Guest Kolava Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 Why is it that, while the vast majority of the HERO rules try to maintain freedom for the character's creator, the rules for boostable charges make a pretty big assumption? I'm reffering to the automatic burnout which is tossed on to any boostable charge power. What was the idea behind including it, and is it really necisary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Long Posted February 20, 2004 Report Share Posted February 20, 2004 Since this is about game design and philosophy, not a rules question, I've moved it to the "Discussion" board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jogger Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 I think the main reason the Burnout rule was added was to prevent people from always boosting the power. The classic use is in gadgets. I expend more energy than normal (simular to Pushing), I do more damage, but there is a risk that the barrel will overheat, the crystal will crack, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kolava Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Maybe, but shouldn't that be a warning in the text rather then an automatic adjustment? I can think of plenty of SFX where boosting is possible without endangering the integrity of the charged power. As for needing it to keep things fair, I think the fact that you are burning more charges then usual is enough of a limitation (if not, the text warns the GM to watch out for abuse) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aroooo Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 While most things in Hero can be abused one way or the other, Boostable Charges is one of those things that, without the Burnout, would be too easy to abuse. Some things just need a built in ballancer. Aroooo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Jogger Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Usually, I have found that when I want something close to Boostable, but something that doesn't Burnout (or the limit of 4 additional charges), I usually want something other than Boostable. Example: Summon 13 Kobolds (15+20) -0 Charges: 13 -1 Lim: Expends 1 charge per Kobold summoned 17 Real Points This allows one to summon 13 Kobolds at once, or 1 Kobold 13 times, or some combination. Without the limitation, one could summon 13 kobolds up to 13 times (as long as doesn't exceed 13 at any one time). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Kolava Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 What about some sort of energy weapon with, say, 40 charges and a SFX of being able to fire small or large bursts, with the larger consuming more ammo? Maybe this could be a MP, but how would you build the larger bursts as consuming many charges from the shared pool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aroooo Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Originally posted by Kolava What about some sort of energy weapon with, say, 40 charges and a SFX of being able to fire small or large bursts, with the larger consuming more ammo? Maybe this could be a MP, but how would you build the larger bursts as consuming many charges from the shared pool? That is actually in the FAQ. But that's not addressing the Boostable aspect. I like the approach Blue Jogger used in his Summon example. Aroooo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allandrel Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 So what about something like Spider-Man's web shooters, where he can expend extra web fluid to make the Entangle bigger, but has no chance of jamming? Patrick J McGraw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snarf Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 You'd probably have to use an endurance reserve to get something that worked exactly right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aroooo Posted February 21, 2004 Report Share Posted February 21, 2004 Originally posted by Allandrel So what about something like Spider-Man's web shooters, where he can expend extra web fluid to make the Entangle bigger, but has no chance of jamming? Patrick J McGraw Search through this section of the boards. I remember a long conversation about this very thing. Aroooo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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