Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - Bestowing Personality-based Powers

the_matrix_walker · 05-12-2021, 06:36 PM

There is something that I find a little problematic about using limitations to represent amplifying a person's characteristics when selecting an Affliction from a Modular Ability. How does the uncontrollable power know about the subject's personality traits?

One of the things I like about the Wildcard! version is it can be far more "hand-wavey" in my mind.

With Modular Abilities, we are talking about a two-stage process, where you set up your power with Modular abilities, and then grant the ability to a subject. But a Modular Ability does not have a subject.

Are we talking about what the person using the ability believes the target's traits are or their actual traits? I think the idea is the latter. So we might need some Cosmic to use a Detect based Homing effect, or link a Detect to the Modular ability.

If you want to price this out as a Cosmic Modular Ability, use the Slotted version, it will be a significant savings.

In the end, I think I would just endorse...

Origins Magnet (Cosmic, Can Target once a year, +300%) [30]

05-12-2021, 06:36 PM	#22
the_matrix_walker Join Date: May 2005 Location: Lynn, MA	Re: Bestowing Personality-based Powers There is something that I find a little problematic about using limitations to represent amplifying a person's characteristics when selecting an Affliction from a Modular Ability. How does the uncontrollable power know about the subject's personality traits? One of the things I like about the Wildcard! version is it can be far more "hand-wavey" in my mind. With Modular Abilities, we are talking about a two-stage process, where you set up your power with Modular abilities, and then grant the ability to a subject. But a Modular Ability does not have a subject. Are we talking about what the person using the ability believes the target's traits are or their actual traits? I think the idea is the latter. So we might need some Cosmic to use a Detect based Homing effect, or link a Detect to the Modular ability. If you want to price this out as a Cosmic Modular Ability, use the Slotted version, it will be a significant savings. In the end, I think I would just endorse... Origins Magnet (Cosmic, Can Target once a year, +300%) [30]