Blaster

Blaster is one of the twelve power classifications created by the PRT still in modern day use. Blasters are parahumans that have ranged offensive options. The majority of these powers are damaging, but this is not always the case.

Methodology
Blasters use their powers to attack their enemies from range, generally using deleterious blasts with a large variety of effects: Blasters involve one or more types, which determine the amount, range, accuracy and power, among other factors (essentially the 'gun' that the Blaster fires); and an 'element', which determines the type of damage and any special effects of the shots.

Blasters can be categorized in twelve different types, where an individual Blaster can fall into multiple groups:

Trigger events
Blasters emerge from trigger events involving some sort animated, ranged threat: hostile others, approaching or attacking from a distance. The exact circumstances, and the nature of and relationship to the threat have a lot of influence on the type of Blaster that arises from a trigger event (see also the table above).

At the same time, the ‘element’ of the Blaster shot can also vary wildly, and covers a whole spectrum of possibilities. In most cases, the power will take ideas from surroundings, emotional state, themes, or personality traits. The effect is similar to how dreams pick up on little things that one notices throughout their day, making sense only sometimes, in retrospect, but rarely in the moment.

Common combinations with other ratings
Blasters commonly venture into the Shaker classification: Ruin Blasters through their ability to manipulate the environment, and Impact Blasters through the large radius of their blasts. Enchantment Blasters, on the other hand, cross over into the Striker classification.

Flight is a common secondary power for Blasters: Blaster-Mover combinations with flight are so common they have their own name, often being called 'flying artillery'.

Role in the Cycle
For the entities, Blaster powers are exceptionally easy to put together. They provide only minute amounts of data, but the creation of Blasters helps to ramp up overall conflict. The entities still collect this small amount of data, and refine the most effective weapons that they and their avatars can use to defend themselves.

PRT countermeasures
The exact PRT-squad tactics vary greatly depending on the nature of the Blaster. At low ratings, cover is highly recommended. At higher levels, movement is a higher priority, and cover should be assumed to be useless.