I'm planning on making a series based in a semi-realistic setting. Everything is going to be pretty much the same other than a few people around the world having subtle superpowers. Examples are:
- Being a human lie detector
- Being able to say two different sentences at once and deciding who hears which.
- Contortionist and Incredible sense of balance.
- Inert. A guy or gal who cannot be knocked over, ever. Cannot be wrestled or tackled. During an earthquake, he's completely still.
- Being able to freeze time for as long as you can hold your breath.
- momentum cancellation. You're still affected by gravity and other external forces, but you can turn on a dime, or go from running at full speed to completely stationary in an instant.
Some of these are some basic ideas but I don't mind others coming up with some more "stronger" ones. However, nothing too overpowered like telepathy or flight. That ain't subtle bois.
I would also like people to say what kind of representation we don't get enough of in books or film. I would like to make a wider variety of people eg:
Certain religious backgrounds
Breaking stereotypes
Mental/physical conditions
Nationalities which aren't usually portrayed
The main protagonist is already albino and has abilities responding to light and memory.
Thank you xXX
- always having perfect hair (never windblown)
- slightly better senses, night vision
- flowers picked last longer than normal
- balance correction, person never trips or slips
- Long held breath, good for underwater
- extra awareness of surroundings, person would never bump into or knock something over
- ability to tell what's broken (mechanically) by looking at it
- ability to stay awake very long times, only need a half the normal amount of sleep
- things dropped or hit on accident never break (wish i had this, dropped a glass the other day)
- slight temperature control, person is more comfortable in harsh weather or can affect other things, like keep their drink cool
as for things not represented, accurate mental health issues. Accurate anything tbh, media often creates token characters for representation but don't put any effort or research into it, or worse, they make that the only definable trait of said character.
Hi there, I think I might have some ideas!
- can sense the presence of certain precious metals (basically a walking metal detector)
- can touch an object and know it’s history (who made it, who owns it)
- bones cannot be broken by any force, but is prone to flesh wounds and other injuries
- advanced hearing
- accelerated charisma, as in people are naturally drawn to this person and they can convince people to do things they wouldn’t generally do
- always having perfect hair (never windblown)
- slightly better senses, night vision
- flowers picked last longer than normal
- balance correction, person never trips or slips
- Long held breath, good for underwater
- extra awareness of surroundings, person would never bump into or knock something over
- ability to tell what's broken (mechanically) by looking at it
- ability to stay awake very long times, only need a half the normal amount of sleep
- things dropped or hit on accident never break (wish i had this, dropped a glass the other day)
- slight temperature control, person is more comfortable in harsh weather or can affect other things, like keep their drink cool
as for things not represented, accurate mental health issues. Accurate anything tbh, media often creates token characters for representation but don't put any effort or research into it, or worse, they make that the only definable trait of said character.
I LOVE the idea of the temperature control and being able to tell what's mechanically broken, those would be so cool to try and invest a character into, thank you so much for those xXX
I totally agree with you when it comes to the accurate representation of mental health, I find the common display of depression (glamourized and made into a personality trait) and schizophrenia (making them an insane, psychotic maniac) very crude. That's why I plan to make a character with a mental illness that is accurate and not exaggerated for dramatic purposes.
Thanks for the help xXX
Hi there, I think I might have some ideas!
- can sense the presence of certain precious metals (basically a walking metal detector)
- can touch an object and know it’s history (who made it, who owns it)
- bones cannot be broken by any force, but is prone to flesh wounds and other injuries
- advanced hearing
- accelerated charisma, as in people are naturally drawn to this person and they can convince people to do things they wouldn’t generally do
The breaking bones and being able to know the history of an object are probably my favourite, however, the idea of a human metal detector sounds interesting. I'd have to think about how to advance that into an advantage for the character…
Thank you for those ideas XxX
glad you liked them :) it was fun to think them up!
Don't know if you're still looking for ideas, but I'd like to share two that I thought would be interesting.
ONE: temperature reversal, i.e. they feel heat as cold and cold as heat
Don't really know how that'd be useful, but I remember it from a fairytale I used to like a lot. (In the story, the man stands in a bonfire but feels like he's in a blizzard (and survives somehow?))
TWO: minor probability alteration, i.e. they're unusually lucky and/or their friends are also lucky and their enemies unlucky
This is one of my favorite abilities ever, because despite its subtlety, it's consistently useful and instinctual.
Oooo, this sounds cool! Here's a few ideas:
- photographic memory
- doesn't need to breathe, so therefore can survive for very long periods of time underwater or in places with bad air
- one small area of themself that is invincible (I kind of like the idea of the heel being invincible because then it's like an opposite Achilles)
One of my characters was part of a program to weaponize superhumans however the only thing "superhuman" about him is his ability as an assassin and people ask if his power has anything to do with that. (he doesn't tell people cause it's super lame but useful) People wonder if he has a sixth sense, photographic memory, super agility, slight elasticity. But nope he can see all light spectrums, so he has thermal vision, ultraviolet, X-ray, he can even process things so quickly he sees them in slow motion. leaving people to say "That's it!" -Several people who knew what he could made big deals, saying he's the best and all that.
Being able to walk into a store talk to a cashier worker and just walk away with whatever without paying, so jedi mind thrick their asses. Say you need equipment for a job and you have no cash, ask this guy he'll get the stuff and no-one will ask any questions, think of it as a store discount everywhere and everyone's cool with it.
That Taskmaster power to memorize and mimic movements and combat styles. I just think if you can learn all fighting styles in a weekend of binging action movies, why the fuck not?
Being mediocre at EVERYTHING!. You can do anything and everything but you can do an okay job at best. Perform surgery, Stunt Drive, go to space, fly, play instruments. Everything but at like just above novice level.
Don't know if you're still looking for ideas, but I'd like to share two that I thought would be interesting.
ONE: temperature reversal, i.e. they feel heat as cold and cold as heat
Don't really know how that'd be useful, but I remember it from a fairytale I used to like a lot. (In the story, the man stands in a bonfire but feels like he's in a blizzard (and survives somehow?))
TWO: minor probability alteration, i.e. they're unusually lucky and/or their friends are also lucky and their enemies unlucky
This is one of my favorite abilities ever, because despite its subtlety, it's consistently useful and instinctual.
The one with temperature is very fascinating and, ironically, very lucky that you mentioned that to me. I have a character in the development which has subtle abilities regarding temperature. That would be an awesome addition to them. Thank you so much xXx
Oooo, this sounds cool! Here's a few ideas:
- photographic memory
- doesn't need to breathe, so therefore can survive for very long periods of time underwater or in places with bad air
- one small area of themself that is invincible (I kind of like the idea of the heel being invincible because then it's like an opposite Achilles)
The idea of not having to breathe sounds a tiny bit over-powered, HOWEVER, it did spark an idea for me where a character's cells are alway 60% oxidized. This results in the less need to respire therefore they can run faster and for longer, go underwater for longer and always be high on energy. The disadvantage of these powers would be insomnia has the brain/body doesn't use as much oxygen while asleep.
Your other ideas are wonderful too, thank you so much for them xXx
@Caboose
The second idea of speaking to a cashier and being able to persuade them not to pay is a fabulous idea. You could adapt it to a person who is able to have a slight hypnotic suggestion or the creation of false memories. (or deja vu)
You could get into clubs by telling the bouncer you're a "friend of his wife's" and even though he doesn't know you, he'll get a slight recollection of that being true. Of course, it would need further development but other than that, great idea XXx
The other concept of being able to see other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum is also cool, and I'll plan that into a character later, thank you!
@Caboose
The second idea of speaking to a cashier and being able to persuade them not to pay is a fabulous idea. You could adapt it to a person who is able to have a slight hypnotic suggestion or the creation of false memories. (or deja vu)
You could get into clubs by telling the bouncer you're a "friend of his wife's" and even though he doesn't know you, he'll get a slight recollection of that being true. Of course, it would need further development but other than that, great idea XXx
The other concept of being able to see other waves in the electromagnetic spectrum is also cool, and I'll plan that into a character later, thank you!
Glad you like it but that last one isn't just a concept, that's one of my original ideas, I can lend it to you to use for a minor character that's different from mine, personality and skill wise. Basically don't make an OP main character assassin and we're cool.
Oooo, this sounds cool! Here's a few ideas:
- photographic memory
- doesn't need to breathe, so therefore can survive for very long periods of time underwater or in places with bad air
- one small area of themself that is invincible (I kind of like the idea of the heel being invincible because then it's like an opposite Achilles)
The idea of not having to breathe sounds a tiny bit over-powered, HOWEVER, it did spark an idea for me where a character's cells are alway 60% oxidized. This results in the less need to respire therefore they can run faster and for longer, go underwater for longer and always be high on energy. The disadvantage of these powers would be insomnia has the brain/body doesn't use as much oxygen while asleep.
Your other ideas are wonderful too, thank you so much for them xXx
You're 100% welcome! Glad I could help.
