Insubstantiality
Insubstantiality
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80 points
You can become intangible, passing through solid objects as though they weren’t there. In this state, gravity does not affect you – you can move in any direction at full Move (and make no noise when you move). You can perceive the tangible world, and speak normally to those within it, but you cannot pick up normal objects or affect them in any way.
Physical and energy attacks cannot harm you, but you're still vulnerable to psionic and (nonmaterial) magical attacks. Likewise, your physical and energy attacks cannot affect physical opponents. Your psi abilities and magic spells can affect the physical world, but at -3 to all skill rolls. Although you can pass through solids, you must still breathe. When moving through a solid object, treat this as if you were swimming underwater for purposes of suffocation. You cannot materialize inside a solid object.
Your "natural" form (physical or insubstantial) is considered a special effect. You must take this advantage if you can change between a physical and an insubstantial form.
This trait can represent any number of abilities from folklore and fiction. You should work out its origins and special effects with the GM – perhaps you "vibrate" out of synch with reality, phase into a different dimension, or become a spirit. This determines your appearance, which may be transparent, misty ... or completely normal (but you can't be invisible without the Invisibility advantage). Your physical and energy attacks affect other beings using the same form of Insubstantiality, and their attacks affect you. The GM may rule that certain materials, energy barriers, magic spells, etc. are impenetrable to your particular form of Insubstantiality.
Special Enhancements
Affect Substantial: If you have any abilities that can affect the substantial world when you are insubstantial – including magic, psionics, or powers with the Affects Substantial enhancement – this advantage costs more. +100%.
Can Carry Objects: Normally, you cannot carry anything while insubstantial. This enhancement lets you carry objects, including clothing and armor. They become physical if dropped. You cannot materialize these objects inside other objects or characters. No encumbrance is +10%; Light, +20%; Medium, +50%; Heavy, +100%.
Partial Change: You can turn part of your body substantial while other parts remain insubstantial, or vice versa. Thus, you could reach through a wall and tap someone on the shoulder. If you also have Can Carry Objects, you can materialize your hand, pick up material objects, and carry them while insubstantial. +20%, or +100% if you can turn an item you are carrying substantial without dropping it (this requires turning your hand substantial, too).
Special Limitations
Always On: You are always insubstantial and cannot materialize. If you have this limitation, there is no -3 to use magic or psionics. -50%.
Usually On: Similar to Always On, but you can materialize for short periods with great effort. Materialization costs 1 FP per second. -40%.
Powers Book
Beings largely unaffected by the physical world appear in myth and fiction at least as often as those that can fly. Paradoxically, most such entities can "anchor" themselves to material objects as needed, allowing them to stand on floors, ride in vehicles, and so on. This is a standard feature of Insubstantiality. What the insubstantial form looks like, and the things that can impede it, vary with the origin of the trait:
Dimensional: The traveler transports himself into a dimension parallel to the physical world. He looks slightly transparent, as if he weren't all there. Any place in the ordinary world that lacks an equivalent location in the other plane is completely off limits. Individuals with dimension-traveling foes often build strongholds in such locales!
Divine: This represents the ability to assume a "god form" that can roam the mortal world at will. The cleric looks normal except for the addition of something symbolic of his patron; e.g., a wreath of flame, for the Fire God. He can't infiltrate places of no or low sanctity, however; see Special Rules for Divine Powers.
Elemental: The user turns into electricity or light, or vibrates at a weird frequency. He becomes a man-shaped glow, visible shimmering, etc., as befits his element. He can't penetrate barriers that are proof against his element; e.g., a grounded metal cage would exclude an electrical "ghost." Superscience force fields often block such Insubstantiality.
Magical, Psionic, or Spirit: The user enters the ethereal, astral, or spirit realm (these might be the same or quite distinct, depending on the setting). His appearance is misty and ghostly, and possibly luminous or shadowy. Shamans with spirit powers often look like beasts. Spells, psi abilities, and sorcerous rituals that obstruct spirits also block this ability.
Alternatives
Both Clairsentience (Projection, +140%) and Insubstantiality (Affect Substantial, +100%; Projection, -50%) cost 120 points. They're comparable, but there are important differences. Notably, Clairsentience gives an invisible form with a 10-yard range limit from the body, while Insubstantiality gives a visible form with no range limit.
To represent partial solidity, use Injury Tolerance (Diffuse) or Shadow Form. To be able to pass through just one substance, take Permeation.
Insubstantiality doesn't include invisibility. For that, take Invisibility (below), too – possibly with Substantial Only. Insubstantiality does include total silence, though, save when you choose to speak. You're undetectable to hearing, and need only make Stealth rolls if there's a chance you'll be seen.
New Special Limitations
No Vertical Move: You can't disregard gravity. You must move across a horizontal surface, or along a slope that wouldn't require Climbing rolls. You still weigh nothing, so you don't leave footprints and can walk on surfaces that wouldn't support a solid body, such as the surface of a body of water. -10%.
Noisy: You aren't silent. You make noises equivalent to footfalls when moving and breathing at all times, and are no harder to hear than an ordinary human. -5%.
Projection: Your body doesn't become insubstantial. Instead, it falls unconscious and you step out of it in insubstantial form. Like someone using unmodified Insubstantiality, you're visible and present, making you subject to anything that affects insubstantial entities...while your body remains in the physical world, vulnerable to material threats; see Projection. You can't use spells, psi abilities, etc. in this form unless you also take Affect Substantial. -50%.
Powering Up
This ability suits almost any kind of supernatural or elemental power, as noted above. With the Projection limitation, it's especially suitable for Astral Projection. Talent adds to any roll required to "push through" a resistible barrier or use Insubstantiality for a Power Dodge.
Psionic Powers
The GM may rule that spirits and astral entities (Spirit, have the Substantial Communication enhancement, below, on their Insubstantiality instead of Affects Substantial. This reduces the cost of the meta-trait by 48 points and limits them to what astral projectors can do. Of course, in some settings, spirits may have abilities far above and beyond what mere psis do!
Special Enhancements
Ghost Air: You still have to breathe while insubstantial, but it's not the air of the real world. Treat the insubstantial "plane" as having its own air supply. Thus, other insubstantial entities can still choke you, you can be affected by attacks with Affects Insubstantial and Respiratory, etc., but you can walk through solid matter without worrying about holding your breath. +10%.
Substantial Communication: This is a weaker version of Affects Substantial (+100%). You can use any of your mental abilities (psi, magic, etc.) to communicate with the real world. They take the standard -3 to skill unless they have the Affects Substantial (+40%) modifier. This includes abilities that generate sound or light (but not enough to blind, daze, stun, etc.), and those that allow you to project your thoughts or read thoughts. No other abilities will cross over, regardless of their enhancements. +40%.