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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Lightning Control (Read 5829 times)
SuperWannabe
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #35 - Aug 31st, 2012 at 5:51pm
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GUYVER!!!

Excellent example :)

Yep.  With lots of Villains like "The Evil Professor Biomass.... The Organic Claw.... and the ever deadly techno alien Plasmavision (you just sit and watch it).
« Last Edit: Aug 31st, 2012 at 5:54pm by SuperWannabe »  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #36 - Aug 31st, 2012 at 6:23pm
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I smell a story arc with Dept 88 in the Empire City campaign's future. Smiley
  
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SuperWannabe
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #37 - Sep 2nd, 2012 at 5:59pm
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Another question I have with this is do other people use a visual effect when controlling a device.  The attempt to control is 2 x E so it's ranged.  Is there electricity arcing from the controller to the device or do people do it WIFI?

The player I have uses power activation to turn into living electricity and "inhabits" the device thereby possessing it.  When this happens he is kind of like an electrical haze around the device and any attacks against the device holder effect the character as well.
  
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SuperWannabe
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #38 - Sep 2nd, 2012 at 11:03pm
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Cool by me as I'm GMing this one Smiley

He will be able to turn things on and off, burn them out etc but not gain total control of all systems and do as he wishes.  If he wants to develop that I think it may cost a few levels in training to gain a limited version of Cyberpathy. 

Does that sound fair?
« Last Edit: Sep 2nd, 2012 at 11:06pm by SuperWannabe »  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #39 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 12:13am
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I've thought about the "special effects" myself.  I think it depends on the character theme.

Shocker of the Crushers would probably have an "arc" to control devices.  Your character has the "aura" or "haze" as you describe it.  BTW: you might also consider a free Lightning Control attack if anyone touches a device the player has possessed.

For your player, possessing a device would suggest that control is part of the character concept, so it would seem to me that controlling devices wouldn't cost too much training or whatever.
  
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SuperWannabe
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #40 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 1:57am
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I'm thinking 4 levels worth of training to gain the power Smiley

Since the guys I'm playing with seem to be having trouble coming up with a superhero style origin for their characters (D&D players normally) I've created one for them to tie them together.

I've got them all as working on an Electromagnetic Energy project combined with research into particle emissions (particle accelerator type machine).  One of them will have been the janitor the other an EM specialist and the other the builder of the accelerator.  I'm going to have had them putting in some extra hours at night (explaining why the cleaning staff is on) and have the machine explode due to an electrical surge. 

One of the players has magnetic powers so he was the janitor who gained the magnetic part of the EM machine.

The other is the creator of the machine and he gained "particle manipulation" I'll call it.  He can fly, shoot energy and paralysis ray.  He can also forgo the energy attacks and internalise the energy to gain size and extra damage (size change larger x3 + natural weaponry when enlarged).

The third is the EM specialist.  He's the interesting one.  He's actually a physical copy of the scientist.  In actual fact he is the electrical surge that caused the explosion made manifest and using the scientists basic form and mind as a template.  He he has partial amnesia because of this.  He's got heightened agility, speed bonus and disintergration ray.  Also power activation to turn into electricity and teleport or use lightning control.

What he and the others don't realise is that his counterpart, the real scientist, was blow into another dimension and driven insane.  I'm going to have him return as a villain with powers of his own.  Be interesting to have an exact copy of the hero's secret ID form running around trying to dominate the world Smiley
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #41 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 8:46am
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Tell them the power surge was created by a blue dragon just so they have something familiar.

When you said "power activation", did you mean Transformation A?  I ask, because normally a character with that power has no powers except Transformation.  When the character activates their Transformation power then they receive their other powers (like Gatchaman or Shazaam or whatever).

Transformation C2 (shapeshifter-inanimate objects) would better describe what you're trying to do with having someone turn into electricity while maintaining their other powers un-Transformed.  This is what Sandman and Hydro-man from Marvel comics has.
« Last Edit: Sep 3rd, 2012 at 8:48am by Display Name »  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #42 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 10:48am
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Display Name wrote on Sep 3rd, 2012 at 8:46am:
Tell them the power surge was created by a blue dragon just so they have something familiar.

When you said "power activation", did you mean Transformation A?  I ask, because normally a character with that power has no powers except Transformation.  When the character activates their Transformation power then they receive their other powers (like Gatchaman or Shazaam or whatever).

Transformation C2 (shapeshifter-inanimate objects) would better describe what you're trying to do with having someone turn into electricity while maintaining their other powers un-Transformed.  This is what Sandman and Hydro-man from Marvel comics has.


Hehe!

"Transmute!" 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx0vhpG3lLc&feature=related

G-Force! ...er GATCHAMAN!!!

Sorry... geek moment.  My usual forum name is Sunphoenix... two questions Why? Smiley

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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #43 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 11:50am
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I only saw "Battle of the Planets" in the early 80's.  A lousy chopped-up version that beared no resemblance to the original series.  I didn't even know what "Gatchaman" was until about eight years ago.  I learned about it too late to appreciate it (it was boring to me).
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #44 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 2:03pm
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Great stuff, SuperWannabe!  I love how you tied all of the origins in to each other! (something I've always wanted to do)

Very cool concept with the exact duplicate villain, too!  Cool
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #45 - Sep 3rd, 2012 at 6:09pm
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Majestic wrote on Sep 3rd, 2012 at 2:03pm:
Great stuff, SuperWannabe!  I love how you tied all of the origins in to each other! (something I've always wanted to do)

Very cool concept with the exact duplicate villain, too!  Cool



Thanks Smiley

And ys,  I meant Transformation Type A (to answer earlier question). 

The rest of the team are a flame powers mutant and a Harpy like character (wings, sonics, armour a and natural weaponry).  The Harpy has Prejudice as a weakness so we've written her in as a foster child who's been bumped around a bit and got involved with the criminal element before a friend was hurt by her actions.  She's trying to make up for it by being a hero but now neither the criminals or the good guys really trust her.

I'm going to work them all into a meeting using a variation on Crisis and Crusaders Citadel.  The 1st 3 are going to be going to meet them to ask see if they can get some guidance/help in defining their powers and the Harpy and Umber (flame mutant) are going to be applying for membership.  Hopefully I can start a classic "when 1st our heroes meet they think the others are villains and battle" thing going Smiley
« Last Edit: Sep 3rd, 2012 at 6:12pm by SuperWannabe »  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #46 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:10pm
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Bumping this as I just re-read it, in preparation for the character Dark Star and I are working on (see the thread he started about a character and his vehicle).

One other thing I'd like to add is that - in a world where a Lightning Controller actually exists (and especially if there are quite a few of them) - there would probably be protections built into many systems (like those on multi-billion dollar vehicles like aircraft carriers).  Unless taking control of so many systems is next to impossible, that is.
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #47 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:18pm
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Majestic wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:10pm:
Bumping this as I just re-read it, in preparation for the character Dark Star and I are working on (see the thread he started about a character and his vehicle).

One other thing I'd like to add is that - in a world where a Lightning Controller actually exists (and especially if there are quite a few of them) - there would probably be protections built into many systems (like those on multi-billion dollar vehicles like aircraft carriers).  Unless taking control of so many systems is next to impossible, that is.



The 'Device vs System' is a good rule of thumb to use I think.
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #48 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:51pm
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Yeah, I like how you guys ended up articulating that.  It not only makes logical sense, but prevents this power/ability from being able to do too much.
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #49 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 4:02pm
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Majestic wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:10pm:
One other thing I'd like to add is that - in a world where a Lightning Controller actually exists (and especially if there are quite a few of them) - there would probably be protections built into many systems (like those on multi-billion dollar vehicles like aircraft carriers).  Unless taking control of so many systems is next to impossible, that is.


Yeah, it's called "the player characters'!   Cheesy

Seriously, this type of approach would have to include: Disintigration Ray, Emotion Control, Flame Power, Gravity Control, Ice Powers, Illusions, Invisibility, Light Control, Magnetic Powers, Mind Control, Non-Corporealness, Paralysis Ray, Power Blast, Psionics, Sonic Abilities, Telekinesis, Telepathy, Teleportation, Transmutation, Vibratory Powers, etc.
  
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Majestic
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #50 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 7:34pm
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I see your point, but (to be honest), you'll actually see protections against many of those things built into a lot of things in a supers/V&V world.

There's a briefcase like that (with Top Secret stuff) that Ramble put into "Signs of the Zodiac", and we often have equipment that protects against many of those things you mentioned in our Guardians campaign.
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #51 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 7:43pm
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Thunderbolt wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:18pm:
Majestic wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:10pm:
Bumping this as I just re-read it, in preparation for the character Dark Star and I are working on (see the thread he started about a character and his vehicle).

One other thing I'd like to add is that - in a world where a Lightning Controller actually exists (and especially if there are quite a few of them) - there would probably be protections built into many systems (like those on multi-billion dollar vehicles like aircraft carriers).  Unless taking control of so many systems is next to impossible, that is.



The 'Device vs System' is a good rule of thumb to use I think.


Device versus System is still misleading a little.
What it really comes down to is the Electricity Controller being able to flip a boolean/true-false switch.
Off or On in a single function on a single circuit.
Where Device turns to System is in:
1) how many of those 'switch choices' the character can override from on to off/vice versa in a turn
2) the ability of the circuit to handle the watts/amperage/volts/ohms the controller is pushing, i.e. the less experience with the power the character has versus the size/gauge of the path, the more likely they will burnout the wires/circuit pathways and cause a short/overload/malfunction rather than a control scenario.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the 'electronics' being controlled when this revision of the game was written were manufactured (from larger components than the electronics of today) from 1982 backward...
  
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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #52 - Oct 5th, 2012 at 8:52pm
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Display Name wrote on Aug 29th, 2012 at 7:57pm:
Thanks, Ranger!  I think I just needed some hard examples to help explain it!  Those examples I mentioned a few replies ago were my own based on my understanding.

I like the concept of "device vs system".  That clarifies things a great deal.  Plus, it keeps Mocker from going down too fast and unfairly.

Next up: telepath vs Mind Control!


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Re: Lightning Control
Reply #53 - Oct 6th, 2012 at 7:48pm
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AlabasterKnight wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 7:43pm:
Thunderbolt wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:18pm:
Majestic wrote on Oct 5th, 2012 at 3:10pm:
Bumping this as I just re-read it, in preparation for the character Dark Star and I are working on (see the thread he started about a character and his vehicle).

One other thing I'd like to add is that - in a world where a Lightning Controller actually exists (and especially if there are quite a few of them) - there would probably be protections built into many systems (like those on multi-billion dollar vehicles like aircraft carriers).  Unless taking control of so many systems is next to impossible, that is.



The 'Device vs System' is a good rule of thumb to use I think.


Device versus System is still misleading a little.
What it really comes down to is the Electricity Controller being able to flip a boolean/true-false switch.
Off or On in a single function on a single circuit.
Where Device turns to System is in:
1) how many of those 'switch choices' the character can override from on to off/vice versa in a turn
2) the ability of the circuit to handle the watts/amperage/volts/ohms the controller is pushing, i.e. the less experience with the power the character has versus the size/gauge of the path, the more likely they will burnout the wires/circuit pathways and cause a short/overload/malfunction rather than a control scenario.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but the 'electronics' being controlled when this revision of the game was written were manufactured (from larger components than the electronics of today) from 1982 backward...


That's a really good point.  One thing that's help up/impeded technology progress in one of our buildings is the size of the pipes used (and the fact they're so crowded with wires and there's no easy way to redo everything).

Technology, especially with wireless and fiber-optics and DSL cable and such has sure grown in the last few decades!
  
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