Name for people with superpowers?

ThisAdamGuy

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I'm making notes for a story I may or may not ever actually start. Without going into too much detail, it's about a world split between people with superpowers and people without them. The people without powers are called Nuls. I'm trying to think of a name for the people with powers too. Right now the best ideas I've had are Neos (like, new or evolved humans) or Primes (like, superior humans).

Thoughts?
 

ThisAdamGuy

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Fuls
They're ful of power ?
 
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CharlesEBrown

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I've been using "Extranormals" (or the usually pejorative slang "exies") in my stuff. Officially they are designated XN by the government. Category includes magical creatures, shape-shifters, mutants and characters who somehow developed powers. Aliens are still called Aliens or Outsiders, depending on if they are from other worlds or other dimensions/universes, respectively.
Terms I have seen used:
Metahumans
Abnormals
Superlatives
Deltas (and/or Alphas)
Paranormals/Parahumans
Exalted
Aberrants
Jokers and Wild Cards.
 

John_Owl

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Largely depends on how they got their powers. I usually go with commonly known terms. Superhumans is straightforward already, if not overtly 'cool sounding'.

Jokers and Wild Cards.
'Joker'... Is that a reference to unOrdinary?
 

CharlesEBrown

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Largely depends on how they got their powers. I usually go with commonly known terms. Superhumans is straightforward already, if not overtly 'cool sounding'.


'Joker'... Is that a reference to unOrdinary?
Not sure - the term was from a series of novels based on a series of games played using, IIRC two different gaming systems over a decade or so (from the late 80s to the mid 90s, with the novels and short story collections surfacing in the late 90s; I only read three of the stories, all in other collections; from what I recall, the game was originally SuperWorld, but when it was cancelled by the publisher, they moved to GURPS Supers), with the best known member of the group being the same guy who created Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin). A virus, the Wild Card virus, was introduced to Earth that was about 70% contagious. Most who got it died. Some recovered and gained superpowers (Actually I think the term was "Aces" the SERIES was "Wild Cards"), others recovered and were horribly twisted into monstrous forms (and also gained superpowers) and were called Jokers.
Don't know if that series is set in the Wild Cards universe or not.
 

Rezcore

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'Joker'... Is that a reference to unOrdinary
I used to like that, but rapidly grew to hate it, as the problems could've been solved rapidly and the author is dragging it out
 

John_Owl

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Not sure - the term was from a series of novels based on a series of games played using, IIRC two different gaming systems over a decade or so (from the late 80s to the mid 90s, with the novels and short story collections surfacing in the late 90s; I only read three of the stories, all in other collections; from what I recall, the game was originally SuperWorld, but when it was cancelled by the publisher, they moved to GURPS Supers), with the best known member of the group being the same guy who created Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin). A virus, the Wild Card virus, was introduced to Earth that was about 70% contagious. Most who got it died. Some recovered and gained superpowers (Actually I think the term was "Aces" the SERIES was "Wild Cards"), others recovered and were horribly twisted into monstrous forms (and also gained superpowers) and were called Jokers.
Don't know if that series is set in the Wild Cards universe or not.
Don't think so. The author uses the term Joker, as the school's top students (with superpowers) are known by face card terms - King, Queen, Jack. Joker is the 'wild card'. basically, a student that could be king but chooses to remain in the shadows, away from the drama.

And I should note that in this world, "top students" aren't decided by grades, but by their power strength. It's a pretty good series at first, but I'm rereading after I lost my prior account when I switched phones. So out of like 300+ chapters, I've only read up to like 120 ish.

I used to like that, but rapidly grew to hate it, as the problems could've been solved rapidly and the author is dragging it out
That's a common issue in writing anything. Problems could be solved quickly with outside-universe knowledge. It's been a while, but I'll keep an eye out for such issues.
 

3guanoff

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aside from the excellent options Charles E Brown mentioned, I've seen:
- SPs or espis or espees, seen it written differently. it's short for superpowered.
- Powereds
 

JayMark

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I like the term 'Ascended' simple and to the point. If you want to shorten it they can be called 'cends'. For people who hate superpowers the derogative can be Asces. *Asses*
 
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