Okay, let's say you are designing a superheroes game and must limit yourself to only 10 superpowers to include in the system. What would those 10 powers be? In other words, what are the 10 most fundamental powers to the superheroes genre?
Teke
ESP
Flight
Invis
Super Strength
Super Speed
Super Genius
Mimicking an animal's powers
Shooting blasts of energy
Limited invincibility
In one form or another, to one degree or another, the following:
- Strength
- Speed
- Flight
- Invulnerability/Toughness
- Energy projection (ray, arrow, boomerang, etc.)
- Shield/Deflect projectile
- Invisibility
- Genius
- Survive hostile atmosphere (underwater, outerspace, etc.)
- ESP
!i!
The big number one, to me, is ridiculous resilience, toughness, that kind of thing - even if it's played down as "luck", or "extreme skill in defense", or whatever. Enough of the ability to keep going, alone, makes for superheroes.
Beyond that? It's all up to style.
Quote from: PseudoephedrineTeke
ESP
Flight
Invis
Super Strength
Super Speed
Super Genius
Mimicking an animal's powers
Shooting blasts of energy
Limited invincibility
That list, but with animal powers removed and replaced with Mind Control. Also, magic a la Dr. Strange would be nice to have as well. If you use Super Genius and Strength as just really high stats, that would free up some space for Magic and Travel. Travel would include teleportaion, space flight, shrinking to the Microverse, opening a portal to the Abyss, etc.
Quote from: Levi KornelsenThe big number one, to me, is ridiculous resilience, toughness, that kind of thing - even if it's played down as "luck", or "extreme skill in defense", or whatever.
"I'm
nigh-invulnerable!"
We appear to have forgotten Elemental Control. Maybe fold Mind Control and ESP together to make room for it.
shape-shifting (covers animal powers, or stretching)
Physical enhancement (covers super STR/CON/DEX)
Mental Enhancement
Resilience
speed
blast power (heat vision, big gun, porcupine spikes- whatever)
gadjeteer
perfect tits
super stealth
super presence/ intimidation
Perfect tits isn't a superpower, it's a basic trait of all superheroines.
I'm all about risk, James, but some things can't be left up to chance.
Quote from: James McMurrayThat list, but with animal powers removed and replaced with Mind Control.
I was a little torn on this issue, seeing how I originally placed "Mind Control" under Hypnosis, but it's often treated as a factor of ESP. I was also considering "the ability to cloud men's minds" or "go un-noticed" as possible facets of Hypnosis. The whole "powers of the mind" business gets pretty fuzzy around the edges, with one power often being pressed into service for multiple abilities. I went with just plain ESP, which might even go so far as Telekinesis (eg, Marvel Girl).
I was also torn between Survive Hostile Atmosphere and Shapeshift/Mimic. Taking the more "iconic" heroes into consideration, I arrived at the conclusion that more of them can survive underwater or in space than can shapeshift or copy others.
!i!
I think invunerability and survive hostile environment should be rolled into one power; that's the way it seems to go in the comics, anyway.
Quote from: BASHMANOkay, let's say you are designing a superheroes game and must limit yourself to only 10 superpowers to include in the system. What would those 10 powers be? In other words, what are the 10 most fundamental powers to the superheroes genre?
1. Flight
2. Invisibility
3. Super Strength and Resilience (always go together)
4. Shooting Energy Beams
That's enough right there, I think. Adding more:
5. Telepathy
6. Shapechanging
7. Super Speed
I'm stumped at this point for powers I consider fundamental. Looking at other lists, I'd agree with:
8. Genius (abilities of invention and deduction that are effectively a superpower)
9. Telekinesis, I guess (because someone will want it).
10. "Control the elements" -- would cover everything from Storm (wind, more or less) to Pyro and the Human Torch
What about Gadgets? Or is that too broad a category. Batman wants to play too...
Gadgets could just be considered a secondary power source for powers. Some people shoot lasres because they're aliens, others do it because of super science.
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).
!i!
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.).
!i!
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. :D
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaNah, because someone will just say "Superman" and the whole discussion is over. :D
!i!
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. :p
!i!
Quote from: Ian AbsentiaOr, Superman: heat visionOr, Superman: super breath
Superman just dicks up everything. :p
!i!
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...
!i!
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.
!i!
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!
!i!