Warstrike
(Brandon Tark)
Context
Yes, “Warstrike”. And why, yes, it *was* 1993. Of course it was 1993.
Warstrike was one of Malibu Comics’ Ultraverse characters. Curiously, he had his own brief-lived book in 1994. But he’s a generally useful archetype as a C-list “guns and ‘tude” Iron Age hero.
These here notes are current up to the Godwheel crossover, as most of our Ultraverse writeups. This thus does not cover Warstrike’s subsequent role in the Exiles team.
Background
- Real Name: Brandon Tark.
- Marital Status: Widowed.
- Known Relatives: Pilar (wife, deceased), Jamie (daughter, deceased), Joshua Tark (father).
- Group Affiliation: None.
- Base Of Operations: Washington, D.C..
- Height: 6’3” Weight: 220 lbs.
- Eyes: Green Hair: Blond
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Powers and Abilities
Warstrike is an average gun toting, musclebound action hero with superpowers.
He has been enhanced with wetware allowing him to regenerate himself. Reliable, however, this power is not.
When under stress, Warstrike can sometimes get “on the wire”. This grants whim short range precognitive abilities. These allow him to see the possible outcomes and possibilities of the situation he’s in. Which is used to perform unusual dodges, land blows or shots in unlikely circumstances, for tactical manoeuvring, etc.
Warstrike once performed psychometry. Meaning that he visualised the past while holding an object associated to it.
Ordnance
Warstrike packs large, expensive comic books firearms and equipment.
A particularly impressive piece of gear is his custom bike. It has :
- An IR HUD.
- A scent tracker.
- Front and rear plasma cannons.
- Fingerprint ID for starting up the engine.
- An afterburner.
- White noise generators.
- Two seeking missiles that fly silently and can hover and move sideways.
- Etc..
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History
Brandon Tark’s father built a fortune, but was hit by early onset dementia when Brandon was a teenager. The immature Brandon just wanted to live a fantasy life, and gave business matter minimal attention. He simply hired reasonably skilled people to maintain them and only occasionally intervened.
Somehow, Tark learned about the secret wetware technology developed by JD Hunt’s researchers. He even managed to obtain wetware implants enhancing his physical abilities. This presumably cost a bundle. He next developed a big tough super-hero persona complete with bright spandex, huge guns and war paint.
But this escape in fantasy caught up with him. His secret identity was discovered by unspecified, ruthless opponents. They ambushed him while he was having lunch in a park. The attack slew his trophy wife and little girl.
Tark further retreated into his fantasy world of Warstrike, working as a tough-guy mercenary. One such job had him duped by an agent of Boneyard. Warstrike thus slew one of the Archmage’s warriors, Lukasz. The Archmage having been captured, Lukasz reincarnated in a woman’s body and became Mantra.
Warstrike later understood he had been played for a fool. He thus allied with Mantra, who was just discovering her powers. The pair beat back the Boneyard agents known to Warstrike.
Description
See illustrations.
Personality
Warstrike is strong in body, but low in Hero Points , mind and spirit. He’s a 26-year-old teenager, overcompensating for his awkwardness and shallow soul by acting out fantasies involving bright spandex, big guns, tough attitudes and no responsibility.
As Warstrike he’s an action hero with an attitude and unremarkable one-liners. As Tark he’s a shallow rich and handsome man throwing money at problems. He’s unable to commit himself and enter any kind of relationship, including non-casual friendship.
He’ll occasionally have episodes involving light fugues or flashbacks, or denial that some situations may emotionally hurt him. His fits of impatience, and his way of drifting away from people asking him to act responsibly, are typical of his immaturity.
While Warstrike is rash and acts with deadly force, he’s not a deliberate killer. He’s also willing to sacrifice himself to protect others. Overall, he acts likes he wants to be a cross between James Bond, the Punisher and Shaft.
Quotes
“You’ve been hired for this ? You don’t even have the guts to come after me without someone shoving a paycheck in your face ?”
“Everything is so different when I’m Warstrike. He’s so strong and powerful. He makes me feel like I can do anything. Sometimes he makes me feel like I can beat anyone. Sometimes he makes me think nothing can stop me, that nothing can hurt me.”
Game Stats — DC Heroes RPG
Tell me more about the game stats
Warstrike
| Dex: 07 | Str: 04 | Bod: 05 | Motivation: Uphold good |
| Int: 05 | Wil: 05 | Min: 02 | Occupation: Adventurer |
| Inf: 04 | Aur: 03 | Spi: 02 | Resources {or Wealth}: 009 |
| Init: 018 | HP: 025 |
Powers:
Power Reserve (any): 02, Postcognition: 20, Precognition: 02, Regeneration: 07
Bonuses and Limitations:
- Power Reserve or Precognition are Minor Marginal powers.
- Power Reserve can only be used for feats that can be explained by being on the wire (-2, see below).
- Postcognition is Catastrophically Marginal.
- Regeneration has a Catastrophic Burnout.
Skills:
Acrobatics*: 07, Weaponry (firearms): 08
Advantages:
Lightning Reflexes, Schtick (Paired firearms).
Connections:
Mantra (Low).
Drawbacks:
SIA toward Immaturity, Minor Psychological Instability (emotionally crippled), Secret ID.
Equipment:
- Assault carbine (x2) [BODY 04, Projectile weapons: 06, Ammo: 10, R#03, Advantage : Autofire].
- WRIST RACK [BODY 05, Projectile weapons: 06, Ammo 06, R#03].
- Badass pistol (x2) [BODY 04, Projectile weapons: 05, Ammo: 10, R#02].
- Both assault carbines will sometimes be replaced by one really big shotgun [BODY 05, Projectile weapons: 08 (Diminishing), Range: 04, Ammo: 08, Advantage : Scattershot, Limitation : Projectile weapons has No Range – use the Range listed instead, Drawback : Very long reload time].
- Warstrike drives an expensive STEALTH ASSAULT BIKE [STR 04 BODY 06, Analytical smell/tracking scent: 10, Energy blast: 08, Illusion: 03, Invisibility (radar): 08, Running: 08, Ultra-vision: 06, Thief (stealth): 04, Security systems: 08, R#02] with Hover Missiles (x2) [DEX 07 BODY 02, EV 10 (Area of effect 1 AP), Flight: 10, Radar sense: 10, Thief (stealth): 03].
- Warstrike also owns an Apache-type combat helicopter, which is mostly used for transportation to and from theatres of operation.
Design notes
I couldn’t select a level of Dumb Luck that wouldn’t cause problems. So I eventually went with a Power Reserve – it’s not ideal, but it’s predictable.
Source of Character: Ultraverse.