Catpain Ruffles - Level 50 Technology Scrapper
Server: Freedom
Global: @furrycat
Primary powerset: Katana
Secondary powerset: Super Reflexes
Inf: 153767326
Template: Build
The "Catpain" was my first character in City of Heroes. I wanted a name that had something to do with my usual furrycat nick while having a superhero feel. Catpain fit the bill. As for Ruffles, that was a reference to my fondness for the /ruffle emote in Star Wars Galaxies.
I chose Katana mainly because I always liked swordplay in games but got bored with the Scrapper archetype by the time I'd hit level 18 and left him alone for a couple of months while I tried some villains.
Most of the Catpain's power choices weren't great from a game mechanics perspective. Super Speed and Fly for instance. They were powers I chose because they sounded cool rather than ones I thought would make a well-rounded character. In April 2006, however, I got him high enough to respec and threw away a bunch of "gee-whizz" powers in favour of a more practical build. Ruffles now has all of the Super Reflexes skills and most of the Katana attacks, sacrificing Speed, Flight and Stealth.
Losing the fun powers was a tough decision but the payoff was worthwhile. With his high defence, elegant moves and swashbuckling costume, the Catpain is finally a worthy successor to the Fencer I played in SWG.
See also: See Official File
Backstory:
INSTITUTE FOR SUPRAPHYSICAL RESEARCH
EXOSKELETAL ENHANCEMENT DIVISION
Project EE9716/S8
(Enhanced Melee Combatant)
Aim of project:
Increase hand-to-hand combatants' speed, accuracy and stamina with artificial exoskeletal limbs.
Test subject:
[Classified]
Preliminary findings:
Subject able to sustain long periods of combat without pause.
Subject wields [Project WD8210/Y2] Katana with well above-average precision.
Subject's reflexes vastly superior to those of average hero.
Recommendation:
Continue project.