The Modern Dispatch 124 - The Crown Guard, Podreczniki RPG, The Modern Dispatch
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THE MODERN DISPATCH
THE CROWN GUARD:
HIS MAJESTY
’
S HEROES OF WWII FOR SUPERS
20
BY CHARLES RICE
During the dark, early days of WWII, the existence of
the Crown Guard was a closely held secret.
mythology. Supported by an elite troop of the SS and
with the mysterious Götterdämmerung allowing them
to appear anywhere in the world at will, the Eugenics
Brigade conducted special operations throughout
Europe, weakening fortified positions and attacking
military and political leaders as a prelude to invasion.
The German high command called this strategy
“decapitation” and used it with deadly effect in
combination with the lightning-fast Blitzkrieg.
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
“master race”, descended from the Aesir of Norse
#124
CONTENT MANAGERs:
CHARLES RICE AND CHRIS DAVIS
LAYOUT:
CHRIS DAVIS
PROOFREADING:
CHRIS DAVIS
WWW.RPGOBJECTS.COM
Modern
20
Charles Rice’s
next evolution
in modern d20
gaming!
Modern
Mayhem and
Mystery to the
20th Power!
The Crown Guard: His Majesty
’
s Heroes of WWII for Supers
20
PAGE 1
THE MODERN DISPATCH
Indeed, it seemed no one had an answer for
the Eugenics Brigade, one of many factors that
gave German forces a seeming insurmountable
psychological 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 engage in a massive air
battle and prepare for a cross-channel invasion.
would not have been able to do and soon the Brigade
attacks stopped, as Germany turned their attention
toward Russia. Britain used this time to strengthen the
Crown Guard.
weapon (firearms, melee weapons, ranged weapons or
unarmed combat).
Stunts
Greater Mastery:
You gain your martial supremacy
bonus with an addition type of weapon. You may take
this stunt multiple times. Each time it applies to a new
weapon type.
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 expatriate
Polish hero). By the end of the war, with the Allied
heroes outnumbering the Eugenics Brigade by a wide
margin, it was the German meta-humans who were
on the defensive, attempting to help stem advances by
Allied forces and protect Hitler from capture for trial
after the war.
CROWN GUARD MEMBERSHIP
Big Ben a.k.a. Stanley Linwood (Tank 10):
HD
10d12+30; HP 110; Init -1; Spd 35 ft; Defense
16/15, flatfooted 16/15 (-1 Dex, +7 Class, -1 Size
with growth); BAB +7; Atk +10 melee (2d6+2 NL,
unarmed), or +14 melee (2d6+6 NL, unarmed with
growth), or +5 ranged (2d6+6, Webley Mk. VI); SQ
Melee Master, 10 DR vs. physical, +4 saves vs. heat
and cold; AL His Majesty, Great Britain; SV Fort +10,
Ref +4, Will +3, Rec +10; Rep +9; Str 14/22, Dex 8,
Con 16, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 14.
Background:
Academic
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 2+2 power stunts
(Professional Reputation, Resist Fire; Resist Cold,
Environmental Seal)
Hobby:
Vehicles
Skills:
Athletics 8 (+10), Academics (History) 4
(+5), Leadership 13 (+15), Legal 13 (+14), Power
Control 13 (+16), Streetwise 13 (+13), Unarmed 13
(+15)
Feats:
Armor, Attack Focus (Unarmed), Growth,
Power Level x8, Regeneration, Teamwork (Crown
Guard): +3 attack rolls
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Top Secret Access,
Supply Contact (Crown Guard): 22 wealth
Wealth:
18
Possessions:
Webley Mk. VI revolver, 24 rounds
ammunition
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Defend His
Majesty and Her realm (DSR 5); Nearsighted: -
1 penalty to ranged attack rolls (DSR 1); Strong
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 possibility 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.
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 assassinating him or the
Royal Family. Along with the Commandos, the
Crown Guard was ordered to “set Europe ablaze” and
inflicted enough damage 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. Given that Stalin was far too paranoid
to allow any Russian meta-humans to live, the recall
of the Eugenics Brigade from the Eastern Front
probably saved Stalin from assassination at the hands
of the German force.
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. Somehow 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 shattered.
NEW POWERS
MARTIAL SUPREMACY
You have innate combat abilities.
Duration:
Permanent
Range:
You
Effect:
You gain an attack and damage bonus
equal to one-half your power level with one kind of
The Brigade tried several times to assassinate
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
The Crown Guard: His Majesty
’
s Heroes of WWII for Supers
20
PAGE 2
THE MODERN DISPATCH
Claustrophobia (DSR 3)
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 possesses 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 degree
of patriotism and seems eager to place Queen and
country before self. Subject is an ideal candidate for
Crown Guard service.
Quote:
“Now you’ve made me ruin my favorite
tweed jacket. We’ll have to have a talk about that
later.”
Feats:
Career Advancement, Desolidification,
Invisibility, Loner, Mind Control (PL +2 limited
range, touch; PL +2 must use full-round action to
direct target), Power Level x8
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Secret Access, Supply
Contact (Crown Guard): 18 wealth
Wealth:
6
Possessions:
Nagant M-1895 w/ silencer
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Vengeful (DSR
+9; Str 14, Dex 12, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 8.
Background:
Religion
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 2+2 power stunts
(Professional Reputation, Flurry; Psi Screen, Greater
Mastery- ranged weapons)
Hobby:
Outdoorsman
Skills:
Athletics 13 (+15), Legal 4 (+4),
Outdoorsman 4 (+6), Perception 4 (+6), Power
Control 13 (+16), Unarmed 13 (+15), Weapons 13
(+15)
Feats:
Armor (PL +1 worn device, personal,
Templar’s Armor), Armor Piercing (Excalibur), Attack
Focus (Sword), Attack Specialization (Sword), Martial
Supremacy (melee weapons), Mind Shield (PL +1
worn device, personal, Amulet of St. George), Power
Level x6, Unique Weapon (Excalibur): +3 attack and
damage rolls; weapon cannot be wielded by anyone
else until subject’s death, at which time weapon will
disappear until a suitable hero appears during a time
of need for Great Britain
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Complete Access,
Supply Contact (Crown Guard): 23 wealth
Wealth:
12
Possessions:
Templar’s Armor, Amulet of St.
George, Excalibur
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Code of
Chivalry- scrupulously honest and brave, will defend
those weaker than himself (DSR 5)
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.
Quote:
“Face me you cur!”
5)
Background:
Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:
Renee Laroque
This quiet young man appears to have been a petty
criminal before the German invasion. Whether he was
aware of his mutant abilities 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 more good
aiding the Crown Guard and occasionally assisting the
Maquis than he could assassinating collaborators and
German officers. Not that he has forgone this revenge,
merely postponed it.
Quote:
I know who the collaborators are. As your
Shakespeare would say, “I say little: but when time
shall serve, there shall be smiles”.
Esprit a.k.a. Renee Laroque (Speedfreak 10):
HD
10d8+10; HP 70; Init +3; Spd 30 ft, Fly 80 ft; Defense
23, flatfooted 20 (+3 Dex, +10 Class); BAB +7; Atk
+8 melee (1d4+8, Inside Out), or +10 ranged (2d6+6,
Nagant M-1895 w/ silencer); SQ Need for Speed; AL
Free French, Maquis; SV Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +3,
Rec +4; Rep +6; Str 14, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis
10, Cha 8.
Background:
Criminal
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 4+2 power stunts
(Called Shot, Disguise, Double Tap, Forgery; Inside
Out, Lighter than Air)
Hobby:
Languages
Skills:
Acrobatics 13 (+16), Crime 13 (+15),
Firearms 13 (+16), Influence 4 (+3), Perception 4
(+4), Power Control 13 (+15), Read/Write Language
(English, French, German), Speak Language (English,
French, German), Stealth 13 (+16), Streetwise 13
(+13), Vehicles 4 (+7)
Excalibur a.k.a. Sir Richard Lathon (Powerhouse
10):
HD 10d10+30; HP 100; Init +1; Spd 35 ft;
Defense 18, flatfooted 17 (+1 Dex, +7 Class);
BAB +10; Atk +20 melee (1d8+13 armor piercing,
Excalibur), or +14 ranged (1d8+8, compound bow);
SQ Melee Master, 7 DR vs. physical, 14 DR vs.
psychic, +3 Will saves; AL His Majesty, Code of
Chivalry; SV Fort +10, Ref +4, Will +8, Rec +8; Rep
The Crown Guard: His Majesty
’
s Heroes of WWII for Supers
20
PAGE 3
THE MODERN DISPATCH
Grizzly a.k.a. William Canton (Tank 10):
HD
10d12+60; HP 140; Init +1; Spd 40 ft; Defense 18,
flatfooted 17 (+1 Dex, +7 Class); BAB +7; Atk +13
melee (2d6+13, claws), or +8 ranged (by weapon); SQ
Resilience, 7 DR vs. physical, +3 saves vs. cold; AL
Canada, His Majesty; SV Fort +13, Ref +6, Will +5,
Rec +13; Rep +5; Str 22, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 10, Wis
14, Cha 8.
Background:
Military
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 2+2 power stunts
(Aggressive Stance, Bulletproof; Enhanced Smell,
Resistant to Cold)
Hobby:
Languages
Skills:
Athletics 13 (+19), Firearms 4 (+5),
Perception 4 (+20), Outdoorsman 13 (+15/+25 for
tracking), Power Control 13 (+19), Read/Write
Language (English, French and German), Speak
Language (English, French and German), Unarmed 13
(+19), Vehicles 4 (+5)
Feats:
Armor, Claws, Enhanced Senses, Power
Level x7, Superhuman Constitution, Superhuman
Strength, Teamwork (Crown Guard): +3 attack rolls
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Secret Access, Supply
Contact (Crown Guard): 15 wealth
Wealth:
12
Possessions:
None
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Loyal to Canada
(DSR 5)
Background:
Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:
Subject William Canton
The national hero of Canada, William Canton,
code name “Grizzly” will make an excellent 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.
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.”
Illustrious a.k.a. John Smith (Empath 5/Star 5):
HD 10d8+10; HP 70; Init +5; Spd 30 ft; Defense 27,
flatfooted 16 (+0 Dex, +4 Charisma, +5 Wisdom,
+6 Class, +2 Hyper-dodge); BAB +6; Atk +6 melee
(1d8+0 NL, unarmed), or +6 ranged (2d4+2, Enfield
Revolver); SQ Friends in High Places; AL Great
Britain; SV Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +13, Rec +5; Rep
+11; Str 10, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 20, Cha 18.
Background:
Military
Occupation:
Super Team Perks 4+2 power stunts
(Professional Reputation, Precision Strike, Enhanced
Hearing, Resist Illusions; Hyper-dodge, Hyper-
reflexes)
Hobby:
Stealth
Skills: Acrobatics 8 (+8), Athletics 4 (+4), Crime
8 (+20), Firearms 13 (+13), Influence 8 (+12),
Leadership 13 (+17), Legal 4 (+6), Outdoorsman 8
(+13), Perception 13 (+18), Power Control 13 (+15),
Stealth 8 (+8), Streetwise 8 (+13), Unarmed 8 (+8),
Weapons 4 (+4)
Feats:
Banter, Danger Sense, Mimic, Poise, Power
Level x5, Sneak Attack, Superhuman Charisma,
Superhuman Wisdom, Teamwork (Crown Guard): +3
attack rolls
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Top Secret Access,
Supply Contact (Crown Guard): 31 wealth
Wealth:
12
Possessions:
Enfield revolver, 24 rounds
ammunition
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Secretive (DSR
of extra-sensory perception, combined with a
preternatural 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.
Quote:
“Look if I’m interrupting I can just go.”
Ironclad a.k.a. Adam Sorenson (Tank 10):
HD
10d12+70; HP 150; Init -1; Spd 25 ft; Defense 15,
flatfooted 15 (-1 Dex, +7 Class, -1 Size); BAB +7;
Atk +17 melee (2d6+10 NL, unarmed), or +6 ranged
(2d12+12, M2-HB Heavy Machinegun), or +6 ranged
(5d6+0, Bazooka); SQ Resilience, 11 DR physical,
+4 saves vs. heat and cold; AL Dr. Sorenson, His
Majesty, Laws of Robotics; SV Fort +14, Ref +4, Will
+5, Rec +14; Rep +9; Str 30, Dex 8, Con 24, Int 12,
Wis 14, Cha 10.
Background:
Military
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 2+2 power stunts
(Professional Reputation, Environmental Seal; Heat
Resistant, Cold Resistant)
Hobby:
Legal
Skills:
Athletics 13 (+14), Engineering 4 (+5),
Firearms 13 (+12), Legal 13 (+14), Perception 4 (+5),
Power Control 13 (+20), Unarmed 13 (+23), Vehicles
8 (+7)
Feats:
Armor (PL +3, Bulky, -9 armor penalty,
+0 maximum Dexterity), Growth, Permanent
(Growth), Power Level x8, Superhuman Constitution,
Superhuman Strength
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Supply Contact
(Crown Guard): 29 wealth, military equipment
Wealth:
10
Possessions:
M2-HB Heavy Machinegun, 750
rounds ammunition, Bazooka, 5 rounds ammunition
Character Disadvantages:
Obsession: Obey Dr.
Sorenson (DSR 5), Dependent: Dr. Sorenson (DSR 2)
Background:
Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:
5)
Background:
Evaluation by Sir Nigel Fischer:
Subject “John Smith”
Subject “John Smith” is extremely evasive, skirting
or lying in response to every question, giving different
ages, places of birth, even ancestry, at times claiming
to be English, at other times Welsh or Irish. In combat
situations, subject has a preternatural ability to avoid
danger, despite being an average physical specimen.
Our best estimates are that this is a combination
The Crown Guard: His Majesty
’
s Heroes of WWII for Supers
20
PAGE 4
THE MODERN DISPATCH
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 instinctive revulsion at this
creature that is so close to being human.
Quote:
“Warning! By authorization of Dr. Sorenson
and His Majesty the laws of robotics are temporarily
suspended for all Axis military personnel!”
Skills:
Acrobatics 13 (+15), Engineering 4 (+4),
Firearms 4 (+6), Outdoorsman 4 (+6), Perception 4
(+6), Power Control 13 (+16), Unarmed 13 (+14),
Vehicles 13 (+15)
Feats:
Blast-energy, Career Advancement, Control
Magnetism, Power Level x8, Superhuman Dexterity,
Teamwork (Crown Guard): +3 attack rolls
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Top Secret Access,
Supply Contact (Crown Guard): 28 wealth
Wealth:
10
Possessions:
Lucky Compass
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Cocky to the
point of recklessness (DSR 5)
Background:
Transcript of After-Action 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 German aircraft into
baseballs, the pilots still inside. Or disassembling
them with a thought. Sometimes the pilots got their
‘chutes open, sometimes they didn’t.
Should you recruit him? Are you insane? Hell, we’ll
take him home with us if you don’t want him.
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!”
Swordfish a.k.a. King Kamnar III (Speedfreak 10):
HD 10d8+50; HP 110; Init +5; Spd 40 ft, Fly 100 ft,
Swim 165; Defense 25, flatfooted 20 (+5 Dex, +10
Class); BAB +7; Atk +11 melee (2d6+11, claws),
or +12 ranged (7d4+0, physical blast); SQ Need for
Speed; AL Oceania, Great Britain; SV Fort +10, Ref
+12, Will +4, Rec +8; Rep +5; Str 18, Dex 21, Con
20, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8.
Background:
Dilettante
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks
2+2 power stunts
(Professional Salary x2; Aquatic Adaptation, Power
Dive)
Hobby:
Perception
Skills:
Athletics 13 (+17), Leadership 13 (+12),
Perception 8 (+9), Power Control 13 (+18), Unarmed
13 (+17)
Feats:
Blast-physical (PL +2, worn device,
personal, Oceanic War Gauntlets), Claws (PL +2,
worn device, personal, Oceanic War Gauntlets),
Flight, Power Level x5, Super Swimming,
Superhuman Constitution, Superhuman Dexterity,
Superhuman Strength, Teamwork (Crown Guard): +3
attack rolls
Access/Contacts/Followers:
Complete Access
(visiting head of state)
Wealth:
28
Possessions:
None
Character Disadvantages:
Code: Sense of Duty to
protect those who use or live in the oceans (DSR 5)
Background:
Official Message from Oceanic
Ambassador to His Majesty
German u-boats are operating in our waters, sinking
ships crossing the Atlantic. Per our mutual defense
treaty, Oceania hereby declares war on Germany. End
transmission.
Quote:
“The sea lanes are under my protection.”
Repulse a.k.a. James O’Sullivan (Speedfreak 10):
HD 10d8+30; HP 90; Init +6; Spd 35 ft, Fly 80 ft;
Defense 26, flatfooted 20 (+6 Dex, +10 Class); BAB
+7; Atk +8 melee (2d6+1 NL, unarmed), or +13
ranged (8d4+0, energy blast); SQ Need for Speed, 4
DR vs. physical and energy; AL Great Britain, Fame
and Fortune; SV Fort +8, Ref +13, Will +5, Rec +6;
Rep +10; Str 12, Dex 22, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha
8.
Background:
Military
Occupation:
Super Team: Perks 4+2 power stunts
(Professional Reputation, Cone Blast, Magnetic
Shield, Ricochet Blast; Breakdown, Magnetic Flight)
Hobby:
Engineering
The Crown Guard: His Majesty
’
s Heroes of WWII for Supers
20
PAGE 5
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