Beangle
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 character was meant to be called “Bengal”. The player was 10 years old when he created this character and got the spelling wrong. After playing for a while we decided not to change it (that the player was very young is also visible in the backstory — Ed.).
The beginning concept for this character came from the 1988 Sega video game Altered Beast . In the 4th level of the game the character could transform into a Weretiger.
Background
- Real Name: Brandon Walter.
- Other Aliases: Bean-glee (insulting).
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: John Walter (Father,Deceased), Martha Walter (Mother, Deceased).
- Group Affiliation: The Young Justice League.
- Base Of Operations: Midway City.
- Height: 6’2” (Beangle 8’6”). Weight: 240 lbs (Beangle 650 lbs.).
- Eyes: Blue (Beangle: Green). Hair: Brown (Beangle: Orange/Black). Age: 51 but looks 30.
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Powers and Abilities
Beangle is a large powerful tiger-man and has quite an array of powers.
He’s fast, strong, and nigh invulnerable. Beangle has the powers a tiger would naturally have as well as a land speed that can outpace practically any land vehicle.
One unique power Beangle possesses is his ability to become energy for a brief instance. He used this power to travel long distances, over time his increasing Running speed along with Cling allowed him to cover great distances without changing to his energy form.
He is usually quite direct when it comes to combat, rushing up and punching whoever seems to be the biggest threat.
History
Brandon Walter was born in Midway City, Michigan, U.S.A.. He didn’t stay long, since his family were missionaries and went to Africa soon after his fifth birthday. His childhood up to this point had been a typical one.
Most of Brandon’s youth was spent in Africa and he made plenty of friends there. Then, at the age of 17, one night his happy childhood was torn apart… by a man-eating tiger. Brandon lost both of his parents that night and nearly his own life as well. He was slashed open by the beast’s claws and needed emergency surgery.
However, the nearest medical facility was too far away. He’d never make it in time. There was a witch-doctor nearby who with her dying breath used her magic to heal his wounds. She also bestowed upon him a ring that bore a tiger’s face.
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Power of the tiger
Brandon would be sent home to America in a month’s time. Putting on the witch-doctor’s ring he found he could transform into a Man-Tiger hybrid. He decided that with the time he had left he’d take care of the things he’d heard about. Like poachers and drug lords.
A bloody month went by and poachers and drug-dealers disappeared. Torn apart by a beast in the night. Brandon however was identified as the creature and brought to justice. When about to be killed, Brandon took off his ring and said, “It’s just me.”
The authorities were shocked and re-examined what to do with him since he was actually a super and not a beast. Because of his parents good standing and his young age. Not to mention who his victims were, The Government sent him back to America threatening they should never see him again; or they will kill him.
A new start
Back in Midway Brandon was on his own but was determined he would never be the person he was in Africa again. There are many Heroes in America and he was determined to be one of them. Brandon became Beangle.
His first lead took him to the waterfront and some abandoned warehouses. He met and joined, after a brief fight, Batboy and his sidekick Birdie.
Beangle and Batboy became close friends. Being a hero became easier now. Batboy was adetective and made finding villains easier, Beangle just had to be there to punch and get punched.
Later, with the help of S.T.A.R. Labs, Batboy and Beangle would be given a team of young heroes who needed guidance with their lives and powers.
Many years into his career, Beangle finally met a foe who truly tested his resolve. Gorilla Grodd. It happened that after a quick defeat of Captain Cold, Gorilla Grodd showed up at the jail to free him. Beangle intervened and found he truly had his hands full. Beangle was faced with a crushing defeat.
Beangle has taken on another hero identity for a while, The Protector. He even masqueraded in the company of friends without them realizing who he really was.
Out of time
Beangle and several other heroes were taken from Earth and arrived thousands of years in the future. The team met Father Time and made a deal to get back to their own time. This deal meant jumping through Dimensions and rescuing other time travelers.
This took them through the Marvel Universe, Ravenloft, Eternia, Earth C, and he was last seen trying to rescue a traveler who wound up in the Matrix.
Description
Beangle is a huge half-man, half-Bengal tiger. He is full of muscle and threatening looking. He has the black stripes over an orange coat that is reminiscent of a tiger. Beangle appears to wear no clothing.
In his Alter Ego, Brandon wears whatever is comfortable but usually blue-jeans and a short-sleeved shirt.
Personality
Brandon has always been the strong silent type. Many times, until recently, he would overconfidently rush into combat. During his time in the Young Justice League he was a steadfast second in command to Batboy.
DC Universe History
Beangle already exists in the DC Universe (my own mirror of it anyway).
Quotes
“Yes ! Superman is here ! Wait a minute ; the “S” is backwards… Crap.”
“I shoot myself onto the roof.” (Then using his Self-linked Energy Blast launches himself onto a nearby rooftop)
“I’m not going to let you do it.” (When a team member mentioned killing as an option).
(During the “Dream Machine” module)
Batboy: “Odd…now I taste something sweet.”
Beangle: “Bleahhh ! (Smacking lips) Mule sweat !”
(Early in career) “I’m not a werewolf, you stupid cops !”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Beangle
A 1366 points Character (without equipment)
| Dex: 12 | Str: 11 | Bod: 13 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 08 | Wil: 10 | Min: 07 | Occupation: Various odd jobs |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 08 | Spi: 09 | Resources {or Wealth}: 003 |
| Init: 027 | HP: 110 |
Powers:
Analytic Smell/Tracking Scent: 08, Awareness: 04, Claws: 05, Energy Blast (Self-Link): 06, Invulnerability: 09, Running: 08, Super-Hearing: 07, Truesight: 01, Ultra-Vision: 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Claws are retractable.
- Energy Blast is solar energy.
Skills:
Acrobatics (Gymnastics): 03, Animal Handling: 05, Military Science (Camouflage): 04, Weaponry: 04
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Midway City), Language: Mandarin Chinese, Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye, Slowed Aging.
Connections:
S.T.A.R. Labs (High), New Knossos (High), Dr. Back (High), Hawkman (High), MCPD (High).
Drawbacks:
Age (Old), Forced Exile (Africa), Secret Identity.
Genre:
Action.
Equipment:
- The Beangle Ring [BODY 09, Insta-Change, Cling: 04, Energy Absorption: 08, Growth: 02, Mind Field: 03, Bonuses & Limitations: Growth is always on and already factored in. Mind Field only protects wearer. Insta-change comes into affect once the Ring is worn. R#5, Cost: 121].
- Hawkman Transmitter [BODY 02, Radio Communications: 10, Bonuses & Limitations: Radio Communications only sends out a signal to The Nest (-1), R#0, Cost: 50].
- Tracking Bugs (X2) [BODY 01, Cling: 01, Radio Communications: 10, Bonuses & Limitations: Radio Communications only sends a signal about its GPS location (-1), R#5, Cost: 14].
- Bracelet [BODY 03 INT 08, Radio Communications: 10, Bonuses & Limitations: Radio Communications may receive transmissions from tracking bugs, R#5, Cost: 70].
Design notes
Beangle was a Player Character and started as a 450 point build with tons of adventures under his belt and time in which he built up Attributes, Skills, etc. through character growth some aspects of the writeup may look odd. For instance, he has Weaponry rated at 04 APs; he could do better unskilled than using the skill purchased.
Beangle was created using 2nd Edition Rules; at that time there were no rules for Alter-Egos. Captain Marvel only had Insta-Change and it was understood that he could change back and forth, but there was no rules for it.
Therefore, Beangle never had the Alter-Ego drawback which he probably would have gotten if he was created today. So, he keeps all of his abilities in either “form” but changes into his Tiger form when he places his ring on his finger.
(Addition: Apparently there were some rules for Alter Ego in 2nd Edition, Page 65 of the Rules Manual Handbook.)
Who is the Protector ?
After Batboy went missing, a rash of anti-heroes appeared in Midway City. Instead of directly confronting these heroes Brandon made a new alter-ego for himself in the Protector. Feeling he’d been Batboy’s partner and teammate for so long, it was time to stand on his own and set an example for these new misguided youths.
As the Protector, he no longer uses his Beangle Ring. The connection with Dr. Back who knew his secret is the only Connection he has. Also, Dr. Back built and maintains his new Protector suit and equipment listed below:
- Protector Suit [BODY 07, Energy Absorption: 07, Force Field: 05, Gliding: 07,Jumping: 04, Life sense: 04, Lightning: 05, Mind Field: 07, R#0, Cost 255].
- Net [BODY 04, Snare: 04, Cost: 12] Net is a five foot square.
- Short stock and barrel Plasma Rifle [BODY 10, AV 10, EV 13, R#5, Cost: 94].
Previous stats – an earlier version of Beangle
This section is more for the player and others who knew Beangle through the years, or for those who would like a more light-weight (732 points) version of the character.
| Dex: 08 | Str: 08 | Bod: 10 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 08 | Min: 06 | Occupation: Various Odd Jobs |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 09 | Resources {or Wealth}: 001 |
| Init: 016 | HP: 060 |
Powers:
Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 04, Claws: 05, Energy Blast (Self-Link): 06, Invulnerability: 02, Running: 07, Ultra-Vision: 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Claws are retractable.
- Energy Blast is solar energy.
Skills:
Animal Handling: 05, Military Science (Camouflage): 04
Advantages:
Area Knowledge (Midway City), Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye.
Connections:
S.T.A.R. Labs (High), Dr. Back (High), Hawkman (High), MCPD (High).
Drawbacks:
Forced Exile (Africa), Secret Identity, Strange Appearance (only while in Beangle form).
Equipment:
Same as Above.
Previous stats – earliest Beangle stats I have
A 409 points Character
| Dex: 05 | Str: 06 | Bod: 08 | Motivation: Seeking Justice |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 08 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Bus-Boy |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 09 | Resources {or Wealth}: 000 |
| Init: 012 | HP: 35 |
Powers:
Analytical Smell/Tracking Scent: 04, Claws: 05, Energy Blast (Self-Link): 06, Running: 05
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Claws are retractable.
- Energy Blast is solar energy.
Skills:
Animal Handling: 05, Military Science (Camouflage): 04
Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes, Sharp Eye.
Connections:
S.T.A.R. Labs (High), Dr. Back (High), Hawkman (High).
Drawbacks:
Forced Exile (Africa), Mistrust, Secret Identity, Strange Appearance (only while in Beangle form).
Equipment:
Same as above.
Source of Character: Homemade, Character played by Jason Roe.
Helper(s): Peter S Piispanen, Puffnstuff. Banner art by Roh.
Writeup completed on the 9th of November, 2011.