CHARACTER CREATION CHALLENGE 2023: Everyday Heroes (6 of 6)
THE GAME: Everyday Heroes (2022)
Last Everyday Heroes character, last member of the M.A.S.K. team that we’ll be doing today. I’m going into Season 2 of M.A.S.K. for today’s character to someone who only appeared in about four episodes. There’s really not much to go on with Boris, except he’s Russian, he piloted the Bulldog, and he worked for V.E.N.O.M. before joining M.A.S.K. The reason we’re making Boris is he fits the Strong Hero Archetype, which is the only Archetype we haven’t created yet. It brings to mind that M.A.S.K. is very much a team of heroes who fight with their brains, the characters with more direct physicality like Bruno Sheppard and Cliff Dagger are all on the V.E.N.O.M. side of things. So, to fill the Strong Hero slot, here comes Boris Bushkin.
A HERO IN SIX STEPS
Concept the Character
Background
Profession
Ability Scores
Archetype and Class
Finishing Touches
Step 1: Concept
Boris is a strapping Russian lad who seems to be what happens when you cross Pavel Chekov with a pro wrestler. He’s got muscle, but also a pride for Mother Russia that comes out in his few appearances and his thick accent. He is such an 80s Stereotype that his mask is called “Comrade” and looks like a bear. So, we’re going to build Boris based on that stereotype/concept.
Step 2: Background
No idea, so we’re going to go with Rural Family. After all, every stock Russian grew up on a Collective Farm before being conscripted by the Rodina, da? Boris bumps STR up 1. He gains Mechanics and Survival, and Basic Equipment proficiency. He gets the family’s old pickup truck, but will probably appear in our game driving Bulldog.
Step 3: Profession
Before being recruited by V.E.N.O.M. and subsequently defecting to M.A.S.K., Boris was conscripted by the Soviet Army. Because Soviets. STR and CON go up. Skill proficiencies are Athletics, Perception, and Stealth. Equipment Proficiencies are Basic, Advanced, and Military. Boris gets a lot of equipment that probably won’t come up in many M.A.S.K. missions, like a ballistic vest and helmet and a military uniform. His special feature, Servicemember, is interesting. As a former member of the Soviet military, the benefits listed probably wouldn’t be available to him.
Step 4: Ability Scores
Здравствуйте!
Meet Boris. Boris is our brick. We max out STR and CON, and put what’s left into average mental stats and a decent DEX. Sure, the 17 isn’t an optimal use of points, but it can be bumped to an even number when a Feat is picked up. Plus, I’ve never been one to really min-max. That said, while I know most modern games are point-buy, I really miss rolling for stats.
STR: 17
DEX: 12
CON: 16
INT: 10
WIS: 10
CHA: 10
Step 5: Archetype and Class
Boris Bushkin is a Strong Hero. He gets a d10 Hit Die, his Defense is based on STR, and comes out to 14. He gets the Reckless Attack ability, which allows him to take a -5 to-hit in exchange for +10 damage. This comes at the side effect of granting enemies advantage to attack him in return. We give Boris the Brawler Class. STR and CON are proficient saves. He picks up Endurance and Intimidation. He already has proficiency in Basic and Advanced equipment, so nothing changes there. He gets the “Badass Pack” as a piece of equipment. Yes, that’s seriously a thing in Everyday Heroes.
His Class also gives him Crush, which gives him advantage on any STR checks to break an object, and Hurl, which doubles his throwing range. Nice. A third ability, Smash, allows Boris to add 1d6 damage to one attack per turn, or 1d12 if he uses Power Attack (gained at 2nd Level).
Step 6: Finishing Touches
30ft per round for Movement. Starting Proficiency Bonus is +2. We fill in Passive Perception, and the skill totals. As a former soldier, he has a Wealth of 3.
We know very little about Boris, so:
Motivations: Boris Buskin seems bombastic and larger-than-life. So maybe he’s out for a good time, and to do the right thing.
Attachments: M.A.S.K. Team, eventually. As he first appears, barely anyone knows him, and he only has four episodes to sort-of develop.
Biography: As stated above - born in the Soviet Union, grew up on a collective farm, drafted into the Army, picked up my V.E.N.O.M. after completing his obligation. Figured out he was on the wrong side of things and defected to M.A.S.K.
Beliefs: Unknown, but left Russia to join V.E.N.O.M. and then M.A.S.K., so he’s probably not a hardcore believer in Soviet-style communism.
Role: He’s there to be loud, and kick ass.
Appearance: Boris is what happens when Alex Sector goes to an Amish beard barber and throws on a fur-collared coat and gloves.
Virtues: Let’s go with Earnest, Funny, and Hardworking.
Flaws: Overconfident?
Quirks: Again, my memory of this character - and considering he was only in a few of the 2nd season episodes it’s telling that I do remember him fondly - is that he was very loud, overconfident, and direct. I also seem to remember him saying things that reminded me of Chekov always talking about the great accomplishments of Russia.
REPEATED NOTE: 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.
