[HOE] Bruiser (New Hindrance)

[OUR0B0ROS@aol.com]

  Speakin' of Doomsayers...

  I just introduced a new player into my posse, my old friend Jon, who I 
remember always liked big fighter types, especially the Incredible Hulk.  
After trying to figure out what kind of character I thought he might like to 
play (He's never played any Deadlands or HoE, so I was going to assist him in 
making his character a great deal), I re-read Viridian Goliath and decided 
that having him play an outcast Lector would be perfect.  But the problem was 
that he's always liked hand-to-hand guys, and the other Doomsayer in our 
posse, Jeb, is the 
"Nukin'-AtomicBlastin'-Snipin'-Kill-From-Above-And-Never-Even-Come-Close-To-Se
ein'-The-Whites-Of-Their-Eyes" kinda Doomsayer.
  So, I came up with a new Hindrance.
  I was gonna call it "Scrapper," but I didn't want to confuse folks with the 
bionic scrappers.

  Bruiser   (5 points)

  Some folks just like ta sink their fists 'n teeth in...
  Fer some reason, ya just prefer brawlin' ta blastin' folks at a distance.  
This Hindrance is only available ta Doomsayers, Lectors, Sykers, Toxic 
Shamans, and Witches.  Templars, yer not welcome!  
  What this hindrance does is cause all powers be focused (fer the most part) 
on the bruiser themself.  
  Ranged blasts that'd damage at a distance require the Bruiser to connect 
with a fist (or touch) first.  These powers now have a range of Touch.  
Boneripping?  Yep!  Heartstopper?  Sure!  Arson?  Well... okay... Nuke?  
Well... if you really want to...
  Powers that effect Self only, still effect Self only.  Fleshknit, Body 
Control, Viridian Goliath, Ground Zero...
  Powers that can be used on others at a Touch depend on whether it is a 
harmful or a helpful power.  Fission, sure.  Piledriver, of course!  
Molecular Bonding?  Uh uh.  It'd become a Self power.  Touch 'o The 
Doomsayers?  Well, if you only want to be able to heal yourself, sure.
  Some powers, like different sense powers, work at range.  X-Ray Specs, 
Geiger Vision... these powers affect only the person casting them, and 
operate out to the distance shown.  Not a problem.
  Some powers just won't work as a Bruiser. Maelstrom, Rad Wraith, Rad 
Zombie, Sibilant Speech of Silas... stuff like that.

  See, the Bruiser has become so focused on their fists an' dishin' out pain 
that they just can't seem t' get beyond that.  They become powerful 
themselves, but are reduced to charging across battlefields so they can 
engage in fisticuffs with the Black Hats on full auto.
  But the bruiser always needs to hit his opponent before trying to get the 
power to go into effect.  Also, if the bruiser is going to just attempt to 
touch the victim, and not inflict punch damage, the bruiser can add +4 to the 
attack roll.
 The one benefit to being a bruiser is that he gets a +2 to his 
faith/blastin/whatever rolls in any case where he can come into contact with 
his enemy.  
______________________________________________________

  I like this because it has allowed me to introduce a Hekant into the posse 
who everyone (including the Doomsayer) just thinks is an exceptional 
hand-to-hand fighter.  Eventually they'll realize what's going on, but even 
then they have two guys who have different powers coming from the same source 
who are radically different.  
  
  It's given me some ideas for villains, as well...

  So, whattaya think, sirs?


  - Ouroboros