How do YOU make popular "Pseudotypes"

Hey all. I recently rolled up a concept shapeshifter. She's an MA/Regen Scrapper and I'm looking into different methods of changing her "form" via costumes. The process got me thinking about popular types of comic book characters that aren't present in the form of actual CoX ATs. I'm talking about things like Speedsters, Cosmics and Shapeshifters (Khelds are a bit of a combo but they're story locked so I'm not including them).

I'm just curious to know if you guys roll up toons to embody these and other concepts. If so, how do you do it? What powersets do you choose and why? Is there any particular playstyle you use (i.e. A werewolf that only uses certain powers depending on the form they're in). Just curious to know.

I forget where but I did see a thread about shapeshifters a few months back.

I have a friend with a werewolf. Sonic/Traps Corrupter. In human form (scientist) only uses traps. In wolf form only sonics. Actually works out just fine from a play perspective and is a very colorful character.

My Ill/Rad troller Puzzling Evidence managed a freakshow until a voodoo priestess stole his face and cursed him to walk between the normal and supernatural worlds. He can shapeshift into various Fortean beasties like an El Chupacabra and a Yeti (haven't figured out his fourth form yet.)

The Chup's a squat little reptile dude with glowing eyes. His powers are all "blood" looking- deep dark reds oozing out of everywhere. The Yeti looks like, well, a Yeti; big, white and shambling, and all his powers are more "cold" looking. Whites and cool grays, so that his RA looks more like Bizzard.

My tech fire blaster has a costume that is basiclly her riding in a bigass powersuit. My earth troller Rockroach is normally super tiny, but one of his costumes is a superhuge version, using the Sci pack needle injection emote for the transformation.

If you can afford it, I'd recommend getting the Science pack. being able to swap genders and scales is REALLY helpful. Then again, sometimes the subtle transformations can be just as cool, like going from a very thin, lean build to muscular and beefy when you activate a certian power.

I did the shapeshifter thing with a stalker that was supposed to be an android that could take on various human body types (a T-1000, in other words). I ret-conned in my mind that the stalkers invisibility power was the android fooling those around it into believing it was friendly until the moment it attacked.

I got it to have two costumes: its normal robotic form and a second one I kept changing to reflect the most common mobs I was fighting that week.

As an almost obligate melee AT player, I have used costume types to transform me to some degree. Usually, as has been stated, in conjunction with some set-defining power. Dark Melee's Soul Drain, Siphon Life, and Dark Consumption are good for that. Build-up is also good. Some tanks/brute bind to Rage or a quick switch with Foot Stomp. I could imagine that toggles would work as well. The only thing I wish I could do is bind the change for a specific duration (like 30sec or so many "ticks"), so the power would "wear-off," and revert back to the former costume once the power ended. Doent seem possible, but I am not that good at it.

From a story-line stand point, I've done novice monks progress to old sages, time travelers in different garb, stages of psychosis/decay/death/metamorphasis and different hosts for my parasite shield (the *shield* or other weapon or costume piece being the sentient hero) at different stages - but those were more for the back story of the character as they went from lvl1 - 50. In all honesty, Im too busy "arresting" things to worry about how good I look doing it, or rather, "arresting" things looks so good, who cares how.

I tend to run with a Bleach-RP group. One of the characters I play (Peacebringer) I actually completely ignore the story of the AT. Instead, I play in human/dwarf, using Dwarf mode as his Resurrección form. Part of his abilities are the complete regeneration of his body... which I visualize with a bony, zombie-like costume change when I am forced to use [Restore Essence].

I have a shapeshifter I came up with four takes on. The original character was a dog, named Element Dog, that had the ability to shape change, and thus could make himself as intelligent as he wanted to be, and give himself the ability to speak and so on. Along with my other main characters, I created him back when I was in high school. So I had the concept, and had to fit it to CoH. As well as being able to change into any material or animal, he could also absorb matter to make himself grow, and even heal people by touching them.

Take #1: Genie Gold

Since there were no dogs or even canine heads in the game at the time of release, I couldn't create Element Dog as is. So I gave his powers to another character I had created in later versions of the story to be Blue Diamond's love interest. I figured that since she was a human already, she would not learn of the ability to change her own shape right away, and even once she did she would be reluctant to try it for fear of hurting herself. She would also be untrained in hand to hand combat, and reluctant to fight. Her body automatically heals itself and adapts to toxins or other dangers in her environment, as a sort of instinctive defense mechanism, though.

I had already come up with the idea of the genie as the representation of Element Dog's powers (his power comes from a potion which is generated by a magical bottle) so as I thought about what powers a genie would have, I came up with the concept of her as a sort of air elemental. Having learned that she can blend herself into the air around her, and change its form, she can create clouds of smoke and toxins. She can also "reach" through the air to touch enemies or allies, and cause or heal wounds. She can also immobilize foes by using her will to "solidify" their bodies, preventing them from moving. If the target has some kind of super defense, like rock skin, she can weaken it, as well.

And of course, as genies are tricksters, I though of her using the air around her to create shapes and illusions to fool her foes. So she became an Illusion/Radiation Controller. The Radiation was her ability to create toxic clouds, and of course she could also heal and boost her metabolism and that of the allies around her. She really came into her own for me when Power Customization came out, and I was able to make her Illusions and Radiation both a bright gold color. Her powers just look gorgeous, and like they have a common theme, and I really enjoy playing her now. At first, she was really just going to be a team based character I kept around for emergencies, but she's level 30 now and still going.

The shape change I've kept to a minimun, but she often uses a common trick of the original Element Dog, which is turning into a vapor. I figure that fits the genie concept. I gave her Stealth for that power, plus Phase Shift. She can also fly by growing wings, and I tied a keybind to her Flying power so she changes costume when she does. At some point, when she gains an armor power from the Epic pool, I may give her a costume that has like steel skin or reptile scales or something. She is still far too frightened of using her power on her own body and messing up, and also, a little bit vain.

Take #2: Element Beast

When City of Villains came out, and added canine heads and the monsterous legs option, I decided it was time to try a humanoid Element Dog look. I still couldn't make him an actual four legged dog, which was basic to the original character, as he could turn into a human or humanoid, but never felt comfortable that way. I decided to try a "werewolf" look anyway, figuring that Element Dog could choose that form to fit in better with all the other superheroes, returning to his natural dog form when not "at work".

Of course, he had to be a villain, so I had to change his backstory somewhat. Fortunately, I was already working on bringing my main villain, the archrival to my hero characters, to CoV. I had decided to create an "alternate universe", where my villain, Silver Bolt, beat the heroes, leaving only one, Blue Diamond, to continue the fight. Silver Bolt then turned the powers from the defeated heroes to some allies that would be villains like himself.

So I created Element Beast as a dog, but without the friendly advice of my hero characters to guide him, he never developed a human personality, or even learned that he could increase his intelligence. Although he can speak and has a rudimentary level of knowledge (about that of a child) he still has a dog's point of view. He is vicious, and territorial, and really only uses his power to make himself more powerful in combat.

Although he obviously has enough knowledge of his power to transform into a half-human, half-wolf, I figured he would rely more on changing the substance of his body into armor, much like the original ED did, but without changing into other animals or a vapor. So I created him as a Dark Melee/Stone Armor Brute. Dark Melee I chose mainly for the self heal, I wanted him to have as many healing powers as possible. It's a primarily punching set, though, like he's using his claws, and the Dark could be clouds of vapor that he creates around his fists to choke his victims, just out of instinct. Eventually I colored the clouds a sickly gold, to match Genie Gold's concept. His main power, though, is turning his body into stone.

Unfortunately, the character hasn't really appealed to me that much. I stopped playing him around level 8, and then recreated him as a human, named Golden Genie, for another alternate universe twist. He has exactly the same powers, but more insight into his powers, so I use costume changes to make him change his skin into steel. I also created a couple of different costumes for Element Beast, one where he is huge and bulky, and another where he is smaller and slender, but armored. He does not have wings in any of his forms, though, as Flying and Stone Armor don't mix well. Instead, I use teleport to represent him melding into the ground and appearing somewhere else.

Take #3: Element Dog

Next, when the villain options came over to hero side, I decided to create Element Dog proper. I also created a villain version I named Golden Fang. The hero was a Claws/Regen Scrapper, while the villain was a Claws/Regen Stalker. For the hero, I gave him wings all the time, while the villain I used a costume to let him grow wings when he wanted, figuring he would be more stealthy if he didn't have them all the time. The claws, of course, were the dog's claws, while Regen I used as his ability to heal himself, and adapt his body to move faster and resist toxins. The ability to shape change kind of fell to the background, as I decided to concentrate on him using his one form more to fight the bad guys.

Of course, for the Stalker his ability to Hide was his turning into a vapor, while I gave the hero version Stealth for the same reason. Likely I would give him Phase Shift eventually. Unfortunately, while I am really amused by the animation of the Claws Assassin Strike, neither version of the character has gotten really far. I would probably use multiple costumes to create effects like him forming steel or scale armor over his body after using Dull Pain, but neither character has gotten past level 10. So for now those takes, like Element Beast, have been abandoned.

Take #4: Element Dog

Finally, when I hit level 50, I unlocked Kheldians. I had always considered using a Kheldian to represent Genie Gold's ability to shape change, and now that I had canine costume options as well, I decided to go back to the original concept. Element Dog could now be a true shapeshifter, although there would only be two "animals" he could turn into.

I created both a Warshade and a Peacebringer. The Peacebringer was given wings since he had the innate ability to fly, while the Warshade I gave him no wings, and the ability to "sink into the ground" teleport. In the end I decided I liked the Peacebringer version better, and redesigned my Warshade as a side switching villain I named Umbral Unredeemed. Both versions were "dancing" Tri-Forms, as that perfectly fit ED's tactics of changing forms constantly in mid-battle.

ED's ability to heal himself was best represented by the Peacebringer. The Warshade had the better stealth for "vapor form", (and his powers looked more like vapors too) but I went ahead and gave the Peacebringer Stealth, too. I added an "armored" costume which uses various scaled and insectoid chitin body parts to make it look like he used his shape change powers for when he has his physical damage Shield up. He doesn't have the other two shields, but I have a keybind which automatically drops him out of a form, puts up his shield, and changes his costume. Another keybind will switch him back to his "normal" form.

Of course, the humor of the character is that he isn't a Kheldian, he's just imitating their forms. Plus, he's not human in any form, he's a Dwarf, a Nova, or an Earth dog. I got him to level 30 as a Warshade before changing him to Umbral Unredeemed, and my remaining Peacebringer version is something like level 26, and I plan to keep going with him. The only problem I have at this point is that I can't customize his powers to match Genie Gold's. Hopefully eventually I will be abe to, and he will have the same golden light effects for his powers that I love so much for Genie Gold.

Anyway, this is a really long post, but I think it's a good example of a bunch of different techniques you can use to make shape changing. You have Kheldians for actual forms, Stone Armor for changing the material of your skin, and costumes for even more drastic changes. It really just comes down to what you want those different shapes to do. You pick the Power Set that fits the effects of the shapes you want. It's still pretty limited, as you can't turn into ANYTHING, you have to pick from a selection of forms. But honoestly, I don't think there's any way around that in a computer game anyway.

I have a vampire Blood Melee/Shielding (i.e. Elec/Shield) Scrapper that changes forms. First and second costumes are her basic petite human form, third slot is a 7-foot Huge Werewolf for a Gangrel form, and the fourth slot will be an 8-foot demon.

My namesake MA/Regen is actually two characters, sisters. Long story. I'd usually stay in one persona for the duration of a mission, though sometimes if I got defeated I'd come back with the other. They both have the same skills, but when alternate attack animations came around I was finally able to make them slightly different.

I have a few of the usual "in power armor then not" characters. Plus I usually devote a costume slot to the travel power, with tech wings or rocket boots.

Speedsters:

My Speedster was a Kinetics/Electric Defender, and could thus zip around in combat using Siphon Speed, and made good use of the Sands of Mu temp power. It wasn't a great recreation of super-speeding, in that a lot of Kinetics powers work best if you stand still right next to an enemy. Running around at boosted speeds during combat often means mis-positioned Transfusions followed by defeat
A Ninja-running scrapper would probably work better to be honest.

Cosmics:

For the standard Marvel Universe style cosmic character (eg Eternals, Silver Surfer) who can use cosmic energy to fire concussive blasts, boost their strength and durability or transmute matter, I always liked Sonic/Energy Defenders. Sonic Resonance gives you some personal survivability via Dispersion, the ability to transmute matter through all the +Res and -Res you're throwing around, and Energy Blasts are just cosmic, nuff said. Plus all the Aegis sets give you the big Fire/Cold/AoE defence necessary to survivie in space

Conceptually one of the more powerful characters I've made, but an incredibly poor solo-er. This still felt right though.

Shapechangers:

I made a Peacebringer. I started off trying to make extra forms that looked like alternate light-energy bodies to mix it up, but ended up just using the costume slots as copioes of my other characters in the same SG.

I thought about a Mystique-ish MA/Regen scrapper once, and using alternate slots for clawed hands, wings etc, but never actually carried this one out, since I had two other martial artists on the go.

Hmm, does a dual-character concept count as a pseudotype?

I have a mid-lvl Dual Pistols/Fire/Ice Blaster who is actually 2 demons. I haven't ironed out the entire concept yet (the character is only lvl 28 currently and I kinda benched it for awhile while I play my MM and PB) but basically, the demons can transform into a pair of pistols. One transforms into the guns while the other aims and shoots.

One is a male tall skeletal demon of ice while the other is a reptilian female fire demon. While the male ice demon is in normal form holding the guns, the pistols use incendiary ammo (because the female fire demon is inside them, they have orange laser sights too) and he can use Frozen Armor, Hoarfrost, Flash Freeze and Hibernate. While the female ice demon is in normal form holding the guns, the pistols use cryo rounds (with blue laser sights) and she can use the Fire manipulation powers, including blazing aura and hot feet.

When in the beta, I got the character to lvl 50 and the concept actually worked surprisingly well. Just use some binds for the costume changes and switch trays. It made for a fun character with it's own unique challenges.

I've got a bit of a Captain Marvel type. Jamie Mathews, 19, almost 20. Born on the 4th of July. When he was 16, he was on a field trip to Mount Rushmore when the Spirit of America chose him as a defender of the country. He only gets his super powers when he raises a fist to the sky and says 'America, give me strength!' and becomes Rushmore.



The one problem is though, his powers, Stone/Stone/Earth Tanker, derive from America.

So they don't work on the Rogue Isles.

They don't work in other dimensions.

They don't work in Canada.

So he's a guy with brawl when not on American soil.

Very intriguing responses so far. You guys are even more creative than I expected

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Originally Posted by GavinRuneblade I forget where but I did see a thread about shapeshifters a few months back. I have a friend with a werewolf. Sonic/Traps Corrupter. In human form (scientist) only uses traps. In wolf form only sonics. Actually works out just fine from a play perspective and is a very colorful character.

Yeah that previous thread was mine as well. I remember you mentioning your friend's Sonic/Traps. The concept really caught my attention. I wasn't sure about its viability in-game but Traps is known for its stand alone prowess and Sonic makes for a very hard hitting blast set once the -Res starts to stack. I'd like to see it in action.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leo_G I have a mid-lvl Dual Pistols/Fire/Ice Blaster who is actually 2 demons. I haven't ironed out the entire concept yet (the character is only lvl 28 currently and I kinda benched it for awhile while I play my MM and PB) but basically, the demons can transform into a pair of pistols. One transforms into the guns while the other aims and shoots.

I also remember you mentioning this concept in a thread a long time ago. It sounded very cool and DP provides a lot of versatility so I'm sure it handles well. How does it do solo though? Of course that's pretty dependent on whether you're strict about how you RP it since I'm sure there are times when the extra slows or damage come in handy when you're alone.

I have an electrical speedster called Deadspeed, an Elec/Nin Stalker, whose invisibility is explained as him quickly running away, then running back and using the momentum with his powers as the Assasin's Strike.

I've a Fire/Ice/Fire Blaster named (The) Cryo-Phoenix. He's mutant whose powers have turned him into a winged beast, but can disguise himself in a human form. (Looking much in the way of Khelds with glowy eyes). He turns into the Cryo Phoenix when he uses the fire APP power, Rise of the Phoenix. It's an awesome concept but I haven't really restricted his power uses, save that one, in terms of switching to and from human form.