Quote:Shepherd wrote:Actually, that wouldn't directly work either. It would cost significantly more as each one would have to have 5 levels of reduced time (to be instant; welcome to +100%). Also, it's not really an accessibility, it's more of a trigger. So, with MM, using Trigger instead of Accessibility, it comes out to 9 points (or 20 with Additive Modifiers). But, it doesn't give us the ability to reflect what happens to Doug when he hears a piece of music the first time, and it does something unexpected. Well, technically, the trigger would be Uncommon (not quite rare), as each form is tied to a specific song.
A cheaper way to model Doug's primary power is through repeated applications of the Alternate Form power. He can buy his most expensive power package at 90 percent of full price plus 3 points for the underlying Alternate Form (15 base minus 80% in modifiers: -10% magic, -40% once/day, -30% accessibility: only while power song is playing), and then buy additional Alternate Forms for a mere 3 points each. Given how cheap buying a new power song is using this method, Doug can easily crape together sufficient xp during adventures to pay the 3 points to manifest a new set of powers.
However, the best way to do the Alternate Forms idea would be to buy his most powerful form, then have a modular ability that let him "build" each alternate form, so he's only paying for one, huge alternate form, and, when he does something like sit around listening to songs, trying to find one, he doesn't have to throw countless points away as he gets bizarre reactions from his powers.
But, Ultra Power lets him get away with doing all of it. And, depending on the GM's mood, Ultra Power lets him pull stuff off that any other power wouldn't. Ultra Power is, really, a Magic-Wand of Plot Device. Plus, Ultra Power lets him do things that the GM will allow, but can't be easily built. It really is a narrative device
Take Bar Room Blitz as an example: It makes everyone in the AoE fight. Well, that would be Mind Control, with AoE; even at best, taking +10 reliable and +4 from his power talent and presuming Doug has a Will of 20. It would take another 18 points to buy "Rule of 34" for that ability--provided that perk is available to him. Plus, he's at a -1 for each person after the first he tries to affect. And if someone has resistance or immunity to mind control . . .. Oh, and keep in mind, you can't buy Cosmic: NDRR for Mind Control. So, if he's trying to affect 20 people, that would be a roll of 14 . . . a number that's resistable.
For Ultra Power, that would be a medium-intensity, Awesome Feat. So, Doug would make a Will Roll at -4. Once again, assuming my build with +10 reliable and him having a Power Talent of +4 a Will of 20 (I don't know what Doug's Will is, but it's got to be high) and Cosmic: No Die Roll Required, he accomplishes the feat--everyone in the situation begins fighting (Cosmic: NDRR means he'll automatically succeed as long as his target number is not below 3) until the music ends. Now, all he has to worry about are people with Cosmic resistances and immunities. You know, those people who also break the rules.
The only place it really fails is in the second-to-last paragraph:
[i Wrote:Supers[/i] pg 113]Finally, the GM must agree that the intended effect is relevant to the problem that confronts him.Being as Doug's abilities are "set" based on the music, it's possible to violate this rule. A little bit more Cosmic would allow you to bypass that. As it is a narrative device, that's easy enough to elbow in.