Trope Workshop:Power Buff: Difference between revisions

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A '''Power Buff''' is a meta-superpower (ability, spell, supernatural functionality, etc., unavailable to [[Muggles]]) that increases other characters' powers. Individuals who possess this power can increase their and others' powers beyond their innate limits. This often takes the form of stronger output, although new aspects and expressions of the existing power are also possible.

Unlike sister trope [[Status Buff]], this works only on powers rather than people directly, and as such do nothing for [[Badass Normal]]s who only have skills or physical attributes to call their own; '''please move anything that isn't about affecting powers there'''. That being said, ain't no rule forbidding applying a Power Buff onto the source of [[Magic Enhancement]] and then enhancing the ~~muggle~~ that way, or for a [[Support Party Member]] to be able to confer both.

Unlike the sister trope [[Status Buff]], this works only on powers rather than people directly, and as such, does nothing for [[Badass Normal]]s who only have skills or physical attributes to call their own; '''please move anything that isn't about affecting powers there'''. That being said, ain't no rule forbidding applying a Power Buff onto the source of [[Magic Enhancement]] and then enhancing the Muggle that way or for a [[Support Party Member]] to be able to confer both.

These effects usually have some [[Necessary Drawback]] to explain why, if such a capability exists, everyone isn't simply running around with buffed powers all the time. Perhaps the effects are only temporary, especially if potency or range is involved, and need to be refreshed periodically. Perhaps too strong or frequent buffing can induce [[Power Incontinence]]. Perhaps the buffing demands a ritual that is lengthy or requires rare ingredients, limiting its reusability. Perhaps the drawbacks harm the buffer, like if they involve [[Cast from Hit Points]] or [[Cast From Lifespan]]. Or perhaps there are no direct downsides, but the rarity and value of such turns buffers into [[Living MacGuffin]]s sought for capture or assassination by enemies.

These effects usually have some [[Necessary Drawback]]s to explain why, if such a capability exists, everyone isn't simply running around with buffed powers all the time. Perhaps the effects are only temporary, especially if potency or range is involved, and need to be refreshed periodically. Perhaps too strong or frequent buffing can induce [[Power Incontinence]]. Perhaps the buffing demands a ritual that is lengthy or requires rare ingredients, limiting its reusability. Perhaps the drawbacks harm the buffer, like if they involve [[Cast from Hit Points]] or [[Cast From Lifespan]]. Or perhaps there are no direct downsides, but the rarity and value of such turns buffers into [[Living MacGuffin]]s sought for capture or assassination by enemies.

Inversion/opposite of [[Power Limiter]], which limits a person's power. Contrast [[Super Empowering]], which is about giving powers, whether to those who originally had none or even more to those who already had, although it's not impossible for a granter of powers to also alter its gifts, and sufficiently divergent new aspects gained through Power Buffing can blur the line.