Rethinking Powers: Adaptation

Although this power was already mentioned in a published ICONS product, the very interesting Field Guide to Superheroes 1 (by Jason Tondro, a recommended reading), I came up with the following re-write of the Adaptation power, which could also be called Nemesis (after his famous namesake, Legion of Super Heroes villain Nemesis Kid) or, as in X-Men Darwin, "reactive evolution". The limitation of not being able to acquire powers which count as two has been eliminated, as the comics characters usually develop whatever power suits the story.

Please feel free to critique and evaluate in the comment section below.

ADAPTATION (2X)

Defensive Power

You can adapt to changing conditions and manifest almost any power imaginable, but you have no control over which power you get. Instead, you acquire whatever power you need to stay alive in your current situation. Your powers are the answer to whatever you need to resolve in any given situation, though you usually only develop one or two powers at a time. This can be a conscious effort or unconscious. Generally, the power responds instantly, but if you are taken by surprise, at least a page is required to adapt to the new circumstances. 

On every page, the first time you are attacked or put to danger by environmental conditions, you get whatever defensive power best protects you from the attack, often resistance, but chosen by the Game Master (as the power concerns itself with more efficient methods of survival than you might choose). On your turn, you pick an enemy and the Game Master gives you the best chance of success against  your chosen foe. All powers acquired in this way are limited to a level no more than Adaptation's level or the level needed to resolve the situation (whichever is less) and last until the current situation is resolved. 

You can spend a point of Determination to 'override' your Adaptation and choose the power you want, but as soon as you change your environmental conditions, pick a new enemy or get attacked by a new power, it will change again.

When randomly rolling characters, Adaptation can be taken in place of Life Support.