3 min read


Context

Argus is an obscure opponent of Batman & the Outsiders. He was only seen in one 1984 story.

He’s conveniently generic and undetailed, *and* he’s part of a themed team (Antaeus, Diana, Nox, Proteus, Vulcanus).

So having notes for these guys sounds good to us.

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Background

  • Real Name: Unrevealed.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: New Olympians.
  • Base Of Operations: Unrevealed.
  • Height: 5’8” (1.72m). Weight: 140 lbs. (63 Kg.).
  • Eyes: Unrevealed. Hair: Grey.

Powers and Abilities (part 1)

Argus can see distant scenes as if he were standing there.

Our DCH game stats *assume* that he can also hear, smell, etc. the distant scene.

Argus (Batman and the Outsiders enemy) (DC Comics)

History

The New Olympians is a group of mortal supervillains who were given their abilities by the Monitor.

They were assembled by Maxie Zeus to assault the 1984 Olympic Games in L.A., with President Reagan  in attendance. Batman intervened and challenged the New Olympians to compete with his Outsiders in a variety of contests.

Argus’ sole role was to watch the matches and relay the results to Zeus and Batman.

In 2008 the New Olympians were all murdered by Gog (William Matthews), because Geoff Johns.

Powers and Abilities (part 2)

Argus was purely a plot device to relay the “matches” between the Olympians and the Outsiders. It’s lampshaded  through the story that he’s a non-entity, a non-character.

If you decide to use the New Olympians in further stories, and thus develop Argus, consider giving him more vision-based powers. Not something direct like laser eyes, but something that gives an unexpected edge to the team as a whole.

Example off the top of my head :

  • He also has pythia  -like powers, allowing him to see the future in weirdly specific circumstances.
  • For instance, perhaps he can see the incoming death of an animal. Which would help explain why Diana keeps bringing ordinary dogs into super-fights.
  • He might also have the ability to conjure up his vision of upcoming death as an illusion. Which he would have done to project an image of the team (and dogs) being slain just as Gog attacked.
  • The illusion being an accurate vision of the future, there would be no way for Gog to realise that his kills were illusory.

Description

A middle-aged dork in a full grey suit, with thick glasses.

Personality

Shy nerdish sycophantPerson who acts deferential towards someone important in the hope of gains.

Quotes

“I can see them in my mind ! Just as you said, Mister Zeus.”

DC Heroes RPG

Argus

Dex: 02 Str: 02 Bod: 02
Int: 04 Wil: 04 Min: 03
Inf: 02 Aur: 02 Spi: 02
Init: 008 HP: 005

Powers:

Remote sensing: 08

Skills:

None demonstrated.

Advantages:

Sharp Eye.

Connections:

Maxie Zeus (Low).

Drawbacks:

MPR (Argus is near-sighted).

Motivation:

Mercenary.

Occupation:

Mercenary.

Wealth:

004

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DC Adventures RPG

Argus — Averaged PL 1

STR STA AGL DEX
00 00 00 00
FGT INT AWE PRE
00 01 02 00

Powers:

Tele-vision ● 7 points ● Descriptor: Unrevealed
Senses 7 (Visual has Penetrates Concealment and Extended 3).

Combat Advantages:

None demonstrated.

Other Advantages:

None demonstrated.

Skills:

Insight 2 (+4), Perception 3 (+5) and presumably a professional Expertise.

Offence:

Initiative +0
Unarmed +1, Close, Damage 0.

Defence:

Dodge 01
Fortitude 01
Parry 00
Toughness 00
Will 01

Complications:

  • Merc for Money Argus works for dangerous people – and some, like Maxie Zeus, are unstable.
  • Mousy Argus is particularly unintimidating, and unlikely to be taken seriously.

Powers Levels:

  • Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 01, Dodge/Toughness PL 01, Parry/Toughness PL 00, Fort/Will PL 01.
  • Points total 18. Abilities 06, Defences 02, Skills 03, Powers 07, Devices 00, Advantages 00. Equiv. PL 2.


Writeups.org writer avatar Sébastien Andrivet

By Sébastien Andrivet.

Source of Character: Batman and the Outsiders #14-15.