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From music with charms to soothe (or command) to a visible distortions in the air or haloes of dust or water
shattering hypersonic shriek, Sonic Powers looks at vapor (like a sonic boom) when used. Ultrasonic
abilities which generate and control sound. Flatten foes and infrasonic effects, beyond the range of human
with sonic blasts or sneak up on them cloaked in silence, hearing, have a rank of Subtle; only observers with
shape sound into solid constructs or even transform the appropriate Senses effect (typically Ultra-Hear-
yourself into “living sound” with all the powers of this ing) can notice them.
profile.
• Vibration: Vibration creates sound, and some
powers distinguish between creating and control-
Sonic Descriptors ling vibrations and creating and controlling sound.
Vibratory powers tend to focus on the damage vi-
The following descriptor is key to sonic powers. brations can cause, particularly at a high enough
• Sound: Sonic powers are based on sound, a pressure frequency. See the Buzzsaw and Shatter powers
wave transmitted through a medium like air, water, for examples.
or solid matter. The structures of the ear translate • Instruments: While many can wield sonic powers
that pressure wave into what we perceive as sound. with nothing more than their voice or a simple act
Sound waves travel more easily through water of will, some rely upon different instruments to
than air, but need a medium to propagate, and so produce their sonic effects. These tend to fall into
do not travel at all through a vacuum (and poorly two categories.
through a thin atmosphere). The GM may take the The first are musical instruments of all sorts, par-
environment into account when considering the ticularly wind-instruments like flutes, trumpets, pan-
effects of sonic powers, and encountering conditions pipes, and the like, although stringed instruments
where they do not work at all may be considered a (from violins to guitars) and percussion instruments
complication (see Sonic Complications). (particularly drums) are also common. The instru-
Because of their reliance on sound, some sonic ments themselves may be enchanted or (less often)
powers may be Sense-Dependent (Hero’s Hand- high-tech gadgets.
book, page 150). However, sensory effects and The second category includes technological
powers targeting the sense of hearing (Afflictions devices: sonic projectors or resonators, high-tech
like Deafening Shriek, for example) are already tuning forks, or other gadgets that produce or control
Hearing-Dependent and do not qualify for the sound. There may even be crossover with musical in-
flaw. struments, like high-tech synthesizers or amplifiers,
Sonic powers tend to be noticeable—clearly turning otherwise ordinary instruments into sonic
heard, if not seen—and sonic effects may also cause devices.
Sonic Features hypersonics. Once the sound stops, however, the targets
quickly recover. Apply the Insidious modifier for a sublimi-
nal mind-altering sound and the Subtle modifier for an
Some potential Feature effects associated with Sonic
ultrasonic signal beyond the normal hearing range. If the
Powers include the following:
effect lasts beyond the initial sound, remove the Instant
• You can amplify your voice (speaking or singing) like Recovery flaw.
a living microphone or bullhorn, making yourself
clearly audible over a greater distance, negating up Hypnotic Song: Cumulative Hearing Area Affliction
to a –20 modifier to hear you due to distance. (Resisted and Overcome by Will; Entranced, Compelled,
Controlled), Concentration Duration, Instant Recovery • 3
• You can produce minute sonic vibrations over a points per rank.
distance able to shift small moving parts (screws,
latches, etc.) functioning like a Move Object effect
with a –5 mass rank. Shatter
• You have perfect pitch, able to know the exact An intense beam of ultrasound can shatter crystalline
musical note of any tone you hear and able to repro- objects and even liquefy solid matter. If Limited to only
duce that same note by singing (or using a power like crystalline objects, apply a –1 flaw to the power.
Sonic Projection).
Shatter: Ranged Weaken Toughness, Affects Only Objects • 2
• Although not protected against attack, you are largely points per rank.
immune to loud noises and could, for example, stand
next to the amplifiers at a rock concert with no ill
effects. Sonic Blast
• You have a limited ability to generate a particular A focused blast of sound can smash solid objects and
sound or sounds, such as the power to create your do considerable damage to foes. A common modifier
own “theme music” at will or to produce entertaining on this power is a Burst Area or Auditory Area extra in
“sound effects” useful for a circumstance modifier on place of the Ranged extra (for a blast originating from
some interaction checks (particularly taunts). you) or along with it, for a sonic blast that spreads
from a target point. The Cone Area modifier in place
Your emit sound waves that upset the inner ear, causing
dizziness and disorientation. A Burst or Cloud Area version
Sonic Flight
(replacing the Ranged modifier) is good for a close radius You are borne aloft on sound waves. This form of flight
effect, while an Auditory Area version (replacing both produces a lot of noise, making it more noticeable than
Ranged and Hearing-Dependent) increases cost to 4 usual. If you need some type of parasail or glider to catch
points per rank, but affects a wider area. and reflect the vibrations to fly, apply the Platform or
Wings flaw to the power.
Vertigo: Ranged Progressive Affliction (Resisted and Overcome
by Will; Dazed, Stunned, Incapacitated), Hearing-Dependent •
Sonic Flight: Flight, Noticeable • 1 point for rank 1, + 2 points per
3 points per rank.
additional rank.
Solid Sound: Create Solid Sound Objects • 2 points per rank. Sound Analysis: Senses 1 (Analytical Hearing) • 1 point
Other Sonic Powers fans, stalkers, and hangers-on looking to exploit their
fame, and may encounter complications keeping their
super and “civilian” lives separate.
Vibrational powers and speed powers are often linked.
Any vibrational power in this profile may be a speed power
and any power in the Speed Powers profile with the word Obsession
“vibrational” in it may be a sonic power. The same for the
Earthquake and Tremor powers from Earth Powers. For those who discover or invent their sonic powers rather
than gaining them by accident or birthright, a particular
With the potential for sonics to influence the mind and obsession with the science of acoustics or the art of music
nervous system (see Hypnotic Song and Vertigo), various (and perhaps the mystical aspects of it) are common com-
Mental Powers may also be sonic powers, perhaps with plications. This is particularly true for musically themed
the Hearing-Dependent modifier, relying on a subsonic characters with sonic powers.
“carrier wave” to produce their effects. A common example
of this is a sonic version of Emotion Control.
Power Loss
Affecting the senses, some Illusion Powers may also be
sonic, depending on whether they manipulate actual Lacking a medium sound can travel through can effective-
sound waves or simply create the impression of sound. In ly negate most sonic powers and count as a Power Loss
particular the Vocal Mimicry power may suit some sonic complication (see Descriptors for details).
powers and the Sense Memory power may be useful to a
Another common form of Power Loss is sonic powers
sound-controller recreating sounds.
which depend on the user’s voice (speaking, screaming,
singing, etc.). Circumstances where the character cannot
Sonic Complications breathe or speak properly also cause the loss of any
related sonic powers. So conditions like smoke or tear gas,
Sonic powers can be destructive, disruptive, and distract- or a blow to the throat, for example, can create a compli-
ing, and they depend on certain conditions, creating their cation sonic controllers able to project sound simply by
share of complications for users. willing it do not encounter.
Accident Rivalry
The unleashed power of things like sonic blasts and shat- With the association between sonic powers and perfor-
tering waves of ultrasound can do considerable collateral mance (see Fame) a degree of rivalry between characters
damage, shattering crystalline structures from glass to with sonic powers is not unusual, particularly if they are
many metals to inflicting damage on innocent bystanders. also artistic or professional rivals.
This damage can lead to further accidents due to broken
glass, shattered containers, smashed pipes, and the like. Sonic-powered criminals tend to take this a step further,
Sonic-powered heroes may need to demonstrate restraint such as the musically themed villain with an obsessive
in crowded conditions or places with a lot of vulnerable rivalry towards all other musicians and composers or the
materials, such as a museum or a scientific lab. operatic diva who believes it’s not over until she sings!
Disability Weakness
Sonic powers may lead to particular weaknesses beyond
Given their connection to the power of speech and the
just the Power Loss associated with being unable to emit
sense of hearing, sonic powers sometimes cause (or com-
sound without a medium. For example, for a being made
pensate for) disabilities in those areas. For example, a char-
of sound (see Sound Form), the lack of a medium might
acter endowed with powerful mutated vocal cords able to
actually be fatal rather than forcing the character out
produce sonic blasts might lose the ability to speak without
of sound form, particularly for those with Permanent or
emitting dangerous sound waves! Similarly, exposure to
Innate modifiers on the power.
ultrasonics might cause damage to a character’s hearing,
resulting in a sonic controller who is actually deaf or reliant The precise right frequency of sound might strike a weak
upon artificial hearing aids. Perhaps the character’s sonic spot for some sound-users, especially if their powers use
powers compensate for hearing loss, but without those some kind of resonant or vibrational component, causing
powers, the character is deaf, making the Disability an oc- them pain, injury, or other conditions.
casional complication coupled with Power Loss.
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