4C System: Superhero Role Playing Game

The character can communicate with and control animals. To successfully communicate with an animal the character must roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Willpower +10, whichever is greater. A result of red or greater indicates successful communication. To control an animal, the character must achieve a yellow result.

The character can control one type of animal (such as birds, reptiles, mammals, sea creatures, etc.), which must be determined at the time of the character’s creation.

The character has armor of some kind, perhaps thick hide or a protective bodysuit, which reduces damage by an amount equal to the Rank Value of this power. For more about armor see p. 23.

The character has some form of claws, either a natural part of the character’s body or a worn item. The character uses the Rank Value of either the character’s Melee or this power to make slashing attacks. Claws are treated as a one-handed weapon for purposes of damage (see p. 22).

Optional: Instead of specifically claws, the character possesses another type of weapon of the player’s choosing. The weapon may be used for bashing or slashing attacks (choose one).

The character possesses a strong resistance to toxins, diseases, and the like. Any time the character must roll to resist the effects of poison, disease, or similar environmental hazards, the character may use the Rank Value of this power or the Rank Value of Fortitude +10, whichever is greater.

The character’s body can stretch, allowing the character to attack someone in a different sector. A character with this power can stretch a number of sectors equal to this power’s Rank Value divided by 10 (round up).

The character has the ability to control a single element or type of energy chosen from the list below. The character can only manipulate an existing source of the element or energy; the character does not possess the ability to create the element or energy.

The character has more body parts than two arms and two legs, either a completely new part (such as a tail) or extras of an existing part (four arms instead of two).

Extra parts do not grant a character bonus attacks.

A character with this power can attack a number of times each turn depending on the power’s Rank Value:

The character can fly either through the use of an item or by innate means. When flying the character can move a number of sectors per turn depending on the Rank Value of the power:

The character has the ability to generate a force field, either through mental powers or a device.

The character can grow larger or smaller (select one), to a maximum/minimum height as shown on the table below:

When using Growth, the Rank Value of the character’s Brawn is changed to the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Brawn Rank Value +10 whichever is greater. Opponents attacking the bigger character gain a +1 RS bonus on their attacks.

When using Shrinking the Rank Value of the character’s Brawn is unaffected. Anyone attacking the character when using this power suffers a -1 RS penalty and the character gains a +2 RS bonus to attacks.

The character can become invisible and remain so for as long as desired. Sound, scent, heavy rain, and other methods can still give an invisible character away. The character may also attempt to turn objects or other characters invisible by touching them. Roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power, on a result or red or greater the item or character touched is invisible and remains so as long as the character touches it.

The character possesses knowledge of, and ability to use, magic. Magic allows the character to cast "spells" that duplicate any other power in the game; as a result Magic is the sole power the character may have. A character may use only one spell per turn.

Duplicated powers function as described in the individual power sections and at a Rank Value equal to the character’s Magic Rank Value.

The character can take over the minds of others. A target of Mind Control must be within visual range of the character and must possess a Willpower Rank Value less than the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Willpower, whichever is greater.

To take control of another the character must roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Willpower +10, whichever is greater. If the result is black the mind control attempt fails. If the result is red or greater the target is controlled until the character releases the targeted character or the target is ordered to do something out of the ordinary (such as injure a companion) at which point the target rolls d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of the target character’s Willpower. A result of red or greater is needed to break free of the mind control.

The character owns a unique weapon of the player’s choice which deals damage equal to its Rank Value.

The character’s body can change into an insubstantial form allowing the character to "phase" through objects. The power grants the character armor (see p. 23) at the Rank Value of this power.

The character’s body can change into an unusual material, selected from the list below, at will. When metamorphosed the character possesses the traits of the material and gains armor (see p. 23) equal to the Rank Value of this power.

The character heals quickly. Once per turn, instead of taking another action, the character may recover a number of Damage points equal to the Rank Value of this power.

The character can turn into any shape desired (animals, other characters, objects) though the character retains the character’s original size (unless the character also has the Growth or Shrinking powers). The change is automatically successful unless the character attempts to impersonate a specific thing (such as another character) at which point roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power. A result of black means the character fails to adequately copy the character or object and can be easily identified.

The character can jump across great distances. The character may leap up to a number of sectors each turn depending on the Rank Value of the power:

The character possesses a single extraordinary sense such as superhearing or supersight. Rolls made to use the heightened sense use this power’s Rank Value or the character’s Awareness +10, whichever is greater.

A player may, with Gamemaster approval, have an entirely new sense. For example, a character may be blind but possess echolocation ("seeing" like a bat) or possess infravision in addition to normal sight allowing the character to see in darkness without penalty.

The character can run at superhuman speeds. The character moves up to a number of sectors per turn based on the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Coordination +10, whichever is greater:

When attempting an unusual maneuver, such as running across water or up walls, the player must roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Coordination +10, whichever is greater. A result of black indicates failure.

The character possesses the mental ability to move objects without touching them. The upper limit of weight the character may lift with this power is the greater of the power’s Rank Value or the character’s Willpower Rank Value +10.

Ranged Attacks: The character may also use this power to perform ranged attacks – by throwing an object or simply using telekinetic "force" – using the character’s Willpower in place of Coordination. A successful attack deals damage equal to the Rank Value of this power.

The character can read the minds of others and transmit mental messages. For all actions involving this power the character uses the greater of the power’s Rank Value or the character’s Willpower +10.

A character with this power may read the mind of any character with a Willpower Rank Value that is lower than the character’s Rank Value in this power or the character’s Willpower +10, whichever is greater.

A character with this power is automatically aware when someone attempts to read the character’s mind. The character may attempt to block the other telepath; both characters roll d% and add the Rank Value of this power or the character’s Willpower +10, whichever is greater.

The character may teleport a number of sectors equal to the Rank Value of this power in a single turn. Teleporting requires the player to roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of this power. A result of black means the character arrives dazed at the destination sector and must spend the next turn recovering (the character may take no actions that turn).

If the character is unfamiliar with – or cannot see – the destination sector and teleports into a solid object – which can include the ground – the player must roll d% on the Master Table using the Rank Value of the character’s Fortitude. A result of black immediately bounces the character back to the starting sector where the character is dazed and must spend 1-10 turns recovering (taking no actions during that time). Any other result immediately bounces the character back to the starting sector where the character is dazed for one turn.

The character can move normally, either through using a specialized device or innate means, across surfaces from which most people would fall (walls and ceilings, for example). Gamemasters should inflict a row step penalty when attempting to move across a slippery surface.

Each turn each side adds the highest Rank Value of Awareness of its members to the Initiative roll.

The above table assumes a character moving horizontally along the ground; if the character is moving vertically (i.e. climbing a wall) use the following:

Any unarmed attack with fists or feet or an attack with a blunt weapon or object is a Bashing attack. Roll d% on the Master Table using your Melee Rank Value and compare the result to the following table:

Any attack with a knife, sword, or other sharp object is a Slashing attack. Roll d% on the Master Table using your Melee Rank Value and compare the result to the following table:

Weapons are limited in range as follows:

Count the number of sectors from the attacker to the target ignoring the attacker’s sector but including the target’s sector. For each sector the attacker suffers a -1 Row Step penalty to the effective Rank Value of Coordination for this attack.

Use this when you want to grab something out of an opponent’s grasp.

Use this when you’re being held by an opponent.

Use this when you want to grab an opponent and restrain the character.

Inflicts an amount of damage equal to the Rank Value of the attacker’s Brawn if weaponless; a one-handed weapon adds +5 points and a two-handed weapon adds +10 points.

Inflicts a number of points of damage equal to the Material Value of the item thrown. The following is a small selection of possible objects.

If the attack was with a weapon it inflicts a number of points of damage as follows:

Compare the Rank Values of the attacker’s Brawn to the defender’s Fortitude. If the attacker’s Rank Value is greater than the defender’s the defender must roll d% on the Master Table using his Fortitude and compare the result to the following table:

You are dying. Your Damage points drop to 0 and your Fortitude Rank Value drops by one Row Step on the Master Table at the end of each turn until it reaches Rank Value 0, at which point you are dead. Once you’ve reached Rank Value 01-02 you can stabilize yourself by spending 10 Fortune points each turn.

If you receive aid before you die, meaning someone spends a full turn tending to your wounds, you automatically stabilize; your Damage points remain at 0 but your Fortitude Rank Value stops dropping.

You’ve escaped from the hold and may move into any adjacent sector of your choice.

You’re firmly holding your opponent. For every Turn you maintain the hold your opponent suffers a number of points of damage equal to your Brawn Rank Value.

This is a called ranged attack on a specific target. It is used for feats of marksmanship such as severing a rope with an arrow or shooting a gun out of someone’s hand; it deals damage to the target like a normal hit.

The attacker must state the intention to try for this result before rolling the attack. If a Nail is not declared before the dice are rolled this result is treated as a Hit. The Gamemaster has the final say on the effect of a successful Nail attack result.

Compare the Rank Values of the attacker and defender’s Brawn. If the attacker’s Rank Value is greater than the defender’s the defender rolls d% on the Master Table using Fortitude. Compare the result to the following table:

Unfortunately you grabbed the object a little too hard and broke it. If the object could possibly injure someone or something, such as a gun, the Gamemaster should roll randomly to determine which character – or important item – in the sector or adjacent sectors was harmed.

You’ve grabbed the object in question and wrested it from your opponent.

You’ve not only escaped your opponent’s hold but can also place your own Hold on the opponent or move to an adjacent sector instead.

In addition to setting the basic requirements for success, the Gamemaster can also use Row Step bonuses and penalties to reflect favorable or unfavorable conditions. The following are some suggested modifiers:

Characters recover all damage between adventures.

For adventures that take place over a series of days, or if you’re just looking for a little more depth in your games, characters heal a number of Damage points each night equal to the Rank Value of their Fortitude.

Characters gain Fortune points for positive actions such as stopping crimes, winning fights, donating to charity, keeping appointments, rescuing someone from a fire, making time for friends, etc. The amount of points gained varies by the impact of the action as shown on the following table:

Characters lose Fortune points for negative actions such as committing crimes or allowing them to happen, losing fights, failing to keep appointments, failing rescue attempts, ignoring friends, etc. The amount of points lost varies by the impact of the action as shown on the following table:

The Gamemaster may assign Row Step bonuses and penalties to the d% to reflect the character’s actions prior to interacting with the public. The following are some suggested modifiers:

The above assumes the character is dealing with law-abiding citizenry. If the character is interacting with criminals the table is reversed; a black result indicates a favorable response.

Each time a character stops a crime or saves a life (or, if things aren’t going well, commits a crime or kills), and the action is known to the public, the character gains or loses Repute points:

The above amounts are suggestions only. If the crime a character stopped would have affected the entire city or if the life the character saved was that of someone "important" or "famous", the character may gain bonus points.

This Vehicle Trait is a measure of how much damage a vehicle can suffer before it is destroyed. It also doubles as armor, reducing the damage the vehicle and characters inside the vehicle suffer from an attack by its value.

This Vehicle Trait uses a numerical score (not Rank Value) that is decreased as the vehicle takes damage and increased when the vehicle is repaired; this Vehicle Trait may never drop below a score of 0 and never be raised above its starting value. Damaging and repairing vehicles is discussed on p. 32.

This Vehicle Trait measures the agility of a vehicle. This Vehicle Trait uses a Rank Value (see p. 4). Performing sharp turns or other unusual maneuvers is handled with this Trait; roll d% and compare the color result to the difficulty of the maneuver on the following table:

If the result equals the color or a greater color the maneuver succeeded. If the maneuver fails the vehicle crashes.

When a vehicle crashes its operator must roll for the severity of the crash. Roll d% on the Master Table using the operator’s Coordination Rank Value and compare the result to the following table:

For purposes of damage inflicted/suffered, a crash is treated like a collision. If there is nothing but ground to hit in the sector the vehicle crashes into the ground (Material Value 50).

This Vehicle Trait measures the number of sectors a vehicle may move in a single turn. This Vehicle Trait uses a numerical score (not Rank Value).

A vehicle hits something (a character, wall, another vehicle, etc.). A vehicle’s operator may choose to purposefully hit an object (ram) and the selected target must roll d% on the Master Table using Coordination if on foot or the vehicle’s Vehicle Trait #2 (Control, Handling, Maneuvering, etc.) if operating a vehicle and compare the result to the following table:

The struck object suffers a number of points of damage equal to the vehicle’s Durability and the striking vehicle suffers a number of points of damage depending on what was hit:

A vehicle with its Durability reduced to 0 is completely destroyed; it cannot be repaired. Vehicles are fully repaired between adventures.

The following is a small selection of vehicles. The Gamemaster should use these as a point of reference for vehicles of his own design.