The Power Empath
(Version 1.00 - Last Modified: 03/14/2008)
Introduction
The Power Empath has a very unstable genetic structure that can bend and twist and change at the
desire of the Power Empath. This enables the hero to duplicate the effects of many super powers,
but only if the Power Empath can learn enough about how the power works. With enough exposure to
a wide variety of super powers, a Power Empath will have become incredibly versatile and will have
a power to use for nearly any occassion. However, without such exposure, a Power Empath will remain
limited and vulnerable. This has created a dangerous situation where many Power Empaths scour the
world tracking down known super heroes and villains to gain their powers. They are always on the
look out for descriptions of exotic and strange powers to add to their repetoire.
Older Power Empaths, often with a large number of available powers are considered extremely
dangerous and many governemnts have placed on the lists to exterminate immediately. Even worse for
people that wish to confront Power Empaths, sending in super-powered operatives will often just
expose the Power Empath to more powers that he can turn around and use against the people that are
trying to stop him. For this reason, most young Power Empaths often keep to themselves, quietly
gaining powers, or passing themselves off as regular super heroes or villains. They are even
despised by other super-powered heroes and villains, most of which cherish their sense of
individuality and sense of uniqueness in the world, only to encounter a Power Empath that
effortlessly duplicates that powers that they feel makes them unique.
Abilities of a Power Empath
- Sense Super Powers:
A Power Empath can sense people with super powers within a radius of
10' (3.1 m) per level of experience. The character instantly knows when
a being with super powers is within the radius, and by spending one
melee action, he can pinpoint the direction and distance of a being he
detects. With a second melee action, he can determine which being
within his line of sight is the one he pinpointed.
- Exposure:
A Power Empath stores the information of all super powers that he
becomes exposed to. At all levels, to be exposed to a super power, the
character has to be able to sense the super being with his Sense Super
Powers ability. Whenever a Power Empath becomes exposed to a new super
power, he is instantly aware of it and knows all of the details of the
new power.
At level 1, the character has to see the power in action to become
exposed to it, making it impossible to be exposed to passive super
powers like Immortality.
At level 4, the character has to have line of sight to a person with a
super power and he has to know what super power that person has, either
by being told about it or by seeing it in action.
At level 8, the character has to have line of sight to a person with a
super power, but he doesn't need to know what super powers that person
has to be exposed to them.
At level 12, he has to be able to sense a being with a super power to
be exposed to it.
- Manifesting Super Powers:
A Power Empath can manifest a small number of super powers that he has
been exposed to, but he is able to change which of his stored powers
are manifested. Any power that the character chooses to manifest may be
active indefinitely.
From levels 1 to 5, manifesting a new super power requires five minutes
of concentration. From levels 6 to 10, accessing a new power requires
one melee round of concentration. From levels 11 onwards, accessing a
new power requires one melee action of concentration. During the period
of concentration, the character cannot take damage or any defensive
actions without breaking his concentration. When changing which super
powers are manifested, each changed super power requires its own period
of concentration.
The number of super powers that can be manifested simultaneously varies
depending on the level of the character:
- Level 1: 1 major power or 2 minor powers.
- Level 3: 1 major power and 1 minor power or 3 minor powers.
- Level 5: 1 major power and 1 minor power or 4 minor powers.
- Level 7: 2 major powers or 1 major power and 2 minor powers or
4 minor powers.
- Level 9: 2 major powers or 1 major power and 3 minor powers or
5 minor powers.
- Level 11: 2 major powers and 1 minor powers or 1 major power
and 3 minor powers or 6 minor powers.
- Level 13: 3 major powers or 2 major powers and 2 minor powers
or 1 major power and 4 minor powers or 7 minor powers.
- Level 15: 3 major powers and 1 minor powers or 2 major powers
and 3 minor powers or 1 major power and 5 minor powers or 8
minor powers.
Other Stuff
- Alignment:
Any alignment can be chosen, but heroes should generally be of a good
alignment.
- Insanities:
Power Empaths are just as likely as any other hero to develop
insanities.
- Level of Education and Skill Selection:
Standard, a Power Empath can come from any walk of life, although they
tend to come from backgrounds that lead to a lot of interaction with
other people.
- Hand-to-Hand Combat:
Combat skills are not automatic. They must be selected as a learned
skill.
- Attacks Per Melee (Hand-to-Hand):
As with all superbeings, the character automatically gets two attacks
per melee round. Any additional attacks must be developed through
combat skills.
- Weapons and Armor:
Unless the character is extremely wealthy, only conventional weaponry
and body armor would be available.
- Structural Damage Capacity (S.D.C.):
All power empath characters have a base S.D.C. of 35, which can be
increased by selecting certain physical skills.
- Available Financial Resources:
The character has 6D6x100 dollars available in ready cash. This is in
addition to a possible life savings (see optional rules in the Heroes
Unlimited 2nd Edition Main Book). There is a 01-88% likelihood that the
character owns his or her own car; 1D4 years old and in excellent
condition.