Dust Raven

UV has loads of uses, none of them making it more or less effective than Nightvision. Buy a small Cosmetic Transform (target into target that glows UV) and once you've hit him with it, you can following him from very far away because he'll glow like a torch. You can use it to see character that are invisible to only normal vision (which, IMO, includes Nightvision). And you can use it to read secret messages passed between you and your superhero girlfriend in history class.

Need to know more about the character. Offhand, if only the character's Powers change (not Characteristics or Skills), then you could just buy Shapeshift and a VPP. If everything about the character changes, including Characteristics, Skills and even personality, you're better off with just buying Multiform with plenty of extra forms.

As a Disadvantage, it's probably be a Physical Limitation (Infrequently, Greatly) worth 10 points. It's rare I see someone actually Drain a sense, and it's usually the result of SFX drains (like all tech powers). If the robot would be attacked more frequently with EMPs and such, it might be considered Frequently, but I'd rule Frequently as at least once every other adventure he gets his senses zapped.

A really ,really large, non-cumulative Transform should do it. Orbital would have Mega RAnge and Mega Area (and Area Effect, naturally). If you want to affect people indoors, apply Indirect at +1/2 as well. I'd rule that the random effect is a +0 Modifier, as it is equally advantagous and limiting. I'd even go so far as to say that the type of Transform (Cosmetic, Minor or Major) would be random as well, and just figure out the number of dice based on the Base Points. Special Note: I don't think I'd ever allow a player character to have a power like this unless I was running a Hitchikers style game.

Egad!!!! Actually, I'd just say wing it. If it's part of the plot, something the characters have to deal with, then it doesn't cost points.

I would just call it a -1 Side Effect (full Active Points). It's just the reverse of Healing anyways. Personally, I wouldn't say that the character having regeneration, or wether or not he used the power in combat would have any effect on the value of the LImitation. If he takes the damage, even if only temporaily, it will hamper him in combat. If he doesn't use it in combat, then that's limiting too. It's almost like saying Concentration 0 DCV isn't worth anything because it wouldn't be used in combat.

I am not, under any circumstances changing the base cost for Characteristics. I'm not saying their fine the way they are, it's just that it's too much work to rewrite the rules to that extent. I like the idea of classifying Characteristic based Skills as a "tight group." Rarely have I seen a character that buys ALL of the skills listed for a Characteristic, but rather just buys the ones that best fit his concept. It would be easy to define those skills as a tight group. I also like Farkling's idea of extending the definition of "broad category" to include any skill that would apply to the situation. Reminds me of Ranma 1/2, who would likely have 8-10 levels with "martial arts," Farkling's idea would make those levels cost 5 points each, but now they can apply ice skating, rhythmic gymnastics and the dozens of other things Ranma could do if it was done in a martial arts way.

The way I look at it is like this: You'd get a similar effect to purchase Aid or Succor to your own EGO (and Mental Powers, if appropriate). Logically, you'd apply a LImitation so that the bonus is only usable versus a single character (or small group, depending upon how it's used). Drain costs just as much as Aid, requires an attack roll at no range, and is subject to the target's Power Defense. I'd say the Limitation is worth -1/2 (maybe -1/4 if there are not many other mentalists about anyway).

It's amazing where one's mind can wonder sometimes... Here's something I've noticed. It costs 5 points to buy a +1 with all Intellect Skills. or... It cost 5 points to buy 5 INT, getting a +1 with all Intellect Skills, +1 to the PER Roll, and a bonus on things like Universal Translator. You even make it harder for people to Drain your INT. The same goes for PRE and Interaction skills. This has never come up with me before, because skills are usually bought up individually in the games I run. So, is this something you would just kinda look at and go "well, um......" or has anyone addressed this issue in their game?

There are a dozen different ways to write up such creative movement powers, and a dozen reason why each just won't work. What happens if your speedster with the "teleport" running wants to run across a mine field, and invisible laser wall, or a glass floor? Technically, he can do it, but according to the SFX, it wouldn't work. So what happens why he tries? Of course, the easy answer is to follow the SFX, and have him make a Luck roll or set off a mine, take damage for running through the laser field or fall through the glass floor. After all, the mechanics are just as much of a guideline as the names we use for them.

Oh yes! Rings of amber, purple or blue that ripple out of the characters forehead. That's how they did it in the comics and the early cartoons. I use the heatwave thing a lot, but because mechanics are a funny thing, the last teek I had didn't have any special effects. It was just "obvious" where the power was coming from.

The best idea I've heard so far is the 6+CHAR/5 one. Only don't just apply it to Everyman Skills, but also those 1 point Familiarities with Characteristic based Skills. For Background skills and such, it would still be 8- for 1 point, 11- for 2, and optionally based on a characteristic for 3 points. This would give the brilliant scientist (18 INT) a 10- Deduction roll for free, while the brilliant detective (alto 18 INT) has a 13- with the Deduction skill he payed 3 points for, and the schmuck off the street (10 INT) would ony have an 8-.

How is this different from the current system?

I've always been a bit baffled at the cost of Skill Levels in general. Technically, Only For CV (both OCV & DCV) is a -1/2 Limitation for DEX, leading to a cost of 6 points. (You can't put No Figured Characteristics because SPD doesn't provide CV. But then you could buy +3 DEX No Figured Characteristics for only 6 points too. So I keep asking what's the use of 8 point levels for all combat when they cost more and only provide a +1 to either OCV or DCV, not both? Then someone always points out that CSLs can be used for Bounce and attack, increase it's damage and spiffy stuff like that, with DEX along just can't do. Bullseye would have lots of 5 point levels with all ranged attacks, and likely have Penalty Skill Levels for Range as well.

More on topic... I don't think of the words used to name the Powers (or Skills or Maneuvers or anything else starting with a capital letter) as being even remotely literal. It's all a guideline. It's all about mechanics and picking the mechanic you need to get the desired effect.

That's always been a fun one to explain to new players .

Re: Re: Entangle Armor Mmm... Then It could work. I agree with JMHammer that it would be an attack action to turn it on. It's how I envisioned the power working anyway, so no problems there. Farkling, I like your idea, but the mechanics don't quite work out. Your idea is great for starship shields though. Now that I think of it though, I'll follow along with austinandrews idea of simply applying a "Does Not Restrain -0" Limitation. I'll use this instead of Personal Immunity, so that it can't be used as a very effective attack. I could be used to grant temporary armor to other characters, as well as the character with the power, and could still be used to create barriers.

I was just checking out some of the recent Q&A on the boards, and noticed the concept of Entangle with Personal Immunity. My first thought was "wow! that's how I can write up this character's armor". Then I read Steve's answer which said it shouldn't be allowed if the purpose was to get more defenses. So, just how would I write this up? The character can create "generic mater", mold it into shapes, hurl it at people and so on. One of the things he does is create hunks of it around people (Entangles) and creates armor for himself. The thing is, I want the armor to work just like an Entangle (total DEF+BODY is subtracted from damage with and BODY that exceedes the DEF doing damage to the armor), but without imparing the character's movement. I've thought of using Ablative, but that doesn't quite work the same way. Any ideas?

Okay, the Vulnerability is thus: Vulnerability: Invasive Adjustment Powers, x2 Effect. "Invasive" meaning it must directly affect the character. Gravity Fields and Temporal Anomalies don't count, but Synaptic Scramblers and Poisons do. I don't like VPPs, especially for this type of thing. It's like paying full price for a very limited power (although it might work for just a single die of increase, I dunno).

Sorry about that, I was in a hurry when I posted. "Hold a charge" isn't quite what I meant. It's more like "increased effect." Anything other than strait damage, such as the loss or gain of points in a Power or Characteristic, would be increased. I just don't know how to buy it for the benificial Adjustment Powers.

Just started a new campaign, with a (mostly) new group of players. One of these players has a character whose powers are bases somewhat on the new-age properties os amethyst crystal. One such property is its ability to "hold a charge." In HERO, this sounds to me like Adjustment Powers, which can simulate positive (Aid, Healing) and negative (Drain, Suppress) charges of energy. Now, just slapping a Vulnerability to Drains and Suppresses (and even Transfers) is easy, but what about the Aids and Healings? Should I just say it's a side effect? How would it be paid for it not? Something else I'm missing? Since I can't even figure out how to properly buy an Aid or Healing with any kind of Modifiers to simulate this (short of Versus Everything I Have Spent Point On Simultaneously (+?) and Only Affects What's Actually Being Affected (-?)).

Mmm... A guy who does 4d6 with a punch. That would be a 20 STR, enough to lift and carry over 800 lbs for short distances, and over a ton for a second or two. Looking at that, I really don't see how this guy couldn't reasonably take down an elephant...especially if he picked up a big stick. Of course, he could be a martial artist, using a spiffy punch. But then he would also know how to use the stick with that spiffy punch, an it probably wouldn't be just any stick, but a weapon designed to be used with that spiffy punch. Anyways, HERO is NOT broken! It's not perfect, but neither is reality.

A few years back I picked up a booklet titles "The Everyone Everywhere List" which contains first and last names for about two dozen nationalities and cultures. It even has "old" names for people from earlier time periods. What makes this book particularly cool, is that it's arranged by chart, with d100 (d20 for small lists) charts for every name (sometimes several d100 charts for a particular nationality). So if you need a name real quick, you just roll some dice and presto! Heck! If you need the name of a mafia hit man who's half Italian, half Irish, roll some dice and PRESTO!

I agree the act woud not be very heroic, but not all heroes are very heroic. Using EGO Attack is a simple matter. Just remember to double the STUN. Telepathy gets tricks. No one has real "surface thought's" while unconscious, but anything below that is fair game. Mental Illusions can be fun, and can even trick a target into thinking he's already gotten up (thereby keeping him down after he's recovered). Mind Control is pretty useless, unless you can produce a lasting effect that will stick long enough for the character to wake up. Mind Scan is still straight forward and completely unchanged, although an unconscious target wouldn't remember the scan. Remember that, even though unconscious, the subconscious mind will notice the invasion and respond, meaning the targets will still get their allotted EGO rolls.

While Skills normally aren't allowed in a VPP (or any Framework), a case like this might be the rare exception. I wouldn't allow any special Limitation like "Skills Only" though. That's the SFX of the pool. Though a "Only Skills Target Has" would be most appropriate.