Powerset: Anti-Power


BeyondReach

 

Posted

I got the idea for this one after doing the Midnighter Arc for the umpteenth time. I was thinking how unfair it is that they take the pretty wand away from us despite the remaining charges and how neat it was to be able to remove the evil superopowers from the Lost. And then I remembered that boy in the X-Men 3 movie who could nullify others' powers and hey, presto! The Anti-Power support powerset for Defenders, Controllers, Corruptors and/or Masterminds was born:

You have the ability to negate the superpowers of those around. Whatever their origin, your anti-power can give your foes the taste of weakness and frailty of their victims!

Tier 1: Outer Normalcy - You can watch over your teammates and reduce any outside force that would wish them harm.

An ally buff with fast recharge like the FF bubbles. Decent Resistance and some Defense against Smashing and Lethal.

Tier 2: Prevent Escape - You can nullify any travel powers used by the enemy and prevent their escape.

An anchored debuff like Darkest Night. Enemies around the anchor get -recharge, -speed, -jump, -fly, -teleport and may be immobilized for a short time.

Tier 3: Inner Balance - You can protect the bodies and minds of your teammates from any inside threats.

The second ally buff. This gives Resistance against Psionics and Toxic damage, and provides mez resistance. The difference with other Clear Mind clones is that it lasts for the same 2 minutes as a regular buff.

Tier 4: Equalize Energies - You can project an aura of normality around you that protects the fabric of reality. Enemies will find it very hard to exercise control over energy and negative energy powers, and incoming attacks will see their effectiveness reduced. Cannot be used with "Stabilize Temperature" (see below).

A PBAoE toggle aura, like Dispersion Bubble. Allies in the field get Resistance to Energy and Negative Energy, and at the same time, enemies inside the aura get -damage to energy attacks.

Tier 5: Stabilize Temperature - Your mere presence has a soothing effect on nature, whose forces become much harder to harness. Enemies will find it very hard to alter temperature and use fire and cold powers, and incoming attacks will see their effectiveness reduced. Cannot be used with "Equalize Energies" (see above).

The other big toggle PBAoE. Works like the other one and you can only have one active at the same time.

Tier 6: Ignore Defenses - You can give enemies around you a taste of vulnerability by defusing their superpowered defense mechanisms.

A PBAoE debuff to defense, resistance and regeneration. Think of Anguishing cry with -regen tacked on.

Tier 7: Seal Powers - By focussing your anti-powers on a single enemy, you can completely remove anything "super" around him. He won't be able to affect you, but the effects of your allies' powers on him will also be cancelled.

A cage power, basically. I'm starting to think this may be a tinge similar to sonic resonance.

Tier 8: Reduce Threat - You have learned to use anti-power in its broadest sense. You can severely reduce all the effects of your enemies' attacks by focussing your attention on them.

An anti-Power Boost, providing the same -special effects on heals/controls/buffs etc that benumb does but cast in a cone AoE.

Tier 9: Backfire - By mastering anti-power, you have learned how to cut off an enemy from controlling his powers and effectively turn his powers back on him.

The jewel of the set. Makes it so that all powers use by the victim will automatically target him. Like confuse, only he hits himself instead of his buddies.



So, what do you guys think? Would this be plausible?

I'm still wondering how the effect animations would look.


 

Posted

Natural Origin.

Technology Origin.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

I am Techbot Alpha.
I approve of this idea.

Seriously, this is something that Ive not seen here before. Although the concepts been out there, this is a different sort of set that, although specific, is also rather tasty IMO.

And, as for Tech and Natural origins, Im pretty sure auras can play hob with tech, and natural can either be weakened below normal levels, or some other possible fudge.
I mean, thats no excuse, really. I mean, how the hell are spines, or a bow, going to hurt some of the enemies we have, like the Malta titans? But, lo and behold, they can hurt them. Powerfudge ftw

/SIGNED


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NOTE: The Incarnate System is basically farming for IOs on a larger scale, and with more obtrusive lore.

 

Posted

Signed, powers seem ok, not too interesting, but with some designers working on them they could become cool.


 

Posted

Spoilers ahead:


Doesn't the in-game canon kind of say that Natural and Tech origin superpowers are also mystically related to the other origins? All superpowers were unlocked when the Well of Furies was opened by Statesman and Recluse, including superhuman self-training and super-technological breakthroughs. Magic was suddenly strong again, Mutants all started being born at the same time and people started surviving freak scientific experiments rather than dying instead.

After the Age of Greek Heores was over and the Well was selaed, there were only weak magicians and the odd psionicist. The CoX universe has made psi-powers inherent to Natural origin, with the inclusion of Fortunatas, the PPD Psi-Division and the explanation of Sister Psyche during the "Origin" arc. It seems her only mutation is the mind-riding, the rest of psi-powers are inherent to any human who is willing to train.

Anti-Power is just that, the power to cut reduce the inflow of power from your Origin.



End spoilers.


As to the graphic animations, I'd like to see solid colored rings that clearly mark the extent of the anti-powers:

A psionic-pink ring orbiting around the heads for Inner Balance, a white ring around the chest for Outer Normalcy, for example. Or two huge rings in orange and blue with some fire and ice effects for Stabilize Temperature, like the ice and fire are trying to get in but can't. Large black and white rings with eclectric sparks in both colors for Equalize Energies... Something classy and easy to see but simple, since anti-power is supposed to be an absence of power.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Spoilers ahead:


Doesn't the in-game canon kind of say that Natural and Tech origin superpowers are also mystically related to the other origins? All superpowers were unlocked when the Well of Furies was opened by Statesman and Recluse, including superhuman self-training and super-technological breakthroughs. Magic was suddenly strong again, Mutants all started being born at the same time and people started surviving freak scientific experiments rather than dying instead.

After the Age of Greek Heores was over and the Well was selaed, there were only weak magicians and the odd psionicist. The CoX universe has made psi-powers inherent to Natural origin, with the inclusion of Fortunatas, the PPD Psi-Division and the explanation of Sister Psyche during the "Origin" arc. It seems her only mutation is the mind-riding, the rest of psi-powers are inherent to any human who is willing to train.

Anti-Power is just that, the power to cut reduce the inflow of power from your Origin.



End spoilers.


As to the graphic animations, I'd like to see solid colored rings that clearly mark the extent of the anti-powers:

A psionic-pink ring orbiting around the heads for Inner Balance, a white ring around the chest for Outer Normalcy, for example. Or two huge rings in orange and blue with some fire and ice effects for Stabilize Temperature, like the ice and fire are trying to get in but can't. Large black and white rings with eclectric sparks in both colors for Equalize Energies... Something classy and easy to see but simple, since anti-power is supposed to be an absence of power.

[/ QUOTE ]

So the Well of Furies unlocked the powers of people who's grandfathers weren't born yet. So, even if I have a character who has ABSOLUTELY nothing special about him at all, his powers are actually of magic origin. That's just ridiculous.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

not all the powers in game are related to the opening of pandora's box its opening is more a of a reason to explain why there are so many powered individuals in the world.

individuals like nemesis and lady grey would be 2 examples of non box related powered individuals.


 

Posted

What do you mean with "people whose grandfathers weren't born yet"? People right now are still getting superpowers because the Well of Furies is still unlocked. The Well is the fountain of all power, and is not really considered "magic". Magic-users in the game are people who have inherited the blood of Mu and the ability to practise the magic arts discovered by the Entities long ago.

I'm guessing the Well provides inspiration to scientists for super-technology and gives humans the extra 'oomph' and badassness they need to endure the training they submit themselves to in order to master martial arts or one of the weapon powersets.


 

Posted

Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee are masters of matial arts, and they don't have no pandora box!


 

Posted

They also don't live in the CoH universe. All the Well did was raise the level cap of humanity, so to speak. Regular humans stayed the same level, but suddenly had the ability to go farther if the tried. Most humans don't try and stay at hapless citizen level. Your natural origin character starts training and enters the new power space provided by the Well.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
What do you mean with "people whose grandfathers weren't born yet"? People right now are still getting superpowers because the Well of Furies is still unlocked. The Well is the fountain of all power, and is not really considered "magic". Magic-users in the game are people who have inherited the blood of Mu and the ability to practise the magic arts discovered by the Entities long ago.

I'm guessing the Well provides inspiration to scientists for super-technology and gives humans the extra 'oomph' and badassness they need to endure the training they submit themselves to in order to master martial arts or one of the weapon powersets.

[/ QUOTE ]

Magic, is something that cannot be explained by science. The Well of Furies being "the fountain of power" has no basis for it being so and thus it is magic. And a magic origin character is someone who obtains their power from something inexplicable. For example, a daemon would have a magic origin. They have no power of ancient mu or the ability to practice magic, but they are of magic origin.

One of my characters is completely ordinary, in every way. He has no mastery of anything, and no special powers or abilities. And yet he got his powers from the Well of Furies.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

The well of furies is what brings the capacity for every superpower to exist. If your character is ordinary in every way, why are you still arguing?


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
The well of furies is what brings the capacity for every superpower to exist. If your character is ordinary in every way, why are you still arguing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, so we're in agreement. The Well of the Furies has nothing to do with Natural or Technology Origin Heroes/Villains as they don't have superpowers. Thus, this powerset does not affect those of Natural or Technology Origin.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

That's correct, but since the person who is USING the Anti-Power powerset IS superpowered himself, and can suppress super-powered beings, it would be very easy for them to suppress non-super powered beings.

So if you're a master of martial arts or a master marksman, they could easily subdue you.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
That's correct, but since the person who is USING the Anti-Power powerset IS superpowered himself, and can suppress super-powered beings, it would be very easy for them to suppress non-super powered beings.

So if you're a master of martial arts or a master marksman, they could easily subdue you.

[/ QUOTE ]

How if his ability is based on subduing superpowers. And I have no superpowers. Not to mention that I can't see a way a Natural Origin character could have this powerset.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

If it can subdue super-powers, it logically follows it can subdue the powers and skills of a normal human being.

It's not like it matters anyway, origins don't have any impact on the way you play villainside other than what enhancements you buy at the stores


 

Posted

Have you done the Ashley McKnight "Origin of Power" arc villainside? Or looked into Aeon's research on power proliferation? Inside the canon, the storytellers are going out of their way to say that yes, both Tech and Natural are both as valid Origins as the others and that all powers have a common source.

Your normal character still has the Charles Atlas Superpower, the power to improve oneself through training up to unimagined levels. This power, in the game canon, proably comes from the Well of Furies. The scientist who created the Tech device that gives your your Technology powers got the flash of inspiration thanks to the Well of Furies, since the Well raised the speed at which science develops.

On the case of Tech Origins, the technology your hero wields most of the time are things that would be outright impossible in real life. Anti-power extends an aura of normalcy that only allows possible things to happen.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee are masters of matial arts, and they don't have no pandora box!

[/ QUOTE ]

True, but can bruce lee kick a kronos titan to death? (lets not talk about chuck )

also:

[ QUOTE ]
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clarke, "Profiles of The Future", 1961 (Clarke's third law)
English physicist & science fiction author (1917 - )


[/ QUOTE ]

So who says pandoras box realy is magic? It could be some real kick buttocks technology


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The well of furies is what brings the capacity for every superpower to exist. If your character is ordinary in every way, why are you still arguing?

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah, so we're in agreement. The Well of the Furies has nothing to do with Natural or Technology Origin Heroes/Villains as they don't have superpowers. Thus, this powerset does not affect those of Natural or Technology Origin.

[/ QUOTE ]
you are forgetting one very important fact, not all naturals are human.
there are plenty of naturals who have there power by race them self, so this anti-power has no effect on them.


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
you are forgetting one very important fact, not all naturals are human.
there are plenty of naturals who have there power by race them self, so this anti-power has no effect on them.

[/ QUOTE ]

This actually brings up a good point. The Well of Furies seems to be the source for all superpowered humans, be they powerful Mu-descendants, psionics, these new mutants, or fighters that have made use of the extra potential granted by the Well. However, Kheldians for example have been superpowered energy beings for millennia without any connection to the Well. Extraterrestrials would truly be exempt from the Well, unless there are other Wells on other planets...

Loving this discussion.


 

Posted

/unsigned.

It's [censored] to lose your powers when you are crowd controlled, let alone have them backfiring at you.

While I would endorse traps and the ability for you to lose powers in specific zones or parts of zones, I believe this is too much particularly for PvP. I also believe it would be a nightmare to balance in PvE with all the existing NPCs villain/hero powers.


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Mission Architect 54161 - Michael Mundano, Megan Malloney and the Secret Senate.
Mission Architect 91838 - Constantinople Jones' Family Secret. A One Mission Story arc.

 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
Have you done the Ashley McKnight "Origin of Power" arc villainside? Or looked into Aeon's research on power proliferation? Inside the canon, the storytellers are going out of their way to say that yes, both Tech and Natural are both as valid Origins as the others and that all powers have a common source.

Your normal character still has the Charles Atlas Superpower, the power to improve oneself through training up to unimagined levels. This power, in the game canon, proably comes from the Well of Furies. The scientist who created the Tech device that gives your your Technology powers got the flash of inspiration thanks to the Well of Furies, since the Well raised the speed at which science develops.

On the case of Tech Origins, the technology your hero wields most of the time are things that would be outright impossible in real life. Anti-power extends an aura of normalcy that only allows possible things to happen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I have done the Origin of Power arc, but I don't remember anything about Natural being related to the Well of the Furies, I'll take your word on it though.

My character does not have the Charles Atlas Superpower, because he has no unimagined skill in anything. All his skills are in the range of human possibility and everything he does is perfectly possible to happen. Thus, this would have no affect on him, it would cause no change in the things he does.

On there being other wells on other planets...I doubt it. We already know there isn't one on the Rikti Earth. There must be one on the Praetorian Earth. But really, this is speculation that will NEVER be confirmed. GR rampant speculation is with the premise that in the future your assumptions will be confirmed or disproved. Whereas this is one nof those things that we're unlikely to ever get the answer to.



Bad Voodoo by @Beyond Reach. Arc ID #373659. Level 20-24. Mr. Bocor has fallen victim to a group of hooded vigilantes who have been plaguing Port Oakes, interfering with illegal operations and pacifying villain's powers. He demands that revenge is taken on these miscreants and his powers are returned! You look like just the villain for the job. Challenging.

 

Posted

So your character is still level 1 with no enhancements to any skill? Because it's my understanding that to gain in levels and even the basic training to enhance abilities(rest, sprint etc..) is beyond that of normal people. While a normal civilian can train and hone their skills, training by heroes made possible by the Charles Atlas Superpower or Well of Furies or w/e.. far outweighs that.

The 'Natural' origin is basically normal skills enhanced by training, training which goes beyond a normal persons ability to train.


 

Posted

Rename to to Nullifier and its gets my seal of approval. 'Anti' has to my mind a rather negative aspect to it. Anti-Paladin, Anti-Christ... etc


 

Posted

[ QUOTE ]
/unsigned.

It's [censored] to lose your powers when you are crowd controlled, let alone have them backfiring at you.

While I would endorse traps and the ability for you to lose powers in specific zones or parts of zones, I believe this is too much particularly for PvP. I also believe it would be a nightmare to balance in PvE with all the existing NPCs villain/hero powers.

[/ QUOTE ]

But you never actually lose your powers. The mechanics of the powerset as I've described them are basically a set of resistance buffs. There are some direct debuffs to damage that only cover two elements at once at most, and there is a debuff to secondray effects, which could be balanced by giving it a short duration. The only truly new mechanic is the Backfiring, and that's meant to be a on a long recharge timer, meant to be used on difficult AVs to turn the tide. In the end it has the same effect as a confuse, but can be used when there's only one enemy left. What's difficult to balance?

[ QUOTE ]
Rename to to Nullifier and its gets my seal of approval. 'Anti' has to my mind a rather negative aspect to it. Anti-Paladin, Anti-Christ... etc

[/ QUOTE ]

Perfectly fine by me, I just want the idea to be toyed about.