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Thia Halmades

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Everything posted by Thia Halmades

  1. It’s why I outlawed wish. Just didn’t exist in my games. I get where you’re coming from @Scott Ruggels, however I actively side with Mallet and Hugh on this issue; to me your argument says “we are all equal and must all be playing by the same rules which I should have complete and total insight to.” That may not be what you’re saying, but that’s what I keep pulling out as the underpinning “core” of your objection. I can’t have infinite summoned MOBs, neither can they. This next bit is said without snark, and I want to say that because a) I’m easy to misinterpret and b) people get sensitive and I’m trying to be mindful of that. There are a ton of completely legal ways to get “Summon a Lich-Load of Skeletons,” in addition to the various mentions people gave. Some general things: NCM applies to players, not monsters, meaning, a monster has as many CP as it needs to satisfy its special effect(s). So my troll needs 50 STR because it’s a troll? Cool. That’s already outside of what a player can have (by my own post) because I can account for game balance as a GM for what I build, but I cannot anticipate every permutation of what a PC will come up with. Summon Skeletons, Trigger; when this tomb is disturbed, and the password is not uttered (PS: there’s no need to ever tell anyone there’s a password, it could just as easily be “and it ain’t me, guys” THEN, Summon Skeletal Horde and Attack. Is it wonky? Sure it is, but it’s also legal and reasonable, it’s why you’re standing there for a hot minute before t3h h0rd3 descends upon you. What this all comes down to, for me, is those two classic words, “Common and dramatic sense.” I respect the kinds of games you want to play, I just think it’s very limiting to want all games forced into that block. Doctor Doom has way more toys and resources than most heroes, including the Fantastic Four. Shoot, Darkseid has a whole planet, sub dimensions and New Gods vs... the Justice League. Like. Those odds are BAD. Having your foes have more points just means you have to utilize better team work. Maybe I’m off topic at this point? It’s possible. I’m not eating today. And my stomach is slowly licking my medulla oblongata for how much salt may be required before consuming it.
  2. That’s actually a super complicated question, and the answer is “it depends.” Generally, I don’t, unless the character is intended to actively interact with the players. If we’re talking about a McGuffin style NPC, I just say so, and bang, he exists in the aether. However, if we’re talking about a ghost/poltergeist/etc., then there’s two questions I need to answer: * How does the “spiritual plane,” or planes, operate in this setting? Assuming a pretty average concept, then, * Desolid, APW, when APW is active, then, vulnerable to whatever I know that’s exceptionally high level, but I’m trying to answer the question as you posed it and as clearly as I can, so for me, it’s almost always about once they can affect physical world, they can be affected but so much of this really hinges on what the setting says about aethereal forms.
  3. You can totes fix that, but should you change your mind, I’ll be in the Caligari Sector, enacting the Emperor’s Will. Purging heretics. Getting loot. You know how it is.
  4. Minor edit; I played it on my PS Vita, which I no longer have. They have yet to put VIII on the App Store. I am hoping, against hope, that they follow the trend and fill the gap since everything up to IX except VIII is available. That, and Chrono Cross.
  5. Hey. Professor Grognard. You heard of “streaming services?” (this post meant in purely good humor and honest jest, as I have the highest respect for Cancer, something I believe he is aware).
  6. YUZ ORCZ ALWAYS WIT DA MO DAKKA!! Also, feel free to post a join request, and I’ll add you. BLOOD! FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS! FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!
  7. I don’t know if you plugged in “2 weeks later...” or if it just did that on its own, but that was positively giggle worthy.
  8. Oh, FF VIII. My favorite entry in the series until XV! Seriously. I loved VIII. I get a lot of hate for it, but eh, what are you gonna do? I liked the brooding hero, gun blades are amazing, and the heroine didn’t get popped too early. Character design was solid and what have you. ANYWAY. Spells first. These are actually END batteries, not charges. “Thia, but...” No buts. It’s an END battery, defined and limited as “the most source energy of a given element I can tote at a given time,” with the default max being 100. Then you cast spells with END, all spells cost END, must draw from elemental battery (-0, as a unique campaign limitation). END is cheap, and I can boot up VIII (it’s on my iPad) and confirm that, I’m going on memory here. Your second question is the one that’s interesting to me, because I did it for Persona. And to do it I probably broke a... crap load of rules, but it boiled down to making each Persona a “vehicle” that behaved like a power armor. Once a Persona is equipped, it has set abilities, it can never have more than 8 abilities, those abilities are from a defined list, etc. etc. When equipped it passes specific skills to the user, both combat and non-combat. The point is, I was able to do it for... 220? Permutations (I didn’t write them all out, I didn’t need to, but I have the framework to do so) and all of their spell variations. FF, like Persona, uses a graded damage scale, but it’s not interesting, so I wound up writing two spells for every spell level, one more traditional, and one more that was more “Heroic.” It was the most fun I ever had doing a build and frankly it worked far better than I expected. I don’t know if any of that gives you inspiration or helps in any way, but that’s how I managed it. I gave up thinking of them as “mechanics” and reasoned from effect; what is this, and what is it really doing? It’s a power armor for the soul, it grants stat buffs, skill boosts and a limited set of powers. Okay, I’ve got this.
  9. Greetings, Inquisitors; I am currently going through the campaign for WH40k Inquisitor on PS4. We have a Cabal called !PhantomThieves and we can use more people. IF: You own a PS4 You want to PURGE HERETICS You want to PURGE HERETICS WITH OTHER GAMERS THEN Log in, go to page 3 or so, and select !PhantomThieves and Apply. Post here so I know who you are and I’ll approve you, and we shall engage in GLORIOUS COMBAT! FOR THE EMPRAH!!!
  10. But there is a point in having the larger skill group, such as Jack of All Trades, Scientist, etc., as that gives a material return on investment with enough skill purchases. And I disagree here; the point of leveling up the skill is because those points are always with the skill, period. You won’t find yourself having allocated the points elsewhere and then not having them available, which has happened to me on multiple occasions. So there’s something to be said for both options, it’s actually well balanced.
  11. Hey E; I’m happy to help. What you’re describing is Constant (+1/2), which converts an Instant power to a maintained power until/unless interrupted. Generally, all powers behave that way unless they are purchased to anticipate that eventuality. For instance, let’s take the classic D&D spell Agannazar’s Scorcher, which is a constant, time limited spell; cast it, it stays trained on the target, and burns. A lot. In HERO, this would be modeled as Constant, and if the caster is KO’d, the spell ends. What persistent does is keep the fire roaring even -if- the caster is dropped like a sack of rocks. If you just want the thing to end because they got gob-smacked, that’s Constant. Does that answer the question?
  12. Good morning; Caveat; this is not a discussion thread, so for an extended conversation please repost in the Hero System Discussion forum. That said: I think I see what happened here; the sub-section in question details how Dispel interacts with other effects, in this case, Adjustment powers. In the preceding paragraph, and to your point, it specifically states that Dispel does not affect Characteristics. In the paragraph in question, it contemplates, in direct contradiction, “Characteristic or power that’s been negatively adjusted.” What I think is causing the disconnect, is that when applicable (which is rarely), Dispel contemplates the current Active Points of a given power, including any adjustments that have been applied, and that can include objects, potions, or spells that grant additional characteristic levels, because you can also purchase a Characteristic as Power, such as “Belt of Super Strength, +STR 30, OIF (-1/4)” — yes it’s a minor reach, but in a fantasy setting (where Dispel spends most of its time) purchasing characteristics as powers is fairly common. If the players & GM agree that something is classified as a Power, then it’s subject to Dispel, so my reading of this is that “Characteristic” is referring specifically to core stats only, which is why this doesn’t seem to line up at first glance. If there’s a typo, it’s the omission of the clarifying word “core” characteristics, without specifying ‘enhanced’ characteristics. I hope that clears up the confusion, please let me know if it does not.
  13. Please reserve discussion for the forum, rather than the rules clarification hotline. Thank you!
  14. Good morning (relatively speaking). This is a rules question hotline; normally I would cite the text and provide some explanation, however your question required some unpacking and clarification first. That said, this is not a discussion thread, I’m just working to get to your question and provide sufficient clarity that the answer provided speaks to your question and makes sense: Based on the question as written, “is there an equivalent limitation that adds time as a third method of turning off the power?” Broadly, this is Time Limit. You also state in your post Persistent is +1/4, which is true, except Persistent can only be applied effectively as a modifier to Constant, +1/2, so it’s minimum cost is +3/4 overall. Next, “Constant is an advantage that makes a power Persistent for a limited time period.” Constant removes an attack roll, a power activation roll, or otherwise allows maintaining an Instant power between segments (although in the case of attack powers it will only deal damage on the user’s phase), except as a damage shield, etc. Persistent, for an additional .25, means that the power remains active despite normal cancelation conditions, such as getting knocked out, so long as there is END to pay for it and/or it costs 0 END, or a Charge has duration left in the tank (another way to approach this depending on special effect). Inherent, the third “form” of this, is the one that makes a power innate to a character. The primary ways of managing duration are the ones you mentioned; moving Instant to Constant, Constant (on, no roll to maintain) to Persistent (Constant, modified to be on even if unconscious) Persistent to Inherent (integral to a character) or Time Limit, either as an advantage to set a specific duration or a limitation to alter it down. Please let me know if that answers your question. If not, or if you’re seeking a more in depth discussion around how other GMs manage this or player opinion, I encourage you to post it to the Hero System Discussion forum.
  15. I’ve been turning this over in my mind, but something keeps coming back to me; you’ve made it a point repeatedly that they aren’t in this for any reason except to go back to their normal lives. So for me, I would make them the focus of the ritual, kind of like a horrible, horrible surprise party. And, the most important part, is that they lose. They’re in the wrong place, the ritual requires “the blood of the faithful,” etc, one way or another, they are directly feeding into the thing’s completion. Upon completing it, they are cursed/tied off/forced to adhere to the conditions of the summon while they get introduced to new allies who are going to help them act as seditionists against the thing that beat them. Kind of like Curse of the Azure Bonds, but instead of being heroes, who know they’re being framed, they’re kind of “normal blokes” who would rather not do this and are suddenly smack in the middle of it with no way out but through.
  16. @Simon can you move this to the forums please, it’s another discussion rather than addressing the question as posted. Thanks!
  17. @Simon can you move this over to the System Discussion Forum please?
  18. This is not a discussion thread, it’s a textual answer thread. I respect the conversation, and even want to participate, but please move it to System Discussion forum, rather than the specific rule helpline. Thank you.
  19. @Duke Bushido Here’s the wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descent:_FreeSpace_–_The_Great_War Here’s an excellent explanation of the Shivans, their introduction and why they remain terrifying to this day: When I’m relating your idea, I’m thinking of a threat very similar to this, Lovecraftian in nature, forcing an all new arms race and who unchecked is going to run rough shod over everyone.
  20. But if you start thinking of those things, then you are starting to think like a HERO player. And to go back to a what I was saying in a prior thread, it’s the way of thinking that really separates HERO players from conventional OTS gamers.
  21. The text says this: The GM decides what constitutes a “task” for purposes of Summon. For combat, each Phase of fighting usually equals one task. For ordinary house- hold chores, carrying loads, or pulling wagons, each day of service normally qualifies as one task. Keep common sense, dramatic sense, and consider- ations of game balance in mind. (6E1, 290) Meaning, the GM (in this case, the Honorable @Scott Ruggels) can absolutely say “he can stand guard forever and only consume a single task,” where I would say, one of the keys of Summon is the built in degradation. Do I think each Phase of combat is a very tight time requirement? Yes, but making it a turn, or a scene, means that they can keep dudes around for a long, long time. Personally, I think that even doing nothing, just “being there” consumes a task per day, anything feels weirdly imbalanced to me. Also, for the record, this is one of the things I find weirdly lacking; it’s an example of where I’m really looking for the formal, concrete, here are the examples and rules for Summon, particularly given it’s already a STOP power, but that’s not the case. Anyways. Weirdness aside. It provides the framework.
  22. The two systems are intended to be used separately; either hit location is rolled, or, STUNx is rolled. Per the text: In some campaigns (particularly Heroic ones), the GM may prefer to use the Hit Location Table (see 6E2 108) instead of a rolled STUN Multiplier. In that case, use the STUN Multiplier listed on the table instead of rolling one. 6E2, p98 Yes, the Hit Location Table goes up to x5, because the odds of rolling a head shot (as required by the bell curve) are pretty low. You may want to pose this question in the Hero System Discussion forum to get a gauge of who does what in their campaigns, as this is the “most accurate answer based on the text” help line, and that is the open discussion zone.
  23. HERO. It’s like LEGO, made of silly putty, assembled by a thousand Rodins all at once. Each one of them thinking they’re right. Simon is of course, correct, I wasn’t thinking about the healing element yet, hadn’t stepped away long enough. So to get back to it, my independent thought was “Does he mean life steal?” In which case, that’s a Killing Attack linked to an Aid and/or Heal in very limited circumstances. Most healing options are “between combat,” because Healing can get pricey and everyone tends to dump a half dozen limitations on it, most commonly, Extra Time. Or, the GM says “Um... nah. I don’t like it, rewrite it.” Or if your GM is a real monster, you show up with your sneaky “Regen” baked into your multi-power and says “see that paragraph?” “The one that keeps me alive?” “Yeah.” “This one?” “Yeah.” “Yes...?” “Delete it.” I’ve also been in fights that have gone 10, 20, or 30 rounds. Lost count after a while, had a GM who didn’t balance real well and his NPCs tended to be... sturdy. There’s no average fight in HERO, it is all highly dependent on what’s happening, who’s running, and the skill of the GM at keeping things moving.
  24. You’re very welcome. What I’m here for. Back for. Something. IDK. We’ll find out, it’s an adventure!
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