Superman

Superman is a difficult character to quantify, especially since his abilities have changed so much over time. When he first appeared, he could ‘only’ “hurdle skyscrapers in a single bound, leap an eighth of a mile, outrace a streamline train, raise tremendous weights, and nothing less than a bursting shell could penetrate his skin!”. However, by the early 1940s, not only had his super strength and super speed both increased, but he was exhibiting his classic powers of true flight (as opposed to great leaps) and X-ray vision, while he gained his famous susceptibility to Kryptonite in episodes of his radio show. Accordingly, for his Golden Age entry, Superman actually gets two write ups: The Original Superman, and the more developed 1940s Superman.

Original Superman

 

 

 

Body 3/10

Coordination 3

Senses 3

Brains 3

Command 1/4

Cool 3

Base Will 54

 

 

Skills: Athletics 1 (11d), Brawling 1 (11d), Endurance 1 (11d), Health 1 (11d), Run 1 (11d), Punch-Pulling 1 (11d), Swim 1 (11d), Dodge 1 (4d),  Driving 1 (4d), Stealth 1 (4d), Investigation 1 (4d), English 3 (6d), Education 1 (4d), First Aid 1 (4d), Intimidation 2 (6d), Bluff 2 (5d), Lie 2 (5d), Mental Stability 2 (5d).                                                 

Talents:

Hyperbody +7d (Hyperstat,2/5/10) 28 points
Extra: No Upward Limit (+2/+4/+8)

Heavy Armor 4 (Defends, Robust, Useful, 7) 28 points

Immunity 4d (Defends, Robust, Useful,4/8/16) 28 points
Vs. Kinetic (Common, +4/+8/+16)
Flaw: Attached to Hyperbody (-1/-2/-4)

Super Speed 2d (Attacks, Defends, Robust, Useful, 5/10/20) 8 points
Flaw: Attached to Hyperbody (-1/-2/-4) (includes running, swimming and leaping)

Hypercommand +3d (Hyperstat, 2/5/10) 3 points
Flaw: Only in Superman identity (-1/-2/-4)

Total Will Points Spent: 150

 

 

 

Notes: This version of Superman can lift up to 10 tons, more if he burns Will, is defended well enough to survive small arms fire or his own punches, and can run 170 mph or leap 240 yards (1/8 of a mile). However, he becomes much more powerful, very quickly.

 

 

1940s Superman

 

 

 

Body 4/10 (8d+2hd)

Coordination 3/8

Senses 3

Brains 3

Command 1/5

Cool 3

Base Will 55

 

 

Skills: Athletics 1 (11d), Brawling 1 (11d), Endurance 1 (11d), Health 1 (11d), Dodge 1 (9d), Run 1 (11d), Swim 1 (11d), Throw 1 (11d), Driving 1 (4d), Catch 1 (9d),  Stealth 1 (4d), Punch-Pulling 1 (11d), Education 2 (5d), English 3 (6d), First Aid 1 (4d), Investigation 2 (5d), Inspire 2 (7d), Intimidation 2 (7d), Bluff 2 (5d), Lie 2 (5d), Mental Stability 2 (5d).                                               

 

Talents:

 

Hyperbody +4d+2hd (Hyperstat, 2/5/10) 42 points

Extra: Lifter- x10 Tested Lift, no extra damage (+2/+4/+8)

Extra: No Leverage (+2/+4/+8)

Extra: No Upward Limit (+2/+4/+8)

Flaw: Allergy to Kryptonite (Rare, Killing, -3/-6/-12)

 

Heavy Armor 4 (Defends, Robust, Useful, 7) 48 points

Extra: Hardened (+7)

Extra: No Upward Limit (+2/+4/+8)

Flaw: Mystical Weakness (-2)

Flaw: Susceptibility to Kryptonite (-2) (A kryptonite bullet would bypass his armor)

 

Immunity 4d (Defends, Robust, Useful, 4/8/16) 28 points

Vs. Kinetic (Common, +4/+8/+16)

Flaw: Attached to Hyperbody (-1/-2/-4)

 

Flight 2hd (Attacks, Defends, Robust, Useful, 5/10/20) 32 points

Extra: No Altitude Limit (+2/+4/+8)

Extra: No Gs (+2/+4/+8)

Flaw: Attached to Hyperbody (-1/-2/-4)

 

Super Speed 10d (Attacks, Defends, Robust, Useful, 5/10/20) 40 points

Flaw: Attached to Flight (-1/-2/-4)

 

Hypercommand +4d (Hyperstat, 2/5/10) 4 points

Flaw: Only in Superman identity (-1/-2/-4)

 

Hypercoordination +5d (Hyperstat, 2/5/10) 5 points

Flaw: Attached to Super Speed (-1/-2/-4)

 

Hypersight +7d (Hyperskill, 1/3/7) 7 points

 

Perception- X-Ray Vision 2d (Robust, Useful, 3/6/12) 4 points

Flaw: Attached to Hypersight (-1/-2/-4)

 

Harm- Heat of X-Ray Vision 2hd (Attacks, Defends, Robust, Useful, 5/10/20) 26 points

Extra: Burn (+1/+2/+4)

Extra: Penetration 2 (+1/+2/+4) (+6)

Flaw: If/Then- X-Ray Vision roll must succeed (-1/-2/-4)

Flaw: Nervous Habit- must stare for full round (-1/-2/-4)

 

Hyperhearing +5d (Hyperskill, 1/3/7) 5 points

 

Regeneration 2hd (Robust, Useful, 3/6/12) 4 points

Flaw: Only vs. Kryptonite damage (-2/-4/-8)

 

Total Will Points Spent: 300

 

 

 

Notes: This version of Superman can lift up to 100 tons (the better to toss German tanks around), is much more resistant to different types of damage, can fly faster than the speed of sound, and possesses super senses and reflexes (when using super speed) sufficient to let him catch individual bullets. He can use Will to boost his strength, resistance to damage, or flying speed. His strength, and therefore many of his other abilities, goes away as Kryptonite is killing him.

 

Superman © 2002 DC Comics. Image above is © 2000 Alex Ross.

 

Published by arrangement with Dennis Detwiller and Greg Stolze, AKA the GODLIKE Group. The intellectual property known as GODLIKE is ™ and © the GODLIKE Group, who has licensed its use here. The contents of this document are © Scott M. Harris, excepting those elements that are components of the GODLIKE intellectual property.