Something New for Character Origin

I find Sam and Bill's arguments more persuasive. /unsigned

The counterpoints expressed here by Memphis_Bill really crystalize perhaps the reason the inherent powers we have are so... uhm, small.

I have to conceed the point that Origin related powers would create issues for role-play.

However, my feeling that just about every character I make that is role-play focused has to make "concessions" because the whole system is inherently "limited". Every MMO, in fact cannot hold a candle to the imaginations of the player base, so making any character will involve cutting corners.

This is not a very good example, but its one of my own in-game troubles that I still don't have a decent solution for. I want to play a Magician that controls Light and Darkness.
He wants limited mind control thru his Illusions, as well as light blasts and Invisibility, but NO PETS. There are alot of options to attempt this character concept, but they involve choices that leave off some of the best powers in a powerset for concept. (( Challenge issued : How to build a pet-less Illusionist))

Very good discussion in this thread. Thanks everyone

Making things origin specific is a bad idea for reasons already illustrated in this thread, so I'm afraid /unsigned.

Origin should remain a guideline. There are powers that flirt with the idea, but there's reasons they've all thus far had very negligibly impact upon game play. In regards to the Black Wand and the Nemesis Staff, which are probably the most notable example of origin specific thingies, they are both so very similiar that the user doesn't feel locked in for picking one or the other, and can, in fact, pick both if he desires.

Even as it is, I think their implementation was a bad idea, which is not to say that I don't enjoy the **** out of them, just that I think origin specific powers are a bad idea. I'd have implemented them not to consider the origin of the user.

My own Light/Dark person actually uses a recolored Fire Blast and Kinetics. Holy Fire, evil body manipulating. Dark Miasma/Energy Blast is kind of the more obvious choice, however. For defenders you could take the psychic mastery epic to get your mind control.

Thanks for the suggestions I will look into these Villain options.

You can see how this illustrates my point that character concepts have to make concessions. Since this system is not free-form, you are better off working from a combination and then building a concept that doesnt sacrifice the best "stuff" in a powerset.