What's Dr. Destroyer Been Up To?

doctorevilface · July 2017

By now I'm sure we all know the original Dr. Destroyer is alive and well, but what has he been up to since escaping his extradimensional prison?

While the great Albert Zerstoiten's minions and robots have been running rampant throughout the world of CO for years, the man himself has been rather quiet. Choosing to communicate only through monitors and the like, the would-be conqueror has yet to truly return to Millennium City in a meaningful way.

Is the technological mastermind doomed to remain in the shadow of his Multifarian counterpart? Or is Dr. Destroyer planning to reclaim the spotlight as the greatest villain the world has ever known?

Unknown · July 2017

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ls975 · July 2017

Obviously he's relaxing in Multifaria, getting his rocks off by beating up Shadow Destroyer.

flyingfinn · July 2017

Devs will save him to the end. He'll be the last boss of the game. And heroes lose, again. Bye bye Millennium City. Bye bye CO.

themightyzenith · July 2017

flyingfinn said:
Devs will save him to the end. He'll be the last boss of the game. And heroes lose, again. Bye bye Millennium City. Bye bye CO.

As sad as that day will be, this idea would be a pretty awesome (though admittedly very dark) conclusion.

deadman20 · July 2017

He's too afraid of us to show his face.

chaosdrgnz43 · July 2017

He saw the recent changes in our CO universe and is too scared to come out of Multifaria.

itsbrou · July 2017

Dr. Destroyer is supposed to be actively taking over primal Earth. It's not certain where he is, exactly.

The reality is that we cannot have Dr. D at the scale by which updates come down the pipeline.

bulgarex · July 2017

As you can see, I'm rather fond of the guy.

Dr. Destroyer is scariest when he's quiet. He plans long-term, and when you haven't heard from him in a while it's usually because he's working on something big. And when his minions and Destroids are running around causing seemingly random havoc, you can bet they're just a distraction from his true goal.

But to be fair, within continuity Dr. D would have quite a bit of tidying up to do following his return. He couldn't directly control many of his followers and facilities over the years he pretended to be dead, and Shadow D mucked some of them up by taking control of them while he held Zerstoiten prisoner.

Practically speaking, though, I agree with someguywhoplaysgames. An event appropriate to DD's scale of threat would be difficult to stage with the resources available to the devs right now. Particularly since Zerstoiten is a purely-technological villain, so none of the magic stuff the game is littered with would fit thematically.

It would be interesting to try to come up with one, though.

darqaura2 · July 2017

bulgarex said:
As you can see, I'm rather fond of the guy.

Dr. Destroyer is scariest when he's quiet. He plans long-term, and when you haven't heard from him in a while it's usually because he's working on something big. And when his minions and Destroids are running around causing seemingly random havoc, you can bet they're just a distraction from his true goal.

But to be fair, within continuity Dr. D would have quite a bit of tidying up to do following his return. He couldn't directly control many of his followers and facilities over the years he pretended to be dead, and Shadow D mucked some of them up by taking control of them while he held Zerstoiten prisoner.

Practically speaking, though, I agree with someguywhoplaysgames. An event appropriate to DD's scale of threat would be difficult to stage with the resources available to the devs right now. Particularly since Zerstoiten is a purely-technological villain, so none of the magic stuff the game is littered with would fit thematically.

It would be interesting to try to come up with one, though.

Agreed. He'd have to be even more epic than the current fights we have with Shadow D/Eido. It wouldn't be a small thing.

flyingfinn · July 2017

Oh, he's flying around the world with his flying robotic skull fortress. Trolling UNTIL in every chance.

championshewolf · July 2017

Doctor Destroyer, as mentioned, is a very long term planner. I know many people like to think that Cryptic had planned to make Doctor Destroyer what Shadow Destroyer is now, but the in game lore disagrees with that to. Then add onto that to make an actual battle with Destroyer would be a difficult feat to pull off, even if the devs had the resources. You would be talking Fall of the Lich King dialed up even further levels, because Doctor Destroyer, by the lore, is not a slouch and while he tends to manipulate and control, even engaging him head on is a dangerous prospect, since when he finally did fight heroes in the Battle of Detroit, he killed several of the strongest heroes within seconds of the fight starting. AKA the heroes during the Blood Moon event, are the heroes he killed, except for Vanguard who was killed by the meteor.

Doctor Destroyer is the most intelligent and has the best technology on Earth bar none. Defender doesn't even rate in the top ten as far as power armor users, and his disgust for magic (something he views as just impure and unreliable science) has allowed him to develop technologies that provide hefty resistances to it. His helmet alone makes him pretty much immune to the effects of mind control, for instance.

Hell, you are talking about a man who is over 100 years old now, and he staged the entire Battle of Detroit so he could go into hiding to study the super hero phenomenon to create technology that would allow him to combat it. He is a long term thinker, as you can see since he was planning his return at the launch of Champions Online (2009) and the Battle of Detroit was over a decade earlier (1992). Shadow Destroyer popping up changed his plans, since Doctor Destroyer's biggest weakness is his ego and anyone attempting to assume his mantle will face his wrath. In lore it was the only reason he was captured, as Shadow Destroyer knew Doctor Destroyer could foil him and thus used his ego and pride against him.

Beyond that, Albert Zerstoiten is still mortal and he is running out of time. His technology slows his aging but he is still growing older. Born in 1917, he is now over 100 years old, and while he is still spry as a man half his age, time is catching up with him slowly, and he finds himself having to stay more and more in his armor, and since he see's cloning as inferior and no one but himself being fit for the mantle of Destroyer, well, the future rationality of Doctor Destroyer can be questionable.

I doubt an in-game event could do a fight with Doctor Destroyer justice. At best, facing his lackeys is all that should happen, the man himself, he usually finds fighting others beneath him unless they particularly irk him.

bulgarex · July 2017

Very nice summary, CSW. Just a couple of points I want to address:

championshewolf said:

Beyond that, Albert Zerstoiten is still mortal and he is running out of time. His technology slows his aging but he is still growing older. Born in 1917, he is now over 100 years old, and while he is still spry as a man half his age, time is catching up with him slowly, and he finds himself having to stay more and more in his armor, and since he see's cloning as inferior and no one but himself being fit for the mantle of Destroyer, well, the future rationality of Doctor Destroyer can be questionable.

Destroyer's mortality is his most closely-guarded secret. The world at large has no idea this is a consideration. He stays in his armor pretty much all the time now (it has thorough life-support systems) to slow his physiological aging. A complicating factor is that, while the Doctor is adept at cloning, and has made great strides in antigeria treatments, the unique genetics responsible for his genius and overall excellent health, also make these techniques non-viable for him.

championshewolf said:
I doubt an in-game event could do a fight with Doctor Destroyer justice. At best, facing his lackeys is all that should happen, the man himself, he usually finds fighting others beneath him unless they particularly irk him.

Canonically DD has many lackeys, from a variety of grunts and robots (including robotic dopplegangers of himself), up to supervillain-class minions. Any of nearly a dozen official supervillains in Zerstoiten's employ could be in charge of one of his projects leading to whatever his greater plan is.

championshewolf · July 2017

I am quite aware @bulgarex

I have Book of the Destroyer, and I've read it cover to cover. I know many would think of Doctor Destroyer as the muahaha villain, but he is actually quite complex. He doesn't just kill on a whim, and his plans, as much as people might think they are evil, is in his own twisted mind how he believes that only with Destroyer can the world prosper and survive.

Hell I think one of the biggest things that stuck with me about his character was when I read about how he "invited" three champion chess players to play chess with him. I think two of them tried to let Destroyer win and Destroyer being the intelligent man he is, was insulted and killed them for the slight. The third one played the game, and actually beat Destroyer. Doctor Destroyer rewarded him handsomely and that chess player basically left and could live in the lap of luxury. I think that's how the event went in the book but it has been a while since I have read Book of the Destroyer, but it always stuck out to me and spoke a lot about the character of Albert Zerstoiten.

Yea, make no mistake, he is evil, but he is very complex and more than just muahaha evil, like Shadow Destroyer is. Honestly, if Champions were to get remade or have a sequel I want the sequel to focus on plotlines that involve Doctor Destroyer. His fingers should be felt in everything, he is the Lord Nemesis, Doctor Doom, Lord Recluse, and many more all wrapped up into one brilliant and powerful person. Honestly, he should have been the person to return and it should have been grander than it is. It's one of the many things if I had a chance to make a write up of what I would envision for a Champions Online reboot and focus on story, that would get covered. Destroyer's return was one of the biggest disappointments for this game, and all because this game just doesn't have the funding for it.

markhawkman · July 2017

darqaura2 said:

bulgarex said:
As you can see, I'm rather fond of the guy.

Dr. Destroyer is scariest when he's quiet. He plans long-term, and when you haven't heard from him in a while it's usually because he's working on something big. And when his minions and Destroids are running around causing seemingly random havoc, you can bet they're just a distraction from his true goal.

But to be fair, within continuity Dr. D would have quite a bit of tidying up to do following his return. He couldn't directly control many of his followers and facilities over the years he pretended to be dead, and Shadow D mucked some of them up by taking control of them while he held Zerstoiten prisoner.

Practically speaking, though, I agree with someguywhoplaysgames. An event appropriate to DD's scale of threat would be difficult to stage with the resources available to the devs right now. Particularly since Zerstoiten is a purely-technological villain, so none of the magic stuff the game is littered with would fit thematically.

It would be interesting to try to come up with one, though.
Agreed. He'd have to be even more epic than the current fights we have with Shadow D/Eido. It wouldn't be a small thing.

I'm thinking something like NemCon or Wrath of the Lich King. A bunch of Destroids and supervillain level enemies that are tough to solo, and when all of them go down... then the fight gets brutal. Much like how Tako summons those lich things DD would summon Mega-Ds. Oh and the lackeys and armies of robots would still be around to hassle you. And when you've FINALLY KOed everything, you get to fight the big guy, until his hp has dropped one bar at which point he summons/revives minions to make you miserable. Then you have to pummel his minions again...

Hmm... what would his minions be? Kenina Blaze, Frosticus, Black Talon(plural?), Gigaton, and Rakshasa?

championshewolf · July 2017

markhawkman said:

Hmm... what would his minions be? Kenina Blaze, Frosticus, Black Talon(plural?), Gigaton, and Rakshasa?

Well in no small order, these are the major minions of Doctor Destroyer, many of which are not in game;

Gigaton
Rakshasha
Bronze Brigand
Falchion
Fourplay
Hammerhead
Meteor
Spectra
Tarantula
Thoughtcrime
Titanos

And of course past minions like

Menton and Mentella.

He also has soldiers agents and such at his various disposals, which the Black Talon pilots are not one individual but an entire division of them as well as his Destroid robots. And of course his other assets include

The Medina Family
The Carmichael Institute

Then of course you have his technology which is the top level if not the best in the world. His destrium technology alone is the toughest man-made material. Many scientists would kill to get a look at destroyer's technology, but most of it self destructs before it can be acquired to prevent others from attempting to learn it. So, yea, doing Doctor Destroyer justice would be very hard thing to do. Anything involving him on a practical scale would have to be on the levels of multiple raids to incorporate his entire organization as well as Destruga and such.

bulgarex · July 2017

CSW, I apologize if I gave the impression you didn't know what you're talking about.

I only thought a couple of things you mentioned could stand elaboration for the edification of the community.

Surely it would be possible to re-skin and slightly modify some of the existing villains in the game as Destroyer's minions? That doesn't sound like it would be too resource-intensive. Players have been asking for a long time for more supervillains to fight.

darqaura2 · July 2017

It would probably have to be a series of cosmic level instance missions. Or multiples on the scale of Resistance.

shadowzero66 · July 2017

championshewolf said:
The third one played the game, and actually beat Destroyer. Doctor Destroyer rewarded him handsomely and that chess player basically left and could live in the lap of luxury. I think that's how the event went in the book but it has been a while since I have read Book of the Destroyer, but it always stuck out to me and spoke a lot about the character of Albert Zerstoiten.

If I recall correctly, said victor also got to see the face of Albert Zerstoiten, no small matter considering Destroyer's mortality.

As for Doctor Destroyer content, while Cryptic likely can't do the character justice relative to Champions lore, they can always play up the ~~Doom~~Destroyerbot trope.

championshewolf · July 2017

bulgarex said:
CSW, I apologize if I gave the impression you didn't know what you're talking about. I only thought a couple of things you mentioned could stand elaboration for the edification of the community.

Surely it would be possible to re-skin and slightly modify some of the existing villains in the game as Destroyer's minions? That doesn't sound like it would be too resource-intensive. Players have been asking for a long time for more supervillains to fight.

I didn't feel slighted nor was I actually trying to defend my knowledge was just adding more on top of that to further expand that I don't think Doctor Destroyer will ever be able to be properly done for a epic confrontation he deserves as it stands in the game currently and why I think he is too complex to even try right now.

jonsills · July 2017

The only way I could see us actually facing Dr D himself is if, in the context of a major adventure pack, the not-so-good Doctor is finally facing the end of his lifespan and wants to go out in grand style, fighting the "heroes" who have been thwarting his plans to save the world despite itself. I'm seeing this as an entire series in which groups of heroes have to fight past Dr D's minions (or groups thereof), culminating in a grand final battle of at least ten heroes. And if in the end they can only win because Doc D had a heart attack or something, all the better, I think. He shouldn't be easily outclassed by even the most minmaxed toons in CO.

championshewolf · July 2017

jonsills said:
The only way I could see us actually facing Dr D himself is if, in the context of a major adventure pack, the not-so-good Doctor is finally facing the end of his lifespan and wants to go out in grand style, fighting the "heroes" who have been thwarting his plans to save the world despite itself. I'm seeing this as an entire series in which groups of heroes have to fight past Dr D's minions (or groups thereof), culminating in a grand final battle of at least ten heroes. And if in the end they can only win because Doc D had a heart attack or something, all the better, I think. He shouldn't be easily outclassed by even the most minmaxed toons in CO.

The one thing about Doctor Destroyer, and another staple that would have to happen in the context of a story, is that Doctor Destroyer is a master of the Xanatos Gambit; IE even if he loses he still wins. Whatever the scenario that comes out, the machinations have to result in a victory for him, even a the cost of his own defeat. The Battle of Detroit was such a gambit in fact, as well as many of his past machinations.

bulgarex · July 2017

jonsills said:
The only way I could see us actually facing Dr D himself is if, in the context of a major adventure pack, the not-so-good Doctor is finally facing the end of his lifespan and wants to go out in grand style, fighting the "heroes" who have been thwarting his plans to save the world despite itself. I'm seeing this as an entire series in which groups of heroes have to fight past Dr D's minions (or groups thereof), culminating in a grand final battle of at least ten heroes. And if in the end they can only win because Doc D had a heart attack or something, all the better, I think. He shouldn't be easily outclassed by even the most minmaxed toons in CO.

Years ago I suggested a "plot seed" on the Hero Games discussion forums (which Steve Long subsequently put into published books) that Dr. Destroyer discovers that Dr. Yin Wu has the secret of immortality, and starts a war with Yin Wu to force it from him. I've never had the occasion to run that story for my Champions PnP games, but IMHO it would look pretty grand in CO -- robots and high-tech troopers against martial artists and Chinese supernatural monsters, with our PCs in the middle trying to stop the collateral damage and casualties.

draogn · July 2017

Probably still grinding tokens someplace so he can get some new boots since his original set were stolen.

Unknown · July 2017

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bulgarex · July 2017

Dr. Destroyer spent ten years grinding while pretending to be dead. His tokens are overflowing.

championshewolf · July 2017

Tokens are a Doctor Destroyer plot.

Unknown · July 2017

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theravenforce · July 2017

I would like to see

"The Destroyers" as a team hit Champions Online, I've had fun researching them for RP purposes as well as utilizing them and I think they at best could work pretty well in game.

Gigaton would need a complete adjustment IMO, and the others shouldn't be too difficult to implement...

I do have a question though...is there any MORE information aside from the Book of Destroyer and the Champions Villain Volumes on Fourplay? I couldn't find an image...

Note: My main character (Mentella) is not Menton's twin sister nor Destroyer's past lackey, it's Mentalla who is, easy mistake to make. (Fun Fact: Despite what some may think, I had no access to CO lore when I made my main!)

canadascott · July 2017

Did some RP stuff with Destroyer. Not that it counts.

Essentially, blowing out the candles on his 100th birthday cake. And trying to beat the aging issue.

bulgarex · July 2017

theravenforce said:
I do have a question though...is there any MORE information aside from the Book of Destroyer and the Champions Villain Volumes on Fourplay? I couldn't find an image...)

I'm afraid those are the only published sources for info on Fourplay, and her illo in BOTD is the only one extant. The info is pretty substantial IMO.

I imagine your main would get tired of telling reporters, "That's Mentella. With an 'E'. "

darqaura2 · July 2017

I tried seeing if I could get the Book of Destroyer on Amazon . . . then saw the current price tag. . . nope (at least for now)

doctorevilface · July 2017

darqaura2 said:
I tried seeing if I could get the Book of Destroyer on Amazon . . . then saw the current price tag. . . nope (at least for now)

The PDF version is on sale on drivethrurpg.com right now.

guyhumual · July 2017

I think he's been spending his time being dead, for tax reasons, I mean he has to be close to 100 now or older.

bulgarex · July 2017

doctorevilface said:

darqaura2 said:
I tried seeing if I could get the Book of Destroyer on Amazon . . . then saw the current price tag. . . nope (at least for now)
The PDF version is on sale on drivethrurpg.com right now.

The PDF version of the book is very cheap from the Hero Games website store; and hardcopy + PDF from said store is a terrific deal.

http://www.herogames.com/forums/store/product/164-book-of-the-destroyer-pdf/

http://www.herogames.com/forums/store/product/163-book-of-the-destroyerbookpdf/

theravenforce · July 2017

So I managed to get my grubby lil mitts on this and I am pleased.

It's nice to have more insight into the mind and inner workings of Destroyer! Thanks for the heads up guys

nbkxs · July 2017

I'm pretty sure he's been hanging out in his chill crizzib sitting on his swag throne touching himself, waiting for something fun to do.

bulgarex · July 2017

There are a number of ongoing or future schemes mentioned in Book Of The Destroyer pp. 24-25 that DD could have been working on since his return, some of which could be the basis for introducing him into CO. For example:

Destroyer has considered scouting locations for a new base in the Canadian northern wilderness, and has been subverting some Canadian politicians to smooth the path to its construction.

At a secret hanger in Australia the Doctor has been building an enormous, massively-armed airship he's dubbed der Klaue ("the Talon"), which will make him practical master of the sky.

Dr. D has a stealth-tech-concealed base in Earth orbit, called Zerstorenstern, mounting weapons more powerful than the one which destroyed Detroit. He intends to eliminate UNTIL's Gateway station and other facilities in orbit, to give him dominance in near space. He also wants to establish bases on the Moon and Mars.

Zerstoiten has improved his psionic technology so as to potentially revive his plan for mind-control satellites, as well as researched satellites which can control the weather.

Unknown · July 2017

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nepht · July 2017

Nothing. I have him locked in my basement.

bulgarex · July 2017

*cough* Destroyerbot *cough*

What's Dr. Destroyer Been Up To?

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