Psi-Watch: Zero Issue! 2 Written by Chris A. Field

Cover Illustration by: John Picot. Interior Illustrations by: John Picot, Action RPG Counters,Bradley K. McDevitt, Storn Cook of LPJD Image Portfolio, Toby Art. All images copyright their respective creators, and are used with permission. (The illustration on page 16, by John Picot, is a homage to the cover of New Mutants #100, penciled by Rob Liefeld).

www.otherversegames.blogspot.com Requires the Use of the D20 Modern Core Rulebook, Published by Wizards of the Coast

D6 Codename Composition Psi-Watch: Zero Issue! is a player’s Result supplement for the Psi-Watch Campaign Setting. Codename Prefix + Random Codename (roll dice; Back during the 1990s, zero issues of a comic 1 odds Codename I, evens Codename II) book focused on the origin of the titular heroes or Codename I twice (odds) or Codename II twice teams, and this Zero Issue! is no different. Zero 2 (evens) Issue! includes tons of new character creation options. From American Indian superheroes to Codename I + Codename II space-faring mercenary units, from ordinary people 3 imbued with alien superpowers to space-faring Codename II + Codename I mercenaries, Zero Issue! will let you build 4 impressive new Psi-Watch heroes. Codename I only (modified as necessary) This sourcebook also includes tons of randomSample5 file character creation charts and plot hooks, to bring Codename II only (modified as necessary) 6 life to a Psi-Watch Campaign. Zero Issue! also includes: D6 Codename Prefix Result • Three new player races that expand the Prefix: Military Rank (Captain, Major, Master definition of Human, 1 Chief, ect) • Threenew orders for the Fursona freeform character builder, and one new design Prefix: Noble Title (Lord, Lady, Baron, 2 Prince/Princess) scheme for Synthetic Heroes, • Five new Enhancement Protocols for Prefix: Fantastic Noble Title (Majestor/Majestrix, Powered Heroes unique to the Psi-Watch 3 Imperix, World Tamer, ect) campaign setting, • Dozens of new starting talents, allowing you Prefix: Militaristic Prefix (Project, Weapon, to create even more diverse heroes- 4 Codename:, Soldier, ect) everything from grizzled Vietnam vets, mystical Native Americans, celebrity Prefix: Civilian Title (Mister, Miss, Madame, superheroes, Mutant Freaks, 5 Doctor, ect) extraterrestrial Elves and much more. • Prefix: Ceremonial/Religious Title (Father, 100 Psi-Watch specific adventure hooks 6 Reverend, Shaman, Imam, ect) finish Zero Issue off right. 1d30 1d30 Codename Component II Codename Component I Result Result Flag (Banner, Shield, Crown,ect) 1)F1reak (Oddity, Geek, Mutant, ect 3 Star (Sun, Flare) 2 Circuit (Tech, Mech, Computer,ect) 2

Mask (Eye, Face, Skull, ect) 3)K3ill (Death, Killer, Murder, ect

Knight (Samuari, Viking, Paladin, ect) 4 Blood (Gore, Bone, ect) 4

Blade (Sword, Knife, Spear, ect) 5)P5ain (Fear, Nightmare, ect

Shot (Bolt, Blast, Gun) 6 Ghost (Wraith, Vamp, Phantom, ect) 6

Strike (Blow, Fist, Kick, Punch) 7)P7si (Mind, Soul, Spirit, ect

Heart (Soul, Mind, ect) 8 War (Battle, Riot, Chaos) 8

Spawn (Demon, Hunter, ect) 9)H9ell (Devil, Demon, Satan, ect

Cat (Tiger, Lion, Panther, ect) 10 Grim (Dark, Hard, Silent) 10

Fury (Rage, Hate, ect) 1)1 D1ark (Shadow, Black, Ebon, ect 1

Dragon (Manticore, Chimera, other mythological Cyber (Cyborg, Mecha, Robot, ect) 12 12 monster) Witch (Magic, Spell, ect) 1)3 W3ire (Cable, Fiber, Cord 1

Drive (Chase, Run, Sprint) 14 Fast (First, Speed, Velocity, Mach, ect) 14

Wolf (Dog, Coyote, ect) 1)5 S5uper (Mega, Ultra, Omni, ect 1

Hawk (Eagle, Falcon, Bird, Wing, ect) 16 Jade (Emerald, Ruby, Onyx, ect) 16

Fire (Burn, Heat, Lava, Napalm, ect) 1)7 G7old (Silver, Chrome, Steel, Metal, ect 1

Sample fileWave (Pulse, Tide, Current, ect) 18 Void (Zero, Gone, Nobody, ect) 18

Stalker (Scout, Hunter, Seeker, Spy, ect) 1)9 C9old (Ice, Frost, Snow, ect 1

X (other single Greek or English letter or number) 20 Rip (Tear, Cut, Slice, Slash, ect) 20

Talon (Claw, Fang, Horn, ect) 2)1 S1cream (Shriek, Cry, Shout, ect 2

Patriot (Soldier, Zealot, ect) 22 American (or other nationality) 22

First (Prime, Alpha, Solo, ect) 2)3 H3ammer (Maul, Mace, ect 2

Arrow (Shaft, Dart, Lance, ect) 24 Comet (Pulsar, Nova, Quasar, Quantum, ect) 24

Danger (Risk, Warn, Threat, ect) 2)5 D5og (Wolf, Dingo, Hound, ect 2

Down (Fall, Drop, Crash, ect) 26 Rogue (Rebel, Bandit, Spy) 26

Sky (Cloud, Comet, Wind, ect) 2)7 M7aster (Mistress, Lord, King, Queen, ect 2

Thunder (Lightning, Rain, Electro, ect) 28 Breaker (Crusher, Smasher, Bruiser, ect) 28

Stone (Rock, Earth, Mountain, ect) 2)9 P9atriot (Glory, Pride, ect 2

Wood (Thorn, Leaf, ect) 30 Mad (Crazy, Psycho, ect) 30 Psi-Watch Codenames D20 Iron Age Female Names Iron Age Male Name Result The psychic spies and cyber- A feminized version of a male name 4 warriors populating the Psi-Watch 1nDyla (Alexis, Samantha, Tommi, ect) Campaign Setting rarely operate under Dominique their birth names. With every detail of their 2 Logan personal lives classified, these chromed Cassie (Cassandra, ect) gunslingers are known by fierce 3)Jack (Jake codenames. Sara (Sarah) 4 Hunter

First, roll D6 to decide the Hannah (Zannah, Ianna, ect) structure of your codename, and then roll 5tRober additional dice to decide each section of Caitlin your anti-hero’s codename. Each part of 6 Cole the codename process has a main Roxy (Roxanne) 7)Bridge (Ridge suggestion and some additional options- Barb (Barbra) choose the one that sounds best to you, or 8 John (Johnny) choose a thematically similar codename Cassidy component. Mix and match as necessary, 9)Tom (Tommy and modify as desired. Rachael 10 Alex (Alan, Adam) In addition to generating names for Rebecca (Beck, Becca, ect) costumed adventurers, this chart can be 1)1 Wolf (Wulff used to generate code names for secret Nikita (Natasha, other Russian name) military operations (Project Mountain 12 Sam Hammer, Operation: Cold Wolf). You can Stephanie also use this chart to quickly generate 1n3 Natha

names for cutting edge military hardware Yuriko (a VX-72 Psi-Dragon assault bomber, or Sample14 Ken file a .50 cal ‘Gore Dog’ heavy machinegun). Anne (Ann, Anna, ect) 1a5 Akir Hell, you might even roll up fantasy magic items (a +2 IceWire dagger, or a +1 Mary (Maria, Magdalena) 16 Ryu Thunder Risk whip). Ed (Eddie, Edward, even Edmund for Alison (Allie) 17 Finally, you can also use this series really tough characters) Grace (Mercy, Hope, other virtue) of charts to create distinctive civilian 18 Blake identities for your hero. The first chart Mariko depicts some of the most commonly used 1y9 Kirb Iron Age male and female civilian names. Jonah (or other Biblical name, the more Eve 20 After that, roll a dice to determine whether obscure the better) you use Codenames I (odd) or Codenames II (even) as your character’s Finally, if you’re playing a stereotypical surname American Indian character, use both columns, in whatever order you prefer to generate a suitable Remember, you can misspell the name as surname. At least one component must reference desired. You might end up with a character named natural phenomena: Robert Bearclaw, Dani Moonstar, Jack Hazzard, or Erin Wytch. Swapping in “Y”s and so on. Keep rolling until you get something that (Adam Wyld) and ending with a double consonant sounds right. (Jessica Flagg) is fair play in a Psi-Watch campaign. Switching a suggested English term for a foreign equivalent is also encouraged. Costume Tropes and Other Starting Talents 5 The following starting talents are all about tiny pouches, superfluous thigh straps and chromed armor plates commonly donned by Iron Age superheroes. Want your new hero to look like a Rob Liefeld or Marc Silvestri creation? Pick one or two of these starting talents to get the full Image Comics effect.

Armed by Default (Metagame) Prerequisite: Military or Special starting role, Bluff 1 rank You commonly walk around in a black leather trenchcoat stuffed with a pair of shotguns, a taser or three, a brace of throwing knives and a heirloom katana…and somehow nobody ever seems to call the cops on you. As long as your weapons are sheathed, and you do not take obvious hostile action against them, unimportant, non-military and non-police NPCs never seem to notice your weapons. This trait shields you from the attention of ordinary civilians, but has no effect on cops, security forces, soldiers or armed criminals- in short, anybody already expecting (or looking for) Sample file trouble.

Armor Jacketing (EX) Prerequisite: Light and Medium Armor Proficiency You commonly wear an armor weave leather jacket with your team insignia over your armored costume, maximizing both style and protection. You may wear a leather jacket (light armor) over any other form of armor. Doing so adds +1 to the equipment bonus of the heavier armor, without worsening armor check penalties, maximum DEX bonus, or increasing the heavier armor’s arcane spell failure chance. And no, you cannot wear a leather jacket over another leather jacket. add your CHA modifier on damage rolls made with Bad Girl’s Blades (EX) any slashing edged weapon. You must be unarmored Prerequisite: Simple and Martial Weapon or lightly armored, and dressed in suitably revealing Proficiency, CHA 13+, female gender only attire to use this ability. You may use this ability a Sexy and deadly in equal measure. That number of times per day equal to 3 + your CHA describes you pretty well. As a free action, you may modifier. This additional damage is added in, not A Death Ioun stone takes the form of a tiny multiplied on a critical hit. skull made of bone white crystal. Once it bonds to a host, the Death Ioun melds with their flesh, appearing 6 Big Man (EX) as a morbid decoration on their forehead, throat or Prerequisite: STR 17+, Power Attack, male gender breast. The host’s skin usually takes on a jaundiced only appearance, which only worsen as their long, long life You’re the biggest, toughest, and most wears down. intimidating member of the squad. You tower over your smaller colleagues and use your bulk and The character receives a +2 trait bonus on physical might to protect them. When you use your FORT Saves against death effects and the effects of Power Attack feat to its greatest extent, all allies massive damage. The wearer can also permanently adjacent to you gain a +1 luck bonus to Defense for sacrifice 1d3 HP as a free action before making a save one round. against either a death effect or massive damage save. Doing so allows the character to automatically Special: Only one character on a team can succeed at the check. select this talent, which must be the character with both the greatest natural size category and highest The Death Ioun Bond increases the STR score. In case of a tie, this talent goes to the character’s lifespan dramatically. A human with a character with the highest total STR and CON scores. Death Ioun Bond adds +500 years to their maximum age; longer lived species have their lifespans increased Charming Tattoo (EX) proportionately. Prerequisite: CHA 13+ You have an unusual facial tattoo, such as a Drawback: All allies of the Death Ioun star over one eye, a lightning bolt down your cheek or Bonded character suffer a -1 luck penalty on all saving something equally memorable. This unique and throws for 24 hours after spending any time in his or colorful tattoo provides you with a +1 increase to your her presence. Reputation score. You also receive a bonus on sexually oriented Diplomacy checks and Bluff checks Eye Spark (SU) made to feint in combat, but suffer an equal penaltySample to Prerequisite: file Psionic subtype, Combat or Special Disguise checks. You can choose to receive up to +4/ starting role -4 check modifier with this starting talent, but must When you are angry or especially determined, receive a minimum +1/-1 check modifier. Once the one of your eyes flares with glowing Psionic energy. severity of your tattoo is chosen, it can’t be changed. Your eye spark is a visual signature with a unique color pattern that never quite duplicates (nor is Death Ioun Bond (EX) duplicated by) any other Psion’s spark. Prerequisite: Combat or Special starting role or Culture specific starting occupation. Once per day, as a free action, you can cause The reality-spanning Culture mastered the art of your eye to spark, providing you with a luck bonus creating Ioun Stones aeons ago, the stones forming a equal to your Reputation score on your next attack fundamental part of the empire’s technology. Death roll, skill check or saving throw. Ioun stones are created by accident, the energies of their creation opening a split-second hyperspace Flag Drapped (EX) warp. These strange, psionically charged crystals can Prerequisite: Allegiance to a particular nationality, appear anywhere in the multiverse, to anyone, good or CHA 11+ evil, adult or child. The presence of a bonded Death You are a proud patriot, wearing your Ioun stone creates an indomitable warrior, but one country’s flag incorporated into your spandex and cursed by death and ill luck. Kevlar. While wearing your patriotic costume, you receive a +1 bonus on CHA-based skill checks, except for Intimidate, against members of your own nationality. You receive a +2 bonus on Intimidate Mung Thoy Tan Streetscum (EX) checks made against those hostile to your home Prerequisite: Expert starting role, Mung Thoy Tan country, but only if you make direct reference to your nationality, Knowledge (streetwise) 2 ranks country or history during your Intimidate attempt. You grew up hard in the alleys and gutters of 7 Mung Thoy Tan, a corrupt island divided between the Special: Steamers receive this starting talent ultra-rich and the starving poor. You receive a +2 trait as an additional racial trait, if they wear the expected bonus on all Knowledge (streetwise) checks and ‘flag-deco’ face plate. This doesn’t count against their reduce the Purchase DC of any illegal item or service starting trait limit. you purchase by -1. The Purchase DC is reduced by -3 if the good or service is especially loathsome and Fast Mover Costume (EX) vile (child porn, underaged prostitutes, snuff films, bio- Prerequisite: DEX 13 +, Tumble (Acrobatics) 1 warfare agents,ect). rank, Light Armor Proficiency Your streamlined skintight costume is specially Nano-Costume (EX) designed for flexibility and speed. Dozens of flexible Prerequisite: Light Armor Proficiency seams, mesh sections and ergonomic cutouts make it You have access to a distinctive suit of Light comfortable to wear. Select any particular suit of light Body Armor (usually a combat skinsuit of some type). armor, when wearing this light armor, you treat its This armor is nano-impregnated. While wearing this maximum DEX bonus as being +2 higher, and receive armor, you can concentrate for about one minute, you a +1 trait bonus on Tumble and Jump checks. can shift the color and patterning of the armor in virtually anyway you desire. In addition, if the costume If this armor is lost or destroyed, you can is damaged but not completely destroyed, it repairs customize another set of light armor to suit your needs itself completely over the course of 1d4 days. with an hour of work and a DC 12 Craft (sewing, armorsmithing or similar) check. If the nano-costume is lost or destroyed, you can usually replace it within a week, though the Futuristic Seduction (EX) specifics are left for the game master to adjudicate. Prerequisite: Social starting role, Light Armor Proficiency, CHA 13+ SampleOff file the Operating Table (EX) You look your best in a tight, silvery jumpsuit. Prerequisite: CON 13+ or Toughness When wearing any form of Light Armor, you receive a You’ve got better things to do than bleed. You +2 trait bonus on sexually oriented Bluff and may spend an action point as a move equivalent action Diplomacy checks. to instantly remove a post-surgical fatigued condition. Gentle Giant (EX) Prerequisite: Size Large or larger, CHA 13+, Police Brutality (EX) Diplomacy 1 rank Prerequisite: Law Enforcement (or similar setting Even though you’re the size of a small house, specific starting occupation), STR 13+ you have an aura of gentleness. You receive a You know how to swing a nightstick. Once cumulative +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks made per day per four character levels, when making an against a target for each size category than you it is. attack that inflicts bludgeoning damage (including natural attacks), you may reroll any 1s or 2s rolled for High Guard (EX) damage. Prerequisite: Combat starting role, Martial Weapons Proficiency Samizdat (EX) You’ve studied fencing and knife combat, and Prerequsite: Expert or Social starting role, Soviet learned defenses based around the blade. When nationality (Cold War era) taking the Total Defense action while wielding any You are a member of Russia’s samizdat, a knife or sword, you receive an additional +1 bonus to repressed and hunted cultural underground. The Defense. samizdat is a loosely aligned group of dissidents and