Two Characters, One Body

[Metaphysician]

How would you construct a character that is actually two characters, who have the ability to switch between/turn into each other?? Multiform is the obvious choice, *HOWEVER*, I'm thinking of a case where both forms are fully superheroic on more or less equal levels, as well as mentally indepedent.

[Chris Goodwin]

Multiform. Tailor made for what you're looking for.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Metaphysician
Multiform is the obvious choice, *HOWEVER*, I'm thinking of a case where both forms are fully superheroic on more or less equal levels, as well as mentally indepedent.

"Korea is a peninsula, interesting in that it is surrounded on three sides by water."

"Uh...and thus is a peninsula."

:D

All the forms in a Multiform can be "superheroic". You dont have to have a "puny Bruce Banner" form to go with your "mighty smashing HULK" form. Similarly, all the forms in a Multiform can all look the same if you want, though you would probably need to put IPE on the Multiform at that point -- I'd have to read thru the Power description to check that last bit.

Just balance the points out accordingly.

[TheEmerged]

Okay, it's possible that you mean something you're not expressing well. When you say the forms are mentally independent of each other, do you mean they are not only aware of what happens while the other form is active but can communicate (ala Firestorm's original setup)?

If so, you're still using Multiform -- just arrange the values so both halves are roughly equal pointwise. Then give each form a "computer" that represents the other personality.

[KA.]

Originally posted by Killer Shrike

-snip-
Similarly, all the forms in a Multiform can all look the same if you want, though you would probably need to put IPE on the Multiform at that point -- I'd have to read thru the Power description to check that last bit.

Just balance the points out accordingly.

Killer Shrike,
You are now, officially, my Hero!:)

I have, over the years as a GM, thought up a variety of ways to confound my players with interesting villains.

But this is the most evil thing I have ever seen.

A villain, that keeps swapping in totally new sets of powers for different situations, on the fly, without any change in outward appearance.

Outstanding!

You have our gratitude!

KA.

[Bengal]

Originally posted by Killer Shrike
"Korea is a peninsula, interesting in that it is surrounded on three sides by water."

"Uh...and thus is a peninsula."

I think it's wrong of you to say that only Korea is a peninsula. There are plenty of places in the world surrounded on three sides by water. Are there different Multiform rules for those places?

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by KA.
Killer Shrike,
You are now, officially, my Hero!:)

I have, over the years as a GM, thought up a variety of ways to confound my players with interesting villains.

But this is the most evil thing I have ever seen.

A villain, that keeps swapping in totally new sets of powers for different situations, on the fly, without any change in outward appearance.

Outstanding!

You have our gratitude!

KA. It is an idea of "Extra-Ordinary" magnitude? :D (apologies if the "You have our gratitude!" line wasnt a Kentucky Fried Movie reference ;) )

[KA.]

Originally posted by Killer Shrike
It is an idea of "Extra-Ordinary" magnitude? :D (apologies if the "You have our gratitude!" line wasnt a Kentucky Fried Movie reference ;) )

No, quite right.:)

"We are creating a fighting force of extra-ordinary measure! We forge our bodies in the spirit of our ancestors."

KA.

[GrimJesta]

IPE...

IPE...

<checks books>

Oh man. KS, youre EVIL! Thats a nasty, nasty villain right there, OH MAN!

Gawd this forum is sweet.

-=Grim=-

[Badger]

KA you are evil, man!

<sniff> <sniff> I'm so proud. :D

[KA.]

Originally posted by Badger
KA you are evil, man!

<sniff> <sniff> I'm so proud. :D

Thank you.:)
But a fair share of the credit goes to Killer Shrike.

If I get this monstrosity built soon, I will post it here.

KA.

[Bengal]

I think this sort of construction would go right over the heads of most of my players. Interesting, but more of a "back of the notebook" sort of character, someone to write up just so I can go back and remind myself of how to do it in case I ever want to run him myself.


I wonder? I have a character who uses Multiform to simulate the fact that he has several crime-fighting outfits, each with its own gadgetry in it. Is it necessary to take IPE even if it's clear which suit he's wearing, with that suit's attendant powers, since he looks identical underneath the costume?

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Bengal
I wonder? I have a character who uses Multiform to simulate the fact that he has several crime-fighting outfits, each with its own gadgetry in it. Is it necessary to take IPE even if it's clear which suit he's wearing, with that suit's attendant powers, since he looks identical underneath the costume? I would say no; so long as his form gives a clue as to his abilities or is consistent every time (AH, red suit = his blaster mode; weve seen this one before).

[Allandrel]

Originally posted by Bengal
I think this sort of construction would go right over the heads of most of my players. Interesting, but more of a "back of the notebook" sort of character, someone to write up just so I can go back and remind myself of how to do it in case I ever want to run him myself.


I wonder? I have a character who uses Multiform to simulate the fact that he has several crime-fighting outfits, each with its own gadgetry in it. Is it necessary to take IPE even if it's clear which suit he's wearing, with that suit's attendant powers, since he looks identical underneath the costume?

Do you mean like a Hasbro figure, where every costume is just a repaint with a different accessory set? Or like Spider-Man's "Identity Crisis" storyline, where he switched between foru different costumed personas?

Patrick J McGraw

[Irontom]

I'm new - what does IPE mean?

[CrosshairCollie]

Invisible Power Effects. The theory with putting Invisible on Multiform is that the person will change forms, but nobody will be able to tell.

And, if we're taking votes, I vote for 'evil'.

[TheEmerged]

I vote "been there, done that, got the T-Shirt." It's best done if you let the PC's run into them and think they know what they're up against first :D

[Kolava]

What about two minds in one body, with no ability to shift? How would you work this out, assuming they were fully cooperative (the body can't trip because each wants to go in a different direction) but still seperate minds?

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Kolava
What about two minds in one body, with no ability to shift? How would you work this out, assuming they were fully cooperative (the body can't trip because each wants to go in a different direction) but still seperate minds? A very limited Duplication.

[Kolava]

Originally posted by Killer Shrike
A very limited Duplication.

Duplication?! Sorry, but I'm still grasping the basics here. Could someone show me a sample build of this sort of thing?

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Kolava
Duplication?! Sorry, but I'm still grasping the basics here. Could someone show me a sample build of this sort of thing? Well, its tricky because Duplication varies based upon the character its purchased for.

[Killer Shrike]

Something like this on the base form, which I would make the "only in the head" form (making the other 100% different form the "controls the body" form as it has more points available to it:

On the mental form buy all its physical primary stats down to 0 and take only mental powers/abilities/knowledge skills, etc.

Duplication (creates 350-point form), Cannot Recombine (+0), Altered Duplicates (100%; +1) (140 Active Points); One Body (-1), Always On (-1/2); RC: 56

Also, buy Mindlink for both forms, only with each other.

Mind Link , Human class of minds, One Specific Mind, Psychic Bond; RC: 10

[TheEmerged]

Actually, I'd build it using the AI/Computer rules for the second personality.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by TheEmerged
Actually, I'd build it using the AI/Computer rules for the second personality. That could work too.

[Kolava]

Awesome idea...really...its perfect

But would this be treated like a power? As in...could I buy (OAF -1) for it?

[devlin1]

Originally posted by Kolava
Awesome idea...really...its perfect

But would this be treated like a power? As in...could I buy (OAF -1) for it?

Well, it'd be a regular power, sure, but buying it with a Focus seems totally inappropriate.

Unless it were OAF: Head.

[Kolava]

Heheh...

There are many reasons for having a focus. In FH, you have the ring which makes you hear a spirit's voice in your head, and in a high tech setting you have a personal digital assistant whose mainframe is a little box that can be stolen.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by devlin1
Unless it were OAF: Head. Just dont make it Fragile too :eek:

[Kolava]

Wait, can you buy BODY with the focus: body?

Then make it unbreakable?

Or, for cheap duplication, buy extra focuses :cool:

[Bengal]

Why would you want to simulate this with a power, when a Disadvantage would work just as well (Psych Lim: two seperate minds in one body, vcom, total, 25 points)? Paying points for this sort of construct seems like a poor choice.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Bengal
Why would you want to simulate this with a power, when a Disadvantage would work just as well (Psych Lim: two seperate minds in one body, vcom, total, 25 points)? Paying points for this sort of construct seems like a poor choice. Depends. A second mind (one thinks of Rogue, who has Carol Danvers psyche swimming around in her head) could be the source of some powers, such as Mental Defense, 50% Damage Reduction vs STUN (when one mind gets "staggered" the other takes over, making it twice as hard to CON-Stun the character), and a variety of other effects.

[TheEmerged]

Originally posted by Bengal
Why would you want to simulate this with a power, when a Disadvantage would work just as well (Psych Lim: two seperate minds in one body, vcom, total, 25 points)? Paying points for this sort of construct seems like a poor choice.

Because the second mind might have other skills?

Because the second mind might be able to help jar the first one awake, or out of a mind control?

Because the second mind might be smarter period?

[Bengal]

By building in all the abilities of the two minds into the "base" character (Base? it's just one character), you can simulate either one being smarter. Or dumber. As far as one mind "jarring" the other awake, build in extra Ego or Mental Defense, or extra SPD, useable only to perform breakout rolls, or whatever.


Come to think of it, it might be cheaper to build in the second personality as an AI.