One-Roll Engine
Dice Pools and Sets
Types of Dice
Qualities and Capacities
Extras and Flaws
Talent Archetype
Limitations
As discussed in the Godlike setting book (p. 37), there are limitations to what Talent powers can do. These are summarized below…
- Definitive Precognition: The ability to see an up-to-the-minute accurate picture of the future does not, as far as is known, exist in the world of Godlike. Precognitives often only see unclear or static images (or have obscure dreams or ideas which they must then interpret) that change dependent on their reaction to the vision. The more the precog talks about the vision, the more the outcome of the event changes from the vision. Also, these visions are often just plain wrong.
- Mind Control: Absolute Mind Control does not exist in Godlike, although "Puppets", "Possession", and other similar powers exist.
- Talent Absorption or Imitation: Although some Talents can emulate a wide variety of powers (the Variable extra), there are no powers in Godlike which directly copy or absorb another Talent's powers. This doesn't mean that all Talent powers are unique. For example, many Talents have the ability to fly, even if that is a power which is emulated by an unusual movement ability rather than true Flight like Der Flieger.
- Talent Creation Powers: There has never been a Talent who can make a normal human into a Talent. In certain aboriginal cultures, Talent powers have been known to leap from one person to another.
- Talent Detection Powers: All Talents can detect other Talents when powers are being used, as long as they can SEE the Talent using the power. However, a long range detection ability (beyond line of sight) or abilities that can detect Talents who are not using their powers does not exist.
- Telepathy: True two-way Telepathy does not exist. One-way messages can be implanted into someone's mind, but the ability to read another person's mind directly cannot be done. Hypersense and certain hyperskills can give the illusion of mind reading, but these abilities simply read "tells", body language, or subtext of conversations.
- Time Travel: Time Travel does exist in the world of Godlike, but not in any useful capacity. Talents do disappear and seemingly interact with the past. The only problem is this: Whatever changes or contact with the past they make does not affect the future at all, and intelligence gained in the past is often wrong. People spoken to in the past by the Talent will not remember doing so when the Talent returns to the present. This leads analysts to believe that the power may do nothing more than generate a complex illusion of the "past." Nevertheless, it can't be denied that the Talents go somewhere when they "time travel".
- Transmutation: By the very nature of the Talent psychic powers, Transmutations do not work permanently (although they can be given the Permanent extra when indicating an "always on" transformation). They often stop working when out of line of sight to the Talent, and any Talent can identify a transmuted/transformed object and revert it to its original form without a die roll for the cost of a Willpower point. Even Permanent transmutations stop working when a Talent dies.
- True Super-Science: So-called "Goldberg Science" powers allow Talents to create anachronistic technology that are centuries ahead of their time. However, these "devices" are simply a Focus for the Talent's power. Once they leave the Talent's line of sight (or possibly touch), they fail to operate. When the Talent dies, the device ceases to function forever. Still, this allows some Talents to have World War II Segways and Hovercars.
- Unlimited Healing Powers: Powers that heal humans, animals, and plants do exist, but to use them on humans, they must be conscious and willing.
Goldberg Science
Starting with Gunter Koen's surprise demonstration of the Düsenpack at the Berlin Air Show on June 9, 1941, Goldberg Science is a common type of specialized Talent power that allows the Talent to create devices far beyond the technology of the time. While these devices are filled with whirring gears and seemingly advanced mechanics, the appearances are just window dressing for the true source of the device's power: the Talent's own mind.
The name Goldberg Science comes from the famous illustrator Rube Goldberg, who drew cartoons in the 1920's depicting the crazy inventions of Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts. Goldberg Science devices only work within line of sight or touch of the creator. After the Talent dies, these devices become useless. The Goldberg Science devices cannot be replicated, even if plans and blueprints are drawn up for the device. Finally, Goldberg Science foci are just as vulnerable to Talent Will contests as any other Talent power.
Talents by Country
Country | Term | Meaning | First Ocurrence | Country | Term | Meaning | First Ocurrence | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Australia | Talents or The Few | - | 1942 (Misfire) | Japan | Gaki | Hungry Ghosts | 1942 (Hoshi) | |
Belgium | Surhomme (Wallonia) or Superheld (Flanders) | Superman / Superhero | 1940 (Vevel) | Libya | Darda'il | Journeyers of God | None made public | |
Burma | Saung Nat | Guardian Spirit | 1941 (Chanduk) | Lithuania | Antžmogis | Superman | 1940 (Bellerophon) | |
Canada | Talents or The Few | - | 1942 (The Ghost of the Fourteenth) | Morocco | Darda'il | Journeyers of God | None made public | |
China | Sì Shòu | Guardians of the Four Compass Points | 1940 Zhao Zheng) | The Netherlands | Superheld | Superhero | 1940 (Daegel) | |
Czechoslovakia | Übermensch (German) or Nadčlověk (Czech) | Superman | 1938 (Pevnost) | New Zealand | Talents or The Few | - | None made public | |
Denmark | Superhelt | Superhero | 1940 (Vogel) | Norway | Mektig-Mann | Man of Power | 1940 (Aesgir) | |
Egypt | Darda'il | Journeyers of God | None made public | Philippines | Pinakanalakas | Superpowered | 1941 (Anguis) | |
Eritrea/Ethiopia | Malak (pl. Malaakt) | Angel | 1938 (Zindel) | Poland | Nadczłowiek | Superman | 1939 (Cien) | |
Finland | Yli-ihminen | More Than a Man | 1939 (Viljo) | Romania | Supraom (pl. Supraoameni) | Superman | 1940 (Die Hexe) | |
France | Surhomme | Superman | 1940 (l'Invocateur) | South Africa | The Few or Bomenslike (Afrikaans, pl. bomenslikers) | Superhumans | None made public | |
Germany | Übermensch | Superman | 1936 (Der Flieger) | Soviet Union | Severch Loodi (сверхлюди) | Superhumans | 1941 (Baba Yaga) | |
Greece | Imitheos | Demigod | 1941 (Pythia) | United Kingdom | The Few or Talents | - | 1940 (Jumping Johnny) | |
India | Viddyharas | Learned Ones | 1943 (Lord Yama) | United States | Talents | —- | 1941 (The Indestructible Man) | |
Italy | Custodes | Guardians | 1943 (Immortale) | Yugoslavia | Nadľudská (Slovak), Nadčovječanski (Bosnian), or натчовечански (Serbian, pronounced like Bosnian). | Superhumans | 1941 (Stasio) |
Though they are not a recognized state, the Jewish people call their parahumans Nephilim (an ancient term) and the first definitive one is Sheol in 1941.