Aberrant RPG - Next

[Jackson Creed]

Having just watched Next at the movies, I am inspired to note just how powerful the Pretercognition power is and how versatile it can be. For those who have missed any of the trailers, the story involves a man who has the power to see up to 2 minutes into the future. The film uses a brilliant blend of special effects to make this power come to life, from showing the uncanny ability to avoid casino security, a brilliant fight scene where he keeps dodging out of the way while having a conversation, and (my personal favourite) searching all the levels and rooms within a ship in two minutes (objectively at least). I've included a link below which takes you to the Official movie site which shows many of these clips (without spoiling the film). Once the Flash page loads, just click on the Movie section near the bottom and then click the movie clips button.

Next Movie Clips

Of course, being an Aberrant player/ST I was naturally trying to stat up the ability as shown in the film. It is obviously less far reaching than the basic Pretercognition power, but also far more versatile within the very short timeframe in which it operates. While looking through the Abby rulebook, the mechanics for both Luck and Premonition came to mind, but I stuck with Pretercognition more for flavour. I basically turned the Pretercognition power into a souped up version of the Premonition power except that the Nova can sense exactly what the danger is (or at least the results), but I felt that the mechanics of the Luck power were more appropriate to the overall feel and flow (and so that the ST can avoid players having to roll hundreds of dice over the course of the game session using Premonition repeatedly). The power remains a level 3 power (5pts of weakness and one extra). Obviously it's possible to create the same effect using an enhanced version of the Premonition power (but I though that the higher Q-min is appropriate for the detail and versatility that it can generate). in the hands of an experienced ST and player, this power could make an excellent PC who could survive encounters with far more powerful (Brick and Blaster) type Novas. Of course in the hands of a munchkin, it's just wrong! (although the built in 2 minute limit helps to limit derailing of the plot... somewhat). ::sly

Pretercognition 5 (Weakness: Future Only (2pts); Limited Timeframe (two minutes only) (3pts); Extra: Selective Future (The Nova can see all the possible immediate outcomes of his actions within two minutes and choose which one to take. This basically gives the benefits of the Luck power except that it can be used once per turn, the dice pool is Pretercognition + Perception, and he does not become unlucky if he botches)).

Thoughts? Anyone do it differently?

JC

P.S.

It's actually a pretty damn good movie (even if it is a Nicholas Cage film!) that I heartily recommend.

[Cytorak Ruby]

Pretercognition 5 (Weakness: Future Only (2pts); Limited Timeframe (two minutes only) (3pts); Extra: Selective Future (The Nova can see all the possible immediate outcomes of his actions within two minutes and choose which one to take. This basically gives the benefits of the Luck power except that it can be used once per turn, the dice pool is Pretercognition + Perception, and he does not become unlucky if he botches)).

Thoughts? Anyone do it differently?

JC

P.S.

It's actually a pretty damn good movie (even if it is a Nicholas Cage film!) that I heartily recommend.

So, you'd pay for the power once and it lasts a scene, or how would it work, exactly?

[Alex Green]

Cage doesn't have a power, he has a power theme.

Dodging people in combat would be Mega-Dex, or even Martial Arts.

Dodging security in the casino could be Stealth or even Cat-footed.

Using the power to predict what the dice will do is Luck.

Searching the ship is either that level two Q1 precog power or Mega-Perception.