Variable Power Pools Abusive or Not

[Nightfire]

I have noticed in a few discussion groups a surprisingly hostile reception to the Variable Power Pool, and I figured it warranted not only a poll, but a full discussion on the subject.

If I understand correctly most people object on the grounds that the variable power pool's versatility makes it an abusive power framework. Some people just object to it out right. No matter what, people seem to feel very strongly about its inclusion, some GM's going so far as to ban it all togethor.

I have collected what I think are the five basic views on the pool. I'd love to see what everyone else thinks. So please weigh in on this touchy subject, but remember, discuss don't attack.

1. I have no problems with Variable Power Pools
2. They should be restricted to "Only change between adventures."
3. Variable Power Pools are an abuse.
4. Variable Power Pools are not the problem Weasels who twist the rules are.
5. All Frameworks are abusive
6. Other

[Agent X]

I voted for weasels.

[McCoy]

Genre convention. How often has Spider-man done something with his webbing we've never seen before (and likely as not will never see again)? These "power stunts" are best represented by the VPP. VPP's reward the player for thinking outside the box and carefully considering Sx.

[Ghost who Walks]

Originally posted by McCoy
Genre convention. How often has Spider-man done something with his webbing we've never seen before (and likely as not will never see again)? These "power stunts" are best represented by the VPP. VPP's reward the player for thinking outside the box and carefully considering Sx.

I assumed that was beause Spiderman has had a ton of writers, most of which don't read each others work.

If a player comes up with a good idea, he shouldn't have to spend points in a pool to do it, IMHO.

I just tend to follow my house rule, that powers with a stop sign next to them are reserved for NPC's, unless I give the player permission (which is rare).

Am I restricting player creativity when building characters? Yeah. But I consider it a necessary sacrifice so the stories can get told.

[Caped Crusader]

I just tend to follow my house rule, that powers with a stop sign next to them are reserved for NPC's, unless I give the player permission (which is rare).

Is that really fair to the players, though? Allowing NPC's to have powers that they do not have access to?

[lemming]

VPP's can be horribly abused, but in the hands of good players, they're a good tool.

Though one of the reasons for VPPs can be substituted with the power skill.

What I don't like is if someone has a cosmic pool and has to whip out a calculator to get best effect each phase.

[lemming]

Originally posted by Caped Crusader
Is that really fair to the players, though? Allowing NPC's to have powers that they do not have access to?

I actually am perfectly OK with NPCs having abilities that PCs are not. They tend to be the one trick pony powers or ones that can be horribly abusive unless played just for storys sake.

[Monolith]

Originally posted by McCoy
Genre convention. How often has Spider-man done something with his webbing we've never seen before (and likely as not will never see again)? These "power stunts" are best represented by the VPP. VPP's reward the player for thinking outside the box and carefully considering Sx.

I personally think those power stunts are best represented by a successful use of Power Skill: Webshooters.

[Gary]

Cosmic pools are pretty abusive. However, virtually any pool has the potential to simply short circuit most adventures and plot lines. And they allow the person with a pool to optimize it if they know exactly which foe they're going to face.

[Nightfire]

Originally posted by lemming
VPP's can be horribly abused, but in the hands of good players, they're a good tool.

Though one of the reasons for VPPs can be substituted with the power skill.

What I don't like is if someone has a cosmic pool and has to whip out a calculator to get best effect each phase.

That's why in my game, you need to have a pool list. If you think that are good enoug to use a pool, then you better be able to use it without slowing down game play.

[Nightfire]

Originally posted by Gary
Cosmic pools are pretty abusive. However, virtually any pool has the potential to simply short circuit most adventures and plot lines. And they allow the person with a pool to optimize it if they know exactly which foe they're going to face.

Which is why I would say restrict them to player who have demonstrated that they are are team players. To me a VPP should come as an evolution of a previous framework like a multipower. If a player had added so many slots that they have an excess of 15 slots and have used them in a balanced manner, they are worth candidates for the pool. People who abuse the regular stuff should not be allowed to use Pools

[lemming]

Originally posted by Nightfire
That's why in my game, you need to have a pool list. If you think that are good enoug to use a pool, then you better be able to use it without slowing down game play.

Sounds like we have similar ideas on pool use.

[Trebuchet]

Mentor runs a mentalist named Prodigy in our game with a 90 Point mental VPP. So far it has not proven to be abusive, but that's because I can trust Mentor not to abuse it. Since Prodigy has to do everything out of that VPP (Attacks, defenses, movement, enhanced senses, etc) I've never seen him do any power over 60 Active points. His usual attack is a 6d6 Ego Blast or a 60 STR TK, the other 30 points are usually alloted to generating a Force Field since without it he has a PD and ED of only 14.

And no, I wouldn't let just anyone use a VPP, particularly one this big. It all comes down to trust between the GM and player.

[Agent X]

I've run characters with VPPs and, other than gadget pools, they've been less interesting in combat. I've found I can usually make more fun, more effective characters with multipowers.

[Snarf]

Normally, I wouldn't allow a variable power pool if an elemental control or multipower would get the job done.