HERO: Need help creating powers

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Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

I need a little help creating two super-powers.

The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
not a real power. One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
damage" to his flame thrower power.

This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
not force disads on other people" arguement?

The other character is Vector, who can deflect (change direction) of
anything that hits his power field. Basically a one turn point on the
hex, no speed loss (so he can't reverse direction of anything). Since
this could effect flying, running, etc, I am not sure how to create
this power. Help.

Wayne



--
_ __ _ __ | I see the girls walk by dressed in
' ) / // / / ) / | their summer clothes; I have to turn
/ / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ | my head until my darkness goes...
(_(_/ <_</_(_/ (__/ (_/|_/ (_(_/_ | -Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black"
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

I very much reccommend getting THe UNTIL Superpowers Database. It has an
entire section on Luck based powers. the entire book is basically a list of
powers built using FRED. They are grouped by special effect (Ice/Cold,
Electricity, Strength, etc.)

Captain Geek
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:23, wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S Garmil) wrote:
>The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
>project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
>it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
>effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
>only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
>not a real power. One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>damage" to his flame thrower power.

You should make them buy a "Transform, target to target with 3d6 Unluck".
If that sounds too expensive, try and figure out exactly what they want
the Unluck to do to their target. It's probably just a weird Indirect EB
or something.


--
chuk
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:23:26 +0000 (UTC), wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S
Garmil) wrote:

>I need a little help creating two super-powers.
>
>The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
>project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
>it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
>effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
>only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
>not a real power.

He's right. You have to do a Transform.


One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>damage" to his flame thrower power.
>
>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>not force disads on other people" arguement?

Forcing disads on other people is what Transform is for.

>
>The other character is Vector, who can deflect (change direction) of
>anything that hits his power field. Basically a one turn point on the
>hex, no speed loss (so he can't reverse direction of anything). Since
>this could effect flying, running, etc, I am not sure how to create
>this power. Help.

Force Wall.


>
>Wayne
>
>
>
>--
> _ __ _ __ | I see the girls walk by dressed in
> ' ) / // / / ) / | their summer clothes; I have to turn
> / / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ | my head until my darkness goes...
> (_(_/ <_</_(_/ (__/ (_/|_/ (_(_/_ | -Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black"
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 18:56:29 GMT, rgormannospam@telusplanet.net (David
Johnston) wrote:

>On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:23:26 +0000 (UTC), wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S
>Garmil) wrote:
>
>>I need a little help creating two super-powers.
>>
>>The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
>>project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
>>it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
>>effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
>>only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
>>not a real power.
>
>He's right. You have to do a Transform.
>
>
> One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>>damage" to his flame thrower power.
>>
>>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>>not force disads on other people" arguement?
>
>Forcing disads on other people is what Transform is for.

In this case it's a vastly overpriced way to do so, IMO.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 20:34:05 GMT, Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> wrote:

>> One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>>>damage" to his flame thrower power.
>>>
>>>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>>>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>>>not force disads on other people" arguement?
>>
>>Forcing disads on other people is what Transform is for.
>
>In this case it's a vastly overpriced way to do so, IMO.

Giving an opponent 3d6 of unluck is not a trivial thing. It would of
course be a minor transform which helps.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:23:26 +0000 (UTC), wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S Garmil)
wrote:

> I need a little help creating two super-powers.
>
> The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
> project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
> it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
> effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
> only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
> not a real power. One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
> damage" to his flame thrower power.
>
> This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
> people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
> not force disads on other people" arguement?

Converting Roulette of the Hellions eh?

I can think of two ways to do this. Either Transform (from normal to normal with
unluck), or if you use the same thig I did when I wrote up the Scarlet Witch's
hex power. I wrote up a Multipower with a number of powers which could simulate
90% of the common "hexes" she would use, like Telekinesis to make things trip or
break, or an indirect Energy Blast to make things burst into flame, etc.

http://www.angelfire.com/scifi2/mathew/csscarletwitch.html

> The other character is Vector, who can deflect (change direction) of
> anything that hits his power field. Basically a one turn point on the
> hex, no speed loss (so he can't reverse direction of anything). Since
> this could effect flying, running, etc, I am not sure how to create
> this power. Help.

Telekinesis would work for me. Just with limitations.

http://www.angelfire.com/scifi2/mathew/csvector.html

--
Mathew
Homepage - http://mathew.fcpages.com/
Angel web site - http://angel.fcpages.com/
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 21:03:30 GMT, rgormannospam@telusplanet.net (David Johnston)
wrote:

> On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 20:34:05 GMT, Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> wrote:
>
> >> One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
> >>>damage" to his flame thrower power.
> >>>
> >>>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
> >>>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
> >>>not force disads on other people" arguement?
> >>
> >>Forcing disads on other people is what Transform is for.
> >
> >In this case it's a vastly overpriced way to do so, IMO.
>
> Giving an opponent 3d6 of unluck is not a trivial thing. It would of
> course be a minor transform which helps.

If you Drained Luck into negatives, would someone gain unluck? Even if they had
no luck to begin with?

--
Mathew
Homepage - http://mathew.fcpages.com/
Angel web site - http://angel.fcpages.com/
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 4 Jun 2004 16:23:26 +0000 (UTC), wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S
Garmil) wrote:

>I need a little help creating two super-powers.
>
>The first one is a Jinx power, where the character can essentially
>project a disk of Unluck that effects the character if they step on
>it. Like the disad, I had it work by rolling to see how powerful the
>effect was. I created the power as "Unluck, 3D6, usable on others
>only at range", and my players called fowl since this was a disad and
>not a real power. One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>damage" to his flame thrower power.
>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>not force disads on other people" arguement?


I do not see this as being too overpowering. Assuming a 1 hex area
disk that you create and they later step on, you'd need

Unluck 3d5 = 15 points
Usable As Attack (+1)
Ranged (+1/2)
Area of Effect 1 hex (+1/2)
Continuous (+1) - you are creating the disk first and they later step
on it

You'd also need specific GM approval (all "Usable as attack" powers
require this). You'd further need to define a "reasonably common
defense" than negates it. (FRED p.177)

None of this directly addresses the "it's a disad, not a power"
objection. It falls in "the GM can allow it if he wants" area. But
let's look at the effect. You have a 60 point power and what does it
do? By a strict reading of "Unluck" (FRED p.222) you could say

1. It only works when the opponent is "winning easily, depending on a
sure thing, succeeding easily, taking a simple task for granted and so
forth." If you are a PC losing badly, as GM I'd be inclined to give
you a bit of slack.

2. It usually only works once per encounter per enemy. You don't get
any limitation points for this, that's part of the standard way Unluck
works ("Usually, Unluck should only be rolled once during an
encounter...").

3. There's that dice roll. Over half the time it doesn't affect them
at all (they don't roll any ones 5/6 x 5/6 x 5/6 = 125/216 or 58%).
And when it does affect them it will most commonly be a single level
of Unluck, hardly earthshattering. There are 91/216 chances that there
is =some= effect. 75 of those 91 are 1d6, 15 of those 91 are 2d6,
only 1 is 3d6.

4. Like any standard attack it costs END and is quite visible. They
have the standard chances to note it and not step on the glowing disk
of power. (You can, of course, attempt to create it directly under
their feet, but that's not how you worded it above.)


So IN MY GAME it would generally be allowed. It would be less
effective overall than most other 60 Active Point attacks. But other
GMs might feel differently.

Hmmmm.... there MAY be something on the Herogames.com website in the
FAQs about a construction like this, and IF that's the case you would
have something official to use. I don't recall an example like this
offhand, but I don't have the FAQs memorized. There is also the
section on "Creating new powers" in FRED, and while they say it should
be rare they do say it can be done. Naturally that =always= requires
GM approval.

AS A PLAYER the bottom line is all you need is GM approval.

AS A GM, however, you may wish to be more concerned with how your
players will react. Even if you are confident that you are not being
abusive of the rules, if the players =think= you are "cheating" you
will lose FAR more than you will gain. If either logic or some
official source (such as the Herogames.com site) convinces them that
it is OK, you should also expect them to look at every conceivable
disad in the book to see what the effect is if turned into a "Usable
as attack" power. While this one isn't too bad, there may be others
that are potent - and they will expect automatic approval by you as GM
for any such powers because "You did it, why can't we?" If you
disallow one because it seems abusive to you, you might generate a lot
of hard feelings EVEN IF you are absolutely correct. So consider your
players carefully before going through with this.
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 21:03:30 GMT, rgormannospam@telusplanet.net (David
Johnston) wrote:

>On Fri, 04 Jun 2004 20:34:05 GMT, Wayne Shaw <shaw@caprica.com> wrote:
>
>>> One player wanted to add "Vulnerable to fire, 2X
>>>>damage" to his flame thrower power.
>>>>
>>>>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>>>>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>>>>not force disads on other people" arguement?
>>>
>>>Forcing disads on other people is what Transform is for.
>>
>>In this case it's a vastly overpriced way to do so, IMO.
>
>Giving an opponent 3d6 of unluck is not a trivial thing. It would of
>course be a minor transform which helps.

Compared to the other things you could to to them, I think it _is_
pretty trivial. But then, I tend to find Transformation generally
overpriced (though with 5th it's better).
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

In article <c9q7lu$87s$1@pcls4.std.com>,
Wayne S Garmil <wgarmil@TheWorld.com> wrote:
>
>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>not force disads on other people" arguement?

Clarification: this is not a permanent change, just a one-shot unluck
roll the effected character has to make. If they roll no 1's, then no
unluck occurs. Sorry if I wasn't clear about that.

Time to go back to reading the thread. Thanks to all who have
responded so far!

Wayne

--
_ __ _ __ | I see the girls walk by dressed in
' ) / // / / ) / | their summer clothes; I have to turn
/ / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ | my head until my darkness goes...
(_(_/ <_</_(_/ (__/ (_/|_/ (_(_/_ | -Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black"
 
Archived from groups: rec.games.frp.super-heroes (More info?)

On Sun, 6 Jun 2004 16:27:28 +0000 (UTC), wgarmil@TheWorld.com (Wayne S
Garmil) wrote:

>In article <c9q7lu$87s$1@pcls4.std.com>,
>Wayne S Garmil <wgarmil@TheWorld.com> wrote:
>>
>>This is not a luck power, it is only unluck that effects other
>>people. How do you write up that power without causing the "you can
>>not force disads on other people" arguement?
>
>Clarification: this is not a permanent change, just a one-shot unluck
>roll the effected character has to make. If they roll no 1's, then no
>unluck occurs. Sorry if I wasn't clear about that.

That should make the Transform pretty cheap.


>
>Time to go back to reading the thread. Thanks to all who have
>responded so far!
>
>Wayne
>
>--
> _ __ _ __ | I see the girls walk by dressed in
> ' ) / // / / ) / | their summer clothes; I have to turn
> / / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ | my head until my darkness goes...
> (_(_/ <_</_(_/ (__/ (_/|_/ (_(_/_ | -Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black"

>
 
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