Another “spirit of the playbook” question here. I’m considering making a Janus with the ability to shapechange into a dinosaur, opting for a set of powers that are restricted to an alternate form. What I’m wondering is if this is too far outside the realm of what the Janus is supposed to be.
On the one hand, there’s plenty of teen heroes to fit the bill without an actual mask to wear–Danny Phantom and Sailor Moon come to mind.
On the other, I can’t help but wonder how certain aspects of the Janus would function. Would the completely different form make others not even consider a secret identity? Does the Moment of Truth belie a literal unmasking or just an outing of the person behind the mask?
Or am I just thinking too hard about this exercise in creating a hybrid between Diego Brando and Old Lace from the Runaways?
If you play Janus, there will be thoughts who is behind that beast. The public might be thinking of a Master of Animals instead of a Shapechanger, but they will speculate who it is.
1of3 Interesting take. Reminds me of the original dynamic of Iron Man, where people thought he was an ally of Tony Stark.
The main thing I would emphasize is that people need to have some conception that the dinosaur is a person and not just an animal. Other than that, it’s just like any other costume.
I think this is awesome! If you’re all committed, I think it can work for a Janus.
Jim Crocker How so? Is there a better playbook for the concept?
Jim Crocker Good points. Maybe the problem is less with the power and more with the hook.
Based on the storyline where Diego first acquired the dino virus, he might make for a better Bull. Created by an outside force (Dr. Ferdinand and Scary Monsters), motivated by a friend and rival (Hot Pants and Johnny Joestar), maybe with a move from the Delinquent or Reformed to represent his grudge against Valentine…
My apologies if any of that goes over anyone’s heads.
Jim Crocker Wow, does that mean opportunities for Dino Crisis references? ^_^
(Reeeaaally regretting not discovering this game earlier.)
Jim Crocker You’re taking playbooks way too literally. Treat them literary.
The story of the Janus is about leading a double life.
The story of the Transformed is being taken out of your previous life through accident (or maybe just the accident of puberty).
As long as those story seeds are met, playbooks do exactly what they are supposed to.
Like, I would put Rachel Lindt / Bitch from Worm as a Transformed. She doesn’t look any different. But her power alienated her from normal humanity. She doesn’t think like a human anymore.
So yeah, you can make the character a Soldier too. But that is a very different story; the story of a teenager molded some ideal because the adults can.
The rule book actually tells you to take the suggested powers on the playbooks as suggestions. But really, I don’t think we’re getting anywhere here.