Superheroes of the Trust OOC Thread II

[kirinke]

It also sounds like a limiter on power (in the formal energy/time sense) would affect a lot more than technological blasts.

If Viridian wants to fry electrical gadgets, a spell that increases heat loss from resistance might be fun. Microcircuitry would probably fry itself. However, that still wouldn't do anything for guns or exotic technologies.

However, comic book science and all that.

How about a spell that turns things into solid blocks of whatever it is they're made of? Make it selective and you could have alot of fun with it....

Or you could go with a simple displacement or blur spell that affects both machines and people. That would well be in keeping with Vi's more defensive approach.

Another good idea: A spell that 'turns off' electronics and anything technological. Also with the selective rider on it. Simple but potentially devestating. And that could simply be an offshoot of Vi's TK ability/spell.

 

[Victim]

The problem with monkeying with fundamental properties of matter like that is that you have to make them highly exceptioned. For example, if the general property of electrical resistance was increased across the board, then the increase in heat build up would affect more than just delicate integrated circuits. Messing with stuff like that could yield powerful results...but also has a huge potential for unintended side effects and so on.

And you think capping energy discharge rates will have fewer side effects?

 

[Shayuri]

Sure. I can't think offhand of many naturally occurring rapid discharges of high energy. Lightning bolts, maybe. Astrophysical phenomenon that's well outside the spell range.

Do you know of anything that might fit into that category?

 

[kirinke]

Sure. I can't think offhand of many naturally occurring rapid discharges of high energy. Lightning bolts, maybe. Astrophysical phenomenon that's well outside the spell range.

Do you know of anything that might fit into that category?

Power plants, certain scientific devices like the ones that bash electrons together..... To name a few.

 

[Jemal]

This can't be solved until we decide whether magic is a science (In terms of this campaign). if it isn't, then what happens just happens b/c magic said so. If it is, then we have to come up with scientific reasoning... or rather comic book science.

 

[Victim]

Sure. I can't think offhand of many naturally occurring rapid discharges of high energy. Lightning bolts, maybe. Astrophysical phenomenon that's well outside the spell range.

Do you know of anything that might fit into that category?

Non technological powers? They're not exactly natural, but considering the intended use (especially radius and duration) of the spell, they seem far more likely to come up. A super STR punch is still involves lots of energy in little time.

 

[kirinke]

This can't be solved until we decide whether magic is a science (In terms of this campaign). if it isn't, then what happens just happens b/c magic said so. If it is, then we have to come up with scientific reasoning... or rather comic book science.

I prefer the former rather than the latter. Trying to come up with scientific reasoning can be a pain in the tuushie if you ask me. Plus, it'll frazzle the scientific minded in the group.

"THAT's not possible!"

"For a mage, the will is everything. It shapes and creates, destroys and shatters. Will is what powers the magic and gives it form."

 

[Shayuri]

Non technological powers? They're not exactly natural, but considering the intended use (especially radius and duration) of the spell, they seem far more likely to come up. A super STR punch is still involves lots of energy in little time.

I would think it would be considerably less energy, and in more time, than...say, a laser beam or an explosion...but honestly, once we get to the point where we have to count the joules of energy released per nanosecond to see what is over or under the cap, then something more basic is a problem.

My goal in this is not to open up the proposed spell to pseudoscientific nitpicking...and since that seems to be what it's doing, perhaps it's best to do as Krinke suggests and just handwave the explanation entirely.

 

[Raylis]

Is anyone else having a problem with email notifications on threads they've subscribed to? I'm not getting any emails from ENW when people post and since that's how I usually keep up with the game it's strange to have to come over to check if someone has posted

I have been...I thought its really wierd no one had replied for a couple days only to find out I was a couple days behind

 

[DM_Matt]

This can't be solved until we decide whether magic is a science (In terms of this campaign). if it isn't, then what happens just happens b/c magic said so. If it is, then we have to come up with scientific reasoning... or rather comic book science.

Definitely primarily a science (mostly in the execution, a little less so in its effects), although it doesn't work for everyone. Why some people can use it and others cannot is unknown. You don't need good science to explain it though. Just pick an option.