@Master Bruce neat! It's blind red Batman 😉

After trying to flesh out concepts where he's actually a mob lawyer, a devoted ninja of The Hand or an avenging priest, I came to the conclusion that Daredevil is one of those characters that isn't broke, so I shouldn't fix him. My main change from the regular canon will instead be that while Matt will still possess all the good stuff that makes DD a standout, his villains are gonna be nerfed a bit in order to portray a living, thriving criminal element for Hell's Kitchen. So while The Kingpin is the definite head of the snake, characters like Gladiator, Jester, Purple Man, and even The Hand are going to be folded into criminal factions of their own rather than act as gimmicky super-powered foes from the Lee/Everett days. Which isn't a huge shift for characters like Bullseye or Elektra, since they're largely just really skilled assassins, but it'll present a challenge for someone like Mister Fear, whose gimmick remains a little outlandish.

@Retired will you include cosmic stuff?

I believe that everyone else who would be at or past the 48-hour threshold lacks a sample.

I'm about to send out some PMs to people that either a) are about minor adjustments, b) provide background lore relevant to their characters, or c) discuss problems I see with their sheet so they can work on them without having to wait the full 48 hours.

Hell hath no fury like a Gowi approved.

<Snipped quote by Retired>
I take it that I'm about to get a PM? Asking so I can make some time to respond.

<Snipped quote by Retired>

Can't tell you how much I love the idea of potential Fred Myers/Ringer team-up posts...

Sorceror of Smoke & Mirrors [+]

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Q U E N T I N B E C K ♦ E N G I N E E R ♦ N E W Y O R K C I T Y ♦ O S C O R P L A B S

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

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"It's a lot easier to believe a lie than the truth, I find; so I weaponized that."

Quentin Beck originally became a noteworthy name when he had his start in Hollywood as a professional SFX Designer and occasional Actor and Stuntman. While no A-Lister celebrity by any means, he had a fairly lavish lifestyle and accrued impressive recognition for his acting talents and excellent displays of special effects in his projects. However, Beck grew bored of his endeavors on the big screen and sought out more challenging prospects, wishing to test his steadily growing engineering prowess.

Around 2008, Quentin put his talents to work at Stark Industries creating new weapons of war, namely focusing on drones and the potential applications of remotely-piloted devices for warfare. Admittedly, this work didn't always sit well with the young man, but he chose to keep his concerns on his work over his morals. This came to a head when he was 28, and the Chitauri made their global assault. He survived, but the experience shook Beck, now having a more clear image in mind when it came to the terrors of war, however brief it had been. He resigned from Stark Industries, finding himself unable to work under the circumstances. Taking his work with him, he left to pursue his craft with Oscorp Labs.

His delve into superheroism was quite recent. It had been a factor for his life for quite some time now, after the invasion, but something clicked in him when news of an armored crusader striking Stark Industries complexes started to become big news. It was only now, with his attention properly drawn, had Beck figured out just how popular these so-called 'heroes' were becoming; and truth be told, he was finding his life to be quite dull once more, after steady years of working in Oscorp. So, he decided he'd put on the biggest show he'd ever conceived; he, too, would become a caped crusader and garner all the fame he had craved as the enigmatic 'sorceror' MYSTERIO.

***

This variant of a classic villain is inspired by both his comic and film adaptations; an attempt to marry the two together as best I could. What Quentin always seemed to desire were recognition, and a way to keep things interesting in his life. This puts him through a variety of roles, from the charismatic and savvy SFX Designer and Actor/Stuntman, to the cool and practical Drone Engineer, to his current profession as a Technician and Engineer for Oscorp Labs. But when even that grows dull, what's the next best thing? Well, while it's an extreme leap for him, acting as a 'hero' isn't far from his wheelhouse due to his Hollywood days, and perhaps when the actor lives his role long enough...It might just become a part of him. He's far from noble for now, certainly; more in it for fame (and perhaps some fortune down the line), but perhaps our fishbowl-headed 'master magician' can find some real courage behind his false heroics.

He hasn't been active as a hero for long, but he's made a big splash due to his overwhelming showiness and abundant charm. Still, time will only tell if Beck can manage his new dual life or have it all crashing down on him from any angle; precarious, certainly...But exciting as well. It's sure to keep him entertained for a while, at least.

C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

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Supporting Cast [+]

The Tech Crew - Quentin might be a technological genius on the levels of Tony Stark (his words), but even he understands the importance of a team...A tech team, that is. Gathering together old friends from his time in Hollywood and some disgruntled Stark employees who left after the disappearance of the titular man himself, Beck has formed a cohesive unit who aide him in selling the fantastical lie that is Mysterio. When he isn't out gallivanting as a caped crusader, they're also some of his closest (and only) friends.

Maguire (Terry) Beck - Quentin's cousin Terry is his closest confidant, sticking strong together from their early childhoods up to the present day. She was also the one to encourage Quentin's plans to try and become a superhero, going so far as to apply her skills in costume design for the project. She does however have lingering fears that her cousin may bite off more than he can chew eventually...

Vinnie Beck - Quentin's uncle and Terry's dad, Vinnie was always a supportive figure in young Beck's life where his father was not, and he holds a deep appreciation for the man. However, he and Maguire have both decided to keep him out of the loop of Mysterio for his own safety, should something occur.

Timeline [+]

1982 - Quentin is born in Riverside, California as the son of Elmore and Henrietta Beck.

1987 - Quentin's love for movies and special effects begins to grow, as does his relationship with his cousin, Maguire Beck. He is also given a movie camera by his uncle Vinnie to foster this interest.

1988-89 - Quentin begins learning quickly, making his own homemade movies alongside his cousin and practicing in stop-motion effects. His father believes that his son is wasting his time on these pursuits, and one night shatters the boy's gifted camera in a blind rage. However, this does not dissuade Beck.

1994 - After his father assaults both Beck and his mother in a drunk rage, the family is separated, with Quentin and Henrietta living with his cousins.

2002 - Completing his high school education, both Quentin and Terry attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where they develop technical knowhow that helps to solidify their future careers.

2003-2007 - For a time, Beck pursues his childhood dream of being a SFX Designer for high-end movies, and occasionally taking on the role of Actor and Stuntman. He garners interest due to his surprising skills as an Actor and promising performances as a Stuntman, but also his innovative creations for special effects. However, this eventually bores him as he moves on to new horizons, moving to New York City in search of opportunity.

2008-2010 - Quentin becomes an engineer for the infamous Stark Industries as a designer of drone crafts. While somewhere inside him he knows that this is wrong, he instead chooses to focus on his work over his morals, feeling vindicated in his work by the praise of fellow Stark employees.

2011-2020 - After the incident of the Chitauri Invasion, having been confronted by the horrors of war, Beck resigns from Stark Industries, instead joining a competitor in Oscorp Labs, eventually becoming their Chief Engineer.

2021-Today - Intrigued by the emergence of an ironclad superhero and coming to realize the growing popularity of these caped vigilantes, Quentin is struck by an incurable spark of creativity. Gathering together both trusted teammates and invaluable resources, he forms the heroic identity of the 'sorceror' Mysterio, striking out as a flashy cape-wearing hero of New York. He has gained a notable following due to his stylish nature and surprising efficacy.

Current Tech/Skills [+]

Seeing as how Mysterio usually has a wheelhouse of tricks and traps, I've ironed it down a bit for his initial go; he'll develop some more fun tools down the line, and up his game as the stakes do, as well.

The Mysterio Suit - The suit itself isn't especially teched out (at least, not yet), because as of right now it's effectively a polyester/Kevlar hybridization, courtesy of his cousin Maguire. It's comfortable, yet durable; not tough enough to let him get gut-punched by a superhuman, but it can take a few bullets without compromising Beck's safety. Hopefully. The hands and feet are reinforced to allow him to pack a bit more punch than he naturally could, as well. Additionally, his helmet functions as a voice modulator, preventing him from being recognized as Quentin (and also adding a bit more style to the whole thing, of course).

Quentin's Industrial Illusion Drones - This version of Mysterio might not use hallucinogens or hypnotic voice modulators (though that one could be down the line, perhaps), but he does have some high-grade drones courtesy of...Well, himself. While armed as wartime drones, they also possess a few more specialized pieces of equipment, namely a cloaking field to prevent most forms of detection, and the ability to generate illusions via holograms. They are also equipped with some smaller grade stuff meant mostly for being flashy, such as the harmless green mist they emit to aid in the mystical presentation Mysterio puts forward.

SFX Artist/Actor - Beck is a master of make-up, special effects, mechanics, and physical stunt work, which has all aided him greatly in his time as Mysterio, which more often than not has been him effectively bludgeoning crooks into submission while they're distracted by his party tricks. His acting finesse has also allowed him to finely craft the persona of Mysterio, working wonders in his perception by the public.

S A M P L E P O S T:
(WIP)

P O S T C A T A L O G:

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This section is not necessary, but a procedural listing of your linked posts will make it much easier and more convenient for all involved.

Alright, got my concept done faster than I anticipated; still need to do that sample post, but I've got something cookin' that I could do sooner than later. Hopefully everything here tracks, tried my best to make this clean and comprehensive like the rest of the quality sheets around here :)

Though I prolly got a little too wordy in my Character Concept section....Oops!

Captain America [+]

CAPTAIN AMERICA

STEVE ROGERS ♦ SOLDIER ♦ S.H.I.E.L.D SAFEHOUSE, BROOKLYN ♦ S.H.I.E.L.D

C H A R A C T E R C O N C E P T:

"I can do this all day."

Steve Rogers never considered himself anything special.

Born to Sarah Rogers, his father died when he was young. Leaving just him, his mother, and his sister Anne. He took odd jobs before he was ten, doing the little things to earn what money he could for his family—even a little thievery, though no more than grabbing some bread when there were too many bills and not enough money. By the time he was eighteen he had a good job at a local grocery store, while his mother worked as a nurse for the army. Life was simple, and stable. But when the war started, Steve knew he had a duty. He tried to enlist several times, but his relatively weak constitution kept him from service. Bitterness began to claw at him, until he was noticed by Doctor Abraham Erskine.

The rest is, as they say, history.

After Doctor Erskine was murdered, and Steve the sole success of Project Rebirth, there was a brief debate among army staff on whether to put him forward in a propaganda positon, or send him to the front. After seeing the test results of his new, formula enhanced body it was eventually decided to put him fully into service. With General Chester Phillps stating that “We made the damn gun. Might as well pull the trigger.”

Slapping him in a fancy suit and an in-your-face codename, Steve Rogers, now dubbed Captain America, took to the field with resounding success. From Tunisia to France, Captain America was at the forefront of almost every major campaign in the western theater of World War Two, with his exploits, exaggerated and practically deified by some of the population, becoming the stuff of legend back home.

It said a great deal about his influence that when, in 1945, he ‘died’ attempting to stop the deployment of chemical weapons and other ‘wunderwaffen’ on U.S soil by HYDRA, only to end with their superjet bomber going missing over the arctic circle, presumably crashing, that Army Staff chose to withhold news of his demise for fear of the damage it may inflict on morale. Even restraining news being given to his surviving family until the war was over.

And for decades, that was the last of him.

Now, fished out of the freezing waters by SHIELD after being discovered by a team of scientists attempting to pick up Chitarui wrecks, Stever Rogers is a man out of time in perhaps the strangest sense. The world is far, far removed from what he once knew. Super humans more powerful than anything HYDRA was able to muster roam the globe, aliens, actual aliens, invaded. The only family he has left is Sharon Rogers, the daughter of his sister Anne, whom he barely knows. Everything is foreign.

But one thing remains the same. The world needs a soldier.

And that, that he can be.

========================
It’s probably a bit mean, but I find the idea of throwing good ‘ol Cap head first into the mess that is Marvel while a lot of its principle actors have been underway for about a decade or so already to be somewhat amusing—and interesting. Captain America adapting to the circumstances of the modern world, and all the history he’s missed has always proven fascinating to me. Even if its, understandably, pretty much not really focused on all too much. Which is why I’m having him start recently defrosted.

I pretty much intend to play him as a man out of time, doubling down on the one thing he knows: Being a soldier. Or, in this case, a hero. Perhaps keep his time fighting in WW2 at a constant low-hum in the back of his mind. Rest assured I don’t intend to bring any of the particularly nasty social aspects of the 40’s back with him. As, frankly, that's not the kind of character I want to play.



C H A R A C T E R N O T E S:

I don’t think his powerset will be any different from what has been presented of him. Superhuman strength and durability, but not at the levels of, say, Hulk or Thor. Skilled at fighting, especially with that shield of his.

NPC’s are a bit barebones for now, but I figure that’ll evolve and change over the course of the game.
NPC's:
Sharon Rogers: Great Granddaughter of Anne Rogers, Sharon has been working with SHIELD since its revival post-invasion. More often than not cleaning up the actual mess of it, alongside those caused by clashes between superhumans, due to her skills and, admittedly, blood relations to the man, she has been tasked with helping Steve Rogers acclimate to the modern world. Truthfully, she doesn’t know how to feel about any of this. But she’ll do her job.

Rogues:

Johann Shmidt/The Red Skull: When Nazi Germany fell, and HYDRA with it, the Red Skull disappeared from the face of the earth alongside Captain America. What none know is that one of the ‘wunderwaffen’ he was intending to use on America was an ancient artifact called the tesseract, which instead threw him into space. A year after the Chitarui invasion he finally made his way back to earth, now a learned traveler of the stars, and seeks to take advantage of the worlds vast potential—particularly magical—for his own sinister ends.



S A M P L E P O S T:

The freezing wind howled through the broken windows, and Steve took an icy, stinging breath.

Shmidt wasn’t a large man, even with the mutating enhancements of the proto-formula the HYDRA Director was still relatively thin. But from Steve’s place resting against the plane's wall, crumpled inwards from just having the american soldier thrown into it, he was tall enough. The window to the jet's cockpit had been punctured by Shmidt’s luger, letting the howling wind freeze the spacious room. The gun itself lay in the corner, barrel hanging on by an edge from where Steve slammed his shield into it.

“Again, you come.” Shmidt snarled. His flesh had become taut, or his skull enlarged, Steve didn’t know which. The end result was that Shmidt’s skull had overtaken everything. His blue eyes watched Steve from the sunken pits of his eye-sockets, and bone-white teeth stretched into a death's-head grin, bereft of any lips. Steve honestly didn’t know how the man could still speak.

He didn’t say anything, simply spitting out some blood and getting to his feet. This wasn’t the time for talk. Not with what was in the hold of this damn plane. Shmidt watched him rise with cold eyes, and Steve glanced at his shield, embedded into the wall just behind the damn Nazi. It was just them. Everyone else on the plane was dead, knocked out, or just plain unsuspecting. Between the two men lay a strange cube, locked into some device, glowing with power.

“Nothing to say? Very well, captain. Let this be the last dance.”

Steve sprinted at Shmidt, his boots ringing on the metal deck. For a lot of the folks that were unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of his bull-rush, it was startling. Many of his buddies, when on the receiving end of it, complained that a man shouldn’t move that fast. He had been told he was something of a blur.

Shmidt, evidently, didn’t care.

As Steve wrapped his arms around the bastard for a tackle, Shmidt clasped his hands together before thundering them down on the captain's back. Steve almost lost his footing from the force of the blow, and grit his teeth at the splash of pain. But momentum was with him, and he slammed Shmidt through one of the leather seats in the cockpit, and into a control panel. Sparks showered them both, but while Steve cried out at the searing touch, Shmidt remained silent.

Steve felt two more blows crack down onto him, one right on the back, and the other crashing into his helmet, before he decided he had enough. Bringing his head up, he made sure it slammed into Shmidt’s jaw. As the Red Skull reeled back he began thundering in punches into the man's stomach, in vicious set after vicious set. He began to feel something crack before a red hand slammed into his face. His head snapped to the side, and Shmidt followed it up with a kick that Steve barely blocked.

“Enough!” The Red Skull snarled. “You’ll stop nothing. Nothing!”

“Won’t stop me from trying,” Steve said, spitting out a wad of blood.

Shmidt flexed his thin red hands for a moment, before his gaze darted to the glowing cube. In a flash he was racing for it, Steve rushing forward an instant after. He didn’t know what the bastard planned, but after far too many years bearing witness to the horrors he worked, Steve didn’t really care to find out. He pushed his all into it. He’d kill Shmidt, get this damn plane to stop, land, something, and then he’d…well, he’d figure it out.

Flesh smoked from where Shmidt grasped the cube, but he clearly didn’t care. Steve attempted to tackle him again, but a pulse of force sent him flying back into the wall. His world went white for a moment from the pain, and when his vision returned it was to see Shmidt’s head tilted back, his monstrous jaw wide open, laughter spilling out.

“A single step, captain!” The Red Skull said gleefully, even as his hand began to burn. “The progress of humanity has always been just that. And now I have more sheer power in the palm of my hand than anyone has ever known in the world! For years I have studied the tesseract, and now…”

Finally, he looked at Steve. The american soldier could see a gleeful madness dancing in those cold eyes.

“A leap of faith, admittedly. But that's all a single step is. Now-”

That was as far as he got before Steve, spotting his shield a short distance away, dived for it. Fingers closed on the edges, and he threw it with all his might at the Red Skull. Those bone-white teeth clacked shut, and he barked out a laugh, waving his hand in Steve's direction. But the only thing that happened was that the cube, tesseract as Shmidt called it, began to glow even brighter. The Red Skull looked at it in clear confusion.

Then the vibranium shield hit him.

As the Red Skull stumbled back with a cry, the tesseract slipped from his hands. But instead of falling to the ground it began to rise higher in the air. Steve closed his eyes at the intensity of the brightness, such was its sheer power. There was a snarling force, a feeling of cold that far outstripped the arctic winds. A shrill cry of true, genuine fear. And then, at last, silence. Of a sort at least. When Steve opened his eyes again, blinking back tears, it was to find himself alone.

In an instant he was on his feet, fists up. But no matter where he looked, Shmidt was gone.

Hurrying to the controls, Steve felt his heart sink at the sparks that leaped from some of the panels. Bullet holes punctured some, while one whole section held the clear indent of a man. And those that were so far untouched were well beyond his ability to understand. He was on a Nazi superplane carrying a bomb bay filled to the brim with every horror HYDRA could conjure up. All of it heading to the states. And he had no idea how to stop it.

“Well…shit.”



P O S T C A T A L O G:

To Be Done.

after a busy weekend of christmas parties and concerts, finally got around to finishing my sample!

Also, as a general notice, please keep questionable topics out of the OOC.

<Snipped quote by Retired>



Doom demands you stay on topic!

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Thanks for acceptance I'm excited.

The Sentinel Program, led by Trask, was a United Nations effort. To date, it has three publicly known successes. First are the Sentinel drones, about the size of fighter jets, capable of atmospheric and spaceflight. Their weaponry proved capable of penetrating Chitauri wreckage in tests.

Second, a network of satellites in low Earth orbit capable of initiating a powerful electromagnetic field around the planet as a defensive shield for a limited time. While scaled versions of the satellites were tested on the ground, for obvious reasons the electromagnetic forcefield has not undergone practical tests.

Finally, the Sentinel Program's earliest success is the orbital space station, Bastion. Bastion station was designed to detect anomalies within local space and be an early-warning system for future alien assaults. It also serves as a carrier for the drone flotilla.

The Sentinel Program is lauded by the general public and viewed as Earth's best defense against further threats.