Omnipotence.
Failing that, that ability to know exactly when to stop fast forwarding a tape.
Failing that, a chainsaw for a hand.
I’d like the ability to manipulate the fundamental forces of the universe wisely and well, so there would be no need for incredibly dangerous experimentation.
Failing that, the ability to enter any computer system with my mind and do whatever I want. (Programming with just my thoughts, Diablo 2 as VR, etc., the mind boggles)
Actually, the second option might be more fun than the first.
Ooh, how about the ability to bestow such powers? That’d be cool.
Are you familiar with Manbat? That’s what I want. Enhanced smell and hearing, flight, a tongue long enough to lick my own forehead, sonar. I wouldn’t want the degenerative insanity that Manbat sometimes suffers from, and I’d want to be able to change back and forth at will. I think it would be dificult to buy shirts when you have wings.
I wouldn’t want anything fancy. I’d just want immortality to see how the world ends. Telekenisis wouldn’t be a bad perk though 
emekthian - I can’t help thinking that would take WAY too much practice to do properly.
I’ll settle for turning water into gasoline. Practical.
Oh, and can anyone tell me why I’ve never seen a flying superhero get a bug caught in their teeth or splatted into an eye.
Lyaria Iron Man has often addressed the issue of avoiding airborne debris and flying animals.
Bugs are one of the reasons I want to become a member of Homo Chiroptera. When you’re a bat, spotting bugs is no problem.
Definitely the ability I would want, but you could certainly do so much more with your new powers. You’d be invaluable to the scientific community, after completely overthrowing 100 years of physics research. You could also make huge ammounts of money putting things into orbit. Hell, you don’t even need to work, just teleport into a safe somewhere and take whatever you like :eek:. Go for a stroll on Mars one day (donning the space suit you bought with all the money you made) and maybe bring the rovers back to the JPL for repair and recharge. Head over to Europa and check for life there, or go explore other solar systems! What a great life that would be.
[QUOTE=AlbertRose]
Seriously… I would like this power – “Anything I want to happen, happens.” /QUOTE]
Best - Power - Ever
I choose the power of Frankie the Beyonder Guy. Just cause Dr. Doom couldn’t handle it doesn’t mean I can’t…
[QUOTE=Bongmaster]
I am reminded of an ancient Persian curse: “May all your desires be instantly granted!”
Think about it for a moment. The first time you wake up in a bad mood . . . .
They’d be brought to life as soon as you became happy again.
Telepathy is just about the worst individual power to have. It confers the ability to read minds only, not control 'em. An example:
Silocke: I’m soooo cooooooooool. Super cool. These chicks all dig me. “Hey Marcia! How ya doin’ babe?”
Marcia: That frickin’ ignoramus. Always struttin’ around like he wants something. I wish that fungatic toad would crawl back into the sewer he came from and died in his… “Oh hey Sil, babe… how you doin’?”
Jennifer: “Sil… babe, long time no see…” and I hope I never have to again, you slimy piece of turd… always grabbin my ass. Fucking cockroach. I wish I would crap into it the next time - or at least fart.
Well… you get the idea. It’s pretty pathetic, and I think it would drive you insane to be knowing everyone else’s thoughts.
Now telekinesis is far more useful. You can move/control objects, and there are many different applications (as with all powers), especially useful ones.
The two coolest from the list made above are BrainGlutton’s and emekthian’s. Possibly an outside shout for dwalin. Pad’s proposal intrigues me also.
Manbat wouldn’t be all laughs. Anytime someone took a dump nearby when your powers were switched on, for instance. In the very least you’d have to smell farts without warning. Not pleasant.
Heh heh heh heh. Be-yew-i-ful.
A few examples of my own:
I’ll bet another five grand, the moron will fold, and my pair of threes will win the pot.
I hope this driver isn’t as big a jerk as the last five I’ve pulled over. I swear, I let the next driver who just treats me with respect and speaks politely, off with just a warning.
All the guys ever do is look at my boobs and comment on my ‘sexy lips’. Why can’t a guy look me in the eyes and ask me about my love of quantum mechanics?
I agree that without an off switch, it would. Marvel comics has gone over this many times in the various X Men titles. Buffy did it in Voices.
That’s why I specified an off switch. Experience with Dungeons&Dragons has taught me to be very careful with wishes. Which is why I also specified the ability to change back. Being stuck as Manbat would suck. Changing back to normal and finding myself stuck as me would also suck.
Smell would not be the big problem. Switching on bat hearing in movie theater would let me hear every annoying whisper, every crinkled wrapper, every shuffling foot, and the movies in both adjoining theaters.
My oft-wished-for super power would be the ability to make copies of myself that could later merge and share memories. That way I could be in two (or more!) places at the same time, yet enjoy all of the memories. Books that have this as a core concept include “Kiln People” by David Brin and “Eon” by Greg Bear.
JOhn.