Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Modular Powers: a flexible powers/magic system

ericthered · 04-09-2020, 01:21 PM

Nice writeup. I've been a fan of this technique for quite some time, but its great to see someone else talk about it.

Some tweaking of the modular ability cost to bring it down would be nice, but if you don't want to worry about that, sure, its fine.

When trying to bring the cost down, the Mental/Physical divide is exceptionally awkward. I'm looking at list of advantages: affliction is physical (always, I think), altered time rate is mental (what?) healing is mental (ok, I can see that under certain circumstances), Insubstantial is labeled as possibly both...

on the other hand, advantage types specify the GM has final say, and the markers just assist it. So if the power won't have mental advantages (fairly common for most narrow powers) the cost drops to 8+8/level, because the modular ability is using physical only+50%

04-09-2020, 01:21 PM	#5
ericthered Hero of Democracy Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: far from the ocean	Re: Modular Powers: a flexible powers/magic system Nice writeup. I've been a fan of this technique for quite some time, but its great to see someone else talk about it. Some tweaking of the modular ability cost to bring it down would be nice, but if you don't want to worry about that, sure, its fine. When trying to bring the cost down, the Mental/Physical divide is exceptionally awkward. I'm looking at list of advantages: affliction is physical (always, I think), altered time rate is mental (what?) healing is mental (ok, I can see that under certain circumstances), Insubstantial is labeled as possibly both... on the other hand, advantage types specify the GM has final say, and the markers just assist it. So if the power won't have mental advantages (fairly common for most narrow powers) the cost drops to 8+8/level, because the modular ability is using physical only+50% __________________ Be helpful, not pedantic Worlds Beyond Earth -- my blog Check out the PbP forum! If you don't see a game you'd like, ask me about making one!