How to Build: "Accidental Exile" Complication

[Grailknight]

On 2/22/2024 at 7:29 PM, LoneWolf said:

I have to disagree about the need to create a power for an NPC.  For the most part an NPC should still be written up as completely as can be.  Having what a NPC can and cannot do clearly defined makes the game run smoother.  It is also important if the character is going to be a recurring advisory.  When the NPC’s power radically changes with every encounter it makes the players upset. It also makes things harder when a player tries to counter something when it is not written up.  For example, if a character is hit with an NND with an odd defense having that listed on the character sheet can avoid arguments.  

 

As was pointed out earlier in the thread this is not a power under the control of the character.  This is a rare unwanted side effect of using his shrinking.  It is not something the character should be paying for. 
 

 

Yes, this Power as stated is not something that works to the PC's advantage currently, but they should still pay for it. The options I gave both cost 3 Real Points, not crippling.

 

If this is going to be a recurring theme, then that means there will be multiple plots around the alternate dimension. By paying for it initially, the PC can buy down the Limitations with experience and learn to travel back and forth freely. The alternate world could become a place for a secret base, a setting for a star-crossed romance, am origin for a PC nemesis or even a full-blown sub-campaign with a war/rebellion theme.

 

Making the PC pay for this should at the very least, increase PC buy-in if the GM wants to do any of these.

 

 

[LoneWolf]

Does the PC who takes damage from sunlight have to buy an attack?  Does the PC who loses his power when exposed to a special kind of rock need to buy a drain?  Does the PC that loses control when angry have to buy a multiform?  Then why should a character that shrinks have to buy extra-dimensional movement for this.  All of these are complications not powers.  

 

Again, this is for a NPC, and while an NPC does not necessarily need to always have the required amount of complications having complications is a very useful thing.  They often give the players something to exploit when dealing with the NPC and can help the GM define the character.  By listing it as a complication it makes the NPC more complete and makes sure the GM does not forget that this happens to the character.   

 

Using it as a complication does not prevent the character from later learning how to control the ability.   
 

[Grailknight]

4 hours ago, LoneWolf said:

Does the PC who takes damage from sunlight have to buy an attack?  Does the PC who loses his power when exposed to a special kind of rock need to buy a drain?  Does the PC that loses control when angry have to buy a multiform?  Then why should a character that shrinks have to buy extra-dimensional movement for this.  All of these are complications not powers.  

 

Again, this is for a NPC, and while an NPC does not necessarily need to always have the required amount of complications having complications is a very useful thing.  They often give the players something to exploit when dealing with the NPC and can help the GM define the character.  By listing it as a complication it makes the NPC more complete and makes sure the GM does not forget that this happens to the character.   

 

Using it as a complication does not prevent the character from later learning how to control the ability.   
 

 

Not equivalent. Those things happen and the only thing the character can do is suck it up.  The character can just not use his full Shrinking and it never comes into play. He can gamble and use his full Shrinking and it still may not.

 

This is effectively a Side Effect on his maximum Shrinking but since it doesn't automatically take effect, we need a novel solution. Pairing that 3-Real Point Power with a Limitation on his Shrinking is the best compromise I can come up with without new RAW-Conditional Side Effect. 

 

And again, for an NPC, this is a plot device that happens when the GM wants to tell that story. It has no effect otherwise so I wouldn't write it up and advise other GM's not to do so either.  It can only constrict your story telling choices with randomness when you need a set outcome for the story to work.

Edited February 24 by Grailknight

[rjcurrie]

It still just feels like a Physical Complication to me.  People are overcomplicating it.

[Gauntlet]

2 hours ago, rjcurrie said:

It still just feels like a Physical Complication to me.  People are overcomplicating it.

 

I agree it is being overcomplicated but would have to say that it is a Side Effect limitation to the power and not a Complication.