Re: [BNW] Nemesis power....?

["Steve Crow" <crow_steve@hotmail.com>]

> > > Well a snuffer would be an imperfect fit. You probably want more of a
> > >  resistance to the power though? There is an anti-magic totem in 
>Bargainers
> > >  where no supernatural effects work on the delta (including energy 
>blasts
> > >  and such)...
> > >
> >
> > I was thinking more along the lines of something that would let you 
>counter a
> > power package with another...such as if you were up against a blaster, 
>you
> > might gain the tough package, or if you were up against a speedster, you
> > might gain the speedster package to be able to catch up, etc.  Maybe
> > something more random.....
>
>That might actually be approaching alpha-hood. Think about it, you have a
>power package that can counter/beat? any other... About the only way to
>win against this would be to gang up on him so he can't copy everyone.
>That sounds like a power level above your average delta.
>

This sounds as good a place to step in as any, as a self-proclaimed expert 
on the subject...  :)

Actually, the "Nemesis" power has it's roots in the...early 60's and Jim 
Shooter, I believe, and the Legion of Super Heroes.  Introduced along with 
Karate Kid, Princess Projectra, and Ferro Lad was "Nemesis Kid," Nemesis Kid 
was a guy who through the power of alchemy (he came from a planet of 
alchemists) gained the mystical ability to defeat any one opponent. He was a 
traitor and infiltrator, and attempted to frame Karate Kid (Val Armorr) as 
the same, while paving the way for the Khunds to invade Earth (which seems 
to have been a yearly tradition or something for them).

His weakness was indeed that when confronted by two or more opponents he was 
worthless. In fact, in his second appearance (when he joined the Legion of 
Super-Villains) he was readily beaten by Duo Damsel splitting herself in two 
and punching him severely about the head and shoulders.

He since popped up occasionally from time to time. He and Karate Kid were 
mortal enemies of a sort (what with that whole "I'm framing you as a traitor 
thing), and I recall him popping up in the first issue of Karate Kid comics 
(yes, Virginia, there was such a thing). At that time he displayed enough 
control over his power to choose which adaptation he got, but he apparently 
didn't choose very wisely and KK kicked his butt until the rest of the 
Legion showed up, and Nemesis Kid displayed the ability to teleport away 
when outmatched.

He eventually ended up leading a different incarnation of the Legion of 
Super Villains.  He beat Karate Kid to a pulp by adapting superior martial 
arts ability in one of the better fight/boast sequences I can recall ("It 
took you years to master your powers, and me only seconds to exceed them!"). 
  Unfortunately he was killed by Princess/Queen Projectra - he adapted 
immunity to her illusion-casting ability, but she broke his neck with her 
bare hands and normal strength.

I seem to recall during Giffen's "Dark Legion Days" that he came back as a 
corpse and beat up on Supergirl (pre-Zero Hour).

It's always been a power that fascinated me (thus that "self-proclaimed 
expert" bit above :) ), and I ended up recreating him for the original DC 
Heroes RPG as well as featuring him in the adventure "Pawns of Time" where I 
got to explain his adaptations against the six heroes chosen for that 
adventure.  I think he popped up in one or another of my Champion campaigns, 
too.

I'll probably post something about it at my web site when I get a chance. 
He's kind of a Copycat/self-Booster with an inherent limitation. The real 
question would be how to generate each adaptation.  It would probably be up 
to the Guide, and not something I would let the player have a choice in.  Of 
course, I'd probably only use it as a NPC power, too...  For instance, if he 
took on a Goliath solo, he'd probably get the same power, but just an extra 
point of Size and Strength.  Unfortunately, he was literally, mystically 
_unbeatable_ by any single opponent ("I've never been outfought, only 
outnumbered!") which tends to make him a bit of a deus ex machina.

The limits of his powers were never explored:  I always imagine him being 
snatched out of time by the Monitor to confront the anti-Monitor...and 
exploding!  :)  I could see him working in the BNW setting myself, though.  
It would take some clever storytelling to actually make the character as 
portrayed in Legion as working, since he's very much an all-or-nothing kinda 
guy.

>  Theo McGuckin -


---

Steve Crow

"Logic merely enables one to be wrong with authority."

Check out my website at:  http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Stargate/4991/

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