Crown Guard Heroes of WW II (BASH) (2688440)

Timothy LeMaster (order #2688440)

THE crown guard:his majesty’s heroes OF WWII

BY mike lafferty, charles rice and chris rutkowsky

“master race”, descended from the Aesir of Norse mythology. Sup-ported by an elite troop of the SS and with the mysterious teleporter Götterdämmerung allowing them to appear anywhere in the world at will, the Eugenics Brigade conduct-ed special operations throughout Europe, weakening fortified posi-tions and attacking military and po-litical leaders as a prelude to inva-sion. The German high command called this strategy “decapitation” and used it with deadly effect in combination with the lightning-fast

During the dark, early days of WWII, the existence of the Crown Guard was a closely held secret.Germany’s Eugenics Brigade was the first fully formed meta-human team in history and had the full backing of the German High Command. Hitler touted these meta-humans as proof Germany was the

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BASH! Ultimate Edition and Basic Action Games are the intellectual properties of Chris Rutkowsky (c) 2004. This product has been published for use with BASH! Ultimate Edition under license. See http://www.bashrpg.com for more information on the third party publishing license.

CONTENT MANAGERs:CHARLES RICE AND CHRIS DAVIS


their attention toward Russia. Britain used this time to strengthen the Crown Guard.

At its strongest the team would include: Big Ben, Excalibur, Esprit (an expatriate French hero),Grizzly (the lone member of the team from the Commonwealth of Canada), Illustrious, Ironclad,Repulse, Swordfish and Zbrojmistrz (an expatri-ate Polish hero). By the end of the war, with the Allied heroes outnumbering the Eugenics Bri-gade by a wide margin, it was the German meta-humans who were on the defensive, attempt-ing to help stem advances by Allied forces and protect Hitler from capture for trial after the war.

Despite their original protective purpose, Churchill turned this group on the offensive as soon as possible, counting on subterfuge and decoys to prevent the Eugenics Brigade from as-sassinating him or the Royal Family. Along with the Commandos, the Crown Guard was ordered to “set Europe ablaze” and inflicted enough dam-age on German and Italian forces in Europe and North Africa that Hitler was forced to recall the Eugenics Brigade from assisting on the Eastern Front.

Blitzkrieg.

Indeed, it seemed no one had an answer for the Eugenics Brigade, one of many factors that gave German forces a seeming insurmountable psy-chological advantage. In 1940 however, Hitler ordered the Eugenics Brigade to eliminate the “warmonger”: Winston Churchill. With the escape of the British military forces (along with almost 150,000 French troops) from the Beaches of Dunkirk, Germany was faced with two options for dealing with the only nation in Europe still in a position to challenge Germany: leave Britain alone while Germany dealt with Russia or en-gage in a massive air battle and prepare for a cross-channel invasion. Neither option appealed to Hitler, so he turned to his Eugenics Brigade to provide a possible third option.

If Churchill were eliminated inside Britain, Hitler felt he could then threaten the Royal Family and force Britain to the negotiating table. This would eliminate Britain as well as remove the possibil-ity of American involvement in the war. And so in June of 1940 the Eugenics Brigade acted on intelligence of Churchill’s location in Britain and teleported into Britain to assassinate him.

When the Brigade returned an hour later, Hitler was astonished to learn they had been defeated by a pair of British heroes: Sword and Stone, wielding the mystic artifacts passed down from their father, the WWI hero Excalibur. Some-how these two young heroes had defeated the Brigade’s six-member team. Though they had killed one of the British heroes, Churchill had only been wounded and the aura of invincibility around Germany’s meta-human force was shat-tered. The Brigade tried several times to assas-sinate Churchill afterwards but their intelligence was never again so accurate. Each subsequent attack only managed to kill actors impersonating the great leader.

Cunning and bravery had accomplished what force would not have been able to do and soon the Brigade attacks stopped, as Germany turned

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The CRown Guard

Big Ben a.k.a. Stanley Linwood24 Pts (14 Stats, 10 Powers)

Quote: “Now you’ve made me ruin my favorite tweed jacket. We’ll have to have a talk about that later.”

Brawn 2 Agility 2 Mind 3

Powers: Growing 3 (+15 Result to Brawn, Damage, and Soak rolls, -3 Dice Pen. Defense) 3pts Dense Skeleton: Armor 2 (x4 Soak) 2ptsMartial Arts Mastery 1 (Grappling Style) 1ptRegrowth: Healing 3 (x3 Dmg) 3ptsResistance 1 (Heat and Cold) 1pt

Skills: Athletics x3/Running, Social Science x4/

THE Crown Guard: His majesty’s heroes OF WWII


Law, Commerce/Negotiating Advantages: Frightening PresenceDisadvantages: Involuntary Change (if he is severely injured, or feels he is about to be, Big Ben will reflexively grow. Needless to say, in an enclosed space, this could be more harmful than helpful, especially to nearby allies). Mental Malfunction: Post traumatic stress and Claustrophobia. The experience in the bomb shelter nearly killed him, and he still has nightmares about it. Likewise, a man who has the ability to grow over 30 feet tall gets very uncomfortable in enclosed spaces.

Background: Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer: Subject Stanley Linwood Subject is a mutant, powers manifested after a roof collapse in a bomb shelter. Near death experience has left residual psychological trauma but this is manageable. Subject pos-sesses a high IQ and was employed as a lawyer. Subject applied for military service three times but was rejected due to severe asthma, which has disappeared since manifestation of mutant abilities.

Subject’s bones are extremely dense, to support weight during size change, this has rendered subject effectively bulletproof even at normal stature. Subject possesses an extreme degreeof patriotism and seems eager to place Queen and country before self. Subject is an ideal can-didate for Crown Guard service.

Espirit a.k.a. Renee Laroque29 Pts (10 Stats, 19 Powers)

Quote: I know who the collaborators are. As your Shakespeare would say, “I say little: but when time shall serve, there shall be smiles”.


Powers: Ghost Touch: Telekinesis 4 <No Range, Touch Only> (x3 Hit, x4 Dmg) 3pts Attack Weak Point, 2ptsGhost Form 3, 3pts


Common Advantages / Disadvantages

All of the members of Crown Guard have the advantage “Headquarters” (a subterranean military bunker beneath London, nick-named “The Concrete Villa”, see below) and a corresponding Disadvantage “Duty to Crown Guard”. At the Narrator’s discretion, they also have shared Vehicles provided by the government. Likewise, they can get military transporation anywhere they need to go. These are not explicitly listed on each character sheet.

The Concrete Villa, 10 Pts

Tele-Screen: Clairvoyance 1 (Present) 1pt, Bunker: Armor 2 (x5 Soak) 2pts, Alarm Sense X (Enemy Combatants) 1pt, Psionic Shielding Mind Shield 2 (+4 Mental Defense) 2pts, Well Disguised Illusion 1 (Visual) 1pt, Launch Tube: Teleportation 1 (Blasts Heroes to just about any phone booth in London. The tubes are also the way back into the Villa) 1pt, Weapons Array: Special Attack 2 (x3 Hit, x5 Dmg) 2pts

Advantages: Battle Gym, Heavily Defended, Laboratory, Sickbay

Disadvantage: Remote Location (deep underground)

New Advantages / Disadvantages

New Advantage: Blaze of Glory: When reduced to 30 or less Hits, you get a +2 Dice Bonus to all rolls. You may also take an additional panel as soon as you fall in combat (they occur simultaneously). This extra panel can include an extra attack even if you have already made one this page.

New Disadvantage: Duty: You owe your allegiance to someone or some organization (you specify what your duty is to). You obey all orders from your superiors within that organization without question. If it means sacrificing your life, so be it. Often, Duty means great inconvenience that requires you to suddenly drop everything to follow your orders.

Both of these Advantages / Disadvantages first appeared in BAM! (Basic Action Magazine) #5.

Notations

Powers in this book will use the following notations for enhancements and limitations:

Enhancements are placed within square brackets, e.g.:

[Variable]

Limitations are placed within angle brackets, e.g.:

<Easily Taken Gadget>


Weapon Technique 2 (+1 Hit, +1DM) [All Weapons] 4pts Crusader’s Armor: Armor 3 (x5 Soak) 3ptsAmulet of St. George: Mind Shield 2 (x6 Mental Defense) <Easily Taken Gadget> 1pt Excalibur: Special Attack 5 [Variable] <Easily Taken Gadget> 5pts

Equipment: In addition to the gadgets above, he also carries a bow (x3 Hit, x4 Dmg) and quiver of arrows. Skills: Athletics/Acrobatics, Stealth/Hide, Military/Tactics, Occultism/Artifacts Advantages: Never SurrenderDisadvantages: Normal (almost all his abilities from magical artifacts) Mental Malfunction: Obsession with avenging his brother’s death.

Background: Report to His Majesty by Sir Nigel Fischer Sir Lathon has been thoroughly tested and evaluated following the death of his brother in battle defending the Prime Minister. He seems genuinely content with the honorable manner of his brother’s death and determined to carry on his mission in defense of the Crown until his death. He removed the crusade-era armor and a simple, brass necklace from his brother’s body then requested the rest be cremated.

Grizzly a.k.a. William Canton24 Pts (16 Stats, 8 Powers)

Quote: “I hate being cooped up in these cities of yours. Let’s get this war over with so I can get back to some real wide open spaces.”


Powers: Claws: Special Attack 3 (x7 Dmg) 3ptsFeral Rage: Swift Strike (-1 Dice Penalty) 2ptsKeen Senses 2 (Vision, Scent at x4) 2ptsTough as the Grizzly: Armor 1 (x5 Soak) 1pt

Skills: Stealth/Hide/Move Silently, Athletics/Climb, Outdoor/Survival Advantages: Never Surrender

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Invisibility 5, 5pts Possession: Mind Control <Only Affects targets he “inhabits” with Ghost Form> 4pts Air Walking: Flight 1 (5 squares) 1ptGhostly Spirit: Boost 1 (Mind) with Ghost Powers, 1pt

Skills: Athletics/Climb, Stealth/Prowling, Security/Locks, Streetwise/Crime Advantages: Quick-ThinkingDisadvantages: Social Stigma (former criminal, doesn’t like to follow the rules) Mental Malfunction: Thrill-seeker. His need for adventure and excitement leads him to make unwise choices. He also strongly motivated by revenge against the Nazis for what they have done to his friends and family.

Background: Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer: Renee Laroque This quiet young man appears to have been a petty criminal before the German inva-sion. Whether he was aware of his mutant abili-ties before then we do not know. What we do know is that he helped our men several times during commando raids into France, and was finally (reluctantly) convinced to accompany them back to aid in the war effort. Getting to know Renee is not easy and I doubt he will ever fit in, with the Crown Guard or even with his own people. He can be petty, vindictive and seems to enjoy keeping score and paying back perceived slights.

For now, he is convinced that he can do his people the most good aiding the Crown Guard and occasionally assisting the Marquis than he could assassinating collaborators and German officers. Not that he has forgone this revenge, merely postponed it.

Excalibur a.k.a. Sir Richard Lathon25 Pts (12 Stats, 13 Powers)

Quote: “Face me, you cur!”


Powers:


Disadvantages: Susceptibility (Agility) to gas (his strong sense of smell makes him extra sensitive to various gases, such as mustard gas). Mental Malfunction: Cabin Fever. He doesn’t like to be “cooped up” for very long, and begins to get restless.

Background: Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:Subject William Canton The national hero of Canada, William Canton, code name “Grizzly” will make an ex-cellent addition to our forces. Possessed of the tremendous power of his namesake, with even sharper senses and an unshakeable loyalty to the Commonwealth and His Majesty, Mr. Canton will fight bravely and well.

Illustrious a.k.a. John Smith30 Pts (14 Stats, 14 Powers, 2 Advantages)

Quote: “Look if I’m interrupting I can just go.”


Powers: Danger Sense (x4 Defense) 2ptsClairvoyance 1 (Future) 1ptSuggestion, 1ptMind Shield 1 (x5 Mental Defense) 1ptTelepath 3, 3ptsLuck Control: Confusion 2 (Large Burst) 5ptsSkillful 1 (2 Slots) 1pt

Skills: Stealth x3/Palming, Perform/Acting, Escapology/Improvising, Deception/Lying/Disguise, Streetwise/Gather Information Advantages: Appeal, Dumb LuckDisadvantages: NoneMental Malfunction: Compulsive liar. His colleagues know this, and have learned to tune it out for the most part.

Background: Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer: Subject “John Smith” Subject “John Smith” is extremely eva-sive, skirting or lying in response to every ques-tion, giving different ages, places of birth, even

ancestry, at times claiming to be English, at other times Welsh or Irish. In combat situations, sub-ject has a preternatural ability to avoid danger, despite being an average physical specimen.

Our best estimates are that this is a combination of extra-sensory perception, combined with apreternatural likeability that causes opponents to try not to attack him.

Recommended that subject serve as an advance scout for the Crown Guard, penetrating areas prior to an attack to gather intelligence. Subject could also be used for assassinations of non-metahuman targets.

Ironclad a.k.a. Adam Sorenson28 Pts (16 Stats, 12 Powers)

Quote: “Warning! By authorization of Dr. Sorenson and His Majesty the laws of robotics are temporarily suspended for all Axis military personnel!”


Powers: Solid Metal Body: Density Increase 1 (Weighs 1,000 Lbs, +5 Result bonus to Brawn, Damage, and Soak rolls; -1 Dice Penalty Defense, 10 Dmg/Page to surfaces stood upon) 1pt Flight 4 (20 Squares) 4ptsMaxim Gun: Special Attack 4 (x5 Dmg, Mid Range) <Burn-Out> 5pts Reinforced Plating: Armor 2 (x6+5 Soak) 2pts

Skills: Athletics x4/Aerobatics/Running, Military/Demolitions Advantages: Unliving, Mentor (Dr. Adam Sorenson), Versatile (there are a number of features he has that nobody seems aware of until he needs them, such as retractable skis, etc) Disadvantages: Duty (to Dr. Sorenson), Freak, Outsider (he has trouble relating to organic life) Mental Malfunction: Programmed. He has been programmed to serve Dr. Sorenson, the King, and humanity... in that order. And yet it appears there may be the spark of a soul within

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• Wall of Repulsion: Force Field 4 [Variable]

• Wave of Repulsion: Push 2 (x10 Knock-Back; Large Line)

Skills: Athletics/Aerobatics, Pilot x3/Evasion, Military x4/Aircraft, Science/Physics Advantages: Quick-ThinkingDisadvantages: Rogue’s Gallery (the Luftwaffe and associated Supers) Mental Malfunction: Personal vendetta against the Luftwaffe. If facing multiple foes, he’ll tend to focus on them over all other enemies. Likewise, the Luftwaffe has placed a high priority on killing him.

Background: Transcript of AfterAction Report, Fred Williamson, 1940 It was all on the line. We couldn’t officially participate but since we don’t officially exist, we figured what the hell. Chris and I went and helped in the air over Britain. The Jerries were determined to clear the air of British aircraft so they could invade.

We saw the pilot’s plane get hit. Saw him bail out. By the time Chris realized his ‘chute wasn’t going to open it was way too late. And then the pilot just lit up like a star. It was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

Don’t look at me that way. I’ve seen a lot of things, but I never saw anything like this. Spontaneous mutant emergence from a near-death experience. I’ve seen that before. But I never saw anyone enjoy it so much, or have so much control so quickly. He was crumpling Ger-man aircraft into baseballs, the pilots still inside. Or disassembling them with a thought. Some-times the pilots got their ‘chutes open, some-times they didn’t. Should you recruit him? Are you insane? Hell, we’ll take him home with us if you don’t want him.

Swordfish a.k.a. King Kamnar III30 Pts (18 Stats, 12 Powers)

Quote: “The sea lanes are under my protection!”

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him. Ironclad has emotions, and sometimes feels conflicted because of them. He is a mechanical soldier.. but with the heart of a hero!

Background: Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:Subject “Ironclad” Terrifying. I feel guilty saying that. Clearly this machine is alive. It has feelings. And yet, it also has built-in directives, almost akin to instincts, to obey its creator and His Majesty, in that order. It also has a built-in directive to protect all humanity but this is secondary to its directives to obey. In other words, at the word of its creator, it can be ordered to kill anyone and it will do so without compunction. Except, so we’re told, His Majesty. How much power should one man have?

Apparently Dr. Sorenson feels quite comfortable granting himself the power of life and death.

Of course, in my interview with him (attached), Dr. Sorenson was quick to point out that he is a very old man, and that his machine will likely outlast us all. Meaning at some point, in the far future, it will benignly serve humanity alone. I can only guess I am supposed to be comforted by that but I cannot overcome my almost instinc-tive revulsion at this creature that is so close to being human.

Repulse a.k.a. James O’Sullivan30 Pts (14 Stats, 16 Powers)

Quote: “Oh! Sorry about that! Those planes are so unreliable! Take it up with Herr Messerschmitt. You might want to open that ‘chute first though!”


Powers: Magnetism: Telekinesis 5 (x3 Hit, x5 Dmg) <Only Affects Ferrous Metal> 3pts Metal Control: X Mastery 2 (Ferrous Metals) 2pts Ride the Magnetic Field: Flight 5 (25 Squares) 5pts Magnetic Repulsion Multi-Power 6pts



Masterwork Rifle (x5 Dmg, Range 40+, Ammo 10)

Skills: Athletics/Acrobatics, Driving/Control, Pilot/Evasion, Technology x5/Invention, Science x5/Physics Advantages: GadgeteerDisadvantages: Normal (without the body armor, his Stats are B1 A1) Mental Malfunction: Sadness. Though he strives to liberate Poland and punish the Nazis for invading, he also is afraid that it will be for nothing if the Soviet Union takes over the regions.

Background: Memo from Stanley Linwood toCrown Guard HQ I’ve caught wind of a plan to attempt to detain Dobry after the war, some rubbish about preventing his skills from being used by the Sovi-ets. Anyone tries to force a man who has saved my life a dozen times over to be some lab mon-key is going to have to go through me. If you’re so worried about him returning to a Russian-controlled Poland, send us in. Otherwise, let the man make his own decision.


Powers: Immunity 1 (Drowning) 1ptSuper Swimming 4 (20 Squares) 4ptsOceanic War Gauntlet: Special Attack 4 [Variable] <Finite Ammo Gadget> 4pts Atlantean Royal Mutation: Flight 3 (15 Squares) 3pts

Skills: Athletics x4/Swimming, Stealth/Hide, Social Science/Politics, Occultism/Atlantis Advantages: RoyaltyDisadvantages: Arch-Enemy (Kasatka, the Soviet super-soldier is a sworn enemy of Swordfish who attempted a coup in Oceania) Mental Malfunction: Arrogance. Swordfish believes Atlanteans to be superior to surface dwellers, and disdains the American hero Sea Bee as a “contemptible half-breed”.

Background: Official Message from Oceanic Ambassador to His Majesty: German U-boats are operating in our wa-ters, sinking ships crossing the Atlantic. Per our mutual defense treaty, Oceania hereby declares war on Germany. End transmission.

Zbrojmistrz “Armorer” a.k.a. Dobry Kow-alczyk27 Pts (18 Stats, 9 Pts)

Quote: “I fear there’s no happy ending for me my friend. All my ability, as a fighter and a weapons designer, couldn’t stop the Nazis from conquering my home. I fear they will do as little good against the Red Army.”


Powers: Body Armor: Armor 3 (x5 Soak) 3ptsLeg Pistons: Super Jump (40 Squares) 2ptsSpeed Wiring: Super Speed 3 (1 Extra Panel) 3pts Life Support: Immunity 1 (Suffocation) 1pt

Equipment:



John Bull28 Pts (18 Stats, 10 Powers)


Powers: Invulnerability: Armor 3 (x7 soak) 3ptsElectro-Mace: Special Attack 5 [Variable] <Easily Taken Gadget> 5pts Super Jump (160 Squares) 2pts

Skills: Pilot/Evasion/Pursuit, Athletics/Acrobatics, Military x3/Tactics Advantages: Blaze of GloryDisadvantages: Freak (he has the face of a bull) Mental Malfunction: Rage. Ever since the transformation, he can barely contain angry outbursts and destructive impulses. Currently, he channels this onto the battlefield, but once the war is over…

Background: During the Battle of Britain, Maxwell Hast-ings was an English pilot who lost 2/3rds of his RAF squadron in one day to an attack from a Nazi super-soldier. When he heard the British government was looking for volunteers for their own super-powers program, he was the first tie sign up. The British scientists running the super-powers program were working from half-legible notes stolen from a Nazi scientist. Their success at duplicating the Third Reich’s super-soldier formula (aka the Ubermensch formula) was abysmal. Almost all of the volunteers died and the project was abandoned in favor of other research avenues. However, there was one success from the British experiments with the Ubermensch formula. Maxwell Hastings was the only test subject in his nation to survive the process. Unfortunately for Maxwell while the process greatly increased his physical abilities, the transformation also mutated his DNA, radically

changing his appearance into the very image of the mythical minotaur. The British Government gave him the coy code-name John Bull and equipped with him a super-weapon they’d captured from a Nazi super-soldier, an electrically charged battle mace. He was assigned to the Crown Guard, the British military’s super-group. Hasting was at the forefront of the war with the Axis super-troops, meting out revenge for all the friends he’d lost during the war.


Crown Guard Heroes of WW II (BASH) (2688440)

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