Bookwyrm

--Raveled-- Well, what if the source of their boost was essentially just...sentient things? I mean, unless there were some humans or animals that didn't have emotions nearby, the source is kinda all-or-nothing, especially considering that it doesn't just have to be enemies' emotions; other players, random civilians, etc. And the action would only be a reaction so he should be able to not have to spend another round boosting. Though you're right, I'm certainly not experienced, but I'm ok at learning new (/old, depending on how you look at it) rules. He is sort of a martial artist...he fights with a cane, but yeah, will probably get to the damage caps. And he definitely won't have to feel the emotions himself. As to the backstory, his mother was a supervillain, and through her line is a long history of supers, heroes and villains. There's a special family ring, that allows the next Clivius (their last name) to unlock his/her powers, and gives preset "memory messages" to the receiver. In them, she told Quinn (char's name) to not tell anyone. Honestly, I don't even know the full reason, but I suppose it has something to do with her being a villain. I like having vague threads in my characters' backstory, that are up for speculation. --Raveled + angrydurf-- Yeah, actually might go with somethin' like that. If it's not the Boost, it's almost certainly a dynamic array with Enhanced Traits. Maybe with the Quirk/Limitation/Complication that I can only have "X" number of ranks depending on the nearby intensity like you said, and then a different array of normal Alternate Effects with the actual powers there? Sorry if my newbiness angers you; I tend to have a way of gravitating towards the "worst/most inefficient" things when I look into an RPG for the first time.

I think I'll do kinda a mix of what you and HG said; all emotions wi ll increase his Abilities, but the special powers have to be provided by certain emotions. However, one of his Complications is that he can't tell people that he has powers (made a promise to his dead mother, bla bla bla, backstory), so I think he won't have the special powers at first unless they're more subtle in nature; better senses, Insubstantial, etc. Of course, I'm sure at some point everyone will know, and then the more obvious powers can start to show up.

Ok, so I looked into some of those. Can you make the Empathy always on? Maybe as a reaction? And the Boost as a reaction as well? Thanks in advance!

I think at the start he'll just have the Empathy and increasing ability traits. I'll add the other stuff in as I get more power points, or if I have some leftover after I finish the character's skills and things. With different emotions relating to different abilities...I'm torn. On one hand, if all emotions increase all abilities, it would be more versatile. On the other, part of my character's concept is being good with people, and could conceivably make people feel how he needs them to be so he can get the required stat increase. Plus, it could get those awesome moments where he manipulates different people to completely change the situation. The Boost actually kinda sounds like what I want; if he can't sense emotions nearby, or if everyone is calm, he steadily loses the traits. The "emotional level" would bring his stats up, and stay there as it gets "refilled" over and over by the current level. If it drops, his traits drop, and if it increases, they go up. I'll have to look at Container; like I said, I only really know 3E terminology. Thanks for the help so far!

Ok, so I have what I think is an interesting idea. However, it works more in "comic book" land, and possibly not so much in tabletop land. Quick background details: I have a rudimentary understanding of the 2E rules; I know more about 3E than 2E, and what I do know is a brief skimming through effects and skills. However, I think the character concept might work better in 2E, which is why I'm here. Anyway, the character has two basic powers that are most likely linked together: the first one is simply Empathy, but should be permanent, and work in a radius around him, and the far cooler one is this; based on the "emotional level" that he can detect around him (think intensity; anger is not stronger than sadness, it's just based on how strongly they're feeling each emotion. So, rage is probably more powerful than those, and calmness is like absolute zero.) he gets better in mental and physical traits. As he progresses, he can also use some of the "stored power" around him to do all manner of nifty stuff; emotional "energy" blasts, gain better senses temporarily, etc, etc. So, does that sound doable? Any and all help would...well, be of much help.