Transcendence Now - M&M Game [Resumed!]

[Shalimar]

Hmm, would it be possible to target saves, and if so does that include toughness?

Yes, it is possible to target saves, but keep in mind that draining saves doesn't have an innate effect like draining Wisdom to 0 to put someone into a coma. An example of a drain on someone's saves is the corrosion power. Corrosion is a Drain Toughness linked to a Strike, which each cost 1pp/rank, for a total corrosion cost of 2pp/rank. You should also keep in mind what exactly is contributing to a person's saves. You can drain a person's toughness to a max of -5, but if they are wearing actual physical armor it still should give its protection, it really just depends on what exactly goes on with the power.

The above is according to the book, but you should bear in mind that direct drains to saves are pretty powerful especially at low levels, and Sollir already nixed corrosion which has a toughness drain in it.

 

[KentArnold]

Yes, it is possible to target saves, but keep in mind that draining saves doesn't have an innate effect like draining Wisdom to 0 to put someone into a coma. An example of a drain on someone's saves is the corrosion power. Corrosion is a Drain Toughness linked to a Strike, which each cost 1pp/rank, for a total corrosion cost of 2pp/rank. You should also keep in mind what exactly is contributing to a person's saves. You can drain a person's toughness to a max of -5, but if they are wearing actual physical armor it still should give its protection, it really just depends on what exactly goes on with the power.

The above is according to the book, but you should bear in mind that direct drains to saves are pretty powerful especially at low levels, and Sollir already nixed corrosion which has a toughness drain in it.

Drains can be nasty, no matter the level. Draining stats can be directly destructive, draining Saves, while less directly destructive, can be a powerful lead to another attack that targets that Save. IE Drain Reflex Save followed up by Area Attacks.

So, if you're going to want Drains, keep in mind that at the lower levels, yes, they're quite powerful, and might be nixed by the GM outright unless limited(like say Corrosion, Limited: only vs objects) in some way.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Kent -> No problem, to be honest you were very close to getting in, but your character just didn't fill the niche I needed at the time. If all goes well with 6 players the first issue or two, I'd be happy to add you in, and honestly, I think with your character's background, that time would be a good time to bring her in anyways (with the 'guard' incident instead taking place after Adriana's time at the institute).

Shalimar/Festy -> I didn't quite 'nix' corrosion in all cases, just in that particular build it was looking nasty (I think it was an area effect power). If someone's mutant had corrosion, but it were limited in other ways, such as it only worked through 'touch' I'd be fine, but overall its a very tough power and at this stage in the game the world is just not ready for overpowered mutants Edit-Also, are drains not limited by PL and caps? Unless you have a tradeoff, a 7 point drain would be 1 point too high, no?

Samnell -> I'll see what I can drag up, I am far from a prodigy in the classical world but I have met a few, most of my experience comes from personal friendships and acquaintences but so far your background seems fairly accurate. I'll see about inserting a music colleague of your character's to have some dialogue, and at the very least if you told me what you wanted to do with your character's powers in a performance setting I think I could oblige in the description somewhat if you can't.

Here's a good page to get the very basics of, and its not very long either:
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos095.htm

Edit-Playing in your sleep might be overdramatic, your character might think (as I am thinking) that there is little difference between someone playing off stage and simply having a player piano. Part of what people go to concerts for is the actual event itself and the live performance. However, it would be awfully dramatic if you could play an instrument, or multiple instruments on stage dramatically using telekinesis.

 

[Shalimar]

Sollir, I have to agree with Samnell, really what I'm looking for is along the lines of the 4400 series on USA network. You mentioned it, so hopefully you have seen it. I'm looking forward to seeing how people deal with a girl that can heal anyone's injuries. I figure it'll be a headache for her, but it'll also allow her to get out on her own as she trys to find her own place. At the moment, she is a 17 year old who went right from the hospital to program, she hasn't been on her own since her parent's murder. She probably inherited a good deal of money what with life-insurance and such so she can afford to set herself up in an apartment, but depending on how pricey she might need to find a way to market her power.

Another side plot that I would like to have mixed in with finding her place is her revenge angle, sort of a Nightwing year one. That could probably be mostly handled in a single combat, or as a couple of posts, but its fairly crucial to the character's point of view. I envision Tony Carter(the gang boss) as having been released due to insufficient evidence. Everyone sort of knows he was behind it, but no one could really pin it on him, which is making Makenzie hot for bringing him down.

Sollir, you said that we were going to all be part of groups of 5, did you have any preferences on who was in which group? Would it be random? According to Age lines? Physical fitness? Should a bunch of us be in the same group and know each other?

 

[KentArnold]

Kent -> No problem, to be honest you were very close to getting in, but your character just didn't fill the niche I needed at the time. If all goes well with 6 players the first issue or two, I'd be happy to add you in, and honestly, I think with your character's background, that time would be a good time to bring her in anyways (with the 'guard' incident instead taking place after Adriana's time at the institute).

Ok, that's cool. I think if I'd managed to get things worked out quicker(ran into a few concept snags on my end, which thankfully doesnt happen too often) it might have worked out better. Such is life. Hopefully the revised version(as listed on page three) avoids the toe stepping.

Frankly, I think the version I finished revisions on this morning looks a lot cleaner, and works a lot better all things considered. Just need to tweak her history a bit is all right now.

 

[Rybaer]

Couple questions for Sollir, to help get a feel for the world and our place in it.

Mostly, I’d like to know more about the Transcendence project and our experience in it. Where was the project held? Are any governments involved? If not, how do they feel about it? If so, how do the “other” world powers feel about it? What does the transcendence process involve (drugs, mind manipulation, surgery, supernatural exposure, unknown, or other)? Are the participants from all around the world, or is it primarily American/Eurpean/first world/other?

I think just a quick summary of what the experience was like during that 3 month stay would be helpful. I understand that we may not know the answers to all these questions, but even knowing that is important.

And for the game, are we picking up right at the end of the 3 months when we’re about to be set loose?

Hmmm…I think that should be enough for now. Thanks!

 

[Rybaer]

Sollir, I have to agree with Samnell, really what I'm looking for is along the lines of the 4400 series on USA network. You mentioned it, so hopefully you have seen it.

Funny you mention that show. It's almost exactly the sort of context I was thinking of when creating a character for this game. Great show.

 

[KentArnold]

Even though I'm reserve, these are a few other good questions.

What legal ramifications, if any, are in place regarding the Transcendents?

What about the usage of their powers?

Have any such legal issues been discussed yet by the lawmakers?

How publicly known is the issue of Transcendence?

 

[RobotRobotI]

Mister Furryfoot - if I were to drop Blast to 2 (for now, if I can come up with something more appropriate), and spend the 4 points regained on Animate Object (Limited - Shadows Only), could I then give it the 'Weakness' Drawback, as a Major intensity weakness (Loses 1 point from all ability scores for every round spent outside of a heavily-shaded area, dies when (I don't know what ability score to use here - constructs don't have con - maybe Strength?) reaches 0). That would be in the area of 2 points (major intensity) + (whatever frequency you feel is appropriate. On the one hand, light is pretty common, but on the other, Maleck won't be trying to take him out in the light. On that strange, amorphous third hand, this thing is intensely vulnerable to things like flashlights..) The fact that the vulnerability can kill it may or may not be +1 to the drawback (since it's not a major character, I don't think the death part should really be worth anything.)

With all of that in mind, 30 points from Rank 2 Construct is taken down to 10 when I raise it's Strength and Dexterity up to 10 each, and then 10+Drawback can be spent on feats/skills/power (probably Sneak Attack, lots of ranks in Hide, and maybe something like a low-level Strike.)

I dunno. Maybe I'm stepping out of bounds here! Maybe the vulnerability to light should just be an FX thing.

 

[Sollir Furryfoot]

Shalimar -> I'm a fan of the 4,400, definately, and I like the style of how the show has multiple protagonists, which interact with each other on occasion but all have their own storylines. Sadly, however, last night's preview episode had something surprisingly close to one of the scenes I had planned for the opening of this game so I need to rework that a bit. As for the groups of five, I'm currently deciding on that, but I imagine that everyone collectively will be in 2 or 3 groups. I'll end up deciding who's in what group, but it'll allow us to have some in-game character relationships built, as well as foreshadow a few other mutants and their abilities. It might also encourage some teamwork in the future, but ultimately that's up to the PCs to decide. I'm definately not planning on all 6 PCs forming a superhero group or anything like that, though I wouldn't be surprised if two or three of you teamed up on occasion.

*nods* Tony Carter will show up, although it might be tough to solve depending on how direct your character acts

Kent -> *thumbs up*

Rybaer -> I'm still hammering out all the details of everything, but to your knowledge, this was a private project and no governments were involved. You came into it out of your own free will. The project itself will be somewhat ambiguous and honestly, I think the creepy factor will come from how isolated you all are from the world. They would keep you guys physically fit, feed you healthy food, keep your minds entertained via books or news, and run tests/give treatment. The treatments themselves would vary, shots and cubicle-like rooms where you'd have to sit in a chair and undergo some type of radiation-like treatment. Probably one person a day would be taken for treatment and the rest of the week you would be given time to do what you like within the confines of the place. Cameras all around, so your actions would be monitored, but there wouldn't be guards around unless they were needed.

Two of the more 'experienced' transhumans, Angel and Bastien, along with possibly a third one would be around to keep the peace and reassure you all that the project is doing well.

Among other things, as soon as I decide what groups of 5 your character belongs to, I'll decide also who achieved their powers first, and from there in this OOC thread we can discuss how you initially reacted to them.