[Limitations] Costs Character Point

[Desthro]

I can't seem to find this anywhere, I remember digging it up at some point, and using it. . . But I can't for the life of me remember where.

[Kelly Pedersen]

I believe the most detailed treatment of this is currently in Power-Ups 5: Impulse Buys, "Character Point-Powered Abilities", pp. 13-15.

[Desthro]

Huh, so it's a flat x1/5 cost regardless of how many CP are used to power it. I can get behind that...

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Desthro

Huh, so it's a flat x1/5 cost regardless of how many CP are used to power it. I can get behind that...

Do note that it plainly states the GM can charge MORE if he feels it's appropriate.

[Anaraxes]

Originally Posted by Desthro

it's a flat x1/5 cost

Also recall that the 1/5th prices are not the same as -80% Limitations. They're applied in a separate step, after the modifiers.

[Desthro]

Yeah, 1/5x is a pretty typical standard in GURPS for blanket "useful but only in extremely weak circumstances" like with alternate abilities, CP Powered Powers, and what not.

I was interested in using Spells as Advantages, and wanted to allow enchanting, but without recreating the wheel. I found a post here that had a cumulative Affliction wit have variable enhancement enhancement for a point, and it seemed legit. So I figured why not let them power the enchanting "spell" with a CP for an even CP to CP "trade", with maybe an 8hr prep time. Then, you can use the gadget rules to create the "enchanted items" and when the it has the required "CP" the enchantment is finished and functions.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Desthro

Huh, so it's a flat x1/5 cost regardless of how many CP are used to power it.

No, it's a flat x1/5 and you have to spend either 1 point, 2 points, to a range between 3 and 1/5th the advantages base price depending on how appropriate this invocation of the ability is.

The number needed to power it is not something you can write down when you create the ability; it's subject to those rules (page 13) every time you try to use it.

[Desthro]

Originally Posted by Bruno

No, it's a flat x1/5 and you have to spend either 1 point, 2 points, to a range between 3 and 1/5th the advantages base price depending on how appropriate this invocation of the ability is.

The number needed to power it is not something you can write down when you create the ability; it's subject to those rules (page 13) every time you try to use it.

Which is exactly what I said, even if the understanding wasn't completely accurate. So what if the rule says it's a variable CP cost depending on how it is invoked? The point is, it's a variable CP cost, minimum 1, it cuts the value if the advantage by 1/5th regardless of the amount of CP spent to activate it, and as the GM I can strictly forbid it from being used in any manner that isn't how I proscribed.

If I want to write in: Costs 1 CP, x1/5; along with all the other modifiers, I am perfectly free to do so. I could even make it say "Costs 2, 3, 4 or 5000 CP, x1/5;" if it was necessary. I could even write in multiple scenarios, Costs X CP (1 when you bring food for the players; 2 when you bring drinks for the players; 3 when you are being a moocher; and 4 if you owe someone money and haven't paid them back yet), x1/5. The point made was it's a flat x1/5 cost regardless of the number of CP spent to power the ability. Which, as you pointed out, is the GMs prerogative, as always.