Steve Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 One of the builds I've been trying to do lately is a Dullahan (humanoid able to separate their head from their body). I saw in an older thread that Duplication was the suggested method for doing this, but I'm running into an issue regarding sharing senses and life support. The way I am trying to build a Dullahan is that it is a being that is still metaphysically connected to the head even when it is separated from the body. The body can use the head's senses, and the head can still feel the body. If I go with Duplication, it seems like a Clairsentience build of some kind to do this? Another option I was considering was using Stretching, built like this: Head Separation: Stretching 1m, Does Not Cross Intervening Space (+1/4), Persistent (+1/4), Inherent (+1/4), Indirect (Source Point is the Character, path can change with every use; +1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), MegaScale (1m = 10,000 km; +2*); No Velocity Damage (-1/4), Limited Body Parts (neck; -1/4). Active Cost: 5 and Real Cost: 3 points. The head and the body can thus be separated by huge distances, but they are still connected metaphysically. The head can still breathe or eat, and the air or food goes to the body as if they were still together. The neck links them via hyperspace. Any other suggestions on how I could get this to work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsatow Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 I believe you don't need indirect since stretching is already indirect. I see a problem (assuming you get the GM to accept the megascale trick) in that 4 out of 5 senses are located in the head alone. If your head is stretched say 10,000km, how does the body know how to move about normally with no targeting sense. Your body will end up being kind of Helen Keller-ish. You may also need invisible power effect otherwise even if it doesn't cross the intervening space, the neck's direction will probably sway to however the path lays out. Finally, just off the top of my head, without always on, this means you can contract the stretching and be speeding either head or body at 10,000 km per second (phase). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 Well. If you duplicate, the basic premise is that each duplicate can do everything the other can. No need to worry about eating breathing etc. The big question is how far you want to go with the whole "the head can still feel the body" thing. Would it take damage if the body took damage (do they share the same pool of STUN and END)? If the answer to those things is no, then the duplicates can be mind linked. That provides a decent connection. Everything else then comes down to how you want to limit each of the duplicates because it is either headless or bodyless. :-) Netzilla 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zslane Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 If I'm not mistaken, the 6e version of Mechanon can separate his head from his body. Check out that monstrosity of a character build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 What is the advantages of having a removable head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DasBroot Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 Seeing how clothes actually look on you (no mirror, no camera)? Showering on days you don't want to wash your hair without getting it wet? Cleaning the compost bin without having to smell it? Since it obviously flies in some manner... finding your car in the parking lot? Getting a better view of the stage at a concert? I could think of worse powers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 9, 2018 Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 Shinking Leaves Body Below the neck behind (as in Desolid). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted February 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 21 hours ago, dsatow said: I believe you don't need indirect since stretching is already indirect. I see a problem (assuming you get the GM to accept the megascale trick) in that 4 out of 5 senses are located in the head alone. If your head is stretched say 10,000km, how does the body know how to move about normally with no targeting sense. Your body will end up being kind of Helen Keller-ish. You may also need invisible power effect otherwise even if it doesn't cross the intervening space, the neck's direction will probably sway to however the path lays out. Finally, just off the top of my head, without always on, this means you can contract the stretching and be speeding either head or body at 10,000 km per second (phase). I think you're right on the Indirect, but I wasn't sure if it would still work properly if the two parts became separated by a Barrier, since it has the advantage that it does not cross intervening space. Yes, I should probably add something like always on. The head can only move around only as fast as someone can carry it, although I may put that in as a separate Limitation instead of using Always On. Yes, the body would be blind and mute without the head in the immediate area. This isn't really a combat build though. I'm trying to replicate the special effects of a fictional character with this ability. 11 hours ago, Doc Democracy said: Well. If you duplicate, the basic premise is that each duplicate can do everything the other can. No need to worry about eating breathing etc. The big question is how far you want to go with the whole "the head can still feel the body" thing. Would it take damage if the body took damage (do they share the same pool of STUN and END)? If the answer to those things is no, then the duplicates can be mind linked. That provides a decent connection. Everything else then comes down to how you want to limit each of the duplicates because it is either headless or bodyless. :-) The character I am basing this on has their neck in hyperspace, so food eaten by the head passes into the body's stomach. Air breathed in and out by the head goes in and out of the body's lungs. So the head could be sitting by the side of a pool, and the body can swim underwater without ever surfacing. If you hit the body, the head would feel it and vice-versa. They have a single pool of STUN/BODY/END. I suppose I could get some of this by using the Feedback Limitation. 3 hours ago, Cassandra said: What is the advantages of having a removable head? Well, this isn't really a combat build, but I see your point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted February 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2018 This is a picture of the character I am trying to model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsatow Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 OK, I thought you might be thinking of this one Steve 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsatow Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 4 hours ago, Cassandra said: What is the advantages of having a removable head? Keeping the breathing head outside of the poison gas while the body goes in for the kill. Able to communicate and talk to one person safely while fighting assorted villains. The ability to have your cake while fighting off other people trying to take it from you. Steve and assault 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DasBroot Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 In truth I think a detachable head would make your body absolutely suck in combat - even if you can still sense the body (sense of touch, proprioception) your point of view and hearing would be completely shot (though at least nobody would sneak up behind your body) If you were across the room watching I would think the best you could pull off is clumsy meat puppet. If you weren't in the same room the body would just be fumbling around in the dark without even a sense of hearing to try and figure out its surroundings. And that's assuming that the 'hyperspace neck' allows the body to benefit from the sense of balance that is one of the ear's biggest tasks. Otherwise it's faceplant time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Democracy Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 I think it is a cool added extra, the practicalities can be subsumed into comic book biophysics. :-) I think therefore that you really are looking at megascale indirect stretching. I don’t think there is a terrible advantage to it, so it should not cost too many points and, if the head cannot see the body, then it would be like the body has lost the ability to see and function. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 10, 2018 Report Share Posted February 10, 2018 If he can do everything he can do normally as just a head then it's just Shrinking with a really spooky special effect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean Waters Posted February 14, 2018 Report Share Posted February 14, 2018 Megascale anything would imply you are non-combat. Good luck with that... Also, doesn't a Dullahan carry its head under its arm? I'm not sure that the head it typically out of contact with the body, just not where you'd expect it to be, and as such it is probably just SFX for increased PRE attacks. If you want the head and body to operate independently then buy Duplication, but it seems to me that it is probably just SFX for other powers: Clairsentience, Life Support and the like, with some sort of physical manifestation or focus and damage feedback. Netzilla and Armory 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 15, 2018 Report Share Posted February 15, 2018 22 hours ago, Sean Waters said: Megascale anything would imply you are non-combat. Good luck with that... Also, doesn't a Dullahan carry its head under its arm? I'm not sure that the head it typically out of contact with the body, just not where you'd expect it to be, and as such it is probably just SFX for increased PRE attacks. If you want the head and body to operate independently then buy Duplication, but it seems to me that it is probably just SFX for other powers: Clairsentience, Life Support and the like, with some sort of physical manifestation or focus and damage feedback. Shrinking and Telekinesis linked to Shrinking to simulate having the Body move independently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 The traditional Dullhan is an undead warrior without a head at all. And still able to sense the world around him. You might not be able to flash it, but it still can "see"and "hear". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucius Posted February 17, 2018 Report Share Posted February 17, 2018 On 2/9/2018 at 8:20 PM, DasBroot said: In truth I think a detachable head would make your body absolutely suck in combat - even if you can still sense the body (sense of touch, proprioception) your point of view and hearing would be completely shot (though at least nobody would sneak up behind your body) If you were across the room watching I would think the best you could pull off is clumsy meat puppet. If you weren't in the same room the body would just be fumbling around in the dark without even a sense of hearing to try and figure out its surroundings. And that's assuming that the 'hyperspace neck' allows the body to benefit from the sense of balance that is one of the ear's biggest tasks. Otherwise it's faceplant time. Without a face to plant? Lucius Alexander The palindromedary thinks Stretching covers this concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted February 25, 2018 Report Share Posted February 25, 2018 Reminds me of the Corpse, an undead Solomon Grundy homage I made for my Legion Of Doom homage. I gave him the ability to remove an eye/ear and see/hear from a distance. Clarisentience with a Physical Manifisation. It's not perfect, but if once planted, the head can't move, then Clarisentience with Physical Manifisation might be doable (or not, considering my infamous bad spelling). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 On February 16, 2018 at 8:27 PM, steriaca said: The traditional Dullhan is an undead warrior without a head at all. And still able to sense the world around him. You might not be able to flash it, but it still can "see"and "hear". So that was what the Headless Indiana haunting Tallulah Morehead's mansion was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted February 27, 2018 Report Share Posted February 27, 2018 1 hour ago, Cassandra said: So that was what the Headless Indiana haunting Tallulah Morehead's mansion was. Prehaps. There are different names depending on culture. The most basic, a headless reverent unable to rest till it's head is found, or it finds a substitute head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted February 28, 2018 Report Share Posted February 28, 2018 20 hours ago, steriaca said: Prehaps. There are different names depending on culture. The most basic, a headless reverent unable to rest till it's head is found, or it finds a substitute head. You read My Lush Life? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steriaca Posted March 1, 2018 Report Share Posted March 1, 2018 17 hours ago, Cassandra said: You read My Lush Life? No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted March 5, 2018 Report Share Posted March 5, 2018 On 3/1/2018 at 4:55 AM, steriaca said: No. My Lush Life is the fictional autobiography of movie star Tallulah Morehead. In her mansion she has the ghost of a headless indian. It's by Douglas McEwan and very funny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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