Monday, October 15, 2012

Mastermind Monday - DC's Bloodlines

One of my favorite comic crossovers is one that seems to be forgotten by most. In 1993, DC Comics released a group of super powered parasites on Earth. These parasites were super strong, hardy, and had an insatiable thirst for human spinal fluid (which they referred to as "juice"). The creatures could switch between two forms, a "human" form and their Giger-esque xenomorph form. It is revealed in the comics that they have more shapeshifting powers, but they lost them do to injury. They needed juice to awaken the Taker (a massive, psychic energy draining monstrosity). There were three waves of the crossover, Bloodlines: Outbreak, Bloodlines: Earthplague, and Bloodlines: Deathstorm. The event was ended with the two issue miniseries Bloodbath.For more info, you check out the wikepedia article.

There is one other thing to note about the parasites, for unknown reasons some of their victims had their metagenes unlocked after the attacks (typically one or two per issue). These "New Blood" seemed to be able to affect the parasites, even when the likes of Martian Manhunter and Superman struggled to fight them. 

I present to you a "generic" bloodlines parasite (some could fly, some had hypnotic powers, some had multiple limbs). They are major threats and would be great for a change of pace in an M&M game. You could even emulate the crossover nature of the original storyline by having the players play members of different superteams for a session or two. Also, the aliens came from another dimension so they could easily be dropped in the Freedomverse or any other setting. Also, not that the PL maybe be a bit off (I used a character from Heroes and Villains Volume 1 as a template).



Bloodlines Parasite - PL 14

Strength 16, Stamina 14, Agility 2, Dexterity 2, Fighting 10, Intellect 5, Awareness 5, Presence 4
 
Advantages
Diehard,  Improved Grab, Improved Hold

Skills
Close Combat: Unarmed 2 (+12 ), Intimidation 6 (+10), Stealth 8 (+10)

Powers
Big Ugly Sonofa... (Growth 2 [4 Points])
Claws: (Damage 2 (Strength Based, Penetrating 5) [7 points])
I Go Wear I Please: (Leaping 10, Movement 2 (Wall Crawling) [12 points])
Invulnerability: (Protection 4 (Impervious 18), Immunity 7 (Cold, Heat, Pressure, Radiation, Suffocation (All), Vacuum) [28 Points])
Spinal Drain: (Weaken 10 (Grab Based, Resisted by Fortitude) [10 Points])

Offense
Initiative +2
Unarmed +12, Close Damage 18 (Penetrating 5)

Complications
Juice: The parasites thirst for spinal fluid often overrides their common sense.
New Blood: The parasite’s attacks have a chance to unlock their victim’s metagene, creating “New Blood.”
Weakness: Attacks by the “New Blood” ignore the parasite’s impervious ranks.

Language
Native Tongue

Defense
Dodge 10, Parry 10, Fortitude 14, Toughness 18, Will 12

Power Points
Abilities 116, Powers 61, Advantages 3, Skills 8 (16 ranks) + Defenses 15= 203 Points



4 comments:

  1. Bloodlines birthed "Hitman" -- one of the best series to come out of DC.

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  2. I don't remember this, but this was while I was in grad school and too poor to buy comics.

    Great monster!

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  3. I was a kid at the time, but this was right around the time I seriously started getting into comic (around the Death of the Supermen/Reign of Superman time). Recently I've been able to collect all of the annuals (including the Demon one that has the first appearance of Hitman).

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  4. i used these in a marvel game to give characters a shared origin story to unite them - one of better crossovers and introductions of new heroes

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