Post originally by SarimRune at 2005-06-13 16:45:21
Converted from Phorums BB System

I wouldn't mind fielding this question.

First, I LOVE how NE does their powers.

Ahem, anyway.

Standard Rules (SR) were bought as you say.

NE gives you 10 power points to build your character with. Each power costs either a variable amount (for attack powers mostly) or a set amount. Powers like Wall-Crawling is a set amount for example. (I'll get into the reason why I think this is great in a second). Attack powers allow you to put more points in to get a stronger attack.
To use most powers is most often, an opposed roll of some type. You do not spend any points to use your powers.

You can purchase a Point Powers Edge once per rank that gives you 5 more points. Thus your character build up is slowed by your Rank (which I think is the same in the SR).

Why do I love the system? Beside it being Savage Worlds and being quick, I love that most powers are a set value. Most games seem to allow you to put variable points into every power. Now really, nobody cares that Spiderman is better at sticking to walls than the Human Fly. In a comic, it hardly comes up, or perhaps it's better to say, it only comes up when the author wants it to come up). For a story, it doesn't matter. If something were to happen to see who could stick to a wall better, then any 'value' in the power would be better simulated by their Strength stat. Spidey is stronger than the Human Fly, thus his Wall Crawling will be better.

I further love it because your characters do not change by leaps and bounds in a few adventures. Spiderman has largely started and currently has the same power set at the same power level that we know and love. Cyclops didn't decide that he was bored of the optic blast and developed, say, a force field based on his 'sudden' control over his optic blast. Yet, I've seen players in other games radically change over the course of the game, gaining new powers for no reason or getting incredibly stronger for no good reason.

The rank system slows down a character, forcing them to take Edges and stat/skill increases.

Gripes about the system would be that it can allow for unbalanced characters (what system can't without supervision, pun somewhat intended). Also, there could be a lot more negatives created to individualize your powers, but I really think that they are easy enough to create.