Blackmoor Vituperative

Another random bit. This time it’s Absorption, which is probably one of the more complicated powers in the game:

Absorption

Activation: Always On

Task roll: —

Target: Personal

Range: —

Cost: 1 character point per rank

Absorption permits the character to absorb damage from a force or substance and use that energy in specific ways. The character can heal themselves, or they can temporarily gain the power that attacked them, or they can boost one of their existing powers. The specific type of force or substance that can be absorbed must be chosen when this power is purchased. Some typical examples are air, earth, fire, water, light, darkness, force fields, electricity, magnetism, gravity, cloth, and plants. You can pick any force or substance you like, subject to the GM’s approval.

The amount of energy which can be absorbed from a single attack is equal to the rank in the Absorption power. For example, if a character has rank 3 Force Field and rank 2 Absorption (electricity) and is struck by a rank 7 electrical attack, the damage rating of the attack reduced the character’s Endurance by 4 (7 – 3 = 4), and the character absorbs 2 ranks of energy. These two ranks are added to a pool of absorbed energy which depletes at the rate of one rank per round, starting the round after the energy was absorbed.

The ranks of energy absorbed by the character may be used in one of three ways, which may be chosen by the character on a case-by-case basis.

• Healing – The character restores an amount of lost Endurance (or other damaged attribute) up to the rank of energy in the pool. Each rank of restored Endurance requires the expenditure of one rank of absorbed energy. Healing themselves in this fashion requires a free action.
• Power – The character gains the power that inflicted the damage, and can use this power to attack others. Each rank of the gained power requires the expenditure of one rank of absorbed energy, and the power lasts for only one round. Gaining the power requires a free action, but using it requires a task action.
• Boost – The character may Boost either one of their attributes or one of their powers. Each rank in Boost requires the expenditure of one rank of absorbed energy, and the Boost lasts for only one round. Boosting an attribute or power requires a free action, but using the attribute or power usually requires a task action.

Absorption does not provide protection against an attack: the damage rating of attacks is not reduced by the rank of the Absorption power. If the damage of the attack knocks the character unconscious or kills them, the character automatically uses their absorbed energy to heal themselves as much as possible.

Enhancements

Delayed Depletion: The absorbed energy depletes at a rate of one rank per minute rather than one rank per round. +1 character point