[OOC] Stalwart University

[TaliPaendrag]

@Mercenary Lord: The thing that makes me uncomfortable with the Skill Leech is the fact that it involves copying, even though you have limited it well. It's just that it makes the things makes each character unique more mundane, even if you have to ask that character's permission to copy them. It doesn't prevent you from copying NPC's with similar skills to mimic those of a character.

The Charisma Manipulation power is probably the one that bothers me the least, though the fact that it focuses solely on how others interact with your character is discomforting. Empathy and Telepathy can be a little dodgy for similar reasons, but they tend to have broader applications overall, so they generally can be limited without removing the "core" aspect of the power.

Defensive Warping is a very cool concept if I'm being perfectly honest, but the bending reality, even slightly, makes it a little sketchy for a group roleplay. Not to mention the fact that it sounds an awful lot like auto-dodging, which isn't a good thing to have in a roleplay.

Hyperkinesis sounds a lot like enhanced reflexes, which is already a power that a character has, so I'm going to have to suggest you steer away from that one, but Electromagnetic Perception does sound like a good power, especially if it's more along the lines of Technopathy than creating bursts of microwaves or gamma rays. ;)

Hopefully, it doesn't seem like I'm shooting down every one of your ideas. That's not my intention. I'm just trying to make absolutely certain that the game is balanced.

@Hefewy: Thanks for the heads up! :D

[ML]

Well to be honest, for the Leeching, the ability to copy powers was just something I threw in, since I saw all sorts of things like "darkness manipulation" and "light manipulation" and didn't want to be the underpowered guy. In reality, I have no need for the power copying.

Defensive Warping isn't moving completely out of the way. For example, gunshot to the chest? Turns into a gunshot in the shoulder. It's not super-dodge, more along the lines of "you're not dying, but you will hurt."

Enhanced reflexes is a part of Hyperkinesis, according to the description of it I found online. An example I like is that a hyperkinetic could throw a quarter into a vending machine from two yards away, or shoot a bullet off of a sign into someone's back. Another use would be setting off a huge chain of improbable reactions with a tiny start, like dropping a pencil, which eventually destroys a bridge. It's the idea that's the most of the stretch, but it has the coolest potential, in my opinion.

Charisma and Perception are all well and good, but neither of them really give a character a ton of variety. Like, for Perception, imagine just being able to see/hear radio transmissions, but be unable to affect them. It would be nifty, but not really a 'superpower' like the rest of these. And charisma manipulation would definitely be a chore to deal with in a group RP, seeing as all the characters and players, completely understandably, don't want to be influenced against their will by another character.

All in all, Leeching or Displacement (A synonym for defensive warping) would be my top two, and if you are willing to allow either of those (with whatever modifications you prefer), I would take great pains to make sure the RP remain balanced.

[TaliPaendrag]

That's why I mentioned Perception being more along the lines of Technopathy, as that is the ability to interface with technology, allowing the user to manipulate it as they see fit. That way it would have more than just one application.

As for the rest of it, I think that I'll allow the Leeching, so long as there are reasonable limits to range and what not. Like I said, you did do an excellent job of limiting it already, but I think range should be included just to be perfectly clear. Displacement, after looking it up under that name, is a little too similar to teleportation, a power which four characters can already utilize to some extent through their own abilities.

[ML]

I wasn't aware that Displacement had a thing to look it up by online. That was just a casual name I gave the idea. As far as I can tell, the idea I presented isn't used anywhere specific.

However, Leeching is fine, and I'll figure out a range shortly. Thanks much. Would you rather I cut out the Power-leech and keep it to abilities/skills/knowledge normal humans can acquire?

[TaliPaendrag]

I checked Powerlisting wiki, though it deals more with displacing space than warping reality. :P And I think that the power-leech would actually be pretty ineffective in any situation where our characters are using their powers, so it would probably be best to remove it. :3

[ML]

I'm confused. Am I allowed to use the Leech, or do I have to find something else?

The powerlisting definition is very different from what I see it as.

[TaliPaendrag]

You're good to go there. I was just saying that copying powers would only work in specific situations anyways, so there isn't really a need to have it be a part of the power. Likewise, if you really want it, I suppose it would be okay, as it's pretty limited to specific situations.

[ML]

TaliPaendrag said
You're good to go there. I was just saying that copying would only work in specific situations anyways, so there isn't really a need to have it be a part of the power. Likewise, if you really want it, I suppose it would be okay, as it's pretty limited to specific situations.

I'll leave it in as a safeguard, because I'd be bummed if I got a chance to use it and couldn't.

I've also limited the amount of people which can be affected from 5-10, depending on how healthy he himself is at the time. If that's too much, I can scale it down.

[TaliPaendrag]

I think that 5 or 6 would be a good maximum, especially at first, and that leads me to another question: are powers harder for him to copy? The reason I'm asking is because if not, having ten powers at once is a bit overkill.

[ML]

TaliPaendrag said
I think that 5 or 6 would be a good maximum, especially at first, and that leads me to another question: are powers harder for him to copy? The reason I'm asking is because if not, having ten powers at once is a bit overkill.

Oh, I never thought he could copy more than one at a time. I figured if someone else was hit really hard or incapacitated during a fight, he could pick up the slack. I'm not looking to go all "Last Airbender" on someone. A single power at a time, and we'll say six people as a limit.

Sound good? The modifications have been made.

[TaliPaendrag]

That sounds perfect! :D And that's why we talk about these things. Little stuff that doesn't get noticed can quickly snowball if we aren't careful. ;) I'll go ahead and get your character added to the main page, so feel free to post when you can.

[ML]

I will see when I have some time. Is there a particular way you'd like characters to enter?

[TaliPaendrag]

No, not really. If you need a quick summary, I can provide one, but your entrance is your own. :D

[Blackwolf]

wazzz uppp

[TaliPaendrag]

A direction, typically in the direction opposite that of gravitational force. XP

[ML]

TaliPaendrag said
No, not really. If you need a quick summary, I can provide one, but your entrance is your own. :D

I can probably end up reading through the whole thing, but if you want to type up little thing anyway, I'd be very grateful.

EDIT: Anyone feel like rooming with Matt? Camaraderie and all that

[TaliPaendrag]

The best candidate at the moment would probably be Lucek. :D

As for the summary:

Lucek, Hylian, and Krodin's characters are all coming back to the campus from a trip to the woods nearby; Hagura and my characters are currently talking about exploring the campus; Hefewy and General's characters are in the gymnasium where the club displays and the latter is trying to help the former build up the courage to join one; 4week's character has just signed up for the Art Club; and Blackwolf and Mizuho's characters are currently talking on the fringes of the forest that border the campus, which is actually the same one that Lucek, Hylian, and Krodin's characters are in, just not as far.

Does that help at all? I focused primarily on the characters, as there haven't been many events. :D

[ML]

That does help. Might be a bit of a while before I post anything, gotta read up.

[ML]

Finally did the thing, sorry for the delay. Lemme know if anything needs changing

[General Scales]

Welcome to the rp Merc.