Mutants
Table of Contents
| Strengths & Weaknesses | Restrictions | How Common is the Metagene? | SENTINELS |
Definition: Just as psionics is the extension of a person's mind and magic is the extension of a person's soul, mutant powers are the body's ability to manipulate energy. This can take many forms, as can the mutant's body. Lightning bolts, wings, pink eye beams and a blue, fuzzy body are all mutant abilities granted by an active metagene.
| Versatility | There really aren't any limits on what the powers available to mutants, or their ultimate power level, either. |
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| Detectability | The metagene is part of your DNA and can be detected by a variety of methods, all of which require time in a laboratory with a blood or tissue sample. There is no technological 'mutant detector' any more than there is a 'detect people with AIDS' scanner. Discrimination based on the metagene has been ruled unconstitutional. |
| Humanity | It may or may not bother you that you're not homo sapiens anymore. That's a philosophic issue that your character will have to grapple with on his own. |
| Public Opinion | Whether or not you consider yourself human, there are those who don't. People hate things that they fear and envy, and mutants get it from both ends. Anti-mutant legislature has been proposed, but it doesn't have any major backing. It's not like the Marvel Universe, where being called a mutant-lover is a deathly insult. With one in ten thousand people manifesting, it's not rare enough to be impersonal. If you went to high school and college, you probably know someone who developed a superpower. This isn't to say that a mutant won't face discrimination, he just won't face rioting mobs and burning crosses. |
| People Who Hate You | There are lots of them, but at least in the United States it's illegal to discriminate on the basis of the metagene. There're pleanty of places in the world where obvious mutants face mistrust, social ostracism and the occasional armed mob. Here in the United States you really only have to worry about the wonderful folks at Genocide. These are the people who want to make the earth safe for truth, justice, art, family life, and humans. Mutants are degenerate scum who pose a real and active threat to the continued existance of homo sapiens as a species. They're trying to protect their families and want to kill you dead, dead, dead. They're also the ones behind the SENTINALS. You know - those 9-foot tall death machines? Yeah, them. Worry. |
| Other than the standard restrictions on powers, there are no restrictions on mutant powers. | |
Scientists estimate that 0.1% of the world's population, or one person in a thousand, is a passive metagene carrier. The table below gives a general indication of how many people have superhuman abilities, and how powerful they are. Of those that can buy superpowers, figure one-quarter are still latent carriers and require a Radiation Accident to activate, and another quarter have been recruited by official organizations such as UNTIL and PRIMUS. Independent heroes and villains each make up half of the remainder, so there are about 90 active superheroes in North America, not counting the military.
| Description | Base | Disadvantages | Can buy Powers? | Number per billion | Number in the world | Number in North America |
| Incompetant Normal: old ladies, young children and clutzy kid sisters. | -20 (or lower) | 25 | No | far too many | ||
| Normal: These folks have a professional skill, a hobby and that's about it: Joe Average, office workers, taxi drivers and waitresses. | 0 | 25 | No | 1,000,000,000 | 4,500,000,000 | 360 million |
| Skilled Normal: These people have are above average with one or two skills. Police, firefighters, most soldiers, muggers and the like. | 25 | 25 | No | lots | ||
| Paranormal: These are people with a single minor ability; mutants, low-level mages and psis, and the like.They are relatively common in the rank-and-file of organizations such as UNTIL and PRIMUS, but have little trouble hiding their abilities if they choose to live a normal life. | 25 | 25 | Yes | 100,000 (one in ten thousand) | 450,000 | 36,000 |
| Competent Normal: These people are at the top of their profession. They are the elite soldiers, expert cat burglers, master musicians and so on. They probably don't have the Reputation disadvantage, but a little research will turn up some information. | 50 | 50 | No | many | ||
| Metahuman: These people manifest at least one major and several minor abilities. They have more difficulty hiding their powers and are commonly recruited into PRIMUS and VIPER assault squads. Johnny-One-Shot heroes and the resulting casualties are common at this power level. | 50 | 50 | Yes | 10,000 (one in a hundred thousand) | 45,000 | 3,600 |
| Super Agent: The government's reply to superhuman criminals and organizations. UNTIL, PRIMUS, VIPER and others have trained elite soldiers and equipped them with high-tech weapons, armor and gadgets. They are capable of dominating normal thugs and giving superhumans a hard time. | 50 (base) + 100 (equipment) | 50 | Yes (Foci) | from half a dozen (small organizations) to over a thousand (PRIMUS) | ||
| Superhuman: Your standard PCs and their opponents. | 100-150 | 150-200 | Yes | 1,000 (one in a million) | 4,500 | 360 |
| Avatar: These individuals are capable of rearranging the landscape in significant ways, and can take on teams of superhumans by themselves. People at this level tend to personify a fundamental force or archtype (fire, shadow, an angel, etc.). Phoenix, Magneto, Juggernaut and the like are at this level of ability. | 200-350 (base) + 200-400 (experience) | 150-250 | Yes | 10 (one in 100 million) | 45 | 4 |
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