Nov 122011
 

Sigma Six, an “off the books” corporate black ops team, was recently dismissed when its parent company was bought out. This suited John Armor just fine, because now he was free to pursue the missions that interested him, and decline those that didn’t – at least, that’s what he tells himself.

John Armor, “Old School Tough Guy,” is a character for the fantastic cyberpunk game of Interface Zero, made up using the awesome Strands of FATE system.

Defining Aspect: Old School Tough Guy

John “Crowbar” Armor grew up living the hard life.  In his early years, he was a knockaround guy and an enforcer.  Eventually taking a deal to avoid prison, he chose to enlist and serve in the North American Water Wars.  Being a first-generation Human 2.0 meant that he had all the physical traits the military was looking for in a soldier, and then some.  Fortunately for him, his dead-end attitude was reshaped through the rigors of two back-to-back tours.

After his duty was over, he tried to go back to the criminal life, but just couldn’t.  Those years in the war taught him discipline, respect, and loyalty, so he opted for a simple, legitimate security guard position instead.

Because of his physical presence, skills, and new-found loyalty to the company, he was soon recruited to the division’s elite security detail.  And from there he was finally recruited to the company’s secret black ops team (Sigma Six).  After many years on the team (and at the nice age of 55), his company was bought out, forcing the company to cut ties with the team.

In all of his years, regardless of what he was doing, he always preferred to take care of problems with the simplest of solutions, because those were the ones that usually worked.  He wasn’t much of a negotiator, opting instead to let his size and strength be his words.  Forceful and direct was the way to go, because that simply got the job done.

He’s always had the attitude that you should say what you mean, say it with dignity and respect, and remain loyal to friends and family.  He doesn’t like to play games, he doesn’t like to beat around the bush, and he doesn’t waste his time worrying about the little things.

After getting disbanded from the company, he sold his pad and moved into a street-level, run-down garage.  There, he lives a modest life working on his bike, and occasionally donates money to help out the locals.  He quickly gained a reputation in his neighborhood for this, but it’s more likely you’ve heard a different story…

“Let me tell you why you shouldn’t fuck with that old dude down at the garage.  A few months ago some punks stole his bike and then sold it.  After tracking the thieves down, he broke into their place, beat the shit out of two of them with a crowbar, and left the third cowering in the bathroom.  So, he goes into the bathroom, takes a shit, and then leaves – and he never said a word.  The dude’s bike was back at his garage the next day.  THAT’s old-school.”

Racial Aspect: Genetically Enhanced

Being 55 years old, John is a first generation Human 2.0.  Because of that, he doesn’t look a day past 40.  With his parents’ access to resources, he received the best genetic treatments money could buy.

Racial Specialty Aspect: Attractive

The genetically enhanced get all the perks.  That’s just the way it is, so stop bitching about your bad luck.

Character Aspect (Ambition): Someday I’ll do some good

Growing up in the criminal life, then fighting on the wrong side of the war, and then operating as a Sigma Six Black Ops team member, John Armor hasn’t really made the world a better place.  In fact, he’s done just the opposite.  He’s vowed that he will one day atone for his sins; the problem is that he just doesn’t exactly know how to yet.

Character Aspect (Background): Veteran of the Water War

Life as a soldier really whipped John into shape (mentally), and fixed his attitude problem.  It’s also responsible for most of his skills as a street ronin.  Ranged combat, hand-to-hand combat, power armor combat, first aid, demolitions, survival, mechanics, and so on, he learned while in the military.  Even though he knows now that he was on the wrong side of the war, he still looks back at that time period as his turning point in life.

Character Aspect (Conviction): Loyal to the last

As an only child, and one who lost his parents at an early age, John felt it was crucial that family and friends were the most important things in life.  He felt that way towards his criminal pals, his war buddies, and his Sigma Six team members.  “If you don’t have friends and family, you don’t have anything” is a motto of his.  This is something that he’s known for.

Character Aspect (Disadvantage): These old bones

At 55 years of age (and years of combat abuse), father time is starting to catch up with John.  He’s still buff as hell and ready to throw down with anyone, but he’s starting to notice that he has less pep in his step.

Specialty Aspect (Exceptional Skill): Experience matters

John aint some young punk just off the street; he’s been around the block and knows a thing or two.  Listen to him, because it’ll save your life.

Specialty Aspect (Foe): The shadows are full of friends and enemies

With his sordid, lengthy past, John has racked up a surprisingly large number of friends and enemies (perhaps even people you would think couldn’t be).

Specialty Aspect (Foe, swapped in for Gear): Estranged son

Somewhere along the way John fathered a son.  Not always there as a father figure, John and his son don’t exactly have the “Leave it to Beaver” relationship.  In fact, some might say they’ve become rivals.  Does John hate it that he doesn’t have a good relationship with his son?  Yes.  Will he try to fix this problem?  Someday.

Specialty Aspect (Help): Doc Op

Back in the war, John became fast enemies with a fellow soldier.  Their hate for each other was reckless, and bordered on insanity, if not stupidity.  Now that both are no longer in the military, they get along like old buddies – the best of old buddies.  On the street, “Doc Op” has patched up John more than once, and has even tended to some of the old members of Sigma Six. He can often be seen drinking a beer in John’s garage, just hanging out like one of the guys.

Specialty Aspect (Inferior Skill): Why isn’t this working?

Even though John has been around for a while, he doesn’t know everything, especially when it comes to high tech stuff.  “Why isn’t this working?  It’s supposed to work, damn it.”  Specifically, he has a bit of trouble when dealing with high tech gadgets and computers.  Sure, everything nowadays is computer-related, and that just pisses him off.

Chris Stevens

In Chris's opinion, the very best vices are dirt bikes, rock music, and gaming, while the very best medicine is fatherhood. If he could just learn to balance them all, he'd live forever. He's much more creative than intelligent, often wakes up belligerent, and ponders many things insignificant. Lastly, in an effort to transform his well-fed body, P90X, Roller Blades, and Food are all laughing at him. And the pain continues.

  4 Responses to “John Armor, “Old School Tough Guy” – an Interface Zero + Strands of FATE character”

  1. I like the concept

  2. This is pretty cool. As someone who has experience with FATE but not SoF is there any chance we could see the completed character sheet?

  3. Very cool character with a clear “Expendables” vibe to him. I can just see him being portrayed by Stallone! 🙂

  4. @ Socrates – Thanks bud, I like him too. Hopefully I’ll get to play him for several months to come.

    @ Darktouch – Give me a few days and I’ll load his sheet onto this post. I’ll let you know.

    @ Spiralbound – I didn’t realize until after I made him how similar he was to Barney Ross. So, I’ve made a couple of tweaks, and I hope John Armor can stand on his own against that stereotype.

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