How to deal with speedster characters? The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are...
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How to deal with speedster characters?
The 2019 Stack Overflow Developer Survey Results Are InIs it possible to make a logically consistent set of laws that produces physics similar to that in superhero comics?What hairstyles are practical for action characters?How might microscopic humanoids capture an ant mound? ( series )How to trap a super speedsterRealistically calculating the movements of someone with super strengthWhat happens when a speedster gets hit full-on by G-forces?Implications of sudden super-speed?How can I leave most characters with strong psychokinesis unable to fly?Superheated bullets and the damage they would dealHow Would A Speedster Communicate?
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In many fictional franchises we see people like the Flash who can move at speeds defying physics.
In my story I want to include a speedster, however I feel that they would be too overpowered for the setting.
So my question is how do non-speedster characters defeat those with speeds equivalent to those of say the Flash?
Because in many settings these characters are shown to be nigh invincible because no one other than speedsters can stop speedsters.
super-powers combat strategy
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In many fictional franchises we see people like the Flash who can move at speeds defying physics.
In my story I want to include a speedster, however I feel that they would be too overpowered for the setting.
So my question is how do non-speedster characters defeat those with speeds equivalent to those of say the Flash?
Because in many settings these characters are shown to be nigh invincible because no one other than speedsters can stop speedsters.
super-powers combat strategy
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In many fictional franchises we see people like the Flash who can move at speeds defying physics.
In my story I want to include a speedster, however I feel that they would be too overpowered for the setting.
So my question is how do non-speedster characters defeat those with speeds equivalent to those of say the Flash?
Because in many settings these characters are shown to be nigh invincible because no one other than speedsters can stop speedsters.
super-powers combat strategy
$endgroup$
In many fictional franchises we see people like the Flash who can move at speeds defying physics.
In my story I want to include a speedster, however I feel that they would be too overpowered for the setting.
So my question is how do non-speedster characters defeat those with speeds equivalent to those of say the Flash?
Because in many settings these characters are shown to be nigh invincible because no one other than speedsters can stop speedsters.
super-powers combat strategy
super-powers combat strategy
edited 7 hours ago
Cyn
11.2k12453
11.2k12453
asked 8 hours ago
EfialtesEfialtes
1,3712921
1,3712921
$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago
add a comment |
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
We can add some real science back into this to help handwave some things. Science and handwaving, what fun!
This speedster is fast, real fast, but where do they get the calories to burn for this speed? The faster they go, the more calories they need. Let's make a ballpark figure and say at full near light speed, they are burning 1000 calories a second. At this rate, an opponent merely needs to wait for the speedster to starve themselves and fall asleep or die. This means the speedster can only operate in short prepared bursts and must stop frequently for food and water. They can't just run around the world, they would burn up all their muscles before they got half way over the ocean.
And there you go, a plausible limitation that lends itself nicely into multiple possible story puzzles for heroes and villains to solve.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't use the Flash.
You are right speedsters like Flash are too OP. But it is cool to have people who are really quick. It might be even cooler to have them be just past the edge of what is humanly possible. My suggestions
1: Think of things you want your Speedster to do. For example, a person who could process fast and move fast might be just about impossible for a normal person to catch / hit. I know because I lived with a guy like that. After he ate your food he would head off across campus, giggling, staying just 10 feet in front of you, and sometimes even lying on the ground. But he could always scramble up and get away before you caught him. You would need a team to do it and by the time you assembled them he would be gone.
2: Rule out impossible QuickSilver type stuff.
3: Figure out weaknesses. For example someone who thinks and acts really fast might not take the most prudent course of action. Like failing to have a line of escape set up when he set about eating all the BooBerry cereal.
4: Defeat the speedster. Normal speed person can defeat the speedster by exploiting those weaknesses with a trap or the like, or an endurance contest. Or failing that having a team to surround him. Or coopt the Speedster to your side (BooBerry might work).
$endgroup$
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Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
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@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Every good hero has a fatal flaw. Even Superman has kryptonite, and is also kindof a coward.
For your speedster, maybe he's not very good at forward-thinking. The non-speedster only has to set up some bait and swing his bat -- the speedster hits the bat every time, and at those speeds, the blow does a lot of damage.
For that matter, your speedster can't afford to take a hit while he's moving fast at all. Even if a bug gets in his way, it'll be like a paintball or a bullet, depending on his speed. The non-speedster just has to throw some sand in the air, and it'll disintegrate the speedster as he moves through it.
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1
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+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
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– BKlassen
6 hours ago
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+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
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– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Tie their shoe laces together?
In all seriousness, your best bet is to use their speed against them. It doesn’t matter how fast they’re running, if they fall over they won’t be running for much longer.
By far the simplest way of stopping them is to dig a 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole, essentially a rabbit hole. If you’ve ever stepped in one, you’d know how easy it would be to twist or break your ankle. Now, imagine you’re running at these high speeds, not a care in the world, and step into one of these holes. At best, you’ve twisted your ankle and torn the tissues in your leg, you might instead break your ankle, your leg, damage the nerves, tendons, muscles, perhaps even the artery in your leg. A potentially fatal but easy to construct trap.
Going slightly bigger and more advanced, you could have the good ol’ pit fall trap, a large pit covered by a tarp and hidden using sticks and dirt. The speedster runs over that, they’re going too fast to stop and falls in the hole. The fall may not be lethal, they may just break their legs in a cruel twist of fate, but you can easily make it lethal by putting wooden spikes at the bottom.
Further options are trip wires, caltrops, raising low-barriers or wet/slippery surfaces. All of these would cause major issues for a speedster. I also remember a story, i don't know its true though, where during the second world war, piano wire was tied to trees or lampposts so that the wire stretched across roads. This wire was tied so that, if you were sitting down, it would be at neck height. The idea of it was to kill Nazi motorcyclists by decapitating them as they drove past, using the speed of their bikes against them. Because of how thin piano wire is, you wouldn't be able to see it and, by the time you did, it would be too late to stop. As i say, i dont know if this was true, its just something i’ve heard.
Taking inspiration from that idea though, you could have walls of clear glass, like French sliding doors. If a speedster ran through it at high speeds, they might be cut to ribbons by the shards of glass and have glass in their eyes.
If you were talking about in combat though, i suggest pike formations. Speedsters, like horses, aren't stupid enough to run into this big, sharp pointy stick. However, if you had these hidden in long grass, for example, and lifted them up when they got close, they may not be able to turn back in time and be skewered.
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Have the speedster depend on some rare substance that is expensive in order for their power to work.
For example, speeding up may require quicksilver, which is another name for mercury. The speedster might be able to break a thermometer and drink the mercury inside without suffering any harm, but that will only last them five deconds of real time.
If you really want to get serious, the main resource that may be consumed by speeding is lifetime. In George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards, there is a speedster who uses his powers for OP speed akin to the Flash's. After what seems like just a few minutes to him, though, he has biologically aged a handful of years. A little more usage of that power and he would drop dead of old age.
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add a comment |
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Even assuming the Flash got all the powers he needed, super stamina, near indestructable body, etc, A real-life Flash running at hundreds of miles an hour would actually have several weaknesses just from the laws of physics.
IRL, these are a few major problems with running super fast. Many of these problems would severely limit a speedster superhero. Both Friction and Inertia would be his enemies.
Pants on Fire - In reality, I doubt any material is both flexible enough to withstand moving at hundreds of miles an hour, and frictionless enough not to burst into flames. The Flash will have to slow down if he wants to keep his clothes on.
Cool-Aid Man Stops - Remember how the Cool-Aid Man breaks through the wall to hand out cool refreshing sugar-water. Unlike in the comics, where the flash can run up buildings, inertia means he'd likely run through the wall, shattering it or himself into pieces.
Skid Marks - Running straight is easy, but every time he turned, he'd leave deep indentions in the grass, broken pavement, and the like. It would be pretty easy to follow him to his secret crime lab.
Turning on a Dime - Similar to above. The Flash would not be able to turn quickly given his inertia and small mass. Simply block stright-aways and the Flash has to go MUCH slower. Throw in some trip wires and obscured holes and you'll probably be able to nab yourself a speedster.
Follow the Fire (and Noise) - Running super fast will create friction (i.e. heat) with the air, even if the suit is frictionless (see #1). He'd also likely sound like a sports car zooming past. A heat-guided missile + some other smarts would probably have no problem locking onto him.
Calorie Deficit - Marathon runners burn about 2,500. . That's a few minutes of running for the Flash. Simply pay off pizza and burger joints to find out who the skinny guy is that eats 5 burgers a day, and you'll unmask your hero.
How do you say Adamantane - The Flash will need a special suit + special communications devices that work at his speed. Those will be one of a kind. Simply follow orders of exotic materials until you find the crime lab.
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add a comment |
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6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
6 Answers
6
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
We can add some real science back into this to help handwave some things. Science and handwaving, what fun!
This speedster is fast, real fast, but where do they get the calories to burn for this speed? The faster they go, the more calories they need. Let's make a ballpark figure and say at full near light speed, they are burning 1000 calories a second. At this rate, an opponent merely needs to wait for the speedster to starve themselves and fall asleep or die. This means the speedster can only operate in short prepared bursts and must stop frequently for food and water. They can't just run around the world, they would burn up all their muscles before they got half way over the ocean.
And there you go, a plausible limitation that lends itself nicely into multiple possible story puzzles for heroes and villains to solve.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We can add some real science back into this to help handwave some things. Science and handwaving, what fun!
This speedster is fast, real fast, but where do they get the calories to burn for this speed? The faster they go, the more calories they need. Let's make a ballpark figure and say at full near light speed, they are burning 1000 calories a second. At this rate, an opponent merely needs to wait for the speedster to starve themselves and fall asleep or die. This means the speedster can only operate in short prepared bursts and must stop frequently for food and water. They can't just run around the world, they would burn up all their muscles before they got half way over the ocean.
And there you go, a plausible limitation that lends itself nicely into multiple possible story puzzles for heroes and villains to solve.
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
We can add some real science back into this to help handwave some things. Science and handwaving, what fun!
This speedster is fast, real fast, but where do they get the calories to burn for this speed? The faster they go, the more calories they need. Let's make a ballpark figure and say at full near light speed, they are burning 1000 calories a second. At this rate, an opponent merely needs to wait for the speedster to starve themselves and fall asleep or die. This means the speedster can only operate in short prepared bursts and must stop frequently for food and water. They can't just run around the world, they would burn up all their muscles before they got half way over the ocean.
And there you go, a plausible limitation that lends itself nicely into multiple possible story puzzles for heroes and villains to solve.
$endgroup$
We can add some real science back into this to help handwave some things. Science and handwaving, what fun!
This speedster is fast, real fast, but where do they get the calories to burn for this speed? The faster they go, the more calories they need. Let's make a ballpark figure and say at full near light speed, they are burning 1000 calories a second. At this rate, an opponent merely needs to wait for the speedster to starve themselves and fall asleep or die. This means the speedster can only operate in short prepared bursts and must stop frequently for food and water. They can't just run around the world, they would burn up all their muscles before they got half way over the ocean.
And there you go, a plausible limitation that lends itself nicely into multiple possible story puzzles for heroes and villains to solve.
answered 7 hours ago
Trevor DTrevor D
2,739319
2,739319
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
1000 calories a second, assuming you mean big, food calories, that's ~4MW. Regardless of whether or not they get hungry, they're gonna get hot. If there are lots of these folk about, you're gonna need a superpowered fire department to keep all your infrastructure intact...
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't use the Flash.
You are right speedsters like Flash are too OP. But it is cool to have people who are really quick. It might be even cooler to have them be just past the edge of what is humanly possible. My suggestions
1: Think of things you want your Speedster to do. For example, a person who could process fast and move fast might be just about impossible for a normal person to catch / hit. I know because I lived with a guy like that. After he ate your food he would head off across campus, giggling, staying just 10 feet in front of you, and sometimes even lying on the ground. But he could always scramble up and get away before you caught him. You would need a team to do it and by the time you assembled them he would be gone.
2: Rule out impossible QuickSilver type stuff.
3: Figure out weaknesses. For example someone who thinks and acts really fast might not take the most prudent course of action. Like failing to have a line of escape set up when he set about eating all the BooBerry cereal.
4: Defeat the speedster. Normal speed person can defeat the speedster by exploiting those weaknesses with a trap or the like, or an endurance contest. Or failing that having a team to surround him. Or coopt the Speedster to your side (BooBerry might work).
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't use the Flash.
You are right speedsters like Flash are too OP. But it is cool to have people who are really quick. It might be even cooler to have them be just past the edge of what is humanly possible. My suggestions
1: Think of things you want your Speedster to do. For example, a person who could process fast and move fast might be just about impossible for a normal person to catch / hit. I know because I lived with a guy like that. After he ate your food he would head off across campus, giggling, staying just 10 feet in front of you, and sometimes even lying on the ground. But he could always scramble up and get away before you caught him. You would need a team to do it and by the time you assembled them he would be gone.
2: Rule out impossible QuickSilver type stuff.
3: Figure out weaknesses. For example someone who thinks and acts really fast might not take the most prudent course of action. Like failing to have a line of escape set up when he set about eating all the BooBerry cereal.
4: Defeat the speedster. Normal speed person can defeat the speedster by exploiting those weaknesses with a trap or the like, or an endurance contest. Or failing that having a team to surround him. Or coopt the Speedster to your side (BooBerry might work).
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Don't use the Flash.
You are right speedsters like Flash are too OP. But it is cool to have people who are really quick. It might be even cooler to have them be just past the edge of what is humanly possible. My suggestions
1: Think of things you want your Speedster to do. For example, a person who could process fast and move fast might be just about impossible for a normal person to catch / hit. I know because I lived with a guy like that. After he ate your food he would head off across campus, giggling, staying just 10 feet in front of you, and sometimes even lying on the ground. But he could always scramble up and get away before you caught him. You would need a team to do it and by the time you assembled them he would be gone.
2: Rule out impossible QuickSilver type stuff.
3: Figure out weaknesses. For example someone who thinks and acts really fast might not take the most prudent course of action. Like failing to have a line of escape set up when he set about eating all the BooBerry cereal.
4: Defeat the speedster. Normal speed person can defeat the speedster by exploiting those weaknesses with a trap or the like, or an endurance contest. Or failing that having a team to surround him. Or coopt the Speedster to your side (BooBerry might work).
$endgroup$
Don't use the Flash.
You are right speedsters like Flash are too OP. But it is cool to have people who are really quick. It might be even cooler to have them be just past the edge of what is humanly possible. My suggestions
1: Think of things you want your Speedster to do. For example, a person who could process fast and move fast might be just about impossible for a normal person to catch / hit. I know because I lived with a guy like that. After he ate your food he would head off across campus, giggling, staying just 10 feet in front of you, and sometimes even lying on the ground. But he could always scramble up and get away before you caught him. You would need a team to do it and by the time you assembled them he would be gone.
2: Rule out impossible QuickSilver type stuff.
3: Figure out weaknesses. For example someone who thinks and acts really fast might not take the most prudent course of action. Like failing to have a line of escape set up when he set about eating all the BooBerry cereal.
4: Defeat the speedster. Normal speed person can defeat the speedster by exploiting those weaknesses with a trap or the like, or an endurance contest. Or failing that having a team to surround him. Or coopt the Speedster to your side (BooBerry might work).
edited 8 hours ago
answered 8 hours ago
WillkWillk
117k27221488
117k27221488
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
$begingroup$
Makes sense... I'll think about it.
$endgroup$
– Efialtes
8 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
How is Quick Silver impossible
$endgroup$
– DT Cooper
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper How is running through a mansion to safely extract those inside in less time than it takes for an explosion to expand remotely possible?
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper - for just one easy example, think of the wind Q would create. Running up to a person at that speed would create a superheated shockwave that would blow away everything around. Running a circle around the kitchen would create a tornado in there. That said, the Q scenes were far and away my favorite parts of both movies.
$endgroup$
– Willk
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DTCooper Also wouldn't that sort of instant acceleration and deceleration to an object effectively kill them? They are being moved faster than the explosion then stopped just as fast. Plus since his moving faster than the speed of sound, he would be followed by a massive sonic boom which would blow out the ear drums of everyone around him. After all bullets which are usually super sonic appear stationary to him. Also after he applies force to the bullet it stops moving, the extra momentum and energy he delivered is magically cancelled out by some invisible force.
$endgroup$
– Shadowzee
5 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Every good hero has a fatal flaw. Even Superman has kryptonite, and is also kindof a coward.
For your speedster, maybe he's not very good at forward-thinking. The non-speedster only has to set up some bait and swing his bat -- the speedster hits the bat every time, and at those speeds, the blow does a lot of damage.
For that matter, your speedster can't afford to take a hit while he's moving fast at all. Even if a bug gets in his way, it'll be like a paintball or a bullet, depending on his speed. The non-speedster just has to throw some sand in the air, and it'll disintegrate the speedster as he moves through it.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Every good hero has a fatal flaw. Even Superman has kryptonite, and is also kindof a coward.
For your speedster, maybe he's not very good at forward-thinking. The non-speedster only has to set up some bait and swing his bat -- the speedster hits the bat every time, and at those speeds, the blow does a lot of damage.
For that matter, your speedster can't afford to take a hit while he's moving fast at all. Even if a bug gets in his way, it'll be like a paintball or a bullet, depending on his speed. The non-speedster just has to throw some sand in the air, and it'll disintegrate the speedster as he moves through it.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Every good hero has a fatal flaw. Even Superman has kryptonite, and is also kindof a coward.
For your speedster, maybe he's not very good at forward-thinking. The non-speedster only has to set up some bait and swing his bat -- the speedster hits the bat every time, and at those speeds, the blow does a lot of damage.
For that matter, your speedster can't afford to take a hit while he's moving fast at all. Even if a bug gets in his way, it'll be like a paintball or a bullet, depending on his speed. The non-speedster just has to throw some sand in the air, and it'll disintegrate the speedster as he moves through it.
$endgroup$
Every good hero has a fatal flaw. Even Superman has kryptonite, and is also kindof a coward.
For your speedster, maybe he's not very good at forward-thinking. The non-speedster only has to set up some bait and swing his bat -- the speedster hits the bat every time, and at those speeds, the blow does a lot of damage.
For that matter, your speedster can't afford to take a hit while he's moving fast at all. Even if a bug gets in his way, it'll be like a paintball or a bullet, depending on his speed. The non-speedster just has to throw some sand in the air, and it'll disintegrate the speedster as he moves through it.
answered 7 hours ago
boxcartenantboxcartenant
2,166117
2,166117
1
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 for throw some sand in the air and it'll disintegrate the speedster, wonderfully simple means of creating a speed limited zone
$endgroup$
– BKlassen
6 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
$begingroup$
+1 very good and accurate answer, although my guess would be they'd want to slightly handwave this away, sand is a little bit of pain, a baseball bat is instant brain-damage
$endgroup$
– DJ Spicy Deluxe-Levi
2 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Tie their shoe laces together?
In all seriousness, your best bet is to use their speed against them. It doesn’t matter how fast they’re running, if they fall over they won’t be running for much longer.
By far the simplest way of stopping them is to dig a 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole, essentially a rabbit hole. If you’ve ever stepped in one, you’d know how easy it would be to twist or break your ankle. Now, imagine you’re running at these high speeds, not a care in the world, and step into one of these holes. At best, you’ve twisted your ankle and torn the tissues in your leg, you might instead break your ankle, your leg, damage the nerves, tendons, muscles, perhaps even the artery in your leg. A potentially fatal but easy to construct trap.
Going slightly bigger and more advanced, you could have the good ol’ pit fall trap, a large pit covered by a tarp and hidden using sticks and dirt. The speedster runs over that, they’re going too fast to stop and falls in the hole. The fall may not be lethal, they may just break their legs in a cruel twist of fate, but you can easily make it lethal by putting wooden spikes at the bottom.
Further options are trip wires, caltrops, raising low-barriers or wet/slippery surfaces. All of these would cause major issues for a speedster. I also remember a story, i don't know its true though, where during the second world war, piano wire was tied to trees or lampposts so that the wire stretched across roads. This wire was tied so that, if you were sitting down, it would be at neck height. The idea of it was to kill Nazi motorcyclists by decapitating them as they drove past, using the speed of their bikes against them. Because of how thin piano wire is, you wouldn't be able to see it and, by the time you did, it would be too late to stop. As i say, i dont know if this was true, its just something i’ve heard.
Taking inspiration from that idea though, you could have walls of clear glass, like French sliding doors. If a speedster ran through it at high speeds, they might be cut to ribbons by the shards of glass and have glass in their eyes.
If you were talking about in combat though, i suggest pike formations. Speedsters, like horses, aren't stupid enough to run into this big, sharp pointy stick. However, if you had these hidden in long grass, for example, and lifted them up when they got close, they may not be able to turn back in time and be skewered.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Tie their shoe laces together?
In all seriousness, your best bet is to use their speed against them. It doesn’t matter how fast they’re running, if they fall over they won’t be running for much longer.
By far the simplest way of stopping them is to dig a 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole, essentially a rabbit hole. If you’ve ever stepped in one, you’d know how easy it would be to twist or break your ankle. Now, imagine you’re running at these high speeds, not a care in the world, and step into one of these holes. At best, you’ve twisted your ankle and torn the tissues in your leg, you might instead break your ankle, your leg, damage the nerves, tendons, muscles, perhaps even the artery in your leg. A potentially fatal but easy to construct trap.
Going slightly bigger and more advanced, you could have the good ol’ pit fall trap, a large pit covered by a tarp and hidden using sticks and dirt. The speedster runs over that, they’re going too fast to stop and falls in the hole. The fall may not be lethal, they may just break their legs in a cruel twist of fate, but you can easily make it lethal by putting wooden spikes at the bottom.
Further options are trip wires, caltrops, raising low-barriers or wet/slippery surfaces. All of these would cause major issues for a speedster. I also remember a story, i don't know its true though, where during the second world war, piano wire was tied to trees or lampposts so that the wire stretched across roads. This wire was tied so that, if you were sitting down, it would be at neck height. The idea of it was to kill Nazi motorcyclists by decapitating them as they drove past, using the speed of their bikes against them. Because of how thin piano wire is, you wouldn't be able to see it and, by the time you did, it would be too late to stop. As i say, i dont know if this was true, its just something i’ve heard.
Taking inspiration from that idea though, you could have walls of clear glass, like French sliding doors. If a speedster ran through it at high speeds, they might be cut to ribbons by the shards of glass and have glass in their eyes.
If you were talking about in combat though, i suggest pike formations. Speedsters, like horses, aren't stupid enough to run into this big, sharp pointy stick. However, if you had these hidden in long grass, for example, and lifted them up when they got close, they may not be able to turn back in time and be skewered.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Tie their shoe laces together?
In all seriousness, your best bet is to use their speed against them. It doesn’t matter how fast they’re running, if they fall over they won’t be running for much longer.
By far the simplest way of stopping them is to dig a 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole, essentially a rabbit hole. If you’ve ever stepped in one, you’d know how easy it would be to twist or break your ankle. Now, imagine you’re running at these high speeds, not a care in the world, and step into one of these holes. At best, you’ve twisted your ankle and torn the tissues in your leg, you might instead break your ankle, your leg, damage the nerves, tendons, muscles, perhaps even the artery in your leg. A potentially fatal but easy to construct trap.
Going slightly bigger and more advanced, you could have the good ol’ pit fall trap, a large pit covered by a tarp and hidden using sticks and dirt. The speedster runs over that, they’re going too fast to stop and falls in the hole. The fall may not be lethal, they may just break their legs in a cruel twist of fate, but you can easily make it lethal by putting wooden spikes at the bottom.
Further options are trip wires, caltrops, raising low-barriers or wet/slippery surfaces. All of these would cause major issues for a speedster. I also remember a story, i don't know its true though, where during the second world war, piano wire was tied to trees or lampposts so that the wire stretched across roads. This wire was tied so that, if you were sitting down, it would be at neck height. The idea of it was to kill Nazi motorcyclists by decapitating them as they drove past, using the speed of their bikes against them. Because of how thin piano wire is, you wouldn't be able to see it and, by the time you did, it would be too late to stop. As i say, i dont know if this was true, its just something i’ve heard.
Taking inspiration from that idea though, you could have walls of clear glass, like French sliding doors. If a speedster ran through it at high speeds, they might be cut to ribbons by the shards of glass and have glass in their eyes.
If you were talking about in combat though, i suggest pike formations. Speedsters, like horses, aren't stupid enough to run into this big, sharp pointy stick. However, if you had these hidden in long grass, for example, and lifted them up when they got close, they may not be able to turn back in time and be skewered.
$endgroup$
Tie their shoe laces together?
In all seriousness, your best bet is to use their speed against them. It doesn’t matter how fast they’re running, if they fall over they won’t be running for much longer.
By far the simplest way of stopping them is to dig a 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole, essentially a rabbit hole. If you’ve ever stepped in one, you’d know how easy it would be to twist or break your ankle. Now, imagine you’re running at these high speeds, not a care in the world, and step into one of these holes. At best, you’ve twisted your ankle and torn the tissues in your leg, you might instead break your ankle, your leg, damage the nerves, tendons, muscles, perhaps even the artery in your leg. A potentially fatal but easy to construct trap.
Going slightly bigger and more advanced, you could have the good ol’ pit fall trap, a large pit covered by a tarp and hidden using sticks and dirt. The speedster runs over that, they’re going too fast to stop and falls in the hole. The fall may not be lethal, they may just break their legs in a cruel twist of fate, but you can easily make it lethal by putting wooden spikes at the bottom.
Further options are trip wires, caltrops, raising low-barriers or wet/slippery surfaces. All of these would cause major issues for a speedster. I also remember a story, i don't know its true though, where during the second world war, piano wire was tied to trees or lampposts so that the wire stretched across roads. This wire was tied so that, if you were sitting down, it would be at neck height. The idea of it was to kill Nazi motorcyclists by decapitating them as they drove past, using the speed of their bikes against them. Because of how thin piano wire is, you wouldn't be able to see it and, by the time you did, it would be too late to stop. As i say, i dont know if this was true, its just something i’ve heard.
Taking inspiration from that idea though, you could have walls of clear glass, like French sliding doors. If a speedster ran through it at high speeds, they might be cut to ribbons by the shards of glass and have glass in their eyes.
If you were talking about in combat though, i suggest pike formations. Speedsters, like horses, aren't stupid enough to run into this big, sharp pointy stick. However, if you had these hidden in long grass, for example, and lifted them up when they got close, they may not be able to turn back in time and be skewered.
answered 6 hours ago
Liam MorrisLiam Morris
1,714325
1,714325
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Have the speedster depend on some rare substance that is expensive in order for their power to work.
For example, speeding up may require quicksilver, which is another name for mercury. The speedster might be able to break a thermometer and drink the mercury inside without suffering any harm, but that will only last them five deconds of real time.
If you really want to get serious, the main resource that may be consumed by speeding is lifetime. In George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards, there is a speedster who uses his powers for OP speed akin to the Flash's. After what seems like just a few minutes to him, though, he has biologically aged a handful of years. A little more usage of that power and he would drop dead of old age.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Have the speedster depend on some rare substance that is expensive in order for their power to work.
For example, speeding up may require quicksilver, which is another name for mercury. The speedster might be able to break a thermometer and drink the mercury inside without suffering any harm, but that will only last them five deconds of real time.
If you really want to get serious, the main resource that may be consumed by speeding is lifetime. In George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards, there is a speedster who uses his powers for OP speed akin to the Flash's. After what seems like just a few minutes to him, though, he has biologically aged a handful of years. A little more usage of that power and he would drop dead of old age.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Have the speedster depend on some rare substance that is expensive in order for their power to work.
For example, speeding up may require quicksilver, which is another name for mercury. The speedster might be able to break a thermometer and drink the mercury inside without suffering any harm, but that will only last them five deconds of real time.
If you really want to get serious, the main resource that may be consumed by speeding is lifetime. In George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards, there is a speedster who uses his powers for OP speed akin to the Flash's. After what seems like just a few minutes to him, though, he has biologically aged a handful of years. A little more usage of that power and he would drop dead of old age.
$endgroup$
Have the speedster depend on some rare substance that is expensive in order for their power to work.
For example, speeding up may require quicksilver, which is another name for mercury. The speedster might be able to break a thermometer and drink the mercury inside without suffering any harm, but that will only last them five deconds of real time.
If you really want to get serious, the main resource that may be consumed by speeding is lifetime. In George R. R. Martin's Wild Cards, there is a speedster who uses his powers for OP speed akin to the Flash's. After what seems like just a few minutes to him, though, he has biologically aged a handful of years. A little more usage of that power and he would drop dead of old age.
answered 5 hours ago
RenanRenan
52.8k15120263
52.8k15120263
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Even assuming the Flash got all the powers he needed, super stamina, near indestructable body, etc, A real-life Flash running at hundreds of miles an hour would actually have several weaknesses just from the laws of physics.
IRL, these are a few major problems with running super fast. Many of these problems would severely limit a speedster superhero. Both Friction and Inertia would be his enemies.
Pants on Fire - In reality, I doubt any material is both flexible enough to withstand moving at hundreds of miles an hour, and frictionless enough not to burst into flames. The Flash will have to slow down if he wants to keep his clothes on.
Cool-Aid Man Stops - Remember how the Cool-Aid Man breaks through the wall to hand out cool refreshing sugar-water. Unlike in the comics, where the flash can run up buildings, inertia means he'd likely run through the wall, shattering it or himself into pieces.
Skid Marks - Running straight is easy, but every time he turned, he'd leave deep indentions in the grass, broken pavement, and the like. It would be pretty easy to follow him to his secret crime lab.
Turning on a Dime - Similar to above. The Flash would not be able to turn quickly given his inertia and small mass. Simply block stright-aways and the Flash has to go MUCH slower. Throw in some trip wires and obscured holes and you'll probably be able to nab yourself a speedster.
Follow the Fire (and Noise) - Running super fast will create friction (i.e. heat) with the air, even if the suit is frictionless (see #1). He'd also likely sound like a sports car zooming past. A heat-guided missile + some other smarts would probably have no problem locking onto him.
Calorie Deficit - Marathon runners burn about 2,500. . That's a few minutes of running for the Flash. Simply pay off pizza and burger joints to find out who the skinny guy is that eats 5 burgers a day, and you'll unmask your hero.
How do you say Adamantane - The Flash will need a special suit + special communications devices that work at his speed. Those will be one of a kind. Simply follow orders of exotic materials until you find the crime lab.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Even assuming the Flash got all the powers he needed, super stamina, near indestructable body, etc, A real-life Flash running at hundreds of miles an hour would actually have several weaknesses just from the laws of physics.
IRL, these are a few major problems with running super fast. Many of these problems would severely limit a speedster superhero. Both Friction and Inertia would be his enemies.
Pants on Fire - In reality, I doubt any material is both flexible enough to withstand moving at hundreds of miles an hour, and frictionless enough not to burst into flames. The Flash will have to slow down if he wants to keep his clothes on.
Cool-Aid Man Stops - Remember how the Cool-Aid Man breaks through the wall to hand out cool refreshing sugar-water. Unlike in the comics, where the flash can run up buildings, inertia means he'd likely run through the wall, shattering it or himself into pieces.
Skid Marks - Running straight is easy, but every time he turned, he'd leave deep indentions in the grass, broken pavement, and the like. It would be pretty easy to follow him to his secret crime lab.
Turning on a Dime - Similar to above. The Flash would not be able to turn quickly given his inertia and small mass. Simply block stright-aways and the Flash has to go MUCH slower. Throw in some trip wires and obscured holes and you'll probably be able to nab yourself a speedster.
Follow the Fire (and Noise) - Running super fast will create friction (i.e. heat) with the air, even if the suit is frictionless (see #1). He'd also likely sound like a sports car zooming past. A heat-guided missile + some other smarts would probably have no problem locking onto him.
Calorie Deficit - Marathon runners burn about 2,500. . That's a few minutes of running for the Flash. Simply pay off pizza and burger joints to find out who the skinny guy is that eats 5 burgers a day, and you'll unmask your hero.
How do you say Adamantane - The Flash will need a special suit + special communications devices that work at his speed. Those will be one of a kind. Simply follow orders of exotic materials until you find the crime lab.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Even assuming the Flash got all the powers he needed, super stamina, near indestructable body, etc, A real-life Flash running at hundreds of miles an hour would actually have several weaknesses just from the laws of physics.
IRL, these are a few major problems with running super fast. Many of these problems would severely limit a speedster superhero. Both Friction and Inertia would be his enemies.
Pants on Fire - In reality, I doubt any material is both flexible enough to withstand moving at hundreds of miles an hour, and frictionless enough not to burst into flames. The Flash will have to slow down if he wants to keep his clothes on.
Cool-Aid Man Stops - Remember how the Cool-Aid Man breaks through the wall to hand out cool refreshing sugar-water. Unlike in the comics, where the flash can run up buildings, inertia means he'd likely run through the wall, shattering it or himself into pieces.
Skid Marks - Running straight is easy, but every time he turned, he'd leave deep indentions in the grass, broken pavement, and the like. It would be pretty easy to follow him to his secret crime lab.
Turning on a Dime - Similar to above. The Flash would not be able to turn quickly given his inertia and small mass. Simply block stright-aways and the Flash has to go MUCH slower. Throw in some trip wires and obscured holes and you'll probably be able to nab yourself a speedster.
Follow the Fire (and Noise) - Running super fast will create friction (i.e. heat) with the air, even if the suit is frictionless (see #1). He'd also likely sound like a sports car zooming past. A heat-guided missile + some other smarts would probably have no problem locking onto him.
Calorie Deficit - Marathon runners burn about 2,500. . That's a few minutes of running for the Flash. Simply pay off pizza and burger joints to find out who the skinny guy is that eats 5 burgers a day, and you'll unmask your hero.
How do you say Adamantane - The Flash will need a special suit + special communications devices that work at his speed. Those will be one of a kind. Simply follow orders of exotic materials until you find the crime lab.
$endgroup$
Even assuming the Flash got all the powers he needed, super stamina, near indestructable body, etc, A real-life Flash running at hundreds of miles an hour would actually have several weaknesses just from the laws of physics.
IRL, these are a few major problems with running super fast. Many of these problems would severely limit a speedster superhero. Both Friction and Inertia would be his enemies.
Pants on Fire - In reality, I doubt any material is both flexible enough to withstand moving at hundreds of miles an hour, and frictionless enough not to burst into flames. The Flash will have to slow down if he wants to keep his clothes on.
Cool-Aid Man Stops - Remember how the Cool-Aid Man breaks through the wall to hand out cool refreshing sugar-water. Unlike in the comics, where the flash can run up buildings, inertia means he'd likely run through the wall, shattering it or himself into pieces.
Skid Marks - Running straight is easy, but every time he turned, he'd leave deep indentions in the grass, broken pavement, and the like. It would be pretty easy to follow him to his secret crime lab.
Turning on a Dime - Similar to above. The Flash would not be able to turn quickly given his inertia and small mass. Simply block stright-aways and the Flash has to go MUCH slower. Throw in some trip wires and obscured holes and you'll probably be able to nab yourself a speedster.
Follow the Fire (and Noise) - Running super fast will create friction (i.e. heat) with the air, even if the suit is frictionless (see #1). He'd also likely sound like a sports car zooming past. A heat-guided missile + some other smarts would probably have no problem locking onto him.
Calorie Deficit - Marathon runners burn about 2,500. . That's a few minutes of running for the Flash. Simply pay off pizza and burger joints to find out who the skinny guy is that eats 5 burgers a day, and you'll unmask your hero.
How do you say Adamantane - The Flash will need a special suit + special communications devices that work at his speed. Those will be one of a kind. Simply follow orders of exotic materials until you find the crime lab.
answered 6 mins ago
sevensevenssevensevens
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$begingroup$
There are a lot of required secondary powers for a really OP speedster... super stamina, super strength, super toughness, super heat-resistance, super metabolism, super, um, oxygenation? super regeneration, super fast thinking... the list goes on. Just whittle them down to suit your needs, and you'll reach a reasonable compromise eventually.
$endgroup$
– Starfish Prime
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
Some of it is handwaving but, if you look at superhero teams, the Flash (or equivalent characters) is not the most invincible or the best fighter. He's about in the middle. Very useful but not more powerful than others. Go watch some Justice League cartoons (they're also really fun).
$endgroup$
– Cyn
7 hours ago