I feel like a big part of the game’s story is the MC having to contend with being non-powered in a powered world, having to put in more work than the people around you because you don’t have the luxury of letting your powers carry you. Suddenly being given a ridiculous suite of powers feels like it would ruin that. I love that we can get powers, but getting too many powers seems like it runs counter to one of the core themes.
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Well I doubt there will be a “ridiculous suite of powers” and there are 2 other paths that one could take if you don’t want to become powered.
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@Eric_Moser is really good at conveying consequences, so even if I get a zenith power, I’m sure there will be consequences which continue the struggle to adapt and overcome… its like being born into money (those with zenith powers already) and winning the Lotto (gaining a Zenith power so late) - there is going to be struggle for the MC no matter what happens.
Which is why Stoic is so important to keep as a bff - she will help my MC keep grounded and out of the clouds so to speak.
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Meh.
As fun as the whole ‘powerless’ quirk is,you’re gonna have your ass stomped by practically anyone unless you do something special (the routes). And some people are willing to ditch the powerless quirk if it means that they’ll survive in the hero world.
As for the ridiculous powers,I’m not seeing it.When you compare the powers that you’ll get to the powers of the students,they seem pretty traditional. Especially the super strength/force field combo,which basically just means you’re Mob and Stoic combined.
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That makes me wonder. How versatile will our force field and super strength be?
Will we be able to rap a nearly skin tight force field around our body and fly since we have power over how the force field move??
Can we make force field boxing gloves?
Will some of our super strength be added to our Whoosh?
One thing is certain.
My MC who’ll get force fields wears a grey sweat suit.
Stoic also wears a gray sweat suit and has force fields.
It’s only matter of time until the community of Speck start shipping us both.
It’s going to be beautiful.
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Keep expectations very low. Whatever I do with one Zenith power set, I have to do with others. Factoring in Dr Stench and Tactician, that’s five different builds for every single combat scene.
I am starting to wonder if I’m trying to pull off too much.
edit: I wonder…should I maybe just give the Zenith MCs allllll six of the power sets? Flight! Super strength! Force fields! Lasers! Telepathy! Invisibility! Sort of like a Martian Manhunter with lasers? Yes it’s over powered, but it would prevent me from having to write three different Zenith combat paths so it would save a LOT of time. A LOT. And I could use “energy bars” in the stats screen to nerf the Zenith MC and keep the MC from becoming too powerful. And as far as how the MC gets so many powers, I could work that into the narrative. And I could maybe allow the MC to “level up” certain abilities throughout Part 3, so there would still be some amount of customization. Then I would just have to write three approaches for each combat scene instead of five. Sounds more doable the more I think about it.
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To be honest,I’m just happy with the good ol’ impenetrable force field.
Maybe that’s one of the disadvantages of the Zenith route.While everyone has unique powers they’ve been toying with their entire lives,we just get regular old ‘traditional’ powers dumped onto us at the heat of the moment.
Not that the powers are bad,of course.Hell, I predict that we’ll at least be a Grade 5 when the powers decide to pop up.
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That would be hilariously OP but honestly, I say do whatever works to make the project manageable. As long as it’s not obviously superior to the other two routes in game terms, I think it’s okay to combine a few options if it makes it easier to get scenes done.
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From zero to vaporising Hedonist with but a thought? Awesome. 
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I’m with ya. I want to put that guy on blast, literally.
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. . . . . . . . . Well as long as the story is still challenging and it’s easier on you i don’t see why not.
That added challenge is one of the components needed to make sure the Zenith route isn’t a walk in the park. 
I’m excited for Part 2! The link for the demo doesn’t seem to be working for me right now (not sure if anyone else is having this problem), but I did play it a few times and I did enjoy it very much. I found a few typos that I unfortunately cannot remember off the top of my head, but I see that some of them have been found.
It’s not just you, Dropbox stopped allowing html and WIPs have to be moved to alternative hosting like dashingdon. I’m sure @Eric_Moser is working on it. 
Yep I am. I’ll likely be moving CCH to dashingdon by mid-October.
I like this thought a lot. You can also play on the idea that for unknown reasons a Zenith power the MC has goes “silent” and the MC can’t use, for example, flight for a day, causing the MC to panic and think she gained the power then lost it for some unknown reason
Another way of controlling the OP aspect is to give limited responses in any given situation, you can write the MC used her logic and determined the best way to solve the dilemma was by using these two Zenith powers…
The main thing though it is both easier to write and much more interesting to explore as a writer if you do it that way.
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Yeah I am digging this more and more. So many ways to balance powers.
- Overall Zenith “stamina” bar
- As you said, use of logic in the writing flow to just eliminate stupid power use choices
- Perhaps have powers be unreliable? Like your flight fizzes out sometimes or your telepathy is fuzzy.
- Perhaps have powers be difficult to harness? Like you’re afraid to use super strength because if you’re not careful you might kill someone?
Ahhhh this would make my life SO much easier in Zenith War.
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It also will allow you to explore relationships with the others in more intimate ways … for example, how would each of your peers react to you having their specialty power. Stoic would react much differently then the character with strength would (my mind is drawing a blank on the name atm… even though I see my headcannon of him)
and I think: [quote=“Eric_Moser, post:1094, topic:12179”]
4) Perhaps have powers be difficult to harness? Like you’re afraid to use super strength because if you’re not careful you might kill someone?
[/quote]
this is a must … we have to explore our boundaries… we haven’t had years to know our limits like the others. In addition you can have the MC seek out advise where it might help.
There is a fine line with this option, so I’d be hesitant to use this too much.
But over all I think this new approach is a home run.
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Well you could just say “here are your new powers” I mean it’s not like your classmates chose their powers
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