Ripper
(James Allison)
Context
Champions is one of the early, classic super-hero tabletop role-playing games. Its first edition was in 1981, and it still endures as of this writing (2010s). It has its own roster of characters, many of whom appeared across the decades and editions.
Ripper is from this roster – all five editions. He’s one of the many bricks therein, but with his boosting ability, could take your players by surprise.
This profile is a smoosh of 1st-5th editions of the character.
Background
- Real Name: James Allison.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: Various, commonly Viper Base of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 9’6” Weight: 1600lbs.
- Eyes: Yellow Hair: N/A
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Powers and Abilities
Ripper possesses enormous strength and endurance, as well as remarkable regenerative abilities. He is capable of brief Superman-level boosts to his already incredible strength. This is done via minute quantities of a special chemical produced by an artificial gland implanted within him.
However, building up enough of this chemical for more than four uses in a day will cause his system to immediately seize and break down rapidly, proving deadly to him.
Removing any of the numerous obvious titanium tubes (BODY 13) that course through him could possibly cause some other sort of detrimental effect (GM’s discretion). But truly aren’t any type of important gadget unto themselves, as they are part of him at this point.
He generally exists to punch and smash things. Another favorite tactic is to grapple an opponent and rip them limb from limb.
History
James Allison was a Green Beret in the U.S. Army. He was often sent on the most difficult and dangerous missions in Việt Nam. His luck ran out while he was investigating a secret laboratory in North Việt Nam. Allison was captured and used as an experimental subject.
Strange serums were injected into him as well as being bombarded by curious radiations. The exact reasoning behind these experiments is unknown. But it is believed they failed, as he was transformed into a malformed monster and left for dead when bombing commenced in the area.
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Yet James Allison was made of sterner stuff than the Việt Cong thought. He made it all the way back to South Việt Nam where he was found by a forward artillery observer.
Transferred to military hospital in the states, Allison recovered somewhat. But he was told by doctors that he was dying from the radiation he had received. The doctors could offer him only one chance at survival- Project Omicron.
Omicron
This project had been developing certain human augmentation devices for military use. That meant protection, along with the regeneration of nerve endings and other damaged tissue. This may, in fact, have been what the VC were trying to duplicate.
After numerous excruciatingly painful processes, the Project was able to produce devices capable of saving his life. These also could augment the odd abilities he had gained. Still hideously malformed, his mind, now shattered and ripped apart by the trauma just as his body had been, caused him to rebel and go berserk.
He wasn’t able to get very far on that murderous rampage. He was caught shortly thereafter by a courageous hero and sentenced to languish in Stronghold. The press labelled Allison the “Ripper”, base don his ranting.
The government, thinking they could control him for purposes of further experimentation, was responsible for his release. They were proven wrong. Ripper again fought to cause as much pain as he was forced to endure and hopefully, along the way, escape his past.
Description
Ripper has been turned into a revolting creature. The initial Việt Cong experiment left him without any external features (nose, ears, lips, and genitalia) and his skin a lumpy, bilious purple. The later Omicron experiments turned him into a bestial cyborg, over 9’ tall.
While some of his features have regenerated, metallic hoses and other parts are now embedded grotesquely within his flesh. Ripper’s appearance has caused more than one person to become sick to their stomach.
Personality
He is a rampaging psychopath. In a constant state of pain, normally surly, aggressive, and easily angered, the only time he ever truly enjoys himself is when he’s fighting. He likes superheroes, since they are the only ones who can really give him a decent scrap.
He often gets so caught up in combat that he completely loses control of himself, attacking anyone and anything around him.
Quotes
“I’m GONNA RIP YOU APART !”
DC Universe History
There are numerous DC Universe think tanks that may have been responsible for the experiments that caused his transformation.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Ripper
| Dex: 04 | Str: 14 | Bod: 12 | Motivation: Psychopathic |
| Int: 02 | Wil: 04 | Min: 03 | Occupation: Hired Muscle |
| Inf: 06 | Aur: 05 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 008 |
| Init: 014 | HP: 050 |
Powers:
Growth: 01, Density Increase: 02, Invulnerability: 12, Jumping: 05 , Power Reserve (STR): 11, Regeneration: 12, Sealed Systems: 18, Skin Armor: 06
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Growth and Density Increase are always on and already factored in.
- Skin Armor is partial coverage only (+3CS to OV trick shot).
Skills:
Charisma (Intimidation): 08, Martial Artist (Assault (AV), Blocking (OV)): 06
Advantages:
Life Support (No need to breathe), No Vital Areas.
Connections:
Viper (High).
Drawbacks:
Enemy (U.S. Army), Fatal Vuln. (if use Power Reserve more than 4 times in 24 hours), Power Loss (STR to 03, BODY, Density Increase, Invulnerability, and Regeneration to zero if use Power Reserve more than 4 times in 24 hours), SIA toward Fighting, Public ID, Catastrophic Rage, Strange Appearance.
Design Notes
AP levels are modelled more after what I feel is the spirit of the character than being based upon any necessarily specific numerical conversion.
Source of Character: HERO Games’ Champions products, Escape from Stronghold, Classic Enemies, and Viper: Coils of the Serpent specifically.