Cyclops
(Scott Summers) (Profile #1 - Early)
Context
Cyclops is a founding member and field leader of the X-Men during the 1960s. This profile is gisted notes about him early on, during the 1960s.
It is a very old game stats benchmarking entry. That is, the point was to debate numbers we could use for early Cyclops as reference points for later writeups.
This profile is followed by a set of similar notes – Cyclops (Classic).
Background
- Real Name: Scott Summers.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Phillip Summers (grandfather), Deborah Summers (grandmother), Christopher Summers (father, believed deceased), Katherine Anne Summers (mother, deceased).
- Group Affiliation: The uncanny X-Men.
- Base Of Operations: Xavier’s school for gifted youngsters, New York state.
- Height: 5’9” Weight: 135lbs.
- Eyes: Red Hair: Brown
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Powers & Abilities
This is Cyclops before Giant Size X-Men #1. He’s still a lonely, shy teenager thrust into a very tense situation and responsibilities by the stern Xavier.
He’s a far cry from the current Cyclops. Strong physical training has begun to make “Slim” a decent athlete and combatant, however.
Cyclops’ beam is powered by solar radiations absorbed through his skin. At this point, he does not metabolize them very efficiently, and he sometimes find himself out of juice. However, he has already learned to perform sweep attacks, as well as super-fine beams for precision work.
Art by Marko Djurdjević.
During the initial issues of the X-Men, Cyclops inevitably suffered deleterious effects when using his optic blasts at their fullest. When emitting optic blasts at this level, Cyclops could throw a generator the size of a semi truck high through the air or instantly demolish an iceberg large enough to sink a cruise ship.
However, firing blasts that powerful always left Cyclops stunned at the least. Sometimes he lost consciousness entirely and would still be weakened for some time after regaining consciousness. This also occasionally depleted his energy reserves, leaving him unable to fire more optic blasts.
Cyclops frequently used his eye beams for excavation during this period to various tactical effects. These included creating tunnels for surreptitious underground movement and carving out pits and trenches to trap or confine opponents (in RPG terms, Cyclops often used Energy Blast to mimic Digging as a Trick Power).
This creativity extended to others’ powers. For example, Cyclops was the first to suggest that Iceman adopt on a more crystalline version of his original “snowman” covering for camouflage purposes, the icy form being slightly transparent.
History
See the main Cyclops writeup.
Description
Toward the end of this era Scott will graduate to the first version of the deep blue costume, the one which covers his hair.
Scott’s civilian attire is what can be expected from a proper, studious teenager in the 60’s.
Personality
Scott is but a teenager at this point. He’s led a loveless life ever since the death of his parents, making him appear cold, shy and very reserved — a feeling that is reinforced by his heavy ruby-quartz glasses.
He’s a nerd, has a minimal social life and little in the way of muscles, earning him the nickname “Slim”. Furthermore, his power being always on is a source a major angst.
Scott attempts to appear more mature than he is by acting like a very serious student (which alienates him further from all the jocks who make fun of him). After Xavier has made him a leader, he overcompensates his insecurities by being tough, bossy and an authoritarian toward the others, leading to frequent fights within the group.
He drives the team to its physical and mental limits, a trait that will stay with him in the future. His most blatant insecurity is toward Jean. He barely dares to look at her, is acutely aware that everyone is in love with her, and spend his nights telling himself he’s not worthy.
Scott’s personality will evolve according to two opposed dynamics :
- He will get stronger and more confident, but also more emotionally closed, with combat experience and the realisation that he is indeed a superb leader and tactician.
- And he will grow up and slowly open up as his relationship with Jean shifts from impotent fantasy to ambiguous friendship to actual dating.
At this point Scott suffers from amnesia regarding the death of his parents, and is completely unaware that the orphanage he grew up in was run by Mister Sinister.
DC Universe History
See the main Cyclops writeup.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Cyclops (early)
| Dex: 04 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Student, radio announcer |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 005 |
| Init: 016 | HP: 030 |
Powers:
Energy Absorption: 01, Energy Blast: 09, Iron Will: 01
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Energy Blast can have an Area of Effect (wide blast, 1 AP).
- Energy Blast is Always On (-1).
- Energy Blast cannot damage Cyclops (+1) or Havok (-1).
- Energy Blast cannot damage ruby quartz (-1).
- Iron Will is a Skilled Power.
Skills:
Accuracy (Optic blast): 08, Martial Artist: 05, Medicine (First Aid): 03, Vehicles: 03
Advantages:
Leadership.
Connections:
X-Men (High).
Drawbacks:
Mistrust (mutant), MIA to not letting his emotions show, Secret ID.
Equipment:
VISOR [BODY 10, Advantage : The visor is made of ruby quartz and can block Cyclops’s blast, negating his Always On advantage as long as it is worn ; it also allows him to see clearly when firing his blast. Cyclops can raise the visor by touching the visor, or the secret button in his glove].
Maximum Intensity
Whenever Cyclops spends HPs on the EV of his Energy Blast, the Power is treated as suffering from both the Fatiguing and Catastrophic Power Loss Limitations for that attack. The Fatiguing roll is resolved as if he had used the full 09 APs of Energy Blast.
Unlike normal Fatiguing, Cyclops can spend HPs on LDD to mitigate the Bashing Damage he takes.
Furthermore, since Cyclops’s energy reserves replenish quickly, he could make a Recovery Roll for his Burnout 4 phases after it occurred (possibly sooner if he gets a chance to use his Energy Absorption, at the GM’s option). Overall, this constitutes a -1FC Limitation for Cyclops’s Energy Blast.
As a role-playing note, even when he was not firing full intensity beams Cyclops infrequently mentioned being careful to marshal his power reserves so that he did not run out of energy for his blasts.
The negative side-effects above did not actually occur outside of his uses of maximum power though. So no additional Limitation or Drawback is necessary.
This Limitation appears to have been bought off after the first Sentinel attack in issues #14-16.
Game Stats — DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Cyclops (Early) — Averaged PL 6.8
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX | FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 02 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 02 | 01 | 01 |
Powers
Optic blast Array ● 16 points ● Descriptor: Mutation
- Ranged Blunt Damage 8, Area (Cone).
- Ranged Blunt Damage 8.
Solar battery ● 1 point ● Descriptor: Mutation
Protection 2, Limited 1 (Electromagnetic energies).
Trained mind ● 1 point ● Descriptor: Skill
Enhanced Will 2, Limited 2 (Entranced/Compelled/Controlled only).
Combat Advantages
Accurate Attack, All-Out Attack, Defensive Attack, Defensive Roll 2, Leadership, Power Attack.
Other Advantages
Benefit 1 (X-Men membership).
Skills
Athletics 2 (+3), Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+7), Expertise (Current Events) 4 (+6), Insight 2 (+3), Intimidation 1 (+2), Perception 4 (+5), Persuasion 3 (+4), Ranged Combat: Optic Blast 12 (+15), Treatment 2 (+3) (Limited 2 – Revive and Stabilize Only), Vehicles 1 (+4).
Offense
| Initiative +1 |
| Unarmed +7, Close, Damage 1 |
| Optic Blast +15, Ranged, Damage 8 |
Defense
| Dodge | 6 | Fortitude | 5 |
| Parry | 7 | Toughness | 4/2* |
| Will | 5 |
* Without Defensive Roll
Complications
- Secret Identity Scott maintains his identity as the mutant Cyclops in secret.
- Responsibility Scott feels the burden of his powers and the positions of leadership into which he is thrust.
- Power Loss Scott’s optic blasts cannot harm ruby quartz, nor himself nor his brother Havoc.
- Power Complication Without his visor, Scott’s blasts are effectively Uncontrolled whenever his eyes are opened.
- Maximum Intensity Whenever Scott performs a power stunt off his optic blast that does full damage or that has any level of Penetrating, he must include Fades. Additionally, if he uses Extra Effort to increase the damage of his blast, he must buy off the fatigue level with a Hero Point immediately or the attack acquires the Fades Drawback, as well.
Power levels
- Trade-off areas Attack/Effect PL 12, Dodge/Toughness PL 5, Parry/Toughness PL 6, Fort/Will PL 5.
- Point total 88. Abilities 32, Defences 14, Skills 16, Powers 18, Devices 0, Advantages 0. Equiv. PL 6.
Notes
I decided to use his Energy Blast as though it were a Weaponry skill to calculate Dex, then I diminished it by 1 due to his lack of evidence of sleight of hand and to keep his Vehicles skill rational. This is fairly consistent with fellow blaster Black Canary’s writeup and presages the spatial talent he later demonstrates.
Source of Character: X-Men comics (Marvel Universe).
Helper(s): Sean MacDonald, Nick Yankovec, Nicolas Lemaçon, the Angel, Philip John Mason, Mark Ayen, marvel.com, www.uncannyxmen.net ; Kansas Jim’s mutant history copy-edited by John Colagioia. M&M stats by Pawsplay.