Insubstantial touch attacks?

Charak · 07-26-2010, 05:24 PM

I am trying make a D&D-type wraith in GURPS, and I'm having a little trouble doing their innate attacks. It's supposed to be a touch attack that drains the victim's life energy (or something like that), and I figured a toxic attack with the melee modifier would do the trick. However, I want it to ignore normal mundane DR. Since wraiths are insubstantial, could the attack just pass through normal armor? If so, I think contact agent would be a good modifier, but I'd probably have to modify the cost since the main point of contact agent is that DR stops it. I could also have it be cosmic, but then even magical protection wouldn't stop it. What do you think?

PK · 07-26-2010, 05:50 PM

Insubstantiality does not let your attacks pass through armor. You need Cosmic for that. But you can limit Cosmic to bring its cost down (Limited Enhancements, p. B111). What you want is something like:

Toxic Attack (Affects Substantial, +40%; Cosmic, Irresistible Attack, Only vs. mundane armor, +270%; Melee Attack, Reach C, No Parry, -35%)

And remember that your wraith has to buy his Insubstantiality with the +100% Affects Insubstantial enhancement as well.

Mark Skarr · 07-26-2010, 06:01 PM

Pretty much, if you want to ignore armor, you'll need either Armor Divisor ((10) should be good for most Fantasy games), or Cosmic: Irresistable Attack. You'll also need Affects Substantial if your wraiths are Insubstantial. Contact Agent is a penetration modifier, so if they have DR, they'd ignore the attack. That means that you can't stack it with Armor Divisor or Cosmic: Irresistable Attack.

Cosmic: Irresistable Attack is just Armor Divisor (6). Kromm said so several years ago. Mundane armor hardening will affect it just like anything else.

Bruno · 07-26-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

Cosmic: Irresistable Attack is just Armor Divisor (6).

I think you mean (∞) not (6) :D

Diomedes · 07-26-2010, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno

I think you mean (∞) not (6) :D

I think he means the sixth level of Armor Divisor:

(2)
(3)
(5)
(10)
(100)
(infinity)

Mark Skarr · 07-26-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruno

I think you mean (∞) not (6) :D

Yeah, yeah. I meant level 6. I just didn't notice I made the 6 parenthetical. I'm a pervert, not a typist!

Just remember that sense-based attacks are affected by hardened armor!

07-26-2010, 05:24 PM	#1
Charak Join Date: Feb 2010	Insubstantial touch attacks? I am trying make a D&D-type wraith in GURPS, and I'm having a little trouble doing their innate attacks. It's supposed to be a touch attack that drains the victim's life energy (or something like that), and I figured a toxic attack with the melee modifier would do the trick. However, I want it to ignore normal mundane DR. Since wraiths are insubstantial, could the attack just pass through normal armor? If so, I think contact agent would be a good modifier, but I'd probably have to modify the cost since the main point of contact agent is that DR stops it. I could also have it be cosmic, but then even magical protection wouldn't stop it. What do you think?

07-26-2010, 05:50 PM	#2
PK Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Dobbstown Sane Asylum	Re: Insubstantial touch attacks? Insubstantiality does not let your attacks pass through armor. You need Cosmic for that. But you can limit Cosmic to bring its cost down (Limited Enhancements, p. B111). What you want is something like: Toxic Attack (Affects Substantial, +40%; Cosmic, Irresistible Attack, Only vs. mundane armor, +270%; Melee Attack, Reach C, No Parry, -35%) And remember that your wraith has to buy his Insubstantiality with the +100% Affects Insubstantial enhancement as well. __________________ Reverend Pee Kitty of the Order Malkavian-Dobbsian (Twitter) (LJ) MyGURPS: My house rules and *GURPS* resources. #SJGamesLive: I answered questions about *GURPS After the End* and more! {Watch Video} - {Read Transcript}

07-26-2010, 06:01 PM	#3
Mark Skarr Forum Pervert (If you have to ask . . .) Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere high up.	Re: Insubstantial touch attacks? Pretty much, if you want to ignore armor, you'll need either Armor Divisor ((10) should be good for most Fantasy games), or Cosmic: Irresistable Attack. You'll also need Affects Substantial if your wraiths are Insubstantial. Contact Agent is a penetration modifier, so if they have DR, they'd ignore the attack. That means that you can't stack it with Armor Divisor or Cosmic: Irresistable Attack. Cosmic: Irresistable Attack is just Armor Divisor (6). Kromm said so several years ago. Mundane armor hardening will affect it just like anything else.