War Machine
(James "Rhodey" Rhodes)
Context
James “Rhodey” Rhodes appeared in 1979, during the Michelinie era on Iron Man. He was originally supporting cast, but became major supporting cast, then a sort of sidekick, then replaced Stark as Iron Man for a while, and eventually graduated as a super-hero on his own.
This profile recaps his early career but focuses on his time as War Machine during the 2000s. When we can we’ll present a chronological series of profiles to review Rhodey’s career in more detail.
Background
- Real Name: James B. Rupert “Rhodey” Rhodes.
- Former aliases: Jim, Iron Man II, War Machine.
- Marital Status: Single.
- Known Relatives: Jeanette Rhodes (sister, deceased), Josh (uncle).
- Group Affiliation: Reserve member of the Avengers, Force Works (earlier), The Crew (earlier).
- Base Of Operations: Los Angeles, California.
- Height: 6’1’‘ Weight: 210 lbs.
- Eyes: Brown Hair: Black
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Powers and Abilities
Although he started out as Supporting Cast of Anthony Stark aka Iron Man, Rhodes has since grown into a great hero in his own right. James Rhodes is a veteran marine soldier and a pilot. As such, he is a physically able combatant. Rhodes has also always had an aptitude for machines, and has even taught himself to become an expert hacker.
As War Machine he wore a sophisticated suit of body armor containing various offensive weaponry (see Specifications for the War Machine Armor). He has learned a number of useful skills over the years, such as business, electronics, marksmanship, piloting, unarmed combat and demolition.
He is now able to build, repair and program powered armors himself.
Specifications for the War Machine Armor
The Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XI, Mark I, is designed unapologetically for total and complete warfare, hence the nickname, “War Machine.” In fact, Tony Stark himself has said that he is,”delighted at its compactness and horrified at its concentration of deadliness.”
Black and white, this armor is ready to rock with an on-board arsenal of destruction never before seen in a Stark armor.
As a result, the technical improvements are outshined by the suit’s destructive capabilities, but they are no less amazing. This armor has an improved force field, new communications equipment, and advanced infrared sensors.
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Furthermore, advances in miniaturization allow the addition of a 20 watt, helmet-mounted, laser sighting/guidance system capable of tracking several targets at once. The outer armor itself has a polycarbon coating to blunt energy weapons.
The suit is prepared for total war, but was designed under the idea of “response in kind.” Stark wanted a flexible armor that contained various levels of response for various threat levels.
In that vein, the variably-configured Gauntlet Mini-Cannon contains 8 kinds of specialty 3.9mm ammo: Spent Uranium Armor-Piercing, High Explosive, Concussion Type, High Temperature Thermite, Tear Gas, Tracer, Flare and Smoke. The cannon is capable of firing any of them at a moments notice.
An Electric Mini-Gun that can rest on the shoulder is deployed from the back. Similar to those found on military aircraft, the spiral-packed magazine carries 1,800 caseless, electrically primed 3.9mm spent-uranium core armor-piercing rounds. It can be set to fire 1 or 1,000 rounds per second.
The War Machine also has an 8 missile cache capable of launching a payload of different missiles according to mission: Anti-Tank, Anti-Ship, Spent Uranium Core Armor-Piercing, Flame Bomb, Fire Suppressant, Smoke, Tear Gas, Radio Repeater and a Sub-Nuke (equivalent to 1.8 kilotons of TNT).
Other features include improved low light vision sensors and an enhanced Battle Tactics computer. The suit also incorporates improved heat dissipation technology.
Armaments include Helmet-mounted Laser Sight, Gauntlet-mounted Flame Thrower, Chain Gun (aka Gauntlet Mini-Cannon, with mission selectable rounds), 30mm Palm Repulsors, Deployable Missile Box launcher and a small 3.9mm Mini-Gun (both of which stow on back).
The armor also comes complete with a set of HUDs that enables the user to easily check up the status of the armor; Main Pwr, Aux Pwr, Cpu Pwr, Sif Pwr, Damage, Reserves and Auto Repair Time. Furthermore, a Location Finder, using a GPS network, is available as a HUD.
A later model seen in Iron Man v1 #284, Model XI, Mark II, was built specifically for Jim Rhodes (who never personally used the Mark I model). It included small changes in the design meant to fine-tune the armor to match Rhodes’ much more physical style of fighting.
In addition, this new model had changes in the chest plate as Stark added an Enhanced Tri-Beam, a feature missing on his own War Machine armor. Another difference between the two is that Stark’s first armor had a tube from the shoulder to the left gauntlet that was an ammunition shunt or power cord. The Model XI, Mark II does not.
The last feature that separates Rhodey’s armor from the previous model is the multi-purpose weapons backpack, from which Rhodes deployed his pulse cannon, etc. as needed. The streamlined weapons pod allowed Rhodes to fight without the inconvenience of having weapons mounted on his shoulders all the time.
History
James Rhodes served several tours of duty in Southeast Asia during the Việt Nam War. When Rhodes’s helicopter was shot down by the Viet Cong, he was rescued by Iron Man in the prototype armor Tony Stark had created to escape Wong-Chu’s prison camp.
(This assumes that Rhodes and Stark were both active during the 1960s/1970s Việt Nam war and that events occur as per date of publication. See our Ageing in Comics article for more about this)
The two worked together to destroy the Việt Cong rocket base that had shot Rhodes down. They then flew back to American-controlled territory in a stolen VC helicopter.
Afterward, Stark personally thanked Rhodes for helping Iron Man (Rhodes did not know Stark was the armored superhero at the time).&emps;He made a standing offer for a job as Stark’s personal pilot. After the war Rhodes tried several other unsatisfactory job paths including mercenary work before accepting Stark’s offer.
Rhodes excelled in this position, becoming Stark International’s chief aviation engineer as well as Stark’s pilot. The two men became best friends.
When Stark fell apart and relapsed into alcoholism due to Obadiah Stane’s manipulations, Rhodes learned that Stark was Iron Man. He assumed the identity of the armored superhero himself when Stark’s constant intoxication rendered him unsuitable for the task.
Rhodes left Stark International with the only remaining Iron Man armor in his possession after Stane took over the company.
I am Iron Man
Rhodes performed excellently as Iron Man. He became a charter member of the West Coast Avengers and performed occasional work for hire to pay for the armor’s upkeep. When Start entered recovery, he joined Rhodes and former Stark International scientists Morley and Clytemnestra Erwin in creating the electronics firm Circuits Maximus.
Rhodes’s career as Iron Man came to a temporary end due to an issue with the armor. Programmed to work with Stark’s brainwaves, the armor was slowly inflicting neurological damage on Rhodes, who began suffering severe migraines and paranoid delusions.
During his recovery, Rhodes also realized subconscious feelings of guilt over his assumption of the Iron Man identity. He decided not to wear the armor anymore.
He worked these feelings out only to have the armor damaged and himself injured when Stane arranged to have Circuits Maximus bombed. While Rhodes recovered, Stark resumed the role of Iron Man in his new Silver Centurion armor and defeated Stane.
Rhodes remained at Stark’s side as Stark regained his former assets and relaunched his company as Stark Enterprises. However he did not want to become Iron Man again due to his difficult history in that identity.
When Stark was paralyzed after being shot by ex-lover Kathy Dare, Rhodes reluctantly filled in as Iron Man, albeit frequently assisted by Stark via a remote-controlled Iron Man armor.
Heavy boots of lead
Stark then faked his death so that he could undergo treatments without being vulnerable to his enemies. Rhodes took over full-time as both Stark Enterprises CEO and as Iron Man using the Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, a.k.a. the War Machine.
When Rhodes learned that Stark had only faked his death without trusting Rhodes with the secret, their friendship broke apart. Rhodes left Stark Enterprises, though Stark insisted he take the War Machine armor as it was always intended for him.
Rhodes was eventually offered the job of executive director of the human rights group Worldwatch by its founder, legendary activist Vincent Cetewayo.
When Cetewayo was taken captive by the oppressive leader of his African home country, Imaya, Rhodes successfully led Imayan rebels to defeat the dictator. Yet, he failed to save Cetewayo from execution. Rhodes decided to take up the fallen activist’s mantle by accepting the executive director position at Worldwatch.
Stark disapproved of Rhodes’s direct interventions. He attempted to take back the War Machine armor only for them both to be captured by the Mandarin during the fight. The two worked together to defeat the supervillain and reconciled in the process.
Rhodes continued his career as a solo hero. Rhodes lost his War Machine armor in the time stream while foiling an attempt by Neo-Nazis to equip WWII-era Germany with modern-day weapons by means of time travel.
Can he see or is he blind ?
Rhodes was then equipped with the Eidolon Warwear armor by the alien Skye to foil Immortus’s plan to subvert Tony Stark. Stark broke free of Immortus’s control at the cost of his life while Rhodes destroyed the Starcore satellite that was pivotal to Immortus’s plan.
Rhodes went into hiding to evade capture by SHIELD, which wanted to examine the Eidolon technology. He resigned from Worldwatch to protect them from harassment on that count.
A teenaged version of Tony Star had come to the present during the Immortus incident. The lad took over Stark Enterprises, only to apparently perish while defeating Onslaught. Rhodes, no longer being hunted by the authorities, rejoined Stark Enterprises to protect Stark’s legacy.
When the Stark-Fujikawa merger took place Rhodes downloaded his Eidolon armor into the company’s computers as a virus. It erased all data pertaining to the Iron Man armor, fearing the potential for its abuse. He then quit Stark-Fujikawa, but still served as a trustee of Stark’s estate after he was declared dead.
Rhodes eventually opened a salvage business called Rhodes Recovery. He retired as a superhero again, though he would still occasionally assist Stark after Tony’s return from the Heroes Reborn universe. Indulgent personal spending and financial mismanagement of his company soon left Rhodes bankrupt.
As this happened Rhodes also learned that his sister Jeanette had been murdered in the “Little Mogadishu” neighborhood of Brooklyn. Investigating the matter for himself, Rhodes joined local vigilantes White Tiger, Junta, and Justice to form the Crew.
They took down the 66 Bridges gang responsible for Jeanette’s death as well as the Grace & Tumbalt corporation that funded the gang.
Description
The War Machine armor looks like a bulky Iron Man armor in black and white colors. On its back and shoulder resides miniguns, missile launcher, a backpack of ammunition etc. The alien War Machine armor looked very different and unique (see illustrations).
Rhodes himself is a well-trained, muscular, Black male in excellent health. He has black hair and brown eyes. Previously, he wore military-inspired regular clothing and was clean-shaved. Nowadays, he is often seen wearing trendy suits, complete with a trendy moustache, beard and haircut.
As all true comic book veterans, he’s already beginning to get grey around the temples.
While he was equipped with the Eidolon armor, Rhodes had several tattoo-like mandalas patterning his body which were all covered while he was clothed.
Personality
James Rhodes is a veteran soldier and pilot looking for his place in the world. He is also an old friend of Anthony Stark aka Iron Man, although that friendship has come and gone several times over the years. While angry at Stark or any other friend he still keeps their secrets by himself out of a sense of loyalty.
After having things gone bad, Rhodes long refused to wear and use any type of armor. When Stark was gone and believed dead, Rhodes path in life seemed clear and so he chose to continue the legacy of Iron Man (as Iron Man II).
When Stark returned an infuriated Rhodey gave up being both Iron Man and Stark’s friend. He took the armor, with Stark’s blessing, as he went to search for something new to believe in.
As a pilot, and sometimes a super hero and former CEO, Jim Rhodes believes that he can help make a difference in the world if he could just find the right way.
Every super hero since Spider-Man has had to live with the knowledge that with great power comes great responsibility, Rhodey is no different. He cannot sit by while heroes and nations do nothing to alleviate suffering and oppression around the world.
James Rhodes thus has chosen to put on his armor under the guise of War Machine to act where others had failed to, to right the wrongs others refused to.
He will go to extraordinarily great lengths to right a wrong. For example, in the face of world-wide condemnation, War Machine took an active role in maintaining Human Rights around the globe and struck a blow against oppression and complacency, even freeing a nation in the meantime. If necessary, Rhodes will kill opponents to save the lives of innocents.
Despite his ideals and the will and means to change things for the better, Rhodes also has problems. He’s, by some, described as a nice guy, but Rhodes can be a hard man to please and work with. In fact, he’s a pragmatic and cynical idealist.
For example, he hated his sister (but still avenged her murder… and cleaned up the neighborhood while at it).
It is nearly impossible to hold a romantic relationship with him.
Rhodes also holds some pride in being a Black man and, on occasion, works with racial issues. It is very natural for him, given his poor background, to play the hero in poor suburbs and fight for the underdog.
A driven man, he doesn’t take setbacks well. He tends to get hostile and overly aggressive when bad things happen to him. Once he has made up his mind, however, Rhodes is an active man starting up his own enterprises.
He’s held leading positions in both business (World Watch International, Rhodes Recovery, Stark International) and military organizations (US Marines Corps, The War Machines) and has enjoyed doing meaningful work with these businesses.
Quotes
“I am prepared to win it. With you. Without you. Through you.”
“This is Spec War. Inferior numbers, relative superiority. Agile minds and bodies. We kick ass and move forward. We do not stop to whine.”
“Twelve-year-old supergenius with a bug up his ass. Giant dead head in a chair, and now a dapper War Machine. This place is a nuthouse. And I’m a fucking pecan !”
“If you don’t fix the shit that’s going on with the world — I will.”
DC Universe History
In the DCU Rhodey would replace Lucius Fox as the CEO of Wayne Industries. When Bruce Wayne was crippled during Knightfall, Rhodey discovered his dual identity.
Donning a battlesuit incorporating several systems being designed for possible use by Batman along with a truly excessive amount of military hardware, he took to the skies of Gotham as War Machine.
Although his methods were no more violent than the Batman’s had been, Wayne pushed himself to recover from his injuries in order stop his friend’s activities.
Ousted from control of Wayne Industries and banned from Gotham, War Machine joined an international humanitarian organization only to be leg into conflict with Batman once more through the machinations of Ra’s al Ghul who was secretly the force behind the organization.
After not wearing the armor for a time, Rhodes was offered a partnership in the Power Company and accepted.
There are rumors that War Machine has also been doing top secret work reorganizing Checkmate for the DEO but nothing has been confirmed. There is always the parallel between Steel and War Machine; War Machine could be inserted as a beefed up, more action-oriented Steel.
As these things go, War Machine is likely to be a close friend and ally of Green Lantern and Darkstar John Stewart.
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
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James Rhodes
| Dex: 05 | Str: 04 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 06 | Wil: 06 | Min: 05 | Occupation: Ex-marine, pilot, adventurer, businessman |
| Inf: 07 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 05 | Resources {or Wealth}: 008 |
| Init: 20 (22) | HP: 055 |
Skills:
Charisma: 06, Gadgetry: 04, Martial Artist: 05, Military Science: 05, Scientist: 04, Scientist (Computers): 06, Thief (Stealth): 05, Weaponry (Missile): 04, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee): 06, Weaponry (Heavy, Exotic): 07, Vehicles (Air, Power Armour): 06, Vehicles (land, sea): 04
Advantages:
Expertise (Business), Leadership, Rich Friend (Anthony Stark), Scholar (Powered Armor), Schtick (Signature Subplot (Mental stability gets compromised by outside influence)).
Connections:
Business Community (Low), Rhodes Recovery (High), Anthony Stark (aka Iron Man I; High), Avengers/West Coast Avengers (Low).
Powerful Connections:
SHIELD (Low), United States Marine Corps (Low).
Drawbacks:
Secret Identity.
War Machine armor suit Mk1
War Machine Armor (The Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XI, Mark I) [/DEX/ 05 /STR/ 15 /BODY/ 14 INT 04 WILL 03, Accuracy (Offensive Weapons): 06, Enhanced Initiative: 02, Energy Blast: 11, Flame Immunity: 02, Flash: 09, Flight :10, Heat Vision: 10, Radio Communications: 18, Recall: 12, Running: 07, Sealed systems: 10, Skin Armor: 02, Thermal Vision: 06, Military Science (Cartography): 08, Hardened Defenses (+2), R#02, Notes: Cartography describes the use of a GPS system. Also note that Rhodes never actually wore this armor himself – only Stark did].
War Machine armor suit Mk2
War Machine Armor (The Variable Threat Response Battle Suit, Model XI, Mark II [/DEX/ 05 /STR/ 16 /BODY/ 14 INT 04 WILL 03, Accuracy (Offensive Weapons, hand-to-hand attacks): 06, EMP: 07, Enhanced Initiative: 02, Energy Blast: 12, Flame Immunity: 02, Flash: 09, Flight: 10, Heat Vision: 11, Radio Communications: 18, Recall: 12, Running: 07, Sealed Systems: 10, Skin Armor: 03, Thermal Vision: 06, Military Science (Cartography): 08, Hardened Defenses (+2). Limitation: EMP can only be used every 6 minutes. Note: Cartography describes the use of a GPS system, R#2] Note: For an easy approximation, increase all amounts of ammunition by 25 % for his various weapons in relation to the Mark I armor, where such amounts exist.
This custom-fit-for-Rhodes armor (his default armor) also included a Pulsar Cannon [BODY 05, Energy Blast: 18, R#03 Limitation: Energy Blast only has a full EV at a Range of 8 APs or greater, with each AP of Range below that decreasing the actual EV by 1 AP per AP – so a shot at a target 4 APs distant would have an EV of 14].
Eidolon suit
Alien War Machine Armor. This armor was not fully explored and only tentative stats could be listed. One can assume that it has all the basic functions (sometimes at an AP or two above those of the previous armors) along with a couple of new abilities and powers.
A specific function of the alien armour was the ability to launch about four small drones able to follow orders ; those count as a Pet. Tracking drones (x4) [DEX 04 BODY 04, Energy blast: 06, Eye of the cat: 12, Flight: 07, R#02, Note : Eye of the cat allows the armour to observe from the point of view of one of the drones].
War Machine weapon modules
The following weapon systems are always available to War Machine ; note that these customized weapons are more powerful than ordinary weapons of the same general size and caliber:
- Gauntlet-mounted Flame Thrower [BODY 04, Flame Project: 08, Range: 04, R#2, Limitation : Flame project has No Range and uses the listed Range instead].
- Gauntlet Chain Gun 3.9 mm [BODY 06, Projectile weapons: 08, Range: 08, Ammo: 12, Advantage: Autofire, Scattershot, R#02, Limitation : Projectile weapons has No Range and uses the listed Range instead. Note: The following eight types of 3.9mm specialty ammunition are available for use with the Gauntlet Mini-Gun (all have R#2 and exist in limited supplies:
- Depleted Uranium Armor-Piercing [Sharpness (Projectile weapons): 04, Low Energy Transfer Limitation].
- High-Explosive [+1 EV from usual].
- Concussion Type [Bashing Damage].
- High Temperature Thermite [Fog: 04, Flame project: 08, Bonus: Flame project and Fog are always Combined].
- Tear Gas [Fog: 05, Chemical Attack: 06, Bonus : Fog and Chemical attack are always Combined].
- Tracer [no effect in themselves, although Rhodes will often spend a few HPs to Push AV when using those].
- Flare [Flash: 08 (Area of effect 2 APs)].
- Smoke [Fog: 07].
- Small Electric Shoulder-Mounted Mini-Gun 3.9mm [BODY 06, Projectile weapons: 10 (Area of Effect 1 AP), Sharpness (Projectile weapons): 04, Range: 09, Ammo: 06, Advantage: Autofire, Drawback : Low energy transfer, R#03, Limitation : Projectile weapons as No Range and uses the listed Range instead, Note: The spiral-packed magazine carries 1,800 caseless, electrically primed 3.9mm depleted uranium core armor-piercing rounds].
- Shoulder-Mounted Deployable Missile Box Launcher [BODY 04, Ammo: 08, R#02, Note: Missile types and ordnances available to the launcher are the following:
- High explosive [BODY 02, Bomb: 12, Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback, Limitation : Bomb has No Range and uses the listed Range instead].
- Anti-tank [BODY 02, EV 13 (Area of effect 0 AP), Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback].
- Anti-ship [BODY 02, EV 14 (Area of effect 1 AP), Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback].
- Depleted Uranium Core Armor-Piercing [BODY 02, EV 12 (Area of effect 0 AP), Sharpness (EV): 03, Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback].
- Cratering [BODY 02, Dig: 08 (Area of effect 2 AP), Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback].
- Anti-air [BODY 02, EV 10 (Area of effect 2 APs), AV 04, Flight: 12, R#02, Drawback : Grenade drawback, Heat-seeking ; Limitation : Flight can only be sustained for five Phases (-2)].
- HARM [DEX 06 BODY 02, Bomb: 12, Detect (radar): 12, Flight: 10, Drawback: Grenade drawback, Radar-guided, Limitation : Bomb has No Range, Bomb) has no AV and uses the listed DEX instead, Flight can only be sustained for nine Phases (-2)].
- Thermobaric bomb [BODY 02, Bomb: 15, Flame project: 08, AV 04, Flight: 12, R#03, Grenade drawback, Limitation : Bomb has No Range and uses the listed Range instead, Flight can only be sustained for five Phases (-2), Bonus: Bomb and Flame Project are Combined (Flame project is active throughout the Bomb, with a maximum EV equal to the Bomb power at that point].
- Fire suppressant [BODY 02, Flame Control (Suppression only): 08, Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback, Limitation : Flame control has No Range and uses the listed Range instead].
- Smoke [BODY 02, Fog: 09, Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback, Limitation : Fog has No Range and uses the listed Range instead].
- Year gas [BODY 02, Chemical attack: 08, Range: 08, R#03, Grenade drawback, Limitation : Chemical attackhas No Range and uses the listed Range instead].
- Nuke 18 KT [BODY 02, Bomb: 21, EMP: 13, AV 04, Flight: 12, R#02, Drawback : Grenade drawback ; Limitation : Flight can only be sustained for five Phases (-2)].
War Machine In Action
For all maneuvering purposes, War Machine usually uses his Vehicles (Power Armour) Subskill as AV and OV unless he is choosing to substitute Flight as his evasive OV that phase. The armor also gives him increased speed (Enhanced Initiative) and the option to allow the computer to control his movement (/DEX/). War Machine’s total Initiative score is given within brackets.
The War Machine armor carries enormous amounts of weaponry, which is made possible by Stark’s miniaturization technology. Several different options exist to allow War Machine to response in kind to the threat at hand.
Although the War Machine armor has several weapon-guiding options available (DEX, Accuracy), offensive weapons are usually guided by Rhodes himself, using his Weaponry (Exotic, Firearms, Heavy or even Melee) subskills. For missile attacks, Rhodes may opt to use the missile’s relevant score as AV or his Heavy Weapons subskill. His miniguns are operated by use of the Heavy Weapons subskill.
Rhodes, as a veteran with powered armor combat, has an easier time operating any never-before-used power armor that he might try on. He is allowed to roll his Gadgetry (Identify Gadget) subskill, modified by his Scholar (Powered Armors) against all powers ; RAPs from that roll are used just as described by the subskill. Likely, Rhodes will spend HPs on abilities with high OV/RVs.
Failure to identify all armor components mean that Rhodes will have to operate the armor with an Unskilled Penalty to all his maneuvers of -2 CS to his Vehicles (Exotic) subskill, until he can routinely operate the new armor.
Rhodes may not use the targeting systems (AV, Accuracy) of an armor that he does not fully master, but is still allowed to use his own skill with Unskilled Penalties applied. He is allowed a new Identify Gadget roll between regular time intervals as determined by the GM. Naturally, he can operate any class of War Machine armor completely.
War Machine’s /BODY/ score, modified by Force Field, Skin Armor and Flame Immunity as appropriate, acts as his RV against physical attacks. Any damage taken by War Machine are applied as RAPs to his Armor’s BODY score, not him personally (Hardened Defenses). The armor ceases to function upon reaching a current BODY condition of 0 APs.
Any damage has to be repaired manually in a workshop (an action done using Gadgetry and any adequate Scholar advantage). Another more costly and immediate option is for War Machine to pay up HPs and do a Desperate Recovery Roll for the armor.
For all practical purposes, the War Machine armor has indefinite power supply. Failure with R# results in that component failing, not all of his weapons and maneuvering systems. Repairing of components is done in a Workshop, unless trickier field repair is attempted (costing HPs).
If War Machine resides in an alien environment for an extended period of time, he will likely suffer from a Power Loss Subplot.
A soldier in Fortune
James Rhodes has had a roller-coaster career. He’s been a marine soldier, pilot, bodyguard, technician, vigilante and CEO for various companies (including Stark Enterprises, Rhodes Recovery and World Watch International). He has also been an Avenger, and currently works for SHIELD as an agent and instructor.
Rhodes’ Wealth score has thus varied greatly, ranging everywhere from 05 APs (Lieutenant of the US Marine Corps) to 25 APs (Stark Enterprises CEO). His average seems to be around 08 APs as given under his ’Wealth‘ stat. Obviously, Rhodes often engages in Wealth Subplots.
Classic Rhodey
James Rhodes, the sidekick, confidante and supporting cast of Tony Stark in the early Iron Man issues had lower stats than the currently-heroic Rhodes.
| Dex: 04 | Str: 03 | Bod: 04 | Motivation: Responsibility of Power |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 04 | Occupation: Pilot |
| Inf: 05 | Aur: 04 | Spi: 04 | Resources {or Wealth}: 004 |
| Init: 014 | HP: 025 |
Skills:
Charisma: 05, Martial Arts: 04, Military Science: 04, Scientist: 03, Scientist (Computers): 05, Thief (Stealth): 04, Weaponry (Missile): 03, Weaponry (Firearms, Melee): 05, Weaponry (Heavy, Exotic): 05, Vehicles (Air, Exotic): 05, Vehicles (land, sea): 04
Advantages:
Rich Friend (Anthony Stark), Schtick (Signature Subplot (Mental stability gets compromised by outside influence)).
Connections:
Anthony Stark (aka Iron Man I, High).
Powerful connections:
SHIELD (Low), United States Marine Corps (Low).
Later Connections:
(Rhodey also used the following later as he grew into a more independent adventurer): Avengers/West Coast Avengers (High), Stark Enterprises (High), World Watch International (High).
Drawbacks:
None demonstrated.
Source of Character: Iron Man & War Machine books (Marvel universe).
Helper(s): Sébastien Andrivet, Mike Davis, Eric Langendorff, Roy Cowan (who also wrote the History section), Jay Myers, Mikael B, http://members.socket.net/~rass/wrmchnarmor.html (defunct).