Tactile Metal Control powers

[speedball23]

I'm having trouble figuring out how to build a power for a 5th Edition character I'm creating. He is a metallic brick who also has the power to alter the structural integrity of metal by touch. I'm envisioning this power being used to hurt metallic foes or break metallic foci or objects by weakening them to the point of structural failure.

 

However, I cannot determine how to best build this power, and am hoping the board can help. Options I've considered include:

 

1) Major Transform - Working metal foci or object into a non-working metal foci or object. How would this item heal back over time? Would it just follow the rules for replacing or rebuilding a foci or object?

 

2) A Dispel - Dispel against any metal foci. Would the character be able to re-activate the power through the focus in his next phase? Can Dispel be used against metal objects, like a wall, door, or stairway?

 

3) Limited Strength - Only to break metal foci or objects. This wouldn't allow me to hurt a metal character, though.

 

4) Find Weakness - Only against metal characters, foci, or objects. This would reduce defenses, making things easier to hurt or break with the characters normal strength.

 

5) Energy Blast - Only against metal characters, No Range. This could be used to simulate hurting a metal character by weakening the structural integrity of his body.

 

At the moment, I'm leaning towards a combination of numbers 3, 4, and 5, but I'm open to other suggestions.

 

Thanks.

[phookz]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

Dispel is all or nothing, so if you don't exceed the points it has no effect. You might consider Drain.

[CrosshairCollie]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

There are lots of options. The most inclusive one I can think of would be an RKA, NND, Does Body, No Range, with the defense being 'not made of metal'. It can break foci, damage metallic characters, it slices, it dices ...

[Christopher]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

Don't know 5E, but it think they may be comparable. I also hope my 6E to 5E reverse translation makes sense.

1) and 2) are pracitally the same and I think dispel works better. for the effect: I think it may make your Swords HKA "dull" or make the entire sword brittle. As long as it is a focus for a single power, it would thus simply break it and deny the use of that power (that's what you get for using OAF's).

For a focus that aplies to multiple powers, each use would break the part for one power (like would do damaging). Things like making one of the guns firemodes inoperational. Normal items could just break totally

 

3-5) don't sound really usefull (so it may be worth a big limitation)

 

Have you though about Drain/Supress(?) Metal Powers/Metal Elemental Controlls? Or Metal foe defenses?

You could "destabilize" your enemys, but they can catch themself again (like the "cohesion fight" between ds9 changelings).

Drain bought vs. metal objects, you could then easily smash the target. Perhaps linking it to an attack, so you get "defense cracking" attacks.

 

Metal Powers might imply high defenses, usually personal nature (at least thats the first thing I think when I hearing "living metal"). So something to breake armor/damage resistance may be usefull. If those come as adders, you should check if the Adjustment Powers already have the "Can add/remove Adders" advantage. Also think about variable advantage for attacks.

 

The NND Idea 'not made of metal' woudl not stand up to the rulse of 6E, no idea if they were that different in 5E.

[Xavier Onassiss]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

In 5e it's fairly inexpensive (compared to 6e!) to Drain multiple characteristics; a Drain for PD, ED and Body with the only v. metal limitation should work against both characters and objects.

[The Nexus]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

When I make a Magneto type character I usually use a Range Killing Attack vs metal. This only works if you just want to damage the metal. If you envision a reshaping of the metal then you have to go with a transform. I personally don't like Drain because most drains heal back in 12 Seconds and it doesn't really fit, how does broken metal repair itself?

[Arkham]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

Given that this is a touch range power, as described, the simplest and most flexible method would simply be 3d6 HKA only vs. Metal. Assuming the GM will allow it, this brick character would be doing 6d6 killing against metal foci and metal characters ( safe assumption the brick has at least 45 STR ), and their normal hand attack damage against everyone/thing else.

[Christopher]

Re: Tactile Metal Control powers

 

I personally don't like Drain because most drains heal back in 12 Seconds and it doesn't really fit' date=' how does broken metal repair itself?[/quote']

A drain doesn't destroy. It may aply a force that is weakening the melcular bonds, thus making the metal more vulnerable. Or change it's conductive abilites. Or somehow temporarily "gumming" the fire-mechnic of a gun,...

Of course at those changes require that energy is aplied to the metal. The law of thermodynamics and the tendency of energy to distribute itself evenly will take care of the "drain-healing".