Jack of Tales

10) Here's one that's completely up to the GM's so I'd like to know what opinions are on this. If a charater using a Device as a weapon takes the Unreliable flaw alternate where it stops working after 5 uses to simulate ammunition. What would you rule a 'reload' action would take? Hmm I was looking in UP and didn't see that >.> maybe I'm blind or its only in the 2E book.

9) Does Auto-Fire count against the PL cap on damage? For example, if a PL 10 uses a trade-off of +2 attack/-2 DC can they have a Rank 8 Blast with auto-fire that can deal over +8 for the DC? Awesome! That means I get an extra PP on this character I made ^^ Thanks!

Kiera's room was a typical freshman/sophomore dorm. Two small beds, two small desks, two sets of drawers and a tiny closet for each. Lucky for Kiera, she had yet to be assigned a roommate after the last one requested a transfer. She had claimed that the moving shadows when Kiera wasn't there freaked her out. No one else had seen anything and assumed it was a made up excuse. Kiera had left one side clear for whoever got moved in while decorating her half. The walls had several old posters on them of various circus events all in the language of her homeland. They were posters from old events her parents and herself had performed at. The bed had dark blue sheets with silver stars and was accompanied by two raven stuffed animals. One was from the Tower of London and the other was from Disney Land. Her closet was filled with an assortment of odd clothing and fabrics. Everything from velvet to PVC. Kiera stepped out of the closet where there were always shadows and walked over to her desk which was scattered with a laptop and various homework assignments. She sighed and sat down to attend to Physics homework due next week.

Ooh I like that. I may run something with her parents being kidnapped in the near future. Perhaps one of the dead children was the kid of a friend of a big evil super-villain (or the villain's child/cousin/etc) giving me a powered to challenge.

I decreased the rank to 4, made the scent a drawback and added enhanced range. now she can make you feel like puking from further away Btw, I know this is typically only for critiquing the power stuff, but once that's out of the way what do you think of the story/descriptions? What should I add/take away?

Thanks Doctor & you too Barnum. Both of you are proving to be invaluable aid to me!

8) The Rapid Attack AP for Super-Speed states that you can take an attack at every foe within power rank x 5 feet as a single action, single attack roll. It states that this can be a strike, trip or disarm. Now would this 'strike' be an unarmed attack or could it be another power used, say an actual Strike power?

I'm already at my allotted 2 characters but I had a nifty idea that I've been toying with and decided to make it and put it in a file somewhere for later use. I think I'll stick with the mental wrestling part combined with simply a 3 or 4 drawback on the Involuntary Transformation. Make it Frequency 1 or 2 with intensity 2 or 3. 6) Super-speed in UP states that it gives array points. Do you still have to buy the AP power feat to use those points? EDIT: I think I found the answer to this on the ATT: Super-Speed grants one free AP at the same rank as the Super-Speed itself. So you get Quickness, Imp. Initiative, Speed, and Power X all at Rank Y. Is this right? 7) Immunity 30: Fort Saves includes Fortitude saves and what else? If you are immune to Fort saves that includes poison, disease and some powers. Does it also include age?

5) How would you emulate fighting for control of the body when using certain powers? For example, if the hero only has their powers due to possession by some outside force and using some of those powers causes that outside force to attempt to wrest control of them? I figured it would be an involuntary transformation flaw somehow linked to certain powers with perhaps a will save to not transform?

Darn. What do you suggest? I wanted to emulate that she can give off a scent that's so revolting it causes nausea. Should I up the range to perception? That weakens the rank though, would that make it too weak to be effective still? Tell me your opinion O' Wise Sage :D

4) Ability Scores: When would be an acceptable time to decrease a score to 0? How is this accomplished? For example, if a hero/villain/NPC is an undead and has no Con score do you gain 10 pp's? Or is it some type of power you must obtain?

All of the powers stem from the armlet including the AP blasts which is why the accurate is there. I can switch out summon for something else ^^ EDIT: Replaced it with paralyze The Nauseate was a mistype. magic was the descriptor before I re-arranged/modified how the character's powers were (now they're all divine) Flaw: Sense-Dependent requires that targets can smell, right? I thought that's all it meant, is that wrong?

One of the girls whispers something to the other, who giggles and glaces at Kiera. They both walk out of the room, leaving the shadow weaver to herself. Kizzy glares after them and makes rude faces at the door. After being at the Academy for two months she still had yet to make any friends among the other students. It wasn't from lack of trying, either. She supposed she chatted far too much. A sad sigh escaped the girl and she resorted to her favorite hobby over the last few months. She held out one hand and gathered shadow stuff from wherever it came from, weaving it into a spiraling tentacle. The room descended into pitch blackness, with Kizzy standing in the middle. She pointed towards the busted stereo and smiled as long tentacles spiraled out of the ground, wrapping around it. She'd tried this with plants but it seemed to kill them and that was just cruel. The stereo was tangled by the writhing shadow stuff before with a swift gesture by it's maker, it disappears. Kizzy strode up to the stereo and grinned at it. So, villain. You are caught red-handed! Destroying music for young girls? Dreadful, really. Now, like, you face the wrath of... Kizzy had been considering various super-hero names for herself and had yet to settle on one. Mistress of the Dark? Naw sounds like a prostitute...The Dark Lady? I don't really fit that and Dark Girl just sounds uber-lame. She mumbled for a bit before scowling at the stereo and deciding she was bored. She extended one arm and concentrated, forcing the normally insubstantial shadows to coelesce around her hand and lower arm. The black substance melded to her touch and thoughts as it formed a very animal-like arm at the end of her elbow. Kizzy grinned and clenched the "Shadow Gauntlet" as she liked to call it. She wiggled the fingers in a very un-heroic like manner before slashing out and shredding the stereo. She glared at the broken machine and let the shadows disappear and the room instantly lit up again. Once again, unnoticed was that not all the shadows dissipated and several more prancing figures joined those under the couch. Kizzy stood in the room for a moment looking at the insides of the stereo before remembering that there were camera's in place. She swiftly stepped into the corner of the room and melded into the shadow, appearing again in her room the floor above.

Wanted to get a feel for the errors before doing the Insect Swarm. Will put that up after the character is finished.

Players Name: Jack_Of_Tales Power Level: 6 Characters Name: Lola Talbot Alternate Identity: Obsidian Butterfly Height: 5’ 1†Weight: 106 Hair: Black Eyes: Brown Description: Personality: Distanced and quiet, the girl often sits by herself and avoids interacting with others. When approached she gives cold stares until left alone again, and if forced to speak its often curt and to the point. Physical: At 5’ 1†Lola is very short. Her parents were both of Chilean descent and the dark skin, dark eyes and dark hair have rubbed off on their child. Lola has straight, long black hair and dusky skin. Her eyes are a plain brown. Lola dresses in subdued, boring clothing: lots of jeans and monochrome t-shirts. She does this hoping to fade into the background and be ignored by others. She has taken to wearing large, heavy coats to cover her gauntlet. History: News 5 Report April 4th News Channel 5: *Television switches on* This is Jane Farson reporting from the scene of a horrible fire in a small suburban region of Freedom City. It looks as if some type of explosion rocked the house, killing the two parents inside and leaving an orphaned child. *Camera moves to a police officer standing nearby* “Officer Jackson, Can you tell us what is going on? What happened here? Was it a terrorist?†“Sorry Ma’am. All I can say is that it’s STAR’s problem now.†*Camera swivels back to the reporter, standing by self. Fire being attacked by fire fighters in the rear* “You heard it here, folks. STAR will be on the scene shortly. This means it is a super-powered attack on our city! What new villain could this be?†*Channel is changed to a Bugs Bunny cartoon* Excerpt from Psychological Examination “…causing her to retreat into an emotionally regulated state. Makes reference to ‘feeling numb’ and ‘empty.’ Possibly future problem without weekly counseling could stem from emotional detachment. Best described as a protective state to avoid connecting on an emotional level. She seems to avoid social contact although appears to do well as long as not directly confronted. Suggested counseling be coupled with careful observation to avoid development into sociopathic tendencies. Perhaps…†Excerpt from Journal found after the fire “…isn’t that strange? Then she said something about it being destiny or some such. It was pretty though so I decided to take it, I mean, why pass down free jewelry? It’s not exactly my taste though…too ‘goth’ with all the rings and chains. Maybe I can take it apart later and figure out how it makes the stones glow. Maybe it’s a…*section too burnt to make out* Can’t find where the batteries are. Must be old. I can’t wait to show it to Alison, she’ll be so freaked out!†Excerpt from Notes taken by Duncan Summer during first meeting “The bracelet does not appear to work for anyone but Miss Talbot. She was very withdrawn during the meeting. I hope that we can draw her out and teach her how to use her new powers. I must send someone to investigate this antique shop she obtained it from...†From the Log of Private Detective Mezzini 4:01 p.m. Headed out along street given 4:30 p.m. Have walked down street three times, no sign of an antique store run by a 'Miss Tezzi.' 5:00 p.m. Local store owners do not seem to recognize name of 'Miss Tezzi.' 5:15 p.m. Entered abandoned storefront between a grocer and video store. Grocer: "Been closed since we moved in, ten years ago." Video Clerk: "Dunno man, want a joint?" *Note; contact police* 5:30 p.m. Abandoned storefront has several thick inches of dust, unable to estimate how long it has been abandoned 6:00 p.m. After thorough search found old scroll case beneath many layers of beer cans 6:15 p.m. Unidentified language; returned item to client. Case closed. From an Jeweler’s Appraisal of the bracelet “…perhaps of Aztec design. The chains appear to be made out of silver. Each ring is detailed with a different set of symbols and decoration. Flames, flowers, butterflies, stars, and hearts are marked on each ring, however, the overall pattern is ancient. Each ring bears a small emerald. The bracelet itself is detailed with a large emerald and several gold details. An Aztec pattern of zig zags and spots adorns the top. The underneath also appears to be detailed, however, with a more jagged and violent appearance.†Stats: (6 points) Str: 10 (+0) Dex: 13 (+1) Con: 10 (+0) Int: 10 (+0) Wis: 13 (+1) Cha: 10 (+0) Combat: (10 points) Base Attack: +0 (0 points), +6 Device Defense: +5 (10 points) Initiative: +1 Total Defense: 17 (+5 BD, +2 DF) Saves: (17 points) Toughness: +6 (Protection 6) Fortitude: +5 (5 points) Reflex: +7 (6 points +1 Dex) Will: +7 (6 points + 1 Wis) Skills: (3 points) (12 skill points) Acrobatics +7 (6 ranks, +1 dex) Computers +2 (2 ranks) Concentration +5 (4 ranks, +1 Wis) Feats: (1 points) Dodge Focus 1 (1) POWERS *Note* All powers are from the Device: Armlet of the Butterfly Gods Armlet of the Butterfly Gods Device: 13 {Divine} [65 DP] (4 PP/Rank + 6 PP = 58 PP) PF: Indestructible (1);Restricted: Lola Only (2); Accurate 3 Goddess of Love Emotion Control [1pp/rank+3] Rank 6 (9 pts) Flaw: Limited to Love (-1) Power Feat: Mind Blank Emotion Reading AP: Mind Reading (1pp/rank) Rank 6 Power of Love AP: Mind Control (1pp/rank) Rank 6 (6) Flaw: Sense-Dependent: Must make eye contact (-1) Goddess of Flowers Plant Control 6 (2pp/rank = 12+(8) (20) Night Lily Toxin AP: Paralyze (2pp/rank) Rank 6 (12) Rose Thorns AP: Blast (2pp/rank) 6 (12) Rafflesia Scent AP: Nauseate (3pp/Rank-1) Rank 4 (11) Extra: Range(+1) Drawback: Only affects those with a sense of smell (-1) Power Feat: Improved Range Allergy AP: Stun 2pp/rank rank 6 (12) Pollen Allergy AP: Stun 3pp/rank Rank 4 (12) Extra: Range (+1) Dehydration AP: Fatigue 2pp/rank Rank 6 (12) Plant Perception AP:ESP (3pp/rank{All senses} ) Rank 4 (12) Flaw: Medium: Plant(-1) Plant Growth AP: Growth (2pp/rank) Rank 6 (12) Extra: Affects Others, Duration: Permanent Flaw: Limited: Plants only Speak with Plants Comprehend (2pp/rank ) Rank 1 (2) Divine Protection Protection 6 (6) [Magic] Aromatherapy (3pp/rank) Healing 6 (18) Extra: Area Cloud (+1), Selective attack (+1) Flaw: Sense-Dependent: Smell(-1) Bird Wings Flight 3 (5pp) Drawback: Power Loss (Must move wings) Immortality Immunity 3 (1pp/rank = aging, poison, starvation & thirst) (3 pts) Obsidian Butterfly Corruption Morph (1pp/rank=Transform into Obsidian Butterfly)(2) Power Feat: Metamorph Metamorph Form: Itzpapalotl; Obsidian Butterfly Abilities, Saves, Combat, Feat: Same as Normal form Skills: (12) Knowledge (History) +4 (4 ranks) Knowledge (Physical Science) +4 (4 ranks) Concentration +5 (4ranks, +1 Wis) Device 13 {58pp} (65) Power Feat: Indestrictible (1); Restricted (2) Lola only; Accurate 3 (+6) Divine Protection Protection Rank 6 (6) Immortality Immunity (1pp/rank aging, poison, heat) Rank 3 (3) Xochiquetzal Corruption Morph 1 (2) PF: Metamorph (Xochiquetzal) Butterfly Wings Flight 3 (5) Drawback: Power Loss (Must move wings) Goddess of Fire Fire Control Rank 6 (12+7=20) Blinding Smoke AP: Obscure (3pp/rank{Visual}) Rank 4 (12) Extra: Selective (+1) 20ft radius Fireflash AP: Dazzle (2pp/rank Visual) Rank 6 (12) Flame Burst AP: Blast (2pp/rank) Rank 6 (12) Choking Smoke AP: Suffocate (4pp/rank) Rank 3 (12) Extra: Ranged (+1), Area Burst (+1) Heat Control AP: Thermal Control (3pp/rank {Extreme Heat}) Rank 4 (12) Extra: Selective Attack (+1) IgniteAP: Ignite (3pp/rank) Rank 4 (12) Illusory Flames AP: Illusion Control (1pp/rank +5) Rank 6 (11) Extra: Limited: Flame effects only Goddess of Stars Probability Control Rank 6 (4pp/rank+ 6) (30) Extra: Fortune (+1) Flaw: Limited to Fortune (-1) Gift of the Stars AP: Luck Control (5pp/rank+3) Rank 4 (23) Powers: Bestow HP on others, spend HP on another character’s behalf, Negate useof HP, force a re-roll Extra: Area Burst (+1), Selective Attack (+1) Power Feat: Luck 3 Worm-Hole AP: Teleport (5pp/rank) Rank 4 (20) Extra: Portal (+2); Accurate (+1) Power Feat: Progression 3, Easy Black Dwarf AP: Density (3pp/rank) Rank 6 (19) {*Player Note*Target’s skin becomes pure black and slightly cold to the touch} Extra: Affects Others (only) +0; Reflective (+2/3) PF: Affects Insubstantial Speed of Light AP: Time Control (7pp/rank) Rank 3 (24) PF: Progression 3 (to affect more people) Celestial Energy AP: Boost (4pp/rank) Rank 6 (24) Affects all traits Flaw: Others Only Universal Scope AP: Confuse (4 pp/rank) Rank 6 (24) {Player Note:With a swift grin, the true scope and size of the universe crushes down upon an area} Extras: Area, Burst (+1), Selective Attack (+1), Action (+1,move) DC Block: ATTACKS: SAVE DC: DAMAGE TYPE: Emotion Control 6 16/Will Other Thorn/Flame Blast 6 16/Toughness Bruise (Staged) Nauseate;Fatigue,Dazzle 16/Fort Other Suffocate 3 13/Fort Other Illusion 6 16/Will Other Confuse 6 16/Will Other Drawbacks: Involuntary Transformation +5 (Common, irresistible) Complications: Secret Identity (Villain persona), Violent Involuntary Personality (Obsidian Butterfly) Costs: Abilities (06) + Combat (10) + Saves (17) + Skills (03) + Feats (01) + Powers (58) - Drawbacks (5) = 95 This image is by Carolina Eade, a great artist. I love her work. But yea anyway, take this image from the waist up and that's what Obsidian Butterfly looks like after morphing.

You rock Thanks! I was looking on pg. 25 but for some reason just couldn't figure out about rank. So thank you so much for clearing it up! And on the wings..*goes and scribbles* almost ready to post character

Beneath the couch four small shapes swayed to the music. One of them split into several smaller forms one of which darted over to the stereo and crawled inside. Within several minutes the music ended with a loud crack and a wisp of steam floated up from the stereo. Kizzy cursed and went over to kick it, vaguely hoping to do something useful. After a moment of staring at it she turned to the two girls who were staring at her. Has anyone else noticed how everything in this place has been breaking down the past week? It's gross, like.

Sooo here's where I reveal my complete inability to understand most of the M&M books >.> 1) Are power ranks limited by power level? I know that you can't have say blast 9000 because it exceeds the damage cap (or some cap..) same with powers with save DC's. But what about powers unrelated to that? Immunity? Teleport? 1a) Gravity Control? How can you tell when a power is limited by PL? 2) PL limites your attack bonus/defense/saves/DC's Now is this your BAB/BAC/etc? or is that in total? If you're PL 6 can you -only- have a max of +6 to hit with an attack? Can you only have a DC 16 for a save? 2a) If you buy the Accurate PF for a device at 3 ranks for a PL 6 character does that essentially stop you from being able to have a BAB at all? 3) If your character has wings does that mean you should/have to use additional limbs? Or do you need flight up to continuous? Say you want them to bring forth the wings at will but perhaps not always just for flight? I'm basing a character on Iztpapatotl, an aztec goddess who had obsidian daggers on her butterfly wings. What would I do for this? Flight + additional limbs + Strike? Could the flight/strike be an array? Will add more as it comes up...*sigh* I'm sure most of these are obvious but I can't figure it out.

Comghairdeachas! That's congratulations in Irish ^^

That's cool. I figured if it became important that the way Kizzy's powers work would eventually find a way. I <3 mutants so as my hero, she's one. No idea how the powers themselves work though. Perhaps she does the same thing (ish) that the crazy nazi does . Sometime at the end of this story I plan on adding Summon (shadows) or Animate Shadows or something once she realizes it can be done. It'd be nifty to add a shadow form too, but I don't think you can put a container in an array..? M&M is still new to me >

As for powers for this character, I was thinking of dividing them up into two areas: One comes from the device (an ancient aztec relic) The relic is imbued with the power of Xochiquetzal; goddess of Love, Flowers, Beauty and birds. As such all the powers are supportive. Foes are either blinded by love (dazzle, emotion control) or have their senses assaulted by flowers and butterflies(obscure, nauseate). Also, I added in the Immunity because the weilder is supposed to be the 'avatar' of Xochiquetzal. As such they do not age and cannot be poisoned. I chose poison instead of disease because an original cause for the fall of the aztecs was disease and their priestesses were apparently not immune (hehe). Device 6 (27pp) (30p) Power Feat: Indestructible (1); Restricted (2) Lola only Obscure[Array?] (3pp/rank= visual, Auditory, selective Attack) Rank 6 (18+(3) pp) = 21 Descriptors: Magic [Appears as a torrent of colorful flower petals and a slight, singing chorus for those caught in the effect] Extra: Alternate Power AP: Nauseate (3pp/Rank) Rank 6 Extra: Range [Magic] A sickly sweet odor of strong flowers fills the nostrils. AP: Confuse (3pp/rank) Rank 6 Extra: Area (General, Cloud) :Selective Attack AP: Dazzle (3pp/rank = visual & auditory) Rank 6 Extra: Alternate Save (Will) Descriptors: (magic) {Opponent is literally blinded by an overflow of the love emotion directed towards the world in general.} Emotion Control [1pp/rank(?)] Rank 6 (7 pts) Flaw: Limited to Love (-1?) Power Feat: Mind Blank Immunity 2 (1pp/rank = aging & poison) (2 pts) Being as you can only put so many powers into a device I run into a problem. I would like her to have a limited form of flight (bird or butterfly wings), healing (trying to figure out how to fit this in, but I want her to helpful to others), and I think that's it. How can I do this? Any help? I'm tempted to make it so that the device is simply just attached to her (say magic ritual done at the antique shop, disguised as a "giving away" ritual) and is not a device at all. For her background, I'd like her to actually be a villain! I'm going to try and split her powers so that Lola and her 'villain' guise use different powers. I'm also thinking that she has another personality which uses most of the powers and is what manifests as her criminal side. The personality would be part her own developing sociopathic tendencies and part the armlet which contains the memories/thoughts of past owners.

Works fine for me! I like the idea of you using it as an excuse to investigate her powers, what is Nacht-Krieger though? *goes and looks at your character*

Sweetness! I'll have to wait a few more days before I get back to where my books are though EDIT: Could anyone look through this background and tell me what they think? Excerpt from Psychological Examination “…causing her to retreat into an emotionally regulated state. Makes reference to ‘feeling numb’ and ‘empty.’ Possibly future problem without weekly counseling could stem from emotional detachment. Best described as a protective state to avoid connecting on an emotional level. She seems to avoid social contact although appears to do well as long as not directly confronted. Suggested counseling be coupled with careful observation to avoid development into sociopathic tendencies. Perhaps…†Excerpt from Journal found after the fire “…isn’t that strange? Then she said something about it being destiny or some such. It was pretty though so I decided to take it, I mean, why pass down free jewelry? It’s not exactly my taste though…too ‘goth’ with all the rings and chains. Maybe I can take it apart later and figure out how it makes the stones glow. Maybe it’s a…*section too burnt to make out* Can’t find where the batteries are. Must be old. I can’t wait to show it to Alison, she’ll be so freaked out!†Excerpt from Notes taken by Duncan Summer during first meeting “Apparently the object was obtained at a small antique store. Note: Send someone over to look at store. From the looks it appears to be Aztec in origin, perhaps with a European influence. Note: Have someone look up references in Aztec mythology of “Fire creating weapons…â€Â

This is a great idea! I'd apply but I usually do background/appearance before I do powers I'd be keen on some plot ideas for Kizzy though. I have her in two threads now but one seems to have paused for quite a while.

Excerpt from the Freedom City Newspaper under Jobs: WANTED: Pinball Technician Job Description: Pinball Machine in Rita Kord Dormitory at the Claremont Academy in Bayview needs fixing. Salary: Gumballs and a few old euros Benefits: What is this for? Contact: Telephone: (989)555-5647. Ask for Room 5. Bulletin Post on a wall in the Cafeteria at Claremont Academy NEED MONEY??? Someone fix the Pinball machine in the basement at R.K.? It stole my quarter! Mr. Summers refuses to pay. What a grouch, yea? Anyway I have a surprise to whoever fixes it! If you need help getting into the building call (989)555-567 or just push the button for Room 5B. Thanks!