Wanderer Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 After reading the "Trials of Shazam" TPB, I got the idea to use the classical SHAZAM concept (drawing each component of a powerset from a different god, hero, or mythic archetype). Specifically, I wanted to use to redo my most preferred concept, hybrid paragons. So I wanted to create a word and related set of mythic patrons to give the following powers: super-strength, super-speed/flight, super-stamina/invulnerability, energy projection/control, telekinesis/molecular manipulation, and healing/regeneration. The "wisdom" and "courage" part of the original concept can be safely dropped for various reasons. How can this power set be represented from various pantheons (say, Greco-Roman, Norse, Egyptian, Celtic) ? I assume that in mythic terms, energy control, matter manipulation, and TK are best represented by control over the elements (or very loosely elemental magic). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
braincraft Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Energy projection/manipulation: The fire of Prometheus (also relevant: his regenerating liver) Healing: The hands of Asclepius TK: The voice of Orpheus (who could charm trees and rocks into dance with his song) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redmenace Posted April 29, 2009 Report Share Posted April 29, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question SUPER STRENGTH: Atlas, Greek personification of strength Vidar, Norse, among the strongest of the Aesir Dagda, Celtic ruler of the gods, able to break anything in his hands Magni, Norse god of strength Ajax, strongest of the greek warriors during the Trojan war, kind of stupid though SUPER-SPEED/FLIGHT: Hermod, Norse version of Mercury Hermes/ Mercury Aeolus, Greek god of the winds HEALING/REGENERATION: Osiris, Egyptian, returned from being murdered after being chopped , not by regen though The Phoenix Antaeus, invulnerable greek giant but only while in contact with the Earth Starkadr, Norse warrior who continues to fight no matter how grave a wound ne suffers, including decapitation ENERGY PROJECTION/CONTROL*: These tend to be spread out by type of special effect Ra, egyptian sun god Ptah, Egyptian creator of all the world - plenty of element specific gods though usually based on lightning or fire MATTER MANIPULATION/ TK: As with Energy it seems to be segregated by type of energy/special effect but maybe a god of magic might suffice, *Thoth, Egyptian god of magic *Oghma, Celtic god of knowledge, was able to manipulate all things by command Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question All good suggestions, but he also wants to tie them into a word. Think "Scrabble". Greeks gods are out. EVERYBODY does Greek or Roman gods (and the Romans aer just Greeks with funny hairdo's) and the only decent energy projector in the bunch was Zeus. Which puts a 'Z' in the word and now you're into SHAZAM again. Norse - Thor, Hiemdal, Odin, Baldur, something, Loki... somewhat lacking in vowels here. Egyptian - Anubis, Thoth, Ositris, Ma'at, Amun, Nut, Geb gives you "Atomang" or "MANGOTA!" Okay, MANGOTA shouted in a thunder storm sounds at least as good as SHAZAM. And the Egyptians have a great mix and match of overlapping abilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattingly Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question MANGOTA sounds better than yelling GOATMAN! (or BROTHL!). Try Native American, Incan, Aztec, Japanese, Chinese... Good background on many gods at pantheon.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted May 1, 2009 Report Share Posted May 1, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question I'd say go with whatever sounds good. SHAZAM itself is a hodgepodge of Greek, Roman and Solomon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt the Bruins Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Pick one god from each pantheon and have a multicultural superhero! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattingly Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question How about the Justice League pantheon? Prowess of Wonder Woman Invulnerability of Superman Speed of Flash Cunning of Batman Etheralness of Martian Manhunter Swimming of Aquaman I call upon the power of PISCES! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question How about the Justice League pantheon? Prowess of Wonder Woman Invulnerability of Superman Speed of Flash Cunning of Batman Etheralness of Martian Manhunter Swimming of Aquaman I call upon the power of PISCES! I dunno, it sounds a little fishy to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattingly Posted May 2, 2009 Report Share Posted May 2, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Yeah, well, it's hard to come up with a reason for Aquaman to be around... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LA Singletary Posted May 3, 2009 Report Share Posted May 3, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question PANTHEON!! The Many Forms Of Proteus The Invulnerability of Achillies The Champion Spirit of Nike The Courage of Theseus The Might of Hercules The Shadow of Erebus The Heart of Olympus The Justice of Nemesis Just my lil contribution witha mix of Heroes and other gods from the Greek/Roman traditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Hmm, I've given thought to the issue. On further thought, I've realized it would be extra nice to add shapeshifting to the power set, if possible, and that, also if possible, it would be nicer to use elemental gods to represent energy control, TK, and matter control, rather than "magic" (which would also fit, but I see a bit too fuzzy in definition). I've compiled more or less complete lists for Pantheons: Greco-Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Celtic, but so far the only one that I've been able to compile in a speakable power word is Greco-Roman (the other pantheons seem to suffer from a distinct death of gods with names that start with vocals): Strength of Hercules Invulnerability of Achilles Speed of Hermes/Mercury Healing of Apollo/Asclepius Storms of Zeus/Jupiter Fires of Hephaestus/Vulcan Earth of Hades/Pluto Waters of Poseidon/NeptuneOceanus Forms of Proteus Battle Prowess of Athena/Ares "PHAMNAZHAP" On second thoughts, I've thought it might be nicer to spare Titans to form an alternate list who channels an anti-champion, with the same powers but an opposite agenda... The idea being that any Pantheon (and their adversaries: the Greek Titans, the Norse Giants) empowers one or an handful of different champions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question PANTHEON!! The Many Forms Of Proteus The Invulnerability of Achilles The Champion Spirit of Nike The Courage of Theseus The Might of Hercules The Shadow of Erebus The Heart of Olympus The Justice of Nemesis Just my lil contribution with a mix of Heroes and other gods from the Greek/Roman traditions. That's pretty cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question That's pretty cool Perhaps (your sense of coolness may vary), but that list shows the kind of fuzzy and questionable-value gifts of power I was specifically trying to avoid. Exacly what does mean "Heart", "Justice", "Courage", and "Champion Spirit" ? They seem rather "meh" and ill-defined, in my impression, not to mean most of them should be qualities that the champion already owns on his own, and part of the reason he's chosen, not part of the empowerment package. Really, what self-respecting god would ever pick a coward as a champion ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teflon Billy Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Hmm, I've given thought to the issue. On second thoughts, I've thought it would be extra nice to add shapeshifting to the power set, if possible, and that, also if possible, it would be nicer to use elemental gods to represent energy control, TK, and matter control, rather than "magic" (which would also fit, but I see a bit too fuzzy in definition). I've compiled more or less complete lists for Pantheons: Greco-Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Celtic, but so far the only one that I've been able to compile in a speakable power word is Greco-Roman (the other pantheons seem to suffer from a distinct death of gods with names that start with vocals): Strength of Hercules Invulnerability of Achilles/Stamina of Atlas Speed of Hermes/Mercury Healing of Apollo/Asclepius Storms of Zeus/Jupiter Fires of Hephaestus/Vulcan/Prometheus/Helios Earth of Hades/Pluto/Gea Waters of Poseidon/Neptune/Oceanus Forms of Proteus "PHAMAZHOP" Not entirely satisfactory since it uses the word of a Titan (Oceanus), but without that "O" it can't really be spoken. On second thoughts, I've thought it might be nicer to spare Titans to form an alternate list who channels an anti-champion, with the same powers but an opposite agenda... The idea being that any Pantheon (and their adversaries: the Greek Titans, the Norse Giants) empowers one or an handful of different champions. If you don't mind using a second teir water diety you can use Poseidon's son Triton for another letter choice. TB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Narratio Posted May 4, 2009 Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Try Native American, Incan, Aztec, Japanese, Chinese... I can see some problems here. Chinese and Japanese, because of thier written form don't really apply themselves to the "First letter from each word" concept. There has to be a way of doing it, but I don't see it. And I've always looked up the Aztec and Incan gods as being not on the side of niceness, but being more on that of unfriendliness. Tearing the still beating heart out of a body? And having sacrifices form a line, first come, first gutted like a fish? My mother would never have been a church goer. Now a super baddy? That would work. Native American though... Possible, All of them being a little weak, unless you attribute the same diety with multiple names depending on where he/she's being worshipped - sort of Roman/Greek thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Thanks to the idea about adding battle prowess (hence Atena or Ares, both coming with a nice "A"), it is possible to complete the Greco-Roman list of gods and power word to my satisfaction, using only gods and not Titans: Strength of Hercules Invulnerability of Achilles Speed of Hermes/Mercury Healing of Apollo/Asclepius Storms of Zeus/Jupiter Fires of Hephaestus/Vulcan Earth of Hades/Pluto Waters of Poseidon/Neptune Forms of Proteus Battle Prowess of Atena/Ares "PHAMNAZHAP" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanderer Posted May 4, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2009 Re: Expanded Shazam power set question Well, creating a deities' list and power word for the Norse pantheon, too, has proved to be less difficult than I thought. Strength of Vidar Invulnerability of Baldur Speed of Hermod Battle Prowess of Tyr Storms of Thor Waters of Aegir Earth of Frigg Fires of Loki Healing of Idunn Forms of Odin "VIBLATTHOF" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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