August von Doom
Context
This character is an original creation. We often call these “homemades” or “homebrewed” – think home cooking or craft beer.
Many of these characters were created to take part in tabletop role-playing game sessions. Others were invented as a creative writing exercise, often as part of a community event.
This specific character was created for Uncle Dave’s stillborn Brood campaign. For more information, and an excellent timeline, which incorporates most major characters and events from both the Marvel and DC Universes, check out http://www.eskimo.com/~someone/brood/ .
Advertisement
Background
- Real Name: August von Doom.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Victor von Doom (cell donor), Bruce Wayne (cell donor).
- Group Affiliation: The Brood.
- Base Of Operations: Wundagore Mountain.
- Height: 6’2” Weight: 220lbs. Age: 22 (biologically).
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Brown
Powers and Abilities
August is an exceptional human specimen in every measurable way. In each of the 47 indices of physical and mental prowess developed by the High Evolutionary, August falls in the upper percentile.
He is expert in medicine, the sciences and the martial arts. He also is a powerful personality, capable of menace or charm as the situation demands.
His particular specialty as a scientist is the study of “Speed Force”, or as August prefers, hyperkinetics. No less than three of his fellow Brood are able to tap the Speed Force to some extent, which has provided August with a wealth of data on the previously unresearched phenomenon.
Advertisement
Gear
His Meridian Harness is a research tool. It allows him to evaluate the effects of hyperkinetics on the human body. It also allows him to get a lot of work done.
Obviously, the harness has combat applications. But August prefers not to use it routinely, but to keep it as an ace in the hole. He therefore uses it sparingly and subtly. For example, if threatened, he’ll “disappear” under cover of a smoke pellet, rather than simply run away at Mach 1.
History
August von Doom exists in a world in which DC and Marvel history is mingled. Every major character published by each company exists in this world, and made his or her first appearance in the same year that the character was first published in the real world.
August is one of more than a dozen people created by the High Evolutionary from genetic material taken, for the most part, from super-humans. This was in the early 1970s.
H.E. intended August (meaning “majestic”) to be his principal agent in the outside world. He required an entirely human, but nevertheless effective, agent in this role. He therefore selected as genetic donors the two humans who, more than any others, had, as he put it, “dared to wrestle the gods”. Doom, and Wayne.
Alas, H.E. died before his Brood came to maturity. Thus, they would only wake from their long sleep in 1999.
Personality
August is an idealist, who may be in a position to achieve his ideal. He has come to the conclusion that the world should and can be a better place, and works to ensure that it will be. Saving the world is only a half-measure, as far as he’s concerned. The instrument of his ambition is the Meridian Harness, which allows normal humanity to become like the gods.
The present version requires minor surgery to use – sub-cutaneous implants are required. August is working on a more refined version at present, and plans to release the design over the Internet as soon as it’s complete.
He intends thereby to abolish hunger and pollution at a stroke, to destroy the nation state (by making borders impossible to enforce), and, with luck, to create a better world. He hasn’t disclosed this ambition to anyone, as he fears he would be killed, leaving his work undone.
DC Universe History
The Brood concept would fit equally into a pure DC setting. Lex Luthor could be both the creator of the Brood, and the donor of August’s DNA. August Luthor has a certain ring to it, actually!
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
August von Doom
| Dex: 09 | Str: 05 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 10 | Wil: 09 | Min: 09 | Occupation: Revolutionary |
| Inf: 09 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 08 | Resources {or Wealth}: 012 |
| Init: 030 | HP: 040 |
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 09, Martial Artist*: 09, Scientist (Analysis)*: 10, Gadgetry*: 10, Medicine (First Aid, Forensic, Medical Treatment)*: 10, Weaponry*: 09, Vehicles*: 09
Advantages:
Genius, Intensive Training, Scholar (Wundagorean Science), Scholar (The “Speed Force”).
Drawbacks:
MIA (Utopian Philosophy).
Equipment:
- MERIDIAN HARNESS [BODY 05, Superspeed: 09, Dispersal: 09, HP Cost: 175]. The Meridian Harness is a light-weight vest, imprinted with microcircuitry which gathers and focuses Speed-force energy before transmitting it via subcutaneous implants to the wearer’s vital Chakra, or meridians.
- Smart Bombs [BODY 03 INT 01, Ammo: 04, Bomb: 08, Radio Communication: 05, HP Cost: 71. Advantages: Global Positioning System Drawbacks: Ammo drawback doubled because bombs. Note: while Smart Bombs can be removed by an opponent, this would be a mistake, as August can order them to detonate remotely. They are costed as if irremovable].
- Smoke Pellets [BODY 01, Fog: 10, HP Cost: 27].
- 1948 Colt .38 Super [BODY 05, EV: 04, Range: 06, Ammo: 07, R#: 02, HP Cost: 16].
- Radio Headset [BODY 02, Radio Communication (scrambled): 09, HP Cost: 26].
Previous Statistics
Straight from storage, August had no toys, and his Wealth was only 11. His Scholar [The Speed Force] Advantage, and his Weaponry and Vehicles skills were all learned later.