Ok, I'm trolling for ideas here. I've never really been too creative with a Special Requirement as a weakness. Typically, I'll use something that I think will enhance role play or guide how an NPC or PC  will operate. I'm looking for ideas that will spark a new villain.

The only one that stands out is the character from which I took my name on this forum. Klystron's major power involved manipulating microwave and radio frequency energy.  In game terms, it came out to be Power Blast and Heightened Senses (RADAR to Line of Sight) and Heightened Senses in the ability to "hear" radio or microwave communications and transmit in those frequencies as well.

To keep his powers functioning, he needs to be exposed to radio or microwave energy or his powers would fade fairly quickly, like a battery going flat. On the flip side, when exposed to radio or microwaves, he regains 5 PP/turn, which helps in a prolonged battle.

Of course, he has to keep the nature of his powers secret so as not to give an advantage to his enemies.  It happened once and involved using a butter knife to disable the safety switch on a kitchen microwave and sticking his head inside to regain his powers.

So, what creative uses or applications of a Special Requirement have you used?

Razor_Fangs wrote on Mar 31^st, 2016 at 12:48pm:


One of our PCs had to hit his target (HTH) in order to absorb, and the player grew really frustrated when he missed all the time.  He shelved the character for a time, and only when he brought it back years later (and we reworked how the Absorption worked) did he become much stronger.  Ironically, the PC absorbed villains' powers and kept getting stronger and stronger, until he was just flat-out way too powerful (and the player decided to retire him, as he was nearly "broken").

Sorry, not much help with the OP, but your post reminded me of this.