Steve Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 In playing around with a power construct, HD says it is apparently legal to take both Always On and Time Limit as Limitations on a Persistent power. So I can turn the power on but can't turn it off, yet it will turn off on its own when it hits the Time Limit maximum. Does that seem legal, losing the ability to turn off a power yet having it limited in duration once activated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted January 17, 2015 Report Share Posted January 17, 2015 Well it sure seems like a good way to model the solid rocket boosters used on the Space Shuttle*. The values might need to be adjusted down a little for the synergy of the combination but I think it's a legit combo. *Once ignited they always burned the same way every launch (like bottle rockets - no throttle control). The Shuttle's main engines produced only a fraction of the thrust of the solid boosters but were critical because they allowed for throttle control to reach different orbits (I believe the Hubble and the International Space Station are at different altitude orbits) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 It might also be a way to define something like Hourman's Miraclo: the powers turn on and then can't turn off until the drug runs its course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Technically, that's the way Aid works already (you can't use the Aid again until all the original points have faded). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 Technically, that's the way Aid works already (you can't use the Aid again until all the original points have faded). What? My understanding was as long as you have less than the Maximum Effect from the Aid in question you can get Aided again. Otherwise what is the point of the Maximum Effect rule? If getting hit with an Aid once prevented it from being usable again until all the points faded you could never go over your max roll anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 What? My understanding was as long as you have less than the Maximum Effect from the Aid in question you can get Aided again. Otherwise what is the point of the Maximum Effect rule? If getting hit with an Aid once prevented it from being usable again until all the points faded you could never go over your max roll anyway. I stand corrected. I totally missed that section. Do'h!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 19, 2015 Report Share Posted January 19, 2015 I don't think I would personally allow that combo even if it is technically book legal. Time Limit is already a Limitation on a Persistent Power and if you can choose not to activate the power it's simply not "Always On" by definition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 But what if you can't turn it off once it starts? That seems like it should be worth something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbywolfe Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Always On is a -1/2 and stops you from ever turning off or Pushing the Power. For a Power you can turn on at will I'd say it's probably worth a -1/4 Limitation, at most, to force it to last it's entire Time Limit, unless the Time Limit is long and the Power is super dangerous/inconvenient. That means if something lasts an Hour it would bump you up from -3/4 to -1. There are some situations I still probably wouldn't allow any extra Limit for. If you have +X Characteristic on a Time Limit without any drawbacks and you can Activate it any time you like I don't see any downside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WistfulD Posted January 20, 2015 Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 Well it sure seems like a good way to model the solid rocket boosters used on the Space Shuttle*. The values might need to be adjusted down a little for the synergy of the combination but I think it's a legit combo. *Once ignited they always burned the same way every launch (like bottle rockets - no throttle control). The Shuttle's main engines produced only a fraction of the thrust of the solid boosters but were critical because they allowed for throttle control to reach different orbits (I believe the Hubble and the International Space Station are at different altitude orbits) Decidedly different. One of Neil Degrasse Tysons beefs with the movie Gravity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2015 The ability in question is a Multiform construct. The character transforms into superhuman form and then can't turn back until the power runs its Time Limit. It then has a "cool-down" time until it can be reactivated. When I was putting it together I discovered the possible rules loophole of having Always On and Time Limit on Persistent powers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WistfulD Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I think the base concept is validly a (non- "-0") limitation that should be worth -1/4 to -1/2. The only question is whether it should be named Always On and follow the additional benefits and limitations that come with that. From the sense I get from most published material, they would write this as a Side Effect instead, but I think that is only semantics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmjalund Posted January 21, 2015 Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 a better name might be "Cannot Turn Off" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted January 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2015 I'm thinking "Cannot Turn Off" is probably what I should call it. I'm not sure if it is 1/4 or 1/2, but I'm inclined to go with -1/4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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