REACH
Going through the Space Opera Heroes RPG, I'm just getting to the Space Opera Master's section on Villains and this makes me I think its only appropriate that this entry should be focused on our first bady guy for the campaign.
Known throughout the Galactic Underworld as 'Big Red', this interstellar Crime Boss also goes by Mister Crimson. Dressed in what has been identified as a Pre-Galactic Federation model of Armored Powersuit favored by the old Martian Marines, the true identity and appearance of the person within is a mystery.
According to the Galaxy Police's extensive files, Mr. Crimson runs the Red Reach Galactic Crime Syndicate. He and his veritable army of henchmen and thugs are wanted in over 25 star systems [and the space in between] for a litany of illegal activities ranging from extortion to spice smuggling to murder!
A reward of 50,000 Credits is being offered by the Galactic Federation for any information that might lead to Big Red's whereabouts or his identity. Do not attempt to apprehend him yourself! Mr. Crimson should be considered armed and extremely dangerous!
The truth beneath the armored exterior is that Big Red is 'Crimson-1', a young boy who was [at perhaps 12 years of age] subjected to illegal experiments by an evil Megacorporation. The intention was to induce artificial Psychic Powers but instead it they gave him incredibly high intelligence and unbridled bitterness.
He used his genius to escape the facility that held him and two other surviving companions, Scarlet-2, and Vermilion-3. They were separated and the current whereabouts of the others are unknown. If Crimson has any sentimentality left, it lies with his desire to reunite with them, particularly Scarlet-2.
Crimson took to crime to survive but with his amazing Intellect he took over in no time. He was able to purchase his Powersuit from a collector. While the exterior appearance is that of a vintage model, Crimson modified the interior components to match those of a xx type Powersuit, one of the latest and most advanced on the market.
Villians in Space Opera Heroes are very special NPCs and in fact, the game focuses more on the minions, lieutenants, and other antagonists more than it does 'the Big Bad'. This is because in Golden and Silver Age Space Opera, the main antagonist rarely appears, preferring to send expendables or their trusted Second-in-Command instead of confronting the hero themselves.
This is very obvious in early Anime and Manga stories as well, not to mention Tokusatsu shows. The Leader of the Evil Organization sits in his secret lair watching the heroes defeat his latest Monster-of-the-Week right before cursing them with his first raised, "I'll get you next time!"
As far as Villain Archetypes, Mr. Crimson fits several of them but is closed to the Evil Genius. It has a bit of the Hardboiled and Musclehead when in the Big Red suit. Overall I'd write him up as follows:
Ability Scores: As Crimson-1: Strength 1, Dexterity 2, Agility 2, Intellect 4, Luck 1, Size 0.
As Big Red: Strength 4, Dexterity 1, Agility 1, Intellect -, Luck -, Size 2.
Big Red's Intellect and Luck are the same as Crimson's obviously.
Skills: Close Combat 2, Commerce 2, Engineering-Electronics 2, Engineering-Mechanical 4, Evasion 2, Law 2, Tactics 4.
Crimson's Durability is 2 vs. Type A. With the Big Red Suit it's 5 vs. A, 3 vs. B.
The Powersuit also grants Increased Strength and Stamina (noted above), Sensors, a built-in Communicator, and Rockets in the boots for a quick escape.
Mr. Crimson is only 21 years of age now despite his outward appearance. Although generally in excellent physical condition, he does suffer bouts of extreme fatigue, some nearsightedness, and mildly impaired hearing. The Big Red suit compensates for these issues.
His Reach is long and broad, his reputation infamous, but within him is an angry little boy who feels his life was taken from him and he's determined to get everything back and then some!
AD
Barking Alien
*The Powersuit is based on a reported Close Encounter in Cádiz Province, Spain in 1960. A school teacher named Don Miguel Timermans Ceballos claimed he'd seen two beings whose descriptions made them seem like the 'Michelin Man' painted red. The visual appearance of the 'aliens' in Ceballos' story always stood out to me.
I added to that aspects of what I think is one of the most terrifying robots in Science Fiction film history, Maximilian from Disney's Black Hole
As for Crimson, the man within the suit, I pictured Takashi / Esper No. 26 from the Anime and Manga Akira.
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