I'm not sure I know how to express this properly, but for the Mutants and Masterminds game I'm planning, I really want to focus on thoughtful science fiction as the origin and theme of superhumans. That isn't to say that I don't plan on incorporating supernatural elements like Lovecraftian horror, I want to keep things like that out of the (natural) world that the characters actually interact with. I guess another way to say it would be characters can reflect/imply supernatural origins, but the powers the actualy use have to some sort of engaging science-fiction explanation for how they work (and yes, psychic powers can fall into that category, and can go a long way to imply supernatural elements).
Another aspect of this is that I'd like to discourage the flashy effects comic book readers have come to associate with superhero illustration. I can't name the mechanic off the top of my head, but the default assumption for most characters will be that standard super powers aren't normally visible/audible unless they specifically create those effects (fire control powers wouldn't be obvious themselves, but the fire they control would be). The most likely powers that would be obvious when used would be equipment such as bullet-firing guns, rockets, or laser gadgets.
Since I mentioned cosmic characters from Starlin and Kirby previously, I should also address cosmic powers here. In DC and Marvel comics cosmic powers are a "catch all", representing laws of reality so mysterious that they blur the line between science and magic, and characters who can wield pretty much any power that fits thier theme by virtue of "being able to tap into cosmic energy". As far as this goes, I'll just mention that I expect more imaginative ideas for PLAYER-characters
No comments:
Post a Comment