Please Help Me Build A Character

[Diamond Cross]

I'd like to build a character for an old west campaign set in the year 1873.

The basics are this;

I want him to be a Blacksmith. He was once a Buffalo hunter as well, but prefers the trade of Blacksmithing. He is very good with firearms of the period as well and can use extreme shooting techniques, such as the kinds of stunt shooting you see on shows like "Top Shot" and "Extreme Marksman".

However, he doesn't really use firearms anymore because of his powers. His powers are Electrical Control and Energy Blast (Lightning), and very low ranking in Regeneration about one or two ranks in it, even though electricity is an exceptionally rare thing in that time. However, with his Lightning blast I'd like him to be able to chain it like Chain Lightning, that is to be able to arc off of multiple targets, and to be able to just stun a person like a taser just stuns a person.

And I'd also like this to be more for concept than for the build. I prefer character concept over powerful builds.

And the PL is 8.

Thank you.

 

[Herobizkit]

Wild, Wild West.

There's no point in giving him gun skills if he's never going to use them.
Blacksmithing can be described with a few skill points.

 

[SSquirrel]

I dunno, maybe his blacksmithing has been used to create special guns to channel his new abilities. Besides, if you describe yourself as a fantastic marksman but have no skills reflecting it, it makes no sense.

Sorry I don't know the M&M system well or I'd help, just had to comment

 

[Diamond Cross]

There's no point in giving him gun skills if he's never going to use them.

He had them before he got his powers. And sometimes you don't want to use your powers if you're trying to blend in to a bandit camp.

Plus, those extreme marksmanship skills can also be used for his lightning blast.

 

[mr_outsidevoice]

So are we looking for MnM 2nd ed or 3rd ed/DCA?

Perhaps he was out in a thunderstorm, needed to take a shot when hit by lightning.

He can only use his lightning attack powers with his rifle. Not a device, but a Power Loss Disadvantage/Complication

Give him every range modifying Feat/Advantage available.

Give him a +8 with all ranged attacks

His Basic Blast should do +8 damage, Increased range modifier, Precise Modifier.
The Chain Lightning effect can either be Split Attack OR Area(Shapeable) with the Selective advantage.
Stun will either be Stun with ranged(2nd Edition) or Affliction Ranged with the Dazed/Stunned/Asleep chain of effects.

Blacksmith will be a Craft Skill and Profession Blacksmith(2nd) or Expertise-Blacksmith(3rd)

Give Regeneration the Electrical Deacriptor, maybe take Immunity to Electrical attacks.

For his stats, a decent Strength and Stamina are common in Blacksmiths.

 

[Filcher]

You would need to fudge the timeline a little (or maybe no one would even notice) but you could have him be an assistant to Tesla, caught in an experiment gone awry. Plagued by powers he doesn't understand, he flees to the frontier.

Ala:

File:Tesla colorado adjusted.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As for the top-shot aspect, perhaps en route to the frontier, he earned passage by doing trick shots for Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome ...

 

[ValhallaGH]

The basics are this;

Basics should include the edition being used. 1st, 2nd, or 3rd? It makes a pretty big difference.

I want him to be a Blacksmith. He was once a Buffalo hunter as well, but prefers the trade of Blacksmithing. He is very good with firearms of the period as well and can use extreme shooting techniques, such as the kinds of stunt shooting you see on shows like "Top Shot" and "Extreme Marksman".

Blacksmith: Craft or Expertise/Technology skills, possibly with Profession if he makes a lot of money at it.
Marksman: Improved Aim, Precise shot, plus attack specializations (guns). Figure he's on a base ranged attack of +4 (decent), but at an +8 with a gun (great), and a +18 (amazing) if he takes a round to Aim. Everything except the specializations will work for his lightning, too.

His powers are Electrical Control and Energy Blast (Lightning), and ... Regeneration ... Chain Lightning

Straight forward and generally fun. Why Regen (if you don't mind my asking)? For Chain Lightning, I'd just use an area-effect alternate of the Lightning blast, and describe it as chaining from one victim to another.


Note: In M&M every build is powerful. The only way to not power game is to build someone with zero combat ability, which doesn't fit the genre and is intentionally counter to the campaign. So forget that elitist nonsense at the door.

 

[Diamond Cross]

So are we looking for MnM 2nd ed or 3rd ed/DCA?

Hmm, I thought i'd stated 3e/DCA.

Why Regen (if you don't mind my asking)?

He was inspired by Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and he learned how to use his Electrical control to regenerate wounds and the like.

Note: In M&M every build is powerful

[
Okay, maybe I should state that I'm not a power gamer looking to max out everything to be the BBTG around and am not building it for PVP for a game like WoW.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Hmm, I thought i'd stated 3e/DCA.
...
He was inspired by Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and he learned how to use his Electrical control to regenerate wounds and the like.

Okay.
Str 3, Sta 3, Agi 1, Dex 1, Fig 3, Int 0, Awe 1, Pre 0. Strong (400# lift), tough, coordinated, insightful, and great in a brawl. 24 PP
Defenses: Dodge 5, Parry 8, Fort 6, Will 6, Tough 7 / 3. 17 PP
Advantages: Defensive Roll 4, Improved Aim, Precise Attack (ranged, cover & concealment) 2, Ranged Combat 3. Others for the character's personality. 10+ PP
Skills: Expertise (Blacksmith) 8, Ranged Combat (Guns) 4, others. 6+ PP
Powers: Damage 10 (lightning; Ranged, Accurate 1). Alternate: Chain Lightning 8 (Damage, Cone Area). Alternate: Electrical Control 10 (Move Object, Perception, Limited Electricity). Regeneration 10 (Source: Electricity). 28 PP
Total PP: 83 / 120.

+9 on his Blacksmithing, +8 shooting guns, +6 shooting lightning, ignores cover and concealment for ranged attacks, heals really fast (1 damage per round) when he's got electricity handy, and is tough enough to stand a chance. Plus, at the normal 15 PP / PL you've got 37 points to customize with (skills, advantages, other powers).

Good luck and have fun.

 

[mr_outsidevoice]

Have you figured out his Origin?
Steampunk Superscience?-Professor Darkheart experimented with his Aetheric Thunderstorm Cannon.
Triggered Mutant Talents?
Magical in Nature?-Why did Thunderbird choose a white blacksmith as (one of) his Avatar(s)?

It sounds like he is an electrical generator. You can have a complication that he needs to release the energy every once in awhile or bad things will happen. The shooting the lightning is the best way.

Does he know any of the other PCs before the campaign? do they share an origin?