Okay, it’s choose time.

[End Master]

Immortality or Invincibility?

(These are actually “Semi” version of them though)

“Immortality”: This will grant you eternal youth and will allow you to live virtually forever however, you can still die through violence. So if someone blows your head off, it doesn’t grow back, you’re dead.

“Invincibility”: This means getting shot up, getting thrown out of a window, etc. will still result in pain, but eventually you’ll recover from such wounds, unless someone goes through the trouble of completely destroying your body. (No surviving nuclear blasts) You will however still grow old naturally and you will eventually die of natural causes.

Both will allow you to avoid sickness or terminal illnesses like cancer or AIDS.

Also…

Flight or Invisibility?

Telepathy or Telekinesis?



This is important, I’ll explain why later.

[Locke]

I wouldn't have many uses for invincibility. I live a fairly quiet life free of physical trauma and I plan to keep it that way. However, I dream of accomplishing great things in my time, and having multiple lifetimes to build knowledge and wealth and personally oversee the development of extremely long-term goals would certainly aid in that. My drive in life is toward leaving the world a better place than I found it. Depending on how far we develop, one could potentially "cheat" if one lived long enough and acquire some form of invincibility too, but for the sake of the argument I'll assume this doesn't happen. Even though your form of immortality probably has me dying of that physical trauma you mentioned sooner than I'd expect, I'd choose it any day over the other.

In my mind, invisibility is mostly important in terms of material gain or some form of voyeurism. I'm assuming this version of invisibility is an "at will" power and not permanent like that of "The Invisible Man." In either case, my ethics would prohibit me from doing most useful things I could think to do with the power, and it would be a temptation that would eventually become more of a curse than a blessing. Flight has more uses that don't involve depravity, theft and the like. As a form of transportation, it's certainly useful, and it would probably be quite fun and liberating. I choose flight. The fun alone surpasses anything I could do while invisible.

Telepathy or telekinesis? That's a slightly harder choice, and more ambiguous. By telepathy, do you mean mind-reading or full two-way communication? How large are the objects you can move with telekinesis - and can you move yourself, resulting in a form of flight or an aid in running, fighting, etc? For the sake of the discussion I'll assume telepathy is strictly one-on-one and involves both mind-reading and full duplex communication - depending on what you want, of course, as it's your power. As for telekinesis, I'll assume you can lift yourself and "fly," and have the potential to move infinitely large objects depending on how much you exercise your "mental muscle".

Telekinesis is probably the funner of the two in the short term - but telepathy is more useful, and worth more in the long term, especially in the modern age, where getting things done means acting with and through other people, rather than acting alone on the world. Doing practically anything that involves people or resources in our society requires power, the basis of which is getting others to act in the way you wish them to. Whether that power or influence takes the form of friendship, money, sheer force of personality, threat of violence, etc - knowing the mind of the other person is immeasurably helpful. Violence through telekinesis is a means to power, but you can only command people's will for so long through violence: power obtained in that way is its own undoing. In other words, people should want - and like - doing what you want them to, without overt coercion. If you want something worldly - power, wealth, adoring members of the opposite sex, what have you - telekinesis seems at best slightly useful and at worst self-defeating. If you're looking for a means to any end, telepathy is it. Even if it is an indirect means, if you have the wit and will to apply it correctly it's practically infallible. My ethics, of course, would get in the way of many of those sorts of applications.

On a personal level, though, the connections you could make with other people by getting to know each other's minds sound wonderfully - frighteningly - intimate. By moving slowly and non-invasively (getting to know others mutually rather than simply taking their thoughts and filling their heads with whatever you feel like) if you got to know the right people, you could leave yourself "open" all the time, and never be alone. (In a more "out there" interpretation, if telepathy is not defined as being strictly one-on-one, this could result in your being the hub for a sort of "group mind" - but I'll leave that unexplored for the sake of the discussion.) Especially if you find someone you're compatible enough with, the personal impact of knowing completely one another's minds is staggering. To spend your life with someone like that; to know each other's dreams and depths of joy, hope and sorrow; to act selflessly, mutually with one soul - that seems as close to heaven as you're likely to get while still alive. For that reason I choose telepathy.

Of course, if you were to just toss a power my way at random, I'd probably happily take it (there are a few I undoubtedly would not want). Most things that would let me be more than I am to further my (mostly good or at least benign) ends I would gladly accept.

[End Master]

Power Clarifications

All of the powers are “at will”

Invisibility: Whatever is carried on your person is also invisible when you “turn on” the power. (No need to go running around naked)

Flight: It also allows you to be able to survive traveling at fast speeds during flight and be able to withstand atmospheric pressure. (Sort of necessary, the power won't be any good if it can directly kill you while using it)

Telepathy: It is basically one way, meaning you can read anyone’s mind you want, but nobody can read yours. They obviously don't know you're reading their mind. Only one person at a time though. (No mass mind invasions) You can’t directly control someone with this power either. (No mind control)

Telekinesis: The heavier the object or objects the more you have to concentrate to move them. But the object must be able to be moved normally. (You could move a car with enough force, but not a building with a strong foundation for example) You can’t actually cause yourself to fly; it’s more like a slow levitation or “floating”.

[apotheosis]

Immortality, Invisibility, and Telekinesis


Reasons.


1- I'm not a violent person, so I would not have to worry to much about a violent death.

2. Flight is cliche.

3. I wouldn't want to know what people are thinking, it would be horribly depressing.

[Usoki]

Invincibility-
I do not want to live forever. Living forever is boring. Especially since everyone you know and love will eventually grow old and die while you are still perfectly young and healthy. It'd be a lonely life if you didn't have someone to be immortal with you. And there's just something creepy about outliving your grandchildren. Also, Invincibility will come in handy when I choose my third power.

Flight-
There's really no reason for invisibility. I don't see any reason to be sneaky. And, as such, I'd rather be able to fly. Besides, that's such a bad-ass ability.

Telekinesis-
Easily the coolest ability, and this is the center point of my choices. Obvious and flashy. No sublty here. I'm invincible, I can fly, and I can move things without using my hands. Of course I'll be obvious about my powers. Even if my Telekinesis is weak- what are they gonna do? They can't kill me. And, though such a flashy lifestyle would grow tedious...well, I'll die of old age, and that'll solve it all.

[Vesnic]

I choose immortality over invincibility. Having eternal youth would ensure optimum health, assuming nothing exceedingly violent happened to me. I'm a little fuzzy on exactly how much violence it'd take to kill me, but I guess that's not really the point. Relationships and places in life are transient anyway, so why not spend thousands of years moving from place to place and meeting countless people, to whom I could relate in so many different ways, all while becoming very wise. I've often wondered, though, what will happen to the vampires when the sun dies and life on Earth disappears. Will they float in space for some untold amount of time until they finally are picked up by aliens?

I would take flight over invisibility. When I was little, I asked Santa every year for the ability to fly and the fat bastard never delivered. If I were given the power of flight, I might finally be able to bury my Santa hatchet. Part of the reason I have always loved swimming is because of the immense physical freedom I feel when I'm in the water. Add to that some pretty New England scenery and the ability to breathe, and I'd have it made.

If I had telekinetic powers, I would be far too tempted to start committing cheap Carrie copycat killings. So for my own sake and everyone else's, I'll choose telepathy. I am already a fairly intuitive person when it comes to the minds of others, but of course there is always plenty of doubt. If I knew for sure what another was thinking, I would be able to proceed forward with my own life with a good deal more certainty in the reality of things. I wouldn't be too worried about abusing this power because I've always been the one that people came to with their secrets anyway.

[donteatpoop]

Immortality, Invisibility, Telepathy.

Robbing banks and swooning ladies for the rest of all time. If humanity dies off and I get bored, I can always shoot myself in the head.

[Locke]

This is important, I’ll explain why later.

So, are you going to enlighten us?

[End Master]

Actually I decided that it’s not that important after all. Nevermind.

[Usoki]

Who cares if it's not important? I find this kinda fun.

I also find it amusing that I'm the only one who passed up immortality.

[End Master]

Actually I would’ve picked Invincibility, but Katie said she was picking Immortality and wouldn’t like it if I went and died of old age while she lived forever, so that pretty much means I have to pick Immortality as well. I suppose it’ll still suit me though, it’s not like I have a dangerous profession or doing excessively dangerous things. Seeing how the world plays out would be interesting too.

I’m still picking Invisibility and Telekinesis though. Being invisible allows me to not have to be bothered by people whereas Flight would call too much attention to me. Telekinesis will pander to my laziness.

[Dragavan]

I'd have to say my answers are the same as DEPs.

Immorality, Indivisibility, Telephony

[Vesnic]

Is Dragavan drunk or just posting his annual joke?

[End Master]

Okay since Usoki finds this fun, here’s some more.

Gills

OR

Prehensile tail (You can lift twice your normal strength with it)


Teleportation up to 100 feet without error

OR

Facial Shape shifting (You can change your face to any face you’ve ever seen)


The ability to call up to 100 midgets to do whatever you like for you. (You have an endless supply, so if they die, you can replenish them infinitely)

OR

A “save game” feature for your life. (Only one slot though, so if you save again you’ll overwrite your last save)

[Usoki]

Well, the first one's easy. Hands down, a tail. Screw gills and the aquatic splendor it could bring me- I'd much rather have a tail. More useful in day-to-day life.

The second one's harder. Teleportation is just plain awesome...but a permanent sense of anonymity is kinda cool, too. Well, that's how I'd use it- it's hard to pull a complete dopplegangerism if your body won't change- limits the people you could 'become'. In the end, keeping track of who knows you as what face, plus the possibility of finding someone who knows the real owner of the face makes me choice Teleportation. It's cool, and it's less hassle.

The last one is kinda hard, though. Well, I'm assuming you can limit the number you summon at a time- I mean, if I have to call all 100 at once, the ability sucks. But, I mean...really, a midget task force? Awesome! But a cheapened time control is equally awesome. And, really, one slot is all you need. Prevents you from loading childhood for a while and then loading life where you left off, I guess- but I hadn't planned on losing myself in the past. And, as well as being able to test the waters (Will she take it badly if I do this? What's on the test a few days from now?), I could always save, go on a shooting spree, and then load where I left off. I suppose testing the waters would mean I'd basically be repeating odd bits of life...but as long as I don't make myself repeat a week or something, I think I could handle it. Yeah, I'd definitely choose 'save game' over the midget minions. I'm so indecisive, I'd rather have that than minions.

[Locke]

Gills or a prehensile tail? Neither are really that useful. I guess I'd pick gills, assuming I could still breath air and they wouldn't get dried out and irritate me.

I would have very few uses for facial shape shifting. I'm sure some people would get a kick out of it, but I'd pick the teleportation simply because it's useful.

And what's with the midgets? Where do you come up with this stuff? If they're really skilled midgets you could tell them to go invest money for you, build you an awesome house, etc - but I'm guessing they're just your garden variety midgets, and not that useful. Anyway, even if they're fantastic midgets with superpowers of their own I'll take the "save game" feature. It's a sort of immortality; if you've got a day to waste you might as well have a year. It's money in your pocket via stocks or gambling, and useful in countless other situations.

So how do you go about using this handy feature? Is there a taskbar constantly at the top of your vision or something, and you just go to File>Save or File>Load? Good luck if you accidentally Quit instead. Suppose you die. Can you still activate your save, or is that it for you? I wouldn't mind having an extra life tucked away somewhere anyhow, just in case. Anyway, as two men from Andromeda say: "Save early, save often."

[End Master]

Power clarifications

With the midget army, you can call up to 100 of them, you don't need to call 100 of them all the time. You could just call 40 now and more later if you needed them. And they hang around until you dismiss them at which point they leave. The midgets are "average" in terms of skills. They could still certainly build you a nice house, but it just might take them awhile due to their height. Entrusting them to invest your money probably isn't as great of an idea, but again they won't do any worse than you would. (Unless you're some sort of financial genius or architect, etc.)

The save feature can be “activated” just like any of the other super powers. Just "think it", and it happens.

The best way to handle the dying bit without overpowering the ability is this way:

You have to at least be alive to think, “RELOAD! RELOAD NOW!” as the FBI are busting down your door with automatic weapons. So as usual avoid getting shot in the head. (You could still reload while in the process of dying of a mortal wound though)

[apotheosis]

Save feature. Hands down. The possibilities are endless. You could truly be a god with that power.

[Dragavan]

One more question about the "Save Game" feature.

Would you simply restart your life where you saved, exactly as you were when you saved, or would you retain the memories and knowledge you gained during your time past the save game feature. If you loose all that it become rather useless as you will just keep making he same choices and mistakes that lead you to want to restart again and again.

If you can remember everything that happened and just get to redo things with that knowledge in hand then my choices would be:

Gills, Teleport, Save.

Otherwise the midgets would be the only useful choice.

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

Prehensile tale... not because I want one, but because I'd feel funny walking around with gills.

Teleportation... though I must complain 100 feet isn't very far.

Save Game... because I'm not sure how I would feed all the midgets.

also...

Originally I thought I would choose invisibility over flight, but in thinking about it, the cost I'd save in gas money, and my contributions to global warming would be well worth the ability to fly unaided. So... Flight.

Immortality. It appeals to me, though not enough to try searching for the fountain of youth. If someone offered though, it's nothing to sneeze at. Also, I too have many things to accomplish before I can die, and possibly not enough time to accomplish them.

Telekinesis. I don't think I want to know what other people are thinking. On the other hand I don't want people to know what I am thinking either. In fact, I don't want to live in a telepathic world.



If you could have a trait from the show HEROES which would you choose and why?
Regeneration- come back from anything, including brain trauma as long as the source of injury is removed.

Flight

Mind reading

The ability to make others see things you want them to see

The ability to mae others think and do what you wish

The ability to find anyone anywhere in the world.

The ability to influence dreams

The ability to borrow the abilities of others as long as you are in the presence of people with special gifts.

The ability to paint the future

The ability to exude nuclear radiation but not be harmed by it.

The ability to move through solid objects

The ability to heal

The ability to travel through space and time

What would you choose, and why?

[Usoki]

Well, if you replace "influence" with "outright control"...I'd go with the dream power. That'd be far too fun not to have.

Otherwise, I think I'd have to go with the space and time teleportation. I don't think I'd really use the 'time' part of it- too messy. But the 'space' part is just plain handy.

The others are either too weird, or just unappealing to me. In the end, I really don't want the ability to read minds, or that mass manipulation one.

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

I think I would pick the ability to heal, Others and myslf, because I like anything that means no one has to study biology anymore... specifically me. If I could heal, I bet no one would make me take these damn science classes...


although they might try to jam me into a cell to be tested. Ew. I bet the only thing worse than studying the sciences is being the studied aspect of science.
~Katie

[End Master]

One more question about the "Save Game" feature.

Would you simply restart your life where you saved, exactly as you were when you saved, or would you retain the memories and knowledge you gained during your time past the save game feature. If you loose all that it become rather useless as you will just keep making he same choices and mistakes that lead you to want to restart again and again.

If you can remember everything that happened and just get to redo things with that knowledge in hand then my choices would be:


The Save feature would allow you keep your memories of it but whatever “Stuff” you acquired after the save would be gone. (Just like a real game)

That being said, I’d pick

Tail, Teleportation, Save

As far as the Heroes ability I’d probably go with Regeneration, I’m still fond of the idea being able to survive fatal wounds. Always a useful ability.

EDIT: Blargh, I didn't notice the "Time Control" ability until just now. I'd definitely pick that instead of regeneration.

[Dragavan]

Prehensile tale... not because I want one, but because I'd feel funny walking around with gills.

But you'd feel just fine with a big old tail? Oddball.

As for the Heroes I would have to choose Hiro. Total control over time (even if teleportation wasn't part of it) has always been my chosen power from way back. There is just so much you could do with it. It could also be used to emulate (at least in appearance and effect) so many other powers you don't actually have, including teleport. But mostly I'd use it to catch up on sleep without missing anything. heh

[Locke]

The "absorb other powers" ability in Heroes didn't require Peter to be around the people he absorbed them from; he continued using their abilities long after they were out of the picture. The ability might not be so useful in our world, but as this presumably takes place in a Heroes-type setting, there are people with powers running around all over the place, so that one's really the most useful.

[Dragavan]

On a semi-related topic there is the idea put forth in the show The 4400 (about people who disappeared over the the last 60 years suddenly returning today: without aging, with special powers, and without memory of where they had been). There is a LOT of story uncovered about where they come from, where they have been, and what is going on, as well as what happens to the country when they suddenly have this influx of powered people show up (and not secretly). All of that is the main plot of the series and I am not going to spoil any of it here, as you should watch it you want to know. It's a good show.

The powers on the show play the range from amazing to rather mundane. You have people with telekinesis, healing, the ability to permanently remove powers from others, telepathy, seeing the future, removing toxins from water, rapid plant growth, bringing out hidden artistic potential in children, excrete hallucinogenic drugs through your sweat, cause backwards aging in others, astral projection, partially control people's dreams to help them deal with problems in a safe way, and many more strange and wondrous powers.

Later in the third season of the show came the concept of a drug called Promicin, which is found in all power positive people. They discovered a way to refine it into a shot that could be given to non-promicin positive people and will unlock powers in 50% of the population. It kills the other 50% who take it. You have no control over what power you get, but once it's activated you have it forever (unless you get on the wrong side of the guy who can remove promicin and powers from others).

The question is, would you take the shot?

[End Master]

Are there any people who have powers that are detrimental or are a mixed blessing? Like the old example of: Sure you can read everyone’s mind, but the number of voices constantly bombarding your head causes you pain and you can’t shut off the power.



If that’s the case, then not taking the shot is a little more appealing, since you’ve not only got a 50% chance of dying anyway, but also getting a crappy power that’s not useful and going to be a curse rather than a blessing.


However, if a bunch of other people are taking the shot, and there is no real downside to the powers, then it would be better to take the chance. Since a world with half the pop. having super powers is probably going to result in a war soon. The age old “Supers vs. Mundanes” war and that’s going to be a war the supers are going to probably win.

[Dragavan]

Are there any people who have powers that are detrimental or are a mixed blessing? Like the old example of: Sure you can read everyone’s mind, but the number of voices constantly bombarding your head causes you pain and you can’t shut off the power.

There are a few that are really seen as a curse, but ALL powers come with some kind of downside (even if it's just that everyone is going to bug you to help them by using it... as was seen with the healer). Some of them have constant downsides, like the guy who has to write down what he "sees" all the time or else it starts to overwhelm him and back up in my active memory (some authors already deal with this). There is also the guy that basically became the walking carrier for an airborne version of Promicin, "infecting" everyone around him as if they had just been given the shot.

The serious downers are relatively rare, and all of them also have upsides that go with them if you learn how to live with them. Most of them are more something you either control (if not turning on and off, at least not bothering with it unless you need it) or that happens naturally at random times (like the one who gets instant glimpses of the future). More of them seem helpful than harmful (at least as long as you don't actively TRY to harm others or yourself with them).

[apotheosis]

50/50 isn't terribly good odds when you are gambling with your life. I'd only do it if I was really down on my luck.

[Usoki]

Agreed. I'm not usually lucky with 50/50.

I dunno, I've only seen the episode where the guy who played the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager had the power where anyone who ate food that he'd eaten a part of would have their metabolisms changed to the point where they'd die from weight loss. Funny, but really damn weird.

I did like how they have powers and the social shock of being gone for so long. In that particular episode, I think the guy was living with his granddaughter or something. I don't really remember. ^_^;

[Hi! My name is: Katie]

I'd wait till the end of the semester. If I fail these classes, then yeah, I'd be all for the shot that will make my life more interestin or death... and it wouldn't matter which.

I'd hope for something really neat like, the ability to comprehend things other people understand... or, to smell like roses and be constantly clean, or to run faster than a cheetah. Or, to never get sick. Although... I'm not sure why I would want to run faster than a cheetah. Or how about this... to enter fictional worlds and bring back the characters of my choosing. That could be fun.

As for my prehensile tail versus gills... I just don't care for gills. They would make me feel unattractive. The tail would be odd, but so many girls these days want to be half cat that I could pull it off.

[End Master]

Since we’re on the subject…

Far be it from me to question the Japanese and their seemingly endless supply of weird ass fetishes, but what’s with the all the girls with cat ears in anime stuff?


Anyway back to the main topic…

Vampirism
OR
Lycanthropy?

The ability to eat rocks and other minerals for sustenance (Yes, your teeth and digestion will be able to handle it)
OR
The ability to drink seawater to quench thirst.

Lighting Bolts, Fire Bolts, or Ice Bolts?

Have a Secret Underwater Base
OR
Have a Sky Fortress

[Vesnic]

I love Katie's idea of being able to enter fictional worlds and bring characters back to reality. My poor doggy is on his way out the door, so I may very soon be faced with the option of getting a new pet. Now in The Master and Margarita by M. Bulgakov, there is a delightful huge black cat appropriately named Behemoth. And by delightful, I mean totally evil. He is essentially the devil's sidekick and he goes around doing sinister things like dropping samovars on people's heads and not paying for his trolley fares. He also has the abilities to shape shift and to fly, so I would probably bring my evil Russian cat with me every time I visited my sky fortress. I would put a soft pink leather collar around his neck with a golden tag etched with a beautiful scripted "B".

[Usoki]

Lycanthropy, definitely. If I -had- to have one or the other, I'd go with Lycanthropy. It wouldn't matter what animal I become, or how much control I have of this second form...it's loads better than Vampirism.

...I don't think it really matters, because I'm not going to go out and do either of these things, even if I could. Actually, no- strike that. I'd take the seawater one. On the very off-chance I ever get shipwrecked or what-have-you out in the ocean, I would have a much larger chance of preservation than the others.

Lightning bolts. They're a lot lazier. With fire you...okay, well, I would be paranoid to make sure I don't incinerate anything else on accident. And, considering my bad aim, I could very easily burn buildings to the ground while trying to get revenge. And with Ice bolts, the whole 'freezing' bit would leave solid ice behind, and who wants to mess with that clean-up? Nyet me.

Sky Fortress. There's no question. Holy crap, so pretty.