Post by chip on Feb 24, 2006 4:48:58 GMT -5
MOTIVATIONS. I'd like to present you the way I handle the Transform Self modifier. Of course it's a House Rule and it's based on the following fact. Consider two characters with the same stats except one, let's say Strength. The first character, with Transform Self, has the scores 2/8, while the second one has a score of 8. The second character has always a Strength greater or equal to the one of the first char, but its cost (in term of char generation stones) is the lesser one, that is more power and less cost. According to me, it makes no sense and my rule tries to fix this problem and at the same time preserve the spirit of the game and its mechanics without involving articulate computations.
MECHANICS. Let assume you just want one alternative form. First of all, you pay 3 white stones for it. Then, you pay as usual the stats with one score only (i.e. the stats that don't change through transformation), while as for the other ones, which have two scores, you pay only for the highest and moreover you get a discount in red stones equal to the difference between the two numbers or, if the cost is in stones, a discount equal to 1 red stone for every white stone. The discount is doubled/tripled for Intelligence (when energy source) / Durability, and can't reduce the cost under the half or 1 red stone.
Option: Two main alternative powers in two different forms (GM discretion), -2w. For instance Emma Frost, who has Telepathy and Toughness/Strength in alternative forms, which exclude one another, would have this option.
QUICK EXAMPLES. Strength 2/8: 9w (for 8) -6r (8-2) = 7w. Adamantium skeleton YES/NO 3w -3r = 2w.
COMMENTS. I have created some characters with these rules, and they seem quite balanced with the non-transformer ones, so I'm definitely satisfied. However, I recognize there are some problems or points that might be improved.
1) The idea works well with one only alternative form, but how about multiple transformations? I can think of a 2w cost for every additional form, as in the official rules, but I don't know how to price the stats of these forms. For one intermediate form, one possibility is a cost of 1w and intermediate stats (arithmetic mean between the lowest and the highest number, rounded up) at no cost. However, I have never had cases of players desiring multiple transformations.
2) The discount of 1r could seem nothing special when you pay 3w or 5w for one level, so I had rules to increase it suitably but, for sake of simplicity, I prefer this simplified version.
3) I have also a second version of discount for the stats with no number: compare the cost in stones with the level of an ability like strength, rounded down, and get a discount in red stones equal to this level. This version gives you more stones when the cost is low, less when it's high. For instance, Immunity to reality distortion costs 8w, that is level 7 (6w, rounded down), i.e. 7r of discount.
4) Note that, for consistency, I use the same rule for powers that work only in one special form or condition, for instance for Toughness only while flying, or Flight only when flames on, etc.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION? In particular, I'd like to know about the method for pricing stats with no number (which one do you prefer?) and about the fixed costs (3w to get Transform self, -2w for the option), even if I don't think it is so important, and, of course, about anything else.
MECHANICS. Let assume you just want one alternative form. First of all, you pay 3 white stones for it. Then, you pay as usual the stats with one score only (i.e. the stats that don't change through transformation), while as for the other ones, which have two scores, you pay only for the highest and moreover you get a discount in red stones equal to the difference between the two numbers or, if the cost is in stones, a discount equal to 1 red stone for every white stone. The discount is doubled/tripled for Intelligence (when energy source) / Durability, and can't reduce the cost under the half or 1 red stone.
Option: Two main alternative powers in two different forms (GM discretion), -2w. For instance Emma Frost, who has Telepathy and Toughness/Strength in alternative forms, which exclude one another, would have this option.
QUICK EXAMPLES. Strength 2/8: 9w (for 8) -6r (8-2) = 7w. Adamantium skeleton YES/NO 3w -3r = 2w.
COMMENTS. I have created some characters with these rules, and they seem quite balanced with the non-transformer ones, so I'm definitely satisfied. However, I recognize there are some problems or points that might be improved.
1) The idea works well with one only alternative form, but how about multiple transformations? I can think of a 2w cost for every additional form, as in the official rules, but I don't know how to price the stats of these forms. For one intermediate form, one possibility is a cost of 1w and intermediate stats (arithmetic mean between the lowest and the highest number, rounded up) at no cost. However, I have never had cases of players desiring multiple transformations.
2) The discount of 1r could seem nothing special when you pay 3w or 5w for one level, so I had rules to increase it suitably but, for sake of simplicity, I prefer this simplified version.
3) I have also a second version of discount for the stats with no number: compare the cost in stones with the level of an ability like strength, rounded down, and get a discount in red stones equal to this level. This version gives you more stones when the cost is low, less when it's high. For instance, Immunity to reality distortion costs 8w, that is level 7 (6w, rounded down), i.e. 7r of discount.
4) Note that, for consistency, I use the same rule for powers that work only in one special form or condition, for instance for Toughness only while flying, or Flight only when flames on, etc.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION? In particular, I'd like to know about the method for pricing stats with no number (which one do you prefer?) and about the fixed costs (3w to get Transform self, -2w for the option), even if I don't think it is so important, and, of course, about anything else.
