[DF] Power Item

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

The Energy held in a Power Item is determined by the cost of an equivalent Powerstone, (without the labor cost)

Yes, it's the minimum value of an item that could hold that much energy as a Powerstone. It uses mundane item value before any magic. There's some rounding for nice figures, but that's basically it. And the recharge cost is just the price to cast Manastone, since power items are essentially that. All the other weirdness about being able to have just one, use only your own, designate a replacement, charge only in town, etc. is beside the issue of cost, and there for "feel."

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Kromm

Yes, it's the minimum value of an item that could hold that much energy as a Powerstone. It uses mundane item value before any magic. There's some rounding for nice figures, but that's basically it. And the recharge cost is just the price to cast Manastone, since power items are essentially that. All the other weirdness about being able to have just one, use only your own, designate a replacement, charge only in town, etc. is beside the issue of cost, and there for "feel."

Let me ask then, what would you consider a fair cost for a) a recharging power item similiar to how the reserves from Treasure Tables work and b) having more than a single power item at once?

[Dwarf99]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Let me ask then, what would you consider a fair cost for <snip> and b) having more than a single power item at once?

I can't evaluate the other, but this one, I wouldn't allow, just because it's explicitly forbidden.

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

<snip>
Continuing the table....

Value - FP
$51,000 - 45 Energy
$69,000 - 50 Energy
$91,000 - 55 Energy
$118,000 - 60 Energy
$151,000 - 65 Energy
$192,000 - 70 Energy


But I suppose that is fussing over the math...

No it isn't :D
Not for me anyway.

Originally Posted by Kromm

Yes, it's the minimum value of an item that could hold that much energy as a Powerstone. It uses mundane item value before any magic. There's some rounding for nice figures, but that's basically it. And the recharge cost is just the price to cast Manastone, since power items are essentially that. All the other weirdness about being able to have just one, use only your own, designate a replacement, charge only in town, etc. is beside the issue of cost, and there for "feel."

Thank you both :D

One other question though: does This One Goes to 11 change anything?

[the_matrix_walker]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Let me ask then, what would you consider a fair cost for a) a recharging power item similiar to how the reserves from Treasure Tables work and b) having more than a single power item at once?

a) Since a recharging reserve costs double that of a dedicated reserve, I would say just halve the effective monetary value of an item before comparing it to the table, or say it requires additional funds equal to it's intrinsic value in order to prepare it as a recharging power item. Either way, it should end up costing double.

b) There is no precedent I can think of, so any answer would be pretty arbitrary.

Originally Posted by Dwarf99

Thank you both :D

One other question though: does This One Goes to 11 change anything?

You're welcome... and I'm not familiar with "This one goes to 11" so I can't help there.

[Dwarf99]

Originally Posted by the_matrix_walker

You're welcome... and I'm not familiar with "This one goes to 11" so I can't help there.

It allows dice to be "Platonically Ideal" and roll 3.5, rounding up to the nearest point where odd numbered dice are concerned. Found it either in an Odds and Ends or Eidetic Memory, don't know which. I'd imagine it changes the math for powerstones, but I'm not really sure how.

I already use it for non-magical crafting (applying time spent, materials, and CF modifiers). I think I may use it for Monster Defense and make Player Attacks hit a margin based on the margin derived from appying a roll of 11 to the monster's appropriate defense value (so a Watcher from DF Monsters has a Defense of +3 and you need a margin of 4 to hit it).

[simply Nathan]

Originally Posted by Dwarf99

It allows dice to be "Platonically Ideal" and roll 3.5, rounding up to the nearest point where odd numbered dice are concerned.

Though really something named "This one Goes to 11" should be basically for the opposite purpose, that is of pumping things into an extreme one step beyond the normal limits (setting the volume on speakers that are only supposed to go to 10 up to a nonexistant 11, charging 11d/turn into a Missile spell when your Magery is 10, and things of that nature).

This is more akin do D&D's "Take 10" or whatever it was called.

[Dwarf99]

Be that as it may, I didn't write or name the article, I asked if it would have an impact on Power Item prices.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Ghostdancer

Let me ask then, what would you consider a fair cost for a) a recharging power item similiar to how the reserves from Treasure Tables work and b) having more than a single power item at once?

I don't believe that (a) has any fair cost . . . it could easily be gamed for "infinite energy," and it's a basic premise of DF that however many points you earn, you must still resupply. Removing that control means turning the PCs into gods, and as the series creator, I'd simply say "no" in print. If you dislike that, call the "spell" a 100-point godlike power similar to being able to teleport when the game normally forbids that (DF 11, p. 37). List it as an Unusual Background.

As for (b), that amounts to being able to turn, say, two $1,100/8 FP items into the equivalent of one $4,300/16 FP item, saving a fair bit of money. The illogical extreme is stuff like 40 $50/1 FP items providing 40 FP for $2,000 instead of the $37,000 usually needed for that much energy. Having all the energy in one place permits bigger single spells, but that's not usually much of a limitation. Thus, I'd say it amounts to giving the spellcaster an open-ended pile of cash . . . I'd price it at 50 points, like Filthy Rich, at least. If it's paid per source rather than for "however many sources I like," I might relent and charge 15 points per extra power item. These amount to Unusual Backgrounds in the vein of Invention (p. B477) or Artifact (DF 6, p. 20).

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Kromm

I don't believe that (a) has any fair cost . . . it could easily be gamed for "infinite energy," and it's a basic premise of DF that however many points you earn, you must still resupply. Removing that control means turning the PCs into gods, and as the series creator, I'd simply say "no" in print. If you dislike that, call the "spell" a 100-point godlike power similar to being able to teleport when the game normally forbids that (DF 11, p. 37). List it as an Unusual Background.

Very cool. Hmmm. Maybe make it a special form of artifact then since it has no real fair cost.

Originally Posted by Kromm

As for (b), that amounts to being able to turn, say, two $1,100/8 FP items into the equivalent of one $4,300/16 FP item, saving a fair bit of money. The illogical extreme is stuff like 40 $50/1 FP items providing 40 FP for $2,000 instead of the $37,000 usually needed for that much energy. Having all the energy in one place permits bigger single spells, but that's not usually much of a limitation. Thus, I'd say it amounts to giving the spellcaster an open-ended pile of cash . . . I'd price it at 50 points, like Filthy Rich, at least. If it's paid per source rather than for "however many sources I like," I might relent and charge 15 points per extra power item. These amount to Unusual Backgrounds in the vein of Invention (p. B477) or Artifact (DF 6, p. 20).

I like it! Thank you. :-)

[Anthony]

On recharging items, I've generally figured that you should be able to have 'dedicated' independent income that provides a fixed value per time period, and makes up for the reduced flexibility with improved availability. Thus, a reserve that recharges at 1 point per day is $150 per month, or about 2 points of II for a normal wealth character (this applies to other things too, such as enchanting).