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Old 02-19-2016, 12:16 PM   #11
AlexanderHowl
 
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

Reliable is often a cost effective way to make minor abilities useful (Danger Sense, Empathy, Intuition, etc). It is completely reasonable to have a character purchase a minor talent with the modifier of up to Reliable+10 (+50%). For example, it would not be unreasonable to represent fictional characters unique talents with a minor ability with Reliable+8. When combined with Based on Different Attribute, generally Per or Will, it can also reflect the ability of animals to outperform human beings in very limited circumstances, which anyone who has spent a great deal of time with animals such as horses can agree will happen from time to time.
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Old 02-19-2016, 12:30 PM   #12
simply Nathan
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

On a 100-point ability like Warp, Reliable costs the same number of points per level as the smallest possible Talent. Making Warp part of a broader power, then, makes some optimization sense to get the most out of your points.

Reliable costs less than a point per +1 on many other abilities. Even with several, it's unlikely that a Talent is going to give enough oomph to justify buying Talent instead of Reliable.

I would think if anything, though, that GMs would be more likely to say "No Power Talents, just buy Reliable on your individual superpowers" rather than "No Reliable, just buy a Power Talent to make your abilities more reliable".
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Old 02-19-2016, 01:16 PM   #13
Fred Brackin
 
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

Quote:
Originally Posted by NineDaysDead View Post
If a power Talent adds to a roll, Reliable adds to that roll:
....and if the Innate Attack Skill isn't one of the Skills covered by the talent then that talent doesn't add to Innate Attack rolls either.

If the Talent only covers IQ (or other Attribute) rolls to use a Power then it doesn't cover Innate Attack which is a Skill and not an Attribute roll.
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Old 02-19-2016, 02:31 PM   #14
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Brackin View Post
....and if the Innate Attack Skill isn't one of the Skills covered by the talent then that talent doesn't add to Innate Attack rolls either.
If the Innate Attack is part of a Power, than that Power Talent always adds to the roll:

Quote:
Originally Posted by powers page 55; Innate Attack
Any power that isn’t completely nonviolent might have an Innate Attack. Match both damage type and means of delivery to the power’s focus and source; see above for many examples. In all cases, Talent gives a bonus to hit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Brackin View Post
If the Talent only covers IQ (or other Attribute) rolls to use a Power then it doesn't cover Innate Attack which is a Skill and not an Attribute roll.
Talents cover both Attribute rolls and skill rolls.

Quote:
Originally Posted by powers page 162; Skills for Everyone
Talent benefits both trained and default use.
...
Example: Healing is based on IQ. If the GM requires skills to use psi powers, a psychic healer with Healing must roll against Healing (IQ/Hard) to use his ability – or at IQ-6 if untrained. In either case, his Healing Talent gives a bonus.
Skill or Attribute, it makes no difference.
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Old 02-19-2016, 03:03 PM   #15
Fred Brackin
 
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

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Originally Posted by NineDaysDead View Post
If the Innate Attack is part of a Power, than that Power Talent always adds to the roll:



Talents cover both Attribute rolls and skill rolls.

Okay, so the Talent has to cover the Innate attack ability.

However, rolls where Skills default to an Attribute and Attribute rolls are, not the same thing.
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Old 02-19-2016, 03:21 PM   #16
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred Brackin View Post
However, rolls where Skills default to an Attribute and Attribute rolls are, not the same thing.
I don't see your point here, could you clarify? How is this relevant to the discussion?
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Old 02-19-2016, 03:38 PM   #17
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

On the original subject, for most workups of powers that I use I only allow Reliable to buy off penalties for doing something, and require skill bonuses to come from Talent, Acute Senses, and similar traits.
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Old 02-20-2016, 03:13 AM   #18
Peter Knutsen
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

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Originally Posted by Celti View Post
On the original subject, for most workups of powers that I use I only allow Reliable to buy off penalties for doing something, and require skill bonuses to come from Talent, Acute Senses, and similar traits.
Well, that is a deviation from the RAW.
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Old 02-20-2016, 06:33 AM   #19
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

Things talents do that reliable doesn't:
  • Allow spending points on NEW Abilities associated with a power. (Powers P.121)
  • Reaction rolls to with summoned entities and patrons of a power (Powers P.121 & Powers P.158).

Talent is the power "Attribute" as it were. Reliable focuses on a single power. It should be cheaper in general. It won't be if you buy a power set with reliable though, which is where talent wins the day.
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Old 02-20-2016, 07:49 AM   #20
Peter Knutsen
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Default Re: Reliable Enhancement vs buying Power Talent?

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Originally Posted by GodBeastX View Post
Things talents do that reliable doesn't:
  • Allow spending points on NEW Abilities associated with a power. (Powers P.121)
  • Reaction rolls to with summoned entities and patrons of a power (Powers P.121 & Powers P.158).
True, although the first bullet item only requires one level of Power Talent.
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