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Old 12-27-2014, 06:03 PM   #1
MakDemonik
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Default Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

My friend plays a robot, and wanted to have replaceable tools on his body.
So he took Modular abilities, but when he wanted to make it so that the changing of parts takes preparation (Limitation -50%) we stumbled acros the problem....

The 'Physical and Mental' Enchantment seems kind of useless with limitations.
1) Taking 1 chip slot (Physical & Mental +100%, Takes Prep -50%)
is inferior to:
2) Taking 2 chip slots 1x(Mental Only +0%*, Takes Prep -50%) + 1x(Physical Only +50%, Takes Prep -50%)

(in the end, he could choose between 44 points for 1 General Slot with 8 capacity OR 44 points for 2 slots, 1 Physical, 1 Mental, with 8 capacity EACH )
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Old 12-27-2014, 08:48 PM   #2
Nereidalbel
 
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Since you can only have one ability "prepared" at a time, that points break is due to not being able to change both chip sets at once.
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Old 12-27-2014, 09:31 PM   #3
malloyd
 
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Quote:
Originally Posted by MakDemonik View Post
(in the end, he could choose between 44 points for 1 General Slot with 8 capacity OR 44 points for 2 slots, 1 Physical, 1 Mental, with 8 capacity EACH )
This is an inherent problem of additive, rather that multiplicative, cost modifiers.

You could call it a flaw, but *any* generic modifier scheme will throw up ridiculous cases, since not all modifiers are worth the same amount on everything no matter what the rules say. As always, you should just adjust it to whatever feels appropriate to you.
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Old 12-27-2014, 09:38 PM   #4
the_matrix_walker
 
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nereidalbel View Post
Since you can only have one ability "prepared" at a time, that points break is due to not being able to change both chip sets at once.
While that may be a permutation of that specific Limitation, the fact remains that that sort of thing happens with other limitations in the same way.

Modular abilities almost always require GM attention and often adjustment.
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Old 12-28-2014, 01:44 AM   #5
vicky_molokh
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nereidalbel View Post
Since you can only have one ability "prepared" at a time, that points break is due to not being able to change both chip sets at once.
For modular abilities, it applies to preparing the change, not the use, of abilities. It makes more sense to take Immediate Preparation required anyway. You can't change two slots at once anyway - you have to do it in succession.

Oh, and yeah, additive modifiers have some inherent problems, and some of them show up on Modular Abilities in nasty ways.
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Last edited by vicky_molokh; 12-28-2014 at 02:08 AM.
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Old 12-28-2014, 07:40 AM   #6
MakDemonik
 
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Thank you for your quick replies.

Quote:
Originally Posted by malloyd View Post
This is an inherent problem of additive, rather that multiplicative, cost modifiers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by vicky_molokh View Post
Oh, and yeah, additive modifiers have some inherent problems, and some of them show up on Modular Abilities in nasty ways.
Ah, right! After you mentioned this I remembered that there is the option of multiplicative modifiers in Powers and I tried to use that... This did the trick, with multiplicative a single universal slot is cheaper than to buy two separate.

I wonder why this is not the standard, since it looks like it would eliminate many problems?

Anyway, thanks for the help.

Last edited by MakDemonik; 12-28-2014 at 07:43 AM. Reason: Fixed quote tags
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Old 12-28-2014, 07:56 AM   #7
vicky_molokh
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Quote:
Originally Posted by MakDemonik View Post
I wonder why this is not the standard, since it looks like it would eliminate many problems?
Mostly people not liking multiplication.
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Old 12-28-2014, 03:05 PM   #8
Nereidalbel
 
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Default Re: Problems with Modular Abilities Limitations

Quote:
Originally Posted by vicky_molokh View Post
Mostly people not liking multiplication.
Yep. If you're not using GCA to do the math for you, it's more complicated. That, and additive is the default rules.
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