"Only one man can kill this many Russians. Bring his guitar to me!"
MOVIE-DERIVED CHARACTER ADAPTATIONS
BUDDY
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 15 STR 5 12- Lift 200 kg; 3d6 HTH Damage [3] 18 DEX 24 13- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 18 CON 16 13- 15 BODY 10 12- 13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 12-/14- 13 EGO 6 12- ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 10 COM 0 11- 7 PD 4 Total: 7 PD (0 rPD) 5 ED 1 Total: 5 ED (0 rED) 4 SPD 12 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 7 REC 0 36 END 0 32 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 86 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 3"/6" Swimming: 2"/4" Tunneling: 1"/1 Cost Powers & Skills 2 "If You Were Me, You'd Be Good Lookin'.": +5 PRE; Only To Protect Against Presence Attacks (-1) Martial Arts: Kenjutsu Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 5 Charge +1 +0 Weapon +v/5; FMove 4 Cut +2 +0 Weapon +2 DC Strike 4 Parry +2 +2 Block, Abort Notes: Also Kung Fu Block 4 Riposte +2 +2 Weapon +2 DC Strike, Must Follow Block 5 Slash +1 -2 Weapon +4 DC Strike 0 Weapon Element: Blades Martial Arts: Wu Shu Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Back Kick, Front Kick, Punch +0 +2 5d6 Strike 5 Block +1 +3 Block, Abort 4 Dodge -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 3 Shoulder Throw +0 +1 3d6 +v/5, Target Falls 5 Side/Spin Kick -2 +1 7d6 Strike 5 Takeaway +0 +0 Grab Weapon, 25 STR to take weapon away 1 Weapon Element: Clubs (Guitars) 7 Arrow Cutting: Missile Deflection (Arrows, Slings, Etc.); OIF (any sword; -1/2) 2 Fast On His Feet: Running +1" (7" total), END 1 9 Charge!: Running 7"; Only To Make A Half Move (-1/2), END 1 4 Dontonjutsu: Tunneling 1" through 1 DEF material, Fill In; Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1), Maximum Of 1" Per Tunnel (-1), Limited Medium (earth and soil only; -1/2), No Noncombat Movement (-1/4), END 3 2 Sharp Ears: +2 PER with Normal Hearing 7 Look What David Found!: Luck 2d6; Only When David Is Around (-1/2) Talents 7 Master Swordsman: Deadly Blow: +1d6 (with katana) Skills 20 +4 with HTH Combat 8 +4 OCV with Missile Deflection 8 +4 OCV with Sweep 8 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Hit Location modifiers with HTH Attacks 2 AK: The Wastelands 11- 3 Acrobatics 13- 3 Breakfall 13- 10 Never Stands Still: Defense Maneuver I-IV 2 KS: Kenjutsu/Kung Fu 11- 3 KS: Rock And Roll 12- 3 "You Have A Rachet?": Mechanics 12- 4 MIF (Chordophones) 14- 2 Survival (Desert/Wastelands) 12- 3 TF: Small Motorized Ground Vehicles, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles, Two-Wheeled Muscle-Powered Ground Vehicles 1 WF: Blades, Clubs (Guitars) Total Powers & Skill Cost: 169 Total Cost: 255 100+ Disadvantages 25 DNPC: David 14- (Incompetent) 5 Distinctive Features: Scars On Body (Easily Concealed; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Distinctive Features: Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 20 Hunted: Death/Top Hat 14- (As Pow, Harshly Punish) 10 Physical Limitation: Glasses (Frequently, Slightly Impairing) 15 Psychological Limitation: "I Got A Gig In Vegas." (Common, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Protective Of David (But Tries Not To Let It Show) (Common, Strong) 10 Reputation: Skilled Swordsman And Guitar Player—One Of The Best, 11- 45 Last King Of Rock And Roll Bonus 255 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: In 1957 Russian attacked the United States of America, plastering the landscape with atomic bombs before invading in force. The USA, devastated by nuclear fire, retreated in the face of Russia's overwhelming military might, with the survivors gathering in the city of Lost Vegas, where Elvis Presley was made king. It is now 1997 and the King is dead, and Lost Vegas needs a new King of Rock and Roll. So, the radio message goes out—and rock n' roll warriors from all over the Wasteland are flocking to Lost Vegas, to see who will inherent the mantle of The King.
This is where Buddy comes in. Dressed in the ragged remains of a tuxedo, with a 1957 Six String Hollowbody in one hand, and his jury-rigged katana in the other, he is on his way to Vegas to take up the throne that is rightfully his. Along the way he rescues and young boy (David) from cannibalistic mutant marauders (who have killed David's mother), and much to his annoyance ends up taking care of him. However, Buddy's grudging act of charity isn't without its benefits—David helps Buddy out in several spots, mainly by finding transportation for the pair.
Pursuing Buddy (and the rest of the rock n' roll warriors) is the black-garbed figure of Top Hat, the spirit of Death and Heavy Metal (who looks amazingly like Slash from Guns 'n' Roses). He's killing anyone with a guitar he can find, adding their picks to a long string of such trophies. He and his followers—three archers who seem to have an unlimited supply of arrows and their disturbing tendency to finish each other's sentences—are hot on Buddy's trail, and will stop at nothing to get his guitar. To make matter worse, Buddy must contend with the aforementioned mutant savages, other rock n' roll warriors, cannibals, the strange Windmill People, and the remnants of the Soviet Occupational Forces.
Personality/Motivation: Buddy has one overwhelming goal—reach Lost Vegas and become the next king. He won't let anyone get in his way—and will keep trudging forward no matter what. Although not a cold and callous killer, he’s still very much the 'lone wolf' and the last thing he needs is a young boy tailing after him. However, his sense of decency often wins out over his affected air of world weariness, and any time David ends up in trouble Buddy has been there to rescue him.
As with any samurai/rock n' roll guitarist, Buddy won't step back from a challenge, and will duel anyone who confronts him. However, he is confident enough in his skills to give the other guy time to back off, and will tell a would-be opponent to leave while he still can before any fighting starts. However, once he does get into combat, Buddy will go all out.
Quote: "Float away, little butterfly. Just flutter away. I got a gig in Vegas. And the wastelands ain't no place for kids."
Powers/Tactics: Buddy is first and foremost a swordsman, a master of the katana he's cobbled together from a sword blade, duct tape, and what looks like burlap wrapping. He's in no way a defensive fighter, and will charge into the midst of any enemies, often starting with a Charge, Blocking the next attacker, and then responding with a Riposte. He's not above Sweeping several foes, or using a Multiple-Power Attack to hit a single target several times. Buddy can also fight bare-handed, Dodging while getting into range, Blocking once he has closed, and then using a variety of kicks and punches to put his enemies down. He's also used a Block/Takeaway sequence at least once, killing a foe with his own weapon.
Appearance: Buddy is of average height, with a lean muscular build. His hair is dark, cut short, and brushed straight back from his face. He wears battered and taped-up glasses, a ragged black tuxedo, and black and white patent leather shoes. He carries a mostly ruined umbrella in one hand, and has a red 1957 Six String Hollowbody slung over his shoulder. His sword is kept in a sheath taped to the back of the guitar.
Designer's Notes: Six-String Samurai is an utterly bizarre and quirky riff on Spaghetti Westerns, samurai films, Mad Max I & II, and martial arts movies. It presents a surreal view of post-apocalyptic America, in which everything is broken, burnt, and blasted. No one has anything clean, and even the occupying Soviets are just another gang scrabbling to get by. Lost Vegas, on the other hand, is shown (in a few matte paintings) to be an almost Emerald City-like paradise, where Rock n' Roll is still alive and well.
While undeniably strange, one could adapt some of the ideas of the film into your PA setting. Lost Vegas could be any sanctuary, the rock n' roll warriors could be scouts, traders, or salvagers, the mutants and cannibals could stay the same, and Death becomes a powerful gang leader looking to raid Lost Vegas for its riches and wealth. You could even fit the Russians in as either the ragged remains of the US Army, a local militia, or a warlord who's on the down-and-out.
As for Buddy, he's fairly powerful, but still might need some extra abilities to fully simulate his on-screen persona. Suggestions include: Damage Reduction to Physical attacks, Combat Luck, and Lightning Reflexes usable with his sword.
(Buddy the Six-String Samurai created by Jeffery Falcon and Lance Mungia, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook)
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