Mutants & Masterminds - [Review] Power Profiles #21: Element Powers

[jameson (ST)]

Power Profiles #21: Element Powers

Vitals: Published By Green Ronin • 6 pages • $0.99 • full color PDF

Descriptors, Countering & Features

The profile opens with a discussion taking slightly more than half a page about the Transformation effect. Discussion concerns use of the effect and what it can, and cannot, do. After that we get a handful of descriptors and three features. The descriptors are well done, covering various ways that a Transform effect might be described (as opposed to how it might work which is discussed previously).

Offensive Powers

Seven powers with eight effects covering nearly a full page. Most the powers here rely on Damage or Affliction effects, except the corrosive effect which is a linked effect. Corrosive gets a good amount of description covering some variants. Likewise the Petrify effect gets a longer discussion and includes two effects with slight mechanical difference.

Defensive Powers

Five powers taking up half a page. These effects work on the typical defensive effects. Nothing here jumps out in one direction or the other; the descriptions are well written but the powers are fairly standard built effects.

Movement Powers

Four effects and three powers. The biggest standout here is the second effect of the Quantum Breakdown power which uses a reaction effect where I would expect to see a linked effect instead. I'm not entirely certain that either is wrong, or if one is preferential to the other outside of absolute costs in terms of Power Points, but this may warrant further thought.

Utility Powers, Other Element Powers, and Complications

Three utility powers, with the Transmutation power getting the most attention with nearly half a page to itself. Transmutation works off the base Transform effect with the discussion taking the form of breaking out the effect in greater detail; if greatest use are the discussions on the Area modifier, Duration, and Shape versus Substance. In addition to all the powers mentioned here there is the suggestion to use effects from other profiles like Morphing and Radiation (which is hopefully forthcoming soon). Eight complications complete the profile, each getting a quick discussion.

Closing Thoughts

This Profile's strongest points are the discussions on the Transform effect at the beginning and in the Utility powers section. These help to make a fair broad effect such a Transform more accessible, and more clearly laid out. The downside is that perhaps the Utility section was a little too focused on Transmutation and that the Defensive Powers all felt like things we have seen before in other profiles. Overall this will be a very useful profile to most customers, the weaknesses in some sections is more than made up for by insight into the Transform effect.

Rating: 90%, There's a good deal of useful mechanical detail in here, despite some weakness.