IHMN: Some thoughts for the Beginner in Designing an Adventuring Company, Part 5 (Villians from Literature and Film)

"I am a doctor of philosophy from Edinburgh, a doctor of law from Christ's College, a doctor of medicine from Harvard. My friends, out of courtesy, call me 'Doctor'."

1. From Literature and Film: I was living under a rock somewhere and suddenly discovered Pulp Figures in 2019. When I saw the figure of the The Sinister Dr. Koo (PYG-6), I knew I had to do Fu Manchu. Who cares if he is from the Pulp era? It's my world!

When I started putting together the Fu Manchu Adventuring Company Honorable Son #1 (The Librarian) informed me that Fu Manchu's plots usually involved viruses (Covid 19?), bugs, poisons, etc. Hmmm . . . sounded kinda boring on the gaming table. So what I did was use Fu Manchu's intellect to devise steampunk type weapons, use mystical powers, traditional martial arts flunkies, and still invent some biological horrors. In fact, he devised the green mist that powers many of his creations.

 Weird Science: The Gong.

 "You've read about this: the torture of the gong: it never stops. Minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day. Seems harmless, doesn't it? Just a gong ringing. But the percussion and the repercussion of sound against your eardrums will soften and destroy them until the sound is magnified a thousand times. You can't move. You can't sleep. You will be frantic with thirst. You will be unspeakably foul. But here you will lie, day after day, until you tell me what I need to know."

 Shiny new toy syndrome. I saw this "glass spiders" advertised for the game Frostgrave. Nah nah! They are the mechanical arachnids of Fu Manchu powered by the green mist.

Who doesn't like giant robots with steam claws. Sure the accountant says they cost a lot, but they are fun in battle!

As an evil genius who wants the conquer the world, Fu Manchu had to be exceptional and above and beyond these other so called conquerors:

Name: Fu Manchu - The infamous villain of Master villainy!

Pluck: 2+

Leadership: +3

Speed: 1

Fighting Value: +4

Shooting Value: +2

Talents: Erudite Wit, Fanatic, Fearless, Inspirational, Intuitive, Martial Arts, Medic, Meticulous Planning, Engineer (the ability to develop weapons like the Green Mist and the Golden Mist), (Immortal for campaigns)

Mystical Powers: Up to 30 points of Mystical Powers

Basic Equipment: His evil genius (yep, he's the real deal)

Armor: The Fu Manchu Coat (Armor is 12 but 11 against Arc Weapons)

Cost: 121 (not counting Mystical Powers)

So what that he costs 121 points (not counting mystical powers); pony up and play a 350 point game!

 Fu Manchu's genetically enhanced Thunder Warriors.

 Fah Lo Suee

Fah Lo Suee, is a devious mastermind in her own right, frequently plotting to usurp her father's position in the Si-Fan and aiding his enemies both within and outside of the organization. Her real name is unknown; Fah Lo Suee was a childhood term of endearment. She was known for a time as Koreani after being brainwashed by her father (such a loving parent), but her memory was later restored. She is infamous for taking on false identities, like her father, among them Madame Ingomar, Queen Mamaloi and Mrs. van Roorden. Fah Lo Suee is hypnotically seductive, and possesses powers of hynopsis enhanced by the ruby eyes of the Golden Beetle and mimosa gas, as well as longevity, due to the Elixer Vitae. Her voice and movements command attention, and her eyes can entrance a man in moments.

Name: Fah Lo Suee 

Pluck: 3+ 

Leadership: +1

Speed: 2

Fighting Value: +4

Shooting Value: +1

Talents: Martial Arts, Meticulous Planning, Unearthly Beauty
Mystical Powers: Dragon Talons, Mesmerism
Basic Equipment: Poisoned Fighting Knife

Armor: Chained lined Qipao Dress (10) 

Cost: 86

 

Fah Lo Suee can also purchase the following talents: Antivenom, Master of Disguise, Immortal (Campaigns)

Fah Lo Suee Special Rule: Treacherous! Any company that Fah Lo Suee is a member of can be betrayed. If the Leader is removed from the game, she will immediately switch sides (that was her plan all along!) taking her tiger with her if the tiger is in the game. If she is with Fu Manchu and he is removed from the game her leadership increases to +2 and she takes over her father's company. If any leader in a company fails a pluck roll, Fah Lo Suee must also roll pluck; if she fails she switches sides along with her tiger if the tiger is in the game.

Game statistics for tigers can be found in Heroes, Villains and Fiends.

2. Strictly from film: The Mad Guru!  

The Mad Guru has reestablished the Thuggee, a murder cult that had been suppressed 50 years previously.

The Mad Guru and his adventuring company is actually based on two films: Gunga Din and Indiana Jones and the Cult of Doom. Before I designed the characters and the company, I went back and watch both films taking notes as I wanted to get the period feel and the motivation of the Mad Guru right.

 The Mad Guru's loyal, and quite deadly, body guard.

Eduardo Ciannelli portrays the Guru in the film Gunga Din (1939) as a dignified, intelligent, though murderous defender of the Indian people. Ciannelli was an Italian baritone and character actor with a long career in American films, mostly playing gangsters and criminals. The contrasts between the characters of the Guru, Gunga Din, and the Sergeants Three are a whole dissertation on the state of the British Raj - but that is a discussion for another day.

 Poisonous Cobras are fun in a game.

The Mad Guru is an Inspirational Leader but not a great fighter (he has to use a poisoned knife) but the fear he puts into the hearts of men is Terrifying. His Meticulous planning has been a thorn in the side of the British Raj. Speaking of the hearts of men, the Mad Guru does have Mystical Powers - most notably Heart Rending (and it is messy!). 

 In a bold move, SGT Cutter leaps from the top of the temple, successfully rolls Pluck to survive the jump, and engages the Mad Guru.

In a PG-13 heart wrenching scene, The Mad Guru uses his Mystical powers to rip out SGT Cutter's heart. Very messy.

Followers of The Mad Guru:

 

 Next: Heroes!