Flummoxed by Duplication

[CitizenArcane]

Trying to wrap my head around the Duplication power.

I understand that you get a number of duplicates depending on your power level, and that you divide your hit-points amongst yourself and your dupes.

So what does the power actually let you do?

It lets you act in various, disparate, locations (but you don't get any extra actions)?

So you could punch a guy with one dupe on one side of a warehouse on round one, then on round two you could have another dupe on the other side of the warehouse flip a switch. So in that sense it also lets you expand your awareness in that you can experience events in multiple, disparate, locations simultaneously?

Is that it?

For that ability, you seem to take the limitation that your hit-points are now reduced per duplicate, and you all count as minions. Which means you no longer roll defense and just take 7 as an average, and you no longer roll to attack, once again taking 7 as an average. Soaks now become an "average" of 5. But they do not get to use the "Gang Rules".

On top of that, they are now much (MUCH) more susceptible to area attacks (since they each have so few hit-points).

I dunno. It just seems that Duplication's disadvantages greatly out-weigh its advantages.

Am I reading this completely wrong?

Lastly, is there a write-up for the iconic duplication gal that shows up in the illustrations (the one in green with the "i" on her chest) to get an idea of how the power is intended to work as the focal pont of a character.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

And here's a link to my flailing attempt to make a duplication character...
http://bashtalk.org/modules.php?name=Fo ... pic&t=1326

[ice2515093]

The shunting of your Hit Points among your Dupes aside, I think what you're looking for is SUPER SPEED, which can allow you to have multiple actions.

--Drew

[BASHMAN]

Your Duplicate with 2 Hits takes 1,000,000 damage. It pops. You have another 49 Duplicates left to go.

[MrJupiter]

Your Duplicate with 2 Hits takes 1,000,000 damage. It pops. You have another 49 Duplicates left to go.

Yay for Level 5 Duplication!

In combat, unless your duplicator has the Super Speed power (or the Intense Training powers: Double tap, Paired Weapons, or Swift Strike), he or she can only have 1 act per panel (attack, activate a power, etc.). Yeah, it does kind of suck but at least the other duplicates can be out scouting the area, calling 911, helping bystanders escape (maybe even trying to get the phone number off that attractive news reporter). All these are just hand-waved in a quick description so as not to hold up the game - the Narrator will follow up on any of these if they have potential to make the game more interesting. [New page. “Dopple-Guy, one of your copies out in the back alley just spots the head Mob-Boss trying to make a break for it during the commotion inside! Are you going to focus your main actions with him, or stick with the duplicates engaged with the battle inside?”]

It would be kind of cool if the main body of duplicates were able to act in some useful, but generalized, sort of way – even allowing a portion to attack a target as a gang. One of the copies could be designated as the Page-Focus character and allowed attacks as normal (even with the reduced Hits). Having too many duplicates involved in individual battles would really drag the game, but one focused copy and about one-half of the rest of the duplicates engaged as per regular minion rules would be more useful – and truer to what is seen in comics!

[Hey BASHMAN: Fleshing out Duplicators would be a great idea for another “To the Rescue…” article for BAM!]

[BASHMAN]

Btw, you CAN build special "mob attacks" if you want for your duplicates. I did it like this:

Gang Up: Special Attack 3 [Limit: Must have 3 or more duplicates adjacent to target]

You could even do this as a Burst area if you want.

[MrJupiter]

Btw, you CAN build special "mob attacks" if you want for your duplicates. I did it like this:

Gang Up: Special Attack 3 [Limit: Must have 3 or more duplicates adjacent to target]

You could even do this as a Burst area if you want.

You're an f-king genius! Why did I not ever, EVER, think of this?

P.S. Please excuse my language...