Different Ways of Using Lines

[dorkknight23]

Some Experience-Related House Rules I’m thinking about using for Gene Nation. Thoughts?

Improving Abilities Above 3:
“Because, hey, Daredevil did it…”

It should be really expensive and not worth anyone’s time to improve an ability above 3. However, the option should still be available for those willing to throw good lines after bad. To increase an ability beyond three costs double the normal cost. For example, to boost an ability from 2 to 3 costs 10 lines, but to boost it from 3 to 4 costs 20. In cases of intelligence when used for energy, this cost is doubled (for example, increasing from 3 to 4 would cost 40 lines,) or tripled in the case of durability (or any rare usage of the “half-fairy blood” challenge; so increasing from 3 to 4 would cost 60 lines.) The transitions follow the cost chart, so improving an ability from 6 to 7 requires 40 lines, from 7 to 8 60 lines, and so on.

Improving Modifiers With Lines:

Sometimes you don’t have the stones for the modifier you want. That’s okay. You can improve your modifiers by adding lines of experience, at a rate of 2 lines/red stone of cost (or 6 lines/white stone.) Options can be bought, at the equivalent of the increase to cost (For example, someone with toughness +1 wants to add "No armor penetration." The difference between cost level 4 and 5 is 1 white stone, so it costs him 6 lines to acquire the option.)

Adding Modifiers:

The 2 lines/red stone conversion can be used also if attempting to purchase modifiers like mental defense, toughness, reflexive dodge, or targeting. (It is the GM’s prerogative to limit some purchases, and allow others.) The player finds the normal cost, and pays for it at the rate of 2 lines per red stone or 6 lines per white stone (for example, Toughness +1 normally costs 2 white stones, this costs 12 lines at a rate of 6 lines per white stone.)

[rennyn]

I like them. Although for the Modifier options I think if its a +1 option that should be the same cost as raising the modifier by one. Otherwise, for example, it generally would be a lot cheaper to buy say.. regular toughness, then in game just tack on AP and No 2x Damage.

Otherwise I like it all

[dorkknight23]

I agree with you. Changed the idea accordingly. I'm always looking for ways to improve the little tiny problems I find with the system (like being unable to improve modifiers, for one.)

[Ricochet]

I like the first one, the others I don't like that much, though. Especially the last. The toughness example seems balanced at first, but actually you should consider that toughness of 1 has a cost level of 4, which would normally be 40 lines. Now why would this have to be cheaper than learning concentration of 1? I'll give you another example: 2 lines for animal senses? Not a good idea.

I hate to rain on your parade dorkknight, but someone has to do it.

[dorkknight23]

Hey, I don't mind a little rain every now and again. I'm just thinking of other options for using lines for customizing charactes.

Well, as for the example with animal senses, that's why I brought in the good old GM perrogative to limit PCs from purchasing modifiers like that. It's more meant to pick up modifiers that could be construed as "non-super power" (like low levels of toughness, reflexive dodge, targeting, mental defense, fast draw, etc.) But, I still think improving modifiers like Animal Senses, etc., from a low level can be allowed if they used some stones to buy it initially.

So do you think we should go back to the 10 lines per + of the option instead? I do agree with Rennyn that it gets a bit unwieldy.