Spellbind Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
spellbindmods) wrote2017-06-14 05:15 am
spellbindmods) wrote2017-06-14 05:15 am
Entry tags:
CANON POWERS
CANON POWERS
Powers, magic, abilities...they're all pretty complicated things! Some canons are more cut and dry than others, especially when it comes to humanization. Some characters are humans with special gifts, while others are deities. In a game where powers are taken and humanization is kept, where is the line drawn?
In many cases, the line is in fact pretty blurry. Gods, vampires, angels, ghosts...how are these characters handled? What about Superheroes!
In general, all magical powers and abilities are taken. These are two questions to consider when we talk about powers concerning characters: humanization and location.
WHY ARE POWERS TAKEN?
It may read as kind of weird at first: why does this game give powers and then take the rest of them away?
ICly, the magical frequency mechanic exists -- which you can read about on the physical setting page -- and Qri gives her charges powers because she knows this exists. These powers she gives can sometimes be their only strength on worlds untouched by magic...but that doesn't explain it as an OOC choice.
Spellbind OOCly is about surviving and building bonds with people in a setting where things are uncertain. Characters are kept on their toes. If characters came in with a litany of massive powers that could easily help them adapt to the setting and get out of sticky situations, that atmosphere isn't conducive to actually building connections outside of those with amazing powers helping those who maybe aren't as blessed.
This mechanic does exist to make your character's life harder, but for the greater OOC benefit. It's not fun to play in a game where surviving and growing are the two biggest ideas, and the former is something they can handle with immortality, super strength and unending healing powers.
HUMANIZATION
Characters in Spellbind don't need to be humanized. That means ghosts can stay ghosts, demons can stay demons, cats and robots can stay cats and robots, and robot cats can stay robot cats. However, with biology or makeup come other skills. Why should others get to lose their powers while these characters get to keep theirs due to biology?
The abilities and powers kept by these characters will be based on their biological need to survive and attachment to their physical form. If a character has wings, they can still fly. If a character needs to drink blood, they will still need to drink blood. If a character has the physical equipment to breathe fire, they can still do that.
Think about a vampire from a standard vampire canon. Things tied to survival, like a silver allergy, will be kept. As an example, vampires in True Blood can move incredibly fast and hypnotize others -- these powers are NOT linked to survival.
Why? This allows for characters to keep their original form with no forced humanization while still losing some power in turn with the game mechanics. It also puts limitations on characters who would biologically be able to get around the rule of powers taken. Superman can run faster than a speeding bullet -- why should he be able to keep his powers when someone who was blessed with the gift of super speed can't keep theirs just because he's biologically capable of it?
A lot of characters come by their powers biologically, whether they were born that way or had their molecules all rearranged. They shouldn't have to be forcibly humanized because of their biology, but their biology shouldn't also allow them to keep incredible powers. Hopefully we can come together to find a happy medium between these two concepts.
LOCATION
Some characters have powers and abilities linked to a specific location. For instance, seraphim from Tales of Zestiria can only be seen by those who can see beings with a high resonance. This same resonance may not always stay within different worlds. Some worlds have no sense of resonance, while some have a high sense of resonance.
Characters like Superman need a specific type of sunlight in order to fuel their powers. This sunlight will not always exist on different worlds. Powers that may vary based on location standards, even if associated with biology, will be taken.
These are examples of characters who have powers tied to a universe or location. If you live in a bubble where everyone has magic because of the bubble, then are removed from that bubble, it would make sense your powers wouldn't travel with you. This will likely come up more infrequently, but consider this when you weigh out your character's powers.
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
Canons come with wacky rules and even wackier kinds of magic, powers and abilities. Not every situation will fit neatly into a box, and sometimes some powers are necessary in order to make a character playable at all!
There is a goal in mind here: make the game open to as many characters as possible while maintaining these rules as much as possible. Negotiations and compromises may need to be made, and sometimes powers will need to be explicitly explained in order to make a ruling.
If you're unsure whether or not a power would be kept in all worlds or only available in high-frequency worlds, PM the mod account, ask on the FAQ/mod contact post or bring it up in your app! We'll try to work out how best to acclimate your character into the setting without making them impossible to play OR overpowered when they shouldn't be.
THIS APPLIES ONLY TO CANON POWERS. POWERS GIVEN WITHIN THE GAME WILL WORK ON ALL PLANES: THE HUB, HIGH- AND LOW-FREQUENCY WORLDS.
CODE BY TESSISAMESS
Powers, magic, abilities...they're all pretty complicated things! Some canons are more cut and dry than others, especially when it comes to humanization. Some characters are humans with special gifts, while others are deities. In a game where powers are taken and humanization is kept, where is the line drawn?
In many cases, the line is in fact pretty blurry. Gods, vampires, angels, ghosts...how are these characters handled? What about Superheroes!
In general, all magical powers and abilities are taken. These are two questions to consider when we talk about powers concerning characters: humanization and location.
WHY ARE POWERS TAKEN?
It may read as kind of weird at first: why does this game give powers and then take the rest of them away?
ICly, the magical frequency mechanic exists -- which you can read about on the physical setting page -- and Qri gives her charges powers because she knows this exists. These powers she gives can sometimes be their only strength on worlds untouched by magic...but that doesn't explain it as an OOC choice.
Spellbind OOCly is about surviving and building bonds with people in a setting where things are uncertain. Characters are kept on their toes. If characters came in with a litany of massive powers that could easily help them adapt to the setting and get out of sticky situations, that atmosphere isn't conducive to actually building connections outside of those with amazing powers helping those who maybe aren't as blessed.
This mechanic does exist to make your character's life harder, but for the greater OOC benefit. It's not fun to play in a game where surviving and growing are the two biggest ideas, and the former is something they can handle with immortality, super strength and unending healing powers.
HUMANIZATION
Characters in Spellbind don't need to be humanized. That means ghosts can stay ghosts, demons can stay demons, cats and robots can stay cats and robots, and robot cats can stay robot cats. However, with biology or makeup come other skills. Why should others get to lose their powers while these characters get to keep theirs due to biology?
The abilities and powers kept by these characters will be based on their biological need to survive and attachment to their physical form. If a character has wings, they can still fly. If a character needs to drink blood, they will still need to drink blood. If a character has the physical equipment to breathe fire, they can still do that.
Think about a vampire from a standard vampire canon. Things tied to survival, like a silver allergy, will be kept. As an example, vampires in True Blood can move incredibly fast and hypnotize others -- these powers are NOT linked to survival.
Why? This allows for characters to keep their original form with no forced humanization while still losing some power in turn with the game mechanics. It also puts limitations on characters who would biologically be able to get around the rule of powers taken. Superman can run faster than a speeding bullet -- why should he be able to keep his powers when someone who was blessed with the gift of super speed can't keep theirs just because he's biologically capable of it?
A lot of characters come by their powers biologically, whether they were born that way or had their molecules all rearranged. They shouldn't have to be forcibly humanized because of their biology, but their biology shouldn't also allow them to keep incredible powers. Hopefully we can come together to find a happy medium between these two concepts.
LOCATION
Some characters have powers and abilities linked to a specific location. For instance, seraphim from Tales of Zestiria can only be seen by those who can see beings with a high resonance. This same resonance may not always stay within different worlds. Some worlds have no sense of resonance, while some have a high sense of resonance.
Characters like Superman need a specific type of sunlight in order to fuel their powers. This sunlight will not always exist on different worlds. Powers that may vary based on location standards, even if associated with biology, will be taken.
These are examples of characters who have powers tied to a universe or location. If you live in a bubble where everyone has magic because of the bubble, then are removed from that bubble, it would make sense your powers wouldn't travel with you. This will likely come up more infrequently, but consider this when you weigh out your character's powers.
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES
Canons come with wacky rules and even wackier kinds of magic, powers and abilities. Not every situation will fit neatly into a box, and sometimes some powers are necessary in order to make a character playable at all!
There is a goal in mind here: make the game open to as many characters as possible while maintaining these rules as much as possible. Negotiations and compromises may need to be made, and sometimes powers will need to be explicitly explained in order to make a ruling.
If you're unsure whether or not a power would be kept in all worlds or only available in high-frequency worlds, PM the mod account, ask on the FAQ/mod contact post or bring it up in your app! We'll try to work out how best to acclimate your character into the setting without making them impossible to play OR overpowered when they shouldn't be.
THIS APPLIES ONLY TO CANON POWERS. POWERS GIVEN WITHIN THE GAME WILL WORK ON ALL PLANES: THE HUB, HIGH- AND LOW-FREQUENCY WORLDS.