Power Systems: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

[[File:Quirks.gif|thumb|350px|link=My Hero Academia|Just your average Quirks.]]

The setting of some works has superpowers that all derive from a shared trait or discipline. There are many ways for a person to gain superpowers: inheritance, a [[Mass Super-Empowering Event]], a divine gift, or [[Superpower Lottery|sometimes even pure]] [[Randomly-Gifted|random chance]]. Whatever the source, these '''Power Systems''' govern how these superpowers are distributed and, to a much looser extent, how superpowered individuals interact with each other - some "supers" ([[Differently-Powered Individual|or whatever term the setting employs]]) may develop a kinship via a common weakness, power source, or genetic bloodline. Conversely, if multiple such types exist and conflict, [[Un-Equal Rites]] may ensue.

 

{{examples}}

== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==

* As seen in the picture above, 80% of the population is born with a Quirk in ''[[My Hero Academia]]'', a superhuman power based on their biology and [[Superpowerful Genetics|genetics]]. Quirks fall into three types: Emitter, Transformation, and Mutant, plus [[One Person, One Power|one person has one Quirk]]. Despite this limit, Quirks can exhibit multiple abilities with training and experience. Quirks are tied to a person's body, so overcoming these limits is based on the power and the user's physicality, meaning they must undergo [[Training from Hell|unique yet intense training]] to [https://youtu.be/YfYsA5QEQ4Q bring out their true potential]. The inclusion of Quirks brought many changes to society, such as the laws, societal expectations, and being a Hero as a form of employment.

** Hamon/Ripple is a special type of breathing that lets a trained user manifest energy. It can grant superhuman ability, healing, longevity, and its identical nature to that of the sun's rays lets it hurt creatures that are normally only vulnerable to the sun. However, it needs proper blood flow and breathing to be used.

** [[Guardian Entity|Stands]] are usually, though not always, humanoid beings with [[Superpower Lottery|unique powers]] [[Personality Powers|related to the user's personality]]. [[Synchronization|Stands share a link to their user, which means that whatever damage it suffers, the user does as well.]] [[Invisible to Normals|They cannot be seen by ordinary people but by those with their own Stands]].

** [[RPG Mechanics Verse|Skills]] are abilities that [[NPC|Tians]], Masters, and monsters gain in the VRMMO. Tians and Masters can gain Skills from equipment and jobs, but Masters can also gain Skills from their Embryos.

* Ninjas like ''[[Naruto]]'' utilize Jutsu, magical arts they use in combat by using their [[Ki|chakra]]. Jutsu comes into three categories: [[Supernatural Martial Arts|Taijutsu]], [[Master of Illusion|Genjutsu]], and [[Stock Super Powers|Ninjutsu]]. They are essential tools within the ninjas' arsenal.

**[[Power Tattoo|Demon Slayer Marks]] are markings that can appear on a strong Demon Slayer's body. These marks can give improved physical abilities and upgrades Breath Styles.

** Blood Demon Arts are unique spells that Demons can develop through different means. Most of these monsters have [[One Person, One Power|one Blood Demon Art]], but some can have more.

** [[Curse|Commandments]] are ten curses created by the Demon King with an absolute effect based on a rule that can affect anyone who breaks it, even its user. There is also how a warrior with a Commandment gains [[Combo-Platter Powers|demonic abilities]].

** Graces are four blessings made by the Supreme Deity of the Goddess Clan. These powers give their user a unique ability while also [[Combo-Platter Powers|passively increasing their magical and physical strength]].

* From ''[[Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World]]'', Divine Protections are blessings that people are born with and given by the Od Laguna. A person is usually born with one Divine Protection, but some have more than one but are rare.

** Authorities are supernatural abilities wielded by a compatible host, and the [[Combo-Platter Powers|powers]] are shaped by their desires. {{Spoiler|These abilities are also called Witch Factors and originally belonged to the Witches of Sin. In the present, Sin Archbishops, the Witch Cult leaders, are selected based on their compatibility with Authorities. They are also considered the antithesis of the Od Laguna, meaning a person born with a Divine Protection can't gain an Authority.}}

** {{spoiler|Later on, we learn that this whole system of magical girls was, in fact, a scheme to harvest energy to prevent the heat death of the universe}}.

 

== [[Comic Books]] ==

* The Dom, from ''[[Monster Allergy]]'', are special powers used by Tamers and are inherited from parent to child, which falls into five abilities, giving them [[Combo-Platter Powers|various powers]].

 

== [[Film]] ==

* "Gifts" are powers possessed by the rare few in ''[[The Black Saint]]''. Those gifted only possess one power. However; anyone (gifted or not) can [[Power Copying|utilize another's power]] for a time after [[Life Drinker|drinking their blood]].

* In the ''[[Nevermoor]]'' series, some citizens in the titular city of Nevermoor have special powers, referred to in the universe as knacks. Some people, such as Jupiter North and his nephew Jack, double up on knacks (in this case, the power is [[Aura Vision]]). These knacks range from being good at a mundane skill (such as Archan's pickpocketing and Mahir's linguistics), while other knacks are supernatural (such as Hawthrone's dragon-riding or Lambeth's oracle). Some powers are even harmful, such as Cadance's power as a mesmerist. The strongest power is being a [[Magic by Any Other Name|Wundersmith]], which comes with the ability to perform great acts of wonder but subjects one to intense scrutiny and controversy due to the past actions of a previous Wundersmith.

* ''[[The Grimnoir Chronicles]]'' initially appears to operate on [[One Person, One Power]], and each Active falls into one of a few dozen Power types, with the two main characters being a [[Gravity Master|Heavy]] and [[Teleportation Spam|Traveler]]. These Powers have explicitly uneven distribution, with [[Super Strength|Brute]]s being fairly common and [[Healing Hands|Healers]] being rare enough for there to only be two in the entire state of Florida, while some Powers are rare enough to be mythical. The story later introduces symbol magic that uses the Active's own power to produce a particular effect. At the end of the first book comes the revelation {{spoiler|the source of Power is an alien "symbiotic parasite" from another dimension, who invests Power into human hosts and then reclaims it when they die (from any cause) after it has incubated and grown in them}} and that {{spoiler|the limitation on each person having one power is more akin to starting place on a map than a true rule, with smart and powerful Actives able to reach into adjacent powers, something earlier [[Foreshadowing|foreshadowed]] by the Heavy protagonist [[Heavyworlder|training himself]] to gain powers akin to a Brute.}}

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* Tieflings (mutant humans who express traits of ancestor(s) who were fiend(s)) of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' and (via Open Gaming License) ''[[Pathfinder]]'' all belong to a single species, but "no two tieflings are the same" in how their ancestry impacts their appearance. The statistical benefits tend to be the same between them, however.

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* From ''[[Hardcore Leveling Warrior]],'' Personal Attributes are in-game skills randomly gained when a player creates a character in the VRMMO, Lucid Adventure. Each player has [[One Person, One Power|one of these skills]] that fall into five types.

* From ''[[Kubera]]'', Transcendental Skills are divine abilities only used by [[Our Gods Are Greater|Gods]], [[Shape Shifter|Sura]], and [[Half-Human Hybrid|Halfs]] (human-sura hybrids). There are two types of Transcendental Skills: General and Unique. The three races can use General Types, but Unique types are exclusive to Gods.

* Passive Skills in the ''[[Zero Game]]'', are abilities that players gain once they participate in this game. Each player has [[One Person, One Power|one Passive Skill]] but also can have an Ability.

** Abilities are powers bought from the Ability Shop where each player can have one Ability at a time.

* From ''[[Scoob and Shag]]'', Ballyhoos are powers made from channeled fandom for cartoon characters that create an alien race's unique abilities. [[One Person, One Power|Each alien has one Ballyhoo]] named after a broadcasting or animation term. They also come into two types, Physical (Ballyhoos that have physical effects) and Energy (metaphysical Ballyhoos with semantic effects).

 

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

[[Category:Power]]

[[Category:Power Source]]