Super Powers and Super Technology (From "The World Forged by Powers" RP)

[TeliUmbrarum]

How exactly is it related to carbokinesis? DNA is a complex molecule that really doesn't have very much carbon in it all. At any rate DNA manipulation might be closer to advanced Psychometabolism. Also if this power did exist it would make DNA Identification useless for some people. Not that that last one is particularly important. I might have to say on the whole that becoming a clone anyone as long as you know their DNA might be a little OP. The problem of course is that DNA doesn't quite work that way. If you made any drastic changes the body would shut down for lack of compatibility with the new strand. After all DNA is the instruction book for the body's chemistry set. Thus we arrive at the power being nearly useless and incredibly dangerous.

But the individual nucleotides contain carbon and could thus be rearranged by carbokinesis, though to actually end up with a differing ratio of nucleotides you'd have to be getting them from somewhere else. So psychometabolism works better.

As for cloning someone you would have to know their full genetic code, which you couldn't use your power to figure out since pk doesn't work in other peoples bodies. You'd also have to know exactly which parts of your own genetic code control your own abilities and possibly your brain as well or risk being stuck as a clone.

As for incompatibilities or whatnot the ability, by my theory, instantly rewrites the genetic make-up of all cells simultaneously and lets the regenerative factor sort out the rest. As long as you aren't trying to change your species or something ultra drastic the healing factor should compensate for most health problems resulting from minor incompatibilities.

As an afterthought DNA identification could still identify you by the section of your DNA that dictates your power, and also possibly your brain, since you wouldn't want to alter either of those.

[the Forge]

But the individual nucleotides contain carbon and could thus be rearranged by carbokinesis, though to actually end up with a differing ratio of nucleotides you'd have to be getting them from somewhere else. So psychometabolism works better.

As for cloning someone you would have to know their full genetic code, which you couldn't use your power to figure out since pk doesn't work in other peoples bodies. You'd also have to know exactly which parts of your own genetic code control your own abilities and possibly your brain as well or risk being stuck as a clone.

As for incompatibilities or whatnot the ability, by my theory, instantly rewrites the genetic make-up of all cells simultaneously and lets the regenerative factor sort out the rest. As long as you aren't trying to change your species or something ultra drastic the healing factor should compensate for most health problems resulting from minor incompatibilities.

As an afterthought DNA identification could still identify you by the section of your DNA that dictates your power, and also possibly your brain, since you wouldn't want to alter either of those.

that carbon is bonded onto other atoms already so it wouldn't work. and as far as making it an ultra-powerful psychometabolism plus regeneration....well that's a tad too powerful don't you think? the main concern when introducing new powers is that those powers are not just on your character. they would be all over the place. I can offer you an alternative though. What about automatic adaptation? Whenever your body is exposed to something it rapidly adapts.

[TeliUmbrarum]

That seems rather... limited then, the carbon is there why can't it be manipulated? That aside, no I don't think it's too powerful the psychometabolism is powerful, but extremely focused and the regeneration doesn't have to be very powerful or very quick, depending on how limited the regeneration is even small genetic alterations could take days to show. It's only as op as you let it be.

From where I'm sitting automatic adaptation seems more powerful, especially assuming the adaptations are semi-permanent. At least with the DNA alteration it could take days to affect a change. Even assuming you can use DNA manipulation to give yourself other powers I'd assume most powers that are even tangentially related would manifest in the same sections of genetic code limiting what powers and how many you could possess at one time on top of restricting powers that involve physical alterations too extensive for limited regenerative abilities to cope with.

[the Forge]

It's the fact that you can alter your powers at will that bothers me. I tend to shy away from powers that basically invalidate other powers.

[TeliUmbrarum]

If it takes a week it's not quite 'at will' is it? A character already has psychokinetic mimicry and all that requires is physical contact, to get a power through DNA manipulation one would need a complete sequence of the targets DNA, a deep understanding of the genetic code itself, and anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to fully implement it. What powers does it 'invalidate'?

[the Forge]

Okay let me rephrase. Not at will but rather controlled by the will. In other words able to decide their own powers. It just smacks of bad idea. The difference with mimicry is mimicry only gets one at a time and can't go back to an old one if they lose it unless they find a new doner. This DNA changing problem is the very reason I made sure hybrids and other genetically engineered people had to be born that way rather than altered later in their life. I'm sorry I'm not trying to be mean or anything it's just that I can't bring myself to allow this in good conscience.

[TeliUmbrarum]

No problem, I see where you're coming from. I disagree (Though I'm biased, naturally), but I understand.

How about a reincarnation power? When the character dies their spirit hunts down a fertile female and causes her to become pregnant with the next incarnation. Or, if spirits and stuff don't mesh with your setting as the character dies they send out a telepathic burst that writes their knowledge and memories into the mind of a nearby infant or fetus.

[the Forge]

You know I may give you a power that's halfway between the two you're asking for. Dr Squick is my character from the comics. Her power is that she has the ability to scan things. (sort of like an MRI but with more detail and not with magnets.) Then whenever she dies her body chooses from all the things she's scanned and chooses a sentient organic life form for her and makes her into a direct copy of it. This ability causes massive memory loss and the only thing She managed to hold onto was her scanning power, her changing power and her intuitive abilities in medicine and metabiology. So basically she was an expert in super powers and a medical doctor who could scan people to better treat them but then later might turn into them. This had the unfortunate side effect of her turning into injured people with broken legs or cuts and bruises and such. The change takes place by way of a cocoon (pretty much exactly like in Iron Man Extemis) and it alters every cell and atom in her body copying even guns and clothing. You can use the power if you want but not character since Dr Squick is going to show up in the comic at some point. In fact I should probably post her sheet and then you can copy the power if you want.

Transmutic Shapeshifting: The ability 'scan' people and objects at extremely short range. it's sort of like a cat-scan where you can see all the different layers except this is much more detailed and high resolution. Transformative cells are then able to form a cocoon around the body and alter every atom of your being. Each time this happens you are fully remade into an exact copy of a person you have scanned the exact way they were when you scanned them. (Including clothing and equipment.) This ability is triggered subconsciously, usually upon your death, and chooses an organic sentient life-form for you to become based on how you died. Occasionally this ability is triggered by severe injury or even seemingly at random. The ability furthermore causes severe memory loss each time it is used due to transcription errors in your memories. You typically only remembers things that have happened recently or things that happen frequently.

[TeliUmbrarum]

That's awesome. Any chance I can just do the reincarnation I asked about? I already had a character outline in mind and it doesn't work if his resurrection wipes his memory. There's a lot of pathos to be had with a character that's died dozens, if not hundreds, of times and remembers each death individually. Very deep philosophical arcs and stuff as well.

[the Forge]

Olkay how about if he doesn't remember his childhood or his parents but remembers all recent memories from the time he was a young adult onward? The only really important part is that those who have the power don't remember how they go it or who they originally were. I have a cool plot twist reveal for that.

---------- Post added at 03:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------

Updates

IMPORTANT TO NOTE
The more primary powers you have the weaker each one will be. For example a Superspeedster telekinetic will not be as fast as a straight up super-speedster. Some powers however make each other stronger. for example a metamorphic Shapeshifter with regeneration would have the regeneration cause the metamorphic changes to function better and the metamorphic changes would cause the regenarion to function better. However the Metamorphic changes would not be as good as those of a pure metamorph. Some powers make each other weaker. For example superdurable skin and cloaking. Trying to make the skin do two opposite things greatly hampers both. If you are not sure whether two powers are Sympathetic, neutral or conflicting then p;ease ask me, I will be happy to tell you. Additionally Psychokinetic powers are strictly one per character. Other than that the only limit on organic powers is how many food calories you eat.

Unlike other powers, PK abilities are limited to ONE PER CHARACTER. Even though Qi is not strictly speaking a Psychokinetic power it uses the same part of the brain and so is also limited by this rule.