Basic Action Super Heroes!

Brand new to BASH! and will probably post all kinds of questions soon.

Making my wife an Invisible Woman character. Force Field has Range, Area, and Concentration keywords. Does this mean it CAN have those? Like this power can have Range added, Area added for more points and Concentration can be taken to make it cheaper?
In the description it sounds like it requires Concentration (full panel).
However, it also sounded like I could add Concentration or Range to any power as long as it makes sense.

Your help is appreciated.

Hey, welcome to the forums. To answer your questions:

Yes, Concentration or Range can be added to any power as long as it makes sense. With any power, however, if there is a descriptor listed at the top it means that it is automatically included. Just because it is listed there does not mean that you have put amounts into it. The Range and Area descriptors mean that actual amounts in those can be purchased without first having to buy the enhancements. Other powers without those descriptors must first buy the Range or Area enhancements and then buy however much of those they want for their power.

Concentration is required as a balancing measure so that a character could not just instantly resurrect their Force Field power the moment it was knocked out (they'll have to wait until the end of their turn which will give opponents an opportunity to strike). Some Narrators might allow you to have the Second Nature enhancement: but this would be very powerful - and abusive.

So when Force Field is first taken, it becomes a personal, body hugging screen that blocks damage and all powers until it is worn down (except Mental powers). This also means that your powers are similarly blocked (and my interpretation of the description suggests that your punches would be similarly blocked – but I could be wrong).

Ok, but it says Force Field covers one person or object, if Area is not added.
Why would you not add Area if you get it for free? Would it be a cheaper point cost to not have Area? My wife is totally going to get bubble area anyway, she wants to protect others.

Or does this mean if it did not have "Area" in description, she'd have to pay 1 for Area in description and then 1 more to make it bubble (if it didn't already have it?) So for her to make it a bubble it will be 1 more point since it has the Area description?

Sorry about so many questions, you did do a good job of explaination. I'm just not used to this kind of system yet. I've DMed D&D and Savage Worlds only.

My recommendation for your wife is take the "Variable" enhancement so she can have her force field protect her most of the time, but allow her to use it as a bubble around allies, or a cage for enemies when she needs to.

Let's say your wife's character has Mind 3, Force Field 4. On its own, this Force Field has 150 Hits, 10 Soak and costs 4 character points.

If you put points into Area, the amount of points affect the following area (let's assume it is a burst)

+0pts = Personal Force Field
+1 pt = Small Burst (2x2 sq)
+2pts = Med. Burst (5x5 sq)
+3pts = Large Burst (10x10 sq)
+4 pts = Huge Burst (15 x 15 sq)

Now, if she takes Variable ehnahcement, this is +1 point to the total cost of the Force Field, but it lets her take points out of the Force Field's Hits to change them into Range and Area.

So assuming Force Field 4, Mind 3 above, she could do:
120 Hits, 10 Soak, Small Burst
90 Hits, 10 soak, Med Burst
90 Hits, 10 Soak, Med. Arc
90 Hits, 10 Soak, Small Burst, Close Range
60 Hits, 10 Soak, Large Burst
60 Hits, 10 Soak, Small Burst, Med. Range
30 Hits, 10 Soak, Huge Burst

BASHMAN that is an amazing suggestion. After telling my wife about it she lit up and was like "yes! That's exactly what I wanted." Thank you both for your help. Right now she has:
1 Brawn, 1 Agility, 2 Mind
Powers: Force Field 4 (+1 Variable –Range/Area, Concentration)
Invisibility 5 (Personal, Maintained)
Healing 1 (Concentration, 10 Hits/hour OOC)
Skills: to be decided
Advantages: Quick-Thinking
Disadvantages: Destitute

Would Quick-Thinking mean she could concentrate to make a Force Field just before an attack? I figure this way rather than the enhancement Second Nature fits for "that one time you just need it to happen now". Would it work?

themaster408 wrote:BASHMAN that is an amazing suggestion. After telling my wife about it she lit up and was like "yes! That's exactly what I wanted." Thank you both for your help. Right now she has:
1 Brawn, 1 Agility, 2 Mind
Powers: Force Field 4 (+1 Variable –Range/Area, Concentration)
Invisibility 5 (Personal, Maintained)
Healing 1 (Concentration, 10 Hits/hour OOC)
Skills: to be decided
Advantages: Quick-Thinking
Disadvantages: Destitute

Would Quick-Thinking mean she could concentrate to make a Force Field just before an attack? I figure this way rather than the enhancement Second Nature fits for "that one time you just need it to happen now". Would it work?

The “interrupt action” referred to in the Quick Thinking description points to the “Whew! That was close!” use of the Hero Die (pg 20 of BASH rulebook). The reactive use of the Force Field power is specifically mentioned there, allowing the Quick Thinking advantage to be used to provide the character with instant protection from an attack.