Quote from: AosI think invunerability and survive hostile environment should be rolled into one power; that's the way it seems to go in the comics, anyway.

No, not necessarily.  One is the ability to roll with the punches or bounce bullets of your chest, while the other is an adaptation to an environment that would normally deprive one of atmosphere or sustenance.  

An example of what I'm referring to is Aquaman, who can breathe underwater.  An example of what you're referring to, I imagine, is Superman, who can basically hold his breath in deep space because he's invulnerable to virtually everything.  A counter example to Superman might be, say, Captain America, who has a fair modicum of Invulnerability/Toughness about him, but who will still asphyxiate if you drop him to the bottom of the ocean or into deep space (though he'll always figure a way out of the predicament, even if it means being frozen in an iceberg for 40 years).

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To truly limit yourself to 10 powers and still get breadth of coverage you'd have to categorize somewhat. So you'd have Invulnerability (Physical Attacks), Invulnerability (Space), etc.

Yeah, but then we're just getting picky and trying to squeeze in extras under the wire.  I've concluded that I need to re-name "Survive Hostile Environment" to something much simpler and more to the point: Different Physiology.  Breathes different atmosphere, eats different food, or at least utilises the atmosphere and food that we all do in radically different fashion.

As for keeping things down to 10 super powers, I presume that what Chris is really interested in are the 10 most common super powers in the public consciousness.  Like most people, probably, I came up with 4 off the top of my head before I could even type them, another 3 with just a little thought, then had to work to get the last 3 out.  My approach was to look at the lineups of The Justice League first, and then The Avengers.  The Fantastic Four are a very concise and stable example, too.  Super teams are a good way to suss out this sort of thing, because the writers usually try to go for the most popular characters first, and then round out the lineup with characters representing the most useful powers.

Strength, Speed, Flight, and Invulnerability/Toughness leap right out of both teams, always.  Projectile Attack (rays, arrows, whatever), Shield/Deflection, and Invisibility/Stealth come hot on their heels, almost always.  From there on out, you have a revolving list of powers that range from the various powers of the mind and/or spirit (genius, ESP, telekinesis, gadgeteering, magic, etc.) to special physical abilities (stretching, polymorphing, mimickry, breathing underwater, walking on walls, etc.).

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Is there much difference in terms of "squeezing" between having Invincibility + Different Physiology (subsets) and Invincibility (subsets)?

Perhaps a better way to find the iconic powers would be to pick iconic representations of them?

Quote from: James McMurrayPerhaps a better way to find the iconic powers would be to pick iconic representations of them?

Nah, because someone will just say "Superman" and the whole discussion is over.

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaNah, because someone will just say "Superman" and the whole discussion is over.

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That's why I said iconic representations of the powers, not the characters. For example:

1. Superman: flight
2. Superman: invincibility
3. Superman: strength
4. Cyclops: blasting
5. Iceman: Elemental Control

etc.

Quote from: James McMurrayFor example:

4. Cyclops: blasting

Or, Superman: heat vision

Quote5. Iceman: Elemental Control

Or, Superman: super breath

Superman just dicks up everything.

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Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOr, Superman: heat visionOr, Superman: super breath

Superman just dicks up everything.

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Super Man: Super Speed
Super Man: Super Genius*

* I think there was a comic where Lois Lane got cancer (or something), so Superman cured cancer in one day.

Superman: super hearing
Superman: survive underwater
Superman: survive in outerspace
Superman: travel in time by spinning the world backwards

The list goes on...

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You're right. Might as well never try to make a superhero game. C'est la vie.

See?  Now you're talking sense.  Superman dicks up everything.

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Works for me. I've already got a superhero system: MSH (FASERIP). It's Marvel, so no Superman worries.

Quote from: James McMurrayWorks for me. I've already got a superhero system: MSH (FASERIP). It's Marvel, so no Superman worries.

Of course there're no worries.  To stat Superman in MSH it's all:

F = Unearthly
A = Unearthly
S = Unearthly
E = Unearthly
R = Unearthly
I = Unearthly
P = Unearthly

Hooray for Superman!

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