Some old terms

[JmOz]

Looking at an old book, trying to figure out a thing or two about the characters

 

What was CHA defense?

 

How did Drain work pre 4th?

[Scott Baker]

I would guess it was CHAracteristic defense, although I don't remember such a thing in the game. Starting in 2nd Edition they had Power Drain, Power Transfer, and Power Defense. Since those listings all talked a lot about Characteristics, maybe someone just used the wrong term.

 

The basics of Drain haven't changed much. Less options (i.e., advantages and disadvantages) to customize. Is there something specific you want to know, or was your question just in relation to the CHA Defense reference?

[Scott Baker]

Out of curiosity, which book references CHA Defense?

[lemming]

I found Characteristic Defense in the Fantasy Hero Beta, but it was replaced by just "Defense" in the first FH.  (As were Transfer, etc...)

[lemming]

I found Characteristic Defense in the Fantasy Hero Beta, but it was replaced by just "Defense" in the first FH.  (As were Transfer, etc...)

 

Oh, and Characteristic Drain was 1d6 for 15 points times the point multiplier for the characteristic.

ChaDef was 2 points cost for 1 point defense.  (min 10 points)

[Grailknight]

Pre-4th Edition, Drain was 10 points per die x the Char cost modifier, Transfer was 15 points per die x the Char modifier and Power Defense was 1 point per 1. Powers other than Characteristics were 1 multipliers. The Defense powers still cost double.

 

So 60 points got you 6d6 Drain vs most things but only 2d6 DEX , 3d6 EGO or 12d6 END. Roll dice, subtract Power Defense and take the remainder off the value of the Char. A single die SPD drain(100 active points!) could paralyze you in 1-2 hits with no Power Defense.

 

5 points of Power Defense( minimum allowed ) was enough to protect your SPD and DEX(mostly) and 10 points was good for EGO and CON so the most common targets were STR, END and STUN.

 

Points came back fairly swiftly( 1 per segment IRC ) until Champions III gave us Power Destruction. This cost 20 points per die but you got your REC in points per WEEK. Power Defense was very popular then.

[Scott Baker]

Points came back fairly swiftly( 1 per segment IRC ) until Champions III gave us Power Destruction

 

You could delay the return for +2 points x cost multiplier per segment as well.

[JmOz]

Enemies I is the book.  specifically the character Leech.  It is a thing I am doing to see how characters have evolved.  The Cost x 10 makes sense now.  (I could not understand why a STR drain was cheaper than a BODY drain)

[JmOz]

The reason I am asking is that I am doing a strait update on older characters...Including listing their everyman skills...Had to share the one I just typed in

 

"PS: Giant Mutant Hunting Robot  8-"

[Hugh Neilson]

In 1e, we had Characteristic Drain and Characteristic Transfer. It became Power in 2e and beyond, but in 1e, only characteristics could be drained or transferred. I think 2e also converted the Drain/Transfer to power points. In 1e, DEX drain cost 3x as much as STR drain.

[lemming]

Thanks Hugh for confirming.  Wasn't positive since I just had the FH beta to go by and 2e did turn it to power.

[rravenwood]

Beyond what has already been mentioned, in 1st edition, the Characteristic Drain effect only lasts for 1 of the attacker's phases, but this duration may be extended +1 phase per +5 points.  In 2nd edition the return rate (of the renamed Power Drain) was changed to 1 Power Point per segment, with the option to delay the start of the return by +1 segment per +(2 x characteristic cost multiple) points (as already mentioned).