03-18-2019, 10:07 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Using Alternate Abilities
I am curious, how many people actually use Alternate Abilities as a standard part of their games? In generally, I find them to be cheaper and more useful than Modular Abilities, though they are admittedly less flexible. What about you?
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03-19-2019, 04:53 AM | #2 |
Join Date: Mar 2010
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
My players vary. Frameworks such as AA are something I encourage, but don't necessarily mandate for player-made attacks and abilities; the stuff I build uses them extensively. Well ... a variant, but close enough for conversational purposes. ;)
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03-19-2019, 05:24 AM | #3 |
Join Date: Oct 2018
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
i see AA as a way to incentivize having a larger range of attacks then one attack with a ton of dice
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03-19-2019, 05:30 AM | #4 |
Night Watchman
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Cambridge, UK
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
I've never played a character who started with an AA, but I've found them very useful for adding abilities with earned points, since they can fit into that cost scale much more readily than large new abilities.
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03-19-2019, 07:09 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: UK
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
All the time, especially in Supers games. Most powers have a ton of possible applications that are best written up as AAs. If yours doesn't, your power sucks or you're not inventive enough.
For example, one of my favourites, Telekinesis: TK itself, Binding, Flight, Damage Resistance, Innate Attack, Affliction... as a minimum. :) |
03-19-2019, 07:11 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Jan 2012
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
I use them extensively as a GM, but I'd be hesitant to let players design Alternate Abilities for themselves, as without strict oversight it's vastly easy to abuse. It's one of those things that can potentially unbalance GURPS if not carefully restricted by setting.
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03-19-2019, 02:17 PM | #7 | ||
Hero of Democracy
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: far from the ocean
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
Quote:
Quote:
My players are of three types. The first doesn't get it, and won't volunteer to use it, but will respond pleasantly if I do the work for them. The second kind looks at it greedily and tries to make widely disparate abilities aimed at conserving points rather than fleshing out descriptions. The third kind of player is defined as "easy to work with" and is either the rarest or the least memorable, and I'm not sure which.
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03-19-2019, 03:37 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
I'm currently in 2 campaigns and starting another.
In the DF game I use them as a player for a custom magic as powers setup. I dont think anyone else uses them but there straight DF templates. I also use alternative enhancements. In a fantasy campaign I run there a staple of all the magic or chi as powers systems. In the upcoming Supers campaign they are pretty much on every character built so far. There is a reason that both Divine Favor and Sorcery use alternative abilities. Without them it would be much harder to keep up with non powers based magic systems. I also use and allow Power Stunting but AA is better during play as the abilities are prebuilt. Power Stunts and Modular Abilities can be a prob;em at the table as the player is able to build abilities on the fly. I encourage prebuilding abilities as if they were AAs even if there just going to be stunted to avoid pausing play while a player does the math.
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03-19-2019, 10:03 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
For my group, asking if we use Alternate Abilities is like asking if we use Enhancements and Limitations — they're a core part of the system, of course we use them when they're relevant.
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03-20-2019, 12:42 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: Using Alternate Abilities
It's important to me that all the Alternate Abilities slots be reasonable as applications of the same basic super ability. For example take my NPC Medusa Gaze. Her ability is to fascinate people who look at her so at the base level it increases her attractiveness to Very Beautiful to everyone who doesn't have a minde shield, and if she concentrates it on one target, she mentally controls them with one command "Stand still and don't even breathe". If she were to acquire the ability to grow long claws on her hands, that has nothing to do with her fascination power, so she can't add it as an alternate.
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