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Space Ranger · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:04 pm Post subject: [NE] Contortionist Edge?

Hi everyone. I've been a long time lurker here and finally had to sign up. I've enjoyed reading all the exchanges of ideas (usually great ones) and feedback that goes on here. Savage Worlds' community certainly is one of the friendliest I've ever witnessed. So I guess I'm feeling a little emboldened.

A question's come up with my Necessary Evil campaign that I haven't seen an answer here on the boards or for which I have one myself. So I'm hoping to pick the brains of those around here for advise.

My nephew's last villain got himself killed trying to save a teammate and he, having just seen the Scarecrow of Romney Marsh decided that he wanted to make his new villain on that theme, but he'd like to incorporate the contortionist abilities of the Ragdoll, a villain from The Batman animated series, not the famous Bruce Timm series, the other one.

Once I heard the idea, I was kind of surprised that a Contortionist Edge hadn't been included in the Necessary Evil book, it seems a natural match with the genre (comic book supers) to me. Using weird, spine-defying moves in combat to avoid attacks or deliver unexpected blows, a bonus to escape attempts, squeezing into areas ordinarily too tight for mortals, that sort of thing.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with Savage Worlds and am a little hesitant to attempt a house rule by myself. So I wanted to ask: Has anyone done up a contortionist edge or even a power for their own campaign?

I look forward to the input that I've come to expect from you Savages. Thanks in advance for your help on this.
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Wiggy · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Sounds like it's covered by interpretation of existing powers or Edges.

Dodge/Block or Super Parry would let you avoid blows. For some characters it's a martial talent, but for this guy it has a "trapping" of contorts form. There's definitely a stretch-type power (I forget the name) that would let him squeeze through small gaps.
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SlasherEpoch · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

Altered Form is the power you're thinking of, Wiggy, and it's definitely what I thought of when heard the topic.

You might also consider Shrink with a modifier that there's a maximum shrinking size.
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TheLoremaster · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 10:10 pm Post subject: Re: [NE] Contortionist Edge?

Porkchop Express · Novice Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Posts: 25

DaRealJudas · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 3:31 am Post subject: Re: [NE] Contortionist Edge?

Space Ranger · Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:05 am Post subject: Thanks to all!

Thank you for the excellent suggestions. I'd been toying with the Acrobat Edge myself, so it nice to see I wasn't too far off the Navi-beacon! I'll work with Jordan, my nephew, and see if we can't get what he's looking for from all these suggestions.

Thanks again for your help with this. I knew I came to the right place!
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~ Space Ranger

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Have Raygun, will travel

Clint · Site Admin Joined: 13 May 2003 Posts: 16271

Just to confirm what others have said, a contortionist ability along the lines of Ragdoll would (in my opinion) pretty much be Altered Form (physical). While not physically changed, the effects are the same, so it'd be a trapping of that power.

He can compress his size. Check (50% alteration).
Roll with blows. Check (+4 Toughness vs. Physical attacks)
Surprise attack. Potentially (1" of Reach could represent the ability to contort himself to attack farther than would be expected)

Optionally, the GM could drop the Reach based on the trappings and provide some other ability in it's place.
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