Really, Really Implausium!

[WhammeWhamme]

Okay. I just had a cool idea for a character:

The Catalyst. Seemingly non-powered, she has a very subtle, very effective power. She loosens up the already less than fixed laws of super-physics. This allows the creation of "impossible" devices... which only work in her presence.

This also somewhat 'juices up' other superpowers around her.

To make the most of it, she devises a battlesuit/array of gadgets/whatever (powered by a completely unworkable perpetual motion device I once dreamed up), and operates as a (paid) superhero.

Anyway. What are some cool ideas for 'impossible. no, REALLY impossible!!!' gadgets?

[Katherine]

I'm really really stumped by this...

[WhammeWhamme]

I'm really really stumped by this...

There, there. It's okay. :)

Did I mention the inspiration was the common experience that some people have an 'aura' that makes computers work (better)?

[Katherine]

It seems like the GM would have had to have established some tech limits to the campaign in house rules. And this power would specifically let her violate them. Exactly how this would be written I have not a clue.

[freakboy6117]

or worse for that matter.

how about super elastic like flubber that actually has more kinetic energy after it hits a surface than it did before.

a pill that makes you impervious to vaccum.

psychokinetic memory metal i'e a metal that changes shape when you think at it.

any of divincis flying machinesthough modern tests show several of them would have actually have flown

an ornithopter


any number of gizmos and gadgets from the back page of old comics.

[JayH]

cold fusion (sorry Drs Fleishmann and Pons)

[Katherine]

Tachyon Thrusters that actually cost more energy as you try to slow down?

[freakboy6117]

a pocketsized babbage xcalculating machien with the power of a cray

[nexus]

The Quantum Xerox Machine. Scans an object down the quantum level and creates an exact duplicate from 0 point energy.

Duplication, UAA. :)

[KA.]

This is similar to, and fits nicely with, a concept I thought of a day or two ago.

"The Believer"
A character that is able to believe in things so strongly that they work.
Not a powerful being like "The Shaper of Worlds", just an everyday guy who actually believes what he is told, so strongly that it defines his reality.

So things like "X-Ray Specs" actually work for him.
All those gadgets you see on late-night TV, they work great too.
His Ginsu knife never gets dull and can cut through an anvil.
He has made millions using Carleton Sheets real estate course.
He always gets a great deal on a quality used car at the local dealership.
He met and married the perfect woman using a Dating Club.
He had to stop answering his email, because his new wife got upset about all the hot female celebrities that kept wanting to chat online with him and send him dirty pictures of themselves, for real!

I am not thinking of using him as a Player Character, more like one of those lovable NPC's that is always stirring up trouble through no fault of their own.
(By the way, I run a Four Color campaign, so this sort of thing works. I don't think this would fit in a darker campaign.)

KA.

[AngryBug]

Okay, let's see if I really can think of six impossible things before breakfast...

1. A device which absorbs/stops all kinetic energy. (Missile Deflection, Teleportation UAA only to stop velocity)

2. A field which perfectly bends all light around the character. (Invisibility)

3. A 'super-gyroscope' which keeps the character perfectly balanced at all times (Acrobatics as a power, Clinging on narrow/mostly horizontal surfaces only)

4. A 'super-magnet' that works as well as the ones in the cartoons. (Hmmm... Summon all metal objects in area? A really strong TK metal only?)

5. Oh, speaking of cartoons... how about a Portable Hole? (Teleportation, UAA)

6. A 'strobe light' effect which causes instant hypnosis. (Mind Control)

[WhammeWhamme]

(teehee)

These are very funny.

Especially "the Believer".

[Magmarock]

Okay. I just had a cool idea for a character:

The Catalyst. Seemingly non-powered, she has a very subtle, very effective power. She loosens up the already less than fixed laws of super-physics. This allows the creation of "impossible" devices... which only work in her presence.

This also somewhat 'juices up' other superpowers around her.



I created a character named Catalyst, years ago. She was a slave to a villain who used her powers to boost his own. Had a real cool minature for her too, a plain, young woman in rags and shackles. She wasn't a villain per se, but she didn't have a choice... anyone who knew how to access her power-boost could use her (she had no way of shutting it off).


Mags
- Now where did I put that blasted PC sheet?

[OddHat]

Mechanically this is dead easy to build. Big ol' gadget pool and an Aid elemental control with AOE:R, Invisible, Always On Aid to all Super Powers.

As Katherine pointed out, the problem is that Super Science is already so rubbery that most characters won't notice the Catalyst's "Even More Super Science."

In my own games I use the Wild Cards idea that Super-Gadgets are mostly junk powered by the psioncs of the gadgeteer in question. Take away a hero's Amazing Battle Armor and you'll find that it's mostly made out of police issue body armor, standard Kendo armor, old burned out circuit-boards, rubber bands, Legos, Erector Set parts, and a nude Barbie doll.

Did have a character named The Skeptic in one campaign. Mental Illusions, AOE, linked to Mind Controll, AOE, one effect only; You Have No Super Powers.

[nexus]

This is similar to, and fits nicely with, a concept I thought of a day or two ago.

"The Believer"
A character that is able to believe in things so strongly that they work.
Not a powerful being like "The Shaper of Worlds", just an everyday guy who actually believes what he is told, so strongly that it defines his reality.

So things like "X-Ray Specs" actually work for him.
All those gadgets you see on late-night TV, they work great too.
His Ginsu knife never gets dull and can cut through an anvil.
He has made millions using Carleton Sheets real estate course.
He always gets a great deal on a quality used car at the local dealership.
He met and married the perfect woman using a Dating Club.
He had to stop answering his email, because his new wife got upset about all the hot female celebrities that kept wanting to chat online with him and send him dirty pictures of themselves, for real!

I am not thinking of using him as a Player Character, more like one of those lovable NPC's that is always stirring up trouble through no fault of their own.
(By the way, I run a Four Color campaign, so this sort of thing works. I don't think this would fit in a darker campaign.)

KA.

I love this idea, would you mind terribly if I borrowed it?

[nexus]

In my own games I use the Wild Cards idea that Super-Gadgets are mostly junk powered by the psioncs of the gadgeteer in question. Take away a hero's Amazing Battle Armor and you'll find that it's mostly made out of police issue body armor, standard Kendo armor, old burned out circuit-boards, rubber bands, Legos, Erector Set parts, and a nude Barbie doll.
.

I've always wanted to run a DC style campaign that takes this idea a step further. Everything is a mental construction, the gadgets, the henchmen (either unconsiously mind controlled, illusions or mental constructs) everything is essentially a product of the villain's psychosis expressing itself threw their latent psionic powers. It would explain how a stand up comedian that couldn't get work is suddenly building costume vehicles and new forms of nerve gas. :)

[OddHat]

I've always wanted to run a DC style campaign that takes this idea a step further. Everything is a mental construction, the gadgets, the henchmen (either unconsiously mind controlled, illusions or mental constructs) everything is essentially a product of the villain's psychosis expressing itself threw their latent psionic powers. It would explain how a stand up comedian that couldn't get work is suddenly building costume vehicles and new forms of nerve gas. :)

Ha! I love this! I may just do a Silver Age style theme villain using this for next week's game. :)

Rep for you as soon as I can. :)

[Kristopher]

Technology that violates the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics, allowing waste heat to be converted into a usable, storable form such as electricity.

[Kristopher]

I've always wanted to run a DC style campaign that takes this idea a step further. Everything is a mental construction, the gadgets, the henchmen (either unconsiously mind controlled, illusions or mental constructs) everything is essentially a product of the villain's psychosis expressing itself threw their latent psionic powers. It would explain how a stand up comedian that couldn't get work is suddenly building costume vehicles and new forms of nerve gas. :)

That's good. I like it.


(Of course, the Silver Age DC gadgeteer comes up with a psi-inhibitor by the end of the story arc, and everything but the villain just disappears.)

[freakboy6117]

"The catalyst donned her latest invention buckling the sturdy brown leather harness. She adjusted the chunky Bakelite switches and dials until a warm orange glow emminated from the various valves and reedouts bolted to the leather her began to be drowned out by the gentle white-green glow of the electro responsive kalvorite alloy. Then to the gentle whine of the Perpetua-genrator and capacitor bank powering up she slowly lifted into the air.

Concentrating hard she tuned into the frequency of the psi-steel switches activating the propulsion array pushing her gently across her lab floor to her work bench and then gently lowering her self to the ground.

She reached for the chunky flying gloves he had used as the basis for her other new discovery pulling them on in turn the tracery of metal filaments she had adhered to the surface glistening in the light from her still active flight belt she plugged the heavy shielded cable running from the Perpetua-generator strapped to her back into each glove the hum of the capacitors charging up and the cooling fans drawing heat from the gloves internal cooling system making tingel with cold.
She made a fist her thumb pressing down a pressure stwich in the side of the gloves index finger.
A glowing electromagnetic bottle enveloping her hand and the capacitors discharging turning the air around her and into a glowing ball of plasma the heat even with the cooling system and the protective magnetic force field was uncomfortable but anything for science stepping over top the test panel of harden steel plate.

She punched the plate disrupting the magnetic bubble. A narrow lance of plasma exploded through the steel. she pulled her hand back looking at the glowing hole punched through the steel by ball super heated gases.

Excellent she muttered."

other fun stuff
how about a light sabre type weapon formed from warped space time
a quantum tunnling effect suit that allows you to selectivly alter quantum effects and step through walls/short range teleport.

[Ndreare]

MAn both of these are awesome character concept.
I give Kudoes to both of you.

I may have to use them in a game.

[keithcurtis]

I think Catalyst would work best as one of those "Gizmo" type gadgeteers. She cobbles together high tech gadgets out of objects that even an abject layman knows couldn't possibly work:

Straps a fire extinguisher upisde down on her back and wraps it with copper wire and adds a tinfoil fin. Now it's a rocket pack.

Mixes together three common household ingredients and dips glasses in them: X-Ray Spec's.

Wraps a piece of drain pipe in D-cell batteries and it's a ray gun.

A joy buzzer in her hands is an instant taser.

As far as I can tell, this would be the best way to truly separate her from the bulk of comic book gadgeteers and rubber-science. Her science would have to be blatently impossible, beyond the realm of comic-book plausibility.

Keith "give me some string, two anvils and a pez dispenser. I've got a plan..." Curtis

[Fireg0lem]

I once made a reformed super-villain named Energon whose only power was adjusting abilities up and down. He used to be a "flunky-for-hire." Never got to play him, though.

[KA.]

I love this idea, would you mind terribly if I borrowed it?

No problem at all.

Just be aware that I am printing this post, so that when you are licensing the movie rights for this character some day, I can go on talk shows as a bitter, broken, old man, who was robbed of his life's work. :eg:

Just kidding,

KA.

[KA.]

MAn both of these are awesome character concept.
I give Kudoes to both of you.

I may have to use them in a game.

Thanks, Ndreare.

KA.

[Badger]

After reading Keith Curtis post....basically make your character MacGuyver (w/o the bad hair, hopefully :) )


In real life, I am pretty sure I have an "aura" that makes computers break down. :)

[WhammeWhamme]

After reading Keith Curtis post....basically make your character MacGuyver (w/o the bad hair, hopefully :) )


In real life, I am pretty sure I have an "aura" that makes computers break down. :)

Well, I agree. This power lends itself to being Macguyver.

That said, all the other, really great ideas... are being incorporated into her primary gadget array. Here's what I have for powers, description wise (stats will come later, or not at all):

Powers:
Catalyst has the linked powers of super-intelligence and "implausibility". The first is simple enough, the latter not so. In essence, her presence changes the 'way things work', enhancing most superpowers (and super-technology), and most importantly, enabling her completely implausible devices to actually work. This field only operates in a one meter sphere around her, normally. The effects of the implausibility field _can_ be extended to greater distances, but only if Catalyst is consciously aware and can sense the device.

Catalyst, taking full advantage of her implausibility field, usually carries around an assorted oddment of devices. Such as a torch. A common, everyday heavy duty torch. Apart from being unaccountably blindingly bright, that is. Which, when the appropriate cellophane transparency is placed on top of it, can do amazing things. Such as Generate a 'light-bending' invisibility field. Or holograms. Or a laser beam. Or, when flickered on and off rapidly, a hypno-strobe.

Or what looks to be an ordinary pair of headphones attached to a radio. That can decode, receive and transmit any kind of messages. And generate a sonic blast. Or just recreate the sounds of an entire symphony accurately.

Or her screwdriver. With a battery attached, and wire wrapped around it. Somehow, it generates an intense, and completely controllable, electromagnetic field. That allows it throw around cars - somehow, it can also pull, as well as push. Or short circuit shielded machinery. Or, with the addition of a few feet of wire, act as a taser.

Her pocket-supercomputer; a calculator spray painted silver.

Her 'aerosol Force Field'.

Her 'mind shield' - tinfoil, with a small battery strapped to the inside.

The spinning top helicopter; just spin it and hold on to the string to fly.

Her Shades of Seeing. Totally opaque except for what she's looking at, as long as it's been sprayed in what looks to be deodorant; somehow this transparency effect extends to things she's looking at.

All these, and even more unlikely devices, operate within her 'implausibility field'. Should what she has on hand be insufficient, she can whip up more with any kind of components at all, quickly, easily, and effectively.

Her power actually makes all machines more compliant and efficient, not just her inventions; perhaps it modifies things to be 'the way people think they should be’.

[WhammeWhamme]

To completely update this, here is the finished background. I rather like how she turned out. (Currently in PBeM submission)

Background Story:

Alessandra was a frustrated child genius. She had an incredible aptitude for devices, designing working model trains and airplanes of her own design as a young child. She was quickly tagged as 'metagene positive', and it was clear to her parents, teachers and friends that she was some kind of genius. Especially the friends. She made all kinds of weird and wonderful toys (and other interesting things) for them to play with, and she always, _always_ had a reasonable explanation for how they worked.

When she first met a computer, it felt only natural to try and work in computing code. After all, she was a genius, and computer was simple enough, right? Well, yes. After reading a few primers, she felt ready to dive head in. She floated like a duck, creating innovate and exciting games and 'scholastic assistance' programs. Revolutionary stuff, especially the code-breaking program she made one lazy Sunday.

Why was she frustrated?

Because every time she submitted an invention for patent tests, or peer review, or even to compete in a two-bit science fair, they were disregarded. 'Implausible'. 'Disregards basic laws of physics'. 'Unworkable'. 'A nice idea, but...'. No matter how thoroughly tested, no matter how brilliant the theory, anything she had someone else look at, was disregarded as silly, nonsensical.

Feeling persecuted, she threw her heart into her greatest work.

A man. A robot. An Android, fully sentient, fully human... and more. Everything that could be asked of such a construction, she found a way to include it, no matter how much effort. It took years, but finally it was achieved. He was perfect, he was sentient, he was ALIVE. Her proof of her skill.

They planned his unveiling in meticulous detail. They would both attend a large robotics conference. They would fake things to get him a speaking slot. He would announce himself... introduce himself... and explain how he came to be. The day arrived, and all went well. His speech was completed, the crowd was awed... and she was accidentally bumped further away from him than she had ever been.

He collapsed like a puppet with his strings cut. Basic analysis showed he was no more than a sophisticated animatronic puppet. Anger at being tricked, and disdain for the 'trickster' arose. She was embarrassed, ashamed. She left, hurriedly.

Then understanding struck.

He'd stopped working without her there. Her presence was a catalyst, allowing for technology to achieve the impossible. Or do the possible far more easily than was plausible. Her power wasn't just intelligence, but a distortion in the nature of reality. While this would seem shattering, knowing that indeed your detractors WERE right... she realized the truth. All of them had been right. Her theories had been based on observable, empirical truth... and their condemnations upon the same.

Still, nice as that was, that left her devices without much of a function.

Unless...

Unless she seized the implausibility with both hands, and truly bent the laws of nature…

She became Catalyst, creator of devices that should not have chance of working.

Quote:
"A time-traveling energy being that views the laws of physics as suggestions? Hmm. Hand me that toothpick, the eraser, the cheesecake, the bagel, the spanner, and the wristwatch. Now, on the count of three… There we go. No more problem…. and I can finish my lunch."

Quote About Her:
"Everyone will laugh about her!"
"Not after they see it all work."

Personality:
"Renaissance Woman" is a nice sound bite. Catalyst is a genius, and as such, can often seem a bit strange. This is compounded by the effects on her of her discovery that she unconsciously bends physics; she is much less serious than before (as really, if the most solemn and sacred ‘truths’ are variable, what matters - also, it’s a good way to cope with a lot of past embarrassment), and can be accurately described as taking nothing very seriously. She doesn’t dwell on the serious side of super work, but her old sense of responsibility and duty to the world does pop up there.

Appearance:
Catalyst has a slightly athletic build, and classical features. Her skin coloration is almost dead average for an Italian woman, while her eyes are an oceanic blue-green. Since discovering the nature of her powers, she is NEVER without a wide assortments of oddments, ends, and accessories; in civilian identity, this is camouflaged in her backpack (thanks to Ziani Corp, she has resumed part time studies, this time in fields other than the sciences). As Catalyst, she wears a large, long lab-coat, with what essentially amounts to a utility belt of normal enough items inside it. In an interesting twist, she wears (somewhat fake) glasses as Catalyst.

Powers:
Catalyst has the linked metagenic powers of super-intelligence and "implausibility". The first is simple enough, the latter not so. In essence, her presence changes the 'way things work', enhancing most metagenic powers (and super-technology), and most importantly, enabling her completely implausible devices to actually work. This field only operates in a one meter sphere around her, normally. The effects of the implausibility field _can_ be extended to greater distances, but only if Catalyst is consciously aware and can sense the device.

Catalyst, taking full advantage of her implausibility field, usually carries around an assorted oddment of devices. Such as a torch. A common, everyday heavy duty torch. Apart from being unaccountably blindingly bright, that is. Which, when the appropriate cellophane transparency is placed on top of it, can do amazing things. Such as Generate a 'light-bending' invisibility field. Or holograms. Or a laser beam. Or, when flickered on and off rapidly, a hypno-strobe.

Or what looks to be an ordinary pair of headphones attached to a radio. That can decode, receive and transmit any kind of messages. And generate a sonic blast. Or just recreate the sounds of an entire symphony accurately.

Or her screwdriver. With a battery attached, and wire wrapped around it. Somehow, it generates an intense, and completely controllable, electromagnetic field. That allows it throw around cars - somehow, it can also pull, as well as push. Or short circuit shielded machinery. Or, with the addition of a few feet of wire, act as a taser.

Her pocket-supercomputer; a calculator spray painted silver.

Her 'aerosol Force Field'.

Her 'mind shield' - tinfoil, with a small battery strapped to the inside.

The spinning top helicopter; just spin it and hold on to the string to fly.

Her Shades of Seeing. Totally opaque except for what she's looking at, as long as it's been sprayed in what looks to be deodorant; somehow this transparency effect extends to things she's looking at.

All these, and even more unlikely devices, operate within her 'implausibility field'. Should what she has on hand be insufficient, she can whip up more with any kind of components at all, quickly, easily, and effectively.

Incidentally, her power makes all machines more compliant and efficient, not just her inventions.

[nexus]

Very nice. She'd fit right into a campaign I have running now. I like how she handled her power without going completely crazy. :)

[OddHat]

Good character! How did you handle this mechanically? My first thought would be a VPP "Gadget" pool with Physical Manifestation rather than Focus, can't change in combat, as taking the focus away just means she has to spend a few minutes throwing together any random objects of opportunity to replace it.

[WhammeWhamme]

Good character! How did you handle this mechanically? My first thought would be a VPP "Gadget" pool with Physical Manifestation rather than Focus, can't change in combat, as taking the focus away just means she has to spend a few minutes throwing together any random objects of opportunity to replace it.

I have NO idea. :)

I "just" finished the background. I think Focus is an appropriate limiter, as the "gadgets" will all be fragile (c'mon - it's a CALCULATOR. Or a TORCH), and can thus be disabled in combat fairly easily. The Pool itself (if I go that way) would have like a -1/4 to -1/2 limitation (total) to reflect the limits on it. (OIF: Objects of Opportunity?).