New Limitation: Threshold-Limited

[AlexanderHowl]

I just wanted to introduce a new limitation called Threshold-Limited. When applied to an ability, it gives a limitation worth -10% per point of threshold that a character gains when using the ability (sustained abilities give the character the full value for the first minute and half value, rounded up, for every additional minute). Characters are capable of accepting 30 points of threshold before they have to make a calamity check and lose 8 points of threshold every day.

Threshold-Limited, 1 point of threshold from using the ability (-10%) is one of the two limitations associated with the Threshold Source, the other being Requires IQ roll (-10%). In total, the Threshold Source is worth -20%, and it is capable of being used with any power associated with the Magical Source (plus Anti-Magic). Characters who use abilities associated with the Threshold Source are capable of ignoring the requirement for mana because they manipulate reality through visualization, but they must perfectly visualize their desires and risk being punished by reality for their hubris.

What do you think? Would you use the Threshold-Limited limitation or the Threshold Source for Powers?

[OldSam]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

What do you think? Would you use the Threshold-Limited limitation or the Threshold Source for Powers?

Seems like a nice idea... Could you show an example maybe?

[AlexanderHowl]

So, we have a character with Burning Attack 15d (Jet, +0%; Threshold, -20%) [60]. Before each attack, they would be required to make an IQ roll to visualize their attack and, if successful, would gain one point of threshold before rolling to attack. They would be able to tolerate up to 30 threshold before reality started objecting to their actions.

[mr beer]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

So, we have a character with Burning Attack 15d (Jet, +0%; Threshold, -20%) [60]. Before each attack, they would be required to make an IQ roll to visualize their attack and, if successful, would gain one point of threshold before rolling to attack. They would be able to tolerate up to 30 threshold before reality started objecting to their actions.

With IQ 10 they can make 60 attacks before being tapped out for 4 days but I imagine PCs will tend to increase their IQ roll to avoid this being more than a minor nuisance, though say +4 IQ for 80 points solely to aid this roll would be false economy. But anyway potential -20% may be too big a point break in some games.

Will Talent add to the IQ roll? Can PCs buy an IQ roll bonus e.g. +1 for 5%?

EDIT

I like the idea of Threshold being an official modifier BTW. Seems to fit a lot of character concepts well.

[AlexanderHowl]

Originally Posted by mr beer

With IQ 10 they can make 60 attacks before being tapped out for 4 days but I imagine PCs will tend to increase their IQ roll to avoid this being more than a minor nuisance, though say +4 IQ for 80 points solely to aid this roll would be false economy. But anyway potential -20% may be too big a point break in some games.

Will Talent add to the IQ roll? Can PCs buy an IQ roll bonus e.g. +1 for 5%?

EDIT

I like the idea of Threshold being an official modifier BTW. Seems to fit a lot of character concepts well.

No, I think that I was not clear enough. They gain threshold everything that they succeed in an IQ roll to visualize their attack, meaning that they get 29 attacks before their threshold reaches dangerous levels. They can keep going, but they must make a calamity check at 30 points of threshold, with a +1 for every five points of threshold beyond 30. The IQ roll is just a canon limitation of Requires (Attribute) roll.

The calamity check is what make threshold dangerous (you cannot 'exhaust' threshold, you can only dig yourself into a deeper hole). At 30 points of threshold, you have a 50% chance of suffering Nightmares (9) for 4d nights on an average roll. At 40 points of threshold, you have have a 50% chance of suffering a threshold reduction of 4d+10 for 1d weeks on an average roll (meaning that your threshold could drop to an average of 6, meaning that your 40 points of threshold will give +7 to you calamity rolls for the next 1d weeks. At 50 points of threshold, you have a 50% chance of suffering a critical failure on every threshold related activity for the next 1d+1 weeks. And it just keeps getting worse.

[dataweaver]

GURPS Horror already covers this. If you read Power Corrupts (pp.146–147, stopping just before the sample Corruption system), you'll see that the power tally used by Threshold-Limited Magic is a kind of Corruption, which means that the Corrupting limitation on p.22 is what you'd use to cause an Advantage to generate Tally when used.