[Plane]

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

Compare two builds:

1. Enhanced Defense (Block) (5) (Modifier: Can be Stolen (Contest of ST) -30%) [4]

2. Enhanced Defense (Block) (5) (Modifier: Can be Stolen (Contest of ST) -30%) [4]

Which one of those items is a shield (which would make a Block possible), and which one other is a feather (which means you would not get a Block)?

These are intended to be the same thing right?

I think maybe to define differences between the value of gadgets that do stuff is to have people buy the baseline nature of their gadgets either using their wealth or as Signature Gear.

One thing the stands out about "can be stolen" and "unique" is replaceability... "Normally, you can replace a broken or stolen gadget" if you don't take that, for example.

That would be the balancing factor. If you decide to define your gadget as high-value (like your adamantium speedboat which happens to give you Mana Enhancer) then in addition to paying for it upfront and having a breakability-but-really-hard-to-break thing to hide behind, if someone does manage to steal it or destroy it, it would be all the more expense to replace.

Originally Posted by Refplace

The Hybrid Equipment box on Supers p.74. gives a relavant example, though its not a shield.

paragraph 4: "Another option is simply to pay cash for the base item."

My idea wasn't new :(

Originally Posted by Refplace

So IMO it could go either way, pay points or no DB or purchase a shield with cash and use its natural DB plus whatever powers are added.
I think most players would object to the latter since it means their characters have to pay points a mundane can get for mere money.

But a mundane would only get the +3 (best) shield, whereas if you buy a shield with wealth and then get "Enhanced Defenses +2" tied to the object, wouldn't you be at +5 to active defenses?

Paragraph 5 mentions using "Accessibility: requires material components" when it's trivial to replace the base item, so that would be like "I'm +1 to all active defenses so long as I have a shield, any old shield will do" I think?

Enhanced Block 1 (Requires Material Components -10%) [5] isn't a discount but it does reduced Enhanced Block 2 to [9] and probably covers the "I'm really good at blocking, but only with this particular kind of shield" guy, who would be out of luck using a block with other kinds of shields (or cloaks).

An expanded range of a shield catching the hit on a narrowly-passed defense (like with shields when the DB makes the diff) if your "Enhanced Defenses" contributes to that, might be a 0-point feature since it has benefits (free contact on enemy with your shield, which can be useful) and drawbacks (possible damage to your shield). Or maybe an enhancement or limitation?

What I don't like about the static -10 is that it doesn't seem to reflect the cost/difficulty of replacement, and seems to bypass the Gadget Limitations.

Maybe "requires material components" should be a prerequisite for Gadget Limitations and then you take those on top of it to denote the difficulty of replacing? Maybe in various levels until reaching the -25% for Unique (never) ?

Originally Posted by evileeyore

If I feel it adds capacities that are below the resolution of what I want you to pay for on that Character, I won't care.

That resolution's suggested as "For a single really cheap item, worth no more than
1/20 of starting wealth for the campaign TL" but I think the "pay cash for the base" approach sounds better.

"a hero with bioelectric powers who used a metal sword to extend his reach" sounds challenging to do... I can't remember if there's a way to design Innate Attacks as Followup attacks on melee weapons.

Originally Posted by Donny Brook

You appear to be suggesting that without adding any more game stats one of those builds lets you do a Block while another one doesn't. As a GM you can say that for your game, but the rules don't.

Hybrid Equipment (S74) as Refplace pointed out sounds like the best guideline here. The difference being that when it's a Gadget, it can't be easily replaced when someone wins the ST contest to steal your shield or shield-sized feather.

The feather will be cheaper to buy with Wealth/Signature Gear and be lighter to carry around, but the Shield will give an inherent defense bonus like any shield normally does, and can be strapped to the arm.

Generally when you buy gear (either wealth or signature) it has inherent stats like HP/DR though, and that's where I'm lost: if you're already paying fewer points because you bought an easily-destroyed item, should you also pay fewer points for it being an easier destroyed gadget? Worried that's double-dipping.