What are the drawbacks of this Variable Summon power?

Question

I'm just futzing around with Mutants and Masterminds 3e again and had an idea for a magic user. my thought was that they'd carry around a spellbook that they would reference to prepare their casts for the day (as Pathfinder or Dungeons and Dragons), resulting in a device that had a variable array focused on creating triggered powers. If they didn't prepare beforehand, or they left some free "slots" for flexibility, they'd have to burn a round or two (depending on the reading) to reference the power in-field before doing anything else.

My issue revolves around Variable Summon powers; there are a number of things that I am not sure about concerning how expensive that would be, as well as some other particulars.

Firstly, is this even possible? the Triggered extra states that it needs to be an Instant duration effect and I'm not sure if there was some way to modify Summon to have it fit or if this was something I needed GM approval for.

And secondly, are there any drawbacks that I'm missing? The thing about Variable is that it's a sustained effect, which may mean that the powers I'm stacking on top of myself are under the same limitations. Would this mean that I'd lose all my prepared spells if I couldn't take a free action?

Answer 1

Rather than Triggered, I'd suggest Activation, which imposes an action to prepare a power before using it with its actual action, which works fairly decently for "take time to memorize the spell". The rules do not really cover how long that power stays up, or under what circumstances, but I generally treat it as a Sustained situation such that it's possible to see that you've prepared the power for use (maybe a slight glow), and otherwise the powers have the duration they normally would.

I believe the reason that Triggered only applies to Instant powers is that, once triggered, there's no one there to "sustain" them. This would be a good use case for the 2E Independent modifier, but they didn't port that to 3E (and admittedly, it was a modifier that had its issues).

Independent - +0 Modifier

Applied to a sustained effect, this modifier makes its duration independent of the user and based instead on the number of power points in the effect. The effect occurs normally and then fades at a rate of 1 power point of effectiveness per round until it is gone. While it lasts, it requires no attention or maintenance from the user, like a continuous duration effect, although it can still be countered or nullified (also like a continuous effect). This is like a combination of the Duration (continuous) and Fades modifiers. An Independent Alternate Power continues to function even when the Array is switched to a different configuration. If an effect is not sustained, modify its duration before applying this modifier.

Independent is useful for effects like Create Object (for objects that fade or melt away), Environmental Control (for changes to the environment that slowly return to normal), or Obscure (for obscured areas that slowly shrink and disappear, like the effects of a smoke or gas grenade). The Slow Fade power feat can modify the rate at which the Independent effect fades, and the Total Fade modifier can keep it at full strength until its duration runs out, although the GM should approve any increases in the fade duration as best suits the effect and the series.

And yes, normally, Sustained means that you could lose the power if you cannot take a Free action. Spending one more power point per rank would get you up to Continuous. Similarly, individual powers which are Sustained or less will go away if you can't take a Free action.