DC COMICS CHARACTER ADAPTATIONS

THE JOKER
"The Clown Prince of Crime"

Val	CHA	Cost	Roll	Notes
20	STR	10	13-	Lift 400.0kg; 4d6 [2]
18	DEX	24	13-	OCV:  6/DCV:  6
18	CON	16	13-
12	BODY	4	11-
28	INT	26	15-	PER Roll 15-
20	EGO	20	13-	ECV:  7
30	PRE	30	15-	PRE Attack:  6d6
10	COM	0	11-

7	PD	3		Total:  7 PD (0 rPD)
6	ED	2		Total:  6 ED (0 rED)
4	SPD	12		Phases:  3, 6, 9, 12
8	REC	0
36	END	0
32	STUN	1		Total Characteristic Cost:  148

Movement:	Running:	6"/12"
		Leaping:	4"/8"
		Swimming:	2"/4"

Cost	Powers & Skills
77	Tricks And Toys:  Variable Power Pool (Gadget Pool), 60 base + 17 control cost, 
	VPP Can Only Be Changed Between Adventures (at armory/base; -1/2); all slots IIF (at 
	minimum; -1/4)
	1) Electric Joy Buzzer:  EB 9d6; 1 Charge (-2), No Range (-1/2), IIF (joy buzzer; -1/4), 
	No Knockback (-1/4) Real Cost: 11, [1]
	2) Acid Lapel Flower:  RKA 1d6, Uncontrolled (+1/2), Penetrating (+1/2), 
	Continuous (+1); 1 Continuing Charge lasting 1 Turn (can be stopped by application of 
	base chemicals; -1 1/4), IAF (flower on lapel; -1/2), No Range (-1/2), No 
	Knockback (-1/4) Real Cost: 13, [1 cc]

109	Joker Venom Ring:  HKA 1 point, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); No STR 
	Bonus (-1/2), IIF (needle in ring; -1/4) plus Drain BODY 6d6, Delayed Return Rate 
	(points return at the rate of 5 per Hour; +1), NND (defense is appropriate LS 
	[Immunity]; +1); 1 Charge (-2), Linked (RKA; -1/2), IIF (-1/4), Gradual Effect (1 Turn 
	(Post-Segment 12); -1/4) plus RKA 6d6, NND (defense is appropriate LS 
	[Immunity]; +1), Does BODY (+1); 1 Charge (-2), No Range (-1/2), HKA Must Do 
	BODY (-1/2), IIF (-1/4), Gradual Effect (1 Turn (Post-Segment 12); -1/4), [1]

	Martial Arts:  Dirty Infighting
	Maneuver	OCV	DCV	Damage
4	Block		+2	+2	Block, Abort
4	Kidney Blow	-2	+0	HKA 1d6 +1
4	Low Blow	-1	+1	2d6 NND
4	Punch/Backhand	+0	+2	6d6 Strike
5	Roundhouse	-2	+1	8d6 Strike
1	Weapon Element:  Knives

20	Mind of Madness:  Mental Damage Reduction, 50%; Only Works Against Mental Illusions, Mind Control, 
	and Telepathy (-1/2)

	Perks
10	Money:  Wealthy
55	Vehicles & Bases (varies)
0	All the Bases, Contacts, Followers, and Vehicles he might need

	Skills
5	+1 with HTH Combat
9	+3 pistols
	 
3	Acting 15-
3	AK: AK: Arkham Asylum 15-
3	CK: Gotham City 15-

3	Electronics 15-
3	High Society (Gotham Underworld) 15-
3	Interrogation 15-
3	Inventor 15-
3	KS: Arkham Inmates 12-
2	KS: Batman 11-
3	KS: Electronics Communications 15-
3	KS: Gems and Jewelry 15-
3	KS: Gotham City Underworld 15-
2	KS: Supervillians 11-
1	Mechanics 8-
3	Persuasion 15-
2	PS: Broadcasting 11-
2	PS: Chemist 11-
1	PS: Stand-up Comedian 8-
3	SS:  Biochemistry 15-
3	SS:  Broadcasting Technologies 15-
3	SS:  Chemistry 15-
3	SS:  Toxicology 15-
3	Streetwise 15-
2	Systems Operation (Communications Systems) 15-
7	TF:  Common Motorized Ground Vehicles, Large Motorized Boats, Large Planes, Small 
	Motorized Boats, Small Planes, Two-Wheeled Motorized Ground Vehicles
3	WF:  Small Arms, Knives
2	Weaponsmith ("Trick" Weapons) 15-
382	Total Powers & Skills Cost
530	Total Character Cost

200+	Disadvantages
15	Distinctive Features:  White Skin and Green Hair (Concealable; Always Noticed and 
	Causes Major Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)
15	Hunted:  Gotham City Police Department 11- (As Pow, NCI, Limited Geographical Area, 
	Capture)
20	Hunted:  Batman 14- (As Pow, Capture)
20	Normal Characteristic Maxima
20	Psychological Limitation:  Psychopathic (Very Common, Strong)
20	Psychological Limitation:  Casual Killer (Very Common, Strong)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Obsessed With The Batman (Common, Strong)
15	Psychological Limitation:  Obsessed With Practical Jokes (Common, Strong)
20	Reputation:  Psychotic criminal and killer, 14- (Extreme)
5	Rivalry:  Professional (Batman; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or 
	Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry)
165	The Clown Prince of Crime Bonus
530	Total Disadvantage Points
The Joker

Background/History: The origin of the Joker has gone through a number of minor modifications over the years. The most recent (well, the one that was given in The Killing Joke anyway), runs like this:

There was a man who was tired of his life as a chemist for a local chemical plant. He quit his job and tried to become a stand-up comedian. He was rather unsuccessful at this, and despaired of making it "big" before his wife gave birth to their first child. Meanwhile certain criminal elements had contacted this would-be comedian in an attempt to persuade him to lead them through the chemical plant so they could raid the payroll. To cover the comedian's identity, he was to wear the mask and cape of The Red Hood, a notorious local crime figure. While trying to decide to say yes to these two men, the comedian was informed that his wife had been killed in an accident involving a household appliance (a space heater, I think). Now, with nothing else to live for, he agreed to be the Red Hood help his two "friends"> raid his old employers.

As unluck would have it, the place was being staked out by the police, and a gun battle commenced. The Red Hood's two companions were gunned down, while the Batman appeared to confront the Red Hood directly. Confused, disoriented, and very scared, the comedian leaped into one of the waste disposal tanks, making his way down an outflow pipe and into the river. Staggering to shore, he removed the mask of the Red Hood, only to discover the waste chemicals had permanently altered his face and hair color, making him look like some sort of horrid clown. It was at this point the comedian's mind snapped.

This is possibly the best all-around origin for the Joker I have seen yet. It works well and makes a great deal of sense. It doesn't hurt that Alan Moore is an excellent writer and The Killing Joke is a fantastic story.

Anyway, the Joker has plagued Batman from the early days of Detective Comics. Joker started out as a jewel thief (and possible assassin) and has since become one of the most famous super-villians of the DC universe, as well as one of the most interesting, He is a wonderful combination of comedy and horror, of outrageous slapstick and chilling ruthlessness. And worst of all, is just when you think he's gone, the Joker pops up again, with yet another mad scheme to outwit the Batman and win himself another fortune.

Personality/Motivation: First and foremost, the Joker is crazy. He is a brilliant psychopath, who's twisted mind is capable of baffling even Batman. He is totally unpredictable, and does what he wants when he wants. Joker is also totally self-centered. The only things that really matter to him is his criminal empire and his constant battles with the Batman. Nothing else, not the police, innocent bystanders, fellow criminals, or even Robin (Batman's sidekick) matter. In fact, Joker has prevented others from removing Batman's mask, since he doesn't care who Batman is, he just wants someone around that he can go up against; someone who can be a worthy enough opponent for his activities.

Joker will kill for the slightest of reasons. He has killed numerous people in the course of hiscrimes, including the victims of his crimes as well as his henchmen. (I still remember a scene where the Joker shoved one of his mooks in front of a passing truck, commenting, "...and you will learn not to ask me stupid questions.") He killed Robin (the Jason Todd Robin, I think), beating him to death with a crowbar. He has tried to kill Batman as well, but current opinion has it these have not been "real" attempts on Batman's life. The idea being, if Joker did kill Batman, who would he have to "play" with?

Powers/Tactics: Joker's main power is his mind. He is brilliant—ruthlessly brilliant—and totally unpredictable. His crimes may (or may not) have some sort of theme, or they may merely be a desire to acquire large sums of cash (usually so the Joker can then enact some other scheme). He has access to a fairly large amount of money (usually) and in World's Finest is shown to own a fairly large amount of property in Gotham (such as gambling dens and pool halls).

Joker's "powers" center around his technical genius. He has a great deal of knowledge in the fields of chemistry (witness his deadly "Joker venom"), as well as electronics and broadcasting (he used to interrupt TV broadcasts all the time). Naturally, the Joker is the master of the practical joke, especially the lethal practical joke. Deadly electric joy buzzers, exploding gifts, trick guns, balloons with poison gas, the list goes on and on. In his early (1940's) years, the Joker often created elaborate death traps to kill his targets (such as painting a cat's nails with his Joker venom or mixing the parts of his Joker gas into candles and food). He has also created bizarre contraptions in order to kill the Batman (and others) but this schtick mercifully died out in the 60's. Recently (well, as recently as the mid-90's) Joker has stuck with simpler gadgets, such as trick guns and other gadgets, all in keeping with his clown motif. Joker also has three more specific gadgets that he uses constantly, regardless of whatever else he may have. These devices are:

Finally, Joker has shown some skill with hand-to-hand combat and is a very good shot (he prefers handguns).

Appearance: The Joker is tall and very thin. He stands over 6' in height (possibly close to 6'3") and has a thin build with long arms and legs. The Joker's skin is pasty white, with green hair and red lips. The Joker, in fact, bears more than a passing resemblance to a clown, a fact that did not escape him when the Joker saw what he had become.

Joker dresses in suits most of the time. Usually, he wears a purple three piece suit, with long tails on the coat. He also wears a purple fedora with a broad brim. He will wear other costumes as the mood suits him, and anything he does wear tends to be bright and garish.

Designer's Notes: This is my interpretation of The Joker. It is based off of his appearance in Alan Moore's excellent The Killing Joke (illustrated by Brian Bolland) as well as Dave Gibbon's fun romp World's Finest (illustrated by Steve Rude). Joker's stats and some of his powers were taken from the 2nd Edition Batman sourcebook for DC Heroes. I also drew on some of the Joker's original motivations and actions as shown in the early issues of Detective Comics.

It has been suggested that the Joker should only have a STR of 10, with an extra 10 bought with the limitations of "No Figured Characteristics" and "Increased Endurance" to simulate bursts of "manical strength." Other suggestions include a 5 SPD, Combat Luck (or 5-6d6 of Luck), and a specific Follower: Harley Quinn.

(The Joker created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, character sheet created by Michael Surbrook. Special thanks to Steve Kramer for additional input.)

The Joker's Hero Designer File

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