The Lucid Effect 2: The Construction Worker

Strong, tough, hard working, construction workers are one odd event away from being heroes in any given comic, action movie or book. Embodying the work ethic it is easy to attribute powerful positive connections to construction workers, even with the cat calling. As the Fractured Kingdom is a cinematic universe, we take a cinematic look at the construction worker as a character template, making them larger than life.

Basic Template

Construction Worker

Our Construction Worker has several areas where having specialized skills did not feel quite right. In keeping with the larger than life ideas behind the character, we give them an Average Sense, Wisdom, and Expression, focusing on Strength they pick up several actual combat skills.  To emphasize the Construction Worker’s skill in a dust up we add a few minor boxing and wrestling moves and a Brutal Fighting Specialty to give the bruiser options in a brawl. Additionally, while we have not selected a Realm for the character we know they are going to be up close most of the time when bad things happen so we Endurance and Supernatural Vitality, available to any Lucid, for extra Health.

Any of the Four Realms would offer interesting options for the character. To keep the Construction Worker straightforward we can rule out the Dark. Following that, we also eliminate Verdant since construction workers are more about car parks than national parks. This leaves us with the Slumber and Grave. Both the Slumber and the Grave offer attractive options for physical characters. Since the construction site is a dangerous place, our Construction Worker will be a Grave Lucid.

Lucid Template

Unspent Experience: 10

Our Construction Worker has several areas where having specialized skills did not feel quite right. In keeping with the larger than life ideas behind the character, we give them an Average Sense, Wisdom, and Expression, focusing on Strength they pick up several actual combat skills.  To emphasize the Construction Worker’s skill in a dust up we add a few minor boxing and wrestling moves and a Brutal Fighting Specialty to give the bruiser options in a brawl. Additionally, while we have not selected a Realm for the character we know they are going to be up close most of the time when bad things happen so we Endurance and Supernatural Vitality, available to any Lucid, for extra Health.

Any of the Four Realms would offer interesting options for the character. To keep the Construction Worker straightforward we can rule out the Dark. Following that, we also eliminate Verdant since construction workers are more about car parks than national parks. This leaves us with the Slumber and Grave. Both the Slumber and the Grave offer attractive options for physical characters. Since the construction site is a dangerous place, our Construction Worker will be a Grave Lucid.

Picking up some signature Abilities the Construction Worker cements their role as the brawler. Close The Coffin, the Grave Focus, supports any attempts to harm others, providing supernatural assistance to areas where the character lacks skills such as Firearms and pushes their unarmed capabilities. Strong and Tough are clear choices meaning the Construction Worker is a powerhouse up close. To keep with the cinematic flair of the basic template we focus on Boons that add interesting options for the character in a fight.

Brute (Strength/Supernatural – Major)

Requirements: Strength 7 (Attribute)

Finesse is overrated. Beat them down, and keep them down. Overpowering opponents is second nature to the character.

Daze (Strength/Grave, Slumber – Major)

Requirements: Strong 3 (Ability)

The character is able to stun their opponents.

Power Lifter (Strength/Grave, Slumber – Major)

Requirements: Strength 4 (Attribute), Lifting 3 (Skill), Strong 3 (Ability)

The character has honed their body to unlock its full strength and potential. They may reroll any 1’s on a roll using the Strength Attribute.

Activation Time: Free, but may only be used once per session.

Unending Might (Strength/Grave, Verdant – Major)

Requirements: Strength 9 (Attribute), Lucid 9 (Ability)

Those touched by the Grave or the Verdant seem to become a well of unending strength.

Hard As Nails (Constitution/Grave, Slumber – Major)

Requirements: Tough 3 (Ability), Die Hard 1 (Ability)

Tough does not begin to describe what the character can endure. Sometimes gunshots and explosions are just a part of what must be endured.

Critical Strike: (Various) (Fortune/Supernatural – Major)

Requirements: Fortune 5 (Attribute), Chosen Skill 5 (Skill)

An expert with their weapon of choice, the character is capable of delivering horrific damage in a single blow. When selecting this Boon, the character chooses a type of attack (Firearms, Melee, or Unarmed) and  inflicts a minimum amount of Damage equal to their Chosen Skill or Ability + 1 wound for each 4 points of damage done on an attack of the chosen type. This overrides any wound the victim would normal have received.  Normally a Lucid takes only 1 Wound on any attack that exceeds their Constitution.

Activation Time: Free, but may only be used once per session

Flesh Wound (Fortune/Supernatural – Major)

Requirements: Die Hard 3 (Ability)

Not every attack is deadly. For some, bullets seem to miss their mark, blades slip past at the last moment and the lucky few survive. When struck, the character ignores an amount of Health and Ego damage from the attack equal to their Die Hard + Endurance.

Activation Time: Free, but may only be used once per session.

Potent Advantage (Fortune/Supernatural – Variable)

Requirements: None

Boons offer many ways to customize a character. Some of the more potent Boons may only be used once per session. However, for each level of this Boon (Minor, Typical Major), the character has a number of additional uses that can be applied to any once-per-session Boons the character possesses.

– Major Boon: 4 additional uses per session

The Construction Workers’ Boon selection adds several combat options, offensive and defensive as well as a wellspring of just brutal might.  There is nothing flashy, but the Construction Worker has a way of avoiding the worst attacks and pulling though whatever comes at them.