New modifier : Additional limbs!

[powerfull]

Hey, it suddenly came to me, how about all those characters out there with tails, tentacles, multiple arms or legs? How could they have more limbs? After some thinking I came up with the following idea, but I need help pricing it.

Modifier : Additional Limbs

Cost level : +2

Description : You have additional apendages (tails, arms, tentacles, <<pseudopods>>, whatever). You have 1 additional limb at an MN of 1, and you have twice the previous rank for each rank above 1 (two at MN 2, four at MN 3, eight at MN 4 and so on). Your strength is increased by your MN if your additional limbs are available (so at an MN of 4 you have 8 additinal limbs and an effective str of +4). Versatile and interesting if you're really interested in playing a <<handy>> individual (Captain squid immediately comes in mind for some reason. Add speed bonus, and you have a centaur. Add CC modifier, and you have the deadly Centipede. Add prehensile and ditch the CC modifier, and you can have a multiarmed mutant. Add an additional weapon modifier option and you could outfit him with multiple weapons. ).

You can also purchase additional limbs up to the next action number for a single red stone, although they wouldn't add to it. For example if you wanted to have 4 additional arms and a tail (a total of 5 additional limbs), you would have to buy an AN of 3 for 4 additional arms, and pay an additional red stone. Your MN and your STR mod would still be 3 however.

Rules for modifier box :
Additional limbs
+1 str per MN
1 red stone for additional limbs, without changing MN.

Options :
+1 for hidden or retractable
+2 for a speed modifier (addiional legs, adds value to speed rank, not free stones)
+1 for prehensile, the limbs have fine motor skills and/or hands and can be used for delicate manipulation of objects (an additional arm with a fully functional hand, or perhaps even a tentacle with a very advanced nervous system, as opposed to a paw, or most prosthetics)
+3 to add to close combat (similar to claws)
+2 per additinal weapon modifer (can use more than one weapon simultaneously)

limit:
-1 weak, str gains are halved (round down). Limbs are small or weak, generally not as strong as the rest of the body, or inefficient by construction for applied strength (most tails, most legs, appendiges that end in barbed hooks, stingers or hammers, etc. )
I really need help with pricing. All comments welcome.

[dorkknight23]

Interesting modifier. +2 seems appropriate for the cost, but maybe it should be +1 strength per 2 Modifier Number instead of +1/level (or, in other terms, +1/2 Modifier Number for strength). Also, minor tiff, it's not "prehensive," it's prehensile.

So, for options, something like:
+1 retractable
+1 to substitute for speed for purposes of movement alone
+1 prehensile, no negative situational modifier to use for delicate manipulation
+4 close combat modifier (like claws)
+1 for a weapon modifier, +1 per additional weapon modifer (can use more than one weapon simultaneously in different hands)

Something like that, maybe?

[powerfull]

I gave it a +1 str per AN because of the way doc oc's tentacles work, and also because growth (a +2 power) and density control (a +5 with increase/decrease, probably +3 for increase only) also give +1 per AN. I haven't decided yet thought.

Substitute for speed doesn't seem very reasonable, but I increased the option cost to +2

As for the CC modifier. this power already has a +2 price, I think +4 would be too much. But perhaps +3 would be more reasonable for a CC modifier.

As for the weapon modifier, why only a +1? What's the normal cost to add an extra weapon modifier to close (or ranged) combat?

[powerfull]

Come on guys, any more comments? I think it's a pretty decent modifier, but somebody must have an idea on how to make it better or more balanced than I already made it , or any new options and limitations. I thought about it in 5 am in the morning for god's shake!

[pgholland]

Well the best way is to test it out now, create two or three extra appendage characters- maybe one who just tries to break it by maxing it, and an ordinary and put them in a variety of situations to test if they compare to similar priced abilities, but it does look about right, i may even do a multi-limbed character.

[Ricochet]

Okay this might work for some players, but wouldn't it be easier to use Tail/Tentacle whip for tails and tentacles? Wouldn't it be easier to just add some extra Strength and Weapon Modifiers for extra arms?
I mean, I can see where your going if you want to have a lot of extra appendages, but I just don't think it's really necessary.

So as an alternative: With a few modifications, you could turn tongue/tail/tendril whip, into multi-limbered or something like that. How would that work?

[powerfull]

Well, tail/tentacle/tongue whip is a mostly offencive action and has a totally different orientation than the modifier (not action) that I'm suggesting here. I don't think it would work right for additional limbs such as nightcrawler's (or even for tentacled characters who don't use their tentacles for offence) , or a four armed mutant's, that's why I created this moddifier. Unless of course you mean very heavy modification (like the one suggested here. )

When you say to add some extra strength and weapon modifiers you mean just add base str and an additional weapon modifier in close combat instead of using a modifier? Well, yes, but that wouldn't define anything special about your character now, would it?

[lordofchange]

I've been trying to come up with something like this for awhile. The spider man book helped clear up some stuff with the Octopus Device. All 4 arms together added strength of 7 (split to each arm being a strength of 5). However unlike most modifiers, instead of adding free stones Doc has to pay them himself, but it applies to each split of the action he's doing, whether it's tendril whip 2 people or lifting 2 different things he applies the mod paid for both full, while splitting the action stones between targets).

Based on this I'd suggest the following.

Extra appendage:
MN = Strength of extra appendage(s)

Options
+1 for x2 amount of limbs (stack)
+1 for retractable
+1 to use MN instead of speed
+1 for prehensile limbs
+1 limbs come with a 20' reach

-2 player pays half of the bonus for each use
-3 player pays all bonus for every use


Doc would have paid
5 for the strength
2 for options (limbs + speed + prehensile + reach - pays all bonus)
Total = 6w

This covers if you want to have weak or strong arms, and how many you have.

Since it's a mod and technically a weapon on it's own, you buy the weapon mod in your ability (like CC or Tendril whip) , not on the mod.

For the tech appendages, I'd seriously consider the extra mods of the Bionic Self Repair and the Cybermorphics for extra fun.

Paying for it each time makes the mod cheap (again the Doc's energy regeneration from intelligence makes it a great int build).

[lordofchange]

After seeing what people have done more, as well as dissecting a few more characters I came to the conclusion that several options are already included. The speed bonus actually would be paid just like you had that ability (p78 I think). Same would go for extra length/range. Not to mention retractability covered in either cybermorphics or the advantage of converting to human form.

THEN... Based on this I'd suggest the following.... Again.

Extra appendage:
MN = Strength of extra appendage(s)

Options
+1 for x2 amount of limbs (stack)
+1 for prehensile limbs

-2 player pays half of the bonus for each use
-3 player pays all bonus for every use


Doc would have paid
5 for the strength
1 for options (limbs + prehensile - pays all bonus)
Total = 6w1r (the speed bonus would have been 2w more for 4 speed and the 1r for the extra 10 ft)