I was kicking around a concept for a power system and wanted to see what people around here think.



For starters, abilities aren't always something you're born with; sometimes they just awaken out of nowhere at any point in life. And it's not pretty: it's a brutally painful process that can leave you bedridden for days. It feels like a mix between going through a horrible illness and some extreme bodily metamorphosis. If you manage to survive that ordeal, that's when you finally get the chance to develop your power.



The interesting part is that most people don't use this to be superheroes or go out fighting; they use it for everyday life. Imagine someone using super strength in construction or similar heavy labor. In the end, it's a process so normalized in society that there are already medical protocols and procedures to ensure people survive the awakening with a high success rate.



But of course, there's a huge catch. Let's take someone who can manipulate electricity as an example: the true fuel for their power is their own nervous system. It works just like a muscle—you can train and strengthen it, but if you push it too far, the damage is cumulative and irreversible. It leaves you super vulnerable to disorders and degenerative diseases (ranging from chronic insomnia to Alzheimer's or Parkinson's if abused irresponsibly).



At the end of the day, you might be really useful or powerful, but you know full well your body is going to cash in that receipt, and you most likely won't make it to old age.



What do you think of this approach?

[Character Idea/Power System] Superpowers are a painful thing to obtain (attention-grabbing image)