Redwood

[Trakx]

I need help with a origin story for this character.

His hero alias is Redwood. I have always known that I want him to have super strength. I'm thinking of having this manifest through Density Control (self only).

Beyond this, I don't know much else about him. I've come up with a dozen possible stories, but none too good. The one that I'm using so far is that he was a dedicated ranger for some mountain range. In his long career as a ranger, he has saved people and the land from floods, avalanches, and forest fires. Mother Earth visits him one day and explains that the people of earth and the earth itself needs one such as him to protect us and he agrees to become her defender. *boom, he gets powers* But does anyone have any better ideas? Magical area of land imbued him with powers?

And does Density Control sound right or just give him high Strength?

I would provide more details and information if there were any. For the longest time I just had this character as just a name and the description of "Super Strength". It has only been until recently that I began to really work on him as I'm writing about a super hero team with whom he is a part of. So, I kind of need him now.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated!

[Tommy Brownell]

Hm...Density Control does sound like it might be a tad much...

How about Body Transformation?

[Trakx]

Thanks for the reply!

I thought about that, too, though that doesn't give him Super Strength, if I recall correctly. But yeah, that was one way to do it - to have him transform into a large, tree-like being - maybe kind of like Swampthing, but Redwoodthing-ish.

It was because of the barkskin and "tree costume" (real costume or a transformative costume like Colossus) that I thought Density Control would work.

I don't know enough about Body Transformation to say. I'll have to look it up later (I won't be around my books until tomorrow evening).

Why did you recommend it?

[Tommy Brownell]

Honestly, it was just spitballing off the top of my head...but I seem to recall it changes your strength to the Material Strength of the substance transforming into or the Power's Intensity (whichever is higher)...unless I am horribly mistaken.

[Trakx]

Okay, I'll look into it. Thanks again.

Any ideas about a background and/or origin behind his gaining powers?

[silverlion]

With a name like Redwood sounds like he should have Size change/Growth...gets taller and stronger like the Redwood tree known for being massive trees of great longevity and impressive enduring stature.


Mystic:

While hunting poachers he comes upon a stand of ancient Redwoods, their whispers seemed to speak to him, they chose him as a protector of the land--ibuing him with their nature--their size and strength as old trees know the magic of the Earth itself, born from the roots that dig deep into her soil.


Mutagenic

Experiments in insecticides intended to be non-harmful to plant and animal life beyond the plant devouring aphids that were threatening the region were unleashed in controlled areas. Unfortunatly due to flooding conditions in one of these areas a few campers were trapped. Seeking to rescue them the man who would become Redwood goes after them but finds them trapped by floodwaters laced with the insecticide and is forced to swim them to safety. He is washed away and nearly drowned catching a lungful of the insecticide it slowly altered him.

[Trakx]

Wow, both of those are terrific, Sidhain.

As for Size Alteration, I had thought of that, too. Maybe a stunt, too, of Density Control, where he grows up and becomes more dense at the same time, perhaps raising Strength by 2 points per 1 point of intensity? Or is that too powerful of a stunt?

Too lame to give him Elongation? I'm trying to ride that fine line of cool / lame.
I don't want him to be Tree Man.

[silverlion]

I'd just go with growth it would enhance his strength already.

Density Increase would be double dipping and problematic.

[Trakx]

Would a base Strength of 12 due to Size Alteration? Or higher, like 16? No matter how he ends up story-wise, I imagined him to be one of the heavy hitters of my comic universe.

Could you explain your stance on how Size Alteration and Density Control would be problematic?

[silverlion]

Well I'd start with human strength of 7 or so high and solid but it grows as he grows. It means he has to grow to get super strong. Because with a name like Redwood, it makes sense.

How many comic characters have names where their powers don't quite fit their powers?

As for Density control it just doesn't fit Redwood, sure trees are denser than people, but density isn't really what you get out of a name like Redwood. Lead maybe. And the fact is two powers which boost strength seem like a way of munchkining the PC. Especially when one is suitable for hitting the max of 20 if you really want to.