How to?

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Sat May 15, 2010 2:12 pm

I have a villain I am making for the Zenith Universe and I have no idea how to achieve his power.

He is essentially an energy brick (think like the Ionic hero Wonder Man from the Avengers) but the thing is, like the Hulk, the longer he fights the more powerful her gets.

I can't use Gradual for it is since he doesn't start with nothing, he just keeps building (storywise with an infinite limit).

I can't get my brain around how to do this... can anyone help?

gryfn · Post by **gryfn** » Sat May 15, 2010 2:42 pm

It seems like you want boost but boost wont go above 5
maybe have a special attack +5 to damage which builds up over 5 turns for 4 points and
armor +3 which builds up over 3 turns
and start with a brawn of 5
Its very inefficient but should feel right

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Sat May 15, 2010 2:43 pm

I had looked at that but it doesn't get done what I need.

Is there a Cosmic version of Boost?

That would do the ticket IMHO

Lindharin · Post by **Lindharin** » Sat May 15, 2010 2:49 pm

I was thinking Cosmic Might with the Gradual limitation.

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Sat May 15, 2010 2:50 pm

That's the ticket!

Now how do I apply it to his powers? Omnipotence with the same limit and a limit it can only be used on those powers?

Nice thinking Lindharin!

Lindharin · Post by **Lindharin** » Sat May 15, 2010 3:58 pm

There is a power called Cosmic Might (I think, something like that; I don't have access to check it) which is Brawn for 6+. So Cosmic Might with a Gradual limitation would be 4 points per +1 beyond Brawn 5.

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Sat May 15, 2010 4:33 pm

Hmmmm....

If the Cosmic Might is 4 pts per +1 beyond 5, to get to 10 would be 20 extra points.

If I gave him Omnipotence with the same limit same price, he adds 40 pts before all is said and done.

Add in his regular power and this could be a 70 - 80 point character rather quickly.

Yikes!

Lindharin · Post by **Lindharin** » Sat May 15, 2010 5:29 pm

Yep, it could definitely get expensive.

Although, really, point cost aside, it is basically a plot device situation anyway. If there really isn't any limit to how great his power can grow, then it becomes more a story element. It is used to either ratchet up tension by needing to defeat him in X rounds or less (in which case he never gets the benefit of those extra ranks anyway), or the whole point of the encounter is to solve the "puzzle" of how to defeat a juggernaut-style villain, which is more about challenging the players' creativity rather than the player characters' powers.

In either case, you can make the argument that the points spent aren't particularly relevant, since it is no longer about their game mechanical benefit.

Of course, your players might or might not agree with that view!

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Sat May 15, 2010 5:32 pm

Also when he is an NPC for a roster book I am going to sell, might help to have exact points

But otherwise you make good sense

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:16 am

Here's a rough build of him;

Brawn 5
Agility 2
Mind 1

Stats: 16pts

Powers;

Armor 3
Deflect 3
Sonic Slap: Push 5 (Variable)
Energy Grip: Special Attack 5 (+2 to Hit, +3Damage)
Super Jump
Immunity 5 (Electricity, Plasma Energy, Acid, Fire, Drowning, Suffocation)
Resistance 1 (Knock-Back, Lasers)
Healing 5

And we are at 30 points already right there... whew that's a lot. 46 point character, and no Cosmic Might or Omnipotence yet.

Easily gonna see him tip the scales at 70 points.

Cosmic Might 5 (Gradual) 24 pts

Omnipotence 5 (gradual) 24pts

48 + 46 = 94pts... Yowza!

LOL!

Lindharin · Post by **Lindharin** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:30 am

Well, it's slightly better - I think when you apply a disadvantage to the cosmic powers, you get -1 per 5 pts. So Cosmic Might 5 (Gradual) would be 20 instead of 24, and the same with Omnipotence.

I wasn't sure from your original description where Omnipotence was coming into it. He can give himself any power in the book (once the Gradual starts kicking in)? Or is it just for scaling up his normal powers?

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Mon May 24, 2010 11:34 am

Just for scaling up his normal powers... are you sure about that limit bonus? I couldn't find it in the book, though I didn't look very hard.

gryfn · Post by **gryfn** » Mon May 24, 2010 12:45 pm

OK shape shifting for 4 points lets you move brawn points and agility points back and forth , so thats a way to have a non cosmic 9 in brawn, Now if for an advantage you could make it apply to mind and brawn, and for a disadvantage limit it so just one point moves a turn , than a mighty rage might work
5 brawn 2 agility 5 mind
4 shape change mind to brawn 1 pt a turn
4 special attack hay-maker
slowly grows to
9 brawn 2 agility 1 mind
all non cosmic and cheap

AslanC · Post by **AslanC** » Mon May 24, 2010 2:32 pm

I don't understand, is that legal?

Though Mind 5 is not this guy at all. He is not that smart by any chance.

Though your way of doing it does the Hulk really really well

gryfn · Post by **gryfn** » Mon May 24, 2010 2:58 pm

shape shifting lets you move character points around from brawn and agility into basically anything but mind
unlike boost this dose not say its limited to 5
so a hulk like character who got clumsily would be flat out legal
so a character
brawn 5 agility 5 mind 2
could become brawn 9 agility 1 mind 2
or brawn 1 agility 9 mind 2
I'm suggesting you want a advantaged version in which mind can change