Cassandra Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Recently I created a 250 Batman with his Batplane, Batboat, and Batmobile by putting them into his Utility Belt, the rationalization being that he would keep his remote control for them there. That makes me think that sometimes a comic book hero's power is so strange or unusuall that it would be hard to simulate without having a 1000 point character. As someone from the "less is more" school, I've been thinking about ways to do so on a budget. Aquaman, for example, has control over sea creatures. How to simulate that? Followers would be one way, but costly. I've come up with this . . . Multipower (30 Points) Indirect [Any Direction] (+3/4), Only in Water (-1 1/2), 1/2 END (+1/4) u) EB 6d6 u) Entangle 3d6, DEF 3 u) Telekinesis 20 STR 30 Points Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Agenda Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers True, points should be based on what it does, not the special effect. If you want fish to ram or hold or push someone around, you can buy that directly. No RKA if you don't think Aquaman would have his fish bite or otherwise pierce his opponents--I don't recall him ever doing that, but maybe he had an Iron Age makeover I missed. Summon would be another valid build, and probably not too pricy if you're not summoning whales and sharks and such. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeropoint Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers I'd put Physical Manifestation (-1/4) on those powers, to reflect the fact that you can dispel the energy blast by killing the dolphin or whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers I'll agree with the 'less is more' approach, but how would you do somebody like DC's Animal Man. He usually has very low points in use, being only able to copy the abilities of rats, pigeons an similar animals found in cities. As he said back in an old JLI issue, 'Why is there never a rhinceros around when you need one?" But back in '52' he duped the abilities of a Sun Eater... A photovore for crying out loud, which is a huge difference in his normal ability levels. How do you model such extremes of point usage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers Regarding any unusual boost in powers due to outside events, perhaps some kind of Independent Focus could be involved. The character write up could be modified trading some of their normal powers for a massively increased version of the same, bought as an Independent Focus. Once the Focus is gone, they can go back to the previous stats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard00 Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers I'll agree with the 'less is more' approach' date=' but how would you do somebody like DC's Animal Man. He usually has very low points in use, being only able to copy the abilities of rats, pigeons an similar animals found in cities. As he said back in an old JLI issue, 'Why is there never a rhinceros around when you need one?" But back in '52' he duped the abilities of a Sun Eater... A photovore for crying out loud, which is a huge difference in his normal ability levels. How do you model such extremes of point usage?[/quote'] For normal animal power manifestation, VPP. For huge plot device sun-eating creature power manifestation? GM privilege. Or, if you prefer, Plot Device. Not everything that advances the story and/or aids the characters has to be paid for in points, especially if it's unlikely to ever be used again. Just my couple o' pennies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoreBrute Posted August 2, 2008 Report Share Posted August 2, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers Aquaman, for example, has control over sea creatures. How to simulate that? Followers would be one way, but costly. I've come up with this . . . Multipower (30 Points) Indirect [Any Direction] (+3/4), Only in Water (-1 1/2), 1/2 END (+1/4) u) EB 6d6 u) Entangle 3d6, DEF 3 u) Telekinesis 20 STR 30 Points Well you could add "appropriate Fish of opportunity; -½", like if you wanted entangle you needed some kind of octopus. You want Killing damage you need sword fish. etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted August 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers Yes, I was thinking about that. I might make it "Only at Sea" (-2). It wouldn't make much sense if Aquaman could have a shark suddenly show up in Bruce Wayne's pool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penemue Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers That is SUCH a good idea... I have often wondered how to duplicate Aquaman's abilities... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer Shrike Posted August 4, 2008 Report Share Posted August 4, 2008 Re: Unusual Powers Recently I created a 250 Batman with his Batplane, Batboat, and Batmobile by putting them into his Utility Belt, the rationalization being that he would keep his remote control for them there. That makes me think that sometimes a comic book hero's power is so strange or unusuall that it would be hard to simulate without having a 1000 point character. As someone from the "less is more" school, I've been thinking about ways to do so on a budget. Aquaman, for example, has control over sea creatures. How to simulate that? Followers would be one way, but costly. I've come up with this . . . Multipower (30 Points) Indirect [Any Direction] (+3/4), Only in Water (-1 1/2), 1/2 END (+1/4) u) EB 6d6 u) Entangle 3d6, DEF 3 u) Telekinesis 20 STR 30 Points I designed a "summoner" character exemplifying this sort of idea years ago...Mythic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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