Sonic Manipulation: Assistance Please?

[HallowayC2]

I'm trying to figure out the details of a character with sonic manipulation capabilities, though I'm effectively terrible at figuring out all the right things for the desired effects. Too much where it's not needed, or too little where more detail is required. I have been looking around on various sites in attempt to figure out the details only to feel as though I need others' opinions on the matter.

Any help is highly appreciated, on character design/detailing or general tips for creation. Thank you.

[naloth]

Originally Posted by HallowayC2

I'm trying to figure out the details of a character with sonic manipulation capabilities, though I'm effectively terrible at figuring out all the right things for the desired effects. Too much where it's not needed, or too little where more detail is required. I have been looking around on various sites in attempt to figure out the details only to feel as though I need others' opinions on the matter.

Any help is highly appreciated, on character design/detailing or general tips for creation. Thank you.

Of the years I've created or had players that have had over a dozen different characters with sonic powers, not even counting those that wanted a super powered hedgehog. Do you have a point level in mind or a more specific set of abilities that you want help with? It helps if you have a character image.

Black Canary (DC) has a potent attack that can be used to disable people (comics) or disorient (tv show). Songbird (Marvel, formerly Screaming Mimi) can do quite a few tricks with harmonics including flying and blasting. Killgrave the purple mind controller (Marvel, comic version) used his voice to control others and there's many others that use "hypnotic" tones.

EDIT: G: Powers also has long list of example powers under Sonic/Vibration plus some worked examples later that chapter.

[Refplace]

yep lots of options here and a point budget or concept will help a lot.
Flight, Audio Illusions, Innate Attacks, Sonar, Vibration Sense, Silence, Obscure (Sound), Perk: Penetrating Voice, Afflictions, and more are possibilities.

[HallowayC2]

Originally Posted by naloth

Of the years I've created or had players that have had over a dozen different characters with sonic powers, not even counting those that wanted a super powered hedgehog. Do you have a point level in mind or a more specific set of abilities that you want help with? It helps if you have a character image.

Black Canary (DC) has a potent attack that can be used to disable people (comics) or disorient (tv show). Songbird (Marvel, formerly Screaming Mimi) can do quite a few tricks with harmonics including flying and blasting. Killgrave the purple mind controller (Marvel, comic version) used his voice to control others and there's many others that use "hypnotic" tones.

EDIT: G: Powers also has long list of example powers under Sonic/Vibration plus some worked examples later that chapter.

The idea that I have is a fellow that manipulates sound waves as if they're a malleable force. Snapping his fingers to shoot a bullet. Clapping his hands to pop off a cannonball. A layer of sound that retaliates with an equal force of knockback. A gentle "knock" that makes machines/buildings/weapons/armor fall apart within a few minutes from the sheer vibrating force.

Though he can manipulate this unseen force with ease, he needs a specific set of earmuffs/headphones to keep concentrated. Otherwise, the skills aren't as potent.

Point budget is 350.

EDIT: Sound is his plaything. A villain monologues, he slaps the voice back and the villain is silenced for x amount of time. Were this guy in the presence of Black Bolt (Marvel) when he speaks, he could either disperse the massive sound, absorb it, or channel it somewhere in which it is essentially harmless.

[Dustin]

This sounds like (heh) both Control (Sound) from Powers p.90, and high levels of telekinesis-type effects with just a limitation that sound is present (given that there's no way the energy from a finger snap can power a bullet). The telekinesis effects from Psionic Powers might be worth a look, with an additional -5% Accessibility limitation for available sound.

[Tallor]

I'd add Nuisance Effect, since sonic attacks and abilities are, of course, absurdly loud.

[Phantasm]

Originally Posted by Tallor

I'd add Nuisance Effect, since sonic attacks and abilities are, of course, absurdly loud.

This isn't always true. If an ability operates in subsonic and hypersonic wavelengths outside the human hearing range, the most you'd get is a bit of secondary vibration based on its absolute decibel range interacting with solid objects; it'd drive dogs and wildlife nuts, but be completely silent to humans. Think about bat sonar for a moment; can you hear it even with a flock of bats flying around at night?

There are also subtler affects: a voice with modulation with various mind control effects isn't going to be "absurdly" loud. A Nuisance Effect for "Must Be Heard" is viable, but "deafeningly loud" is not.

YMMV, of course.

[whswhs]

Back in the 1980s I ran a homebrew supers campaign with a vast number of players and multiple teams. One member of the Seattle team was called "Captain Sonic." He had sonic and vibratory powers; his vibratory attack was more powerful but touch only, whereas his sonic attack was roughly a cone. After a few . . . accidents . . . we developed the running joke that the team motto was "What?" with a hand cupped over the ear.

Do you want powers that are physically realistic implications of sound? Or handwavy "science"? Or even more mystical and weird?

When I was working on Powers: The Weird, I did some work on a science style of "harmonics," going back to Joshua bringing down the walls, the sonic levitation in Fantasy-Tech, and Orpheus charming wild beasts, passing by the music of the spheres, and ending at Tesla's sonic resonance demolition device. But I wasn't able to make it come together in a way I was happy with. I think it would be a neat theme, though.

[HallowayC2]

I've managed to develop the character a bit since this morning. Here is the knock ability he has.

Knock (+115%/+65%) [20]
Burning Attack 1/2D (Partial Dice, 0.25; No Incendiary; Melee Attack, C, No Parry -35%, Linked +10%; Power, Vibration -10%; Contact Agent, Exception +150%; Follow-Up) [2] + Corrosion Attack 2D (Accessibility, Inorganic Only -20%; Linked +10%; Symptom, Fragile +75%) [18]

Feel free to pick it apart. Suggestions are always appreciated.

The idea is that he touches anything and vibrates 1 damage into it. If said thing that he touched isn't organic, it continues to vibrate to the point of falling apart (small parts become loose, thin objects weaken, buildings shake wildly).

The character is a prankster, but doesn't do much to actually harm people. Just annoy and inconvenience them.

[starslayer]

Originally Posted by HallowayC2

I've managed to develop the character a bit since this morning. Here is the knock ability he has.

Knock (+115%/+65%) [20]
Burning Attack 1/2D (Partial Dice, 0.25; No Incendiary; Melee Attack, C, No Parry -35%, Linked +10%; Power, Vibration -10%; Contact Agent, Exception +150%; Follow-Up) [2] + Corrosion Attack 2D (Accessibility, Inorganic Only -20%; Linked +10%; Symptom, Fragile +75%) [18]

The attack lacks any form of cyclic. So it does 1 point of damage, and then follows it up with 2d of corrosive damage.

Against something like a bridge (DR 55, HP 250)
It will do... 0 damage, and then the 2d corrosive damage will also do 0 damage and will likely reduce the DR of the bridge by 1. The fragile symptom will not apply as no damage penetrated DR.

Then all damage will stop. You can use the power again next turn, after 55 turns you will have reduced the bridge's DR to 0, and will start doing ~12 points of damage per turn to the bridge proper, but if you stop actively using the power every turn, all damage will stop too.