Charm (TSR Top Secret RPG character)

Charm

(FREELancers)


Context

Top Secret was an espionage pen-and-paper RPG from the early days, in 1980. In 1987 it had a modernised edition, Top Secret/S.I., which was interesting and had cool supplements.

One supplement was F.R.E.E. Lancers, an alternate campaign setting. This one took place in a fantasy future, and the Player Characters  essentially had low-end super-powers. Charm is one such operative, who evokes a warped Faceman from the A-Team.


Background

  • Real Name: Unrevealed.
  • Marital Status: Bigamist.
  • Known Relatives: None.
  • Group Affiliation: FREELancers.
  • Base Of Operations: Lancer HQ.
  • Height: 5’9” Weight: 180lbs.
  • Eyes: Grey Hair: Chestnut


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Powers and Abilities

Charm’s power is an instinctive rapport with others that makes it easy for him to say and do the exact right things to persuade them to do what he wants.

He is a phenomenal portrait artist, always capturing the inner nature of his subject with astounding skill.

He is also formidable with a blade and can be deadly versus an opponent intent on killing him.

Charm is an emotional vampire — he would slowly die without human contact.


History

Born in Northern Ireland, he was caught between the warring factions there. After he was labelled (correctly) a “grass”, he was forced to flee to London.

There, he became a briefly successful stage actor before being convinced to take part in a plot to kill King Charles.

FREE saved him and he has worked for them since.


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Description

A fastidious fashion plate with movie star good looks, dressed in whatever his current milieu considers the height of fashion.


Personality

Drake is a social chameleon, vain, weak willed, easily distracted. He is always playing a role and usually lost in the part. Although one of the most useful FREElancers, he must be watched at all times and kept on track with reminders of which side he is on.

He is a perfect example of why most espionage agencies in his world consider recruiting metable operatives to be more trouble than they are worth.


Quotes

“This is just a small misunderstanding…”


DC Universe History

Could have been associated with any group from the JLA to Kobra.



Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG

Tell me more about the game stats

Charm, aka Simon Drake aka Paul Drummon aka Daniel Dracoli and others

Dex: 05 Str: 02 Bod: 04 Motivation: Eager to Please
Int: 03 Wil: 03 Min: 03 Occupation: Spy
Inf: 10 Aur: 08 Spi: 03 Resources {or Wealth}: 006
Init: 22 HP: 015

Powers:
Control: 04, Empathy: 06

Skills:
Acrobatics*: 05, Artist (Actor, Painter): 08, Artist (Dancer): 05, Charisma (Interrogation/Persuasion)*: 10, Martial Artist*: 05, Thief (Forgery): 08, Thief (Concealment, Pickpocket, Stealth)*: 05, Weaponry (Melee): 05, Weaponry (fencing weapons): 07

Advantages:
Attractive, Connoisseur, Area Knowledge (Belfast, London, Chicago, Paris), Gift of Gab, Luck, Omni-Connection, Lightning Reflexes.

Drawbacks:
Enemy (IRA and British Intelligence), SIA toward doing what other people want), Uncertainty, SPI, SIA toward Women, Attack Vulnerability (-1CS OV/Rv against Character Interaction), Fatal Vulnerability (lack of human emotions around him).

By David Johnston.

Source of Character: FREELancers, a TSR Top Secret Sourcebook.

Helper(s): Jackson, Interrobang75.