I really don't think you'd need to explain enhancements for your powers in RP. They function the way they do, because they do. The story is completely your fictional creation and as long as you don't god mode it, then everything is peachy.
edit: Ex. In-game, Gray has hold procs in all of her ranged powers. In-rp, I may explain that all of her arrows are outfitted with a minor electrical discharge inside the shaft that has a chance to send a powerful jolt of electricity into her target.
Personally the only ones I bother explaining are the proc IOs and to a lesser extent set bonuses. In RP powers are as strong as you think they should be, you don't need enhancements or anything. Though they do make convenient plot devices from time to time.
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
I generally take enhancements the same as powers: they're just something the character can do for which there are a zillion possible explanations. Once in a long, long while I'll refer to them directly, though this is usually limited to procs, but generally I'll just put them into the character's concept. Example: assault rifle; burst is slotted with Achilles Heel -res proc. Explanation: the character carries corrosive ammo.
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
I also usually just explain PROCs. It's usually more difficult to justify the powers, but Enhancements are usually the little tweaks and add-ons you apply afterward anyway.
PROCs, however, well, they can change the fundamental capabilities of certain powers. You can cram Neutrino Bolt full of IO PROCs and make it into a massively debilitating Hold that reeks of negative damage and withers not only the capability of the armor, but its integrity, too, instead of one of the fastest recharging yet weakest blasts in the game. I still haven't figured out how to explain this for my Emp/Rad Defender (though I put the Hold PROC in a different attack).
Mako's Bite's PROC adds lethal damage to an attack. To justify this on one of my characters, I explain it as him wearing a special device on his wrist that pops out a spike every so often when he attacks. The same for the Lethal Damage PROC in the Scirocco's Dervish set, and I explain that as a spur that pops out of the character's boot.
But the other enhancements strike me as items and artifacts to improve the capabilities... Heck, some of them, like the Natural SOs, are essentially just training. You're just instructed how to attack faster, more accurately or more powerfully. It's all little stuff that could be anything.
My Stories
Look at that. A full-grown woman pulling off pigtails. Her crazy is off the charts.
pretty much what everyone else here has said, it can be adjustments to power armor, gene splicing, study or some motivation.
though this reminds me of one thought i always had was it would be hard to explain IO sets for what their name suggests. like doctored wounds when a character has no medical background, or reactive armor when a character has non scaled skin.
Hmm...
The situation I have in mind is for a story, to be honest. And the scene is an experienced hero explaining enhancements - specifically IOs - to a newer hero.
But as the scene started to evolve, I hit a brick wall, of trying to explain Training Origin enhancements (what the newer hero is limited to in the scene), and trying to work out what the Common and Set IOs would actually be like in the context of the story.
Well, I'll just have to think on it more, I guess...
-This Space Intentionally Left Blank.-
Yeah, most people don't use enhancements in that kind of directly-from-the-game fashion. What would ingame be buying enhancements is usually explained in a less direct way. Actually come to think of it, look at the general description of the enhancement category - like natural/tech DOs are 'Gadgets', mutant SOs are 'secondary mutations' and such. Provides a nice easy explanation for a character to suddenly increase in power. Even moreso if you remember that ingame enhancements drop off enemies so you could even conceivably make arguments for it happening in the middle of a fight.
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah, most people don't use enhancements in that kind of directly-from-the-game fashion. What would ingame be buying enhancements is usually explained in a less direct way. Actually come to think of it, look at the general description of the enhancement category - like natural/tech DOs are 'Gadgets', mutant SOs are 'secondary mutations' and such. Provides a nice easy explanation for a character to suddenly increase in power. Even moreso if you remember that ingame enhancements drop off enemies so you could even conceivably make arguments for it happening in the middle of a fight.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah... but I already figured that part out.
I'm trying to figure out a Story-based way for explaining Training Origins, Invention Origins, and Invention Sets. The rest all have individual titles and in-game descriptions.
-This Space Intentionally Left Blank.-
Training Origins are exactly that - basic training in the use of powers. Inventions are a little harder, and in my experience tend to be used as specific plot devices rather than a general part of the story.
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: STOP!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WAIT ONE SECOND!
[Admin] Emperor Marcus Cole: WHAT IS A SEAGULL DOING ON MY THRONE!?!?
I rarely stick to my powersets when I (forum) RP, nevermind specific slotting choices. I might work in a wink or a nod to certain 'meta game' aspects, but I really don't give it much more thought than that.
[ QUOTE ]
Yeah... but I already figured that part out.
I'm trying to figure out a Story-based way for explaining Training Origins, Invention Origins, and Invention Sets. The rest all have individual titles and in-game descriptions.
[/ QUOTE ]
Invention enhancements and Invention sets are just that: inventions. Things you have somehow cobbled together to improve your powers. This could be anything from modifying the weight of your sword so it's balanced, and thus swings better, or some high-tech gauntlet-thing that makes your energy blasts more forceful. Sets and bonuses, could, perhaps, be explained as synergy between your inventions.
'lo, all.
Okay, Now I have a question for everyone.
How would you go about explaining enhancements in a RP situation?
I mean, the DOs and SOs are easy - they've got specific names and descriptions. So no need to go into much there.
Similarly, Hamidon, Hydra, and Titan origin enhancements need no help.
But what about Training Origins? Common IOs and - especially - Set IOs? How would you go about explaining those in a story or RP?
Thanks!
But what a
-This Space Intentionally Left Blank.-