12-01-2017, 10:37 AM | #1 |
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
I'm running a powers game in which I use a lot of impulse buys. In the game there is something basically like Raw Magic except it's use is as expendable character points. You can use these points for permanent or semi-permanent power growth, but within carefully controlled limits which mostly render that cosmetic (when you earn real character points your character has to use this resource to "spend" them.)
However, I've run into a hitch. I'd like the players to be able to gather these from the environment somehow. But I'd like it to require a specific advantage which can be turned into an ability within their meta-power power to do. I'm thinking something like Regeneration (impulse buy points) or Leech (impulse buy points.) But I have no idea how such a thing should be balanced point wise and I'd like to hear peoples analyses and thoughts. |
12-01-2017, 11:02 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
Ok, just so we're on the same page, here's my understanding of what you've got: characters have Impulse Points, as per Power-Ups 5: Impulse Buys. To spend character points, they have to spend an equal number of Impulse Points. The Impulse Points "regenerate" at some number of points per session, again as per Impulse Buys. What you want is the option of some characters to fill up their Impulse Points faster than others, if they have access to a resource in the environment.
Assuming that's all correct, what I would do is use the suggested point value for an improved IP regeneration rate suggested in Impulse Buys (10/IP regenerated per session), and just limit it with something like Trigger or Environmental. So, for example, if they can get extra IP points when in a "source area", which is fairly rare (about as rare as a dense forest or the desert in a typical campaign), then they'd take whatever level of Improved Refresh Rate they want with Environmental: Impulse point sources, -40%, so it would only cost them 6/level instead of 10/level. |
12-01-2017, 11:31 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Renton, WA
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
I would just use Unusual Background with the descriptor "can acquire or improve raw magical abilities".
Also, this is a cool idea! It has a sort of "video game" feel where can go on an adventure, find some raw magical power, and then "power up" with it. Is there any way to transfer it after you find it? This could serve as a very interesting magical currency. Especially in a guild or school of magic. |
12-01-2017, 12:47 PM | #4 |
Wielder of Smart Pants
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
Isn't this just Detect (Development Goo)? If it is in the environment, and anybody who finds it could use it, then the key ability is finding it, yes?
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12-01-2017, 02:48 PM | #5 | |||
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
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However, all of that seemed balanced under the assumption that they'd get about 1 cp worth of development goo per session. And after some thought I decided I wanted to be able to give them more than that and I wanted them to be able to gain a theoretically infinite quantity as long as they have access to a sufficiently large source, but have absorbing it have some... strategic cost to it. If anything, I'd like it to function for the characters kind of how Leech functions. However, leech has problems with it: it can't be used to acquire character points for one. Also, it takes something from the target being leeched. And what this takes from the target is not something that is measured on the targets character sheet. The target gains no benefit from having development goo floating about it's person or on it's person. I hope that all makes sense. |
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12-01-2017, 07:06 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Aug 2015
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
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If I understood right, the one you want is the one described under "Other Kinds of Points", an expanded version of Destiny Points which gives you IPs you can use for stuff instead of cp. The cost given there depends on both default refresh rate and the maximum size to your IP "pool". Default cost for the pool is 5/level, same as for raw magic storage, and increased per-session recharge rate is +10 to cost per point regenerated. On a second reading, I'm not entirely sure if it means +10 per level of pool, or just +10 independent of the size of the pool. If it's the former, cost would ramp up pretty quickly. Last edited by Bicorn; 12-01-2017 at 07:23 PM. |
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12-05-2017, 09:43 AM | #8 | |
Join Date: May 2012
Location: New Hampshire, USA
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Re: Fair Pricing for Advantage: Impulse Regen
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However, in this specific instance, while the base stuff is something every PC will have I may decide to use the same mechanics in other places where PCs may not all have it (such as acquirable inhuman templates, spiritual alternate forms, or learnable powers, etc.) |
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