Post by takewithfood on Feb 12, 2009 11:50:42 GMT -5
Hey gang,
I'll cut to the chase. Here's what I'm trying to accomplish - I'm trying to design a Force Field Action that is:
1. an effective but balanced defense for personal use. It should be advantageous to use a FF for defense, and yet that advantage should cost you something. It makes sense to me that going on the defensive hurts your offense.
3. something you can share with others. If nothing else, FF users tend to protect other people. The mechanic must be elegant, and should prevent protected characters from acting freely (since they are, after all, behind a curtain of force for at least part of the panel).
4. at the lowest common denominator, but with sufficient options to include everyone. FFs can be multi-functional, but this shouldn't be the norm. People like Sue Richards can do creative things with their FFs, but not everyone can.
5. simple over-all. KISS is important to me. The closer it is to the basic mechanics of "stones of defense" and the spirit of the old FF, the better.
I've made a few changes from my last version:
- I increased the penalty for attacking with a personal FF up
- implemented vjc's suggestion about x1.5 defense with x2 as an option
- took out the Frictionless option (Skids can bite me)
- increased the cost back to +3 CL.
You're getting, at the most basic, an Action that does nothing but protect you. It still costs you an Action to use it. It ain't cheap. You can no longer tweak it out with Action as Modifier, Efficient, or anything like that. You pay stones, get lots of defense, but your attacks suffer. You can be altruistic and aid others, but that cuts your offense out completely (and their's).
I think Telekinesis should have a +1 CL option that reduces the penalty to attacks from -3 to -1. I'm not sure if Telekinesis should still grant a discount to Force Fields. But those are other issues.
~TWF
I'll cut to the chase. Here's what I'm trying to accomplish - I'm trying to design a Force Field Action that is:
1. an effective but balanced defense for personal use. It should be advantageous to use a FF for defense, and yet that advantage should cost you something. It makes sense to me that going on the defensive hurts your offense.
3. something you can share with others. If nothing else, FF users tend to protect other people. The mechanic must be elegant, and should prevent protected characters from acting freely (since they are, after all, behind a curtain of force for at least part of the panel).
4. at the lowest common denominator, but with sufficient options to include everyone. FFs can be multi-functional, but this shouldn't be the norm. People like Sue Richards can do creative things with their FFs, but not everyone can.
5. simple over-all. KISS is important to me. The closer it is to the basic mechanics of "stones of defense" and the spirit of the old FF, the better.
Force Field AN +3 CL
You are capable of creating barriers of solid force which can be used for a variety of purposes, not the least of which is personal protection.
Personal Protection
For every 2 stones of Force Field shifted to defense, you gain 1 stone of defense from the General Pool. These free stones count directly towards your defense and are not limited by your Action Number.
While your Force Field is active you suffer a -3 situational modifier to all attacks. (An appropriate situational modifier can reduce this penalty to -1.) Actions which require delicate tactile work outside your force field, such as Medical Healing or Computers are all but impossible.
Protecting Others
You may choose to extend your Force Field's area in order to protect allies. Consult the Difficult & Resistance chart: Area 1 and 2 are free, but you must pay 1 stone per step beyond 2.
When you declare that you are offering protection, any ally within the area of your Force Field may choose to benefit from your stones of defense.
The Force Field cuts off access to the outside world. You and anyone who accepts your protection can not directly affect those outside the Force Field. Attacks and other Actions hinging on interaction are negated.
Options
Force Fields cannot benefit from the following advantages: Efficient, Unlimited Power, Permanent Action.
+1 CL = Offense Force Field. This option allows you to attack with your Force Field, either as a Range 3 attack, or by combining stones with Close Combat.
+1 CL = Create Constructs. You can create simple objects made out of force. Area determines the size of the construct (pay for area above 2 as usual). Your construct can support a weight equal to 1.5 times the number of stones of effect (see the Difficulty and Resistance chart). Any damage in excess of 1.5 times the number of stones of effect destroys the construct.
+2 CL = Improved Force Field. Stones shifted to defense are doubled (rather than receiving 1 free stone from the General Pool for every 2 stones shifted to defense). Likewise, if you have the Create Constructs option as well, your constructs can support twice their stones of effect in weight, and are only destroyed if they suffer damage equal to twice the stones of effect.
-1 CL = Personal Effect Only. You may not expand your Force Field to protect others.
-1 CL = Class 3 Material. Your Force Fields are not perfect and can be penetrated by some special attacks and materials (such as adamantium).
Example: Hellion has a Force Field AN of 5 with the Offensive Force Field and Create Constructs options. As he and the rest of the New X-Men battle Blob, he notices his allies starting to tire. He decides to come to their defense, putting 5 stones into his Force Field, and expanding the area to 2 (up to 30 yards). Several other New X-Men decide to accept the help. None of them may attack the Blob, but they get 7 free stones of defense, allowing them to take a breather and recover a little Energy before taking up the attack again. Hopefully it's enough to hold back the Blob!
You are capable of creating barriers of solid force which can be used for a variety of purposes, not the least of which is personal protection.
Personal Protection
For every 2 stones of Force Field shifted to defense, you gain 1 stone of defense from the General Pool. These free stones count directly towards your defense and are not limited by your Action Number.
While your Force Field is active you suffer a -3 situational modifier to all attacks. (An appropriate situational modifier can reduce this penalty to -1.) Actions which require delicate tactile work outside your force field, such as Medical Healing or Computers are all but impossible.
Protecting Others
You may choose to extend your Force Field's area in order to protect allies. Consult the Difficult & Resistance chart: Area 1 and 2 are free, but you must pay 1 stone per step beyond 2.
When you declare that you are offering protection, any ally within the area of your Force Field may choose to benefit from your stones of defense.
The Force Field cuts off access to the outside world. You and anyone who accepts your protection can not directly affect those outside the Force Field. Attacks and other Actions hinging on interaction are negated.
Options
Force Fields cannot benefit from the following advantages: Efficient, Unlimited Power, Permanent Action.
+1 CL = Offense Force Field. This option allows you to attack with your Force Field, either as a Range 3 attack, or by combining stones with Close Combat.
+1 CL = Create Constructs. You can create simple objects made out of force. Area determines the size of the construct (pay for area above 2 as usual). Your construct can support a weight equal to 1.5 times the number of stones of effect (see the Difficulty and Resistance chart). Any damage in excess of 1.5 times the number of stones of effect destroys the construct.
+2 CL = Improved Force Field. Stones shifted to defense are doubled (rather than receiving 1 free stone from the General Pool for every 2 stones shifted to defense). Likewise, if you have the Create Constructs option as well, your constructs can support twice their stones of effect in weight, and are only destroyed if they suffer damage equal to twice the stones of effect.
-1 CL = Personal Effect Only. You may not expand your Force Field to protect others.
-1 CL = Class 3 Material. Your Force Fields are not perfect and can be penetrated by some special attacks and materials (such as adamantium).
Example: Hellion has a Force Field AN of 5 with the Offensive Force Field and Create Constructs options. As he and the rest of the New X-Men battle Blob, he notices his allies starting to tire. He decides to come to their defense, putting 5 stones into his Force Field, and expanding the area to 2 (up to 30 yards). Several other New X-Men decide to accept the help. None of them may attack the Blob, but they get 7 free stones of defense, allowing them to take a breather and recover a little Energy before taking up the attack again. Hopefully it's enough to hold back the Blob!
I've made a few changes from my last version:
- I increased the penalty for attacking with a personal FF up
- implemented vjc's suggestion about x1.5 defense with x2 as an option
- took out the Frictionless option (Skids can bite me)
- increased the cost back to +3 CL.
You're getting, at the most basic, an Action that does nothing but protect you. It still costs you an Action to use it. It ain't cheap. You can no longer tweak it out with Action as Modifier, Efficient, or anything like that. You pay stones, get lots of defense, but your attacks suffer. You can be altruistic and aid others, but that cuts your offense out completely (and their's).
I think Telekinesis should have a +1 CL option that reduces the penalty to attacks from -3 to -1. I'm not sure if Telekinesis should still grant a discount to Force Fields. But those are other issues.
~TWF