Spider-Woman's Pheromones

[Claire Redfield]

In a game I'm in on RPOL, playing Spider-Woman, I used it with a sneak attack. Spider-Woman dropped out of a tree and smacked Barbarus in the head, bounced around him at high speed, delivering low-level Venom Blasts and such, all in an attempt to disorient and stun him.

It worked, too. I punked him out from zero stress to mentally stressed out in one move. ^_^

[Crion]

In a game I'm in on RPOL, playing Spider-Woman, I used it with a sneak attack. Spider-Woman dropped out of a tree and smacked Barbarus in the head, bounced around him at high speed, delivering low-level Venom Blasts and such, all in an attempt to disorient and stun him.

It worked, too. I punked him out from zero stress to mentally stressed out in one move. ^_^

So, with this example, you purposely stated that the venom blast was used specifically to disorient and confuse? I've always seen it as more of a physical thing, contested by Stamina, so. . .

Mental stress is confusion, lack of focus, disorientation, inability to reason, etc.

Cheers,
Cam

Cam, I'm a bit confused that specifically physical powers are tied to a mental stress track. Could you give an example or two as to how those specific powers can be used to cause mental stress?



--Crion

[Spatula]

So, with this example, you purposely stated that the venom blast was used specifically to disorient and confuse? I've always seen it as more of a physical thing, contested by Stamina, so. . .

That would typically be resisted by Durability, actually. Stamina is for physical recovery rolls.

Cam, I'm a bit confused that specifically physical powers are tied to a mental stress track. Could you give an example or two as to how those specific powers can be used to cause mental stress?

I'm a little fuzzy on the line between mental stress and complications in the middle of a fight myself, but I think that Claire's example is a good one. A weak attack against a tough foe can't hurt, but it can be used to blind, distract, disorient, enrage, etc. I just finished watching the recent Avengers cartoon, and cartoon Wasp does that sort of thing fairly often.

[Supplanter]

I'm a little fuzzy on the line between mental stress and complications in the middle of a fight myself, but I think that Claire's example is a good one. A weak attack against a tough foe can't hurt, but it can be used to blind, distract, disorient, enrage, etc. I just finished watching the recent Avengers cartoon, and cartoon Wasp does that sort of thing fairly often.

That is because Cartoon Wasp is the best.


Jim

[Claire Redfield]

So, with this example, you purposely stated that the venom blast was used specifically to disorient and confuse? I've always seen it as more of a physical thing, contested by Stamina, so. . .

The sting could hurt, yes, but if I am bouncing around you at high speed, bopping you on the head from different angles, all the while stinging you with shocks in an attempt to disorient you...

I can easily see it causing mental stress. Meanwhile, your other senses are being assaulted by the pheromones, which are making your brain do funny things. One could easily be overwhelmed by something like that.

[Crion]

Meanwhile, your other senses are being assaulted by the pheromones, which are making your brain do funny things. One could easily be overwhelmed by something like that.

Ah-ha. Good point on that one.

See, what really seems odd is, after reading the entire Spider-Woman datafile, the Pheromones just seems more like a social thing or a potential complication, possibly even a d6 Mind Control or something to be tossed in for social/transition scenes. . .

That would typically be resisted by Durability, actually. Stamina is for physical recovery rolls.

I thought Durability resists actual damage, Stamina resists illnesses and other effects like poisons, gases, alcohol, aging. . .
Thus why I was thinking Venom Blast == Mind Altering Poison == Resist by Stamina.

[Reinhardt75]

Are you saying you would use stamina to resist an "attack" with pheromones that is going to end up doing mental damage?

I can certainly see a player or watcher ruling that, as the pheromones are a physical aspect that is going to affect the target mentally.

Kind of like saying how would a hero resist being given a truth serum during a torture session.

I think I would let them use either stamina or a mental resistance die if they had it.

[EldritchFire]

Did anyone else notice that her pheromones got a kick in Civil War They now add +d8 instead of d6. Could it be a typo, or do you think it's legit?

-EF

[Reinhardt75]

I noticed that...I figured it was on purpose.

Maybe due to the increased manipulation that occurs during civil war in the lead up to Secret invasion?

or maybe with kicking it up there will be less of a reason for folks to try and use stamina with it?

[chaosnet]

Same with Nitro's Area Effect, its D8 instead of D6s.