MP Modifier for Mastery

[jayholden]

Hey. I need some input on a new Modifier for a character's Mastery of Ice. The idea is to still have the character's Energy reserve and General Pool intact, but introduce another pool similar to MP used only to power Mastery of Ice-related Actions. Max MP would likely be 2x or 3x their Intelligence (I would have them pay 2x Intelligence cost and ban Int-based energy). It would function like Luck 2.0, except 1) the Modifier only applies to the Mastery and 2) there would be a list of very specific Actions the character could take with different MP costs. The character could augment this with Energy just like he/she is using a regular Action and could only use "spells" when they have the appropriate Mastery Option.

See example below.

Icicle projectiles
Cost: 1MP/damage
Summons ice projectiles that fly toward the enemy.
Elemental Force Blast required

Thoughts? Things I should know or be concerned about in terms of balance? Thanks!

[malice]

Pope Mega Force did this in the Elder Scrolls game. He just made us pay a multiplier on intelligence (like you have already suggested) and made our magic ("Magicka" in Elder Scrolls) into a seperate pool of energy that powers magical actions.

It's very simple, and pretty effective in my opinion.

Rather than list the actions which can work off of "MP" as you say, I would recommend instead putting in the action's description (So your list is easier to expand). Perhaps make "only works off of MP/Energy" a standard sentence on most actions, or make it a -1 discount.

Balance-wise you just need to make sure that you're charging enough for what is effectively a second reserve of energy. This game depends too much on energy to neglect that. As I said you could make "only works with MP OR Energy" a disadvantage, and you could make "works off of EITHER MP or Energy" a +2 or 3 advantage.

Some actions come pre-packaged with the advantage or disadvantage just as some actions come with advantages built in now (Growth and Shrinking can never be improved by lines, Steal Superpower is always out of control, etc.).

Also, to be fair to the folks who don't want anything to do with "MP", may I recommend making the 2x or 3x intelligence cost (and the MP that results from paying it) optional? I just made an Orc Marauder for the Elder Scrolls game, I have no plans for magic in his future, and I still had to pay for magic I'm not gonna use. Saddling players with challenges, disadvantages, or expenses that they don't want should be something you avoid as GM as often as possible.

[thanos]

A possibility and only that since i am not really familiar:

Use PCPT as a base and make the modifier instead of Mental Actions into Magical Actions.

Any stones you use from your E-Pool is to focus or direct this innate ability (might want to include in the description that it can go up with LoE though).

This way you don't need an 'extra E-Pool' of which you need to keep track.

[jayholden]

Actually, Thanos, I did consider that. But most of my efforts are actually directed towards making the game more complex. I feel like MURPG by-the-books doesn't have enough for the players to keep track of. I understand that a lot of people disagree, and that's fine. But the player considering the MP Modifier feels the same way I do so I think it'll work out. Thanks for the ideas though.