The FASERIP system was first published by TSR in the Marvel Super Heroes RPG in 1984, and later expanded in the Marvel Superheroes Advanced Game in 1986. The game proved very popular, its easy and flexible system allowed for all levels of play from street level crimefighters to cosmic campaigns. Whilst the original games are decades out of print the system has continued to be available through a range of retroclones and has an active fan community online.
I’ve been playing the game since the 80’s and it’s one of my favourite systems. Whilst the game was originally for the Marvel universe I used to convert a load of other superheroes/villains from other comics and shows to the system to incorporate into my games. That’s something that has stayed with me and I love being able to drop cameo, or ongoing, appearences of characters that originate elsewhere in to my games. In this series of articles I’m converting a number of characters from TV shows and comics to the FASERIP system for a bit of fun.
First up I’ll be looking at some of the characters from The Boys, a dark satirical comic and TV series created by Gareth Ennis and Darick Robinson which began life at Wildstorm Comics before moving to Dynamite Entertainment.
BILLY BUTCHER, MEMBER OF THE BOYS
“Expecting a happy ending, were we? Well, I’m sorry, Hughie. It ain’t that kind of massage parlor.”
I’ve created two character sheets for Billy Butcher – one for him as a normal human and the other with powers after taking a dose of V24.
Real Name: William Butcher
Identity: Public (criminal to authorities, leader of The Boys to allies)
Occupation: Vigilante, former SAS operative, leader of The Boys
Origin: Human (no powers, military background)
Base of Operations: New York City
FASERIP Attributes (Human)
- Fighting: Excellent (20)
- Agility: Good (10)
- Strength: Good (10)
- Endurance: Excellent (20)
- Reason: Good (10)
- Intuition: Remarkable (30)
- Psyche: Remarkable (30)
Health: 60
Karma: 70
Resources: Good (10) — black ops connections, CIA favors, stolen cash.
Popularity: Poor (4) — wanted criminal, feared by supes.
Powers
- None (human).
Talents
- Martial Arts B: +1CS Fighting in unarmed combat.
- Guns: +1CS to Agility when using firearms.
- Military / Tactics: Knows infiltration, small-unit tactics, explosives.
- Leadership: Can organize and inspire The Boys.
- Intimidation: Uses Psyche for fear-based interactions.
- Streetwise
Contacts
- The CIA
- The Boys
- Underworld
Limitations
- Human vulnerabilities (no protection against superpowers).
- Rage/Obsession with Homelander clouds judgment.
- Collateral risk: Will sacrifice allies/innocents to achieve goals.
Roleplaying Notes
“Anyway, you want payback on payback, don’t you? Well, it just so happens that we are experts at exterminating s***bag Supes.“
Billy Butcher is a ruthless, cunning, and charismatic antihero driven by vengeance. Beneath his dark humour and gruff exterior lies a man scarred by loss, particularly the death of his wife, which fuels his relentless hatred for Homelander and Vought.
Butcher is manipulative and pragmatic, willing to bend rules, exploit allies, and use extreme violence to achieve his goals. He often masks his vulnerability with sarcasm and bravado, but flashes of compassion, especially toward Ryan and his team, reveal a conflicted moral core. His leadership is both inspiring and toxic: he commands loyalty through sheer force of will, yet his obsession often endangers those closest to him. Butcher is a man at war with himself, torn between his humanity and his thirst for revenge.
BILLY BUTCHER, V24 VERSION
“Comparatively speaking, this will be a piece of cake.”
Trigger: Injection of V24. Powers last 24 hours (often with side effects: nausea, headaches, bleeding). Repeated doses are fatal after ~3–5 uses.
FASERIP Attributes (on V24)
- Fighting: Incredible (40)
- Agility: Excellent (20
- Strength: Incredible (40)
- Endurance: Monstrous (75)
- Reason: Good (10)
- Intuition: Remarkable (30)
- Psyche: Remarkable (30)
- Health: 175
Karma: 70
Powers (on V24)
- Heat Vision (Energy Emission – Light/Heat): Incredible (40) — can burn through supes, walls, and armoUr.
- Super Strength: Incredible (40) — can crush metal, throw vehicles, brawl with mid-tier supes.
- True Invulnerability: Remarkable (30) — resistant to bullets, fire, explosions, and supe punches.
- Enhanced Healing: Excellent (20) — damage heals quickly, though not instantaneously.
Limitations (V24)
- Time Limit: 24 hours, then powers vanish.
- Fatal Side Effects: Repeated use causes lethal brain and organ damage (GM should track cumulative use).
- Power Instability: Occasionally surges or fails; requires Endurance FEAT to avoid backlash.
- Psychological Toll: Butcher’s darker impulses amplified; more reckless and brutal.
Roleplaying Notes
“As the old saying goes: With great power comes the absolute certainty that you’ll turn into a right c***.”
V24 Billy Butcher is a walking nuclear option; a lethal, short-lived powerhouse whose combat abilities rival mid-tier supes. Roleplay him as ruthless, cunning, and intensely single-minded, prioritizing vengeance over subtlety. While his strength, endurance, and durability allow him to survive conventional attacks, every action carries the risk of collateral damage; he is impulsive in battle and often underestimates allies’ limits. Use his military tactics, street smarts, and intimidation to dominate encounters while supplementing raw power.
Emphasize the psychological strain: V24 amplifies his rage, obsession with Homelander, and reckless streak, making him both terrifying and unstable. Track the 24-hour window carefully — he knows his powers are temporary, which drives desperate, all-or-nothing strategies. After the serum wears off, he is physically vulnerable, mentally exhausted, and possibly traumatized, creating tension and roleplay opportunities for post-powered consequences.
For more information, and background, on Billy Butcher please check out The Boys Wiki Billy Butcher page.
Voices From The Pulpit 