Duelist, Pistol, Unarmed: Ready For Action),
Empathy (Emotion Control, Global Empathy, Limit:
Primal Empath), Enhanced Body, Enhanced Reactions
(Additional Reactions, Nimble, Parkour, Superior
Balance), Heightened Sense (Hearing, Sight, Smell,
Night Sight, Tracking Sense), Precognition (Danger
Sense), Regeneration (Instant Healing, Reptilian
Regeneration)
Limits: None
Gear: Padded Leather suit w/ Lt. Combat Armor chest
plate, Blaster Pistol, wrist-mounted computer/
communicator
Gryphon (Villain, Technology)
295
 Destined

Head of the Ladon aerial division of Animus, the winged
Gryphon leads her flying brigade of Erinyes in battle for
Animus. Although she is rarely seen, what little footage there is
of her shows her wearing some kind of powered armor, bristling
with many deadly weapons and razor-sharp claws. I suspect she
also has genetic augmentations that allow her to operate at high
altitudes, but this has not been confirmed by my contacts.
(Vision, Night Sight, Telescopic Sense), Inherent
Armor, Life Support (Breathing, High Pressure, Low
Pressure)
Limits: External Power Source (Gryphon Armor, all
powers except Heightened Sense: Vision and Life
Support: High Pressure, Low Pressure)
Gear: Integrated communicator/computer

Skills: Acrobatics 65%, Athletics 65%, Brawn 50%, Kraken (Villain, Technology)

Gryphon Commander of the Cetus sea forces, Kraken has made several
appearances in Brigadier Bay over the past few months,
STR: 13 Action Points: 3
leading me to believe he has some plan in mind for Gemelos
CON: 15 Damage Modifier: +1d2
City. He wears a “cloak” of mechanical tentacles that are filled
SIZ: 13 Power Points: 15
with armaments and can survive at great depths. His soldiers,
DEX: 16 Movement: 6m, 15m Flight (150MPH)
the Octomen, have cephalopod-themed uniforms, are well-
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +14
trained, and can work underwater too.
POW: 13 Healing Rate: 3
CHA: 13 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Gryphon armor
Kraken
STR: 15 Action Points: 3
Hit Locations CON: 15 Damage Modifier: +1d4
1d20 Location AP/HP SIZ: 16 Power Points: 17
1-3 Right Leg 6/7 DEX: 14 Movement: 6m, 14m Swimming
4-6 Left Leg 6/7 INT: 13 Initiative Bonus: +14
7-9 Abdomen 7/8 POW: 15 Healing Rate: 3
10 Chest 8/9 CHA: 12 Luck Points: 3
11-12 Right Wing 4/6 Armor: Kraken Armor
13-14 Left Wing 4/6
15-16 Right Arm 4/6
17-18 Left Arm 4/6
Hit Locations
19-20 Head 7/7 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 6/8
4-6 Left Leg 6/8
Combat Style 7-9 Abdomen 6/9
Winged Fury 75% (Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Knife, Powers, Spear), 10-11 Chest 6/10
Unarmed 65% 12 Mechanical Tentacles 6/8
13-15 Right Arm 6/7
16-18 Left Arm 6/7
Attacks 19-20 Head 6/8
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2
Talons M - 1d8+1d2 Combat Style
Pulse Blaster L 15/45/150 1d12 Death’s Embrace: 75% (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Powers,
Whip), Unarmed 70%

Deceit 65%, Drive 45%, Endurance 70%, Evade 65%,

Influence 60%, Insight 65%, Intimidation 65%, Attacks
Knowledge (Tactics) 65%, Navigation 70%, Perception
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
80%, Pilot 85%, Stealth 60%, System Ops 70%,
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d4
Willpower 65%
Tentacle Smash M 2m 1d8+1d4
Passions: I Prefer the Air to the Ground 70%, Loyalty
Blaster Pistol L 10/30/120 1d8+1
to Animus 65%, Prove my Division is the Best 75%
Acidic Ink L 15/-/- 1d12
Core Powers: Blast (Pulse Blaster:, Salvo), Close
Combat Attack (Talons: Quick Draw, Ranged Parry),
Flight (Dive Bomb, Supersonic), Heightened Sense
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 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Skills: Athletics 70%, Boating 85%,Brawn 65%, Deceit Combat Style

60%, Demolitions 70%, Endurance 75%, Evade 70%,
Influence 60%, Insight 65%, Intimidation 65%,
Knowledge (Tactics) 70%, Navigation 65%, Perception
60%, Stealth 55%, Survival 65%, System Ops 70%,
Willpower 65%
Passions: Loyalty to Animus 60%, Prove My Division
is the Best 70%, Stay Off the Front Lines if Possible
75%
Core Powers: Blast (Acidic Ink: Armor Piercing,
Ongoing Damage, Limit: Short Range), Close Combat
Attack (Tentacle Smash: Ranged Parry, Weapon Traits:
Entangle, Reach), Heightened Sense (Dark Sight),
Inherent Armor, Life Support (High Pressure), Super
Swimming (Surface Launch, Limit: Aquatic)
Limits: External Power Source (Kraken Armor, all
powers except Heightened Sense: Dark Vision and
Life Support)
Gear: Integrated communicator/computer
Manticore (Villain, Technology)
In charge of the Thoon ground forces, Manticore is a massive
brute encased in near-impenetrable armor. He leads his troops
from the front lines, has the strength to toss a car like a baseball,
and is armed with deadly energy weapons mounted in a
cybernetic tail. From all accounts he’s a merciless opponent, and
revels in the chaos of battle. His troops aren’t much better, and
they seem to have been infused with the DNA of the most vicious
animals to further enhance their combat prowess.
Manticore
STR: 19 Action Points: 3
CON: 20 Damage Modifier: +1d6 (+1d12)
SIZ: 20 Power Points: 16
DEX: 10 Movement: 7m
INT: 10 Initiative Bonus: +10 (+7 w/ armor)
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 5
CHA: 10 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Manticore Armor
Lion’s Roar 70% (Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Club, Powers, Thrown
Weapons), Unarmed 80%
Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed M (L) - 1d4+1d6+1
(1d4+1d12+1)
Tail Blaster L 20/60/200 1d10
50%, Influence 55%, Insight 45%, Intimidation 80%,
Knowledge (Tactics) 55%, Perception 50%, Survival
70%, Track 65%, Willpower 65%
Passions: I’m the Toughest 75%, Loyalty to Animus
80%, Prove My Division is the Best 65%
Core Powers: Blast (Tail Blaster: Detonate, Limit:
Inaccurate), Combat Expert (Unarmed), Durability
(Shake It Off, Tireless), Enhanced Strength (Clobber,
Ground Pound, Super Leap, Limit: Bull in a China
Shop), Inherent Armor (Armor Up, Nigh
Invulnerability, Stand Fast)
Limits: External Power Source (Manticore Armor, all
powers except for Durability)
Gear: Integrated communicator/computer
Animus (Villain Organization)
Animus was founded with the principle that humanity
needs to be made aware of the ecological damage it is
doing to Earth, specifically the animal life living
thereon. Believing that grassroots activism and
education have failed, the Organization opts to take a
more militaristic stance to force the world into a new
paradigm where they capitulate to the will of Animus
and their vision for the future of planet Earth.
• Spheres of Influence: Bioterrorism, Control, Military

• Structure: The Organization is led by the man known

Hit Locations as Chimaera Prime, and he is the sole power in
determining their strategies and designating targets.
1d20 Location AP/HP
He is served by three field commanders who direct his
1-3 Cybernetic Tail 7/12
legions of loyal followers (see above), although the
4-5 Right Leg 7/12
commanders still ultimately follow their leader’s orders.
6-7 Left Leg 7/12
There are subcommanders who direct individual
8-10 Abdomen 9/13
divisions and squads of the Organization, but they must
11-14 Chest 10/14
still follow their superior’s directives to the letter.
15-16 Right Arm 7/11
17-18 Left Arm 7/11
• Requirements: The members of Animus are pulled
19-20 Head 7/12
from extremist groups from all around the globe,
specifically bio- and eco-terrorists that have similar views
Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 85%, Deceit 50%, about preserving the environment through aggressive
Demolitions 65%, Drive 70%, Endurance 80%, Evade action. All potential members are put through a
297
 Destined

Using villainous Organizations

O rganizations like Animus can seem like an insurmountable foe with their seemingly limitless forces and
deadly leaders. Villainous Organizations like this are a staple of comics, with groups like Marvel’s Hydra
and DC’s H.I.V.E. acting as thorns in the sides of heroes for decades. If you decide to use Animus, or an
Organization like it, in your campaign, here are a few ideas to keep it from overwhelming your players:

• The villainous organization serves as an incidental foe for the heroes. The Organization’s troops serve as
random encounters during other adventures or act as a distraction to divert the hero from the main threat.
While they are a dangerous force in the campaign world, to the heroes they are nothing more than a nuisance
that needs to be taken out before they deal with the real threat. While some adventures may focus on the
group, most of the time they appear in the background of the setting as a general threat.

• The villainous Organization is a major foe for the heroes. This option works best if the heroes are part of some
benevolent Organization that opposes the villainous group. The heroes encounter agents of the villainous
Organization frequently, and an important ongoing plot point is trying to take the group down. While they do
not need to be the focus of every adventure, they are the main antagonists of most scenarios and even
“independent” villains are involved with them or manipulated into serving the group’s goals.

• The Organization appears to be an ally or patron of the heroes. Most villainous groups don’t see their goals
as “evil,” but feel what they are doing is for the betterment of the world as a whole or some population within
the setting. For example, Animus wants to stop actions contributing to the destruction of ecosystems, and they
want to preserve the natural world. At times this may mean they have the same goals as the heroes, such as
trying to stop a polluting factory from dumping waste into the bay. The group may appear helpful and benign
at first, but eventually they show their hand and the heroes see them for the villains they truly are.

• The villainous Organization may operate behind the scenes, pulling strings like a puppeteer. The group is not
publicly known, and even well-informed government intelligence agencies might believe they are nothing but
a myth. The Organization uses subtle strategies and tactics to manipulate events in the setting. When they have
to resort to brute force, they are careful to cover up any evidence and silence any witnesses. Only a concerted
effort by the heroes will uncover the actors behind these events and reveal the villainous Organization.

While villainous Organizations can be fun if used well, Games Masters also need to make sure the group can
be foiled or defeated by the heroes. Giving the heroes the chance to stop one of the group’s main plots or
capture a vital member of their leadership can empower the heroes, but it still allows the Games Master to use
the group again in the future if need be.

rigorous brainwashing process to ensure their absolute
loyalty and are subjected to genetic manipulation that
not only grants them traits of various animals but also
makes them dependent on serums that ward off the
side effects: serums that only Animus can provide.
• Protocols: The main rule of Animus is that Chimaera
Prime must be followed at all times, and the orders of
his commanders are the same as if he spoke them
himself. Animus members are to be loyal, must never
reveal secrets of the Organization, and must be willing
to give their life if it means keeping those secrets or
serving the needs of the group.
• Benefits: Members of Animus are given quarters and
have all their basic needs taken care of, and all members
gain a monthly stipend based on their rank within the
298
group. They have access to hidden bases all around the
globe as long as they are assigned there by their
superior (Facilities: Animus Base 50%). Members of
Dedicated rank or lower are given basic genetic
modifications that provide some benefits, such as
enhanced natural strength or the ability to breathe
underwater (Special: Basic Powers 30%). Once the
Proven rank is obtained, their modifications are further
enhanced to the level of powers, although the scope is
limited, and some are provided with specialized Core
Power simulating high-tech gear (Special: Advanced
Powers: 60%). Only the three commanders listed above
are of the Overseer rank, and no one but Chimaera
Prime may be of Leader rank.
• Allotments: Animus scientists have developed or
stolen highly advanced technology. Members under
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable
Proven rank have access to Restricted Level gear, and
those of Proven or higher have access to Highly
Restricted weapons, armor, and gear, including some
Core Power-simulating items.
• Forces of Animus: Animus is a paramilitary
Organization with seemingly limitless resources, and
they have an army rivaling that of some small nations.
Members in support roles, such as technicians and
flight crews, are treated as Bystanders and are usually
non-combatants. Members of the divisions listed above
are likely Goons or Soldiers, depending on their skill
level or function, and the Organization also has
assassins that use the Ninja stats (see page 322). Animus
has access to cutting-edge technology, and its forces are
armed with blaster pistols or rifles while in the field.
Many members also have some degree of genetic
modifications that give them animal features. Most of
these modifications are cosmetic, but some are more
functional, such as the Octomen being able to breathe
underwater without special equipment. See the Soldier
on page 323 for details on typical Animus troops.
The Technophile
The Technophile is a master of machines, from the
simplest traps to the most complex artificial life. Usually
the Technophile is not powerful on his own, but his
machines serve as proxies, doing all the dirty work.
Usually the villain is a master of one particular type of
machine, such as robotics or computers, and they are
often capable of producing machines far beyond the
normal level of technology for the campaign. Within
the realm of his expertise, the Technophile is nearly
unstoppable, but outside that realm he is at a severe
disadvantage. Technophiles do not have to use
technology exclusively and this villain can easily
represent someone who uses magical creations, such as
an alchemist who crafts golems or a sorcerer who
manipulates elemental beings.
Doctor Vellaro (Villain, Technology)
By far the dastardliest villain in all of Gemelos City is the
villainous Doctor Vincent Vellaro. Once a preeminent expert in
robotics at Talos Robotics, his mind snapped when the company
was shut down due to a violation of the city tax codes. He
hatched a scheme of revenge on all of Gemelos City, using his
knowledge to construct a fleet of highly advanced combat
drones fitted with powerful lasers and micro-rockets. Vellaro
heralded his attack on the city by taking over the big screen at
Center Court and announcing his plans to level every
municipal building to get his revenge. Fortunately for the city
he launched his attack on the same day the Fearless Force came
together, and they were able to foil his plans before he caused too
much destruction. Years later he remains at large, still hacking
into local media to deliver his demands before unleashing a
new wave of killer robots on the poor people of the city. Luckily
the Fearless Force is still around to make sure Doctor Vellaro
never succeeds at his evil plans.
Not much is known about Vincent Vellaro before his arrival
here in Gemelos City. He apparently received advanced degrees
in engineering and robotics from M.I.T., worked at several
other tech firms before settling here, and never married. I
believe he suffered from some sort of mental illness prior to his
breakdown, but he is undoubtedly a genius when it comes to
developing robots. Despite their many victories over him,
Vellaro’s secret lair has eluded the Fearless Force and they have
never been able to bring him to justice. I’ve heard the theories
that Doctor Vellaro is nothing more than an actor hired by the
city, but my question is why would the city spend millions of
dollars on developing a fake villain? And why allow so much
damage to be done to city property? While Doctor Vellaro may
be their archnemesis, I think the real enemies of the Fearless
Force are the people who doubt their sincerity and heroism.
• C.O.P. Alert: The Doctor Is In: You can easily play it that
the stories about Doctor Vellaro being nothing more than an
actor are true. When the city was formulating their plan to
use the Fearless Force as a P.R. tool, they realized they needed
a villain. They hired an actual robotics expert with acting
experience named Malcolm Medea to play the role, and the
method actor immersed himself fully into Doctor Vellaro. In
fact, he furthered his studies on robotics, computers, and
advanced engineering to help maintain the façade.
Unfortunately, like his fictional self, Malcolm snapped under
the pressure of his cloistered lifestyle and the negative press
about his alternate persona. He now believes himself to be the
actual Doctor Vellaro. Gaining access to the hidden lab that
produces the fake drones used in the orchestrated attacks, he
heavily modified them to have actual lethal weaponry, even
going so far as establishing a hidden base to launch a real
attack on the city. How will the Fearless Force and Gemelos
City handle a genuine version of Doctor Vellaro, and will the
characters be able to stop his rampaging drones before they
cause real harm?
Doctor Vellaro
STR: 10 Action Points: 3
CON: 12 Damage Modifier: -
SIZ: 13 Power Points: 16
DEX: 12 Movement: 6m
INT: 18 Initiative Bonus: +15
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 2
CHA: 15 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Polyweave uniform
299
 Destined

Hit Locations are powerless, instead using their twisted knowledge of

science to craft their poisons. No matter what the
1d20 Location AP/HP source, Chemists are dangerous villains because of the
1-3 Right Leg 1/6
variety of effects they can produce with their creations.
4-6 Left Leg 1/6
7-9 Abdomen 1/7
Dust (Villain, Technology)
10-12 Chest 1/8
13-15 Right Arm 1/5
The villain known as Dust is the premier drug lord of the
16-18 Left Arm 1/5
Ossuary, creating new and terrible substances in his hidden
19-20 Head 1/6
labs to intoxicate and control the desperate and those looking to
escape their lives. He emerged on the scene 10 years ago,
Combat Style although law enforcement officials I’ve spoken to suspect he’s
been operating much longer than that. His first notable
Combat Style: Mr. Roboto: 55% (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Light Pistol,
creation was the stimulant known as “Crash,” a highly
Stun Gun, Thrown Weapons), Unarmed 45%
addictive amphetamine that became the rage in local clubs and
on college campuses. Crash remains a problem in Gemelos City
Attacks and beyond, but Dust continues to refine his products and
distributes them through the mob and the Hundred.
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3
The few people who’ve seen Dust in person describe him as
Blaster Pistol L 10/30/120 1d8+1
a tall, thin man wearing a mustard-yellow lab coat, gas mask,
and long, thick safety gloves. His voice is filtered through the
Skills: Athletics 45%, Brawn 50%, Computers 75%, mask but is said to have a distinctive accent, and he never gets
Deceit 75%, Drive 45%, Electronics 85%, Endurance close to anyone except for his most trusted bodyguards,
55%, Engineering (Civil) 75%, Evade 50%, Influence colloquially called the “Dustmen.” One man I talked to (during
65%, Insight 85%, Perception 80%, Perform (Acting) a rare moment when he was able to talk coherently) told me that
95%, Research 85%, Science (Robotics) 95%, System he tried to attack Dust and was hit in the face with a cloud of
Ops 75%, Willpower 75% something sweet-smelling. Whatever it was permanently
Passions: Defeat the Fearless Force 75%, Develop New damaged his mind to the point where he needed to be
Robots 65%, Play the Role of the Villain 85% institutionalized. So not only is Dust dangerous for the poison
Core Powers: Savant (Computers, Electronics, he creates to pollute the streets, but apparently he is deadly in
Science: Robotics: Instant Specialization, Parallel person as well.
Knowledge), Summon (Mini-Drones: Empowered
Construct, Guardian Constructs, Legion, Limits: • C.O.P. Alert: Pretty Poison: While Dust has crafted some
Limited Form: Robots, Material Required: robot truly potent and dangerous substances, his most recent
parts), Technopathy (System Control, Wi-Fi Enabled, creation may be his worst yet. His “Dustmen” have begun
Limit: Limited Access: Robots only) peddling a powerful narcotic that not only delivers a
Limits: External Power Source (Technopathy, Robot- tremendous high, but also makes the user lash out at whatever
Control Helmet) they love the most. In truth, Dust recently acquired control of
Gear: Polyweave uniform, Blaster Pistol, wrist- a villainess known as Ecstasy after liberating her from a
mounted computer, belt of robot parts prison transport van on its way to Deimos Isle Penitentiary.
Able to control emotions through physical contact, Ecstasy has
been in an induced coma since she was captured during a
The Chemist crime spree in the Ossuary last year. Despite this, Dust
discovered a way to isolate and extract the mind-altering
Using toxins and chemicals as their primary weapon, chemicals her powers produce and use them in his latest
the Chemist is a master of poisons and mind-altering creation. Will the heroes be able to discover the source of this
concoctions. Some Chemists are nothing but killers, deadly new drug, and if Ecstasy wakes up, what will she think
injecting deadly venoms and filling rooms full of lethal of Dust using her for his own gains?
gases. Others are more subtle, using their knowledge of
chemistry to create drugs that sap away a person’s will
or give them vivid hallucinations that excite, confuse, or
terrify them.

In some cases, Chemists have powers that allow them

to create their toxins from their own body, while others
300

Combat Style
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Dust Limit: Conditional: target must be hit by thrown dust)

Limits: External Power Source (Various dusts and gas
STR: 12 Action Points: 3
mask, all powers except for Savant), Physical
CON: 19 Damage Modifier: +1d2
Limitation (No sense of smell or taste)
SIZ: 14 Power Points: 16
Gear: Padded Leather suit and Light Combat helmet,
DEX: 13 Movement: 6m
Heavy Pistol, integrated rebreather, various dusts and
INT: 16 Initiative Bonus: +15 (+13 w/armor)
chemicals
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 4
CHA: 12 Luck Points: 3
The Mad Scientist
Armor: Padded Leather suit, Lt. Combat helmet

There are always those who want to push the

Hit Locations boundaries of science, even if the end results may be
more harmful than helpful. The Mad Scientist believes
1d20 Location AP/HP
herself above the moral constraints of normal society,
1-3 Right Leg 2/8
and her twisted genius is the only thing capable of
4-6 Left Leg 2/8
guiding humanity toward the future. Mad Scientists
7-9 Abdomen 2/9
have the intellect and knowledge to make their fevered
10-12 Chest 2/10
creations reality, and even when things go wrong, they
13-15 Right Arm 2/7
keep trying, shifting the blame to someone else, and
16-18 Left Arm 2/7
then diving back into their lab to create another
19-20 Head 3/8
abomination. Like the Technophile, Mad Scientists
often do not possess powers or fighting ability, unless
Combat Style they become a self-induced test subject. In many cases
the Mad Scientist doesn’t do her deeds out of malice or
Dust to Dust: 65% (Baton, Heavy Pistol, Powers, Shotgun, Thrown
revenge, instead believing she is bettering the world
Weapons), Unarmed 60%
with her genius.

Attacks Echidna (Archvillain, Experimentation)

Attack Size/Force Range Damage

Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2
Heavy Pistol H 50/100/200
Deadly Dust L 19/-/-
Skills: Athletics 50%, Brawn 55%, Culture
(Underworld) 85%, Deceit 60%, Demolitions 65%,
Drive 65%, Endurance 90%, Engineering (Chemical)
90%, Evade 60%, Influence 65%, Insight 70%,
Medicine 75%, Perception 70%, Research 80%, Science
(Biology) 85%, Science (Chemistry, Pharmacology)
90%, Sleight 85%, Stealth 65%, Willpower 85%
Passions: Avoid Danger 70%, Control the Drug Trade
75%, Create New Drugs 85%
Core Powers: Blast (Deadly Dust: Armor Piercing,
Detonate, Ongoing Damage, Toxic, Limit: Short
Range), Energy Field (Poison Residue 1d10, Limits:
Always On, Limited Power: does not gain bonus
damage to unarmed attacks), Empathy (Emotion
Control, Limits: Boosted Only, Conditional: living
target must be hit by thrown dust, Linked: Phantasm),
Phantasm (All Senses, Independent Illusion,
Psychosomatic, Limits: Psychic Illusions, Conditional:
living target must be hit by thrown dust, Linked:
Empathy), Resistance (Poisons: Immunity), Savant
(Engineering: Chemical, Science: Chemistry, Science:
Pharmacology), Sensory Overload (Sight, Flashbang,
Over the past year there’s been a rash of mutated and
malformed Extranormals appearing in the Ossuary. It all
1d8
started a few years back with the monster the press dubbed
2d8
“Agony,” and since his rampage, several more have cropped up
to plague the overworked police and the few heroes that call the
area home. While some have theorized that these mutations are
another step in the evolution of the Godstrand, after digging
around in the police reports and talking to witnesses, I
discovered an interesting thread tying all the stories together.
There were rumors of a secret lab with mysterious doctors who
never showed their faces, and all who entered came out as
monsters. These labs never stayed in one place for long, and
vanished without a trace. While some of the witnesses to this are
not the most reliable sources, I’ve heard enough stories to
believe there is some kernel of truth to it all.
Who are these mysterious doctors? Are they activating the
Godstrand in people prematurely or somehow making X-Ns out
of ordinary people? Whatever the truth, the monsters they
create are violent and dangerous, so their work is far away
from anything benefiting the people of Gemelos City or the
fragile goodwill towards those with powers. I surmise that the
villainous Geryon may be another product of these labs, but
that’s just my personal theory, and I have no intention of
tracking him down to ask. My other theory involves Dr. Janet
Echidna, the doctor who was the first to discover the Godstrand
and was mocked by her peers for her work. She disappeared
301
 horrible abomination with dangerous powers. The characters
might stumble upon one of these monstrosities and through it
uncover clues that could eventually lead back to Dr. Echidna.
Or perhaps one of the heroes is the success she has been hoping
for and manages to escape from one of her labs. If that is the
case, Dr. Echidna and her people will stop at nothing to find
and vivisect the hero to uncover what made that experiment
successful.

If the illegal experiments are linked back to her or Pandora

Pharmaceuticals, and if confronted, Dr. Echidna desperately
enacts a failsafe protocol. Her pacemaker contains a cocktail
of her Godstrand-derived mutagens, and it releases them on
her command or in the event she is seriously wounded. She
undergoes a terrible transformation, becoming a hideous
tentacled monster while tragically losing her amazing mind in
the process.

Dr. Echnidna (human form)

STR: 9 Action Points: 3
CON: 10 Damage Modifier: -1d2
SIZ: 10 Power Points: 22
DEX: 10 Movement: 6m
INT: 22 Initiative Bonus: +16
POW: 17 Healing Rate: 2
CHA: 16 Luck Points: 3
Armor: none

Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg -/6
In her secret laboratory, Dr. Echidna reveals her 4-6 Left Leg -/6
monstrous true form. 7-9 Abdomen -/7
10-12 Chest -/8
after the conference where she revealed her findings, and as her 13-15 Right Arm -/5
colleagues laughed her offstage, some say she vowed to prove 16-18 Left Arm -/5
her theories to them one way or another. Perhaps her work is 19-20 Head -/6
somehow being manipulated by these mysterious doctors for
their own sinister goals?
Combat Style
• C.O.P. Alert: The Mother of Monsters: Like her Mother’s Touch: 55% (Baton, Club, Light Pistol, Staff, Stun Gun),
mythological namesake, Dr. Echidna is the creator of the Unarmed 50%
Extranormal monsters plaguing the Ossuary. After she was
derided for her theories on the Godstrand, she worked tirelessly
to find a way to control the genes and recreate them in others. Attacks
She used her resources and contacts to help found Pandora Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Pharmaceuticals as a way of funding her true passions. Dr. Unarmed S - 1d3-1d2
Echidna is on the verge of a breakthrough in controlling the
Godstrand, but her unlawful research continues to leave Skills: Athletics 45%, Brawn 45%, Deceit 60%, Drive
behind failed attempts to perfect her process. All around the 40%, Endurance 50%, Evade 50%, Influence 70%,
Ossuary her secret research labs experiment on willing or Insight 85%, Knowledge (Extranormals) 95%,
unwilling guinea pigs who show no markers for the Medicine 95%, Perception 85%, Research 90%,
Godstrand. Inevitably these experiments either result in the Science (Biology, Chemistry) 110%, Science (Genetics)
test subject’s death and incineration, or their becoming some 115%, Willpower 75%
302
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Passions: Control the Godstrand 85%, Prove That Limits: Vulnerability (Electricity)
My Theories Are Right 75%, Remain Hidden From Gear: None
the World 70%
Core Powers: Savant (Science: Biology, Science:
Chemistry, Science: Genetics, Instant Specialization, The Malformed
Parallel Knowledge)
Limits: Latent (monster form activates when she Often tragic in nature, the Malformed is a villain who
chooses or if she takes a Serious Wound) was rejected by society for some deformity or mutation
Gear: Smartphone, laptop that makes him different from the norm. The condition
could be the result of an accident or experimentation,
or it occurred at birth, but whatever the source, it makes
Monster Form the Malformed monstrous by standard views of beauty.
STR: 22 Action Points: 1 In some cases, the Malformed is not evil, but lashes out
CON: 21 Damage Modifier: +2d8 at others as a result of the abuses they suffered as a
SIZ: 40 (10) Power Points: 24 result of their affliction. For other villains, the rejection
DEX: 12 Movement: 10m has made them bitter and angry at society and they seek
INT: 7 Initiative Bonus: +10 (+6 w/ Growth) to tear down the “normal” people, or make others like
POW: 19 Healing Rate: 5 themselves so they become the new standard.
CHA: 6 Luck Points: 4 Malformed villains often have powers that are physical
Armor: Thick Skin in nature, with their enhanced bodies serving as a
tradeoff for their hideous appearance.
Hit Locations GERYON (Archvillain, Experimentation)
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Tentacle 1 12/17 I have spent years studying Extranormals in all their forms,
4-6 Tentacle 2 12/17 and I have seen both wondrous and terrible things, but until I
7-9 Tentacle 3 12/17 came face-to-face with Geryon, I had never seen the true face
10-12 Tentacle 4 12/17 of evil. Let me clarify that is not a statement about his
13-15 Abdomen 12/19 appearance, although he exemplifies the idea that the body can
16-18 Chest 12/20 be a mirror to the soul. Geryon is wicked to the core, and his
19-20 Head 12/18 senseless assaults on the beleaguered people of Gemelos City
bring nothing but misery, ruin, and tragic loss of life. Living
in the drains under the city, the city became aware of him eight
Combat Style years ago when several sewage workers were found horribly
Unarmed 80% mangled and partially devoured. It was originally thought that
the classic urban legend of sewer alligators was to blame, but
then a group of exterminators discovered Geryon and learned
about the true monster beneath our feet.
Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage Geryon stands as tall as an elephant, and his warped and
Unarmed L 10m 1d4+2d8+1 twisted body is corded with thick muscle that makes him just as
Bite H - 2d6+2d8 strong as one. I’ve seen footage of him shrugging off bullets like
they were spitballs, and he can leap high enough to reach the
Skills: Athletics 70%, Brawn 75%, Endurance 80%, Evade roof of a small apartment building. The most disturbing thing
50%, Insight 55%, Perception 65%, Willpower 75% is the presence of three vestigial faces on his chest. Each one is
Passions: Destroy Everything 75%, Smash and Grab 85% a different aspect of his personality, and each one seems to
Core Powers: Adhesion (Expert Grappler, Limit: manifest different powers. One allows him to become even
Uncontrolled Stickiness), Close Combat Attack (Bite: stronger, another has devious psychic power, and the third fills
Toxic, Limits: Poor Defense, Conditional: only against his body full of deadly energy that he can hurl, blasting apart
grappled targets), Combat Expert (Grappling, anything or anyone in his way. Geryon is one of the most
Unarmed, Ready for Action), Durability, Enhanced fearsome villains in all of Gemelos City, and one I hope to
Strength (Clobber, Ground Pound, Power Lift), never cross paths with again.
Growth (Swat, Titanic, Limit: Always On), Heightened
Sense (Vibration Sense, Weakened Sense: Sight), • C.O.P. Alert: Power Hungry: Geryon is a fearsome villain
Inherent Armor (Nigh Invulnerability), Regeneration, as presented, but Game Masters who want to make him truly
Stretching (Maximum Stretch, Limit: Slow Retraction) horrific can consider the following option. Geryon was created
303
 Destined

The Faces of Geryon Attacks

Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed L - 1d4+1d10+1

G eryon’s Omnipower is meant to represent how

each of his three faces has its own personality
and a unique power (Blast, Enhanced Strength, Bioelectric Blast L 22/66/220
(1d4+2d6+1)
1d12

and Telepathy). When one face is dominant, he

can use the power associated with it but cannot Combat Style
access the other two. Each of his faces is also a
Faces of Death: 90% (Axe, Club, Powers, Staff, Thrown Weapons),
separate hit location as noted below, and if a face
Unarmed 85%
is incapacitated it also means the power
associated with it is inaccessible until the face
recovers. Geryon is not at risk of falling Unless he is stopped, Geryon will attempt to consume every
unconscious if one or even two of his faces is hero and villain in Gemelos City in his twisted quest for more
incapacitated, only needing to roll to remain power. Will the heroes be able to defeat him before it’s too late,
conscious when all three of his faces are disabled. and is there a way to free his victims or are they lost forever?
This makes him a formidable foe in combat.
Skills: Athletics 90%, Brawn 90%, Deceit 60%,
Endurance 85%, Evade 70%, Influence 60%, Insight
when three Godstrand-activated people were fused together 70%, Intimidation 90%, Perception 80%, Stealth 70%,
during an experiment by Pandora Pharma. He became one Survival 85%, Track 70%, Willpower 85%
being with three minds and all the powers of those involved, Passions: Destroy Gemelos City 75%, Make Everyone as
and after escaping he learned that if he consumed others with Miserable as I Am 80%, Ruin Anything of Beauty 70%
powers he would also gain their abilities. These unfortunate Core Powers: Blast (Detonate, Limit: Inaccurate),
victims can be seen as dormant visages on his twisted body, Combat Expert (Grappling, Improvised Weapons,
faces twisted in pain or terror. Once he gets his first gristly Unarmed, Expert Strike, Ready for Action), Durability
taste, Geryon will begin hunting other powered people to try (Shake It Off), Enhanced Reactions (Limit: Impulsive),
to cannibalize them and their abilities. The heroes might Enhanced Strength (Clobber, Ground Pound, Power
become aware of this when an Extranormal ally goes missing, Lift, Super Leap, Limit: Bull in a China Shop),
or a villain they are chasing gets pulled into the sewers. If the Inherent Armor (Armor Up, Nigh Invulnerability,
Game Master wants to use this option, consider adding some Stand Fast), Regeneration (Instant Healing, Reptilian
of Geryon’s listed powers during subsequent encounters with Regeneration), Telepathy (Mind Control, Mind Probe,
the villain or add new powers he previously never manifested. Limits: Oversharing)
Limits: Omnipower (Multiple Faces: Blast, Enhanced
Geryon Strength, Telepathy)
STR: 21 Action Points: 3
CON: 22 Damage Modifier: +1d10 (+2d6)
The Remorseless Killer
SIZ: 24 Power Points: 25
DEX: 14 Movement: 8m, 11m Leaping
While some villains use violence as a means to an end,
INT: 15 Initiative Bonus: +24
the Remorseless Killer uses violence to satisfy some dark
POW: 20 Healing Rate: 6
urge to end the lives of others. The Remorseless Killer
CHA: 11 Luck Points: 4
doesn’t care about wealth or power, and often ignores
Armor: Thick Skin
such things in the pursuit of his prey. Some of these
villains target specific individuals, such as those who
Hit Locations wronged them, or a particular category of victim such
as superheroes, law enforcement, or the wealthy. Others
1d20 Location AP/HP
target anyone unfortunate enough to cross their path,
1-3 Right Leg 8/15
and there is no rhyme or reason to their murders. They
4-6 Left Leg 8/15
either kill for the pleasure they get from taking a life, or
7-9 Abdomen 8/16
kill out of some twisted compulsion. In terms of powers,
10-11 Chest 8/17
many Remorseless Killers are normal people with
12-14 Right Arm 8/14
exceptional talent at taking lives and stalking their prey.
15-17 Left Arm 8/14
Some have powers that make them more effective at
18 Face (Blast) 8/13
combat or allow them to withstand inhuman levels of
19 Face (Strength) 8/13
punishment and ignore pain.
20 Face (Telepathy) 8/13
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 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Kryptic (Villain, Inherent) Kryptic

STR: 13 Action Points: 3
A demon haunts the darkest places of the Ossuary. He’s said to
CON: 15 Damage Modifier: -
be nothing but a shadow by those fortunate enough to encounter
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 17
him and live to tell the tale. Most don’t survive. All that’s left
DEX: 15 Movement: 6m
behind is a body and a mysterious numerical cipher written in
INT: 16 Initiative Bonus: +16
the victim’s blood. The police have no leads on the killer, and
POW: 15 Healing Rate: 3
only a few of his strange puzzles have been solved. Each one
CHA: 15 Luck Points: 6
tells the supposed sins of the victim, and is signed with the only
Armor: None
name he’s known by: Kryptic. Based on the number of victims
found, Kryptic has been operating in the Ossuary for at least a
decade and his body count numbers in the dozens. He seemingly Hit Locations
disappears for months at a time, during which the Ossuary
sighs in collective relief, and then he re-emerges from the 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg -/7
darkness to claim another soul.
4-6 Left Leg -/7
7-9 Abdomen -/8
I’ve spoken to several criminal profilers about the mysterious
10-12 Chest -/9
Kryptic, and they all say the same thing: he is a serial killer. He
13-15 Right Arm -/6
clearly knows his victims, because all the sins he reveals (and
16-18 Left Arm -/6
that have been decoded) appear correct. He has a profound ego
19-20 Head -/7
and his ciphers are a way of proving he’s smarter than those
who want to stop him. Now, I’m no criminal psychologist, but I
respectfully disagree on some of those points. I’ve talked to the Attacks
few people who got away from him, and their reports seem to be
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
conflicting. Some say he’s a man of slight build seemingly made
Unarmed M - 1d4+1
of shadow, while others describe the killer as obese or even
Knife S 5/10/20 1d4+1
female. Some profilers believe that Kryptic is actually a cult of
many assassins, but I believe that Kryptic is actually an
Extranormal who’s been a plague on Gemelos City for some Combat Style
time, maybe even as far back as the days of the Coachman!
Shadow Killer: 95% (Axe, Club, Knife, Spear, Thrown Weapons),
Whatever the truth, just be careful if you’re a sinner in a dark
Unarmed 85%
Ossuary alleyway. At best you may run across one of the 52nd
Street Hundred who wants your wallet, but at worst you may
see a shadow move out of the corner of your eye and it will be Skills: Athletics 70%, Brawn 65%, Culture (High
the last thing you ever see. Society, Working Class) 70%, Deceit 85%, Drive 65%,
Endurance 75%, Evade 75%,Forgery 75%, Influence
• C.O.P. Alert: Killing Fields: The blocks of Morning Fields 75%, Insight 90%, Intimidation 85%, Knowledge
in the Ossuary are already plagued by rampant crime, but in (Cryptography) 110%, Mechanisms 75%, Medicine
recent weeks something more sinister has been stalking the 60%, Perception 85%, Perform (Acting) 75%, Research
streets. Several bodies have turned up, each one with part of 75%, Sleight 80%, Stealth 85%, Streetwise 80%, Track
a cryptogram that appears to be part of a larger message. 85%, Willpower 95%
Immediately rumors surface that Kryptic is active again, Passions: Kill to Stay Alive 90%, Leave Ciphers About
sending the Ossuary into a panic. A blogger who studies the My Victim 75%, Remain in the Shadows 85%
mysterious killer contacts the heroes and believes there is Core Powers: Combat Expert (Bleeding Attack,
something wrong about the murders. He points out that Duelist, Grappling, Impaling Attack, Improvised,
Kryptic only ever kills a single time when he appears, and his Throwing, Unarmed, Expert Strike, Precise Strike,
ciphers are always specific to the victim. The truth is a local Ready for Action), Empathy (Read the Room), Life
cult is using Kryptic’s reputation to cover up a sinister ritual Support (Aging), Lucky (Bad Penny, Luck of the
they are using to try to gain the power of the villain. Kryptic Devil), Regeneration (Back From the Dead, Instant
is in reality a man who used the same dark rite over a century Healing, Reptilian Regeneration), Telepathy (Mind
ago to become functionally immortal by absorbing the souls of Probe, Limit: Oversharing, Side Effect: gains the
those he murders. If the cult succeeds, the members will all shadow of anyone he uses Mind Probe on)
gain his powers, but will their murders draw out the real Limits: Impaired Recovery (only recovers Power
Kryptic from hiding? Points for 24 hours after making a kill)
Gear: Knife, smartphone, various mementos from
past victims
305
 Destined

The Night Creature Nocturne

STR: 14 Action Points: 3
Crimefighters are not the only ones lurking in the
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
shadows of the city, and are by far not the most
SIZ: 15 Power Points: 20
fearsome. The Night Creature is a villain who haunts
DEX: 15 Movement: 6m
the darkest places, and some are actual supernatural
INT: 15 Initiative Bonus: +15 (+13 w/ armor)
beings such as vampires, demons, or fey creatures,
POW: 18 Healing Rate: 3
wielding potent magic or paranormal powers that rival
CHA: 19 Luck Points: 6
those of the heroes. While they might be monsters,
Armor: Padded Leather
Night Creatures often have an allure about them that
tempts heroes and civilians alike. They often draw
victims in with the promise of power, immortality, or an Hit Locations
escape from the mundane, but ultimately the Night
Creature serves its own needs before that of others. 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 2/7
4-6 Left Leg 2/7
Nocturne (Villain, Mutation)
7-9 Abdomen 2/8
10-12 Chest 2/9
If you hear lilting music drifting through the night skies, or
13-15 Right Arm 2/6
hear a song from a voice impossibly beautiful yet haunting at
16-18 Left Arm 2/6
the same time, it may be the last thing you ever hear. The villain
19-20 Head 2/7
known as Nocturne uses music to lure in his victims, soothing
them with a song before he saps away their life, all the while
singing a deadly tune. By his own account he claims to be a Combat Style
prince of the shadow court of the ancient faerie kingdoms, a
mythical being of powerful and seductive magic from another Night’s Dirge: 75% (Baton, Club, Knife, Powers, Sword), Unarmed
60%
age. His unearthly beauty and siren’s voice seem to back up his
claims, and countless people have been lured in, only to become
desiccated husks after his voice extracts the vitality from their Attacks
bodies. But here’s the rub: Nocturne is also a thief. For all his
claims of being an otherworldly being, his sinister songs are a Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2
cover for whatever heist he is planning. He has a special
Deadly Note L 14/42/140 1d12
affinity for valuable pieces of music, instruments, and even
musicians and singers who catch his fancy. For all his
pageantry and spectacle, he ultimately just wants to take things Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 60%, Courtesy 75%,
that don’t belong to him and doesn’t mind leaving a body count Culture (High Society) 70%, Deceit 85%, Drive 40%,
in his wake. Personally I don’t buy his whole story about being Endurance 60%, Evade 65%, Influence 85%, Insight
some mythical being; I suspect he’s just another X-N who has a 75%, Knowledge (Fairy Lore) 75%, Perception 70%,
flair for the dramatic. But whether he’s a faerie lord or a fraud, Perform (Acting) 80%, Perform (Music, Singing) 110%,
he’s still one of the more devious and dangerous villains in Stealth 65%, Willpower 85%
Gemelos City, and he should never be underestimated. Passions: All Music Should Be Mine 85%, I Am Above
Humanity 70%, Take Things of Beauty 75%
• C.O.P. Alert: Symphony of Destruction: A rare exhibit of Core Powers: Blast (Deadly Note: Armor Piercing,
original sheet music from the great masters is on display at the Detonate, Limit: Inaccurate, Conditional: must sing),
Gemelos Museum of Fine Arts, and it is a tempting target for Elemental Control (Soundwaves: Create Element,
Nocturne. The villain is smart enough to know the police are Increased Area), Empathy (Emotion Control, Global
expecting him to try to steal the exhibit, so he opts to create a Empathy, Read the Room, Limits: Empathic Mimic,
series of distractions to cover the theft. Using his vocal powers, Conditional: must sing when using Emotion Control),
Nocturne charms several criminal groups and has them enact Heightened Sense (Hearing, Vibration Sense), Lucky,
a crime spree across the city at the same time he plans to hit the Phantasm (Sound: Greater Phantasm, Psychosomatic,
museum. His goal is to spread both law enforcement and the Limit: Specific Phantasms: music and singing),
city’s heroes thin trying to prevent his decoy crimes while he Resistance (Sonic, Immunity), Sensory Overload
waltzes into the museum to nab his prize. Will the heroes be (Hearing, Flashbang, Limit: Partial Sensory Loss)
able to figure out that Nocturne is behind all the crimes, and Limits: Omnipower (Blast, Phantasm, Sensory
will they be able to stop him? Overload)
Gear: Padded Leather clothing and mask, conductor’s
baton
306
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

The Assassin become aware of the unwanted attention from the killer, and
thus reaches out to the heroes to help him, even though he
Killers who work for the highest bidder, Assassins are has no idea why a world-famous assassin would possibly be
not motivated by bloodlust, cruelty, or vengeance. To after him.
them killing is simply a means to an end, with the end
usually being a large payout. They are mercenary Obake
murderers, contracted by one specific group or anyone
STR: 15 Action Points: 3
who can meet their price. Murder is business, not
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
personal, but failing to complete a job is not an option
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 15
for the Assassin, so she usually takes the time to cover
DEX: 19 Movement: 7m
all the angles and study the target to ensure that she
INT: 14 Initiative Bonus: +26 (+24 w/ armor)
succeeds. If the Assassin’s target manages to elude
POW: 13 Healing Rate: 3
her, the villain often becomes obsessed with completing
CHA: 9 Luck Points: 3
the contract to maintain her carefully cultivated
Armor: Padded Leather w/ Lt. Combat Armor
reputation.

Obake (Villain, Mutation) Hit Locations

1d20 Location AP/HP
Obake has become a legend in criminal circles, and most people
1-3 Right Leg 2/7
believe he (or she) is a ghost story and nothing more. As an
4-6 Left Leg 2/7
assassin who can appear to be anyone, his victims never see
7-9 Abdomen 3/8
their killer coming, and anyone who witnesses the hit is unable
10-12 Chest 3/9
to identify who did the heinous deed. Obake is also an
13-15 Right Arm 2/6
opportunistic assassin, and his (or her) methods change
16-18 Left Arm 2/6
depending on the situation. He (or she) shot a senator from a
19-20 Head 2/7
kilometer away with a high-powered rifle in the middle of a
parade, blew up a businessman with a shaped explosive that left
everyone else in a crowded elevator unharmed, and poisoned Combat Style
an entire table of mob capos with toxic tiramisu. A faceless killer
Assassin’s Strike: 85% (Knife, Light Pistol, Rifle, Sword, Thrown
who can murder with deadly pastry is truly a living nightmare
Weapons), Unarmed 80%
in my humble opinion. My contact in Omega told me they have
a thick file on Obake, but very little real information on him (or
her). They believe the assassin is either a single individual who Attacks
is an expert in disguise, or a team of assassins that operate
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
under a single code name. My contact questions these theories,
Unarmed M - 1d4+1d2+1
and subscribes to my idea that Obake is actually an
Short Sword M - 1d6+1d2
Extranormal that either has shapeshifting or illusory powers.
Sniper Rifle H 900/1500/5000 2d10+4
This makes more sense, as witnesses have talked about seeing a
Explosive Bola M 10/25/50 1d4+1d2, 2d6
man walk up to the victim and shoot them point
in 2m radius
blank, then a woman walk away as the body falls. The idea of
an assassin who can literally be anyone makes Obake even more
terrifying, and it certainly makes me think twice before I Skills: Acrobatics 85%, Athletics 85%, Brawn 65%,
order tiramisu. Craft (Poison) 75%, Deceit 85%, Demolitions 75%,
Drive 65%, Endurance 70%, Evade 85%, Insight 75%,
• C.O.P Alert: A Clean Kill: A killer is as only as good as Mechanisms 75%, Perception 70%, Perform (Acting)
her reputation, and Obake has a near-perfect kill record. She 90%, Research 70%, Sleight 80%, Stealth 85%, Track
has managed to walk away from every hit she’s ever done, and 75%, Willpower 70%
her powers allow her to ensure no one ever sees her true face. Passions: Always Honor a Deal 75%, Kill For the
Unfortunately, during a recent job where she killed an overly Highest Bidder 75%, Never Let My True Face Be Seen
ambitious mobster for the Dallo family, an innocent bystander 90%
caught a picture of her entering the restaurant and Obake is Core Powers: Combat Expert (Archery, Bleeding
concerned the image will show the tattoo of a kitsune on her Attack, Duelist, Impaling Attack, Improvised,
arm. The authorities could use the tattoo to link her true Longarm, Pinning Attack, Throwing, Unarmed:
identity to the crime, and dozens of other hits, so Obake plans Expert Strike, Ready for Action, Speed Load),
to locate the bystander and retrieve the image at any cost. The Enhanced Reactions (Additional Reactions, Nimble,
hapless man, a local delivery driver named Kit Farber, has Parkour), Morph (People, Doppelganger, Quick
307
 Change, Limits: Persistent Flaw: tattoo on right arm),
Precognition (Danger Sense)
Limits: None
Gear: Padded Armor w/ Lt. Combat Armor chest
plate, Short Sword, Sniper Rifle, 3 Explosive Bolas
The Gang Boss
Even in a world of superheroes there is ordinary crime,
and the Gang Boss sits at the head of some criminal
faction within the city. This villain may have lofty
ambitions, but his sights aren’t set on world domination
or rampant destruction. The Gang Boss instead seeks to
rule his own section of the city, or wants to sit at the head
of all of the underworld within his turf. Gang Bosses are
clever and they are capable leaders, able to draw in
other criminals to their Organization. They are also
often cruel and ruthless, willing to destroy their foes and
crush anyone who dares oppose their plans. While most
of them are ordinary people, some Gang Bosses have
special powers or abilities that aided in their rise to the
top and help to keep them there. The “ordinary” Gang
Boss makes for an interesting change of pace for games
that focus almost entirely on supervillains.
quickly discovered a very different world. He began to rebuild
his gang from the dregs of the Ossuary, and even though his
clockwork tech was still very advanced, he struggled to grasp
the advances of the last century. Professor Poe and his Brass
Band remain a force to be reckoned with in the criminal
underworld, working as mercenaries for the Dallo mob and
committing thefts to acquire new tech to advance their archaic
cybernetics, an advancement that could prove a powerful
opponent to all the heroes of Gemelos.
• C.O.P. Alert: Upgrades: Through his contacts in the mob,
Professor Poe learns about a shipment of experimental
cybernetics coming to Iaso Healthcare’s R&D branch in the
Crown. He sends his five lieutenants along with several rank-
and-file members of the Brass Band to retrieve the shipment
so he can try to integrate the technology into their steampunk-
era replacement parts. The R&D department is part of one of
Iaso’s hospitals, and the Brass Band is not known for their
caution when it comes to civilian casualties. Can the heroes
stop the gang from stealing the shipment, and what will the
Brass Band do to the innocent staff and patients to ensure the
heroes won’t be able to stop them?
Professor poe
STR: 6 Action Points: 3

PROFESSOR POE (Villain, Technology) CON: 10 Damage Modifier: -1d2

SIZ: 12 Power Points: 22

Near the dawn of the 20th century, Gemelos City grew in leaps DEX: 6 Movement: 3m

and bounds, and for many, Aletheia University was quickly INT: 22 Initiative Bonus: +14

becoming the pinnacle of education on the West Coast. The POW: 20 Healing Rate: 2

university only hired the brightest minds to teach in their CHA: 17 Luck Points: 4

hallowed halls, and Mortimer Poe was among the most Armor: Armored chassis

esteemed professors there. A genius in engineering and design,

he was at the forefront of medical technology for his day, and Hit Locations
pioneered some amazing clockwork devices to replace lost or
damaged body parts. What few knew was that the good 1d20 Location AP/HP
Professor was also one of the most devious criminals in Gemelos 1-3 Right Rear Legs 3/6

City. Professor Poe was the head of the Brass Band, one of the 4-6 Left Rear Legs 3/6

most dangerous gangs in the city, and his men frequently 7-9 Right Front Legs 3/6

clashed with the Coachman. It was on one of these occasions 10-12 Left Front Legs 3/6

that a fire broke out and the Professor was caught in the blaze. 13-15 Body 6/8

With extensive burns all across his body, the Professor barely 16-18 Manipulator Arm 4/5

clung to life, instructing his most loyal lieutenants to preserve 19-20 Dome 6/7

his brilliant brain in a special device of his own creation. While

Professor Poe still technically lived, the trauma of the ordeal Combat Style
snapped his mind and he became obsessed with turning his
Brain Damage: 55% (Baton, Blaster Pistol, Blaster Rifle, Club,
gang into clockwork creations like himself.
Swords), Unarmed 45%

Over the next few years the Professor and his Brass Band
battled the Coachman many times, but the Victorian hero Attacks
always managed to defeat them. Knowing he would eventually
be caught, Professor Poe and his most loyal followers entered Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3-1d2 (+1 with
into a state of cryogenic sleep, hoping when they woke that a
Energy Field)
new world ripe for the plundering would be waiting for them.
Tesla Gun H 30/100/300 2d6+2
The Professor emerged from his long sleep a few years ago and
308
 Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 65%, Craft
(Clockwork) 110%, Culture (Underworld) 80%,
Deceit 70%, Drive 50%, Electronics 95%,
Endurance 65%, Evade 50%, Influence 85%,
Insight 70%, Knowledge (History) 75%,
Mechanisms 95%, Medicine 85%, Perception
70%, Research 85%, Science (Biology) 75%,
Stealth 45%, System Ops 65%, Willpower 80%
Passions: Gain Control of the Underworld
75%, Acquire Modern Technology 65%, Get a
New Body 80%
Core Powers: Energy Field (Galvanic Pulse
1d12: Energy Flare, Fast Field), Force Field
(Kinetic Aegis: Bolster, Fire Point), Inherent
Armor (Armor Up), Life Support (No
Breathing, No Sleep, No Sustenance, Vacuum),
Resistance (Ballistic, Edged Weapons), Savant
(Craft: Clockwork, Electronics, Mechanisms:
Parallel Knowledge, Limit: Skill Deficiency:
Brawn, Stealth), Telepathy (Party Line, Limit:
Mental Overload)
Limits: Distinctive Appearance (Brain in a Jar),
Impaired Recovery (Only can recover Power
Points while attached to source of electricity),
Physical Limitation (No sense of smell, taste, or
touch; impaired movement)
Gear: Integrated Tesla Gun (Blaster Rifle)

The nefarious Professor Poe and his Brass Band minions

Poe’s Henchmen have been a threat to the city since the 19th century.
Though now reduced to a brain in a jar, Poe has lost none
Bowery Boy (Minor Villain, Technology) of his cunning and malice.

As the second-in-command of the Brass Band, Bowery Boy Hit Locations

serves as the field leader for the gang. Like all the original
members of the gang who followed Professor Poe into the 1d20 Location AP/HP
present, not much is known about who Bowery Boy was in the 1-3 Right Leg 2/6

past. He appears to have some military training and is far more 4-6 Left Leg 2/6

disciplined than his compatriots. The Professor fitted him with 7-9 Abdomen 3/7

powerful Tesla coils that allow Bowery Boy to generate deadly 10-12 Chest 4/8

blasts of electricity, which he uses to great effect against anyone 13-15 Right Arm 2/5

crossing his path. 16-18 Left Arm 2/5

19-20 Head 3/6

Bowery Boy
STR: 12 Action Points: 3
Combat Style
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: - Shock and Awe 70% (Club, Heavy Pistol, Knife, Powers, Shotgun),
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 15 Unarmed 60%

DEX: 13 Movement: 6m
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +13 (+11 with armor)
POW: 15 Healing Rate: 3
Attacks
CHA: 12 Luck Points: 3 Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Armor: Copper-plated armor with padded Unarmed S - 1d3 (+1 with
leather Energy Field)
Lightning Blast L 14/-/- 1d10
Metal Pipe M - 1d6 (+1 with
Energy Weapons)
309
 Destined

Skills: Athletics 60%, Brawn 55%, Culture Attacks

(Underworld) 65%, Deceit 60%, Drive 55%,
Endurance 70%, Evade 60%, Gambling 65%, Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d4
Influence 65%, Insight 60%, Intimidation 60%,
Cannon Shot M 14/42/140 1d8
Perception 70%, Ride 70%, Stealth 60%, Streetwise
Cannon Club M - 1d8+1d2
65%, Willpower 65%
Passions: Follow Professor Poe 70%, Let People Know
I’m in Charge 75%, Protect Short Tail 60% Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 70%, Deceit 45%,
Core Powers: Blast (Lightning Blast: Armor Piercing, Demolitions 70%, Drive 50%, Endurance 70%, Evade
Ongoing Damage, Limit: Short Range), Energy Field 50%, Influence 40%, Insight 45%, Intimidation 60%,
(Shock Field 1d4, Energy Weapons, Limit: Reactive Perception 50%, Stealth 55%, Willpower 50%
Field), Resistance (Electricity: Absorption, Immunity, Passions: Follow Professor Poe 75%, Blast Anything in
Limit: Living Bomb) My Way 70%, Act Before Thinking 65%
Limits: Vulnerability (Water) Core Powers: Blast (Cannon Shot: Detonate, Limit:
Gear: Copper Plated Armor with padded leather, Inaccurate), Close Combat Attack (Cannon Club,
Metal Pipe (Club) Quick Draw, Limit: Slow)
Limits: Physical Limitation (No use of right hand)
Plug Ugly (Minor Villain, Technology) Gear: Brass-plated armor with padded leather

Although he is not the brightest of the Brass Band, Plug Ugly Short Tail (Minor Villain, Training)
makes up for it with a pathological love of destruction. His
right arm was replaced with a small clockwork cannon that he While it might seem progressive that Professor Poe had a
uses to great effect and without any concern for the collateral woman in his inner circle back in Victorian times, when you get
damage he inflicts. The other members of the Brass Band have to know Short Tail you quickly learn why he wanted her on his
learned to point Plug Ugly at their foes and let him blast away side and not against him. She is a skilled and vicious up-close
at whatever is in his path. fighter, using the ball and chain attached to her left arm to
great effect. She seems to have some deeper connection to
Plug Ugly Bowery Boy, and the two of them work very effectively together
in combat.
STR: 14 Action Points: 3
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
SIZ: 15 Power Points: 14
Short Tail
DEX: 14 Movement: 6m STR: 14 Action Points: 3
INT: 8 Initiative Bonus: +11 (+8 with armor) CON: 12 Damage Modifier: +1d2
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 3 SIZ: 12 Power Points: 13
CHA: 10 Luck Points: 3 DEX: 15 Movement: 6m
Armor: Brass plated armor with padded leather INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +14 (+12 with armor)
POW: 13 Healing Rate: 2
CHA: 12 Luck Points: 3
Hit Locations Armor: Brass plated armor with padded leather
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 2/6
4-6 Left Leg 2/6
Hit Locations
7-9 Abdomen 3/7 1d20 Location AP/HP
10-12 Chest 4/8 1-3 Right Leg 2/5
13-15 Cannon Arm 5/7 4-6 Left Leg 2/5
16-18 Left Arm 2/5 7-9 Abdomen 3/6
19-20 Head 2/6 10-12 Chest 4/7
13-15 Right Arm 2/4
16-18 Left Arm 4/4
Combat Style 19-20 Head 2/5
Assault and Battery: 70% (Club, Heavy Pistol, Heavy Weapons, Rifle,
Thrown Weapons), Unarmed 70%
Combat Style
Old Ball and Chain 75% (Chain, Club, Light Pistol, Shotgun, Whip),
Unarmed 65%

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 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Attacks Combat Style

Attack Size/Force Range Damage Brigadier Butcher: 80% (Axe, Cleaver, Club, Shotgun, Thrown
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2 Weapons), Unarmed 75%
Ball & Chain L 2m 1d6+1d2
Sawed-off Shotgun H 20/-/- 3d6
Attacks
Skills: Acrobatics 65%, Athletics 70%, Brawn 65%, Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d6
Deceit 60%, Drive 60%, Endurance 65%, Evade 70%,
Cleaver L - 1d10+1d6
Influence 60%, Insight 60%, Perception 60%, Ride
65%, Stealth 65%, Track 60%, Willpower 60%
Passions: Follow Professor Poe 65%, No Mercy to My Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 85%, Deceit 40%, Drive
Foes 75%, Keep Bowery Boy Safe 70% 40%, Endurance 75%, Evade 50%, Influence 45%,
Core Powers: Close Combat Attack (Ball and Chain: Insight 45%, Intimidation 75%, Perception 55%,
Quick Draw, Weapon Traits: Entangle, Reach x2, Stealth 50%, Survival 65%, Willpower 65%
Limit: Poor Defense), Combat Expert (Reach, Expert Passions: Follow Professor Poe 85%, Never Flinch or
Strike, Limit: Signature Weapon: Ball and Chain) React 75%, Destroy Anything in My Way 65%
Limits: Physical Limitation (No use of left hand) Gear: Core Powers: Combat Expert (Bleeding Attack),
Brass plated armor with padded leather, Sawed-off Enhanced Body (Limit: No bonus to movement),
Shotgun Inherent Armor (Stand Fast, Limit: Bulky)
Limits: Physical Limitation (Mute)
Slaughter House (Minor Villain, Technology) Gear: Giant Cleaver

Mute and massive, Slaughter House seems like something out
of your worst nightmare or the scariest horror movie. He towers
over his compatriots and his body is covered with strange tubes
that continuously pump glowing liquid into his muscles. His
skin has also been fused with steel plating, making him
extremely durable. If that weren’t bad enough, he carries a meat
cleaver nearly as tall as he is that he uses to great effect. Even
fellow gang members steer clear of Slaughter House in battle.
Slaughter House
Swamp Angel (Minor Villain, Training)
Neither crude nor crass - unlike most members of the Brass
Band - Swamp Angel moves with surprising grace and poise.
In footage I’ve seen of him, he speaks eloquently and seems like
an educated man, so he seems out of place among the rest of
Professor Poe’s crew. But for all his noble bearing, he can be
just as deadly and he uses his grace to great effect when on a
job. In addition to being a skilled thief, he uses a long gaff hook
during fights to unbalance his enemies or vault over them.

STR: 18 Action Points: 3

CON: 16 Damage Modifier: +1d6
Swamp Angel
SIZ: 16 Power Points: 12 STR: 13 Action Points: 3
DEX: 11 Movement: 6m CON: 12 Damage Modifier: -
INT: 9 Initiative Bonus: +10 (+7 with armor) SIZ: 11 Power Points: 13
POW: 12 Healing Rate: 3 DEX: 15 Movement: 6m
CHA: 8 Luck Points: 2 INT: 13 Initiative Bonus: +21 (+20 with armor)
Armor: Integrated Steel Plating POW: 13 Healing Rate: 2
CHA: 13 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Padded Leather Armor
Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 6/8
Hit Locations
4-6 Left Leg 6/8 1d20 Location AP/HP
7-9 Abdomen 6/9 1-3 Right Leg 2/5
10-12 Chest 6/10 4-6 Left Leg 2/5
13-15 Right Arm 6/7 7-9 Abdomen 2/6
16-18 Left Arm 6/7 10-12 Chest 2/7
19-20 Head 6/8 13-15 Right Arm 2/4
16-18 Left Arm 2/4
19-20 Head 2/5

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 Destined
Combat Style
Hook or Crook 70% (Club, Gaff Hook, Knife, Spear, Staff), Unarmed
65%
Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed M - 1d4+1
Gaff Hook L 2m 1d8+1
Throwing Blade S 5/10/20 1d4
Skills: Acrobatics 75%, Athletics 70%, Brawn 55%,
Courtesy 65%, Deceit 65%, Drive 65%, Endurance
60%, Evade 70%, Influence 65%, Insight 75%,
Mechanisms 70%, Perception 60%, Perform (Dance)
75%, Sleight 70%, Stealth 70%, Willpower 65%
Passions: Follow Professor Poe 60%, Charm and Poise
70%, Self-Preservation Over Loyalty 70%
Core Powers: Combat Expert (Reach, Throwing,
Unarmed, Expert Strike, Precise Strike), Enhanced
Reactions (Nimble, Parkour, Limit: Overwhelmed)
Limits: None
Gear: Padded Leather Armor, Gaff Hook (treat as
Spear with Entangle Trait), 10 Throwing Blades
The Controller
Some villains want financial power, others want literal
power, and then there are those that crave power over
other people. The Controller has powers that allow him
to bend the will of others to his own, and he uses other
people like tools to get what he wants. The most
common form of the Controller possesses mind-control
abilities and can literally strip victims of their will, but
Controllers who hijack emotions or use illusions to trick
and manipulate can be just as dangerous. In comics,
Controllers often use their powers to get others to steal
for them or act as unwitting assassins, which can be
disturbing in its own right, but the Games Master must
be careful in how Controllers use their victims
(especially player characters), as some themes may
evoke discomfort in your players.
The Programmer (Villain, Technology)
Some researchers compare the human brain to a computer as a
way of helping to explain an organ that we are still trying to
fully understand. The villain known as the Programmer took
this analogy to heart and devised a way to hack into others’
brains to gain control of them so they can act as his unwilling
minions. He does this through advanced technology that he
integrated into his own body through implants and cybernetics,
establishing control through the victim’s own technology. So
someone on their cell phone or a worker on a laptop can have
312
their mind invaded and taken over if the Programmer wishes,
and then wake up kilometers away with no idea how they got
there and what they did during the missing time. Insidious and
devious, he is an extremely dangerous criminal in our
technologically advanced and dependent world.
Before he became the Programmer, Linus Pascal was a
computer engineer and software developer for Archimedes
Computing, considered one of their best. From what I’ve
learned in interviews with those who knew him, he egotistically
believed he could lead the company better than Edwin Shore.
When his boss got wind of what he was saying, Pascal was cut
loose, accused of stealing ideas from their internal development
team and passing them off as his own. Whether this was true or
not is still not known, but the accusations snapped Pascal’s
mind. He modified himself using technologies stolen from other
tech companies, further unhinging his mind. Through it all,
his hatred of Edwin Shore has remained, and Archimedes
remains the primary target of his criminal endeavors.
• C.O.P. Alert: Take Me Out to the Ballgame: During their
annual ‘Make Some Noise’ night, the Cabezon baseball team
gives out 5,000 pairs of wireless earbuds to the first fans
through the gates, all emblazoned with the team logo. During
the game, everyone wearing them gets access to a special feed
of music, announcements, and clues for a special giveaway
that takes place after the sixth inning. It’s one of their most
popular giveaways, and during any season when the team is
in a slump, it’s a great promotion to boost ticket sales.
Unfortunately, this year the Programmer hijacked the
shipment and added his own special touches to the earbuds,
allowing him full access to their systems so he can transmit his
diabolical control signal to all the wearers. His plan is to wait
until the sixth inning, and then activate the devices and
instruct his unwitting puppets to begin tearing the stadium
apart, lashing out at other attendees, and then run out into
the streets to cause as much chaos and destruction as possible,
all leading up to a coordinated attack on Archimedes
Computing. Perhaps the characters or someone they know are
at the game, and may even be wearing a pair of the earbuds.
Can they stop the berserk baseball fans before they cause too
much harm, and is the plot a ruse by the Programmer to
misdirect law enforcement from his real crime?
The Programmer
STR: 11 Action Points: 3
CON: 12 Damage Modifier: -
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 18
DEX: 12 Movement: 6m
INT: 16 Initiative Bonus: +14
POW: 16 Healing Rate: 2
CHA: 12 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Polyweave Uniform
 Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 1/6
4-6 Left Leg 1/6
7-9 Abdomen 1/7
10-12 Chest 1/8
13-15 Right Arm 1/5
16-18 Left Arm 1/5
19-20 Head 1/6

Combat Style
System Crash: 55% (Baton, Club, Light Pistol, Heavy Pistol, Taser),
Unarmed 55%

Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3

Skills: Athletics 45%, Brawn 50%, Computers 90%,

Culture (Online) 80%, Deceit 75%, Drive 55%,
Electronics 90%, Endurance 50%, Evade 50%,
Influence 85%, Insight 80%, Mechanisms 70%,
Perception 70%, Perform (Acting) 65%, System Ops
85%, Willpower 80%
Passions: Archimedes Computing Must Pay 80%, My
Will Trumps Free Will 75%, Prove How Clever I Am
75%
Core Powers: Empathy (Emotion Control, Global
Empathy, Read the Room, Limit: Conditional: target
must be in proximity to technology), Heightened
Sense (Esoteric: Cellular, Wi-Fi), Savant (Computers,
Electronics, System Ops; Instant Specialization),
Telepathy (Gestalt Mind, Mind Control, Mind Probe,
Party Line, Limits: Mental Overload, Conditional:
target must be in proximity to technology)
Limits: Omnipower (Empathy & Telepathy)
Gear: Polyweave uniform, wrist computer
The Adversary
Standing above other villains, the Adversary is a threat
on a scale far beyond common bank robbers or evil
geniuses. The Adversary seeks domination or
destruction on a vast scale, serving some goal that often
only makes sense in the supervillain’s twisted mind.
Unfortunately, the Adversary has the power and
resources to make good on his threat, and often is
capable of taking on and defeating multiple foes without
breaking a sweat. The Adversary often serves as the
ultimate villain of the campaign, manipulating events
behind the scenes until he is revealed or emerging to
upend everything else in his bid for total domination.
Over millennia, the Superslayer has hunted
many of humanity’s greatest champions. Even
the mightiest heroes fear this horror of the
ancient world, and few stand a chance against it.
The Superslayer (Archvillain, Inherent)
Many of my theories have been discounted by other researchers
into the Extranormal phenomenon, just like how many
institutions don’t acknowledge the online degrees I offer
through my website. But what I have uncovered about the
source of the destruction of the ancient Extranormals may
change how we view the history of our powered ancestors. The
last account of an Extranormal in ancient times was
approximately 1,400 years ago, but prior to that they had been
disappearing at an alarming rate. As many of them have fallen
into the realm of myth and legend, it has been difficult to piece
together what exactly happened to them. Some theorists believe
that the genes that gave them their gifts had a “half-life” of
sorts, leading to terminal genetic abnormalities that eventually
killed them. Others believe that the rulers of the world grew
jealous of their gifts and had the great heroes of legend slain to
prevent them from being a threat. While I believe some of the
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 Destined

deaths can be accounted for by these theories, I posit something vowed to hunt down anyone affected by his mistake. This is the
else killed them: an Extranormal with powers beyond any that scenario reflected in the Passions and Skills of the Superslayer
was ever known. A Superslayer. below.

I first found mention of this being on a scroll dating back to • He is an extremely powerful Extranormal who was also
the Ubaid II period of Mesopotamia, which referred to a great gifted with immortality. In ancient times he sought to prove
warrior who wore a heavy iron helm shaped like the maw of a that he was the strongest warrior in the world, so he fought
dragon. This ‘Iron Dragon’ was said to have fought the great and killed all the other powered people to extinction, going
god Marduk and slain him on the steps of his own temple with into a deep slumber until more worthy adversaries appeared.
a bronze spear. Digging further, I found more accounts of this
strange warrior in other places: battling Beowulf in the icy • There was not one Superslayer, but many over several
forests of Scandinavia, wrestling Heracles as pillars toppled generations. A cabal of powerful ancient leaders discovered
around them, catching an arrow from Freya before hurling it the true source of Extranormals, and while for some reason
back into her chest. He is considered to be the greatest warrior they couldn’t use it to grant themselves powers, they could use
of all time, and seemingly timeless because stories of him can be it to create a champion to slay anyone they deemed a threat to
found stretching back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. their rule. As a new generation of heroes rises, this cabal has
From what I can gather, he is said to be a massive man who is returned and created a new champion to exterminate all who
never seen without his helmet. No one ever saw his face, but possess the Godstrand.
some stories describe him with skin of either blue or gray. He is
a capable warrior, able to wield nearly any weapon with lethal The Superslayer
accuracy, and he has the strength to toss trees like spears, and
STR: 27 Action Points: 3
skin so hard that arrows and swords bounce off it. A truly
CON: 24 Damage Modifier: +1d8+1d6
magnificent being, and despite what my colleagues say, one I
SIZ: 22 Power Points: 30
believe existed outside of myth. I theorize that he stalked and
DEX: 19 Movement: 8m
hunted down nearly all the ancient Extranormals,
INT: 14 Initiative Bonus: +20
exterminating them for some unknown reason. It is fortunate
POW: 25 Healing Rate: 7
for the current generation that no account of this Superslayer
CHA: 11 Luck Points: 5
has been found since 612 AD, so they can rest easy knowing he
Armor: Tough Skin
won’t be coming for them anytime soon.

• C.O.P. Alert: Rise of the Superslayer: The last recorded Hit Locations
sighting of the Superslayer is believed to be part of the epic tale
1d20 Location AP/HP
of Beowulf, wherein the “dragon” that slew the great hero was
1-3 Right Leg 8/17
in reality the Iron Dragon persona of the villain. The
4-6 Left Leg 8/17
Superslayer has been in a state of suspended animation for
7-9 Abdomen 8/18
centuries, waiting for a time when heroes once again begin to
10-12 Chest 8/19
arise, so he can resume his extermination of their kind. Just as
13-15 Right Arm 8/16
the characters begin their careers, the Superslayer rouses from
16-18 Left Arm 8/16
his long slumber and starts to gather his strength to begin a
19-20 Head 8/17
new crusade against all of those who gained powers during
The Awakening.
Combat Style
The Superslayer is meant to be a villain that is far beyond the
Slayer 110% (Axe, Bow, Club, Spear, Sword), Unarmed 90%
Power Level of even the strongest heroes, and only good
planning, teamwork, and research can give the characters a
chance of defeating him. His origins and the motivations for
his hunt are left for the Games Master to decide. Here are Attacks
some possible options as to who the Superslayer is and why he
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
hunts down the powered:
Unarmed L - 1d4+1d8+1d6+1
Slayer Spear E 2m 2d8+1d8+1d6
• He is an alien being who crash-landed on Earth just as
humanity was starting to establish itself as a civilized people.
Something from his ship leaked into the atmosphere and
changed the DNA of certain individuals, giving rise to the
first generations of ancient powered beings. Feeling
responsible for the mutation of humanity, the Superslayer
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 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable
Skills: Acrobatics 75%, Athletics 85%, Brawn 110%,
Craft (Weaponry) 75%, Deceit 60%, Drive 40%,
Endurance 85%, Evade 80%, Influence 70%, Insight
75%, Intimidation 95%, Knowledge (Extranormals)
75%, Perception 85%, Pilot 65%, Ride 75%, Stealth
70%, Survival 95%, System Ops 60%, Track 85%,
Willpower 90%
Passions: All Afflicted with the Godstrand Must Die
90%, Humanity Must Be Pure of Mutation 80%, No
Rest Until the Mission is Done 75%
Core Powers: Close Combat Attack (Slayer Spear:
Armor Piercing, Quick Draw, Ranged Parry, Weapon
Traits: Defensive, Reach 2), Combat Expert (Duelist,
Grappling, Impaling Attack, Improvised, Pinning
Attack, Reach, Throwing, Unarmed; Expert Strike,
Ready for Action, Limit: Signature Weapon: Slayer
Spear). Enhanced Reactions (Additional Reactions),
Enhanced Strength (Clobber, Power Lift, Super Leap),
Heightened Sense (Hearing, Sight, Esoteric:
Godstrand, Tracking Sense), Inherent Armor (Armor
Up, Nigh Invulnerability, Stand Fast), Life Support
(Aging), Negation (Additional Powers, Energy Drain,
Limits: Conditional: only on targets with Godstrand,
Linked: Close Combat Attack), Precognition (Danger
Sense), Regeneration (Reptilian Regeneration),
Resistance (Ballistic, Bludgeoning, Cold, Cutting, Fire,
Electricity, Piercing)
Limits: Impaired Recovery, Vulnerability (Radiation)
Gear: Slayer Spear
The Loyal Lieutenant
The Loyal Lieutenant is not the master villain, but
serves a villain he believes is greater or more capable
than himself. Lieutenants believe their role is to bring
about the plans of their master, often serving as muscle
or as a field operative while the main villain devises
plans and strategies. The Loyal Lieutenant may actually
be more powerful than the one he serves, and if he
decides to turn on his master, could easily destroy them.
But something keeps him in the service of the master
villain. It may be a sense of duty, extensive
brainwashing, or blind fanaticism, but turning the
Lieutenant away from his master is nearly impossible
and he will give anything to protect the one he pledged
his loyalty to.
Typhon (Villain, Experimentation)
Of all the monstrous mutated X-Ns appearing in the Ossuary
as of late, Typhon is one of the most dangerous because he is not
a berserk savage or a mindless beast. He is exceptionally
intelligent and very capable, and he possesses extremely
dangerous powers that he uses to great effect. When he
surfaces, he strikes quickly and has a set goal in mind, then
somehow vanishes back wherever he came from, leaving only
destruction in his wake. In speaking to law enforcement, his
attacks seem to have a purpose, but it is difficult to discern his
exact goal. He steals equipment, assassinates people with no
link to each other, and kidnaps others with no visible pattern,
but they believe there is some endgame Typhon has in mind.
Unfortunately, only he knows his ultimate plan.
Typhon is physically imposing, standing taller than the
tallest player on the Kingfishers, and moves faster than his size
would seemingly allow. His appearance is clearly inhuman,
with a bestial visage and a mane of writhing tentacles cresting
his shoulders and back. He possesses tremendous strength and
is said to be a very skilled combatant, suggesting some military
experience. Also, he can generate deadly beams of energy from
his eyes. His mutations seem almost purposeful, and I believe
that he was created with some level of intention. While Typhon
is very clever, I also suspect he may be working with another
criminal who directs his actions. The idea that Typhon works for
someone even more devious is a frightening prospect for all of
Gemelos City.
• C.O.P. Alert: Mother’s Little Helper: As Dr. Echidna’s
right-hand man, Typhon works to further her research by
obtaining valuable equipment and test subjects. He also
destroys anyone who is a potential threat to her, a part of his
job that he thoroughly enjoys. He is also bound to her by the
unstable nature of his artificial Godstrand mutations, and his
need for a special stabilization serum keeps him on a short
leash. While it may seem that Typhon is at Echidna’s mercy, he
is slavishly loyal to her and would be willing to lay down his
life for her. She only sends him out on the most important
missions, and as a direct link to her plans he would be vital to
the heroes’ learning about what Pandora Pharmaceuticals is
really doing. A few possible missions he could be encountered
on include:
• Iaso Healthcare recently developed an experimental genetic
extractor that would be invaluable in Echidna’s research, and
Typhon is sent to their R&D facility to steal it.
• Typhon is often sent out to kidnap people who possess the
Godstrand so they can be used as test subjects and harvested
for their genetic material. Perhaps the heroes encounter a
young X-N on the run from Typhon.
• A reporter for the Gemelos Herald has been researching the
mysterious labs that have been popping up in the Ossuary and
uncovers a tenuous tie to Pandora. Typhon is sent out to
silence the reporter before he can dig deeper.
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 Destined

Typhon of pure greed, out of obsession for a particular type of

prize, or simply for the thrill and the challenge.
STR: 17 Action Points: 3
Whatever the reason, the Thief is good at what she
CON: 18 Damage Modifier: +1d12
does, possessing skills and powers that enhance her
SIZ: 20 Power Points: 18
ability to avoid detection and slip into the most secure
DEX: 15 Movement: 48m
locations. Some of them are criminals through and
INT: 14 Initiative Bonus: +23
through, willing to do whatever it takes to get what they
POW: 16 Healing Rate: 3
want. Others have personal codes of honor or more
CHA: 14 Luck Points: 3
altruistic motivations, such as stealing to help the
Armor: Scaly Hide
impoverished, or working to take down a corrupt
corporation. Even if their motives are true, Thieves still
Hit Locations break the law to accomplish their goals, which often
puts them at odds with the heroes.
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 8/12
Vagabond (Villain, Mutation)
4-6 Left Leg 8/12
7-9 Abdomen 8/13
It embarrasses me to admit this, but I have a bit of a crush on
10-12 Chest 8/13
a supervillain. The first time I saw Vagabond, it was during
13-15 Right Arm 8/11
her legendary robbery of the museum where she managed to
16-18 Left Arm 8/11
disarm all the guards, dance with three patrons, and make off
19-20 Head 8/12
with one of the most valuable diamonds in the world, all while
dodging the police officers trying to nab her. Not a single person
Combat Style was hurt in her heist, and the museum’s insurance policy
Monstrous Fury: 85% (Axe, Blaster Rifle, Club, Powers, Thrown
covered the loss. Now, I know that doesn’t justify her actions,
Weapons), Unarmed 90% but her frivolity and laughter during the whole thing was
infectious. In fact every job she has pulled has been done with
the same panache and sense of fun, and aside from some
Attacks bruised egos, no one is ever harmed. I know I’m not alone in
Attack Size/Force Range Damage my crush, and I’ll be a little sad the day she’s finally captured.
Unarmed L - 1d4+1d12+1
Laser Eyes L 18/54/180 1d12 Vagabond has the ability to create short-range portals,
allowing her to access nearly anything as long as she can see it.
Skills: Acrobatics 65%, Athletics 75%, Brawn 75%, She’s very skilled at using these portals, dodging out of the way
Deceit 65%, Demolitions 75%, Drive 65%, Endurance of bullets as easily as she jumps across the room with her prize.
80%, Evade 70%, Influence 60%, Insight 65%, I’ve even seen her use them offensively, sending guards away if
Intimidation 75%, Perception 65%, Pilot 65%, Stealth they get too close, or redirecting bullets fired at her by the police.
70%, System Ops 65%, Track 70%, Willpower 60% She is also a highly skilled acrobat, and at times tries to commit
Passions: Advance Godstrand Research By Any Means her thefts without her portals just to prove her skills. It seems
70%, Loyalty to Echidna 90%, Let No Harm Befall My that her heists are done more for the thrill than for the actual
Master 85% objects she steals. I know it’s still not right, but I can’t help but
Core Powers: Adhesion (Expert Grappler, Sudden feel excitement when I hear of her latest appearance.
Stop), Blast (Laser Eyes: Armor Piercing), Combat
Expert (Grappling, Unarmed), Durability, Enhanced • C.O.P. Alert: Thieves in the Night: The heroes get word
Reactions (Additional Reactions, Parkour), Enhanced from one of their street contacts that there is a glitch in the new
Speed (Hyper Action, Speed Charge, Limit: Jogger), security system at the Mattas Museum of Natural History; the
Enhanced Strength (Super Leap, Limit: Focused glitch shuts down the alarms for one minute at 2AM each
Strength), Inherent Armor night and for another minute at 2:15AM. While this limited-
Limits: Fatal Flaw (Must have injections of mutagen time window would not be opportunistic to most thieves,
serum every 4 hours), Impaired Recovery (Can only Vagabond would have no trouble taking advantage of the
recover in Echidna’s lab) glitch and sees it as a fun challenge. Unfortunately, a crew of
expert burglars also learns about the glitch and plans to hit
the museum on the same night as Vagabond. These criminals
The Thief have no objections to violence, so the heroes will need to
contend with them while also worrying about Vagabond
The motivations of the Thief are simple: take whatever taking what she wants from the museum’s valuable collection
they desire from those who own it. They may do it out of rare gems.
316
 Vagabond
STR: 12 Action Points: 3
CON: 15 Damage Modifier: -
SIZ: 12 Power Points: 18
DEX: 22 Movement: 6m, 20m Portal
INT: 18 Initiative Bonus: +29
POW: 16 Healing Rate: 3
CHA: 20 Luck Points: 6
Armor: Polyweave Costume

Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 1/7
4-6 Left Leg 1/7
7-9 Abdomen 1/8
10-12 Chest 1/9
13-15 Right Arm 1/6
16-18 Left Arm 1/6
19-20 Head 1/7

Combat Style
Heartbreaker: 70% (Baton, Bola, Light Pistol, Staff, Throwing Knife),
Unarmed 75%

Attacks
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed M - 1d4+1
Trick Bola M 10/25/50 1d4+special
The alien sorcerer Xaal was banished to Earth
Throwing Knife S 5/10/20 1d4
from another dimension. A master of the foulest
kinds of black magic, he ceaselessly plots to
Skills: Acrobatics 95%, Athletics 85%, Brawn 55%, enslave the people of Gemelos City.
Culture (High Society, Underworld) 75%, Deceit 85%,
Demolitions 55%, Drive 65%, Electronics 65%,
Endurance 65%, Evade 85%, Forgery 85%, Gambling
80%, Influence 80%, Insight 80%, Mechanisms 90%, The Warlock
Perception 80%, Perform (Acting) 75%, Perform
(Dance) 105%, Research 80%, Seduction 80%, Sleight Whether magic is real or not in the setting, the Warlock
110%, Stealth 95%, Willpower 80% believes with conviction that his powers are derived
Passions: Always Enjoy Life 75%, The Thrill Is in the from arcane sources. Warlocks wear the trappings of
Challenge 75%, What’s Yours Should Be Mine 80% the mystic arts, and seek ways to increase their already
Core Powers: Combat Expert (Pinning Attack, potent abilities through the acquisition of strange
Throwing, Unarmed), Enhanced Reactions artifacts, ancient texts, and forbidden rites. Of all the
(Additional Reactions, Nimble, Parkour, Superior villains here, the Warlock is the one most likely to be
Balance, Limit: Impulsive), Lucky (Bad Penny, motivated by the acquisition of personal power, even at
Environmental Editing, Limit: Black Cat), the cost of his immortal soul, or the souls of others after
Precognition (Danger Sense), Savant (Mechanisms, unleashing some terrible horror upon the world.
Sleight, Stealth), Portals (Quick Jump, Far Reach [see Warlocks often traffic with powerful entities that have
page 79], Full Stop, Persistent Portals) their own designs and plans, and they are usually
Limits: None served by mystical creatures such as the undead,
Gear: Polyweave Costume, 5 Trick Bolas (2 Flashbang, demons, or alien horrors from beyond the stars.
2 Taser), 10 Throwing Knives, climbing kit, lockpicks,
glass cutter
317
 Destined

Xaal (Archvillain, Mystical) Hit Locations

The existence of magic in the world is hotly debated by other 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 6/8
scholars of the Extranormal phenomenon, and I was once
4-6 Left Leg 6/8
among the ranks of the disbelievers. I’d meet so-called wizards
7-9 Abdomen 6/9
who used high-tech chicanery or sleight of hand, or sorceresses
10-12 Chest 6/10
who believed their Godstrand-invoked gifts were paranormal.
13-14 Right Upper Arm 6/7
Then I had the misfortune of being present when the villain
15 Right Lower Arm 6/7
Xaal emerged into our world, and my beliefs were shaken to the
16-17 Left Upper Arm 6/7
core. Xaal allegedly crossed over from another dimension where
18 Left Lower Arm 6/7
he was a would-be conqueror of his own people. Unsuccessful
19-20 Head 6/8
at gaining power in his own world, he found ours while fleeing
from the heroes of his realm. On Earth he found a new place to
reshape into his own kingdom, but unfortunately for us that Combat Style
place is Gemelos City.
Arcane Strike: 70% (Baton, Knife, Powers, Staff, Whip), Unarmed
55%
Xaal wields an array of potent abilities that appear to be
some form of magic, and he casts his deadly spells through a
series of gestures that trace glowing symbols in the air. I Attacks
personally saw him shoot a blast of lightning at a police car
before floating into the sky on a platform of energy, and I’ve Attack Size/Force Range Damage
Unarmed S - 1d3+1d2
heard accounts of him summoning demons, disappearing into
Blast H 14/42/140 2d10
thin air, and creating solid matter from nothing at all. His
alien and unnerving appearance sends shudders down the
spine of anyone who sees him; his extra set of arms and skull- Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 55%, Craft (Arcane
like visage clearly identify him as something not from this Implements) 90%, Culture (Occult) 95%, Deceit 70%,
world. Thankfully his dreams of conquest have been thwarted Drive 35%, Endurance 65%, Evade 60%, Influence 75%,
so far, but Xaal is crafty and stubborn and I suspect he’ll not Insight 75%, Knowledge (Mythology) 85%, Knowledge
rest until our world is under his control. (Occult) 95%, Perception 80%, Willpower 85%
Passions: All Arcane Power Must Be Mine 70%, I
• C.O.P. Alert: Strange Magic: Xaal detests the modern Deserve to Rule 85%, Obtain Power at Any Cost 75%
world of Earth, wishing it was more like the simpler realm he Core Powers: Blast (Arcane Blast: Detonate, Salvo),
originally hailed from. In his secret lair he begins toying with Creation (Complex Creations, Durable Creations, Large
ancient rituals to try to make Gemelos City more like his home. Creations), Deflect (Extra Parry, Fast Shield, Ranged
Initially the effects are subtle, with buildings briefly taking on Redirect, Tower Shield), Elemental Control (Electricity,
the appearance of medieval structures or weird creatures of Fire: Increased Area, Limit: Crude Shapes Only), Force
mythology manifesting only to disappear a short time later. Field (Bolster, Fire Point, Mobile Field, Shapeable Field),
The heroes may be present when one of these strange Heightened Sense (Esoteric: Magic), Inherent Armor
occurrences happens, or they may have to wrangle a (Armor Up, Nigh Invulnerability, Limits: Activation
fantastical beast to prevent it from causing undue harm. As Time), Precognition (Remote Viewing), Summon
Xaal keeps enacting his rituals, these changes become more (Guardian Constructs, Legion), Telekinesis (Distance
common and more dangerous. The heroes must discover what Manipulation, Fine Manipulation, Size Matters Not,
is going on and stop Xaal before all of Gemelos City is Telekinetic Shove, Limit: Visible Force), Teleport (Full
transformed into something out of a Tolkien book. Stop, Long Jump, Quick Jump, Teleport Other)
Limits: Conditional (requires gestures and
Xaal incantations), Omnipower (Blast, Creation, Elemental
Control, Summon)
STR: 13 Action Points: 3
CON: 14 Damage Modifier: +1d2
SIZ: 15 Power Points: 27
The Misguided Vigilante
DEX: 14 Movement: 6m, 16m Teleport
INT: 21 Initiative Bonus: +17
Sometimes the quest for justice goes off the rails and
POW: 22 Healing Rate: 3
someone who intended to be a hero starts down a dark
CHA: 16 Luck Points: 4
path. Other times, someone believes that the system has
Armor: Arcane Armor
failed the people it was meant to protect, and only by
going against the system can true change occur. The
318
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Misguided Vigilante is a villain who believes he is doing fending off an enraged Watchdog, who is observing the event
what is right, but he is pursuing his goals in the wrong from a nearby building. Should they succeed, it’s likely that
way. In most cases he is working to right some wrong, he’ll add them to his list of villains.
whether perceived or real, but tries to stop it through
violence and destruction. The Misguided Vigilante may Watchdog
fight against the same criminals as the heroes do, but he
STR: 16 Action Points: 3
often uses lethal force and is not concerned about
CON: 17 Damage Modifier: +1d4
collateral damage. Misguided Vigilantes may also make
SIZ: 15 Power Points: 16
“villains” out of other parts of society, waging war
DEX: 14 Movement: 6m
against corporations, governments, or law enforcement
INT: 12 Initiative Bonus: +21 (+18 w/ armor)
in an attempt to bring down those systems to make way
POW: 14 Healing Rate: 3
for something they believe is better.
CHA: 10 Luck Points: 3
Armor: Watchdog Armor
Watchdog (Minor Villain, Training)

When Watchdog first appeared on the scene, he was heralded Hit Locations
as a “new breed of hero” and someone who could enact real
change in Gemelos City. He started by targeting corrupt cops in 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg 6/8
the Ossuary, something sadly not in short supply, exposing their
4-6 Left Leg 6/8
criminal activities so they could be arrested. Watchdog changed
7-9 Abdomen 6/9
his methods when they were not charged, or made plea bargains
10-12 Chest 6/10
to take down bigger fish. Believing the city government to be
13-15 Right Arm 6/7
utterly corrupt, he began leaving bodies behind instead of
16-18 Left Arm 6/7
battered crooked cops. Watchdog vowed to take his crusade to
19-20 Head 6/8
clean up Gemelos City all the way to the top, which culminated
in his infamous attack on the mayor (see page 271), almost
resulting in her death. He escaped the authorities and remains Combat Style
at large, probably planning his next attack to “clean up” our
Attack Dog: 80% (Heavy Pistol, Heavy Weapons, Light Pistol, Rifle,
fair city.
Thrown Weapons), Unarmed 75%

Watchdog does not seem to have any powers, but he’s clearly
well-trained and possibly has a military or law enforcement Attacks
background. He has expertise in most weapons, but seems to
Attack Size/Force Range Damage
prefer high-powered firearms and explosives. He also has some
Unarmed M - 1d4+1d4+1
degree of technical skill, and can fashion traps to confound and
Assault Rifle H 200/500/2000 2d6+1
kill his targets. I’ve been told he recently upgraded to high-tech
Frag Grenade - 10/20/30 3d6+2, 4m radius
battle armor, and where he obtained this new equipment is still
unknown. Perhaps Watchdog has some benefactor that also
wants to see Gemelos City burn, or maybe he’s more skilled than Skills: Athletics 75%, Brawn 80%, Craft (Explosives,
people give him credit for. Either way, with each new upgrade, Traps, Weapons) 85%, Culture (Law, Underworld)
Watchdog becomes a bigger threat to the city’s safety. 75%, Deceit 65%, Demolitions 85%, Drive 80%,
Electronics 70%, Endurance 85%, Evade 70%,
• C.O.P. Alert: Deadlocked: Recently, a high-profile member Influence 60%, Insight 65%, Intimidation 75%,
of the Ossuary’s police force was arrested on multiple charges Mechanisms 65%, Perception 70%, Stealth 55%,
of police brutality and drug trafficking. Despite a large Streetwise 70%, Survival 70%, Track 70%, Willpower
amount of strong evidence, when his case went to court it was 95%
reported that the jury was deadlocked, which threatened a Passions: Bring Down the System 85%, Power
mistrial. Most people suspect the dirty cop’s organized crime Corrupts Absolutely 75%, Violence Is the Only
friends paid off or threatened members of the jury, but Language Scum Understands 75%
Watchdog sees it differently. He believes the jury is another Core Powers: Combat Expert (Grappling, Long Guns,
symptom of the corruption in the city, so he decides to take Unarmed: Expert Strike, Ready for Action, Speed
matters into his own hands. After learning the location of the Load), Enhanced Reactions (Additional Reactions,
hotel the jury is sequestered in, he rigs the building with deadly Limit: Overwhelmed), Heightened Sense (Night
traps and manages to seal it off from the outside world. The Sight), Inherent Armor (Limit: Bulky)
people trapped inside only have a short time before they are all Limits: External Power Source (Watchdog Armor, all
maimed or killed by the misguided madman’s traps, and the powers except for Combat Expert)
heroes will have to find a way to rescue them, all the while Gear: Assault Rifle, 5 Frag Grenades 319
 Destined
Supporting
Characters
While the most dramatic battles occur when
superheroes and supervillains clash, fights against
ordinary criminals can be just as dangerous to seasoned
and green heroes alike, and should never be taken
lightly. This section provides statistics for common foes
for the characters to face during their adventures,
either as threats on their own or as minions of a villain.
Each entry gives general statistics for the type of
supporting character and how they are typically used in
a scenario, and many of the entries also provide some
examples to modify them to serve a different role or
increase their challenge for more powerful heroes.
Note that the entries for supporting characters are
simplified and only include the information required to
use them in adventures.
Beasts
A beast is the generic template for ordinary animals,
monsters, and creatures the heroes might encounter
during the course of their adventures. While there are
thousands of different types of animals (or more if the
campaign travels to space or into other dimensions),
most beasts can be represented simply for ease of play.
The statistics block below is for a medium-sized
aggressive creature such as a jungle cat, a large wolf, or
a guard dog. By altering the generic template below
you can create nearly any animal quickly by using the
following guidelines:
• For small creatures, reduce the Damage Bonus and
Hit Points and increase skills such as Evade to represent
faster reactions.
Beasts
Action Points: 2
Damage Modifier: +1d2
Power Points: 7
Movement: 8m
Initiative Bonus: +12
Traits: Thick fur, does not end up prone after Evade
Core Powers: Heightened Sense (Enhanced Smell, Night Vision)
Skills: Athletics 60%, Brawn 45%, Endurance 60%, Evade 55%,
Perception 60%, Stealth 60%, Track 65%, Willpower 45%, Unarmed
60%
Passions: Growl and Snarl 85%
Combat Style (Pain on Four Legs) 60%
Attacks: Tooth and Claw (Size: M, Dam: 1d4+1d2)
320
• For large creatures, increase Damage Bonus and Hit
Points and add an Armor Rating to represent thick
hide, scales, or natural armor plating. Use the armor
types in the Tools of the Trade chapter as a gauge for
how tough the creature’s armor should be. Larger
animals also have a greater Brawn skill to represent
their mass or natural strength.
• Change the movement type to represent flying or
aquatic creatures. For example, the statistics below
could also represent a small species of shark by
switching the ground movement to swimming.
• Adjust the Hit Locations of the creature to represent
different forms and body types. Some example Hit
Locations for non-human opponents are given below.
• Lower the base damage for attacks to represent
creatures with weaker attack forms, or increase it for
more dangerous predators. For example, a
Tyrannosaurus Rex would inflict greater damage with
its massive jaws, while a tiny Compsognathus might
inflict only 1d2 damage with its bite.
• For aliens, mythical beasts, or mutated animals, mix
and match the above to create something unique. You
can also add powers to represent unique abilities. Give
that Tyrannosaurus laser vision and watch your players
scramble for cover!
• For swarms of smaller creatures, assign the Swarm the
Radius Trait (page 132) for its attacks, and give it a
single Hit Point value equal to twice the value of the
highest Hit Location value. Swarms often have
Resistance (page 256) to most normal forms of attack
such as unarmed strikes and personal weapons, but not
against energy attacks or those that affect larger areas.
Unless it is being controlled by an outside force, a
swarm must make a Willpower check when it reaches
half its Hit Point value or be dispersed.
Hit Locations
1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Hind Leg 1/4
4-6 Left Hind Leg 1/4
7-9 Hindquarters 1/5
10-12 Forequarters 1/6
13-15 Right Front Leg 1/4
16-18 Left Front Leg 1/4
19-20 Head 1/4
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Bystanders here could easily be used for a clockwork member of the

Brass Band, but most of the gang would be represented
The bystander is anyone the heroes encounter who is a by the Goon below by adding a few points of armor to
non-combatant and is either in peril, stands in the various Hit Locations.
characters’ way in a non-combat situation, or is an
innocent under the control of a villain who uses them as
unwitting pawns. Bystanders can represent ordinary Cyborgs
citizens, a demanding bureaucrat who tries to stymie
Action Points: 3
the heroes with paperwork, or an allied friend or family
Damage Modifier: +1d4
member. Bystanders can vary wildly, and switching
Power Points: 11
around or adding trained skills and Passions can be the
Movement: 8m
simplest way to modify them to suit the story’s needs.
Initiative Bonus: +12 (+11 w/ armor)
Gear: Padded Leather, Assault Rifle
Bystanders Core Powers: Close Combat Attack (Power Claw), Heightened Sense
Action Points: 2 (Dark Vision), Inherent Armor (Limit: Partial Coverage)
Damage Modifier: - Skills: Athletics 60%, Brawn 75%, Endurance 65%, Evade 55%,
Power Points: 9 Insight 45%, Perception 55%, Unarmed 60%, Willpower 55%
Movement: 6m
Initiative Bonus: +10 Passions: Act Cold and Emotionless 75%
Gear: Varies by role Combat Style (Cyborg) 60%
Core Powers: - Assault Rifle (For: H, Dam: 2d6), Power Claw (Size: M, Dam:
Skills: Any four Standard skills at 40%, any two Standard or 1d6+1d4)
Professional Skills at 50%
Passions: Varies by role, but most who live in superhero cities have
Hit Locations
Panic and Run When Danger Strikes 70% 1d20 Location AP/HP
Combat Style (Everyday Hero): 45% 1-3 Right Leg 2/7
Unarmed (Size: S, Dam: 1d3) 4-6 Left Leg 2/7
7-9 Abdomen 4/8
Hit Locations 10-12 Chest 4/9
1d20 Location AP/HP 13-15 Right Arm 4/6
1-3 Right Leg -/4 16-18 Left Arm 2/6
4-6 Left Leg -/4 19-20 Head 4/7
7-9 Abdomen -/5
10-12 Chest -/6
13-15 Right Arm -/3
Goons
16-18 Left Arm -/3
19-20 Head -/4
Goons are the rank-and-file criminals that serve as
punching bags for the heroes. They could be gang
members, Mafia button men, low-level mercenaries, or
Cyborgs any random street toughs in the employ of a villain.
Goons serve the role of cannon-fodder for more potent
Part machine and part living being, cyborgs often foes and are often treated as Rabble (see page 182), so
appear as minions of mechanically-inclined villains or as the heroes can take on a large amount of them at a
enemies on far-future or alien worlds. In comics most single time. Some goons are outfitted with better
cyborgs have artificial parts designed for combat, and weaponry or armor to make them a little tougher, but
the included example below serves this role. Adding ultimately their main advantage should be in their
powers to the existing template alters the cyborg and its numbers and not their skill levels or equipment.
role, such as giving it Flight to represent aerial
combatants or Enhanced Speed for cyborgs with
cybernetic legs or wheels. Also note that while most
cyborgs have technological replacement parts, the same
supporting character could also represent a character
that has bio-organic modifications, or mystical artefacts
grafted to their body, or someone infected with some
alien techno-virus that alters their biology. The cyborg
321
 Destined

Goons Hit Locations

Action Points: 2 1d20 Location AP/HP
Damage Modifier: +1d2 1-3 Right Leg -/5
Power Points: 8 4-6 Left Leg -/5
Movement: 6m 7-9 Abdomen 3/6
Initiative Bonus: +10 10-12 Chest 3/7
Gear: Light Pistol, Knife 13-15 Right Arm -/4
Core Powers: - 16-18 Left Arm -/4
Skills: Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 55%, Drive 55%, Endurance 55%, 19-20 Head -/5
Evade 45%, Unarmed 50%, Willpower 45%

Ninja
Passions: Bully the Weak 60%
Combat Style (Goon) 50%
For better or worse, the ninja has been part of comic
Light Pistol (For: L, Dam: 1d6), Knife (Size: S, Dam: 1d4+1d2+1),
books since the 1980s. Covert assassins depicted
Unarmed (Size: S, Dam: 1d3+1d2)
wearing stereotypical black outfits and wielding an
Hit Locations array of deadly martial arts, comic book ninjas are often
the henchmen of secret organizations or villains who
1d20 Location AP/HP have their origins in ancient traditions. Ninjas are
1-3 Right Leg -/5
masters of stealth and typically attack from hiding, but
4-6 Left Leg -/5
in comics ninjas can also appear in large numbers and
7-9 Abdomen -/6
are treated as Rabble. The statistics below represent the
10-12 Chest -/7
standard run-of-the-mill ninja from popular fiction, but
13-15 Right Arm -/4
with changes to the weaponry and equipment they
16-18 Left Arm -/4
could also represent any combatant who uses stealth
19-20 Head -/5
such as a spy, assassin, or black-ops soldier.

Ninja
Law Enforcement
Action Points: 2
Damage Modifier: -
Comic book heroes encounter law enforcement nearly
Power Points: 10
as often as criminals, sometimes as allies and sometimes
Movement: 6m
as opposition. The example below represents a typical
Initiative Bonus: +12
police officer, walking the beat on the city streets.
Gear: Black outfit, short sword, 10 throwing blades or Bow and 20
Creating detectives, Federal agents, and crime scene
arrows
investigators can be accomplished by increasing Insight,
Core Powers: Combat Expert (Dueling, Unarmed), Enhanced
Investigation, and Perception as well as adding skills
Reactions (Parkour, Boost Only)
such as Knowledge (Criminal Psychology) and Science
Skills: Acrobatics 65%, Athletics 60%, Brawn 50%, Endurance 50%,
(Forensics). For SWAT officers and other special
Evade 50%, Insight 50%, Perception 55%, Stealth 65%, Unarmed
divisions, including the Extranormal Response Unit
60%, Willpower 60%
team members, use the Soldier statistics on page 323.
Passions: Be Invisible 65%, Death Before Dishonor 55%, Do
Unnecessary Acrobatics 60%
Law Enforcement Combat Style (Ninjutsu) 60%,
Action Points: 2 Unarmed (Size: M, Dam: 1d4+1), Short Sword (Size: M, Dam: 1d6),
Damage Modifier: +1d2 Throwing Blade (Size: S, Dam: 1d4), Bow (Size: L, Dam: 1d8)
Power Points: 11
Movement: 6m
Initiative Bonus: +12
Hit Locations
Gear: Lt. Combat Armor vest, Light Pistol, Baton, Taser 1d20 Location AP/HP
Core Powers: - 1-3 Right Leg -/5
Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 55%, Drive 60%, Endurance 55%, Evade 4-6 Left Leg -/5
55%, Insight 60%, Perception 60%, Track 55%, Unarmed 55%, 7-9 Abdomen -/6
Willpower 60% 10-12 Chest -/7
Passions: Serve and Protect 60% 13-15 Right Arm -/4
Combat Style (Police) 55% 16-18 Left Arm -/4
Light Pistol (For: L, Dam: 1d6), Baton (Size: M, Dam: 1d4+1d2), 19-20 Head -/5
322 Taser (For: M, Dam: 1+special)
 11. The Righteous and the Irredeemable

Robot Hit Locations

Artificial beings that either have no independent 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Thruster 3/5
intelligence, or some form of artificial intelligence that
4-6 Left Thruster 3/5
dictates their actions, robots serve many different roles,
7-9 Power Core 5/6
acting as assistants, performing menial tasks, or serving
10-12 Chassis 5/7
as combatants. The robot presented here is a combat
13-15 Right Weapon 3/4
robot, specifically the drone-like minions of the villain
16-18 Left Weapon 3/4
Doctor Vellaro. These statistics can also represent any
19-20 Sensor Mount 4/5
basic combat robot and are easily modified by switching
out the weaponry, adding more armor, or changing
modes of movement. Like beasts above, robots have
many different forms and the base template given Soldier
here can be quickly modified to represent a wide variety
of them. Soldiers are well-trained and well-equipped combatants
who often work for a larger Organization or for a
• Add and remove skills to represent the primary government. Soldiers' lives are based around being
function of the robot. battle-ready, and they serve on the front lines of
• Modify Damage Bonus, Movement, Hit Point, and conflicts in defense of whatever ideals are most
Armor Value for robots of different sizes. A massive important to the entity they serve. Soldiers benefit from
battle bot would have higher values, while a smaller the resources of their Organization and often have
maintenance bot would have much lower statistics. better arms and armor than other types of combatants.
• Add or remove weaponry to make different types of The following entry is for a soldier who serves in the
combat robots. A deadly ninja bot might have Close armed forces of a nation, but it could also represent the
Range attacks (and higher values in skills like Evade troops of a villainous Organization, mercenaries
and Stealth), while a gun-toting battlefield drone working for a private security firm, or members of a
might be outfitted with machine guns and rockets. SWAT team for a large metropolitan area. To represent
• Movement modes can alter what the robot can do the agents of the villainous Animus (see page 297), swap
and where it can go. Ground based robots of roughly out the assault rifle for a blaster rifle and give them
human size have a similar Base Movement Rate, while powers such as Life Support to represent their genetic
flying drones might have faster movement modes. adaptations.
• Add powers to make robots unique. A high-tech
android assassin with an invisibility field will force Soldier
players to change their tactics when fighting them.
Action Points: 2
Damage Modifier: +1d2
Robot Power Points: 10
Action Points: 2 Movement: 6m
Damage Modifier: - Initiative Bonus: +12 (+10 w/ armor)
Power Points: 10 Gear: Combat Armor Helmet and Vest, Knife, Assault Rifle, 2 Frag
Movement: 4m, 12m Flight Grenades
Initiative Bonus: +11 Core Powers: Combat Expert (Longarm)
Gear: Integrated Blaster Pistol Skills: Athletics 60%, Brawn 55%, Drive 60%, Endurance 60%, Evade
Core Powers: Artificial Being, Flight, Heightened Sense (Night Sight), 60%, First Aid 55%, Insight 55%, Perception 55%, Stealth 55%,
Inherent Armor Survival 55%, Unarmed 60%, Willpower 60%
Skills: Athletics 50%, Brawn 50%, Endurance 65%, Evade 55%,
Insight 35%, Perception 50%, Unarmed 50%, Willpower 40% Passions: Duty and Honor 75%
Combat Style (Soldier) 60%
Passions: Follow Programming 85% Knife (Size: S, Dam: 1d4+1d2+1), Assault Rifle (For: H, Dam:
Combat Style (Robot) 55% 2d6+1), Frag Grenade (Dam: 3d6+2, 4 m radius)
Manipulator Claw (Size: S, Dam: 1d3), Blaster Pistol (For: L, Dam:
1d8+1)

323
 Destined

Hit Locations Syndicate Boss

1d20 Location AP/HP Action Points: 2
1-3 Right Leg -/6 Damage Modifier: +1d2
4-6 Left Leg -/6 Power Points: 13
7-9 Abdomen 4/7 Movement: 6m
10-12 Chest 4/8 Initiative Bonus: +12
13-15 Right Arm -/5 Gear: Lt. Combat Armor vest, Heavy Pistol, many goons
16-18 Left Arm -/5 Core Powers: Savant (Culture: Underworld, Knowledge: Crime,
19-20 Head 4/6 Streetwise)
Skills: Athletics 55%, Brawn 65%, Culture (Underworld) 70%, Drive
60%, Endurance 65%, Evade 60%, Influence 70%, Insight 65%,
Syndicate Boss Knowledge (Crime) 70%, Perception 65%, Streetwise 70%, Unarmed
60%, Willpower 70%
At the head of a criminal Organization sits the syndicate
Passions: Large and In Charge 75%, Never Betray the “Family” 70%,
boss, who directs the actions of their underlings to serve
Respect Above All Else 65%
the goals of the group. The boss is usually the one
Combat Style (Boss) 65%,
calling the shots, but depending on the structure of the
Unarmed (Size: S, Dam: 1d3+1d2), Heavy Pistol (For: L, Dam: 1d8)
Organization they may answer to a greater power or
consult with other bosses before making any decisions
for the group. Syndicate bosses may be fair combatants, Hit Locations
but most often they rely on their underlings to do the
fighting while they direct from a place of safety. The 1d20 Location AP/HP
1-3 Right Leg -/6
following represents a typical mob boss, but it could also
4-6 Left Leg -/6
serve as a gang leader, an officer in the military, or the
7-9 Abdomen 3/7
over-boss in a villainous Organization.
10-12 Chest 3/8
13-15 Right Arm -/5
16-18 Left Arm -/5
19-20 Head -/6

324
325
 Player Age
Hero Name Culture
Hero Sheet Secret Identity Career

Origin
STR CON SIZ DEX INT POW CHA Power Points

Power Point Recovery/Hour

Action Damage Experience Healing Initiative Movement Rate

Points Mod Mod Rate Mod & Types
Allotments
Allotment Rating Slots

Luck Points

Standard Skills Professional Skills Hit Locations & Protection

Athletics (STR+DEX) % %
19-20 Head
Brawn (STR+SIZ) % % AP HP

Conceal (DEX+POW) % %

Deceit (INT+CHA) % % 13-15 R. Arm 10-12 Chest 16-18 L. Arm

AP HP AP HP AP HP
Drive (DEX+POW) % %

Endurance (CON x2) % %

7-9 Abdomen
Evade (DEX x 2) % % AP HP
First Aid (INT+DEX) %
Super Powers
Influence (CHA x2) % 1-3 R. Leg 4-6 L. Leg
Core Power Boosts Limits
Insight (INT+POW) % AP HP AP HP

Perception (INT+POW) %
Research (INT+POW) %
Stealth (DEX+INT) % Protection Worn
Streetwise (INT+CHA) % Head Bulk
Unarmed (STR+DEX) % Chest Bulk
Abdomen Bulk
Willpower (POW x2) %
Arms Bulk
Legs Bulk
Passions Initiative Penalty
%
Fatigue
%
State Skills Move Init AP Time
%
Fresh - - - - -
%
Winded Hard - - 15 min
% Tired Hard -1m 3 hrs

Wearied Form -2m -2 6 hrs

Languages Combat Styles Exhausted Form Half -4 -1 12 hrs
Native Language ( ) Name, Weapons, Traits Debilitated Herc Half -6 -2 18 hrs

% % Incap. Herc None -8 -3 36 hrs

% % Coma Herc No Activity Possible 48 hrs

% % Dead
 Weapons
Weapon Size/Force Reach/Range Damage AP/HP Load/Traits

Equipment Family Connections

Additional Allotments Experience Rolls

Unspent Rolls

Notes
 Player Age
Hero Name Culture
Hero Sheet Secret Identity Career

Origin
STR CON SIZ DEX INT POW CHA Power Points

Power Point Recovery/Hour

Action Damage Experience Healing Initiative Movement Rate

Points Mod Mod Rate Mod & Types
Allotments
Allotment Rating Slots

Luck Points

Standard Skills Professional Skills Hit Locations & Protection

Athletics (STR+DEX) % %
19-20 Head
Brawn (STR+SIZ) % % AP HP

Conceal (DEX+POW) % %

Deceit (INT+CHA) % % 13-15 R. Arm 10-12 Chest 16-18 L. Arm

AP HP AP HP AP HP
Drive (DEX+POW) % %

Endurance (CON x2) % %

7-9 Abdomen
Evade (DEX x 2) % % AP HP
First Aid (INT+DEX) %
Super Powers
Influence (CHA x2) % 1-3 R. Leg 4-6 L. Leg
Core Power Boosts Limits
Insight (INT+POW) % AP HP AP HP

Perception (INT+POW) %
Research (INT+POW) %
Stealth (DEX+INT) % Protection Worn
Streetwise (INT+CHA) % Head Bulk
Unarmed (STR+DEX) % Chest Bulk
Abdomen Bulk
Willpower (POW x2) %
Arms Bulk
Legs Bulk
Passions Initiative Penalty
%
Fatigue
%
State Skills Move Init AP Time
%
Fresh - - - - -
%
Winded Hard - - 15 min
% Tired Hard -1m 3 hrs

Wearied Form -2m -2 6 hrs

Languages Combat Styles Exhausted Form Half -4 -1 12 hrs
Native Language ( ) Name, Weapons, Traits Debilitated Herc Half -6 -2 18 hrs

% % Incap. Herc None -8 -3 36 hrs

% % Coma Herc No Activity Possible 48 hrs

% % Dead
 Weapons
Weapon Size/Force Reach/Range Damage AP/HP Load/Traits

Equipment Family Connections

Additional Allotments Experience Rolls

Unspent Rolls

Notes
 Destined

A about 231–232
Aceso Industries 226–227
Acrobatics 63–64
Action Points 16–17
Adhesion 82
adventures 260–261
Adversaries 313–315
Airplanes 145–146
Allotments
about 31–33, 123
advancing 72
and Bases of Operation 232
caches 127
Costs 125
miscellaneous 138–139
Organizational 126–127, 224
Personal 124–126, 218
Rating 123
reduction 128
Restriction Levels 125–126
Slots 123–124
and Superteams 230
switching out 127
Animus 297–298
Armor 128–130
Art 64
Artificial Being 104
Assassins 307–308
Athletics 59
Attributes 16–20
Azure Knight 284–286
B Fading Light 290
Background Events
about 33–34
Created 35
Experimentation 36
General 42–43
Inherent 37
Mutation 38
Mystical 39
Technology 40
Training 41
Baron Malycer 291–293
Bases of Operation
330
Index
Power Surge 292
and Allotments 232 Pretty Poison 300
Amenities 234–235 The Price of Peace 275–276
examples 234 Restless Dead 276
power sources 233–234 Rise of the Superslayer 314
Security 234–235 Safe Room 271
Size 233 Under the Sea 278–279
beasts 320 Strange Magic 318
Blast 83–84 Symphony of Destruction 306
Boating 64 Take Me Out to the Ballgame 312
Boats 146 Thieves in the Night 316–317
Boosts Tripping Populace 271–272
about 29–30, 74 Upgrades 308
advancing 72 campaigns
borrowing 78–79 examples 245–246
creating new 79 length 244
purchasing 80 scale 244–245
Bowery Boy 309–310 types of 9–12
Brawn 59 Careers 24–27
Bronze Age 241–242 Cars 146
Brutes 293–294 Char 293–294
bystanders 321 Characteristics 14–16, 70
characters. see heroes
C Charge Attacks 171–172
C.O.P. Alerts Charisma (CHA) 15
about 264 Chases 183–186
Animal Farm 295 Chemists 300–301
Box Seats 270 Chimaera Prime 295
A Clean Kill 307–308 Cinematic Knockback 174
Dead Man's Tales 275 cities 247–248
Deadlocked 319 City Defenders 289
The Doctor Is In 299 Coachman 263
collateral damage 174
Fears of a Clown 272 Combat
The Fire Brigade 276 Aerial Movement 166–167
Joy Ride 270–271 and Core Powers 155–156
The Kane Mutiny 280–281 differential roll results 159
Killing Fields 305 keeping heroes in combat 258–260
Legacy of Cane 291 keeping villains in combat 254–256
Meet the New Boss 293 key aspects 149–150
The Mother of Monsters 302 Mounted and Vehicular 169–170
Mother's Little Helper 315 Movement 165–166
New Recruit 277 running 150–151
The Original Atlas 286 Unarmed 177
Power Hungry 303–304 and Weapons 156–157
 Index

Combat, Close 84, 169–171. see also dice 6 goons 321–322

specific attacks Differential Rolls 56–57 Grappling 177
Combat, Ranged 178–179 Doctor Vellaro 299–300 Group Rolls 55
Combat Actions 152–155 Drive 60 Growth 98–99
Combat Expert 85–86 duality 237 Gryphon 296
Combat Mechanics 156–158 Duplication 88–89
Combat Rounds 151–152 Durability 89 H
Combat Special Effects Dust 300–301 Healing 191–192
about 158–159 Healing Rate 17–18
Critical 162–163 E Height and Weight 18
descriptions 159–162 Echidna 301–303 Heightened Sense 99–100
Combat Style 59 Electronics 65–66 Helicopters 146–147
comic books Elemental Control 89–90 hero sheets 326–330
Bronze Age 241–242 Empathy 90–91 heroes. see also specific heroes
Golden Age 239–240 Endurance 60 advancing 70–72
Iron Age 242–243 Energy Field 91–92 Characteristics 4 14–16
Modern Age 243–244 Engineering 66 in combat 258–260
reality 237–238 Enhanced Body 94–95 concepts 12
Silver Age 240–241 Enhanced Reactions 92 creating 7–8
Computers 64 Enhanced Speed 92–93 dependents and loved ones 216–218
Conceal 59 Enhanced Strength 93–94 history 263–264
Constitution (CON) 14 Entertainment 280 Limits 77–78
Controllers 312–313 Entrap 95 Origins 12–14
Core Powers. see also Power Templates; Evade 60–61 Power Levels 9–12
specific powers Experience Modifier 17 quick generation 50
about 73–74, 81–82, 208–209 Extended Tasks 57–59 responsibilities of 209–213
advancing 72 Extranormal Response Unit 270 Hit Points 18–19
choosing 28
in Combat 155–156 F I
customizing 249–251 Falling 189–190 Important People 35 44–46
Items of Power 138 Fatigue 186–189 Inanimate Objects 192
Limits 75–76 Fearless Force 284 288–289 Incapacitated 180
list 20 Feats of Strength 190–191 Influence 61
outside of combat 80–81 First Aid 60–61 Inherent Armor 100–101
purchasing 80 Flight 95–96 Initiative Bonus 19
using 80 Force Field 97–98 Injuries and Wounds 179 191–192
Courtesy 64 Forgery 66 Insight 61
Cover 173–174 Intelligence (INT) 14
Craft 64–65 G Interrogation 192–194
Creation (Power) 86–87 Gambling 66 Intimidate 66
Crown, The Games Masters 238–239 Investigation 194–197
about 267–269 Gang Bosses 308–309 Invisibility 101–102
businesses and locations 269–272 Gear Iron Age 242–243
NPCs 272–273 about 135 Items of Power 138
Culture (Skill) 65 Hero Gear 135–136
Cultures 21–24 purchasing 33 K
cyborgs 321 Super Gear 136–138 Kill Shots 181
Gemelos City. see also specific locations Kinetic Control 102
D early history 262–263 Knockback 174
Damage Modifier 17 entertainment 280–281 Knowledge 66
Dame Fortune 286 map 325 Kraken 296–297
death 248 nearby cities 282–283 Kryptic 304–305
Deceit 59–60 today 267
Deflect 87–88 Geryon 303–304 L
Demolitions 65 Godstrand 265–267 268 Language 61–62 67
Dexterity (DEX) 14 Golden Age 239–240 law enforcement 322
331
 Destined

laws 212–213 O R
Leaping Attacks 174–175 Obake 307–308 Rabble 182
lethal force 248–249 Omicron 227–228 Regeneration 109
Life Support 103–104 Opposed Rolls 56–57 Remorseless Killers 304–305
Light Interstellar Freighters 147 Organizations. see also specific Reputation 210 211
Limits Organizations Research 62
about 29–30 74 about 218–220 Resistance 109–110
adding 251 Allotments 126–127 224 Ride 68
borrowing 78–79 Benefits 223–224 robots 323
of Core Powers 75–76 bosses 324 rules 5–6
creating new 79–80 examples 226–228
of heroes 77–78 Membership 225 S
purchasing 80 Protocols 222–223 Santa Libra 282
removing 72 Rank 225–226 Savant 110–111
Loyal Lieutenants 315–316 Requirements 221–222 Science 68–69
Luck Points 19 197–198 Sphere of Influence 220–221 Scrapyard 287–288
Lucky 104–105 Structure 221 secret identities 213–218
Luminous 289 Origins 12–14 46 Sect of the Silver Chalice 228
Ossuary, The Sedans 146
M about 273–274 Seduction 69
Mad Scientists 301–303 businesses and locations 274–279 Sensory Overload 111–112
Major Wounds 181–182 gangs 279–280 Serious Wounds 180
Malformed 303–304 NPCs 279 Shields 145
Manticore 297 Outmaneuvering 175–176 Short Tail 310–311
Masterminds 294–297 Overlords 291–293 Shrinking 112–114
Material Mimic 101 Silver Age 240–241
Mechanisms 67 P Silver Beacon 284
Medicine 67–68 Panel Vans 148 Size (SIZ) 14
Minor Wounds 180 Passions 46–49 71 Skill Points 27–28
Modern Age 243–244 Perception 62 Skills. see also specific skills
morality 237 Perform 68 advancing 71
Morph 105–106 Perils 201–206 calculating 20–21
Mortician The 290–291 Persistent Wounds 181 difficulty grade table 52
Motorcycles 147 petty cash 138–139 learning 71–72
Movement Phantasm 107–108 Professional 63–70
Aerial 166–167 Pilot, 68 Standard 59–70
in Combat 165–166 168 Plug Ugly 310 using 51–56
outside of Combat 198–201 Poe's Henchmen 309–312 Slaughter House 311
Rate 20 Portals 120 Sleight 69–70
multiple opponents 175 Power (POW) 15 Social Status 32 33
mythology 236–237 Power Levels soldiers 323–324
and Characteristics 15–16 Sorting Rolls 56
N determining 9–12 Spaceships 147–148
Native Language 61–62 of villains 253 Special Effects. see Combat Special
Navigation 68 Power Points 19–20 81 Effects
Negation 106–107 Power Slots 28–29 31 80 Specializations 63
New Leone 281–282 Power Templates 30–31 Speedboats 146
Night Creatures 306 Powers. see Core Powers Steel Atlas 286–287
ninjas 322 Precognition 108 Streetwise 63
Nocturne 306 Private Jets 146 Strength (STR) 14 190–191
NPCs Professor Poe 308–309 Stretching 114
in the Crown 272–273 Programmer, The 312–313 Striking 177
in the Ossuary 279 pulling punches 176 Summon 115–116
numbers 6 Super Swimming 96

332
 Index

superheroes. see heroes fatal flaws 257–258

Superslayer, The 313–314 motivations 253–254
Superteams 228–231, 283 Power Levels 253
supporting characters 320 schemes 258
Surprise 176 and secret identities 215
Survival 70 Visibility 206
Sweep Attacks 177
Swimming 96 W
syndicate bosses 324 Warlocks 317–318
System Ops 70 Watchdog 319
Weapons
T about 130–133
Tanks 147–148 in Combat, 156–157
Team Maneuvers 163–165 custom 133
Team Rolls 55–56 enhanced 94
Technopathy 116–117 improvised 133
Technophiles 299–300 trick 133–135
Telekinesis 117–118 Vehicle 145–146
Telepathy 118–119 Weather 206–207
Teleport 119–120 Willpower 63
themes 236–238 world building 239
Thieves 316–317 Wounds 180–181
Track 70
Tractor-Trailers 148 X
Transform 120–121 Xaal 318
Trucks 148
Typhon 315 Y
Yachts 146
U
Unarmed 63
Unarmed Combat 177
Underlings 182

V
Vagabond 316–317
Vaporous Form 121–122
Vehicles. see also specific vehicles
Characteristics 139–140
in Combat 169–170
Handling and Maneuvers 144–145
Hull 140
Shields 145
Size 140
Speed 140–141
Systems 141
Traits 141–144
Weapons 145–146
Velocity Damage 172–173
Vigilantes
Grim Vigilantes 290–291
Misguided Vigilantes 318–319
villains. see also specific villains
characteristics 256–258
in combat 254–256
designing 252–253
escape plans 258
333
 Superhero roleplaying

Who are you destined to be?

If you were given fantastic powers, who would
you be? Would you try to save the world -
Or conquer it? Would you promote peace and
justice, or foster fear and demand blind
obedience? Would you strive to be the world’s
greatest hero or its most infamous villain?

Destined is a game of super-powered role

playing. You take on the roles of individuals
with amazing abilities and try to find your
place in a world inspired by comic books and
other superheroic media. Using an extensive
array of superpowers you create whatever
hero you can imagine and take to the mean
streets to mete out justice using your trusty
1d100 and a well stocked utility belt.

Based on the acclaimed Mythras rules,

Destined is an easy to learn and action-packed
game system. Destined gives you all the rules
you need to create the superhero stories you
want to tell. From four colored tales of
spandex and capes, to gritty stories of real
world crime, Destined allows you to play as
whatever superhero (or villain) you want to
be.

Destined is a complete roleplaying game. All

you need are some friends, dice, and your TDM800
imagination...