Need help with a bio

[Lotus]

Ok as my char appoaches 50, I am starting to think I need a bio for her. My other chars have bios so I feel like she is the red headed stepchild in the bunch. Problem is she was the first toon I ever created. I made her the first time I logged into CoH. I put no thought into her. Infact she is a copy of one of my favorite tv shows before it was cancelled. I don't want to copy the show in my bio and need a way to spin away from it since her name comes from it and I don'y want her deleted or renamed. So I figured I would ask the best to help me as I am awful with this stuff. Below are the details and a few not so good thoughts i had.


Name X5 (thinking that is just her superhero name and she needs a real name)

LVL 44 - almost 45

Martial arts/regen scrapper


She looks just like Max from the Dark angel series as herfirst costume. The second is a skimpy cat girl look with cape. (thinking she plays cat due to the feline dna she has) Third outfit is a clubbing type of outfit. And I havent bought the 4th look yet.


I am thinking she is going to be a fangirl of the show and the lead char. Maybe found a way to have the feline DNA added to her genes. Plays superhero as X5 to make her fav show become real.


Thanks in advance for the help. I really want to make this good for her as she is special being my first toon and she will be my first 50.


(Good that sounds obessive - But hopefully you guys understand)

[Masked Revenger]

Okay, sounds interesting... can you give us some info on the X5 show?

Also, my opinion is, if you're trying to avoide her name getting changed due to this show, avoid mentioning it at all in the bio. Even just saying she is a fan draws attention to it.

Chris

[Akamaz]

i think she meant a fangirl of the Dark angel show

[Lotus]

Ok here is a link to info about the show http://www.darkangelfan.com/episode/

I was thinking I should avoid the show all together I just keep getting stuck on her name, but prehaps thats cause I know it came from the show so I feel a need to point out that she isnt a copy (which she is sorted - yeah i really talk in circles in real life)

Heres some pics -

http://members.amnetline.com/lotusfire/x5sig.bmp

http://members.amnetline.com/lotusfire/screenshot_2004-09-22-22-25-56.jpg

http://members.amnetline.com/lotusfire/screenshot_2004-11-06-21-31-15.jpg


Hurmmm here at work I don't have any of her main outfit but basically its the armored jacket look with pants - all black for arse kicking

[Masked Revenger]

i think she meant a fangirl of the Dark angel show

Duh... Sorry, guess it's just early here. :P

Okay, well, haveing been so long since I've watched an episode of that show, I'll give something a shot, as I don't think I'll be too burdned by that show's backstory. :)

So, other than the info you've already given, I just need to know if she has a real name yet, or if you want one included in the bio?

Chris

[Lotus]

No I havent gave her a real name, yet. I was kinda hoping to have her story down and a reason why she goes by X5 so I had something to relate her name to. As in real life she would have had her real name first. But I tend to make things more complicated than needed. Ooh yeah I forgot to add she is science. Probally already figured that already hence the DNA.

[D'Arkaine]

well one popular theme is an experimentation with various trials X1, X2,...leading to the first real success X5. This could have been done by a benevolent copmany/government or a shady organization like Crey. One thing that might be cool would be for Hero Corps to be involved in some way. Maybe an office worker was hurt in an attackn on their offices and splicing her with others (cat, plus others just for fun) was the only way to save her life.

Perhaps she was the significant other of a prominent member of HeroCorps - thus the superhuman effort to save her life.

Initially hating what she has become and the significant other for doing it to her, she leaves him/her. Years go by and she comes to terms with her new life and actively enjoys it (thus the clubbing). But she still has a distrust of Hero Corps.

ok..rereading this, it has shades of bionic woman...but it is the best i can come up with ;shrug

[Jade_Dragon]

ok..rereading this, it has shades of bionic woman...but it is the best i can come up with ;shrug

"Stealing from one source is plagiarism. Stealing from more than one source is research..."

I like the idea of a "good" organization like Hero Corps being involved. Crey was responsible for the creation of Sandy, and at first I thought that might be somewhat original. In retrospect, though, the "cyborg/gene spliced/power armored/heavy weaponry mercenary trained as a weapon by Crey until he turned against them" has almost become a cliche'.

It's up to you whether you want to make the character a fangirl of the original show or not. One of my lower level alts (I don't play her that much, but she was actually created for a PS2 wrestling game) was a mutant with the ability to regenerate. When she decided to be a superhero (or a wrestler, her CoH bio even includes the time she spent as that) she threw together a costume based on a bunch of Anime characters she liked.

Using multiple sources will help, as I said, but I think if you try to keep the character from LOOKING too much like the original, she can claim to be based on her. It's a homage, not a clone.

[Akamaz]

well one popular theme is an experimentation with various trials X1, X2,...leading to the first real success X5.

this sounds like a good idea, (the only reason i'm plugging this is I have a hero MDS 0087 who was a similar thing, 87 is the first "production model"

[Lotus]

I like the idea of various productions that have failed in the past. I like the wife turned sortof bionic woman idea, but I really want to try and be different. It seems like all the bios I have read involve a accident or someone changed them. I would like X to have wanted to be a superhero and spent time becomming one as I have played her over a year now. Thank you all for you input this is truly helping the gears of my brain begin to spin.

[Jade_Dragon]

Well, that's certainly a possibility, it didn't have to be an "accident", she could have volunteered for the experiment (even though there might even have been some risk) and thus was the fifth in the series, and the first to be successful.

The thing is, when you are talking about people who seek out power, instead of just falling into it, there usually has to be some driving force behind it. The Natural origin is the best example of that, with often some sort of tragedy causing them to be obsessed with fighting evil. Even Captain America, though, signed up for the Super Soldier program because he wanted to serve his country, in WWII, and couldn't, because he was too weak and frail. His drive to protect his country was so great that he was willing to undergo an experimental procedure to try and make himself stronger.

That might help suggest some ideas. It doesn't have to be a great personal tragedy, but you don't just decide that you want to be a superhero. There has to be something in your past that leads you to that decision. Maybe a superhero saved her once, and that started her obsession with them.

[edit] Of course, now that I think about it, another cliche' is the scientist who experiments on herself. Maybe our heroine was obsessed with superheroes, but instead of wanting to be one, was trying to CREATE one. None of the previous trials worked, and when the funding was pulled, she decided to try one last time on herself. Or, if she's not the "brainy scientist" type herself, maybe she could be connected to the experiment in some way. (Maybe the scientist was her husband, and she tried the experiment to save the project - without his knowledge, of course)

[Lotus]

Good thoughts Jade. Thats why I need the voice of experience. I hadn't thought about what would make her want to be a superhero.


-new thoughts that came to mind (yes the grammer and wording is bad, but it just came to mind so i typed as i thought)-
X has a lonely child that grew up in a household of wealth and power. She noticed that her family seemed to pay attention to the very wealthy and/or very powerful. She felt the need to be acknowledged by her family. In searching for her place in life and how to make a name for herself, she moved to Paragon City. While attending the university she became good friends with several young heros. She looked up it them for their loyality to the city. She became to notice they had fame and power. They had a name for themself. An identity that she longed for. Years go by and X begins to be jealous of her friends' powers. She wants to be a part of their group. Again its like being at home she is the stranger on the outside looking in. One day she sees a flyer for an experiment with DNA. X sees this as her chance to be part of the bigger picture. To move out of the shadows. Several experiments go wrong, but by the 5th try she has amazing strength and regen powers.

any ideas, improvements, trash it or not?, seem reasonable?

[D'Arkaine]

ok...she wants to be a hero...her family was saved by a hero in the past - one that perished in the rikti war. She began training herself at that point for fighting. She wanted to dedicate her life to the mission that hero led and save other people.

But all that training wasn't cheap. So she had to join an organization like Hero Corps. They covered her living expenses and she could fight crime. Win/win right?

One day she noticed a memo on the bulletin board asking for volunteers in a new line of experiments. Seems the higher ups at Hero Corps were getting a little worried about Crey Industries Paragon Protector program eating into their profits.

She thought that it would be an excellent chance to do more for people and joined the trial. Of the 12 subjects, she was the only success. Thankfully, safety procedures in place guaranteed no deaths, but Subject X5 was the only one to reap any enhanced benefits from the program.

Now X5 works as a freelance Hero Corps operative in Paragon City. Working to make contacts with the independent heroes and organizations. She gets better pay, good insurance (of course with her healing abilities why bother), and an amazing Death/Dismemberment policy for her famliy.

Maybe she has a crush on Henry Wong (Wang?) in Atlas Park. or somesuch.

-------
ok that's my pitch. :) Needs a lot of rewriting and a hero to pick as her saviour. But this gives her a purpose for becoming a hero - working to become one through training and hard work - and getting suped up later on.
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looks like we were typing at the same time there lotus. :)

[Jade_Dragon]

Just one clarification, she's the fifth in the series, so there were four PEOPLE before her for which it didn't work. Not four previous attempts on her that didn't work. The experiments became so infamous no one else wanted to try it, so she was the only volunteer.

I'm also thinking of her as a little immature and childish, maybe even shy and nerdy. Thus her worship of heroes, Dark Angel specifically. The crush on Henry Peter Wong is a good touch, although that might just be something you put in roleplay, not the bio. She was always trying to impress her parents, thus the mousy, studious personality, but she could never really get what she wanted. She always got Bs instead of As, always was the second runner up for class president, and so on. She joined Hero Corps as a secretary, but jumped at what she saw as her last chance to impress her folks.

[Lotus]

OMG Jade thats awesome I have so many thoughts going together. I am going to write something out tonight and post it tomorrow to see what you think?

This is so awesome alot easier with help.

[Masked Revenger]

<crumples up attempt at background he was working on>

Man, this is awsome work guys. Me like. :D

I personally like the idea that there were 12 subjects being worked on at the same time, and she was subject X5, and the only success. It ties into the Dark Angel that way, too.

Chris

[Esbat]

*drools and drools and drools forgetting the fact he's a writer and should proly come up with something... continues to drool*

[Lotus]

Ok here is what I came up with last night - It still needs some flushing, but Im pleased with it so far. I like the crush on Henry Wong. Any ideas how to add it in?


Hailie Rockingham grew up in a household of wealth and power. She noticed that her family only paid attention to the wealthy and powerful. She felt the need to be acknowledged by her family. In searching for her place in life and how to make a name for herself, she moved to Paragon City. While attending the university she became good friends with several young heros. She looked up to them because of their fame and powers. She secretly envied them. She was jealous, because they had everything she wanted. She wanted to be apart of a group and make a difference in the whole big picture. Again she felt like she was home, she was the stranger on the outside looking in. Not having any powers of her own she joined Herocorp to aid the other heros and recieve combat training. Herocorp was working on Project Manacore - splicing human and feline DNA. They needed12 subjects for the experiment. The first 4 subjects were a failure. Hailie was the 5th subject in line. The other tries ended so badly no one else would take part in the experiments. But Hailie needed this. She knew she had to take the chance. She stayed and was X5 - experiment 5. It was a complete success. Hailie found herself with the strength and agility of a cat. Even the myth about a cats lucky 9 lives helped her. She had amazing regenative abilities. With her new powers Hailie continued to train with Herocorp. After years of training she was granted the right to become a hero. She now battles to save Paragon City as X5. Ofcourse, her life isnt as peachy as she would have hoped. The experiment did have side effects. She is more cat than they expected. Which makes her a very independent, pissy, star, and playful hero. She always goes into heat cycles. X5 is begining to cope with the changes in her life and has even been seen wearing fake cat ears and tails.


As always I welcome any comments, suggestions, word of praise, words of dispraise.

[Lotus]

ummm opinions need...gee i am not pushy or anything

[Jade_Dragon]

Sounds good.

[Esbat]

Dear lord just don't let her near Dog Fight or any male chara I have... ESPECIALLY during her heat cycle... remember I warned you ;p

Its good, to add in the Wong part just say he was instructor that briefly trained her at Herocorps and she developed a crush on him.

[Randomus]

I generally try to avoid linking my characters to canon characters--too much of a Mary Sue tactic-- but for some people it works.

[Jade_Dragon]

Well, in general a Mary Sue will link to a canon character in order to overshadow him. She will be better at fighting than him, will come to his rescue, he will fall in love with her and follow her around like an adoring puppy dog. Usually, the author likes the canon character, and it's her chance to act out a relationship with him.

Henry Peter Wong, on the other hand, doesn't know that X5 exists. She's the one with the schoolgirl crush, and most likely gets so nervous around him she doesn't even speak up. It's played for laughs. Not to make the character look foolish, of course, but to give her a little depth. It also contrasts her from the Dark Angel character, who is so confident and secure in herself.

I was thinking of having a canon character in Sandy's origin story, mainly to link her to the CoH world. I need someone to observe her interactions with her foes, since her motivations are so much more important than just what her powers are. It wouldn't be a Mary Sue type thing, though, the Cryptic character would just be there to be our, as the readers', eyes. He would just basically bump into her on patrol, there would be a brief mission together, then they would go their own ways, just for the sake of the story.

I was thinking of Positron, but that's a bit too obvious. One of the non-tech heroes, like Sister Psyche, might have more insight into the human side of her personality. I have to get around the writing the thing first, though. :D