[DC Heros and Villains Volume 2] The Parasite

[Helseth]

Underneath Powers, The Parasite has an interesting affliction:

Power Drain: Cumulative Affliction 18 (Resisted by Fortitude;) Powers Impaired, Powers Disabled, Transformed—
Powerless) • 36 points

So, basically this means that with one success, the enemy's powers are impaired, giving them a -2 with every check to use their powers? and with Powers Disabled, they get a -5 with respect to power checks? and finally, the last level makes whoever is affected powerless.

If this is correct, what kinds of powers would this affliction apply to? Would it be any kind of power, even if its from a device or magic? Would you limit it to certain types of descriptors? Its fairly standard as afflictions go, offering hindrances on the first two degrees of failures, then throwing down a lockdown on the last failure.

[Shadowchaser]

Underneath Powers, The Parasite has an interesting affliction:

Power Drain: Cumulative Affliction 18 (Resisted by Fortitude;) Powers Impaired, Powers Disabled, Transformed—
Powerless) • 36 points

So, basically this means that with one success, the enemy's powers are impaired, giving them a -2 with every check to use their powers? and with Powers Disabled, they get a -5 with respect to power checks? and finally, the last level makes whoever is affected powerless.

If this is correct, what kinds of powers would this affliction apply to? Would it be any kind of power, even if its from a device or magic? Would you limit it to certain types of descriptors? Its fairly standard as afflictions go, offering hindrances on the first two degrees of failures, then throwing down a lockdown on the last failure.

I'd use this as "-2 to all power uses/ranks"/-5/Powers shut down. I'd also be picky about which powers were affected, making only things that Parasite can "Absorb" affected (not including power armor, for instance).

In a way, it seems like the first two ranks could use a "Broad" and "Simultaneous" extra or something, and maybe I'd require that for a PC, but for an NPC like the Parasite the point cost doesn't really matter.

[WanderingMystic]

Note it dose not actually lower ranks when hit by the first two degrees, that would require Weaken. This is important because it would not slow you down if you had flight (just give you a penalty to checks made while flying) or remove immunities

In a way, it seems like the first two ranks could use a "Broad" and "Simultaneous" extra or something, and maybe I'd require that for a PC, but for an NPC like the Parasite the point cost doesn't really matter.

This is just how it is built in the Meta power profile. I see no reason to require broad or simultaneous to the affliction.

Remember that as it stands Impaired/Disable just gives you a flat -2/-5 to ALL checks so its not that much different.

Affliction + Cumulative: only cost 2 p/ per rank but it only implies a -2/-5 penalty to action that involve your powers it is only if you get a 3rd degree that you make them completely powerless

If you want other option of doing the same thing

Nullify (+ broad + simultaneous) cost 3 p/ per rank but turns off All powers of a given broad set until the opponent next action. It is more costly and time wise is very limited but can be amazing.

Weaken (+ broad + simultaneous) cost 3 p/ per rank lowers ALL powers of a given Broad group by -1 pp per point of success but they return at 1 pp per round. My favorite way of doing it .

Over all using affliction is the cheapest way of doing it so I could see you wanting to imposes some sort of +1p /per rank to bring it up in line with the others but to be honest the problem lies with nullify and weaken not being balanced against damage and affliction not the other way around.

[Greyman]

It also requires a lot less book keeping! No need to keep track of how many power points have been lost or recovered, and no need to figure out what rank that leaves a power. Just apply the appropriate penalty, and allow a resistance check each round.

[Helseth]

Figured as much. Like any other affliction, 2 early results give debilitation, and the last gives some kind of death-equivalent effect in a deadly fight. A classic save-or-suck.

Your weaken method is a very nice way to simulate a power drainer, and the gradual (1pt/per round) restoration in the combat round of abilities makes it very viable. My only problem with it is the cost, and honestly, the broad descriptor, as even though it allows you to "branch out" It's more limiting in that it forces you to "specialize" to things like Speedsters, or Animal morphers. Parasite has super-broad powers that really apply to whatever the editor mandate of the week is

I can see why they used Affliction now. Easy to budget in with a character that requires a variable effect, and easy on the book keeping.

Thanks folks!

[Kariggi]

So would you let it affect Innate or Permanent powers?


Affliction?
Weaken?

I know the answere on Nullify

[Greyman]

So would you let it affect Innate or Permanent powers?

Permanent powers have no inherent immunity to trait-affecting effects, by default. That is the purpose of the innate flat-extra.

By the book, Innate doesn't cover other trait-affecting effects (as it did in 2ed). In 3ed, it is only specified as an immunity to nullify. I would, however, consider this to be as much a descriptor as an effect immunity, and allow it to carry over to other trait-affecting effects where it makes sense.

For instance: Innate growth should also be immune to weakening, and power-loss afflictions, etc. but not to a shrinking affliction.

[TheManagement]

I've gone over Parasite's build multiple times and tried to figure out EXACTLY how this would work in play.

I'm not sure if I like that build in the book, so everyone that's contributed to this post, thanks for the input. I was actually planning on posting a very similar question... and considered rebuilding him for my game.

The power build in the book just didn't seem frightening or powerful enough to me.

[Greyman]

The power build in the book just didn't seem frightening or powerful enough to me.

Parasite isn't that dangerous when first encountered, but he gets more powerful while his opponent gets weaker. That's his thing. Once he's affected someone with his power drain (even just the first degree) he can copy their traits and appearance.

He can also do this with a bystander before the encounter, gaining a surprise attack.

[TheManagement]

Parasite isn't that dangerous when first encountered, but he gets more powerful while his opponent gets weaker. That's his thing. Once he's affected someone with his power drain (even just the first degree) he can copy their traits and appearance.

He can also do this with a bystander before the encounter, gaining a surprise attack.

That's how he's been portrayed in modern times... but Raymond Jensen was far more powerful and far more frightening than Rudy Jones.

I have every Showcase Presents collection that involves Superman, and IMHO, Post-Crisis Parasite is a cheap reflection of who he used to be.

Jensen, could immediatly steal a sizeable portion of Superman's power... and the continued confrontations actually made him smarter, even after the power boost ended. Jensen was an absolute monster of a villain, and it took Superman's very, very best to take him down.

I've been trying to figure out a way to take the Parasite from the book and rebuild him into the force that he used to be.

[greycrusader]

Yes, the Raymond Jensen version once drained/duplicated the powers of Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, and the Hulk simultaneously in a (admittedly non-canonical) DC/Marvel crossover.

(The story had Dr. Doom using a device which could remotely feed the powers to Parasite without Jensen actually needing to be in proximity, and of course Doom eventually pulled a double cross).

[HustlerOne]

The power build in the book just didn't seem frightening or powerful enough to me.

I kind of agree with you on this one. His ranks in Variable seems kind of low to me at only rank 12. That gives him only 60 points to duplicate superman's powers. I could have sworn that he can at the very least
steal nearly all of superman's abilities and powers. Heck, in the Young justice show he was able to steal both superboy's and Miss Martians powers at the same time.

Maybe his variable rank should be at rank 18 similiar to the high ranks in his life drain and affliction
powers? The only thing that makes parasite dangerous are his high ranks in life drain and affliction powers.

[Doresh]

Then again, he is usually a NPC, so the GM can give him pretty much any Variable rank needed for the story.