Energy Absorption/Reflect as a Modifier?

[piratespice]

This conversation took place in another thread. I'm continuing it here to keep the other thread uncluttered.

sphynx said:

Now if someone would convert Energy Absorption/Redirection into a Modifier called Improved Defense, Energy (store stopped energy) and link ForceBlast to it, we could save even more problems.

Sphynx

piratespice said:

Interesting. While I agree that Energy A/R is a little funky in how it works, I'm not sure I'd agree that it should be a Modifier. Mind you, I've never had a use for the "redirection" part of it (I'm not keen on making a Bishop clone). But I've always found the way the Absorption works, and using the Action Box to store absorbed stones, to be rather elegant. But I'm always open to ways to take a hammer to any game system. How about you send me a PM with some of your thoughts on the matter, and maybe we can mold something out of it?

sphynx said:

Energy A/R: The thing is, it IS a modifier. You don't put stones into it to absorb, that means it's a modifier. The only reason it's treated as an Action is because you can put stones in it for redirection. Makes more sense to seperate the Modifier from the Action, and since there's already an Action (Force Blast) that could be used, that'd make it purely a Modifier similar to Energy Defense, just better.

[piratespice]

sphynx said:

Energy A/R: The thing is, it IS a modifier. You don't put stones into it to absorb, that means it's a modifier. The only reason it's treated as an Action is because you can put stones in it for redirection. Makes more sense to seperate the Modifier from the Action, and since there's already an Action (Force Blast) that could be used, that'd make it purely a Modifier similar to Energy Defense, just better.

Well, yes and no. My first MURPG character was an energy absorber, so I got a lot of experience using this Action. While I agree that it doesn't function like other Actions, I'd say it functions even less like other Modifiers.

Modifiers (for the most part) provide free stones. Energy A/R does not. Being able to use the Action Box to store those stones is both economical (when it comes to CAD space), and useful for distinguishing them from other energy stones. So, I'm not yet sold on the idea of making it a Modifier. Of course, this doesn't me you can't. Just means I won't be doing the dirty work.

[sphynx]

Mistake on the definition of Modifiers. Very few modifiers (maybe half at most) provide free stones. Modifiers are anything that don't require you to spend energy to use. Ie: absorbing energy without having to allocate red stones to do so.

Modifier: Improved Defense, Energy MN+5

Ignore double the modifier in energy attacks, and 'store' that energy in a manner similar to accumulate Energy, up to double the MN of this modifier.

Option: -1 Energy stored can only be used for a single pre-determined Action, such as ForceBlast. Store energy in that Action Box instead of in your Energy Pool.

Option for Force Blast: -1 Linked to Improved Energy, Defense

[piratespice]

sphynx said:

Mistake on the definition of Modifiers. Very few modifiers (maybe half at most) provide free stones.

A little more than half (in the Game Guide) actually. Even things like Healing Factors and Animal Senses are providing free stones. Those stones aren't always obvious, or represented on the CAD, but they're there.

Modifiers are anything that don't require you to spend energy to use. Ie: absorbing energy without having to allocate red stones to do so.

This is a decent working definition for Modifiers. But there are several exceptions, and those exceptions tend to be there for a reason. The main reason is CAD economy. The CAD is a fantastic character sheet design (in theory), because it is integrated into the game itself. Since we use physical stones to represent Energy, we need a physical place to put them and a means of organizing them. That's where Action Boxes come in.

Simply wanting to make Energy A/R a Modifier because you don't spend stones in it (which is only sort of true) isn't a good enough reason, when it works well as it is.

That being said, your Modifier could be tweaked slightly so as not to lose quite as much CAD economy (which, if you couldn't tell, I place a lot of value on ). Basically, if you have to assign which Action to "store" absorbed stones in as soon as you absorb them, you can use the Action Box for that Action to put the stones in. It still doesn't address the issue of distinguishing between absorbed stones (which would remain until used, or bleed off) and stones spent on that Action. But that's a lesser issue.

All in all, I still wouldn't personally be satisfied with even the above suggestion. I rather like how Energy A/R works now, as an Action. Though, I do agree that it should simply be Energy Absorption, period, and you can spend those stones on Force Blast if you have one (and Bishop can just take a Disadvantage that he can only use stones from Energy Absorption for his Force Blast). Nevertheless, I'm perfectly willing to help fine-tune a Modifier version for those that would prefer to make it such in their games.