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The effect of superpowers in Ancient times?

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MrThug Since: Dec, 1969
#1: Mar 21st 2011 at 12:51:45 PM

I'm planning a book about a world filled with superpowered individuals, kind of like Marvel mixed with One Piece in a way. I'll get to more on that later but here's the main thing.

How would superpowered individuals change the world if they were introduced during the time of the first Persian War?

TeraChimera Since: Oct, 2010
#2: Mar 21st 2011 at 12:53:42 PM

It all depends on what side they're on, what battles they're in, what kinds of superpowers they have, how their superpowers work... There's a lot of variables in there.

MrThug Since: Dec, 1969
#3: Mar 21st 2011 at 12:57:49 PM

Well as I said it's like Marvel and One Piece mixed. They're born with powers but they only develop during adolescence with few exceptions. Powers vary but usually you can use your powers in a variety of ways, that's where One Piece relation comes in. For example the Lancer of the story has Biological Manipulation as his power. He can change his appearance, accelerate healing by touch or sever muscles and give illnesses. And he can temporarily super charge a persons muscles giving them enhanced strength.

But what I'm more concerned with is how would they fit in in that period?

stingerbrg Since: Jun, 2009
#4: Mar 21st 2011 at 1:28:36 PM

Depending on how much of the population gets powers, they'll probably been seen as children of the gods or gods themselves (varying between cultural areas).

MrThug Since: Dec, 1969
#5: Mar 21st 2011 at 3:01:44 PM

I suppose that's true, but what about monotheistic cultures or pantheistic cultures like the Native Americans? Would Jewish superhumans be stoned or cast out as demons? Would Native American superhumans be seen as evil spirits or as ones blessed by spirits?

We also have to think of the technology cause the story takes place about 700 years later, Ancient Greece is just where they're introduced. I mean would superhuman powers advance technology at all? Would they already be in musket and hand cannon tech by that time

breadloaf Since: Oct, 2010
#6: Mar 22nd 2011 at 11:27:03 AM

I should think superhuman powers do the complete opposite. Much like ancient Greece threw away all it's machinery and automation technology because they thought it useless when they had so many slaves. In this case, if you have super strength, why bother with a lever? Just ask Strongacles to lift the boulder for you.

MrThug Since: Dec, 1969
#7: Mar 22nd 2011 at 5:37:52 PM

But not everyone is going to have super strength, and in a city maybe one or two people alone would have it. There would be no way to predict who gets a power and what power they get so in the end it would be less productive.

But I'm saying if one or two people gain a high intelligence would they not perhaps eventually make agricultural, scientific, etc etc... advancements earlier?

MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#8: Mar 22nd 2011 at 9:53:07 PM

Jean, Cyclops and Professor X would be rat-food, Wolverine and Mystique wouldn't do too badly, and Storm and Magneto would probably be worshipped as gods.

KnightofLsama Since: Sep, 2010
#9: Mar 23rd 2011 at 2:21:24 AM

[up] I wouldn't count out Jean, especially as she taps into the Phoenix Force.

Honestly though if these powers are only confined to a few people the net effect is probably going to be one of two things.

1)Particularly spectacular individuals would probably gravitate towards positions of power and may eventually form a type of hereditary aristocracy on the basis if Might Makes Right and explaining their powers by divine ancestry.

2) Give later periods a lot more legends to riff off.

If you really want to change things drastically you need the equivalent of [[X Men Forge]] or some other power set that turns them into a Gadgeteer Genius that can then kick start an industrial revolution.

Hmmm... plot bunny being born. A group of Badass Normals teaming up with a bunch of... for lack of a better catch all term Sparks who have powers that are considered second class compared to you're average Flying Brick and others with more obvious power sets.

Anaheyla Since: Jan, 2001
#10: Mar 24th 2011 at 9:04:12 AM

I'm given to understand that Xavier's powers can affect everyone on the planet, or failing that, certainly anyone within a few hundred miles. Ratfood is a gross underestimation of what he's capable of.

edited 24th Mar '11 9:04:23 AM by Anaheyla

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MattII Since: Sep, 2009
#11: Mar 24th 2011 at 12:35:24 PM

I wouldn't count out Jean, especially as she taps into the Phoenix Force.
Well going by the movies that's about the only time she becomes really powerful, and then she's really unstable as well.

I'm given to understand that Xavier's powers can affect everyone on the planet, or failing that, certainly anyone within a few hundred miles.
Yeah, but he needs Cerebro to do it for anyone out of his Lo S, and he's a paraplegic. He might do well as a 'king' I suppose.

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