Pomeranian Lover
Since Alan and Irma didn't get their powers from the same source, it could be justified that a Freak Lab Accident can give powers with obvious limits but the "amazium" you mentioned adds the Required Secondary Powers. If the powers come from different sources, then they could very well work in different ways. It's like how a light bulb and a candle both give light, but each has its own restrictions and benefits.
edited 24th Feb '11 11:53:48 AM by Rainbow
If Alan's gonna be moving at those speeds, he'd have to be Nigh-Invulnerable too to prevent bursting into flames or splattering his brain against the inside of his skull.
As for Irma, don't forget about pressure in regards to super-strength: Even if she can bench 100 tons, all that force is gonna be concentrated in her hands, so she might just tear through something instead of lifting it up. "Tactile telekinesis" is the usual Hand Wave for that. Or you could ignore that and focus more on smashing than lifting.
Irma doesn't necessarily need downsides to her power like Alan's dietary requirements, though. Flight and super-strength doesn't mean you can solve all your problems.
Out of curiousity, how much super-strength are we talking about?
edited 24th Feb '11 12:43:14 PM by RTaco
I need a drink
@Rainbow: So the Amazium Radiation could've mutated Irma in order compensate? Like stronger bones, denser muscle mass, stuff like that?
@R Taco: I could use that in order to lampshade the idea of Super Strength. Like Irma trying to get used to super strength. Regarding her super strength, nothing too out there. Golden Age Superman levels.
About Alan and the friction problem, I had given him a suit made out of a material that gains integrity the more friction is forced upon it. Would that work?
Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.
It'd protect him from friction (though I hope it'd have its own oxygen supply, or he's gonna suffocate), but unless he's superhumanly tough his internal organs would be thrown around inside him like a person in a car that speeds into a brick wall.
edited 24th Feb '11 7:47:10 PM by RTaco
I need a drink
Would it be possible that he's body had adapted to life at high speeds and that his diet, sleep patterns and medical needs were simply, I dunno, side effects?
Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.
Pomeranian Lover
@Atom James: Something like that, yeah. I was basically saying that if characters get powers from different sources, the powers don't have to manifest in the same way or with similar restrictions.
You might be able to add drama by having Alan notice that Irma's powers don't have downsides, and get jealous.
If I'm asking for advice on a story idea, don't tell me it can't be done.
...and their effect on a piece
NOTE: This is in some way related to this
thread.
I have a problem. Allow me to present two characters; Alan and Irma.
Alan is a super speedster who gained his powers after a Freak Lab Accident. As such, Alan is pretty much the fastest man alive in my 'verse. The problem is he also suffers from the downsides.
He needs to sleep more, eats 12 meals a day, and has a humdinger of a time if any bones get broken or muscles get pulled. All in all it ain't exactly easy to be him.
Then theres Irma, who gained her powers from exposure to a hunk of Amazium. She's a Flying brick if there ever was one, essentially serving as a Superman or Power Girl for my story. The thing is...well she doesn't really suffer from anything. No downsides, no problems (aside from frustration over Clark Kenting working), she just lives her life as normal as can be expected.
Heres my predicament: I've essentially created two different kinds of characters for one work (an aversion to Required Secondary Powers and a more straight-laced example). Since the story was essentially a reconstruction of the Silver Age, I didn't want to focus to much on the implications of these powers. I feel that starts to move towards Mark Millar territory...I'm not too comfortable with that.
I humbly request advice. Should I scale down Alan's problems, or scale Irma's up? Would I be breaking the tone and flow of the piece if went into such details? Would Willing Suspension of Disbelief be enough to get me through?
edited 24th Feb '11 6:13:01 AM by AtomJames
Theres sex and death and human grime in monochrome for one thin dime and at least the trains all run on time but they dont go anywhere.