Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

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Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

for an RP heavy game. I had a hero with APS plant, plant control, resin, and healing factor but that was vetoed due to a previous player (no longer in the game) having has powers similar to these.

The hero has to be a mutant.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Genhuman »

RP heavy game...so why not Divine Aura, Ex-MA, Ex-PB... maybe Ex-IQ for some extra skills....
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

Genhuman wrote:RP heavy game...so why not Divine Aura, Ex-MA, Ex-PB... maybe Ex-IQ for some extra skills....


Not my style but yes.

Also, this game has a lot of power negation and zombies. Sorry, I forgot to mention those parts.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Regularguy »

SittingBull wrote:
Genhuman wrote:RP heavy game...so why not Divine Aura, Ex-MA, Ex-PB... maybe Ex-IQ for some extra skills....


Not my style but yes.

Also, this game has a lot of power negation and zombies. Sorry, I forgot to mention those parts.


I'd maybe suggest taking Clairvoyance plus Sixth Sense plus some kind of 'getaway' power: if you're not combative, you really just need a heads-up when something that could kill you is coming your way. Power Negation? Zombies? Yeah, you -- left before they arrived. Sure, you also have a bag of tricks up your sleeve, but the key is surviving.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

I thought about doing a take off of a certain shrinking hero, that is popular as of late.

Shrink & Control insects as his majors but not sure what to do with his 2 minors. Maybe one of the strength powers but after that not sure.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Glistam »

Flight: Insect?
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Pepsi Jedi »

Resin is fun, so is the 'sticky globs' power. Sort of different versions of the same thing.

If you're thinking 'insect inspired man' those could be useful additions. Love flight insect, but if you've already got shrink as a major it'd be better to get flight winged or wingless (Or Flight energy is alot of fun)

Could look at APS Slime/gel. Amazing power and useful in dozens and dozens of ways that aren't directly combat oriented. Would be immensly useful against zombies.

Chemical Secretion is an amazing power that's often overlooked. Combine that with APS SLime/gel for truly amazing utility and ability.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

Can zombies see invisible?
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Pepsi Jedi »

Depends on your interpretation of zombies. Technically they shouldn't be seeing or smelling much of anything, but they seem to do both and hear just fine.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

I dont know the details on the zombies so I cant, and shouldnt, plan accordingly if I did.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

How many majors and minors are you expecting to take?
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

2 majors and 2 minors, as set forth by the gm.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

Any restrictions on the types of powers?
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

With 2 majors and 2 minors, this clearly isn't a victims campaign (like so many zombie games are).

Recommendation #1: Bend Light

Being able to look around corners while you're running towards them means no surprises when you get to them. Being able to see outside the visible spectrum gives you some options for seeing what's around you without relying on a flashlight to give away your position, plus you can create light if you need to (bonus points of the the GM lets you selectively create light so that you can create UV or IR that you can see, but others likely can't). Bend light around you to gain a limited but functional form of invisibility.

The informational gathering abilities of this minor power are astounding once you get the hang of it. People are so used to light traveling in straight lines that you can probably arrange to undetectably see anything that anyone else near you can see whether they want you to or not.

To really take advantage of this, having another power to improve your vision helps you leverage the information gathering abilities of Bend Light, especially considering that when you bend light, you're making it travel further which means even if you're sitting 3 feet away from something you want to read, you might be reading it as if it's 10 or even 20 feet away. Sonic Flight is excellent in this regard, but might be flashier than you want. Enhanced Sight is probably good enough if you don't want to use a Major slot. I'm sure there are others.

Just food for thought.
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

flatline wrote:Any restrictions on the types of powers?


Some.

altered powers
Solar Powered - Major with alterations
Super Power Punch - Minor now
Orbital Spheres - Minor

Banned powers

- Technoform
- Copy animal Abilities (or whatever it is called - although this one I will hear out)
- Junkyard
- Multiple selves - (this is more an upkeep and how I do not like it written. Would have no problems table top)
- Swarm self - (this is more an upkeep and how I do not like it written. Would have no problems table top)
- APS - Plasma/fire
- CEF - Fire (This is more for the world not my general rule)
- Any time based power saved slow motion control ( I may hear this one out)
- Extraordinary IQ
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Pepsi Jedi »

I agree that Swarm Self is not written well and seems to almost miss the point of the 'theme' of the power.... Someone needs to re-do that one. LOVE the concept but the limitations and how it's written for this ruleset are not good.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

Here's a useful combination of powers but not too heavily focused in any one area:
1. Intangibility (major)
2. APS: Ice (major)
3. Bend Light (minor)
4. Wingless Flight (minor)

Of course, how good a particular power is often depends on how the GM treats that power. For instance, in my game APS: Ice means you don't have to breath and have no heart beat (helps foil sonic detectors and guards with enhanced hearing).

Never underestimate the utility of being able to encase things in ice or using blocks of ice to jam doors or block windows.
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If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

Trying to avoid flight, as I feel flight in a super power/zombie game, defeats the challenge of survival but that's me.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

SittingBull wrote:Trying to avoid flight, as I feel flight in a super power/zombie game, defeats the challenge of survival but that's me.


I approve of that. Nothing takes away the feeling of danger in a Zombies campaign like hovering over your enemies at will. So replace Wingless Flight with a minor power of your choosing.
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

I went with an ant-man, kinda, clone.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Sir_Spirit »

I was going to suggest enhanced leaping, super bouncing,and divine healing.
Loosely based on another character. Main combat tactic is to drop/bounce on to zombie.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Shadowknight »

IS it the world of the Walking Dead that is humanity has lost over 75% of it's population or is it in the beginning stages as in Fear of the Walking dead? The reason I ask is depending on which scenario it is the power choice can make a big difference.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

Its 12 years after WW3 and zombie outbreak.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by Sir_Spirit »

So, going by your post about getting Shrink and Control insects, then you already have 2 flight powers(either shrink and ride an flying insect or make it grow and ride it normal size).

Do you have the Powers Unlimited books?
There is one minor that has a longer name, but I just call it cocoon, as it lets you put yourself or others in them. Be a useful healing power, that's a bit unorthodox, but bug related.
And since bugs often find and eat decaying bodies, use yours to find and eat zombies.

There is a very well written superhero web serial about a girl who controls bugs.
It's very well written.
She also has a variation of Sensory Orb that is basically her percieving through her bugs.
Near the beginning it has her controlling black widows to weave her custume.
Damn ICE/BCP/BorderPatrol! Damn everyone who won’t damn ICE/BCP/Border Patrol!! Damn everyone that won’t put lights in his windows and sit up all night damning CE/BCP/BorderPatrol!!!
If you support ICE/BCP/BorderPatrol at this point, you would have called the Gestapo on the people surreptitiously moving into your neighbor's attic and huffed that you were only following the law.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by flatline »

Out of curiosity, what are the other characters in the party?
I don't care about canon answers. I'm interested in good, well-reasoned answers and, perhaps, a short discussion of how that answer is supported or contradicted by canon.

If I don't provide a book and page number, then don't assume that I'm describing canon. I'll tell you if I'm describing canon.
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Re: Need ideas for a non-combative hero...

Unread post by SittingBull »

Dont know about the other players.

I went with shrink, control insect, superhuman strength, and enhanced sense of smell.
"Understanding is a three-edged sword."
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Doctor Who
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