Required Secondary Powers: Difference between revisions

** In the H. G. Wells short story ''The New Accelerator'', which features a [[Super Serum|super-speed serum]] (probably marking its first use in its modern form), not only predicts today's doping scandal by mentioning that the stuff could be used to cheat in fencing, but also has the characters suffering vertigo while the serum takes effect, not being able to run without beginning to burn up, leaving footsteps of burnt whatever-they-step-on wherever they walk, and in one instance being unable to keep objects perfectly still, so that a little dog goes flying across a field. While talking about the serum (which is when the cheating was brought up), the characters talk about the consequences of using the serum over long periods of time, namely accelerated aging and appetite. The only thing it misses is they should be walking like they're on the moon.

* The Required Secondary Powers necessary to use the magical gadgets of folklore and mythology are acknowledged in some of the Rincewind novels of the ''[[Discworld]]'' series. For instance, seven-league-boots exist, but using them requires extensive magical protection and preparation, since having one leg miles ahead of the other causes an awful [[Groin Attack|groin sprain]].

* In the [[Midnighters]] series, one of the characters incredible leaping abilities in during the 'blue hour' translate to leParcour in normal time because of his innate sense of physics.

* In David Eddings's ''[[Belgariad]]'', when you use magic to move an object, the resulting force is the same as if you had physically touched the object - so you have to brace yourself with equal force, similar to tightening up your muscles, or some such. The main character learns this the hard way the first time he tries to move a giant stone, as he ends up buried up to his armpits in the ground (he tried to push it up instead of merely sideways).

== [[Music]] ==

{{quote|And I'm there before you notice

I'll be gone before you see me

* In the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', it was generally assumed that all characters had these as a matter of course. Exceptions tended to make for interesting side-stories. For example, Silly Putty was a [[Rubber Man]], but he lacked the power to actually control his extended body when stretched; as a result, he had to be manually shaped by other people. The Shield was [[Nigh Invulnerable]], but wasn't anchored (or superhumanly strong), and as a result was regularly knocked ass-over-teakettle when he was hit with any significant force.

* In ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'', it's explained that the Freelancers' AI granted them the Required Secondary Powers needed for individual armor abilities. When Griff tried out the [[Super Speed]] armor ability without an AI, everything, including his mental processes and metabolism, was sped up, and he ran [[Crowning Moment of Funny|straight into a wall]] because he had no way of knowing when to slow down.

{{quote|

'''Church''': Don't worry Caboose, I'm sure when [[Halo: Reach|the game]] comes out there'll be a way to shut it off.