Hero System – Animate Object

Animate Object is a bit of a mess even in d20, where the spell and the resulting creatures are standardized. In the hero System, where no such standardization applies, such effects are a bit of a nightmare. Ergo, here we have Blueblood’s version – which summons up some wisps of magical telekinetic force which wrap themselves around relevant items and infuse them with a standardized amount of power – turning them into thirty point items of equipment.

While there is some enhancement involved, these are, however, fairly normal items; you can’t animate a doctors bag and expect it to heal your wounds. You can, however, animate a slab of rock and expect it to block attacks on you.

In game terms, the “Animation” is a “summon” effect – although it’s “summon an animating force” rather than “summon a creature”.

Animate Object Spell

• STR o (-10 CP)
• DEX 18 (24 CP): OCV 6, DCV 6 + 6 (Shrinking)
• CON 0 (-20 CP)
• BODY 2 (-16 CP)
• INT 3 (-7 CP)
• EGO 2 (-16 CP)
• PRE 10 (0 CP
• COM 0 (-5 CP)
• PD 0 (0 CP)
• ED 0 (0 CP)
• SPD 4 (12 CP)
• REC 0 (0 CP)
• END 0 (0 CP)
• STUN 2 (0 CP)

Elemental Control: Animate Object Spell (10-pt reserve); Entire creature dispelled if one or more powers disrupted or runs out): -1; Visible (Eldritch glow around item being animated. ): -¼ (4 CP)

• Telekinesis (STR 20) with Fine Manipulation, +10; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 lev; Only to wield the item they are conjured to animate): -1; (8 CP).
• Shrinking-3 (DCV +6, Height 15 cm/6″); Knockback Increase: 9; PER Bonus: -6; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (7 CP).
• 2d6 Aid to Equipment Allowance (Item being animated) (Fade/hour, Max. 30); Range: 0; Generic Limitation (Only to pay for a specific piece of more-or-less conventional gear): -1; Autofire: 10 shots, ¾; Charges: 10, -¼; Affects: Single Power of Special Effect, +¼; Generic Limitation (Only GM-Approved Equipment): -1 (9 CP).
• Force Field (15 PD/15 ED); Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (7 CP).
• Power Defense (20 pts); Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (4 CP).
• Mental Defense (20 pts); Add to Total; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (4 CP).
• +22 PRE Defense; Generic Limitation (Only to defend against presence attacks) (4 CP).
• 12″ Flight (NC: 24″); Non-Combat Multiplier: ×2, +0; Non-Combat (MPH): 36; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (5 CP).

This could be considered cheese – after all, this packs everything that the “creature” does into a single elemental control and includes several “special” powers at that – but they do all effectively cost endurance (thus the one continuing charge limitation) and it’s hard to get much more of a tightly-linked group of powers than “these are the effects of a single spell, if any part of it fails, the entire spell does” and “it’s reasonably difficult to break”.

Run 0 (-12 CP), Swim 0 (-2 CP)

Disadvantage: No limbs, speech, or normal reflexes (All the Time, Fully) (-25 CP).

Net Cost: (-38) Attributes, 38 (Powers), -25 (Disadvantage).

Basically the spell is a wisp of light that wraps itself around the item being animated and causes it to fly around and act “on it’s own”. The “Aid” power basically means that all such objects have a standard (30) point base cost and are OAF. Animated objects are generally helpful, if not too bright, and so are purchased with a +1/4’th advantage for being reasonably cooperative.

Possible Animated Objects

Large Furniture (Sofa, Dining Table, Lounge):

• Hand-to-Hand Attack (10d6, Total 14d6) 0; Range: 0; Reduced END: Zero, +½ (22 CP)
• Armor (3 PD/3 ED) ; Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½; Usable by Others Number: 2, +¼ (8 CP).

Large furniture can kick or ram quite effectively and provides a certain amount of cover. Unfortunately, most attacks will go straight through them, with very little loss of power.

Net / Bush / Tree / Rope / Carpet / Cloth / Chain

• +6 DC for Martial Attacks (12 CP).
  • Fast Strike (OCV +2, DCV +0, 12d6) (2 CP).
  • Flying Tackle (OCV +0, DCV -1, 10+v/5) (1 CP).
  • Choke Hold (OCV -2, DCV +0, Grab, 5d6 NND) (2 CP).
  • Martial Grab (OCV -1, DCV -1, STR 60) (1 CP).
  • Martial Disarm (OCV -1, DCV +1) (2 CP).
  • Nerve Strike (OCV -1, DCV +1, 5d6 NND) (2 CP).
  • Martial Throw (OCV +0, DCV +1, 10d6+v/5) (1 CP).
  • Weapon Bind (OCV +1, DCV +0, STR 60) (2 CP).
• +2 levels with HTH Combat (5 CP).

Items like these are surprisingly effective, especially when “wielded” with a telekinetic strength of twenty. With multiple ends and flexibility they can strike, entangle, and squeeze in a bewildering variety of ways.

Shield / Slabs of Rock / Interposing Objects

• Armor (10 PD/10 ED) Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½ (22 CP).
• Flash Defense (Sight, 6 pts); Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½ (4 CP).
• Power Defense (6 pts); Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½ (4 CP).

Large solid objects that get in the way of attacks are simple, straightforward, and surprisingly effective. They may not be able to stop heavy attacks, but they can certainly blunt them.

Axe, Sword, Spear, Pole Arm, Etc.

• 1½d6 Killing Attack (HTH) (3d6 with telekinetic strength); Reduced END: Zero, +½ (18 CP).
• +2 levels with All Combat; Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½ (12 CP).

Animated melee weapons are simple, straightforward, and quite dangerous – partially in their own right and partially because they are pretty good at supporting another fighter.

Statue / Manaquin / Tin Man / Scarecrow / Large Doll / Etc

• +20 STR; Doesn’t Affect Figured: -½; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (7 CP).
• +20 STR (Only for HTH Combat); -½, Doesn’t Affect Figured: -½; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (6 CP).
• +1 level w/Overall Level (Aide); Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½ (7 CP)
• +5 levels with HTH Combat; Generic Limitation (OCV Only): -½ (10 CP).

Perhaps the most classic of all animated objects, humanoid (or at least vaguely humanoid) automatons are versatile and know no pain or hesitation, making them surprisingly good in a fight and even of some use as aides.

Fire Extinguisher

• Multipower (45-pt reserve); Fire Extinguisher Functions Only: -½, 2 Hex Maximum Range -¼ (16 CP).
  • u-1: 3d6 Flash (Normal Sight); Area Effect (One-hex) +½; Charges: +16.
  • u-1: 6d6 Suppress (Fire); Affect: Single Power of Special Effect, +¼; Charges: 8, +¼; Continuing Charges: 1 Minute, -3 levels.
  • u-1: 4d6 Transform Air to a coating of Ice (Minor, Single Object); Charges: 16, +0.
  • u-1: Darkness 3″ Radius (Extinguisher Powder) versus Smell and the Sight Sense Group, 8 Charges lasting 1 Turn Each.
• +4 levels with Extinguisher (6 CP).
• Hand-To-Hand Attack +2d6 at 0 End Cost (4 CP).

The Fire Extinguisher is a bit silly, but it can actually be fairly effective in making life awkward for many opponents. And if all else fails, it can simply bludgeon people.

Kevlar Clothing / Light Armor / Superhero Costume

• +10 STR; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels, Usable By Others: Power Lost, +¼ (4 CP).
• Armor (8 PD/8 ED); Usable By Others: Simultaneous Use, +½; Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (12 CP).
• Running (+12″); Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels; Usable By Others: Power Lost, +¼ (10 CP).
• Superleap (+14″); Charges: 1, -½; Continuing Charges: 1 Hour, -5 levels (4 CP).

The Living Clothing / Armor is an old joke, but if it’s durable enough, it can actually be a surprisingly effective boost.

Heavy Pistol/Bow/Crossbow/Gyrojet Pistol/Etc

• 2d6 Ranged Killing Attack (RKA); Range: 225; Reduced END: Zero, +½ (22 CP).
• +3 levels with Ranged Combat (8 CP).

Simple and effective, the job of this object is simply to shoot at its targets. Why the ammunition never runs out is something of a mystery, but it IS magic.

Grenade Launcher

• Multipower (45-pt reserve); Generic Limitation (Grenades only): -½ (18 CP).
  • u-1: 2d6 Fragmentation Grenade: Ranged Killing Attack; Range: 225; Explosion: +½; Charges: 12, -¼.
  • u-1: 6d6 Concussion Grenade: Stun Only Energy Blast. Range: 225; Versus: PD; Explosion: +½; Charges: 12, -¼.
  • u-1: 6d6 Inciendary Grenade: Energy Blast, Range: 225; Versus: ED; Explosion: +½; Charges: 12, -¼
  • u-1: Smoke Grenade: Darkness (Smell, Sight, 3″ radius); Range: 225; Charges: 4, -¼; Continuing Charges: 1 Minute, -3 levels.
  • u-1: 3d6 Tangler Grenade: Entangle (DEF 3): Range: 225; Explosion: +½; Charges: 12, -¼.
• +4 level w/Grenades (10 CP).

The Grenade Launcher isn’t a very powerful weapon by Hero System standards – but it’s reasonably versatile surprisingly accurate at hitting a target hex (that telekinetic control again), and is great for dealing with crowds of mooks.

Missile Launcher / Anti-Tank Weapon

• Multipower (60-pt reserve); Generic Limitation (Missles Only): -½ (24 CP).
  • u-2: 4d6 Shaped Charge Missile Killing Attack (RKA); Range: 300; Charges: 16, +0.
  • u-2: 12d6 Plasma Jet Missile Fire Energy Blast; Range: 300; Versus: ED; Charges: 16, +0.
  • u-2: 8d6 Inciendary Energy Blast: Range: 300; Versus: ED; Explosion: +½; Charges: 16, +0.

The Missile Launcher is one of the most powerful conventional personal weapons around, but is – of course – meant to target vehicles. Trying to shoot people is surprisingly hard. Normal missile launchers don’t usually have forty-eight missiles available, but once again, magic.

Confronted with a hostile army, Blueblood has opted to learn a spell to let him deploy the equivalent of his own platoon. It isn’t – and really can’t be – enough to handle an army, but it should be useful in a variety of lesser situations.