Bulletproof Blues 3e EN:Powers

Contents

(NOTE: This is a work in progress.)

Powers are those abilities beyond what is possible for ordinary mortals. Flying through the air, reading others' thoughts, and firing blasts of energy from one's jewelry are impossible for the typical man or woman on the street, but these powers are all within reach for a posthuman. Each power costs from one to three character points. The cost of each power is listed in the power's description.

Expertise

A character who has expertise with a power possesses extraordinary competence, above and beyond the skill a character with that power may reasonably be assumed to possess. Expertise in a power costs one character point in addition to the cost of the power itself, and it grants the character a roll bonus (+3) when using the power.

Expertise does not give a character a power they would not normally possess, nor does lack of expertise mean that a character incurs any penalty when using that power. A character with the Plant Control power, but without expertise in Plant Control, would still be able to animate and mentally control plants.

Villainous Expertise

Only very unusual NPCs have expertise with Combat skills. Expertise can have a powerful effect in combat, and it tends to be more powerful in the hands of the GM than in the hands of the players because the GM rolls more dice over the course of the game than any of the players do. For this reason, it is best to restrict Combat expertise to only those NPCs that truly do have an extraordinary amount of control over their powers and abilities. If the Game Moderator is concerned about a villain's ability to pose a challenge to the heroes, remember that the GM can give villains any attribute or power at any rank. If the villain isn't putting up enough of a fight and the game feels like the characters are going through the motions, then the GM should increase the villain's abilities or give them some henchmen to help out. Be creative.

Typical Powers

This is a list of typical powers found in a Bulletproof Blues game. This list is not exhaustive. A character may well have a power not listed here, using the guidelines under New Powers and subject to GM approval. However, any new powers should be approximately as useful as these powers, in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters.

Some power names have a word in brackets, such as [Element] Mastery. This indicates that the power listed is a general version, and you will need to choose the specific power. For example, a character won't have the [Element] Mastery power. Instead, they will have Air Mastery, or Darkness Mastery, or mastery of some other element. This choice must be made when the power is purchased, and may not normally be changed thereafter.

A few powers are marked with a star (★). This indicates that the power listed is actually a group of related powers from which you will need to choose. For example, a character with the Super Senses power will need to choose which senses they actually have. As with general powers, this choice must be made when the power is purchased, and may not normally be changed thereafter.

Activation

The Activation column indicates when or if the power must be turned on. Powers listed as "Always On" are assumed to be active at all times. Powers listed as "Activated" must be turned on by the character using a free action, but will remain on as long as the character is conscious. "Attack" powers require a task action to use, while "Reaction" powers can be used at any time, as often as the GM deems reasonable. See Actions for more information.

Task Roll

The Task Roll column indicates which attribute is used for task rolls to use the power. For most attacks, this is also the attribute used to determine the difficulty modifier. For example, for hand-to-hand attacks, both the task roll and the difficulty modifier are based on Brawn.

Target

The Target column indicates who or what is affected by the power. Many powers affect only the character with the power, such as Invisibility. These are indicated as "Personal". Other powers affect either a single target, an area defined by the character, or an area centered on the character with the power. See Radius Effect for more information.

Range

The Range column indicates the useful range of the power. Many powers only affect the character with the power, such as Invisibility. These are indicated with a dash (--). Powers which only work hand-to-hand are indicated as "Touch" powers, while powers which may be targeted at range are indicated as "Ranged". A few powers have ranges based on the specific type of power chosen, or on some other circumstance. These are indicated as "Varies".

The maximum effective distance of "Ranged" powers is based on the rank of the power (the distance on the Benchmarks table under "Affects"). In some cases, the power may be used at greater range, but with severely diminished accuracy. See Range Bands for more information.

Villain Powers

Powers can sometimes work quite differently for villains than it does for heroes. For example, a character with Mind Control will rarely be able to maintain their control over a target for more than a few minutes, but a villain might have an NPC under their control for weeks or even years. Story-based powers can accomplish things that are simply beyond the capabilities of player characters. However, do not overuse this technique, or the players will grow tired of it.

Cost

The Cost column indicates the cost to purchase the power. The total cost of a power may be modified by power enhancements and power defects. See Power Modifiers for more information.

Table: Typical powers

Power	Activation	Task Roll	Target	Range	Cost
Absorption	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Alternate Form	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Amazing Movement ★	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Animal Control	Attack	Power	Radius	Ranged	1
Reflection	Reaction	Power	Single Target	Ranged	2
[Attribute] Drain	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	1
Barrier	Attack	Power	Radius	Ranged	1
Blast	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Blindness	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Clinging	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Combination	Activated	--	Personal	Touch	1
Communication ★	Activated	Perception	Personal	Varies	1
Damaging Aura	Activated	Brawn	Personal	Touch	1
Danger Sense	Reaction	Varies	Personal	--	1
Duplication	Activated	--	Personal	--	3
[Element] Form	Activated	--	Personal	--	2
[Element] Mastery	Varies	Varies	Radius	Varies	3
Element Mimicry	Activated	--	Personal	Touch	2
[Element] Resistance	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Emotion Control	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	1
Extra Attacks	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Flight	Activated	--	Personal	--	2
Force Field	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Growth	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Healing	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Hold	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Illusion	Attack	Power	Radius	Ranged	1
Immortality	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Immunity ★	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Increased Density	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Intangibility	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Invisibility	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Invulnerability	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Life Drain	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	1
Machine Control	Attack	Power	Single Target	Ranged	1
Mind Blast	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	2
Mind Control	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	2
Mind Hold	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	2
Mind Shield	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Object Animation	Attack	Power	Single Target	Ranged	1
Plant Control	Attack	Power	Radius	Ranged	1
Possession	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	2
Power Drain	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	1
Power Invulnerability	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Power Mimicry	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	2
Power Suppression	Attack	Power	Single Target	Ranged	1
Power Theft	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	3
Probability Control	Activated	--	Single Target	Ranged	2
Regeneration	Always On	--	Personal	--	1
Shapeshifting	Activated	--	Personal	--	2
Shrinking	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Stretching	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Strike	Attack	Brawn	Single Target	Touch	1
Super-jumping	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Super-running	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Super Senses ★	Activated	Perception	Personal	Varies	1
Haste	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Super-swimming	Activated	--	Personal	--	1
Telekinesis	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Telepathy	Attack	Will	Single Target	Ranged	1
Teleportation	Activated	--	Personal	--	2
Time Control	Attack	Power	Single Target	Ranged	2
[Transformation] Ray	Attack	Agility	Single Target	Ranged	1
Tunneling	Activated	--	Personal	--	2
[Ultra-power]	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies	3

Power Descriptions

Ambient Awareness

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Ambient Awareness can perceive equally well in every direction simultaneously. They might have very large eyes, many very small eyes, or simply a preternatural awareness of their surroundings.

Barrier

Activation: Attack

Target: Radius

Cost: 1 character point

Barrier permits the character to create walls and simple geometric shapes within medium range (50 m). The specific type of force or substance of the barrier must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. The player can pick any force or substance, subject to the GM's approval. The attack value (AV) of the Barrier is equal to the attacker's Will + Power.

Creating a simple shape with Barrier (a wall, dome, cube, and so on) requires a challenging roll (difficulty 3). Creating more complex shapes is more difficult, with the difficulty set by the GM based on the complexity of the desired shape. For example, an intricate labyrinth would require a frustrating roll (difficulty 6).

The Brawn of the Barrier is equal to the Power of the character creating it. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the Barrier created is significantly tougher (+2 Brawn). The Brawn of the Barrier is used both for its defense value and to support weight as a bridge, support column, or other such structure. If the load on the Barrier exceeds the maximum mass it can support, or if the Barrier is defeated by an attack, it fades away.

Permanent: If a Barrier is not attacked or damaged, it will usually remain in place until the end of the scene, after which it fades away. The character may also turn off their Barrier voluntarily. However, some barriers are relatively permanent. They do not dissolve at the end of the scene, can't be turned off, and will remain in place until destroyed.

Blast

Activation: Attack

Target: Single Target

Cost: 1 character point

Blast is a short range (10 m) attack which inflicts endurance damage. The Blast could be radiation, fire, cold, arrows, or even darkness or light, and this must be chosen when the Blast power is purchased. The attack value (AV) of the Blast is equal to the attacker's Agility + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Agility + the defense bonus of their armor, or their Agility + Power if they have Force Field, Invulnerability, or another power which provides protection against endurance damage.

Enhancements

Explosive: The character can damage everyone in the immediate vicinity of their target, up to everyone within short range (10 m) of the target. The character can choose the radius affected (if any) each time they use Blast. Because an exploding attack does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the attack is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Seeking: The Blast has limited independence from the attacker. If the attack misses the target, the attack will circle around and try again on the succeeding round. The attacker rolls the attack again, but no interaction or attention is required from the attacker for this second attack. +1 character point

Blindsight

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Blindsight can sense shapes and textures as clearly as with ordinary vision, but without the ability to perceive color. This could be a form of sonar, radar, a sense of touch so acute that they can detect and locate vibrations, or some other form of alternate perception.

Clairvoyance

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

With Clairvoyance, the character can attempt to perceive things at a distance. The action value (AV) of the Clairvoyance is equal to the attacker's Perception + Power. This is typically a challenging roll (difficulty 3), but it may be higher or lower depending on the ambient "noise" and how obvious the thing being perceived is. If the thing being perceived is relatively obvious (to someone with the appropriate senses), no roll should be necessary. The range of Clairvoyance is essentially unlimited (remote range), but it is never completely reliable: it is primarily a roleplaying power under the control of the GM.

Clinging

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Clinging allows a character to move along walls, ceilings, and other surfaces as if they were level. For example, the character might sticky hands and feet, they might wear magnetic shoes, or they may be able to selectively control the force of gravity. The strength holding the character to the surface is equal to their Brawn. If the surface is slippery or unstable, the GM might require the character to attempt a challenging Agility roll (difficulty 3) to keep from sliding or falling.

Clinging can be activated with a free action.

Danger Sense

Activation: Reaction

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Danger Sense permits the character to sense danger and avoid being surprised, even if there is no way for the character to see the attack coming. The action value (AV) of the Danger Sense is equal to the character's Perception + Power. To perceive a source of danger, the character must succeed at a challenging roll (difficulty 3). If the character rolls an extreme success, then they know the exact source and nature of the attack. Danger Sense is a reaction: a character with Danger Sense may attempt to predict as many attacks as they like, as often as they like.

If the character's Perception has a higher rank than their Brawn, their rank in Perception may be used in place of Brawn to determine their defense value in close combat. If the character's Perception has a higher rank than their Agility, their rank in Perception may be used in place of Agility to determine their defense value in ranged combat.

Precognition: Some characters with Danger Sense can see into the future, or "read" the destiny of items and people by touching them. Seeing into the future is never completely reliable: this aspect of Danger Sense is primarily a roleplaying power under the control of the GM.

Detect [Element]

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

With Detect [Element], the character can attempt to perceive, locate, and analyze a substance, material, or energy. The specific type of force or substance that to be detected must be chosen when this power is purchased: detect magic, detect metal, detect temporal anomalies, and so on. The action value (AV) of the Detect [Element] is equal to the attacker's Perception + Power. This is typically a challenging roll (difficulty 3), but it may be higher or lower depending on the ambient "noise" and how obvious the thing being perceived is. If the thing being perceived is relatively obvious (to someone with the appropriate senses), no roll should be necessary.

Duplication

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Duplication permits a character to make identical copies of themselves. The number of duplicates is based on the Power of the character. These duplicates are independent characters, who each move and act separately each round. However, all of the duplicates share a single pool of Plot Points, and spend their Plot Points as a single character. Duplicates do not have any special means of communication, but if one duplicate has Mind Link, they all do.

As long as there is more than one identical character, any duplicate which takes Endurance damage ceases to exist. By default, there is no "original" character -- the last duplicate remaining is the "original". Once the Duplication is activated, any of the identical characters may deactivate the power. When the power is deactivated, which duplicate remains behind as the "original" is generally up the player.

The character is not required to activate or deactivate all of their duplicates simultaneously. For example, a character with Power 4 could create one duplicate this round, create four more duplicates the following round, deactivate two duplicates on the third round, and so on. Duplicates last until they are deactivated or until they take any Endurance damage. When a duplicate is deactivated, its memories and knowledge are absorbed into the remaining identical characters.

The specific mechanism of the Duplication can vary greatly from character to character, which may offer minor benefits and disadvantages to the character.

Table: Duplication

Power	Duplicates
1	2
2	4
3	8
4	16
5	32
6	50
7	200
8	500
9	1,500
10	5,000

Environmental Immunity

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Environmental Immunity permits the character to survive in environments and conditions that would impair or even kill normal people. This includes unusual or even poisonous atmospheres, such as underwater or in methane. It also includes environments of extreme cold, such as the ice plains of Europa, and environments of extreme heat, such as noon on the planet Venus. The character may sleep or eat if they want to, but they suffer no ill effect from lack of food or sleep. Furthermore, the character is unaffected by infectious viruses, bacteria, chemical and biological poisons, toxins, and so on.

The benefit provided by Environmental Immunity is ambient and highly plot dependent: it does not normally protect the character from attacks or from direct forms of damage. Being able to withstand extreme heat and exposure to the blazing desert sun does not mean that a character is immune to a fire blast. A good rule of thumb is that if someone else is using it as an attack, the character is not immune to it.

Limited: Some characters have a more limited form of Environmental Immunity. For example, a character with Environmental Immunity can normally survive without needing to breathe at all. However, if it makes more sense for the character to be able to breath in just one unusual environment, such as underwater or in methane, they may choose that option instead.

For more details on the effects of the environment on a character, see Environment.

Extra Actions

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with the Extra Attacks power may take additional actions at the end of a round. The character may use these additional actions to perform additional tasks or make additional attacks. All of the character's additional actions are resolved after all other rolls are resolved that round.

During each game session, the number of additional actions the character may use is equal to their Power. The character may only use half of their total additional actions in any one round, and once an additional action has been used, it may not be used again in that game session. The player may wait until the end of the round before deciding whether their character will use any of their additional actions.

Flight

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 2 character points

Firefly

Flight allows a character to fly through the air or through a vacuum. For example, the character might have wings, they might wear a jetpack, or they may just be able to fly through sheer Will. The character's Power is added to their Agility for the purpose of determining their base move, double move, and all-out move while flying.

XXX flight table

Swinging: Some characters "fly" by using a grappling line, a spider web, invisible beams of magnetic force, or some other method of suspension. If the character relies on a form of suspension like this, and there is nothing above the character to attach this "swing line" to, the character is grounded. If the swing line is attached to something which weighs less than the character, the character can pull the object toward them or swing it around. If the object on the other end of the swing line is another character, this requires a Brawn task roll against the Brawn of the other character.

Force Field

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Force Field provides protection against most forms of direct damage: anything which inflicts endurance damage. The defense value (DV) of a character with Force Field is equal to their relevant defense attribute (Brawn for close combat, Agility for ranged combat) plus their Power.

A character with a Force Field may extend their force field to another person (or person-sized object) by touching them. The Force Field then protects both characters, but only as long as the character with the Force Field is touching the second character. As always, this does not stack with conventional armor, Invulnerability, or other forms of defense -- only the highest defense value applies.

Unlike Invulnerability, a Force Field must be activated: if the character goes unconscious, the power turns off. The character may also turn off their Force Field voluntarily, of course.

Growth

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Growth permits a character to become physically larger, making them stronger and more massive than normal. The effects of Growth are based on the Power of the character. At Power 5 and above, the character's hands are so large that they strike entire areas rather than individuals. Because their hand-to-hand attacks do not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the attack is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success.

Table: Growth

Power	Height	Reach	Mass	Brawn
1	4 m	2 m	800 kg	+1
2	8 m	4 m	6 t	+1
3	16 m	8 m	50 t	+2
4	32 m	16 m	400 t	+2
5	64 m	32 m	3,000 t	+3
6	100 m	50 m	10,000 t	+3
7	400 m	200 m	800,000 t	+4
8	1000 m	500 m	10,000,000 t	+4
9	3 km	1,500 m	300,000,000 t	+5
10	10 km	5 km	10,000,000,000 t	+5

A character with Growth does not have to use it at full power. A character who has Power 5, for example, could elect to be merely 4 meters tall rather than their full 64 meters.

Haste

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Haste allows the character to perform everyday tasks at a rate much faster than usual. The character's Power is added to their Agility for the purpose of determining the time it takes to complete a task. For example, a character with Haste and a combined Power and Agility of 6 could accomplish a 15 minute task in 2 rounds (2 rounds is six steps from 15 minutes in the Haste table).

Haste is only applicable to everyday tasks: tasks which are routine or which have no significant penalty for failure. Haste does not enhance the character's combat abilities, nor does it grant any other speed-related powers, such as Regeneration or Super-running.

XXX haste table

Healing

Activation: Attack

Target: Single Target

Cost: 1 character point

Healing is a close combat "attack" which restores levels of endurance damage rather than removing them. Using Healing requires a successful unarmed close combat attack roll against the intended target. Healing has an attack value (AV) equal to the attacker's Brawn + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Brawn, although a willing target may voluntarily reduce their defense value to zero. Healing ignores all normal forms of protection such as armor and Force Field.

The Healing power can remove diseases, pathogens, and poisons from the target. The character with Healing may attempt a challenging roll (difficulty 3) to cure a single disease or purge a single toxin from the victim's system. If the character with the Healing power rolls an extreme success, then all damage caused by the disease is healed as well as the disease itself being cured.

Hyperacuity

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Hyperacuity allows a character to make a challenging action value roll (difficulty 3) to sense details far too small or faint for ordinary human perception to detect. The action value (AV) of the Hyperacuity is equal to the character's Perception + Power. On a successful roll, they can taste the number of salt grains on a pretzel, read text on a computer display by touching it, see fingerprints on surfaces, identify a person by the sound of their heartbeat, track someone through a city by their scent, and so on.

Immortality

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

The Immortality power grants the character immunity to the ravages of time. An immortal character will never grow old or die from "natural causes". Additionally, the character is never truly "dead". If the cause of the character's demise is reversed (the stake is pulled from their heart, the poison wears off and loses its toxicity, their dismembered body parts are re-assembled, and so on), the character will begin to recover from their mortal injuries. How long this recovery takes is up to the GM.

Additionally, the player must select two means of permanently killing the character. One of these means must be relatively obvious, such as burning the character or dissolving them in acid. The second means may be obvious, but it may also be obscure and specific to that character, such as destroying a specific portrait of the character that they keep in a vault or stabbing them with a weapon made from the bone of a blood relative.

Death Is Preferable: Normally, an immortal character stops aging when they reach physical maturity, or shortly thereafter. However, some immortal characters continue to age (albeit at a slower rate), becoming gnarled and withered as the years pass. Such a character looks and feels ancient, although they may still be physically powerful.

Offsite Backup: Normally, when an immortal character recovers from "death", they retain all of the memories from events up to and including their demise. If the character's resurrection is facilitated by an external backup, such as a stored clone or a periodic neural upload to an orbiting satellite, there will be a gap between the time of the last "backup" and the character's demise.

Serial Immortality: Normally, when an immortal character recovers from "death", they remain essentially unchanged. However, some immortal characters change their appearance and personality to that of a completely new person when they "die", although the knowledge and memories of the character are preserved. For example, the character might be a parasitic organism that possesses a new host when the previous one expires, or the character might have a form of cellular regeneration with unpredictable results. With the GM's approval, even the character's advantages and powers might be changed.

Increased Density

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Increased Density permits a character to become more massive, making them stronger and tougher than normal, but also slower. The effects of Increased Density are based on the Power of the character. At Power 6, the character is denser than any naturally occurring substance on Earth.

Table: Increased Density

Power	Mass	Brawn	Agility 1	Invulnerability
1	200 kg	+1	-1	1
2	400 kg	+1	-1	2
3	800 kg	+2	-2	3
4	1,600 kg	+2	-2	4
5	5 t	+3	-3	5
6	10 t	+3	-3	6
7	40 t	+4	-4	7
8	100 t	+4	-4	8
9	400 t	+5	-5	9
10	1,000 t	+5	-5	10

1. Down to one Agility, minimum

A character with Increased Density does not have to use it at full power. A character with Power 5, for example, could elect to be merely 400 kilograms rather than their full 5 tonnes. Note that a character with their Increased Density activated in the water will sink like a stone unless they are using Super-swimming.

Intangibility

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Intangibility allows a character to move through solid matter as though through water, leaving no trace of their passage. For example, Intangibility could represent a character who is able to control their molecular density, a character who vibrates at a different frequency, or even a character whose body can turn into radiant energy. A character using Intangibility cannot pass through a force field, nor through any area affected by Power Suppression; other than this, physical objects generally have no effect on a character using Intangibility, or vice versa.

The defense value (DV) of a character using Intangibility is equal to their relevant defense attribute (Brawn for close combat, Agility for ranged combat) plus their Power. However, an intangible character is affected normally by mental powers, and they may use mental powers against others. As always, this protection does not stack with Invulnerability or other forms of protection -- only the highest defense value applies.

A character with Intangibility may make another person (or person-sized object) intangible by touching the other person and then activating the Intangibility power. The Intangibility then affects both characters, but only as long as the character with the Intangibility is touching the second character.

Permanent: Intangibility usually must be activated: if the character goes unconscious, the power turns off. The character may also turn off their Intangibility voluntarily. However, some characters are unable to turn off their Intangibility; they remain intangible even if rendered unconscious.

Loophole: The character has a power which affects the world normally while they are intangible. However, the character must also define an attack type which affects them normally while they are intangible.

Invisibility

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Invisibility allows the character to become difficult to perceive. For example, the character might become transparent, they might bend light around them, or they may blend into their surroundings by modulating chromatophores in their skin. However the effect is achieved, the character is hidden from normal senses unless someone is actively looking for them or there is some environmental circumstance that might reveal the character's location. The action value (AV) of the Invisibility is equal to the character's Will + Power.

If someone is actively looking for the character, perhaps by isolating their heat signature or tracking them by scent, the person trying to locate the invisible character must make a successful Perception roll against the action value of the invisible character. A character with Clairvoyance or Hyperacuity may add their Power to their Perception when attempting to notice a character using Cloak. If an environmental circumstance might reveal the character's location, anyone in the area may attempt a Perception roll against the action value of the invisible character in order to notice the character. For example, fog might reveal an invisible character's outline, or fresh snow might reveal their footprints.

The character may make another person (or person-sized object) invisible by touching the other person, but only as long as the character with the Invisibility is touching the second character or object.

Permanent: Invisibility usually must be activated: if the character goes unconscious, the power turns off. The character may also turn off their Invisibility voluntarily. However, some characters are unable to turn off their Invisibility ; they remain invisible even if rendered unconscious.

Invulnerability

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Invulnerability has chitin, scales, thick fur, or just exceptionally tough skin which provides protection against most forms of direct damage: anything which inflicts endurance damage. The defense value (DV) of a character with Invulnerability is equal to their relevant defense attribute (Brawn for close combat, Agility for ranged combat) plus their Power. As always, this does not stack with conventional armor, Force Field, or other forms of defense -- only the highest defense value applies.

Mind Link

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Two characters who both have the Mind Link trait can communicate telepathically over any distance. Optionally, if the character has the Minions advantage, they may communicate telepathically with their minions.

Mind Shield

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Mind Shield is naturally resistant to mental attacks and coercive mental powers. Mind Shield adds the character's Power to their Will for the purpose of resisting or shrugging off the effects of mental powers. If successfully attacked by Mind Blast, Mind Control, Will Drain, or another power which bases the defender's defense value on their Will, the character's defense value is equal to their Will + Power.

Mind Shield does not need to be activated: it is always on, as long as the character is alert. As always, this does not stack with other forms of defense -- only the highest defense value applies.

Night Vision

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Night Vision allows a character to see in pitch darkness as clearly as in daylight. This capacity could be the result of infrared vision, ultraviolet vision, or simply exceptional low-light vision.

Power Invulnerability

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Power Invulnerability is resistant against any attack which would damage or drain any of their attributes or powers. The defense value (DV) of a character with Power Invulnerability is equal to their relevant defense attribute (Brawn for close combat, Agility for ranged combat, Will for mental combat) plus their Power. As always, this does not stack with other forms of defense -- only the highest defense value applies.

Radio Communication

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Radio Communication permits the character to send and receive signals over any standard radio frequency. If the character wishes, the communication is difficult to notice for those not involved in the conversation. Anyone not party to the conversation must make a frustrating (difficulty 6) Perception roll just to notice the conversation, and a nigh-impossible (difficulty 9) Reason roll to understand what is being said.

Reflection

Activation: Reaction

Target: Single Target

Cost: 2 character points

During their turn, or as a forced action, a character with Reflection may reflect a successful ranged single-target attack back at the attacker. The action value (AV) of Reflection is equal to the character's Agility + Power. To successfully reflect an attack, the character must roll against the attack value of the original attack.

If the roll fails, the character is struck by the attack, as usual. If the roll succeeds, the character with Reflection may use a free action to make a ranged attack against the original attacker, using the reflecting character's attack value or the original attacker's attack value, whichever is greater. A character who is using their action to reflect attacks may continue to attempt to reflect attacks until they take their next turn.

Regeneration

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Regeneration accelerates the healing process and allows the character to recover from injury more quickly. Normally, an injured character recovers one endurance level they have recently lost after they have had a chance to rest and recuperate for half an hour or so. After that, the character recovers additional endurance levels only with extended rest and medical care. With this rest and medical care, the character will regain one endurance level per day; without it, they will regain one endurance level per week.

The Regeneration power drastically reduces this recovery time: the character recovers one endurance level they have recently lost after they have had a chance to rest and recuperate for one full minute. After that, with rest and medical care, the character will regain one endurance level per hour; without it, they will regain one endurance level per eight hours. Most characters with Regeneration can even regrow lost limbs or damaged organs.

Shrinking

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Shrinking permits a character to become smaller and more difficult to hit than normal. The effects of Shrinking are based on the Power of the character.

Table: Shrinking

Power	Height	Mass	Agility
1	100 cm	13 kg	+1
2	50 cm	2 kg	+1
3	25 cm	200 g	+2
4	13 cm	20 g	+2
5	6 cm	3 g	+3
6	3 cm	400 mg	+3
7	2 cm	50 mg	+4
8	1 cm	6 mg	+4
9	4 mm	1 mg	+5
10	2 mm	0.1 mg	+5

A character with Shrinking does not have to use it at full power. A character who has Power 5, for example, could elect to be merely 50 centimeters tall rather than their full 6 centimeters.

Speak With Objects

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Speak With Objects is a short range (10 m) power which permits the character to communicate with inanimate objects in ways that people normally can't. For example, a character with Speak With Objects may communicate with buildings and other artificial structures, non-sentient machines, non-sentient plants and animals, paths and roads, and rocks and stones. The action value (AV) of the Speak With Objects is equal to the character's Perception + Power. To communicate with an inanimate object, the character must succeed at a challenging roll (difficulty 3).

Inanimate objects, not truly being sentient, do not generally lie or withhold information. However, being able to speak to something does not grant it any additional powers, such as movement. A building might be able to tell you where the vault is, but it can't unlock the vault for you.

The character can see into the past, viewing or "reading" the history of items and objects by touching them. Seeing into the past is never completely reliable: this use of Speak With Objects is primarily a roleplaying power under the control of the GM.

Specific: Some characters may only communicate with a specific type or types of object. For example, a character attuned to the spirit of cities might only be able to communicate with roads and buildings, while a cyborg might be able to connect to and communicate with computers, at speeds much faster than would otherwise be possible.

Stretching

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Stretching can deform their body and attenuate their extremities. A character with Stretching might have telescoping robotic tentacles, or the character's body may be gelatinous or just incredibly malleable. This increases the character's effective reach, and it permits them to perform tasks and make hand-to-hand attacks at greater distances, based on the character's Power. Some characters with Stretching can squeeze under doors and through keyholes. Hand-to-hand attacks made by a Stretching character are resolved with Brawn rolls, as usual.

XXX stretching table

Strike

Activation: Attack

Target: Single Target

Cost: 1 character point

Strike is a close combat ("hand-to-hand") attack which inflicts endurance damage. The Strike could be claws, radiation, cold, a sword, or even darkness or light, and this must be chosen when the Strike power is purchased. The attack value (AV) of the Strike is equal to the attacker's Brawn + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Brawn + the defense bonus of their armor, or their Brawn + Power if they have Force Field, Invulnerability, or another power which provides protection against endurance damage.

Enhancements

Explosive: The character can damage everyone in their immediate vicinity, up to everyone within short range (10 m). The character can choose the radius affected (if any) each time they use Strike. Because an exploding attack does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the attack is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Super-agility

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-agility allows the character to attempt Agility tasks of extraordinary difficulty. The character's Power is added to their Agility for the purpose of making skill rolls.

Super-brawn

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-brawn allows the character to attempt Brawn tasks of extraordinary difficulty. The character's Power is added to their Brawn for the purpose of making skill rolls.

Super-jumping

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-jumping allows the character to leap impossibly far and fast. For example, the character might have legs like a grasshopper, they might wear rocket-propelled shoes, or they may just have massive and powerful thighs. The character's Power is added to their Brawn for the purpose of determining the height and distance of the character's long jump.

XXX jumping table

Super-lifting

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-lifting allows the character to lift and throw impossibly heavy objects. For example, the character might have control over the force of gravity, they might wear some kind of powered armor, or they may just have massive arm muscles. The character's Power is added to their Brawn for the purpose of determining what the character can lift and throw.

XXX throwing table

Super-perception

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-perception allows the character to attempt Perception tasks of extraordinary difficulty. The character's Power is added to their Perception for the purpose of making skill rolls.

Super-reason

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-reason allows the character to attempt Reason tasks of extraordinary difficulty. The character's Power is added to their Reason for the purpose of making skill rolls.

Super-running

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-running allows the character to run impossibly fast. For example, the character might have wings on their feet, they might wear rocket-powered roller skates, or they may just move their feet really quickly. The character's Power is added to their Agility for the purpose of determining their base move, double move, and all-out move.

XXX running table

Defy Gravity: The character runs so fast that they can run up or down vertical surfaces without falling and run across bodies of water without sinking. If they stop running, of course, gravity takes over.

Super-swimming

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-swimming allows the character to swim impossibly fast. For example, the character might have a powerful tail like a dolphin, they might wear turbo-jet boots, or they may just swim really fast. The character's Power is added to their Agility for the purpose of determining their base move, double move, and all-out move.

XXX swimming table

Super-will

Activation: Always On

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

Super-will allows the character to attempt Will tasks of extraordinary difficulty. The character's Power is added to their Will for the purpose of making skill rolls.

Teleportation

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 2 character points

Teleportation permits a character to use a movement action to travel from one point to another without traversing the intervening space. The distance the character may travel before re-appearing is based on their combined Power and Will. The character may double-move and all-out move using Teleportation. A character using Teleportation may carry with them whatever they can carry, based on their Brawn. This may include equipment or even other characters.

XXX teleportation table

A character using Teleportation cannot re-appear inside of a solid object, nor into any area affected by Power Suppression; other than this, objects in the physical world generally have no effect on a character using Teleportation. If a character using Teleportation unknowingly attempts to re-appear inside of a solid object, they are exhausted and shunted to the nearest unoccupied space, or the teleportation attempt fails entirely, at the GM's discretion.

Requires A Medium: Some characters may only teleport through a specific medium. For example, a character with electrical powers might only be able to teleport through conductive material. Alternately, the character might only be able to teleport between specific locations. For example, a character attuned to the spirit of cities might only be able to teleport within and between cities, or a character with darkness powers might only be able to teleport within and between dark areas such as shadows. Such a character never needs to worry about appearing inside of a solid object: when they reach their destination, they simply step out of the medium.

Enhancements

Radius Effect: The character can teleport with everyone in their immediate vicinity, up to everyone within short range (10 m). The character can choose the radius affected each time they use Teleportation. +1 character point

Tunneling

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 2 character points

Tunneling enables the character to move through the earth almost as easily as other people do above it. However, the character is unable to pass through force fields and other energy barriers. The character's Power is added to their Brawn for the purpose of determining their base move, double move, and all-out move while tunneling.

XXX tunneling table

This assumes the character is not taking any time to shore up the tunnel behind her. If she is attempting to leave a hole through which others may follow, she moves at half normal speed.

X-ray Vision

Activation: Activated

Target: Personal

Cost: 1 character point

X-ray Vision allows a character to make a challenging action value roll (difficulty 3) to see through objects. The action value (AV) of the X-ray Vision is equal to the character's Perception + Power. On a successful roll, they focus their vision at a specific distance, ignoring intervening physical barriers. The player must define a reasonably common substance, material, or energy that the character can't see through.

Power Descriptions (OLD)

Animal Control

Animal Control allows a character to communicate with and mentally control a non-sentient animal within medium range (50 m). The attack value (AV) of the Animal Control is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will: as a rule of thumb, the Will of a domesticated animal is usually 2, and the Will of a wild animal is usually 4. To successfully communicate with and control all animals within medium range (50 m), the character must succeed at a frustrating roll (difficulty 9).

Controlled animals have the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operate independently of the character controlling them. Giving a new mental command to the controlled animals requires a free action.

The attributes of the controlled animals are equal to the normal attributes those kinds of animals would have. However, controlled animals are resistant to further mental manipulation, having Will equal to the character controlling them. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the animated animals are significantly smarter (+2 Reason and +2 Perception). Controlled animals have the normal movement and attack types that those kinds of animals would have.

Conflict Meditation

Conflict Meditation allows a character to enhance their allies' morale, coordination, and precision. Each of the character's allies in the current battle, no matter how large or small the conflict, gains a bonus (+3) on all rolls for so long as the character maintains their Conflict Meditation.

A character may take no other actions while using Conflict Meditation, even free actions and roleplaying actions.

Illusion

The Illusion power permits the character to create realistic three-dimensional phantasms anywhere within medium range (50 m), complete with all associated sensory accompaniment. An illusory lion will roar, illusory snow will feel cold and wet, and so on. The action value (AV) of the Illusion is equal to the creator's Will + Power.

Creating a simple, immobile illusion (a wall, a bridge, and so on) requires a challenging roll (difficulty 3). Creating more complex shapes requires a more difficult roll, with the difficulty set by the GM based on the complexity of the desired illusion. For example, a windmill, a lion, or other moving shape would require a demanding roll (difficulty 6), while a city square with moving cars, bicycles, and dozens of people would require a frustrating roll (difficulty 9). If the character with Illusion rolls an extreme success, then the Illusion created is significantly more realistic, and the Perception roll to see through the Illusion incurs a penalty (-3).

While the illusions created by this power are completely convincing, they don't actually exist. The bite of an illusory dog will not break the skin, the touch of illusory liquid nitrogen will not cause frostbite, and an illusory bridge will not support the weight of anyone. The tactile aspect of an illusion will only be convincing if the contact is fleeting or feather-light: any significant physical interaction with an illusion provides an observer with a good reason to suspect that the apparition is not the genuine article.

Anyone who observes an Illusion and who has a good reason to suspect its true nature may attempt a Perception roll against the creator's action value. If the Perception roll succeeds, the observer sees the Illusion for what it is, and may respond appropriately.

Instill Emotion

Instill Emotion is a short range (10 m) power which allows a character to influence a target's behaviour by controlling their emotional state. The character can only instill one emotion at a time in the target, but may instill in the target any emotion the character desires. The attack value (AV) of Instill Emotion is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it.

To break free of the Instill Emotion, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the target of the Instill Emotion gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Instill Emotion from a character with attack value 5, they would need to make a Will roll against target number 13 (8 + 5). If they roll a 16 or more (13 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Instill Emotion is a free action rather than a task action.

If the target has not broken free of the Instill Emotion by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

Object Animation

Object Animation allows a character to animate and mentally control an inanimate, nonliving object within medium range (50 m). The action value (AV) of the Object Animation is equal to the character's Will + Power. To successfully animate and mentally control an object, the character must succeed at a challenging roll (difficulty 3).

An animated object has the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operates independently of the character that animated it. However, it will continue to perform the last instruction it was given even if that instruction no longer makes sense, as it has no will of its own. Giving a new mental command to an animated object requires a task action.

The Brawn of the object is based on its physical structure and durability: as a rule of thumb, the Brawn can be based on the Brawn it would take to lift the object. The Agility and Perception of the object are equal to the Power of the character animating it. If the animating character rolls an extreme success, then the animated object is significantly tougher (+2 Brawn). Animated objects are not actually alive or aware, so they have no Reason, Will, or Power. The specific details of the how the object moves and attacks vary depending on the object itself: an animated chair can walk, a carpet can slither, and so on.

The most massive object the character can animate is based on the rank of the character's Power.

Override

Override allows a character to communicate with and mentally control an android or other sentient machine within medium range (50 m). The attack value (AV) of the Override is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it.

Sentient machines under the influence of Override are not as effective as those whose wills are their own. Any roll attempted by a character under the influence of Override (other than trying to break out of it) incurs a roll penalty (-3), and a sentient machine under the influence of Override is not able to spend plot points on anything other than trying to break out of it.

To break free of the Override, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the affected machine succeeds at this roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Override gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a machine is affected by Override from a character with attack value 6, they would need to roll against target number 14 (8 + 6). If they roll a 17 or more (14 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Override is a free action rather than a task action.

If a machine under the influence of Override is voluntarily released by the character who controlled them, the Override ends, and the machine affected by the Override will go on their way none the wiser. Similarly, if the machine has not broken free of the Override by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

Plant Control

Plant Control allows a character to animate and mentally control a non-sentient plant within medium range (50 m). The action value (AV) of the Plant Control is equal to the character's Will + Power. To successfully animate and mentally control a plant, the character must succeed at a challenging roll (difficulty 3). To successfully animate and mentally control all plants within medium range (50 m), the character must succeed at a frustrating roll (difficulty 9).

An animated plant has the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operates independently of the character that animated it. However, it will continue to perform the last instruction it was given even if that instruction no longer makes sense, as it has no will of its own. Giving a new mental command to an animated plant requires a task action.

The Brawn of the plant is based on its size and physical structure: as a rule of thumb, the Brawn can be based on the Brawn it would take to lift the plant. The Agility and Perception of the plant are equal to the Power rank of the character animating it. If the animating character rolls an extreme success, then the animated plant is significantly tougher (+2 Brawn). Animated plants are not actually sentient, so they have no Reason, Will, or Power. The specific details of the how the plant moves and attacks vary depending on the plant itself: an animated tree can walk, a mass of vines can slither, and so on.

Possession

Possession power allows a character to seize control of a target, suppressing their volition and effectively making them a passenger in their own body. The attack value (AV) of Possession is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it. Possession is a short range (10 m) power, but once the target is possessed, they will remain possessed even if they leave this range.

While the character is using Possession on another person, their own body collapses into a trance-like state. A possessed character is not able to spend plot points, but the possessing character can spend their own plot points while controlling a target.

To break free of the Possession, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the possessed character succeeds at this roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Possession gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Possession from a character with attack value 8, they would need to make a Will roll against target number 16 (8 + 8). If they roll a 19 or more (16 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Possession is a free action rather than a task action.

Probability

A character with Probability can influence the odds, playing fast and loose with the laws of chance. Probability does not allow the character to break the laws of physics or make impossible things happen, but a character with Probability can make unlikely events likely and likely events unlikely.

Using Probability requires the player to describe a favorable or unfavorable circumstance and how that circumstance might have come about. If the GM agrees that the circumstance is possible (however unlikely it might be), then the GM will decide how this unlikely event impacts the character. The simplest way to translate this favorable or unfavorable circumstance into game terms is to grant a roll bonus (+3) if the circumstance is favorable for the character attempting the task or to impose a roll penalty (-3) if the circumstance is unfavorable for the character attempting the task. The use of Probability could also influence events in a less straightforward manner, and the GM should encourage players to be creative with the power. Each use of Probability should be roughly as useful as a roll bonus or a roll penalty: significant, but not game-breaking.

Probability can be used as a free action or as a reaction: a character with Probability may attempt to influence the odds whenever they like. During each game session, the number of times the character can influence probability is equal to the character's Power. Probability may be used to influence a roll either before or immediately after the roll has been made.

Sensory Deprivation

Sensory Deprivation is a short range (10 m) power which renders the target unable to see or hear. Attacks against a character under the effects of Sensory Deprivation gain an attack bonus (+3), and attacks made by a character under the effects of Sensory Deprivation automatically miss. The attack value (AV) of the Sensory Deprivation is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Perception, or their Perception + Power if the target has Ambient Awareness. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to recover from it.

To recover from Sensory Deprivation, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attacker's attack value. If the blinded and deafened character gets an extreme success on their roll, then they recover as a free action. For example, if a character is successfully attacked with Sensory Deprivation by an attacker with attack value 11, they would need to make a roll against target number 19 (8 + 11). If they roll a 22 (19 + 3) or more, they achieve an extreme success, and recovering is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not recovered from the Sensory Deprivation by the end of the scene, then they recover from it shortly thereafter.

Stasis

Stasis is a short range (10 m) power which prevents the target from moving, thinking, or taking any actions other than trying to break out of it. The attack value (AV) of the Stasis is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it.

While affected by Stasis, only a moment seems to pass for the target, but after they break out of it, they are aware that something unusual has happened, and that they have "lost time". Attacks against a character under the effects of Stasis are automatically successful.

To break free of the Stasis, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the character succeeds at this roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Stasis gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Stasis from a character with attack value 4, they would need to make a roll against target number 12 (8 + 4). If they roll a 15 or more (12 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Stasis is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the Stasis by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Suggestion

The Suggestion power allows a character to influence a living creature's behaviour, forcing the target to obey the character's command. The attack value (AV) of the Suggestion is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it. Suggestion is a short range (10 m) power, but once the Suggestion is successful, it will remain so even if the target leaves this range.

Characters under the influence of a Suggestion are not as effective as those whose wills are their own. Any roll attempted by a character under the influence of Suggestion (other than trying to break out of it) incurs a roll penalty (-3), and a character under the influence of Suggestion is not able to spend plot points on anything other than trying to break out of it.

To break free of the Suggestion, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the character succeeds at this roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Suggestion gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Suggestion from a character with attack value 6, they would need to make a roll against target number 14 (8 + 6). If they roll a 17 or more (14 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Suggestion is a free action rather than a task action.

If a character under the influence of Suggestion completes the task that was Suggested to them, the Suggestion ends, and the character affected by the Suggestion will go on their way none the wiser. Similarly, if the character has not broken free of the Suggestion by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

Telekinesis

Telekinesis is a short range (10 m) power which permits a character to mentally grapple a character or object without touching it. The attack value (AV) of the Telekinesis is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Agility plus the rank of any normal defenses such as armor or energy shields. Grabbing inanimate objects with Telekinesis is generally automatic, unless the GM wants to make it difficult for some reason.

The maximum mass the character can grapple with their Telekinesis is based on the rank of the character's Power. Telekinesis is not normally able to inflict damage directly (like a punch), but it may be used to squeeze a grappled target or hurl a grappled target against unyielding surfaces.

If the attacker's roll is successful, the defender is restrained. A restrained character is not helpless, but they can't use normal movement until they break free of the Telekinesis. Attacking a restrained character is easier: attackers gain an attack bonus (+3) when attacking a restrained character. A restrained character's attacks are also easier to avoid: a restrained attacker incurs a penalty (-3) on any attacks they attempt while restrained.

A character with Telekinesis may either squeeze or move what they are holding with the power. If the attacker wishes to move or throw the grappled character, the distance an attacker may move the defender is based on the Power of the attacker and the mass of the defender. First, look up the mass of the defender or object to be moved in the "Lifts" column of the Brawn table (rounding to the nearest mass value), and find the corresponding rank for that mass. Subtract that rank from the Power of the attacker, and look up that resulting rank in the "Throws" column of the Brawn table. This is how far the attacker could move an object of that mass in one round.

If the attacker wishes to use their Telekinesis to squeeze and hurt the restrained character, they must use a task action to make another attack roll against the restrained character. Because the target is restrained, the attacker gains a bonus on this attack.

To break free of the Telekinesis, the restrained character must use a task action to roll their Brawn or Agility (whichever is greater) against the attacker's attack value. If the restrained character has Telekinesis, they may use their Will + Power in lieu of their Brawn or Agility to break free.

If the restrained character succeeds at the roll to break free, they may use their remaining movement action. If the restrained character gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break free as a free action instead of a task action. For example, if a character is being grappled by an attacker with attack value 6, they would need to make a Brawn (or Agility) roll against target number 14 (8 + 6). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free is a free action.

Telepathy

Telepathy permits a character to communicate directly with the mind of another person. The attack value (AV) of the Telepathy is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it. Telepathy is normally a short range (10 m) power. However, if the target of Telepathy also has Telepathy, the maximum distance between the telepath and the target is effectively unlimited.

With a willing target or a successful attack roll, the telepath may mentally communicate with the target and may read their thoughts and memories.

To break free of the Telepathy, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the target of the Telepathy gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Telepathy from a character with attack value 7, they would need to make a defense value roll against target number 15 (8 + 7). If they roll a 18 or more (15 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Telepathy is a free action rather than a task action.

Torment

Torment is a short range (10 m) mental attack which inflicts "stunning" endurance damage. The attack value (AV) of the Torment is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. Torment ignores all normal forms of protection such as armor and energy shields.

Damage from Torment is temporary. Record it separately; it all comes back after the fight is over, when the character has had a chance to rest and recuperate. Torment has no effect on inanimate objects, since it is a mental power: the "damage" exists only as pain in the target's mind.

Life Drain

Life Drain is an unarmed close combat attack which inflicts endurance damage. Life Drain has an attack value (AV) equal to either the attacker's Brawn + Power or the attacker's Will + Power. This is chosen by the player when this trait is purchased, and it will be consistent for every member of a particular alien species. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. Life Drain ignores all normal forms of protection such as armor and energy shields. However, Life Drain is completely ineffective against non-living objects, even if they are sentient.

Shapeshifter

A character with the Shapeshifter trait can change their shape and appearance, but may not increase their mass or size. The character may re-assign their physical traits (Brawn and Agility) to suit their new shape, as long as the total of Brawn + Agility remains the same or lower. The action value (AV) of the Shapeshifter is equal to the character's Will + Power.

Assuming the shape of a specific person, creature, or object is more difficult than changing into a generic example of a particular shape. If someone is actively looking at the character, or has any reason to suspect that the character is not the genuine article, the person observing the shapeshifted character may attempt a Perception roll against the shapeshifted character's action value. If the Perception roll is successful, the observer can tell that the shapeshifted character is not who or what they appear to be.

Telepathy

The Telepathy trait permits a character to communicate directly with the mind of another person. The attack value (AV) of the Telepathy is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it. Telepathy is normally a short range (10 m) power. However, if the target of Telepathy also has Telepathy, the maximum distance between the telepath and the target is effectively unlimited.

With a willing target or a successful attack roll, the telepath may mentally communicate with the target and may read their thoughts and memories.

To break free of the Telepathy, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the target of the Telepathy gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Telepathy from a character with attack value 7, they would need to make a defense value roll against target number 15 (8 + 7). If they roll a 18 or more (15 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Telepathy is a free action rather than a task action.

Time Theft

Time Theft is a short range (10 m) power which prevents the target from moving, thinking, or taking any actions other than trying to break out of it. The attack value (AV) of Time Theft is equal to the attacker's Will + Power. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield or Time Theft. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the target incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it.

To break free of the Time Theft, the target must use a task action to roll their defense value against the attack value of the attacker. If the target of the Time Theft gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Time Theft from an attacker with attack value 9, they would need to make a roll against target number 17 (8 + 9). If they roll a 20 or more (17 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Time Theft is a free action rather than a task action.

Animal Friendship

Animal Friendship allows a character to befriend and mentally communicate with an animal within medium range (50 m). The attack value (AV) of Animal Friendship is equal to the character's Will. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will: as a rule of thumb, the Will of a domesticated animal is usually 2, and the Will of a wild animal is usually 4.

Befriended animals have the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operate independently of the character befriending them. Making a new request of a befriended animal requires a free action.

Domination

A character with the Domination trait can influence a living creature's behaviour, forcing the target to obey the character's command. The attack value (AV) of the Domination is equal to the attacker's Will. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the subject incurs a roll penalty (-3) when trying to break out of it. Domination is a short range (10 m) power, but once the Domination is successful, it will remain so even if the target leaves this range.

Characters under the influence of Domination are not as effective as those whose wills are their own. Any roll attempted by a character under the influence of Domination (other than trying to break out of it) incurs a roll penalty (-3), and a character under the influence of Domination is not able to spend plot points on anything other than trying to break out of it.

To break free of the Domination, the target must make a successful defense value roll against the attack value of the attacker. If the character succeeds at this roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Domination gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by Domination from a character with attack value 6, they would need to make a roll against target number 14 (8 + 6). If they roll a 17 or more (14 + 3), they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free of the Domination is a free action rather than a task action.

If a character under the influence of Domination completes the task that they were commanded to perform, the Domination ends, and the character affected by the Domination will go on their way none the wiser. Similarly, if the character has not broken free of the Domination by the end of the scene, then they break free of it shortly thereafter.

Life Drain

Life Drain is an unarmed close combat attack which inflicts endurance damage. Life Drain has an attack value (AV) equal to the attacker's Brawn + Will. The defense value (DV) of the target is equal to their Will, or their Will + Power if the target has Mind Shield. Life Drain ignores all normal forms of protection such as armor. However, Life Drain is completely ineffective against non-living objects, even if they are sentient.

Shapeshifter

A character with the Shapeshifter trait can change their shape and appearance, but may not increase their mass or size. The character may re-assign their physical traits (Brawn and Agility) to suit their new shape, as long as the total of Brawn + Agility remains the same or lower. The action value (AV) of the Shapeshifter is equal to the character's Will.

Assuming the shape of a specific person, creature, or object is more difficult than changing into a generic example of a particular shape. If someone is actively looking at the character, or has any reason to suspect that the character is not the genuine article, the person observing the shapeshifted character may attempt a Perception roll against the shapeshifted character's action value. If the Perception roll is successful, the observer can tell that the shapeshifted character is not who or what they appear to be.

Absorption (OLD)

Activation: Always On

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 1 character point

Absorption permits the character to absorb damage from a force or substance and use that energy in specific ways. The character can heal themselves, or they can temporarily gain the power that attacked them, or they can boost their own Power. The specific type of force or substance that can be absorbed must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. The player may pick any force or substance, subject to the GM's approval.

The maximum amount of energy which can be absorbed from a single attack is equal to the rank in the Absorption power, or the amount of damage which exceeds the character's protection value (PV), whichever is less. For example, if a character has rank 3 Force Field and rank 2 Absorption (electricity) and is struck by a rank 7 electrical attack, the damage rating of the attack reduces the character's Endurance by 4 (7 - 3 = 4), and the character absorbs 2 ranks of energy. These 2 ranks are added to a pool of absorbed energy which depletes at the rate of 1 rank per round, starting the round after the energy was absorbed.

The energy in the character's Absorption pool may be used in one of three ways, which may be chosen by the character on a case-by-case basis.

• Healing: The character restores an amount of lost Endurance (or other damaged attribute) up to the rank of energy in the pool. Each rank of restored Endurance requires the expenditure of one rank of absorbed energy. Healing themselves in this fashion requires a free action.
• Power: The character gains the power that inflicted the damage, and can use this power to attack others. Each rank of the gained power requires the expenditure of one rank of absorbed energy, and the power lasts for only one round. Gaining the power requires a free action, but using it requires a task action (or whatever action that power normally requires).
• Boost: The character may increase their Power attribute by one. This requires the expenditure of all of the absorbed energy, and the boost lasts for only one round. Boosting the chracter's Power requires a free action.

Absorption does not provide protection against an attack: the damage rating of an attack is not reduced by the rank of the Absorption power. If the damage of any attack (regardless of type) would knock the character unconscious or kill them, the character automatically uses their absorbed energy to heal themselves, up to either their full Endurance or the ranks of energy in their Absorption pool, whichever is less.

Enhancements

Delayed Depletion: The absorbed energy depletes at a rate of one rank per minute rather than one rank per round. +1 character point

Alternate Forms (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 1 character point

A character with the Alternate Forms power has multiple independent identities, each with its own powers and appearance, and potentially even a different personality for each (if the player wishes). The character can only use one alternate form at a time, and changing forms requires activating the power with a free action (although the character can only activate one form per round). The number of alternate forms the character has is equal to the rank of the power. For example, a character with rank 3 Alternate Forms who can consciously control their evolution might have a physically powerful but slow-witted hominid form, a physically weak but mentally potent hyper-evolved form, and an aquatic prehistoric form. The cost for all forms is paid by the base character; the alternate forms are created using the same number of character points as the base character (minus the cost of the Alternate Forms power), and they may not themselves have the Alternate Forms power.

Alternate Forms must be activated with a free action: if the character is staggered or goes unconscious, the power turns off, and the character reverts to their base form. The character may also turn off their Alternate Forms voluntarily, of course. A staggered character may attempt a challenging Will roll (task difficulty 12) to keep their Alternate Forms activated while staggered.

The specific mechanism of the Alternate Forms can vary greatly from character to character, which may offer minor benefits and disadvantages to the character.

Defects

Dial R For Random (major defect): Normally, a character with Alternate Forms has a set of predefined forms and identities. With the Dial R For Random power defect, the knowledge and memories of the character are preserved, but their powers and appearance (and personality, if the player wishes) are that of a completely new person each time the power is activated. With the GM's approval, even the character's skills and advantages might be changed. A character with the Dial R For Random power defect must have at least 2 ranks in the Alternate Forms power. -1 character point

Uncontrollable (extreme defect): The character is unable to control when they change forms, nor which form is taken (if they have more than one). The Alternate Forms may be triggered by the emotional state of character (anger is a popular choice), or the character may change forms on an unknown or immutable schedule. -2 character points

Amazing Movement ★ (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 1 character point

Amazing Movement permits the character to move in ways that are unusual even for posthumans. Each rank in Amazing Movement provides the character with a different form of movement chosen from the list below. Amazing Movement is a plot dependent power and may not always be available, at the GM's discretion.

• Astral Travel: The character can detach their consciousness from their physical body and travel to alternate realities and divergent time streams, leaving their physical body behind. The character must succeed at a demanding (task difficulty 15) Will roll to navigate to a specific location in a desired reality or divergent time stream. While using Astral Travel, the consciousness of the traveler is typically invisible, but those who possess extraordinary spiritual or magical awareness may be able to see the traveler's "astral body". The "astral body" of the traveler does not require the Immunity power to survive in other realities or planes of existence, and is usually unable to interact with the strange vistas around them, although they may converse with anyone capable of perceiving them. While the "astral body" is separated from the character's physical body, their physical body appears to be in a comatose state, and the traveler is unaware of anything happening to or around their physical form.
• Dimensional Travel: The character can traverse dimensional boundaries, visiting alternate realities and divergent time streams. Depending on the method used, the character may be able to take others with them. Survival in other realities or planes of existence may require ranks in Immunity, depending on the local environment. See Immunity for more details.
• Etheric Travel: The character can detach their consciousness from their physical body and travel to anywhere on Earth, leaving their physical body behind. The character must succeed at a challenging (task difficulty 12) Will roll to navigate to a specific location. While using Etheric Travel, the consciousness of the traveler is typically invisible, but those who possess extraordinary spiritual or magical awareness may be able to see the traveler's "etheric body". The "etheric body" of the traveler does not require the Immunity power to survive in the upper atmosphere or under water, and is usually unable to interact with the world around them, although they may converse with anyone capable of perceiving them. While the "etheric body" is separated from the character's physical body, their physical body appears to be in a comatose state, and the traveler is unaware of anything happening to or around their physical form.
• Space Travel: The character can travel into space, visiting distant worlds and returning in a reasonably prompt fashion. Depending on the method used, the character may be able to take others with them. Survival in outer space requires a spaceworthy vehicle or at least 4 ranks in Immunity (Asphyxia, Exposure (Cold), Radiation, and Vacuum). See Immunity for more details.
• Time Travel: The character can traverse the time stream, stepping into the past or the future. Depending on the method used, the character may be able to take others with them. Whether the time traveler can change the past or simply creates a divergent time stream is a bone of contention among philosophers and temporal physicists (the Kalos Universe generally assumes the latter).

Animal Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Radius

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Animal Control allows a character to communicate with and mentally control animals. To successfully communicate with and control all animals within range of the power, the character must succeed at a challenging (task difficulty 12) Animal Control task roll. A character's Animal Control might be limited to a specific type of animal, such as cats or sea creatures. If this is the case, the character gains a +3 bonus on their Animal Control task rolls.

Controlled animals have the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operate independently of the character that animated them. Giving a new mental command to the controlled animals requires a free action.

The attributes of the controlled animals are equal to the normal attributes those kinds of animals would have. However, controlled animals are highly resistant to mental powers, having Mind Shield equal to the rank of the Animal Control power. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the animated animals are significantly smarter (+1 Reason and +1 Perception). Controlled animals have the normal movement and attack types that those kinds of animals would have.

The character can control animals in an area around themselves based on the rank of the power. Find the rank of the power in the Benchmarks table, and look up the value in the "Affects" column.

[Attribute] Drain (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Single Target

Range: Touch

Cost: 1 character point

[Attribute] Drain is a hand-to-hand attack which inflicts damage to an attribute other than Endurance. The [Attribute] Drain could be radiation, disease, cold, extreme age, toxic gas, or even darkness or light; both this and the specific attribute affected must be chosen when the [Attribute] Drain power is purchased. The [Attribute] Drain has a damage rating equal to the rank of the power.

Using [Attribute] Drain requires a Brawn roll against the Brawn of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the [Attribute] Drain.

Any power or equipment that provides protection for the same attribute as the [Attribute] Drain, such as Power Invulnerability, reduces the amount of damage the target takes from the attack. The protection value (PV) of the protection power is subtracted from the damage rating (DR) of the [Attribute] Drain. The remaining damage is subtracted from the target's attribute.

The damage from [Attribute] Drain is temporary. It all comes back after the fight is over, when the target has had a chance to rest and recuperate.

Enhancements

Ranged: The [Attribute] Drain is a ranged attack, with an effective range based on its rank. Using [Attribute] Drain requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. +1 character point

Blindness (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Agility

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

The Blindness power renders the target unable to see. The mechanism which causes the blindess must be specified when this power is purchased. For example, the target might not be able to see because they have a layer of glue across their eyes, they might be forced to close their eyes due to a painful chemical spray, or they could literally be blinded by a bright light. Alternately, Blindness could affect a sense other than vision. For example, the target could be rendered deaf, or unable to smell. It is also possible to use Blindness against a Super Sense, such as Danger Sense, Detect Magic, or Clairvoyance. If so, this must be specified when this power is purchased.

Attacking a character under the effects of Blindness provides a +6 attack bonus (the standard task roll bonus for attacking a blind target).

Using Blindness requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. To recover from Blindness, the target must make a successful Perception task roll against the rank of the Blindness. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action.

If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Blindness is increased by 1 for the purpose of the target recovering from it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 4 Blindness, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Perception task roll against task difficulty 13 (5 + 8) to recover from the Blindness.

If the blinded character gets an extreme success on the Perception task roll, then they recover as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Blindness, they would need to make a Perception task roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and recovering is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not recovered from the Blindness by the end of the scene, then they recover from it shortly thereafter.

Enhancements

Additional Sense: The Blindness affects a sense in addition to vision (or the first affected sense, if it is not vision). For example, the target might be deafened as well as blinded. +1 character point

Mass Blindness: The Blindness power affects everyone within 50 feet of the target. Because mass blindness does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Combination (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: Touch

Cost: 1 character point

Combination permits several characters to merge into a single larger and more powerful character. Every character wishing to combine must have the Combination power, and the maximum number of characters who may combine is equal to the lowest rank of Combination among them. Activating Combination takes one standard action, and requires the characters to all be touching each other. In addition to being more massive, the combined character has Brawn and Invulnerability (if any) equal to the highest rank of any of the combined characters, plus one rank for every combined character after the first.

Example:

Moe, Larry, and Curly each have rank 3 Combination. Moe has Brawn 3. Larry has Brawn 2. Curly has Brawn 2 and rank 2 Invulnerability. When Moe, Larry, and Curly combine, they form the mighty Stoopendigous, who has Brawn 5 (Moe's rank 3, plus 2 more for Larry and Curly) and rank 4 Invulnerability (Curly's rank 2, plus 2 more for Moe and Larry).

Damaging Aura (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Personal

Range: Touch

Cost: 1 character point

A character with Damaging Aura can surround themselves with an attack which inflicts Endurance damage against anyone who touches them. The Damaging Aura could be radiation, fire, cold, quills, or even darkness or light, and this must be chosen when the Damaging Aura power is purchased. The Damaging Aura has a damage rating equal to the rank of the power.

Any opponent that touches the character will automatically be affected by the character's Damaging Aura. This includes those who successfully make unarmed attacks against the character. The character with Damaging Aura may also attempt to touch others and cause damage. Doing so requires a Brawn roll against the Brawn of the intended target. If the character with the Damaging Aura rolls an extreme success, then they may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the Damaging Aura.

Any power or equipment that provides protection from Endurance damage, such as Invulnerability and Force Field, reduces the amount of damage the target takes from the Damaging Aura. The protection value (PV) of the protection power is subtracted from the damage rating (DR) of the Damaging Aura. The remaining damage is subtracted from the target's Endurance.

[Element] Form (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 2 character points

Owing to Bulletproof Blues being a superhero game, the term "element" is used very loosely. [Element] Form permits the character to physically transform their body into a force or substance. The specific type of force or substance must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. The player can pick any force or substance, subject to the GM's approval. "Energy", for example, would be much too broad.

When transformed into their [Element] Form, the character possesses the traits of the form or substance and gains Invulnerability equal to the rank of the [Element] Form. If the force or substance is appropriate, [Element] Form may also grant the Strike power equal to the rank of the [Element] Form (punching with fists of stone, burning things with an electrical touch, and so on).

With the GM's approval, [Element] Form may grant other powers, as well. For example, Electrical Form might grant the ability to Teleport through conductive material, Water Form might grant Stretching, and so on.

Defects

Vulnerability (major defect): While in their [Element] Form, the character may be damaged by an opposing element. For example, a character with Earth Form, Fire Form, or Electrical Form may take Endurance damage from water, while a character with Darkness Form may take Endurance damage from bright light. The amount of Endurance damage taken will depend on the strength or volume of the opposing element, but should generally be 2 Endurance per attack. The character's Invulnerability or Force Field, if any, does not protect the character from this damage. -1 character point

[Element] Mastery (OLD)

Activation: Varies

Task roll: Varies

Target: Radius

Range: Varies

Cost: 3 character points

Owing to Bulletproof Blues being a superhero game, the term "element" is used very loosely. [Element] Mastery permits the character to create and control a force or substance. The specific type of force or substance must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. The player can pick any force or substance, subject to the GM's approval. "Energy", for example, would be much too broad.

A character with [Element] Mastery can shape and manipulate their element in a variety of ways. Reasonable uses of [Element] Mastery include creating walls and barriers (see Barrier), encasing enemies in the element (see Hold), using the element to exert Brawn at range (see Telekinesis), creating a protective shield against attacks (see Force Field), and using the element to inflict direct damage by striking enemies with it (see Blast). Due to the tightly unifying theme of [Element] Mastery, power-altering powers such as Power Drain affect the entire [Element] Mastery.

Any uses of [Element] Mastery must be activated with a free action or a task action (attacks require a task action): if the character is staggered or goes unconscious, the power turns off. The character may also turn off their [Element] Mastery voluntarily, of course. A staggered character may attempt a challenging Will roll (task difficulty 12) to keep their [Element] Mastery activated while staggered.

The character can affect their element in an area around themselves based on the rank of the power. Find the rank of the power in the Benchmarks table, and look up the value in the "Affects" column. This is the area in which the character may control their chosen element. Use the "Lifts" column in the Benchmarks table to determine maximum amount of the element they may manipulate at a time.

Element Mimicry (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: Touch

Cost: 2 character points

Owing to Bulletproof Blues being a superhero game, the term "element" is used very loosely. Element Mimicry permits the character to physically transform their body into any force or substance they touch. For example, the character could touch concrete and turn into concrete, or touch water and turn into water. The character must be in physical contact with the material in order to mimic it. If the character uses a task action to mimic a force or substance which would injure them, such as an attack, they transform into that attack type and the attack does no damage to them. For example, a character with Element Mimicry who is shot by a laser may choose to use a task action to transform into laser light, taking no damage from that attack (nor from any other laser attacks, while in that form).

While transformed, the character possesses the traits of the force or substance and gains Invulnerability equal to the rank of the Element Mimicry. If the force or substance is appropriate, Element Mimicry may also grant the Strike power equal to the rank of the Element Mimicry (punching with fists of stone, burning things with an electrical touch, and so on).

With the GM's approval, Element Mimicry may grant other powers, as well. For example, mimicking electricity might grant the ability to Teleport through conductive material, while mimicking water might grant Stretching, and so on.

[Element] Resistance (OLD)

Activation: Always On

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 1 character point

Owing to Bulletproof Blues being a superhero game, the term "element" is used very loosely. [Element] Resistance provides protection against the Endurance damage inflicted by a specific type of force or substance. The first rank of [Element] Resistance grants resistance to one specific force or substance, and each additional rank of [Element] Resistance adds resistance to an additional force or substance. The specific types of force or substance must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. The player can pick any force or substance, subject to the GM's approval. "Energy", for example, would be much too broad.

A character with [Element] Resistance subtracts 10 from the damage rating of attacks using the specific type of force or substance. The remainder of the damage is subtracted from the character's Endurance.

Additionally, [Element] Resistance acts as a limited form of Power Invulnerability, providing protection against attacks which inflict damage to Brawn or Agility. A character with [Element] Resistance subtracts the rank of the power from the attribute damage of attacks using that specific force or substance. The remainder of the damage is subtracted from the character's Brawn or Agility.

[Element] Resistance does not need to be activated, nor can it be deactivated: it is always on. As always, this protection does not stack with Force Field, Invulnerability, Power Invulnerability, or other forms of protection -- only the highest protection value applies.

Enhancements

Immunity: The character is completely immune to attacks using the specific forces or substances to which the character has [Element] Resistance. The character may be subject to the smashing and staggering outcomes of extreme success, if appropriate, but the attacks themselves inflict no damage at all. +1 character point

Emotion Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

The Emotion Control power allows a character to influence a target's behaviour by controlling the target's emotional state. The character can only instill one emotion at a time in the target, but may instill in the target any emotion the character desires. A character's Emotion Control might be limited to a specific emotion, such as fear or loyalty. If this is the case, the character gains a +3 bonus on their Emotion Control task rolls.

Using Emotion Control requires a Will roll against the Will of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Emotion Control is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Emotion Control, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break out of the Emotion Control.

To break out of the Emotion Control, the target must make a successful Will roll against the rank of the Emotion Control. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Emotion Control gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Emotion Control, they would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the Emotion Control by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Enhancements

Mass Hysteria: The Emotion Control power affects everyone within 50 feet of the target. Because mass hysteria does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Hold (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Agility

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

The Hold power prevents a character from moving or taking physical actions. The mechanism which causes the Hold must be specified when this power is purchased. For example, the target might be entangled in webs, encased in ice, bound by rings of magical force, or they could be paralyzed by some form of toxic gas.

Attacking a character under the effects of Hold provides a +6 attack bonus (the standard task roll bonus for attacking a helpless target).

Using Hold requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Hold is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 4 Hold, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Brawn task roll against task difficulty 13 (5 + 8) to break out of the Hold.

To break out of the Hold, the target must make a successful Brawn task roll against the rank of the Hold. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the held character gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Hold, they would need to make a Brawn task roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the Hold by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Defects

Exposed (major defect): Other characters can help the target break out of the Hold, using Brawn or a power which inflicts Endurance damage. This power defect is most appropriate for types of Hold that depend on a physical restraint to keep the target immobile, and the GM may require it in such cases. -1 character point

Illusion (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Radius

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

The Illusion power permits the character to create realistic three-dimensional phantasms, complete with all associated sensory accompaniment. An illusory lion will roar, illusory snow will feel cold and wet, and so on.

Creating a simple, immobile illusion (a wall, a bridge, and so on) requires a challenging Illusion task roll (task difficulty 12). Creating more complex shapes requires a more difficult task roll, with the task difficulty set by the GM based on the complexity of the desired illusion. For example, a windmill, a lion, or other moving shape would require a demanding Illusion task roll (task difficulty 15), while a city square with moving cars, bicycles, and dozens of people would require a frustrating Illusion task roll (task difficulty 18).

The maximum size of an illusion is based on the rank of the power. Find the rank of the power in the Benchmarks table, and look up the value in the "Affects" column. This is the maximum size of the illusion the character may create.

While the illusions created by this power are completely convincing, they don't actually exist. The bite of an illusory dog will not break the skin, the touch of illusory liquid nitrogen will not cause frostbite, and an illusory bridge will not support the weight of anyone. The tactile aspect of an illusion will only be convincing if the contact is fleeting or feather-light: any significant physical interaction with an illusion provides an observer with a good reason to suspect that the apparition is not the genuine article.

Anyone who observes an Illusion and who has a good reason to suspect its true nature may attempt a Perception task roll against the rank of the power. If the Perception task roll succeeds, the observer sees the Illusion for what it is, and may respond appropriately. If the character with Illusion rolls an extreme success, then the Illusion created is significantly more realistic, and the Perception task roll to see through the Illusion incurs a +1 task difficulty penalty.

Enhancements

Illusory Damage: The Illusion is so convincing that observers who are fooled by the Illusion believe that they are injured by its attacks. Protection powers such as Force Field and Invulnerability are as efficacious against these illusory attacks as they would be to the real thing. The damage inflicted can even "kill" the target (rendering them unconscious), but in fact any damage inflicted is stunning, and therefore temporary. See Stunning for more details. This power enhancement is usually accompanied by the "It's All In Your Mind" power defect. +1 character point

Defects

It's All In Your Mind (major defect): Normally, the sights and sounds created by the Illusion power can be recorded, seen on cameras, and so on. With this defect, the Illusion only affects sentient creates: cameras and robots do not perceive the illusions, nor do the illusions appear in mirrors. -1 character point

Life Drain (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Single Target

Range: Touch

Cost: 1 character point

Life Drain is a hand-to-hand attack which inflicts Endurance damage. The Life Drain could be radiation, disease, cold, extreme age, toxic gas, or even darkness or light, and this must be chosen when the Life Drain power is purchased. Life Drain has a damage rating equal to the rank of the power.

Using Life Drain requires a Brawn task roll against the Brawn of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the Life Drain.

Life Drain ignores all normal forms of protection such as Invulnerability and Force Field. The damage from Life Drain is temporary. It all comes back after the fight is over, when the target has had a chance to rest and recuperate.

Machine Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Machine Control allows a character to mentally control electronic and mechanical machines. To successfully mentally control a machine, the character must succeed at a challenging (task difficulty 12) Machine Control task roll.

A controlled machine has the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operates independently of the character that animated it. However, it will continue to perform the last instruction it was given even if that instruction no longer makes sense, as it has no will of its own. Giving a new mental command to a controlled machine requires a free action.

The Brawn and Endurance of the machine is based on its physical structure and durability (see the "Breaks" column on the Benchmarks table), while the Agility of the machine is equal to the rank of the power. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the controlled machine is significantly tougher (+1 Endurance). Controlled machines are not actually alive or aware, so they have no Reason, Perception, or Will. The specific details of the how the machine moves and attacks vary depending on the machine itself: an animated soda machine can hop very slowly and shoot out 12 ounce cans of soda, a bulldozer can roll and demolish buildings, and so on.

Controlled machines can also be made to perform their ordinary purpose, such as making an automatic teller machine spit out money, or making a computer terminal display information from a database. If there is no significant security in place, no task roll is necessary for this, but if the character is trying to circumvent security or break into a computer system, the character may attempt a task roll using their power rank in place of the Computing skill, or their normal Computing skill +1, whichever is greater.

The most massive machine the character can control is equal to the power's rank in the "Lifts" column in the Benchmarks table.

Mind Blast (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

Mind Blast is a ranged attack which inflicts Endurance damage. The Mind Blast is typically some form of psychic attack, but it could also be sound, electricity, cold, or even bacteria, and this must be chosen when the Mind Blast power is purchased. The Mind Blast has a damage rating equal to the rank of the power.

Using Mind Blast requires a Will roll against the Will of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the Mind Blast.

Mind Blast ignores all normal forms of protection such as Invulnerability and Force Field. However, any power or equipment that provides protection from mental attacks, such as Mind Shield, subtracts the rank of the protection power from the damage rating of the Mind Blast. The remainder of the damage is subtracted from the character's Endurance.

Enhancements

Explosive Damage: The Mind Blast causes damage to everyone within 50 feet of the target. Because an exploding attack does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is 9. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Mind Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

The Mind Control power allows a character to control a target's behaviour, forcing the target to follow the character's commands.

Characters under the influence of Mind Control are not as effective as those whose wills are their own. Any task roll attempted by a character under the influence of Mind Control incurs a +1 difficulty modifier, and a mind controlled character is not able to spend plot points.

Using Mind Control requires a Will roll against the Will of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Mind Control is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Mind Control, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break out of the Mind Control.

To break out of the Mind Control, the target must make a successful Will roll against the rank of the Mind Control. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Mind Control gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Mind Control, they would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the Mind Control by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Enhancements

Blackout: The target of Mind Control will not remember any actions they took while under the influence of the power. These memories may be able to be retrieved through the use of hypnosis, Telepathy, and so on. +1 character point

Mass Hypnosis: The Mind Control power affects everyone within 50 feet of the target. Because mass hypnosis does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is 9. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. +1 character point

Defects

Obvious (major defect): Normally, there is no obvious visual indication that a target is under the influence of Mind Control. With this defect, the Mind Control has a "tell", such as glowing eyes, which makes it visually apparent that something is wrong with the target. -1 character point

Mind Hold (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

The Mind Hold power prevents a character from moving, thinking, or taking any actions. While affected by Mind Hold, only a moment seems to pass for the target, but after they break out of it, they are aware that something unusual has happened, and that they have "lost time". For example, the "lost time" might appear as a brief "white out" of the target's vision, or perhaps the target simply falls asleep for a time. The mechanism which causes the Mind Hold must be specified when this power is purchased. For example, the target might be frozen in time, commanded to "Sleep!", or they could be knocked out by some form of toxic gas.

Attacking a character under the effects of Mind Hold provides a +6 attack bonus (the standard task roll bonus for attacking a helpless target).

Using Mind Hold requires a Will roll against the Will of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Mind Hold is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Mind Hold, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break out of the Mind Hold.

To break out of the Mind Hold, the target must make a successful Will roll against the rank of the Mind Hold. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the held character gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Mind Hold, they would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the Mind Hold by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Defects

Exposed (major defect): Other characters can help the target break out of the Mind Hold, using Will or a power which is based on a Will roll. This power defect is most appropriate for types of Mind Hold that place the target into a dormant or somnambulent state, such as a mental compulsion to "Sleep!", and the GM may require it in such cases. -1 character point

Object Animation (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Object Animation allows a character to animate and mentally control inanimate objects. To successfully animate and mentally control an object, the character must succeed at a challenging (task difficulty 12) Object Animation task roll.

An animated object has the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operates independently of the character that animated it. However, it will continue to perform the last instruction it was given even if that instruction no longer makes sense, as it has no will of its own. Giving a new mental command to an animated object requires a free action.

The Brawn and Endurance of the object is based on its physical structure and durability (see the "Breaks" column on the Benchmarks table), while the Agility of the object is equal to the rank of the power. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the animated object is significantly tougher (+1 Endurance). Animated objects are not actually alive or aware, so they have no Reason, Perception, or Will. The specific details of the how the object moves and attacks vary depending on the object itself: an animated chair can walk, a carpet can slither, and so on.

The most massive object the character can control is equal to the power's rank in the "Lifts" column in the Benchmarks table.

Plant Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Radius

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Plant Control allows a character to animate and mentally control plants. To successfully communicate with and control all plants within range of the power, the character must succeed at a challenging (task difficulty 12) Plant Control task roll.

Animated plants have the same actions as a normal character (free actions, movement action, task action, reaction), and operate independently of the character that animated them. However, they will continue to perform the last instruction they were given even if that instruction no longer makes sense, as they have a very rudimentary form of intelligence. Giving a new mental command to the controlled plants requires a free action.

The Brawn and Agility of the plants is equal to the rank of the power. Animated plants have a very limited form of intelligence, with Reason, Perception, and Will of rank 1. However, controlled plants are highly resistant to mental powers, having Mind Shield equal to the rank of the Plant Control power. If the character rolls an extreme success, then the animated plants are significantly smarter (+1 Reason and +1 Perception). Animated plants can bend, twist, and reach in order to attack, but they generally can't move from where they are planted.

The character can control plants in an area around themselves based on the rank of the power. Find the rank of the power in the Benchmarks table, and look up the value in the "Affects" column.

Enhancements

Uproot: With the Uproot power enhancement, animated plants can use a movement action to uproot themselves. Once uprooted, the animated plants can hop or slither around at normal human walking speed (20 feet per round). +1 character point

Possession (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

The Possession power allows a character to seize control of a target, overriding the target's control and effectively making the target a passenger in their own body. While the character is using Possession on another person, their own body collapses into a trance-like state.

A possessed character is not able to spend plot points, but the possessing character can spend their own plot points while controlling a target.

Using Possession requires a Will roll against the Will of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Possession is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Possession, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break out of the Possession.

To break out of the Possession, the target must make a successful Will roll against the rank of the Possession. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the target of the Possession gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Possession, they would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

Enhancements

Blackout: The target of Possession will not remember any actions they took while under the influence of the power. These memories may be able to be retrieved through the use of hypnosis, Telepathy, and so on. +1 character point

Inhabit: With the Inhabit power enhancement, the range of the power is reduced to Touch, but the body of the possessing character actually merges with that of the target for the duration of the possession. +1 character point

Defects

Obvious (major defect): Normally, there is no obvious visual indication that a target is possessed. With this defect, the Possession has a "tell", such as glowing eyes, which makes it visually apparent that something is wrong with the target. -1 character point

Power Drain (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Single Target

Range: Touch

Cost: 1 character point

Power Drain is a hand-to-hand attack which inflicts damage to one of the target's powers. The character can choose which power they drain, if they are aware that the target has the power; otherwise, the character drains the highest rank power of the target (attributes of rank 5 or higher are considered powers for this purpose). If used against [Element] Mastery or [Ultra-power], Power Drain affects all of the effects made possible by those powers. For example, if a target has an [Ultra-power] defined as Powered Armor, and was using this Powered Armor to generate a Force Field, Flight, Blast, and other powers, then a Power Drain attack would affect all of these powers simultaneously, in addition to the [Ultra-power] itself.

Using Power Drain requires a Brawn roll against the Brawn of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the Power Drain.

The Power Drain has a damage rating equal to the rank of the power. Any power or equipment that provides protection for the power being attacked, such as Power Invulnerability, reduces the amount of damage the target takes from the attack. The protection value (PV) of the protection power is subtracted from the damage rating (DR) of the Power Drain. The remaining damage is subtracted from the target's power.

The damage from Power Drain is temporary. It all comes back after the fight is over, when the target has had a chance to rest and recuperate.

Enhancements

Ranged: The Power Drain is a ranged attack, with an effective range based on its rank. Using Power Drain requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. +1 character point

Power Mimicry (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Single Target

Range: Touch

Cost: 2 character points

Power Mimicry allows the character to copy another character's power and use it themselves. The character can choose which power they mimic, if they are aware that the target has the power; otherwise, the character mimics the highest rank power of the target (attributes of rank 5 or higher are considered powers for this purpose). If used against [Element] Mastery or [Ultra-power], Power Mimicry copies all of the effects made possible by those powers. For example, if a target has an [Ultra-power] defined as Powered Armor, and was using this Powered Armor to generate a Force Field, Flight, Blast, and other powers, then a Power Mimicry attack would copy all of these powers simultaneously, in addition to the [Ultra-power] itself.

Using Power Mimicry requires a Brawn roll against the Brawn of the intended target. The mimicked power is limited to the rank of the power being mimicked, or to the rank of the Power Mimicry, whichever is less. The character with Power Mimicry will retain the power until they mimic a different power, or until the end of the scene, whichever comes first. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may make immediately take a second action to use the power they have mimicked (a task action if the mimicked power is an attack, a movement action if the mimicked power provides movement, and so on).

If the character is staggered or goes unconscious, the Power Mimicry turns off and any mimicked powers are lost. The character may also turn off their Power Mimicry voluntarily, of course. A staggered character may attempt a challenging Will roll (task difficulty 12) to keep their Power Mimicry activated while staggered.

Enhancements

Versatile: Normally, Power Mimicry only allows the character to copy one power at a time. The Versatile power enhancement allows the character to mimic two powers simultaneously (although copying each power is a separate attack action). This enhancement may be taken multiple times: each additional Versatile power enhancement allows the character to simultaneously mimic one additional power. +1 character point

Power Suppression (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Power Suppression prevents a target from using a specific power for so long as the Power Suppression is active. The character can choose which power they suppress, if they are aware that the target has the power; otherwise, the character suppresses the highest rank power of the target (attributes of rank 5 or higher are considered powers for this purpose). If used against [Element] Mastery or [Ultra-power], Power Suppression affects all of the effects made possible by those powers. For example, if a target has an [Ultra-power] defined as Powered Armor, then Power Suppression would affect all of the armor's powers simultaneously. The mechanism which causes the Power Suppression must be specified when this power is purchased. For example, the target might be injected with nanomachines, subjected to an alien energy field, bound by rings of magical force, or they could be shackled with some type of "inhibitor" device.

Using Power Suppression requires a power task roll against the rank of the power to be suppressed. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Power Suppression is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 4 Power Suppression, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a power task roll against task difficulty 13 (5 + 8) to break out of the Power Suppression.

To break out of the Power Suppression, the target must make a successful power task roll against the rank of the Power Suppression. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the held character gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 4 Power Suppression, they would need to make a power task roll against task difficulty 12 (4 + 8). If they roll a 15 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action. If the target has Power Invulnerability, the rank of their Power Invulnerability is added to the rank of their power when they are attempting to break out of the Power Suppression.

If the character has not broken out of the Power Suppression by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

Enhancements

Blanket: The Power Suppression affects everyone within 50 feet of the target. Because blanket attack does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success. Using a power such as Teleportation to enter an area where that power has been suppressed requires a successful power task roll against the rank of the Power Suppression. If the task roll fails, they are unable to use the power to enter the area. +1 character point

Spectrum: The Spectrum power enhancement allows the character to suppress all of the target's powers simultaneously. To break out of the Power Suppression, the target must make a successful power task roll against the rank of the Power Suppression, using the highest-ranked power which is currently being suppressed. +1 character point

Defects

Exposed (major defect): Other characters can help the target break out of the Power Suppression, using Brawn or a power which inflicts Endurance damage. This power defect is most appropriate for types of Power Suppression that depend on a physical restraint to keep the target's powers inactive, and the GM may require it in such cases. -1 character point

Power Theft (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Brawn

Target: Single Target

Range: Touch

Cost: 3 character points

Power Theft is a hand-to-hand attack which allows the character to temporarily steal another character's power. The character can choose which power they steal if they are aware of the powers the target has; otherwise, the character steals the highest rank power of the target (attributes of rank 5 or higher are considered powers for this purpose). If used against [Element] Mastery or [Ultra-power], Power Theft affects all of the effects made possible by those powers. For example, if a target has an [Ultra-power] defined as Powered Armor, then Power Theft would affect all of the armor's systems simultaneously. The amount of the power stolen is equal to the amount of damage inflicted on the target's power. The character with Power Theft will retain the power until they steal a different power, or until the end of the scene, whichever comes first.

Using Power Theft requires a Brawn roll against the Brawn of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the attacker may choose one of the standard benefits of extreme success, either overwhelming, smashing, or staggering the target of the Power Drain.

Power Theft has a damage rating equal to its rank. Any power or equipment that provides protection for the power being attacked, such as Power Invulnerability, reduces the amount of damage the target takes from the attack, and thus also reduces the amount of the power stolen. The protection value (PV) of the protection power is subtracted from the damage rating (DR) of the Power Theft. The remaining damage is subtracted from the target's power, and that number of ranks of the power are granted to the character with Power Theft. The target keeps the remaining ranks of their power.

If the character is staggered, they may attempt a challenging Will roll (task difficulty 12) to keep their Power Theft activated. If the Will roll fails or if the character goes unconscious, the Power Theft turns off, and any stolen power ranks are returned to the target. The character may also turn off their Power Theft voluntarily.

The damage from Power Theft is temporary. The power returns to the target after the fight is over, when the target has had a chance to rest and recuperate.

Enhancements

Ranged: The Power Theft is a ranged attack, with an effective range based on its rank. Using Power Theft requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. +1 character point

Versatile: Normally, Power Theft only allows the character to steal one power at a time. The Versatile power enhancement allows the character to steal two powers simultaneously (although stealing each power is a separate attack action). This enhancement may be taken multiple times: each additional Versatile power enhancement allows the character to simultaneously steal one additional power. +1 character point

Probability Control (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

A character with Probability Control can influence the odds, playing fast and loose with the laws of chance. Probability Control does not allow the character to break the laws of physics or make impossible things happen, but a character with Probability Control can make unlikely events likely and likely events unlikely.

Using Probability Control requires the player to describe a favorable or unfavorable circumstance and how that circumstance might have come about. If the GM agrees that the circumstance is possible (however unlikely it might be), then the GM will decide how this unlikely event impacts the characters. The simplest way to translate this favorable or unfavorable circumstance into game terms is to grant a +3 bonus on a task roll if the circumstance is favorable for the character attempting the task or imposing a +3 difficulty modifier on a task roll if the circumstance is unfavorable for the character attempting the task. The use of Probability Control could also influence events in a less straightforward manner, and the GM should encourage players to be creative with the power. Each use of Probability Control should be roughly as useful as a +3 modifier: significant, but not game-breaking.

During each game session, the number of times the character can influence probability is equal to the rank of the Probability Control power. Probability Control may be used to influence a task roll either before or immediately after the roll has been made.

Defects

Conservation Of Probability (major defect): Normally, there is no karmic debt incurred by a character with Probability Control. A character with the Conservation of Probability defect must maintain parity between events so that the ledgers of karma remain balanced. If the character uses their power to grant a +3 bonus on a task roll, for example, they must balance this out with a compensating +3 difficulty modifier on another task roll before the end of the scene. If they don't, the balance will re-assert itself in the following scene in a way that is inconvenient for the character with Probability Control, and the character will be unable to use their power to prevent it. -1 character point

Shapeshifting (OLD)

Activation: Activated

Task roll: --

Target: Personal

Range: --

Cost: 2 character points

A character with Shapeshifting can change their shape and appearance, but not their mass or size (unless the character also has the Growth or Shrinking powers). The character gains the physical attributes of their new shape, such as Brawn, Agility, Endurance, Invulnerability, claws, wings, and so on. This usually includes any natural movement powers of the new shape. The rank of the new shape's attributes and powers are limited to the rank of the Shapeshifting power or to the rank that the shape would plausibly have, whichever is less.

Assuming the shape of a specific person, creature, or object is more difficult than changing into a generic example of a particular shape. If someone is actively looking at the character, or has any reason to suspect that the character is not the genuine article, the person observing the shapeshifted character may attempt a Perception task roll against the rank of the Shapeshifting. If the Perception roll is successful, the observer can tell that the shapeshifted character is not who or what they appear to be.

Defects

Obvious (major defect): Normally, there is no obvious visual indication that a character is using Shapeshifting. With this defect, the Shapeshifting has a "tell", such as glowing eyes, a distinctive color, or the character's normal face, which makes it visually apparent that the character is not in their natural form. -1 character point

Telekinesis (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Agility

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Telekinesis permits a character to move objects at range. The maximum mass the character can lift with their Telekinesis is based on the rank of the power. Find the rank of the power in the Benchmarks table and look up the corresponding value in the "Lifts" column. Telekinesis is not normally able to inflict damage directly (to do so, use Blast), but it may be used to squeeze a target or hurl a target against unyielding surfaces.

Telekinesis may be targeted using either Agility or Will. The attribute used by the attacker to hit the target must be chosen when the power is purchased, and may not normally be changed thereafter.

Using Telekinesis requires an Agility (or Will) task roll against the Agility of the intended target. Grabbing inanimate objects with Telekinesis is generally automatic, unless the GM wants to make it difficult for some reason. To break free of the Telekinesis, the target must make a successful Brawn task roll against the rank of the Telekinesis.

If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the Telekinesis is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking free of it. For example, if a character is being held by a rank 6 Telekinesis, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Brawn task roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break free of the Telekinesis.

If the defender succeeds at the Brawn task roll to break free, they may use their remaining movement action. If the character being held with Telekinesis gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break free as a free action instead of a task action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 Telekinesis, they would need to make a Brawn task roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking free is simply a free action. If the defender has Telekinesis, they may use the rank of their own Telekinesis in lieu of their Brawn to break free.

Characters being held by Telekinesis are considered "restrained". A restrained character is not helpless, but they can't use normal movement until they break free of the Telekinesis. Attacking the held character is easier (attackers gain a +3 attack bonus when attacking the held character), and their attacks are easier to avoid (defenders gain a +3 defense bonus when the held character attacks them).

A character with Telekinesis may either squeeze or move what they are holding with the power.

If the character with Telekinesis wishes to exert strength in an attempt to hurt the held character, the compression causes Endurance damage, and the damage rating (DR) of this attack is equal to the attacker's rank in Telekinesis. Any power or equipment that provides protection from Endurance damage, such as Invulnerability and Force Field, reduces the amount of damage the target takes from the attack. The protection value (PV) of the protection power is subtracted from the damage rating of the Telekinesis. The remaining damage is subtracted from the target's Endurance.

If the character with Telekinesis wishes to move the held character, the distance an attacker may move the defender is based on the Telekinesis of the attacker and the mass of the defender. First, look up the mass of the defender or object to be moved in the "Lifts" column of the Benchmarks table (rounding to the nearest weight value), and find the corresponding rank for that weight. Subtract that rank from the Telekinesis of the attacker, and look up that resulting rank in the Benchmarks table. Find the corresponding distance in the "Throws" column. This is how far the attacker could move an object of that weight in one round. This rank is also the damage rating (DR) of the impact if the attacker makes the defender hit a solid object such as a wall or the ground. Particularly soft or yielding surfaces can reduce the impact damage by as much as half.

Example:

Darkmind has Telekinesis 7, and wants to move Stone. Stone weighs 800 pounds, which would be rank 4 in the "Lifts" column in the Benchmarks table. Subtracting 4 from Darkmind's rank 7 Telekinesis gives us rank 3. Consulting the "Throws" column for rank 3, we find that Darkmind can move Stone 25 feet per round.

Darkmind uses Telekinesis to smash Stone into an armored car. The impact has a damage rating of 3. After subtracting Stone's rank 7 Invulnerability, the attack does no damage to Stone at all. The armored car has Invulnerability rank 5 and Endurance 5. It is rocked on its wheels a bit, but suffers no real damage from having Stone smashed into it.

Telepathy (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Will

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

Telepathy permits a character to communicate directly with the mind of another person. If the target of Telepathy is willing, then no roll is needed. With a willing target or a successful Will vs. Will roll, the telepath may mentally communicate with the target and may read their thoughts.

The highest Will the character may overcome with Telepathy is equal to the telepath's Will or the rank of the Telepathy, whichever is greater. For example, a character with rank 3 Will and rank 2 Telepathy could attempt to read the mind of an unwilling target with Will rank 3, but would be unable to read the mind of an unwilling target with Will rank 4. However, if the telepath rolls an extreme success, the highest Will the telepath may overcome increases by 1.

Time Control (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Power

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 2 character points

A character with Time Control can influence the ebb and flow of time, skipping forward and back through the time stream. Time Control does not allow the character to time travel per se, but a character with Time Control can "rewind" time to make different choices. During each game session, the number of times the character can rewind time is equal to the rank of the Time Control power.

How much time may be re-wound is subject to GM approval and is largely plot-dependent. During combat, for example, the player may declare that they are rewinding time at the end of a round in order to play that round over. Out of combat, the player may declare that they are rewinding a 20 minute conversation, or they may wish to rewind time by a half-hour and take a different route through the city. If the GM approves of this use of Time Control, the elapsed time is erased from history, and the status of every character and the world at large is restored to the condition at the beginning of the rewound time period. Normally, the only person aware of this temporal reversal is the character with Time Control, but characters who have some way to detect temporal anomalies would be aware of what has happened. To everyone else, time proceeds as if they had never lived through the rewound time before (although particularly perceptive individuals may get a sense of deja vu).

[Transformation] Ray (OLD)

Activation: Attack

Task roll: Agility

Target: Single Target

Range: Ranged

Cost: 1 character point

[Transformation] Ray allows the character to use a personal power as an attack. The power being used as an attack is under the control of the character with the [Transformation] Ray power; the target of the ray has no control over the power. The specific personal power to be used as an attack must be chosen when this power is purchased. Available personal powers which may be used as attacks with [Transformation] Ray are:

• [Element] Form
• Growth
• Increased Density
• Intangibility
• Invisibility
• Shapeshifting
• Shrinking

The rank of the power being used as an attack is equal to the rank of the [Transformation] Ray, unless the [Transformation] Ray combines two or more powers. For example, a [Transformation] Ray might combine Shapeshifting and Shrinking. If the [Transformation] Ray combines two or more powers, the ranks of the individual powers must add up to the rank of the [Transformation] Ray.

Using [Transformation] Ray requires an Agility roll against the Agility of the intended target. If the attacker rolls an extreme success, then the rank of the [Transformation] Ray is increased by 1 for the purpose of breaking out of it. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 [Transformation] Ray, and the attacker rolled an extreme success, the affected character would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 15 (7 + 8) to break out of the [Transformation] Ray.

To break out of the [Transformation] Ray, the target must make a successful Will roll against the rank of the [Transformation] Ray. If the character succeeds at this task roll, they may use their remaining movement action. If the transformed character gets an extreme success on this roll, then they break out as a free action. For example, if a character is affected by a rank 6 [Transformation] Ray, they would need to make a Will roll against task difficulty 14 (6 + 8). If they roll a 17 or more, they achieve an extreme success, and breaking out is a free action rather than a task action.

If the character has not broken out of the [Transformation] Ray by the end of the scene, then they break out of it shortly thereafter.

[Ultra-power] (OLD)

Activation: Varies

Task roll: Varies

Target: Varies

Range: Varies

Cost: 3 character points

[Ultra-power] permits the character to use a wide range of powers which have a tightly unifying theme and which all derive from the same power source. Typical unifying themes for [Ultra-power] include trick arrows with varying effects, sorcerous spells and incantations, gadgets and high-tech devices, a suit of powered armor with a number of built-in weapons and sensors, and a cosmic amulet that lets the user create any solid-energy construct they can imagine. The specific unifying theme and power source must be chosen when this power is purchased. The player can pick any unifying theme and power source they like, subject to the GM's approval.

[Ultra-power] may contain any theme-appropriate power with a cost up to 2, and any power made possible with the [Ultra-power] has no more than the rank of the [Ultra-power] itself. For example, a rank 6 [Ultra-power] defined as "Cybervole Powered Armor" might have a rank 6 electrical Blast, rank 6 Tunneling, and any other rank 6 power the player (and the GM) thinks is appropriate for Cybervole. These powers do not need to be chosen until the character wants to use them, but it is a good idea to figure them out beforehand so that the player does not bog down the game by dithering over what their character should do next. Due to the tightly unifying theme of the [Ultra-power], power-altering powers such as Power Drain affect the entire [Ultra-power].

Another character with Power 5 might have an [Ultra-power] defined as "Time Mastery". This character could have Danger Sense, Healing, Haste, Time Control, and Time Travel. However, the character could not use their [Ultra-power] to have Duplication, because Duplication costs 3 points. If the player wanted the character to have Duplication, that power would need to be purchased separately from the [Ultra-power].

SIDEBAR: Use And Abuse Of [Ultra-power]

[Ultra-power], which permits the character to use a wide range of powers for 3 character points, is open to abuse by players who care less about having fun than they do about "winning". It's important to stress that the powers in an [Ultra-power] should have a tightly unifying theme and should all derive from the same power source. If the [Ultra-power] is relatively low-powered, then the GM may want to turn a blind eye if the player plays a bit fast and loose with the "tightly unifying theme". After all, there's not much harm in allowing the player some latitude when the rank of the [Ultra-power] is only 1 or 2.

For a character whose main power is the [Ultra-power], enforcing the theme becomes more important. A character who can accomplish anything the player can think of can easily spoil a game and ruin everyone's fun.

It's also important to recognize that just because the [Ultra-power] is rank 6, for example, that doesn't mean that every power in the [Ultra-power] necessarily has rank 6. For example, Scanner's "Psychic Scanner" [Ultra-power] is truly formidable at rank 9, yet he has several powers which are of far less rank than that. His Telekinesis, for example, is only rank 1. The most important thing to consider when choosing the rank of a power in an [Ultra-power] is what makes sense for the character.

The theme and the rank of the [Ultra-power] are important limits on the character, but the most important limit should be what makes sense for the character's background and abilities. A character should never have a power simply because the rules permit it. You control the game, not the rulebook.

Power Modifiers

Power Enhancements

Power enhancements make a power more useful than it normally is. For example, if a character has an explosive fire blast that can burn everything within an area around the target, that would be a power enhancement (Explosive Damage, to be specific), since Blast can normally only shoot at one target at a time.

Most power enhancements increase the cost of the power by one character point.

Power enhancements are under the control of the character with the power. A character can choose whether or not to use a specific enhancement on a case by case basis. Just because a character can burn everything within an area around the target doesn't mean that they must.

Table: Power enhancements

Power Enhancement	Cost
Explosive Damage	1
Increased Range	1-3
Radius Effect	1

Explosive Damage

A power with the Explosive Damage power enhancement causes its damage to everyone within a certain range of the target. Because an exploding attack does not need to be aimed at a specific target, the difficulty of the task roll is XXX. However, the attack does not benefit from extreme success.

The radius of the explosion is assumed to be 50 feet (the same distance as rank 1 on the Benchmarks table under "Affects"). The radius of the explosion can be increased one rank for each additional character point spent on this power enhancement. For example, a rank 3 Blast with four levels of the Explosive Damage power enhancement would cost 7 points and cover an area 3,200 feet in diameter (a radius of 1,600 feet).

The damage rating of the explosion diminishes with distance from the center. If so, the damage rating is at its full value within half of the total radius, and at one-half of its full value in the remainder of the explosion. For example, a rank 3 Blast with four levels of the Explosive Damage power enhancement would cost 7 points, have a damage rating of 3 from the center out to a radius of 800 feet (half its total radius), and a damage rating of 2 from 800 feet out to the limit of its radius of 1,600 feet.

Increased Range

A power with the Increased Range power enhancement can affect targets at ranges beyond the power's default range. Each application of this enhancement increases the effective range of the power by 3 ranks on the Benchmarks table under "Affects". For example, a rank 4 Blast normally has an effective range of 1,600 feet. Adding the Increased Range power enhancement would increase the power's effective range by 3 ranks, to 20 miles. Applying this power enhancement a second time would increase the effective range to 1,200 miles.

Radius Effect

A power with the Radius Effect power enhancement is centered on the character, and can cover an area up to a radius based on its power rank (see Benchmarks). For example, a character with rank 7 Telepathy that has the Radius Effect enhancement would allow the character to simultaneously read the minds of everyone within 20 miles. For powers which affect others, the character makes their associated roll (a Will roll, in the case of Telepathy), and compares that to any targets in the affected area. A character can choose the radius each time they use the power, up to the maximum granted by the rank of the power.

This is a very potent enhancement, and should not be added to powers that inflict damage directly, such as Blast.

New Powers

You might not have found the power you want in this chapter. After all, the page count of this book is limited, while your imagination is not. If the power you want is very similar to one already listed, the easiest thing to do is just change the name and description slightly, and get on with the game. Talk to the GM and the other players about it, and see if they agree. If they do, your problem is solved. If that doesn't work, see if adding a power enhancement will give you the result you want. In most cases, it will.

On the other hand, not everything that works in a comicbook works in a game. It's entirely possible to create an invisible power that can attack anyone, anywhere, at no risk to the character -- but where's the fun in that? If the power you have imagined is significantly more powerful than anything in this chapter, then maybe you should go back to the drawing board.

"Roleplay" Powers

Sometimes a character has a power that is important for characterization and roleplaying, but doesn't really have an impact on the game. For example, consider a character who is centuries old, and never ages, but who can die from injury or accident just like anyone else. This is definitely a power, but what does it really do? It doesn't give the character a measurable advantage either in or out of combat. It's important to the character, and there is a remote chance that it will be useful in combat if the characters encounter a villain with the power to rapidly age her enemies, but for most games its usefulness will be limited to roleplaying. Powers like this are "roleplay" powers. There is no cost for "roleplay" powers.

Don't go too crazy with "roleplay" powers. Unless there is a plausible circumstance where the power might be genuinely useful, just consider it part of the character's background and description.