Author Topic: Custom Power List  (Read 169363 times)

Offline Viatos

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #195 on: March 31, 2011, 02:23:30 AM »
It occurs to me that 'spellcasting power' should be more clearly defined, just to exclude the possibility of that otherwise vanilla mortal who unwittingly investigated Outsiders (and thus gained Lawbreaker, listed under 'Spellcraft' in the Supernatural Powers section of YS) from being subject to that bonus.

Is that seriously possible?

...

Yeah, I guess it is. I think gaining Lawbreaker without possessing any casting is enough of a fringe case that its inclusion as a valid target can safely be ignored; time-travelers and Cthulhu cultists are the only non-casters who can pull this off, and it's not a stretch to say that possessing Lawbreaker is sufficient magical taint to make them delicious.

Edit with an upgrade:

Mana Plague (Vampirism; -1)

Musts: Mana Locust

Magic Drought: Magic Drain reduces three shifts of power.

The Taste of Death: Once per scene, if you inflict enough stress and consequences from feeding to kill a character with Spellcraft Powers, you may take an immediate "free" recovery period equal to an extra scene.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2011, 02:31:13 AM by Viatos »

Offline BumblingBear

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #196 on: March 31, 2011, 07:32:11 AM »
A few I came up with tonight for a player who wants to play a gambler who is supernaturally lucky.

"Roll the dice". [-1]
You have the uncanny ability to make dice roll the way you want them to or to call out what the dice will roll while they are rolling.
In game this comes out to a 50/50 chance - a 50% probability of success.

"Lucky dodge" [-1]
Once per scene, you may use one fate point to completely dodge any one attack.

"It's all in the cards" [-1]
For some strange reason, when you throw a card, it doesn't behave how cards thrown by other people do.  It's rather... lethal.  Thrown cards are a +2 weapon each, targeted with weapons or discipline, whichever is highest.

"Time is my friend" [-1]
Whenever you wear a quality watch on your body, your amazing luck influences the world around you to the extent that attacks tend to find your watches instead of you.
This power gives you a natural armor:2 for every watch you have on your person.
The number of watches you have on you is determined by a new stress track governed by your resources, to a maximum of 4.
You can buy more watches (clear the track)  when thematically appropriate.
*Note, whenever you have more than two watches on you, this gives you the aspect, "WTF is up with all the watches?"
Myself: If I were in her(Murphy's) position, I would have studied my ass off on the supernatural and rigged up special weapons to deal with them.  Murphy on the other hand just plans to overpower bad guys with the angst of her short woman's syndrome and blame all resulting failures on Harry.

Offline BumblingBear

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #197 on: March 31, 2011, 07:50:53 AM »
Here are some I came up with for a player who wants to play a supernatural internet troll.

"Force Lightning of Lolz" [-2]
You have the power to make electricity arc between your finger tips and lash out at your target.
This counts as a weapon:2 electrical attack for up to 2 zones targetted with your weapons (or guns) skill.

"IP?... Please" [-1]
You can hack into the internet and surf with your mind from any wire connected to the grid upon touch.

"Dirty little secrets" [-1]
You can touch an electrical device like an iphone or laptop and mystically know if there are porn pics or other incriminating things on them.  This also give you a pretty good idea of what they are.

"Handle aura" [-1]
If you see someone in person who you've interacted with online, they will appear to have an aura to you.  The color and feel of the aura will give you a very good idea of what their handle or user name was as well.

"Noob security systems" (requires IP?... Please) [-1]
If you access the network inside of a building using your "IP?...Please." power, you will be able to see the layout of all the security systems.  For the price of a fate point, you can temporarily turn them all off as well.
Myself: If I were in her(Murphy's) position, I would have studied my ass off on the supernatural and rigged up special weapons to deal with them.  Murphy on the other hand just plans to overpower bad guys with the angst of her short woman's syndrome and blame all resulting failures on Harry.

Offline Gatts

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #198 on: March 31, 2011, 03:01:14 PM »

"Force Lightning of Lolz" [-2]
You have the power to make electricity arc between your finger tips and lash out at your target.
This counts as a weapon:2 electrical attack for up to 2 zones targetted with your weapons (or guns) skill.

That's one that bothered me, it's Breath Weapon with a free extra zone of rang and the ability to use guns to hit with it.

Offline Tedronai

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #199 on: March 31, 2011, 03:28:04 PM »
On the other hand, it doesn't appear to be useable for maneuvers
Even Chaotic Neutral individuals have to apologize sometimes. But at least we don't have to mean it.
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Offline BumblingBear

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #200 on: March 31, 2011, 06:29:44 PM »
That's one that bothered me, it's Breath Weapon with a free extra zone of rang and the ability to use guns to hit with it.

It seems thematically appropriate that if you could aim the power with a pointed finger, that guns would be an appropriate skill to aim with.

On the other hand, it doesn't appear to be useable for maneuvers

Correctamundo
Myself: If I were in her(Murphy's) position, I would have studied my ass off on the supernatural and rigged up special weapons to deal with them.  Murphy on the other hand just plans to overpower bad guys with the angst of her short woman's syndrome and blame all resulting failures on Harry.

Offline Gatts

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #201 on: March 31, 2011, 09:04:48 PM »
Then it's claws with two extra zones of range. Still don't think it's balanced.

Offline BumblingBear

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #202 on: April 01, 2011, 12:05:03 AM »
Then it's claws with two extra zones of range. Still don't think it's balanced.

Claws is -1.
Myself: If I were in her(Murphy's) position, I would have studied my ass off on the supernatural and rigged up special weapons to deal with them.  Murphy on the other hand just plans to overpower bad guys with the angst of her short woman's syndrome and blame all resulting failures on Harry.

Offline Viatos

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #203 on: April 01, 2011, 12:17:01 AM »
Then it's claws with two extra zones of range. Still don't think it's balanced.

Claws is underpowered (for a power) in any case, as is Breath Weapon. They are not great choices for balance discussions.

EDIT: I can't even believe I typed 'chooses'.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 02:23:58 AM by Viatos »

Offline BumblingBear

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #204 on: April 01, 2011, 01:11:36 AM »
Claws is underpowered (for a power) in any case, as is Breath Weapon. They are not great chooses for balance discussions.

Agreed.

Claws is more like a mortal stunt-made-power.
Myself: If I were in her(Murphy's) position, I would have studied my ass off on the supernatural and rigged up special weapons to deal with them.  Murphy on the other hand just plans to overpower bad guys with the angst of her short woman's syndrome and blame all resulting failures on Harry.

Offline devonapple

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #205 on: April 01, 2011, 05:07:24 AM »
I'm working on some Africanesque demons from the d20 Nyambe setting. I came across this power, and here is how I tried to model it. Any thoughts?

This incorporeal demon usually travels in spirit form, but it can fuse its will with normal animals or insects, turning the creature evil and guiding its will, driving it to kill any humans it meets. The demon will seek out the queen of an insect colony to effectively control the hive; similarly, it will seek out the dominant member of a given pack or pride, giving it control over its other members. It cannot possess supernatural animals, such as Grimalkins or Temple Dogs.

[-4] Malevolence:
Domination [-2]
Possession [-3]
Limited: only usable on mortal animals and insects [+2]
Pack Instincts [-1] (usually with possessed animals and their hive/pride/etc.)

Note: this power requires Spirit Form.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 04:54:19 PM by devonapple »
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That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

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Offline Gatts

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #206 on: April 01, 2011, 01:27:30 PM »
Well, it's your game. Normally, if someone tried in a game I played to take an existing power, repackaged and buffed, they'd get laughed at.

Offline devonapple

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #207 on: April 01, 2011, 03:04:53 PM »
Well, it's your game. Normally, if someone tried in a game I played to take an existing power, repackaged and buffed, they'd get laughed at.

I am the GM for my game, and am capable of laughing at myself already.

Do you have any actual suggestions? What is your take on the value of the power discount? I'm failing to see how this power is otherwise "buffed"? Repackaging is of course for convenience of math. It's ultimately for a monster, so the power limitation is somewhat moot.


Nevermind (see below).

Also, I failed to explicitly state it, but the power does require Spirit Form (have amended the entry to match).

« Last Edit: April 01, 2011, 06:12:23 PM by devonapple »
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline Viatos

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #208 on: April 01, 2011, 06:02:09 PM »
Do you have any actual suggestions?

I believe the unhelpful snarkiness was more likely directed at BumblingBear.D

Malevolence looks fine.

Offline devonapple

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Re: Custom Power List
« Reply #209 on: April 01, 2011, 06:10:46 PM »
I believe the unhelpful snarkiness was more likely directed at BumblingBear.D

Ah! My apologies for misunderstanding, Gatts! Quote tags, people! ;)

Malevolence looks fine.

Cool - thank you.
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets