Omnipotence is boring.
Finding greatness without being all-powerful is what makes a character interesting, so keep that in mind. Being able to be better than others through the merits of your self, rather than your powers is what separates chumps from champs, and good characters from bad.
That said, villains have some more leeway. A powerful villain can make an excellent foil for a hero who isn't too powerful. The interactions between the two can easily be the dynamic of a story.
That said, villains have some more leeway. A powerful villain can make an excellent foil for a hero who isn't too powerful. The interactions between the two can easily be the dynamic of a story.
This is basically a guide to balancing your powers, and developing synergies and limitations for them. Remember, no matter what power tier you have, everyone should be courteous enough to limit themselves, instead of going for everything possible. There are some exceptions, like if you get a relatively non-useful power (like gaining one of the 'Combat techniques' which are simply the ability to use another power effectively in combat) you can sometimes stretch the normal bounds a bit.
Incredibly strong powers, like Stellar Physiology, should usually be limited by taking the lesser variant of the power. Stellar Physiology has Nigh-Formed and Full-Formed variations, and Full-Formed is vastly more powerful. For story reasons, it's better to take Nigh-Formed and 'earn' your Full-Formed power up. this way, there's a sense of accomplishment with gaining the power.
Incredibly strong powers, like Stellar Physiology, should usually be limited by taking the lesser variant of the power. Stellar Physiology has Nigh-Formed and Full-Formed variations, and Full-Formed is vastly more powerful. For story reasons, it's better to take Nigh-Formed and 'earn' your Full-Formed power up. this way, there's a sense of accomplishment with gaining the power.
Per-Power Limitations
These limits are based on each individual power, and are applied one at a time.
Non-Combat Only: You can only use this power outside of combat
Stress Only: You can only use this power while very stressed or while calm. Choose which at limit application, not per case. Instinctive: This power activates itself, and you have no conscious control over how it is applied. Might get overridden is you lose your higher reasoning. Always On: You cannot turn this power off, though you can tone it down a bit. If you have super strength, you're always putting far too much force into thing. If you're intangible, you can't become tangible. This is a very strong limit. Quantum Dysfunction: You cannot use your power while observed, or your power only activates while observed. Can be used to separate two identities, in that one is for the spotlight, the other only works when alone. Artifact Powered: Your power relies on the use of or is charged by an artifact. The rarity and fragility of the artifact should be decided at its creation. Event Powered: Your power relies on a specific event to become active or to charge. Events include the Full Moon's light, the stars aligning, or the third Tuesday each month. LOS Only: Your powers can only be used on or in the direction of things you can see. This includes things like 'I can only teleport places I've been' and any form of straight-line power use, like limb extension, only working at high speed and in a linear manner, like a sting attack. |
Limits on All Powers
These limits influence all of your powers at the same time. It's better to take fewer of these.
Non-Combat Only: You cannot use your powers in a combat situation.
Near-Death Activation: You cannot use your powers until you are convinced that your life is in danger. I/O Toggle: Your powers are either running at full strength, or not at all. You might be able to get a tiny flicker of power instead of full strength, but you will never have the ability to scale up your power. Artifact Powered: Your powers are charged or activated by having control of a given artifact. Event Powered: Your powers rely on a specific event to either become active or to charge. Instinctive: Your powers are not under your control, instead activating itself when the time is right, according to your subconscious. Exclusive: Your powers cannot be activated at the same time as others, unless they are directly related. Examples of directly related are Plasma Generation and Ionokinetic Combat, which is the ability to use plasma in combat effectively. Ad Hoc Powers: Any time you use a power once, it vanishes after resolving, and replaces itself with a new power. Standard rules apply; no Omni-powers, no Omni-Power combos. Presence Effect: Your powers only last until you leave - any sort of summoned object or construct you create crumbles the moment you're gone, and curses and afflictions only last as long as you're concentrating on it. Injuries inflicted with your powers, along with any kind of trauma, remains. |
These limitations are not the only ones, but they are intended to be guidelines for limitations you can impose on yourself. Remember, all-powerful characters able to handle any situation are boring to read about or listen to.
Remember, imagination is key! If you can hamstring yourself (metaphorically) and still prevail in a believable fashion, that's more impressive than using your amazing space-time-manipulation-breath to turn the monster into a babe (or dude) that loves you forever for saving them from being a monster.
Remember, imagination is key! If you can hamstring yourself (metaphorically) and still prevail in a believable fashion, that's more impressive than using your amazing space-time-manipulation-breath to turn the monster into a babe (or dude) that loves you forever for saving them from being a monster.