How evil is this?

[Psylint]

Let me preface this with saying that I had no intention of coming up with a broken power. I recently created a super character whose elemental control was to shift the micro-factors in Newtonian physics, basically instead of every action having an equal and opposite reaction it had a reaction of 1/10 or less. Thus, while the character is not terribly strong, he hits like a hammer (+6d6 HtH attack) because the normal amount of force that would be blunted by the Newtonian reaction is negated.

So, I was thinking he could also increase the reactive force when struck by someone else, so I built a damage shield defined as a 15 STR TK, only works on the whole object, only to "throw" only against melee attacks. The net effect of this was that anytime the character was hit in melee, the striker was knocked down or thrown back.

The problem, it comes in for under 60 active points, and after the 15 pt elemental control bonus and limitations it only costs 25-30 real points.

I really like this power, I think it fits the character conception, but I'm sure it will give the martial artists and bricks fits.

Thoughts?

[Log-Man]

That's really not that bad, I give it a 2.

After all, it offers no defense so the damage from the attack will still get through. Plus, it costs a lot of END right now. Unless you reduce that, which will up the cost a good deal, that 6 END per phase just for a slightly defensive shield will hurt you more than it does them. Not to mention that some bricks will not be moved by a 15 STR effect. I think it's a good, fun effect you've got there. :thumbup:

edit: Ok, I 'misoverestimated' the END cost, but it's still something to consider.

[BobGreenwade]

This certainly fits the mold of giving the other guys an unusual and unexpected problem to solve. This would work best as a villain concept (at least the TK DS part) but I'd throw it at PCs without hesitating. :)

[Log-Man]

By the way, if it hasn't already been said, welcome to the boards :)




And if it has then f...

[Psylint]

Thanks,

I feel better now. I really like the concept of this character, perhaps too much. And he will be making an appearance at some point in my new campaign, just as soon as I can figure out a way to make him a rival or situational antagonist rather than a villan. Then again, no campaign survives contact with players... a GM's lament.

Cheers!

[Trebuchet]

I like it. :eg:

Build it so it only throws the attacker directly away (-1/2) and you'll save additional points. Fast MAs who can close back in or bricks with Density Increase won't be much affected anyway. (And of course the best way to deal with this guy is with Energy Blasts.)

Innovative. :thumbup:

[Mike W]

Well, you also only have 15 STR, so bricks with DI/Growth may not be affected. And martial artists are normally allowed a breakfall roll to "roll through" a throw. It's not that bad.

[SirViss]

If the TK STR is only to throw doesn't it technically still use the "Grab and Throw" mechanic? If it does then most Bricks will pretty much ignore it, as the Opposed STR roll will make them nearly immune.

Unless you want to have Martial Throw as a Damage Shield, and that would be a build tat GMs would have to keep a close eye on. :)

[Gary]

Anyone with 40+ Str is almost immune, and 30 will be immune a decent amount of the time since Casual Str would be enough to shrug off the TK.

[Psylint]

I was using the Grab then immediate throw mechanic, which I took to mean, that it wouldn't work on anyone it required 25 STR to lift, which is a fair amount of growth/DI and rightly so.

But 40 Strength essentially immune? 3d6 versus 4d6 for casual strength and it has to exceed the body roll by twice? Or am I reading the rules incorrectly?

[Rapier]

It's no worse than a KB Damage Shield.

It's a pretty good concept and works pretty good. Let the bricks and martial artists fume. Not every character should be equally effective against every other character. A martial artist may not be able to do much damage against a brick. It's the nature of the beast.

[David Johnston]

You might want to use a knock-back only energy blast instead.

[freakboy6117]

i was inspired and so I give you the sole power of Billy No Mates

Telekinesis (40 STR), Explosion (+1/2), Nonselective Target (-1/4), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2) (135 Active Points); Limited Power Power loses about a third of its effectiveness (only to push moving objects away; -1/2), Always On (-1/2), Affects Whole Object (-1/4)

[Psylint]

Anyone with 40+ Str is almost immune, and 30 will be immune a decent amount of the time since Casual Str would be enough to shrug off the TK.


You might want to use a knock-back only energy blast instead.

Knock-back only energy blast? Never thought of such a thing, wonder what the limitation on it would be? 1? 1 1/2?

Then again, I really like the TK aspect, because it doesn't work as well, if at all, on those incredibly massive types.

[David Johnston]

Knockback blasts don't work well on massive types because massive types are built with knockback resistance (Growth gives you -1 KB per 5 points spent). It's about a -1 1/2 limitation I'd say offhand. I suggest it because the effects woudl be much easider to calculate.

[Log-Man]

Knockback blasts don't work well on massive types because massive types are built with knockback resistance (Growth gives you -1 KB per 5 points spent). It's about a -1 1/2 limitation I'd say offhand. I suggest it because the effects woudl be much easider to calculate.

That's the method I eventually went with. The AP can be high depending upon how you build it, but after limitations and EC bonus it wouldn't be too bad. Depends on how strong you want it. (Don't forget the x2 KB!)

[jkwleisemann]

I used -1 for a "KB generator," myself. And yeah, I've done it before. Had a character who was very firm about not wanting to inflict serious damage on people, but wanting to stop hurtling vehicles and mega-villains in their tracks.

So he had a Stun Only EB... and his KB Only Sonic Concussion Generator. 18d6 EB, KB Only, 1.5x KB (average of 20" KB on a regular hit). Only used it against clearly reinforced targets. Only time it was a serious problem was when he hit Armadillo with it, and the GM ruled that his Sonic vulnerability affected the KB too. :rolleyes:

[Rapier]

There are actually a couple of ways to do a "stop the moving vehicle" brick trick.

Obviously there is plain old STR, Bracing, Running and KB Resistance.

You can also go TK, Flight UAO and even Teleport UAO.

The Teleport is nice and cheap because all you really need is No Relative Velocity. All of the sudden the truck goes from 65 MPH to 0 within 1 hex. Pretty sweet.

While I probably wouldn't let this power in as a standalone, it makes a great Brick Trick (or -Insert Appropriate SFX Archetype Here- Trick).

EDIT: Otherwise known as "MoveThru...I don't think so!"

[Remjin]

Yeah, you could just build a EB, does no body, double knockback, damage shield w/ no range. Give it AoE for a "bubble" that goes with ya. You just roll the dice for stun and count body only for knockback. I think that's how it works. *shrug* =)

[jkwleisemann]

There are actually a couple of ways to do a "stop the moving vehicle" brick trick.

Yeah, I know... but I was younger and less sophisticated with my builds then.

Besides, I rather liked the mental image of Copper limbering up the Big Gun and sending Dr. D soaring. I still want to run that build through Reality Storm some time, send him hurtling through endless space after 'smashing through' the walls. :D

[gewing]

There are actually a couple of ways to do a "stop the moving vehicle" brick trick.

Obviously there is plain old STR, Bracing, Running and KB Resistance.

You can also go TK, Flight UAO and even Teleport UAO.

The Teleport is nice and cheap because all you really need is No Relative Velocity. All of the sudden the truck goes from 65 MPH to 0 within 1 hex. Pretty sweet.

While I probably wouldn't let this power in as a standalone, it makes a great Brick Trick (or -Insert Appropriate SFX Archetype Here- Trick).

EDIT: Otherwise known as "MoveThru...I don't think so!"

so it would be a teleport, uao, with No relative velocity? So it starts accelerating at 0 again?

I think I LIKE IT! :eg:

You would need extra mass though.