pricing breakdown "Psionic" power modifier w/ insubstantiality

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Plane

If you already can affect at -3 without it, why not just buy Reliable 4 +20% for half the cost and +4 to the roll?

Might not be allowed on a specific power? I don't really know, nor did I write that. I figure its there because Reliable came out in Powers and was not in Basic.

[Anaraxes]

Reliable benefits a specific ability's activation roll. If you put it on Insubstantial, it doesn't offset the penalty for any other ability you happen to use while Insubstantial. It makes it easier for you to go Insub (assuming you've taken some sort of Requires (Attr) Roll or other activation). Putting Reliable on every other ability you have also only helps those abilities' activation rolls -- and specifically not (for instance) ranged attack rolls (for which you need Accurate).

[Plane]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Reliable benefits a specific ability's activation roll. If you put it on Insubstantial, it doesn't offset the penalty for any other ability you happen to use while Insubstantial.

I'm talking about buying Reliable on the ability (not insubstantial) instead of the +40% "Affects Insubstantial" you would normally buy for such abilities.

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

Putting Reliable on every other ability you have also only helps those abilities' activation rolls -- and specifically not (for instance) ranged attack rolls (for which you need Accurate).

Accurate (B102) is just as cheap as Reliable, although Accuracy (B269) is only of benefit if someone takes an Aim maneuver so it's not as beneficial in offsetting this penalty in fast combat.