Opinons --- Value Of Limitation On A Disad

[clsage]

I'm considering the posibility of generating a Teen Hero character who,
in his Secret ID, wears glasses. Pretty standard. But I'd like for him to
actually have myopia while in his Secret ID so he would actually
need the glasses when he is not in hero ID or be at 1/2 OCV for ranged
attacks, perception rolls, etc without them....should he need to make
such rolls in his Secret ID of course. :D

The question for those assembled is: would you just class this as an
SFX for his Secret ID ? Or if you think it's worth a physical disad, what
sort value would you put on the limitation "Only In Secret ID" ? I would
think it's probably -1/4, just like it's opposite "Only In Hero ID". So the
stats would be:

Myopia - Infreq, Greatly (10pts) - Only In Secret ID (- 1/4) = 7pts

Thoughts and/or opinions anyone ?

-Carl-

[Hugh Neilson]

I'd reduce the frequency of the Phys Lim based on how often the character will be impeded by this limitation while in Secret ID, and the level of restriction on how limiting it will actually be while in secret ID - how often will you make a ranged attack in Secret ID? In many games, it may have no value as it may be extremely infrequent for you to actually suffer any ill effects from this disadvantage.

[Great Beyond]

Well, Great Beyond has farsightedness (nearsightedness - the cant see things far away one), so has to wear glasses in her civilian ID and wears stylish (prescription) sunglasses while on the job. While it doesn't come up that much off the clock as far as combat goes - there's driving, there's movies, a whole bunch of mundane problems that hassle her - so it was worth 10 points or so, I think. (Always, infrequantly, if I recall correctly)

So that's what I would go with. Not a character breaker, but it certainly worth a couple of points.

[Kenn]

I'd call it an 8 pts. The 10 pt. physical limitation with the Only in secret ID adjustment.

[Hugh Neilson]

I'd call it an 8 pts. The 10 pt. physical limitation with the Only in secret ID adjustment.

Can I take Nearsighted Only in Secret ID for 8 points and Farsighted Only in Hero ID for another 8?

I'd be more inclined to reduce the frequency and/or severity for the fact any limitation is easily avoided. Let's take it further - will you give me 20 points (25/1.25) for Blind, only in secret ID? How about 2x Stun and BOD from Physical Attacks only in Secret ID for 48 points?

My Inner Munchkin envisions a character who has all his powers and abilities OIHID and all his disad's (except Secret ID, I suppose) only in secret ID. Hey, I'm powerless out of hero ID anyway - what's a few more issues?

[Trebuchet]

I'd approach it from the other direction: I'd buy it as a Disad "Myopia" for 10 points; then buy sufficient sight PER bonuses "Only in Hero ID" to compensate for the poor vision when in normal ID. I'd also define the myopia more closely - Is it a -2 or even -3 to sight PER, or maybe vs Range only? As a myopic person myself IRL, this is not trivial in the real world. Without my glasses I can't even read the speedometer on my minivan, much less see other vehicles or road hazards. I'm legally blind without glasses.

If OIHID is worth -¼, then it seems to me "Only in Normal ID" should be worth more. Most heroes spend as much or more time in their Secret IDs than as supers. Only in Normal ID should be worth -½ or maybe even -1.

[stmichaeldet]

Most heroes spend as much or more time in their Secret IDs than as supers.

But most, if not virtually all of that time is off-camera, and so, doesn't have any real impact on play.

[Trebuchet]

But most, if not virtually all of that time is off-camera, and so, doesn't have any real impact on play.Possibly. If that's the case in this particular instance, then IMO it's not worth any points as a Disad. It's just character background, particularly since anyone with that level of myopia corrects it with either glasses or surgery.

If the player expects the Disad to be applied fairly regularly, then its value is going to depend on how often he loses or breaks his glasses in normal ID. If never, then it has no value as a Disad or Limitation on a Disad. (As a general rule I dislike Limitations on Disads. I prefer to buy them at a lower value.)

[clsage]

I'd approach it from the other direction: I'd buy it as a Disad "Myopia" for 10 points; then buy sufficient sight PER bonuses "Only in Hero ID" to compensate for the poor vision when in normal ID. I'd also define the myopia more closely - Is it a -2 or even -3 to sight PER, or maybe vs Range only? As a myopic person myself IRL, this is not trivial in the real world. Without my glasses I can't even read the speedometer on my minivan, much less see other vehicles or road hazards. I'm legally blind without glasses.

I like this method. I think it plays better towards the character concept I was shooting for. Thanks.

-Carl-

[ghost-angel]

I'd just go "Disad: Physical; Infrequently, Minor" as you probably aren't spending a lot of time in Secret ID game time wise. So it's infrequent and only minor because a lot of the time you're in HID seeing normally.

[transmetahuman]

I like the "Myopic" paired with "Not Myopic, Only In Hero ID (-1/4)" combination, myself. It's not how much time you spend in one form or the other, it's the way you can usually switch IDs when it's really important to do so. If it's only worth -1/4 to not have your resistant PD available in Joe Schmoe ID, why wouldn't the same apply to your "power" to see well? You can do the same thing with glasses as an OAF on the "not myopic" ability, too.

[Play4Keeps]

Buy Multiform, and put your myopic Secret ID in one form, your 20/20 Heroic self in the other.



:snicker:
gd&r