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Post by SpottedBlades on Jun 7, 2016 23:32:26 GMT
Imagine a fiction world where superpowers are a thing: may it be magic, technology, by birth or anything.
Now imagine a story set in this world. There are the good guys on one side, the bad guys on the other side. Regardless of their personality or story, they all have powers.
But what kind of power would each group have?
Here's a spoiler-free illustration: in Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (Part 3 and beyond), protagonists have badass but "classical" powers (e.g super precision, fixing broken things, shoot one's nails like bullets...), while most antagonists are straight-out OP and have powers that can break the rules of the universe or things like that (mostly related to time and how to manipulate the shit out of it).
If you had to create characters with powers, would you give protagonists powers of the same range as antagonists'? Or would you give "classical powers"
(i.e elemental control, super speed or strength, things the like) to heroes while
keeping more OP abilities for the villains? Would a hero's power have more boundaries/drawbacks than a villain's?
More generally, what superpowers would you classify as "overpowered" or "cheated" and why?
Finally, can someone explain the difference between 'i.e' and 'e.g'?
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Post by Sharkalien on Jun 7, 2016 23:44:54 GMT
'i.e.' just restates what you've said while 'e.g.' is an example (e.g. "I love to correct people, i.e. be a conceited grammar nazi)
I dunno, I think giving all characters lame ass powers would be hilarious.
I remember back in the old "Bad Ideas for Super Powers" thread, I came up with the ability to shoot condiments out of your fingertips
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turtleoracle
Nipper Cadet
BEEP BOOP.
Posts: 79
Pronouns: he/him/his
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Post by turtleoracle on Jun 8, 2016 0:46:21 GMT
I remember back in the old "Bad Ideas for Super Powers" thread, I came up with the ability to shoot condiments out of your fingertips I don't know man, I think getting mustard or vinegar all in your eyes is probably pretty hurtful. Nothing worthy of a super-hero, but useful for self-defense (or cooking). |
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Post by Neptz on Jun 8, 2016 1:09:59 GMT
I'd like for both the heroes and villains to have seemingly useless or dumb powers, but when twisted or otherwise used in a creative way they are very powerful.
There was a book once I saw that had a character with a power that, if anyone tried to steal anything that belongs to them, they'd freeze. Eventually, they realized that... technically, their life belongs to them, making them literally immortal.
And then they twist it even more... my friends, my dog, etc.
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Post by Wesley Foxx on Jun 8, 2016 4:35:51 GMT
I've had a story in the back of my brain for over a decade now (note; significantly predating Avatar) involving elemental... fuck you avatar, all I can describe them is as benders now. Elemental powers controlled through physical motion. I turned it into an MSPAFA for a bit (Yousugo) but never really felt the conviction to pursue it past where it started to go off the rails from my original imaginings.
Everyone has natural skill with their element, but can use any of them by utilizing elementally attuned gemstones. The main differentiation in power levels comes at how clever you are about exploiting your element to its fullest; eg, If you can manipulate heat, a simple fighter will use fire. An advanced fighter will occasionally go the other direction and try to use ice in conjuction with water powers. A really advanced fighter will suck the heat out of their targets, rapidly fluctuate temperatures to weaken things with thermal shock, combo with water to use steam, etc.
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The One Guy
Rust Maid
Posts: 1,148
Pronouns: he/him/his
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Post by The One Guy on Jun 8, 2016 13:58:53 GMT
Stories tend to make the antagonists more powerful than the protagonists for good reason. By doing this it creates danger and a greater struggle for the protagonists to overcome. If the antagonists are weak and the protagonists OP, then that usually makes for an unengaging story.
The other thing to think about is what power is most befitting of the character; a pure-hearted hero is not likely to have a power to corrupt minds, and a rampaging madman is not likely to have a power to shield people from danger. This can act in the way of "good" and "evil" powers, but doesn't have to; super strength is neither good nor evil, but is a typical power for dumb brutes.
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Post by SpottedBlades on Jun 8, 2016 15:26:04 GMT
I'd like for both the heroes and villains to have seemingly useless or dumb powers, but when twisted or otherwise used in a creative way they are very powerful. Stories tend to make the antagonists more powerful than the protagonists for good reason. By doing this it creates danger and a greater struggle for the protagonists to overcome. If the antagonists are weak and the protagonists OP, then that usually makes for an unengaging story. For storytelling purposes, those examples are true. Another question I have is, what powers and abilities do you think make a character too OP? I kind of think that way about Vriska Serket's "luck stealing": if she uses it as to steal an enemy's chances to win the fight, then the fight is pointless as she'll win no matter what. But that would rather be a question of probability and chance rather than luck. (and that is another story, for another thread.) |
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Post by Neptz on Jun 8, 2016 15:30:49 GMT
Most obvious powers tend to be reality manipulation, instantly killing people, etc.
But like I said, any and all powers can be overpowered if you think it over enough and in certain situations.
A story with overpowered characters can be good if done well, or they can super overpowered but only under certain conditions
For example, in GHOST, Vergil and Dante are the absolute most powerful beings in the universe, but they are only able to use their abilities if they've done good enough to earn enough KARMATIC POINTS for a certain ability. KARMATIC POINTS are exactly what they sound like. They could technically get enough to become god, but then they'd have to have done so much good that it'd take eternities, and there's probably just not enough good to do anyways.
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Post by Arashi500 on Jun 10, 2016 15:03:33 GMT
I like stories where the powers are more comparable between protagonists and antagonists when done well because it's harder to pull off than the typical underdog story. Integrating a sense of push-and-pull in the fight can be just as if not more engaging than the hero having to overcome a clearly superior force. It's just not as easy to do, storytelling-wise.
I think the degree of overpowered-ness depends entirely on how far the author is willing to push any given power. For example, if an Air Mage can manipulate air the degree that can literally choke people to death by preventing air from entering their lungs, they'd be far more powerful than is typically thought of for someone wielding one of the more "Classical" Elements.
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Post by SpottedBlades on Jun 12, 2016 12:03:05 GMT
One's self-evolution can also play a role in this.
A Fire Mage at Level 2, at the beginning of a story, can throw awkward fireballs; at Level 5, end of the tale, they can steal an enemy's body warmth and make them die of hypothermia, or turn their blood into steam.
Basically, it's a chart of "how far can you fetch this".
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Post by Neptz on Jun 12, 2016 16:16:10 GMT
One's self-evolution can also play a role in this. A Fire Mage at Level 2, at the beginning of a story, can throw awkward fireballs; at Level 5, end of the tale, they can steal an enemy's body warmth and make them die of hypothermia, or turn their blood into steam. Basically, it's a chart of "how far can you fetch this". Level 2 to Level 5? That's some DnD shit right there. |
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Post by aquilus3 on Jun 12, 2016 16:37:25 GMT
In Digimon Tamers. None of the 4 tamers could beat the D-reaper. The D-reaper was literally eating everything and nothing they did put them on a even level of power. The only reason they won was because of an outside weapon that turn the Reaper back into a harmless program. Science fuck yeah
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Post by SpottedBlades on Jun 12, 2016 18:49:30 GMT
Level 2 to Level 5? That's some DnD shit right there. That's a system I made up to summarize a chara's level of mastering. Level 0: Has no power
Level 1: Very accidental, user might not be aware of it
Level 2: "Okay, I think I got the hang of it...oh shit, I didn't mean to do that!"
Level 3: Controlling it just fine. Casually.
Level 4: Can use it in creative ways; fire control extends to heat, water control to steam and ice, etc.
Level 5: Complete mastery, including metaphorical aspects, breaking all boundaries and basically being very OP. Only use as result of end-of-journey evolution. Also works for God Tiers, feel free to use it. |
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Post by Arashi500 on Jun 12, 2016 23:40:53 GMT
Level 2 to Level 5? That's some DnD shit right there. That's a system I made up to summarize a chara's level of mastering. Level 0: Has no power
Level 1: Very accidental, user might not be aware of it
Level 2: "Okay, I think I got the hang of it...oh shit, I didn't mean to do that!"
Level 3: Controlling it just fine. Casually.
Level 4: Can use it in creative ways; fire control extends to heat, water control to steam and ice, etc.
Level 5: Complete mastery, including metaphorical aspects, breaking all boundaries and basically being very OP. Only use as result of end-of-journey evolution. Also works for God Tiers, feel free to use it. The systems in the tabletop RPG Nobilis are a lot like that, only on a 1-9 scale where a 1 would be an ~average person and something like a 7 would be like Superman, while most superheoes are 3-5s. "The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or communication. ...each character again has 4 attributes, but this time they are: Aspect, which governs their ability to perform superhuman physical and mental acts; Domain, which covers their power over the substance of their estate; Persona, which covers their power over the properties of their estate (as defined by the player); and Treasure, which governs their power over their panoply, the objects, animals and people that represent who they are." If you're into that sort of thing, check it out. |
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Post by Sharkalien on Jun 12, 2016 23:49:09 GMT
"The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or communication. You mean I can play as my carsona? |
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Post by Neptz on Jun 13, 2016 0:38:54 GMT
That's a system I made up to summarize a chara's level of mastering. Level 0: Has no power
Level 1: Very accidental, user might not be aware of it
Level 2: "Okay, I think I got the hang of it...oh shit, I didn't mean to do that!"
Level 3: Controlling it just fine. Casually.
Level 4: Can use it in creative ways; fire control extends to heat, water control to steam and ice, etc.
Level 5: Complete mastery, including metaphorical aspects, breaking all boundaries and basically being very OP. Only use as result of end-of-journey evolution. Also works for God Tiers, feel free to use it. The systems in the tabletop RPG Nobilis are a lot like that, only on a 1-9 scale where a 1 would be an ~average person and something like a 7 would be like Superman, while most superheoes are 3-5s. "The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or communication. ...each character again has 4 attributes, but this time they are: Aspect, which governs their ability to perform superhuman physical and mental acts; Domain, which covers their power over the substance of their estate; Persona, which covers their power over the properties of their estate (as defined by the player); and Treasure, which governs their power over their panoply, the objects, animals and people that represent who they are." If you're into that sort of thing, check it out. I always wanted to get into Nobilis, but I'm awkward with tabletop games and never found anyone who played it. |
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Post by Arashi500 on Jun 13, 2016 1:29:06 GMT
"The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or communication. You mean I can play as my carsona? You very well could. The systems in the tabletop RPG Nobilis are a lot like that, only on a 1-9 scale where a 1 would be an ~average person and something like a 7 would be like Superman, while most superheoes are 3-5s. "The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or communication. ...each character again has 4 attributes, but this time they are: Aspect, which governs their ability to perform superhuman physical and mental acts; Domain, which covers their power over the substance of their estate; Persona, which covers their power over the properties of their estate (as defined by the player); and Treasure, which governs their power over their panoply, the objects, animals and people that represent who they are." If you're into that sort of thing, check it out. I always wanted to get into Nobilis, but I'm awkward with tabletop games and never found anyone who played it. Yeah, I know that feeling. The best way to get over it, in my experience, has been to just ask around your local tabletop store. Finding people who want to play Nobilis specifically is another matter entirely, though. |
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Post by Neptz on Jun 13, 2016 1:31:29 GMT
You mean I can play as my carsona? You very well could. I always wanted to get into Nobilis, but I'm awkward with tabletop games and never found anyone who played it. Yeah, I know that feeling. The best way to get over it, in my experience, has been to just ask around your local tabletop store. Finding people who want to play Nobilis specifically is another matter entirely, though. Tabletop stores? In Brazil?
That's hoping a bit too much. |
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Post by Arashi500 on Jun 13, 2016 1:40:07 GMT
You very well could. Yeah, I know that feeling. The best way to get over it, in my experience, has been to just ask around your local tabletop store. Finding people who want to play Nobilis specifically is another matter entirely, though. Tabletop stores? In Brazil?
That's hoping a bit too much. Ah, in that case, looking online may be your only reliable way to find a group then. |
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Post by SpottedBlades on Jun 13, 2016 1:42:03 GMT
I don't play tabletop RPs, simply cause I have no friends.
Instead I lurk around on Internet and write shitty fanventures to compensate.
And that carsona is kawaii desu-ne.
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