Subject: Agents and Power, just a few unrelated thoughts.
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Posted on: 2011-11-13 06:12:00 UTC

I think that agents could be cool and fight Sues/Stus/hazards/threats/etc. in interesting ways, but also there are some things to consider:

1)Is it a particularly meaningful situation for this to happen? Is the agent really hyped up, really angry, or acting in an 'emergency' manner, or is this epic maneuver/feat ho-hum for them? To do something as callous as cite myself, the agent Aster in a deep, personal rage could handle three shambling skeletons, but without that drive she wasn't able to harm even one generic mook in a big battle. To make her, a baseline human with only moderate experience stabbing things, able to take on enemies as if it wasn't a big deal would tread dangerously close to Sue.

2) Does this agent have a 'power factor' that could enable this? An agent with weaponized biology (Ilraen can pierce a Sue-thing with his tail blade, for instance) or some other special power? Is this Agent trained in combat/a former soldier? Are they experienced Agents? If not, they might not want to take on centaurs in single combat. I would trust ESAS or DAVD agents to be able to take on 'direct' threats more often than DMS or Floaters... though I notice most teams have one 'tough' agent that tends to handle nastier things and one agent that hangs back.

2.5) If they have special powers, they also are susceptible to anything those with such powers are susceptible to. Jedi have the weaknesses of Jedi, for example. Soldiers may not know what to do in situations they aren't trained for. Taking fighting prowess, like any trait, provides both benefits and drawbacks.

3) Is it funny? Seeing people try to fight but failing in hilarious ways is often more entertaining than seeing somebody beat people up easily.

Just some thoughts. I sort of am thinking about writing agents that are more powerful than what I think is the norm, and sticking them in ESAS. We criticize a lot of bad portrayals of people with strength and power. Fighting us some Sues isn't a bad thing: It just has to be done well, with the same consideration the PPC gives to everything.

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