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Aberrant RPG - Gabriel and Q6


Dr. Zero
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Here is a quandry I am interested in seeing how people approach...

If you read the description of Gabriel Melchoir, The Miracle, in Aberrant Worldwide: Phase I it clearly states that he used his powers of plant growth apon eruption...

That power is biomanipulation, a level 4 power

Gabriel erupted with Quantum 6

Do people feel it is appropriate for that to happen in the world? Even as an NPC, that means that Gabriel was somewhere around as powerful as Cestus Pax the MOMENT he began developing powers. While I, as an ST and also an oldskool DM see this as very appropriate for an NPC to be freakishly and unusually unbalanced, it raises the question as to whether that is something that should be able to happen in the system.

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I don't think so, m'man. After all, Biomanipulation cancels the PU sterility coctail, and if it was as simple as having a handy nova power (and of course knowing it's there), you'd think the lid would be off by now.

What I find more likely is that Gabriel erupted with a Q5 and worked his way up to a Q6 prodigiously fast, and as we've seen, took on a corresponding amount of taint.

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Another view that'll make some power gag.

1. Every eruption is different.

2. Eruption happens in plank time - a duration too short for human or technological sensors.

3. Quantum manifestation follows subjective logic vice objective logic including the setting of arbitrary limitations

Ergo; the conditions of Gabe's first quantum manifestation were set during his eruption and designed as a demonstration to his conscious mind of what he'd be capable of when he was ready to accept it. A one time free pass if you will.

Kind of makes his fall from sanity a little more poignant.

Alternate explanation number 2: it only looks like Biomanipulation and is actually a level 1-3 power.

Alternate explanation number 3: its all true but the quantum minimum of biomanipulation was raised during last minute editing as the power was seen to cause playability issue.

WW screw up editing? Nah... laugh

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Most of the bio-manipulation techniques should be available as level 3 powers (Q=5).

I think he erupted with plant growth and healing, but both of those were rolled into Bio-Manip when he hit Q6. That's about 10 nova points for his powers and 10 more for Quantum 5.

He presumably also erupted with Mega-Stamina (which goes a long way to describe how he survived) and Mega-Chr.

If you don't like those explainations, then how about just giving him Mega-Stamina and making the "plants grow around him and shield from from the sun" a special effect.

Other NPCs like Pursuer & Black Dagger have special effects for their Mega-Stats. I see no reason why Gabby couldn't.

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Here is a tip from one who has dealt with this a lot in the past. Whenever a guy is running any kind of RPG with a Signifigant other involved as a player.

Just walk away. Run if you have to.

If you do decide to play ALWAYS hide behind the S.O.'s character because you know they will never be hurt or killed and can do whatever they need to anytime they want to.

I'm not bitter!

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My wife and I constantly go over to a friends house and RP the weeked away with them and we seem to have no problems with the whole S.O. thing... the DM there (not me cause I suck at it)treats his wife just like us other players (and somtimes seems to pick on her more than us... issues maybe? :-P)

So it's not always a bad thing...

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GM controlled characters operate under slightly different rules to PCs. It's entirely likely they develop powers that PCs can't. For instance, I banned PCs from getting Pretercognition and Information Manipulation. But that hasn't stopped NPCs with those powers showing up from time to time.

It's entirely possible (even going purely on Character Creation rules in the corebook) for a Nova to erupt at Q:6 although I'd imagine they'd have a significant level of Taint. I'd see them as starting off with minor powers but massive potential that manifests as they develop. It's only GM restrictions on it that prevent Players going that high.

Remember that, at the time of Phase 1, Gabriel Melchior had one of the highest levels of Taint seen on the world stage.

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Minor quibles: Isn't Biomanipulation level 3? With a quantum minimum of 6?

And I suspect Lambert Asani Sese Seko Kuko Ngbendu waza Banga the Second rather out-tainted Melchior. Although this wasn't publically known, despite the fellows high public profile.

On Gabriels eruption, it is said to be common for Novas to access power levels at eruption that they are unable reproduce for years after.

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The lowdown on Lambert is available in the Elites book. He's President of the Congo region. They don't stat him out but they do indicate he had Matter Manipulation abilities and a Taint of 10!!! Which should be a real shock to the Proteus boys when they find out.

As to who gets to choose the aberrations for a character. Well, as my group's GM this is what I decided on. During character creation the Players can only Taint themselves as high as 4 Permanant, and they can choose the minor aberration they recieve. After that it's my choice.

Call it chef's privilage. Chef gets to lick the spoon and I get to mutate my Players. It's one of the perks of being the GM, he he.

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Oops, my bad shocked

I guess he's just this side of rampaging out of control through the Congo, transforming and mutating everything in sight. (Hmm, I know what my Players are going to have to deal with on Sunday, heh heh heh.)

Out of interest, anyone had any Taint 10's show up in their games? What were people's interpretation of the whole God or Demon thing?

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