Hero Idea - Ransom (Fairfax Industries' Executor)

[Ibbick]

Background: Ransom has been tasked, by Maximilian Fairfax himself, to secure a boon for Fairfax Industries from the Patrons. I don't think Wrecker or McGinnis fit this role; they both seem to have personal agendas (though there's nothing wrong with sending multiple candidates). Personality wise, I envisage Ransom as a ruthless, hyper-pragmatic right-hand man, living up to the description of Fairfax from Pocket's background: " ... in the avarice fueled viper's nest that is Fairfax Industries."

On another note, I recently finished watching The Venture Bros, and I really enjoyed the characterization of Red Death, a supervillain that is simultaneously ruthless and kill-hungry but also a dedicated father and husband, setting aside all his hatred and malice when it comes to caring for his family. I think a similar dynamic would fit this character- e.g., on one hand, Ransom has a family and children that he cares deeply about (and talks about with pride) but is simultaneously also a merciless businessman and executor for Fairfax.

Appearance: Bowler hat, pinstripe suit with tie, pocket watch with chain, rose boutonnière. Carries a briefcase. Probably has facial hair; could be Ixian. I'm imagining canary yellow as the accent color (the rose could be yellow too), e.g. for the hatband.

Weapon - Final Offer: Something like the HK Operational Briefcase, i.e., a gun inside a briefcase (with a trigger on the handle). While the HK version uses a submachine gun, I think a medium to longer range weapon makes more sense considering Ransom's third ability and lack of sustain.

Ability 1 - Predatory Loan: Throw a projectile that (on hit) steals an enemy's first ability and a percentage of their spirit power (say 25%). Gain a short window to cast the ability yourself. During your window to cast the loaned ability, that ability is silenced for enemies.

• AP1:
• AP2: Cast the loaned ability with the same ability point unlocks as the copied target (1, 2, 5).
• AP5: Steal +25% spirit power from enemies.

1. Comments
   
   • Visually, could work the same as Sinclair ult, i.e., take on the model of the character whose ability it is (but with a distinct color scheme).
   • Would automatically grant you a charge for abilities that have to be built up (e.g. Wraith cards, Victor's pain battery).
   • I'm imagining the projectile to be a disembodied hand with forearm.

Ability 2 - Sub Rosa: Select a nearby wall to phase through it to the other side, becoming intangible in the process.

• AP1: Go invisible for a short duration after using the ability (duration scales with spirit).
• AP2: Pass through longer distances.
• AP5: Gain 4% max health regen while invisible.

Ability 3 - Debt Collector: Your bullets steal enemies' unsecured souls and build up a short (1s) immobilizing effect. On immobilize, deal a fair amount of spirit damage, and steal a small number of souls from the enemy. Spirit damage and amount of souls stolen scales with spirit.

• AP1: Enemies are silenced while immobilized
• AP2: +1s Immobilize Duration; more unsecured souls stolen per bullet.
• AP5: Reduce enemies' spirit resist by 30% for 10 seconds upon immobilize.

1. Comments
   
   • Enemies in the air are robbed of their momentum when the effect triggers.
   • Has no cooldown (or a very short one, e.g. 3 seconds) between procs.
   • The souls stolen upon activation of the immobilizing effect can come from secured souls.

Ability 4 - Hostile Takeover: Throw a spectral bowler hat that lightly tracks enemies. On enemy hit, take control of them, allowing you to attack other enemies using their ally's body. You are silenced while possessing enemies. Possession duration can be extended by doing damage.

• AP1: Shorter cooldown
• AP2: Longer max duration; greater bowler hat health
• AP5: No longer silenced in ult; Predatory Loan copies the possessed enemy's first ability automatically.
• Comments:
  • Your allies cannot damage possessed enemies.
  • Possessed enemies wear a spectral bowler hat that can be damaged by their teammates to dispel the effect. The health of the bowler hat scales with spirit.
  • Ransom's body is immobile while controlling the enemy (like Gray Talon ult).

 

[Ibbick]

I misclicked while posting, here's the finalized version:

Background: Ransom has been tasked, by Maximilian Fairfax himself, to secure a boon for Fairfax Industries from the Patrons. I don't think Wrecker or McGinnis fit this role; they both seem to have personal agendas (though there's nothing wrong with sending multiple candidates). I envisage Ransom as a ruthless, hyper-pragmatic right-hand man, living up to the description of Fairfax from Pocket's background: " ... in the avarice fueled viper's nest that is Fairfax Industries."

On another note, I recently finished watching The Venture Bros, and I really enjoyed the characterization of Red Death, a supervillain that is simultaneously violent and kill-hungry but also a dedicated father and husband, setting aside all his hatred and malice when it comes to caring for his family. I think a similar dynamic would fit this character- e.g., on one hand, Ransom has a family and children that he cares deeply about (and talks about with pride) but is simultaneously also a merciless businessman and executor for Fairfax.

Appearance: Bowler hat, pinstripe suit with tie, pocket watch with chain, rose boutonnière. Carries a briefcase. Probably has facial hair; could be Ixian. I'm imagining canary yellow as the accent color, e.g. for the hatband (the rose could be yellow too).

Weapon - Final Offer: Something like the HK Operational Briefcase, i.e., a gun inside a briefcase (with a trigger on the handle). While the HK version uses a submachine gun, I think a medium to longer range weapon makes more sense considering Ransom's third ability and lack of early game sustain.

Ability 1 - Predatory Loan: Throw a projectile that (on hit) temporarily steals an enemy's first ability and a percentage of their spirit power (say 25%). Gain a short window to cast the ability yourself. During the window to cast the loaned ability, that ability is silenced for enemies.

• AP1: On projectile hit, cooldown becomes half that of the loaned ability.
• AP2: Cast the loaned ability with the same ability point unlocks as the copied target (1, 2, 5).
• AP5: Steal +25% spirit power from enemies, retain stolen spirit power for longer.

Comments:

• Visually, could work the same as Sinclair ult, i.e., take on the model of the character whose ability you've loaned (but with a distinct color scheme).
• Would automatically grant you a charge for abilities that have to be built up (e.g. Wraith cards, Victor's pain battery).
• I'm imagining the projectile to be a disembodied hand/forearm.
• Alt. ability names: Copycat, Forgery, Loan

Ability 2 - Sub Rosa: Select a nearby wall to phase through it to the other side, becoming intangible in the process.

• AP1: Go invisible for a short duration after using the ability (duration scales with spirit).
• AP2: Pass through longer distances.
• AP5: Shorter cooldown

Comments:

• Means "under the rose" literally; used as an adverb/adjective to mean "in confidence : secretly."
• To make tracking him easier, I was thinking that he should leave a rose decal on walls where he enters/exits, and a short animation should play upon emerging from a wall (e.g. Ransom straightens his tie or checks his pocketwatch).
• Tradeoff for the versatility is a long cooldown (something like 40-ish seconds, down to 25s with T5).
• Alt. ability names: Loophole, Off the books

Ability 3 - Debt Collector: Your bullets steal enemies' unsecured souls and build up a short (0.75s) immobilizing effect. On immobilize, deal a fair amount of spirit damage, and steal a small number of souls from the enemy. Spirit damage and amount of souls stolen scales with spirit.

• AP1: Enemies are silenced while immobilized
• AP2: +0.75s immobilize duration; steal more unsecured souls per bullet.
• AP5: Increased spirit damage and soul steal upon immobilize.

Comments:

• Immobilize robs enemies of their momentum when the effect triggers (to compensate for the short duration).
• Has a very short cooldown (e.g. 4-5 seconds) between procs.
• The souls stolen upon activation of the immobilizing effect can come from secured souls.
• I'm thinking, to begin with, on immobilize deal 80 damage and steal 25 souls.
• Visually, I was thinking disembodied hands reach up from the ground and grab targets' feet, holding them in place.
• Alt. ability names: Soul lien, Seizure of Assets.

Ability 4 - Hostile Takeover: Throw a spectral bowler hat that lightly tracks enemies. On enemy hit, take control of them, allowing you to attack other enemies using their ally's body. You are silenced while possessing enemies. Possession duration can be extended by doing damage.

• AP1: Shorter cooldown
• AP2: Longer max duration; greater bowler hat health
• AP5: No longer silenced in ult: can use Ransom's abilities and Predatory Loan is refreshed and copies the possessed enemy's first ability automatically.

Comments:

• Your allies cannot damage possessed enemies.
• Possessed enemies wear a spectral bowler hat that can be damaged by their teammates to dispel the effect. The health of the bowler hat scales with spirit.
• Ransom's body is immobile while controlling the enemy (like Gray Talon ult).
• I'm thinking something like 3 seconds base possession, can be extended to 7 (and tier 2 upgrade brings it to 12).
• I don't want this ability to be used like Holiday's lasso, so perhaps stamina usage also needs to be disabled while possessing someone.
• Combo with Sub Rosa to hide your body from enemies while possessing someone.
• Has a range of 40 meters, tracks enemies within 20 to 30 degrees.
• Alt. ability names: Takeover, Merger.

Miscellaneous:

• Yes, I have seen Meet the Robinsons
• I think Ransom's given name should be Francis. No reason.