Post by piratespice on Aug 28, 2003 21:27:46 GMT -5
Technoforming is one of the many briefly mentioned (but poorly explained) powers given to various characters in the Guide to the X-Men. It is Scalphunter's ability to create guns on the spot. Recently, I was reading some of my old comics. Specifically, I came across the old X-Terminators mini-series, which featured a character named Wiz Kid, who had a technoforming ability, but could create nearly any kind of tech out of just about anything. Though his powers weren't well-explained, he was a fun character and I was inspired...and this is the final result.
I tried to make this different from Inventing (it runs the risk of seriously overshadowing that Action). All constructive criticism is welcome.
TECHNOFORMING
Cost Level = Action Number + 8 Levels
Description
Want to make nifty gadgets, but Inventing just takes too long? Technoforming is the ability to spontaneously construct technological devices from inorganic components.
To create a device, you must have a basic idea how it works. You cannot create devices of a Difficulty higher than your Action Number in an appropriate Action (plus Intelligence Bonus, if applicable) to understand the device. The Technology Action covers most devices, though Ranged Combat could apply to guns, or Vehicle Operation to aircraft. Refer to the Technology row of the D&R chart for device Difficulties.
There are several elements of Technoforming that cost stones to create an item. The first is mass. The more material being technoformed, the more stones must be spent. Refer to the Weight row of the D&R to determine cost (based on Difficulty, not Resistance). These stones equal the amount of damage the device can take before it is destroyed.
Special abilities and powers can be granted to a device for a cost equal to the effective Ability/Action/Modifier Number, plus 1 stone per cost level increase. Use this same method to apply Advantages or Disadvantages.
Additional Resistance is applied to all Technoforming attempts based on suitability of the components being used to create the device. The more compatible the base components are, or the more they resemble the final product, the lower this Resistance will be. Extremely similar components are worth a Resistance of 1. Components that have nothing in common with the device being built require a Resistance of 5 or more (GM’s discretion) to technoform.
How long the device will function before it breaks down is determined by spending stones on the Duration row of the D&R. These stones are effectively “drained” after an appropriate amount of time has passed, for purposes of determining maximum stones (see below).
The maximum number of stones that can be applied to a given device at any one time is 3x your Action Number.
Options
• -2 to Cost Level if only one type of device can be created (i.e. vehicles, guns, etc.)
• -2 to Cost Level if you can only work with certain materials (i.e. metal, plastic, etc.)
Comments
This is an incredibly versatile power if used creatively. This Action isn’t recommended for players that aren’t good at “winging it.”
Rules for Action Box:
• Construct devices from inorganic components
• Create up to [3x Action Number]-stone device
• Spend 1 stone per Difficulty for mass/weight
• Spend 1 stone per Ability/Action/Modifier Number, +1 per Cost Level increase
• Resistance based on component suitability
Example
Takeshi Matsuya, a.k.a. the Wiz Kid, has Technoforming 8. He wants to convert his electric wheelchair into a small, one-man helicopter. This would be considered “Normal Hi-Tech,” or a Difficulty of 4 on the Technology row of the D&R. Taki’s Vehicle Operation is 4, just enough to understand how to make a mini-copter. The wheelchair weighs about fifty pounds; only 1 stone of mass, so he starts by spending 1 stone. He wants this craft to be able to fly at about 75 mph, so he adds 2 stones (referring to the Flying row of the D&R) plus 2 more to cover the Flight Action’s cost modifier. His modified wheelchair already possesses some nice bits of technology, so the GM rules that most of the necessary components are already there, applying only 1 extra stone of Resistance, for a total of 6. But there is one major missing component; the GM informs Taki’s player that the wheelchair’s battery doesn’t have enough energy to power a ‘copter. Wiz Kid has already spent 6 stones, and he is pretty sure creating a suitable power source will cost more than the 2 remaining stones he can spend this Panel, so he decides to take some extra time to finish off this project. He spends 1 more stone for Duration (referring to the D&R, this provides a Duration of 1 Panel) to make sure his invention stays in one piece long enough to modify it further.
The following Panel, Taki grabs a trashcan and attempts to turn it into a generator. This is a simple device, only a Difficulty of 1 (which his Technology of 6 and Intelligence of 5 cover nicely). He spends 1 stone for mass to begin technoforming the can. However, the GM determines that the trash can’s only inherent component that resembles a generator is its metal composition, so he applies a Resistance of 4. Taki spends his last 3 stones for a Duration of 1 hour (he’ll have plenty of time later to continue adding stones for Duration while piloting). With the generator attached, Wiz Kid can now take to the skies in his 15-stone mini-copter (well under his maximum of 24).
I tried to make this different from Inventing (it runs the risk of seriously overshadowing that Action). All constructive criticism is welcome.
TECHNOFORMING
Cost Level = Action Number + 8 Levels
Description
Want to make nifty gadgets, but Inventing just takes too long? Technoforming is the ability to spontaneously construct technological devices from inorganic components.
To create a device, you must have a basic idea how it works. You cannot create devices of a Difficulty higher than your Action Number in an appropriate Action (plus Intelligence Bonus, if applicable) to understand the device. The Technology Action covers most devices, though Ranged Combat could apply to guns, or Vehicle Operation to aircraft. Refer to the Technology row of the D&R chart for device Difficulties.
There are several elements of Technoforming that cost stones to create an item. The first is mass. The more material being technoformed, the more stones must be spent. Refer to the Weight row of the D&R to determine cost (based on Difficulty, not Resistance). These stones equal the amount of damage the device can take before it is destroyed.
Special abilities and powers can be granted to a device for a cost equal to the effective Ability/Action/Modifier Number, plus 1 stone per cost level increase. Use this same method to apply Advantages or Disadvantages.
Additional Resistance is applied to all Technoforming attempts based on suitability of the components being used to create the device. The more compatible the base components are, or the more they resemble the final product, the lower this Resistance will be. Extremely similar components are worth a Resistance of 1. Components that have nothing in common with the device being built require a Resistance of 5 or more (GM’s discretion) to technoform.
How long the device will function before it breaks down is determined by spending stones on the Duration row of the D&R. These stones are effectively “drained” after an appropriate amount of time has passed, for purposes of determining maximum stones (see below).
The maximum number of stones that can be applied to a given device at any one time is 3x your Action Number.
Options
• -2 to Cost Level if only one type of device can be created (i.e. vehicles, guns, etc.)
• -2 to Cost Level if you can only work with certain materials (i.e. metal, plastic, etc.)
Comments
This is an incredibly versatile power if used creatively. This Action isn’t recommended for players that aren’t good at “winging it.”
Rules for Action Box:
• Construct devices from inorganic components
• Create up to [3x Action Number]-stone device
• Spend 1 stone per Difficulty for mass/weight
• Spend 1 stone per Ability/Action/Modifier Number, +1 per Cost Level increase
• Resistance based on component suitability
Example
Takeshi Matsuya, a.k.a. the Wiz Kid, has Technoforming 8. He wants to convert his electric wheelchair into a small, one-man helicopter. This would be considered “Normal Hi-Tech,” or a Difficulty of 4 on the Technology row of the D&R. Taki’s Vehicle Operation is 4, just enough to understand how to make a mini-copter. The wheelchair weighs about fifty pounds; only 1 stone of mass, so he starts by spending 1 stone. He wants this craft to be able to fly at about 75 mph, so he adds 2 stones (referring to the Flying row of the D&R) plus 2 more to cover the Flight Action’s cost modifier. His modified wheelchair already possesses some nice bits of technology, so the GM rules that most of the necessary components are already there, applying only 1 extra stone of Resistance, for a total of 6. But there is one major missing component; the GM informs Taki’s player that the wheelchair’s battery doesn’t have enough energy to power a ‘copter. Wiz Kid has already spent 6 stones, and he is pretty sure creating a suitable power source will cost more than the 2 remaining stones he can spend this Panel, so he decides to take some extra time to finish off this project. He spends 1 more stone for Duration (referring to the D&R, this provides a Duration of 1 Panel) to make sure his invention stays in one piece long enough to modify it further.
The following Panel, Taki grabs a trashcan and attempts to turn it into a generator. This is a simple device, only a Difficulty of 1 (which his Technology of 6 and Intelligence of 5 cover nicely). He spends 1 stone for mass to begin technoforming the can. However, the GM determines that the trash can’s only inherent component that resembles a generator is its metal composition, so he applies a Resistance of 4. Taki spends his last 3 stones for a Duration of 1 hour (he’ll have plenty of time later to continue adding stones for Duration while piloting). With the generator attached, Wiz Kid can now take to the skies in his 15-stone mini-copter (well under his maximum of 24).