Physical Adept OCC

--A young sorcerer,
Musing on the nature of magic and those that practice it


Physical adepts are individuals whose naturally high PPE has manifested itself in a way unlike normal magic. Instead of the capacity to cast spells or perfom rituals, the physical adept's talents lie in the direction of augmenting their bodies. This is not done through inner focusing and meditation as a spell-caster develops his abilities, but rather through practice and concentration, often making the physical adept himself believe his talents to be purely natural.

It is only since Dark Day that many of these adepts have begun to realize the true extent of their power and to harness them for protection against the Nightlords and their minions. With the extra PPE now coursing through the planet, the physical adepts are more powerful than ever. Their strength and endurance have increased to supernatural levels, putting them on par with lesser supernatural beings and giving them a major advantage over normal humans in terms of strength and speed.

Most, when learning of their supernatural nature, simply wish to forget about it and go on with their lives. However, this will become less and less possible as Moloch and his followers continue their eradication of all humans. Inevitably, many adepts will step forward to battle the Nightlords and their minions... and the adepts like their fights up close and personal.

Physical Adept OCC

1. Physical Perfection: All physical adepts have nearly perfect physical bodies, appearing as something between an Olympic gymnast, body-builder, and fashion model. This perfection confers the following bonuses: +4 PS (min. 16); +5 PE (min. 16); +4 PP (min. 18); +10 Spd (min. 20); +2 PB. Due to their enhanced physiques, physical adepts naturally heal at three times the usual rate.
   
   
2. Heightened Senses: Because of their unblemished physiques and perfect health, Physical adepts' senses are better than those of normal human beings. Touch is so sensitive that a +10% bonus applies to all skills requiring manual dexterity (pick locks, pick pockets, etc.). Adepts can hear noises 15 decibels above and below the human spectrum. Vision is keen enough to read newspaper print from half a mile. Taste and smell (which are basically two applications of the same sense) confer the following abilities: Identify taste/smell (20% +2% per level); identify person by smell (35% +3% per level); track by smell (5% per level).
   Bonuses from keen senses: +5 to perception; +2 to save vs. poison; +4 to strike, parry, and dodge; +4 to initiative; +2 to roll with punch.
   
   
3. Supernatural Augmentation: Physical adepts, through their constant focusing and intense dedication, have the power to make their attributes become supernatural for short periods of time, as well as other equally impressive abilities. All powers require one melee action to activate except where noted, but multiple powers may be activated at the same time (ie: an adept can increase his strength and make it supernatural in the same action). Costs per augmentation follow:
   Supernatural Strength and Endurance: The character's PS becomes supernatural, and healing increases to the unnaturally high rate of 1d6 SDC/HP per melee. (Rifts Note: In Rifts, this ability causes the character to become a mega-damage being with MDC equal to their SDC and hit points added together.) Cost: 20 PPE per minute.
   Increased Attributes: This power adds to the character's physical attributes. (Note: This does not make PS or PE supernatural; that must be purchased separately.) Cost: 1 PPE per point per minute for PP and Spd; 5 PPE per point per minute for PE and PS; 10 PPE per point per hour for PB.
   Increased Leaping Ability: As the name suggests, this power allows the adept to jump enormous distances. Cost: 1 PPE per foot added to the character's normal jumping distance. (Note: Maximum amount added is 10 feet, plus 5 feet per additional level of experience.)
   Muscle Hardening: While using this power, the character gains a natural armor rating and extra SDC. Cost: 15 PPE per minute for AR 10 and +25 SDC; add 5 PPE per additional +1 AR and +5 SDC. Maximum AR is 18.
   Increased Healing: This power is similar to the bio-regenerative abilities of true supernatural beings, but requires a constant input of PPE to work. This power cannot be used during combat and requires a meditative trance of 1d4 melees before activation. Cost: 5 PPE per 2d6 SDC/HP restored.
   
   
4. Combat Mind: Physical Adepts, while obsessed with their own bodies, seem to have an innate knack for combat that transcends this narcissism and even their training. All adepts have the equivalent of Hand to Hand: Martial Arts, and in exchange for two "other" skills, they may select a specific martial art from Ninjas and Superspies or Mystic China (no exclusive forms). In addition to whatever bonuses and abilities conferred by their fighting style, all adepts have the combat maneuvers of automatic parry, automatic dodge, disarm, entangle, and knockout (19-20).
   
   
5. PPE: Physical adepts, like other men of magic, are living batteries of PPE energy. Unlike normal practitioners of magic, however, adepts are only permitted very limited uses of their energy and cannot siphon any from other people, ley lines, the Mirrorwall, or blood sacrifice. They can still have their PPE removed (or give it away) as usual. PPE is equal to the PE attribute plus 1d4x10, plus 1d6 per level of experience. PPE recovers at the rate of 5 per hour of activity, or 10 per hour of sleep/meditation.
   
   
6. Other Bonuses: +3 to save vs. magic and psionics; +4 to save vs. horror factor; impervious to possession and mind control.