The Natural’s Guide to Cracking Skulls, Trolls, Lost, Tsoo, etc.

[hieronymusboss]

I've recently rolled a Natural Origin vigilante character, and I began to consider how he might tackle the varying baddies in Paragon City. There's some obvious things, but I wanted to get specific, because I think its something my character would think through before bloodying his fists.

 

Consider how a character like Batman, Wildcat, Punisher, Vigilante, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Nightwing, etc. etc. might take on the enemies of Paragon City.

Answers like “prep time” or “special gadget/serum I made up specifically for this baddie” aren’t as interesting, even if they're fair game, especially when, as a writer, you're just plain out of ideas. 😁

But, for example, consider how Batman deals with a powerhouse like Bane. The standard procedure seems to be to avoid direct combat, use Bane’s momentum against himself, and/or sever his connection to his Venom pump to depower him.

Batman may occasionally have a unique advantage against Bane, but this tactic is his go-to because it’s difficult for Bane to undermine in any environment. Unless they’re trapped in an elevator or something.

I want to start compiling something for all of Paragon's baddies (and perhaps beyond). But because I'm just one man, I figured it'd be best to pick the brains of all you jokers for input!

I've offered a few tips of my own just to get us started, but my hope is that between me and all you, we can fill this list with plenty of pointers to really help our Natural Origin characters shine in roleplay, and pose reasonable solutions to problems that don't amount to "I punch it harder".

Offer your own ideas! Critique mine! As we go forward, I'll compile the best ones into a comprehensive guide for the community to use as they see fit. I intend to compile this into a shareable Google Doc as well. 

The only rules are thus:

1) These should only apply to (mostly) human characters who are otherwise easily outgunned by the superpowered denizens of Paragon City.
2) These should revolve around characters who use basic tech, non-magical weapons, firearms, martial arts, improvised weaponry, stealth tactics, etc. (see some of the examples named above)
3) Try to avoid repeats, unless there's an important variation on something already mentioned.

 

• 5th Column

• Arachnos

• Banished Pantheon

• The Cabal

• Carnival of Shadows

• Circle of Thorns

• Clockwork

  • Wear insulated gear when possible to minimize electrical hazard

  • Being made of metal, avoiding direct hand-to-hand combat is recommended. With the right leverage, they can be taken apart quickly, or with melee weapons their many gears and sprockets can be disrupted. Practice on disabled Clockwork.

• Council

• Crey

  • Disable communications as soon as possible. Where one Crey Agent is, there are likely many more nearby.

  • Crey Tanks are formidable opponents. But they are heavy and rely on external optics. You can use this to trap and/or blind them, even temporarily.

  • Disable Crey support staff (Medics, Geneticists, Research Assistants, etc.) when able. They will only make your job harder. 

• Devouring Earth

  • Fire. Use lots of fire if you can.

  • Recommend breathing protection against fungal spores.

• The Family

• Fir Bolg

• Freakshow

• Hellions

• Hydra

• Infected

• Knives of Artemis

  • DO NOT ENGAGE unless you have no choice, or are confidently on their level. Knives of Artemis are deadly, ruthless combatants and without powers, even a single Knife can pose a deadly challenge.

  • Disarm disarm disarm. Though deadly with barehands, the sooner you can deprive them of their deadly knives, swords and crossbows, the better.

  • If wearing optics, use this to your advantage, as even a temporary blinding can save your life. 

• The Lost

• Malta Operatives

  • DO NOT ENGAGE unless you have no choice or are confidently on their level. Malta Operatives are deadly, ruthless combatants and without powers, even a single Operative can pose a deadly challenge.

  • Disarm disarm disarm. Though deadly with barehands, the sooner you can deprive them of their knives and firearms the better.

  • If wearing optics, use this to your advantage, as even a temporary blinding can save your life.

  • Sappers are a priority target. Not only for the sake of your superpowered peers, but for yourself. A single sapper can take down even the most powerful of heroes. 

• Minions of Igneous

• Nemesis

• Outcasts

• Red Caps

• Rikti

  • Nearly all Rikti are armed with dangerous energy weapons. They are not pushovers in melee, but for most, it is better to engage the Rikti point blank than at range.

  • If in stealth, avoid their drones at all costs. They will almost certainly spot you.

  • Rikti are known to employ psychics. Psychic protection is highly recommended.

• Shivans

• Skulls

• Sky Raiders

  • The Raider’s primary advantage, besides their weapons, is their flight capabilities. Do whatever you can to disable their jetpacks, boosters and skiffs, and you will even the odds quickly.

• Talons of Vengeance

• Trolls

  • Use their rage against them. Use it to lead them into traps, compromised terrain, or simply tire themselves out, if you can last that long.

  • Avoid caves and weak structures if you can. Trolls’ strength can alter and shift terrain, leading to cave-ins.

  • Never allow Trolls to get ahold of you. Then you’re in trouble. Dodge and deflect, and use leverage to your advantage in order to disarm and/or knock down a Troll in melee.

  • Trolls still have pressure points, despite their strength. They also need to see. And breathe. Inflicting damage to eyes and airways could temporarily disable them.

• Tsoo

  • Use extreme caution in melee. Tsoo are often exemplary close quarters combatants, and masters of exploiting pressure points and using chi to disarm, stun and destabilize their opponents.

  • Whenever possible, bring magical protection. Tsoo, in addition to chi mastery, may also have sorcery at their disposal. Disable Tsoo Sorcerers first if possible.

  • Stealth is advised. 

• Tuatha de Danann

• Vahzilok

  • Ensure you’re up to date on your vaccinations. Wear PPE when possible. Vahzilok often nest in the sewers and use poisons, toxins and disease to their advantage, often without trying.

• Void Hunters

• Warriors

[kito]

I guess what I would start with is it depends on how "strong" you see your batman cuz really any gang can be and is an issue depending on your level. Trolls are more or less a drugged up bane who gain earth powers over time. I would not be surprised if they could pick up a car and where very violent if without dyne, super trolls maybe more so. 

 

Some of them like say the vahzilok I would say you ignored there more reanimated enamys. And kind of just put up there more dr like enamys.  I would have generally gone something like. 

  

The human ones are most often doctors or skilled in some kind of medical or biological field. Be careful of each one as they seem to study in different fields. Mostly use melee sharp weapons and crossbows to get around kevlar. Possibly poisoned tiped. They also repair and aid uundead if left alone this can be deadly if ignored. the A quick and effective stealth attack will often lead there hord leaderless and without a way to repair there ranks.

 

 The goons are strong but slow freely use lethal force they are not living.  

 

Given there mostly in sewers keep electricity handy to lure mobs of the undead into and shut down if swarmed.  

Do not get captured by them for any reason will lead to death.