Brain Trust - Duplicating the Mind

[wayneligon]

In the Wild Cards books, Blythe Van Renssaeler had a singular super power: She could duplicate another person's mind within her own mind: memories, personality, everything. I'm having a tough time trying to figure out how you'd do that in Champions: Shape Shift doesn't seem like it duplicates thoughts and memories, only provides a convincing simulation of them to an casual outside observer. Transform (part of one's own mind) would work but that seems a little weird.

[Sean Waters]

Re: Brain Trust - Duplicating the Mind

 

Can't transform yourself, but this is Hero. I can think of two ways:

 

1.Extremely impressive telepathy, rapid sense and eidetic memory?

 

2. You could also do this with a VPP multiform. You'd need the GM to OK it though.

 

3. Some sort of Enhanced Sense.

 

4. Summon someone else's mind.

 

OK. Four ways. Stopping now.

[Naanomi]

Re: Brain Trust - Duplicating the Mind

 

As long as we are not trying to copy mental powers... I would go with a Summon Mind also, or if you are ready to stretch the rules a bit... a VPP of either Duplicants or Skills and Mental Stats

[Ice9]

Re: Brain Trust - Duplicating the Mind

 

Sort of an odd method, but ...

 

Copy Mind:

Duplication, Altered Duplicates, Usable as Attack (defense is opposed EGO roll or very odd mental structure), ACV (MOCV vs MDCV), Line of Sight

EDM (to "mind space"), Usable as Attack, (same modifiers), Linked, Only vs Duplicates

 

Interrogate Mind:

Transdimensional (to "mind space") for Mind Link

 

This would allow you to copy a mind that you couldn't or didn't want to read at the present moment. Then at a later point, you could pry into it or even "talk" to it. Of course, if the mind you copied has mental powers of their own, then contacting it opens you up to counter-attack. If you possess greater control over the captured minds, then potentially:

 

Reformat Minds:

Mental Transform, Penetrating, Transdimensional, Continuous, Persistent, 0-END, AoE (radius), Extra Time

This would cause any mind you copied to gradually (or quickly, depending on what Extra Time modifer you pick) be brought under your control, allowing you to tap on their memories without risk.

 

Or alternately, if you can run the captured minds in "sandbox mode", as may be appropriate for an electronic brain-capture in a future setting:

Transdimensional on Mental Awareness and Telepathy (instead of Mind Link).

Since you're not linked to them, they can't counter-attack through the channel, but they can still try to resist your interrogation.

[GAZZA]

Re: Brain Trust - Duplicating the Mind

 

If you assume that basically you're interested in maintaining the knowledge of these other minds - which was the case with Blythe - then you might want to look at APG and take Universal Scholar and Universal Scientist (perhaps also Universal Jack of All Trades and Universal Translator), all with appropriate limitations that she can only use the skill if one of her "minds" has it. For Blythe that works out OK (she has crippling Psych Comps that make it unlikely she can do more than a few minds anyway - as far as I recall, she spent most of her life insane, though it is possible Tach might have been able to help if he'd been allowed); if you assume someone who doesn't have the psychological problems Blythe had, it's a bit clumsier (you gradually have to reduce the limitations as she gets more and more minds).

 

Blythe's power was technically a bit more than you mention; she didn't "shapeshift" her mind into the absorbed mind, she had all of the absorbed mind's knowledge available to her at all times (IIRC), which was the source of her problems (as she also had all the personality traits and had to use Tach's training to maintain a sense of self). No so much a multiple personality disorder as something more like Alpha or Echo from Dollhouse.

 

If you just want "a series of minds I can have, but only one at a time", then Sean's VPP of Multiforms is the most direct way to do it I think.