Board 8 > Scarlet Ranks the Top 52 Characters of the Last 52 Sessions in the DCU RPG Campa

(+) Yeah! (+)

I hope we can recreate Baphomet

HanOfTheNekos posted...

I hope we can recreate Baphomet

is it recreating? or undecreating?

scarletspeed7 posted...

Hint: This character is not an arcane Knights Templar deity that manifests as a disembodied horse's head with a spike through its skull.

This sounds like Indigo-1

What's next?

Are you going to rank all of the Marvel/DC Comic front comic book covers from worst to best?

That was last year

#36 - Sentinel
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/2/7/7/AAUHRBAAEQh1.jpg
Alan Ladd Wellington Scott. The first, the original, the blazing emerald beacon that shone at the start of the Golden Age of Superheroes. If there are any firsts in the DC Universe, they are Jay Garrick and Alan Scott, the first Flash and Green Lantern respectively. Together, they are the founders of the first team of mysterymen, the JSA, and the catalysts of the the movement that would lead to the superhero movement. What I'm saying is that there are a lot of icons in the community, but every points to Alan Scott as a pioneer - and he gets respect.

As part of the Odyssey, Alan is one of the few functioning heroes defending the billion refugees from the collapsed planet Rann. Alongside Airwave, Jemm and Shift, Alan was first encountered alongside the sprawling fleet, stretched to his limits defending the fleet. And, let's be honest, he isn't without his injuries as well - he's lost one eye, and the other that's left? Well, he isn't sure it's his, either. And his body has been wracked with injuries, forcing him to conjure up a giant lantern-like emerald armor in order to reinforce his body in the field. He's a giver, he's a trooper - but as Saoirse has discovered, he's all business. While Saoirse frets constantly over her good friend Jade, Alan Scott has demonstrated a... startling lack of worry for his emerald-skinned daughter or his shadow-powered son and wayward hero Obsidian. While Saoirse has made both Scott children a personal priority to rescue, Alan has... not.

There's an offness to it, a sign that perhaps, Alan is consumed by his duty as a hero at the expense of his duties as a father. There's definitely some animosity between the two characters, and it's a real meal. I find the push and pull between Saoirse and Sentinel to be the sort of material that really pushes a complexity to the character. Alan is a child of the 20s and 30s - he's from a different time, a different world, really. Morality can be foreign to the point of alienation between such far-flunbg generations - I can't wait for the inevitable confrontation that's building.

Even so, you can't deny - the man IS a hero. He's making real sacrifices in protecting the future and legacy of an entire race right now. The question for Saoirse is going to be... how do you tell off a neglectful father for choosing the needs of the many over the needs of the few?

Hint: This sort of aggression seems to run in the family.

Sentinel ranks pretty high on my list for a character I've never spoken too!

I'm not sure if brennus would be a fan though.

scarletspeed7 posted...

.The question for Saoirse is going to be... how do you tell off a neglectful father for choosing the needs of the many over the needs of the few?

Or the one?

Yeah, Sentinel is fun. He's kind of grating, in the sense that I can't fault him for how he acts, but it makes the obvious connecting tissue between the two worth nothing.

I think Saoirse has connected more with Hal over Jade than she was Sentinel. Certainly more with Kyle, and he's a battery!

scarletspeed7 posted...

Hint: This sort of aggression seems to run in the family.

Brennus

One of the Thunder/Lightning clan, perhaps? Tattooed Man III?

Could be Gal Gardner...

Sentinel is so much the hero that it can be a little uncomfortable to talk to him, the sort of arguments that would win over most heroes just bounce off of him.

As for this guess, I'll go with Tomcat!

What's your Justice Society ranking so far, War? Or anyone else!

I'll rank them if someone gives a list of who we've met so far, I don't want to miss any.

Jack Knight
Thom Kallor
Alan Scott
Stargirl
Billy Batson
Mister Terrific
Doctor Mid-Nite
Hawkgirl
Spectre
Jakeem Thunder
Black Canary
Obsidian
Damage
Tomcat
Judomaster (Japanese one)
Lightning
Manhunter

Oh man longer list than I expected. I would forgotten a bunch of these!

Tier 1:
Black Canary > Stargirl > Jack Knight > Spectre > Manhunter
Tier 2:
Doctor Mid-Nite > Alan Scott > Judomaster > Mister Terrific > Lightning
Tier 3:
Obsidian > Tomcat > Billy Batson > Jakeem Thunder > Hawkgirl

I don't know who Damage is.

That was actually harder than I expected! Tier 3 is mostly people who I just haven't experienced enough interactions with yet!

You might have missed one, there. I added in Thom Kallor who always forget was a JSA member for a few issues.

My gut listing is....

Stargirl
Jack Knight
Manhunter
Black Canary
Doctor Mid-Nite
Mister Terrific
Manhunter
Thom
The Spectre
Alan Scott
Obsidian
Lightning
Judomaster
Tomcat
Billy Batson
Hawkgirl
Jakeem Thunder
Damage

It feels weird putting The Spectre and Alan so low, but it's a strong group!

oh, I should also say that one of my favorite little campaign 1 scenes was Roz'etta learning about Alan Scott's existence.

On Saturn, the identities of Green Lanterns is relatively common knowledge, so she was very confused who this 'Green Lantern' Alan Scott was.

Added Thom!

Apparently I really like the Star-people.

#35 - Tomcat
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/8/6/AAUHRBAAEQmq.jpg
Speaking of JSA members, here is the socially curious Tomcat, son of the Wildcat, with a background in boxing and hunting. Yet another legacy character, Tomcat was onboard the Justice League Satellite during the outbreak of the Anti-Life Equation on A-Day, and since then, he's been swept up in the travels and travails of the League in which he now serves. Tom, however, doesn't have an acute awareness of the League's legacy; instead, he's much more in touch with his JSA roots, where his father was a founding member. Tomcat even has a bit of a dismissive attitude about the JLA, which makes it all the more amusing that he's become a member of this makeshift team out of necessity.

Arriving in Z'onn Z'orr, I think it's become apparent that Tom has a versatile role he can play. The son of a were-panther woman and the greatest boxer of the 20th century, the combination of power and skill has made Tom Bronson perhaps one of the more valuable potential field team members available. And while that competence is obvious, there's another layer of bestial curiosity, the sort that allows for the invasion of privacy, sniffing about, getting into other peoples' business. And he loves to roughhouse - both in teaching and in his personal time. Though Data 7 enjoys playing around with all sorts of ill-prepared animals, I think Tomcat is a very fitting foil for those physical training and goofing scenes, as Tom is equal parts as excited to play as to prepare.

Furthermore, Tom has a clear connection to the two most important teams in the DCU. And I see you over there; don't come at me with the Titans because that membership roster is in and out faster than Wally West's first time in the back of his El Camino on prom night. The JSA is the first and the JLA is the best; this is an immutable truth. So when we talk about Tomcat, we're talking about the intersection where the past meets the present, where history meets reality. He has the potential to do big things, and I think he's presented a highly amusing personality to boot.

Hint: Unrealized royalty.

Tomcat talking up the JSA an talking down the JLA was pretty great, especially since we were all on the high of having found JLA members.

For this....Liseth?

I almost took Tomcat and was confused why it took Ermine so long to pick him!

Finally on the board JEEZ!

Meanwhile, allow me to gush about Starsa now as one half of The Readers list is now complete!

1. Star Sapphire Ring (aka Starsa)

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/5/9/7/AAQKElAAEQm1.jpg

Hi there! A near match! Contrasting myself with Maniac, I grew up a DC guy, but not really with the Lanterns oddly enough. Im actually more familiar with John Stewart than (either) Hal Jordan, courtesy of the Justice League cartoon.

Before these rankings, I never really thought about what exactly a Lanterns ring was. I was aware it had some sort of AI, but I would have sooner lumped it in with things like the Lasso of Truth or the Batmobile than Wonder Woman or Batman, for example.

And yet here we are with Starsa, the little Star Sapphire Ring that could. I dont understand how she became what she is, and Im not sure that the party does either. The grid around Earth probably contributed. Regardless, I think it would be like Alexa or Siri in one of your smart devices becoming sentient?

Starsa was found by the party after her previous owner exploded. Saoirse took up the mantle of ringbearer, and the group took her all over the place because shes tiny and very portable. Starsas goal was obviously to find someone to become her new Star Sapphire, which is easier said than done. Much love compatibility was done, which Bloodfruit learned cant be faked, while Data 7 wanted a new high score. And her and Nikhto are just friends, which is the only thing I remember about Nikhto.

Things got serious and interesting when it was discovered that her power battery on Earth was destroyed, giving the party a time-limited quest to return Starsa to her home on Zamaron or risk her death. I also love the implications of what that would have entailed. Stars has her own developed personality, would running out of energy erase that when she was brought back? Its very existential. It was also one of my favorite quests to read about, thanks to the high stakes and sense of urgency, and it has a happy(?) ending. Even if Starsa is part of a cult.

Stars to be is the absolute perfect representative of what should make a DC TTRPG special. She is so distinct, so unique, so lovely. Shes been described as a mascot of the campaign and I can absolutely see that. Just a sweet, innocent little ring learning the ways of the world, on a quest for a partner. Sure she might be in a cult, and might be spying on everyone now, but she means well of course, because she is so full of love. And speaking of love, I really love the concept of Starsa herself becoming a Star Sapphire. It is so weird and Starsa understandably hates the idea, but it would be a really cool end to her growth in becoming her own personring. I dont think its a good idea, but it is a cool idea.

Finally, the question with Starsa is obvious: who will she hook up with? I believe Wonder Woman is the leading candidate. Does anyone know what will happen if a Lantern ring meets an Equated person? Its a dangerous, high risk situation. If successful, it frees Wonder Woman and gives Starsa a powerful partner. But if it fails, what horrible repercussions might it bring about? I await that answer nervously, and wish the best for a character I love.

First - Tomcat. You told me Saoirse should talk to him, and she will! I just haven't had the time yet. He's on the list.

Second, I'll read your Starsa writeup soon Cody. She's the bestttt.

Third, guessing Umaraal.

These rankings would easily go to Starsa's head. She doesn't need any more puffed-up compliments! She's already reaching incorrigible levels after disguising herself as a Green Lantern ring successfully on Oa!

Well, she thinks she's disguised herself. Everyone powerful enough to be aware of such things... probably already is.

scarletspeed7 posted...

Furthermore, Tom has a clear connection to the two most important teams in the DCU

He is a Green Lantern?

Cody11533 posted...

Regardless, I think it would be like Alexa or Siri in one of your smart devices becoming sentient?

That is a very good comparison.

The Green Lantern Corps isn't a team in the same way the Chicago Police Department isn't a team.

Ok that's a fair counter argument.

Cody, I'm glad you also love her. Starsa is such a joy. She's great because the nature of the character makes her easy to pop in and out of most scenes/sessions. She has used her powers to help us on a few missions. She's just wonderful. And I got a commission with her in it, once!

We asked about putting her on Wonder Woman to Queen Aga'po, who said it should work. So hopefully it does!

Tomcat had a funny scenario with my character, Minerva, as well. While he seemed to have his complaints about the relics of the past in the Satellite itself from the trophy room there, he was quite interested in the blade at Minerva's side, an epee that party members retrieved from one Ser Dunkirk which is a story for another day. He was heroic in his death, so the legacy was honored. Minerva went without her epee for the rest of the Satellite session (including what happened when we teleported down from the Satellite) and one more session where I didn't have time to get the epee back between those sessions. While not the strongest since it was recovered from an early session, it's technically her best weapon because of a specialization of Fencing I took to have a bit of fun.

After two sessions without it, Minerva went to go get her weapon back from Tomcat and said she'd talk about the original owner of it if he was so interested about it, which promptly made Tomcat very disinterested in the weapon and he just shoveled it off back to her and prowled off.

Alan Scott has had scenes with both Riev and Minerva actually, but both contain stories of characters that haven't shown up, whether that be "yet" or "at all"

#34 - Prince Henry
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/8/0/AAJ38fAAED9M.png
All hail the prince. The bastard son of George V, Prince Henry was a hidden member of the royal family that developed superhuman strength, speed and flight. Though never rising to the level of Superman, Henry was considered a demigod, an example of the power that flowed through the veins of the House of Windsor. However, to reveal Henry would be to openly admit to the King's infidelity, and for that, Henry was relegated to leaving on the Isle of Wight and Isle of Man at different times in his upbringing.

However, with the onset of World War II, Henry was unleashed as a weapon in service of the royal family, and rumors began to build. Soon it was one of the worst kept secrets in the intelligence circle that Prince Henry existed - and these rumors would persist for decades, despite a lack of hard evidence linking Henry to any of his supposed appearances. Thus a legend was born - a royal protector only spoken of in hushed whispers. Ultimately, this legend would provide Prince Henry the sort of mythical status that made his arrival on the scene Manchester a hope for so many - but for the party, it was revealed that Henry had been, at some point, coopted into Checkmate. And not their Checkmate, but the Checkmate of a new, mysterious Black King. One that has its fingers in MI6 and Scotland Yard, among other places. Henry has also appeared in memories on the Story Line, recently seen alongside Jimmy. The tangled web grows that much quicker.

I know from Scare especially, Prince Henry has had a real impact - he comes across as this timeless heavy-hitter, and his mix of both heroism and villainy makes for a complex gray area to explore. What is the Royal Family's involvement with the global espionage community? Just what motivates Prince Henry? Hell, the guy had John Watson locked in a leopard cage, and yet he is fighting tooth and nail against the forces of Darkseid to hold the line at the No-Flow Row. Immensely powerful but potentially compromised. England's answer to the Man of Steel may prove pivotal in the war to come.

Hint: A diamond in the rough?

Oof my first round pick goes down

Prince Henry is a total badass. You can't not love him

This is a sneaky hint, but it's Mordru

scar if this is jemm i swear

I'm really excited for the Black King in England stuff. It's really compelling, and Prince Henry strikes me as someone we desperately don't want against us.

1. Susie "Su'zie" Tompkins

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/8/5/AAQKElAAEMTp.png

When I first read about Susie in the very first ranking topic I was hooked and found her extremely interesting. If I had done a ranking of some kind right after that topic she would probably have been my #1. Ever since Rosetta's ranking topic she has been all but locked in. While characters like Starsa, Patch, and Catman have made a good challenge, nobody was able to knock her off from the top spot.

Susie is a young girl with psychic powers who has lost her parents during A-day. She is also the niece of Lois Lane, which is just a cool little detail I felt I should mention. When the team found her she had taken over the city using the psychic boosting powers of Mento's helmet. As the party tried to reach her they found themselves being mentally tortured as Susie turned their fears and weaknesses against them. It was horrifying and awful. But when they finally got to her and got the helmet off what they found was not an evil villain but a scared traumatized little girl. Rosetta in particular felt for her and decided to adopt her, bringing Susie back to Z'onn Z'orr with her and sharing a room.

I love the relationship between Rosetta and Susie, or Ro'zetta and Su'zie as she now calls herself, using the Saturnian naming style. It is such a loving relationship, despite how short a time they have known each other, and despite Susie's issues. There are just so many great and sweet little moments with these two. Susie loves cats so Rosetta tries to get the cats to come visit her, but the cats all hate Rosetta because she is an evil shape shifter (according to the cats) so instead Rosetta turns herself into a cat so Susie can play with her cat mom and surprise her when she gets back to the room. In the other direction Susie keeps Oreos (sorry, Chocos) in her bloody Martian Manhunter doll because they are her Mom's favorite. She has also chosen to follow her mother's religion, which involves worshiping a Saturnian god of death. Cute? It is just a sweet loving relationship and clearly such a positive for both Susie and Rosetta. My favorite relationship that I have read about.

I also need to mention the Vegas story. Susie went along on the Vegas mission where everyone got separated. Susie, all alone, successfully went undercover with one of the Vegas gangs, found her way to a phone, and called her mom. What skill! Her mom meanwhile had woken up with a new little girl called Uptup who she was traveling with. This made Susie very jealous and she demanded multiple people "kill Uptup" for her. All the calls to her mom also included Susie begging her mom to find her and "Pick me up!". All of this was used by scarlet in a real knife twist brutal moment when Rosetta finally reunited with her daughter and picked her up, only for Susie to respond with "Put me down". So harsh and yet it makes total sense for the traumatized girl who can't bear to lose another parent.

The success on the Vegas mission has allowed Susie to be part of a potential undercover team. To help with this, she is also learning to use guns and knives, first from Catman and then from Jesse Custer. With her mom's permission of course.

Now that might seem pretty reckless, but Susie is not a normal child. She may look cute and innocent, as long as you ignore the bloody doll she carries around, but this girl has suffered some major trauma. She has some serious mental health issues including violent tendencies and possibly even a bit of psychopathy. Susie could be very dangerous, with or without training. Rosetta has chosen to help direct these tendencies in a positive direction and teach her responsibility. Its a good idea imo. Susie is never going to be a normal girl, so why not embrace what makes her different and help her to develop skills that could make her a great force for good. But I don't think a lot of people would be surprised if she turns into a supervillain, what with her history of mental torture, violence, skill at deception, and worship of a death god. I really don't know what the future has in store for Susie, she could go a lot of different directions, but I am really hoping I get to find out. Heck, I wouldn't be shocked if she becomes president in some time skip epilogue.

So far Rosetta is definitely steering her in the right direction and giving her what I think are good outlets for her issues. Their relationship is a real highlight and an absolute joy to read and learn about. Susie overall is simply the most interesting, intriguing, and captivating character I have had the joy to discover in these topics.

Susie remains one of my favorite characters to voice, and the more she worms her way into the campaign, the happier I am. The Rosetta-Susie relationship absolutely defines Rosetta these days, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's been a pleasure ranking with you Maniac! This was a lot of fun.

Cody11533 posted...

It's been a pleasure ranking with you Maniac! This was a lot of fun.

Agreed!

I'll post my full list with honorable mentions tomorrow. Then I'm offline for awhile so have fun ranking everyone!

It's been great having you guys follow along! Always happy to share the campaign.

Did you ever see the mini session recap videos we did?

HanOfTheNekos posted...

Did you ever see the mini session recap videos we did?

I think I saw the first couple.

HanOfTheNekos posted...

It's been great having you guys follow along! Always happy to share the campaign.

Did you ever see the mini session recap videos we did?

Yeah I remember watching a Playlist of them on youtube.

I've loved all the write-ups, and of course I am biased towards Maniac's #1.

Susie really has defined Roz'etta in a way no single character did in campaign one.

As for Susie's future...there's a lot to unpack. She joined an infiltration team set up by Pepper, of herself, Stargirl, Telok'telar, Paul McCartney, Ramsey Robinson (son of Manhunter), and Manthrax (professional actor Bob Castell turned fake supervillain by Booster Gold, Cody will probably nod along as Booster doing something like that). On a mission in Gotham, she used a severed arm as a makeshift weapon to rescue Ramsey. An arm that she brought back with her to be her new favorite weapon. Roz'etta drew the line at having an actual arm dragged around, and had our weaponmaster Hob Gadling turn it into a bone dagger with a symbol of Anubis in it, now called Friends Forever, after the wristband that was around the arm. It's kinda messed up, but Hob told stories to Susie about meeting Dream and Death, so she respects him! That's good, right...?

However, on the other spectrum Susie is very sweet around a baby who was rescued from Alaska, one Clark Ross, son of Pete Ross, holding him so very gently.

She's also sweet around Hector, who has fallen into the possession of Tabitha, Catman's once lost lion who has been found and returned to him. Susie is very upset at having lost the chance to hold the cat crystal, but...well, Roz'etta is hoping that by being around and non-threatening to either lion, and with some of Hector's coaxing, Susie will gain both a living lion and the old lion spirit as friends! ....It's not working so far, because Roz'etta is terrible with animals.

See that's what I love about Susie. There are so many red flags with her, girl is deranged, but she can also be a loving happy little girl. I could still see her becoming a major super hero or super villain.

And Rozetta trying to nurture the good without just denying the bad exists is great. I wish the two of them all the best.

WarThaNemesis2 posted...

Manthrax (professional actor Bob Castell turned fake supervillain by Booster Gold, Cody will probably nod along as Booster doing something like that)

What this makes me think: does Booster Gold pay well? Or was this like a gig for exposure?

Cody11533 posted...

What this makes me think: does Booster Gold pay well? Or was this like a gig for exposure?

Booster stiffed him on pay.

You know I'm not surprised. That is how you get a real arch nemesis though!

Never trust Booster Gold.