Netzilla

Why are recoverable charges not subject to the +1 cap for standard charges? I understand the need for this with Boostable charges (do to the inherent advantage of being able to increase power), but I'm stumped for how a recoverable charge has an advantage over 0 END.

Thanks,

Deric Page

Originally posted by Rebar

"#%&!@ you scum!! I'll show you, you worthless %*@%!

How about a nice 12!

What do you think of that, eh!!!"

Hey, hey! No making me laugh while I'm at work!

Another variation on this idea that I've been knocking around is as follows:

Start of Combat

The start of combat remains unchanged. All combats will begin with a Segment 12 in which all characters (except those with Speed 1) may act.

Random Determination of Segments

During each Post Segment 12, each player will roll a number of d12 (referred to as Segment Dice hereafter) equal to their character's Speed score. The numbers on the dice will determine in which segments their character will be able to act.

Duplicate Numbers

If a character rolls the same segment number on 2 or more dice, one of those dice grants that character an action on the segment listed on the die. The duplicate(s) may be turned in for Wild Card chips (represented by blue poker chips). A Wild Card chip may be used to get an action in any segment in which the character has not already acted. In most respects, this acts the same as having a held action. The exceptions are: 1) it is not lost if it is not used by your next action and 2) if more than one Wild Card chip is held past Segment 12 the number of Segment Dice you roll for your character is reduced by 1 for each additional chip.

Changing Speeds

If your character's speed increases during the turn, you may immediately roll an additional Segment Die. If the result is a duplicate of a segment already rolled for your character (even if that segment has already passed), you may trade it in for a Wild Card chip. If the result is not a duplicate and for a segment that has already passed, it is immediately discarded and not rerolled. If the result is for an upcoming segment (or the current segment if your character has not already acted & does not have an action for this segment) and not a duplicate, the result is added to your existing segments.

If your character's speed decreases during the turn, your must discard in any unused Wild Card chips. If your character has no Wild Card chips, then an unused Segment die must be discarded.

My main thinking with this version is that it prevents the situation that faster characters *always* act on the same segments as any slower characters. My main concern is that it may be too much complication for too little effect.

I wonder if I can talk my group into trying it.

Re: [Question] A few questions

Originally posted by The Horror

1) So a focus can always be rebuilt given time/materials, and it doesn't cost character points. Meanwhile an Independent focus can't be rebuilt unless character points are spent once again. Does this mean that if a suit of armor is built in a superhero game using OAF, and it gets stolen, that the character can just build another one? If it gets stolen by a villain, can the villain keep on using it, or does he have to pay character points for it himself if he wants to do so?

First, you need to consider if Focus is the right limitation for the armor. If it's an Accessable focus, it can be taken away with a grab maneuver. If it's inaccessable, then it can be taken away in 12 seconds.

However, as for rebuilding/relpacing it goes, I look at it like the Iron Man comics. More often than not, when a suit gets trashed or stolen, it seems like Tony's always got a new prototype or old (slightly weaker) version to use once he gets back to his lab. If he's got EP available, he's got the prototype (though it may still have a few bugs in the new systems); otherwise he's just got the version from before his last upgrade (significant EP expenditure).

Originally posted by The Horror

2) If a PC has a suit of powered armor purchased with Only Usable in Heroic Identity, then gets captured, can the suit be taken away from him by the villains leaving him to fend for himself until he can replace it/re-acquisition it?

Well, the limitation of OiHID is that if he's not in Hero ID, then the powers can't be used. If the villain can force him out of HID, then too bad for him. If the special effect is that of a suit, then it's going to be more trouble to remove than a focus, but still somehow removeable (even if he needs a super can-opener to do it).

Personally, I prefer the OiHID limitation to Focus for powered armor characters. This is mainly because of the 12-second rule (not to mention the breaking foci rules).

Deric

Originally posted by Jhamin

f I have a character with speed 4, I know I am slow but I also know that within most campaigns I will only go one or two times fewer than someone with a higher speed. Under this system I have a less than even chance of going at all on any given round.

There's a variation on this system that eliminates the chance of losing any actions due to poor dice luck. Write the numbers 1 through 12 on scraps of paper and draw one out of a hat each phase. If your speed score is equal to or higher than the number, you get to act. Numbers do not go back into the hat until after all 12 have been used.

This also can work by using the number on the paper as the column of the Speed Chart that will be played that phase.

Deric Page

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"There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it." -- Larry Niven