Reactive Nullify Build (Help?)

[Moderate_Hero]

I'm making a brick-type hero (Bob) with only one power, which follows:

POWER
“Forced into the Mundane” {54 pp} Variable 9 (Flaw -1: Limited to Nullify power as follows)
- Nullify 10 with variable counter (Extra: Randomize! +0, Reaction “enemy starts to attack him” +3, Accurate 2, Homing 1 (+1 flat))

The idea is that when Bob is attacked by a super, one of the super’s powers might go haywire (it gets possibly nullified/randomized). Does this do what I want it to do? IS there a better way to achieve this? It seems crazy expensive but maybe that's just how it has to be.

[hs5ias]

This power doesn't need to be variable.

I'd build it thus:

Nullify Powers 10, Broad, Randomize, Reaction 3: Reaction

[Moderate_Hero]

This power doesn't need to be variable.

I'd build it thus:

Nullify Powers 10, Broad, Randomize, Reaction 3: Reaction

But does that effectively counter anything thrown against it? I was under the impression that broad was still limiting; broad - magical, etc. So it won't effect Technology if it is Magical, etc. Or is this wrong, broad will counter pretty much anything?

[Moderate_Hero]

I have also been told that variable is a standard action, so this does not really do what I want. I guess the Reactive should be on the Variable, not the Nullify.

POWER
“Forced into the Mundane”
Variable 3 (Flaw -1: Limited to Nullify power below, Reaction “enemy starts to attack him” +3)
- Nullify 10 with variable counter (Extra: Randomize! +0, Accurate 2, Homing 1 (+1 flat))

I think this actually helps a lot. I need only 15 PP in the variable to power the Nullify, which means 3 ranks of variable. Cost is 7 - 1 +3 = 9 pp per rank * 3 = 27. Incredibly more reasonable.

Right?

[Madwand]

If you use Variable, you probably need Reactive on both the Variable and Nullify. I'd stick with hs5ias's build. Note that if this is your only power, your "Brick" will be flattened pretty quickly.... this power won't really protect you, just annoy your attacker. Since it's also your attacker's turn, they may be able to immediately reactivate whatever power you nullify, too.

[Saltcrow]

Another way to handle this is instead of Nullify, you can use Affliction (power impaired/power disabled/transformed [powerless]), as a Reaction of course.

This way if anyone touches Bob (or Bob touches anyone with power), they get up to -5 penalty to any rolls made to use their power, may it be attack rolls or opposed checks and all. Upon reaching the 3rd degree, they lose access to all their powers as long as they are under its influence.

It is a lot easier to handle it this way because it simulates the 'duration' of robbing people of their ability to use powers instead of Nullify. The problem with Nullify is that unless it is made sustained/continuous (hellishly expensive), any permanent powers will pop back up straightaway and everything else can be reactivated. Nullify doesn't interact very well with instant effects (such as most Damage) either.

Another way is to use Weaken Powers (definitely a Broad [+1] weaken though), if that's more to your liking.