Duplicates built on fewer points

[Scott Baker]

On 6E1 198 it states that duplicates built on fewer points than the base character (typically) don't have to pay for the cost of Duplication if they are built with fewer or less powerful abilities. This seems obvious for things such as powers (e.g., base character has a Blast 8D6 so the duplicate could not have the Blast, or could have Blast 4D6). Do lower characteristic values also count as less powerful abilities? For example, the base character has STR 30 and the duplicate has STR 20.

 

Thanks.

[Steve Long]

That's a judgment I leave entirely in the hands of the sagacious GM.  There are so many possible permutations of "lesser" that I don't want to dive into the quicksand pit of giving answers to specific questions; that's what GMs are for. Note, however, that the text says "less powerful abilities" (emphasis added). That rule contemplates the Less Powerful Duplicate being less powerful in a broad, general sense — not just having one or two powers built on slightly fewer points (as in your STR example). And whether a Duplicate qualifies as Less Powerful is up to the GM.