Super Powers and Stamina drain.

[VR Dragon]

The GM I currently game under has a dislike of super powers in a Rifts setting. Since everything else in the game has a limited use ( ISP , PPE, Etc. ) he disliked it when I played certain super powered characters.

One example: We where in the middle of a desert in the palladium dimension and no way to travel except our legs. My character possessed the super ability of flying force disk. After offering to use it to transport the party to a town some 6 hours flight time away, we left. Since the power had no time limitation we headed there nonstop.

Well after that game the GM started expressing a displeasure in the fact I had abilities that didn't seem to tire me out while all the other characters had a certain battery life.

Being the nature of these super abilities I felt it was It was somewhat unfair to character. While everyone else had nearly limitless potential to expand their power base. I was stuck with my abilities as they where. A fair trade off but he didn't think so.

I was wonder if this had come up before with others and how they where handled.

[Iczer]

Fatigue applies to superpowers as much as any other effort.

I',m not a fan of the idea that superpowered beings should be able to simply 'run out of juice'. I'm trying hard to imagine the flash suddenly stopping in the middle of a run because he's out of ISP, or superman walking to a crimescene to save PPE for the fight.

BUT i think it should be tiring. I think someone ploughing ahead at 300MPH should be exhausted after a few minutes. I don't know anybody who can belt along at thier highest pace for more than 20 seconds. (or more than five in this chubby body..but i digress. Stupid fat rolls.)

Batts

[Yukon]

Quicksilver's entire body has adapted to the rigors of high-speed running, and his cardiovascular and respiratory systems are many times more efficient than those of a normal human being. Wolverine's and Sabretooth's Healing Factor keeps them from tiring. Capatin America's body doesn't produce fatigue poisons (and there is such a thing). Cyclops eyes are a gateway to another dimension. Havok and Bishop absorbs energy which feeds their body and makes Bishop have more strength and endurance. Superman absorbs sunlight. Professor X and Jean's (why didn't they ever find a good name for her instead of Marvel Girl and her stint as Phoenix?) telepathy is always in the On position just like my hearing, eyesite, etc

THEY ARE NOT HUMAN. Quit treating them as such.

then again, THEY don't exist in Heroes Unlimited either....

[Nekira Sudacne]

ummm, your all fogetting that while the powers may have no set use, there IS fatige and exsation from maintaing sternous activity based on their PE attribites. that's the kicker. flying is a moderate to strenous activity, depending on the conditions, adn fire bolts is combat, again, heavy strain.

it's the normal ones based on their PE

[Cardiac]

Okay...here is my 2 cents;

It's okay that most Superpowers do not have a "power point pool" (with the exception of Power Touch, Create Force Fields and Create Force Objects). Most powered beings have a limited selection of powers, and the majority of these beings have powers that compliment each other and allows them a "niche" to specialize in.

The Superhuman's main advantage is their ability to use their limited powers as often as desired. Where they suffer is in diversity and adabtability.

Psions and Spellcasters, while they do have a finite amount of "energy" to spend on their abilities - their diverse array of powers more than make up for this.

Plus you have to consider that this supply of energy grows with experience and mages can also tap outside sources of PPE (like from willing companions - most superhumans have 6D6).

Also consider that several psionic powers can end a fight in one shot (Bio-Manipulation anyone?).

All this being said, like Nekira, I also beleive that the use of superpowers is or should be tiring to the superhuman. One should not be able to run at full Extrordianry Spd and not get tired or throw energy around all day and not get winded.

Oh, and Jagermeister, there are many times in the comics I have where the X-Men have gotten winded due to the constant use of their powers including Bishop, Cyclops, Prof X and Phoenix (apparently that's her official codename now).

[Nekira Sudacne]

WOW Cardiac! Wish I had thought of that!! Oh wait, that is very similar to what I had posted just a few days ago! Imagine that...

people DO agree sometimes ya know

[Prince Cherico]

phenex is a great code name the woman comes back to the dead more than Goku

[Cardiac]

WOW Cardiac! Wish I had thought of that!! Oh wait, that is very similar to what I had posted just a few days ago! Imagine that...

Heh - great minds think alike I guess. I usually reply to posts without reading what anyone else written.

[Borast]

phenex is a great code name the woman comes back to the dead more than Goku

Hey...go easy on the poor saiyan...he's only died and come back twice that I can remember...

As for Jean Grey, yes Phoenix is a good name for her... Not necessarily for the dead and not dead aspect.

[Sentinel]

There are powers that cover the aspects of fatigue, such as EXT PE, and Supernatural PS, which claim you fatigue more slowly, and Healing Factor, which says you don't fatigue at all. I impose fatigue on my players using things like running for guidelines (IIRC, there is something in the character creation section that talks about exertion).
I don't believe, however, that there needs to be a complex system like GURPS or Champions for depletion of powers.

[Iczer]

There are powers that cover the aspects of fatigue, such as EXT PE, and Supernatural PS, which claim you fatigue more slowly, and Healing Factor, which says you don't fatigue at all. I impose fatigue on my players using things like running for guidelines (IIRC, there is something in the character creation section that talks about exertion).
I don't believe, however, that there needs to be a complex system like GURPS or Champions for depletion of powers.

I'm in aggreeance. Essentially, I don't want a round by round expenditure of points. thats unweildy and detracts from the game. what I expect though is that if omni girl runns flat strap for 2 hours then she's going to pop something. even uber athletes are found shaking from just 12 seconds of effort (look at short distance sprinters). admittedly, superhumans are superhuman and can be cut a little extra slack, but if Omni girl (above) is walking around with 12 PE I'm of the opinion that she should pace her nect run from LA to chicago.

Likewise, if flame projector Lad (FPL) is dead set determined to tunnell through a mountain with his flame powers, I'm going to make him winded and dizzy after an hour of constant blasting.

Of course other powers do set the tone for fatigue. Healing facto and ext PE spring to mind.

Batts

[Sir_Spirit]

Cyclops eyes are a gateway to another dimension. Havok and Bishop absorbs energy which feeds their body.

No, Cyclops absorbs energy just like his brother.
His uncontrol is explained away as a result of a head injury he suffered as a kid.
If he didn't suffer the injury he could control his energy blasts, just like his brother.
Even though they ignore the fact that he should have gained control by now due to the number of times he's been healed....

[ZEN]

I think it's Cycological (badaboom chhh).

Super Ability fatigue, as mentioned, is covered perfectly well by ordinary strenuous activity rules.. constant use of a high energy super power, or high mental concentration intensive power is equivalent to constant combat or other heavy exertion.
For physical fatigue, use P.E., for mental fatigue, use M.E.

[Guest]

Note: Ext Speed clearly says "the ability to move and run faster than most vehicles without tiring"

Sonic Speed mentions absolutely nothing about tiring, ironically.


Don't forget the Juicers, B.I.A.s, and Endoskeletal Supersoldiers, all of which are superathletic, able to last 10-20 times longer than normal without tiring.