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The Dresden Files => DFRPG => Topic started by: jackfraser on July 08, 2013, 05:11:16 PM
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Hey guys one of my players are looking to make a son of zeus character and i just wanted to get some opinions on the idea I plan for creating him.
Were playing with 8 refresh so I was thinking of recommending something like this:
Inhuman Strength -2
Channelling -2 (he likes the idea of throwing bolts of zeus like lightning around and I figured this was the best way of doing it)
Inhuman speed -2
Emissary of power -1
Really I want opinions on whether the lightning is best represented by channelling or by something else. Sponsored magic seems like another possible way if doing it but obviously costs a lot more refresh.
Opinions?
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Breath Weapon could also be easily reflavored into Lightning bolts, and as a thrown weapon, it actually benefits from Strength powers. That said, I'd probably swap Speed for Toughness.
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That's a good point about breath weapons, I hadn't thought of that so cheers :).
With the toughness perk what do you think would be a good catch for the son of a god? I'm stumped except for maybe other gods
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Possible Catches:
Excessive Force [+0] (kinda lame, but when you've got the points to spare it is pretty cool)
Holy [+2] (as in: other gods and the implements of their power can hurt you)
Magic [+2] (Spellcasters get a shot at beating a god)
God-Slaying Relics [+1] (aka the McGuffin sword of killing gods)
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Something dipped in the river Styx, an Achilles heel sort of spot, Centaur Blood, Nemean Animal Fangs... all interesting greek-flavored weaknesses. Also could involve the blood of a Titan or that certain divine magics just bypass toughness as part of /their/ powers. I could see having Medusa's gaze being a super powered "breath" weapon of sorts that ignores toughness.
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Breath Weapon could also be easily reflavored into Lightning bolts, and as a thrown weapon, it actually benefits from Strength powers. That said, I'd probably swap Speed for Toughness.
Where does it say Breath Weapon benefits from the Strength powers?
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I think he means when you look at the powers as a thrown weapon (YS 162; Skills affected: Weapons (this is treated as a thrown weapon), it benefits from the strength bonus.
YS 183, Hammer Blows: With attacks that depend on muscular Force (Fists, Thrown weapons, etc), you are at +2 to dmg.
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If you stick with Channeling (Air), you can do thunder and lightning. Or do Channeling (Thunderstorms) and do all sorts of thunderstorm related attacks, blocks and maneuvers.
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Where does it say Breath Weapon benefits from the Strength powers?
I don't know if it ever explicitly says that it does, but it seems like a pretty reasonable assumption. Breath Weapon is similar to a thrown weapon (in fact, it can literally be an endless supply of thrown weapons) and those benefit from Strength.
Besides, if Breath Weapon doesn't benefit from Strength then dragon breath is weapon 2. Which is just lame.
There's no balance problem with making it benefit from Strength, since it's kinda weak.
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Somehow I don't think Dragons (t he real kind) take a measly -2 Refresh version of Breath.
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I've always thought Dragonfire would be a sponsored magic, personally.
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Breath Weapon is actually named after dragonbreath, IIRC. And (again, IIRC) it's the only canon way to create a non-spell ranged attack from your unarmed body. It would be deeply weird for Dragons not to have it.
Of course, they'll also have Sponsored Magic and other such things.
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Somehow I don't think Dragons (t he real kind) take a measly -2 Refresh version of Breath.
Chances are, they'll even have a certain -1 Refresh Power called Claws :P
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Chances are, they'll even have a certain -1 Refresh Power called Claws :P
and with Breath Weapon also benefiting from Strength, I let players buy Claws at -0 if they already have Breath Weapon, since it provides no added benefit at that point.
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I just use Natural Weaponry (http://dfrpg-resources.wikispaces.com/Natural+Weaponry). It's easy and flexible.
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I'm pretty sure the write-ups for Kalshazzak and the Shen demons--which both have strength powers--still refer to Breath Weapon as only Weapon:2, which would imply to me that Breath Weapon doesn't benefit from strength.
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I'm pretty sure the write-ups for Kalshazzak and the Shen demons--which both have strength powers--still refer to Breath Weapon as only Weapon:2, which would imply to me that Breath Weapon doesn't benefit from strength.
I think it depends on how you style the breath weapon - if your just breathing fire or a toxic gas, then of course they don't benefit from eachother. If "Breath weapon" is just how you're saying "He can throw a barrage of weapons produced out of nowhere" then it makes sense that strength would benefit it.
Of course, at that point it's not really a breath weapon - it's a new supernatural ability balanced around breath weapon.
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Of course, at that point it's not really a breath weapon - it's a new supernatural ability balanced around breath weapon.
I'm not sure I'd say that. Given the Shen-writeup, Breath Weapon is meant to be "ranged body-produced weapon". I really think the name of both this and Claws are a bit unlucky in that the names are more narrow than their applications, so I very much prefer "Natural Weaponry" to them.
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Hera is also a very vindictive goddess who takes out her wrath on Zeus illegitimate children... That's a great souce for troubles.
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Awesome character concept! I'd definitely go with either 'Lighting Bolts' (Breath Weapon) or Channel (Air) along with Marked by Power, Inhuman Strength, and Inhuman Toughness (Probably 'The Catch - True Magic' or similar for +1) for a total of -6.
Breath Weapon seems like the easiest way to do 'Lightning Bolts', but Channeling (Air) definitely gives you the most options.
The main advantage in taking Breath Weapon is you just need a high Weapons score. In melee you benefit from your Inhuman Strength and you have a ranged option with Breath Weapon (I don't think Inhuman Strength would apply for a Refresh 8 game, but it might be worth asking your GM). You could probably take Stunts to increase the range by a Zone ('Good Arm' Weapons stunt), +1 to hit or damage, and/or possibly give you the ability to make it an area attack .
Channeling (Air) on the other hand requires you to have either Fists or Weapons to really take advantage of Inhuman Strength, along with decent Conviction/Discipline and probably 1 or 2 points in Lore. On the plus side, you get Enchanted Item Slots, which could be used to boost your Power/Control or be used for magic items/potions/whatever. And of course, you take at least 1 Mental Stress each Lightning Bolt. And of course, you can get a ton more damage when you need to, having the option to attack multiple targets/an area.
Good luck with whichever way you choose. When you finish writing him up, please post him here so we can see how he turned out! xD
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I think it depends on how you style the breath weapon - if your just breathing fire or a toxic gas, then of course they don't benefit from eachother. If "Breath weapon" is just how you're saying "He can throw a barrage of weapons produced out of nowhere" then it makes sense that strength would benefit it.
Of course, at that point it's not really a breath weapon - it's a new supernatural ability balanced around breath weapon.
As Sanctaphrax is wont to say, that makes one narrative choice "mandatory" over another--a creature spitting acid is mechanically worse than one who's throwing flaming poo.
And yes, just checked, neither of them have Breath Weapon listed as anything besides Weapon:2. The Shen Demons' write up talks about how the Inhuman Strength will boost specifically melee attacks, but nothing about it affecting Breath Weapon.
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As Sanctaphrax is wont to say, that makes one narrative choice "mandatory" over another--a creature spitting acid is mechanically worse than one who's throwing flaming poo.
Yeah.
And yes, Our World does make it look like Breath Weapon doesn't benefit from Strength. But it's more balanced and more story-appropriate if Breath Weapon does benefit from Strength, so I think it should.
This may or may not be a houserule. I don't much care whether it is or not.
Of course, I don't have to worry about the issue because I use Natural Weaponry. Which was written to address that question (among others).
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Natural Weaponry definitely would be the best option in my opinion. It can be upgraded to add extra effect as the character gains experience which is nice.
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For Natural Weaponry... when you take the Ranged Weaponry upgrade does that mean your natural weapon is only ranged? I guess it doesn't matter, huh?
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No, it doesn't matter. Ranged weapons can be used without penalty against people who are in melee range.
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Some DMs take offense to the [-1]upgrade making it Weapon:4
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Why? It's the exact same model as Incite Emotion. and Claws.
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Some DMs take offense to the [-1]upgrade making it Weapon:4
Do you know why that might be? It works for Incite Emotion and Channeling/Evocation creates potential Weapon:10 or whatever.
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Personally, I'm of the belief that physical ability is supposed to have an upper limit to the damage rating, and magic is really supposed to be the only reliable and immediate way to have such ridiculously huge weapon ratings. I.e., that Weapon:4 and above anything should be difficult to get without Magic.
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Some DMs take offense to the [-1]upgrade making it Weapon:4
I can see where they're coming from...1 Refresh for a flat +2 stress is a bit of a no-brainer for someone interested in pure combat effectiveness.
But I've found that the option is pretty well-balanced against manufactured weapons. Without it the Claws user always lags behind the guy with a greatsword in damage output. With it he's slightly ahead, which is good since he spent Refresh and greatsword guy did not.
Personally, I'm of the belief that physical ability is supposed to have an upper limit to the damage rating, and magic is really supposed to be the only reliable and immediate way to have such ridiculously huge weapon ratings. I.e., that Weapon:4 and above anything should be difficult to get without Magic.
Unfortunately for you this doesn't correspond to the game that we have.
Weapon 5 is ordinary for a physical bruiser PC, with a big weapon and a stunt or Inhuman Strength.