New Modifier: Extra Appendages

[piratespice]

Okay, I'm pretty sure this is all my own material, possibly inspired by someone else's work. But its been a while since I wrote this. So if I've blatantly ripped off someone else and just given it my own polish, I sincerely apologize (and please direct me to the original source).

EXTRA APPENDAGES
Cost = 2 white stones x [Modifier Number + Usage Factor] (see below)

Description
You possess any number of additional limbs, be they extra arms or legs, tentacles, a prehensile tail, etc. This Modifier grants free stones toward applicable Actions when it is appropriate for the extra limbs to be used.

Usage Factor is equal to the number of Actions or Abilities this Modifier applies to, plus any Cost Level increases for those Actions. For example, an extra set of legs that apply to Close Combat and Unstoppable (AN + 3) would have a Usage Factor of 5. If those legs were purchased with a Modifier Number of 3, the cost would be 16 white stones (2 x [3 + 5] = 16). Free stones for applicable Abilities are only granted when the Ability is used as an Action, not when used as an Ability Bonus.

This Modifier may be purchased multiple times for different appendages (such as an extra set of arms and a prehensile tail).

Options
• -1 white stone to Cost if Modifier Number is reduced under special conditions, such as when using fewer appendages for an action.

Comments
This Modifier can get expensive, but getting free stones to multiple Actions from a single Modifier is well worth the cost, especially since this Modifier pretty much guarantees to qualify a character for the Looks Non-Human Challenge.

Rule for Modifier Box:
• [Extra Appendages]: Add free stones equal to MN to [insert applicable Actions/Abilities]

[Neros]

hmm... I hoped this would explain abit how Octopuses armes where made, but it dident... Making extra arms seem abit wrong to me some where.

[piratespice]

neros said:

hmm... I hoped this would explain abit how Octopuses armes where made, but it dident...

If you're referring to Doctor Octupus, this Modifier wouldn't explain anything, per se. But it does open the door for a more universal rule to re-create Doc Ock's stats, instead of making up unique rules just for him (which is what they did in his writeup).

Making extra arms seem abit wrong to me some where.

You lost me...

[Neros]

..... I think i lost myself to there....................... *SLAP!!*

In the book there are rules for making mechanical tentacles... But not for biological or "user" based tentacles.
So when a character of mine wanted a tentacle, i used that rule, but halved the thoughness since his was a biogical tentacle.

[sphynx]

I have to think alot on this one. Something seems wrong. Considering the loving desire for PsychoCentric, Toughness, PsiWeapon, etc, I'd want to spend alot of time with the numbers here for how much these free modifier additions should cost.

The general idea seems good, but I've not been home to sit back and think/comment effectively on this much harder to evaluate Modifier. I'll get back to you on this one.

Sphynx

[piratespice]

Looking forward to you input, as always, Sphinx.

Also, I clarified the cost a bit in the original post. When I looked at it again, I realized what I had written in the Cost section didn't match the example in the Description.

[sphynx]

I think I see the problem that was in the back of my mind. I recall working out a system before based on existing modifiers as to what the cost should be for free-stone modifiers.

Animal Senses (good for stuff like Hunting/Tracking, non-combat action) = MN+0
ReflexiveDodge/Toughness (Good for half the uses of a combat action/the defense half) = MN+3
Targetting/Claws (Good for all uses, Offense or Defense) = MN +4
PsychoCentric Template (Good for a group of Actions, all Mental) = MN+5
Luck (Good for all Actions, but under a limitation of 'barely') = MN+6

So, if I wanted a Modifier to Thieving/BlackOps/Investigation I'd probably afford it at MN+2
(Non-Combat is -3 from the +5 of PsychoCentric, since TK and Telepathy would fall under Combat actions).

Anyhows, that makes the appendage idea seem off on costs. Good idea over-all, but costs seem off.

Sphynx

[piratespice]

"Off" how? Too expensive? Too cheap?

What I dislike about your method is that its too vague. It doesn't take into account the power level of the Actions being boosted. A free stone to Unstoppable is better than a free stone to Close Combat, even though both are "combat Actions" (though I also dislike that designation...most any Actions can be put to good use in combat, and being a "combat Action" doesn't make it better). Simply put, Unstoppable costs more. Those stones are harder to get in the first place, so it benefits more from free stones.

What I've tried to do with this Modifier is set a precedent for a better means of pricing such Modifiers. Meta-systems like this help to make the rest of the system more universal. The less exceptions and "GM calls" you need in a system, the more smoothly it will run.

[gaelinic]

neros said:

..... I think i lost myself to there....................... *SLAP!!*

In the book there are rules for making mechanical tentacles... But not for biological or "user" based tentacles.
So when a character of mine wanted a tentacle, i used that rule, but halved the thoughness since his was a biogical tentacle.

Where in the book does it tell you how to make mechanical tentacles?

[Neros]

Page 126, at the bottom of the last colum. Mechanical Tentacles.
Only problem they are meant for Home Security, so getting them to fit with a character was abit tricky. Not even sure that it was balance what i gave the player.

His tentacles was organic, so i halved the toughness of the arms.