5 Pricing/Rules Power Questions

[SonofSpam]

I'm creating an electromagnetic energy controller, and the creation process has left me with several rules and pricing questions.

1) As an alternate power, I want to take Nullify (Electronics) so I can create an electromagnetic pulse that will fry all electronic machinery in the vicinity. The default duration of Nullify is "Instant," and the power says that all the Nullify powers can be immediately reactivated. I don't want any of the fried equipment to be able to regain function without extensive repairs (if all all). What duration should I purchase for this effect?

2) It seems that a "Lasting" duration of some sort might be good for this effect, but I'm unclear how to upgrade to it. Is it just like upgrading one step in the normal progression (Instant to Concentration to Sustained to Continuous to Permanent)? Would it just add +1 power point per rank to the cost?

3) I want to purchase a Blast effect linked to a Stun effect. I know that I have to buy up the range on the Stun from Touch to Ranged. I want the Blast to be an Area effect. Do I have to buy the Area Extra for the Blast and the Stun, or do I only have to buy it once?

4) I want the character to be able to Detect electricity, magnetic fields, and metal. I intend to upgrade the Detect power so that it can be used as a free action, at range, in a radius around me, accurately and acutely. If I want all these upgrades to apply to all three Detects, do I need to purchase them only once, or three times (once for each)?

5) The book says that Detect uses a Notice check, but it seems to imply that it is a conscious action, which would lend itself towards Search. The existence of Awareness, which seems to imply unconsciously noticing a given effect, also seems to suggest this. Was this an error, or am I reading it wrong? I want my character to have a chance of noticing these effects and pinpointing their location even if I'm not actively searching for them. Should I purchase Detect, Awareness, or both? What exactly is the difference between these two effects?

Thank you for your time, and thanks for a great game!

[Steve Kenson]

1) As an alternate power, I want to take Nullify (Electronics) so I can create an electromagnetic pulse that will fry all electronic machinery in the vicinity. The default duration of Nullify is "Instant," and the power says that all the Nullify powers can be immediately reactivated. I don't want any of the fried equipment to be able to regain function without extensive repairs (if all all). What duration should I purchase for this effect?

I'd suggest a sustained effect, with the descriptor that the equipment has to be repaired rather than making further saving throws.

2) It seems that a "Lasting" duration of some sort might be good for this effect, but I'm unclear how to upgrade to it.

You don't, lasting duration describes how a particular type of effect works and an effect either works that way or doesn't.

3) I want to purchase a Blast effect linked to a Stun effect. I know that I have to buy up the range on the Stun from Touch to Ranged. I want the Blast to be an Area effect. Do I have to buy the Area Extra for the Blast and the Stun, or do I only have to buy it once?

You have to apply Area separately to both effects. (Note that technically you can't Link Blast and Stun as they're both attack effects, but I allow it in some cases and hope to refine those limits in Ultimate Power).

4) I want the character to be able to Detect electricity, magnetic fields, and metal. I intend to upgrade the Detect power so that it can be used as a free action, at range, in a radius around me, accurately and acutely. If I want all these upgrades to apply to all three Detects, do I need to purchase them only once, or three times (once for each)?

Personally, I'd let a player define the Detect as "electromagnetism" that worked on all three things, then apply the enhancements.

5) The book says that Detect uses a Notice check, but it seems to imply that it is a conscious action, which would lend itself towards Search. The existence of Awareness, which seems to imply unconsciously noticing a given effect, also seems to suggest this. Was this an error, or am I reading it wrong? I want my character to have a chance of noticing these effects and pinpointing their location even if I'm not actively searching for them. Should I purchase Detect, Awareness, or both? What exactly is the difference between these two effects?

Awareness is just that, an awareness of certain effects, Detect is more specific and usually more detailed. Both use Notice checks and Detect can use Search when appropriate (such as actively searching to find something).