Similar Powersets

[Thunder_93]

Hey everyone,

So, just finished Calamity, and now I have a point that in my opinion isn't really explained.

I understand that Prof and Tavi have a similar Powerset, and that David and his dad do as well (of course, in different realms). But why does David (and so his dad) do have exactly the same portfolio as Steelheart (specially that his dad wears exactly the same outfit, except the symbol)?

My only explanation is, David got the same as Steelheart because he was his first real enemy, the person he hated and studied for so long. Any other thoughts? Like, whatever you could think off. Or say its just random, but that's as "adroit as asseventeen geriatric walruses trying to juggle live swordfish"

[Voidus]

Given what we learn about twins always having identical powersets I think powers are set by your genetics, Calamity can give you power but what power it is specifically isn't controllable. So David and his dad have the same powers for genetic reasons as for why it's the same as Steelheart, chalk it up to amusing reversals of fate in alternate universes. In one universe his father is killed by Steelheart, in another he is Steelheart.

So I guess I'm saying coincidence? Not the most satisfying answer I'm afraid.

[natc]

The twin thing though, is a similar issue to motivators. They can feel each other using their powers as pain (I suppose if motivators were at all sentient they would too. But they aren't). Motivators work presumably because Calamity can't be bothered to differentiate a person's cells that are still part of them to those that aren't.

So perhaps with identical twins, if one became an epic the other became one automatically as well, as Calamity gifts powers using DNA as recognition, and can't tell the difference as a result.

Do twin epics have different weaknesses I wonder, or the same one? Actually, did motivator tech get affected by weaknesses, or is a conscious mind capable of experiencing the weakness trigger necessary?

Edited February 23, 2016 by natc

[Edgedancer he/him]

Mitosis and Firefight have shown us that Calamity is capable of altering the power of an Epic, which means they are not completely pre-determined. How much wiggle room Calamity has exactly and why Blain also has Steelheart's power, (except for the meta reasons) I'm afraid we do not know.

 

Do twin epics have different weaknesses I wonder, or the same one? Actually, did motivator tech get affected by weaknesses, or is a conscious mind capable of experiencing the weakness trigger necessary?

The forcefields created by the motivator's also were destroyed by the tensor energy, right? I think that points towards motivatos also being affected by weaknesses.

Edited February 23, 2016 by Edgedancer

[Voidus]

I believe we have WoB somewhere that motivators are mildly affected by Epic weaknesses (Like a redeemed Epic I guess)

[Thunder_93]

That twins withthe same powerset share weakness: I don't think so... The power seems to be linked to DNA (explained above, cause of motivators) but the weakness is based on fear, a feeling. And both twins can feel different. That Tavis forcefield where destroyed by the Tensors as well, i think more that this was because the tensorpower is just so powerful. David said, even invulmerable Epics died of huge energies, like nukes or Obliteration. I think tensors are just powerful enough. Because his weakness, fear of failure, isn't so directly connected to fear his own powers (at least in my opinion...). Why he didn't heal of the spears? I dont have a clear answer... But I think maybe because he thought his own weakness wrong (remember, he told Tia his powers is it),he expected himself to not be able to heal. So his Epic powers didnt do it.

Other thing: Prof, David and Megan all truly faced their fears, and "took" the power completely from Calamity. So, when they see their weakness, it's not possible anymore that Calamity pulls back, so they lose powers (how David explained at the end). So, this means, they don't have any weakness anymore, and neither does Obliteration, right? So how they wanna kill him (or get killed)? Just being waaaaayy outpowered (like with a nuke)?

[Sunbird she/her]

Other thing: Prof, David and Megan all truly faced their fears, and "took" the power completely from Calamity. So, when they see their weakness, it's not possible anymore that Calamity pulls back, so they lose powers (how David explained at the end). So, this means, they don't have any weakness anymore, and neither does Obliteration, right? So how they wanna kill him (or get killed)? Just being waaaaayy outpowered (like with a nuke)?

 

I've been wondering about this too. If the weaknesses and the fear connection came from Calamity, does that mean Epics will have no weaknesses now that Calamity is gone? If that is the case... uh-oh.

[Thunder_93]

That's right. All Epics that have their powers now, should keep them always, like they have no weakness. As Calamity isn't here anymore, he can't pull back when someone's scared. So, they basically should always keep their powers.

 

That would make it really hard to fight some strong, evil epics (like Obliteration). But I think the Reckoners should be good anyways, as they have now 3 High Epics, + there should now be much more good Epics.

 

And High Epics should be "killable" without their weakness anyways (even Steelheart) with a really strong burst of power of some sort. So now there wouldn't be a trap-setting, but some super-cool fights between High-Epics

[taveren he/him]

firefight still had her weakness even after she mastered her powers at the end of calamity maybe they are just less impact-full than before

[Jondesu he/him]

My interpretation is that the weaknesses simply wouldn't completely counteract their powers now, just weaken them.  Without High Epics on their side, that could still make for some huge issues, but between their 3 (maybe 4) High Epics already on their side, any others who turn back to good, and the knowledge of Knighthawk, I suspect they'll do just fine overall.

 

jW

[natc]

My interpretation is that the weaknesses simply wouldn't completely counteract their powers now, just weaken them. Without High Epics on their side, that could still make for some huge issues, but between their 3 (maybe 4) High Epics already on their side, any others who turn back to good, and the knowledge of Knighthawk, I suspect they'll do just fine overall.

jW

Good point. They have Limelight, Firefight, and "Steelheart" (in the new vessel of David). One can overwrite reality, the other two are possibly the most powerful High Epic power sets in history. They should be fine against anyone not named Obli-

Okay that is one major problem. They're screwed.

[junior]

Hey everyone,

So, just finished Calamity, and now I have a point that in my opinion isn't really explained.

I understand that Prof and Tavi have a similar Powerset, and that David and his dad do as well (of course, in different realms). But why does David (and so his dad) do have exactly the same portfolio as Steelheart (specially that his dad wears exactly the same outfit, except the symbol)?

My only explanation is, David got the same as Steelheart because he was his first real enemy, the person he hated and studied for so long. Any other thoughts? Like, whatever you could think off. Or say its just random, but that's as "adroit as asseventeen geriatric walruses trying to juggle live swordfish"

When Regalia offers David up to Calamity, she says something about David receiving an "appropriate" set of powers. There's a callback to that comment in Calamity, iirc. Presumably Calamity thought that it would be amusing to give David the powers of the epic that David was best known for killing. So it's not an accident that David gets that set of powers.

More than likely, his alternate-reality Dad has the same set of powers because of the "nearness" of the reality that Megan is pulling from. His David and his Dad are the two people who are most like each other on the two worlds, and that similarity is magnified by the fact that they share the same set of powers.