Powers and Weaknesses

Powers and Weaknesses are in-game attributes help or hinder players and NPCs. They represent natural or artificial traits that affect how players and NPCs must roleplay. These include physical restrictions, actions to be made in combat or social interactions, and stipulations on character appearance.

Species listed in Known Species have built-in Powers and Weaknesses. Players wishing to add Powers and Weaknesses to a known species should consult the Cyborgs/Biohacking Section of Custom Species Creation.

Touch Attack (Major)

Due to your extraordinary strength, natural weapons, superhuman reflexes, secret death grip, or some other factor, you are able to quickly neutralize enemies with your hands.

A light tap of your hand to any part of someone’s body while saying “touch attack” causes injury.

Projectile Attack (Major)

''You have the ability to project a concussive wave, a spray of acid, an arc of electricity, or some other long-range attack. Or you just have a blaster built into your arm like a normal person.''

You may start the event with 3 ammo for your personal use only. Ammo you throw by hand  is considered the same as if it had been shot from a blaster for the purposes of causing injury.

Lethal Touch (Major)

''Deadly shock? Venomous secretion? Rapid onset disease? Vampiric pores? Whatever it is, something about your biology makes physical contact with alien species a big no-no.''

Touching any part of another person’s body with your hands causes them injury (whether intentional or not) if they are not of the same species as you. Say “lethal touch” when this occurs. (Humans may not have/gain this weakness.)

Touch EMP (Major)

''Magnetic field, aggressive nanites, sticky sludge. Whatever you’re offering, robots don’t like it.''

A light tap of your hand to any part of a robotic character’s body while saying “touch EMP” causes injury.

Puzzle Instasolve (Major)

You can put the mental pedal to the metal in a pinch.

Once per event, you may instantly complete a puzzle challenge without needing to solve it.

Tough (Major)

''Kevlar skin, cyborg armor, chitinous plates, redundant hearts, you get the picture. Bottom line, you’re just that much harder to take down.''

Once per event, you ignore one injury immediately after it happens, shouting “tough”.

Brain Freeze (Major)

Sonic scream, psychic buzz, etc. If they have a brain, you can make them freeze.

Once per event, you may point at a character and say “freeze”. That character holds as still as possible for 10 seconds.

Modularity (Major)

You come with interchangeable parts, or maybe you yourself can change.

You may begin the event with any other major or minor power for free. You may lay down inactive and silent for 15 continuous minutes, then declare aloud a different major or minor power. You lose the old free power and gain the new power for free. (If you have already used a “once per event” power, you may not declare another “once per event” power this way).

Rapid Healing (Minor)

''Something about your biology makes you respond well to medical treatment. Your body just wants to be put back together.''

The procedure to heal you from injury only takes half as long.

Clairvoyance (Minor)

Credit for your thoughts?

While speaking with a non-violent character face-to-face, you may say “clairvoyance” to compel them to give you a whispered hint about their goals, motives, or secrets. Characters (especially NPCs) you use this on are aware of this mental intrusion and often greatly dislike it to the point of hostility.

Charm (Minor)

''Hey, are you new around here? I feel inexplicably drawn to you...want to grab a space ale?''

Once per event, while speaking with a non-violent character, you may say “charm”. That character must now have a good impression and opinion of you, as if you are friends.

Touch Attack Immunity (Minor)

You’re too metal, too strong, too quick, too gelatinous, etc. Their kung-fu is useless against you.

You cannot be injured by the “touch attack” power. (you are still possibly susceptible to other touch-delivered powers)

Mental Immunity (Minor)

''Nothing gets past that thick skull of yours. Or maybe you don’t have a brain to begin with.''

You are not affected by the Clairvoyance, Charm, or Brain Freeze powers.

Radiation Tolerance (Minor)

''Picking up a bit of recently-fired radioactive ammo? No sweat, it’s nothing compared to what you’re used to being exposed to.''

You may touch/handle/carry/store/use 1 expended ammo at a time without suffering injury.

OTHER POWER [???]

Concepts for new powers can be submitted to moderators before events for consideration/inclusion/balancing.

Weaknesses

Difficult Healing (Minor)

''There’s something off about your physiology, so sit back and relax. Healing this bullet wound could take a little bit.''

The procedure to heal you from injury takes twice as long

EMP Sensitive (Minor)

Your unique biology and/or robotic enhancements don’t like being too close to intense weaponized electromagnetism.

An EMP blaster going off in the same room as you (or within 25 feet outdoors) causes you injury.

Two-Thumbed (Minor)

Kraliens, among other species, bear this hand shape.

You must play the event with the index, middle, and ring finger on each hand bound together below the tips.

Two-Fingered (Minor)

''Torgoth, among other species, bear this hand shape. Occasionally even Vulcans.''

You must play the event with the index finger bound to the middle finger, and ring finger bound to the pinky, on each hand below the tips.

One Armed (Minor)

Species with a long trunk, or tentacle, or dexterous tail instead of arms.

You must play the event with one arm unusable.

Three-Legged (Minor)

Very special evolutionary pathways or creative engineering result in these unique specimens.

You must play the event with one arm always holding a crutch/cane and acting as a third leg.

Zero Armed (Major)

''I’d make a bid for Captain if I were you. Unless you have some very clean and dexterous toes.''

You must play the event with both arms unusable.

Large Digit (Major)

Species with this hand shape are sure to have other redeeming qualities...

You must play the event with each hand bound together as a flat paddle.

Small Digit (Major)

Species with this hand shape are sure to have other redeeming qualities...

You must play the event with only the use of your index fingers (the rest of the hand must be bound together in a fist).

One-Eyed (Minor)

''Species with limited powers of vision. Or perhaps an unintended result of “enhancement”''

You must play the event with the vision of one eye completely blocked.

Low Hearing (Major)

''Species that evolved with less priority on auditory input. What?''

You must play the event with safety-grade hearing protection (shooting earplugs or earmuffs, noise cancelling headphones, etc).

Quiet (Minor)

All other species must seem incredibly loud and obnoxious to you.

You must only communicate in a voiceless whisper, except to communicate the use of powers.

Silent (Major)

''Not everyone in the galaxy uses spoken words. Unfortunately, not everyone understands your people’s specific pheromone-based language either...''

You must remain vocally silent throughout the event, except to communicate the use of powers.

Light Sensitive (Minor)

Evolve without much light, and you’ll find you do much better without it than with it.

You must keep your eyes closed in normally-lit indoor or daytime conditions (the main light of a room being on, sunlight outdoors) unless you are wearing shaded lenses or cloth eye coverings.

Special Atmosphere Requirement (Minor)

''Forget arguing over the thermostat, there’s not enough methane coming through the air vents and you’re about to pass out from all this foul oxygen. How do terrans stand that smell?''

You must play the entire event wearing a breathing apparatus. It must either form an airtight seal around the mouth/nose or weigh a minimum of 2 pounds. Part of the apparatus must cover the mouth and nose but the rest of it can be elsewhere (tanks on the back, for instance).

Mental Vulnerability (Minor)

''Say *what* about my starship’s extended warranty? Sign me up! My Galactic ID number is…''

A player may use the Charm power on you without expending it. Your character is not aware of the use of the Clairvoyance power on them (they don’t remember whispering the hint). The Brain Freeze power causes you to freeze for 30 seconds instead of 10.

OTHER WEAKNESS [???]

Concepts for new weaknesses can be submitted to moderators before events for consideration/inclusion/balancing.