09-17-2008, 04:48 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wonderful Copenhagen
|
Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Rapier Wit has always struck me as an advantage open for abuse by a determined munchkin, so as an exercise, I'll try to reconstruct it from Affliction.
The effect is stunning, so that's bog standard Affliction 1 (10 points). Mental stun rather than physical is a 0-point special effect. A contest of Public Speaking vs. Will is Affliction with Malediction +100%, using Skills with Abilitites (Powers, p. xxx), and Based on Will, +20%. It is a Sense-Based Malediction, -20%, in that the target must hear you. It also has a -10% language-based accesibility limitation. That's 10+120%-30% = 19 points. But wait, it's a free action, and it can affect groups! And it doesn't suffer range penalties! First, I'd add Area Effect, 4 yards radius, at +100%. By the RAW, it's not allowed for a Malediction, but we'll give it a pass. That should allow me to fast-talk everyone within 4 yards at no penalty. Seems about right. The penalty for groups, as well as the requirement that they have something in common, seems pretty well covered by the notes on Area Effect in Powers (p. 100). Second, Reduced Time. Not legal for any sort of attack power, but I'll take it anyway. +20%. Now, we're at 31 points. So, what other limitations apply? A few Advantages offer immunity. That's a 0-point feature. A few disadvantages offer penalties - again, 0 point feature. Special effects on critical failure & success. Nothing that warrants a modifier. Ah, there it is: "Any modifier the GM assigns based on your description of the verbal attack". Eyeballing it at -25% (-10, at -5% pr. -1, halved for a sliding scale, disregarding positive modifiers), we end out at 10 +120%-30%+120%-25% = 29 points. To match the [5] cost in Characters, the modifier for GM arbitration would have to be -235%. BTW, for "free action attack" powers, I'd use Extra Attack (single ability, -20%) [20], instead of Reduced Time.
__________________
751. Thirty minutes after a massive battle against Cathayans I am not bloodthirsty again. |
09-17-2008, 04:54 AM | #2 | ||
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
Quote:
|
||
09-17-2008, 05:00 AM | #3 |
GURPS FAQ Keeper
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kyïv, Ukraine
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Do I really need to tell you it's a Legacy Trait? Besides, Kromm said it requires a VERY meaningful comment to use against someone.
|
09-17-2008, 06:56 AM | #4 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Denmark
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
|
|
09-17-2008, 10:18 AM | #5 |
GURPS Line Editor
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Montréal, Québec
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
You have to know something meaningful about your specific target, and then turn that into an insult. Rapier Wit is worthless against mysterious hit men and spies, randomly encountered thugs, golems and zombies with no personal life, strangers on the street, and anybody with any skill at all at hiding his true self or past. It's specifically intended for old rivals, public figures, and others you know something about. If you want it to work on just about any ordinary person, you must add Words of Power, +100% -- and if you want it to affect golems, robots, undead, and so on, you'll also need Cosmic, +300%.
I'm not saying that it still isn't somewhat cheap, but it's probably a good idea to start the price comparisons in light of the correct assumptions. And I hasten to add that it's a cinematic trait for silly cinematic campaigns, where things like Bulletproof Nudity and Melee Etiquette are free for everybody already. You're effectively paying 5 points for another cinematic rule that only benefits you. Arguably, that's 4 points more than the perk it ought to be in a game like that.
__________________
Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just GURPS News] |
09-17-2008, 04:49 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Washington
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
__________________
"I am so old now. I used to have so much mercy." --The Doctor |
|
09-17-2008, 10:54 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
|
|
09-17-2008, 11:51 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
|
|
09-18-2008, 12:45 AM | #9 | |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wonderful Copenhagen
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
__________________
751. Thirty minutes after a massive battle against Cathayans I am not bloodthirsty again. |
|
09-18-2008, 08:21 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
|
Re: Deconstructing Rapier Wit
Quote:
|
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|