Help me build a character!

[Sijo]

I've got the concept down, but I'm not sure how to describe him in BASH terms.

I call him The Traveler; he's an inter-dimensional drifter who has spent nearly his entire life traveling across universes. Along the way, he has "collected" many abilities, from doing things like drinking potions to learning magic spells. He is limited however, by the rules of physics (and magic) of each universe he visits.

So, which powers should he have (besides Dimensional Teleportation, of course) ? I considered Omnipotence at a low level, but that might be a bit much. Also Copycat, but that's not exactly the same. Maybe I should go for the Gadgeteer and Grimoire advantages?

(Speaking of which: how do the latter two work? I mean, do I *have* to buy specific Gadgets/Magic Powers for them to alter? Or can I just assign a pool of points to the advantages directly? Remember, I have access to BASH UE but not the Amazing Powers books yet.)

[fairytalejedi]

I considered Omnipotence at a low level, but that might be a bit much.

I don't really think that's the best fit for the concept, as I understand it. He's not really a cosmic being with powers limited only by his imagination.

(Speaking of which: how do the latter two work? I mean, do I *have* to buy specific Gadgets/Magic Powers for them to alter? Or can I just assign a pool of points to the advantages directly? Remember, I have access to BASH UE but not the Amazing Powers books yet.)

You can replace an existing power or take a number of setbacks equal to the point cost of the new power. So no, you don't have to have any gadgets or powers in order to use those advantages. Also they allow you to do single use power tricks (as opposed to stunts) for a Hero Point.

I don't know how you could add a power pool onto an advantage without a house rule.

[MrJupiter]

You could take Magic as the focus of the X Mastery power. Magic Mastery is a great magician power and is a great way to emulate all kinds of interesting magical effects (like cleaning up dishes, sweeping + mopping up floors, constructing your tower headquarters, fetching a book from your study). X Mastery power Tricks and Stunts would be very useful way of showing off your impressive knowledge of magic spells.

You could always limit it with the Casting limitation from the Fantasy segment on page 92 of BASH to emulate all the various arcane phrases and gestures needed to activate them.

[Sijo]

Huh, I didn't realize you could take Magic by itself as an "X", I've always seen it represented with other powers, but I guess it makes sense, thanks! (and also to fairytalejedi for his explanations!)

[MrJupiter]

Yes, I like to think of Magic as a Mastery power in terms of interesting effects (much like DnD's various Cantrip spells, or Tenser's Floating Disc). You use it to remodel your lair, fix the Staff of the Magi (gadget) that the Incredible Bulk snapped on you last issue, and so on.

Using the Power Stunt/Trick features of the power (costing Hero Points and Dice) can allow you to Teleport, Summon an Elemental or Dragon, Brawn Boost a henchman to super-human levels, or whatever.

Save your Magic Shield (Force Field power) and Arcane Blast (Special Attack) for your character's core power set. I really love X Mastery for helping to diversify broad, theme-effects types like weather controllers, molecule-manipulators, The Power Cosmic-types, etc.

[MrJupiter]

Too bad that soooo many people underestimate the powerful and versatile system that BASH is.

[BASHMAN]

5 Ranks of Omnipotence should be Okay for a sorcerer type character in a non-cosmic game.

I'd consider the "Cosmic Conscript" Disadvantage from Awesome Powers volume 3, basically it is the "Quantum Leap" effect: character occasionally gets teleported to a time/place/dimension where s/he is needed.

In general Awesome Powers 3 would be helpful to you because it is about Spacial powers.

You might also consider the Time & Space cosmic power for this character too. It is like a more focused alternative to Omnipotence.

Grimoire and Gadgeteer let you "swap out" spells / gadgets with others during your downtime. Like a DnD mage memorizing their spells for the day. They also let you do Power Tricks, which give you a single use power you can use by spending a Hero Point.

I also recomend the Versatile Advantage.

[Solarblast]

Too bad that soooo many people underestimate the powerful and versatile system that BASH is.

Yes it is a very versatile system disguising itself as a rules light game.

[Sijo]

Once again: Thanks for the advice! And yeah, BASH is deceptively simple; I've been re-reading Ultimate Edition and realized a lot of possibilities now. For example, following Mr. Jupiter's idea, I would give Dr. Strange a 3 in Magic Mastery and a 5 in Conjuration. This is because his most powerful spells, like the Crimson Bands of Cittorak, are actually granted by magical entities.

I'm indeed intrigued by the possibilities in AP3, especially Cosmic Conscript; my character indeed lacks full control of where he goes. I'll check it out as soon as possible.

Question: would Immunity with the Variable Enhancement (and the Situational Limitation) be valid? I'm thinking in terms of a character like Darwin of the X-Men, who adapts to any type of damage (but only one at a time.)

[MrJupiter]

Once again: Thanks for the advice! And yeah, BASH is deceptively simple; I've been re-reading Ultimate Edition and realized a lot of possibilities now. For example, following Mr. Jupiter's idea, I would give Dr. Strange a 3 in Magic Mastery and a 5 in Conjuration. This is because his most powerful spells, like the Crimson Bands of Cittorak, are actually granted by magical entities.

I'm indeed intrigued by the possibilities in AP3, especially Cosmic Conscript; my character indeed lacks full control of where he goes. I'll check it out as soon as possible.

Question: would Immunity with the Variable Enhancement (and the Situational Limitation) be valid? I'm thinking in terms of a character like Darwin of the X-Men, who adapts to any type of damage (but only one at a time.)

Yeah, I've wondered about something like that myself. I'm not sure how legal it would be for using something like a limited form of Shape Shift (plus something like the CP Proxy enhancement from The A.D.E.L. File so that you don't need to monkey around with your Agility and Brawn Stats). That way it could give you different versions of Immunity as well as Armor and Brawn Boost powers for acquiring rocky, or metal, body compositions.

[fairytalejedi]

Too bad that soooo many people underestimate the powerful and versatile system that BASH is.

Agreed!

I've found it works quite well for gritty sword & sorcery, mid to high magic fantasy, silver/bronze age style supers, and while I haven't done it yet, I'm confident it will handle Traveler/Star Frontiers style sci-fi just as well.

[fairytalejedi]

@Sijo : I meant to mention the A.D.E.L. File along with Awesome Powers. It's very well done and has some very useful rules tweaks.

The Relic rules in A.D.E.L. File might inspire you with ideas for an object your character has acquired or comes across in his travels, or seeks in some future quest.

[MrJupiter]

@Sijo : I meant to mention the A.D.E.L. File along with Awesome Powers. It's very well done and has some very useful rules tweaks.

The Relic rules in A.D.E.L. File might inspire you with ideas for an object your character has acquired or comes across in his travels, or seeks in some future quest.

Hey, thanks for both the plug and the positive comments on ADEL. It's much appreciated!

[Sijo]

OK, you convinced me, I'm buying the ADEL file. (I hope it's not about singing!)

[BASHMAN]

Variable Immunity is a tough nut to crack. As a 2 point cost, it is far too powerful.

What I came up with as a fairer alternative is called "Adaptive Defenses" in Awesome Powers 2.

It is a 5 point power that allows you to gain resistance and then immunity to an effect after it damages you.
(First time you take full damage, 2nd time you have Resistance, 3rd Time you are Immune). It normally lasts for only a scene, so you'd need Extended Duration to make it last longer.
As a limitation you can make it so you can only have a finite number of types of immunity at once (two at a time in my example).