Build question

[ashuramarsh]

I have another question. This time I am wondering the best way to make a power build. The character I want to build has a device that allows them to gain the powers and abilities of video game characters. While using this they also transform into those characters. My question is, which ability best handles this sort of thing? Would I want to use Mimic, Morph - metamorph or shapechange?

The character retains their mental abilities, but can gain psionic like abilities (in the case of using a character like Psylock from MArvel vs. Capcom, and their physical stats and a couple defenses are replaced by the character in question.

[Shadowchaser]

Sounds like a Variable power, more than anything else.

Shapeshift is close, but adding the mental powers means you'd want to build it as a Variable, I think.

I will caution you that this kind of character is very hard to run for a player who doesn't know the rules very well, because you'll often be making up powers and abilities on the fly. I would strongly suggest this kind of character for an experienced player, and for a new player to stick with something more stable, like a specific alternate form rather than a variety of them.

[ashuramarsh]

Thanks. Though I thought shapeshift was listed as a variable already, And while it allows the gaining of physical traits it doesn't do mental ones.

As for the character its been agreed to make up the various characters they can transform into, a limtied number with the ability to add more later.

[Greyman]

Variable must be chosen with a descriptor that somewhat limits its range of effects. Shapeshift is Variable traits gained by changing shape, thus limiting it to effects of a purely physical nature. Mimic is limited to traits possessed by a subject. Nemesis is limited to powers needed to combat an opponent. So forth.

If your hero can mimic any game character, only limited by having access to network downloads or such, then Variable is appropriate.

However, if the hero is drawing from a preset playlist (Ben 10 style), then MetaMorph may be the way to go.

[insaniac99]

you could build the character as set of multiple powers and then create an alternate set for 1pp (just like how Iron Man buys all of his armors) so you have your hulk set with strength, defenses, etc and then the psylock set with your psionic blades and so forth

[Greyman]

Yes. That's basically Alternate Form from 2ed.

Each individual 'form' is built from a set of effects. Multiple forms are placed in an array; they are Alternate Effects of each other. If the forms can be used as disguises, they contain Morph, though it's not required if your identity remains recognisable.

[WanderingMystic]

The way I have been told to build it in the past is Morph 3 [Limited: only video game characters, Limited may only assume characters you have metamorph for] 9pp +1pp per metamorph.
Each metamorph is a distance character and allows you to redistribute your states to fit that form. (assuming you are a PL10 150 point character you have 150-(9+metamorphs) to find out how many points you have to spend on your new form)

If you are using the variable option then you need to factor in an extra level to the variable power to compensate for the 5pp needed to for Morph 1 (one specific form), lucky since you are using variable you can reconfigure morph every time you shift so you effectively only need 1 rank in it.

[Greyman]

The way I have been told to build it in the past is Morph 3 [Limited: only video game characters, Limited may only assume characters you have metamorph for] 9pp +1pp per metamorph.

The rank of Morph already limits the range of forms. Rank 2 limits it to a narrow group of forms. Limiting to only one form for each application of Metamorph is rank 1; as each additional Metamorph effectively acts as an Alternate Effect.

Game Characters: Morph 1 (Mario, Sonic, Megaman; Metamorph 3).

Has the same cost and effect as:

Game Characters: 6 point array (Alternate Effect 2) [Morph 1 (Mario; Metamorph), AE: Morph 1 (Sonic; Metamorph), AE: Morph 1 (Mega Man; Metamorph)].

[WanderingMystic]

The rank of Morph already limits the range of forms. Rank 2 limits it to a narrow group of forms. Limiting to only one form for each application of Metamorph is rank 1; as each additional Metamorph effectively acts as an Alternate Effect.

Game Characters: Morph 1 (Mario, Sonic, Megaman; Metamorph 3).

Has the same cost and effect as:

Game Characters: 6 point array (Alternate Effect 2) [Morph 1 (Mario; Metamorph), AE: Morph 1 (Sonic; Metamorph), AE: Morph 1 (Mega Man; Metamorph)].

Your first build is not rules legal even though it cost the same amount as your second one since with morph 1 you only have 1 form you can transform into regardless of the meta-morph extra.
Morph 2 is a narrow group so it is up to your GM as to what that covers, the suggestion seem more limited than Video game characters and I have been told that things like movie characters, or comic book characters is to broad to be rank 2.

The last build with ae off of morph + metamorph is legal and a good way of doing it