Life is Strange time powers

ShadowCharlatan · 02-11-2016, 12:37 PM

What would the best write-up be for the time control powers of Max from the Life is Strange game ?

GodBeastX · 02-11-2016, 02:03 PM

Temporal Inertia and Jumper.

Flyndaran · 02-11-2016, 06:37 PM

Her ability is rather godlike. As long as she survives, she can dictate all her actions with absolute understanding of effect. Her only limitation seems to be GM inflicted fate aka rail roading.

vicky_molokh · 02-12-2016, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Her ability is rather godlike. As long as she survives, she can dictate all her actions with absolute understanding of effect. Her only limitation seems to be GM inflicted fate aka rail roading.

I think it would be more accurate to say that the GM decided to add a Big Dramatic Choice at the end . . . but adding the originally-planned choice after all the non-raily choices that happened throughout before ruined said choices in retrospect. Because 'add to teh drama' is a recipe for disaster.

GodBeastX · 02-12-2016, 02:42 AM

I just watched a video of her turning back time. That's why I posted that. If there was more to it, I don't know, I didn't play the game.

MechaMage · 02-12-2016, 07:14 AM

I think the best way to represent the gist of her powers might be Super Luck, with enhancements to make it retroactive. Many levels will be necessary, since she can use this many times in a row, so this will be very, very expensive: which is appropriate for the ability to influence fate on the regular. The only thing stopping Max from being godlike with her powers is cutscene incompetence and the whims of the plot.

Except the way her powers work is...confusing. She retains inventory, and she also stays in the location she moved to. It's unclear if the first is part of her powers or just a gameplay abstraction, but on occasions she uses her powers to break into somewhere noisily, then rewind to before that occurred, essentially teleporting from one side of a door to the other from the perspective of those around her. Jumper (Time) might actually be a better fit, as loathe as I am to involve the messy intricacies of changing time in campaigns.

Spoilers follow:

Spoiler:

For me, I'd go with high amounts of modified Super Luck or Visualisation, plus Precognition. I'd ignore her ability to retain inventory, or any of the other applications of her powers. When writing up main characters, it's better to replicate the spirit of the character rather than the exact version - their powers can be very messy, or cost infinite amounts of points, or worse.

02-11-2016, 12:37 PM	#1
ShadowCharlatan Join Date: Feb 2012	Life is Strange time powers What would the best write-up be for the time control powers of Max from the Life is Strange game ?

02-11-2016, 02:03 PM	#2
GodBeastX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Behind You	Re: Life is Strange time powers Temporal Inertia and Jumper. __________________ RPG Jutsu.com - Ninjas Play GURPS

02-11-2016, 06:37 PM	#3
Flyndaran Untagged Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon	Re: Life is Strange time powers Her ability is rather godlike. As long as she survives, she can dictate all her actions with absolute understanding of effect. Her only limitation seems to be GM inflicted fate aka rail roading. __________________ Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check.

02-12-2016, 02:42 AM	#5
GodBeastX Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Behind You	Re: Life is Strange time powers I just watched a video of her turning back time. That's why I posted that. If there was more to it, I don't know, I didn't play the game. __________________ RPG Jutsu.com - Ninjas Play GURPS

02-12-2016, 07:14 AM	#6
MechaMage Join Date: Jun 2014	Re: Life is Strange time powers I think the best way to represent the gist of her powers might be Super Luck, with enhancements to make it retroactive. Many levels will be necessary, since she can use this many times in a row, so this will be very, very expensive: which is appropriate for the ability to influence fate on the regular. The only thing stopping Max from being godlike with her powers is cutscene incompetence and the whims of the plot. Except the way her powers work is...confusing. She retains inventory, and she also stays in the location she moved to. It's unclear if the first is part of her powers or just a gameplay abstraction, but on occasions she uses her powers to break into somewhere noisily, then rewind to before that occurred, essentially teleporting from one side of a door to the other from the perspective of those around her. Jumper (Time) might actually be a better fit, as loathe as I am to involve the messy intricacies of changing time in campaigns. Spoilers follow: Spoiler: Her ability to travel back very far might be considered an alternate ability Jumper (Time) to her normal rewinding powers - trade limitations on maximum time for Trigger (to represent the need for a photo). Are there any special limitations for 'mental time-travel'? Those seem appropriate, as for all intents and purposes when she uses this application of her powers she is assuming control of an alternate-timeline version of herself. She doesn't get to keep anything from her inventory with this version of her advantage, if I remember correctly. Max is also capable of power stunts, potentially: I would use this to explain how she is capable of stopping/massively slowing time for an extended period to attempt to save Kate. Essentially using power stunting to exchange points from her (potentially very expensive) time powers for a very high level of Altered Time Rate. With appropriate limitations on it (all out, requires concentration?) then you could get enough levels that it's 'close enough' to a Time Stop. All of her time travelling causes damage to the universe, though? A lot is left unsaid in the story. Might need some mechanic for that. Maybe critical failures or whatever cause her to gain negative destiny points? For me, I'd go with high amounts of modified Super Luck or Visualisation, plus Precognition. I'd ignore her ability to retain inventory, or any of the other applications of her powers. When writing up main characters, it's better to replicate the spirit of the character rather than the exact version - their powers can be very messy, or cost infinite amounts of points, or worse.