Hoser

In worlds where supernatural FX exist, the ability to counter or neutralize those abilities is essential to achieving victory. Enter the hoser: someone dedicated to nullifying key capabilities of the enemy. They could be sorcerers specialized in counterspelling in a world of magic, troops armed with anti-psionic weapons in a fight against mutant psychics, or even just footsoldiers for a supervillain carrying flame-retardant foam as part of a diabolical plan to neutralize a fire-projecting hero.
More often than not, hosers are simply ordinary troops with special weapons, often tailored specifically to help disrupt the abilities of the enemy. Because of this, hosers are really only used after the PCs have established themselves, and potential enemies have learned about their capabilities, and what is needed to counter them. Hosers are almost never used immediately out of the gate, since it's hard to find a counter for an ability which you don't even know about.
In a fight, hosers are relatively durable, but their main (and sometimes their only) threat is their Nullify ability. Against a team with like descriptors, hosers can be devastating. They are less frightening when set against a team with diverse abilities, but are still extremely important for their ability to quickly and easily neutralize the abilities of key players in a fight. Knowing how to draw an enemy out and then instantly strip the enemy of all of its defenses is a key strategy which you need to truly maximize the effectiveness of hosers.
In general, hosers could stand to be protected, but not to the extent that more fragile archetypes need be. They benefit greatly from additional protection, and work best to selectively neutralize specific enemies and remove them very efficiently from a fight, either by stripping them of their offensive capabilities or by completely nullifying their defenses.
Note that the hoser really is an archetype which benefits most from judicious use. Half of the fun of having special powers is being able to use them, and if constantly forced to face hosers, players might understandably be upset at losing those abilities. If used occasionally, they help to create exciting encounters. If used too often, they serve only to frustrate players at best, and infuriate them at worst.
==Hoser Table==
==Common FX/Gear==
Nullify (PL) (One Effect Type) (PL cp)
==Sample Flankers==
* Mages specialized in counterspelling
* Psion hunters with weapons that drain psychic energy
* Troopers armed with flame-retardant foam
* A monster which blots out magic in the area around it
* A holy warrior who can drain away unholy supernatural abilities
Category:Rulebook
Category:NPCs
Category:NPC Archetypes