Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

If Super Heroes/Heroines & Super Villains are your game, discuss them here.

Moderators: Immortals, Supreme Beings, Old Ones

Lostboy
D-Bee
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2023 2:01 pm

Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

Unread post by Lostboy »

I was wondering if a superhuman with the Transferal/possession power where to possess someone with the power Multiple beings/selves would the duplicates still have the mind of the original? Also what would happen if a duplicate was possessed and then reabsorbed by the original?
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15523
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

Lostboy wrote:I was wondering if a superhuman with the Transferal/possession power where to possess someone with the power Multiple beings/selves would the duplicates still have the mind of the original? Also what would happen if a duplicate was possessed and then reabsorbed by the original?


The duplicates all still have the mind of the original . Recall that the power itself makes this explicit: Once a Multiple Selves is split off, it is 100% autonomous until it's reabsorbed. Nothing that happens to the original will carry over to the others, except death of the original which will cause the others to vanish.

If a Duplicate is possessed and then reabsorbed, then the superbeing possessing the duplicate would go along for the ride. They move into the original along with the duplicate until the final moment where the duplicate ceases to exist, at which point the possessing superbeing is unanchored but is already inside and ready to try to get a new host.

Functionally, the original gets an immediate save vs. possession to avoid being possessed. If they were unaware that the duplicate was possessed, you might rule a circumstantial penalty to the save, but this is on a case by case basis.
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
Lostboy
D-Bee
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2023 2:01 pm

Re: Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

Unread post by Lostboy »

What if the original is possessed and then uses the duplicate power? Would the duplicates be of the original and have a copy of the possessing entities personality or would the just be the standard copy?
User avatar
Nekira Sudacne
Monk
Posts: 15523
Joined: Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:22 pm
Comment: The Munchkin Fairy
Location: 2nd Degree Black Belt of Post Fu
Contact:

Re: Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

Unread post by Nekira Sudacne »

Lostboy wrote:What if the original is possessed and then uses the duplicate power? Would the duplicates be of the original and have a copy of the possessing entities personality or would the just be the standard copy?


Standard copy. The power itself specifically says the Superbeing using Transferal/Possession has no access to or influence over the mind of the host body, and so has no ability to imprint his mind on the copies.

Although if you have a Mutant with Superpowers and Psionics, there is some potential for shenangians if the being with Possession also has mind wipe/mind bond, because then they could in theory wipe the copies mind and replace it with their own. Though the permanent M.E. Cost means they could only do this a few times.
Sometimes, you're like a beacon of light in the darkness, giving me some hope for humankind. ~ Killer Cyborg

You can have something done good, fast and cheap. If you want it done good and fast, it's not going to be cheap. If you want it done fast and cheap it won't be good. If you want something done good and cheap it won't be done fast. ~ Dark Brandon
User avatar
Plane
D-Bee
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Jan 30, 2023 2:21 am

Re: Transferal/Possession vs multiple beings/selves

Unread post by Plane »

Nekira Sudacne wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2023 10:58 am If a Duplicate is possessed and then reabsorbed, then the superbeing possessing the duplicate would go along for the ride. They move into the original along with the duplicate until the final moment where the duplicate ceases to exist, at which point the possessing superbeing is unanchored but is already inside and ready to try to get a new host.
This begs an interesting question - if two separate villains have possessed your copies and you instantaneously reabsorb all your copies - who gets the first attempt to possess you? Roll for initiative?
Nekira Sudacne wrote: Tue Aug 08, 2023 10:58 am Functionally, the original gets an immediate save vs. possession to avoid being possessed. If they were unaware that the duplicate was possessed, you might rule a circumstantial penalty to the save, but this is on a case by case basis.
reading 295 it doesn't mention anything like the save vs psionics being penalized if it's a surprise (wouldn't it normally be a surprise anyway?) or getting bonuses if you know it's coming. I do like the idea though.
Nekira Sudacne wrote: Mon Aug 14, 2023 7:27 pm
Lostboy wrote:What if the original is possessed and then uses the duplicate power? Would the duplicates be of the original and have a copy of the possessing entities personality or would the just be the standard copy?
Standard copy. The power itself specifically says the Superbeing using Transferal/Possession has no access to or influence over the mind of the host body, and so has no ability to imprint his mind on the copies.
295 mentions "the character can use that being's powers and bonuses, but all bonuses are half due to lack of experience with them" so I guess it depends on what one means by 'using' a power. If you become the power's user does that mean you are able to copy your own mind (the new possessing mind) or are you still limited to creating copies of the original mind, who would then rebel against you and try to rescue their creator from the possession?

I always figured this 'halved bonuses' thing applied to success rolls rather than absolute amounts - like +2 to strike would become +1 to strike but +100 SDC probably wuoldn't become +50 SDC. I don't know how it works with copies though - maybe an interesting compromise would be if the Transferal allows you to imprint your own mind on newly-created copies first requiring absorbing old ones and recreating them of course) the copies you make have half their usual bonuses at everything?
Post Reply

Return to “Heroes Unlimited™”