isn't reality warping the same thing as matter/energy manipulation

Started by gobstakid7772 pages

isn't reality warping the same thing as matter/energy manipulation

reality warpinmg-complete control over all forms of matter/enegry on a subatomic level

the only difference is matter manipulation requires u know exactly where each particle goes and such while reality warpin particles just form to create or reshape desired object and person doesn't need advanced knowledge

say a matter manipulator wanted to make something as simple as aspirin. this character would need to have extensive preexisting knowledge pertaining to the exact chemical makeup of aspirin, before they could properly [and stably] go about manifesting some.

other side of the coin, all a reality warper has to do is think about aspirin being in front of them, and *poof* it's there. no 'extensive' knowledge of aspirin would be needed.

so yeah, pretty much the same overall outcomes - but much different ways of going about them.

^^ What he said.

My similar take: if I were, say, making a chair. Matter manip would make me piece together the chair on an atomic level, or however small is sufficient to complete the task. With reality manip. the laws of the universe would literally conform to my whim to produce a chair, causality and chemical makeup be damned.

....

As a possible caveat...It seems that some characters have matter manipulation powers that are somewhat more intuitive. They imagine something, and the molecules/atoms/whatever rearrange to form their thoughts. It's matter manipulation, but they don't need to visualize the actual composition. The Doctor is one such possible character, which is why I mention it. Frequent references to atomic structure, and not being able to instantly fix certain problems (he has mentioned that occasionally changes are on too small a level for him to correct quickly), confirm that he's a matter manipulator. But other times he mentions that his powers correspond to his thoughts. He thinks it, and the universe builds/changes it without detailed instructions.

Probably more writer inconsistency than anything, tbh. But it's a "lazy" matter manip....but still matter manip, not reality manipulation.

The Doctor is a perfect example at one end of the spectrum, and a guy like, say, Firestorm is an excellent counter example.

Firestorm is, in theory, capable of doing basically anything, but since the Firestorm matrix is generally centered around an "everyman" type, he isn't really capable of doing much more than turning things into water, or air, or so on- understanding the chemical, atomic structure of something is way, way outside his reach. Which is why having a guy like Martin Stein in the matrix makes such an utterly dramatic difference.

In order to have matter/energy manipulation abilities on the scale of a reality warper, you'd have to have a character with a beyond genius level intelligence (like a Brainic Five or something), so that they can actually cause those effects without messing up horribly.

Originally posted by Digi
As a possible caveat...It seems that some characters have matter manipulation powers that are somewhat more intuitive. They imagine something, and the molecules/atoms/whatever rearrange to form their thoughts. It's matter manipulation, but they don't need to visualize the actual composition. The Doctor is one such possible character, which is why I mention it. Frequent references to atomic structure, and not being able to instantly fix certain problems (he has mentioned that occasionally changes are on too small a level for him to correct quickly), confirm that he's a matter manipulator. But other times he mentions that his powers correspond to his thoughts. He thinks it, and the universe builds/changes it without detailed instructions.

Probably more writer inconsistency than anything, tbh. But it's a "lazy" matter manip....but still matter manip, not reality manipulation.

a good matter manipulator like, say, firestorm, is able to rearrange given matter/molecules into something completely different, at the speed of thought - so long as he is familiar with whatever it is he's creating. thus, if one were not very knowledgeable concerning firestorm's overall powerset, they could easily confuse his powers with those of a lower level reality manipulator [based on the ease/speed in which he can preform certain tasks.] however, it's when FS tries to manipulate molecules in a manner that is out of the ordinary for him, that he tends to start having problems.

it might very well be the same type of situation for the doctor - ie. he's better/faster at manipulating things he's familiar with, than manipulating things he is not familiar with... though i'm sure writer error still plays a part lol. *shrugs*

Originally posted by tjcoady
The Doctor is a perfect example at one end of the spectrum, and a guy like, say, Firestorm is an excellent counter example.

Firestorm is, in theory, capable of doing basically anything, but since the Firestorm matrix is generally centered around an "everyman" type, he isn't really capable of doing much more than turning things into water, or air, or so on- understanding the chemical, atomic structure of something is way, way outside his reach. Which is why having a guy like Martin Stein in the matrix makes such an utterly dramatic difference.

In order to have matter/energy manipulation abilities on the scale of a reality warper, you'd have to have a character with a beyond genius level intelligence (like a Brainic Five or something), so that they can actually cause those effects without messing up horribly.

so i am right.reality warping is matter/enegry manipulation,except matter manipulators must know everything about what they're doing and reality manips can just think and it happens

pretty much.

There's a lot of overlap. The distinction I make is that matter/energy manipulation is basically manipulation of objects, while reality-warping is manipulation of events/circumstances.

In terms of figure/ground: MEM directly effects figure, which may / may not effect ground. RW directly effects ground, which may / may not effect figure.

Originally posted by gobstakid777
so i am right.reality warping is matter/enegry manipulation,except matter manipulators must know everything about what they're doing and reality manips can just think and it happens

That's the general rule, but then you get people like Molecule Man, whose power is matter/energy manip but can do things without knowing the exact structure.

But I guess that could be explained by the fact Reece's powers come from the same power source as cosmic cubes, so he might technically warp reality...

Originally posted by Galan007
it might very well be the same type of situation for the doctor - ie. he's better/faster at manipulating things he's familiar with, than manipulating things he is not familiar with... though i'm sure writer error still plays a part lol. *shrugs*

true. He's a smart guy. He might just be able to visualize it all quickly. It's as good an explanation as anything, since it is still matter manip.

Originally posted by gobstakid777
so i am right.reality warping is matter/enegry manipulation,except matter manipulators must know everything about what they're doing and reality manips can just think and it happens

Yes. But reality manip would trump matter manip, because it literally remakes reality. No amount of matter manip. will overcome something that works on such a conceptual level. So one's more powerful in theory, but yes, they are much the same.

Re: isn't reality warping the same thing as matter/energy manipulation

Originally posted by gobstakid777
reality warpinmg-complete control over all forms of matter/enegry on a subatomic level

the only difference is matter manipulation requires u know exactly where each particle goes and such while reality warpin particles just form to create or reshape desired object and person doesn't need advanced knowledge

reality warping breaks the laws of physics and also creates energy and matter to accomplish goals.

matter/energy manipulation only reconfigures what already exists.

In theory a matter/energy manipulator cannot break the laws of physics. In practice comic writers know nothing about physics.

The important difference (IMO) is that a reality manipulator can change physics and interact with metaphysical forces. Someone that control matter/energy can't alter the laws of gravity or tear you mind/soul out or make a perpetual motion device.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
In theory a matter/energy manipulator cannot break the laws of physics. In practice comic writers know nothing about physics.

The important difference (IMO) is that a reality manipulator can change physics and interact with metaphysical forces. Someone that control matter/energy can't alter the laws of gravity or tear you mind/soul out or make a perpetual motion device.

👆

one of them can just make a soda can. the other can make a soda can, and put a galaxy inside of it.

Originally posted by Galan007
👆

one of them can just make a soda can. the other can make a soda can, and put a galaxy inside of it.

This is the best description there is.

I might use this as a quote if you don't mind.

Reality warpers aren't limited to manipulating matter and energy. They can also **** with time and space, telepathy, souls, dimensions, etc.

Originally posted by Galan007
one of them can just make a soda can. the other can make a soda can, and put a galaxy inside of it.
How is this different from magic?

Originally posted by Mindship
How is this different from magic?

One is "understood" and the other is not.

Originally posted by Mindship
How is this different from magic?
We make up rules about reality manipulation and then don't follow them, where as we don't even bother pretending to have rules with magic.

Also,

Beginner reality manipulators are traditionally more powerful than beginner magicians.

Really though, they're not mutually exclusive. "Reality manipulation powers" are just want we title magic that doesn't want to be called magic.

Where would telekinesis fit in?

Originally posted by Mindship
Where would telekinesis fit in?

Basically a form of matter manipulation. Usually on a largely scale and done by using an outside force.