Power Reserve and Power Stunts

Here are a few new mechanics I have been working on.

Power Reserve

This Advanced Power allows the character to have a reserve earmarked for the activation of multiple Standard Powers and Talents. This collection should be centered around a theme like energy constructs, animal powers granted while shape changing or the artifacts contained within a utility belt. This should never be just a random collection of Talents and Powers.

The base  Power Reserve must be purchased in 15 XP increments. Each rank represents a potential rank for an allocated Talent or Power. Talents and Powers that may use the Power Reserve must each be purchased at a cost of 3 XP per rank.

Example: The Comet wants to have a Power Reserve for his Comet Force which will allow up to 6 ranks of Powers to be active. This will cost 90 XP for the Power Reserve. He wants three Standard Powers (Energy Projection, Flight and Force Field) to be able to use the Power Reserve. This will cost 3 XP for each rank of Power added. Comet wants to buy the maximum ranks for each of the Powers; 5 ranks of Energy Projection, 3 ranks of Flight and 5 ranks of Force Field. The total cost for this Power Reserve and associated Powers will be 129 XP.

Which Powers and Talents, and the rank of each, which may be used must be allocated at the start of your character’s turn. Normal limitations on the maximum rank of a Power still apply. Regardless of allocation, Powers that require an action to activate still do. Once a Power is activated, it will stay active until it is turned off or no longer has any allocation within the Power Reserve.

Example: When it is the Comet’s turn he must decide how to allocate his Power Reserve. He has several options. Energy Projection has a level maximum of 5, Flight has a level maximum of 3 and Force Field has a level maximum of 5. Below are some possible Power/rank allocations:

·        Energy Projection 2, Flight 2 and Force Field 2

·        Energy Projection 5, Flight 0 and Force Field 1

·        Energy Projection 5, Flight 1 and Force Field 0

·        Energy Projection 1, Flight 3 and Force Field 2

·        Energy Projection 3, Flight 3 and Force Field 0

·        Energy Projection 0, Flight 1 and Force Field 5

Talents and Powers used through a Power Reserve may not be boosted using Style points (See Boosting Talents and Powers, p.XX).

Custom Power Stunts for Powers accessed through a Power Reserve must be purchased outside the Power Reserve (See Custom Power Stunts, p. XX). You may purchase Custom Power Stunts for a Power up to the Power Reserve rank but your character may only apply as many as appropriate to the currently allocated rank for the Power.

Example: Comet wants to add some variety to his Energy Projection. At rank 1, the attack does Willpower N damage. Because his total potential Power Reserve allocation for Energy Projection is rank 5, Comet may purchase up to 5 Custom Power Stunts for Energy Projection.

Comet decides to spend a total of 6 XP to buy two Custom Power Stunts. The first will make his attack dish out lethal damage instead of nonlethal. The attack now deals Willpower L damage. This would require a rank 2 Power Reserve allocation of Energy Projection to use.

The second Custom Power Stunt turns his attack into a pulse of energy that explodes into a 10-foot radius burst that deals Willpower N to all within the area. This would require a rank 3 Power Reserve allocation of Energy Projection to use.

Because he now has two Custom Power Stunts, if Comet allocates 3 ranks to Energy Projection to his Power Reserve at the start of his turn, he will have access to the following options:

·        A Willpower +4 N ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

·        A Willpower +2 L ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

·        A Willpower N ranged attack that targets everyone within a 10-foot radius.

If Comet instead allocates 5 ranks of Energy Projection, his options are the same but the damage for each will be increased:

·        A Willpower +8 N ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

·        A Willpower +6 L ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

·        A Willpower +4 N ranged attack that targets everyone within a 10-foot radius.

If Comet only allocates 2 ranks of Energy Projection, his options are reduced:

·        A Willpower +2 N ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

·        A Willpower L ranged attack that may target a single opponent.

Power Stunts

Power Stunts are specializations Powers.  These specializations allow for variations in the base Power without the need to repurchase the whole Power to achieve the flexibility. Multiple Power Stunts may be purchased for a single Power up to a maximum of the Power level.

Example: Snowfire has the Power, Energy Projection 2. He may purchase up to two Power Stunts for that Power.

Each Power Stunt costs 3 XP to purchase.

Standard Power Stunts

Many Standard Powers have predefined Power Stunts. If this is the case, the Power Stunts available for the Power will be listed at the end of the Power description in the Advanced section.

Custom Power Stunt

Custom Power Stunts are used to restructure or modify a Standard Power. The Standard Power must be advanced to level 2 or higher before qualifying for the purchase of a Custom Power Stunt.

Custom Power Stunts are constructed by applying Enhancements and Limitations similar to Ritual or Artifact creation. The result of the modification must be a zero Enhancement change.

Example: Snowfire wishes to purchase a Custom Power Stunt for his Energy Projection 2. He wants to modify his Heat Blast to become a Fire Blast which deals lethal damage rather than nonlethal damage. This reduces his Power’s attack rating by 2N (a -2 Limitation) and changes the Damage Type from N to L (a +2 Enhancement).

Spontaneous Power Stunt

Spontaneous Power Stunts are activated using Style points. The Power Stunt is temporary. A new Standard or Custom Power Stunt may be activated by spending 1 Style point. The limit on the maximum number of Power Stunts per Power still applies. A Spontaneous Power Stunt lasts for duration of a combat or scene.

Example 1: Magnum is being attacked by the villain Quill. Quill has Energy Projection 2 with the Piercing Power Stunt. Magnum wants to increase his protection from Quill’s attack. Magnum can spend 1 Style Point to spontaneously activate the Standard Power Stunt, Hardened Armor to negate the Piercing Power Stunt. 

Example 2: Snowfire wants to use his Energy Projection 2 to attack a 5ft radius area rather than a single target. Since he has two levels in Energy Projection, Snowfire can spend 1 Style Point create a Spontaneous Custom Power Stunt which reduces his Power’s attack rating by 2N (a -2 Limitation) and adds 5ft Area Effect (a +2 Enhancement).