It’s all a matter of how powerful the effect is and what modifiers have been placed on it to increase or decrease its performance. A hero with the Concealment effect could use it to create a power called Blending, Blur, Cloak, Invisibility, Shadowmeld, or anything else appropriate to the character you wish to play. A power is made up of one or more effects, possibly with different modifiers, which increase or decrease the cost of the effects.Įffects can be used to create any number of different powers. Players spend character points on various powers for their heroes, like acquiring skills or other traits. Ultimately it’s up to the GM to decide if having certain effects makes a character something “other than human,” (and what, if anything, that means) depending on the nature of powers in the setting. They’re still “powers” in game terms, but they don’t necessarily mean the character is something other than human. Their amazing effects come from talent, training, luck, self-discipline, devices, or some similar source, with appropriate descriptors. For example, there are lots of comic book characters with superhuman traits still considered “normal” humans. Whether a character with powers is “superhuman” or not is largely a matter of opinion and the descriptors used.
“Powers” refer to all extraordinary traits other than abilities, skills, and advantages. You can either start with those or build your own powers using effects, descriptors, and modifiers. To the right is a short list of sample, pre-made powers. This page describes these and many other powers and how you can create your own. Characters can lift tanks, fly through the air, throw lightning from their hands, shoot lasers from their eyes, or any number of other amazing things. Although some heroes and villains rely solely on their skills and advantages, most are set apart by their superhuman powers.