Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

[Black Ops]

I am trying to make a Character for a 5th Ed. Game who can absorb Knowledge and Skills and has some absorbed Knowledge/Combat Skills and some lesser Mental Powers but I am running out of Points. (350pts. is the Target.)

Game is set in the 80s Character accidentally absorbed some SAS/SEPNATZ Skills permanently.

 

HALP!!!!

[Beast]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

this should do the trick

the Eidetic Memory is for any passwords memories(you will need to do 5 pts of transfer to get everything each pt is worth 20% of the targets total memory)

each normal 3 pt skill will take up 1pt of space in the VPP

 

mind transfer: Transfer 1d6 (all skills to VPP), Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/4), Variable Effect (To) to all [special effect] powers simultaneously(skills) (+2) (49 Active Points)

 

Eidetic Memory

 

Variable Power Pool, 50 base + 8 control cost, (75 Active Points); Limited Class Of Powers Available Very Limited (Skills only; -1), Character Has No Choice Regarding How Powers Change (-1/2), VPP Powers Can Be Changed Only In Given Circumstance (transfer needs to fill the pool; -1/2)

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Yeah. But I have trouble to fit other Powers in.

There is a smaller/Similar version of this Power described in the UNTIL Superpower Book.

[Silbeg]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Yeah. But I have trouble to fit other Powers in.

There is a smaller/Similar version of this Power described in the UNTIL Superpower Book.

It would probably help us to help you if you were to post your character here... that way, we can see what you are talking about, and make more informed suggestions.

 

Is the problem that you are running out of points after buying all of the skills he needed?

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Mostly

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

-

 

VAL...CHA...Cost...Total...Roll......Notes

15....STR.....5...15......12-.......HTH Damage 3d6 END [1]

20....DEX.....30...20......13-.......OCV 7 DCV 7

18....CON.....16...18......13-

15....BODY....10...15......12-

12....INT.....2...12......11-.......PER Roll 11-

20....EGO.....20...20......13-.......ECV: 7

15....PRE.....5...15......12-.......PRE Attack: 3d6

10....COM.....0...10......11-

8....PD......5...8.............8 PD (0 rPD)

8....ED......4...8.............8 ED (0 rED)

5....SPD.....20...5.................Phases: 3, 5, 8, 10, 12

10....REC.....6...10

39....END.....2...39

32....STUN....0...32

8....RUN......0...8"................END [2]

4....SWIM.....0...4"................END [2]

3....LEAP.....0...3"................3" forward, 1 1/2" upward

 

CHA Cost: 125

 

Cost...POWERS

25.....Knowledge Sharing: VPP (Knowledge Sharing Pool), 20 base + 5 control cost, (30 Active Points); all slots Only For Sharing Knowledge (-1) - END=

8.....Enhanced Finding: Detect Lost/Stolen Items 16- (Unusual Group), Discriminatory (15 Active Points); Only A Single Attuned Person's Item (-1/2), Nonpersistent (-1/4) - END=0

13.....Elemental Control, 26-point powers - END=

18.....1) Psionic Invisibility: Invisibility to Sight and Hearing Groups , No Fringe (40 Active Points); Only Works Against Sentient Persons Character Is Aware Of (-1/2) - END=4

10.....2) Group Mental Link II: Mind Link , Specific Group of Minds, Number of Minds (x8) (25 Active Points); Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -1/4) - END=2

11.....3) Detect Minds: Detect Minds (Mental Group) 11- (Unusual Group), Discriminatory, Increased Arc of Perception, Sense, Targeting Sense (27 Active Points); Costs Endurance (Only Costs END to Activate; -1/4) - END=3

13.....4) Read Emotions: Telepathy 8d6 (40 Active Points); Empathy Single Emotion (-1) - END=4

6.....Fearful Haste: +4 with DCV (20 Active Points); Only Versus Designated Person's Attack (-1), Costs Endurance (-1/2), Instant (-1/2), Only Versus beings With Minds/Emotions (-1/2) - END=2

15.....Billy Club: Multipower, 30-point reserve, (30 Active Points); all slots OAF (-1) - END=

1u.....1) Club: HA +3d6 (15 Active Points); OAF (-1), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2) - END=1

1u.....2) Hurled Club: EB 6d6 (30 Active Points); 1 Recoverable Charge (-1 1/4), OAF (-1), Lockout (cannout use any slot in Multipower until Charge is recovered; -1/2), Range Based On STR (-1/4) - END=[1 rc]

1u.....3) Swingline: Swinging 10" (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Lockout (cannot use any other slot in same Phase in which Swinging is used; -1/2) - END=1

1u.....4) Hanging Onto Projections: Clinging (normal STR) (10 Active Points); OAF (-1), Requires A STR Roll (-3/4), No Movement Allowed (-1/2), Cannot Resist Knockback (-1/4) - END=0

4.....Running +2" (8" total) - END=1

2.....Swimming +2" (4" total) - END=1

 

POWERS Cost: 129

 

Cost...MARTIAL ARTS

3......Akido Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 6d6 +v/5, Target Falls

4......Boxing Cross: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +2 DCV, 8d6 Strike

4......Choke: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, Grab One Limb; 3 1/2d6 NND

4......Hold: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, -1 DCV, Grab Three Limbs, 25 STR for holding on

4......Judo Disarm: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +1 DCV, Disarm; 40 STR to Disarm roll

3......Akido Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 6d6 +v/5, Target Falls

1......Weapon Element: Clubs

1......Weapon Element: Knives

12......+3 HTH Damage Class(es)

 

MARTIAL ARTS Cost: 36

 

Cost...SKILLS

3......Breakfall 13-

3......Conversation 12-

3......Bribery 12-

3......Deduction 11-

3......High Society 12-

3......Climbing 13-

3......Combat Driving 13-

3......Demolitions 11-

3......Navigation (Land, Marine) 11-

3......Paramedics 11-

2......KS: The Military/Mercenary/Terrorist World 11-

2......KS: [Military Force] History And Customs 11-

2......PS: 11-

3......Tactics 11-

3......WF: Small Arms, Knives

 

SKILLS Cost: 42

 

 

Cost...TALENTS

5......Eidetic Memory

3......Bump Of Direction

4......Speed Reading (x10)

6......Lightning Reflexes: +3 DEX to act first with All Actions

 

TALENTS Cost: 18

 

Base Pts: 200

Exp Required: 150

Total Exp Available: 0

Exp Unspent: 0

Total Character Cost: 350

 

 

 

 

 

Since I am still in the experimenting phase I have not added any Disads. But Psych.Lims. are very likely: Dislikes/Avoids Killing; Affects mannerisms of Absorbed Personality's. To avoid busting to many of the GM´s Chops I avoided outright Telepathy and Mental Illusions.

Note also that the Character is supposedly in his late Teens and absorbed a few very hard Guys during his first Manifestation. He is sometimes troubled by those Hardcore "solutions" and sometimes they manifest.

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Is the pool just for knowledge skills? Maybe Universal Scholar with a limitation would be more elegant.

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Checks Ultimate Mentalist...

Oh Snap!

You are right. With that Pool he can technically only absorb KS Skills,Languages and such.

I guess to Mimic Physical Skills he would also need a Reflex Pool from Metamorph.

This would weaken the Character even further.

I would still love to buy some resistant Defenses and Mental Defenses.

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

And you would probably need Universal Translator and maybe Universal Scientist. Maybe you could structure it so you do 'super skills' through the pool, powers that simulate skills. Teleport with must be able to cross intervening space normally for Stealth, etc. For the knowledge, maybe a Detect for correct answers to questions might serve.

 

If I were the GM, I would use a house rule that you can simulate any skill through a VPP for a flat cost of 5 points per point in the skill, so a 4 point skill or two 2-point skills can be simulated for 20 points in the VPP. Having to absorb the skill temporarily from others could be a limitation on the control cost. This is effectively a +4 'can use skill in a VPP advantage'. I think it adequately addresses most issues with putting various skills in a VPP, and if it doesn't, raise or lower the modifier value.

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

And you would probably need Universal Translator and maybe Universal Scientist. Maybe you could structure it so you do 'super skills' through the pool, powers that simulate skills. Teleport with must be able to cross intervening space normally for Stealth, etc. For the knowledge, maybe a Detect for correct answers to questions might serve.

 

If I were the GM, I would use a house rule that you can simulate any skill through a VPP for a flat cost of 5 points per point in the skill, so a 4 point skill or two 2-point skills can be simulated for 20 points in the VPP. Having to absorb the skill temporarily from others could be a limitation on the control cost. This is effectively a +4 'can use skill in a VPP advantage'. I think it adequately addresses most issues with putting various skills in a VPP, and if it doesn't, raise or lower the modifier value.

 

I do not think that will work. I think I need to find a alternative Character.

Thanks

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Too bad. There's a skill absorbing character in Vibora Bay, from Champions Universe: News of the World, written up like this:

 

40 Psychic Skill Mimicry: Variable Power

Pool, 30 base + 15 control cost; Only

For Skills Known By Someone Within

2” (-½), Cannot Keep A Slot Active For

More Than 1 Hour After Leaving Target’s

Presence (see text; -0)

 

33 Knowledge Absorption: Telepathy 10d6,

Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible;

+½), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½);

Extra Time (Full Phase, -½), Limited

Normal Range (2”; -½), Receive Only

(-½), Does Not Provide Mental Awareness

(-¼), Only To Absorb Facts Known

By Target (-¼)

 

Not cheap, though.

[Fireg0lem]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Most of these are technically illegal, though, since they're using VPPs to put skills in. I think the best way to do this is Multiform.

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Multiform ?

 

Huh ?

 

Please explain.

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Too bad. There's a skill absorbing character in Vibora Bay, from Champions Universe: News of the World, written up like this:

 

40 Psychic Skill Mimicry: Variable Power

Pool, 30 base + 15 control cost; Only

For Skills Known By Someone Within

2” (-½), Cannot Keep A Slot Active For

More Than 1 Hour After Leaving Target’s

Presence (see text; -0)

 

33 Knowledge Absorption: Telepathy 10d6,

Invisible Power Effects (Fully Invisible;

+½), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½);

Extra Time (Full Phase, -½), Limited

Normal Range (2”; -½), Receive Only

(-½), Does Not Provide Mental Awareness

(-¼), Only To Absorb Facts Known

By Target (-¼)

 

Not cheap, though.

 

Definitely not cheap. Leaves no real room for anything else.

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Basically, you buy a bunch of Multiforms, each just like the base character, only with room for extra skills. If the GM allows, you define the forms as the character, only with different absorbed skills. Say, a 350-point main form with 70 points spent on having 16 350-point Multiforms. If that's not enough different forms to last you through the campaign, 5 XP will give you 32 alternates. Maybe you can get a limitation on the Multiform based on having to absorb the skills, but it would be hard to make something like that a meaningful limitation. You just run another form with the points you were spending on the VPP spent on whatever skills the character has absorbed. It's abusive in it's own way, but Fireg0lem is right, it solves your cost problem and it's legal.

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Hmm. It would sure work.But....

 

( Yeesh and People complain about using a VPP. Thats about really abusing the rules.)

[pinecone]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

I used to run a shape shifter who could "steal memorys"...I did it with Skin contact "Vulcan mind meld" Telepathy and 3 Cramming rolls (one enhanced) that loaded via Telepathy. Staeling Physical skills could work...

 

Generic MA around 21 points, KS: Style (run this out of a cramming slot) and viola! you duplicate his "style" while paying your points...

 

Also you could use "Universal" skill enhacers with a "stolen only" lim (say -1/4 or so?)

 

Universal Jack Stolen only 15 points

Universal Scholar Stolen only 15 points

Universal Scientist yadda 15 points

 

Myself I'd look at using 3 or 4 Cramming slots, and buy most skills with the "I did not study for years, I Borrowed them..." sfx

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

Yeah, I think there's a problem with letting one form pay for all the multiforms without even a requirement to return to that form in order to change. It begs to have a 'pay for the multiform' form that you never use, it's just the token requirement to change forms whenever you want without really paying for it.

[Doctor Agenda]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

You know what would be simple, along the lines of what Pinecone suggested? Just keep some points in reserve and spend them on skills as you go, defined as skills you absorbed. If I were GM I would go along with that. You've just got a special effect for learning skills fast, just as legitimate as the 'oh, I already knew how to do that, it just never came up before' justification.

[Fireg0lem]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

I was assuming the character eventually lost "absorbed" skills, not that they were permanent. If they are permanent, then Dr. Agenda's suggestion is really the only way to do it.

 

RE: Multiform, if you do decide to go that way, I generally (as a GM) don't allow multiforms built on more base points than the main character - multiform cost. So a 300-point character could spend 50 points to have a 250-point multiform (250=300-50) but not 60 points to have a 300-point multiform (300 > 300-60).

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

I used to run a shape shifter who could "steal memorys"...I did it with Skin contact "Vulcan mind meld" Telepathy and 3 Cramming rolls (one enhanced) that loaded via Telepathy. Staeling Physical skills could work...

 

Generic MA around 21 points, KS: Style (run this out of a cramming slot) and viola! you duplicate his "style" while paying your points...

 

Also you could use "Universal" skill enhacers with a "stolen only" lim (say -1/4 or so?)

 

Universal Jack Stolen only 15 points

Universal Scholar Stolen only 15 points

Universal Scientist yadda 15 points

 

Myself I'd look at using 3 or 4 Cramming slots, and buy most skills with the "I did not study for years, I Borrowed them..." sfx

 

Hmmm.

The more I think about it the more I like it.

I think I must go and crunch a few numbers...

[Black Ops]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

I was assuming the character eventually lost "absorbed" skills, not that they were permanent. If they are permanent, then Dr. Agenda's suggestion is really the only way to do it.

 

RE: Multiform, if you do decide to go that way, I generally (as a GM) don't allow multiforms built on more base points than the main character - multiform cost. So a 300-point character could spend 50 points to have a 250-point multiform (250=300-50) but not 60 points to have a 300-point multiform (300 > 300-60).

 

Ja thats what I think too. It makes your Multiform Suggestion even more confusing to me.

[Fireg0lem]

Re: Knowledge-/ Skill-Absorber

 

There are some similar character concepts, like Rogue, that can really only be effectively built using Multiform, which is why I brought it up. It might not be the best way to do this particular one, though.