Context
The Swiss was an early Richard Dragon enemy, back in 1975. He also played a critical role in the backstory of Lady Shiva.
He was a stock 1970s kung fu movie baddie.
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Background
- Real Name: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Mobile.
- Height: 5’8” (1.72m). Weight: 160 lbs. (72 Kg.).
- Eyes: Unrevealed. Hair: Incoherently variable, let’s say white.
Powers and Abilities
The Swiss is a sadistic killer wielding poisoned needles.
He can commit to a decision with startling speed. This is often done to flee before opponents can react. The Swiss’ brain apparently has a “fight” mode and a “flee” mode, and nothing in-between.
Paycheque persuaders
His connections allow for procuring weapons, mercenaries, vehicles, etc. within mere hours.
His helpers will usually be street toughs with street weaponry. But he can also recruit a variety of melee combat specialists.
The Swiss recruits such thugs in derelict, ill-reputed martial arts schools. He tends to alternate between groups of hand-to-hand combat specialists and groups of melee weapons masters.
In DC Heroes, use the stats from our Stock Thugs article. The Swiss will usually hire Beefy Street Thugs, Evil Karateka and Evil Weapon Masters.
History
The Swiss was a professional killer and interrogator.
He was hired by crime lord Guano Cravat to force a scientist, Mr. Shiruto, to reveal industrial secrets about lasers. However Shiruto fled, then committed suicide before the Swiss could torture him.
The killer theorized that the researcher had mailed the secrets to his niece Carolyn Woosan.
Sweet Carolyn
The Swiss sent thugs after Woosan as she was leaving the Japanese monastery of her godfather, the O-Sensei. But the Sensei’s star students Benjamin Turner and Richard Dragon made short work of the attackers.
The trio left for New York City. Dragon intended to open a dojo there, and Woosan had enlisted with a NYC university.
Another assault by the Swiss’s thugs got lucky. They kidnapped Carolyn and wounded Ben.
Dragon gave chase, but the Swiss kept narrowly escaping with the captive Woosan.
Damsel in distress
The Swiss lost Dragon for good by using a napalm bomb to cover his tracks.
But Barney Ling of G.O.O.D. provided Dragon with fresh intelligence. It allowed the kung-fu fighter to corner the Swiss in one of the dojos of ill repute where he recruited goons.
For a time it seemed that the Swiss would manage to escape again. But Dragon did stay close.
Panicking, the Swiss attempted to force his bike and sidecar between a truck and a security fence, and crashed. Carolyn Woosan died in the crash, expiring in Dragon’s arms.
Dragon gave chase to the terrified Swiss and executed him with his bare hands.
Continuity like clockwork
There are contradictions between a/ the original account of Carolyn Woosan’s death and b/ a later retelling as a new character — David Cain — was introduced.
Our No-Prize HypothesisA made-up explanation to plug a plot hole. goes as follow.
- The Swiss originally had no clues left after Mr. Shiruto killed himself.
- It was David Cain who fed him a rumour saying that Shiruto had mailed his papers to his niece Carolyn Woosan.
This minor alteration allows both versions of the story to work seamlessly.
Adνеrtisеmеnt
Personality
The Swiss is a devoted sadist and a psychopath. Torture is his greatest pleasure.
He enjoys playing games with his opponents, as long as those inflict physical or emotional pain.
His behaviour seems to be coldly professional at first. But the Swiss is actually very emotional. In dangerous situations he can switch from abject terror to squeals of glee within seconds as the fight shifts.
His sudden shifts between a fighting stance and a fleeing stance often play in the Swiss’s favour. Given his absence of pride, he will often take the decision to flee earlier than most. And this gives him a much better chance to actually get away, even from vastly faster opponents.
Likewise, if the fight turns against his foe, the Swiss has no problem changing his mind and aborting his flight.
The Swiss knows he’s no warrior. Although he has no qualms facing ordinary persons alone, he will hire thugs when facing physically adept foes.
He will also have at least one reliable mean of getaway nearby. More often two.
Quotes
“Excellent ! I hoped you would refuse ! I do enjoy… persuading people !”
“You fool ! How dare you destroy yourself… and cheat me of my pleasure !”
DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
The Swiss
| Dex: 03 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 |
| Int: 04 | Wil: 04 | Min: 03 |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 04 |
| Init: 013 | HP: 020 |
Skills:
Charisma (Interrogation): 05, Military science (Demolition): 05, Thief (Stealth): 03, Vehicles (Land): 04, Weaponry (Needles): 04
Advantages:
Language (Swiss German), Lightning Reflexes, Schtick (Manic pace).
Connections:
Street (Low), Guano Cravat (Low), Underworld (Low), Black market suppliers (Low), Places to recruit thugs at (Low).
Drawbacks:
SIA toward Inflicting pain.
Motivation:
Psycho.
Occupation:
Killer.
Wealth:
006
Equipment:
- Poisoned needles (x6) [BODY 01, Poison touch: 07, Dart Bonus, Grenade Drawback, Limitation : Cannot affect targets with a physical RV of 07 or more – or any degree of armour or Skin Armour].
- Shades [BODY 01, Shade: 01].
- The Swiss has easy access to explosives and vehicles, among other things.
DC Adventures RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
The Swiss — Averaged PL 4
| STR | STA | AGL | DEX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00 | 01 | 00 | 02 |
| FGT | INT | AWE | PRE |
| 01 | 02 | 01 | 01 |
Combat Advantages:
Close attack 1, Defensive Roll 1, Evasion, Improved Initiative 1, Ranged attack 1, Seize initiative, Uncanny Dodge.
Other Advantages:
Benefit 1 (The Swiss can procure gear and thugs unusually quickly), Connected, Equipment 5, Languages (Swiss German).
Skills:
Athletics 1 (+1), Close combat (Poison needles) 3 (+5), Deception 2 (+3), Expertise (Interrogation) 6 (+8), Expertise (International assassin) 6 (+8), Insight 3 (+4), Perception 3 (+4), Persuasion 1 (+2), Ranged combat (Thrown poison needle) 3 (+6), Stealth 4 (+4), Technology (Limited 2 to Operation and Demolition) 6 (+8), Vehicles 4 (+6) (Limited 2 to common land vehicles).
Equipment
Poison needles ● Affliction 8 vs. Fortitude, conditions by toxin type ● 8 points
Shades ● Second Chance vs. bright lights ● 1 points
Offence:
| Initiative +4 |
| Unarmed +3, Close, Damage 0. |
| Needle (wielded) +5, Close, Affliction 8. |
| Needle (thrown) +6, Ranged, Affliction 8. |
Defence:
| Dodge | 04 |
| Fortitude | 03 |
| Parry | 03 |
| Toughness | 01*/02 |
| Will | 03 |
* Without Defensive Roll.
Complications:
- Assassin The Swiss does a dangerous and illegal work involving many of the worst people.
- Sadist Pathological craving for inflicting pain.
- And the damage not done The Swiss’s main weapon, his needles, are useless against well-armoured or otherwise hard-to-penetrate opponents.
Powers Levels:
- Trade-off areas. Attack/Effect PL 07, Dodge/Toughness PL 03, Parry/Toughness PL 03, Fort/Will PL 03.
- Points total 59. Abilities 16, Defences 10, Skills 18, Powers 00, Devices 00, Advantages 15. Equiv. PL 4.
Helper(s): Darci.
Source of Character: Early Richard Dragon Kung Fu Fighter issues.