41 replies to this topic

[Alex Green]

AFA Mu Lung, I always figured that his death involved *all* of his quantum capabilities (save his Quantum Pool) counted as nova points being reworked into a single use form of Quantum Bolt w/ the extra Quantum & Mastery required - literally going off as a superhuman living bomb. His quantum points & the sacrifice of all his health levels to power the blast would fuel the blast.

He certainly stands out as an anomaly.  Basically there's no good reason to give him Q6 other than the blast... although he was at least Q5 (Disin).  

We could give him a "dying" flaw (available in some WW games), but I'm deeply reluctant to give Q6 (or even +1 Q) to novas as an available "dying" option.  Mu Lung didn't want to die and he wasn't doing anything heroic that required it.

[Sprocket]

He certainly stands out as an anomaly.  Basically there's no good reason to give him Q6 other than the blast... although he was at least Q5 (Disin).  

We could give him a "dying" flaw (available in some WW games), but I'm deeply reluctant to give Q6 (or even +1 Q) to novas as an available "dying" option.  Mu Lung didn't want to die and he wasn't doing anything heroic that required it.

Given that replicating Mu Lung's situation sounds like the results of a really bad botched roll, briefly attaining Q6+ isn't much consolation for the player of such a nova.  

"Yeah, you've just hit Q6... but only for a microsecond before your explosive death."

A booby prize if ever I saw one...

[metaphysician]

I figured it was, he got his tenth dot of Taint during the fight.  I generally consider a valid Taint 10 aberration to be "immediate violent self-destruction."

[Alex Green]

Given that replicating Mu Lung's situation sounds like the results of a really bad botched roll, briefly attaining Q6+ isn't much consolation for the player of such a nova.  

"Yeah, you've just hit Q6... but only for a microsecond before your explosive death."

A booby prize if ever I saw one...

Strongly disagree here.  Give someone the option of taking everyone else out with him, and a lot would.  

Game just ended, but for the last chapter or two my PC was trying to set off a nuke... with the high (and perhaps even desirable) chance of him going out with it.  There was chat later of making sure my PC in another game NEVER had access to the "f*ck you" button.

Heritage's game was another one where that outcome might be desirable.  It's the abby war, the human troops are pouring in, killing everyone they can;  Teleporting to Washington or New York and taking a few million baselines with you could look pretty good.

I figured it was, he got his tenth dot of Taint during the fight. I generally consider a valid Taint 10 aberration to be "immediate violent self-destruction."

End of PC as a PC certainly.  In theory you only become a "god and/or monster" though.  But I guess death should be an option too.

[Sprocket]

Strongly disagree here.  Give someone the option of taking everyone else out with him, and a lot would.  

Game just ended, but for the last chapter or two my PC was trying to set off a nuke... with the high (and perhaps even desirable) chance of him going out with it.  There was chat later of making sure my PC in another game NEVER had access to the "f*ck you" button.

Point taken, but going by Mu Lung's actions - flying straight up away from the Earth's surface as fast & for as long as possible - it sounds like his player was given the "f*ck you button" simply for the opportunity to refuse it & display some self-sacrifice. The ST would've known that about Mu Lung beforehand, natch.

[Alex Green]

Point taken, but going by Mu Lung's actions - flying straight up away from the Earth's surface as fast & for as long as possible - it sounds like his player was given the "f*ck you button" simply for the opportunity to refuse it & display some self-sacrifice. The ST would've known that about Mu Lung beforehand, natch.

Considering Mu Lung was an NPC, I'd say he would have known that.

I dislike the need to make Mu Q6 and Wycoff Q8, but I *far* prefer making them absurdly powerful than giving the possibility of nuclear terrorism to most/all novas.

[Sprocket]

I dislike the need to make Mu Q6 and Wycoff Q8, but I *far* prefer making them absurdly powerful than giving the possibility of nuclear terrorism to most/all novas.

Yeah, well that's where the ST's discretion clause comes in. Just like a comedy writer, the ST should only give that option to someone who really doesn't want it.

[Alex Green]

That's a point... but... people change, and ST's can be surprised by their players.

That PC I mentioned started the game as a Survivor.  I changed his nature after he realized "Survival is Overrated".

Give out that option and sooner or later we'll get a Mu Lung or Wycoff.  On the other hand if the ST is willing to live with that, then more power to him (and everyone else).

[Sprocket]

That's a point... but... people change, and ST's can be surprised by their players.

If Storytellers are lax enough not to discuss such things with their players in regards to the PCs, then they deserve to be surprised that way.  

[unkledan]

1) Time-travel should be possible by Psions in addition to Novas and Max Mercer-type superhumans. Teleportation shouldn't be too far away from time-travel. Time-travel should be discouraged but about as possible as extreme long-range movement.

2) Latents develop according to their exposure to energies, so being exposed to Inspiration, Psi, Quantum, or Taint can create the mutation that defines the Transformation. The canon agrees that Novas are Eximorphs and Psiads are Psychomorphs. However, there is evidence that Daredevils are all Paramorphs and that Max Mercer is the only Paramorph. Otherwise I've seen Paramorph used to describe all A! era Inspired; I've seen Stalwarts classified as Eximorphs and Mesmerists classified as Psychomorphs. Look at how they channel energy:
Eximorph: Stalwart, Nova, Aberrant: 'body'
Psychomorph: Mesmerist, Psiad, Psion: 'mind'
Paramorph: Daredevil, Max Mercer, Superior: 'temporal'

3) The 8 Doyen of Earth influence their hosts and can take complete control, but they tend to allow the humans to handle their own kind. Obviously things don't always work that way; the Doyen should be afraid of the powerful Aberrants and that is why the Proxies don't risk themselves very much.

As far as adding Inspiration as a third energy, unfortunately it is already that way and I see no need to eliminate anything. Inspiration is presented as cyclical ambient background energy before Hammersmith, as such it would have an integral part of the Noetic totality and quantum interactions in general. Paramorphs simply don't use Psi or anything detectable; most likely they manipulate Inspiration by utilizing the Intuition facet, effectively channeling temporal flux. I'd suggest giving everyone Inspiration. Another idea is to give Stalwarts Quantum/Taint, Mesmerists Psi, but let Daredevils keep Inspiration.

Re: With just psi and quantum flowing about,
What about Taint, tho? Obviously Aberrants have taint, but sub-aberrants only have Taint, no Node so no Quantum. So Taint is an energy source too or sub-aberrants utilize Quantum...

[Courier]

There's a few instances where non-nova-baselines can get "nova-ish" powers.  Aberration Transfer for example.  If I permanently transfer my glowing eyes onto a baseline, what is going on there?

If I dorm, then does he lose his aberration?  If he dies, then do I get it back?  What is he using as a power source?

The relationship is more clear with "Clone" (Clones share the original's node), but also comes up with Quantum Construct where you make things that have powers.

I think a lot of this gets cleared up if we state that constructs (including sub-abbies) can NOT improve or change their powers with experience.  They were inflicted on them by someone else, the powers aren't "theirs".

[unkledan]

In Aberrant everything has a 'Quantum signature', so Aberration Transfer removes a bit of Quantum signature from an aberrant and imprints it onto a baseline. Whether permanent or not, while the baseline has the aberration they possess the original Taint that caused the aberration; this Taint 'powers' the aberration.

In cases of Quantum Supremecy the baseline gets an infusion of Quantum energies that alter the quantum signature to be like a Nova; they can channel this energy but not very well. This means that Quantum rating is something distinct from Node although obviously they go hand and hand.

Taint infusion works in a similar fashion; the Taint alters the quantum signature of a sub-aberrant to be more like an Aberrant; the neutral mutates dramatically to channel this energy. This means that Taint is not only distinct from Quantum but capable of powering similar effects.

Also, Q Synchronization gives a baseline a small Q pool and presumably a normal recharge rate, Q Enhancement is vague but seems to imply that baselines either get a normal Q pool or they have to do without. I think the fanon stuff has Q Enhancement and similar giving neutrals a small Q pool and Q expenditure, but allowing Latents to have normal ratings.

In Trinity everything has a 'Noetic template'; Quantum energies 'override' the noetic template and Taint energies disrupt and destroy it. Dormancy allows the native noetic template to temporarily override the changes to the quantum signature by restoring Psi and suppressing Quantum. Taint disease is the erosion and destruction of the noetic template; Abberations are the erosion and destruction of the native noetic template by Taint. Sub-aberrants have their native noetic templates destroyed but the Taint is guided to permanently alter (enhance?) the quantum signature; the Taint that is able to be used as 'power' is specifically created by the creator Aberrant.

Edit: I think that 3rd Gen Novas (Trinity high-taint Aberrants) or True Aberrants could have the ability to use Taint as Quantum like sub-aberrants; this creates a Taint point dynamo with Power-Maxing. This would explain the behavior and nature of aberrants in Trinity like the Colony's children; constantly maxing powers and creating devastation.