Something That Just Occured To Me

Some sort of agreement will need to be reached about how the aura actually affects mutations. Obviously by shutting down the X-Gene it will stop people from being able to use their powers but, if their mutation has changed their skin coloration, given them fur, or something along those lines will they instantly be changed back? Bone structure and muscle structure normally wouldn't change because even though the way they originally developed may have been affected by the X-Gene the fact that they are now fully developed makes them almos stand alone.

So obviously the basic question is without the X-Gene would the change back to human be instant or would it actually take time spent in the aura for physical appearance to change? It might be something that we leave up to the individual players but I did want to bring it to the attention of the MODs.

*bows and steps away to continue to watch the discussion*

I think that if the person has something like a prehensile tail, they wouldn't immediatly lose it, because it is made out of tissue and cartilage and bone, and while their growth may have been induced by a mutation, they are now actually part of the persons body. I think that the person would just lose control of that limb or whatever.

Ditto what Brainstorm said. I think the "physical characteristics don't just go poof" makes the most sense.

However, if someone has their heart set on this being their character's one big chance to "look normal", then I wouldn't want to take that away from them. I would suggest that in the official plot write-up, we just put in something along the lines of "It makes the most sense if... but, if you really want to, and it makes sense for your character, then..."

Also agreed on the physical characteristics not going "poof".

And a question for consideration:
Do the Adapteds have a way of sensing who is a mutant and who is not, or does their ability work on mutants without them even realizing it is in effect? So, can they walk down the street and be able to pick out who the mutants are?

I had originally thought about that as something that went along with their X-Gene canceling aura... the ability to identify mutants but as I thought about it more and more I began to think that perhapse that would actually make them to powerful. If they can identify mutants at the drop of a hat there is no longer even the opportunity for mutants to blend in and simply live like humans. Now every single one has been labled without the slightest question and without any tests even having to be run.

Obviously I lean towards the adapted humans not being able to identify mutants but that is completely up those that are in power. This is just my opinion.

I also lean towards the adapted not being able to identify mutants--it seems more fun to me to play it as a "the mutants know, because their abilities stop, but the Adapteds... don't." And it's definitely a strong enough ability without mutant-radar attached.

Update from the Mod board:
We're tentatively scheduling the Adapteds to start appearing on Jan 1, with the first organized strike team appearing no earlier than Sept 2009 (hence, allowing us to run the Freaky Friday plot without having strike teams rain down on our heads).

If I may make one more suggestion...

In writing up the background information for an adapted human that I hope will be aproved for my second character I came up with the idea of his meeting a mutant that healed him. His being affected by a mutant's power triggered his adaptation to begin. The same mutant that saved his life later died because he was unable to heal himself while within the man's aura.

Anyway, that's the long of getting to my suggestion. What I thought was that perhapse the adapted humans should only have their adaptation triggered if they have actively been affected by a mutant. Not just hear about them on TV or in the newspaper, but in some way have actually been touched. Healed by a mutant, touched by a mutant's sonar (shameless self plug there), or injured by a mutant's power. In my mind it would make sense that their touch from the mutation triggered their brain to begin putting out the adapted aura that would protect them from being affected by mutants ever again.

Does that make sense to anyone besides myself? What it would mean is that there could be thousands upon thousands of possible adapted humans all over the world but unless they have directly been affected their adaptation would not show.

I like the idea, and I think it makes sense. If everyone likes the idea, I definitely think we can make it work.

That makes sense.

Wonder how the die-hard mutant-haters will react? Some of their 'own' are mutating to fight the mutation.

*raises hand* so does it affect inanimate objects affected by a mutation? for instance If GB increased the size a pebble and threw it would it still be enlarged or would it shrink back to normal size once it enters the adapted's range, also just t be clear objects thrown at the adapteds still hit them?

From what I understand, the pebble would shrink, but it would maintain its momentum, meaning it would still hit the Adapted. Using physics, it might speed up to make up for the loss of mass. So a pebble that was swelled and thrown rather quickly would shrink and speed up. Of course, given the radius of the power, it might not make a difference, given the speed with which the pebble could cross the distance.

In answering GB's question, agreed with Brainstorm's physics. Shrink and speed up!

Agreed whole-heartedly with the "touched by a mutant's power" trigger for the Adapteds' own abilities. That would have it make more sense, as well, for how they've slipped under everyone's radar for so long.

I didn't get a chance to read everyone's replies, but I like this idea. I could see mind readers getting a block on certain people. I don't think abilities should be completley nullified... but defently weakened. I think it's very well thought out!

Disagreed with Raina: I really like the idea of completely nullified, over simply weakened. I see this as a field leveler, bringing Adapted and mutants to the same level while the mutants are in their range, not a "and now it takes a fire elemental 30 more seconds to make that Adapted spontaneously combust!" I think the complete nullification will challenge our mutants to creatively RP, whereas a mere weakening would be liable to end up as the same-old, same-old.

Also, could I ask what this line means? I don't quite understand:
"I could see mind readers getting a block on certain people. "

Question for discussion: Can the Adapted turn the nullification field off? I would vote for "no"; I picture this think filtering out mutant abilities as unconsciously as your liver filters toxins.

Zephyr, CS, and I had a brief discussion in the cbox as well that raises a few questions. Here's the discussion (read bottom to top):

Zephyr: Indeed, though it would be something of a pain in Zephyrs case as he would effectively be rendered useless in combat situations.
Katrina: That is an interesting plot, too, Zeph.
Cold Steel: if not they are still easy targets and not something that needs to be feared
Zephyr: and then placed them on satellites all over the earth, effectively eliminating mutant powers.
Cold Steel: or nullified t least
Zephyr: Essentially some black ops entity has managed to identify the wave necessary to cancel out control of mutations made emitters to replicate them
Cold Steel: *nods* i think the powers should disappear all together once they enter the field
Katrina: They will be relatively easily sniped if energy and other attacks don't just disappear when they enter the field. Maybe it is more balanced if the attacks disappear. I dunno.
Cold Steel: which would even the playing field
Zephyr: Now that I think of it this seems quite a familiar to an arc currently underway in the comics.
Cold Steel: *shakes head* what i was getting was you would not be able to use your mutaions to fight them
Cold Steel: *nods* well i got the losing control part
Zephyr: It will essentially revert to sniper like tactics though, at least with Zephyr it will.
Katrina: I think that is what they are talking about now- things just disappearing. But that doesn't make as much sense to me as the mutant just losing control.
Cold Steel: maybe they could have an energy field or something that just makes it dissapate faster than normal
Cold Steel: lol
Zephyr: yes, I don't see how you'd be able to explain energy blasts just disappearing either
Cold Steel: *nods* i thought they would just disappear
Katrina: than simply disappearing.
Katrina: I personally think it would be the same with, like, fireballs or lightning. They can shoot toward the Adapt, but once the fire/lightning enters the field, its going to do what it wants to do, rather
Zephyr: That's the adepts key weakness CS
Cold Steel: other wise everyone could do something like that
Cold Steel: *shakes head* but zep it shouldn't be enough to hurt him right?
Zephyr: Correct.
Katrina: Right, it would still be moving air, but control over it would be lost.
Zephyr: As long as he is outside the field I believe it's fair game.
Zephyr: effect
Zephyr: That's something I'd like to argue actually Kat, I'd say the momentum from the wind blade itself would carry on within the barrier, it would no longer be lethal obviously but it would still have some
Cold Steel: also if Gb were to pick up a 12foot pole and use it as a bat would GB's powers be nullified even though he was out of the range?
Katrina: A person might be an Adapt without even knowing it.
Katrina: I think it happens automatically without them knowing its active.
Cold Steel: i'd imagine it would be constant
Cold Steel: *nods* well i got that part it just they saud energy and elemntals so i was curious about other powers
Zephyr: One thing I am slightly curious about though is whether the adepts nullifying power is constantly active or whether they have to consciously keep it on.
Katrina: So, if Zephyr were to create blades of air, and send them flying toward an Adapted, they would fall apart into normal air once they crossed the barrier.
Cold Steel: *shrugs* i had to read it over a few times to get it but i get what your saying
Zephyr: *shrugs* it wasn't the most eloquent of explanations
Katrina: I thought it made sense.
Cold Steel: *nods* zep you just confused me *grins*
Zephyr: What the adepts do is release a counter brainwave which nullifies the Zeta wave, rendering mutants incapable of accessing their mutatiuons.
Katrina: But the mutation is what made it big, so if the mutation is nullified, then it would shrink upon entering the field.
Zephyr: The way I think of it is that the x gene requires a specific brainwave, call it Zeta for arguments sake, in order for it to be activated/controlled.
Cold Steel: so i wasn't sure
Cold Steel: but it's not an elemental attack or a ray
Cold Steel: *nods* thats what brainstorm said
Zephyr: From my understanding that ability would also be nullified CS
Cold Steel: like if i was to grow a pebble and throw it
Cold Steel: regarding GB's powers, i know his main growing ability would stop but what about his ability to make other things grow?

And here are the questions:

[/color]

2) How completely do powers disappear once they enter the field? There are several options here including:

[/ul]
3) This part of the discussion was pertaining to the question that Calley has already posed, whether or not the powers cancellation effect is constant or not.[/ul]
Other questions still up for discussion (from earlier):

---

For question 1: I like the idea of calling the brainwaves that function to control mutations "zeta waves" and the brainwaves that cancel them out "anti-zeta waves" or something along those lines. The explanation seems to fit well with Luke's original idea and also seems to help explain how things work from a technical standpoint.

For question 2: I think option "a" gives the Adapts a bit more protection against sniping, which I like. However, option "b" seems to be the more logical occurrence for how we are explaining what happens when things enter the field and seems to fit with the preserved momentum of speedy mutants and such. At this point I would be fine with either option, though I am leaning toward option "b" because we can still make most of the effects from the mutations harmless once they enter the field.

For question 3/ Calley's question: I vote for no, they cannot turn off the field. I think it should be automatic and constant, and the Adapt's might not even realize that they are emitting the aura/anti-zeta waves.

4: It seems like we are leaning towards physical characteristics caused by mutations not disappearing, unless the mutant spends a significant amount of time within the aura. Mutants might lose control of extra limbs or tails within the aura.

5: Some say yea, some say nay. We're still at a fairly even split about whether Adapted humans are able to sense mutants.

6: Seems like a 'yes' all around for this one, thus far.

7: I vote for completely nullified! The whole point is to even the playing field between mutants and humans!