Mass / Density Alteration

[JCurwen3]

Power-Ups 4: Enhancements introduced the Density Increase enhancement for Affliction.

What if you want to decrease a target's density / mass? How should a Density Decrease enhancement for Affliction be priced?

How would one build a character that could increase (or decrease) their own density / mass? An easy answer is to give them Affliction with the necessary enhancement, limited to self-only. But then that raises what would "self-only" be on Affliction; it also seems like an ugly way of doing it.

[jamesfoxbr]

I think in Gurps this is High or low HP

[JCurwen3]

Originally Posted by jamesfoxbr

I think in Gurps this is High or low HP

Although HP is very strongly tied to mass in GURPS (and in any sort of realistic game, should be), mass and HP aren't necessarily related in GURPS.

Originally Posted by From the Density Increase enhancement from Affliction

By itself, this enhancement only covers the nuisance of being heavier (e.g., breaking chairs and being harder to carry).

So it doesn't actually make you tougher or increase HP or anything. On the other hand, it would represent a buffing of sorts for those grappling and using their higher mass to their advantage.

[The Benj]

Mass and HP are directly tied, unless you take Massless. So if you want to increase your own density, you should include some extra Switchable HP.

[Phantasm]

Other tricks for handling increased density include DR and IT:DR. Also note that an increase in density in some settings may increase your overall ST as well as your HP.

It all depends on what effects you're looking for when you say "increased density"; think of the density as a justification for the effect, not the effect itself.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

What if you want to decrease a target's density / mass? How should a Density Decrease enhancement for Affliction be priced?

Normally, a decrease in density can make it easier for things to go through the target with less effort or damage. I'd seriously consider afflicting Injury Tolerance (Diffuse) or Intangibility. Other effects may be possible as well; afflicting Walk on Air and Walk on Water are certainly plausible. In an extreme case, you could afflict Body of Air on the target.

YMMV.

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

Power-Ups 4: Enhancements introduced the Density Increase enhancement for Affliction.

What if you want to decrease a target's density / mass? How should a Density Decrease enhancement for Affliction be priced?

How would one build a character that could increase (or decrease) their own density / mass? An easy answer is to give them Affliction with the necessary enhancement, limited to self-only. But then that raises what would "self-only" be on Affliction; it also seems like an ugly way of doing it.

You would have to decided what features (advantages and disadvantages) were associated with the density loss and afflict them... it all depends on the effects you're going for.

I think the value of "Self Only" for an Affliction would vary greatly depending on what you are afflicting. Nasty effects with potential exploits would be a big discount, only being able to afflict yourself with Regeneration or something else universally beneficial would be much lower (In the -20% range).

[Angle]

I'd put self only at -80%. That's a big discount, but if you're trying to give yourself flight, or something, thatll be like +400%, so it doesn't really matter that much. For this, though, you'd be off better reverse engineering the value of density as a disadvantage and taking that as a temporary disadvantage limitation on the advantages your power gives you - probably bonus strength and DR, or such. remember that the enhancement value is +1% per -1 the disadvantage is worth, so just reverse that equation.

[Mathulhu]

I would put self only on an Affliction as "no, just buy the advantage".

[The Benj]

Originally Posted by Mathulhu

I would put self only on an Affliction as "no, just buy the advantage".

Bingo. (this post is too short)