Hipster Monkey
Member
Buddy, the Six-String Samurai
Four-Eyes. Samurai. Rock 'n' Roll.
OrFour-Eyes. Passing Assassin. Rock 'n' Roll.
———“I know your type, buddy. You ain’t going to Vegas. Where you go death follows like a blown-out ‘52 Plymouth.” - A washed up rocker (Movie Quote)
Changes from last post:
-I think this may be the final one. I think I've expanded the abilities as much as I can.
-Someone please prove me wrong.
-Rewrote/added more details regarding Buddy’s details: more inspirations, a thank you, and more details on Buddy’s potential role/archtype/playstyle
-Overall, tried to clarify or expand on ability set.
-Add three drawings:
-One for Reloading
-One for Character profile from behind
-One for Bend & Release
-More clarification on Buddy’s gun and reloading.
-Added Name Inspirations for Buddy’s abilities.
-Added more clarification for how Bend & Release works while either Buddy or target, or both, are in mid-air.
-Reworked Sweep Picking.
-More details around how Hail to the King works.
-Sliding grants infinite strings.
-Added some character interactions for character study. (Eh, I'll add that later)
———
Heavily inspired by the movie “Six-String Samurai.” It’s... not a great movie. But extremely fun, in my opinion, thus transcending into that subjective greatness that are cult classics. The people who made it clearly had a passion for the project. A by-product of that old 90’s passion. Where else can you find a caricature of Slash from Guns ‘n’ Roses, as Death the embodiment of Heavy Metal? And where, spoiler(?), Rock ‘n’ Roll and Heavy Metal duel over the fate of an orphan’s soul? The full movie can be found on YouTube which is provided for free by the distributor. And it’s full of great music and quotes (some quotes of which are used here).
A second heavy inspiration, much like Billy and Punkgoat, comes from Suda51 again, namely “No More Heroes.” This hero is probably the closest I will get to have Travis Touchdown in Smash Bros - I mean - Deadlock. As such, if Buddy says one of Travis’ famous lines, “Fuckhead,” I will just be the happiest person alive. You all can even censor it, I don’t care. Just get that line in.
In fact, just get Robin Atkin Downes and tell him to voice Travis Touchdown but with, like, a New York accent. It’s the perfect crossover.
Another inspiration I didn’t mention is FLCL. As a kid, I absolutely ADORED the idea of someone using a guitar or bass as a melee weapon. But, obviously, Six-String Samurai came to mind first.
Thanks to the user m.anwarna01, I have been introduced to I-No from Guilty Gears, and I can't believe I never knew about this character before.
———
“Buddy has one goal.
And that goal is to become the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.“ - A Fate’s Tale
Character Introduction:
They say he can kill over 200 men and play a mean six-string at the same time. Stylin’ in a three piece suit donning broken glasses; infused with the mysterious power of rock and roll; brandishing a katana and wielding a Mystic Guitar: Buddy is the Six-String Samurai. Honing the ways of the Samurai, targets struck by Buddy’s blade and his abilities apply Mark of the Four-Eyes, increasing his damage against his target, allowing him to chain attacks and refresh his strings for his ult. With atomic precision, Buddy can intercept dashing enemies with an up-slash Pull-off, parrying them to be set up for a down-slash Hammer-on. Targets with stage fright can’t run from Buddy as he flings a set of guitar strings out to pull his target back in, along with himself, with Bend & Release. In the chaos of a street brawl, Sweep Picking allows Buddy to sweep around his target or weave through the crowd to his intended target. When it’s time to rock… and roll, Hail to the King allows Buddy to unleash the full power of Rock ‘n’ Roll, causing his enemies to Bow to the King, and challenge a single target for a Guitar Duel to the death. Channeling the rocker inside, his inner devil, Buddy uses his Mystic Guitar during this killer solo to smash his enemies and gain extra effects for his abilities. Buddy will be the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll or die trying. And Rock ‘n’ Roll can never die.
Character profile:
Carries his Mystic Guitar on his back, perhaps holding the neck with his right hand to keep it in place. Katana is held in the left hand. This is to help give him a “wide” profile. OR, have him wield his Katana with his right hand, Mystic Guitar carried on his back, left hand holding up those old Samurai style umbrellas, but tattered (no game function only visual).
I think the image of him holding both his katana and guitar (as a sheath) out is a strong one. Regardless of which hand, Buddy holding out his Katana ready for quick slashes, and holding his Mystic Guitar (strapped or not) by the neck can help him stand out from a distance. One of the most prominent changes I gave to Buddy is that, whereas before Buddy’s primary weapon was his Mystic Guitar, now his primary weapon is his sword. I feel this “completes” the feel I wanted for Buddy. Before, his Guitar was front and center, and his katana was his real power - now, his katana is front and center and his Mystic Guitar is his real power. I think this is a more clear distinction regarding Buddy’s power at the moment.
Given his Buddy Holly look, his most prominent feature should be his Mystic Guitar. As such, his guitar can be a visual cue of what attacks and abilities he’s about to use, or maybe a sound cue being given unique musical stings. Similar to aposematism in Biology, when Buddy has his Mystic Guitar OUT, he is that dangerous animal you don’t want to mess with.
What makes Buddy unique is that he is, perhaps, a weapon damage nuker. Where we have burst-damage Spirit heroes, I have a vision for a burst-damage Gun/Weapon hero, like Venator but more burst. He is highly mobile for short bouts, while dealing increasing damage against his target/s. As such, Buddy, like a song, has to keep moving and create his own chorus, verses and bridges. Due to the nature of Buddy having to keep moving, any periods of downtime his opponents can take advantage of is Buddy’s primary weakness. Stop him, and he’s dead. In this vein, one of Buddy’s biggest downsides is that to reload his weapon, he has to stop moving.
Due to his abilities, I view him as a kind of anti-assassin assassin. In a world where a majority of frontliners have a way to close the gap and deal big damage, Buddy can intercept and challenge those gap-closers, or clear the way to reach his target.
Perhaps a standout feature of Buddy, I feel, is that he is the type of hero to live and wander in the concrete jungle. Perhaps being an actual jungler during the mid game. All of his abilities and close range sword strikes can affect jungle creep: applying stacks to Mark of the Four-Eyes, allowing Buddy to refresh strings and sustain in the jungle to set up for ganks in the mid game. As such, perhaps he could be a good fit for that inevitable jungle rework.
Regarding being half-ixian, it can be a choice. But if he is, he must wrap his tail like a belt. I just like that thought too much for it to pass.
———
Core details are mostly unchanged from before:
- He was given a Mystic Guitar
- It’s been passed down from generations of homeless - I mean, previous “Kings of Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
- Mystic Guitar might have a mind of its own.
- He is destined to be King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (but really, he just wants to make his Ma proud)
- He’s homeless (detail everyone can point out.)
- They say he can kill over 200 men and play a mean six-string at the same time.
- This can be a question everyone asks, “they say… is that really true?”
- He really did kill over 200 men and played a mean six-string at the same time.
- The price of freedom.
- Some event led him to killing over 200 men and playing a mean six-string at the same time.
- Event relates to his Ma.
- Maybe Ma finds finds out Buddy’s actual job (an assassin/samurai). Then proceeds to disown him, “you are just like your father.”
- This event devastates Buddy, who turned to crime to support his Ma originally.
- As a result, Buddy takes his anger and sorrow and fights for his freedom.
- Killing over 200 men and playing a mean six-string at the same time.
- Has ties with Infernus.
- Maybe Hank gave both of them a choice. Infernus took the offer. Buddy didn’t.
- “That was the difference between you and me, Fern. You got out too soon. I got in too deep.”
- Maybe Hank gave both of them a choice. Infernus took the offer. Buddy didn’t.
- I think he is a good foil for a lot of characters, particularly representing the choice opposite of their own.
- Fern took Hanks offer. Buddy didn’t.
- Bebop fights for Mrs. Shelly, but she doesn’t know what he does. Buddy fought for his Ma, but she found out.
- Abrams is obsessed with his book. Buddy is obsessed with his guitar.
- REM is on a lost path. Buddy was on a lost path.
- Haze dreams of a life outside of OSIC. Buddy dreamt of a life free from the Syndicate he was once part of.
- On a side note, the Syndicate doesn’t exist anymore. Buddy killed them all. (Over 200 men, while playing a mean six-string at the same time.)
- GT fights for revenge. Buddy fought for revenge.
Major note: All of Buddies abilities and close range melee attacks can apply on jungle camps and objectives, marks and all.
Weapon “Idle Plaything (Idle Hand)”: Buddy uses his Katana as his gun, slashing the air “firing” wind wave beams. A special property of his “gun” is that he does melee damage at close range (ie, if an enemy is actually struck by the sword as it slashes) and applies a mark called, Mark of the Four-Eyes. These close-range slashes cannot be parried, but they do reduced melee damage. Hits with the wave beams refresh or extend duration of Mark of the Four-Eyes, but can not add to the stacks. Has the weakest gun damage overall, but a high (or low, lmao) ammo count. Buddy has to attack to build up damage; this is to encourage Buddy to always be slashin (with intent). An important characteristic of the Katana is that to reload, Buddy has to stand still to resharpen his sword. This trait, in addition to having a high (or low) ammo count, is to force a particular tempo-based playstyle. Favoring guerrilla-type of ambushes before fully committing to a kill.
- To be real, I originally didn’t want him to have a ranged attack. Only melee. But laning phase might be a nightmare. I still think this idea could work. But yeah, the intention originally was melee only.
- The close range slashes cannot be parried, but deal reduced melee damage.
- Taking inspiration from No More Heroes, Buddy’s primary fire is a “low-stance” quick slash. His alt fire is a “high-stance” slower, more powerful slash.
- As such, the close range “alt fire” strikes deal more melee damage than the “primary fire” strikes, but still reduced.
- Gun animation is Buddy slashing his sword left and right.
- To reload, Buddy has to stay still to sharpen his sword
- This is one of his core weaknesses.
- Buddy is a character that wants to keep moving, so forcing him to stop is to create counterplay
- This is to also force a rhythm type playstyle, to require players to have a “start” and “end” for their pressure, attacks, etc. as maintaining and building stacks on Mark of the Four-Eyes is Buddy’s main damage output.
- Buddy’s reload animation is him sharpening his katana.
- He kneels down to sharpen his sword.
- ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
- Why, yes, hello again, No More Heroes.
-
- Since he has to sharpen with both hands, Mystic Guitar fully on his back is a signal he is vulnerable to enemies.
- Fire rate or weapon damage speeds up reloading animation.
- Targets struck by the sword itself are given a mark, Mark of the Four-Eyes, which stacks up to 6 times. (Adjustable)
- Fully stacking a mark perhaps gives a small amount of CDR or adds ammo to Buddy’s Katana or some kind of sustain.
- This is to try and allow Buddy to do combos with his Katana and abilities, and to let him survive in the jungle.
Stacking a mark grants brief bullet/spirit evasion.- Mark of the Four-Eyes, in general, gives Buddy more move speed towards his target.
- Ie, as long as the mark is applied, this is a passive buff.
- It’s basically Vayne’s passive from League of Legends.
- Helps create “trap” situations where Buddy might overcommit as he can’t run away as fast.
- Close-range Katana strikes fill up the Mark
- Primary and Alt fire fill up a certain amount.
- Abilities fill up the mark a certain amount.
- Wind wave beams cannot and do not stack or apply the mark, but extend/refresh duration.
- At whatever max stacks, Mark of the Four-Eyes goes on cooldown (unique cooldown per target) and Buddy gains one string for his ult.
- Only gains a string from fully maxing a stack (3, 4, 5, 6 stacks whatever number that may be).
- This is one of his core weaknesses.
- During Hail to the King, Buddy will sheathe his Katana, and pull out his Mystic Guitar instead.
- Fun fact, sheath is a noun, sheathe is a verb.
- Idk, I thought that was interesting.
- No longer has the close-range katana strike attribute, only ranged.
- Fun fact, sheath is a noun, sheathe is a verb.
- During Hail to the King, Mark of the Four-Eyes changes to Ronin Riff and has the same properties, but reduces Buddy’s damage potentially more. (Reason why later on.)
- Filling a stack for Ronin Riff briefly slows the target, instead of granting a movement boost.
Secondary Fire: Power Chord (plays a power chord for more damage; burst of three notes). Extend/refreshes Ronin Riff.
- Maybe hitting a full “chord” can grant some other debuffs.
———
Light Melee: Quick low kick (refreshes/extends stacks to Mark of the Four-Eyes).
Heavy Melee: Forward thrust with katana [“My drill is the drill that will pierce the heavens!] (adds stacks to Mark of the Four-Eyes).
- During Hail to the King, swings Mystic Guitar like a bat (extends/refreshes Ronin Riff).
Stamina: 2 bars (in Dash Bucket 1. Maybe 2, but with faster stamina recharge)
- The idea is that Buddy has quick, short bursts of mobility punished by longer downtime in between.
- Buddy wants to be a character that keeps moving. So creating moments where he is required to stop moving (like reloading), or hampering his mobility through his own mistakes should be included in some way.
———
1: Pull-Off/Hammer-on
“You don’t want to be like me, kid. Go home, start a family, get a picket fence, and get a real guitar.” - The Six-String Samurai (Movie Quote)
Name inspiration comes from the two guitar techniques. Since a Pull-off requires lifting a fret finger from a higher note for a lower note, the idea is that Buddy “pulls-off” an attack from an incoming enemy. Helps fit the parry aspect of Pull-off as it will “pull-off” an enemy. For Hammer-on, since it requires “hammering onto” a higher note from a lower note, the idea is that the downward slash “hammers on” the enemy.
Pull-off: Swing your katana upwards sending a vertical shockwave in a line dealing Weapon damage to enemies.
- Non-chargeable.
- Vertical line is about the height of the tallest current hero, so like 2m
- Height of the line can be increased.
- Can “parry” (ie interrupt) dashes (and blink abilities/items) if struck at the right time. Buddy must be facing his target, and his target has to be close (melee range).
- This is the reason it does not target.
- Parry only works on targets dashing or blinking in Buddy’s direction.
- Ie, towards and across, not away.
- I imagine a crazy world where an enemy dashes perpendicular to Buddy and he manages to intercept and parry.
- Upon a successful “parry,” refresh one stamina and give one string for Ult (adjustable). Does not target (skill check).
- The target (single-target) directly in front of Buddy will be knocked up into the air. Target will be briefly immobilized at the apex. (Like 0.5-1 second, cannot extend duration. This is to help set up for Hammer-on, or Bend & Release) Knock up height can increase with items/tiers. Does not target (skill check).
- Can still parry dashes and blink abilities/items.
- Just, the image of being whacked repeatedly by a Guitar is just too good for me.
- Same vertical height as Pull-off.
- Can redirect the attack in any direction.
- Bend & Release can be used before Hammer-on.
2: Bend & Release
“Nice tuxedo. Nice tuxedo to DIE in.” - Bowler, before dying to the Six-String Samurai.”
Name inspiration comes from the guitar technique of bending a string then releasing. So, Buddy “bends” his strings around his target, then pulls and releases using inertia to close the gap and bring his target closer. It’s basically Lash Grapple, except it pulls both Buddy and the target.
Bend & Release: Throw out guitar strings wrapping around a single target. Buddy pulls the target and himself towards each other meeting halfway.
- Potentially has charges.
- Can only target heroes.
- Does no damage.
- To encourage using abilities or katana slashes to build up stacks.
- If the target is in the air, or if Buddy is in the air, the target instead is pulled diagonally halfway.
-
- Buddy can influence the direction his target will be pulled diagonally by looking towards that direction.
- Buddy will still fly forward, going a little more than halfway because of the pull’s extra force.
- (Idea is for peeling someone away from intended target.)
- Fun visual gag could be the strings pull the target by the feet in the air.
-
- Will go full distance when used on jungle creep.
- Can create ways to escape.
- Possible mechanic: can be used on enemy/ally troopers.
- Pulls the trooper to Buddy.
- Buddy doesn’t get pulled in.
- I like this idea as a form of “securing” souls in lane. Pull a healing trooper in, secure a heal/soul. Maybe even deny an enemy trooper, but that might be too troll. Then again, the opposite is true too.
- Uses one string.
- No knockback, only damage.
- Will always meet halfway.
- Loses diagonal air property.
- Has same jungle creep effect before ult.
- Can be used before Hammer-on.
“Hey four-eyes! They say you can kill over 200 men and play a mean six-string at the same time. *scoff* Is that really true?” - A wannabe King. (Movie Quote)
Name inspiration is the guitar technique. To be honest, I’m not to familiar with this technique being a bass player. Then again, that’s not an excuse as you can “sweep” on a bass, too. But I think I understood the basic concept as playing notes across strings without the notes bleeding into each other. So, I envisioned this ability as a way to “sweep” across a fight.
Sweep Picking: Buddy blinks and strikes any target up to three times with his Katana dealing weapon damage within a small AOE. Buddy can use his other abilities while using Sweep Picking to create combos.
- Activateable up to three times within a timeframe.
- It’s kinda Riven from League of Legends.
- (The crossed-out section has been reworked to be how Sweep Picking functions during Ult)
Buddy can target anyone in the AOE.AOE moves with him, allowing him to “sweep” across “strings.”AOE can be increased with ability range.Reason as AOE is to allow “feints.”Buddy can strike a target, pretend to run away and strike backBuddy can strike a target at the edge of the AOE to escape around a corner.
Also to make Buddy move, maybe to get a better angle on his intended target.
- When activated an AOE appears around individual enemies.
- This would require Buddy to still run up towards his target.
- Also requiring line of sight.
- I like the image of Buddy mantling and repositioning to get a better angle on targets for Sweep Picking
- Still allows the ability to “sweep” through people.
- Better set up for Bend & Release.
- Buddy will dash towards his target.
- Has travel time or attack has an attack window, so an enemy can dash away from the attack.
- Other abilities can be used during Sweep Picking.
- Getting three strikes on three separate enemy targets refresh a string.
- More rewarding and skillful to achieve than if AOE was only around Buddy.
- Tier 3 allows Buddy to “sweep” to allies.
- Can help set up for parry from Pull-off.
- Only uses one string total.
- Maybe one third per strike to force more string management.
- AOE appears around Buddy instead of around enemies
- Buddy can strike “sweep” to any enemy in the AOE, as long as he has LOS.
- Strikes cause accuracy to decrease.
- Three strikes on the same target refresh a string.
- (Reward for committing, but killing a target too fast could be disadvantageous.)
4: Hail to the King(, baby)
“Only one man can kill this many Russians. Bring his guitar to me.” - Death, aka Slash, the embodiment of Heavy Metal (Movie Quote)
Name inspiration is Army of Darkness. (ha, ha!) But it fits so perfectly with the theme. Also, Elvis never really referred to himself as king. But it fits…
With a snap, followed by a quick drum fill, Buddy whips out his Mystic Guitar and begins his killer solo. During Buddy’s riff, he is more vulnerable to damage and immovable. As he plays, he can challenge a single target for a Guitar Duel, within an expanding AOE by maintaining line of sight. Buddy can end his solo either at any time or for a duration. Buddy ends his solo in classic, spectacular “The Who” fashion by slamming his Mystic Guitar into the ground creating a non-damaging AOE knockback shockwave becoming briefly invulnerable as he slams. Enemies caught in the shockwave are knocked back the radius of the AOE and given the debuff, Bow to the King, making them unable to damage Buddy and vice versa. The target Buddy challenged for a Guitar Duel is not knocked back.
After Buddy’s killer solo, his Mystic Guitar reforms and he uses it as his weapon, gaining added effects and buffs, until he runs out of strings. IE, Buddy’s Ult will last as long as he has strings. During this time Buddy can only do damage to the target he challenged for a Guitar Duel.
- As Buddy plays his solo an AOE expands around him. Max radius if full solo is played.
- Ability Range/Superior Duration could extend the solo!
- Buddy is more vulnerable to damage during his solo and is immovable.
- Buddy is briefly invulnerable when he smashes his Mystic Guitar into the ground, (like .5 - 1 second).
- Only enemies not afflicted with Bow to the King and the target Buddy challenged for a Guitar Duel can damage Buddy.
- Bow to the King debuff lasts as long as the target he challenged for a Guitar Duel is alive.
- Can possibly challenge no one.
- Looks like Buddy got stage fright.
- Or, maybe his target Eshift’d just as Buddy’s solo ends.
- At the end of the solo, Buddy will start using The Devil’s Hands as his weapon as long as he still has string.
- If Buddy kills his target, nearby enemies are afflicted with Ronin Riff, allowing Buddy to damage them, but at reduced damage.
- Ronin Riff is only applied from the death of the singled out target, replacing Bow to the King. As such, it’s on its own timer. Abilities and primary/alt fire can only extend and stack the mark.
- Ronin Riff has same properties as Mark of the Four-Eyes.
- Ronin Riff applies a fading slow on stack.
- Hail to the King lasts as long as Buddy has strings.
- Entirely possible to blow the set by only using primary and alt fire.
- Can possibly use Hail to the King with no strings, ending immediately after smashing the Mystic Guitar.
- Could be a panic ult type situation.
- The Ult itself has a cooldown, and the strings can refresh over time, or functions like Grave's Deadheads.
- Can possibly extend (refreshing strings during Ult) through some abilities and Ronin Riff stacks.
- Sliding grants infinite strings.
- To encourage rocking out.
- If Buddy is half-Ixian, he can maybe transform, unfurling his tail and gaining wings(?), unleashing the Devil of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Abilities remove one full “string” (ie stack). Successfully using Hammer-on and Pull-off removes two strings (so, maybe, first point gives him two strings to start. Primary attacks remove 1/4 of a string. Secondary power chords remove half a string. If a power chord is done with only 1/4 of the last string, it doesn’t do full damage. In the same vein, if an ability is used without a “full” string, it doesn’t do full damage, nor has the extra CC properties. All also causing Hail to the King to finally end.
———
More Movie Quotes:
“Don’t touch my guitar, man. Don’t even touch my guitar.” - The Six-String Samurai
“They were my best bowlers. The one with the four eyes will be hard to defeat.” - Death, aka Slash, the embodiment of Heavy Metal
“Nice tuxedo. Nice tuxedo to DIE in.” - Bowler, before dying to the Six-String Samurai.
"Mesh-head: If I were you… I’d run.
Six-String Samurai: If you were me, you’d be good looking."
———
Thanks for reading everyone. Please feel free to provide questions, comments and critiques!
