Range: Self. Powers can be taken from any animal within 15ft. +2ft. per level.

Duration: 5 minutes +1 additional minute at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 11.

The hero with this major power is actually able to mimic the innate abilities of animals on a superhuman level. Such abilities would include Extraordinary Sense of Balance from cats, Heightened Sense of Smell from dogs, Leaping ability from gazelles or frogs, Adhesion from spiders and Extraordinary or Superhuman Strength from ants, elephants, etc.

At level one, only two powers can be simultaneously adopted with an additional power at levels 3, 6, and 10. The process of taking these powers counts as one action per power taken. If a character takes three powers and decides he wants a different one, replacing one power with another would also require an action. Multiple powers can be taken from one animal, as long as it does not exceed the limit for that level of experience. Typically, one ability that stands out for that particular species is adopted.

This power also gives the character the minor super ability of Animal Nature automatically.

Note: GM’s should be the one’s to determine which animals give which powers, and the hero can sense what power he would receive should he choose to adopt it. Also GM’s, if the character already has the power he wants to adopt, try just doubling the range, duration, or bonuses.

While this power includes the abilities of other versions of Cosmic Awareness on other web sites, as a major super ability it provides much more. This power allows the hero to sense what cannot be determined otherwise. This includes such things as exactly when a person will pull the trigger or what part of the hero’s body the opponent will attempt to strike with his knife. Cosmic Awareness can even be used to determine exactly what injuries were sustained, as well as what diseases (if any) were contracted. Against opponents with super speed powers (flight or running), the hero can only compensate when he knows that his opponent has such powers. If the player does, then he can use the bonuses to strike, parry and dodge, as well as pulling punches listed below.

Range: Special! This power works on the character and virtually everyone the hero is actively aware of/within line of sight, and a 20ft radius (+5ft. per level) for things that the hero is not actively aware of (hence, no sneak attacks possible, but sniper shots are ok). This means that even if the opponent is moving at 700 mph, as soon as he enters the radius of attention, the cosmic-powered character will know his powers and be able to apply the following bonuses:

+1 Attack at levels 1, 4, 7, and 9.

+3 to initiative; +1 at levels 3, 5, 7, and 9.

+3 to dodge projectile attacks, with a +1 bonus at every 3^rd level of experience. This also nullifies the penalties for dodging projectile attacks as listed in Heroes Unlimited 2^nd Ed.

+4 to pull punch

+3 to strike, parry, and dodge

Interception Attack (Special!) With his Cosmic Awareness, the hero can actually sense , how, and when a villain will attack any given teammate (everybody get that?). This means that if opponent #2 has a gun and decides to shoot Vanguard over there (work with me people…) this hero can actually spend a melee action to interrupt the order of combat and attack the opponent BEFORE he gets off the shot! This is not an automatic attack and should not be considered like one. If GM’s don’t like this aspect of the power, don’t use it.

The super being can create an area of complete stasis (absence of movement).

Range: A sphere of 20ft. +2ft. per level of experience or a single object. Can be created up to 50ft. away +5 ft. per level of experience.

Duration: Until field is dropped, creator is struck, or someone within the field is struck.

Attacks per Melee: Each field counts as one action per melee. +3 strike aimed, +1 wild.

A stasis field is an energy field that prevents movement. Anything caught within a stasis field will be completely immobile, with only the most basic bodily functions (such as breathing) working. Bullet’s that are fired into or out of the stasis field (in the latter’s case, fired just a second after the field was created) stop in mid-flight, but will resume their original flight path once the field is removed. Even energy expulsions shot into the field, while they are not stopped, are slowed significantly (damage penalties are halved). Bombs that go off can be placed in a stasis field (highest roll to strike wins) and be caught in mid-explosion and held there until intended victims are brought out of harms way. The power of the stasis field is so intense that even if a victim’s hand is outstretched (and he has the ability) he cannot fire an energy expulsion. Why? Because this is a form of suspended animation. What can a person do in suspended animation: NOTHING.

Those within the field are completely unable to dodge any attack directed at them from outside of the field (they can’t move, remember?). The field is automatically dropped if anyone outside of it attacks anyone within it (movement within a space of non-movement cancels its effects). Basically, one attack directed at anyone within the field is an automatic hit. Also, the hero with this power is impervious to the effects of his own stasis field (for mutanogenic/biological reasons, stasis fields differ from creator to creator). However, if caught within another person’s stasis field, the hero can actually roll to save vs. immobility (natural rolls for attacker and victim, highest roll wins.) hero’s actions, bonuses, etc. are halved.

No one other than the creator of the stasis field can be protected from its influence (though they can prepare and thus regain initiative). This means that while the hero may create such a field around himself for protection against a hail of bullets, he can move around, but teammates cannot!

Range: A 4ft. radius around the character at level 1, + 2 feet at levels 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12.

Duration: Effects last as long as the victim remains within the radius and are cumulative! Once a person escapes, penalties (not damage) wear off after 1D6 minutes.

Damage: Special! See below

I looked closely at the power I saw online and thought, "Why doesn’t Death Aura kill? That’s the name of the power, right?" Needless to say, I thought some minor adjustments were in order.

This power is actually a combination of the former Death Aura power and of the Bio Ghost power. Constant exposure to this ability WILL kill a person. The user of this power, however, is immune, as is anyone else who possesses this power.

The character generates sets of unique types of pheromones that actually cause harm to other living things. The first wave induces dizziness and nausea, dropping a victim’s reaction time and weakening the immune system. The second wave is designed to attack the now weakened cells of the individual and cause decomposition. A domino effect occurs, as while the victim appears only sick, his hit points, S.D.C. and Chi are rapidly being dropped. Those who die are diagnosed with massive organ failure, and sometimes with nothing more than an "allergic reaction to a common virus."

Another way of looking at the power (if you don’t like the above suggestion) is that the aura of power actually attacks the life force of any living thing. This includes animals and plants. The penalties and damage don’t change, merely the method of travel. Any way you look at it, there is absolutely no clue as to what caused it. In effect, this is the perfect killing tool.

Penalties for being in the Death Aura radius: PER MELEE!!!!!

-5 to initiative

-3 to strike, parry, and dodge

-2 attacks per melee

Speed is reduced by 50%

-20% from Save vs. Coma/Death bonus (if any)

Damage from the Death Aura: PER MELEE!!!!!

-3D6 damage directly from Hit Points!

-1D6x10 damage from S.D.C

-1D4x5 damage from Chi/P.P.E.

NOTE: While it is generally impossible, "good" aligned characters can be cursed with this power. As a result (or if villains want to walk around in public without killing the populace) the radius can be concentrated into oneself. This directs the power into the hands and arms, so that only a touch (like the Bio Ghost power) will initiate the effect. However, the character must constantly maintain this focus to keep the Death Aura from being released. As a result, only 2 offensive attacks are allowed per melee round. The remainder must be defensive.

Also, note that one cannot contain the power in this way for extended periods of time. Such a course of action would then turn the power upon the user, inflicting the damage listed above until he releases it into the radius effect. The maximum amount of time that the Death Aura can be held in check is 1 hour, +30 minutes per level of experience.

This power enables the character to generate powerful amounts of cold and/or ice from his body. By itself, it is a formidable power. However, if it is combined with Alter Physical Structure: Ice, the results can be staggering. (This is probably the easiest way I know of to make Iceman™).

1. Absorb Radiation

Range: Self at level 1, +6 ft. radius or 1 person at every other level.

Duration: 5 minutes at level 1, plus 2 minutes per level of experience.

This power allows the super being to absorb dangerous amounts of radiation in the general area. At level one, this ability can only protect the user, but as the character increases in power/experience, he can also protect teammates as well.

NOTE: This is a sub-conscious power when applied only to himself. To cover other people as well requires one melee action per person for every melee of concentration.

2. Augment Ice-Based Powers

Range: Varies

Duration: Varies

Damage: Special

As the result of being a generator of cold and ice, the character’s other ice-related powers are strengthened significantly. This affects powers listed here as well as those taken in conjunction. The bonuses are as follows.

Damage Bonus: Projectile attacks, such as ice shards or beams of concentrated cold/ice receive a +3 damage bonus per level of experience (including level 1).

S.D.C. Bonus: The ice generated by the character is actually stronger on a molecular level than ordinary ice. As a result, ice created by this character is much harder to penetrate. Ice walls receive an additional (one time) 20 S.D.C. with +5 S.D.C. per level. Ice used to encase opponents gets a one-time bonus of 10 additional S.D.C. and +5 S.D.C. per level. The Ice Form in APS: Ice gets a +1 to the A.R. (one time bonus) and an additional 10 S.D.C. +5 per level of experience.

3. Shoot Beam of Cold/Ice

Range: 300 ft. maximum

Damage: 2D6 plus side effects (special!) +1D6 per level of experience.

Duration: Instant

Attacks per Melee: Each blast counts as one attack.

Bonuses: +3 to strike aimed; +1 wild

The character can emit beams of concentrated cold and ice from his hands or chest. Once the character is experienced enough (level 3 and on) he can regulate the damage by increments of 1D6.

SPECIAL: These beams are capable of encasing their targets in ice, depending on the power of the beam (from level 4 and on). Any blast regulated to do less than half damage has no side effects other then the damage listed. At half strength the blast causes a thin coating of ice and severe numbness (-3 Spd.; -1 to Parry, Dodge for 1D4+2 minutes). A full blast would completely incase the extremity and cause severe numbness-maybe frostbite (-6 Spd.; -3 to Strike, Parry, and Dodge until ice is removed.) Penalties last for 2D4 +3 minutes (This is only possible from level 4 on).

4. Sub-Zero Cold Generation

Range: Special

Damage: 3D4 plus penalties for each melee exposed to the intense cold.

Duration: Until cancelled by the player.

Penalties: Those caught in the radius of freezing cold suffer –2 on initiative, -2 to strike, parry, dodge, and roll w/punch or fall for every melee within the radius!

Attacks per Melee: No other actions are possible while generating this intense cold.

The character can focus his concentration and generate intense cold from his body. This can reach as far as a 30x30-foot room at level 1, 60x60 at level 5, and finally a 90x90 foot room at level 12. While he is concentrating no other actions are possible, even defensive ones. The character simply stands there and emits his freezing cold aura. It requires 1 full melee (15 seconds) for people to feel the cold in a 30x30 foot room, 3 melee in the 60x60 and 6 melee in the 90x90, and characters will see such effects as a of thin ice spreading over the floor (See APS: Ice, ability #7). Remember that the penalties listed above are cumulative!

5. Sub-Zero Blast

Range: 10ft. +5ft. Per level of experience.

Damage: Special!

Duration: Instant

Attacks per Melee: This can only be performed once per melee round.

Note: Good, Selfish, and even Anarchist characters WILL NEVER use this power against a living person. It is just too cruel, and could easily develop a trauma or phobia.

Once per melee round the character can emit a burst of sub-zero cold. When used on most objects, such as an armored car or tree, the object will shatter to pieces if punched (requires Superhuman P.S.). This is useful in tight situations where you either try to unlock the door or fight the bloodthirsty mob. By level 4, the character is so proficient, that he can actually freeze a car without injuring the occupants.

At level one, only small objects, such as tires, doors, and firearms can be frozen/shattered. By level 4, automobiles/vans and other objects of similar size can be frozen. The largest object a person can freeze is within the bounds of a space 10ft high, 10ft. Wide and 10 ft. deep (at level 10).

In combat, use this power as a strike (it IS an energy expulsion) with a +3 to strike aimed, +1 wild.

6. Sub-Zero Bomb: The Sub-Zero Bomb is a final effort in which the individual focuses all of his power into one enormous burst, freezing (like a Sub-Zero Blast style) everything within range. This is the Ice-equivalent to the Super Nova power for APS: Fire, and like it’s fiery counterpart, this action is usually fatal to the character.

36. 40: The character’s powers are erased! Welcome to normalcy.

41-70: The character dies instantly.

1. Hand to hand Combat: Ice

+20 S.D.C.

+ 2 P.S.

1. Augment Sound

Range: 20ft. radius +5 additional feet per level of experience.

Damage: None

Duration: Until cancelled by the character.

The character can actually choose a particular sound, such as person’s footsteps, a voice, or even breathing, and increase its volume (to his ears only) so that it can be heard and located with ease. It takes a melee action to active this aspect of the power, but it does not require any concentration to maintain.

Bonuses: +3 to initiative

+2 to strike

2. Nullify Sound

Range: 10ft radius +5 additional feet per level of experience.

Damage: None

Duration: Until cancelled by the character.

This aspect of the power mimics the "Globe of Silence" spell, in that it absorbs and dissipates all sound within the radius. This means that no one (except the character) can hear anything. This makes sneak attacks a much easier reality.

Bonuses: +3 to strike

+2 to initiative

 

3. Sonic Disorientation

Range: One individual +1 more at levels 4, 6, 8, 10, and 13. Or a 10ft radius affect +2ft per level of experience.

Damage: Special! See below

Duration: 1D4 melee rounds

This is the only offensive ability for the major power. The character can cause a "remix" of sound input for anyone in the radius of his influence, or for those he specifically targets. In essence, those who fall victim to this power will hear the sounds of the current area at varying pitches, lengths, tones, volumes, and rhythms. The effect is so disorienting, that all victims suffer a combat penalty of –4 to strike, parry, and dodge for the before mentioned duration.

4. Heightened Sense of Hearing

(See the Minor power in HU 2^nd Edition)

5. Other Powers and Bonuses:

• The character is immune to any sound based attacks, and can even parry such attacks, deflecting the at his attacker or at another person (no strike or parry bonuses)
• Against a character with the same major power, both will find their sound powers effectively negated
• +10 S.D.C.
• The character can actually put his hands or fingers to windows and some walls and hear any sounds or conversations on the other side! The sound waves are absorbed by the wall, channeled into the hands and translated within the brain. The extension of hearing increases with experience: 20ft +5ft per level.

This is a bizarre ability that enables the bearer to increase his combat capabilities through a hypnotic trance.

Range: Self

Duration: 10 minutes +5 minutes per level of experience

Damage: Varies (see below)

Attacks per Melee: Equal to the number of hand to hand attacks.

The hero/villain actually has superhuman combat capabilities, but they are dormant until brought out through a hypnotic trance. This trance also increases the character’s prowess, strength, resistance to injury, and even the power of other super abilities. First the character must enter (willingly) into a trance-like state. This is done typically by putting on a mask, seeing or hearing something, or by meditation. After one full melee the character wakes up from his trance, a different person and with the following abilities:

1. Enhanced Fighting Capabilities

The character’s natural ability to fight in hand to hand combat is increased. Regardless of the combat type, the bonuses are as follows:

+2 attacks per melee (+1 additional attack at levels 3, 6, and 9).

+2 to strike, parry, dodge, and roll with punch/fall.

+3 to P.S.

+3 to P.P.

+5 to P.E.

+30 to S.D.C.

2. Enhanced Fighting Style

The character’s fighting style (if any) outside the trance can be completely different or the same as the one used while in the trance. To help decide, use either GM approval or the table below:

01-25: Hand to Hand Basic: This isn’t a bad form to have. If you look under its description, you would find that most people who study martial arts in a studio would fall into this category. Alignment Restrictions: None

Bonuses for Hand to Hand Basic:

+1 Attack

+1 to strike, parry, and dodge

+3 to damage

Special Ability: Extraordinary P.S. and Energy Resistance or see below

26-50: Hand to Hand Expert: This style allows for more power and a few more moves than H to H basic. Alignment Restrictions: None

Bonuses to Hand to Hand Expert:

+2 attacks per melee

+2 to strike, parry, and dodge.

+4 to damage.

Special Ability: Extraordinary P.P. or see below.

51-75: Hand to Hand Martial Arts: While in the trance with this form, the character has the equivalent level of mastery in combat to a dedicated martial artist of the same level. Alignment Restrictions: None

Bonuses to Hand to Hand Martial Arts:

+3 attacks per melee

+3 to strike, parry, and dodge.

+5 to damage.

Special Ability: Combat Quickness or see below.

76-00: Hand to Hand Assassin: Characters with this form fight only to kill. Hence, no good aligned character will ever take this form (unless he has a second personality with an evil alignment…that would be cool!) Alignment Restrictions: Anarchist, Miscreant, Aberrant, or Diabolic only.

Bonuses to Hand to Hand Assassin:

+3 attacks per melee.

+3 to strike, parry, and dodge.

+7 to damage.

Special Ability: Lethal Attack or see below.

3. Other Abilities, Bonuses and Limitations: