Power Boost Cyphers

Power boost cyphers are a variety of cypher only available to superhero characters in some superhero games. They increase, modify, or improve a character's existing special ability. For example, a burst boost cypher turns a single-target attack into an area attack centered on you; depending on your character, type, and focus, this might mean you're throwing a fan of knives all around you, rapidly teleporting and attacking multiple foes, or releasing a blast of fire in all directions.

The GM decides if power boost cyphers are in the game and can award one in place of a regular cypher. Power boost cyphers may be nonphysical cyphers or manifest cyphers, as decided by the GM.

When you activate a power boost cypher, you choose which ability it affects. You can modify the effect to fit your superhero character as needed. So if you are a strong, punching hero, a burst boost cypher might allow you to strike the ground and affect everyone around you.

If a power boost cypher doesn't include a duration, it only affects one task.

Random Cyphers for Superheroes

Superheroes can use regular cyphers as well as power boost cyphers. This random generation table includes both.

Amazing Feat

Effect: You perform an amazing feat not normally defined by your powers or one that would normally be beyond your limits. For example, you use your flame blasts to weld metal, or you push your super-strength so you can catch a falling helicopter.

Area Boost

Effect: Your ability affects a larger area. If it normally affects one creature, it also affects the immediate area around that creature. Abilities that already affect an area increase to the next larger area size (immediate to short, short to long, long to very long, very long to 1,000 feet [300 m] across).

Burst Boost

Effect: Your single-target ranged attack emanates from you. The range decreases to immediate (centered on you), but it affects everything within immediate range. If the ability is an attack, you gain an asset on your attack roll to creatures in the area.

Damage Boost

Effect: Your attack ability inflicts additional damage as if you had applied two levels of Effort to damage.

Efficacy Boost

Effect: You get two assets on an ability that requires a skill roll. You can use this cypher before or after you roll.

Range Boost

Effect: The range of your ability increases. If the ability affects only yourself, you can use it on someone you touch. Otherwise, its range increases by one range category (immediate to short, short to long, and so on).

Shift Boost

Effect: You gain one additional power shift for one round. This shift must be a category of shift that you already have. For example, if you have shifts in Dexterity and Resilience, you can gain an additional shift in either Dexterity or Resilience for one round.

Source Boost

Effect: Your ability costs 6 fewer Pool points.

Split Boost

Effect: Your ability affects twice as many targets or twice as many areas. For example, if you have a mind control ability that affects one creature, you can use it on two creatures; if you have a blast of fire that affects an immediate area, you can affect two immediate areas. The targets or areas must be within range of you but otherwise do not have to be near each other. Choosing the same target twice or overlapping two areas has no effect. If the ability is an attack, make separate attacks for the targets or areas.