Post by takewithfood on Feb 18, 2009 11:17:27 GMT -5
Hey gang,
So, I've spent honestly about 3 hours thinking about nothing but Transform Self over the last week (not all at once), testing CADs, trying different formulas, and so on. And this is actually what I've come up with:
This system is not totally complete, but it's very close. Here are its strengths:
* gives a small discount to characters who's values only change a little; gives a much larger discount to characters who's values change a lot
* accounts for the disadvantage of being totally unable to use an expensive/useful power in an alternate form
* is very simple / KISS-approved
Very interested to hear some thoughts. I'm almost in disbelief of how simple this is, so I'm actually skeptical that what I've done makes any sense. There are two "test CADs" that I'm going to post below, with fully explained costs.
~TWF
So, I've spent honestly about 3 hours thinking about nothing but Transform Self over the last week (not all at once), testing CADs, trying different formulas, and so on. And this is actually what I've come up with:
Transform Self
You have a second form that may have different Abilities, Actions and Modifiers. Create a single CAD, but separate Ability, Action and Modifier numbers with a slash, putting your first form's values on the left and the second form's values on the right.
Pay the normal cost for Abilities, Actions and Modifiers that do not change between forms.
You are entitled to a discount if an Ability, Action or Modifier has a different value in each form. To calculate this discount, first determine the cost of the more expensive value - then you may then take a discount equal to 1 red per difference between two values. Additionally, if one of the values is zero (meaning you can't use that Action or Modifier in your alternate form) then you receive an additional discount of 1 red per CL of base cost AND any options.
Modifiers with a set cost should be rounded down to the nearest equivalent cost level. For example, a Modifier worth 7 white stones would be the equivalent of CL 7. If you only have such a Modifier in one form, you are entitled to a discount of 7 red stones.
One important note: A discount can never reduce the cost of an Action, Ability of Modifier by more than half.
Transforming into your alternate form costs both of your Actions during your Panel. Changes are considered to be in effect at the beginning of the page, even if your Action hasn't come up yet.
Example: Colossus is capable of transforming his body into an Organic Steel form, and doing so greatly enhances his Strength and Toughness. On his CAD, the different values of his two forms are separated by a slash, with his normal form on the left and his Organic Steel form on the right.
His Strength is listed as 3/9. To determine the cost, he first figures the cost of the highest value - in this case, Strength 9 would cost 12 white. Now he gets a discount of 1 red stone per difference between the two values. The difference is 6, so he gets 6 red stones (or 2 white) back. In total he pays 10 white stones for his Strength.
Likewise, his Toughness is listed as 0/6. To determine the cost, he first figures the cost of the highest value - in this case, Toughness 6 has a base cost of +3 CL, for a total cost of 12 white. He gets a discount of 1 red per stone of difference between the two values (6 red, or 2 white again). Additionally, because he has no toughness at all in his normal form, he gets an extra discount equal to the cost level (+3 CL), saving him an extra 1 white stone. In total he pays 9 white for his Toughness.
You have a second form that may have different Abilities, Actions and Modifiers. Create a single CAD, but separate Ability, Action and Modifier numbers with a slash, putting your first form's values on the left and the second form's values on the right.
Pay the normal cost for Abilities, Actions and Modifiers that do not change between forms.
You are entitled to a discount if an Ability, Action or Modifier has a different value in each form. To calculate this discount, first determine the cost of the more expensive value - then you may then take a discount equal to 1 red per difference between two values. Additionally, if one of the values is zero (meaning you can't use that Action or Modifier in your alternate form) then you receive an additional discount of 1 red per CL of base cost AND any options.
Modifiers with a set cost should be rounded down to the nearest equivalent cost level. For example, a Modifier worth 7 white stones would be the equivalent of CL 7. If you only have such a Modifier in one form, you are entitled to a discount of 7 red stones.
One important note: A discount can never reduce the cost of an Action, Ability of Modifier by more than half.
Transforming into your alternate form costs both of your Actions during your Panel. Changes are considered to be in effect at the beginning of the page, even if your Action hasn't come up yet.
Example: Colossus is capable of transforming his body into an Organic Steel form, and doing so greatly enhances his Strength and Toughness. On his CAD, the different values of his two forms are separated by a slash, with his normal form on the left and his Organic Steel form on the right.
His Strength is listed as 3/9. To determine the cost, he first figures the cost of the highest value - in this case, Strength 9 would cost 12 white. Now he gets a discount of 1 red stone per difference between the two values. The difference is 6, so he gets 6 red stones (or 2 white) back. In total he pays 10 white stones for his Strength.
Likewise, his Toughness is listed as 0/6. To determine the cost, he first figures the cost of the highest value - in this case, Toughness 6 has a base cost of +3 CL, for a total cost of 12 white. He gets a discount of 1 red per stone of difference between the two values (6 red, or 2 white again). Additionally, because he has no toughness at all in his normal form, he gets an extra discount equal to the cost level (+3 CL), saving him an extra 1 white stone. In total he pays 9 white for his Toughness.
This system is not totally complete, but it's very close. Here are its strengths:
* gives a small discount to characters who's values only change a little; gives a much larger discount to characters who's values change a lot
* accounts for the disadvantage of being totally unable to use an expensive/useful power in an alternate form
* is very simple / KISS-approved
Very interested to hear some thoughts. I'm almost in disbelief of how simple this is, so I'm actually skeptical that what I've done makes any sense. There are two "test CADs" that I'm going to post below, with fully explained costs.
~TWF