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Old 02-12-2014, 09:09 PM   #11
Randyman
 
Join Date: May 2009
Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ejidoth View Post
Having played with it a bit, my impression is that RPM is 'broken' in that, once you invest enough points, you get more than the total worth of those points out of it. Once you have enough power to create a decent buff with good duration reliably, and pick up Luck so you don't botch yourself to death setting up buffs, you can fairly trivially apply all sorts of useful buffs and enchantments.

That said, the limitation of Greater effects and the general GM oversight involved means that, while you get more for your points than you really invested, the actual effects you tend to have are ones that don't break the story or setting badly. And the limitation on stacking spells (and vulnerability to targeted dispels) means it is to your benefit to share buffs among the party, so everyone gets to share in a bit of the awesome. Looking at it that way, I guess that makes it comparable to Gadgeteer, with Ritual Adept of course being the Quick Gadgeteer version; with some heavy skill investment backing it up, you can do insane things that are arguably a little above your weight class, but the things you can do are things that won't completely spoil the GM's fun, and you're basically giving your allies cool toys rather than showing them up.

Anyway, sorry for the tangent, your comment just led me to think on this a little more than I had.
Your tangent brings up an observation that I have made myself - Ritual Adept as analogous to Quick Gadgeteering. Magery and Gadgeteering don't match up as directly, though, so the analogy breaks down there.

I'm not going to outright state that RPM is 'broken'. The level of GM care required has been borne out in a number of other threads; in an MH game where one or more other "empowered" PCs are present the social contract definitely needs to ensure that the adept doesn't overshadow their fellows.
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Old 02-12-2014, 09:40 PM   #12
PK
 
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Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

Frankly, in my experience, the adept rarely outshines anyone when it comes to "uberbuffs." The fact that "stacking spells" rules are limited by target means that the sensible thing to do is to spread buffs among the entire party ahead of time, and then "hang" (or "charm") a selection of useful general spells. So the whole party comes off as awesome -- thanks to the adept, sure, but that's the kind of spotlight no one minds sharing. :)
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Old 02-12-2014, 09:55 PM   #13
Kalzazz
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

My experience (though not with MH as much directly) on RPM buffing is that RPM buffing can make the RPMist varying degrees of decent at X, but that the same buffs cast on the appropriate specialist can create new shiny degrees of awesome

For instance, heres a buffing spell

Melee Academy: A mental bootcamp to grandly boost skill with One Specific Weapon!

This Casting: Lesser Strengthen Mind (3) + Lesser Control Magic (5) + Duration, 6 hours (5) + Bestows A Bonus, +5 to To rolls with specified weapon (32). 45 energy (45×1).

It is all well and good to throw this on the ST 10, Skill 12 RPMist and let her flail around, but it is oh so much more awesome to toss this onto the ST 17, Skill 20 Weapon Master

(as a note, prepared as a charm when specific weapon is chosen ahead of time when charm is created)
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Old 02-13-2014, 05:14 AM   #14
Randyman
 
Join Date: May 2009
Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

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Originally Posted by PK View Post
Frankly, in my experience, the adept rarely outshines anyone when it comes to "uberbuffs." The fact that "stacking spells" rules are limited by target means that the sensible thing to do is to spread buffs among the entire party ahead of time, and then "hang" (or "charm") a selection of useful general spells. So the whole party comes off as awesome -- thanks to the adept, sure, but that's the kind of spotlight no one minds sharing. :)
No so much worried about "uberbuffing"; you nailed that one square. More concerned about the adept's high flexibility potentially leading to "I can do that too!" whenever a problem needs solving. Hence the invocation of the social contract.

On the up side, a well-played adept can cover for character types not represented in the PC group.
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Old 02-13-2014, 07:17 AM   #15
thom
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

Well, I'm considering using PK's excellent Sorcery rules to represent the Humanoid Shaman/Witch Doctors in my fantasy campaign. This would give them a few buff spells (to protect themselves and their chosen allies-like the tribal chieftain), and a few attack spells to keep the troops in line and harm anyone who attacks the tribe. And this would be much less work than trying to build them as full-fledged spellcasters.

To that point, I want them to have a DR or DB buff spell. For this I have:

Armor (4 CP to learn as a spell)
Basic Cost: 19 points.
Casting Roll: None (Innate Attack (Gaze) to aim).
Duration: 60 seconds
Statistics: Affliction 1 (HT; Advantage, Damage Restistance 2, +100%, Costs Fatigue, 1 FP, -5%; Magical, -10%) [19].)

I'm having trouble with the Deflection Bonus Spell however (i.e. a Shield Spell equivalent). I take it there is no cheap way to build such, or PK would have included it in his article. What would the modifier for Enhanced Dodge to only defend against melee (physical attacks) be?

The FP draining attack is fairly straighforward:

Ray of Fatigue (2 CP/level to learn as a spell)
Basic Cost: 9 points/level.
Casting Roll: None (Innate Attack (Beam) to hit).
Duration: Instantaneous.
Statistics: Fatigue Attack (Costs Fatigue, 1 FP, -5%; Magical, -10%) [9/level].

And finally, the Detect Magic ability.

Seek Magic (4 CP to learn as a spell)
Basic Cost: 19 or 24 points.
Casting Roll: Per.
Duration: Instantaneous.
Statistics: Detect Magic (Costs Fatigue, 1 FP, -5%; Magical, -10%; Precise, +100%) [19]. The improved version adds Long-Range 1 (+50%).

And then I need to figure out the Spasm, Hinder, Blur, and Weapon of Fire equivalents to fully round this out.

Am I missing anything with these builds? And thanks PK for another great addition to the rules!
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Old 02-13-2014, 02:40 PM   #16
Lamech
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Default Re: [MH] Replace RPM with Sorcery (Pyramid 3-63)

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Originally Posted by Ejidoth View Post
Looking at it that way, I guess that makes it comparable to Gadgeteer, with Ritual Adept of course being the Quick Gadgeteer version; with some heavy skill investment backing it up, you can do insane things that are arguably a little above your weight class, but the things you can do are things that won't completely spoil the GM's fun, and you're basically giving your allies cool toys rather than showing them up.
Right, buffs are double plus cool, and in general not likely to screw up a game. A gadgeteer or a quick gadgeteer can really buff a party. "And now everyone has laser weapons." Same thing with a witch "+3 HT/DX for EVERYONE!"
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