Comments on: List of Superpowers http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/ Writing advice for superhero, fantasy & sci-fi authors Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:09:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: auxilary http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55936 auxilary Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:00:14 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55936 This is very helpful , i have a few changes on the characters. I was thinking Brookes power might have been too powerful when i was creating her so i limited her severly. So after your comments I think I might alter her powers some. She could shut off all powers that invole anyones mind ( like telekenesis, but not superstrength) And making her be able to draw peoples energy slightly in combat to power her sheild. ( sleepy while not fighting). Okay in hand to hand combatants. I might limit her to knocking out everyones powers instead of only select people, but I might not. I think Zach's ( zach not zack, misspelling above) power is okay. I'm not sure how to tweak his powers offensivly ( please help) Waynes power is basically having a few people, maybe one or two, become drawn emotionally to him for a short period of time. when they are drawn to him they want to protect him. Like wanting to help him to fight off someone/something. Ex. two gaurds helping him break into a jail ,while taking out other gaurds during it. (wayne wouldn't be breaking into a jail anyway, but i pulled it off the top of my head) When the people come too (depending who they are) they could suddenly turn on him. The time it takes them to break free depends on their will strength. Okay at self defebse, well, good enough to protect himself until he either gains control of them or takes them out ( knock them uncounsious). After a while of thinking I thought that Joshua's power would mainly be in the mind. He could have enhanced strength/ speed/ durability, but the main shift is in the mind. See, animals fight tooth and nail , completly ruthless tearing at throats and doing any thing to gain the upper hand. So maybe he could just, basically, become extreamly savage. Couple that with his other powers you would have a crazy strong, crazy fast, and crazy durable nearly sixfoot teenager, that wants nothing more than too tear your throat out. I was also thinking about adding a natural ability that would allow him to go on a "white run", which would allow him to just go on instincts while trying to escape. Example, he could run up a wall for a few steps, then jump out in a flip typr thing, grab a bar swing up, stand on it then jump out of a second story window in like, half a second. change is voluntary unless he is attacked, kie an ambush, then its automatic. i will write their origin stories but i have to get off now. Thanks for any and all comments. I will help others who need assistance as well. This is very helpful , i have a few changes on the characters.
I was thinking Brookes power might have been too powerful when i was creating her so i limited her severly. So after your comments I think I might alter her powers some. She could shut off all powers that invole anyones mind ( like telekenesis, but not superstrength) And making her be able to draw peoples energy slightly in combat to power her sheild. ( sleepy while not fighting). Okay in hand to hand combatants. I might limit her to knocking out everyones powers instead of only select people, but I might not.
I think Zach’s ( zach not zack, misspelling above) power is okay. I’m not sure how to tweak his powers offensivly ( please help)
Waynes power is basically having a few people, maybe one or two, become drawn emotionally to him for a short period of time. when they are drawn to him they want to protect him. Like wanting to help him to fight off someone/something. Ex. two gaurds helping him break into a jail ,while taking out other gaurds during it. (wayne wouldn’t be breaking into a jail anyway, but i pulled it off the top of my head) When the people come too (depending who they are) they could suddenly turn on him. The time it takes them to break free depends on their will strength. Okay at self defebse, well, good enough to protect himself until he either gains control of them or takes them out ( knock them uncounsious).
After a while of thinking I thought that Joshua’s power would mainly be in the mind. He could have enhanced strength/ speed/ durability, but the main shift is in the mind. See, animals fight tooth and nail , completly ruthless tearing at throats and doing any thing to gain the upper hand. So maybe he could just, basically, become extreamly savage. Couple that with his other powers you would have a crazy strong, crazy fast, and crazy durable nearly sixfoot teenager, that wants nothing more than too tear your throat out. I was also thinking about adding a natural ability that would allow him to go on a “white run”, which would allow him to just go on instincts while trying to escape. Example, he could run up a wall for a few steps, then jump out in a flip typr thing, grab a bar swing up, stand on it then jump out of a second story window in like, half a second. change is voluntary unless he is attacked, kie an ambush, then its automatic.
i will write their origin stories but i have to get off now. Thanks for any and all comments. I will help others who need assistance as well.

]]> By: Ragged Boy http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55732 Ragged Boy Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:23:54 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55732 Hello, Auxilary Here's my input on you team. - First off, if this is a team I don't think your powers are configured well enough. I believe there too much focus on support powers. As off now you only have two characters that could feasibly do combat. Also, Wayne's powers are situational so that makes one all-time combatant, a part-time combatant, and two support members. I'd recommend reconfiguring their powers to make them a stronger team. A personal rule of mine is that each character should be capable of at least one type of combat. - Joshua's powers are a bit vague. There are over 1 million animal species in the world and I'm hoping he's not like each one. I'd recommend narrowing it down to one type of animal. Big cats, monkeys, reptiles, etc. I think cats are a bit generic, but a monkey warrior would be pretty sick if pulled off well. - I'd recommend going all the way with Wayne's powers and give him empathy. Empathy encompassed what you said and makes his powers a little more whole. Also, to make him a bit more active I'd recommend givig him psychically produced weaponry. I think the combination would make him solid in and out of battle. - Brooke's powers are a bit negative-heavy. They don't apply to everyone, can only be used in bursts, and make her tired easily. I don't know your setting so I'm not sure if her powers are effective or not. I want to recommend giving her a new power altogether. In my opinion, she seems a bit like an easy target with no offensive ability and a defensive powers that only works a percentage of the time. - I'd summarize Zack's powers as detection. He can detect others powers and weaknesses and become indetectable. All in all, I thik his powers work out. You may mant to tweak him a little for combat effectiveness. - As a side note, I also recommend cleaning up your writing mechanics. I noticed a few grammar mistakes when editing your comment. What do you think? Hope this helps. Hello, Auxilary

Here’s my input on you team.

- First off, if this is a team I don’t think your powers are configured well enough. I believe there too much focus on support powers. As off now you only have two characters that could feasibly do combat. Also, Wayne’s powers are situational so that makes one all-time combatant, a part-time combatant, and two support members. I’d recommend reconfiguring their powers to make them a stronger team. A personal rule of mine is that each character should be capable of at least one type of combat.

- Joshua’s powers are a bit vague. There are over 1 million animal species in the world and I’m hoping he’s not like each one. I’d recommend narrowing it down to one type of animal. Big cats, monkeys, reptiles, etc. I think cats are a bit generic, but a monkey warrior would be pretty sick if pulled off well.

- I’d recommend going all the way with Wayne’s powers and give him empathy. Empathy encompassed what you said and makes his powers a little more whole. Also, to make him a bit more active I’d recommend givig him psychically produced weaponry. I think the combination would make him solid in and out of battle.

- Brooke’s powers are a bit negative-heavy. They don’t apply to everyone, can only be used in bursts, and make her tired easily. I don’t know your setting so I’m not sure if her powers are effective or not. I want to recommend giving her a new power altogether. In my opinion, she seems a bit like an easy target with no offensive ability and a defensive powers that only works a percentage of the time.

- I’d summarize Zack’s powers as detection. He can detect others powers and weaknesses and become indetectable. All in all, I thik his powers work out. You may mant to tweak him a little for combat effectiveness.

- As a side note, I also recommend cleaning up your writing mechanics. I noticed a few grammar mistakes when editing your comment.

What do you think? Hope this helps.

]]> By: Miss Myna http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55727 Miss Myna Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:56:41 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55727 Yeah... I have a bookworm character and I'm tempted to give him that power, though that's probably anvilicious... Maybe give it to his brother? HE doesn't read at all. XD Yeah… I have a bookworm character and I’m tempted to give him that power, though that’s probably anvilicious…

Maybe give it to his brother? HE doesn’t read at all. XD

]]> By: Wings http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55652 Wings Sat, 06 Mar 2010 20:13:57 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55652 Oddly enough, there was originally an end scene in HTSTW (This was the time before the sequels) designed to foreshadow the existence of superhumans other than the Specials, that mentioned a little girl making origami birds fly around her. I might bring her back in the maybe-sequel to Darkstar Rising or the Third Book, just because of the sheer awesome of an origami army. - Wings Oddly enough, there was originally an end scene in HTSTW (This was the time before the sequels) designed to foreshadow the existence of superhumans other than the Specials, that mentioned a little girl making origami birds fly around her.

I might bring her back in the maybe-sequel to Darkstar Rising or the Third Book, just because of the sheer awesome of an origami army.

- Wings

]]> By: Tin http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55651 Tin Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:52:18 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55651 Thanks I needed super power names for my story! Thanks alot! Thanks I needed super power names for my story! Thanks alot!

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55639 B. Mac Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:23:26 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55639 Also, the librarian protagonist of Read or Die! has paper-kinesis. It's surprisingly versatile. I haven't seen any origami armies yet, but she has escaped a crashing helicopter by making a hang-glider out of paper, which was a surprisingly intense action sequence for a cartoon. Also, the librarian protagonist of Read or Die! has paper-kinesis. It’s surprisingly versatile. I haven’t seen any origami armies yet, but she has escaped a crashing helicopter by making a hang-glider out of paper, which was a surprisingly intense action sequence for a cartoon.

]]> By: Miss Myna http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55638 Miss Myna Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:53:54 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55638 I always thought a cute power for a bookworm would have some sort of paper-kinesis... I've seen it a lot in anime where characters could control paper and wood and ended up telekinetically creating an origami army or something. It's really cool. <3 I always thought a cute power for a bookworm would have some sort of paper-kinesis… I’ve seen it a lot in anime where characters could control paper and wood and ended up telekinetically creating an origami army or something. It’s really cool. <3

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55454 Ghost Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:08:51 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55454 Auxilary, First off, I think that Wanye's powes is to passive. It doesn't really "do" anything. Remember you want your heroes to be doing the actions in the story, so that means you want their powers to doing things also. Wanye's power could be problematic, because he won't be the one doing anything. Other people will be doing it for him. I suggest you give him mind control or something along those lines. I would also recommend giving Brooke Zack's first power. It makes sense to me that if Brooke can turn other people's powers off that she would be able to sense their weaknesses as well. For Zack, I think that his "unnoticability"(is that even a word and if so did I spell it correctly) could work well. From your description, I imagine his powers as something like being mentally invisible to people as oppose to him actually turn invisible. Almost like him using a hypnotic suggestion to make people not notice him. I like Joshua's power, but your description is a little unclear to me. Does Joshua change at will like a Lycan from underworld? Or is he like to hulk and he can only change when he is angry. I think that his powers could work either way. By the way, what are your character's origin stories? Auxilary,
First off, I think that Wanye’s powes is to passive. It doesn’t really “do” anything. Remember you want your heroes to be doing the actions in the story, so that means you want their powers to doing things also. Wanye’s power could be problematic, because he won’t be the one doing anything. Other people will be doing it for him. I suggest you give him mind control or something along those lines.
I would also recommend giving Brooke Zack’s first power. It makes sense to me that if Brooke can turn other people’s powers off that she would be able to sense their weaknesses as well.
For Zack, I think that his “unnoticability”(is that even a word and if so did I spell it correctly) could work well. From your description, I imagine his powers as something like being mentally invisible to people as oppose to him actually turn invisible. Almost like him using a hypnotic suggestion to make people not notice him.
I like Joshua’s power, but your description is a little unclear to me. Does Joshua change at will like a Lycan from underworld? Or is he like to hulk and he can only change when he is angry. I think that his powers could work either way.
By the way, what are your character’s origin stories?

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55369 Ghost Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:15:07 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55369 Brett, Um I think that could work, but I still think that a technologically based teleportation power would work better. Kinda like Cable has in the marvel universe. You could have it break or glitch, or even inaccurate. I recommend raading the new Cable comics after the Messiah complex to get a better idea of what I am talking about. Brett,
Um I think that could work, but I still think that a technologically based teleportation power would work better. Kinda like Cable has in the marvel universe. You could have it break or glitch, or even inaccurate. I recommend raading the new Cable comics after the Messiah complex to get a better idea of what I am talking about.

]]> By: Brett http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55366 Brett Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:59:13 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55366 I was thinking he unknowingly touch someone with the ability to teleport and that person may also have the ability to transfer his powers to someone else but he can't control when that happens. maybe the villan would kill the guy thus making the transfer permanent. For superstrength, maybe he was exposed to radiation in the hospital as a baby. Could I explain those gradually and not tell the reader from the outset? That way the hero learns the origins of his powers as the reader does I was thinking he unknowingly touch someone with the ability to teleport and that person may also have the ability to transfer his powers to someone else but he can’t control when that happens. maybe the villan would kill the guy thus making the transfer permanent. For superstrength, maybe he was exposed to radiation in the hospital as a baby. Could I explain those gradually and not tell the reader from the outset? That way the hero learns the origins of his powers as the reader does

]]> By: Auxilary http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55340 Auxilary Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:40:23 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55340 I've been having trouble creating new characters whenever I make another story. Could you guys offer some constuctive criticism? I was given a few names from my cousin, Mysticgust because he discarded them: Joshua: Has the ability to become animal-like when in danger or in a fight. When he goes "animal" he is only operating on instincts and is completly ruthless. His senses become elavated to animal levels. Wayne : Ability to draw people to him emotionally and physically and want to protect and help him. Only works on a few people at a time. Brooke: Ability to shut off powers that affect peoples minds. It tires her out very qiuckly so that she is constantly sleepy and her power shuts off after several minutes. She usually uses her gift in bursts. Zack: ability to sense powers and weaknesses in others. Can cause people to not notice him for breif periods of time. ( He must move slowly while being " unnoticed") I’ve been having trouble creating new characters whenever I make another story. Could you guys offer some constuctive criticism? I was given a few names from my cousin, Mysticgust because he discarded them:

Joshua: Has the ability to become animal-like when in danger or in a fight. When he goes “animal” he is only operating on instincts and is completly ruthless. His senses become elavated to animal levels.

Wayne : Ability to draw people to him emotionally and physically and want to protect and help him. Only works on a few people at a time.

Brooke: Ability to shut off powers that affect peoples minds. It tires her out very qiuckly so that she is constantly sleepy and her power shuts off after several minutes. She usually uses her gift in bursts.

Zack: ability to sense powers and weaknesses in others. Can cause people to not notice him for breif periods of time. ( He must move slowly while being ” unnoticed”)

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55262 Ghost Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:03:07 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55262 Brett, Yeah that one really sounds like a tough combo. I think you are going to have your work cut out for you. Good luck. Brett,
Yeah that one really sounds like a tough combo. I think you are going to have your work cut out for you. Good luck.

]]> By: Brett http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55255 Brett Tue, 02 Mar 2010 02:43:46 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55255 Well... it's not really a team, it's more of a collabation between two characters and what protagonist learns along the way not only through teamwork but also working solo. I was thinking that it could be a potent mix of chemicals that gives him that power combo but I'm not sure yet. I would absolutely explain the origins through the context of the story, but I'm not 100 percent sure how to handle it yet. Well… it’s not really a team, it’s more of a collabation between two characters and what protagonist learns along the way not only through teamwork but also working solo. I was thinking that it could be a potent mix of chemicals that gives him that power combo but I’m not sure yet. I would absolutely explain the origins through the context of the story, but I’m not 100 percent sure how to handle it yet.

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55242 B. Mac Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:07:38 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55242 I think that the restriction that his power can only work on himself will help you challenge the character. Also, if the character is on a team, it'll also help you split them into smaller units, which will make action choreography more manageable. ... I agree with Ghost that it might be an issue that superstrength and teleportation don't really seem to mesh very well. A bit of in-story explanation may help. For example, perhaps his body hardened itself to survive the stress of traveling thousands of miles in an instant. I think that the restriction that his power can only work on himself will help you challenge the character. Also, if the character is on a team, it’ll also help you split them into smaller units, which will make action choreography more manageable.

…

I agree with Ghost that it might be an issue that superstrength and teleportation don’t really seem to mesh very well. A bit of in-story explanation may help. For example, perhaps his body hardened itself to survive the stress of traveling thousands of miles in an instant.

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55240 Ghost Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:45:19 +0000 http://www.superheronation.com/blog/2007/12/30/list-of-superpowers/#comment-55240 Brett, Ok, I get what you are trying to do now. However, the only thing I am concerned with now is the origin of his two powers. The only reason I bring this up is that they are such drastically different powers that you might have trouble getting your reader to "believe" in them. I mean, yeah, superman can get away with a ridiculous power set, but he is superman and he has been around a while so people just naturally accept his powers. For your character though, they might not be so forgiving. Brett,
Ok, I get what you are trying to do now. However, the only thing I am concerned with now is the origin of his two powers. The only reason I bring this up is that they are such drastically different powers that you might have trouble getting your reader to “believe” in them. I mean, yeah, superman can get away with a ridiculous power set, but he is superman and he has been around a while so people just naturally accept his powers. For your character though, they might not be so forgiving.

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