Help designing a power?

[jj234]

Hey guys, I know that I've been posting a lot, but y'all have really helped me get a foothold with GURPS. In this thread I need your guys' help designing something that may be a power.

This power will be upgraded throughout the campaign, so I'll describe each iteration. The one I really want help designing is the second.

Description of Initial Power: Some magical sand that is utilized by one of the characters in my campaign, is given limited sentience. It's only job is to protect the character from any harm that comes his way (even if he wants to harm himself). Whenever attacked a dash of sand will come up to interrupt the strike. It's pretty much a living shield of sand.
I'm not really sure how to balance this, which is one of the reasons I need your help. That and everything else (is it a power, is it an ally?)

Description of Advanced Power:If the character chooses, his sand can be given the power to resist heat, then the power to become superheated, then the power to become explosive, then the power to become an incendiary explosive and finally the sand may gain the properties of a white-phosphorus like explosive. This may sounds stupid and confusing but it makes sense in the terms of the campaign. Back to the point. Once (if?) the character reaches the last stage, the Sand Shield mentioned earlier will turn into a sort of 'sand minefield' that follows the character around. The shield will block attacks by shooting up small amounts of explosive sand, almost like an Iron Dome employed by Israel. In addition to this, the projectiles shot up by the living shield's explosions will leave sticky and smouldering incendiary residue on the attacker's weapons (or arm). And if that wasn't stupidly overpowered enough already, there shall be a 5ft radius around the character which shall act as a mine field, exploding whenever someone who isn't the character steps on it. Keep in mind that the sand is explosive on command and won't naturally explode unless willed by the character.
I know how insanely overpowered this sounds, but that character won't reach this ability until they are far, far, far into the campaign. I'll deal with balance later. Here, I still have no idea where to start.

You guys have been a great community so far. I always learn better having someone walk me through step by step rather than reading the book (I tried and my understanding of powers is still a little shaky :(). If someone could walk me through designing either of these powers or (preferably) both that would be amazing.

[Anaraxes]

"Sentient" usually suggests an Ally, but in this case it doesn't sound like the sand really has any independence or a will of its own. So that's color text.

An extra hands-free block reminds me of Kromm's Extra Block build using Extra Arm, found in the uFAQ (or some old threads).

Damaging an attacker if they hit you would be Innate Attack with Aura and Melee Attack.

The final stage where the sand minefield burns an attacker would be an additional power, an Innate Attack with Aura and Area Effect.

"Overpowered" will take care of itself in the character points costs for the upgrades.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by jj234

(is it a power, is it an ally?)[/I]
.

It's an Ally. Its' ability to act independently of the character pretty much eliminates other possibilities.

All the Advanced abilities will be Alternate Abilities on the Ally's character sheet.

[T.K.]

Not really an Ally. He's basically mimicking Gaara' sand ability.

The first part is the easiest one, imo.

Simply use this build below for the sand defense and buy it again every time you want to allow it another surefire block. (Considering the sand can be outspeeded like Lee did, I'd say you could buy something like 3 or 4 blocks of this, so someone really fast that could attack 5+ times per turn would be able to connect a hit that the sand cannot block):

Extra Arm 1 (Force Extension, +50%; Shield Mount, -80%) [7]
Force Extension is stolen from Stretching; see Powers, p. 78. In this case, it gives you a visible limb of force that can't be injured.

Shield Mount is by analogy to Weapon Mount. If being restricted to mounting and using one weapon is -80%, the same should go for any other dedicated-purpose limb.

You can make it invisible with No Signature, if that's important to you. I don't see how it's worthwhile, but whatever. Since you can always specify special effects for your abilities, why not just say it has the appearance of a moving life-like sand?

As for the shield itself, I'd allow the arm itself to count as a shield to block -- it's an indestructible force! Use the standard Parry for an arm as your Block score, which is DX/2 + 3. If it needs to be higher, buy Enhanced Block (Mystic Shield) [5/level]. Enhanced Block requires a specialty, and I think this is fairly specialized!

To give, say, a ninja with DX 12 a first-rate Block of 16, you'll want Mystic Shield [7] and Enhanced Block 7 (Mystic Shield) [35]. I'd say that 42 points is a fair price for one sure-fire, stop-anything defense a turn. (Especially when you compare it to Blocking spells . . .)

On the part that it starts to deal with heat and explosions, I'd build it as separate powers and simply give the sand fluff.
Each part would be a different power, bought apart from each other, since they're not really the same power or even connected in the sense that they must all work together.

Simply buy each power as an Innate Attack or a single Innate Attack with secondary abilities in the Explosion, Heat cases and buy the explosions fields as an aura, imo.

[Wavefunction]

Originally Posted by T.K.

Not really an Ally. He's basically mimicking Gaara' sand ability.

The first part is the easiest one, imo.

Simply use this build below for the sand defense and buy it again every time you want to allow it another surefire block. (Considering the sand can be outspeeded like Lee did, I'd say you could buy something like 3 or 4 blocks of this, so someone really fast that could attack 5+ times per turn would be able to connect a hit that the sand cannot block):

Extra Arm 1 (Force Extension, +50%; Shield Mount, -80%) [7]
Force Extension is stolen from Stretching; see Powers, p. 78. In this case, it gives you a visible limb of force that can't be injured.

Shield Mount is by analogy to Weapon Mount. If being restricted to mounting and using one weapon is -80%, the same should go for any other dedicated-purpose limb.

You can make it invisible with No Signature, if that's important to you. I don't see how it's worthwhile, but whatever. Since you can always specify special effects for your abilities, why not just say it has the appearance of a moving life-like sand?

As for the shield itself, I'd allow the arm itself to count as a shield to block -- it's an indestructible force! Use the standard Parry for an arm as your Block score, which is DX/2 + 3. If it needs to be higher, buy Enhanced Block (Mystic Shield) [5/level]. Enhanced Block requires a specialty, and I think this is fairly specialized!

To give, say, a ninja with DX 12 a first-rate Block of 16, you'll want Mystic Shield [7] and Enhanced Block 7 (Mystic Shield) [35]. I'd say that 42 points is a fair price for one sure-fire, stop-anything defense a turn. (Especially when you compare it to Blocking spells . . .)

On the part that it starts to deal with heat and explosions, I'd build it as separate powers and simply give the sand fluff.
Each part would be a different power, bought apart from each other, since they're not really the same power or even connected in the sense that they must all work together.

Simply buy each power as an Innate Attack or a single Innate Attack with secondary abilities in the Explosion, Heat cases and buy the explosions fields as an aura, imo.

I'm not sure I can agree. From the sounds of things this is an infallible form of protection, essentially it's just DR, it's source is a special effect. Limit it to whatever forms of damage you think it can reasonably effect.

For the next part you're looking at buying off the limitation on DR that it can't effect Heat/Flame.

For the minefield treat it as Burning Innate Attack with Aura; Melee Attack, Reach C; and levels of Area Effect, as well as Selective Area. I'd then allow you to get the Explosive enhancement, stipulating that the explosion occurs at the point you victim triggers the minefield. Protective mines would probably be the same as the above but with less Area Effect, Trigger (Attacks to me), and Cyclic for the residue, I'd suggest buying it as an Alternate Attack to the first Aura since they do very similar things.

I can't quite figure out what you mean by the attacks first sentence or so of the advanced power description, but I'd guess build it as one of a Burning Attack, a Corrosive Attack with Incendiary (for sandlbasting), or a Crushing Attack with Incendiary, No Blunt Trauma, and Double Knockback (for a physical blast of sand that can knock a man off his feet). You then add Explosive, increase damage, or Cyclic to get any other effects.

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by Wavefunction

I'm not sure I can agree. From the sounds of things this is an infallible form of protection, essentially it's just DR, it's source is a special effect. Limit it to whatever forms of damage you think it can reasonably effect.

I'm following the manga with my description and thus build of the power with Block.

In the manga, this protective sand is beaten with outrageous speed by a taijutsu user, Rock Lee, in that he goes into a power up mode where he can attack many, many times per second with power and speed.

It's clearly a matter of more attacks and not more power and thus a matter of eating up blocks until it cannot defend anymore.
Another option would be to build it as Parry, with increased penalties with subsequent Parries and at some points the penalties accrued would be so big that it fails to defend...

[Wavefunction]

Originally Posted by T.K.

I'm following the manga with my description and thus build of the power with Block.

In the manga, this protective sand is beaten with outrageous speed by a taijutsu user, Rock Lee, in that he goes into a power up mode where he can attack many, many times per second with power and speed.

It's clearly a matter of more attacks and not more power and thus a matter of eating up blocks until it cannot defend anymore.
Another option would be to build it as Parry, with increased penalties with subsequent Parries and at some points the penalties accrued would be so big that it fails to defend...

Oh, okay fair enough, I've never seen it. Martial Arts allows multiple blocks per turn at a cumulative -5, so it seems reasonable to keep it as a Block-based ability. You will need a lot more levels of Enhanced Block though, to make it reliable enough.

[T.K.]

Originally Posted by Wavefunction

Oh, okay fair enough, I've never seen it. Martial Arts allows multiple blocks per turn at a cumulative -5, so it seems reasonable to keep it as a Block-based ability. You will need a lot more levels of Enhanced Block though, to make it reliable enough.

Here's the fight, in case people are wondering...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDIVq8UMLM

[Desthro]

GURPS: Powers is just what the doctor ordered.
I would build a power using GURPS: Powers (page 9 is where the bulk of this process starts.) I'm sure that there are countermeasures that could be taken, but I'll let you delve into that and assign an appropriate power modifier.

Originally Posted by jj234

Description of Initial Power: Some magical sand that is utilized by one of the characters in my campaign, is given limited sentience. It's only job is to protect the character from any harm that comes his way (even if he wants to harm himself). Whenever attacked a dash of sand will come up to interrupt the strike. It's pretty much a living shield of sand.

This is Damage Reduction. That is the easiest and quickest way to go about this. How it looks is largely fluff. You will tack on your power modifier and if there is any type(s) of damage that the DR cannot prevent you would apply it here as well.

Originally Posted by jj234

Description of Advanced Power:If the character chooses, his sand can be given the power to resist heat.

DR fits the bill here as well. You can apply a limitation on the DR from Stage 1 to prevent it from stopping heat-based damage. You might also include Temperature Tolerance if the sand allows the character to endure higher environmental temperatures.

Originally Posted by jj234

then the power to become superheated

I'm assuming you would use this for various innate attacks with the appropriate modifiers. Creating an innate attack with alternate versions is easily managed here. Tack on your power modifier and any appropriate limitations for the most expensive ability, then price all other abilities that are similar or related at 1/5th of their total cost.

Originally Posted by jj234

then the power to become explosive, then the power to become an incendiary explosive and finally the sand may gain the properties of a white-phosphorus like explosive.

You can add additional alternative abilities as you see fit and re-price the package accordingly if one of the abilities becomes more expensive than the rest.

Originally Posted by jj234

In addition to this, the projectiles shot up by the living shield's explosions will leave sticky and smouldering incendiary residue on the attacker's weapons (or arm). And if that wasn't stupidly overpowered enough already, there shall be a 5ft radius around the character which shall act as a mine field, exploding whenever someone who isn't the character steps on it. Keep in mind that the sand is explosive on command and won't naturally explode unless willed by the character.

Just another power to build for this character's power set. An Innate Attack with the Aura modification covers the incendiary residue stuff, and an Innate Attack with AoE and Emanation with a selective Area would cover the last one, though I'm sure there are dissenters.

If you want specific help with Powers, PM me and I'll give you my E-mail address.