Playing God: A Discourse on Power Characters
Introduction
At some point during a player’s combat career, his/her character may come across an opposing character with abilities and traits that not only surpass that of his/her own character, but which completely overpower them. In fact, these opposing character’s powers may be so strong, that they seem to bend, or even break, the Atlantica RP Combat Rules. Such God-like characters are termed “Power Characters”. In the following discourse we will discuss what a Power Character is, how one may legally play a Power Character, and what one should do when confronted with a Power Character.
What is a Power Character?
Power Characters come in many shapes and sizes, which makes them hard do accurately identify and define. Much of this ambiguity is a product of the “free form” style of RP that allows players to pull from all kinds of RP sources and systems in creating their characters. Fortunately, Power Characters can be defined with respect to the Atlantica RP Combat Rules because the rules establish a specific standard for RP Combat. Thus, Power Characters are defined as:
Any character that cannot be slain during RP Combat with respect to the structure of the Atlantica RP Combat Rules and/or is able to break the Atlantica RP Combat Rules by virtue of his/her/its abilities or traits.
At first glance, this definition almost seems to be too specific and too simple to serve any purpose. It would seem as though characters that could be considered overly powerful in relation to most characters that participate in RP Combat would pass under this definition and avoid the restrictions that follow from being labeled as Power Characters. Indeed, this definition is not intended to label every character that seems overly powerful as a Power Character because it is more important for players to be able to play the game with the characters they have created. But, as was stated during the Introduction to the Atlantica RP Combat Rules, it is even more important to play fair. So, let’s take another look at the definition of a Power Character. The definition of Power Character can be broken up into two parts.
The First Part states: “Any character that cannot be slain during RP Combat with respect to the structure of the Atlantica RP Combat Rules.” If it is impossible for a character, by virtue of his/her/its abilities and traits, to be wounded to the point of death in RP Combat (with respect to the structure of the Atlantica RP Combat Rules) then that character is a Power Character. A few examples include – Gods, characters with “precognition” (being able to “see” an attack before it occurs), and characters with “unlimited immunities”. Of the examples given, a character with "precognition" is an example of a character that cannot be slain in RP Combat due to the structure of the Atlantica RP Combat Rules. Such a character can always "see" an attack BEFORE the attack is made, and thus, will always be able to make a successful Defense Turn and never be slain.
The Second Part states: “Any character that is able to break the Atlantica RP Combat Rules by virtue of his/her/its abilities or traits.” NO CHARACTER, other than a Power Character, is ever able to break the Atlantica RP Combat Rules under any circumstances during RP Combat. This is most often the signal that a character is a Power Character (or is perhaps new to the game). Power Characters can break the Atlantica RP Combat Rules in the five following ways (although there may be others):
1. Auto (because they are all-powerful)
2. Not perform the required number of Preps (most likely not prep at all) for innate abilities, enchanted items, magic, psionics, missile weapons, or assassins as stated in the Atlantica RP Combat Rules
3. Use either of the two illegal Hybrid Styles (usually Duel Combat Hybrid)
4. Ignore NPCs
5. Use OOC information as IC knowledge (because they are all-knowing)
Playing Power Characters
Now that we know what Power Characters are, you may be surprised to know that the Atlantica RP Combat Rules do NOT outlaw Power Characters. Why? Because Power Characters can play a very important role in plot development – a topic that is not addressed in the Atlantica RP Combat Rules. Take, for example, the roles that the Gods played in Greek Mythology. Oftentimes, the Greek Gods acted as overseers or observers of the actions that took place in Greece and only intervened at specific times to aid a warrior, give birth to a Demi-God, offer advice and guidance, etc. In effect, the role of the Greek Gods was to further the plot of a story. Likewise, Power Characters can be extremely helpful in furthering the plot development in RP. Therefore, Power Characters may only be used legitimately in the following way:
As supporting actors that work to further a plot and ONLY participate in RP Combat when the outcome of the RP Combat is already known and decided upon by all involved players BEFORE RP Combat begins.
Otherwise, Power Characters should be retired and are prohibited from participating in RP Combat until they are needed to further another plot.
Confronted by a Power Character
If a player’s character is confronted by a Power Character that is being used in any manner of RP Combat other than that stated in “Playing a Power Character”, the Power Character may be ignored and the RP Combat considered void.
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