ASIAN ACTION HEROES
TOSHIRO MIFUNE
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 18 STR 8 13- Lift 303.1 kg; 3 1/2d6 HTH Damage [2] 23 DEX 39 14- OCV: 8/DCV: 8 20 CON 20 13- 15 BODY 10 12- 15 INT 5 12- PER Roll 12- 18 EGO 16 13- ECV: 6 20 PRE 10 13- PRE Attack: 4d6 12 COM 1 11- 7 PD 3 Total: 7 PD (0 rPD) 5 ED 1 Total: 5 ED (0 rED) 5 SPD 17 Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12 8 REC 0 40 END 0 34 STUN 0 Total Characteristic Cost: 130 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 3"/6" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers & Skills Martial Arts: Kenjutsu Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Bind +1 +0 Bind, 33 STR 4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 4 Evade -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 4 Lightning Stroke +2 +0 Weapon +3 DC Strike 5 Running Stroke +1 +0 Weapon +1 DC +v/5; FMove 5 Sacrifice Stroke +1 -2 Weapon +5 DC Strike 5 Slashing Stroke -2 +1 Weapon +5 DC Strike 5 Takeaway +0 +0 Grab Weapon, 33 STR to take weapon away 4 +1 HTH Damage Class (already added in) 1 Weapon Element: Blades, Empty Hand 18 Katana: HKA 1 1/2d6 (2 1/2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) plus +1 OCV; OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) 12 Wakazashi: HKA 1d6 (2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) plus +1 OCV; OAF (-1), Real Weapon (-1/4) 2 Fast On His Feet: Running +1" (7" total) 1 10 Even Faster Than That: Running 7", Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); Only To Make A Half-Move (-1) Skills 12 +4 with Kenjutsu 8 +4 with Move-By 8 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Hit Location modifiers with swords 3 Analyze: Style 12- 3 Breakfall 14- 3 Conversation 13- 10 Defense Maneuver I-IV 7 Iaijutsu: Fast Draw 16- 2 Gambling (Board Games, Go-Moku) 12- 3 High Society 13- 0 Language: Japanese (idiomatic; literate) 3 Persuasion 13- 2 PS: Samurai 11- 3 Riding 14- 3 Streetwise 13- 7 Tactics 14- 0 TF: Equines 4 WF: Common Melee Weapons, Common Missile Weapons 3 Scholar 2 1) KS: Calligraphy 12- 2 2) KS: Go 12- 2 3) KS: Kenjutsu 12- 2 4) KS: Mon 12- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 175 Total Cost: 305 150+ Disadvantages 10 Distinctive Features: Scruffy Ronin (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Distinctive Features: Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 20 Psychological Limitation: Bushido Code (Cinematic - Protects The Innocent, Opposes Evil, and so on) (Very Common, Strong) 10 Psychological Limitation: Greedy—Often Trying To Milk The Bad Guys For All The Money They Have (Common, Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Manipulative And Deceitful (Common, Moderate) 5 Psychological Limitation: Tired Of Killing (Uncommon, Moderate) 90 Samurai Bonus 305 Total Disadvantage Points
Background/History: Toshiro Mifune is to Japan what Clint Eastwood (or John Wayne) is to America. He is (or was) the most popular movie star in Japan, and certainly the best known actor outside of Japan. Born in 1920, in Tsing-tao, China, Mifune took up his acting career after World War II. In conjunction with Akira Kurosawa, Mifune starred in some of the best known samurai films made, including The Hidden Fortress, which George Lucas used as a basis for Star Wars. According to book The Original Martial Arts Encyclopedia it is unclear if Mifune ever had any formal training in swordsmanship, although he certainly is a master of the weapon as far as filmwork goes.
Toshiro has an impressive list of movies he's appeared in. Films relevant to the character presented here are: Red Sun, Samurai I, Samurai II, Samurai III, Sanjuro, Seven Samurai (basis for American western The Magnificent Seven), Sword of Doom, The Hidden Fortress, Throne of Blood, Yojimbo (basis for the movies A Fistful of Dollars and Last Man Standing), and Yojimbo meets Zatoichi. This write-up is slanted towards Mifune's character of Sanjuro in the movies Yojimbo, Sanjuro, and Yojimbo meets Zatoichi. Game Masters should further customize as they see fit.
As a final note, Toshiro Mifune died in early 1998, at the age of 78.
Personality/Motivation: The Disadvantages given are for the character of Sanjuro. A ronin, he's seen enough killing that he's tired of it all. He will still follow the way of the samurai, and has no liking for thieves or corrupt government officials, but is also driven by a certain greedy streak. In both Yojimbo and Yojimbo meets Zatoichi, Toshiro jerks the feuding gambling families around for all they're worth, constantly asking for money in order to do anything. Of course, it should be pointed out that in both movies he gives the money away to those who need it more. Further disads can and should be assigned depending upon GM use.
Quote: "I can't kill a lot with one sword!"
Powers/Tactics: Toshiro's characters are always master swordsmen (even his character in Seven Samurai, who makes up for his lack of skill with plenty of enthusiasm). He is usually capable of cutting down a swarm of attackers in a matter of moments, utilizing Multiple Move-bys to maximum effect. This technique is shown to devastating effect in Sword of Doom (the fight on the bridge), Yojimbo (final fight in the street), and Sanjuro (the fight in the enemy's compound). Usually Toshiro targets the stomach (or vitals), and thus kills his target with a single slash. When fighting, Toshiro normally utilizes a Block/Strike pattern, unless his opponents are significantly slower than he is (or they are demoralized). If this is the case then he'll just rush into their midst and cut them down as fast as possible.
Appearance: Toshiro looks to be of average height, standing about 5'10". He has a strong build, but isn't overly muscled. As Sanjuro, he sports several days worth of beard and has longish, unkempt hair. His clothing, consisting of the standard samurai kimono and hakama is worn, dusty, and threadbare. He carries a katana and a wakizashi thrust though his obi (belt).
Toshiro Mifune's Hero Designer File
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