Superpowered

[Tomato]

This is intended specifically at those members who, either here or elsewhere, have an "avatar" character with certain abilities, or training, that none of us actually have, but for those of you who don't just pretend like you do.

My question then is: If you had all the abilities of your avatar, what would you do with them? Do you think you'd end up a hero, a villain, or go live in a monastery or somesuch?

I ask this because as much as I would like to think that after years of idolizing superheroes and heroic characters, at the end of the day I don't know if I could do it without serious mental adjustments. I don't like heights, I'm seriously hemophobic(blood), I'm not really confrontational (not in person anyway... online I'm a $#%&) and I don't like dealing with people, because they're idiots.

Of course, all of that pales in comparison to the fact that, and I know this will shock people, I am a very angry person. All it would take is one moron who didn't know when to shut his mouth and I'm not sure if I'd be able to stop myself from doing something irreparable.

[captainspud]

Being a superhero with 98% of characters' powersets wouldn't really work, because it would be extraordinarily difficult to actually find crimes in progress for you to stop. Also keep in mind that even if you did manage to find one or two robberies or whatever, as soon as you pulled off one or two, the smart criminals would simply move to another town.

You could pull off the detective-type, and perhaps the vigilante-type, but that's about it.

So while you could certainly find positive applications for whatever powers you hypothetically developed, superheroing wouldn't likely be one of them.

[Protomorph]

If I had the powers of my avatar, I'd likely be a spy. Not that I'd want to assassinate foreign dignitaries or anything like that (being a hero and all) but infiltration and impersonation would be my thing.

[BlueBard]

Congratulations, Tomato... You are functionally sane.

Nobody in their right mind would actually -WANT- to be a superhero, even if they had the amazing miraculous abilities.

God knows I'm not superhero material, much as I daydream otherwise.  I'm doing good just to be a decent husband/father and some days I don't even do that very well ;)

[zuludelta]

Man... I can't even remember what powers I made up for the character that was supposed to be "me" in Freedom Force. Probably telepathy or something basic like that. But anyway, I'd probably end up doing something not-so-nice with those powers, I'm a lazy bastard so I'd probably find a way to use them so that I wouldn't have to work for a living... maybe cheat on Jeopardy! and all those other big-money game shows where reading the host's mind would give you all the answers or play high-stakes poker on TV and hook up with Shannon Elizabeth  :lol:.

[Pyroclasm]

I think you're just talking about powers, right?  Because having my avatar's appearance would open a different can of worms.
If I had my avatar's powers, I'd likely abuse them.  Reports of spontaneous combustion would be a common occurrence.  I'd like to think I'd be in control, but I would probably toast a lot of people that deserve less.  Although my avatar is a villain, I would probably be more of the merciless vigilante type.  Heck, that's assuming I'm the only one with power (or it is extremely rare).  I'd probably have a Homo Superior complex.  I think most people would.

[Figure Fan]

If I had my avatar's powers I'd likely travel or use them to become a local celebrity. Of course I'd probably help the police, too.

[Carravaggio]

Without getting into my personal politics that are pretty left-leaning, I'd try to save the world from itself, fail and be labeled self righteous and eventually hated by most of mankind...but I'd have to try.
I've often thought that i lack the understanding of the widespread political ramifications one's actions could produce. i considered working for my countries government (because, well, they aren't actually bad guys, even tho I didn't vote for them, but Australia has very little international agenda aside from increasing trade opportunities).
Ultimately I realise that the less fortunate countries could use the help more than my own nation, but would they want it and would i be harming them more than helping them? I guess I could only do the best I could, like Superman and do whats necessary to preserve all life.

After I fail i could travel the stars searching for life on other planets. Maybe one of them managed to create a Utopian model I could adapt for Earth.

[wickerman]

Considering my avatars only 3 abilities are:

Immortality
Unmeasurable Coolness
The ability to give the gift of Iron Maiden to the unenlightened



I guess I would be the ambassador of all things heavy metal and bring to the world the power of 'Eddie'

I know, I know, the cross i am willing to bear for you all.... 

[Mr. Hamrick]

I think some people would set out with the intention to do good but would wind up doing as much harm as good in the long run.  I think this is human nature.  It is human to want to help others but the how and what extent to help others are given way to much of the ideologies of the world.  Even those that appear to only want to help themselves will often tell you that they have the greater good in mind.  For example: Superman, for all the good that he does and all that he represents, would be a villain to someone who didn't want his help.  To further that point, he'd be a villain to someone who wanted to do something on their own and he did it for them.  For all the power that Superman has, there is a limit to which Superman can help and not be seen as imposing his will upon others.  In the classic days of the character, Dr. Doom wanted to rule the world because he felt the best way to protect Latveria is if he ruled everything.  His ideology made sense to him even if it did not to everyone else.  He had other motives too that were "noble" but the extent that he went to in the name of achieving them were clearly flawed. 

When posing the question of what if we had our avatar's superpower or, in my case, my avatar's technologies, resources, and collection of artifacts, it's also necessary to question if we would wind up truly as heroes or as villains in spite of good intentions.  In my case, if I had the resources, technology, and artifacts of my avatar then I would fall probably in the realm of an anti-hero or villain.  I would without a doubt in my mind wind up in that "morally gray" area, if for no other reason than the lengths that I know I would be willing to go to in order to get certain objectives achieved.   

[vamp]

I would try to be good, but I know I couldn't. I know what evils lie inside of me, regardless of how kind-hearted I usually am. I know what I could do and who I could become, so I am grateful that I don't have powers. And even if I did become good, what villain existed that wasn't created by the hero. Maybe not directly created, but the drive for worst technology to defeat the hero. Another thing would be my message "why bother,". The whole world is running itself into the ground, we are all evil and corrupt, and I don't think I could say other wise of myself.

[Lunarman]

Although i would like them, being a superhero isn't really practical. For one it's very hard to find crimes that are in progress to stop, without it being complete luck.

However, I'd like to think myself brave and given my powers, braver. I'd probably don my costume and contact the police aiming for a job as a sort of 1 man police raid force. So next time they need to raid a house in Camden for drugs they could just send Lunarman instead of a whole squad of police.

If i had the powers I really want (shapeshifting) I would just abused them, spending time sneaking into conversations, playing practical jokes...

However Lunarman's powers are too heroic to be bad, and hey, saving London would be cool.

[C4]

My avatar is a well kept secret  :P since I have not really used him on the boards. But quickly he is a bomb squad member that has become a living bomb. So he can blow up and is immune to explosions.

So my sole usefull ability would be to diffuse bombs since they cant hurt me. Apart from that well I can't see me doing much else.

I guess I could save the goverment on explosives for old builldings or I could be sent into a terrorist stronghold.

Though doing all this in the name of heroism would be a stretch, I would most likely want proper remuneration.   

[Carravaggio]

Hey C4 do you still use that skin for your AV i made a loooooooooooooong time ago, or have you put together a new look since then?

[C4]

Heh, that is my sole visual property of my Av.  ^_^ Though I used to use it to play in FF, I no longer do.

My Av is fun to play since you can blow up endlessly. (Not a team player though)

I am not even sure if I still have it. Since I have not used it in 2 years. An updated look won't hurt though  :wub: ;)

[YoungHeros]

If I have my AV's powers... something like Lunarman I guess :)

[Midnight]

Me? With my AV's powers? Very likely I'd smoke and drink significantly more and stay out until ungodly hours. Coincidentally, it's a full moon tomorrow night. :midnight13

[Glitch Girl]

If I had my avatar's powers (provided I could control them) I would TRY to be good, but somehow I see myself becoming a bit of a  cyber vigilante.

When I lived in an apartment with neighbors who liked to play their music loudly at 2:00am, I fantasized about sending a focused burst of Glitch Aura through the floor and scrambling their stereo.  Or when I'm on the road and I see someone not paying attention to how they're driving because they're talking on the phone, I would love to cut into their conversation and say "HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE!"

I'd probably try my hand at pychic computer hacking, mostly just information gathering, though I honestly couldn't tell you what I'd do with some of the information I'd find.  In cases of brasen corruption, I'd be sorely tempted to plaster it all over their web site for everyone to see and then lock out the admins and set up some mirror servers. 

So, it's probably good I don't have my avatars powers.  Too powerful.

[BWPS]

If I had an extremely pointy stick, I don't know how I would use it. I'd want to fight crime and I'd feel like I should given the amazing power, but I might just use it for personal gain (poking people I don't like).

[Sword]

despite Jumper and Nightcrawler making it look cool, having teleportation would become a drag as I would be trying to get high on the adrenaline rush of 'porting. I'd eventually become more lazy than I am now, becuase why walk or drive when you can port?

Similarly, invisibility would only be useful if you planned to use it in some aspect of covert ops.

[Shazam]

As most have pointed out, there wouldn't be enough crime going on for you to be stopping it. Crime doesn't happen the same way as it does in comic books. However, superheroes don't just catch and punish bad guy's, they help folk. Thats what I'd do, I'd find the best way that I could help people with the powers I'd been granted.

Oh... also I'd punish the morons that introduced part p into Britain's electrical trade, and the IET for introducing new regs, when were headed for a recession. Not that anyone here would understand what I'm on about, but thats what I'd do  :P

[Gremlin]

I'd honestly try to help people.  Probably not in the classical "run around fight bad guys" sense, but Gremlin's unique combination of physical and super powers could certainly help reconnaisance and spying.  I'd probably either work with local police or in the military.

[Uncle Yuan]

If I had my avatar's powers (provided I could control them) I would TRY to be good, but somehow I see myself becoming a bit of a  cyber vigilante.

When I lived in an apartment with neighbors who liked to play their music loudly at 2:00am, I fantasized about sending a focused burst of Glitch Aura through the floor and scrambling their stereo.  Or when I'm on the road and I see someone not paying attention to how they're driving because they're talking on the phone, I would love to cut into their conversation and say "HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE!"

I'd probably try my hand at pychic computer hacking, mostly just information gathering, though I honestly couldn't tell you what I'd do with some of the information I'd find.  In cases of brasen corruption, I'd be sorely tempted to plaster it all over their web site for everyone to see and then lock out the admins and set up some mirror servers. 

So, it's probably good I don't have my avatars powers.  Too powerful.

Reminds me of a internet survey that circulated through my work place a few years ago.  We were all encouraged to fill it out, print it and post it in the break room.  One of the questions was "What kind of super power would you like to have."

Most folks had fairly predictable stuff like flying or invisibility.  I put down that I'd like the power to make car stereos blow up.  Anyone who lives in any decent sized city could imagine why on a summer afternoon such a power might be attractive. . .

[The Pwime]

Telekinesis would be a treat...i'd end up being so lazy if I did have it, though.

Flight kind of ties in with telekinesis...but in real life, i don't think it's something I would attempt.  I don't mix well with heights.

Energy-based powers?  Golly, those would get abused.  I would obviously want to use them, because they'd be so neat, but then I'd probably end up using them in a situation where they should not be used (i.e. zapping another person due to the trigger finger that i would likely have)

Appearance-wise?  I'd probably pass, unless I could control it.  Constantly looking like a walking mass of energy is neat at first, but it could cause so many problems...

[Intensity]

Great topic!!!

If I had Intensity's powers and abilities, I would definately be a hero of some sort.  I'd also have a lot of fun in the process.

Keep in mind that I suited my avatar to match the physical abilities that I already have in real life- master of two martial arts, black belt in another, and continued practice in several other forms of combat/weapons.  Intensity's abilities outside the physical would be described as light manipulation... the ability to alter ambient light in a given area, to either create blinding radiance or bewildering darkness.  This allows him to mentally distract and even at times render certain targets helpless, while he goes in to take them down with his physical skills.  Think of it as a limitless supply of flash grenades and smoke bombs and you get the idea :).
Also, If Intensity wanted to get really viscious with his powers, he could manipulate the light around him to create a sort of energy shield that fits his body... also enabling him to walk/fly on solidified light in the air and to shoot out concussive light blasts at his targets.  SWEET!

How would I use them in everyday life, then?   Well, as a civilian I could nullify the need for light switches in my house in order to find things at night  :P.  I could also be of great use during power outages and black outs.  I would never need a flashlight as well, or sunglasses to wear when it is hard to see while driving my car since I could just alter the light around me to either see in the dark or make the sunlight less vibrant.

In terms of a more heroic standpoint, if I wanted to use those light powers with the martial arts... even in terms of the smaller scale blinding and disorienting effects of Intensity's powers.... I would do so as either a police officer or as a federal investigator.  It would be useful in that I would scout out the culprits at night, covering myself in shadow... then blinding them long enough for the rest of the team to make the arrest.  I think it would be good, in that there would be less gunfire during those events.

again, great topic.

[UnkoMan]

Awww man!
My avatar doesn't even have powers, unless you call a comicbooky tallent for machines, chemistry, and punching a power.

Which I'd probably use to become an adventuring scientist, sans costume.

[Carravaggio]

Awww man!
My avatar doesn't even have powers, unless you call a comicbooky tallent for machines, chemistry, and punching a power.

Which I'd probably use to become an adventuring scientist, sans costume.

Awwwww the whole point of this thread was to get you into a costume  :wub:

[GrizzlyBearTalon]

Me personally? I'd just have a field day with it all. Would I fight crime? Not really, for reasons others have mentioned. I'd probably use my powers to make a comfortable living, just toss a mask on me and you have the world's best furry monster for your movie. Sure I would be type cast but meh. Maybe helping out on big construction or demolition jobs as well, do you buy all those explosives or just hire the bear? I work much cheaper! CALL NOW 555-GRIZZ-SMASH!

I would probably make some arrangements with local law enforcement. Just being on call for them if they needed it, after all I can sniff out or track down people and drugs better than any police dog. Try to work it out similar to what the Savage Dragon did in his early days of being a real cop. It would be like my version of celebrity charity work.

I'd just be a glorified celebrity, helping if really needed but actually risking anything? Naw, even the police stuff would be safe for someone like me. Ah well not the most heroic person but dang would I be having a big ole' time!

[Zippo]

Well, since Zippo's powers were designed to be A) The sort of power I could have a lot of fun with, and B) as flashy as possible, I suppose I'd end up as some sort of celebrity or phenomenon. I would definitely fly around a lot and throw things around when I'm bored. Often when I'm on a bus that's going incredibly slow I fantasize about having Zippo's powers and just making the whole bus fly from stop to stop.

[Sevenforce]

I would ask the question "Am I the only one?" and "What happens if people find out?" Yes. I'm a cynic <_<