[DF] Racial enchantment limitation

[tg_ambro]

Hello, it's been a while since I've seen your pretty faces.

After a gaming break I'm going to run a Dungeon Fantasy campaign. I've decided to forgo the normal enchantment system and use a variant of the metatronic generators found in Pyramid 46: Weird Science. I have most of the tweaks for the system worked out. But one problem remains.

I want to limit the power of some of the magic items the group gets, while also providing said items as saleable loot. In the first session, I'm thinking of having the boss monster be an infernal blooded, or something like that. I want him to have an item that grants him a couple points of DR (Force field) so that he can rock a cool, low-armored look while still shrugging off hits.

I just don't know how to do it. Because with the metatronic generator rules, you first build the ability and then convert it to an item with a cash charge. Because an ability with an accessibility limitation of "must be demon blooded" is free points for a demon and thus not legal, and I have no clue what a fair price would be. While its not a fair limit on an ability, I think it would be fair for an item. Another idea I had would be to give it an Unhollines power modifier, but that only allows me to ignore my problem

So, my question is, What is the fair cost for a "Race only" accessibility limitation?

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by tg_ambro

So, my question is, What is the fair cost for a "Race only" accessibility limitation?

If designing it as an ability means designing it as a power in GURPS: It modifiers the "can be stolen" limitation on a device, changing it to "Can be stolen, won't work". This reduces the value of the limitation, so it's a net enhancement.

[tg_ambro]

That's true, but I would like it to work for a broad class of people (a race in this instance) and want to do it with a minimum of hand waving. So, would one reverse the cost of half the "can be stolen" limitation (i'm thinking the DX or ST based theft one) and charge +15% for it in this design?

[Refplace]

I would just call it an accessability limitation based on how common the race is.
Escpeially among adventuring populace

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by tg_ambro

That's true, but I would like it to work for a broad class of people (a race in this instance) and want to do it with a minimum of hand waving. So, would one reverse the cost of half the "can be stolen" limitation (i'm thinking the DX or ST based theft one) and charge +15% for it in this design?

It's still a limitation. Another foo can still steal and use the foobar. Anybody can steal it so you can't use it.

If we treat "halve the value of the limitation" as a +50% enhancement on the limitation, then "Won't work immediately for non-foos" is a +40% enhancement on the limitation.

Reduce the value of the Can be Stolen limitation by 40%.

[tg_ambro]

It's been a long while since I've made any abilities. In what book can I find the rules for adding enhancements to limitations. I found the "add limitations to enhancements" box in Basic, but I'm not sure if I just reverse it or no.

[the_matrix_walker]

Character points aside, DF 8 Treasure Tables P.52 gives...

"Race Restriction, Use. -0.75 CF"

Which reduces the cash value of enchantments to one quarter normal enchantment cost... is that what you're looking for?

[the_matrix_walker]

As for CP costs for Gadgets, Modifying the "can be stolen" Limitation seems like a good idea.

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by tg_ambro

After a gaming break I'm going to run a Dungeon Fantasy campaign. I've decided to forgo the normal enchantment system and use a variant of the metatronic generators found in Pyramid 46: Weird Science. I have most of the tweaks for the system worked out. But one problem remains.

Neat.

Originally Posted by tg_ambro

I want to limit the power of some of the magic items the group gets, while also providing said items as saleable loot. In the first session, I'm thinking of having the boss monster be an infernal blooded, or something like that. I want him to have an item that grants him a couple points of DR (Force field) so that he can rock a cool, low-armored look while still shrugging off hits.

I just don't know how to do it. Because with the metatronic generator rules, you first build the ability and then convert it to an item with a cash charge. Because an ability with an accessibility limitation of "must be demon blooded" is free points for a demon and thus not legal, and I have no clue what a fair price would be. While its not a fair limit on an ability, I think it would be fair for an item. Another idea I had would be to give it an Unhollines power modifier, but that only allows me to ignore my problem.

So, my question is, What is the fair cost for a "Race only" accessibility limitation?

I suppose you could work it up as a limitation - I'd peg it at about -40%. That side I'd think about a Cost Factor instead of using a limitation. Something similar to Bane:

Only a specific nation, religion, or creature/race: -0.2 CF.
Only against people of a specific city or region: -0.4 CF.
Only for members of a specific family or bloodline: -0.6 CF.
Only for one specific person or creature: -0.8 CF.

That's off the top of my head of course and would probably need to be playtested.