guest super (Guest) Monday, March 23, 2009 - 9:13 pm

As the subject line states I have a couple of questions about a potential character I was working on, if I may. The character itself is a fairly run of the mill sentient robot. It has an adaptive quantum computer for a mind to explain its human level learning abilities and intelligence, its super strong, has not-so-super speed arising from that strength (think on the order of 30 mph), and of course incredible resilience and endurance due to its mechanical nature. The caveat, and coincidentally main power, however is that the machine runs on a prototype of what could be called a "magic engine". Specifically the engine takes in organic matter and converts it into magical energy for use in the robot's systems. Being inorganic it cannot use this energy for anything more complex than brute force pulses. The engine can be run at full power for limited amounts of time for maybe a 25% boost in his abilities but it vastly increases the energy input requirements, wreaks all sorts of havok on his structure due to increased stress caused by the engine's energy output. However, the engine is only a prototype so its shielding isn't refined. Basically it leaks raw magical power all over the place, especially if the engine is run at full power. The main effect of this is that when the engine is run at full power it greatly and indiscriminately increases the power of all magic based superpowers used within a certain radius of the robot. I am still thinking about the numbers but as of this writing I am tempted to say a 50% increase in power when the engine is under normal operation and maybe as much as a 600 to 700 percent boost when operating at full power due to lack of adequate shielding. While any magic based allies would get a powerful boost, so would all of his magically powered enemies. Back on topic though, I have two main questions. The first is whether a magic-powered robot would work given the setting of twenty minutes into the future with SUPERHEROES!(tm). The second is whether the magic engine specifically is feasible as a power. And if so, at what level?

Sewer (Thing) Tuesday, March 24, 2009 - 9:18 pm

The second is pretty much a question for a GM. But I'll try to cover both. Number 1, pretty much anything fits in around here. We have witches, fish people, giant mutants. Though being a robot may initially draw suspicion from people fighting the alien invasion. *Long story* As for your main power, the key here is balance. As long as Wayne our local GM rules that your weaknesses and powers are balanced, you're good. Don't try to create yourself as ridiculously powerful and be willing to take hits if you're against another PC.

Dannandy McDoggle (Mcdoogle) Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 12:57 am

600~700% is rather imbalanced

guest super (Guest) Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 3:17 am

Good point. The main thing that I was going for is that the engine puts him at a severe disadvantage by empowering his opponents. Something like an active super-weakness. Instead of forcing others to exploit a certain weakness, just being around him gives them more power to destroy him. Or perhaps simply use him as a power booster for a nefarious plot. But yeah, if it works for allies as well then a x6 or 7 power boost does seem too much. Just goes to show how bad I am with preliminary numbers then. Perhaps a x1.5 to x2 might be a bit better then?

Dannandy McDoggle (Mcdoogle) Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 3:24 am

Well could just do that it can wake magical abilities in people that have petental or something or gradual increasing the powers of those that have them... maybe giving them better powers but only when going into overdrive mode just making people feel funny with a patinal and a mild incress at normal levels

Dannandy McDoggle (Mcdoogle) Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - 3:26 am

or maybe the type of energy he gives off attracts serten ethereal beasts that feed of it.... they can be easily defeated and they don't find him that often... but when ever he goes all out they are attracted in mass and he will have to deal with them later when they show up tracking him in large groups attracted by the burst

Dark Heart of Flame (Darkfire) Sunday, March 29, 2009 - 12:14 pm

Wasn't that a plot for a voyager eppisode?