Is Power Stealing cool ? - Gen. Discussion

#1 Posted by kgb725 (287 posts) - 6 months, 6 days ago - Show Bio

is taking someone elses power cool anyone that has seen the show heroes will understand how peter came into contact with someone and could replicate the power as if it were his own so is that good or bad

#2 Posted by Bruxae (2659 posts) - 6 months, 6 days ago - Show Bio

Depends on taste, personally I think its a rather dull power to have with little room for expansion.

Not cool.

#3 Posted by Blood1991 (8098 posts) - 6 months, 6 days ago - Show Bio

I find it can be too easily used as a plot device, but it isn't a bad power when it is written well.

#4 Posted by Brazen_Intellect (1089 posts) - 6 months, 6 days ago - Show Bio

If it is used with specific limits so that it cannot be expanded when needed as a plot device as stated by Blood1991 it can be interesting.

#5 Edited by Deadite (7440 posts) - 6 months, 6 days ago - Show Bio

When it has rules, scenarios dictates its use, the user will have to be skillful and perhaps cunning, that's when it has character.

Personally, I have mixed feelings for it, but I seen it handled properly very early in my childhood, so I am a fan of it.

#6 Edited by TitanTempest (310 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@Deadite said:

When it has rules, scenarios dictates its use, the user will have to be skillful and perhaps cunning, that's when it has character.
I seen it handled properly very early in my childhood, so I am a fan of it.

^^^^^ What Deadite said

Cant be too bad, We have Rogue, Peter, Megaman, Megaman X, Kirby, Mario, Amazo and much more power stealing is built for the world of imagination. As long as there are limits I say go for it

#7 Posted by SoA (3527 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

to me it shows how a character can perform with a new ability. think about it like this , you have a super power you train and hone your skills and then someone comes along and mimics or steals your ability and out performs you? its a embarrassing blow to one's pride but still kinda cool

#8 Posted by Rumble Man (11119 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

Good but what you mentioned is 'copying' I prefer his dad who actually robs others of their powers

#9 Posted by TheGoldenOne (38596 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@Deadite said:

When it has rules, scenarios dictates its use, the user will have to be skillful and perhaps cunning, that's when it has character.
Personally, I have mixed feelings for it, but I seen it handled properly very early in my childhood, so I am a fan of it.

#10 Edited by GreenFuse (290 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

I didn't watch the last seson or so of Heroes but Peter's power was mimicry, no? He didn't actually take other people's powers I thought. His father was the power stealer.

I'm not a fan of draining type of powers. Feels icky and goes against my character I suppose.

Mimicry is pretty sick, though. Depending on the character and situation, it can go from insanely powerful/effective to...well, they're powerless/ordinary. I kind of like that. If we lived in a world of supers then I'd probably want power mimicry.

#11 Posted by Izaiah (4939 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

I think it's a cool power, but I think it needs to make internal sense or else it comes across as lazy writing (such as when, for instance, mutants replicate not only mutant and/or mutate powers, but also those of aliens, magic users, robots, etc).

#12 Posted by Rumble Man (11119 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

Almost all the other characters mentioned are power replicators, we need more robbers here

The right petrelli for this thread

#13 Posted by SmashBrawler (3811 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

Yes.

#14 Edited by Jorgevy (4651 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

I think it would be super scare if someone could steal your super powers, if you were a super. I mean just imagine, you have the powers you love but then out of nowhere someone could not only also get them, but take them from you

another cool process is power commerce/merchant - like that guy in Misfits, who can trade powers between people or sell them/buy them

#15 Posted by Xorion (193 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@Rumble Man said:

Almost all the other characters mentioned are power replicators, we need more robbers here
The right petrelli for this thread

I loved that character in heroes and also it's more interesting than copying other powers I think

#16 Posted by Joygirl (6107 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

It's awesome when Black Alice does it.

#17 Edited by TitanTempest (310 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@Joygirl said:

It's awesome when Black Alice does it.

@Xorion said:

@Rumble Man said:
Almost all the other characters mentioned are power replicators, we need more robbers here
The right petrelli for this thread
I loved that character in heroes and also it's more interesting than copying other powers I think

Well You had Three type- Peter (Mimicry), His Dad (Thief), Sylar (a mix between the two, as long as he could understand the power then he could recreate it)

I like the fact their were three types of mimicry/stealing on heroes

#18 Posted by Rumble Man (11119 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@TitanTempest: don't forget the fact that peter later only has 'shuffling' one power at a time

#19 Posted by kgb725 (287 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@TitanTempest i thought he had to eat the brain in order ro gain their powers

#20 Posted by cloudzackvincent (783 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@kgb725: that was the plan in the begining but they changed it since they thought it would project too much zombie allusions

#21 Posted by wallywest55 (230 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

Now what are we talking about here? Bc Peters powers wasnt to really "steal" peoples powers. He copied the peoples powers he was standing by and kept them. Even after they toned him down his power wasnt to steal them he simply could only have 1 power at a time , this time from somebody he touched, and the person he touched still retained their powers. If i had the 1st version of peters power yes it would be cool bc you would single handely be the strongest there is. Now if my power was the toned down version which is i can have only 1 power at a time and i have to touch the person to get the power then no. That would be rather lame.

#22 Posted by The Stegman (12991 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

Sylar from Heroes made it cool for a few reasons:

1. His own power, the ability to know how things work, in and of itself is cool and unique, and I love how by doing that, he can ''study'' powers, and copy them.

2. All of the powers he has copied, he usually improves them, strengthens them, or uses them in interesting ways.

3. Sylar's just awesome.

#23 Posted by TitanTempest (310 posts) - 6 months, 5 days ago - Show Bio

@kgb725 said:

@TitanTempest i thought he had to eat the brain in order ro gain their powers

No he just had to look at their brain to understand how it worked. It was implied at first that he ate it but later informed that he was just looking at their brains. Then he learned that he could do what peter do and just empathically gain their ability, but he preferred the messy way lol.... Sylar is prob one of the most interesting characters ever created!

#24 Posted by Gambler (80654 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

@kgb725: Rogue is decent. I personally liked Sylar better then Peter as far as Heroes was concerned.

Moderator

#25 Posted by lykopis (6083 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

Considering that one of my all-time fave character is Rogue --- I think power mimicry is awesome. In her instance, its a heavy burden to bear, not just because of her one time inability to control it but because of the emotions/memories that came with it.

It makes for some great story-lines and character development, not just for her but for others around her like in the case of Northstar pre-coming out of the closet. There is a lot more there as well. In a way, telepathy is power-stealing, especially when used to take over someone's mind or use their expertise for yourself.

#26 Posted by Aiden Cross (14462 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

Personally i loved Mimic (Earth 12). His powers were just very interesting, he could copy 5 powers at a time but only at half strength. So he had to mix and match them to get the perfect powerset =)

#27 Posted by Deadcool (6757 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

Is boring and unimaginative.

#28 Posted by Matchstick (561 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

It all depends on the writer. With the right approach power mimic/ thieves are really cool. Mimic is a prime example. The original Mimic was pretty lame, but when they used an alternate version in Exiles he was very cool. It's all about making it interesting. For every interesting one (Sylar) there is one that is just kinda blah (Rogue).

In my opinion the most interesting take on a power thief is Seth from Misfits. He can take abilites but he can also distribute the powers he's taken. He uses this to start an underground business buying and sellng powers.

So in my opinion, very cool.

#29 Posted by Pyrogram (10867 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

@Matchstick: can he use the ones he takes? i forgot.

#30 Posted by TDK_1997 (9663 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

Power stealing is a cool thing.If it is used for the right character it can become really awesome.

#31 Posted by Matchstick (561 posts) - 6 months, 4 days ago - Show Bio

@Pyrogram said:

@Matchstick: can he use the ones he takes? i forgot.

Nope, he just holds them. That could just be for lack of knowledge on his part though. If the show runs long enough I'm willing to bet he learns how to use the ones he's holding on to.