Black Star Ninja (Tadashi Yamashita in American Ninja)

Black Star Ninja


Context

He’s a ninja with lasers. Pew pew ! But you probably need more context than that, so we strongly suggest that you first read our Joe Armstrong (American Ninja) profile.


Background

  • Real Name: Unrevealed.
  • Marital Status: Unrevealed.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: Employee of Ortega.
  • Base Of Operations: Philippines, but generally mobile.
  • Height: 5’10” Weight: 155 lbs.
  • Eyes: Brown Hair: Black


Advertisement


Powers and Abilities

He’s a very skilled ninja killer dude. He has traditional ninja weapons, but also improbable launchers on the back of his hand that can shoot darts, a jet of flame or a laser, and include a knockout drug injector. He knows how to set up and run special camps where goons are trained to become… ninja goons !

Ninja training camp in the American Ninja movie (general view)

Apparently, the goons trained by the Black Star Ninja go through a cycle of oddly-coloured ninja uniforms, and get to wear normal black ninja garb when they graduate (my guess about the uniforms cycle would be powder blue → industrial yellow → dull orange → bright red → black, from the camp in the movie). At the end of the day, they are still goons, though.


Video

The trailer in gleaming 1080p.


History

The Black Star Ninja is said to be the top-ranking ninjutsu sensei outside of Japan. He’s a ruthless mercenary who will sell the secrets of ninjutsu, mostly to train mooks. This occupation may be the reason why he’s said to have “broken the code”, which seems to be a pretty serious thing among ninja people.

Ninja training camp in the American Ninja movie

He came to serve an eviiiil crimelord in Philippines, called Ortega, as his chief trainer, commander of ninja and personal assassin. He clashed with Joe Armstrong, kidnapped the Annoying Girlfriend, and even managed to kill his Old Nice Japanese Master during the Big Final Fight. But Joe, the American Ninja, eventually outfought and killed him.


Description

See illustration.


Personality

A professional killer with no regard for human life, who does his job as a disciplined retainer. He enjoys facing other ninja people to determine who’s best, and will of course fight to the death. He does not talk much (he’s a ninja !) but has a distinct Japanese accent when he does.

Ninja training camp in the American Ninja movie


Quotes

“Who is he ? He possesses great skill.”

“My men made a mistake. I will not.”


DC Universe History

He would definitely have been an agent of the Council, fighting the original Manhunter.



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Black Star Ninja

Dex: 07 Str: 04 Bod: 05 Motivation: Mercenary
Int: 05 Wil: 04 Min: 05 Occupation: Mercenary
Inf: 04 Aur: 03 Spi: 04 Resources {or Wealth}: 005
Init: 018 HP: 025

Skills:
Acrobatics: 06, Evasion (Ranged only): 08, Martial artist: 08, Military science (Camouflage): 06, Thief (Stealth): 06, Weaponry (Ninja weapons): 07, Weaponry (Back-of-the-hand launchers): 05

Advantages:
Expertise (Ninja teleportation — he can predict where a teleporting ninja master will reappear and attack him when he does without penalty), Language (Japanese), Schtick (Paired kama).

Connections:
Underworld (Low).

Drawbacks:
Minor Rage, Misc.: The Black Star Ninja has “broken the code” (whatever that means) and other ninja folks will want to kill him on sight.

Equipment:

  • Ninja-to [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing] – a ninja sword.
  • Shuriken (x3) [BODY 03, EV 03, Grenade Drawback].
  • Big ninja knife [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 01 (Cap is 05), Descriptor: Piercing] – a sort of tiny ninja-to he usually throws.
  • Kama (x2) [BODY 04, Enhance (EV): 02 (cap is 05), Descriptor: Slashing, piercing] – a sort of sickle.
  • BACK-OF-THE-HAND LAUNCHERS [BODY 07, Flame project: 04, Projectile weapons (dart bonus): 04, Laser beam: 05. Also contains an injector with Sleep: 03, almost only useable on an immobile subject. All Powers have Ammo: 04].
  • Insulated wire-cutting pincers (because ninja often need to cut electric cables), and lockpicks.
  • Good old powder-filled eggshell [BODY 01, Fog: 04, Grenade Drawback].
  • Nekode [BODY 05, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 04), Enhance (Acrobatics (Climbing)): 01 (cap is 08)] – ninja claws, also useful for climbing and parrying blades. He could even throw them.
  • Long weighted rope {BODY 03, Stretching: 01, Limitation: No Fine Manipulation].

Ninja mooks

Dex: 03 Str: 02 Bod: 03 Motivation: Soldier
Int: 02 Wil: 02 Min: 03 Occupation: Soldier
Inf: 02 Aur: 02 Spi: 02 Resources {or Wealth}: 002
Init: 009 HP: 005

Skills:
Acrobatics: 03, Martial artist: 03, Military science (Camouflage): 03, Thief (Stealth): 03, Weaponry (Ninja weapons): 04

Advantages:
None, really.

Connections:
None.

Drawbacks:
None.

Equipment:

  • Ninja-to [BODY 04, EV 04] (though some use a staff with a retractile spearhead instead).
  • Some also have a self bow [BODY 02, Enhance (EV): 01 (cap is 03), Enhance (Range): 02 (cap is 04), Ammo: 01, Recommended STR: 02, R#03, Limitation: Low Penetration, Descriptor: Piercing].
  • Some have some Ninja Chain Weapon instead [BODY 04, EV 03 (04 w/ Martial Artist), Extra limb: 04, R#02].
  • Other occasional weapons have been blowpipes and nets.


Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Black Star Ninja — Averaged PL 8.4

STR STA AGL DEX FGT INT AWE PRE
02 03 04 04 08 02 02 01

Powers

Master of ninjutsu ● 2 points ● Descriptor: Skill
Ninja evasion — Enhanced Advantage (Evasion), Enhanced Dodge 2 (Limited 1 to gunfire).

Devices

Ninja weapons Array ● 20 points ● Descriptor: Cold, evil ninja steel

  • Ninja-to — Strength-based slashing Damage 3, Improved Critical 1.
  • Shuriken — Ranged piercing Multiattack Damage 1.
  • Ninja throwing knife — Ranged piercing Damage 2, Improved Critical 1.
  • Paired kama — Strength-based slashing Damage 2, Improved Critical 2.
  • Nekode — Strength-based raking Damage 1, Improved Critical 1, Movement 1 (wall-crawling, Limited 1 to soft surfaces like wood).
  • Long weighted rope — Snare 5.

Back-of-hand launcher Array ● 11 points ● Descriptor: Technology

  • Volley of darts — Ranged piercing Damage 4.
  • Flame jet — Ranged fire Damage 3, Diminished Range 2.
  • Laser ! — Ranged laser Damage 4.
  • Knockout drug injector — Close Affliction 2 (Fatigued/Exhausted/Asleep), Limited 2 (only useable on an immobile person).

Combat Advantages

Chokehold, Close Attack 2, Defensive Roll 2, Evasion, Improved Initiative, Improved trip, Improvised weapon, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 1.

Other Advantages

Benefit 1 (Can predict where teleporting ninja masters will appear, and attack them without penalty), Benefit (International underworld contacts), Equipment 1, Instant up, Language (Japanese).

Skills

Acrobatics 4 (+8), Athletics 8 (+10), Close combat (Ninja melee weapons) 1 (+11), Close combat (Unarmed) 1 (+11), Deception 2 (+3), Expertise (Ninja instructor) 7 (+9), Insight 2 (+4), Perception 5 (+7), Ranged combat (Ninja weapons) 6 (+11), Ranged combat (Back of hand launchers) 3 (+8), Stealth 5 (+9), Vehicles 4 (+8) (Limited 2 to common land vehicles).

Equipment

Small useful tools such as wire-cutting pincers, lockpicks, etc.

Offense

Initiative +8
Unarmed +11, Close, Damage 2
Ninja weapons +11, varies
Back of hand launcher +8, varies

Defense

Dodge 10** Fortitude 8
Parry 12 Toughness 5/3*
Will 7

* Without Defensive Roll
** Can be 12 vs. firearms

Complications

  • Enemies He broke the code, so good ninja want to kill him because he’s a bad ninja.
  • Obsession The Black Star Ninja likes fighting other ninja to see who’s the toughest ninja in town.

Power levels

  • Trade-off areas Attack/Effect PL 7, Dodge/Toughness PL 8, Parry/Toughness PL 9, Fort/Will PL 8.
  • Point total 143. Abilities 52, Defences 20, Skills 23, Powers 82, Devices 31, Advantages 15. Equiv. PL 10.


By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: American Ninja I movie. Character played by Tadashi Yamashita (a karate instructor who was a recurrent figure in early martial arts movies).