Question on OIHID and Shape Shift

[DeJoker]

I was presented with the following and told that the OIHID (Only In Hero Id) effect allows the character to look different enough that no one would recognize them in their hero id because they took the OIHID and apply its "special effects" to allow them to look different.

 

Cost Power Description

12 Body of Steel: Armor (6 PD/6 ED) (18 Active Points);

Visible (-1/4), Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)

10 Body of Steel: Armor (6 PD/6 ED) (18 Active Points);

Visible (-1/4), Concentration (1/2 DCV; -1/4),

Only In Heroic Identity (-1/4)

7 Body of Steel: Density Increase

(100 kg mass, +5 STR, +1 PD/ED, -1" KB),

Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2) (7 Active Points)

I said to do that you would need to take Shape Shift and they said basically that: They didn't need shape shift because the alterred appearance is just special effects. For Instance: take Spider-Man. He hides his identity behind a costume and mask. This character changes into a metal person. I don't see any difference. It's not shape shifting because it's a special effect into one shape: the character's metal one. Plastic Man who can change into any one or anything needs shapeshift. Remember, Champions works on effects. If I want a character to take NO damage from ranged attacks because I say they are super tough, I could buy them scads of Armor. But I could also buy Missile Deflection and say that the attacks bounce off their chest (even though the power is called Missile Deflection). Its all about effect. The limitation OIHID comes from (and its only -1/4) the fact that the character transformation can be interrupted, its not instant, etc... Something to be roleplayed, like most 1/4 limitations.

 

Okay is this true --- I mean can you do this with the OIHID limitation?

[Steve Long]

Re: Question on OIHID and Shape Shift

 

Obviously there are some instances where an OIHID ability can conceal one's identity -- Iron Man, Thor, and Captain Marvel (DC) could all be held up as possible OIHID builds, and all look different enough in alternate form (or in Iron Man's case, conceal their true features) to hide their real identities.

 

But ultimately the issue is up to you, the GM. If you don't think a character should be able to conceal his identity simply by transferring into a metal version of himself, then he can't, case closed. I think your argument is logical, even common sense-ical, but even if I didn't think that, as the GM you have the right to make whatever rulings seem appropriate and proper for your game.