Projected Force Fields

[whitekeys]

I need help creating a Superhero able to project force fields in order to protect himself and his teammates. (I am not particularly familiar with the Hero System, just getting into it with some friends).

 

Barrier seems to be the obvious Power to use. I understand fairly well the 'englobing' rules. What I want is a force field that cuts out once its Body is reduced to 0, instead of blowing a hole in it, but at the same time I want my character to be able to concentrate harder to increase its resistance so he can stand up to greater odds. I don't think I much like the idea of putting up a barrier and then leaving it there. Its so much more dramatic to have the strength of the wall seemingly incumbent on the strength of will of the super hero. Any advice on how I can achieve that? I considered Ablative, Constant with Requires Concentration, and even Characteristic rolls and Power Skill rolls.

 

Also, how would I project a force field onto someone else, and have it follow them around, similar to how it would work on you if you choose Non-Anchored and Mobile as Advantages?

 

[Escafarc]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Use the Cost END Limitation and only buy PD/ED and 0 BODY. As for the second the Usable By Others Advantage on Resistant Defence should do the trick.

[IndianaJoe3]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

What I want is a force field that cuts out once its Body is reduced to 0' date=' instead of blowing a hole in it, but at the same time I want my character to be able to concentrate harder to increase its resistance so he can stand up to greater odds. I don't think I much like the idea of putting up a barrier and then leaving it there. Its so much more dramatic to have the strength of the wall seemingly incumbent on the strength of will of the super hero. [/quote']

 

Having the Barrier completely collapse when breached is probably worth an extra -1/4 Limitation.

 

As to the Barrier becoming tougher when the hero concentrates on it, you would buy extra PD and ED that the character has to, "concentrate" to use. Depending on what you mean, this might be reflected by Concentration (if the hero is ignoring his environment), Increased END Cost (the hero is expending extra energy), or Proportional to an EGO Roll (if the character has to focus his will).

[Xavier Onassiss]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Having the Barrier completely collapse when breached is probably worth an extra -1/4 Limitation.

 

As to the Barrier becoming tougher when the hero concentrates on it, you would buy extra PD and ED that the character has to, "concentrate" to use. Depending on what you mean, this might be reflected by Concentration (if the hero is ignoring his environment), Increased END Cost (the hero is expending extra energy), or Proportional to an EGO Roll (if the character has to focus his will).

 

There are also some optional rules in the Advanced Players' Guide for defenses whose Endurance cost depends on the damage taken. If you want a power that requires 'extra effort' to provide greater protection, that's a good way to go.

 

As for having having the Barrier collapse when breached, I'd point out that this is somewhat similar to the "All or Nothing" limitation, which valued at -1/2.

[Hyper-Man]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

fyi...

 

from 6e page 169,

 

Barrier BODY

...A character isn’t required to buy any BODY for his Barrier, though a Barrier with 0 BODY collapses if it takes even 1 BODY in damage from any source.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

... or Proportional to an EGO Roll (if the character has to focus his will).

 

Where are the rules on that? I'm not familiar with how it works, although I had thought of a similar idea. I put Ablative on it and tied the Required Roll to a CON roll, essentially increasing the Roll based on the character's Fortitude. Or, for even more powerful results, tied the Required Roll to a Power Skill and based -that- on a Characteristic, namely CON (or EGO roll, i guess). This would represent the character's waning ability to maintain the force field under incredible odds - as time goes on and more damage is done, the force field begins to wane. This frees the 'effort' put in by the character from depending entirely on concentration or END, which I thought wasn't quite what I had picture - I wanted the force field to end because he wasn't powerful enough to withstand the onslaught of a few tank shells every second not because "I got tired".

 

But.. I was a little confused on how exaclty the Ablative works. If I succeed the Required Roll.. the attack is completely negated?

[Xavier Onassiss]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Excellent point, Hyper-Man.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

or Proportional to an EGO Roll (if the character has to focus his will).

 

Proportional to an EGO roll? What's that? Sounds like it could be a possibility.

 

It reminds me of another idea I had. Buy Ablative and tie the Required Roll to CON, effectively removing the standard 15- Roll and basing it on the characters Consitution Roll. Or, you could tie it to a Power Skill roll and have -it- based on a Characteristic Roll, namely CON, or EGO I suppose. This would simulate the waning power of the force field, while still having it active and protecting you, and also simulate how it is directly tied to the character's effort. It would still purchase Costs Endurance but not concentration.

 

Although, I'm not 100% how Ablative works. If I succeed on the RAR... the attack is completely negated? If I fail.. it 'gets through' but I still have the force field's defences apply? Because, if you look at the rule, it states that only attacks whose damage is high enough to exceed the Barrier's PD or ED require a Required Roll. So, I'm not sure. What do you think?

[IndianaJoe3]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Proportional to an EGO roll? What's that? Sounds like it could be a possibility.

 

Proportional is introduced in the Advanced Player's Guide. Basically, you buy the power up to the maximum level you want, and apply the Requires a Roll Limitation with an additional modifier, depending on how much effect you get.

 

Although, I'm not 100% how Ablative works. If I succeed on the RAR... the attack is completely negated? If I fail.. it 'gets through' but I still have the force field's defences apply? Because, if you look at the rule, it states that only attacks whose damage is high enough to exceed the Barrier's PD or ED require a Required Roll. So, I'm not sure. What do you think?

 

If the Ablative roll succeeds, the defense applies. If it fails, the defense does not apply.

[prestidigitator]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

I'd probably call a single Body score rather than a Body score per 2m x 2m section a -1/4 too. Simple enough. That's quite different from having 0 Body; there's still something to wear away.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Do you think as the GM I could rule it differently? I think, whether or not the RAR succeeds, the defenses should apply, since a simple chink in your armour doesn't necessarily negate the armour completely. I dunno, nevermind, this has been really helpful! Thanks so much!

[Hugh Neilson]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Do you think as the GM I could rule it differently? I think' date=' whether or not the RAR succeeds, the defenses should apply, since a simple chink in your armour doesn't necessarily negate the armour completely.[/quote']

 

That would, in my view, be best simulated by having RAR on only a portion of the armor, such that some base defense would always apply.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Like if I had, game-machanic wise, two force fields, one which had lots of PD and BODY and which was not Ablative, and another one on top of it, which -was- Ablative but had no PD or Body... and then linked them? or had some sort of Limitation like "When X power stops working Y power also stops working"?

[Bodkins Odds]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

I'm thinking that a xPD xED 0 BODY Barrier, possibly Ablative, with a Proportional to EGO Roll lim and Requires End to Maintain and Concentration sounds like the best way to model a Susan Storm style force field. Especially if the APG does have an END Proportional to how much Damage is Blocked/Taken lim.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Apg?

[IndianaJoe3]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Apg?

 

Advanced Players Guide

[Bodkins Odds]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

The Advance Players Guide, it has a whole bunch of awesome alternate and additional rules like Speeds over twelve and Armor Piercing above 1/2.

[whitekeys]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

mmm, Sound delicious. Is it a separate book that you have to purchase? I'm going to take the plunge pretty soon and buy hard copies of the rule book. I'm cheap, you see, livin' the university life.

[Bodkins Odds]

Re: Projected Force Fields

 

Yes, it's a separate book. But it's a small black and white softcover, so it should be within your budget.