Dissecting Powers

[Lucius]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

Awwwwhhh...

A naughty compliment is still a compliment. *Muah*

Anyway, where are those adventures of an Agile Achmed ?

 

Opale

 

Unboxed national treasure. ^^

 

Check out Quote of the Week from my Gaming Group

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Palindromedary of the Week

[Lucius]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

Dissect this

 

____________(Total: 151 Active Cost, 75 Real Cost)

Duplication (creates 175-point form), Cannot Recombine (-0), Altered Duplicates (25%; +1/4), Inherent (+1/4) (52 Active Points); Always On (-1/2) (Real Cost: 35) plus

Covering first 25 pts XP (creates 25-point form), Cannot Recombine (-0), Altered Duplicates (25%; +1/4), Inherent (+1/4) (7 Active Points); Always On (-1/2) (Real Cost: 5) plus

Mind Link , One Specific Mind, No LOS Needed, Psychic Bond, Unlimited range in this dimension and can reach into other dimensions, Inherent (+1/4) (37 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2), Feedback STUN Only (-1) (Real Cost: 9)

plus

Teamwork DEX based (Real Cost: 3)

b>plus

Detect A Single Thing: XXXX (Mental Group), Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Sense, Telescopic: +1, Tracking (16 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2) (Real Cost: 5)

plus

+3 Overall (36 Active Points); Limited Power Only when working together on the same task (-1) (Real Cost: 18)

 

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Just don't dissect a palindromedary

[Christopher]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

I think this is a "Monozygotic Twin" with the typical "Twin mindlink"

[Doc Democracy]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

Dissect this

 

My God Lucius, that looks horrible...

 

Duplication (creates 175-point form)' date=' Cannot Recombine (-0), Altered Duplicates (25%; +1/4), Inherent (+1/4) (52 Active Points); Always On (-1/2) (Real Cost: 35) [/quote']

 

So. A duplicate that is different to the original and always remains seperate.

 

Covering first 25 pts XP (creates 25-point form)' date=' Cannot Recombine (-0), Altered Duplicates (25%; +1/4), Inherent (+1/4) (7 Active Points); Always On (-1/2) (Real Cost: 5) [/quote']

 

Looks to me that you are pre-spending your experience here to gain a much lesser third form. So you would have two heroic forms and a talented one, all available at the same time.

 

 

Mind Link ' date=' One Specific Mind, No LOS Needed, Psychic Bond, Unlimited range in this dimension and can reach into other dimensions, Inherent (+1/4) (37 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2), Feedback STUN Only (-1) (Real Cost: 9) [/quote']

 

This to me is designed to allow the three forms to link together so that they can all be aware of each others thoughts. It also means that they would suffer pain if the other forms suffer.

 

 

 

Teamwork DEX based (Real Cost: 3)

b>plus

 

+3 Overall (36 Active Points); Limited Power Only when working together on the same task (-1) (Real Cost: 18)

 

I think that this provides the three forms to work together in a highly efficeint manner. They not only find it easy to work as a team but when they do they work in a more skilled way than they would on their own.

 

Detect A Single Thing: XXXX (Mental Group)' date=' Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees), Sense, Telescopic: +1, Tracking (16 Active Points); No Conscious Control (-2) (Real Cost: 5) [/quote']

 

This provides the ability for each form to know the location of the other two at all times.

 

 

If this is a character from somewhere, it is not one that I recognise....

 

 

Doc

[Lucius]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

My God Lucius' date=' that looks horrible...[/quote']

 

Don't hold back, Doc...give it to me straight.

 

Looks to me that you are pre-spending your experience here to gain a much lesser third form. So you would have two heroic forms and a talented one, all available at the same time.

 

Well, that part was way off.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary notes that Christopher, while less detailed, was exactly right in what he did say.

[Doc Democracy]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

Don't hold back' date=' Doc...give it to me straight.[/quote']

 

never been known to beat about the bush...

 

Well' date=' that part was way off.[/quote']

 

So what was the point of that 25 point form?? The first duplication provides the duplicate (or twin - nothing indicates that the twin is identical - indeed it pays to be different). What is the 25 points for???

 

The palindromedary notes that Christopher' date=' while less detailed, was exactly right in what he did say.[/quote']

 

I completely missed Christopher's post. I would say that a monozygotic twin meets the power set - there are more exotic explanations that would similarly use the power set.

 

 

Doc

[Christopher]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

DThe palindromedary notes that Christopher' date=' while less detailed, was exactly right in what he did say.[/quote']

If I am right, that measn this is propably for heroic campaigns (175 points) wich would ahve been nice to know. If not, then it's the unpowered twin.

 

So what was the point of that 25 point form?? The first duplication provides the duplicate (or twin - nothing indicates that the twin is identical - indeed it pays to be different). What is the 25 points for???

When reading it again, it sounds like he has an additional duplicate of only 25 total Points (Real cost is 5, so it's the 5 point doublign rule in efffect). What coudl this be? Some "Computer" build to simulate something intangible?

Perhaps they do not link directly to each other, but to this computer to circumvent some problem with targetting mental powers?

[Lucius]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

It's not a third form. Basically, it's paying ahead of time for the first 25 pts of character growth, so that as the character accumulates experience it's not necessary to constantly be adjusting the cost of the Power.

 

As it happens, it's a set of twins, but of course there are other situations that could justify such a power set.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

One only has to look at a palindromedary

[Lucius]

Re: Dissecting Powers

 

___________________: Detect Meaning of Text and Extra Class of Things: Meaning of Speech +5 INT Roll (Sight Group), Concealed (-8 with Detect PER Rolls), Discriminatory, Perceive into a single other dimension (near future), Transmit, Sense Affected As Another Sense (Hearing for speech, touch for braille, etc; +0) Active and Real Cost:40

 

Lucius Alexander

 

The palindromedary thinks a villain could use Detect Detective

[Lucius]

___________: (Total: 79 Active Cost, 21 Real Cost)

Barrier 5 PD/5 ED, 5 BODY (up to 1m long, 1m tall, and 1/2m thick), Impenetrable (+1/4), Hardened (+1/4), One-Way Transparent (all attacks; +1) (57 Active Points); Limited Power Only covers Extra Limb (-1), Self Only (-1/2), No Range (-1/2), Restrainable (-1/2), Mobile (-1/4), Restricted Shape (-1/4) (Real Cost: 14)

plus

Extra Limb (1) (5 Active Points); Linked (Barrier; -1/2), Limited Manipulation (-1/4), Nonpersistent (-1/4) (Real Cost: 2)

plus

Stretching 10m, Does Not Cross Intervening Space (+1/4), Costs Endurance Only To Activate (+1/4), Persistent (+1/4) (17 Active Points); Limited Power Only with Extra Limb (-1/2), Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1/2), Linked (Barrier; -1/2), No Velocity Damage (-1/4), no Noncombat Stretching (-1/4), Nonpersistent (-1/4) (Real Cost: 5)

 

Lucius Alexander

 

the palindromedary thinks this one really really needs explanatory text

[psyber624]

___________: (Total: 79 Active Cost, 21 Real Cost)

Barrier 5 PD/5 ED, 5 BODY (up to 1m long, 1m tall, and 1/2m thick), Impenetrable (+1/4), Hardened (+1/4), One-Way Transparent (all attacks; +1) (57 Active Points); Limited Power Only covers Extra Limb (-1), Self Only (-1/2), No Range (-1/2), Restrainable (-1/2), Mobile (-1/4), Restricted Shape (-1/4) (Real Cost: 14)

plus

Extra Limb (1) (5 Active Points); Linked (Barrier; -1/2), Limited Manipulation (-1/4), Nonpersistent (-1/4) (Real Cost: 2)

plus

Stretching 10m, Does Not Cross Intervening Space (+1/4), Costs Endurance Only To Activate (+1/4), Persistent (+1/4) (17 Active Points); Limited Power Only with Extra Limb (-1/2), Increased Endurance Cost (x3 END; -1/2), Linked (Barrier; -1/2), No Velocity Damage (-1/4), no Noncombat Stretching (-1/4), Nonpersistent (-1/4) (Real Cost: 5)

 

Lucius Alexander

 

the palindromedary thinks this one really really needs explanatory text

At first glance this power appears to create some form of "Limb", probably a tentacle or a tail of some sort (based upon the Limited Manipulation Limitation) that can be created up to 10m away from the character (the Stretching limitation) and is protected by a force field of some sort which provides 5 points of PD/ED and takes 5 Body to destroy.

 

So you can attack someone at range (10m) with your tentacle. If someone attacks the tentacle while it is extended from your body you can add 5 rPD/rED to your normal defenses against the attack, until you have been hit by 5 BODY worth of damage, after that point the forcefield is destroyed and you would have to reset the barrier or take full damage.

 

Point by point breakdown:

(Total: 79 Active Cost, 21 Real Cost) This indicates a compound power built off of several powers which are considered to all work "at once". Active Cost is what the cost of the power is after advantages but before limitations. Real Cost is the final cost of the power after limitations and the amount of Character Points you have to spend to purchase this Power.

 

Barrier 5 PD/5 ED, 5 BODY (up to 1m long, 1m tall, and 1/2m thick: This power allows you to create something which is used to protect against damage (among other things). It stops the first 5 points of STUN or BODY damage, whether it is physical or energy damage (PD/ED). However after the Barrier has prevented a Total of 5 BODY damage it will cease to exist and would have to be recreated (NOTE: A larger barrier might only have a hole blown in it but this Barrier is too small, the hole would be 2m l/t/t and thats far more than this Barrier can cover).

.....Impenetrable: The Barrier can ignore the Penetrating Advantage on attacks which strike it (The Penetrating advantage normally ensures that at least SOME damage gets through, regardless of defenses. *NOTE* Check with your GM on the effect of Impenetrable on layered Defenses. Since this Barrier applies only to your tentacle/tail/whatever in most cases unless you also have impenetrable on your other defenses it will NOT protect you fully from attacks with the Penetrating advantage.)

....Hardened: The Barrier can ignore the Armor Piercing Advantage on any attack that strikes it. (Armor Piercing cuts the amount of defense in half before applying damage to it. *NOTE* as above this will not affect any other defenses you might have with your tentacle. Check with your GM for how s/he will be handling it.)

....One-Way Transparent (all attacks; +1): This means that your tentacle can attack through the Barrier without applying its defenses to the attack (Technically you could define it to work the other way, but that would be rather silly so I don't think that applies here.)

...57 Active Points: The Cost of the Barrier power before limitations, also determines what the END cost of this Barrier will be (6 END)

...Limited Power Only Covers Extra Limb (-1): The barrier will only protect the Extra Limb that is created by the Extra Limb power linked to this one instead of being useable to protect anyone that can fit behind it.

...Self Only(-1/2): The power can only protect you, the character. *Note* Some GM's may not let you take this as well as the previous limitation as they are essentially the same thing (if it only covers your extra limb then it is automatically Self Only).

...No Range (-1/2): This power cannot be created at range, it can only create a barrier that covers the tentacle.

...Restrainable (-1/2): This power can be prevented (restrained) in some fashion. Possibly means that if the tentacle is grabbed you cannot create the Barrier around it however I am not sure.

...Mobile (-1/4): The Barrier can move, This should actually be an advantage, not a limitation, and is usually unneccessary in combination with Self Only

...Restricted Shape (-1/4): Probably intended to allow the barrier to only conform to the shape of the tentacle. Again I question if this is a valid Limitation in conjunction with the Only Covers Extra Limb limitation.

...(Real Cost: 14) This portion of the compound power (as written) costs 14 points to purchase

 

Extra Limb (1): This power creates one Extra Limb such as an arm/leg/tail/tentacle/etc.

...Linked (Barrier): This power can only be used when the Barrier Power is used. Actually a bad idea as Barrier is an instant power and so linking this to Barrier makes it and instant power as well. Of course with GM's Permission it may be interpreted as the limb ceases to exist as soon as the Barrier is destroyed, but that is not Rules As Written (RAW).

...Limited Manipulation: This Limb can only perform simple tasks such as striking or possibly grabbing a target. It cannot perform complex or dextrous tasks such as typing or working machinery or the like.

...Nonpersistent: If you are rendered unconscious the limb will disappear. Actually a non-functional limitation and an error as this Extra Limb is already only Instant due to the Linked Limitation (see above for more information)

 

Stretching 10m: This power allows you to stretch your body so that you can do things further than the normal 2m of reach a character has.

...Does Not Cross Intervening Space: This advantage means that your stretched body does not actually exist in the space between yourself and where you are using it. For instance if you were "stretching" a hand then your had would disconnect from your body and appear where you were trying to use it, there would be no length of arm running from your wrist all the way to your hand.

...Costs Endurance Only To Activate: You only have to pay the END Cost for this power when you first start using it. As long as you continue to have it "turned on" it will not cost END but if you turn it off you will have to pay the END cost for the power to turn it back on again.

...Persistent: This power will continue to work even if you are rendered unconscious (Technically that is really odd when the stretched part will NOT remain around when you are unconscious, seems to be an error).

...Limited Power Only with Extra Limb: You can only use this power to stretch the Extra Limb created as part of this compound power.

...Increased Endurance Cost (x3): This power costs 3 times the normal amount to use. NOTE that the normal Limitation value of -1 is reduced to -1/2 because this power only costs endurance when you activate it.

...Linked (Barrier): You can only use the Stretching Power when you are using the Barrier Power. See above notes about the issues with Linking an Persistent Power with an Instant one. (Stretching was made Persistent by an advantage).

...No Velocity Damage: You cannot add velocity to any damage made by a maneuver performed with this limb (so Maneuvers like Throw, Move-By, Move-Through do not the bonus damage)

...No Noncombat Stretching: You are limited to the purchased level of stretching (10m in this case) and cannot use the normal x2 (20m) stretching if you take the Non-Combat penalties

Nonpersistent: Would normally mean that the stretching would turn off when you fell unconscious, however, this power has the Persistent Advantage (which is a rules violation, you cannot have an advantage on a power and then take a limitation that counteracts it) and, as noted previously, does not work with the Linked limitation (since Barrier is an Instant power).

 

Overall this power has a number of bugs in it, and would require GM permission in several other cases. While this is a breakdown of the power and not a critique I have to say in all honesty that this really should be replaced with Telekinesis with a SFX of "Phantom Tentacle" or whatever the Extra Limb is supposed to be. As it is currently written it is an overcomplicated attempt to do basically just that, the only real difference I can see (and the only justification for creating this complex of a power) is if the author wanted something that could be attacked, in which case the "Physical Manifestation" Limitation applied to Telekinesis would create the same effect MUCH cleaner.

[Killer Shrike]

Just a side note on using Compound Powers in Hero Designer.

 

The app itself uses HTML for formatting in the UI, and allows you to edit the DISPLAYED html independently of the content.

 

If you are also solely using HTML export templates, you can take advantage of this to embed mark-up in your characters in HD, which HD will render within the UI and include in the export.

 

For the purposes of compound powers, you can take advantage of this to make each sub-item in the compound power a < li > in a < ul > , which helps with the readability considerably.

 

For instance, look on the Resources tab of (Jonas Mailer), he has 3 such compound powers, including:

 

 

[TABLE=class: wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_width-full]

 

 

[TR]

 

[TD=class: wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_text-left]

6) Patch of Ogre Skin : (Total: 29 Active Cost, 18 Real Cost)

• +4 PD, Impenetrable (+1/4), Resistant (+1/2) (8 Active Points) (Modifiers affect Base Characteristic) (Real Cost: 8) plus
  
• +4 ED, Impenetrable (+1/4), Resistant (+1/2) (8 Active Points) (Modifiers affect Base Characteristic) (Real Cost: 8) plus
  
• +10 STR (4 END) (10 Active Points); Increased Endurance Cost (x4 END; -1 1/2) (Real Cost: 4) plus
  
• +3 REC (Real Cost: 3)
  Notes: Real Cost: 18
  

 

[/TD]

 

[TD=class: wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_wysiwyg_table_text-center]

4[/TD]

 

[/TR]

 

 

[/TABLE]

 

[Lucius]

That last power is actually a shamanic spirit. By using the combination of Stretching, Extra Limb, and Barrier, I have defined it so that the manifest spirit IS literally part of the shaman. That means, for example, that damage that exceeds the Barrier is actually taken by the character, spells can count range from the spirit's location, etc.

 

I have a player who likes playing shamans in D&D and to some extent this is meant to mimic that character class's mechanics.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Totem palindromedary

 

 

 

 

 

 

[IndianaJoe3]

That last power is actually a shamanic spirit. By using the combination of Stretching, Extra Limb, and Barrier, I have defined it so that the manifest spirit IS literally part of the shaman. That means, for example, that damage that exceeds the Barrier is actually taken by the character, spells can count range from the spirit's location, etc.

 

I have a player who likes playing shamans in D&D and to some extent this is meant to mimic that character class's mechanics.

 

Lucius Alexander

 

Totem palindromedary

 

 

 

 

 

Great minds think alike. I've used a similar (if simpler) construct to model the same ability.