Rotwang’s Heroes are deserters from a unit of the United Kingdom’s All-Volunteer Expeditionary Force, known as Mycroft’s Irregulars.
Formed in the wake of the Martian War of 1912, the expeditionary force was treated as little more than a mercenary company by the Flemish Free Cities and the French Republican government in exile. Mycroft’s Irregulars, composed of unconventional soldiers, have ceasely borne the brunt of the most dangerous fighting along the frontier. Now as 1915, the 4th year of the Great War drags on, some of the Irregulars are out to die for something other than King and Country.
This is the motley crew, as I’ve cooked them up. I’ve built them using the Starblazer Adventures rules with 6 Aspects, 4 Stunts and 20 Skill Points. I’m leaving room for a couple of aspects to be filled in by the players as they go at the Con:
Captain John Cannon
Description: A tough survivor who has risen from the ranks, Captain Cannon has led his troops through the horrors of the Great War and now, after seven pointless years, wants to get them to luxurious safety. Cannon crossed swords with Rotwang in Egypt.
Novel: Captain Cannon and the Martian War
Appeared in: The Curse of Imotep’s Tomb
Aspects: Grew up in the Gutter
Joined the Army, Saw the Empire
I’ve Survived Worse than This
I Owe it to My Men
Ignore the Boffins, Shoot First!
| Stunt | Description |
| Covering Fire | Cannon is skilled at laying down a scathing hail of suppressive fire. When using Guns to perform a block, he can ignore up to two points of penalties imposed by the GM due to the complexity of the block. |
| One Shot Left! | That last bullet has a kind of magic to it. You may declare that you are on your last shot, and may make a Guns attack at +3. This is your last shot – its use means that there’s no more ammo, no holdout guns or the like. |
| Shot on the Run | The character is light on his feet with a gun in his hand, able to keep the gunplay going while evading attempts to harm him. This character may use Guns as a defense skill against physical attacks; normally, Guns cannot be used defensively |
| Quick Decisions under Fire | +1 Alertness when outnumbered |
Major Wilhelmina Rotwang
Description: A member of the Prussian Army’s Science Corps, Rotwang has investigated strange phenomenon around the world for the Kaiser. Now, with the world in chaos, he has a chance to seize a fortune and pursue his researches on his own. Rotwang formed an uneasy friendship with Darla Darabont during her improbably wild adventure in the American South West
Novel: Curse of Imotep’s Tomb
Appeared in: Billy the Kid and the Rocket Rangers vs. Dracula
Aspects: Discipline in All Things
This Barbarity is Beneath Me
There’s a Perfectly Rational Explanation
Leave it to an Expert, dear
Rotwang first, everything else is Secondary
| Stunt | Description |
| Linguist | Wilhelmina can speak 8 languages fluently |
| Walking Library | Always considered to have a research library on hand, so Wilhelmina can research questions on the fly |
| Doctor | +2 to first aid and medical attention |
| Scientific Genius | +1 to any roll involving physics (be creative) +2 to any roll involving electricity and weird energy sources |
Darla Darabont
Description: Darla became a junior member in the legendary Rocket Rangers when they interceded in the strange struggle between an undead Billy the Kid and Dracula, lord of the Vampires. Since then she and her rocket pack have sought adventure around the globe and, eventually, became embroiled in the Great War. Darla helped Sandor the Clockwork Legionnaire escape from the clutches of Professor Nedyerskott
Novel: Billy the Kid and the Rocket Rangers vs. Dracula
Appeared in: The Clockwork Legionnaire
Aspects: Still a Cowgirl
If it Moves, I can Ride it!
Yee Haw! I’ve got a Rocket Pack!
Drawn to tall, dark and dangerous…
Sandor, watch out!
| Stunt | Description |
| Prototype Rocket Pack | A Flying Rocket pack with +1 to pilot. Spend a fate point and get 1 useful gadget for a scene |
| Flying Ace | Can use pilot as attack skill while in the air |
| Death from Above! | While attacking other fliers from above +2 to attack |
Sandor the Pneumatic Man
Description: Not much is known about the man called Sandor. An African-American who joined the French Foreign Legion, Sandor was blown to pieces in Algeria. Injured near death, the mad Dr. Nedyerskott saw an opportunity to test his theories and rebuilt him as his perfect weapon. With the help of Darla Darabont, Sandor escaped this slavery and has accompanied her since. Before serving under Captain Cannon, Sandor crossed paths with the mysterious Fatima LeBlanc in Malta.
Novel: The Clockwork Legionnaire
Appeared in: The Renault Affair
Aspects: Joined the Legion to Escape
Roiling Anger
I’m only Half a Man
Everyone uses a Freak
I Just Want Peace and Quiet
| Stunt | Description |
| Brawler | +1 defense when outnumbered |
| Whatever’s at hand | Can use Fists skill instead of weapons for improvised weapons |
| Herculean Strength | All weight difficulties are two steps less |
| One Hit to the Body | Pay a Fate point, ignore one attack |
Fatima LeBlanc
Description: Child of a French Diplomat and a Moroccan beauty, Fatima is the product of two cultures and comfortable in neither. Drawn into the intelligence work and intrigue at an early age, Fatima misses the days of the great game, before she became mired in the Great War. Fatima fell for Alphonse’s lies in the Great Feather (and blames him for getting her stuck in Cannon’s platoon).
Novel: The Renault Affair
Appeared in: The Golden Feather
Aspects: Child of Two Cultures
Always Escaping
I Can Drive Anything
Faster!
I Always Fall for Alphonse’s lies…
| Stunt | Description |
| In Plain Sight | No Environmental penalties when Fatima tries to hide or move stealthly |
| Quick Exit | Can roll stealth to escape out of combat if a momentary distraction is made |
| Hush | Fatima’s stealth can be extended to a small nearby group |
| Defensive Driver | Chase manuevers are one step easier for Fatima |
Count Alphonse Garibaldi, aka Salvatore Tosca, aka Gary Thompson
Description: Alphonse Garibaldi would call accusations that he is a chiseller, a two-bit con man, and a thief liable. He’d also dismiss accusations that he lied, cheated and defrauded several governments to get his hands upon the legendary Golden Feather of Corsica. And he certainly feels that ‘Lightning’ Lewis has totally blown the time he posed as millionaire George Vibe out of proportion.
Novel: The Golden Feather
Appeared in: Lightning Lewis and the Electric Monks of Shamballa
Aspects: Born in New Jersey
Never give a sucker an honest break
Gold!
I’m whomever you want me to be.
If talk doesn’t help, run!
| Stunt | Description |
| Con Man | A deceit roll allows you to assess a target’s personal weaknesses (in the form of a tagable aspect) |
| Clever Disguise | When disguised, Alphonse can defend against close scruitny |
| The Honest Lie | When the truth is incorporated into a lie get a +2 bonus |
| Blather | A successful rapport role and a target is occupied with your blab |
‘Lightning’ Lewis
Description: A disciple of Tesla, ‘Lightning’ Lewis uses his formidable mind and scientific weaponry to seek out the strange and right the world’s wrongs. He fought alongside John Cannon in the War of the Worlds and is extremely loyal to him.
Novel: Lightning Lewis and the Electric Monks of Shamballa
Appeared in: Captain Cannon and the Martian War
Aspects: Apprenticed under Tesla himself
I Must See That Up Close
I’ve seen the World’s Secret Wonders
A Tesla Gun is Not a Toy
I’d Follow John Cannon through Hell!
| Stunt | Description |
| Personal Gadget: Tesla Gun | Range 2, +4 attack bounus, can be used as a cutting tool/power source |
| Mister Fixit | Reduces time for repair by 2 steps |
| Thump of Repair | 1 Fate and a device works for a duration determined by an engineering roll |
| Five Minute Friends | 1 fate point and five minutes chatting and you have a friend for life. |
one-shot later this summer. As a way to get back into posting now that I’m a father, I figured I’d start by showing how I’m planning to adapt the film to my planned FATE-based, Steampunk-infused scenario.
would lead to a quick victory. Four years later and England is struggling to rebuild, France is a blasted battlefield fought over by a half-dozen factions and the major cities of Europe lay in ruin. The war grinds on, but no one knows why or for how long anymore.