Turf
(John Beckman)
Context
Turf only appeared in a 1994 issue of Hardcase, set in the Ultraverse.
He’s thus obscure. But on the other hand he’s simple and easy to use. Pretty much a plug-and-play villain.
Background
- Real Name: John Beckman.
- Marital Status: Unrevealed.
- Known Relatives: None.
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Los Angeles.
- Height: 5’8” Weight: 180 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Light brown
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Powers and Abilities
Turf can animate earth, as long he’s in contact with the ground. He mostly uses this power to encase himself in an exoskeleton made of raw earth, which is :
- A fast and dangerous hand-to-hand fighter.
- Able to use “Class 80” superhuman strength.
- Very resilient to blows.
- Able to instantly renew itself as long as it is in contact with the earth.
- Able to eject earth and rocks at a high velocity at opponents.
- Is massive, and can grow to titanic size when Beckman is particularly pissed off.
Beckman mostly prefers direct confrontation using the exoskeleton. He fights like a brick . Frex, he rarely uses his earth control power to full tactical advantage. It’s mostly a means to finish a stunned opponent by having the earth dramatically engulf them.
History
John Beckman discovered he had telekinetic control over dirt the same day the Squad gained their powers.
However, Beckman was far less open and altruistic than the members of the Squad. He was a nobody, a loser and a couch potato. A psychotic fan — nowadays we’d say a stan — he started hating celebrities when they didn’t respond to his sick letters.
Beckman spent several months mastering his abilities. Then as Turf, he started a campaign of killing celebrities, starting by his favourites or the ones girls liked the most. His rampage was stopped by Hardcase and Choice.
Description
Beckman himself is quite fat, with balding curly hair. He operates naked in his earth exoskeleton.
Personality
A psychotic bully, quite confidant and full of rage when he has the upper hand but disoriented when losing.
Quotes
“You think you’re so cute ! So smart ! Well, you’re both gonna die like that soap opera witch who didn’t reply to my fan letters ! Like that singer all the girls liked before I *ripped his head off* !”
DC Universe History
No problem here – he would have fought a celebrity like Booster Gold.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Turf
| Dex: 02 | Str: 02 | Bod: 03 | Motivation: Psycho |
| Int: 03 | Wil: 03 | Min: 02 | Occupation: Mercenary |
| Inf: 03 | Aur: 02 | Spi: 03 | Resources {or Wealth}: 006 |
| Init: 010 | HP: 015 |
Powers:
Earth Animation: 16, Earth control: 12, Growth: 04, Jump: 08, Projectile weapon: 07, Regeneration: 12, Skin armour: 05
Bonuses and Limitations:
- The Earth animation creature is not autonomous, and must be worn like an exoskeleton (-1).
- Earth animation form only has half DEX and BODY (-2). So that’s DEX 08, STR 16 and BODY 08.
- Growth, Regeneration, Jump and Skin armour only applies to Earth animation form (-1).
- Regeneration only when in solid contact with the ground (-2).
- Growth will diminish his exoskeleton’s DEX by one for every AP of Growth that is activated (-1).
- All Powers are Elementally linked with each other (-1).
Skills:
None demonstrated.
Advantages:
None demonstrated.
Connections:
None demonstrated.
Drawbacks:
SPI, Serious Rage.
Design Notes
Nowadays I’d likely to an effect-based design like with Armor (Ichiki Hisako). But let’s keep an example of the old approach for thos who prefer it.
Source of Character: Ultraverse.