The Console Cowboy hasn't been on the scene for too long, but he's about as flashy and high-profile as a newcomer can get. Somewhere between superhero and vigilante, he's been in a few street brawls skilled enough to get him the occasional sponsorship, as well as a few states' "vigilante wanted for questioning" lists.
See class-bar spoilers for now, I guess.
Below=Slightly Confidential?
Basic Description:
If there’s one thing both his fans and enemies can appreciate, it’s that you can always hear the Console Cowboy coming. His silver-and-chrome motorcycle, Durendal, screams louder than any car, its roar more like that of a tiger than an engine. Metal spurs and buckles jangle on his heavy boots as he rides, tires shrieking and plastic armor rattling on metal as he momentarily stops to survey the night-time streets, while the glowing lines of light on his clothing and motorcycle announce his presence loudly to the hearing-impaired. Even his hat, a ten gallon brim of LED-studded sheet metal welded to an army helmet, rattles quietly when he tips it to onlookers. And he fights with force itself, smashing windows and walls as blasts from his “invisible pistol” send enemies reeling, snapping lassos of metal razor wire into and out of existence with a quick smartphone gesture, or loudly deflecting bullets with his reinforced keyboard shield as he charges, striking hard enough to cave in the sides of cars as his baton blows are bolstered by thunderclaps of pure sonic reverberation.
Sure, he wears a bit more armor than a cowboy ought to; but it adds height, and stature, and most importantly all that kevlar does a wonderful job of shrugging off bullets. And yes, “Console Cowboy” has become a bit of a gimmick, as he tends to rely less and less on smartphones and tablets to look up and cast spells, years of practice and perfectionism allowing him to favor the steadier aim of point-and-shoot magic. But he still speaks with an affected accent, still shouts “Hi ho, Durendal!” when onlookers can hear, and still prides himself on skill at quick-draws and rope-throws. And he’s done what he can to cultivate an outlaw persona, riding off into the sunset before anyone can ask too many questions and taking up crusades against the more pseudo-legal of supervillain corporations. Which has paid off, a bit—he’s had to turn down a few cigarette sponsorship offers, but, while he tries to stay non-corporate, can pretty pop into a few minutes of ads for a bail bonds chain or ATV manufacturer when he needs to pay off some bills.
Being both a hero and a rebel, of course, has its downsides; and there are plenty of enemies out there who’d enjoy seeing either Console Cowboy or his more-human alter-ego behind bars.
Major Known Powers:
A) Kinetic manipulation (mastery of force manipulation, able to perform offensive telekinesis with a gesture)
B) Digital casting (shooting spells at people by quickly drawing diagrams and typing incantations into a keyboard or tablet, or any other computer he can find lying around, using the same general patterns as wizard magic but through a digital focus)
C) Battle oaths (able to call on supernatural forces beyond himself through strange and alien incantions)
* * *
Below=Temporarily Confidential
Secret Identity:
By day, Jason Majors is a lot more restrained, if no less of an outlaw in his personal crusades. A skilled hacktivist with his own online following, he’s gained notoriety as “WhiteKnite,” an outside-whistleblower against polluting companies and abusive government officials without ever leaving quite enough of a fingerprint for an arrest warrant. WhiteKnite has, in the right chat rooms, dropped some hints as to his connection to the Console Cowboy—but this has been mostly limited to a DIY explanation of the coding and kitbashing he did for a fellow crusader in the fight against corruption; and the Cowboy's villains are a lot more publicly evil. Still, few have actually seen the extent of what Majors can do, as his code and infiltration are aided by the same magic he uses to fight crime—only, in this case, often repurposed to removing traces of his presence and identity.
Allies:
Specter (Quadcopter familiar, stats as raven)
(Summoned via Find Familiar, flavored as buying/modifying a drone)
Built, rebuilt, and kitbashed a dozen times, Specter is the Console Cowboy’s familiar, a ‘copter drone modified with an arcane-reinforced object-detection and automation software that approximates simple intelligence. With the right app, the Cowboy can stream the drone’s camera and audio feeds to any tablet or smartphone, letting him see through his familiar’s senses.
Durendal (Dodge Tomahawk motorcycle, stats and size as celestial warhorse unless “real” stats exist)
(Summoned via Find Vehicle, a la Find Steed)
A massive motorcycle, the size of a horse, the Dodge Tomahawk surrounds a large sportswear engine with a thick metal chassis and reinforced, oversized double-wheels. Perfect for chasing down fleeing villains through empty nighttime streets, Durendal can outrun nearly anything that moves, its engines roaring like a beast of prey. Thanks to the combination of carjacking and summoning magic Console Cowboy uses to summon his “horse,” the motorcycle also glows with a silvery light, and traces of silver patterning over the sides of its chassis; occasionally, when expecting a rescue mission, he summons it with an attached sidecar.
Cyber Van (Modified passenger van)
(Summoned via Find Vehicle, a la Find Steed)
A nondescript white van, with tinted windows, the Utility Van holds two rows of seats; the third row has been removed to fit a rack of servers and surveillance equipment. Cartoon angels are spray painted on the sides, with the words “Angel Security Solutions” underneath. It’s the vehicle Jason Majors drives, when trying to eavesdrop or hack into networks undetected.
Lohengrin (Powered canal boat)
(Summoned via Find Vehicle, a la Find Steed)
A low-lying catamaran, with room for several passengers and hushed engines, Lohengrin is the Console Cowboy’s preferred method of aquatic travel. He doesn’t have much use for a boat, but, if he needs one…
Equipment:
Arcane Android (Casting focus)
A miniature smartphone, covered in magical runes and loaded up with all of the magic spells the Cowboy knows, coded as custom apps that can be pulled up with only his thumb. Normally worn on a chain around his neck.
Banhammer (Staff of Power, attuned, +2 staff with +2 to spell attack, AC, and saves)
At first glance, the Console Cowboy’s “weapon” appears to be a wand of some sort, or perhaps a large remote—on closer inspection, he’s fitted a telescoping police baton with extraneous buttons and dull runes. When swung in anger, or used to aim a spell, however, hidden glyphs and embedded wires glow into existence up and down its side, providing a focusing lens for both strength and magic, as the metal wand hits with the accuracy of a golf club and the force of a sledgehammer.
Keyboard Shield (Shield + holy symbol, plus War Caster feat)
A kevlar-lined riot shield, with a touch-screen keyboard strapped to the back, on which the Console Cowboy can quickly pull up simple magical runes and incantations through self-written apps. While it fits with his SWAT armor and police baton as part of a thematic set, the word “POLICE” has been painted over, replaced with “COWBOY” in sparkling silver spray paint; below this, a hand-painted image of a highly-stylized four-armed figure, the “Holy Symbol” of his companion’s planet, and a focus for more defensive magics.
Spell Compendium (Warlock pact book)
A heavily-shielded, clamshell laptop, kept tucked away in a hidden backpack; it’s here that the Cowboy stores some of his strangest spells, the ones that require minutes of chanting and preparation.
Paladin Armor (Heavy Armor, Forced Entry Unit)
Console Cowboy’s standard armor is made from repurposed paramilitary SWAT gear. Bundles of Kevlar and flexible steel inserts clink and shuffle between inner and outer layers of fabric, the whole thing covered with hardened plastic plates in a rough outline of muscle shapes. The whole thing has all been touched up, of course; electroluminescent tape wired LEDs line his arms and legs, giving off a slight TRON vibe, while the outer plates of the armor have been hand-painted in shades of silver and gold.
Infiltration Armor (Medium Armor, Light-Duty Vest or Light Armor, Undercover vest)
When not patrolling the streets, but still doing dangerous work, Jason Masters wears any of several lighter-duty kevlar vests, depending on how important it is to conceal that he’s wearing armor. Without the heavy sheets of padding and metal, he’s still decent at moving quickly and quietly, which is sometimes an important advantage.
Tools (Thieves’ Tools [not proficient, but still usable] and Hacking Tools)
He’s got much more patience for electronic locks than physical ones, but Jason Masters would be a pretty cut-rate hacker if he didn’t know a few things about physical system security. Along with considerable skill at social engineering,
Spells:
Spell Save DC 18
Cantrips (3+):
Eldritch Blast (0)
Prestidigitation (0)
Mage Hand (0)
On/Off (0) (Pact Bonus) (UA: Modern Magic)
Warlock Spells Known (6):
Find Vehicle (2) (UA: Modern Magic)
Infallible Relay (1) (UA: Modern Magic)
Arcane Hacking (1) (UA: Modern Magic)
Dispel Magic (3) (UA: Modern Magic)
Digital Phantom (2) (UA: Modern Magic)
Armor of Agathys (1)
Paladin Spells Prepared (7):
Compelled Duel (1)
Cure Wounds (1)
Wrathful Smite (1)
Heroism (1)
Hunter’s Mark (1) (Vengeance Spell)
Shield of Faith (1)
Protection from Evil and Good (1)
Pact of the Tome Cantrips (3):
Shillelagh (0)
Spare the Dying (0)
Thorn Whip (0)
Book of Ancient Secrets Rituals (2+):
*I assume I’ve reasonably been able to afford/find one additional ritual at each level (though this is a GM call)
Comprehend Languages (1)
Detect Magic (1)
Find Familiar (1)*
Augury (2)*
Leomund’s Tiny Hut (3)*
Class Abilities:
Warlock
Patron: Ghost in the Machine (UA: Modern Magic)
-Expanded Spell List (L1): Gain on/off as bonus cantrip; access to tech spells
-Bonus Proficiency (L1): Proficiency with hacking tools
-Information Surge (L1): 1/short rest, shut down a tech device within 30’ (save applies)
Invocations:
-Agonizing Blast: Add +Cha to Eldritch Blast damage
-Book of Ancient Secrets: Gain ritual spells
-One With Shadows: Standard action to become invisible in dim lighting
Paladin
-Divine Sense 8/day (L1): Detect celestials, fiends, undead, hallowed places, etc. w/in 60’
-Lay on Hands 15/day (L1): Healing pool
-Divine Smite (L2): Sacrifice a spell slot to get +2d8 with melee weapon attack (+1d8 per additional spell level, +1d8 vs fiend/undead)
-Divine Health (L3): Immune to disease
Fighting Style: Close Quarters Shooter (L2) (UA: Light, Dark, Underdark!):
-No adjacency penalty for for ranged attacks
-Ignore 1/2 and 3/4 cover w/in 30’
-Gain +1 to hit with all ranged attacks
Oath: Vengeance:
-Channel Divinity 1/short rest (L3):
>Abjure Enemy (One creature makes Wis save or is frightened, disadvantage for fiends/undead)
>Vow of Enmity (As bonus action, can challenge foe w/in 10’, gain advantage on all attack rolls)
Skills and Proficiencies:
One word background: Hacktivist (Computers, Investigation, Deception)
Languages:
-Common
-Elven (Racial bonus)
-Assembly Code (Racial bonus)
Proficient Skills:
-Insight [Wis] +5 (Paladin)
-Intimidation [Cha] +10 (Paladin)
-Computers [Int] +9 (Background) (advantage with spell)
-Investigation [Int] +9 (Background)
-Deception [Cha] +10 (Background)
-Vehicles [Dex/Int] +9/+11 (Only on summoned vehicles, via spell)
-Stealth [Dex] +6 (Race bonus) (disadv in heavy armor)
-Perception [Wis] +5 (Race bonus)
Proficiency +3
Initiative +3
HP: 95 (10+2d10+5d8+48)
Saves: Str +4, Dex +5, Con +8 (advantage on concentration), Int +7, Wis +7 (P), Cha +12 (P)
AC 22 (Armor 18, Shield +2, Staff +2), Resistance to nonmagical slashing/ballistic
(As Jason Majors: AC 21, or lower without shield/staff, DR/3 ballistic)
Attack Powers:
(ignore 1/2 cover via wand; ignore 3/4 cover if ranged w/in 30’)
Cantrips:
-Invisible Guns (Eldritch Blast) +13/+13 (1d10+7 force damage, 120’ range) (point, click, BOOM)
-Summon Lasso (Thorn Whip) +12 (2d6 piercing damage, 30’ range pull 10’) (summons a jagged lasso out of the air to yank fleeing enemies backwards)
-Brute Force Attack (Shillelagh) +12 (1d8+9 magic bludgeoning damage, optional +1d6) (Any club or staff becomes a powerful kinetic weapon in the Cowboy’s hands)
Spells:
-Mark of Vengeance (Hunter’s Mark +1d6, Wrathful Smite 2d8+10’ knockback and Str save vs prone, Divine Smite +2d8-5d8, Vow of Enmity) (Can summon glowy orange alien runes onto enemy and in the air, causing attacks to hit harder with spooky alien energy)
-Penance Stare (Compelled Duel, Abjure Enemy) (Can use intimidating glances and accusation to supernaturally force an enemy to fight him or flee)
Defensive Powers:
Cantrips:
-Emergency Cauterize (Spare the Dying) (The Cowboy fires a cone of intense heat energy from his palm, which when applied correctly can stop bleeding)
Spells:
-Firewall! (Armor of Agathys +15 temp hp, 15 cold damage to attacker, Shield of Faith +2 AC) (With focus, summons an invisible barrier of energy to protect against attacks)
-Mark of Innocence (Heroism 7 temp hp/turn, immune to fear, Protection from Evil and Good grants disadv to attacks from certain creature types and immune to mental stuff) (Summon glowy green runes onto self or a trusted ally, providing attacks from the attacks of evil creatures)
-Faith Healing (Cure Wounds 1d8+7, +1d8 per spell level, Lay on Hands) (He’s not sure how this one works, it’s something the alien can do pretty well though)
Utility Powers:
Cantrips:
-Hack the World! (On/off, mage hand, prestidigitation) (Can use force effects to modify small things around him, at will)
Spells:
-Hack the System! (Dispel Magic, Detect Magic, Tiny Hut, One with Shadows) (Decent at detecting and unraveling magic as well, along with basic utility magic for protection and invisibility)
-Technomancy (Infallible Relay, Arcane Hacking, Digital Phantom, Information Surge) (Can interface magic and tech, hacking items from a distance or writing spells into his code)
-Dictionary Attack (Augury, Comprehend Languages) (Can use magic to tap into digital info databases for clues and things)
-Machine Familiar (Find Familiar, Find Vehicle) (Can use Internet of Things tech to summon and control friendly vehicles, drones, etc)
