04-15-2020, 03:04 PM | #11 | ||||
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2004
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Language Talent [10]; Xeno-Omnilingual (Cosmic, Universal translator +50%) [120] =Total 130 points, and you might still need special technology (or the Mimicry advantage) to produce the correct sounds, or advantages like Subsonic Hearing [5] to hear the sounds etc. |
||||
04-15-2020, 03:05 PM | #12 |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2004
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Source please?
|
04-15-2020, 03:14 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dreamland
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Telesend and Mind-Reading is another take on being able to be a 'universal translator'. And remember to add Speak with Animals (Sapient) and Speak with Plants (Sapient) if your device truly is universal.
*I don't recall the value of Sapient, but it allows you to talk with your subject as if they have your IQ for purposes of information. One example given is an ant could tell you it walked over something hard and unusual, but with Sapient it would know it was a nickel. |
04-15-2020, 06:14 PM | #14 | |
Guest
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Quote:
If the former, 30 points is about right*, if the later use Omnilingual and Xeno-Omnilingual out of GURPS Supers. * Unless as noted it's a general consumer item easily purchasable as equipment, then a 1 point Accessory Perk is more appropriate. Flynn is confusing Bill Stoddard's Supers build with the often quipped "Cosmic Modular" build that people like to throw in Bill's face. In Bill's defense, his build is consistent with the (over)pricing of Languages. That doesn't make his build good (IMO), but it is consistently RAW. |
|
04-15-2020, 09:07 PM | #15 |
Join Date: Apr 2005
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Cost of a Universal Translator advantage is somewhat campaign dependent, based on how often the PCs are going to encounter people who don't speak their language and how big a deal that is.
The costs suggested for Universal Translator and similar in Supers are at the high end. Cost should be reduced for campaigns based more on combat and less on social interaction. It should also be reduced if there are technological devices, spells, or other powers which allow the equivalent of UT for a much lower point cost. By contrast: Compare a power based on Telecommunication, like this: Telecommunications (Telesend) (Enhancements: Broadcast, +50%; Cosmic (No success roll required), +50%; Universal, +50%. Limitations: Accessibility (Requires speech and/or hearing), -20%; Reduced Range (1/10), -30%) [60]. As previously mentioned, Modular Abilities works well for language skills you can "download" as necessary. If you want to go with a House Rule option, another possibility is allowing Language Talent to be a leveled trait, with additional levels costing 15 points. That is, 25 points for LT 2 which allows you to instantly learn any language at Accented level by spending a point to learn it, and 40 for LT 3 which allows instant Native fluency. That might work better for characters who have to spend a bit of time listening to a foreign language before they can speak it. In a "really weird aliens" setting, further Accessibility limitations might apply based on what percentage of the campaign's languages you can actually physically read, write, and speak without having to resort to technology. In settings where universal translation doesn't work that well, add Temporary Disadvantage (Disturbing Voice, Low Empathy, No Sense of Humor, Stuttering, etc.) to represent the translator's inherent limitations. Last edited by Pursuivant; 04-15-2020 at 09:26 PM. |
04-15-2020, 09:41 PM | #16 | |
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dreamland
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Quote:
Note that you only need this extreme if there are 10+ languages. If there are only six languages in the setting, then Universal Translator is just 30pts. |
|
04-16-2020, 04:53 AM | #17 | ||||
Guest
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Quote:
That's partially why I based my cost at 30, I tend to run 250ish point games, 1/10 of the PC's starting value in a single ability is a pretty large sum when it's largest utility is based entirely on the GM wanting the Players to have it. And it's partially based on Language talent being as cheap as it is. I just extrapolated that out, why only one level for 10 points? Why not 2 levels of comprehension for 20 points? And if we're going that far already... 3 levels for 30 is also fine (for my games, which tend to be more on the "High Cinema, High Action" side of the genres). * Which is a whole 'nother argument about the 'genericness' of a system that has a presumed setting of TL 4 with 'combat is frequent' baked into it's pricing. Quote:
I boil it down to "How much is this trait worth to the Players"? Is it as valuable as Weapon master (All Weapons)? Or Wealth (Filthy Rich)? If yes, then 50 points is a rock solid cost. I've yet to have someone successfully argue that Xeno-Omnilingual was worth 90 points.... Quote:
Quote:
|
||||
04-16-2020, 05:14 AM | #18 |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: U.K.
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
You can find my stab at this question in Discworld (p. 32); the analysis of where I got the costs from is in my "Under the Bonnet" notes.
__________________
-- Phil Masters My Home Page. My Self-Publications: On Warehouse 23 and On DriveThruRPG. |
04-16-2020, 05:49 AM | #19 | |
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2004
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Quote:
Telecommunications (Telesend) (Enhancements: Broadcast, +50%; Cosmic: No Dice Roll Required +100%; Universal, +50%. Limitations: Accessibility (Requires speech and/or hearing), -20%; Reduced Range (1/10), -30%) [75]. And I think you might need Cybernetic +50% to be able to communicate with machines so that would bring the cost up to 90 points. |
|
04-16-2020, 08:25 AM | #20 |
Untagged
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
|
Re: What's the cost of a Universal Translator as an advantage?
Source for what? The advantage write up clearly gives only two languages at a time.
__________________
Beware, poor communication skills. No offense intended. If offended, it just means that I failed my writing skill check. |
Tags |
advantages, languages |
|
|