@TykiPoints of Discussion
1) what limit is there to his energy manipulation? I'm assuming there are limits, and this isn't some universal reality-altering being. Good examples of limits are range, type, and quantity of energy manipulated. Others are speed of manipulation, including reaction speed, and the precision with which energy can be manipulated. The energy of a sledgehammer delivered to someone's face is dangerous, the same amount of energy focused into a molecule-wide area would tear through a tank.
2) Are we using a fantasy equation for the conversion, or are we just severely limiting the quantity of stuff he can convert? An amount of matter the size of an average European male converted to energy would end all life on half the planet, and an average American would rip the solar system to shreds (ha!). It would also require much more than a nuclear reactor to create anything more significant than a mars bar. As such I'm assuming there's some alteration to how actual physics would handle this?
3) The limitations on your ability to create matter are based on the mass of an object. However, in the multiverse there are a wide variety of incredibly complex and powerful materials with various effects. Examples include Celestial Bronze, Mithril, Vibranium, Prometheum (DC variety), Darkmatter (non-sciency variety), Energon, the many types of power crystal, and other Bullshitium. The ability to create such materials, even in small quantities, is incredibly potent, due to the sheer variety and strength of the effects that can be produced using such materials. Furthermore, even with common materials, the various flavours of bullshit science in the multiverse allow someone to create incredibly potent devices with a relatively low mass, but massive impact. Examples include the Genesis Device, the Philosopher's Stone, a Rosarius Shield, or a Lightsaber.
Proposed Rulings:
- quasi-immunity to most physical attacks, able to absorb relatively weak attacks and negate stronger attacks. Incredibly powerful attacks still do damage, but are severely reduced in effectiveness. Exotic matter and energy may partially bypass this ability until the element in question has been thoroughly analyzed, which would occur outside of combat. This would be limited mostly to universe-specific forms of energy and matter such as Energon and Innocence. Normal energy created from exotic energy/matter would be absorbed/negated as normal, so a laser beam powered by Ghostrock wouldn't be any more effective than a normal laser. Pure magical/psionic energy, being a non-logical type of energy, also partially bypasses the absorption/negation process. This is in order to provide a weakness that cannot be removed, and which your character will need to compensate for in some fashion, perhaps seeking means to protect itself from such attacks, without making him defenceless against them.
- the negation/absorption effect is partially automated, and sudden bursts of energy (such as those from rapid projectile attacks) are decreased in strength automatically, even if Xel'Rath is unaware of them. However, the full extent of the effect is only applied to attacks that Xel'Rath is aware of. This automatic reflex would be stronger if Xel'Rath is 'on guard', and believes he is about to be attacked, and weaker when he is relaxed, not expecting conflict. Effectively, his forcefield is regulated by the clenched-ness of his metaphorical buttocks.
- the time required to create an object is directly linked to the complexity of the object to be created. Creating a solid block of iron is easy and fast, as it requires hardly any concentration. A highly complex interface and hacking device would require far more time, even if it's mass is lower. More complex materials (alloys and molecularly altered materials) add to the complexity of devices. Bullshitium either cannot be replicated or requires far more energy and time to replicate, depending on the particular flavour. Magical or divine materials cannot be replicated, or rather the magic applying to them cannot be replicated.
- the matter-to-energy conversion shall be based on a bogus formula, based on bogus science. This is to present Xel'Rath from needing to devour the sun every time he wants to create a burrito, or using that very same Burrito to one-shot a small moon. These are exaggerations, and not literally applicable. The formula need not be specified, just that energy can be converted at a more reasonable ratio.
Take Into Account:
Later on, Xel'Rath may gain more of a grip on magical energy and erase this weakness. But I believe it's important for characters such as this to have a weakness to bypass their defences. Erasing this weakness would be a formidable in-game achievement, performed over the span of the campaign, even as other characters improve themselves in other ways. In RPG terms, you have to buy off your Weakness with Levels.
The level of power I am estimating for Xel'Rath is in the Super-Elite tier, making him one of the most powerful player characters allowed in the roleplay. This allows him to be powerful, without being game-breaking. The specific weaknesses would also allow well-researched characters or characters with specific abilities to better counter him in combat, facing him even when they're much less powerful.
Assumptions Made:
- Xel'Rath has no sensory capabilities beyond those of a normal human, perhaps with a different trapping.
- Xel'Rath is able to withstand some physical damage without being destroyed, possessing a 'core' which would manage whether or not it dies, as opposed to the normal system which relies on vital organs.
- Xel'Rath, possessing a body made of solid matter controlled through direct kinetic energy manipulation, has a decent amount of damage resistance, and will not be immediately mowed down by small arms fire.