The Dresden Files > DFRPG Resource Collection
Custom Powers Master List (Work In Progress)
blackstaff67:
I respectfully point you towards What are Powers?, p. 158, right column, last paragraph. "For each stunt's worth of function...price that power at a cost of -1 Refresh. Since taking a power means you get no Pure Mortal Refresh bonus (p. 73), a -1 Refresh power is allowed to be a little more effective that an otherwise equivalent stunt."
I may concede that -8 Refresh could be construed as steep. I do not believe that it should be as cheaply available for -3 Refresh, however. That said, I see no need to ask the individual in question to alter character sheets but will instead to make a personal note for incoming new characters in future campaigns.
For the record, AFAIK, cannot recall complaints re: Wall of Death stunt.
Now, if you want to say, "Hey, I don't think that accurately reflects the true price of Powers and how they relate to Stunts, those rules need to be tweaked a bit," then fine. On that we can perhaps agree. That said, were I to come up with a Power on my own to present to a GM, I'd err on the side of caution and use those very rules.
Blackmako:
Do not ignore the paragraphs before your citation of pg 158. "You can think of powers as super stunts as the cost multiple refresh points and often offer MANY SHIFTS of effect for more than one skill." The next paragraph proceeds to stipulate "Supernatural powers have effects that can be further reaching, adding trappings to skills that cover strange supernatural territory. Moreover the trappings ..can cover actions and abilities that would otherwise be flatly impossible." By skipping these two qualifying paragraphs you are just making a quantitative comparison of 3 points in stunts to 3 points in powers. There is a qualitative difference in scope and magnitude. Especially when you move past a one point to one point. I point to 3 pt evocation and 3 pt thaum. Both 3 point investments that could be argued to function well past other collections of 3 points. In fact I would argue that powers requiring 3 or more refresh are of a theme. In fact isn't the one point of a custom powers thread about theme?
blackstaff67:
I believe the last paragraph is the single ending thought of the Powers question; that is, that Powers are built like several mortal stunts all smashed together and must be priced accordingly. The addition of trappings to skills regarding this particular power I feel go beyond what the power implies merely by its price.
It would appear that we will have to agree to disagree and that compromise is impossible. If you want this power at your table, fine. You can cheerfully allow it at yours, I'll cheerfully ban it from mine. I feel that having four skills for a PC topped out is not only overpowering, but provides a disincentive for anyone else to run a non-wizard PC (I'm still working on my own 'fix' for the Shapeshifting rules--but hey, that's another subject). Essentially, the PC in question goes from this:
7 O
6 O
5 O
4 OO
3 OO
2 OO
1 OO This is based on a 50 skill point PC for the campaign now being run.
To this:
7 O (OOO)
6 O
5 O
4 OO*
3 OO*
2 OO*
1 OO Asterisks indicate potential slots taken up by modified skills
For all intents and purposes, it gives the PC in question three free skills at his highest level. Keep in mind that the skills modified by the power can be a flat ZERO (Mediocre) and still be bumped up to a seven, allowing the skill slots to be replaced by other skills. THAT'S my problem with the power. There's no point in running a non-wizard PC if this guy's in the game; in point of fact, he provides a disincentive to running anything BUT a wizard-type PC.
The guy can shoot, punch/kick, and slash (PLUS drive) better than anyone else could, plus he can use those slots for other skills. As you are a gentleman, perhaps you personally would not do such a thing, but I have met those that could and would...and that's why I'm banning it from my table.
S1C0:
Hey Sanctaphrax could you create a super intelligence power that goes along the same lines as cannon powers ie inhuman, supernatural, mythic? because the physical components are there but the game lacks any power to demonstrate a higher brain function that is not tied to a psychic ability or sponsored magic i would love to see your thoughts and ideas, i have one suggestion to have Accelerated Perception to be a part of it.
Sanctaphrax:
I'm not terribly interested in designing something like that, but I can share my thoughts on it.
-I think you'd have to start by defining the type of intelligence that you're enhancing. There are many different kinds, after all. Best way to nail down your idea is probably to list the fictional characters that you'd give the Powers to. Reed Richards? The vampires from Blindsight? Sherlock Holmes? Batman? The Fleetmind from Schlock Mercenary?
-Declarations are probably the best way to represent your character out-smarting you. "I totally thought of that" can be a Power trapping. So can "I know what you're going to do next".
-Something thaumaturgy-esque, or a new kind of conflict, might be useful for making intellectual feats into interesting scenes.
-Numerical Prodigy, Inexplicable Knowledge, and Prophecy are probably worth a look.
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