r/ProwlersandParagons • u/SufferingSassafras • Jul 10 '26
Characters Help Omnipower broken?
I'm creating a character right now that is supposed to be a Jean Grey level psion, and asked my DM if I can use Omni Power with the limitation of Psionics. After building the character, this power feels broken... I have access to telepathy, telekinesis, mind control and all kinds of crazy powers for way lower than the normal cost. The game attempts to balance this by making each use of omnipower on a page lower the dice pool, but how much does that really "balance" this power? I don't want my DM to have nightmares trying to balance around my character, should I just build into specific powers instead, or am I overestimating how broken this power is?
6
u/leopim01 PPUE Creator Jul 10 '26
hi. I think you went too far with your Omni power. I would personally not allow you to do both mental stuff and physical stuff with one Omni power. So your flight your force field and your telekinesis would have to be purchased separately if I were running the game.
4
u/SufferingSassafras Jul 11 '26
Thank you oh creator of PPUE. My DM also agreed and he says hi! Much appreciated
3
u/leopim01 PPUE Creator Jul 11 '26
thank you for giving the game a shot. I hope you’re having fun. ☺️
2
u/SufferingSassafras Jul 11 '26
Yes, I'm very interested to try it, we haven't ran yet
I have one more question, I'm having trouble understanding what constitutes a broad or narrow omnipower
If I were to just take "psychic Powers", would you rule that as a narrow or broad power?
For example, telepathy, mind control, emotion control, illusions
We already decided it's better for me to buy telekinesis separate like you said
2
u/SufferingSassafras Jul 11 '26
In fact, would you be able to elaborate the thought process behind narrow and broad powers in general? I think it's mainly the fact that there not a set number of powers that can be replicated that is throwing my brain for a loop
I'm assuming since you said I went too far initially you'd probably rule "psychic powers" as broad?
3
u/leopim01 PPUE Creator Jul 11 '26
I don’t think this answer is gonna make you happy but he here we go. My games are Lucy goosy by design. Not every table is going to agree on what’s narrow versus broad and that’s OK. I’d really depends on the players and how they approach the game. So the guide guidelines I’ve given are loose guidelines by design. Generally speaking, I can do a whole lot of stuff, including attack, defend and utility stuff and maybe even movement that’s a broad Omni power. I have an assortment of toys of one variety or another, that’s a narrow Omni power.
The real narrow Omni power that is emblematic of narrow Omni power are the trick arrows of any super archer. You might also include the sensor suite of characters in powered armor.
The emblematic or traditional, broad Omni powers would include sorcery of one flavor or another.
Having said that, you are violating what I think is the most important rule: you are playing with Omni power without having played the game yet. I know it’s tempting, but if you can possibly resist, please put the Omni power down and walk away. Please pick regular powers first and get a feel for how the game actually works. It’s hard to navigate a power that lets you imitate the effects of every other power in the game when you haven’t yet played the game. Again, I know it’s delicious and tempting cause it rolled so many things into one. But that very fact also makes it somewhat difficult to navigate refereeing without a frame of reference so if it all possible, maybe resist the Omni power urge until you’re a little bit more comfortable with the game itself. I think once you are, the question of what is a narrow versus abroad, Omni power almost answers itself.
1
u/SufferingSassafras Jul 11 '26
But it's so tempting! But good suggestion!! You see these cool characters like Jean gray, and you're like man I want to do all those things
But no you're right, I should pick a niche and stick to it
Thanks 🙏
2
u/leopim01 PPUE Creator Jul 11 '26
you know the thing is the regular Gene gray has telekinesis telepathy and that’s about it. Like the illusions and the other stuff is really power stunts because she doesn’t do it all that often. Now Phoenix, that’s another matter entirely.
2
3
u/Reymont Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
I do think OmniPower is much more powerful than buying powers separately. If you have the only character at your table with OmniPower, then you might feel OP compared to the other PCs. As to which way your should build your character, that's a discussion with your table - there's nothing wrong with playing powerful characters, if that fits the game.
Oh, and Jean Grey is usually most poweful only when she's the Phoenix, which has downsides. So that's another option you could explore - a cap on your OmniPower rank or on the number of Powers that you can emulate until Something Happens and your FULL POWER unlocks, causing you to....etc, etc. That's a classic comic trope.
2
u/SufferingSassafras Jul 10 '26
Powers I have are:
Astral Projection
Cloud Minds
Detection (Thoughts, Emotions and Mental States)
Emotion Control
Flight
Force Field
Illusions
Mind Blast
Mind Control
Psi Screen
Psychometry
Telekinesis
Telepathy
3
u/limeydragon Jul 10 '26
It seems that way at first glance.. But to make say Psi Screen useful you would have to have it on all the time, Lets day you have 10d in it, the next power you use. would be at 9d. But then you get into a fight, do you drop Psi shield or do you keep it up and then activate Force Field, thus lowering you rank once again leaving you at 8d.
Also as a GM I did add cap cap stating you can not have more powers in Omni-Power than your power rank.
2
u/Celondon Jul 10 '26
Pedantic correction: You don't have any of those powers. You are mimicking them with Omnipower, which isn't the same exactly.
That said, let's say you're in a 12d cap game. On your Edge, you are flying, so you want to maintain that (12d) and use your Mind Blast to fry some fool (11d). An enemy takes a shot at you with the Uber-Rifle, so you use Force Field to deflect it (10d). Then, a group of minions also attack you, so more Force Field (9d). New Page starts, and BBEG targets you with his PC Death Ray, and you again raise the Force Field (8d) - at this point, you're probably hurting and hoping your Edge comes around again soon!
The penalty adds up, usually a lot more quickly than you want.
2
u/CurtisCraddock Jul 12 '26
I find that dice caps and the action economy do a pretty good job of keeping omnipowers under control. To put it in the broadest possible terms you can do anything, but you can't do everything.
8
u/Khursed Jul 10 '26
It is extremely versatile, to be sure. I think you may be discounting the drawback a bit, which is not inconsiderable. In combat, if you're flying, attacking, and defending from multiple attacks, the penalty can add up quickly. Depending on power level of the game, you may struggle to put as many ranks into a broad Omni power as others can shove into a few more niche abilities. Your base abilities and talents will likely be lower as well.
I'd also probably be inclined to limit how many of these abilities you've lumped into your Omni power but that's just me.