John Galt Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Hello all, wanted to pick your brains. Looking at getting Animal Mastery with the micro-life extra. Something tells me this has potential, but not being a big brain in biology, not real sure how to use it. Maybe manipulating the natural bacteria in the body? How would this translate to game mechanics, work like a Poison or stun? Just though I'd see what people thought. Thanks. John G. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 'Dr. Troll' Smith Posted September 26, 2007 Share Posted September 26, 2007 Sounds like more of a theme than a power.A.M. lets you talk to non-human things. Although the micro-life extra would presumably let you id which bug some has... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Galt Posted September 26, 2007 Author Share Posted September 26, 2007 yeah its very vague in the player's handbook"Micro-life (character can exercise mastery over microscopic life forms down to the level of viruses)"mastery? so control, but what would you do if you had control over microscopic life? If you had two extras, both plants and micro-life, maybe you could make the bacteria in stomachs grow...to disturbing effects : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 'Dr. Troll' Smith Posted September 27, 2007 Share Posted September 27, 2007 After looking everything up and re-reading it...Originally Posted By: John Galtmastery? so control, but what would you do if you had control over microscopic life? Mastery in this case refers to "Animal Mastery" and not the elemental type much less the extra.Further, to a large degree basic Animal Mastery doesn't actually give you "control". You can make suggestions and neutral animals will be inclined to follow them, but they don't actually have to. With plants you have animation, but they can't uproot and follow you around. So basically you're limited to what's there.Originally Posted By: John GaltMaybe manipulating the natural bacteria in the body?You could do this for sure... but... you're going to be limited to what's there. Poison the power would allow you to create ebola and the like, this power would only let you do that if someone already had it.So it sounds (at least to me) like it's going to be a poison with limited effects, unless they already have something in which case you'll be able to add to it (see Increase/Decrease).On the other hand...1) The range is insane.2) You'll be able to communicate, which implies identification.3) You can probably ask diseases to stop being so nasty.Just off hand this would work really well with "Poison". Give someone a rare disease that doesn't do anything, then within a 2km radius you can send out a call asking where it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speed Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 What about cellular life? Couldn't you, in theory, create cancer by encouraging malignant cells to flourish...or an AIDS type phenomenon by encouraging all cells to seek and destroy the CD4 T cells...or take a person who has a case of influenza, and make him a super-flu carrier by teaching the flu to change and adapt to all attacks against it?Alternately, you could be a tremendous healer by doing the opposite of those things. Basically any health benefit or hazard that has been postulated by medical nanites could be realized with this power.Similarly, environmental, or 'earth' health could be affected by a sustained effort by a Nova with this ability...this is most likely part of how Utopia was able to clean the oceans an atmosphere.Granted, this is not a flashy power, or one with any sort of instant gratification...but I think it could be interesting to see what a clever player or ST could make of it..My $.02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courier Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 IMHO All of these things are certainly in theme...But some of them would require the actual poison power and others would require Healing or even Biomanipulation or Disease Authority. The ability to communicate with microscopic life forms does imply you can do these things (although the counter argument is that the ability to speak French doesn't give you the ability to lead all Frenchmen), but there's no such thing as a free lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse Custer Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 Just remember that level 3 powers can always have level 2 powers as one of their techniques... (somewhat toned down in most cases though) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jager Posted September 28, 2007 Share Posted September 28, 2007 John, the power and the extra are pretty simple. Micro-Life allows you to have the game effects of Animal/Plant Mastery over micro-organisms ... nothing else. You can telepathically talk to the organisms and get them to move to a part of the body (summons). They will treat you in a friendly (genetically similar, I assume) manner, but asking them to kill their host/act out of the ordinary is a tough call.In my opinion, if you want to poison someone, buy Poison. A mass acceleration of a bacterial/viral infection would be Disintergrate (not to hit roll - go straight to normally unsoakable damage).Aberrant does not do well with 'stunting' powers in a theme. You have to buy most powers seperately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David 'Dr. Troll' Smith Posted September 29, 2007 Share Posted September 29, 2007 Well put. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptesan-Wi Posted October 3, 2007 Share Posted October 3, 2007 Just me, but a lot of this seems to fall under either Biomanipulation (Worldwide Phase I, p. 113) or Disease Authority (Players Guide, p. 122). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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