My idea for a SCP is a jar of candy(subject to change) that gives the person who eats a piece a superpower. I'm having trouble deciding things such as whether or not the person gets to chose the power, whether or not the powers should wear of(and if so, how long until they do), and what sort of side effects there should be(if any), etc. Please help me revise my idea!!
This is probably going to be written off as OP and otherwise not well-received unless there's some kind of catch to it.
Here's an idea: ever heard of "Required Secondary Powers"? Basically it's the idea that for a given superpower to work like is commonly depicted in fiction, there have to be a series of secondary effects in place that aren't explicitly mentioned within the character's power set.
TL;DR: well, it would be something like this- Say there's multiple flavors of these "superhero candies" that each grant different powers:
Super strength: Does in fact increase the subject's muscle force output, but does not adjust subject's physiology to be able to withstand more force than it normally can. Also, regardless of strength, humans still aren't built to optimally lift objects larger than themselves. So yeah, they'll be more likely to break themselves or their surroundings than do anything actually productive with their new strength.
Super speed: Subject does gain the ability to move at increased speeds, does not gain the hightened reflexes or accelerated perception that would make moving at such speeds feasible. Subjects will not be able to do much beyond plow headlong into solid walls at hundreds of feet per second, probably dying or breaking several bones on impact.
Flight: Humans are not aerodynamic in the slightest. Lulz will ensue.
Elemental Control: Does not grant immunity or resistance to given element. Fire, ice, and electricity use leaves almost permanent damage to extremities.
And so on. I can kinda see this being something Wondertainment would make, and there's probably some horrible side-effect to taking more than one within a certain time period.
EDIT: Couple other ideas I had with a rather dark twist:
Invulnerability: Increases skin density a la Thing, except doesn't allow for much flexibility. Ergo, subjects are more or less paralyzed for the duration of its effect.
Regeneration: More or less works as advertised, but does nothing to boost pain tolerance. Also: you know how if you break a bone you gotta set it and stuff so it can heal right? you no longer have time to do that.
Thanks for the ideas!! I never thought of the idea this way! This will really help me shape the SCP to something great!! I love the idea that the powers will cause side effects that'll most likely kill the host! Especially the one for super speed, because rather than time slowing down and the host remaining at the same speed he was at before, time remains the same speed and the host speeds up, causing for extreme consequences. I'm also wondering if you, among others, think that the host should get to chose their power, or if it's random or color/flavor coded?
I'd say color/flavor coded. Sounds more in line with the sort of thing Wondertainment would do.
Or perhaps there could be some overlap, like have different flavors that grant different categories of powers, but the subject can choose one power from within that category upon consumption, i.e. there aren't different flavors for fire control, electicity control, and ice control, just one "elemental" flavor and they get to pick which one they get.
Thanks for all the ideas!! I think I finally have enough ideas to write the full SCP!!! You've really helped shape it, and I practically owe it all to you, MrCobalt!! I'll add the name of my SCP to this forum post once it's done so everyone who helped me out can come see/ edit it!!
Hmh like the idea really but be careful how you write the article. It would be funny though and I could see it being a wondertainment product
Hunter Hill, this advice is is vague and unhelpful. How should the author be "careful" when writing the article? Are there any pitfalls or mistakes that might be easy to make that the author should be aware of? What about the concept would make it funny? Why would it be funny?
Edit: I've been informed that this isn't the first time you've given vague feedback. As such, please refrain from posting any further critique in the forums.
Do not respond to this post if you are not staff.
I agree with MrCobalt.
I also have a little idea for you, something I've been thinking of.
Jelly beans that will have certain effects on the eater, the benefit factor of the effects being inversely proportional to how good the jelly bean tastes.
Example:
Red jelly bean: is always reported to be the best thing that the subject has ever tasted, but subjects die of blood loss after 15 seconds of chewing.
White jelly bean: Always reported by subjects as being delicous, with a fantastic chewiness, but a slightly bitter aftertaste. After 15 seconds of chewing, the subject loses a large amount of skin.
Purple jelly bean: Has no flavor, but is universally reported to have "interesting" texture and mouthfeel. After 15 seconds of chewing, the subject's skin color changes to purple or something.
Blue jelly bean: Reported by subjects as tasting wet and soggy, leaving their mouthes feeling gross. After 15 seconds of chewing, the user gains enhanced speed.
Black jelly bean: Universally reported to be the worst thing that the subject has ever tasted. No subject has been able to chew it for 15 seconds without spitting it out, so the effect is unknown. (I want to try and imply that the effect would be the power of ressurection.)
Add on some interesting drawbacks like Cobalt said, and you might have yourself an interesting Woundertainment product.
Maybe even add on a neat little Wondertainment description for each jelly bean flavor, which would allow you to easily slide in some hints about the black jelly bean giving the power of ressurection. (Of course, there's gonna be a drawback!)
wink wink SCP-447-2 or SCP-2718 or just straight up zombies wink wink
Edit: You probably don't want to actually tie in 447-2 or 2718 (or any skip, for that matter). It was just an example/joke. Also, 2718 is the scariest skip IMO, so I wanted to mention it.
Edit2: In case you were wondering where I got this idea, (and you probably weren't) it's from when eating my Easter candy, I noticed that red jelly beans always taste amazing (unless they are cinnamon, blech…) and black jelly beans always taste how I imagine 106's corrosion fluids to taste.
Your idea is kinda different enough to warrant it's own thread; I don't exactly see what it has to do with this guy's idea other than a variety of "flavored" items.
Well, they are a bunch of different flavored candies, bringing you super powers (or bad consequences).
I'm changing a few things, sure, but is it really that drastic of a difference?
See, the whole point of the first guy's idea was that these things granted superpowers. Yours is more about the odd flavors and the strange things they do to people.
Well, I at least hope that my idea is a little interesting.