Power question

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Gorkamorka

That would be true of the goal of the game was to have a cushy job and live well. .

Or if the goal of the game is to engage in any kind of espionage. The ability to to see right through ciphers and codes would be rather handy for such a game. It's also kind of a big deal for Lovecraftian games.

But, and this should come as no surprise, Advantages are too expensive a way to go, for abilities that aren't relevant to the focus of your game.

[Kuroshima]

Originally Posted by Gorkamorka

That would be true of the goal of the game was to have a cushy job and live well. But that's just not the goal in most RPGs. This power is for a character in a fairly combat orientated group. 40 points out of a total of 200 is just to much to pay in that particular case.

40? You're not trying hard enough!

Assuming you only want to read a single language:

Modular ability (4 points for the slot (Only languages), 15 points for 3 points of capacity that are always instantly available) (ccessibility, only for written languages, -10%; PM, -10%) [16]

Now, it's better to take:

Cosmic Modular Ability 3 (Trait Limited, Languages only, -50%; Accessibility, only for written languages, -10%; PM, -10%) [9]

[JCurwen3]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

40? You're not trying hard enough!

Assuming you only want to read a single language:

Modular ability (4 points for the slot (Only languages), 15 points for 3 points of capacity that are always instantly available) (ccessibility, only for written languages, -10%; PM, -10%) [16]

Now, it's better to take:

Cosmic Modular Ability 3 (Trait Limited, Languages only, -50%; Accessibility, only for written languages, -10%; PM, -10%) [9]

I don't know if the Accessibility is valid - I'd have it be Written Languages Only (still -50%).

But as an enhancement, if you added Reflexive, you could switch between languages instantly rather than with the one second delay (helpful for quick comparisons and study).

[lachimba]

Originally Posted by Kuroshima

Now, it's better to take:

Cosmic Modular Ability 3 (Trait Limited, Languages only, -50%; Accessibility, only for written languages, -10%; PM, -10%) [9]

That is how I would do it.

[jeff_wilson]

Originally Posted by Bruno

There's nothing simple about translation!

It's only a low level effect in D&D because you can't kill things with it :)

Werl, "Comprehend Languages" doesn't cover scrolls, spells, or maps, does it? You need "Read Magic" and a thief for those, except protection scrolls of course.

[Kuroshima]

Originally Posted by JCurwen3

I don't know if the Accessibility is valid - I'd have it be Written Languages Only (still -50%).

But as an enhancement, if you added Reflexive, you could switch between languages instantly rather than with the one second delay (helpful for quick comparisons and study).

Languages only is canonical as per Powers, so you need an accessibility to restrict it to only written languages.

As for removing the one second delay, well, if it's an obscure language you don't often use, would you not spend one frigging second to remember how it goes? Adding Reflexive to Cosmic Modular Abilities will cost you 4 points/level of the MA, and IMHO, in this case, it's not worth it. Hell, if it's a spell, toss in Requires Words of Power, -10%, and you must mutter your magic words for the symbols in the parchment to make sense to you., reducing total cost to 6 points

Also remember, while it's active, you have both your normal languages and your modular abilities granted languages, you can translate between both. If you need to compare two texts in obscure languages, it might be better to take 3 more levels of modular abilities, for half as much as it would cost to add reflexive.

[Faolyn]

Originally Posted by Gorkamorka

How do I model 'Read any language'? Sort of like the DnD spell.

Thanks

I did it using Language Talent with Cosmic (Can understand any language within a few hours of encountering it). Of course, I was translating D&D angels into GURPS, so it's probably not what you want.