Psi Static Uncontrolled/Unconscious

[nerdvana]

Psi Static is always on, but if one wanted to make it uncontrollable/unconscious only it would need to not be. But to make it swichable you must apply +100% to it for only a -30% gain. A +70% modifier for something that should be a serious limitation seems wrong. How would you all approach this?

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by nerdvana

Psi Static is always on, but if one wanted to make it uncontrollable/unconscious only it would need to not be. But to make it swichable you must apply +100% to it for only a -30% gain. A +70% modifier for something that should be a serious limitation seems wrong. How would you all approach this?

I'm not seeing your problem. Personally, I'd say the default state is already very much like "uncontrollable/unconcious only" - the psi has absolutely no influence or say in the behavior of the static.

I'm really having problems visualizing what behavior you're imagining here - are you looking for a Static field that just cuts in and out randomly?

[nerdvana]

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'm not seeing your problem. Personally, I'd say the default state is already very much like "uncontrollable/unconcious only" - the psi has absolutely no influence or say in the behavior of the static.

I'm really having problems visualizing what behavior you're imagining here - are you looking for a Static field that just cuts in and out randomly?

Yeah, I guess I didn't explain it clearly enough. I want one that isn't always on, that you cannot choose to turn on and off and that costs Fatigue Points when it activates. This would then be able to be modified by gaining control over when it is on and off (at which point it would be a normal, switchable Psi Static with Costs Fatigue).

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by nerdvana

Yeah, I guess I didn't explain it clearly enough. I want one that isn't always on, that you cannot choose to turn on and off and that costs Fatigue Points when it activates. This would then be able to be modified by gaining control over when it is on and off (at which point it would be a normal, switchable Psi Static with Costs Fatigue).

When you give it Costs Fatigue it becomes switchable.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by nerdvana

Yeah, I guess I didn't explain it clearly enough. I want one that isn't always on, that you cannot choose to turn on and off and that costs Fatigue Points when it activates. This would then be able to be modified by gaining control over when it is on and off (at which point it would be a normal, switchable Psi Static with Costs Fatigue).

You've got a problem here, then - Kromm's already noted that if an Uncontrollable ability activates, you don't pay FP costs.

Under what circumstances do you see it turning on? Uncontrollable/Unconscious has a malicious attitude - it doesn't particularly hate YOU and will sort of try to protect you, but it doesn't care about your friends and may try to 'cut in' at either the worst possible moment, or the moment it finds funniest.

It doesn't do it's thing when things are quiet, only when your character is stressed - that, to me, would seem to be better than the normal state of affairs with Static. The other players can use their TK or ESP or whatever without interference most of the time, only risking being suppressed when a fight starts or your character is startled.

[nerdvana]

Originally Posted by Bruno

You've got a problem here, then - Kromm's already noted that if an Uncontrollable ability activates, you don't pay FP costs.

Under what circumstances do you see it turning on? Uncontrollable/Unconscious has a malicious attitude - it doesn't particularly hate YOU and will sort of try to protect you, but it doesn't care about your friends and may try to 'cut in' at either the worst possible moment, or the moment it finds funniest.

It doesn't do it's thing when things are quiet, only when your character is stressed - that, to me, would seem to be better than the normal state of affairs with Static. The other players can use their TK or ESP or whatever without interference most of the time, only risking being suppressed when a fight starts or your character is startled.

That's exactly the situation I want. The Costs Fatigue could be dropped though I guess. Would just putting Uncontrolled and Unconscious on it make it so that it wasn't always on without having to apply switchable?

[Not another shrubbery]

Originally Posted by nerdvana

That's exactly the situation I want. The Costs Fatigue could be dropped though I guess. Would just putting Uncontrolled and Unconscious on it make it so that it wasn't always on without having to apply switchable?

Yes. Those two limitations will make the Static effectively switchable, but only under the control of the Uncontrollable 'entity'. If you wanted to buy off those limitations later (to reflect greater control), but wanted to keep it switchable, you would have to add the special +100 modifier for Static.

BTW, you needn't feel constrained by the official ruling regarding fatigue costs on Uncontrollable abilities... if your concept calls for it, it's OK to rule differently for this case, or even for any or all of your games. You just have to realize that imposing the FP cost on the character, for an ability he has no control over, might be a greater handicap than is desirable.