New perks part 2 - combat perks

Maz · 12-09-2018, 06:43 PM

I really enjoyed reading these. A lot of them had a lot of flair to them.

Some of them are too good for perks. but can easily be made more balanced while keeping the intention of the perk:

Backstab. As others pointed out is way too good and doesn't fit GURPS abilities. To emphasize the name I would instead suggest.
"When making thrust attack from behind you may ignore up to -2 to-hit penalty from locations".
This would encourage making attacks to the Vitals or Chinks in the targets armour. I deliberately say 'thrust' to avoid people simply using the perk to swing at the skull.

Battle cry is too vague. How long a range does it affect? How many? does it matter how long there is until "their next attack" or "next defence"?
Say it's an attack action. Say they get a bonus to Will of +1 per y (so it's effectively only a few yards). And say it's not "until next" but just "next turn".

Blood in the Water As others have said. That quickly becomes +1 against almost anyone. That's too good. Instead make it more specific. Blood in the water suggest a sort of blood frenzy. So it could be "you gain +1 to hit if making an all-out attack against a wounded target". It fits the perk name but is not really that good.

Corpse kill No. An extra free attack is way too good. And if people have super powers or similar, that extra attack could be an AOE attack that hit others. Maybe instead let it boost attacks against prone enemies, or set some harsher restrictions on the attack.
For instance "If making an All-Out attack against an incapacitated foe, you may gain the benefit of two of the options (strong, determined, double)".

Last Stand. The restrictions are too vague. To make it more restrictive only give the bonus as long as you do not make a Retreating defense.

Meatshields. This one is way too powerful for a perk. And makes little sense in regards to the name.
Instead let the perk boost peoples active defense by +1, but only when people make a sacrificial dodge for you (see p.375).

Stonewall. Again too good. Instead simply say your ST count as +2 higher for the purpose of resisting knockback or slams. you gain some of the same benefit but without being unbalanced.

The rest I would have no problems with. And I am definitely going to steal some of them. :)

12-09-2018, 06:43 PM	#17
Maz Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denmark	Re: New perks part 2 - combat perks I really enjoyed reading these. A lot of them had a lot of flair to them. Some of them are too good for perks. but can easily be made more balanced while keeping the intention of the perk: Backstab. As others pointed out is way too good and doesn't fit GURPS abilities. To emphasize the name I would instead suggest. "When making thrust attack from behind you may ignore up to -2 to-hit penalty from locations". This would encourage making attacks to the Vitals or Chinks in the targets armour. I deliberately say 'thrust' to avoid people simply using the perk to swing at the skull. Battle cry is too vague. How long a range does it affect? How many? does it matter how long there is until "their next attack" or "next defence"? Say it's an attack action. Say they get a bonus to Will of +1 per y (so it's effectively only a few yards). And say it's not "until next" but just "next turn". Blood in the Water As others have said. That quickly becomes +1 against almost anyone. That's too good. Instead make it more specific. Blood in the water suggest a sort of blood frenzy. So it could be "you gain +1 to hit if making an all-out attack against a wounded target". It fits the perk name but is not really that good. Corpse kill No. An extra free attack is way too good. And if people have super powers or similar, that extra attack could be an AOE attack that hit others. Maybe instead let it boost attacks against prone enemies, or set some harsher restrictions on the attack. For instance "If making an All-Out attack against an incapacitated foe, you may gain the benefit of two of the options (strong, determined, double)". Last Stand. The restrictions are too vague. To make it more restrictive only give the bonus as long as you do not make a Retreating defense. Meatshields. This one is way too powerful for a perk. And makes little sense in regards to the name. Instead let the perk boost peoples active defense by +1, but only when people make a sacrificial dodge for you (see p.375). Stonewall. Again too good. Instead simply say your ST count as +2 higher for the purpose of resisting knockback or slams. you gain some of the same benefit but without being unbalanced. The rest I would have no problems with. And I am definitely going to steal some of them. :)