Item Growth

Item Growth (Major) by Primus

In a way similar to the Item Reduction power, the hero is able to increase the size any non-intelligent items to- in some cases- ridiculous proportions. The hero is also able to control the density of these objects, meaning they can increase the weight of enlarged objects to proportion or they can keep the weight of the large object the same as it was when it was normal sized. To achieve this, the hero actually either increases the amount of space between subatomic particles (to increase size without density) or to actually increase the size of the subatomic particles themselves (to increase size and density). The hero is able to increase the size of larger and larger objects as he advances in power. If a target to be expanded does not have enough room to grow to full size, one of two things will happen. One, the item grows enough to destroy whatever is holding it back from maximum size. Two, the character is unable to grow the item to full size and it reverts back to normal size. To determine which of these occur, the hero must make a roll against his M.E. (roll under his M.E.). If he succeeds, the item grows to maximum desired size and literally rips apart whatever is restraining it. Penalties may be applied depending on what structures are restraining the item. Less dense structures might include glass, plastic, cloth, or thin aluminum. These would only afford a restrain penalty of -1 or -2. Stronger structures may include wood, light metal framework, or ice; these would incur a penalty of -3 to -4. Sturdy structures would include steel frames, concrete, iron, and military structures; penalties would be -6 to -10. (GM should use good judgment in the cases of restraining structures) One should also note the type of item being enlarged: can it take the strain or will it collapse or be damaged? The increased size does make a difference as to how much damage it will incur. SDC increases in direct proportion to the increased size. For example, the hero increased an item’s size by 400%, or four times. The original SDC of the item was 40. It is then multiplied by four; the SDC of the enlarged item is 160 now. However, SDC increase ONLY OCCURS if density increases with the enlargement. Otherwise, the SDC of the item does not increase. With the density increase also comes a weight increase; the weight increase is identical to the size increase. A 100 lb (45 kg) object increased to four times its size will weigh 400 lbs (180 kg) when enlarged. However, if the density is NOT increased the weight remains the same! An object increased to four times its normal size will still weigh the same as if it were normal sized. When the enlargement occurs, it simply gets in the way or becomes more awkward to carry. It will NOT tear apart an enclosed space if the density is not increased.

Range: Touch or within 20 feet (6 m); line of sight required if touch is not possible

Rate of Size Increase: The targeted item can increase in size by a factor of 2 per melee action; for example, to increase an item to 6 times its normal size would take 3 melee actions, eight times its size takes 4 melees actions, etc. The character is able to affect up to 200 lbs +100 lbs (91 kg+45kg) per level of experience. The size can be altered by a factor of 2 at first level, plus an additional factor of 2 per level of experience; so a level 1 hero can double the size of an item, a level two can quadruple it, etc. Remember, this power only affects NON-LIVING, NON-SENTIENT items. It will not affect AI robots and cyborgs, animals, or other heroes.

Duration: The hero can maintain the size alteration for 5 minutes plus 2 minutes per level of experience. It can be dispelled at will and shrinks back to normal size at the same rate as it enlarged.