AlgaeNymph

Yep, that's why I suggested number-crunchers for a Magic lab. I fail to see her her ambition correlates to her personality disorder. In any case, she just needs meds and a healthier social environment. Except science doesn't need belief, even in the rubber physics of the Champions setting. Nor do metaphysical power sources. Apt you mentioned Mage: the Ascension because I always found the Traditions pretty much trying to soft-sell a Dark Renaissance of their own. Phil Masters goes into more detail with The Truth, Obviously, concluding such thinking is really about promoting radical politics. Following that, "science vs. magic" only became a trope during the New Age age because of consumerism. (Fitting it also mentions Changling: the Dreaming which conflates science with Banality.) Though to be fair, there is the occasional enlightened wizard who conflates science and magic without any theocratic baggage. Now this is more what I'm getting at. Now the question is: how would one use tech to aid the spiritual (or whatever Ch'i needs)?

I thought that's what we were doing here? And isn't that what Anglestone Laboratories and the Goodman Institute do? If I were to take a scientific approach (what other approach is there?) the first thing I'd do is measure what I know can be measured, such as the effects of powers on objects. Even better if I can compare them to known constants (i.e., how much you need to heat up 1kg of H2O 1˚C). That doesn't solve discerning the composition of the powers themselves, though comparing them to known energy sources would be a good start. The training equipment at Ravenswood foremost comes to mind. As for specifics: Ch'i would have biomonitoring gear, given how often powers affect the body. Particular focus would be on networked systems (particularly nervous and circulatory) and comparisons to theorized energy lines. Magic would, of course have iconic hard-copy libraries, but would have book scanners as well. Digitization's needed to input the data into informatics programs (see also: Gyre). Psionics would absolutely require brain scanning equipment. Neural nets and lab animals (and caught slavers) would also be required. Given how it can get physical some of the above wouldn't be remiss. Given how much Cosmic Energy an affect I'm baffled beyond 'all of the above.' I suppose some geology equipment to learn the physical properties of a Cosmic Gem, for what that's worth. Anyone have anything to add?

Something else I think about on occasion: what would laboratories for each of the four sources look like?

And you present it well. Story-wise, I particularly like Kinetik's and Sapphire's lines as they'd show the attention to detail I'd put in my works. : ) And if I understand the Mandaarian's claim correctly, we know how to make use of the fundamental source but don't even know what we're working with. That about right? Adding on to that is a latter paragraph on the same page: The Atziluthic World also includes a fourth element, the “lost sephira” called DA’ATH: the link between Wisdom and Understanding, balanced in the Abyss between timeless Atziluth and the realms below. Archimedes said, “Give me a lever long enough, and a place to stand, and I will move the Earth.” Da’ath is that place. From Da’ath, a mystic can call on the limitless power of Binah, shape it with the archetypes of Chokmah, and cast his creation into the realms of Time. Only the mystic’s intelligence, patience, and skill limits what he can create, from a flower to a galaxy. What’s more, since Da’ath exists outside time, the mystic can insert his new creation at any point in history — past, present, or future. Da’ath’s nature renders it, rather understandably, one of the greatest secrets in sorcerous lore. Looks like the kind of thing Cosmic Energy does. Don't know for sure, but it's a starting point for research. : )

By all means, do so. A diversity of of perspectives and questioning of hypotheses is foundational to scientific thought. : )

Or rather, a gathering of information in order to form one. In my readings I've found four ultimate sources for superpowers (besides training), being the four aforementioned in the title. Ch'i is always, based on my findings, associated with martial arts. I think it's some sort of personal energy, and particularly shows up in "internal" or highly mythologized styles. Magic is the most important one as it's more than just wizard stuff; it's also canonically the means by which most other powers are possible. I'm aware of how controversial this decision was. Psionics is pretty much magic but purely mental and scientistic. It's big in science fiction because Joseph Campbell liked it. It doesn't entirely go away when the magic did in 2020, but I don't know how it works beyond that. Cosmic Energy is "a mysterious type of energy that permeates the Galaxy (and perhaps all Reality). Scientists as yet do not fully understand cosmic energy," and neither do I. But it's the force behind Cosmic Gems, which let anybody do just about anything, so it's particularly interesting to me. All three are so far pretty separate, but do they have to be? That's not a rhetorical question, and I'm not a metaphysician, so I'm asking the collective consciousness here for any ideas you all have.

I'm...afraid I don't understand your analogy. Radiation, in a universe with flexible physics, either grants superpowers or (more often) super tumors. Conversely, a Cosmic Gem grants power proportional to a user's will (and whatever character points they've invested in it), but doesn't have any harmful effects. My understanding is that anybody can use one (making them likely pretty coveted, assuming you know where to find one, but I digress).

Hm... So would it be fair to assume that somebody with a true Cosmic Gem would still have their powers? Very useful to know, and should provide sufficient buffer for a time traveler, particularly if they're not in a strictly magic-dead age. Power took a year or two just after 2020, so something like the Valdorian Age would be a lot longer. (In particular, magic does work just fine there...if it's from an external source.) The Atlantean and Turakian ages would likely be just fine for superhumans.

Over in another thread, Lord Liaden offered this: Thank for letting me keep things tidy. : ) But yes, good reminder of such unconventional heroes as Doctor Teneber. However, who else do you have in mind as potential allies? It's always good to have a way to get my life and powers back after I die.

Someone working for her, yes. : ) Sorry about any confusion earlier, everyone. Though Lake Tah’nees in the Nightlurk Mountains does corresponds with one unfortunate oil well in Oklahoma...

I'm aware this is a controversial subject, but it's one I feel can be discussed calmly. Besides, I'm neutral about it. I mainly see it as something to solve -- and exploit. ; ) Officially, the source for superpowers, which is apparently magic...fluctuates over time. Though even when the magic goes away, as it does in 2020 according to Galactic Champions, genetic immortality still works (See: Cateran, Empyreans), as does low-level psionics (see: Star Hero). According to Champions Beyond, the Lawbringer destroys the Qularr in the early 2200's so cosmic energy seems to still work, at least for Galaxars. The cosmic energy of those empowered by Xarriel's coruscations* (Photon, Stareye, Sunspot, Vector, and Victory) are unmentioned, but likely fizzled out. Teen Champions has a pair of (possibly senile) time travelers implied to have visited the Valdorian Age, though nothing's explicitly stated. So...what works and what doesn't in what age? * P.S. "Coruscations" is spelled with two 2 r's in Champions Beyond.

The Empress finds slavery abhorrent, as do I. However, freeing slaves and training them might be an option. : ) Both good ideas. And the Valdorian PC now has me thinking about a present day superhuman who, after getting killed, went back in time to work with a necromancer. Their goal is to get back to the present day, get back their life, and get back their power. Though how would one do that?

A time-traveling superhuman (or other sapient) might obviously want to visit, for example, the era of Galactic Champions for the easily-acquired tech, or the Turakian Age for the (relatively) easily-acquired magic. But what would the Valdorian Age have to interest a time-traveler? I suppose easily-acquired workspace free of interference (assuming they can bring or make the infrastructure), but can't think of anything else. Even in that best case there wouldn't be any reason to interact with the locals beyond maybe a power trip. Any other ideas for what one could get from such a time and place?

About what I figured, but it's in my nature to exhaustively make sure. If nothing else, it's something for the search engines to find. Thanks again. : )

I know how it's like in the MMORPG, thus the linked text. I mean how is it in the pen-and-paper RPG?

It only gets a long paragraph each in Champions Universe 6E (p.38) and Millennium City 5E (p.43), and much has already been said about misinterpretations of the place, but what is the place like? It's a nightclub popular with heroes and groupies, there's a superhumans-only section, and upstairs private rooms (hmm~), but nothing else about the atmosphere or floor plan. I suspect the answer is "whatever fits your game" but I am curious to read about what's likely (and plausible). And very curious about those private rooms...

I suppose there are several better options than chorework. Certainly an idea I had. Of course, it's not something I can do en-masse. Hm? Isn't doing good what makes one a hero in the first place?

I definitely had them in mind since VIPER, ARGENT, and baddie nations are jerks and meanies. It's where Lady Blue goes, so that's endorsement enough for me. But like you said they're not stop-n-drop. However, where would a superhero deposit lots of conjured/transmuted cash? Can't imagine anyplace overt since the Secret Service, which already doesn't like superhumans, would look askance at any (understandably) alleged counterfeiter.

I've been looking at the replies and found them wanting for some reason, in spite of them pretty much matching my prior research (even citing the same sources). Then it occurred to me: they all involve fussy chores. How would a superhuman get (or even find) somebody else to do said chores? (You'd think Dark Champions would describe criminal cultures with as much fussy detail as it did criminalistics...) And on the subject of buying homes and businesses, what is the upper limit of what I can buy with duffel bags?

Oo! Now I have a practical reason to become Vice Lord of the Hudson City Strip. I can convert cash into credit, and help out the workers there! Unions, housing, harm reduction, medical care, runaway watch...if I got money from elsewhere they won't even be a drain. No doubt some jerks'll try to start a problem, but only one easily solved via superpowers. 😁

Let's say a superhuman has lots of cash. Whether from criminal enterprise or created via superpowers it matters not. What does matter is that cash only goes so far. Large purchases have the sort of bureaucratic oversight that looks askance at duffel bags of $20s, and a bag of money won't even get you shovelware in an online store. There needs to be a way to turn those Jacksons and Benjamins into 0s and 1s. Fast, and in bulk. How does one go about doing that?

A typical super's tights, but without a dance belt or similar. For safety reasons, of course. 😉

He isn't even a villain at all. Rather, he's a hero who actually gets things done for the everyman, and not just another face-puncher for the cameras. I'm curious, what other characters did you write up? And are there any other writers lurking in the forums here?

Thank you, Mr. Destroyer Person! Now I just need to figure out what sort of characters, and powers, to think up...

So...free creative reign, then? That's what I'm guessing since I didn't see even so much as an "I don't know." Odd. Apologies for the necromancy; just wanting to be certain is all.