Post by Emirate Xaaron on May 15, 2011 14:00:41 GMT -5
Travel Abilities
There has been some confusion about travel abilities. Essentially, unless a character is specifically called out as being good at something unusual, s/he is assumed to be unable to be incapable of that mode of travel or incapable of performing well that mode of travel. Unusual travel abilities should go on applications in the special abilities section. The overall idea is that a character who is not specialised for a particular environment should not overshadow another character who is specialised for that environment. If G1 Reflector and G1 Bumblebee fight underwater, when Bumblebee is specifically waterproofed, Bumblebee should have some advantage.
Through Solids Transport
A few characters are capable of, to a certain extent, travelling through solid objects. This ability is quite rare. The usual form of it is for the character to turn into some form of drilling machine and to be able to travel through the underground by drilling out a tunnel around him/her. Botanica has a more unusual form of the ability in that she can transport herself through soil and other natural groundcover without creating a tunnel. Sky-Byte has a partial form of the ability in that he is sometimes shown to be able to 'swim' on the surface of solid objects. A character who can phase through solid objects would essentially have a form of this ability. Everyone else needs a shovel or blasting charges and a lot of spare time if they want to travel through the underground. Being able to travel through the ground in an efficient manner should be listed in one's special abilities section.
Surface Water Transport
Some characters can swim. Most characters are not buoyant enough to swim and will sink down to the bottom of a body of water. Particularly if the character is not a Beast Warrior with an appropriate alternate mode, being able to swim well should be listed in the special abilities section. Otherwise, it is assumed that the character will sink, as the Car Brothers were shown to sink uselessly to the bottom of a lake in RiD. For the purposes of a scene, characters may add floats to a character to make the character buoyant enough to swim or jet skis, if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Underwater Transport
Being able to freely travel underwater like a submarine is a quality usually only possessed by submarines and underwater animals. Named G1 Seekers are sometimes shown to be capable of it in vehicle mode, so Seekers can apply for this ability, and if they want it, it should be listed under their special abilities if they want to have it. If a Seeker doesn't apply for the ability to travel underwater in vehicle mode like a submarine, s/he is assumed not to have that particular modification. If a character applies for the ability to travel underwater like a submarine as an upgrade, s/he may also grain the ability to swim on the surface as part of the deal. As a lesser form of the ability, some characters are shown to be able to operate in vehicle mode on the ocean bottom, though they are not able to rise and dive like a submarine. For example, the RiD Decepticons are shown to be able to operate in vehicle mode underwater on the ocean bottom, whereas the Car Brothers are shown to be unable to use their vehicle modes. Being able to operate one's vehicle mode on the ocean bottom is a special ability that should be listed under special abilities, even though it is not as powerful as a submarine's travel. Unless otherwise specified as a weakness, all characters are assumed to be able to awkwardly walk on the bottom of a body of water in robot mode, even if they cannot use their vehicle modes. For the purposes of a scene, a character may add a diving tank or other tool to allow a character to be able to operate his/her vehicle mode on the bottom of bodies of water or to dive and rise like a submarine if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Air Transport
Most characters who turn into aircraft or flying animals can fly in vehicle mode in an oxygen atmosphere. (Certainly, it would be a big weakness for a character who turns into an airplane to be unable to fly!) G1 Decepticons and any cons who use the free anti-gravs upgrade can also fly in the presence of a sufficient gravity well. Rocketplanes and spaceships are generally shown to be able to fly in any sort of gaseous atmosphere, and spaceships can fly without an appreciable atmosphere. Most Autobots and Maximals will have a difficult time of acquiring robot mode flight as an upgrade, especially if it does not make sense for the character concept or the character is already very powerful. Most vehicle mode flying Autobots cannot fly in robot mode.
Near Space Transport
Being able to leave a gravity well on one's own is technically a separate ability from being able to be self-mobile in near space. Most characters who can complete launch and re-entry will also be able to operate freely in near space without trouble, though not all characters who can operate freely in near space without trouble will be able to complete launch and re-entry on their own. For example, Skystrike can operate freely in near space, but she cannot launch and re-enter an atmosphere on her own. The ability to launch and re-enter and the ability to operate effectively in near space should be noted under special abilities. The average character, when dumped into near space, will not die or suffer any obvious immediate negative side-effects, but s/he will be unable to efficiently manoeuvre. Air-breathing jets do not work in space. Anti-gravs do not work in space. For the purposes of a scene, a character may add a tether or an EVA pack or manoeuvring thrusters or the like in order to be able to operate efficiently in near space temporarily if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Deep Space Transport
Being able to efficiently travel from solar system to solar system in a reasonable amount of time (hours, days, weeks, or months as opposed to years+) is considered a separate ability from merely be able to launch, act in near space, and re-enter, though most characters who can operate in deep space will also be able to launch, operate in near space, and re-enter. Many of these characters also act as troop transports. The archetypical examples of this ability are Skyfire, Omega Supreme, and Astrotrain. This is an ability that should be noted in one's special abilities section. Some characters are able to pilot deep space craft, which should be noted in their skills section.
Other
There might be other abilities. For example, maybe your character can lava-surf when lava kills other members of his/her canon. If a travel ability seems unusual compared to other members of a canon, if in doubt, list it.
There has been some confusion about travel abilities. Essentially, unless a character is specifically called out as being good at something unusual, s/he is assumed to be unable to be incapable of that mode of travel or incapable of performing well that mode of travel. Unusual travel abilities should go on applications in the special abilities section. The overall idea is that a character who is not specialised for a particular environment should not overshadow another character who is specialised for that environment. If G1 Reflector and G1 Bumblebee fight underwater, when Bumblebee is specifically waterproofed, Bumblebee should have some advantage.
Through Solids Transport
A few characters are capable of, to a certain extent, travelling through solid objects. This ability is quite rare. The usual form of it is for the character to turn into some form of drilling machine and to be able to travel through the underground by drilling out a tunnel around him/her. Botanica has a more unusual form of the ability in that she can transport herself through soil and other natural groundcover without creating a tunnel. Sky-Byte has a partial form of the ability in that he is sometimes shown to be able to 'swim' on the surface of solid objects. A character who can phase through solid objects would essentially have a form of this ability. Everyone else needs a shovel or blasting charges and a lot of spare time if they want to travel through the underground. Being able to travel through the ground in an efficient manner should be listed in one's special abilities section.
Surface Water Transport
Some characters can swim. Most characters are not buoyant enough to swim and will sink down to the bottom of a body of water. Particularly if the character is not a Beast Warrior with an appropriate alternate mode, being able to swim well should be listed in the special abilities section. Otherwise, it is assumed that the character will sink, as the Car Brothers were shown to sink uselessly to the bottom of a lake in RiD. For the purposes of a scene, characters may add floats to a character to make the character buoyant enough to swim or jet skis, if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Underwater Transport
Being able to freely travel underwater like a submarine is a quality usually only possessed by submarines and underwater animals. Named G1 Seekers are sometimes shown to be capable of it in vehicle mode, so Seekers can apply for this ability, and if they want it, it should be listed under their special abilities if they want to have it. If a Seeker doesn't apply for the ability to travel underwater in vehicle mode like a submarine, s/he is assumed not to have that particular modification. If a character applies for the ability to travel underwater like a submarine as an upgrade, s/he may also grain the ability to swim on the surface as part of the deal. As a lesser form of the ability, some characters are shown to be able to operate in vehicle mode on the ocean bottom, though they are not able to rise and dive like a submarine. For example, the RiD Decepticons are shown to be able to operate in vehicle mode underwater on the ocean bottom, whereas the Car Brothers are shown to be unable to use their vehicle modes. Being able to operate one's vehicle mode on the ocean bottom is a special ability that should be listed under special abilities, even though it is not as powerful as a submarine's travel. Unless otherwise specified as a weakness, all characters are assumed to be able to awkwardly walk on the bottom of a body of water in robot mode, even if they cannot use their vehicle modes. For the purposes of a scene, a character may add a diving tank or other tool to allow a character to be able to operate his/her vehicle mode on the bottom of bodies of water or to dive and rise like a submarine if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Air Transport
Most characters who turn into aircraft or flying animals can fly in vehicle mode in an oxygen atmosphere. (Certainly, it would be a big weakness for a character who turns into an airplane to be unable to fly!) G1 Decepticons and any cons who use the free anti-gravs upgrade can also fly in the presence of a sufficient gravity well. Rocketplanes and spaceships are generally shown to be able to fly in any sort of gaseous atmosphere, and spaceships can fly without an appreciable atmosphere. Most Autobots and Maximals will have a difficult time of acquiring robot mode flight as an upgrade, especially if it does not make sense for the character concept or the character is already very powerful. Most vehicle mode flying Autobots cannot fly in robot mode.
Near Space Transport
Being able to leave a gravity well on one's own is technically a separate ability from being able to be self-mobile in near space. Most characters who can complete launch and re-entry will also be able to operate freely in near space without trouble, though not all characters who can operate freely in near space without trouble will be able to complete launch and re-entry on their own. For example, Skystrike can operate freely in near space, but she cannot launch and re-enter an atmosphere on her own. The ability to launch and re-enter and the ability to operate effectively in near space should be noted under special abilities. The average character, when dumped into near space, will not die or suffer any obvious immediate negative side-effects, but s/he will be unable to efficiently manoeuvre. Air-breathing jets do not work in space. Anti-gravs do not work in space. For the purposes of a scene, a character may add a tether or an EVA pack or manoeuvring thrusters or the like in order to be able to operate efficiently in near space temporarily if the other characters in the scene find this temporary addition acceptable.
Deep Space Transport
Being able to efficiently travel from solar system to solar system in a reasonable amount of time (hours, days, weeks, or months as opposed to years+) is considered a separate ability from merely be able to launch, act in near space, and re-enter, though most characters who can operate in deep space will also be able to launch, operate in near space, and re-enter. Many of these characters also act as troop transports. The archetypical examples of this ability are Skyfire, Omega Supreme, and Astrotrain. This is an ability that should be noted in one's special abilities section. Some characters are able to pilot deep space craft, which should be noted in their skills section.
Other
There might be other abilities. For example, maybe your character can lava-surf when lava kills other members of his/her canon. If a travel ability seems unusual compared to other members of a canon, if in doubt, list it.
