How powerful would a Friction elemental be?

**Super Macho Man** · 05-15-2012, 07:00 AM

Pretty basic question. The only one I've seen was Frictor from the Ripping Friends (a Canadian show from the guy who made Ren and Stimpy), but he was killed in his debut episode so we didn't get to see much. He mostly pulled pranks like decreasing the friction of two people kissing so that they would end up kissing...less appropriate parts of the body. His biggest feat I can think of is creating a friction "beam" that would disintegrate on contact.

**Omegalith** · 05-15-2012, 07:09 AM

Well, a Friction Elemental would be a creature literally made entirely out of friction...

So I imagine it would be invisible, almost impossible to harm due to it's largely conceptual nature, and capable of rubbing severe amounts of force onto things to tear them apart or set them on fire. Probably rather fast as well.

In fact, getting punched by a Friction Elemental would probably be pretty similar to getting punched by a cement truck covered in sandpaper and cheesegraters.

**Oggy** · 05-15-2012, 08:48 AM

I would imagine the damage administered to opponents would be largely contributed to the durability of the target. For instance, the Hulk is not likely going to feel any more than mild annoyance by having a massive carpet burn. Likewise, I can imagine friction itself would have little to no effect on people who themselves can phase or alter their biology, such as the Human Torch, because what's friction going to do to a being made entirely out of fire?

Similar to what Omegalith said, I would imagine the friction elemental would have to be incorporeal because I have trouble imagining how friction would work without a significant wind exertion causing friction in the first place. That being said, this seems more like a wind elemental attack that results in friction.

I just have difficulty picturing this as a legitimate super power I guess...

**Omegalith** · 05-15-2012, 09:17 AM

Y'know what? I'm totally gonna stick this monster into my tentative attempt at a short story I was loosely planning to get on to doing. It really works as something a scientifically-minded mage might think to create or invoke, and is incredibly nasty for a setting on it's rough level of power to boot.

**T51R** · 05-15-2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by Super Macho Man

Pretty basic question. The only one I've seen was Frictor from the Ripping Friends (a Canadian show from the guy who made Ren and Stimpy), but he was killed in his debut episode so we didn't get to see much. He mostly pulled pranks like decreasing the friction of two people kissing so that they would end up kissing...less appropriate parts of the body. His biggest feat I can think of is creating a friction "beam" that would disintegrate on contact.

Pretty damned dangerous. Especially to anyone who wears clothes. "OH MY GOD, THE CHAFING! THE CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAFING~!!! IT BURNS US! IT BURNS US....!!!"

**Sharkerbob** · 05-15-2012, 04:06 PM

Actually, Dave Van Domelen had a character named Conflicto with this exact power, used to great effect. He wasn't an elemental, but he was able to control friction/viscosity, and could do things like:

-Avoid damage from blows by super strong opponents by having their fists slip off him.
-Avoid damage from falling from extreme heights by slipping at the moment of impact.
-Kill/knock-out/stroke-out people by solidifying their blood.
-Blind/choke people by increasing friction on their face, causing dust in the air to collect at an extreme rate in their eyes and throat.
-Cause speedsters to trip or slip in mid-run.
-Burn people through extreme chafing.

Actually, I hadn't read that much of him, so I'm sure there's a lot more he did that I don't know of. DVD was pretty genius with portraying power usage.

**Tami** · 05-15-2012, 04:39 PM

One of my characters in the Xavier Academy RPG is a Friction Mutant. He is still learning his powers, but so far he has doen things like turn a Mid-sized Airplane into a flaming comet and nearly suffocate someone by changing the friction levels of the atoms in the air creating a localized vacuum. He usually races around at high speed, lie a speed skater. This thread might give me some ideas for what else to do with his power.