CHARACTER CREATION CHALLENGE 2023: Everyday Heroes (2 of 6)

THE GAME: Everyday Heroes (2022)

Last time we created a treatment of Matt Trakker from the M.A.S.K. toy line, the leader of the team. Today we continue in Everyday Heroes with Weapons Specialist and Tactical Strategist Hondo McLean.

A HERO IN SIX STEPS

1. Concept the Character

2. Background

3. Profession

4. Ability Scores

5. Archetype and Class

6. Finishing Touches

Step 1: Concept

Hondo was the original pilot of the Firecracker vehicle, and later my personal favorite vehicle in the M.A.S.K. line - the Hurricane ‘57 Chevy. The M.A.S.K. computer identified him as a tactician and weapons guy, so he probably has some sort of military background, but his day job when he’s not on M.A.S.K. duty is History Teacher. So, this hero should have some academic skills, some military skills, and be proficient with the special weapons used by M.A.S.K.

Step 2: Background

We’ll assume Hondo had an interest in history from a young age, so we’ll select the Bookworm background. This gives Hondo a +1 INT or WIS, we’ll go INT as Social Science is INT-based, he also picks up an additional language. Since Hondo is shown in the cartoon to be versed in African geography and history, we’ll give him a working knowledge of Swahili. He picks up a skill proficiency, we choose Social Sciences over Natural Sciences since Social Sciences covers History. He gets a rare or first edition book, which we’ll assume is something historical and possibly military/tactical based, maybe Jomini, Mahan, Clausewitz, etc. He also gets the ability “Have You Ever Read?” which gives Hondo the ability to use his proficiency bonus to recall knowledge of books and authors.

Step 3: Profession

It’s between Academia and Military. Hondo is a teacher, so Academia is obvious, but he’s also supposed to be an expert in tactical and weapons matters, so it makes sense that he’s served previously. There isn’t really a skill for teaching, but Academia seems to indicate that Persuasion is used. Looking ahead to classes, we see Commando under Tough Heroes would provide Hondo with the military skills necessary as a weapons specialist. We could also go a couple other routes, like leaning into the tactical side, or maybe heavy weapons. But the setting rarely uses the kind of heavy weapons the class is designed to use, and we already have the leader role covered by Matt Trakker, and the possibility to multiclass is there for future levels. So, let’s give Hondo an Academic Profession, and pick up the military stuff during Step 5.

Hondo gets another point in INT, and two more points. We put them in CHA and WIS since he’s a teacher and will need both. He picks up an additional language, we’ll throw in Arabic as it is also widely spoken in his geographic area of expertise. He gets proficiency in Persuasion and Natural Sciences. He’s issued a laptop, laser pointer, and school ID card by the school. Wealth Level is 3, which I’d debate as high for a school teacher in my neck of the woods, and he gets the special feature Debate. Debate allows Hondo to use Intelligence instead of Charisma on academic uses of Persuasion checks.

Step 4: Ability Scores

Hondo is fit, but not built like a pro wrestler. He’s also very well-educated, and a good teacher and leader. So, Hondo’s Ability Scores should be pretty well-balanced. We’ll go here:

• STR: 12

• DEX: 12

• CON: 14

• INT: 14

• WIS: 12

• CHA: 14

Step 5: Archetype and Class

Hondo is going to be a Tough Hero archetype with the Commando class. He gets the ability Payback, which gives a +2 to hit versus an opponent who has inflicted damage upon him. Proficiency in STR and CON saves, Vehicles and Survival, and Basic, Advanced, and Military equipment. He has a soldier pack stowed somewhere, and picks up Fighting Spirit and Watch Your Six. Fighting Spirit allows him to use Second Wind as a bonus action, and Watch Your Six increases his defense by 1, to a total of 15.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

Hondo has a Speed of 30 feet. Starting Proficiency Bonus is +2. We fill in Passive Perception, and the skill totals. As a teacher, he has a Wealth of 3, and we fill in skill totals.

There’s not nearly as much background on any of the M.A.S.K. team members as there is on Matt Trakker, so we’ll have to take some educated guesses and creative license for Hondo and the rest of the team. The cartoon gives away some interesting tidbits on the team members, but it has been 30 years since I’ve seen all the episodes. I did order the trade paperbacks of the M.A.S.K. comics from IDW, but those are a very different continuity.

• Motivations: Friendship.

• Attachments: M.A.S.K. Team, His Students

• Biography: We don’t know much about Hondo outside of his being a teacher, a weapons and tactics specialist, and having a working knowledge of African geography and ancient Rome. In order to mix academics and military knowledge, he will have gone to college on the GI Bill, getting his graduate degree in Military History with a focus in the Classical Era, giving him that knowledge of Rome and North Africa.

• Beliefs: Hondo is portrayed as a classic hero-type, with a strong moral compass and a loyalty to his friends.

• Role: As the pilot of the Firecracker, and later Nightstalker/Hurricane, Hondo is often the firepower anchor of the team. Even his mask, Blaster, is pretty focused on dealing damage. If Trakker is the team leader, McLean is the tactical advisor.

• Appearance: Hondo is a fit, clean-shaven African American man in that ambiguous cartoon age group somewhere in the prime of adulthood. He is often dressed in a mock turtleneck under a leather jacket.

• Virtues: Hondo is Brave, Educated, and Resourceful

• Flaws: I don’t recall any specific flaws in Hondo McLean’s character. Time to rewatch the show.

• Quirks: The M.A.S.K. Wiki seems to indicate that Hondo occasionally used stereotypical 80s slang like referring to foes as “turkeys.” Again, a rewatch would probably yield more.

I can totally see that to do this better, I would need to pound down some of the episodes of the show I haven’t seen in decades. I remember a general sense of most of the characters, but I have a feeling that a general sense is all we got of a number of them. According to the Wiki, Hondo appeared in 21 episodes total. I seem to remember him being a more prevalent character, seeing as there were a total of 65 episodes in Season One and another 10 in Season Two, in which Hondo doesn’t appear at all.