[Powers] Putting multiple abilities into an Alternative Ability slot

[ericthered]

I actually run (as a house rule, I suppose) a variant that rejects the idea of slots all together:

Purchase
A [20]
B [15/5 =3]
C [10/5=2]
D [10/5=2]
E [5/5=1]
F [5/5=1]
G [5/5=1]
H [5/5=1]

I then allow as an ready action the player to switch between any combination of abilities adding up to [20]. B and G, B and H, B and E are all valid, as is C and D or C,E, and H.

Its "permissive", yes, but I find that it is less of a headache than tracking slots and mimics the repertoire of a "power" better than using slots.

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by ericthered

I actually run (as a house rule, I suppose) a variant that rejects the idea of slots all together:

Purchase
A [20]
B [15/5 =3]
C [10/5=2]
D [10/5=2]
E [5/5=1]
F [5/5=1]
G [5/5=1]
H [5/5=1]

I then allow as an ready action the player to switch between any combination of abilities adding up to [20]. B and G, B and H, B and E are all valid, as is C and D or C,E, and H.

Its "permissive", yes, but I find that it is less of a headache than tracking slots and mimics the repertoire of a "power" better than using slots.

RAW is to pay for the most expensive n abilities, then be able to access only n abilities at a time. Personally, I feel the approach you mention here to be far more fair, so it’s the approach I certainly prefer. Honestly, I’m inclined to take it further, allowing leveled traits that are part of it to switch up how many levels they have active at a time (in your example, if ability A were DR 4, the character could opt to combine DR 1 with [15] worth of other traits from the set, DR 2 with [10], DR 3 with [5], or have DR 4 alone).

[Balor Patch]

Originally Posted by Christopher R. Rice

Do note (which is probably obvious) you can't have nested AAs.

Unless your DF14 Mentalist knows Mind Stab.

[CeeDub]

This thread seems relevant:

Alternate Ability groups

[Christopher R. Rice]

Originally Posted by Balor Patch

Unless your DF14 Mentalist knows Mind Stab.

I'm confidant that that is not what that means. Just because it's automatically an alternative ability doesn't mean you can make the whole thing an AA.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

I think possibly there's some confusion in what's being proposed.

It's not:

AA#1 (power A) or (power B) or (power C)
plus
AA#2 (power D) or (power E) or (power F)

as Christopher described. Rather, it's

AA (power A) or (power B) or (power C + power D)

where C and D are distinct abilities, collectively of lower cost than A, which may but need not be used at the same time. Using either or both of them would lock out A and B until the use of C and/or D stops.

On reflection I see why I found it aesthetically unappealing - modulo rounding errors, it costs the same as having each power in a separate slot, but it's better.

I dont see the rounding errors.
I do it this way.
AA (power A) or (power B/5) or (power C/5 + power D/5)
Same as if separate

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

as Christopher described. Rather, it's

AA (power A) or (power B) or (power C + power D)

where C and D are distinct abilities, collectively of lower cost than A, which may but need not be used at the same time. Using either or both of them would lock out A and B until the use of C and/or D stops.

On reflection I see why I found it aesthetically unappealing - modulo rounding errors, it costs the same as having each power in a separate slot, but it's better.

Yup, that's a problem. How about, using cX as the cost of C, doing it this way:

Power A [cA]
Power B [cB/5]
Power C [cC/5]
Power D and Power E [(cD+cE)/4]
Powers F, G and H [(cF+cG+cH/3]

The idea is that one reduces the divisor by 1 for each distinct ability above 1 in a slot.