Yeah, my main problem with the power levels are the numbers and the scaling. Like ![]()
said, the gap of 500 between Nappa and Piccolo somehow seems greater than the gap of 12000 between Goku and Vegeta in the same saga. The only times where the numbers make any tangible sense are when Goku uses the Kaioken (so the reader knows the exact stakes involved when Goku doubles or triples his power: double allows him to almost keep up, triple allows him to briefly surpass and potentially injure Vegeta).
Meanwhile, the difference of 119.5 millions between 1st Form Freeeza and Final Form Freeza is meaningless, the difference could be 1 million (with the protagonists' boosts and levels adjusted accordingly) and the story would stay the same: impossibly tough opponent getting gradually stronger with transformations, can bust planets with ease at any time.
So, to me "power levels" are bullshit if by "levels" you mean "numbers".
And saying they're going against Show, Don't Tell because most of the times the writers do also show that the character in question is much stronger or weaker, or equal to whoever.
I'd also agreeing that showing something isn't always the best way demonstrating something. Somethings aren't put into "motion" well and better described. Fighting scenes aren't one of them but that's not really the point.
There wasn't a gape of 12,000 between Goku and Vegeta, not talking Ozaru Vegeta it was 10,000. And then you have to remember he was using the Kaioken for most of the fight before Ozaru just to keep up with Vegeta and it's much easier to swallow.
I get the point about Frieza but we were only given in story power levels about his first and second form. And most people agree the power scaling with him was ridiculous anyway.
edited 28th Sep '15 6:01:03 AM by LSBK
Agreed. It was about on par with Lord Slug as being a blatant stand in for one of the series' arc.
My biggest frustration with it and some of the other Dragon Ball Z movies is that the whole plot of it is "Goku gets his ass whupped". They try so hard to make the villains intimidating that they become boring. Hell, I actually fell asleep watching the first Broly movie.
<Moderator headband on>
General Power Levels discussion is not appropriate for a work thread, please. Stick to this work here only, thanks.
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard FeynmanRemember how bullets bounce off strong characters in this series? It's actually one of the first things we learned. Knives probably wouldn't fare much better.
Though... How the hell does Ginyu impale himself?
And to reiterate: Piccolo is four years older than Gohan.
The fuck.
edited 28th Sep '15 10:56:43 AM by wanderlustwarrior

Kind of. Like I know this is an often referred to example, but the Power Level Gap between Piccolo and Nappa was much smaller than the gap between Goku and Vegeta, and yet Goku managed to hold his own for a while while Piccolo got curbstomped.
Power levels were a good way of showing how the odds were against the Protagonists, but overall Rule of Drama would often override logic.