Question: Build Ideas For SFX

[schir1964]

SFX

Mutant character has the ability to take someone's DNA (obtained by through taking skin, hair follicle, bodily fluids, or whatever) and copying it. Mutant's character's body takes the sample and begins cloning it and replacing his own existing DNA with the DNA of the sample for everything except his brain, which is where the source of his mutant powers resides.

 

Obviously, the ability to replicate DNA is an inherent ability of the character since he grew from just a few cells containing DNA by splitting and replication. His mutant ability simply allows him to do it with any DNA he possesses and at such a high rate it takes less than a minute to completely replace his DNA with another's (except his brain of course since that is where the source of all mutant powers come from).

 

Therefore, the SFX allows the Mutant Character to take on all the "normal" attributes that the DNA contains (no mutant powers obviously).

 

I'm looking for various ideas on how one would build this SFX as a GM or Player.

 

Thanks.

 

- Christopher Mullins

[Comic]

Re: Question: Build Ideas For SFX

 

Hrm.

 

I'm not sure if this would need to be any particular power at all, as described.

 

Do all mutant abilities in your campaign reside in the brain for everyone? I'd have thought some abilities would be manifestly connected to elsewhere in the body, especially persistent abilities.

 

But accepting that no other powers come along when DNA is copied..

 

Expression of genetic traits is highly variable, and influenced not only by DNA but also by mitochondria, and other agencies at the molecular, cellular, intracellular and macroscopic level. Gross traits would be fairly reliable: sex, species, etc.

 

The mechanism also implies de-differentiation (though it doesn't make it necessary), so it could be a form of Healing with side effect (Cosmetic Transformation to Humanoid of roughly the same body type as DNA touched)?

 

Or, you could buy Sense, Detect, Analyze, Microscopic DNA, get Forensic Medicine as a skill (natural affinity, rather than learned), and make this the basis for an entire powerset for a shapeshifter who can imitate anyone with DNA, and simply ignore the non-DNA-related factors on genetic expression.

[jkwleisemann]

Re: Question: Build Ideas For SFX

 

Quick 'n' Easy:

 

Shapeshift, Imitate, Cellular. Affects Body Only.

 

*Maybe* add in a VPP for physical stats - wouldn't have to be too big, probably, particularly since it doesn't do super-stats (presumably).

 

There ya go.

[GoldenAge]

Re: Question: Build Ideas For SFX

 

Could it all be illusion based?

 

(Illusions seem to be my theme today)