LeviathanTempest:ArchivedAbilitiesandPowers

Transformation

We're all pretty much on board with the idea that the Leviathan should, as the very least, be able to fit in at the Black Lagoon Hotel and Spa. The degree to which the name of the project is literal varies. Some proposals:

Degeneracy

A proposed mode of transformation, Degeneracy is the ability for a humaniform Leviathan to "regress" into a pre-established monstrous form determined by Lineage. Degeneracy was staged, so that a Leviathan could, for example, regress to "stage 3" transformation. Each level increased prowess in a certain set of abilities (determined by Lineage) and added some powers (water breathing, low-light vision) while also adding drawbacks (Homely, suffocates on dry lack, cannot communicate, etc.) Activating Degeneracy past a threshold dependant on your Resolve and your mastery of Form (An Echo, in this system) would risk damaging your Morality stat. Degenerated Leviathans caused madness in human onlookers. A Leviathan whose Morality stat dropped too low would take on Degeneration features permanently.

Ancestry-Based Degeneration Pool

Linked to the Power Stat Ancestry, this option meant that when your Ancestry topped a certain amount, you developed a pool of points for the purchasing of monstrous abilities, balanced by a pool of drawbacks. Frank Trollman called these abilities "Afflictions."

Echo-Based

DSPaul proposed a long list of Echoes, which'll be below. Among them were Echoes that could alter one's shape - growing mouths, adapting to one's environment, etc. This might have been intended to be in addition to the Degeneracy option above.

True Form

One important element that's never been formally discussed is what a Leviathan's True Form is. One option is that it is what the name suggests - you can transform into a gigantic primordial entity. This obviously curtails a lot of your social options. It might be necessary to remain in True Form for some portion of the time in order to fulfill a Leviathan's Morality.

Partial Transformation; Deep True Form

Under this model all transformation of the body, with one exception, occurs on the level of Echoes. Each Echo has a Transformative option or options that can be activated with Ichor; these change the shape of the Leviathan, building off of his basic human body. More powerful Echoes mean more extensive transformation. A secondary set of abilities, called Expressions, Birthrights, or Mutations, would add features to the base powers. For example, the "form claws" power would have an Expression to make those claws poisonous.

In addition to these, a Leviathan travelling into the primordial ocean would shift into their True Form during the transition; this would let them physically exist as giant monsters without much of the logistical woes that would represent. A truly monstrous Leviathan might lose the ability to change back and forth, and be stuck in a gigantic form - these would be monster sightings and antagonists.

Shapechanging

Flashy Powers

Example Silver Crown