New Action: Kinetic Energy Absorption

[piratespice]

This is my expanded version of Sebastian Shaw's power in the Guide to the X-Men. I couldn't quite get it to run as smoothly as I'd like. If anyone has any suggestions for improving this Action, please give input!

KINETIC ENERGY ABSORPTION
Cost Level = Action Number + 3

Description
Kinetic Energy Absorption allows you to defensively absorb (without damage) kinetic energy from physical impacts that hit you, and transform that energy into physical power. You can absorb up to your Action Number of red stones of kinetic damage. These are stored in your Action Box, and can be spent to increase Strength, Speed, or Toughness by 1 per stone spent, or Durability by 1 per 3 stones spent. Absorbed stones drain off at a rate of 1 stone/Panel, including stones already spent (player selects which stone drains).

This power does not function vs. slashing or piercing damage, such knives or bullets. As a general rule, any attack that wounds primarily by breaking the skin cannot be absorbed.

Options
• -2 to Cost Level if you can only enhance one Ability/Modifier.
• +3 to Cost Level if you can absorb the kinetic energy from impacts you create (such as punching a foe). Stones absorbed equal half the stones of damage. Damage includes any stones that were negated by Toughness.

Comments
Given the abundance of physical impacts in super-hero fights, this power is potentially extremely useful. With a few options, you can almost always keep your Abilities strong.

Rules for Action Box:
• Absorb up to Action Number
• Spend absorbed stones to increase Strength, Speed, Durability (3x cost), or Toughness
• Absorbed stones lost at 1 red/Panel

[psistrike]

Seems balanced for what it does but I won't know for sure unless you say that you've play-tested it first.

[piratespice]

I haven't yet playtested it. But Sebastian Shaw figures strongly in my campaign, so I'll very likely be able to try it out soon (if anyone is looney enough to get into a tussle with him, that is).

[w455up]

Isn't Sebastian Shaw featured in the X-men sourcebook?

[cyclonekath]

Just barely. He gets a mini-write up in the Team/Positions section and it pretty much covers Kinetic Energy Absorption the same way.

He has it at 7 and can absorb 7 stones of impact and re-direct that to Strength, Speed, Toughness or Durability, no mention of higher costs for Toughness or Durability, so Pirate Spice's version might be fairier in the long run.

Cyc

[piratespice]

Indeed, this Action is nothing more than an extrapolation (and attempt at balance) of the mini-writeup of Shaw in that book.

[zrex629]

What if you actually made it a couple of options for Absorb/Reflect Energy action?

Examples:
(+3 to Cost Level) You may also absorb impact energies. When you are hit with an object or attack, rather than taking damage you may absorb up to your AN of red stones for a bludgeoning attack and up to half your AN of red stones (rounded down) for a piercing/slashing attack. Any time you would attack, you would reabsorb half as many red stones as if someone else had attacked you.

(EX: You have Energy Absorption at AN 5 with this option. You are hit with a club for 6 stones. You would absorb 5 of those stones of damage. If it were a sword instead of a club or if you hit them with the club you would only absorb 2 stones. If both happened you would absorb 1 stone.)

(+2 to Cost Level) When you absorb stones you may put some of them into your Abilities rather than you energy pool. If you do this those Abilities are that much higher as long as the stones are in them. Stones put into your Abilities this way are reduced by 1 stone in each Ability per panel.

(EX: You have Strength of 4 and Energy Absorption of 4 with this option. You are hit with a 3 stone blast from an energy weapon. You absorb all 3 stones and may put them all in Strength. If you do this your Strength would be 7 for a panel. The next panel it would drop to 6, then 5, then back to 4.)