Today Epic Monsters is taking a look at the working man’s man of steel, a corporatist product of fakelore from the Steel City that never quite found its way entirely into the realm of America’s mythology. If you already know who it is, you get a gold star because this one is pretty obscure: Joe Magarac!
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I feel that we absolutely must acknowledge that Joe here is obviously just popping and ready to cut it up on the disco floor like nobody’s business. Straight up macking! I’m sure it’s a bit stunning to learn that he’s not being featured in this column for his remarkable fashion sense. You’ve also probably noticed that unlike the other posts, this features a recent photograph—that’s because I live a 15 minute drive away from this guy! Also there’s Pepper in the mix because she’s just swell. Thanks to milady Stephanie for taking the photo. ♥
So who is this obscure steel man? The first recorded appearance of Joe Magarac (and likely the first ever) is in Scribner’s Magazine in 1931. He is purportedly a Bohemian, Croatian (his name means “donkey” in Croatian), Hungarian, or Serbian laborer who could do the work of 29 men, every day of the year, every hour of the day, and that he refused wage increases or proposals to wed—because he just wanted to work. He could do these amazing things because Joe here was born in an ore mine and made out of steel. Tales of his exploits saving steelworkers from danger and kicking ass at the forge (were intended to) spread across the American midwest’s industrial cities through the nation’s many steel mills in the days of yore.
As a lifelong Pittsburgh native I can tell you that this makes a ton of sense (there is an insanely prevalent blue collar work-till-you-die-and-then-work-some-more mentality here), but oddly I hadn’t ever heard of Joe Magarac before a few weeks ago. That’s because the “myth” never really took off and instead Joe became a sort-of icon for the United States Steel Corporation, including some comic books and obviously this big statue out in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Like any homegrown mythology however there’s always some local flavor, and I’ve got something you can really bite into for Joe. This is from a recent conversation with an old schoolmate:
Normally this is the kind of vague historical remark that I’d ignore but I can’t understate to you how big Ben and his brother Josh are. They are huge. For reference I’m just a bit over 6 feet tall. Josh in particular is a walking giant at least a head and a half taller than me, twice as broad across the shoulders (I do not have narrow shoulders), and he could stand in for The Mountain on Game of Thrones. I’m not kidding—I watched him deadlift so much weight the lifting bar bent like a bo-staff. It was terrifying. I was afraid it’d break and the whole room would turn into a bloodbath. I still think about it, obviously. Just terrifying. Guy turned down full-ride scholarships to play contact sports (and is now a doctor, bless his obviously gigantic soul). Given the truly enormous size of his purported descendant, I am inclined to admit that it is very possible that there might have been a real Joe ‘Magarac’ in the Pittsburgh steel mills one day not so long ago. Hopefully a better, proper historian will come along some day to confirm it!
Design Notes: Alright let’s sit down and make Colossu–er, Joe Magarac! A trait to cover his incredible laboring strength plus some high scores in that as well as Constitution, a natural armor equal to the AC of steel, resistance to just about everything, being a walking weapon without meaning to, and then an area attack to keep things lively along with something special for when he really clocks somebody so they’re left with their head ringing for a bit. Protector sneaks in at the end because ostensibly that was his thing (saving steel workers from mishaps and injury). Let’s look at the numbers! I really wanted to bring him in at a lower CR (under 8) but that just wasn’t meant to be and after numerous little tweaks dialing things down, the DMG came in around half a point above 11 and the Blog of Holding a wee bit beneath that, so Joe Magarac’s final challenge rating is 11.
Joe Magarac
Large giant, neutral good
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 100 (8d10+56)
Speed 30 ft.
Saving Throws Cha +5
Skills Athletics +14, Perception +5
Damage Vulnerabilities lightning
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Croatian, English
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Magic Weapons. Joe’s weapon attacks are magical.
Working Back. Joe counts as Gargantuan size when calculating his carrying capacity (2,640 pounds).
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Joe attacks three times.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d4+6) bludgeoning damage. On a critical hit, the target makes a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save the target is deafened for 1 minute and stunned for 1d4 rounds, or deafened and stunned for 1 round on a successful one.
Improvised Weapon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d4+6) damage of a type determined by the object.
Thundering Hands (Recharge 5–6). Joe slams his hands together in a cacophonous strike that sends out a wave of energy in a 30-foot radius. Each non-metallic creature in the area makes a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that fails its saving throw by 5 or more is also knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Protector. When a creature Joe can see within 5 feet is targeted by an attack, spell, or other effect, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll, or grant the creature advantage on its saving throw to resist it.
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I feel that we absolutely must acknowledge that Joe here is obviously just popping and ready to cut it up on the disco floor like nobody’s business. Straight up macking! I’m sure it’s a bit stunning to learn that he’s not being featured in this column for his remarkable fashion sense. You’ve also probably noticed that unlike the other posts, this features a recent photograph—that’s because I live a 15 minute drive away from this guy! Also there’s Pepper in the mix because she’s just swell. Thanks to milady Stephanie for taking the photo. ♥
So who is this obscure steel man? The first recorded appearance of Joe Magarac (and likely the first ever) is in Scribner’s Magazine in 1931. He is purportedly a Bohemian, Croatian (his name means “donkey” in Croatian), Hungarian, or Serbian laborer who could do the work of 29 men, every day of the year, every hour of the day, and that he refused wage increases or proposals to wed—because he just wanted to work. He could do these amazing things because Joe here was born in an ore mine and made out of steel. Tales of his exploits saving steelworkers from danger and kicking ass at the forge (were intended to) spread across the American midwest’s industrial cities through the nation’s many steel mills in the days of yore.
As a lifelong Pittsburgh native I can tell you that this makes a ton of sense (there is an insanely prevalent blue collar work-till-you-die-and-then-work-some-more mentality here), but oddly I hadn’t ever heard of Joe Magarac before a few weeks ago. That’s because the “myth” never really took off and instead Joe became a sort-of icon for the United States Steel Corporation, including some comic books and obviously this big statue out in Braddock, Pennsylvania. Like any homegrown mythology however there’s always some local flavor, and I’ve got something you can really bite into for Joe. This is from a recent conversation with an old schoolmate:
My grandpa told me growing up that it was his brother, Joe Muradjac, who was the real Joe Magarac all the stories were about. He had died at the Homestead Works pretty young and was super-strong. He said people always would talk about that Hunky Magarac kid because they couldn't pronounce "Mah-ray-dah" (some Slavic reason for the "c").
Normally this is the kind of vague historical remark that I’d ignore but I can’t understate to you how big Ben and his brother Josh are. They are huge. For reference I’m just a bit over 6 feet tall. Josh in particular is a walking giant at least a head and a half taller than me, twice as broad across the shoulders (I do not have narrow shoulders), and he could stand in for The Mountain on Game of Thrones. I’m not kidding—I watched him deadlift so much weight the lifting bar bent like a bo-staff. It was terrifying. I was afraid it’d break and the whole room would turn into a bloodbath. I still think about it, obviously. Just terrifying. Guy turned down full-ride scholarships to play contact sports (and is now a doctor, bless his obviously gigantic soul). Given the truly enormous size of his purported descendant, I am inclined to admit that it is very possible that there might have been a real Joe ‘Magarac’ in the Pittsburgh steel mills one day not so long ago. Hopefully a better, proper historian will come along some day to confirm it!
Design Notes: Alright let’s sit down and make Colossu–er, Joe Magarac! A trait to cover his incredible laboring strength plus some high scores in that as well as Constitution, a natural armor equal to the AC of steel, resistance to just about everything, being a walking weapon without meaning to, and then an area attack to keep things lively along with something special for when he really clocks somebody so they’re left with their head ringing for a bit. Protector sneaks in at the end because ostensibly that was his thing (saving steel workers from mishaps and injury). Let’s look at the numbers! I really wanted to bring him in at a lower CR (under 8) but that just wasn’t meant to be and after numerous little tweaks dialing things down, the DMG came in around half a point above 11 and the Blog of Holding a wee bit beneath that, so Joe Magarac’s final challenge rating is 11.
Joe Magarac
Large giant, neutral good
Armor Class 19 (natural armor)
Hit Points 100 (8d10+56)
Speed 30 ft.
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
22 (+6) | 17 (+3) | 24 (+7) | 11 (+0) | 12 (+1) | 15 (+2) |
Saving Throws Cha +5
Skills Athletics +14, Perception +5
Damage Vulnerabilities lightning
Damage Resistances acid, cold, fire, thunder; bludgeoning, piercing, slashing
Damage Immunities poison, psychic
Condition Immunities exhaustion, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Croatian, English
Challenge 11 (7,200 XP)
Magic Weapons. Joe’s weapon attacks are magical.
Working Back. Joe counts as Gargantuan size when calculating his carrying capacity (2,640 pounds).
ACTIONS
Multiattack. Joe attacks three times.
Unarmed Strike. Melee Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d4+6) bludgeoning damage. On a critical hit, the target makes a DC 18 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save the target is deafened for 1 minute and stunned for 1d4 rounds, or deafened and stunned for 1 round on a successful one.
Improvised Weapon. Ranged Weapon Attack: +10 to hit, range 20/60 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d4+6) damage of a type determined by the object.
Thundering Hands (Recharge 5–6). Joe slams his hands together in a cacophonous strike that sends out a wave of energy in a 30-foot radius. Each non-metallic creature in the area makes a DC 18 Constitution saving throw, taking 21 (6d6) thunder damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature that fails its saving throw by 5 or more is also knocked prone.
REACTIONS
Protector. When a creature Joe can see within 5 feet is targeted by an attack, spell, or other effect, he can use his reaction to impose disadvantage on the attack roll, or grant the creature advantage on its saving throw to resist it.
