Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 18 STR 8 13- Lift 303.1 kg; 3 1/2d6 HTH Damage [2] 21 DEX 33 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7 18 CON 16 13- 14 BODY 8 12- 10 INT 0 11- PER Roll 11- 12 EGO 4 11- ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 10 COM 0 11- 8 PD 4 Total: 11 PD (3 rPD) 7 ED 3 Total: 10 ED (3 rED) 4 SPD 9 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 8 REC 0 36 END 0 32 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 90 Movement: Running: 6"/12" Leaping: 3"/6" Swimming: 2"/4 Cost Powers & Skills Martial Arts: Kenjutsu Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 4 Evade -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 4 Lightning Stroke +2 +0 Weapon +2 DC Strike 5 Slashing Stroke -2 +1 Weapon +4 DC Strike 0 Weapon Element: Blades 22 Katana: HKA 1 1/2d6 (2 1/2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1) plus +1 OCV; OAF (-1) plus Range Based On STR (+1/4) for up to 25 Active Points of HKA; 1 Recoverable Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), [1 rc] 14 Wakazashi: HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1) plus +1 OCV; OAF (-1) plus Range Based On STR (+1/4) for up to 15 Active Points of HKA; 1 Recoverable Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), [1 rc] 27 Sweeping Strike: Area Of Effect (up to 2" radius; +3/4) for up to 55 Active Points of HKA, Personal Immunity (+1/4), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4); OIF (any sword of opportunity; -1/2), Only Versus Targets In Forward Arc(-1/2), Can Be Blocked (-1/4), END 2 Perks 10 Fringe Benefit: Kirisutogomen 1 Reputation: bounty hunter (among bounty hunters and criminals) 11-, +1/+1d6 Talents 6 Chambara Swordsman: Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED) 32 Dairokkan: Danger Sense (immediate vicinity, out of combat, Discriminatory, Function as a Sense) 11- 7 Swordmaster: Deadly Blow: +1d6 (with swords) 3 Lightsleep Skills 12 +2 with HTH and Ranged Combat 6 +2 with Kenjutsu 8 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Hit Location modifiers with swords 3 Acting 12- 5 Analyze: Fighting Style 12- 3 Climbing 13- 10 Defense Maneuver I-IV 3 Iaijutsu: Fast Draw (HTH Weapons) 13- 2 KS: Bounty Hunter World 11- 1 KS: Criminal Law And Procedure 8- 2 KS: Criminal Underworld 11- 2 KS: Kenjutsu 11- 0 Language: Japanese (idiomatic; literate) 3 Paramedics 11- 5 Rapid Attack (HTH) 1 Riding 8- 3 Shadowing 11- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Tracking 11- 3 WF: Blades, Bows, Off Hand 2 PS: Bounty Hunter 11- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 219 Total Cost: 309 150+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: Missing Horn (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Distinctive Features: Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 15 Psychological Limitation: Greedy; often asks "what's in it for me?" (Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Secretly Softhearted (Common, Strong) 5 Rivalry: Professional (other bounty hunters; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry) 10 Social Limitation: Ronin (Frequently, Minor) 5 Unluck: 1d6 89 Experience Points 309 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: Gen is the son of the famous General Murakami, samurai of the Shirogeta clan. When his lord, Nobu Asano, was killed by a treacherous councilor, Murakami went off in search of him, bringing his wife and child along. A true samurai, General Murakami apparently cared little for the hardships his wife and son went though, and only desired to find the traitorous Councilor Oda. While neither unkind or unfeeling, he simply didn't display emotion, as to do so was a sign of weakness. At the same time, he taught Gen the way of the sword, until Gen decided a life dedicated to a vendetta with no end in sight wasn't for him and left.
A young teen, Gen had no family and no clan, and not much of a future, until he encountered the bandit Kazu and his wife. Killing Kazu and capturing his wife, Gen found the reward money to be more than he'd even seen and allowed him to buy a real meal. His future, it seemed, was set, he would become a bounty hunter—which he seems to excel at, even if he can't hold on to any reward money he might receive.
Gen first appears in Volume One, The Ronin, in the story Bounty Hunter. His origin is given in Volume Seven, in the story Gen, where he encounters Councilor (now Magistrate) Oda. Interestingly, in Chapter Nine of the Samurai story arc, seen in Volume Two, Gen makes the comment "The saddest day of a samurai's life is the day he becomes a ronin. Some day I'll tell you how I became masterless." This line is then invalidated when Gen gives his origin in Volume Seven, meaning either Gen was lying about losing his lord (doubtful) or Sakai hadn't decided on what Gen's background story was (which is the far more likely an explanation).
Personality/Motivation: Unlike most samurai, Gen isn't much for honor and the way of bushido. He's far more practical, and more interested in "what's in it for me?", specifically monetary rewards. He will often try to make a profit from an adventure, taking money from the dead, looking to sell information back to those it was stolen from (or, at least asking about a reward) and once asking how much the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi might be worth if sold. By the same token, Gen tries to do the right thing, and has a soft spot for the unfortunate, once giving his entire reward to two orphans so their uncle could afford to take them in. He’s also has come to like the free and open life on the road, and has refused service with the Geishu at least once. Usagi calls Gen a cheat, and Gen does attempt to cheat/trick Usagi into paying for meals and stays at inns, with mixed success. On the other hand, Gen will abide by a deal and will keep his word—if he gives it.
Quotes: "Honor? I can't relate to that. 'Money' I can relate to."
"He cheated me! Me—Gennosuké! I'm the one who does the cheating!"
"I don't joke about money."
Powers/Tactics: Gen is a skilled swordsman, but still only middle of the pack when compared to the rest of the UY cast. Zato-Ino nearly killed him, as did Inazuma, and Jei, and he's obviously not as skilled as Usagi or Yagi. That said, he's no slouch in a fight, and can certainly handle large numbers of unskilled bandits and the like single-handedly. He tends to fight with his katana in one hand and the saya (sheath) in his other. His style is basic, nothing fancy, and gets the job done. Usually, he strikes first and tends to go for torso shots (using his Targeting Skill Levels), often killing foes in a single blow. If hard pressed, Gen isn't above fleeing the battle field, and will even call off an attack if the foe is obviously more than he can handle.
Appearance: Gen is an anthropomorphic rhinoceros who's a little taller than normal with a somewhat thick build. His skin is gray and he's in perpetual need of a close shave. Zato-Ino cut off Gen's horn during the The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy story arc, and for a time Gen had just a stump. Later, he had a potter make him a ceramic horn, into which he hand baked a small blade. Gen dresses in black hakama and a patterned kimono with what looks like a radish (or daikon) mon. He tends to carry his katana over one shoulder, holding it by a strap.
Designers Notes: Gen's character sheet is derived from the Fuzion stats given in the Usagi Yojimbo Role-Playing Game put out by Gold Rush Games. Additional skills were derived from material in the Sengoku Role-Playing Game and from scenes in the comic series. Gen himself is based on the character of Sanjuro, as played by Toshiro Mifune and seen in the films Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo Meets Zato-ichi. He's a very popular character and appears regularly in the series.
Although not the best fighter in the UY universe, Gen is skilled enough, and represents a decent skilled swordsman template for GM's wanting to build combat-capable samurai without making them the death-machines that Usagi, Zato-Ino, and Yagi are. This character sheet represents him as of around Volume 19. To make Gen more powerful, give him more kenjutsu maneuvers and more Combat Skill Levels.
(Gennosuké Murakami created by Stan Sakai, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
Gennosuké Murakami's Hero Designer File
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