Optional Rule: Situational Special Attacks

Video Games and Movies have usually had heroes come back from great wounds during a drawn out fight to find inner strength to go on. Some of the following optional rules can be invoked by the player by some reason (such as using hero points) or they might be invoked by a villain using a villain ball (such as pushing the hero's berserk button). See below for specific actions and how to invoke them.

No Player may invoke any of these options more than once per session, and it should really happen during a climactic battle.

Berserk Button (Overdrive Mode):

This can be invoked by a player when he's interacting with a villain who has the villain ball. (See optional villain ball rules).

The player uses a hero point to invoke Berserk Button, at which point, the villain says something extremely insulting, or threatens the hero's loved ones. Now the hero is pissed off. 

Spiderman is Pissed Off

The hero can make an immediate recovery check against all wound conditions. He also benefits from the RAGE feat (or if he has the rage feat, double benefit) which may exceed power level limits. He is however, completely berserk and must use his most powerful attacks against the villain at full power, and attempt to kill the villain. This rage lasts until the villain is defeated or escapes, at which point the hero collapses from fatigue. If there are other minions or villains involved in the combat, the hero cannot be awakened until combat is finished. If the villain hides or escapes and returns, the hero is still unconscious and cannot berserk again.

Insulting a Hero is a Bad Idea

Desperation Attack 

This is a hero's last chance maneuver against a powerful enemy. When the hero is damaged (injured or staggered) he may declare a desperation attack. He makes a single melee or ranged attack. He adds +1 to the power level for every 2 injuries he is currently suffering from. He may not take extra fatigue for this attack, so if he uses extra effort he must use a hero point. This is a full round action, so if he is staggered he MUST use a hero point to accomplish this, or take 2 rounds to do it. After the attack is complete, whether it hits or misses, or whether or not it damages the enemy, the player becomes exhausted and unconscious from fatigue.

Limit Break (-2 / level power flaw)
This is very similar to a Desperation attack, except that the hero has a special power that he can unleash in very special circumstances. The hero buys a power in advance, and adds the "Limit Break" limited. (-2 per level). This power can only be activated while the hero is staggered. He must purchase the power at his full power level, but the actual power level of the power is based on the current number of injuries he currently is suffering from. (Which can be above the campaign PL). Once the limit break is used, the character collapses from fatigue (even if immune- as if extra effort). He may be awakened normally (curing the fatigue or use of heal skill, etc).


Blaze of Glory

This is it. The bad guy is too powerful, they have the characters on the ropes or dying. One character suddenly lights with new passion, his flame burns brightly just before it burns out. This is a hero going out in a Blaze of Glory.

The hero on his turn can declare that he will go out in a blaze of glory. He becomes immune completely to fatigue/exhaustion for the rest of the encounter, and thus may use extra effort as much as he wants (though no more than once per roll). That means he may take an additional action each round, or give +2 to his power level or rolls, etc. Every roll he makes for the encounter, he may re-roll as if he used a hero point. (Attack rolls, saving throws, etc). He becomes immune to the stunned condition for the rest of the encounter. (He may still be staggered).

At the end of the encounter, however, his life burns out, and he has no more strength. The hero dies, either being drained away (like Tellah from FF4) or in a grand explosion of some kind.

In order to activate a Blaze of Glory, the character must be conscious, (though wounds, fear, exhaustion etc are not a factor), and 50% or more of his team must be completely incapacitated (dead, helpless, turned to stone, etc). He may be incapacited (pinned, snared, etc) and in entering the blaze he escapes any effect which currently incapacitates him. He fights the remainder of the battle alone. Any other PC is stunned (as if fascinated by the display) until the blaze ends. (Though they may continue to make saves against existing effects or have passive effects like regeneration continue).

Now one of two things can happen- if the player defeats the enemies, he dies and cannot be resurrected by any means. If the enemies defeat him, however, he still is permanently dead, but the enemies are empowered by their victory- the other PCs lose all their available hero points, and the enemies gain them- to be used as they wish.

Obviously, this results in PC death and character turnover, but if the alternative is a TPK, this is a very lore friendly superhero way to turn the tides, while still maintaining consequence for failure.

Galuf goes out in a Blaze of Glory