Benchmarks
Rationale[edit]
For players who prefer to build their own characters using the point buy system, or just those who want to get into a "who would win?" type of argument, it may be helpful to have some benchmarks relating ICONS ability scores and power levels to established comic-book superheroes.
Method[edit]
In the ICONS rulebook, Steve Kenson seems to have actually included—but not called out explicitly—some conversion benchmarks in the "Optional Name" column of the scale (p. 5). The benchmark tables offered here coordinate those "Optional Names" with the descriptors in the old TSR Marvel Super Heroes RPG (of FASERIP) fame, ignoring endurance and mapping the other attributes pretty much straight across. Marvel characters’ benchmark ratings comes straight out of MSH supplements; DC characters’ benchmarks draw on writeups by Tystates. Of course, one can quibble with some of these numbers, and characters’ ability levels fluctuate sometimes in the comics. Still, these benchmarks may prove helpful for players who use the point buy system and understand “fights as well as Batman” better than “fights at level 8.”
Ability Score Benchmarks[edit]
| Prowess | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
May Parker |
|
| 2 |
Mary Jane Watson |
|
| 3 |
Havok |
Lex Luthor, Penguin |
| 4 |
Magneto, Mr. Fantastic |
|
| 5 |
Cyclops, Nightcrawler |
Killer Croc |
| 6 |
Spider-Man |
Catwoman |
| 7 |
Daredevil, Wolverine |
Ra's Al-Ghul |
| 8 |
Captain America, Punisher |
Batman |
| 9 |
Galactus |
Wonder Woman |
| 10 |
Thor |
Black Adam |
| Coordination | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
Kree Supreme Intelligence |
|
| 2 |
Juggernaut |
|
| 3 |
Mr. Fantastic |
Lex Luthor, Penguin |
| 4 |
Thing |
|
| 5 |
Punisher, Thor |
|
| 6 |
Black Widow, Wolverine |
Martian Manhunter |
| 7 |
Captain America, Daredevil |
Batman, Catwoman |
| 8 |
Nightcrawler, Spider-Man |
|
| 9 |
Silver Surfer |
Superman, Wonder Woman |
| 10 |
Quicksilver |
Flash |
| Strength | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
May Parker |
|
| 2 |
Alicia Masters |
Penguin |
| 3 |
Mr. Fantastic, Nightcrawler |
Lex Luthor |
| 4 |
Punisher, Wolverine |
Catwoman |
| 5 |
Captain America |
Batman |
| 6 |
Beast |
Aquaman |
| 7 |
Iron Man, Spider-Man |
Cyborg, Metamorpho |
| 8 |
Ms. Marvel, Rogue |
|
| 9 |
She-Hulk, Thing |
Martian Manhunter, Wonder Woman |
| 10 |
Hulk, Thor |
Superman |
| Intellect | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
Hulk (brutish) |
Solomon Grundy |
| 2 |
Lizard |
Killer Croc |
| 3 |
Daredevil, Thor |
Harley Quinn |
| 4 |
Captain America |
Metamorpho |
| 5 |
Spider-Man |
Aquaman, Two-Face |
| 6 |
Curt Connors, Norman Osborn |
Wonder Woman |
| 7 |
Iron Man, Professor X |
Batman, Riddler |
| 8 |
Dr. Doom, Mr. Fantastic |
Lex Luthor |
| 9 |
Mephisto |
Darkseid |
| 10 |
The Watcher |
Brainiac |
| Awareness | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
||
| 2 |
Juggernaut, Vanisher |
|
| 3 |
Colossus |
Killer Croc |
| 4 |
Magneto |
Lex Luthor |
| 5 |
Mr. Fantastic, Punisher |
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) |
| 6 |
Cyclops |
Wonder Woman |
| 7 |
Captain America, Dr. Doom |
Martian Manhunter |
| 8 |
Professor X, Spider-Man |
Batman |
| 9 |
Daredevil, Wolverine |
Superman |
| 10 |
The Watcher |
Phantom Stranger |
| Willpower | ||
| Level |
Marvel |
DC |
| 1 |
||
| 2 |
Norman Osborn, Rogue |
|
| 3 |
Iron Man, Punisher |
|
| 4 |
Captain America |
Killer Croc |
| 5 |
Nightcrawler |
Lex Luthor |
| 6 |
Cyclops, Mr. Fantastic |
Martian Manhunter |
| 7 |
Spider-Man, Wolverine |
Ra's Al-Ghul |
| 8 |
Dr. Doom, Thor |
Superman, Wonder Woman |
| 9 |
Professor X |
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) |
| 10 |
Phoenix (Jean Grey) |
Brainiac, Phantom Stranger |