[Torg] Jumping in Torg

[Stephen John Smoogen]

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 8:22 AM, Benjamin Grant <benn at 4efix.com> wrote:
> Although I haven't checked the torg inbox, I can see several messages
> waiting to be read.  Before I do, I *did* come across an interesting source:
>
> http://theflash.wikia.com/
>
> ...which has profiles on the various Flash's.  Some quotes:
>
> -"Lending" velocity to objects or people already in motion. Since his
> interaction with the Speed Force, he may also lend his speed and angular
> momentum to another object or person.
>
> -He is able to "steal" speed and/or momentum from anyone, effectively
> turning them into living statues. Also can steal speed from bullets and
> other fast moving objects thrown at him or at others.
>
> -"Hurl small projectiles at hypersonic velocities."
>
> -Infinite Mass Punch: Traveling near the speed of light acquired the
> relativistic mass of such speed to impart blows which could hit with the
> force of "a white dwarf star"
>
> All of the above clearly indicates that the power affects not only speed,
> but momentum as well.  The ability to hurl objects at high speed proves that
> the speed he imparts continues as momentum after the imparting.
> Conclusively, his powers aren't about speed to the exclusion of momentum
> control, they obviously include momentum control.
>
> So finally perhaps we can all agree that when the Flash jumps, his momentum
> from running at high speeds carries him *far*.

Still no. The Flash 'acquired' all these powers through some effort
and then only uses them for a certain point but not all the time. He
also does not have access to these powers all the time. For a long
time the current? Flash could not go over the speed of sound until he
figured out how to push his power... and then there were other items
and powers that get added and removed when the writers realize that oh
yeah.. he just stopped all crime in the world.. what is left to write?

Each of the powers usually come about in some story where he tries and
fails multiple times. This implies that he has to exert some effort to
do these items as he normally does not have them at his disposal. In
Super Power gaming terms each of these is a Power Stunt. He figures
out some way to get the power to do this for him and has to exert some
effort in doing so each time (eg spend possibilities etc.)

> As far as air resistance being a problem, we have the following quote taken
> from the same source:
>
> -The Flash's body is surrounded by what he calls his "speed force aura".
> This aura protects him and anyone who is running with him or carried by him,
> from the effects of using his speed. This includes friction and airborne
> particulate matter. It may also protect him from injury from high speed
> impacts such as punches he delivers and receives from his opponents. With
> this aura he is able to absorb kinetic energy. He does seem to possess some
> level of superhuman resistance to injury but this does not extend far past
> normal physical interactions, as received from normal combat.
>
> This is an obvious necessity - whether running or sailing through the air,
> air resistance is a problem.  The Speed Force Aura can obviously eliminate
> this issue, or he wouldn't be able to run in an atmosphere close to the
> speed of light.

Actually one of the items that came up in one comic was that the speed
force only worked when he was touching the ground.. as if he runs
faster than Mach 5 or so he is not going to stick to the ground very
well... and would just fly off into space. In most cases it came out
that if he gets airborne.. his speed drops quite a bit (again this was
during the mid 90's with the momentum=Constant era.. during the 1960's
it might have been something different.).

In the end, it comes down to how the local universe is setup (eg how
does the GM want to balance things out so that he doesn't end up with
no stories to tell). My universe I would have speedsters have to work
out a power-stunt to get a super jump out of it.

> Hopefully this can answer the questions of anyone that still has any.
>
> -Benn Grant
> eFix Computer Consulting
> benn at 4eFix.com
> 603.283.6601
>
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-- 
Stephen J Smoogen. -- BSD/GNU/Linux
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed
in a naughty world. = Shakespeare. "The Merchant of Venice"