Type Transition

Type Transition

How it works: In every culture, individuals have labels assigned to them, whether by themselves or by others. Some of these labels relate to family - father, sister, cousin. Others relate to occupation - executive, secretary, lawyer. Some denote personality, hobbies, or fashion - hipster, nerd, jock, goth. More still reference race, sexuality, religion, and lifestyle.

You have power over these labels. Adding, subtracting, intensifying, or minimizing them - you can alter the labels which apply to others. To do so, you must touch your target, and state the new state of their label(s) (eg "You are no longer a cop" or "Become a goth").

Your target's reaction to the new label is their own. They may bless you, curse you, or worse. But, do or say what they will, everyone - themselves and society included - will see that person in a new light.

Limitations: Labels aren't simply made up. They are discrete packets of meaning and sentiment agreed upon by society. Labels do not reflect your own biases and perspective, but the sum understanding of all those who use the label. Labels cannot be redefined or created from nothing.

Furthermore, labels are limited to a single term: Cop, not police officer. Doctor, not medical professional. Husband, not significant other. More complex acronym labels such as MD, BFF, MILF, etc, all function the same way, so long as they are commonly treated as one world.

Variants

Switch: Labels may not be created or destroyed, only transferred between holders.

Vault: In the case of Switch, labels may be stolen and stored in a kind of "bank" for safe keeping, or for future use.

Duplication: In the case of Vault, labels may be duplicated in some fashion, allowing multiple people to acquire the same label.

Unique Application: You apply your labels not by touch and verbal command, but through some other means special to yourself. Perhaps you need only speak? Or phrase a wish in your thoughts? Or hold both hands of your target while you chant together three times? The specifics are yours to decide.

Label Maker: Retyping someone is not a power innate to yourself, but rather the effect of an object or tool. Be it by mysterious phone app, magic sticky notes, cursed potions, or something else, he who wields it wields the object wields the power.

Supernatural Typing: Type transitions are a scientific rule of nature. They may be as utterly random as a lightning strike, as well studied and understood as chemical reactions, or arcane secrets reproducible as a ritual performed beneath the correct alignment of the Zodiac. Whatever the case, it's in nature's hands, and anyone who knows (or who is unlucky) may find themselves, or others, labeled or retyped by these natural forces.

Jumping Types: Under a particular set of circumstances, a particular label may switch hosts, jumping from one to another.

Type Infection: Under a particular set of circumstances, a label may replicate itself and spread to an additional host. The circumstances of replication may be broad, or narrow. The number of times a label may copy itself may be limited to a small number, virologically unlimited, or self-reducing according to some pattern (eg first label copies 3x, label copies copy 2x, and a third-gen label copies only 1x, with 4th gen no longer being able to copy at all).

Compound Types: Labels like "Nurse", "Student", or "Friend" aren't specific enough for you. You can add clarifying adjectives or even glue labels together to form new, more specific types. (eg "Sexy Nurse", "Struggling Grad Student", "My Best Friend"). Note that you are still limited to commonly termed concepts - "Balloon-piloting ninja crazy ex-girlfriend" wouldn't work, while "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" by itself, or "Aeronaut", or "Ninja" would.

Creative Fabrication: While labels still carry the meanings society assigned to them, you can create your own labels, of any type, limited only by your imagination and perspective on the terms in use. (eg if applying the "Goth" type doesn't hack it for you, perhaps slapping the GIBTGF (government-issued big titty goth girlfriend) type on your hapless victim will)

Amnesiac Typing: Your labels, once applied, seem to have always been in effect. It may be difficult for those labeled to realize their new label was ever not a part of who they are, or that a removed label was ever even a part of them to begin with.

Underpowered Labeling: Applying or removing types from your targets is limited in some way. Perhaps changing your target's type only changes how they view themselves, but not how others see them. Or perhaps it only affects the community's opinion of your target, but not your target's personal perspective.

Material Labeling: Your typing is so powerful that it affects the physical world in a similar way to how it affects your targets. Retyping a gymnast to a gamer may result in their home exercise equipment and medals being replaced by a gaming rig and gaming paraphernalia over time.

Transformative Labeling: When you retype someone by applying (or subtracting) a label, the effect doesn't only begin to change their psychological perspective, but their mental and physical characteristics as well. (eg An overweight couch potato rebranded to a quarterback, with minimal training or exercise, will be capable of playing competitive football in a matter of weeks)

Retroactive Typing: Your labels have the ability not only to affect the present world, but the past as well. Over time, your target's history will alter itself to fit the labels added or removed. The process generally progresses from minor details up through to major life events, but doesn't have to. The target may retain memories of their prior life, but (depending on the labels) may wind up feeling as if the memories belong to someone else.

Instant Gratification: Your labels take effect instantaneously and irresistibly. (eg a surfer at the beach retyped as a figure skater would probably ditch their surfboard and head to the nearest ice rink to sign up for skating lessons)

Variable Control: You have a level of control over how your labels act on others. You may moderate your labels, or intensify them to the limit of your powers is. You may tailor the scope, potency, and power of your labels to individual circumstances, as you see fit.