Downtown Melee: RV 10 Coordination: RV 10 Brawn: RV 6 Fortitude: RV 20 Intellect: RV 20 Awareness: RV 10 Willpower: RV 20 Health: 46 Fortune: 40 Lifestyle: RV 10 Repute: RV 0 Origin: While he possesses a seemingly supernatural aptitude for geometry and range finding, Downtown is in fact a mere normal human. He lacks special powers of any variety, but the government-issue hardware he wields could paint him as a high tech hero, if one were so inclined. Known Powers: (none) Limitations / Enhancements: (none) Equipment: Helmet: since he works with explosives, Downtown wears a helmet on the job, should something... bad happen on the clock. This metal device offers him rank value 10 protection versus any non-facial head assault, and it has a visor handy to protect his eyes, as well. Knife: you never know when you're going to have to cut something - or someone - in the field. As such, Downtown always carries a blade with him on the job, which can be used to inflict Slashing damage in melee, or to (eventually) cut through items of up to m.v. 40. Mortar: this weapon allows Downtown to launch various projectiles, with significant (rank value 50) range, at a target. The shells that this mortar can fire typically cause rank value 40 damage, and Eric can load several types of canisters into it, such as: * Explosive Canisters: these dangerous shells will inflict Slashing damage throughout the sector they strike within, as well as -2 RS damage in the sectors surrounding the target sector. These are great for destroying tanks, buildings, et cetera. * Incendiary Canisters: these shells can inflict 2x SD Energy damage to everybody within the target sector; this means that the fire burns at a -1 RS in intensity each round, until those set aflame can pass a Fortitude ACTION roll against the SD intensity of the flames. * Smoke Canisters: these shells contain smoke that can obscure a target sector with rank value 20 ability. Folks within must pass an Awareness ACTION roll (or pass a similar roll with super-senses or detection devices) to see or sense effectively through the smoke. Revolver: a curious weapon to be sure, Downtown prefers it to modern, semi-automatic fare. Every round he fires from this weapon inflicts rank value 10 Piercing damage each, and can fire six shots with it before he must reload the device. Quirks: Natural Talent / Mathematics: even before proper study, Downtown always had an edge where complex mathematics are concerned - at least in a practical sense, such as judging ranges and distance. He should receive an additional +1 RS in such matters. Skills: Guns: though he prefers to wield his mortar, Downtown is rather adept in the use of modern firearms. Whether he's wielding a standard, semi-automatic, or fully automatic rifle or pistol, he may do so as if his Coordination was +1 RS higher than is listed above. Marksman: an offensive application of his natural, geometric ability, Downtown has the ability to effectively wield all line-of-sight weaponry. He may ignore range penalties when wielding such items, and may target with them as if his Coordination was +1 RS in value. Martial Arts style B: an essential skill everyone picks up in the military, Downtown has the ability to defend himself at any time. Whether he's punching, kicking, or even biting an opponent, he may engage in unarmed combat as if his Melee was +1 RS in value. Mathematics: while he's always had natural geometric ability, Downtown supplemented this with proper mathematical study. The man receives a +1 RS on any attempt to solve a math problem - a bonus which he can apply (along with his natural talent) to his marksman training. Military / United States: the source of all his marketable talents, this skill serves as an origin of sorts for Downtown. It denotes his inherent knowledge of the Army's Standard Operating Procedure, as well as his ability to function effectively in almost any fighting unit. Sports / Basketball: while he didn't have the height for basketball, Downtown was able to make many a shot that others thought impossible. He nonetheless still enjoys the game, and should receive a +2 RS on any ACTION required while playing or simply talking about basketball. Contacts: Downtown is a member of the GI Joe team in good standing, and can readily rely upon his teammates for help in almost anything should he but ask; the man has proven himself on numerous occasions after all. Downtown has additional contacts in military circles, as well. Costume: Downtown's GI Joe field uniform is simple and practical. It consists of a long-sleeved, collared teal shirt, brown trousers, red shin guards, black boots, a black leather belt, orange and green web gear with black equipment pouches strapped on, and a red combat helmet. Personality: Thomas is athletic, body-proud, and a demon on the basketball court. He likes to enjoy himself, and works hard at everything he does. As such, he's usually very, very good at it, whether it involves making a foul shot on the court or blooping frags on a body from a mile away! Real Name: Thomas P. Riley, Grade E-4 Occupation: infantry, artillery Legal Status: citizen of the United States with no known criminal record Marital Status: single Alias(es), if any: none Group Affiliation: GI Joe Height: 5' 9" Hair: blonde Eyes: brown Weight: 155 lbs Other Distinguishing Characteristics: none Story: Downtown earned his nickname back in high school, when the man vigorously played high school basketball. He wasn't pro material (being much too short to slam dunk), but Downtown had gained quite a reputation for never, ever missing a foul shot on the court. There's something about the man, he's just that good with geometry. It's nothing conscious that he does, really, it's just that Downtown has an amazing head for judging range, distance, and trajectory - by eyeball, even - that he usually knows where to lob something to perfect effect. As he didn't go to college on a basketball scholarship, Downtown instead enlisted in the military, who quickly put his amazing skills to good use as a mortar man. Evaluation of his ability proved that he was a natural for the job, being able to hit anything he can locate with a shell. Whether he has first-hand information or that of a spotter's, Downtown can easily target just about anything within range of his mortar, and flatten it within two shots, no matter how distant or small or obscured it may be. He's just that good, and it shows. This is what got him a place on the GI Joe team. The recruiters for that elite organization are always on the lookout for the best of the best, and they chose Downtown as an addition to the team's mortar corps. It was just a matter of him getting through the horrid entrance exam. Strong and tenacious, Downtown managed this soon enough, and was quickly put to work on the GI Joe team proper. He remained with that group for the duration of its original incarnation, participating in a variety of so-called Special Missions that are classified to this very day. (Historical Divergence) As the GI Joe team moved in and out of an active status over the years, Downtown has helped them out on a reserve basis whenever they needed his assistance, as they did during the second Cobra Island Civil War, which saw the entire team rolled out to that terrible land. Downtown also assisted the GI Joe team during World War III, helping the team to narrowly defeat Cobra when they almost conquered the entire planet in one fell swoop. Downtown was serving in Georgia (the nation) at the time, along with several other Joes who were in the area. With Cobra's seeming defeat, Downtown has remained an active Joe, as the team has been charged with rounding up all the Cobras who'd escaped justice upon their ultimate (?) defeat. He stands ready to wield his particularly destructive skills on any Cobra force that resists capture!