Mauler brutes
(Shadowgrounds video game monster)
Context
Shadowgrounds is a minor 2006 shooter video game, by Frozenbytes. There are brute maulers in it.
These beasties looked like they could be useful to have, and can be reused in many contexts.
For more context, see our profile for Wesley Tyler, the game’s hero.
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Overview
Brute maulers are, perhaps not surprisingly, hulking musclebound bruisers. They are humanoids, but their head is reminiscent of H.R. Giger’s aliens. They have visible cybernetic implants, especially the guns that are where hands would be on most humanoids.
These creatures are strong enough to eventually bash open a titanium-reinforced security door through shoulder charges. They can endure a non-trivial amount of gunfire. Their built-in weapons are laser/blaster machineguns that can produce a devastating hail of energy fire.
Don’t yield !
Brute maulers are further equipped with a built-in, nearly impregnable force shield. Attacks that comes from their front will be stopped and deflected, unless tremendously powerful.
Fighting them without being aware of this shield is a death trap. And once one realises what is going on, taking brute maulers down implies oft-complicated tactics to get in their back.
Once there, it is crucial to deliver a large volume of fire to kill them before they can turn. Something on the order of dozens of pulse rifle rounds, full auto.
Personality
Brute maulers are akin to mostly biological robots, in terms of behaviour. They seem to rigidly follow their instructions, such as guarding a sport or patrolling a circuit. Left to themselves — for instance after their opponents have fled or have died — they’ll blindly resume their mission.
This can provide crafty opponents with much-needed opportunities to light them up in the arse.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Mauler brute
| Dex: 02 | Str: 08 | Bod: 06 | Motivation: Programmed ? |
| Int: 01 | Wil: 00 | Min: /// | Occupation: Trooper |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 01 | Spi: /// | Wealth: Unrevealed |
| Init: 007 | HP: 000 |
Powers:
Energy blast: 08, Force shield: 06, Growth: 01, Sonar: 03
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Energy blast has Multi-Attack 1.
- Force shield can only protect the front (which is slightly more restrictive than default).
- Force shield has no Range.
- Force shield has no directly visible manifestation.
- Growth is Always On and Already Factored In.
Skills:
Accuracy (Energy blast): 04, Martial Artist (AV): 04
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Drawbacks:
MPR (They are blind — well, I think — but with their Sonar that is a mere MPR. Plus it means they can’t watch PewDiePie, which I reckon should be an Advantage).
… back S.H.I.E.L.D. !
Noticing what is happening with the invisible frontal shield is usually a 02/02 INT/WIL, and does require a Dice Action as normal. However, the OV/RV in the heat of battle can easily raise by 1 or 2 APs (possibly more at a range, possibly less if there’s something other than gunfire to make the presence of the field obvious).
Of course, one catch is that people fighting these monstrosities won’t be inclined toward taking a Dice Action to watch what’s happening to all the gunfire that keeps being ignored. And noticing the frontal shield doesn’t tell one that it doesn’t extend to the flanks and back of the brute mauler.
Source of Character: Shadowgrounds video game.
Writeup completed on the 31st of March, 2017.