Force Field or Force Wall

[diocletianx]

I'd like to simulate the effect of the invisible girl who can create a force field bubble in an area affect.

I like the use of force wall because of how damage either gets through and breaks the wall or no damage gets through. The problem I am having is creating a 2-3" radius force wall that won't cost tons of points.

A force field with Area Affect is doable, but lacks the damage "resistance" effects of force wall.

Any suggestions?

[GamePhil]

If I'm doing this correctly, a Force Wall with a 2" Radius needs to have a length of 12 Hexes, one of 3" Radius needs to be 18 Hexes. That only adds 22 or 34 points (I forgot to subtract out the initial hex you get free) to the cost, so a 10 PD 10 ED Force Wall will only cost 72 or 84 points. Is that too many? What point level of character (or Active Point caps) are we talking about?

[Snarf]

That's a very useful power. You shouldn't try too hard to make it cheap.

I checked at a hex grid and it looks like a 2" radius would only require a 10" length. So, I think it would only cost 70 points for the 10/10.

[diocletianx]

What I am comparing force wall to is a force field with area effect. I can get a 15/15 3" radius force field for 60 CP.

Granted the effect is not the same and you will be taking some STUN with the force field.

Based on your force wall estimates I think I know that the force wall approach is better. Thanks.

[GamePhil]

Originally posted by diocletianx
What I am comparing force wall to is a force field with area effect. I can get a 15/15 3" radius force field for 60 CP.


One other thing, which probably won't matter now you've made a decision: the above construct may not work the way you want it to, anyway. Since Force Field is Self Only, before it can protect anyone else you need to put some kind of Usable On Others Advantage on it (probably Usable As Attack), and then put Area Of Effect on it afterward.

So, you'd get a 10/10 3" Radius Force Field, not 15/15. Always assuming I'm doing this right. It wouldn't break, but it also wouldn't stop Stun in the same way, and it is still a bit cheaper.

[Hugh Neilson]

Usable by/Against others also means spending more END (either your own or the recipient's) which also changes the efficiency of the power.

The bottom line is, if you're shooting for the Invisible Girl, you need force wall. Force fields don't block entry.