Champions – Planetman and Starman

“Starman” and “Planetman” date back quite a while (to Champions II in fact) – and are exactly as labeled; They’re a star and a planet built as Hero System characters, using some really cheesy limitations to keep the point totals down to something reasonable. On the other hand, most of those points go into making these characters literal, permanent, astronomical objects the size of the earth and the sun, the star radiating vast amounts of energy and the planet hosting a biosphere – and, in both cases, being very hard to destroy.

Planetman is a standard earthlike world, with a breathable atmosphere, active plate tectonics, and various biological species, It possesses a modest power pool which can be used to add new species to the environment, deflect small meteorites, transfer specimens of endangered species to new habitats, grant visions, and otherwise gently meddle (a planet has to have a hobby, right?). It can also create four low-powered (but still more than human) thematic avatars to intervene on various situations. Adding or subtracting a few points from the Growth ability will easily create anything up to superjovian worlds or down to small – and for some reason habitable – asteroids. Still, Planetman is usually mostly content to drift along in orbit contemplating it’s various lifeforms and occasionally saying “Hi!” to other astronomical objects via telepathy.

Starman is a very similar build, but focuses on radiating immense amounts of energy; minor adjustments to the Stellar Fire power will cover everything from brown dwarves on up through red giants (most stars spend some of their experience points on getting ever-brighter; it just seems to be something they do). Going nova or supernova is a little more complicated however, but since it generally signifies the death of a star, details on the build really don’t matter much. Similar tweaks to the Growth ability will cover a wide range of stellar masses. Just like Planetman, Starman can manifest four “superheroic” avatars of intermediate power levels to use to make contact with the inhabitants of any planets it happens to be providing heat and light for. Like planets, stars are generally quite content to float along quietly, contemplating the wonders of fusing atoms together, for a few eons – but a few do take it into their core to meddle once in a while.

Conscious stars and planets are currently something of a rarity, but will become more prevalent billions of years in the future since they are capable of maintaining themselves for considerably longer periods than simple astronomical objects can. While proper maintenance by the Arith Vaya and Celestial Dragons can greatly extend the lifespans of non-sapient planets and stars as well, there are never enough of either to do ALL the maintenance that the universe could use.

 

Planetman

Value	Characteristic	Points
10/390	STR	0
5	DEX	-15
25	CON	30
1/77	BODY	-18
18	INT	8
20	EGO	20
25	PRE	15
10	COM	0
2	PD	0
5	ED	0
2	SPD	5
7	REC	0
50	END	0
4/80	STUN	-15
	Total	30

 

Points	Powers	END
45	Geosphere. Growth-76 (×72057594037927936000000 mass, ×42275935.1 height); Mass: 5,908,722,711,110,090,800,000,000 kg/12,999,189,964,442,200,000,000,000 lbs; Height: -33,686,893 cm/-13,262,556.30″; Extra STR: 380; Knockback Reduction: -76; Extra BODY: 76; Extra STUN: 76; DCV Penalty: -51; PER Penalty: +51; Reduced END: Zero, +½; Always On: -½; Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; Generic Limitation (Has massive gravatic side effects): -2; Extra Time: 1 season, -5; Extra Time Required: Only At Startup, ½; Generic Limitation (User becomes almost perfectly spherical, with no major limbs): -2; Independent (Earth and stone can be taken away): -2; OIF (Geology): -½; Visible (Grotesquely so): -¼	0
5	Elemental Control: Planetary Powers (22-pt reserve); Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; OIF (Geology): -½; Linked (To Geosphere): -½; Always On: -½; Visible (Absurdly so): -¼
a-8	Atmosphere
(1)	Doesn’t Eat, Excrete or Sleep
(1)	Immune to Aging
(1)	Immune to Disease
(13)	Combined Powers Slot; Area Effect (Radius): 4000″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×4000, +3; Generic Limitation (Effect fades slowly with altitude): -½; Side Effects (Weather): 60/All, -1; Generic Limitation (Immunities are subject to upper limits): -¼; Always On: -½
(7)	Need Not Breathe; Area Effect (Radius): 4000″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×4000, +3; Generic Limitation (Effect fades slowly with altitude): -½; Side Effects (Weather): 60/All, -1; Generic Limitation (Immunities are subject to upper limits): -¼; Always On: -½
(2)	Life Support: Intense Heat/Cold; Area Effect (Radius): 1″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×4000, +3; Generic Limitation (Effect fades slowly with altitude): -½; Side Effects (Weather): 60/All, -1; Generic Limitation (Immunities are subject to upper limits): -¼; Always On: -½
(2)	Life Support: High Radiation; Area Effect (Radius): 1″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×4000, +3; Generic Limitation (Effect fades slowly with altitude): -½; Side Effects (Weather): 60/All, -1; Generic Limitation (Immunities are subject to upper limits): -¼; Always On: -½
(2)	Life Support: High Pressure/Vacuum; Area Effect (Radius): 1″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×4000, +3; Generic Limitation (Effect fades slowly with altitude): -½; Side Effects (Weather): 60/All, -1; Generic Limitation (Immunities are subject to upper limits): -¼; Always On: -½
b-27	Rocky Exterior / Armor (40 PD/40 ED); Hardened: ×1, ¼
c-5	Really, Really, Large / Power Defense (35 pts); Hardened: ×1, ¼
d-11	Thinking Big / Mental Defense (64 pts); Add to Total; Hardened: ×1, ¼
e-5	Eyes Everywhere / Flash Defense (Sight, 35 pts); Hardened: ×1, ¼
f-21	Looking at the Neighbors / Telescopic “Vision” (Sight, +80 to PER)
g-8	A Really Big Guy / Damage Reduction (Physical, 75% Resistant)
h-8	A Really Big Guy / Damage Reduction (Energy, 75% Resistant)
i-5	Watching The Universe / 360-Degree Sensing (All); Transdimensional (All “nearby” dimensions): Group of Dimensions, +¾
j-12	8d6 Strength of the Earth / Aid Endurance (Fade/turn, Max. 48); Range: 0; Affects: Single Power, +0; Charges: 250, +1	0
k-46	Create Avatars / Duplication (4 250-point forms); Extra Time: 1 season, -5; Extra Time Required: Only At Startup, ½; Generic Limitation (All forms must be related to some sort of theme): -½; Champions Advantage (“Duplicates” are independently constructed. (The rules are messed up enough that I don’t know if this is required, but just in case).): +½. Possible avatar “themes” include the “four elements” (Arising from appropriate areas), aspects of nature (EG – Beneficent/Wild/Mysterious/Oceanic or Mother Nature/ Curennos/Moon Goddess/Poseidon), entities that “embody” the four seasons, Warrior/Healer/Mystic/Crafter, and so on. While avatars may be entirely independent creations of the planet, some worlds opt to manifest this ability by “bestowing” the avatar’s power on local lifeforms…
82	Variable Cosmic Power Pool (60-pt Pool); Control Cost: 30; No Skill Required for Change: +1; Change Powers as 0 Phase Action: +1; Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; OIF (Geology): -½; Linked (To Geosphere): -½
3	Mental Awareness
291	Total Powers

 

Points	Skills, Talents, Perks	Roll
2	Knowledge: Biosphere	11-
2	Knowledge; Astronomy	11-
4	Total Skills, Talents, Perks

 

125+	Disadvantages
15	Distinctive Features (Continents); Concealability: Not Concealable, 15; Reaction: Noticed and Recognizable, +0
10	Accidental Change (Major climactic and ecological shifts, per epoch) (11-)
20	Dependent NPC: Assorted Species (Normal, 14-); Skills: Normal, +0
20	Dependent NPC: Assorted Species (Normal, 14-); Skills: Normal, +0
10	Dependent NPC: Assorted Species (Normal, 8-); Skills: Normal, +0
20	Hunted: Minions of the Elder Ones (8-); Capabilities: More Powerful, 15; Non-combat Influence: Extensive, +5; Geographical Area: Unlimited, -0; Actions: Hunting, ×1; Punishment: Harsh, 0
10	Watched: Assorted galactic empires, would-be colonizers, and other aliens (8-); Capabilities: More Powerful, 15; Non-combat Influence: Extensive, +5; Geographical Area: Unlimited, -0; Only Watching: ×½; Punishment: Harsh, 0
20	Gigantic Ball of Rock and Metal (All the Time, Greatly)
15	Plate Tectonics (All the Time, Slightly)
15	No Fine Manipulations (All the Time, Slightly)
20	Does not usually deal with mortals directly (Very Common, Strong)
15	Dislikes Pollution (Very Common, Moderate)
10	Public Identity
200	Total Disadvantages

 

COSTS:	Char.		Powers		Total	Total		Disadv.		Base
	30	+	295	=	325	325	=	200	+	125

 

OCV	DCV	ECV	Mental Def.	PD/rPD	ED/rED	Phases
2	2 / 0	7	64	42/40	45/40	6, 12

Height: 50/2113796755cm (1’8″/69350287’3″), Weight: 82/0kg (180 lbs/0.00 lbs), Age: 4½, Race: Planet

 

Starman

Value	Characteristic	Points
10/480	STR	0
5	DEX	-15
30	CON	40
1/95	BODY	-18
18	INT	8
20	EGO	20
30	PRE	20
10	COM	0
2	PD	0
6	ED	0
2	SPD	5
8	REC	0
60	END	0
6/100	STUN	-15
	Total	45

 

Points	Powers	END
80	5d6 Stellar Fire / Killing Attack (RKA); Range: 4595; Damage Shield: +½; No Normal Defense (That does Body. Versus Radiation/Heat/Vacuum and Breathing Life Support, great thicknesses of ice and rock, or not being stupid enough to dive into a star.): +2; Always On: -½; Extra Time Required: Only At Startup, ½; Extra Time: 1 season, -5; Generic Limitation (Prohibits the use of any equipment): -1½; Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; Generic Limitation (Quasi-Explosive; the damage falls off according to the square-cube law (and gets worse “inside”)): -2; Generic Limitation (Eventually burns out and kills the “user”.): -1; Generic Limitation (Incredibly Visible; Detectable without a roll at ranges of thousands of light years.): -1; Area Effect (Radius): 8192000000″ radius, +1; Increased Area: ×256000000, +7; Personal Immunity: +¼; Reduced END: Zero, +½	0
3	Elemental Control / Stellar Powers (22-pt reserve); Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; Linked (With Stellar Fire): -½; Generic Limitation (Huge gravitational side effects): -2; Generic Limitation (User becomes almost perfectly spherical, with no major limbs): -2
a-62	Growth-94 (×18889465931478581000000000000 mass, ×2705659852.4000001 height); Mass: 1,548,936,206,381,243,600,000,000,000,000 kg/3,407,659,654,038,736,000,000,000,000,000 lbs; Height: 0 cm/0″; Extra STR: 470; Knockback Reduction: -94; Extra BODY: 94; Extra STUN: 94; DCV Penalty: -63; PER Penalty: +63; Reduced END: Zero, +½; Extra Time: 1 season, -5; Extra Time Required: Only At Startup, ½; OAF (Vast amounts of hot gas): -1; Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; Linked (With Stellar Fire): -½	0
b-22	Photosphere / Armor (50 PD/50 ED); Hardened: ×1, ¼
c-3	Eternal Fires / Power Defense (35 pts); Hardened: ×1, ¼
d-7	Cosmic Sentience / Mental Defense (64 pts); Add to Total; Hardened: ×1
e-3	Sunspot Eyes / Flash Defense (Sight, 35 pts); Hardened: ×1, ¼
f-13	Envisioning The Cosmic All / Telescopic “Vision” (Sight, +80 to PER)
g-5	I Laugh At Your Puny Comets / Damage Reduction (Physical, 75% Resistant)
h-5	Nearby Nova? Is That All? / Damage Reduction (Energy, 75% Resistant)
i-3	Watching The Universe / 360-Degree Sensing (All); Transdimensional (All “nearby” dimensions): Group of Dimensions, +¾
j-10	10d6 Fusion Flash / Aid Endurance (Fade/turn, Max. 60); Range: 0; Affects: Single Power, +0; Charges: 250, +1	0
k-9	The Main Sequence / Regeneration, Broad-Spectrum (1 BODY/Turn); Regenerate: From Death, +20; Champions Advantage (Affects all damaged attributes and abilities): +2
l-3	I Am An Environment / Life Support (total); Difficult to Dispel: ×4, +½
m-41	Create Avatars / Duplication (4 300-point forms); Extra Time: 1 season, -5; Extra Time Required: Only At Startup, ½; Generic Limitation (All forms must be related to some sort of theme): -½; Champions Advantage (“Duplicates” are independently constructed. (The rules are messed up enough that I don’t know if this is required, but just in case).): +½ Possible avatar “themes” include astronomical objects, four states of matter, types of energy, and so on. While solar avatars are normally entirely independent creations of the star in question, some stars opt to manifest this ability by “bestowing” the avatar’s power on creatures that  (somehow!) draw their notice.
82	Variable Cosmic Power Pool (60-pt Pool); Control Cost: 30; No Skill Required for Change: +1; Change Powers as 0 Phase Action: +1; Generic Limitation (Only in deep space): -2; OIF (Corona): -½; Linked (To Stellar Fire): -½
3	Mental Awareness
5	Solar Flares / Extra Limbs (40); Number: 40
359	Total Powers

 

Points	Skills, Talents, Perks	Roll
2	Knowledge: Astronomy	11-
2	Knowledge: Stellar Physics	11-
2	Knowledge: Galactic History	11-
6	Total Skills, Talents, Perks

 

125+	Disadvantages
20	Distinctive Features: Star; Concealability: Not Concealable, 15; Reaction: Always noticed & major reaction, +5
20	Phys. Lim: Immense Superheated Ball of Plasma (All the Time, Greatly)
10	Phys. Lim: Does not understand chemically-based creatures very well. (Frequently, Slightly)
20	Psychological Limitation: Placid. Stars are normally quite content to just sit there and blaze away happily for a few eons. (Very Common, Strong)
20	Psychological Limitation: Feels responsible for providing heat and light for any planets that happen to be in the area. (Very Common, Strong)
5	Psychological Limitation: Likes the Celestial Dragons (Uncommon, Moderate)
5	Psychological Limitation: Dislikes the “Lords of Darkness”/”Great Old Ones”/”Elder Ones” (Uncommon, Moderate)
10	Public Identity
15	Reputation (14-)
10	Dependent NPC: Planets (Slightly Less Powerful, 11-); Skills: Normal, +0
135	Total Disadvantages

 

COSTS:

Char.

Powers

Total

Total

Disadv.

Base

Exp.

45

+

365

=

410

410

=

135

+

125

+

150

 

OCV	DCV	ECV	Mental Def.	PD/rPD	ED/rED	Phases
2	2 / 0	7	64	52/50	56/50	6, 12

Weight: 82/1548936206381243600000000000000kg (180 lbs/3,407,659,654,038,736,000,000,000,000,000 lbs), Race: Star

Amusingly enough, Planetman and Starman are at least as playable as a lot of the actual player characters I’ve seen. They may be almost impossible to get rid of, but you can lose them by simply going inside, they’re very slow, and the actual powers that they can manifest are simply not that impressive – at least not once you realize that they can only exert their strength via an earthquake or some such.