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+--- Thread: Utility Powers? (/showthread.php?tid=2153)
Utility Powers? - Amaterasu - 02-22-2018
This is a question doubling as a suggestion, I suppose :frog:
All of the powers present in the Omniverse are made for combat utility, even if some have some utility outside of combat as well (like Super Jumping or Enhanced Senses). But what of powers that don't have combat utility? Taken from the FAQ, we have the option of certain fodder powers:
Quote:Q3: Can my character have additional non-combat powers, for example communicating with the dead? Hacking? Being really good at fixing things?
Yes, roleplaying fodder powers are fine but you should get approval for these from staff when you join or using the Help Desk board. Please do not abuse these fodder powers to do things you would not otherwise be able to do. This is purely for roleplaying purposes and should not be abused. Communicating with the dead, for example, would not allow you to find out things about other characters without their permission. Hacking knowledge would not allow you to affect other Primes or become some kind of god in the Dataverse. And having necromantic knowledge is fine but actually summoning the dead requires moves and/or an Assist, and if you tried something like reviving a dead NPC without approval then you'd be at risk of getting your post edited. Always check if you haven't already asked.
Environmental resistance, for example a natural resistance to hot or cold environments, could be considered a roleplaying fodder power, but would not be effective against moves from other primes. For example, being resistant to cold environments would not protect you in any way against the cold-based attacks. It is up to you how to justify this in your role-plays. If all else fails, the section in 'About the World' regarding omniphysics 'balance' should cover you.
Surviving in zero-oxygen and high/low-pressure areas such as underwater or in space is considered a roleplaying fodder power and does NOT require Survival, though this will not protect you from, for example, poison clouds from other players. Any character may also summon rebreather-like apparatus if the situation requires it.
Would it be a possibility to introduce "Non-combat powers", which don't count towards the Power limit and have out-of-combat utility which would be illegal as 'fodder powers' from the FAQ?A few ideas from me to throw out there would be:
[spoiler]
-A "gain info from the dead" power, perhaps restricted by TEC, which allows a character to gain Info from a body but it works only once (maybe dissolves the body?)
-Reintroducing the "Life Detect" power (not sure why this one was removed, but I've caught a peek of some veterans having had it) which would allow a character to detect life in a wider radius than Enhanced Senses, but only generally 'there are living creatures somewhere in the radius', without being able to uniquely identify someone, or tell where they are?
-"Deep" Shapeshifting changing a character's body on an organic level, which doesn't flicker when someone is hit but takes longer to accomplish and doesn't hold up for combat.
-An "alternate-identity" mask or some other item that when put on allows the character to take on a second identity unbeknownst to other people, allowing them to visit factions where they have bounties or do faction affiliation quests for factions opposing the one they are in already, but they're not eligible for rewards other than flavor to prevent OM farming? This one would obviously need some way to prevent people from dodging bounties entirely, though.[/spoiler]
These are obviously just a few vague suggestions, but yeah. Things that give the character a distinct advantage and would potentially allow for more character development.
RE: Utility Powers? - Hecate Rothchild - 02-22-2018
i like this. alot
RE: Utility Powers? - Dane Regan - 02-22-2018
Quote:-A "gain info from the dead" power, perhaps restricted by TEC, which allows a character to gain Info from a body but it works only once (maybe dissolves the body?)
-Reintroducing the "Life Detect" power (not sure why this one was removed, but I've caught a peek of some veterans having had it) which would allow a character to detect life in a wider radius than Enhanced Senses, but only generally 'there are living creatures somewhere in the radius', without being able to uniquely identify someone, or tell where they are?
-"Deep" Shapeshifting changing a character's body on an organic level, which doesn't flicker when someone is hit but takes longer to accomplish and doesn't hold up for combat.
-An "alternate-identity" mask or some other item that when put on allows the character to take on a second identity unbeknownst to other people, allowing them to visit factions where they have bounties or do faction affiliation quests for factions opposing the one they are in already, but they're not eligible for rewards other than flavor to prevent OM farming? This one would obviously need some way to prevent people from dodging bounties entirely, though.
A lot of these would be possible as moves. We don't really need a new power category for it.
Info from the dead is fodder (if given OOC permission from people you're learning about) - but I guess with telepathy or one of the spiritual unlocks you might be able to get something to let you see the body's dying moments or something like that without the permission. Maybe even with time manip (rewind time to see a vision of how it died). Or, get whatever other information. You'd need insight to know details of moves and stuff though.
I can see an Enhanced Senses move allowing you to detect life in a further radius if you add a drawback (maybe it's tiring or takes some more concentration).
For the shapeshifting one, I dunno. Maybe shapeshift + malleability. But you'd want it to be long term, so maybe a stamina drain. Unless you're fine with a charge time and reduced duration. Or maybe having it restrict you to keeping that form until you spend the time to change to a new one (like 5 mins out of combat or something).
The last one can basically be fodder depending on how far you're going. But with shapeshift and suppression you could pull it off without a move - but I'd ask for approval before you do any crazy double-agent stuff. And, again, people could still chase up your bounty if they put in the effort.
RE: Utility Powers? - Alex - 02-22-2018
Shang has a Super Utility Move that lets him long-term shapeshift.
RE: Utility Powers? - Amaterasu - 02-22-2018
Hmm, I figured that some of these seem like they'd provide too much utility or be too much of an "upgrade" from their original powers to be covered under regular moves. Thanks for clearing this up, then!