Help with a mad scientist concept

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• flowcyto Posts: 12,852 Arc User

  August 2022 edited August 2022

  I'd prob get R3 on Exp Blaster, and would also prob get an normal AoE attack (maybe Elec Current, since it's pretty cheap and has a stun adv, since you need a CC effect to proc Wither anyways). I'd prob also get Pres SS, so you have a stronger support aura and stronger healing. I may also switch Bionic Shielding for a normal ally heal, and just pretend that it's some sort of medical tech. Here's an example edit of it:
  
  Dr. Cranium - Freeform (Support)
  v3.45:38
  
  Super Stats
  Level 6: Presence (Primary)
  Level 10: Intelligence (Secondary)
  Level 15: Constitution (Secondary)
  
  Talents
  Level 1: The Witch (Con: 10, Int: 8, Pre: 10, Rec: 10)
  Level 6: Lasting Impression (Pre: 5, Rec: 5)
  Level 9: Negotiator (Int: 5, Rec: 5)
  Level 12: Diplomatic (Int: 5, Pre: 5)
  Level 15: Quick Recovery (Con: 5, Rec: 5)
  Level 18: Shrug It Off (Con: 5, Pre: 5)
  Level 21: Healthy Mind (Con: 5, Int: 5)
  
  Powers
  Level 1: Sonic Blaster
  Level 1: Experimental Blaster (Rank 2, Rank 3, Death Ray)
  Level 6: Medical Nanites (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 8: Compassion
  Level 11: Conviction (Rank 2, Reverence)
  Level 14: Molecular Self-Assembly
  Level 17: Electrical Current (Rank 2, Bad Wiring)
  Level 20: Arcane Vitality (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 23: Support Drones (Rank 2)
  Level 26: Command Animals (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 29: Energy Shield (Rank 2)
  Level 32: Resurrection Serum (Rank 2)
  Level 35: Mechanical Monstrosity (Rank 2)
  Level 38: Rebirth
  Adv. Points: 36/36
  
  Travel Powers
  Level 6: Phase Out (Rank 2, Rank 3)
  Level 35: Hover Disk (Rank 2)
  
  Specializations
  Presence: Repurpose (3/3)
  Presence: Selfless Ally (2/2)
  Presence: Moment of Glory (3/3)
  Presence: Force of Will (2/2)
  Sentinel: Caregiver (2/3)
  Sentinel: Sentinel Aura (3/3)
  Sentinel: Moment of Need (3/3)
  Sentinel: Wither (2/2)
  Commander: Rapid Response (2/2)
  Commander: Create An Opening (2/2)
  Commander: Multitasker (3/3)
  Commander: Durable (1/3)
  Commander: Relief (1/3)
  Commander: Savage (1/3)
  Mastery: Sentinel Mastery (1/1)
  
  Conviction is the only decent MSA proc here, but it can be enough in of itself, since most of your powers are pretty cheap as is. Conviction can also help you proc Compassion in combat. You could also pick Pres Mastery here, though Sentinel Mastery is good when paired w/ Elec Current's stun. If you really wanted to keep Toxic Nanites in, then you could replace a rez or the block enhancer w/ it (I assume you're not taking a pet-based build to much high-end stuff). Regardless, it gears mostly for Pres, w/ some Int and Con.

  <CO stuff> .: Petco :. // A basic FF building guide (see 1st reply) // PSA on Power Activation Delay // Ayonachan's Gift Horse (misc stat data)
  - Be safe and have fun, champs - for science!

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• bulgarex Posts: 2,310 Arc User

  August 2022

  This is exactly the type of "science" that DEMON's Black Scientists practice.
  
  "Under the command of Herr Doktor Pandemonium, the Black Scientists are the Rite of Knowing. In this age of rising magic, science has grown strange and some of its most phenomenal discoveries have as much to do with magic as science. Despite this subtle arcane nature, these discoveries are beyond the ability of most magicians to understand, and that’s where the Black Scientists come in. The Black Scientists are experts in “weird science” and well-versed in knowledge man was not meant to know. It’s their duty to discover any advancements that might benefit DEMON." (DEMON: Servants Of Darkness p.68)

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• benoitsean Posts: 322 Arc User

  August 2022 edited August 2022

  Thanks Flow. This looks awesome
  
  > @bulgarex said:
  > This is exactly the type of "science" that DEMON's Black Scientists practice.
  >
  > "Under the command of Herr Doktor Pandemonium, the Black Scientists are the Rite of Knowing. In this age of rising magic, science has grown strange and some of its most phenomenal discoveries have as much to do with magic as science. Despite this subtle arcane nature, these discoveries are beyond the ability of most magicians to understand, and that’s where the Black Scientists come in. The Black Scientists are experts in “weird science” and well-versed in knowledge man was not meant to know. It’s their duty to discover any advancements that might benefit DEMON." (DEMON: Servants Of Darkness p.68)
  
  Wow! I didn't even know about that. That's cool. Thanks for the info. 👍

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• bulgarex Posts: 2,310 Arc User

  August 2022

  You're welcome. Let me just add a bit more background from that book which might be useful for role-playing purposes.
  
  "Black Scientists come from the ranks of disgruntled scientists who have arrived at impossible conclusions and still believe absolutely in those conclusions, even though their peers hold them in contempt. These scientists run the gamut from anthropologists who believe humanity as a species isn’t native to Earth, to physicists who believe dark energy isn’t a natural phenomena and is instead proof of Hell’s existence. The disgruntled scientist receives a visit from a DEMON member and is told everything he believes is true (whether it is or not). He’s invited to join DEMON with promises of funding for his research."
  
  "The elite among the Black Scientists are those like Pandemonium who have actually proven their crazy theories and developed technologies based on them — but of course, they’re driven insane by their success and become even more loyal to DEMON."
  
  Then again, Dr. Cranium's insanity could lead him to believe he can accomplish his goals better by leaving DEMON and striking out on his own.

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• benoitsean Posts: 322 Arc User

  August 2022

  This might give you an idea of what I'm going for with Dr. Cranium. He actually has his brain in a tank which is attached to his body where his head should be. I wanted to give the impression that he does horrendous experiments on "test subjects" that he collects to further his scientific knowledge.

  Costume_benoitsean_Dr. Cranium_CC_Comic_Page_Blue_713514915.jpg 72.6K

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• bulgarex Posts: 2,310 Arc User

  August 2022

  Sounds like he should have some minions with brains in jars running around. After all, he'd want to test the procedure before he tried it on himself. Maybe swap brains with other bodies, not necessarily human. Some of them would probably have gone mad as a result, but sacrifices for science and all.
  
  I can think of a weird-science theory to justify doing this: Dr. Cranium believes human brains have the innate potential to perceive higher planes of existence, but that potential is drowned out by the input of our other senses from the mundane world. So he separates brains from that sensory static. If he's right, that could allow him to perceive all manner of secrets of reality, and maybe access strange mental powers, i.e. whatever you want him to have.
  
  (There is precedent for that: the leader of the Brain Trust supervillain team, The Overbrain, is himself a disembodied brain who developed formidable mental powers after divesting himself of his dying body. But the Overbrain also uses devices to give himself normal senses, so he was never completely sensorily deprived.)

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• benoitsean Posts: 322 Arc User

  August 2022

  I like that origin you came up with bulgarex.
  
  I went ahead and took that and expanded it a bit.
  
  "Dr. Kramer Synium is an expert in nanotechnology and a profoundly eccentric yet smart and creative genius. His research focuses on the potential of the human brain, which has led him to conduct what may be seen as horrifying and brutal experiments. He even used nanotechnology to change his own brain. However, the nanites wound up eating away at his cranium since the experiment went horribly wrong. He placed a mechanical jar on his body where his head formerly was, preserving his brain within. Without the jar, he would undoubtedly perish. He has now refined his trials and given a handful of his patients new leases on life utilizing his unorthodox techniques. He is now known as "Dr. Cranium."
  
  According to Dr. Cranium, the input from our other senses from the ordinary world drowns out the capacity for human brains to naturally experience higher realms of reality. He does this by separating the brain from the sensory noise using nanotechnology. If he's correct, he could be able to discern several realities' hidden mysteries and perhaps summon extraordinary mental abilities."
  
  What do you think of this backstory?

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• bulgarex Posts: 2,310 Arc User

  August 2022

  FWIW sounds pretty cool to me.
  
  I'll just remind you of the potential DEMON connection. What you're describing of his theories would cause him to be ostracized by the scientific community ("I'll show those fools!") and his experiments would be considered criminal; but this sort of grotesque project is right up DEMON'S alley, and they'd have no qualms providing him human test subjects.
  
  He'd probably have significant leeway of action if he was still working for DEMON, but you could also make him an independent escapee from the group, especially after Luther Black's failed apotheosis, which probably threw the organization into at least temporary chaos.
  
  I am curious as to what direction you want to take Dr. Cranium. Do you want to play him as a straight villain? (His methods certainly aren't traditionally heroic.) Or does he see his projects as doing some sort of good for humanity? What's his current agenda? How will he interact with other supers?

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• Unknown

  August 2022

  This content has been removed.
• benoitsean Posts: 322 Arc User

  August 2022

  I think in his eyes he's trying to do good by "evolving" humanity but the way society sees it it goes against everything the science community believes in. They think he's trying to play God. Think of the High Evolutionary from Marvel.

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