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Old 05-29-2012, 05:03 AM   #1
Pomphis
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Default New Perk Question

I am playing around with a style concentrating on defense. A mage may use Counterspell, Ward and Great Ward only against spells known by him at skill-12. I want mages who are capable of defending against various spells, but who cannot use those spells. So I am contemplating a perk "Counter-X", where X is a specific spell, which would permit the use of Counterspell, Ward and Great ward against X. Any opinions on whether this is balanced ?

The perk might also be available for mages with limited magery for spells they could usually not learn.
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Old 05-29-2012, 05:34 AM   #2
Refplace
 
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Default Re: New Perk Question

I think that would be fine.
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Old 05-29-2012, 05:45 AM   #3
Figleaf23
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Default Re: New Perk Question

Mages with sufficiently high IQ!+Magery to get skill 12 for 1 point would be better off buying the spell rather than the perk.


I once tinkered with the idea of making the Counterspell roll possible based on possession of a spells prerequisites at a -2 modifier per missing spell. So to counter a spell with three prerequisites of which you had one you'd be at -6 (-2 for each of the prerequisites you're missing, and -2 for missing the spell you are countering).

For spells with no prerequisites, you can make the Countering attempt if you have at least 4 CP in the College.
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Old 05-29-2012, 06:01 AM   #4
wellspring
 
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Default Re: New Perk Question

You could do a "powers as magic" and buy Magic Resistance with a bouquet of modifiers in Thaumatology to limit it to certain colleges (or whatever other broad category of spells you'd like to eliminate), make it switchable and not interfere with Magery-- in other words, to make it more spell-like and less power-like.
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Old 05-29-2012, 06:40 AM   #5
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Default Re: New Perk Question

I believe style-familiarity lets you Counterspell/Ward against any spell in the style, although I can't recall if it's "only when cast by a fellow stylist". That's one perk, for all the spells in the style, possibly with a condition.

That tells you how broad that perk should be - very broad.

Take a style perk for each style you want to counter, or if you want to counter them universally, charge ~3x or 5x as much for the perk (ie 3pt or 5pt advantage to counter any spell in style XYZ, regardless of who casts it).
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Old 05-29-2012, 07:01 AM   #6
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Default Re: New Perk Question

I usually use a Homebrew Perk in addition to Styles and Style Familiarity:

Theoretical Familiarity you have knowledge of theory and underpinnings of Magical College X...you may not know (but are not prohibited from knowing) the spells of this College; but your theoretical grounding allows you to Ward and Counter they spells from this College as if they were "known" spells.

FREX

Theoretical Familiary Mind Control College (1 pt)

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Old 05-29-2012, 07:31 AM   #7
Pomphis
 
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Default Re: New Perk Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Figleaf23 View Post
Mages with sufficiently high IQ!+Magery to get skill 12 for 1 point would be better off buying the spell rather than the perk.
Yes - provided they know all prerequisites.
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Old 05-29-2012, 07:33 AM   #8
Pomphis
 
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Default Re: New Perk Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruno View Post
I believe style-familiarity lets you Counterspell/Ward against any spell in the style, although I can't recall if it's "only when cast by a fellow stylist". That's one perk, for all the spells in the style, possibly with a condition.

That tells you how broad that perk should be - very broad.
Thanks. I had forgotten Magical Styles p.20.
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Old 05-29-2012, 07:48 AM   #9
whswhs
 
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Default Re: New Perk Question

I don't see the utility. A perk that lets you defend against spell X costs 1 point. But for 1 point, you can learn spell X at (IQ+Magery-2), which will let you defend against it, and also let you cast spell X. I can't see how the perk could ever be a good choice in character creation.

Bill Stoddard
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Old 05-29-2012, 08:14 AM   #10
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Default Re: New Perk Question

Quote:
Originally Posted by whswhs View Post
I don't see the utility. A perk that lets you defend against spell X costs 1 point. But for 1 point, you can learn spell X at (IQ+Magery-2), which will let you defend against it, and also let you cast spell X. I can't see how the perk could ever be a good choice in character creation.

Bill Stoddard
I don't know how exactly this perk would work, but I can see the utility if there are no prerequisites (spell wise) for the perk.
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