This is my attempt at “Spider-Man” (Sam Raimi’s version, which is one of my favorite superhero movie.)
Spider-Man
Maneuver : +2
Investigate : +1
Protect : +1
Influence : -1
Smash : +0
Origin : The Accident & A Death in the Family
Drive : Protect
Powers : Superhuman strength and agility, Spider sense, Shooting spider-web strings from wrist, Wall walker.
Limitation : (Frequently difficult)
– Losing his power when he gets mentally stressed
– Having difficulty bonding with Mary Jane because of his superhero duty
– Constantly condemned by Daily Bugle
Power profile
– Simple (+1) : Cling to surface, Danger sense
– Difficult (+1) : Swinging, Ensnare foes with spider-web.
– Borderline : Lifting a heavy object (weigh several tons)
– Possible : Stopping a 1000t weight train with spider-web.
– Impossible : Creating spider-web which is impossible to cut.
Bond (5)
– Aunt May 2
– Mary Jane 1
– Harry Osborn 1
– New York City 1
Some questions have sprung to mind during character creations:
1. I felt the necessity to make detailed limitation list for my character. Not only for defining the level of limitation, but also for character’s background and roleplaying. My question is : Does “Removing one of the limitations on your powers by spending 3 achievements”(p.123) mean removing one of the limitations which I made for the character? And can I remove a limitation which is unrelated to my power(hero’s duty, relation with media, etc)?
2. I’m still not clear on defining “possible” level of Power profile. Is it just “Beyond Borderline but not Impossible so you can make the possible effect when you Burnout?”
Looks good!
1. Oddly enough, there was a similar question just posted, so it’s definitely something that should have been revised a bit in the book. The old rules used to be much more detailed about limitations, whereas now the only important thing is fitting in. Now it should probably be removing limitations such that it moves you up a level so that the character fits in better.
John Mehrholz just posted an interested way that he does it if you want to check it out too! He makes it so that you the easier you fit in, the more limitations you have to take, which makes good sense.
2. Yeah, it’s basically the very furthest they’re able to push their powers, that’s their ceiling; when I read it out to players I ask them what is theoretically possible for them to do if the pushed their powers to the limit.
Kyle Simons Thanks! But “More limitations, much easier you fit in” seems a bit weird.
The vampire hero, for instance, probably has limitations “Needs human blood”, or “Cannot stand the sunlight”. His limitations make him hard for fitting in. Right?
Hmmm yeah, in some cases, like a vampire, it wouldn’t make as much sense. But for heroes that want the best of both worlds (fitting in well, but also having a ton of powers, like Superman, or even some of the X-Men, for example) forcing them to have some limitation might be important as the EIC so that you know how to put them in danger and in situations that will challenge them. As it is I just explain in the book that, as the EIC, if you don’t know how to put a character in danger, you need to talk to the player and see about writing some limitations or come to a solution together (and I think even with this rule you basically still need to have the conversation because who knows what they’ll write as their limitation and if the EIC will know how to exploit it, right?) but this might make players a bit more mindful?
Kyle Simons I got it. “Putting PCs in danger” is the true purpose of the limitation rule. Right?
When necessary, definitely, and also to make the player think about how their character gets along with other people, what personal scenes they might frame when they make the Fit In move, and how the EIC might have other people treat them if that comes up in play.
Kyle Simons Thanks for your in depth answer 🙂