HCRealms Presents: Extrordinary Gentleman, Part 5

[anonym0use]

HCREALMS PRESENTS:

EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, PART 5

By KALEL21
http://www.hcrealms.com/gallery/data/554/Mowgli.png
An illustration from the Second Jungle Book - 1895

Today, our Extraordinary Gentlemen are actually Extraordinary Gentleanimals as we take a look at the works of Jack London and Rudyard Kipling, theorizing on what characters such as White Fang, Baloo the Bear and Rikki-Tikki-Tavi might look like as Heroclix.

[anonym0use]

Hey all, Anonym0use here. I want to offer an appology to Kalel21 who wrote this article many moons ago only to see it sit on a shelf in the 'Realms "back room" thanks to a few communications mishaps and a busy summer convention schedule. Please direct all Questions, Comments, and Kudos regarding this article to Kalel21.

REP KALEL21 HERE. (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=182170)

Without further delay here is Part 5 of "Extraordinary Gentlemen."

As we trek through the frozen artic wastes, we are well-guarded by the loyal dogs pulling our sled. But can Buck or White Fang stand up against Mr. Freeze? As we struggle to make our way through the thick foliage of the Indian jungle, we are taught the Law of the Jungle by wise animals. But can Baloo or Bagheera keep us safe from Poison Ivy? Let’s take a look at the theoretical Heroclix dials of the most famous animals of 19th Century literature and see how well they might do.

BUCK & WHITE FANG

Though Call of the Wild and White Fang are individually excellent novels, the two canine protagonists of those stories are similar enough to be taken together. Both were abused by their owners until rescued by a good man. Both became extraordinarily protective and loyal to their new owner.

Buck and should have Movement and Attack values of at least 10 up front, while White Fang (who was part wolf) should have an 11 Attack. Both should have Leap/Climb and Blades/Claws/Fangs.

Both should also back into Combat Reflexes. We can give them a Special Power in their defense slot up front, though. This power will allow them to share their defense value (which should be high) with adjacent friendly characters against close combat attacks. This well-represents their fierce loyalty to their friends, but also shows that, as good as they are in a fight, they can’t help you out that much against Superman’s heat vision or Punisher’s automatic rifle fire.

BALOO

In the Disney movie, Baloo is presented as a good-hearted but somewhat irresponsible goofball. With wonderful voice work by the late Phil Harris, this made for one of my favorite animated characters ever (with “Bare Necessities” a perfectly rendered song, both visually and vocally), but it’s not an accurate depiction of Baloo as we see him in Kipling’s Jungle Book.

In the original prose, Baloo was one of Mowgli’s teachers and not above applying a little corporal punishment on the boy if necessary. Also, Baloo was good in a fight if the occasion arises. We’ll give him a solid Attack value along with Blades/Claws/Fangs, along Toughness and a few clicks of Perplex to represent his jungle-bred wisdom.

BAGHEERA

Bagheera the panther was yet another of Mowgli’s teachers. As an agile jungle cat, he rates Stealth up front, backing into Leap/Climb. A good Attack value will go with some Blades/Claws/Fangs. He’ll get Super Senses to represent his agility. Probably a little Perplex is right for him as well, but we’d rather have him complement Baloo rather than copy him in this area, so we’ll give him a couple clicks of Outwit instead.

SHERE KHAN:

Mowgli’s arch enemy was the tiger Shere Khan, whose crippled leg forced him to make humans his prey. He’s a great villain in the book, but his lack of agility actually limit his effectiveness as a click. In fact, I would argue that Shere Khan should be a pog—still equipped with Blades/Claws/Fangs, but not that much of a threat.

MOWGLI:

Raised by wolves, Mowgli was eventually adopted by a human family and taught their ways. But his time in the jungle makes him strong and agile. Mowgli gets a Special Power allowing him to use Stealth and Leap/Climb simultaneously. We’ll give him Combat Reflexes as well—and a few clicks of Battle Fury in the middle of his dial to represent the time villagers decided that he and his adopted family were witches. He responded by getting elephants and buffalo to stampede through the village.

Mowgli was smart; he eventually comes up with a clever plan for killed Shere Khan. Since players would want to place him on a thematic team with Baloo and Bagheera, we’ll represent his quick thinking with a few clicks of Probability Control.

RIKKI-TIKKI-TAVI:

First—if you’ve never seen the Chuck Jones-directed animated adaptation of this Jungle Book story, with narration by Orson Welles, you need to stop whatever you’re doing this instant and get hold of a copy.

Rikki was a mongoose. Adapted by an English family who are living in India, Rikki keeps them safe by waging a deadly and often violent war against two cobras who have made a home in the nearby garden.

Rikki gets the same Special Power as Mowgli—simultaneous Stealth and Leap/Climb. Like Kipling’s other animal creations, he’ll get Blades/Claws/Fangs. Super Senses fits him nicely as well. Since Rikki is a small animal, he’ll have a shallow dial; but he’ll be useful right up until the moment he’s KO’d.

I promised a visit to the moon this time to look at the Selenites from H.G. Wells’ First Men in the Moon, but I’ve since realized it’s been too long since I’ve read the book to do them proper justice. I'll dust off my copy soon, so we’ll save them for next time. Along with the citizens of the moon, we’ll also take a look at the Fennimore’s Deerslayer, the Invisible Man and my personal favorite Verne character—Phileas Fogg.


Extraordinary Gentlemen, Part4 (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201096)
Extraordinary Gentlemen, Part3 (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=200183)
Extraordinary Gentlemen, Part2 (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=194175)
Extraordinary Gentlemen, Part1 (http://www.hcrealms.com/forum/showthread.php?t=191619)

[theanalogkid]

I agree about the Chuck Jones short. After seeing it, I had to read some of Kipling's others works. Great article as always.

[AUKOS]

Well writtten.

Jones' artwork is the bomb; I have bugs, roadrunner, elmer fudd, tom and jerry art work from him hanging in my office. Classic illustrator.

The only comment I would like to add is that I would like to see a click or two of shape change in rikki's dial.

Nice article.


AUKOS

[ichaboddanger]

I love these. More more more!

[Kalel21]

Great choice of illustration for the article. Thanks.

[Kalel21]

Well writtten.

Jones' artwork is the bomb; I have bugs, roadrunner, elmer fudd, tom and jerry art work from him hanging in my office. Classic illustrator.

The only comment I would like to add is that I would like to see a click or two of shape change in rikki's dial.

Nice article.


AUKOS

Shape Change on Rikki is actually a nifty idea. It helps represent the fact that he looks small and non-threatening, but is actually a skilled fighter.

[Kalel21]

[QUOTE=anonym0use]Hey all, Anonym0use here. I want to offer an appology to Kalel21 who wrote this article many moons ago only to see it sit on a shelf in the 'Realms "back room" thanks to a few communications mishaps and a busy summer convention schedule. Please direct all Questions, Comments, and Kudos regarding this article to Kalel21.

I'd just like to say that I appreciate anonymOuse's apology, but I had no problem with the delay. The moderators do a great job on this site and taking a little extra time to get around to posting my article (which is just one small part of the work they do here) is not something I took offense at.

[MadCap#1]

Very well written! Props!
I would disagree on the idea of S. Khan being a pog though. In the story (and the movie) the animals lived in fear of S. Khan. He was an intimadating presense. He was very dangerous, even with the bad leg. However, in the story he was also a bit of blow-hard. When confronted by the she-wolf he backs away in fear.
I was thinking of a KC type of team ability. This would represent his fear factor shall we say because the animals are trying to stay away from him. Then, give him a special power similar to the side effect of combat reflexes, without the bonus to defense. When he gets hit he must move back a number of spaces equal to the damage dealt.
He should definitly have blades/claws/fangs. Charge and stealth are appropriate also for tigers in general.

[readyeddy?]

Whew, I thought we weren't going to see these anymore. I never read the Jungle Book. Was Kaa not a major character in the books? I would hate to see Shere Khan as a pog just because of a bum leg.
I have long argued that we could use some wild animal figures. They'd make great additions to a Kraven the Hunter scenario.

I was the one who talked Kalel21 into covering the Jack London characters so I was a little extra interested in seeing this article. The canines might do with a little flurry on their dial. There was that scene where one of them waded into that crowd of Indians and wreaked havoc.

[Kalel21]

I never read the Jungle Book. Was Kaa not a major character in the books?


Kaa was a major character in one of the original stories. Bagheera and Baloo recruit him to help rescue Mowgli from a pack of monkeys. The panther and the bear are both very, very nervous around the big python, who is instrumental in fighting/frightening off the monkeys. Bagheera comments on Kaa's ability to mesmerize opponents in "walking down his throat."

So Kaa should get Leap/Climb (or perhaps Stealth), then back into some Mind Control with a 4 range. His ability to crush opponents in his grip should give him Incapacitate and 3 Damage up front.

[SevenBlueSeven]

Thank you again for this fine series of articles!

These are like ambrosia for those who have respect for all media that has influenced modern entertainment and heroclix!

[Granite Moose]

These articles are really the best. Always a fun read and very much on target with the clix representations.

[deacon]

Great stuff again, Kalel21!
With Riki Tiki Tavi, how about a high speed number with Charge, to represent his quick strike? Mongooses (Mongeese?) are incredibly fast--that's how they usually beat the cobras.

I don't think it would merit hypersonic speed, but a high Speed number with Charge would get him there and get a chance at first hit.

Right on about Chuck Jones--

Say, how about a Warner Bros. Cartoons list of clix figures?

Bugs...Daffy...Tasmanian Devil...Pepe LePew...Elmer...could be funny.

[clixhunter]

awesome articles. Maybe do some of Edgar Rice Burroughs or R.E. Howards folks too....Tarzan? John Carter? Dejah Thoris? The White Apes of Mars, Banths? Tars Tarkas? Carson Napier? The Pellucidar gang? Conan? Kull? etc....

[Kalel21]

awesome articles. Maybe do some of Edgar Rice Burroughs or R.E. Howards folks too....Tarzan? John Carter? Dejah Thoris? The White Apes of Mars, Banths? Tars Tarkas? Carson Napier? The Pellucidar gang? Conan? Kull? etc....


We covered most of those in a series of articles called "The Heroes of Old" a little while back. You should be able to find them further down in the "Original Content" forum.