The Dresden Files > DFRPG Resource Collection
Custom Powers Master List (Work In Progress)
Tedronai:
'fast enough to be used in combat' would ideally be swapped out for something somewhat more specific. Does this trapping take a single combat exchange? Two? Three?
The initial trappings come off to me as slightly overcosted, probably because the second has no clear mechanical effect that could not be replicated precisely by use of regular aspect invocations (/-for-effect).
The weaponized version does not clearly list stress types. This requires immediate remedy, and may have consequences described below. Aside from that, the extreme specificity of the weaponized version's effects, I feel, is inappropriate.
I suggest a range of effects starting at headaches as mild consequences up through cerebral hemorrhaging, stroke, seizures, etc for extreme consequences, with taken-out results ranging from 'incapacitated by pain' through 'unconscious' to 'dead on the floor with brain dripping out the ears' if it is meant to inflict physical stress (in which case I would suggest giving it a weapon rating).
Alternatively, if this power is meant to inflict mental stress, appropriate effects might range from 'distracted' through 'confused' up to 'mind-wiped' or even 'catatonic'
I suggest divesting the Weaponized version of the ability to inflict 'compulsion effects', and instead providing that as a separate upgrade, but a physical combat speeds, as per Incite Emotion's 'Additional Emotion' upgrade, removing the second clause from the Greater upgrade, and modifying Superior's language appropriately to reflect the resultant uniform weapon ratings.
Sanctaphrax:
It takes one exchange, like almost everything else. Will clarify.
Everything can be duplicated with Aspect invocations. But I agree, the base power seems a tad weak. Maybe I should give +1 to people's attempts to read people with it.
The attacks do mental stress, thought I made that clear by calling them mental attacks but apparently not. Will edit.
You're probably right about the mental attack result thing. Will edit.
Sanctaphrax:
How's it look now?
TELEPATHY [-2]
Description: For whatever reason, you can read minds and communicate mentally.
Skills Affected: Discipline, Empathy
Effects:
Mind Reading. You may use your Discipline or Empathy skill with a +1 bonus to read people's minds. This functions similarly to the Reading People trapping of Empathy, but unlike that trapping it does not require any kind of personal interaction. It can be used on anyone in your line of sight, and it's fast enough to be used in combat. Defending against this effect uses the Discipline skill.
Mental Communication. You may communicate silently with anyone in your line of sight. This renders eavesdropping impossible and bypasses all language barriers. It also allows the transmission of pictures, memories, and other information that cannot easily be put into words. This does not make deception impossible or even noticeably more difficult.
Weaponized Telepathy [-1]. You may make attacks with your telepathy against anyone in your line of sight. These attacks have no weapon rating, inflict mental stress, and use either the Empathy skill or the Discipline skill. The Discipline skill is used to defend against them. They work by overloading the target's brain with mental signals, causing pain and confusion.
Greater Weaponized Telepathy [-1]. (Requires Weaponized Telepathy) Your telepathic attacks are weapon 2.
Superior Weaponized Telepathy [-1]. (Requires Greater Weaponized Telepathy) Your telepathic attacks are weapon 4.
Compulsive Weaponized Telepathy [-1]. (Requires Weaponized Telepathy) You may use your telepathic attacks to deliver commands. You may treat targets taken out by your mental attacks as though you had taken them out in social combat. If you take a target out in a single attack this way, they remain unaware that they were influenced. But unsuccessful attacks are obvious.
Tedronai:
I'd extend the +1 bonus to empathy (or possibly now discipline) defense against deception attacks/maneuvers, as I'm having a hard time imagining how being able to read the thoughts of someone lying to you would fail to give you some small advantage in spotting that lie.
Still no clearer on the speed of use.
Pain (assuming physical as opposed to emotional) seems an inappropriate symptom of mental stress.
Compulsive upgrade:
not all social take-outs would seem appropriate for this power, and I'm not even sure this clause is even needed
final clauses are problematic - currently implies that attacks which successfully force consequences are 'unsuccessful'; also runs into problems re: other sources of mental stress/consequences (there will always be a single attack that takes a target out), and how consequences that enforce temporary compulsions can function if they are 'obvious' to the
Sanctaphrax:
--- Quote from: Tedronai on May 05, 2012, 08:38:24 PM ---I'd extend the +1 bonus to empathy (or possibly now discipline) defense against deception attacks/maneuvers, as I'm having a hard time imagining how being able to read the thoughts of someone lying to you would fail to give you some small advantage in spotting that lie.
--- End quote ---
Good idea.
--- Quote from: Tedronai on May 05, 2012, 08:38:24 PM ---Still no clearer on the speed of use.
--- End quote ---
I didn't think I had to be, since I no longer mention time. Everything takes one exchange in this game, why would this be any different? Does Incite Emotion specify that it takes one exchange to use?
--- Quote from: Tedronai on May 05, 2012, 08:38:24 PM ---Pain (assuming physical as opposed to emotional) seems an inappropriate symptom of mental stress.
--- End quote ---
No it doesn't.
(In my opinion. Not sure what more to say.)
--- Quote from: Tedronai on May 05, 2012, 08:38:24 PM ---Compulsive upgrade:
not all social take-outs would seem appropriate for this power, and I'm not even sure this clause is even needed
final clauses are problematic - currently implies that attacks which successfully force consequences are 'unsuccessful'; also runs into problems re: other sources of mental stress/consequences (there will always be a single attack that takes a target out), and how consequences that enforce temporary compulsions can function if they are 'obvious' to the
--- End quote ---
Compulsions can work even if they're obvious, because they trump one's free will.
An attack which does not take its target out is unsuccessful, so far as I can tell.
The social take-out clause was the best way I could think of to sum up the scope of the compulsions. If you have a better idea, I'm all ears.
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