Character Design Challenge 101: Gamma Madness!

via Redditor Skitchbot.

When I was in high school, one of my favorite RPGs was "Gamma World", a post-apocalyptic setting where you could get the most random and bizarre creatures you've ever imagined. Playing a three-eyed human-plant hybrid with psychic powers and a bird leg growing out of his back was pretty much de rigueur. It was about as surreal as a game could get, and it's what inspired me for your character design challenge this week:

Create an awesome character portrait based on a randomly generated Gamma-World NPC via this great web site. Include the text description you're given in the comment where you post your image link!

You will get ten random character descriptions, from which you can choose one or all. I'll pick my personal favorites when the week is over, with the one I like best being featured in the right column for the week. The rules otherwise are the same as always:


(Click to embiggen.)

No limit on entries this week, so knock yourselves out. Just make them good!

57 Responses to Character Design Challenge 101: Gamma Madness!

  1. Thundersong says:

    Heyla!

    I was wondering…this is the list I got. Is it going to be the same list for everyone? I actually didn’t realize it was already on the Gamma list, and did a different generator. Then I came back here and used the link again and the same list came up. This will be awesome if it is the same list! Seeing the different interpretations of the same characters!

    1.Jesse: Female Swarm Yeti. Jesse has dirty white fur and white eyes. She wears a mutant insect shell and wields an anvil and chain and circular saw blades. She is cheerful and lusty.

    2.Rege: Male Mind Breaker Android. Rege appears mostly human, but has robotic legs. He wears scrapped tire armor and wields a kitchen knife and an electric nail gun. Rege suffers from traumatic nightmares.

    3.Mondy: Male Empath Plant. Mondy is tall and overweight, with a body of thorny black vines. He wears police riot gear and wields a longbow. Mondy is fascinated by computers and electronics.

    4.Jose: Male Regenerator Octopoid. Jose has green skin. He wears sports gear and carries a plywood shield and a spiked glove. Jose compulsively clenches his fist.

    5.Matthy: Male Magnetic Hawkoid. Matthy is gaunt, with red feathers and gray eyes. He wields throwing knives. Matthy suffers a mild fear of guns.

    6.Margar: Female AI Demon. Margar is short and athletic, with blue skin and small horns. She carries a car door shield and a spiked glove. She is callous and perverted.

    7.Chraymy: Male Gravity Controller Giant. Chraymy is tall and trim, with blue hair and green eyes. He wears mutant scale armor and wields a Colt .45 revolver. Chraymy suffers a traumatic fear of confined spaces.

    8.Redy: Male Nightmare Demon. Redy has red scales. He wears a kevlar vest and wields a spiked glove. He is confident and inquisitive.

    9.Bonne: Female Radioactive Saurian. Bonne has yellow scales and red eyes. She wears motley plastic armor and carries a snowboard shield and a sledgehammer. She is haughty and superstitious.

    10.Wardy: Male Prescient Saurian. Wardy is short and lithe, with white scales and green eyes. He wears a radiation suit and wields an AK-47 assault rifle. Wardy speaks with a mousy voice.

  2. Worf says:

    Thundersong: Heyla!

    I was wondering…this is the list I got. Is it going to be the same list for everyone?

    Must be you. I opened the site twice and got two different lists.

  3. Jeff Hebert says:

    No, it should be different for each person, I’m pretty sure it’s randomly generated o the fly. I got a different set of results from yours just now — here’s my first entry:

    Anen: Female AI Saurian. Anen is athletic, with yellow scales and gray eyes. She wears scrapped tire armor and wields a sharpened steel beam. Anen suffers from tremors.

  4. Worf says:

    @Jeff? highjacking the thread a little but, aren’t we missing some pop quiz results????

  5. Jeff Hebert says:

    Worf:
    @Jeff? highjacking the thread a little but, aren’t we missing some pop quiz results????

    Oops! Sorry, coming up.

  6. Dangerfish says:

    Here is my entry

    http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l602/Dangerfish_93/Heromachine%20Creations/Dangerfish_Jony-the-Yeti.png

    Meet Jony: Male Photonic Yeti. Jony is tall, with dirty white fur and amber eyes. He wears mutant scale armor and wields an anvil and chain and a Colt .45 revolver. Jony is fascinated by computers and electronics.

  7. MadMole says:

    Keithua: Male Telekinetic Android. Keithua is distinctly robotic, with a robotic arm and a radio antenna. He wields a sling. Keithua compulsively plays with a silver coin.

    http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/275/0/1/keithua_the_telekinetic_android_by_maadmole-d5gllq5.png

  8. Silverlynx says:

    Amah
    *Female Mind Coercer Android:
    Amah appears human, with braided blue hair and blue eyes;
    she wears a heavy wool coat and wields a crowbar and an alien laser pistol; she is energetic and stoic.

    http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/275/6/1/amah_by_eilryll-d5gm103.jpg

  9. Keith_Kanin says:

    Had a pretty good start on my entry. Accidentally clicked on the ad banner in the corner. Lost the last hour of my life. 🙁 Lesson learned. SAVE early and sove often.

  10. The Atomic Punk says:

    Loved playing “Gamma World.” Though I admit that the rules were somewhat cumbersome. Got my ten. Bonne chance, tout le monde!

    Also, DonJon is an awesome Generator! I was thinking of re-visiting my mecha-verse. This will help with world-building.

  11. Thundersong says:

    Heyla!

    Just opened the site again, and…Oh wells, still got the same list. I am supposing that is a Sign??? LOL!

  12. Keith_Kanin says:

    Ok, I started over and,

    Heeeerrrrreeeee’s

    JOHNNY!: Male Electrokinetic Octopoid. Johnny has six tentacle legs and light blue eyes. He wears scrapped tire armor and wields a baseball bat and a Colt .357 revolver. Johnny suffers a paralyzing fear of darkness (Hence the flashlights).

    http://i.imgur.com/UpUVi.png

  13. Keith_Kanin says:

    I just realizet the site that I am using to upload my pics isn’t saving the pic with the proper name. Looks like I need to find a new image hosting site so I can fix that. Any suggestions?

  14. Jeff Hebert says:

    Keith_Kanin:
    I just realizet the site that I am using to upload my pics isn’t saving the pic with the proper name. Looks like I need to find a new image hosting site so I can fix that. Any suggestions?

    You can put them here on the forums if you like. Or you could use PhotoBucket, that seems pretty easy to use.

  15. drow says:

    @Thundersong all the NPCs are generated randomly, for each page load. if you keep seeing the same list everytime, your web browser is probably caching it.

    nice work, all. 🙂

  16. Marquis Samedi says:

    Woo, back in the saddle.

    Donio: Male Pyrokinetic Saurian. Donio is short and overweight, with red scales and gray eyes. He wears a kevlar vest and carries a snowboard shield and a chainsaw. Donio suffers from amnesia.

    http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk140/marquis_samedi/MarquisSamedi-Donio.png

  17. Beelz says:

    Jimmy: Jimmy human hypercognitive. Jimmy tall, with green skin and dirty brown hair. Armed with a plywood shield and shuriken. Jimmy suffers hallucinations.

    http://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/s605/Sir_Frog/SirFrog-Jimmy_zpsf13ffc88.png

  18. Keith_Kanin says:

    Thanks Jeff. Got on PhotoBucket. So once again
    Heeeeeeerrrrrrreeeeee’s Johnny!

    http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y493/Keith_Kanin/Keith_Kanin-Johnny.png

    JOHNNY!: Male Electrokinetic Octopoid. Johnny has six tentacle legs and light blue eyes. He wears scrapped tire armor and wields a baseball bat and a Colt .357 revolver. Johnny suffers a paralyzing fear of darkness (Hence the flashlights).

  19. djuby says:

    Jose: Male Alien Arachnoid. Jose appears partly human, but has a gray body and large, spider-like fangs. He carries a satellite dish shield and a combat knife. He is hateful and zealous

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/djuby/2012/10/djuby-josegammaworld.jpg

  20. Melmo44 says:

    Denne: Male Exploding Arachnoid. Denne has a white body and eight legs. He wears an alien spacesuit and wields a spiked glove and shuriken. He is friendly and stoic.

    http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/276/e/3/denne_by_melmo44-d5gq254.jpg

  21. Jay says:

    Here is Jackenn

    http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47/wilddog85/creations/JasonParr_Jackenn_zps91ef1a6b.jpg

    Jackenn: Male Cryokinetic Arachnoid. Jackenn appears partly human, but has a gray body and eight black eyes. He carries a hubcap shield and a frying pan. Jackenn speaks with a stutter.

  22. krivalis says:

    Wanda: Female Hypercognitive Android. Wanda is distinctly robotic, with silver skin and robotic legs. She carries a hubcap shield and shuriken. She is morose and strict.

    http://imageshack.us/a/img821/4530/wandaw.jpg

  23. Rony: Male Vampiric Simian. Rony has golden fur and bright blue eyes. He wears a heavy wool coat and wields a replica fantasy sword and a longbow. He is honest and secretive.

    AaronOfMpls-Rony.pngAaronOfMpls-RonyPortrait.png

  24. Scatman says:

    I think I am gonna have to opt out on this one,not feeling very creative today!have a great time with it I can’t wait to see what you guys come with!!

  25. Starfighterace421 says:

    I have four done from my list.

    Cara: Female Antimatter Blaster Fungoid. Cara appears partly human, but has numerous thin, tendril-like arms. She wears motley steel plate armor and carries a satellite dish shield and a chainsaw. Cara suffers from blindness. http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/Starfighterace421-Cara.png

    Joycy: Female Vampiric Demon. Joycy is athletic, with crimson skin and small, bat-like wings. She wears a leather duster and wields a Glock 9mm pistol. She is cautious and haughty. http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/Starfighterace421-Joycy.png

    Athleen: Female Pyrokinetic Felinoid. Athleen has striped auburn fur and bright yellow eyes. She wields an electric nail gun. She is bloodthirsty and vengeful. http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/Starfighterace421-Athleen.png

    Mara: Female Hypercognitive Yeti. Mara is tall and slender, with dirty white fur and large green eyes. She wears an alien spacesuit and carries a spiked wooden shield and a boat oar. She is fearless and impish. http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/Starfighterace421-Mara.png

    As for why they’re all female, my list only gave one male who wasn’t as interesting.

  26. tolkienhiste says:

    Suse: Female Alien Plant. Suse has a woody trunk and blue vines. She wears replica samurai armor and wields a light crossbow . Rose compulsively cracks her knuckles.
    http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o468/tolkienhiste/tolkienhiste-Susesamurai.png

  27. tolkienhiste says:

    Jacquel: Female Antimatter Blaster Android. Jacquel appears mostly human, but has robotic legs. She wields throwing darts. She is absent-minded and confident.
    http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o468/tolkienhiste/tolkienhiste-Jacquel.png

  28. Starfighterace421 says:

    Lisse: Female Reanimator Human. Lisse is short and stout, with gray skin and green hair. She wears mutant hide armor and carries a snowboard shield and a heavy iron pipe. She is perverted and vengeful.
    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/starfighterace421-Lisse.png

  29. djuby says:

    Albew: Male Speedster Saurian. Albew has black scales and narrow black eyes. He wears mutant scale armor and wields a sledgehammer and a tire iron. Albew speaks with a loud voice.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/djuby/2012/10/djuby-gammaworldsaurianalbew.jpg

  30. Melmo44 says:

    Deby: Female Doppelganger Android. Deby appears human, with blue skin and red hair. She wears sports gear and wields a sling. She is barbaric and brutal

    http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/277/3/c/deby_by_melmo44-d5gsva6.png

  31. Starfighterace421 says:

    Aniel: Female Entropic Demon. Aniel has small, bat-like wings. She wields a kitchen knife and a Colt .357 revolver. Aniel speaks with a lisp.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/starfighterace421/2012/10/Starfighterace421-Aniel.png

  32. KEric says:

    Here’s the Story I May do another, but these are HARD-HARD to think up and hard to do! BOL
    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/KericsStory.jpg

  33. Legatus says:

    Here is my entry:
    Jery: Male Pyrokinteic Yeti. Jery is short and trim, with yellow fur and soft brown eyes. He wears a replica samurai armor and wields a replica fantasy sword and a Colt .45 revolver. He is coarse and curious.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/legatus/2012/10/Legatus-Jery.png

  34. Jose: Male Wheeled Hawkoid. Jose is tall, with green feathers and black eyes. He wears PVC chain armor and wields a golf club and an alien laser pistol. He is stoic and superstitious.

    http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk223/tigerdragonmaster/HeroMachineCharacters/tigerdragonmaster-Josepng.png

  35. Keith_Kanin says:

    Jackeith: Male Speedster Yeti. Jackeith is short and athletic, with yellow fur and dark green eyes. He wears a mutant insect shell and wields an alien blaster rifle. He is energetic and honest.

    http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y493/Keith_Kanin/Keith_Kanin-Jackeith_zps9a01017b.png

  36. KEric says:

    thought I should try to put the description outside of the picture
    Bracha Female Seismic Android: Bracha appears mostly human, but with Silver skin. She wears an alien spacesuit and wields a framing hammer and an Uzi submachine gun. Bracha suffers from deafness.

    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/KericsBracha.jpg

  37. KEric says:

    (Posted with an Average sized man to show size)
    Pauley Female Gelatinous Giant :
    Pauley is Tall and athletic with dark skin and black hair.
    She wears sports gear and carries a spiked wooden shield and a
    chainsaw. She is curious and cynical.

    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/KericsPauley.jpg

  38. KEric says:

    Bina: Female speedster fungoid:
    Bina appears partly human, but has numerous thin tenderal like arms. She wears a leather duster and wields a replica fantasy sword and a tire iron. She is cruel and vengeful.

    http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/q539/kjell17/Hero%20Machine%20Creation/KericsBina.jpg

  39. Harlequin says:

    Caria: Female Vampiric Human. Caria has light skin and cropped blonde hair. She wears a heavy wool coat and wields a frying pan. Caria speaks with a quiet voice.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/tarkabarka/2012/10/Harlequin_Caria.PNG

  40. Jack Zelger says:

    Jeff,
    Supposing someone started on a character, but accidentally closed the generator, and lost the actual text. Is it okay to just post what you remember as the description?

  41. Jeff Hebert says:

    That’s fine, Jack.

  42. Sir Awesome says:

    Rence: Male Prescient Hawkoid. Rence has brown feathers and green eyes He wears replica samurai armor and carries a spiked wooden shield and an AK-47 assault rifle. He is hateful and ruthless

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/sir-awesome/2012/10/Rence_sirawesome.png

  43. Skybandit says:

    Ten characters make two teams of five each.

    Wayne’s Seekers want to rediscover lost technology for the good of all races, while Jose’s Scavengers look for it to increase their personal wealth and power. The two groups often find themselves following the same leads and rumors and then coming into conflict with one another.

    The Seekers:

    Wayne: Male Entropic Human. Wayne has black skin and purple eyes. He wears a heavy wool coat and wields a heavy iron pipe and a sawed-off shotgun. He is absent-minded and superstitious. The leader of the group, he is a descendant of US Military leadership.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Wayne.png

    Phewalt: Male Vampiric Cockroach. Phewalt is trim, with a red shell. He wears scrapped tire armor and carries a snowboard shield and a replica fantasy sword. Phewalt suffers from delusions. The warrior of the group, he thinks he’s attractive to Dori.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Phewalt.png

    Hillie: Male Entropic Octopoid. Hillie has long tentacle arms and yellow eyes. He carries an oven door shield and a golf club. He is curious and stoic. The mystic of the group, he has a great deal of ancient knowledge.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Hillie.png

    Dori: Female Vampiric Saurian. Dori has blue scales and soft green eyes. She wears mutant hide armor and wields a sawed-off shotgun. She is cheerful and haughty. The joker of the group, she’s prone to practical jokes.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Dori.png

    Izan: Female Shapeshifter Fungoid. Izan appears partly human, but has red spongy flesh. She wears a heavy wool coat and wields an AK-47 assault rifle. Izan suffers a traumatic fear of crowds. The trader of the group, she can change forms to give a good impression.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Izan.png

    The Scavengers:

    Jose: Male Magnetic Giant. Jose is tall and lithe, with white skin and dark blue eyes. He wears a mutant insect shell and wields a sledgehammer and a longbow. He is fierce and superstitious. The mastermind of the gang, he can detect buried lodes of metal.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Jose.png

    Jonio: Male Mythic Cockroach. Jonio is short, with a blue shell. He wears salvaged power armor and carries a road sign (Exit 51) shield and a throwing axe. He is corrupt and hateful. The torpedo of the gang, he’s an expert assassin.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Jonio.png

    Dena: Female Electrokinetic Hawkoid. Dena is tall, with yellow feathers and sharp gray eyes. She wields a spiked glove and a Colt .357 revolver. She is disloyal and insane. The enforcer of the gang, she worships Jose as her personal God.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Dena.png

    Sharoy: Male Mind Coercer Saurian. Sharoy has green scales and sharp gray eyes. He wears sports gear and wields a pickaxe and a longbow. He is cowardly and cruel. The trickster of the gang, he mentally influences the others to fight for him.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Sharoy.png

    Hane: Male Gelatinous Plant. Hane is tall, with a body of thorny black vines. He wears mutant scale armor and carries a hubcap shield and a boat oar. He is lusty and stoic. The con-man of the gang, he’s a master lockpick.

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-Hane.png

    This isn’t an entry, but I photoshopped a group shot for scale:

    http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af309/skybandit/Skybandit-PhotoshoppedGroupShot.png

  44. Sir Awesome says:

    sorta re did my entry
    Rence: Male Prescient Hawkoid. Rence has brown feathers and green eyes He wears replica samurai armor and carries a spiked wooden shield and an AK-47 assault rifle. He is hateful and ruthless

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/sir-awesome/2012/10/Rence_sirawesome-2.png

  45. Melmo44 says:

    Frese: Female Wheeled Simian. Frese has white fur and light amber eyes. She wears a mutant insect shell and carries an oven door shield and a chainsaw. Frese compulsively flirts with others.

    http://th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2012/280/b/e/frese_by_melmo44-d5h1oik.jpg

  46. Sir Awesome says:

    Altel: Male Gravity Controller Android. Altel appears mostly human, but has a robotic arm and glowing green eyes he wears motley plastic armor He carries a sawed-off shotgun and a Colt .357 revolver. He is arrogant and secretive.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/sir-awesome/2012/10/attel-sirawesome.png

  47. Herr D says:

    http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/hm3/HerrD-JohnnyMindbreakerRND.jpg

    Johnny: Male Mind Breaker Felinoid. Johnny has striped yellow fur and black eyes. He wields a kitchen knife and an Uzi submachine gun. Johnny suffers from tremors.

  48. The Atomic Punk says:

    Andrah: Female Gelatinous Saurian. Andrah is tall, with red scales and bright yellow eyes. She wears sports gear and wields a sawed-off shotgun. She is impish and mischievous.

    Close-up

  49. djuby says:

    Jacquel: Female AI Cockroach. Jacquel is tall and lithe, with a white shell. She wears motley plastic armor and wields a sawed-off shotgun. She is aggressive and lusty.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/djuby/2012/10/djuby-gammajacquel.jpg

  50. NHA247 says:

    This is Arrymo

    Description: Male Nightmare Human. Arrymo is tall and athletic, with gray skin and curly copper hair. He wears a mutant insect shell and wields an AK-47 assault rifle. Arrymo suffers a mild fear of injury.

    http://imageshack.us/a/img217/1957/nha247arrymopng.png

    Thanks!

    -NHA247

  51. MrVampire says:

    Froge: Male Radioactive Octopoid. Froge has red skin. He wields a golf club and a Glock 9mm pistol. Froge speaks with a loud voice.

    http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/vv97/MrVampire_photos/HeroMachine/MrVampire-Froge.png

  52. Kaylin88100 says:

    Heward: Male Telekinetic Felinoid. Heward is tall and slender, with striped black fur and amber eyes. He wears motley steel plate armor and wields a baseball bat and a light crossbow. Heward speaks with a soft voice.
    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/kaylin88100/2012/10/Kaylin88100-Gamma_World_Heward.png

  53. rancid says:

    http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/rancid20/other/rancid-roly.jpg
    roly:female entropic cockroach-tall,gaunt,orange shell.wears salvaged power armor,caries oven door shield and m2 x2 25 mm auto cannon. is shy and impish.
    http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/rancid20/other/rancid-kella.jpg
    kella:female reanimator plant- short, with body of green vines. wears a mutant insect shell. carries a spiked wooden shield and javelins. fearless and strict.
    http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/rancid20/other/rancid-jacquel.jpg
    jacquel:female cyrokinetic octopoid- long tentacle arms and green sharp eyes. wears a kevlar vest. weilds a dead flash light and throwing knives. has a fear of blood.

  54. Jack Zelger says:

    Here’s my Gamma character. I lost the original description, but I think I recreated it pretty closely:
    “Dianie: Female Antimatter Blaster Felinoid. Dianie is tall, with spotted orange fur and blue eyes. She wields a sling.” I chose to make Antimatter Blaster her weapon of choice.

    Dianie was civilized member of a once ferocious species who curbed their more animalistic attributes when joining the intergalactic community. Dianie was a crew member on a starship that crashed and left her stranded. After a time, her uniform was tattered and she became one of the fierce hunters her people used to be, fighting for her life on a wild planet.

    http://i744.photobucket.com/albums/xx88/jzelger/JackZelger-Dianie.png

  55. dblade says:

    Alas I did not have time to finish my entry, but here is what I have done so far.

    Chrusse: Male Reanimated Hawkoid. Chrusse has brown feathers and green eyes. He wears scrapped tire armor and carries a spiked wooden shield and a frying pan. Chrusse suffers from colorblindness.

    http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/dblade/2012/10/dblade_ChruseTheHawk_1.jpg

  56. Jeff Hebert says:

    OK folks, this one’s closed. Results coming up later today. Thanks for entering, I know it was harder than anyone thought it would be!