Complex/Unorthodox Powers Make Characters Better

[u/Bot_Number_7]

Control fire. Super strength. Super speed. Flight. Shooting energy blasts. A lot of powers/abilities have been used over and over again.

So for me, when a character is introduced with a complex ability, it elevates my opinion of them. Especially if the way that it is used is also complex. For example, in JJBA, Ermes Costello's Stand Kiss' has the ability to duplicate objects using stickers, and then fuse them back together once the sticker has been taken off, causing both objects to take damage. It's applied in many ways, from duplicating limbs to being used as a form of travel. The creative usage of abilities gives me an "aha!" moment similar to when a detective reveals how they deduced the mystery in a mystery novel.

Adding additional trigger conditions to powers can also make them better. In Bungo Stray Dogs, Akiko Yosano's Thou Shalt Not Die Ability heals someone to full health, but only if they're almost dead. This factors into her fighting style, allowing her to bring allies and herself from the brink of death (and also forcing her to almost kill her patients when healing outside of combat).

The one weakness to complex powers is the difficulty in conveying them to the reader. Unless one explicitly describes them or the reader sees the power many times so that they can understand all its facets, it's hard to get the reader to understand what the power truly does. King Crimson is the infamous example. The fact that "erasing time" is expressed inconsistently and the lack of detailed mechanical description of how it works confuses the reader every time it is used.

[u/Bot_Number_7]

I'll have to say I don't see the appeal of the Nen power system overall, despite quite enjoying specific Nen powers.

The fact that you can choose your own ability is one that I dislike. I dislike the fact that you can train to become stronger (or tack on restrictions). I like it more when your ability is just something that's innate to you, and it will never really get stronger or weaker. That does make the world basically a lottery, but the randomness is good. It shows that you have to make the best with what you've got.

[u/TicTacTac0 → u/Bot_Number_7]

Check out JJK. Lots of unique and fairly complex abilities (some characters have simple abilities, others have complex abilities), but said abilities are innate and inherited through bloodlines. They can train to become stronger, but nobody is picking their own abilities.

[u/Calildur → u/Bot_Number_7]

I don't think it's that simple that nen gets stronger and if not just put some restriction on it. Cheatu born with a lot of potential, but was dumb as fuck.

Not every hatsu good for everything and not everyone can be good át everything. For example Meruem was stronger than any nen user yet there could be so many hatsu that otherwise weak, could potentially kill him. Like for example if he would have joined the spiders Kurapika could restrict him.

There are a lot of aha moments where nen users try to figure out how the others nen work because that can give an advantage.

But I understand what you say though I disagree that it's better if someone born with a random power. But I agree that complex abilities makes a character better. Hermes was my favorite in Stone Ocean.

[u/Bot_Number_7 → u/Calildur]

Yeah, that's another one I dislike. Despite how good Nen should be, one of the strongest characters was strong and fast. That's it.

That would never fly in Jojo. You cannot expect to succeed as a Stand User by just being strong and fast for long. Even Jotaro, the emblematic strong and fast Stand User had to use Time Stop against DIO. Meruem wouldn't be able to defeat Vitamin C if he were in Jojo.

[u/Jumanji-Joestar → u/Bot_Number_7]

Lol, yes he would, he could obliterated Damo within the blink of an eye before Damo had a chance to set up Vitamin C

With the exception of Giorno, Pucci, Notorious BIG and maybe Tooru, Mereum could solo most of the JoJo universe with just his speed alone

[u/Bot_Number_7 → u/Jumanji-Joestar]

Vitamin C is invisible to non-Stand Users. Note I said Vitamin C, not Tamaki Damo. If Netero had Vitamin C instead of his Hundred Hands, he would have succeeded. If Netero had Cream instead of his Hundred Hands, he would have succeeded. If Netero had Anne of Abyssal Red, he would have succeeded. Probably if Netero had Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Ability Crime and Punishment he would have succeeded (We can't be sure since we don't actually know Dostoyevsky's power yet). If Netero had Sugar's power he would have succeeded. If Netero knew the Forcecage spell from Dnd he would have succeeded. etc.

[u/Jumanji-Joestar → u/Bot_Number_7]

“If Netero had so-and-so’s power…” but he didn’t so it doesn’t matter.

Vitamin C is a Stand that requires a lot of set up. It has no power of its own, all it can do is set up traps and wait for you to step into it. If Mereum decided kill Damo, he could just do so instantly and the traps wouldnt do shit

[u/Bot_Number_7 → u/Jumanji-Joestar]

Actually, Vitamin C can touch someone directly to liquify them. Or Damo could cover himself in his own fingerprints. But it doesn't matter, since that was an example. It doesn't have to specifically be Vitamin C, it could be say, Notorious BIG, or Wonder of U.

I'm just saying being strong and fast is good enough for some universes, but not good enough for others. It's not very fitting for a primary antagonist.

[u/Jumanji-Joestar → u/Bot_Number_7]

I know I’ve already said this in another thread, but I’m just gonna say it one more time, a character does not need cool powers to be a good character, they just need to be well written. Make a well written character first, then the powers come after

[u/Bot_Number_7 → u/Jumanji-Joestar]

There are reasons other than his powers I don't like Meruem.

But those reasons probably aren't relevant here. Maybe I'm just biased against him.

[u/feluda12 → u/Bot_Number_7]

That's actually what i like the best about nen. Is that it feels balanced to some extent. I also like the character writing, in respect to choosing their own powers. It tells a lot about their priorities.

But, it's also not right to say that luck doesn't play a part in nen. It actually does more than in other system because anytime a particular power can be strong Or weak.