Questions for Carmen Bellaire

[Tinker Dragoon]

Since Carmen occasionally posts on here (emphasize occasionally), here's an opportunity to post questions about the Powers Unlimited books.

Please be aware of the following:

• Carmen is a busy man and may not have the opportunity to answer your questions in a timely fashion, so please be patient.
  
• Carmen was kind enough to answer a number of questions already, which can be found at this link, towards the bottom: Heroes Unlimited FAQ
  
• Restrict your questions to Carmen's current and future Heroes Unlimited contributions. He already has a topic for Splicers questions on the appropriate forum.

[Preacher]

Hey Carmen is there any word on the previously mentioned Powers Unlimited 3?

[Sentinel]

Here's a question: What effect does Disintegration have on Invulnerable characters? The text description leads me to believe that there is some damage even for Invulnerables, but I wasn't certain how much.
What about Vampires? And, other Supernatural creatures who may otherwise be impervious to harm (except of course, for their specific weaknesses)?

[Sentinel]

Under the Shadow Bolt aspect of APS Shadow, the character uses up all his attacks in the use of Shadow Bolt. This seems unfair, for as the character progresses in level, he loses nore attacks/actions to the use of this ability. A Level One character might only have four attacks: at Level Seven, he has gotten faster, and has more attacks, but he is still using "all" of his actions to fire the same Shadow Blast.
Perhaps this could be re-worded to " Takes Three Actions", as this would allow characters with HtH Assassin to fire a Shadow Bolt, without unfairly penalising characters who have more actions per melee round.

[znbrtn]

so...... carmen..... any new info on pu3 yet?

[Guest]

Am I the only one who noticed that the Empowered: Demigod Transformation lists One Major and Two Minor powers twice?

I'm pretty sure this wasn't intentional, but didn't want to make a new topic.

[Carmen]

Ya, the second one was intended to be "One major and three minor"
Sorry Carmen.

[Sentinel]

Under the Shadow Bolt aspect of APS Shadow, the character uses up all his attacks in the use of Shadow Bolt. This seems unfair, for as the character progresses in level, he loses nore attacks/actions to the use of this ability. A Level One character might only have four attacks: at Level Seven, he has gotten faster, and has more attacks, but he is still using "all" of his actions to fire the same Shadow Blast.
Perhaps this could be re-worded to " Takes Three Actions", as this would allow characters with HtH Assassin to fire a Shadow Bolt, without unfairly penalising characters who have more actions per melee round.

yes, when you compare it to APS:Fire, which has the 3 action/7 sec limit.

I just think of it as a "power tap" -- ever seen Crusade (ala Babylon 5) ? when the Excalibur fires it's main weapon, it has to wait almost a minute while the power rebuilds ?

I still like this power though.

I like the power generally: My beef is largely (at this point) with the whole "Uses all attacks the round", which is unfair to the characters who accumulate more actions as they progress.
Included in this group is Tamashiwara, from N&SS, which in the Rifts CB1 provides a power punch that does 1D4 X10, but uses all attacks.
That's fine for a level one character, but by the time you hit level ten, you ought to be able to do more.

I liked Babylon 5, although I was not as big a fan of Crusade.
I never liked the Power Tap, or as others have described it, the "charge-up attack".

[Jimmy Crat]

Why does Energy Expulsion: Plasma take 3 attacks to use? The damage is not much more than any other EE power, and the range is MUCH more limited. Plasma always seemed incredibly destructive to me. I can understand the limited range and the slow attack, but not for the low damage. Is there any kind of reasoning behind this I'm missing?

[Carmen]

The reason is editing, it was once much more powerful and the three attacks was to tone it down but Kev reduced the damage and missed the number of attacks. It should be corrected in the PU notes for PU3 - it should be the same as the other EE powers. Carmen.

[znbrtn]

i have a question regarding the empowered robotics option:

if the character has the ability to release his mind into the robot, do you have to buy an a.i. for it?

[Puroresu]

Carmen,

Well, I have to say, I love both Powers Unlimited One and Two. Can you reveal anything about what to expect to see in Powers Unlimited Three? Any idea as to when it will be out for purchasing? Thanks!

[NMI]

i have a question regarding the empowered robotics option:

if the character has the ability to release his mind into the robot, do you have to buy an a.i. for it?

Not an A.I perse, but you would/should have to pay for the Transferred Intelligence Unit

[Marcantony]

My bad. Need my eyes checked.

[Shadowfyr]

Carmen,

I know you did the Powers unlimited books but i have a question for ya that might tie in with all the powers.

Do you get a P.P. Bonus on super powers?

these are part of my topic but i'd figure i'd ask you since you were in the writing. Heres where im confused;

Energy Expulsion: Cold in the part down in the note of the split strike... "Note: Two blasts at two different targets are done without benefit of any P.P. or strike bonus of any kind; natural, unmodified die roll only...."

even under EE:Energy it mentions something close but doesnt say anything about the P.P bonus... so for things that we use our limbs and body to project powers from us we get P.P bonus? or only if its a HtH weapon power?

i hope you can give me an answer to this. well ill be around.

~Shadowfyr

[Nekira Sudacne]

Carmen,

I know you did the Powers unlimited books but i have a question for ya that might tie in with all the powers.

Do you get a P.P. Bonus on super powers?

these are part of my topic but i'd figure i'd ask you since you were in the writing. Heres where im confused;

Energy Expulsion: Cold in the part down in the note of the split strike... "Note: Two blasts at two different targets are done without benefit of any P.P. or strike bonus of any kind; natural, unmodified die roll only...."

even under EE:Energy it mentions something close but doesnt say anything about the P.P bonus... so for things that we use our limbs and body to project powers from us we get P.P bonus? or only if its a HtH weapon power?

i hope you can give me an answer to this. well ill be around.

~Shadowfyr

it apparently isn't in HU 2nd Ed, but HU Revised did specify PP bonuses apply to EE powers.

[ZEN]

nice work Carmen.

[Marrowlight]

Wow....http://forums.palladium-megaverse.com/search.php?search_author=Carmen


Carmen hasn't posted on this boards since July. What did you all do to him?

[NMI]

It would figure... I have a perfectly reasonable question ( hell, Whiz Kid even said so ) and Carmen is utterly nowhere to be found.

Oh what a world....

Whats the question? Maybe I can answer it.

[acreRake]

Whats the question? Maybe I can answer it.

Under Mega-Wings there is the special option to sacrifice 100 pts of SDC and then 50 from each wing as well as reduce the wing's regen rate in order to have the wings appear/disappear at will.

My question is are you really supposed to drop 100 SDC from just the person? The power itself only gives +60 SDC to the person while the wings have 330 SDC each. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the 100 come from each wing and the 50 come from the person? Part of me just thinks it is odd to have a power eat that much SDC from the actual character vs simply reducing it's own effectiveness for the option.

Also, does the SDC bonus only exist in flight? Just clarifying since the bonus is listed under Bonuses In Flight.

Thank you.

[Gomen_Nagai]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

[Malakai]

Well, I hope Carmen is still checking in at least.

One question: What happened to the to Strike bonuses for the Energy Expulsion powers? the ones form the main book have +3, but none from the Powers books have any bonuses. Were these just left out?

[MrTwist]

Here's a question. Is there any progression for a character who has both super powers and magic spells?

I rolled up an Immortal and got the powers plus spells option. Now, is that all I can ever get, or can the character(through study/teaching) learn more spells?

I assume since the character knows magic in the first place, learning new spells shouldn't be a problem. But then again, I could be wrong.

[JTwig]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

[Stone Gargoyle]

Carmen,

I know you did the Powers unlimited books but i have a question for ya that might tie in with all the powers.

Do you get a P.P. Bonus on super powers?

these are part of my topic but i'd figure i'd ask you since you were in the writing. Heres where im confused;

Energy Expulsion: Cold in the part down in the note of the split strike... "Note: Two blasts at two different targets are done without benefit of any P.P. or strike bonus of any kind; natural, unmodified die roll only...."

even under EE:Energy it mentions something close but doesnt say anything about the P.P bonus... so for things that we use our limbs and body to project powers from us we get P.P bonus? or only if its a HtH weapon power?

i hope you can give me an answer to this. well ill be around.

~Shadowfyr

it apparently isn't in HU 2nd Ed, but HU Revised did specify PP bonuses apply to EE powers.

One might assume then that it would be all right to do it that way.

[MrTwist]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

[Stone Gargoyle]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

ME Metal increases your strength because they liken it to having on power armor which allows you to lift things your frail flesh body would get crushed under. There is no across the board bonus for ME powers, though.

[MrTwist]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

ME Metal increases your strength because they liken it to having on power armor which allows you to lift things your frail flesh body would get crushed under. There is no across the board bonus for ME powers, though.

Right, but in the case of actual strength category none of the ME powers actually change the category. Unless my copy is missing something, even ME: Metal doesn't actually change PS beyond just a numerical bonus. I was just agreeing with JTwig.

[Stone Gargoyle]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

ME Metal increases your strength because they liken it to having on power armor which allows you to lift things your frail flesh body would get crushed under. There is no across the board bonus for ME powers, though.

Right, but in the case of actual strength category none of the ME powers actually change the category. Unless my copy is missing something, even ME: Metal doesn't actually change PS beyond just a numerical bonus. I was just agreeing with JTwig.

And I was agreeing with you that it does not change the category. Soif we are all agreeing, what are we arguing for?

[MrTwist]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

ME Metal increases your strength because they liken it to having on power armor which allows you to lift things your frail flesh body would get crushed under. There is no across the board bonus for ME powers, though.

Right, but in the case of actual strength category none of the ME powers actually change the category. Unless my copy is missing something, even ME: Metal doesn't actually change PS beyond just a numerical bonus. I was just agreeing with JTwig.

And I was agreeing with you that it does not change the category. Soif we are all agreeing, what are we arguing for?

It's fun. And incresed post count.

[Stone Gargoyle]

there's also the odd wording on bonuses on all the heightened Senses powers..


in particular Circular vision grants a +2 to dodge, and an autododge.. did they mean to say it added +2 to automatic Dodge?


ME Crystal does not say what augmented strength it provides. I assume it's ExtraOrdinary.


I'd like if PU 3 finally included Punch / damage Tables for EX. superhuman and SN PS that include the full range of combat moves most commonly avialable..


and New Martial arts powers with combining with NJSS.

I believe that none of the Matter Expulsion powers list any type of augmented strength (bonuses not with standing). I took this to mean that your strength was increased, but it was considered normal for lifting. Does anyone know for sure?

I don't see anything in the various Matter Expulsions that say your strength is increased. I could've missed something though. I think any reference to augmenting strength comes from the stat bonus the ones from PU1 provide.

ME Metal increases your strength because they liken it to having on power armor which allows you to lift things your frail flesh body would get crushed under. There is no across the board bonus for ME powers, though.

Right, but in the case of actual strength category none of the ME powers actually change the category. Unless my copy is missing something, even ME: Metal doesn't actually change PS beyond just a numerical bonus. I was just agreeing with JTwig.

And I was agreeing with you that it does not change the category. Soif we are all agreeing, what are we arguing for?

It's fun. And incresed post count.

Well, there is that.