Morpheus Unbound  |  Supporting Cast  |  Villains & Vigilantes

Super Nova

Real Name:  Emson, RogerSuper Nova Copyright 1985 by Patrick Zircher.  All rights  reserved.  Used without  permission.

Origin and Background:  Roger Emson graduated from the University of Southern New Mexico with a degree in astronomy under one arm and a promise from NASA of a job position under the other. However, his job turned out to be a very lowly administrative position which handled the appropriates of insurance for grounded astronauts. Undaunted, Roger continued to work for NASA, striving for a better and more interesting position. Three years later NASA promoted him to assistant for stellar research. In this position, Emson studied the physics behind stars, nebular gases and comets. Roger took a liking to the effects of the second largest explosion in the galaxy; the first being the Big Bang. Super Novae are bloated stars on the verge of death which belch energy one last time before crumbling down to become small white dwarf stars.

Roger Emson continued to delve deeply into super novae and began to neglect his other work. Finally, NASA had to step in and force Emson from his job. Hurt and disgruntled, Emson left and swore that he would one day prove the power and importance of the power of the super nova to everyone.

Roger's life slid downhill after he was firmed from his job at NASA. His fiancé left him, his family ignored him as a black sheep, and most of all, no other lab would consider him for employment. He continued to study the stars in his spare time, and it finally paid off. One night, when he thought he had discovered a star about to go nova, he rushed to report his find to a number of fellow scientists. On his way to meet with them, he was involved in an accident with an overturned tanker truck. As he struggled out of his wrecked car, the tanker filled with liquid helium blew up, and everything within one thousand feet was blown into small pieces. Roger found himself unscathed by the entire event, and even felt better than he ever had before. He suddenly came to the realization that fire had never hurt him and that his interest in super novae was the ultimate extension of his fascination with fire.

Once other scientists discovered his mutant ability to withstand fire, they became even more skeptical of his theories on super novae. After several years of desperately trying to have his theories published, he decided to study his own mutant abilities to possibl6y discover some other avenue of understanding pyrotechnics. Soon, Emson learned that he could become a flaming being, fly and project balls of fire.

One day, while Roger was in his local cigar store, four thugs tried to rob him. Roger Emson roasted each of them and left them for dead. He then surrendered to the police and hoped that a jury would be able to see that he had acted in self-defense. The prosecuting attorney, however, demanded that ‘these mutants be taught a lesson – let the fire freak be a lesson to them all!' The jury decided that Roger had to be put on Death Row. Hearing the verdict, Roger flew into a fit and had to be hauled off to the super-prison. Once inside the walls of the maximum security prison, he planned for the impossible – his escape. Using his wits, charm and great fire ability, he succeeded in escaping the only prison viewed by the authorities as escape-proof.

Combat Tactics/M.O.:  Super Nova attacks with double blasts of flame. If his attacks seem to hit with ease, he will specialize and attack the person in a specific area (i.e. the head, leg, arm, etc.). Super Nova will never land and will always try to attack from the rear or side. If he receives more than one action in a turn, he will use one to Evade. If at all possible, he will never come closer than 20 inches to the ground throughout combat. He will also touch off as many side fires as possible to distract other potential foes and expand his own courage.  

Personality/Character Traits:  Super Nova is a crazed arsonist and pyrotechnician. He loves fire and he thrills to see large structures or buildings burn to a cinder. He hates people who fight fires and will despise and hunt down those who have Ice Powers or powers that can be used to extinguish fires. Rarely will Super Nova drop out of his flame sphere. It is believed that he considers himself to be the off-spring of a star, and that one day he will grow into a sun, ruling an entire solar system.  This believe in celestial birth has made him callous of human life.


Living Legends

PHYS 16, REFL 11, DEFT 11, INTL 16, COOL 11, VITL 11 (NRG 16)

Armor:  5 vs All Physical and Mystical (32) [32 CP]

Armor:  10 vs High Temperature (5) [5 CP]

Adaptation: All physical damage types, plus Asphyxiation (3)(+9), Misc. [costs 1 NRG per day of use] (-1) [9 CP]

Energy Field: 2d8-1 High Temperature [fire] (55), NRG cost [1 to activate] (-1), NRG cost [1 per attack] (-2), 12” Range (+3), Duration 6 rounds [water, lack of oxygen, etc. put out the flames] (+3), Time Limit [1 hour, incremental] (0) [72 CP]

Flight: 17” acceleration, 64” top speed (14), NRG Cost [1 to activate] (-1), Time Limit [1 hour, incremental] (0), Linked to Energy Field (-1) [11 CP]

Skill (Profession):  (INTL/S) Pyrotechnics expert, +2 levels (5), d10 effect [5 CP]

Skill (Science):  (INTL/S) Astrophysics, +2 levels (5), d10 effect [5 CP]

Skill (Weapon):  (DEFT/G) Energy Field, +2 levels (5), d10 effect [5 CP]

Weakness (Attracts Attack):  +2 from Low Temperature [+15 CP]

Weakness (Persecuted):  A wanted criminal (Uncommon, Severe) [+15 CP]

XP:  [+28 CP]


Villains & Vigilantes

S 18, E 11, I 21, A 16, C 15, 240 lbs., Level 8

Basic Hits 5, Carry Cap. 832 lbs., Basic HTH 1d8, Hit Modifiers (1.6)(1.0)(1.4)(1.6) = 3.584, Hit Points 18, Power 66, Move 45" ground, 396" flying, Healing Rate 1.25, Damage Modifier +3, Accuracy +2

Heightened Intelligence A: +12
Adaptation: PR = 1 per hour or use as a defense.
Flame Powers (×2): Range = 29 inches, PR = 3 to activate, 4 per shot, or 1 per hour of flight, Damage = 2d12.
Invulnerability: +15
Training:  +1 "to hit" with Flame Powers


Hero System

STR 20, DEX 21, CON 22, BOD 11, INT 20, EGO 15, PRE 20, COM 14, PD 15, ED 15, SPD 5, REC 8, END 44, STN 35

EC -- Flame Powers; a) "Flame Blast" 15d6 EB, Autofire-5, 1/2 END; b) "Flame Shield" Force Field +10 rPD, +15 rED, 0 END; c) 24" Flight, 0 END; d) "Flame Shield" 8d6 EB, Damage Shield, 0 END; Damage Resistance +15 rPD, +15 rED; Life Support (Full)

SCI:  Astrophysics, 15-; KS:  Astrophysics, 14-; KS:  Pyrotechnics, 11-; PS:  Astrophysicist, 11-; Stealth, 13-; +2 levels Combat


The character of "Super Nova" as presented here originally appeared on page 23 of "Most Wanted Vol. 3" published in 1985 by Fantasy Games Unlimited.  Certain context related changes have been made from the original presentation.
Super Nova is Copyright © 1985 Troy Christensen. All rights reserved. Artwork is Copyright © 1985 by Patrick Zircher. All rights reserved. Used without permission.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2009 by Patric L. Rogers.  All rights reserved.
V&V transliteration to Hero System performed using conversion notes presented in a number of V&V products.
V&V and Villains and Vigilantes are Trademarks of Fantasy Games Unlimited.
Hero System is a Trademark of Hero Games, Inc.
Last updated 26 July 2009 by Patric L. Rogers.
Send comments and suggestions to morpheus_unbound@patric.net.