05-06-2014, 03:24 PM | #1 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
[RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Greetings, all!
An idea that I had before, and now encountered independently reinvented by one of my players while making plans for an upcoming fantasy game. The basic idea is to gain DR with Absorption, then spend the absorbed points on refilling ER (Mana Reserve). Of course, this can only be meaningfully done while having at least 3 levels of DR (+Absorption), which is worth roughly [30], give or take depending on other modifiers. Now, I wonder what would be the required Effects. I'm guessing that for a shield that absorbs damage caused by kinetic, thermal, chemical or radiant energy, it takes a Greater Transform Energy effect + a Transform Magic effect. I'm not sure if Transform Magic should be Lesser or Greater. This sort of DR makes sense with Force Field. But maybe for mages of Body, it would make sense to take a different path. E.g. make an ongoing effect that that transforms forming wounds into mana. I'm guessing this sort of DR would be without Force Field, possibly require Eyes +10%, and require a Transform Body instead of Transform Energy. But should it be Lesser or Greater? ---- Anyway, it seems that while potentially handy (i.e. just put your hand over the fire and wait for the reserve to recharge, no more rolls required), it takes a huge amount of energy to set up. Assuming no Greater Effects, that's about 16 for two Transforms, plus 30 for the Altered Traits, plus duration. So 50ish energy. No laughing matter. With one Greater Effect, that's 150 energy. With two, it's 250! This is the sort of case where every -20% on the trait and every -5% on the spell cost matters a lot. So, thoughts? Ideas? Additions? Opinions? Comments? Thanks in advance! |
05-06-2014, 04:55 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Vermont, USA
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Doesn't actually reduce damage, -100%?
|
05-06-2014, 05:01 PM | #3 |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ellicott City, MD
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
|
05-06-2014, 05:04 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Jun 2013
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
As written, DR with Absorption is pretty flexible: you can put the points it absorbs towards anything, right? And it's accordingly expensive. Given that, I think the Transform Magic effect can be Lesser. I'm even wondering if you can't get away with dropping the Transform Magic effect: DR with Absorption lets you spend what you absorb on FP (and by extension, ER).
Look at it this way: if you use Create Energy to summon sunlight to attack a vampire, you're destroying undead, but you don't need Destroy Undead. Similarly, I feel that if you're using DR from a ritual to transform magic, that doesn't necessarily mean you need the ritual to Transform Magic. P.S. is this kosher per stacking rules? Does it count as using magic to get magic? Idhmbwm but it seems like it might. |
05-06-2014, 05:10 PM | #5 | |
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Ellicott City, MD
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Quote:
|
|
05-06-2014, 08:34 PM | #6 | ||||
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
__________________
My Twitter My w23 Stuff My Blog Latest GURPS Book: Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Thieves Latest TFT Book: The Sunken Library Become a Patron! |
||||
05-06-2014, 09:31 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Dobbstown Sane Asylum
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
I would never let a trait that was granted via spell be used to refill your mana reserve. That's a clear violation of "magic cannot improve magic" to my eye. (The fact that it's horribly inefficient is beside the point.)
__________________
Reverend Pee Kitty of the Order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Twitter) (LJ) MyGURPS: My house rules and GURPS resources.
#SJGamesLive: I answered questions about GURPS After the End and more! {Watch Video} - {Read Transcript} |
05-06-2014, 09:34 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portsmouth, VA, USA
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Quote:
Edit: Duh. Magic tools. Duh. Hat Goes on Foot. DUH.
__________________
My Twitter My w23 Stuff My Blog Latest GURPS Book: Dungeon Fantasy Denizens: Thieves Latest TFT Book: The Sunken Library Become a Patron! Last edited by Christopher R. Rice; 05-06-2014 at 09:38 PM. |
|
05-06-2014, 11:19 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Oregon
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
I would at least allow the approach of gaining mana from sustaining injuries. This is effectively a form of Voluntary Sacrifice (Absorption's exchange rate of HP -> Energy may need to be tweaked to make it worthwhile). Any non-mana use of Absorption should be fine though (blocking damage and turning into HP, FP or temporary character points).
Question: Can injuries sustained from making a Voluntary Sacrifice be healed via magic? |
05-07-2014, 07:01 AM | #10 | |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
Re: [RPM] Altered Traits: DR with Absorption
Quote:
The idea is an effect that transforms wounds into energy. So you get wounded less, and get some goodies instead. But in this specific case it's an ongoing effect, expressed in the form of DR (+Absorption). That's the idea. Do I make sense now? |
|
Tags |
absorption, damage resistance, ritual path magic, rpm |
|
|