• Rank: Seasoned
• Attributes: Agility d6, Smarts d8 [d10], Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d6
• Skills: Academics d6, Alchemy d8, Athletics d4, Common Knowledge d6, Fighting d4, Healing d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Science d6, Stealth d4, Weird Science d8
• Traits: Pace: 6; Parry: 4; Toughness: 5(1)
• Hindrances: Curious, Impulsive, Small
• Edges: Alertness, Arcane Background (Alchemy), Literate
• Gear: Quilted jacket (+1), seax (Str+d4+1), alchemical supplies, satchel, writing papers, tinderbox, ink, and pen.
• Languages: English, Latin, Greek, and Norse

Not much gets by this hero. He’s very observant and perceptive, and adds +2 to his Notice rolls to hear, see, or otherwise sense the world around him.

Weird scientists use strange and powerful inventions beyond the normal technological level of the setting. Such creations might be possible due to super fuels, alien discoveries, or the raw intellect of rare super-geniuses who push the boundaries of science.

A weird scientist’s Trappings (see page 150) must always include the item they’re associated with. The burst power might manifest through a magical flame thrower in Deadlands: The Weird West, for instance, while “Dr. Gabriel’s Wondrous Restorative Elixir!” is a healing potion.

Weird scientists must have their devices at hand to activate their powers (but see Jury Rig, below).

Other characters can’t activate the inventor’s creations. They might not understand the strange mechanisms required to make it work, the device might not be “calibrated” or portioned for other users, or it might just “fritz out” for anyone but the creator. While this may seem a bit strange narratively, the “magic”—and the Power Points—come from the inventor so he must be the one to activate it.

Creating devices for others is possible—it just requires an Arcane Device, see page 153 and the Artificer Edge (page 45).

Blast launches a ball of explosive energy or matter. The area of effect is a Medium Blast Template. Every target within suffers 2d6 damage, or 3d6 with a raise (see Area Effect Attacks, page 97).

This power allows a character to increase or decrease a target’s Trait (attribute or skill). Boosting an ally’s Trait increases the selected Trait one die type, or two with a raise, for five rounds.

Lowering an enemy’s Trait has a Duration of Instant and lowers the selected attribute or skill a die type with success, or two with a raise (to a minimum of d4). A victim automatically tries to shake off the effect with a Spirit roll as a free action at the end of his following turns. Success improves the effect one die type, and a raise removes the effect entirely.

Additional castings don’t stack on a single Trait (take the highest), but may affect different Traits.

Modifiers

• ADDITIONAL RECIPIENTS (+1): The power may affect more than one target for 1 additional Power Point each.
• STRONG (+1): Lower Trait only. The Spirit roll to shake off the effect is made at −2.

Instilling confusion in enemies is a powerful aid in combat, and this power provides that ability. On a success, a target must make a Smarts roll at –2 or be Shaken, and on a raise, the roll is made at –4.

Additional Targets: The character may affect up to five targets by spending a like amount of additional Power Points.

Those who favor stealth or want to avoid harming their foes are drawn to this spell, which puts its victims into a deep and restful sleep.

Anyone affected by slumber must make a Spirit roll (at −2 if the caster got a raise on her arcane skill roll). Those who fail fall asleep for the Duration of the spell. Very loud noises or attempts to physically wake a sleeper (by shaking him, for example), grant another Spirit roll.

AREA EFFECT (+2/+3): For +2 points the power affects everyone in a Medium Blast Template. For +3 points the area of effect is increased to a Large Blast Template.