[Powers] Stacking Modifiers

scc · 06-24-2016, 05:03 AM

I'm pretty know that there have been threads on this in the past, but not to my knowledge with quiet the same spin on it, thus per my understanding of the forums rules I'm starting a new thread. Mods please merge if my understanding is wrong.

OK per P28 you aren't allowed to stack Power Modifiers unless you're using Super and Elemental, but given that Super is a variant of Psi from Basic and that Magical is in the same boat, and that Mutant from Supers is a variant of Super, does anyone have any objections or see any problems with extending this exception to those other PM?

Further I can see this applying to at least some other PMs, most notably Divine, after all if you're getting you Powers from a Fire God you aren't going to be getting a broad selection of Abilities. (Fire/Heat and maybe Cold/Ice) Or is this some how built into how those Powers work?

Culture20 · 06-24-2016, 06:09 AM

I rule 0 that all away. Stacking can be an important part of a game world. if you have mutant psychics, magic psychics, genetically altered human psychics, and normal human psychics: all four groups could be canceled out with psi static, the mutants with a mutant specific canceling agent, mutants and genetically altered humans with a gene-power canceling agent, and the magic users with anti-magic. It adds more ways to cancel a power; A mutant pyrokinetic could have mutant (includes super), psionic, and elemental, with four different ways to cancel their powers. Better learn some normal self defense techniques!

Phantasm · 06-24-2016, 11:22 AM

I personally see nothing wrong with stacking Psionic and Elemental; some pyrokinetic and cryokinetic abilities, among others, seem custom-made for that.

As for the Super-Psionic-Mutant divide, I tend to refer to a Venn diagram I cooked up years ago in such cases where such an overlap would be necessary; otherwise, I rule they're mechanically the same thing, and hence all three stack with Elemental when need arises.

Clear as mud?

Kallatari · 06-24-2016, 11:40 AM

Personally, I think that restriction is more about the thematics of the power than the actual game rules that apply to it.

I allow any and as many power modifiers to be merged as desired. You want your abilities to be Divine and Magical, no problem... it just means you're limited by the availability of mana and the holiness of the area. You want a Cosmic Divine Magical Psychic ability? No problem.

I just require that the various power modifiers be broken down into the individual components, an elimination of the duplications and contradictions, and then merging them back together. And that effectively becomes a new power modifier.

And that's what I mean by thematic. You're back down to a single power modifier in the end... it just happens to have been derived from multiple different power modifiers. In other words, you don't have both the Divine power modifier and Magic power modifier on your ability. You have the "Divine Magic" power modifier.

Divine Magic (-20%): your abilities are dependent on both mana and sanctity/holiness, can be dispelled by effects that dispel magic, and you can lose the ability if you fail to meet the expectations of your god.

I personally think that's what the rule was meant to imply.

06-24-2016, 05:03 AM	#1
scc Join Date: Mar 2013	[Powers] Stacking Modifiers I'm pretty know that there have been threads on this in the past, but not to my knowledge with quiet the same spin on it, thus per my understanding of the forums rules I'm starting a new thread. Mods please merge if my understanding is wrong. OK per P28 you aren't allowed to stack Power Modifiers unless you're using Super and Elemental, but given that Super is a variant of Psi from Basic and that Magical is in the same boat, and that Mutant from *Supers* is a variant of Super, does anyone have any objections or see any problems with extending this exception to those other PM? Further I can see this applying to at least some other PMs, most notably Divine, after all if you're getting you Powers from a Fire God you aren't going to be getting a broad selection of Abilities. (Fire/Heat and maybe Cold/Ice) Or is this some how built into how those Powers work?

06-24-2016, 06:09 AM	#2
Culture20 Join Date: Feb 2014	Re: [Powers] Stacking Modifiers I rule 0 that all away. Stacking can be an important part of a game world. if you have mutant psychics, magic psychics, genetically altered human psychics, and normal human psychics: all four groups could be canceled out with psi static, the mutants with a mutant specific canceling agent, mutants and genetically altered humans with a gene-power canceling agent, and the magic users with anti-magic. It adds more ways to cancel a power; A mutant pyrokinetic could have mutant (includes super), psionic, and elemental, with four different ways to cancel their powers. Better learn some normal self defense techniques!

06-24-2016, 11:22 AM	#3
Phantasm Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: On the road again...	Re: [Powers] Stacking Modifiers I personally see nothing wrong with stacking Psionic and Elemental; some pyrokinetic and cryokinetic abilities, among others, seem custom-made for that. As for the Super-Psionic-Mutant divide, I tend to refer to a Venn diagram I cooked up years ago in such cases where such an overlap would be necessary; otherwise, I rule they're mechanically the same thing, and hence all three stack with Elemental when need arises. Clear as mud? __________________ "Life ... is an Oreo cookie." - J'onn J'onzz, 1991 "But mom, I don't wanna go back in the dungeon!" The GURPS Marvel Universe Reboot Project A-G, H-R, and S-Z, and its not-a-wiki-really web adaptation. Ranoc, a Muskets-and-Magery Renaissance Fantasy Setting

06-24-2016, 11:40 AM	#4
Kallatari Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ottawa, Canada	Re: [Powers] Stacking Modifiers Personally, I think that restriction is more about the thematics of the power than the actual game rules that apply to it. I allow any and as many power modifiers to be merged as desired. You want your abilities to be Divine and Magical, no problem... it just means you're limited by the availability of mana and the holiness of the area. You want a Cosmic Divine Magical Psychic ability? No problem. I just require that the various power modifiers be broken down into the individual components, an elimination of the duplications and contradictions, and then merging them back together. And that effectively becomes a new power modifier. And that's what I mean by thematic. You're back down to a single power modifier in the end... it just happens to have been derived from multiple different power modifiers. In other words, you don't have both the Divine power modifier and Magic power modifier on your ability. You have the "Divine Magic" power modifier. Divine Magic (-20%): your abilities are dependent on both mana and sanctity/holiness, can be dispelled by effects that dispel magic, and you can lose the ability if you fail to meet the expectations of your god. I personally think that's what the rule was meant to imply.