Jack Burton (Big Trouble in Little China)

Jack Burton is the heroic driver of the Pork Chop Express and one of the last of the truly free men on Earth. He feels a responsibility to share the wisdom he’s gained from his countless enterprises via citizens band radio to all receivers across this great nation as he travels from sea to shining sea. Jack has a level of name recognition in the Bay Area, particularly around Chinatown where his exploits are well known. Although a practical man, he’s been known to stick his neck out for his friends on occasion, one of whom is restaurant owner Wang Chi.

      

Jack Burton ◊ Power Level — 3 • Sidekick Rank — 9

A Reasonable Guy

When some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."

Physical Abilities

Agility

-1

Dexterity

0

Stamina

1

Strength

0

Mental Abilities

Awareness 

-1

Fighting

1

Intellect

-1

Presence 

0

Defense

Dodge 1

Fortitude 1

Parry 1

Toughness 1

Will 0

Offense

Initiative -1

Good Knife +1 (Close, Dangerous Damage 1)
Unarmed +1 (Damage 1)

Skills

Athletics 4 (+4), Close Combat: Unarmed 2 (+3), Deception 4 (+4), Expertise: Gambling 5 (+4*), Expertise: Haulin’ Ass 6 (+5*), Perception 3 (+2), Stealth 2 (+1), Vehicles 4 (+4)

*modifier can vary

Advantages

Beginner’s Luck, Equipment 3

Equipment

Good Knife

Pork Chop Express

Powers  

◊All in the Reflexes: Deflect -check required, -limited, -reduced range, +redirect — 1 point

◊Fast-Talk: Enhanced Traits 5 -unreliable — 3 points

◊Lucky: Enhanced Traits 2 — 2 points

Complications

Jack feels that he has a responsibility to use his natural gifts in pursuit of justice and to aid his friends

Jack has a modicum of fame in certain communities, although he often surprises those who know of his reputation when they encounter him in reality

Character Point Totals Abilities -2 + Powers 6 + Advantages 3 + Skills 15 + Defenses 3 = Total 25

All in the Reflexes

◊Descriptors – luck

◊Effect – Deflect 4 • 1 point

Throwback (close, limited Deflect with reflect and check required)

◊Modifiers – check required: -1 flat point, limited: -1/rank, reduced range: -1 rank, reflect +1/rank

◊Action – standard

◊Requirements – Deception check

◊Range – close

◊Duration – instant

◊Results – Jack can catch a projectile and hurl it back at its source

Description

“You ready, Jack?”

“I was born ready.”

       —Wang Chi and Jack Burton

There are times when Jack’s fast-talk is so convincing he believes his own bullshit. He can attempt a Deception check as a standard action. If this check succeeds, he can use one rank of All in the Reflexes per point by which his check exceeds 10.

Jack’s effective All in the Reflexes rank in replaces his active defense against projectiles. As with the Defend action, he makes a power check and adds +10 to a dire result of 10 or less (for a minimum roll of 11).

Like the defend action, All in the Reflexes does not protect Jack against area effects or perception ranged attacks, nor versus attacks targeting defenses other than Dodge or Parry.

If Jack successfully deflects a projectile, he can catch it and hurl it back at the attacker as a free action (making a normal attack check using his own attack modifier to hit with the reflected attack). The intercepted projectile has its normal effect if it hits when Jack throws it back.

Note: Deflect modifiers are limited by power level.

Fast-Talk

◊Descriptors – luck

◊Effect – Enhanced Advantages 3; Enhanced Deception 3 • 3 points

Fast-Talk (Enhanced Traits 6)

◊Modifiers – unreliable: -1/rank

◊Action – free

◊Requirements –

◊Range – personal

◊Duration – sustained

◊Results – Jack gains +6 to Deception checks and the benefits of three advantages

Description

“Is this gonna get ugly, now? Huh? I hope not. Because I thought what we were here, racial differences notwithstanding, was just a couple of old friends. You know, just both of us Californians.”

Jack can talk. A lot. Sometimes this can even be to his advantage. At those times (11+ on an unmodified check) he gains +6 to Deception checks and the benefits of the following advantages: Daze: Deception, Fascinate: Deception, Taunt: Deception.

Lucky

◊Descriptors – luck

◊Effect – Enhanced Advantage 2 • 2 points

Lucky (Enhanced Trait)

◊Action – free

◊Range – personal

◊Duration – sustained

◊Results – Jack enjoys the benefits of 2 ranks in the Luck advantage

Description

“Everybody relax, I'm here.”

Despite his general lack of ability and tendency to find trouble, Jack is somehow able to come out of trying situations relatively unharmed and he occasionally pulls off a feat matching his bravado. His luck does run out when he relies on it too much, however.

The Pork Chop Express

Equipment Points — 10 • Equipment Rank — 2

Size: Gargantuan Strength: 13; Speed: 5 (ground); Defense: 4; Toughness: 11; Features: Communications (CB)

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