Character Creation

Generally speaking, a nova’s quantum powers affect only her own body. Novas with this Background have learned the trick of charging objects with their own quantum signatures, thereby permitting the objects to survive the rigors of the nova’s powers so long as they remain in contact with the nova’s body. Attunement is most commonly used to prevent a nova’s clothing and small
personal effects from being damaged or destroyed by her transformations. For example, a nova with Attunement 1 could "charge" her clothing, allowing it to remain undamaged even if she activates powers like lmmolate, Growth, Density Decrease, Bodymorph or Shapeshifting. Attunement costs one quantum point per scene and confers absolutely no protection against other novas’ quantum powers.

Charged objects may be organic or inorganic. Dots in Attunement govern the maximum amount of weight affected by Attunement.

The coming of novas has ushered in many technological advances, but few so universal as the bizarre substance known as eufiber. This organic polymer-esque substance was originally secreted from the epidermis of Costa Rican nova Anibel Buendia; a synthetic version was later created from living colonies of the fiber. Eufiber and its derivatives have proved to have many industrial uses; OpNet cables and a considerable percentage of the world’s clothing are made from a synthetic alloy derived from Buendia’s creation. True, living eufiber, though, is even more prized by novas.

The Eufiber Background represents a colony of Buendia-secreted, living eufiber. The colony is most commonly "woven" into a garment of some sort. Eufiber shaped in this fashion can be worn by baselines, but it is most useful to novas, as its genetic and quantum pattern conforms to the nova’s own. This property allows the colony to store a certain number of extra quantum points in its cell structure, giving the nova a quantum-point reserve; the nova can transfer a number of quantum points to the colony up to the Eufiber rating. The nova recovers the quantum points normally, while the eufiber colony stores them until the nova decides to use them.

While the eufiber is charged with quantum, the colony can use the stored quantum as an automatic defense for itself and its owner; this innate defense provides the nova with an amount of extra soak (versus bashing and lethal damage) equal to the number of quantum points currently stored in the colony.

As well, the colony adapts to the nova’s own quantum powers, allowing it to remain intact and unharmed even while the nova uses body-altering powers like Bodymorph, Growth and Immolate. Perfect for the Fashionable nova who doesn’t want to run around naked every time he turns on the juice (though such an outfit provides absolutely no defense against other novas’ quantum powers).

A eufiber outfit can adapt its shape, color and other parameters to the nova’s whim, shifting at his mental command. Eufiber fashion shows are often wondrous and freakish affairs, as nova "supermodels" parade down runways attired in gravity defying, shimmering, translucent, bioluminescent, scintillating or otherwise eyecatching constructs.

If a nova’s eufiber colony is taken from him by another nova, that nova can attune the eufiber to herself by spending a quantum point. The colony is now attuned to the new nova’s quantum signature. However, only one eufiber colony can be worn at a time.

More casual than allies, contacts are people with whom your character has developed a mutually beneficial arrangement. Contacts use their talents, information or resources to help your character, but they always expect some favor in return. This favor could be a service, trade or even payment, but it generally matches the value of the contact’s assistance. These associates don’t risk themselves as Far as a follower or even an ally will (although a well-cultivated contact could grow into one or the other over the course of the series).

Each dot represents major and minor contacts. Major contacts are individuals with whom your character interacts frequently. Major contacts know him personally and are from any walk of life, of any field of study, with access to a variety of information and resources, and they are willing to cut a deal. A contact could be a data-retrieval specialist at the local library, a fence specializing in vehicles or a Project Utopia field agent. Minor contacts specialize in fields of influence, like their major counterparts. They aren’t as knowledgeable or resourceful, though. They may know of your character by nothing more than reputation or rumor, but they may be willing to work out an arrangement.

Tracking down a major contact doesn’t usually require a die roll, but finding a minor contact does (typically Bureaucracy, Streetwise or Etiquette). Whether or not a contact feels inclined to help is another story, one that depends on the request. Of course, the more contacts your character has, the more people your character can go to if one doesn’t come through.

0 – No useful contacts; you have to do your own legwork.
1 – One major contact (with whom you likely have a special arrangement) and a few minor ones.
2 – Two major contacts in different areas and a smattering of minor contacts.
3 - Three major contacts and a respectable number of minor ones.
4 - Four major contacts in different areas (although you may double up in a given field) and a large number of minor contacts.
5 - Five major contacts and a minor contact virtually anywhere you care to look.

It isn’t much to look at. It’s just a lump of grayish flesh about the size of a marble. It can grow bigger - some have been recorded which were the size of an apple or baseball - but it’s still just a mass of tissue with a few blood vessels, nerve endings and tendrils extending from it. Yet it holds the key to the powers of the universe.

The Mazarin-Rashoud node is what gives novas their power. It provides them with the ability to channel quantum energies. But at the same time it can affect their psyches and their bodies in strange, often deadly, ways.

A character with this Background has a well-developed Mazarin-Rashoud node. Note the words "well developed." All novas, even those without this Trait, have a Mazarin-Rashoud node. Most novas don’t take the Node Background; they get by with the basic M-R node that all novas have. Node as a Background signifies that the nova’s M-R is better developed, or channels quantum energies better, than the typical node. Thus, a nova with Node tends to be more powerful than others of his kind. He can use more quantum points per turn, can recover them quicker and possesses certain other powers. In general terms, he is more efficient at processing quantum energies than other novas. However, he is also more likely to suffer from Taint.

For example, a character with a fifth instar Node (Node 4) gains two points of Taint. Aberrations associated with the Node Background are typically mental or psychological ones. As the node grows, it presses upon other parts of the brain. In some cases it even causes the nova’s Forehead to bulge slightly. This pressure on the brain can result in mental problems for the nova. The larger the M-R node, the more likely that problems will occur, and the more extensive those problems are likely to be. By the time the node reaches the fourth instar, a problem of some sort is guaranteed. The human body and brain, even when augmented by quantum powers, are simply too Fragile to handle the awesome energies coursing through them without being changed in some way.

Other effects of having a highly developed Node include:

Quantum Recovery
As mentioned under Quantum, a nova with Node recovers spent quantum points more quickly than one without, adding her Node rating to her normal rate of quantum-point recovery. Many novas think of the Node as a recharger that juices up their quantum batteries quickly.

Quantum Detection
As a receptacle for quantum energies, a Mazarin-Rashoud node also enables a nova to detect sources or conduits of quantum energies. Typically, these sources are other novas, though nuclear reactors, cyclotrons, generators or other large power sources might also be detected.

To detect a quantum source, the nova takes a Full turn to concentrate, then the player rolls her Node rating as a dice pool. Range of the attempt is 10 meters per dot in Node. Difficulty is typically standard, though the Storyteller can increase it in the case of trace amounts of quantum energies. Success indicates the nova detects a source of quantum energy in the area. Succeeding on this roll does not let a nova pinpoint an invisible or hidden character, but it does enable her to detect a shapeshifted or "dormed down" nova for what it is.

The player of a nova with the Dormancy Background may roll his Background rating in a resisted roll against any attempt at quantum detection; successes on this roll cancel out the scanning nova’s successes on a one-for-one basis.

Resources are a general indication of financial assets, but they are more than monetary wealth. Money can be gained and lost; this Background includes such things as property, clothing and basic equipment, as well as how easily your character can acquire more. While resources are not entirely liquid assets, possessions can be sold to gain money (though doing so may take some ime depending on what is for sale).

Each Resource dot conveys a standard income beyond any gear or wealth your character gains during play. The source of this stipend must be detailed (contract work, employment, royalties, investments), since it may be increased, reduced or cut off entirely depending on events in the series. Wealth is listed in American dollars; the actual currency may differ depending on your character’s origin.

As with influence, most novas have few problems acquiring resources – through one means or another.

0 – None: You are homeless and broke.
1 – Small savings: You have a tiny apartment and maybe an old used car. If you liquidated all your possessions, you’d have about $2,500.
2 – Comfortable: You have a respect able flat and probably a reliable auto. If liquidated, your belongings would yield approximately $ 50,000.
3 – Affluent You own a house, yacht or other sizable equity. If liquidated, these items would yield around $250,000.
4 – Wealthy: You own a significant amount of property (a mansion, apartment building, office tower or similar structure). You’d have at least $1,000,000 if you liquidated everything.
5 – Amazingly rich: You have more money than you know what to do with. If you liquidated everything, you’d have at least $10,000,000.

The nova is a natural at soothing others’ nerves. Just being around him has a calming effect. He even makes it easier for normal humans to cope with novas.

System: When the player spends a quantum and makes a Charisma roll, the character and eveyone within 10 meters of him becomes calm. Stress drains away, leaving people happier and calmer. No one affected by Soothe (including the nova using it) can attack or take any other hostile action unless the person either makes a Wits roll and scores more successes than the achieved on his Soothe roll, or spends a point of WIllpower to overcome Soothe’s effects. Additionally, Soothe can help to overcome the effects of Taint. For each success achieved on the Charisma roll, one point of Taint possessed by any novas within the radius of effect is temporarily negated in regards interaction with baselines within the affected The power lasts for a scene. All effects of this enhancement disappear if an affected person wanders beyond the 10-meter radius.

Some Mega-Dexterous novas have an uncanny ability to aim attacks and judge how to place their blows For best effect. Certain novas claim that this enhancement is the ultimate in hand-eye coordination, while others speak
of "mystic Forces" guiding them. Whatever the reason, anyone who’s seen them in combat can’t help but admire their ability.

System: In addition to any other bonuses provided for having a Mega-Attribute, the character receives three more dice to roll when attempting to hit any target with any attack (whether close combat or ranged combat). The character must take a turn to aim the attack. This bonus applies only to Firearms, martial arts, melee and quantum-power attacks; attacks involving Brawl do not
get the bonus (since they depend on raw power and ferocity, not precise aim).

This enhancement stays active For a single attack (hit or miss).

Just talking to a nova with this enhancement can be dangerous. She is able to pitch her voice so that she uses infrasound and subharmonics, mixed in with her normal talk, to give nearly irresistible suggestions and commands to whomever her speech is directed at. Additionally, her voice is, in general, pleasant to listen to; her singing can be absolutely divine.


System: The nova exerts a subtle mental control effect through her voice. Only one person can be affected by this ability at a time. The subject must be within 20 meters of the nova, and must be able to hear the nova – deafness on the part of the subject, or other noises that drown out the nova’s speech, prevent The Voice from being used successfully. The other major limitatio on this ability is that any order given must be one th: can be performed in one turn – "Drop the knife!" a "Untie me!", for example, but not "Play computer game until 1 tell you to stop" or "Torture your friend to death. Any orders or suggestions that would take longer tha one turn to perform are automatically ignored by the tar get. To use The Voice, the player makes a Manipulatio roll. If he scores even one success, the attempt succeed – but the target may stop himself from following th order or suggestion. The target makes a Wits roll to re sist the command; each success he rolls counteracts on of the nova player’s successes. If the net result is zero c less, the command fails. The target may also spend on or more points of Willpower to cancel successes at a 1 rate. The player of a nova with The Voice may apply he Mega-Manipulation bonus dice to any Arts (Singing) c Perform (Singing) rolls she makes.

Level: 1
Quantum Minimum: 1
Dice Pool: N/A
Range: Self
Area: N/A
Duration: Permanent
Effect: Each dot cancels two successes on Strobe
Multiple Actions: N/A
Description: Sensory Shield provides novas with protection against Strobe attacks and other phenomena that might interfere with their senses. It can represent eyes which are accustomed to extremely bright lights, armored skin which is so tough the character’s nerves cannot be numbed and many other abilities.

Sensory Shield requires no rolls. Instead, each dot in the power counts as two successes to cancel out successes achieved on Strobe rolls and successes from attacks such as tear gas.
Extras: None.

Level: 2
Quantum Minimum: 1
Dice Pool: Manipulation + Disorient
Range: (Quantum + power rating) x 10 meters
Area: N/A | (Quantum + power rating) x 5 meter radius (Area extra, pg 231/248)
Duration: Maintenance
Effect: Allows character to confuse and weaken others
Multiple Actions: Yes
Description: A nova with Disorient can cause another character to become confused, weakened, disoriented and unable to take action effectively. The effect can be physical (inducing nausea) or mental (creating hallucinations), depending on how the power is defined, but the end result is the same.

To use Disorient, the nova rolls Manipulation + Disorient; the target may oppose this with a Willpower roll. Each net success reduces all of the target’s dice pools by one. If any dice pool is reduced to half or less, the target cannot use that power or ability at all unless she spends a point of Willpower; any dice pool reduced to zero cannot be used at all. The target may spend a point of Willpower to shake off the effects, but the attacking nova may use the power on the same target multiple times.

Disorient, as a Maintenance power, lasts for the normal (Quantum + power rating) turns. The nova may then spend extra quantum points to maintain the power automatically at the same level of successes. However, the opponent may make another Willpower roll, and she gains an automatic success on this roll. If the nova wishes to maintain the power for yet another period, the opponent’s next Willpower roll gains two automatic successes, and so on.
Extras: None.

Level: 2
Quantum Minimum: 1
Dice Pool: Dexterity + Quantum Bolt
Range: (Quantum + power rating) x 15 meters
Area: N/A | (Quantum + power rating) x 5 meter radius (Area extra, pg 231/248)
Duration: lnstant
Effect: lnflicts [Quantum x 3 levels + (power rating x 4) dice of bashing damage or [Quantum x 2 levels + (power rating x 4) dice of lethal damage (player’s choice).
Multiple Actions: Yes
Description: Quantum Bolt, in its myriad forms, is one of the most common offensive powers used by novas. It allows a nova to project a damaging blast of energy at a target. ‘The damage may be either lethal or bashing (the player must choose what type of damage the power does when he buys it). The target takes [Quantum Trait x 3 levels + (power rating x 4) dice of bashing damage or [Quantum Trait x 2 levels + (power rating x 4) dice of lethal damage.

A nova might try to pull an unusual "stunt" with her Quantum Bolt, such as bouncing it off a surface to hit an opponent in the back. The Storyteller may, at his discretion, allow this effect if the nova achieves a sufficient number of successes on a Dexterity + Quantum Bolt roll.

A nova’s Quantum Bolt must be defined as a specific type of energy or power, such as fire, ice, lightning, bioenergy or a laser, when the character is created. The energy type cannot be changed thereafter.

Quantum Bolt cannot normally use the standard Ranged Combat Maneuvers, such as Automatic Fire (p. 247). However, For each dot in the power above three, a nova may choose one such maneuver for her Quantum Bolt. She does not have to use the maneuver unless she wishes to, but it’s available as a "power stunt" that she has trained herself to perform. Performing a maneuver costs one extra quantum point in addition to the points spent to fuel the power itself.

Extras: Extra Energy Type (power may manifest as one additional form of energy); Supercharge (character can spend three quantum points to have her Quantum Bolt inflict [power rating x 61 dice of appropriate damage, not [power rating x 41; however, each such shot inflicts a bashing health level of damage on the nova due to the stress OF channeling the excess energy, and any botch on the targeting roll inflicts a point of temporary Taint).

Area and explosion attacks add two dice to accuracy, and targets cannot block or parry them, even with nova powers. Targets may dodge, but they must have and use sufficient movement to get clear of the affected area. Area and explosive attacks do not add attack successes to damage dice pools.

Eufiber Attuned/+2 Merit: You are especially in-tune with eufiber materials (Aberrant, p. 141). They adapt easily and well to your quantum signature. Each point in this Merit allows you to store an additional quantum point in a eufiber colony attuned to you. You may subtract your rating in this merit from the difficulty of Weave rolls, and you also get an extra die per point in this merit for Style rolls involving eufiber clothing. You must have at least one dot in the Eufiber Background to take this Merit.
Iron Will/+6 Merit: You have an iron core of determination and willpower. You can spend a Willpower point to shake off any attempt to control you through the use of Social Abilities or powers such as Domination or Hypnosis.
Costume Fetish/-1 Flaw: You have a penchant (some might say obsession) for wearing a certain type of clothing. It can be skintight eufiber, leather and spikes, liquid latex, a mask or full Renaissance Faire garb. The important point is that it’s odd, and you tend to wear it even under the most inappropriate circumstances. This can impose a +1 or greater difficulty on your Social rolls and may be a serious faux pas in some situations. It also makes you stand out in a crowd and makes you a less than ideal candidate for subtle and covert activities. You can spend a Willpower point to dress "normally" for a scene, but you don’t like it (as you’re likely to tell just about everyone).
Pacifist/-1 Flaw: You are against violence and prefer to avoid it whenever possible. You must spend a Willpower point in order to initiate combat, although you can fight to defend yourself and others. You must also spend a Willpower point in order to use a lethal attack, although you can use bashing attacks freely. For four points, you must spend a Willpower point to be able fight at all, and you cannot use lethal attacks.
Minority/-1 Flaw (Black, gay): You belong to a group outside of "mainstream" society. You have to deal with prejudice, stereotyping and incorrect assumptions about you. You may suffer increases on the difficulty of Social rolls, at the Storyteller’s discretion, when dealing with people who are not accepting of your kind. This may range from 1 difficulty for someone who’s merely uncomfortable or doesn’t quite know how to deal with you to 3 or more when dealing with true bigots. On the upside, you get to roll an extra die when making Social rolls dealing with your own kind (a sort of free Etiquette specialty). Storytellers should note that this Flaw is very subjective; nearly everyone is a "minority" somewhere! Whether or not a particular minority status is legitimate as a Flaw is up to the standards of the series and the types of stories (and people) the characters are likely to be involved with. Also note that, despite being one of the smallest groups in the world, novas are not considered a "minority" for the purposes of this Flaw.
Phobia/-2 Flaw (Heights/acrophobia): There is something you are morbidly and irrationally afraid of, from darkness, to spiders, to circus clowns. Whenever you are confronted with the object of your fear, you must make a Willpower roll at +1 difficulty to avoid retreating from it as quickly as you can. If you botch the roll, you collapse from fear and become virtually catatonic for the scene or until the object of your terror is removed, whichever comes first. Some phobias can be particularly troublesome for novas, such as acrophobia (a fear of heights) for a nova gifted with Flight. Novas may also suffer from phobias baselines do not, such as a nova teleporter with a fear of teleporting blind.
Enemy/-3 Flaw: There’s somebody out there who dislikes you. A lot. The value of this Flaw is based on two things: how much that person hates you and what he is capable of doing about it. The default is an unfriendly rivalry. For one point, your enemy would like to see you seriously humiliated, professionally ruined or perhaps imprisoned. For two points, he’d like to see you dead. For one point, the enemy is less powerful than you are. For two points, he is roughly as powerful. For three points, he is more powerful. For four points, your enemy is roughly twice as powerful as you are, and for five points, he is truly godlike (one of the most powerful novas in the world). Needless to say, characters with more than four points in this Flaw are walking targets, just waiting for their powerful adversary to kill them off. Players should take high levels in this Flaw with caution.

Lawrence Nixon worked as a psychiatrist at a J.A.N.U.S. detention facility where dangerous novas were housed and supposedly helped. Tasked with helping to formulate increased interrogation security protocols following the unfortunate incident which put Dr. Kettering on medical leave, Lawrence found himself temporarily above his Σ9 clearance level and able to access areas of the facility normally off limits to him. Level Ψ housed the most harmful and intractable novas who were intentional or unintentional dangers to society, so why did it have a sub level filled with medical equipment not unsuited to a horror movie. Lawrence saw a nova who called himself Megasonic Adult Tearhead having a craniotomy while conscious, the doctors and nurses performing it unknown to Lawrence. When Tearhead finally screamed, his head exploded and he released a wave of quantum energy which killed everyone in the operating theater and almost killed Lawrence who quickly made his escape in the chaos. The next few days were strange, especially with Tearhead's death called a suicide. Helping the emotionally damaged novas seemed easier since they almost instantly accepted the techniques he suggested but he still knew what was going on beneath their feet. He was also managing an increasingly painful headache. It came to a head while out for a run after work when Lawrence screamed into the night like a mad man and shattered every window for several blocks. The headache was gone but there was now a weight on his shoulders, one which he could only relieve by making sure no other novas were killed. Lawrence couldn't free the most deadly novas no matter what might be done to them but there were some dangerous ones who he could help. With his temporary clearance and a few irresistable suggestions to the guards, Lawrence freed four novas whose profiles made them the next most likely for experimentation: Terrapin, Comet, Holly Shepard, ...and The Horror. The last one gave him pause but Lawrence knew Dvořák could be reached and helped, even if it was in the depths of an abandoned carnival called Murder Mountain. Maybe Lawrence needs his head examined.