So I’ve now written up both versions of the character (as one does). I’m distinctly feeling more Bullish, since i can still play there with some of the Transformed tropes within that, but it was a worthwhile exercise to do both in case someone else comes up with the One True Bull to play.
Current thoughts on the write-up, to have it down on paper and in case it provokes any discussion:
JOE YOUNG (THE BULL)
REAL NAME: Joey Moore
LOOK: Male; Gorilla; Human Eyes; Silvery fur over gray skin; No costume [cargo pants]
Presents as a 9-foot tall gorilla, though far more formidable in appearance than even such a creature would be.
ABILITIES:
I’ve been made into the perfect weapon: Superhumanly tough (mass, inhuman healing factor), incredibly strong (duh), and uniquely skilled at fighting (far faster and more agile than size implies)
[Joey’s powers and form seem to be driven by biologically-based nanobots, tied to a particular modified DNA signature.]
LABELS:
- Danger +2
- Freak +1
- Savior -1
- Superior +1
- Mundane -1
Backstory
Joey Moore, HS sophomore headed up to junior. Dad and Mom, Emmett and Tina Moore, were US biologists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, researching unidentified botanicals for the Quill Foundation. I was visiting them over the summer when were were kidnapped by some armed group or another near the Ugandan border; there was a fire fight with another (government?) group. My parents were killed, I was badly wounded …
I have a vague memory, after I collapsed, of a place all glowing blue … of … other gorillas? Looking down on me?
And when I woke up, rescued by QF, I looked like this. I was rescued in the middle of nowhere, no sign of how I got there. Did I escape? Was I just left there? Why? Who did this to me? To save my life? To make me some sort of weapon?
WHO CHANGED ME? The … gorillas? Or is that real? Maybe it was someone else, and my memories have been wiped or altered or I was just hallucinating.
HOW DID I ESCAPE FROM THEM? I don’t know. Did I? Was I sent? Was I just abandoned?
WHO, OUTSIDE THE TEAM, TRIES TO TAKE CARE OF YOU NOW? Jason Quill, science guru at the Foundation, has taken a personal interest in helping me, since it was the QF that put me and my family there in the first place (he feels responsibility, also scientific interest). He’s a cool guy, even if he gets a little … researchy about it.
[Depending on the divergence, it could be Byron Quill who’s calling the shots here still. Joey would know Jason then in passing.]
WHY DO I TRY TO BE A HERO? I need to do … something. Be valuable. I mean, I’m still a good guy, right? I care about people. I need to show people that. And I can help – I’m really strong, agile, I can rescue folk, fight bad guys, all that.
WHY DO I CARE ABOUT THE TEAM? They – well, most of them – know what it’s like to be different. They don’t look at me the way other people do. And if I stay with them, it helps me feel … human.
Moves (3):
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You’ve Got A Head You Don’t Need: Provoke with threats/force, roll +Danger (vs +Superior)
-
Punch Everyone: Charge in without hedging bets, Danger +1, any other -1.
-
In a China Shop: When Directly Engage, cause collateral damage to get one extra option (even on a miss).
Other options for the future:
-
Thick and Thin Skinned: When Angry, take +1 ongoing to Unleash Your Power
-
There Where It Matters: When Defend someone, on hit can hold 1 instead of list; spend the hold when they are in danger later to arrive on the scene ready to help.
-
Physics? What Physics? When Unleash powers to barrel through insurmountable barrier, roll + Danger vs + Freak.
-
Be The Monster [Transformed]: When frighten, intimidate, cow, roll + Freak (hit: vulnerable or flee, but 1-2 consequences; miss they react and I bear brunt of it.)
-
I Am Not My Body [Transformed]: When Take a Powerful Blow (phys), roll as though 2 fewer conditions; on 10+ lose control in a terrible way.
-
Unstoppable [Transformed]: Smash through scenery to get to/away, roll + Danger (10+ world breaks and succeed; 7-9 mark condition, leave something, or take something; miss, leave devastation or end up somewhere worse)
-
Troublemaker [Delinq]: When help a teammate through destructive behavior, +2 (vs +1)
BULL’S HEART: Love / Rival.
-
Defender: When Defend L/R, roll + Danger (vs + Savior)
Other options:
- Friend: When C&S L/R, mark potential on hit; when C&Sed, mark potential on their hit.
- Listener: When Pierce the Mask of L/R, can be asked an extra question to ask an extra question.
- Enabler: When Provoke L/R, roll + Danger if provoking to a rash or poorly thought out question.
MOMENT OF TRUTH: Let all lose, walking demolition crew. [Ties to the origin.]
TEAM MOVES:
- Triumphant Celebration: if make them L/R, mark potential; if they already are, take Influence over them and mark potential.
- Sharing a Vuln / Weakness: give them Influence, hold 2 to help them later (like Team).
Notes
This Joey isn’t quite as angsty and tormented as the Transformed, though those moments are still there and there’s plenty of room to be a danger to others. The built in Love/Rival mechanism focuses relationships (most likely) within the team.
The origin of his powers is much more of a focus: he was built as a weapon, but by whom?
- super-gorillas as part of their army
- super-gorillas as a scout to the outside world (did he escape or was he sent and being monitored)
- super-gorillas who rescued him and want to leave him safe in a hostile world (e.g., Charlie X)
- a government lab in the area that has hazmat suits that look a bit like gorillas as a super-soldier
For that matter, is he a super-gorilla who thinks he’s a person (see esp. (2)), or a person who’s wearing a gorilla body? Discomforting options galore!
TBD
WHEN OUR TEAM FIRST CAME TOGETHER: “We defeated a dangerous enemy. Who or what was it?”
RELATIONSHIPS:
X is my Love. I’ve opened up to them about the worst parts of my past.
X is my Rival. ?They’ve tried to control me at a crucial moment.
INFLUENCE: “I’m selective about who I let in. My Love and my Rival have Influence over me.”
JOE YOUNG (THE TRANSFORMED)
REAL NAME: Joey Moore
LOOK: Male; Gorilla; Human Eyes; Silvery fur over gray skin; No costume [cargo pants]
Presents as a 9-foot tall gorilla, though far more formidable in appearance than even such a creature would be.
ABILITIES:
- Inhuman might (unnatural musculature and general physiognomy)
- Inhuman healing factor (can regenerate damage at an appalling speed) [also prevents a cure]
[Joey’s powers and form seem to be driven by biologtically-based nanobots, tied to a particular modified DNA signature.]
LABELS:
- Danger +1
- Freak +3
- Savior 0
- Superior -1
- Mundane -1
Backstory
Joey Moore, HS sophomore headed up to junior. Dad and Mom, Emmett and Tina Moore, were US biologists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, researching unidentified botanicals for the Quill Foundation. I was visiting them over the summer when were were kidnapped by some armed group or another near the Ugandan border; there was a fire fight with another (government?) group. My parents were killed, I was badly wounded …
I have a vague memory, after I collapsed, of a place all glowing blue … of … other gorillas? Looking down on me?
And when I woke up, rescued by QF, I looked like this. Who did this to me? Why? To save my life? As some sort of sick joke?
WHO WAS I BEFORE? as above
WHEN DID I CHANGE? WHAT CAUSED IT? Last summer. I don’t know. (as above)
WHO, OUTSIDE THE TEAM, IS HELPING ME UNDERSTAND MY NEW BODY? Jason Quill, science guru at the Foundation, has taken a personal interest in helping me, since it was the QF that put me and my family there in the first place (he feels responsibility, also scientific interest). He’s a cool guy, even if he gets a little … researchy about it.
[Depending on the divergence, it could be Byron Quill who’s calling the shots here still. Joey would know Jason then in passing.]
WHY DON’T I JUST TRY TO HIDE MYSELF AWAY? I need to stay close to the QF because they might come up with a breakthrough to cure me. And if I hide and run away … what happens if I change further? Or lose control and become a danger?
WHY DO I CARE ABOUT THE TEAM? They – well, most of them – know what it’s like to be different. They don’t look at me the way other people do.
Moves (3)
Taken:
-
Be The Monster: When frighten, intimidate, cow, roll + Freak (hit: vulnerable or flee, but 1-2 consequences; miss they react and I bear brunt of it.)
-
Not Human Enough: When Directly Engage in a terrifying fashion, mark a condition to get one extra option (even on a miss)
-
I Am Not My Body: When Take a Powerful Blow (phys), roll as though 2 fewer conditions; on 10+ lose control in a terrible way.
Options:
-
Unstoppable: Smash through scenery to get to/away, roll + Danger (10+ world breaks and succeed; 7-9 mark condition, leave something, or take something; miss, leave devastation or end up somewhere worse)
-
Coming For You: When mark a condition, take +1 forward vs person I most blame for it.
-
Wish I Could Be: When C&S, if convey what envy most about them, roll + Freak (vs + Mundane)
-
You’ve Got A Head You Don’t Need [Bull]: Provoke with threats/force, roll +Danger (vs +Superior)
-
Thick and Thin Skinned [Bull]: When Angry, take +1 ongoing to Unleash Your Power
-
Punch Everyone [Bull]: Charge in without hedging bets, Danger +1, any other -1.
-
Troublemaker [Delinq]: When help a teammate through destructive behavior, +2 (vs +1)
MOMENT OF TRUTH: Be the monster and save the day.
TEAM MOVES:
- Triumphant Celebration: clear a condition of they treat me like a nomral person; mark potential if they praise your powers/abilitiesl
- Sharing a Vuln / Weakness: Am I gaining or losing humanity? Losing, mark condition and potential; ganing, clear condition and shift Mundane +1, other -1.
Notes
This Joey is dark and angsty, afraid of himself and the world, but also angry and potentially unstable. He probably both clings to possible friends and does stuff to show himself unworth of that friendship. He throws himself into battle because he wants acceptance, but probably also because he thinks his life isn’t all that valuable.
His origin here is more of an optional hook for stories.
TBD
WHEN OUR TEAM FIRST CAME TOGETHER: “We drew attention and ire from plenty during the fight. One important person in particular now hates and fears us. Who?”
RELATIONSHIPS:
X conforted me when I was at my lowest.
X knew me before I changed.
INFLUENCE: "I try not to care what other people think, even if I can’t shut everyone out. One teammate gets Influence over me.
General Notes
- Size, weight, normal living spaces and transport are a problem.
- Gorilla – Terrifying to some (“Kill the Beast!”). An object of ridicule to others (“So is it true about where you sleep? Anywhere you want? [Rim-shot]”). An objectifying form to others (“So, what do you feed him?” “Oh, he’s sooooo cute!”).