A basic team-support villain, about one step beyond being a D-lister thanks to decent ability synergies.
Dead-Beat
Nick Wackerhut is one of a surprising number of former henchmen who gained powers as the result of accidental exposure to strange radiations during a fight between supers, and has gone on to a modestly successful career as a minor villain under the self-chosen supranym Dead-Beat. Yes, he chose that name. Nick is not the sharpest tool in the shed, but his experience at henching did instill a healthy respect for powered heroes and he has surprisingly realistic expectations about him winning any one-on-one fights with other supers. He'll almost always be found as part of an ad-hoc team of other villains, and has a good reputation for being reliable and easy to work with (by villain standards, anyway).
As Dead-Beat, he's got moderate-to-strong super-strength and (after some practice that involved smacking face-first into walls and pavement for a while) knows how to use it for unexpected mobility. His greatest power is general-purpose broad-spectrum energy manipulation, making him very good at absorbing, dampening, and redirecting all manner of attacks, including purely kinetic energy and even psychic powers - at least when he can detect them. Dead-Beat can also re-purpose absorbed energy to enhance himself and his allies and provide some limited self-healing.
He's more of a defensive support guy than an offensive powerhouse, but most groups of villains can find a spot for him on a job. Just don't count on him to do any planning. He works best with clear instructions and predetermined objectives.
Description: A young man, perhaps of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean descent, rather average looking if wearing sunglasses and civilian clothing. If dressed for "work" he has snug black bodysuit with white cuffs, collar and rectangular white panels on the limbs and torso, accessorized with white boots and loose trunks. His head is left bare, revealing both his unnatural black eyes and his glorious mullet. Speaks with a slight Northeastern US accent in a strong baritone. Thinks he can get by in Spanish almost as well as English, but he's wrong.
Gender: Male Age: Mid-Twenties Height: 5'9" Eyes: Black Voids
Hair: Black Mullet Skin: Olive Build: Average, Well-Defined Muscles
Approach: Leech Archetype: Squad
Health: 20 + (5 x H)
Powers: Absorption d10, Strength d8, Leaping d6
Qualities: Fitness d8, Close Combat d8, Criminal Underworld Info d8, Energy Manipulator d8
Status: (# of other Villains) 3+ - d10 / 1-2 - d8 / 0 - d6
Abilities:
Dead-Beatdown! (A) Attack one target using Strength. Use your Max die. Hinder that target using your Mid die. Recovery Health equal to your Min die.
Energy Rerouting (R) When another villain is Attacked, Defend them by rolling your single status die. Boost yourself using the amount of damage reduced.
Power Tap (R) When Attacked, Defend yourself by rolling your single Absorption die. If this entirely negates the Attack, use the same roll to Hinder the Attacker and Boost yourself.
Reverse the Polarity (A) Boost using Energy Manipulator. Boost another target using your Max die. Defend yourself against all Attacks until your next turn using your Min die.
Upgrades & Masteries (optional):
Power Upgrade (I) +20 Health. Increase the die size of each of your powers by one step (maximum of d12).
Master of Superiority (I) As long as you are manifesting an effect related to a power you have at d12, automatically succeed at an Overcome involving usage of those powers.
Tactics
Dead-Beat really isn't interested in fighting other supers without some villainous allies along, and will concentrate on making a getaway if caught alone or if his partners have been KO'd or bailed. With backup he's a pretty good team player, using Reverse the Polarity regularly to hand bonuses to more aggressive villains and his Energy Rerouting reaction to protect his allies. If directly Attacked Power Tap gives him a very strong self-defense reaction, and he'll usually respond by giving his Attacker a Dead-Beatdown! in return. He always tries to use one of his reactions every round, and tends to use the bonuses he racks up as fast as he gains them - frequently by rolling them into the next reaction or the healing rider on his one offensive move.
He'll usually only have his upgrade if he was just glutted with absorbed energy recently, which also gives him a mastery that functions with any of his Absorption-based bonuses.
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