Nova Hero
Real Name: Richard Rider.
Occupation: High school student, superhero.
Identity: Secret.
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with no criminal record, still a minor.
Other Aliases: "The human rocket", Nova Centurion, "Earthling", "bucket-head", Centurion Prime.
Place of Birth: Norristown, Pennsylvania.
Marital Status: Single.
Known Relatives: Charles (father); Gloria (mother); Robert "Robbie" (brother); Dr. Ralph (uncle, deceased); Ellen (aunt).
Group Affiliation: Norristown Area High School student body; frequent partner of Namorita.
Base of Operations: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, greater metro area.
First Post-Reboot Appearance: MARVEL COMICS PRESENTS #19.
History: Born and raised in a Philadelphia suburb, Richard Rider was like most sixteen year olds. He had a small circle of friends, and felt that everyone else could do anything he could better than him. His father was the principal of the high school in the next school district over, his mother was a part-time dispatcher for the Philadelphia police department, and his younger brother Robbie was a certified genius who had skipped two grades in the past. Richard, however, had no real aspirations; the most he thought he could look forward to was enlisting in the Army after graduation.
Fate, however, had other ideas for him.
On the border between the Shi'ar and Skrull Empires sat a fairly peaceful world known as Xandar. Unaffiliated with either, Xandar was protected by a force known as the Nova Corps, which was equal parts police and military. However, Xandar was recently destroyed by the Luphomoid warrior named Zorr; only a handful of cities managed to survive the destruction using pressure domes that were developed to protect against a far more legendary threat. At the same time, Zorr decimated the Nova Corps until only one was left: Rhomann Dey. Dey and Zorr fought, with Zorr mortally wounding Dey as the Luphomoid fled, seeking other worlds to conquer or destroy. Zorr's path took him to Earth, and Dey followed in a Nova Corps starship. Dying, Dey transferred his Nova Corps power into a pulse of energy and sent it to Earth, seemingly at random.
Rich was between classes when the energy pulse hit him. Collapsing, Rich was rushed to the hospital where he seemed to have slipped into a coma. While in this comatose state, Rhomann Dey telepathically contacted Rich and told him of the danger of Zorr and the responsibility of the powers granted. Rich then awoke from his coma releasing a burst of energy, a burst witnessed by his family and the doctor treating him. The hospital tried to keep Rich overnight for observation, but couldn't legally hold him and released him to his family's care.
That night, Rich discovered Dey's final gift, a copy of his Nova Centurion uniform. This was fortuitous as Zorr had tracked the energy pulse to Rider's high school; while holding his own, Rich – calling himself Nova in uniform – was unable to defeat Zorr. At the last moment, however, just as Zorr was about to kill Rich, Zorr was teleported away by an unknown energy beam similar to the one that had hit Rich earlier. (Zorr was in fact teleported to Dey's ship, where the two apparently killed each other.)
Since then, Rider began a superhero career in the Philadelphia area, most notably facing off against the aspiring superhuman crime lords known as the Condor and Diamondhead. He has also begun a long-distance romantic relationship with the Human-Atlantean hybrid known as Namorita, a student at New York's Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters; that both of them can fly to visit the other has helped keep their relationship steady.
Rich recently revealed his Nova identity to his family and to his friends in school. His family is supportive, although his mother worries about him every time he goes out.
It should be noted that Rider is not the first person to use the Nova identity on Earth. Twenty years prior, an alien – Syl Antro of the Centaurian race – had gained similar though somewhat lessened powers as a Nova Corps corpsman. Syl, a criminal on her own homeworld, was affiliated for a time with both the hero team known as the Shadowguard and their frequent adversaries, the criminal team called the Terrors, before being captured and deported to Xandar to be depowered.
Age: 16.
Height: 5' 9".
Weight: 155 lbs.
Eyes: Brown.
Hair: Black.
Uniform: Dark blue bodysuit with gold upper sleeves, three yellow stars on the chest that are connected by yellow lines in a "V" pattern, and gold strikes down the legs, gold gloves, gold belt, dark blue boots with gold trim at the top, and a gold helmet that leaves the mouth and chin exposed with a red starburst pattern on the forehead. The helmet can seal itself with a transparent aluminum covering.
Strength Level: Nova possesses superhuman strength enabling him to lift (press) roughly 40 tons under optimum conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: In addition to his superhuman strength, Nova possesses superhuman durability, speed, and stamina. He has proven to be invulnerable to weapons up to rocket propelled grenades, including being unfazed by AIM-built laser weaponry. He is capable of running at up to fifty-five miles per hour in a dead run. His reflexes are enhanced, though not to the same levels as Spider-Man; unlike the web-slinger, Nova cannot see bullets in flight.
Nova is also capable of flight; he has been clocked at close to the speed of sound (770 mph at sea level). He's still training himself to maneuver at those speeds, but he can go from standing to full speed in an instant.
There is evidence that Nova should be able to absorb energy from various attacks and powerful beings and redirect the energy elsewhere, but he is currently untrained and unaware of this ability.
Paraphernalia: Nova's uniform can be environmentally sealed with an internal air supply of roughly six hours. The helmet contains the ability to tune into a wide range of radio and gravity ripple communications bands, a wide range of visual sensors including thermograph, hyperspectral, and terahertz bands, telescopic and microscopic lenses, and augmented reality identification, all fed through a HUD projected directly into his eyes. The helmet when removed and powered off takes a form similar to that of cotton cloth, able to be folded up for carrying in a pocket or gym bag.
Nova has also technically inherited Rhomann Dey's Nova Corps starship, which remains cloaked in orbit above the planet. He is primarily limited by his inability to reach that altitude to utilize its computers and other assets
3,250 points
| ST: 32/220 [100*] | HP: 32 [0] | Speed: 7.00 [0] |
| DX: 14 [40†] | Will: 14 [20] | Ground Move: 7/28 [0] |
| IQ: 10 [0] | Per: 12 [10] | Air Move: 15/360 [2] |
| HT: 14 [40] | FP: 14 [0] | SM: 0 |
| Dmg: 3d+1/6d-1 (23d/25d) | BL: 205 lbs. (9,680 lbs/4.8 tons) | |
| Dodge: 13 | Parry: 14 | DR: 200 (force field) |
| IT:DR: /10 | ||
Languages: English (Native) (Native Language) [0].
Cultural Familiarities: Western (Native) [0].
Advantages: 3D Spatial Sense [10]; Combat Reflexes [15]; Damage Resistance 200 (Force Field, +20%; Hardened 4,+80%; No Signature, +20%; Super, -10%) [2,100]; Enhanced Dodge +2 (Super, -10%) [27]; Enhanced Move (Air) 4.5 (Move 360/720 mph; Cosmic: Instantaneous Acceleration, +50%; Super, -10%) [126]; Enhanced Move (Ground) 2 (Move 28/56 mph; Super, -10%) [36]; Enhanced Parry (Bare Hands) +2 (Super, -10%) [9]; Extra DX +2 (Super, -10%) [36]; Fit [5]; Flight (Super, -10%) [36]; Hard to Kill +2 [4]; Hard to Subdue +2 [4]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Injury Tolerance (Damage Reduction /10) (Super, -10%) [135]; Legal Enforcement Powers 1 (Informal, -50%) [3]; Super ST +12/+200 (Super, -10%) [468]; Super Throw 2 (Super, -10%) [18]; Temperature Tolerance 3 (Super, -10%) [3].
Perks: Dabbler (def+1 to Relevant High School Courses) [1]; Friend (Bernie Dillon) [1]; Friend (Caps Cooper) [1]; Friend (Ginger Jaye) [1]; Potential Patron/Contact (Rhomann Dey's Starship) [1].
Disadvantages: Code of Honor (Hero's) [-10]; Low Self-Image [-10]; Pacifism (Cannot Kill) [-15]; Secret Identity (Serious Embarrassment) [-5]; Social Stigma (Minor) (Mitigator: Nova Uniform/Helmet, -60%) [-2]; Stubbornness [-5].
Quirks: Closet Fan (Pittsburgh Steelers) [-1]; Expression ("Blue blazes!") [-1]; Interviews Badly [-1]; Minor Enemy/High School Bully (Mike Burley) [-1]; Responsible [-1].
Skills: Aerobatics (H) DX+0 [1] – 14‡; Area Knowledge (Philadelphia Metro Area) (E) IQ+1 [2] – 11; Brawling (E) DX+2 [4] – 16; Computer Operation/TL8 (E) IQ+0 [1] – 10; First Aid/TL8 (Human) (E) IQ+0 [1] – 10; Flight (A) HT+0 [2] – 14; Jumping (E) DX+0 [1] – 14; Lifting (A) HT+0 [2] – 14; Running (A) HT-1 [1] – 13; Sports (Basketball) (A) DX-1 [1] – 13; Swimming (E) HT+0 [1] – 14; Throwing (A) DX-1 [1] – 13; Weather Sense (A) IQ+0 [2] – 10; Wrestling (A) DX+0 [2] – 14.
Starting Spending Money: $4,000 (20% of Starting Wealth).
* Includes +12/+200 from Super ST.
† Includes +2 from Extra DX.
‡ Includes +2 from 3D Spatial Sense.
Role-Playing Notes:
Rich is still uncertain about his future, but has taken to the role of superhero like a fish to water.
| BRAWLING | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TL | Weapon | Damage | Reach | Parry | Cost | Weight | ST | Notes |
| – | Brawling Punch | 3d+3 cr | C | 14 | – | – | 32 | |
| – | – Super ST | 23d+22 cr | C | 14 | – | – | 220 | |
| – | Brawling Kick | 3d+4 cr | C, 1 | n/a | – | – | 32 | |
| – | – Super ST | 23d+23 cr | C, 1 | n/a | – | – | 220 | |
Design Notes:
1. It's not a bad idea to build his helmet with Ultra-Tech using TL11^ technology, most notably including a Tiny Radio Communicator (UT p. 44), a Tiny Gravity-Ripple Communicator (UT p. 45), and Hyperspectral Goggles (UT, p. 61). Other features can be added as players, GMs, and the plot require.
2. The "Potential Patron/Contact (Starship)" Perk is to represent his legal ownership of the starship under interstellar law while not having regular access to it due to the distance involved.