Hero Power Levels & Other Terminology

There is common terminology used in the heroing world to define the relative levels of power of paranormals. Below is a "rough" conversion of power levels (PLs) to power points in Champions RPG terms. Some heroes/villains may be more or less points than their PLs indicate due to some limitations or advantages to their powers (or just how efficiently the points were spent).

Power Level Chart

PL0 - normal to skilled human (100pts or less)
PL1 - super agent to lower power paranormal (100-150 pts)
PL2 - low power paranormal (150-200 pts)
PL3 - low to mid power paranormal (200-250 pts)
PL4 - Mid power paranormal (250-300 pts)
PL5 - mid-high power paranormal (300-400 pts)
PL6 - high power paranormal (400-500 pts)
PL7 - very high power paranormal (500-600 pts)
PL8 - extremely high power paranormal (600-700 pts)
PL9 - megapower paranormal (700-800 pts)
PL10 - cosmic/demi-godlike power (over 800 pts)

New Champions Power Levels
The New Champions have a requirement of high-PL3 minimum

Blink - solid PL4
Central Control - high PL3/low PL4
Solar Crusader - high PL4 (almost PL5)
Swordsman - solid PL4 (damage of a PL5)
The Guardian - solid PL4

Examples of Other Heroes & Villains
The world's most famous heroes were high PL5s and PL6s (almost all gone now). Most of the new generation of heroes are PL2 & PL3.

Captain Victory - PL6.
Genocide Agent (Rook) - PL5
Genocide Agent (Pawn) - PL2
Mechanon - PL9/PL10
Miss Liberty - PL5
Viper Agent (Mauler) - PL3
Viper Agent (standard) - PL2

Power Classifications

Paranormals come in almost unlimited varieties. The breadth of origins, skills and abilities makes it difficult to anticipate the abilities & limitations of friends or foes. Paranormals are classified by their Power Level, Source and Manifestation (P-S-M).

Source is from what a paranormal's powers are derived and have primary and subsidiary classifications. Manifestation is how the powers are expressed in the world, and are sub-classified as major or minor.

Source Genetic Alien Augmentation Hybrid Mutation Mystic Empowerment Race Spellcraft Talismans Specialized Training Technological Devices Other

Manifestation Brick Energy Projector Martial Artist Mentalist Other

The majority of the villains in the world are at pre-"72" power levels. This makes for a distinct disadvantage for today's heroes. The villains are better equipped, more powerful, and more experienced. This is a recipe for disaster!