assault Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 OK, I have a concept. Most of it has come together nicely, but I'm missing something very basic. The idea is that there are these masks that give their wearers superpowers, or rather trigger them so they can be used. I'm thinking that they are psychic in character, almost something of a meditation aid. Probably not magical, probably not involving spirit possession, and definitely not reconstructing the wearer's body with nanotechnobabble. Generally speaking, they are referred to as Masks. Some of their Wearers (note the capital) call them Faces instead, since they consider them to bring out the Wearer's true identity. What I need is a more formal name for them. A way to distinguish them from mundane face coverings, that implies something about what they do and how it is believed they do it. "Something" Masks, in other words. Only I have no idea about what the "Something" would be. I suppose it wouldn't have to be anything meaningful, as long as the concept can be easily explained. So a "Blipvit Mask" could work, as long as you can explain who the "Blipvits" were. But I'd rather not go down that route if there's something preferable. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinanju Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 Avatar Masks? When you put on the mask, you become the avatar of...whatever. Your "true" self, or your "idealized" self or however you want to look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted May 2, 2016 Report Share Posted May 2, 2016 The description reminds me of Scott Bennie's Gestalt: The Hero Within. Where Men Become Myth - and Myths Become Men "Gestalt" is Scott Bennie's unique world of superhuman archetypes. Superhero comic books contain worlds of Archetypes, individuals who represent important symbols. They are populated by characters who represent concepts such as Heroism, Strength, Speed, Cleverness, The Elements, Kindness, Cruelty, and Ambition. All fiction deals in archetypes or symbols, but comic books apply them more consciously than most fictional forms. The Gestalt campaign takes the idea of "character as Archetype" one step further. In this campaign world, Gestalt-Earth, the characters are the symbols. A physically powerful superhero might not just be a strong guy - he could be an embodiment of Strength. A Gestalt martial arts master isn't just a superb fighter - he's also a human representation of his chosen art. The master lives its philosophy at all times, getting into situations where he demonstrates his art and its virtues, championing those who follow the art, and using the art to advance his or her personal fortunes. While characters in the Gestalt-Earth setting look and act like superheroes, in many ways they fulfill the role of mythological gods, becoming the champion of concepts and portfolios. I could see your Masks providing their Wearer's Gestalt-like abilities in an otherwise non-Gestalt world. HM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 A way to distinguish them from mundane face coverings, that implies something about what they do and how it is believed they do it. Just using the capital "M" in writing and tone of voice in speaking should work IMO. Neater package than tacking on an extra descriptor. If these Descriptor Masks existed in real life, people would just shorten it to "Masks" anyway. That said, do you have a firm idea for the origin of the masks? That might help. For example, if they're artifacts of the Turkanian Age, they may be Turkanian Masks. Or if they're fueled by entrapped Qliphothic entities, they might be Qliphothic Masks. Or pick a random word or place and call the masks that. Flower Masks (each one has a different type of flower subtlety embossed in its stitching somewhere), the Christchurch Masks (discovered in a trunk sold at an estate sale in Christchurch), or . . . anything better than I can think up on the spur of the moment. Good for a little mystery, especially if you haven't got a background story for them yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 The closest I have is an "Aspect Mask", which is close to sinanju's suggestion. I'm aware of the similarity to the Gestalt idea. That's one of the influences, although I'm also looking for alternatives to the regular origins - a character with Superman-like powers isn't from another planet, etc. Other influences includes China Mieville's take on Dial H, and Grant Morrison's take on the Doom Patrol, although I've never read the latter, and I prefer Mieville's variety of weirdness. It's a kind of "people with powers" concept, although with Weirdness instead of GrimDark. I saw Captain America: Civil War today. I actually felt the desire to stick my Mask on during it. I think the idea is sound. (Ant-Man was my favourite character in the film.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 This is out of thread, but is Spider-Man in this? Everything I seen he hasn't been in and no mention of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Truth Mask. Or True Mask. Persona. The ancient Latin word for mask, persona, literally means "sound through" because the actor's voice sounded through the mask - and these masks allow the Wearer's True Voice to sound. True Face Playing on the old expression "false face" for a mask. Manifestation Mask Strange Mask, or Stranger Mask If you have heard Billy Joel's song "The Stranger" you will know why Mummer Mask Kachina Mask If you haven't already, you might benefit from reading up on the Kachina. Lucius Alexander A palindromedary can wear two masks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Anchant Mask Mask of Power Stone Mask Avatarian Mask (from the word Avatar) Godarian Mask Legondarian Mask Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 This is out of thread, but is Spider-Man in this? Everything I seen he hasn't been in and no mention of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomGM2602 Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 News Flash: we've just seen him near the end of the trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Maybe this scene from The Mask will help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eepjr24 Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Singularity Mask? Persona Mask? Phizog Mask? Nucleo Mask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Masks of Potential (because they bring out your full potential or at least part of it). Masks of Power (because with them you have Power) Court of Masks (asuming there is a secret society made up mostly of them) Some other tricks: You can run the word through a Anagramm generator. Not many anagramms with only "Masks", due to the single Vocal: Ask MsKas MsSka Ms How about Skask Masks? Or just get the Latin Translation from google translate/someone that knows some latin. This is out of thread, but is Spider-Man in this? Everything I seen he hasn't been in and no mention of him. Totally there and totally Spidey. While the other Movies weren't half bad, it seems Marvel has a much better handle on him. Having him in a Teambattle certainly helps to keep his Quips from being grating. We will see how his own movie turns out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kesedrith Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 And here I am thinking of the One Ring. You put it on and become the peak of what you're supposed to be. Hobbits became sneakier, even less likely to be noticed, hence invisible. Anyway, I like the idea. I don't know that I wouldn't let my players help me with things like working out the origins (not that I'd let them know they were doing that mind you, but just from listening in on their speculations and such in game) and let them decide what they'd wind up being called. After all, maybe they're Screens, since you wind up projecting onto them what you truly are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 I would go for Soul Masks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pattern Ghost Posted May 13, 2016 Report Share Posted May 13, 2016 How about Pneumasks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted May 16, 2016 Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 woud a black half mask give the wearer martial arts powers [ala black mask] ? this concept sounds a bit like the icons costume shop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
assault Posted May 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2016 woud a black half mask give the wearer martial arts powers [ala black mask] ? this concept sounds a bit like the icons costume shop The powers a mask bestows depends primarily on the wearer, and sometimes the previous wearer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardsman Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 The description reminds me of Scott Bennie's Gestalt: The Hero Within. I could see your Masks providing their Wearer's Gestalt-like abilities in an otherwise non-Gestalt world. HM And call them Masques! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wardsman Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 The powers a mask bestows depends primarily on the wearer, and sometimes the previous wearer. I suggest that certain Masques only work for certain people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted May 20, 2016 Report Share Posted May 20, 2016 I suggest that certain Masques only work for certain people. This could be because the Masques are semi-sentient, and this able to choice who gets to use there powers and who it is simply a disguise. Each Masque choices targets based on criteria known only to the creator (heroic Masques choice thoes who's personally matches there own, evil Masques choice thoes who are more pure of heart, to corrupt them with power and be it's slave, ect). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hermit Posted May 23, 2016 Report Share Posted May 23, 2016 I find myself wishing Oddhat were still posting, if anyone would have an expertise on the power of headwear.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheQuestionMan Posted May 24, 2016 Report Share Posted May 24, 2016 Shaman's Totem Masks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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