Experiment in gestalt forms: 'Sisterhood'

[Ragdoll]

Hi! [smiles] I've been experimenting with this character idea for quite sometimes. I put it away for a while, and I decided to come back to it. The history is 'sketchy' since it's not meant to be a rounded character, and more of an experiment in design. The character centers around three women, 'sisters', that upon being exposed to a magickal accident, were 'fused' into the embodiment of an idealized concept of womanhood. A strong, confident woman, able to be sensitive, but her own person at the same time. While not an ultra feminist, she is quite liberal minded, and certianly speaks her mind.

 

Sisterhood's 'component' parts, on the other hand, are less then ideal. They argue with one another 'constantly', and their's certianly lots of infighting. But they are sisters and would be there for eath other in time of need. The gestalt being 'Sisterhood' is just their collective subconcious desires and needs made manifest. The component parts are 150 point characters, but I'll only post the 'Sisterhood' gestalt form unless asked to post her component parts. [smiles]

 

SISTERHOOD

40 STR (30)

23 DEX (39)

20 CON (20)

15 BOD (10)

19 INT (09)

12 EGO (04)

17 PRE (07)

14 COM (02)

18 PD (10)

18 ED (14)

4 SPD (07)

12 REC (00)

40 END (00)

41 STN (-04) <165 characteristics cost>

 

-POWERS-

26 Duplication: 2 150 point duplicates; Altered

Duplicates (+1), ET: 1 Turn (-1 1/4), Visible (-1/4), Linked to

Multiform (-1/4)

10 Multiform: 1 150 point character; Linked to Duplication:

full power only (-1/2), Visible (-1/4), ET: 12 seconds

(-1 1/4).

18 Resistant Defenses: 18 PD/ 18 ED (full)

50 Multipower: Superhuman abilities

u-5 Energy Blast vs PD: 10d

u-5 Force Field: 25 PD/25 ED

u-5 Force Wall: 10 PD/10 ED

u-5 Running: 20/80"

u-5 Flight: 20/80"

Powers cost: <129>

 

-SKILLS-

3 Breakfall 14-

3 KS: Soccer 12-

3 PS: Soccer 12-

3 Acrobatics 14-

3 Computer Programming 13-

3 Electronics 13-

3 Systems Operations 13-

3 AK: Internet 13-

3 SS: Computer Science 13-

3 Security Systems 13-

2 SS: Mathematics 11-

2 PS: Singing 11-

3 PS: Play Musical Instrument: Acoustical Guitar 12-

2 PS: Musician 11-

3 KS: Music 12-

3 Disguise 13-

3 PS: Track 11-

2 KS: Running 11-

2 PS: Artist 11-

3 Forgery 13-

2 KS: Art History 12-

Skills cost: <56 points>

 

-DISADVANTAGES-

20 DNPC: Parents (Normal) 8-, Unaware of Social Limitations

15 Secret ID: Frequent, Major

15 Accidental Change: Activation of Duplication and Multiform

Power when hit with 'any' adjustment power; Uncommon,

14-

10 Distinctive Features: Mystical Aura; Not Concealable,

Detected with Unusual Senses

15 Hunted: Morning Star; As Powerful, Frequent occurence,

Imprison.

10 Hunted: Anklosaur; As Powerful, Occurence 8-, Imprison.

10 Vulnerability: 2x's Stun from dark magicks.

15 Psychological Limitation: Reluctance to Kill; Common,

Strong.

25 Psychological Limitation: Devoted to Justice; Common,

Total.

15 Psychological Limitation: Speaks her Mind; Common,

Strong.

Total disadvantage points <150>

 

Base Points: 200

Total Character Cost: 350

[Rage]

well first shes only got 14 Com... idealised woman?

[Rage]

you could drop the resistant defences down to 15 each and pump the rest into com...

[Ragdoll]

Originally posted by Rage

well first shes only got 14 Com... idealised woman?

 

[polite smile] I said 'idealized womanhood', not 'idealized Barbiehood'.

 

Does anyone else have any comments? [smiles, asks]

 

Ragdoll.

[Lord Liaden]

Interesting idea Linking a Duplication to Multiform - haven't seen it done that way before. For most of characters I've seen with this type of concept, the Powers and Characteristics that wouldn't apply to the base form when Duplicated would take a "Not when Duplicated" Limitation, which would probably be -1/4 in this case since it doesn't sound like your character would be Duplicated very often. Doing it that way could net you big point savings, since you're not paying for Multiform and cutting costs on other things. How different the Duplicates are from the combined form would affect how practical it would be to build that way, of course.

 

Looking at your character sheet, Sisterhood seems a little heavy on defenses compared to her attack ability. Her 10D6 EB would rarely get any STUN through her combined personal Defenses of 43 (!), and she has a Force Wall on top of that. Also, she only has one serious attack form other than raw Strength, neither of which is that powerful; if those fail against an opponent she's out of options. Perhaps her concept is for a primarily defensive character, but otherwise I'd consider lowering her defenses (maybe change the Force Field to 20/20 at 1/2 END since she doesn't have a lot of Endurance), increase the size of the Multipower, change some slots from Ultras to Multis to give her more flexibility, and add one or two more offensive options to it. If you use the Not when Duplicate Lim you should have plenty of points for that. If you come up with a concept for what her Multipower actually represents in terms of power type or source, other ideas for slots may come to you.

 

In the same vein I'd suggest giving her some extra movement capability outside of her Multipower, since when it's fully dedicated to another slot she's rather slow-moving.

 

Just some things to think about - feel free to question any of these suggestions.

[Ragdoll]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden

Interesting idea Linking a Duplication to Multiform - haven't seen it done that way before. For most of characters I've seen with this type of concept, the Powers and Characteristics that wouldn't apply to the base form when Duplicated would take a "Not when Duplicated" Limitation, which would probably be -1/4 in this case since it doesn't sound like your character would be Duplicated very often. Doing it that way could net you big point savings, since you're not paying for Multiform and cutting costs on other things. How different the Duplicates are from the combined form would affect how practical it would be to build that way, of course.

 

M'hm. [smiles] I thought of this idea, in regards to the suplication and Multiform, but I had to discard it due to the special effects of the Gestalt. All three sisters looks different, but none of them 'looks' like the Gestalt being Sisterhood. So, unfortunately, I had to design it as this:

 

When Sisterhood breaks into her component parts. She creates two of the sisters through 'duplication' and at the same time becomes the third sister through Multiform. Each of the three sisters has some of the powers that the gestalt being has. One has the force blast, force field and wall powers. Another has the flight and movement abilties, and the third the raw strength and resistant defenses.

 

Looking at your character sheet, Sisterhood seems a little heavy on defenses compared to her attack ability. Her 10D6 EB would rarely get any STUN through her combined personal Defenses of 43 (!), and she has a Force Wall on top of that. Also, she only has one serious attack form other than raw Strength, neither of which is that powerful; if those fail against an opponent she's out of options. Perhaps her concept is for a primarily defensive character, but otherwise I'd consider lowering her defenses (maybe change the Force Field to 20/20 at 1/2 END since she doesn't have a lot of Endurance), increase the size of the Multipower, change some slots from Ultras to Multis to give her more flexibility, and add one or two more offensive options to it. If you use the Not when Duplicate Lim you should have plenty of points for that. If you come up with a concept for what her Multipower actually represents in terms of power type or source, other ideas for slots may come to you.

 

M'hm, I was concerned about defenses. But I felt since all the powers were Ultraslots..she couldn't just use it all the time. But, I like you idea of reduction, and perhaps adding something in terms of other options. I'll see what I can do with things point wise, though I'm purposefully trying to keep the design in the starting character 350 point range. [smiles]

 

Another thing that troubles me is the skills. She has a huge assortment due to the fact that she's 'supposed' to have all the knowledge of the three sisters. Since, I wanted each sister to be unique, they all have differing skills sets. But, wow, the points add up. [smiles]

 

Can a Variable Power pool be used to call up 'skills'? Or does that just apply to powers? [wonders]. I was thinking it might be neat to have a 'small' variable Power pool, that's limited to only skills any of the three sisters know. And keep it low enough that she can't call them 'all' up, just a few, to simulate her rumaging through the collective minds and pulling them into the front of her mind.

 

This is 'really' exciting. Thank you 'so much' for the great input, it's really given me some interesting ideas on how to improve on this design a bit. [smiles]

 

Thanks for your time! [smiles and waves]

 

Ragdoll.

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Ragdoll

M'hm. [smiles] I thought of this idea, in regards to the suplication and Multiform, but I had to discard it due to the special effects of the Gestalt. All three sisters looks different, but none of them 'looks' like the Gestalt being Sisterhood. So, unfortunately, I had to design it as this:

 

When Sisterhood breaks into her component parts. She creates two of the sisters through 'duplication' and at the same time becomes the third sister through Multiform. Each of the three sisters has some of the powers that the gestalt being has. One has the force blast, force field and wall powers. Another has the flight and movement abilties, and the third the raw strength and resistant defenses.

 

Actually, this wouldn't be too hard to represent by the method I suggested. Since your Duplicates are Altered from the base form already, you can give two of the sisters the abilities from Sisterhood's suite that they would possess as separate entities. You can then leave the Base Form as the third sister, and apply the Not When Duplicated Limitation to all the abilities from the combined form that she doesn't have when separated from the other two. Does that make sense?

 

Originally posted by Ragdoll

Another thing that troubles me is the skills. She has a huge assortment due to the fact that she's 'supposed' to have all the knowledge of the three sisters. Since, I wanted each sister to be unique, they all have differing skills sets. But, wow, the points add up. [smiles]

 

See my remarks above about the Not When Duplicated Lim. I have seen a Variable "Skills" Power Pool used for some published characters. It's definitely a GM's Permission construct, but it's often the most cost-efficient way to model those characters who seem to know or do almost anything. It usually has a Major Restriction, Only Skills Limitation on it (-1/2). Again, I don't think it's necessary in this case, but that's up to you.

[Ragdoll]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden

Actually, this wouldn't be too hard to represent by the method I suggested. Since your Duplicates are Altered from the base form already, you can give two of the sisters the abilities from Sisterhood's suite that they would possess as separate entities. You can then leave the Base Form as the third sister, and apply the Not When Duplicated Limitation to all the abilities from the combined form that she doesn't have when separated from the other two. Does that make sense?

 

[pensive] I 'think' so. Let me see if I understand this correctly. You're saying, I can make the 'third' sister the base, and apply 'not when duplicated' disadvantages to the 'bulk' of the powers that the Gestalt form has, in order to simulate the gestalt splitting into three people.

 

But, doesn't that mean, that, when combined, the gestalt being 'Sisterhood' will 'look' like the third sister (which is the base form)? See, Sisterhood doesn't look like any of the three women, which is why I thought I needed the multiform as well.

 

I'll admit, sometimes the complexities of duplication and Multiform confuse me a little, which is one of the reasons I posted to the board, to see, in addition, if I'm even building it correctly. [smiles]

 

Thanks for you time. [smiles and waves]

 

Ragdoll.

[Lord Liaden]

Ahh, now I see what the problem is. Ragdoll, the fact that the Sisterhood gestalt would have a different appearance from any of the composite members can be considered just a special effect of combining into one form. As long as it doesn't have a significant impact on the character's abilities, it's not something that has to be payed for. It can be considered the equivalent of putting on a mask to maintain your secret identity.

[Ragdoll]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden

Ahh, now I see what the problem is. Ragdoll, the fact that the Sisterhood gestalt would have a different appearance from any of the composite members can be considered just a special effect of combining into one form. As long as it doesn't have a significant impact on the character's abilities, it's not something that has to be payed for. It can be considered the equivalent of putting on a mask to maintain your secret identity.

 

Ah! [smiles] Thank you, that helps me out so much.

 

Thanks for your time! [smiles and waves]

 

Ragdoll.

[Rage]

1

[Rage]

Originally posted by Ragdoll

[polite smile] I said 'idealized womanhood', not 'idealized Barbiehood'.

 

Does anyone else have any comments? [smiles, asks]

 

Ragdoll.

[polite sardonic smile]

Never said she had to be barbie, but idealised is perfection the perfect man should also have 18 com.

[/polite sardonic smile]