Mary-Sue, An excercise - for now... Options

[crizh]

I don't see a reason why not. It may take me a few weeks to prep but things look pretty good so far.

It's likely to be a lot more work than normal and have a very different play style.

I'll just have to wing it. Fortunately that's what I do best...

[Mickle5125]

awesome. In that case, I should have my character complete sometime tomorrow... I've got his free spirit buddy done... just working on some fine tuning for him.

oh! how many PP would it cost to give a spirit the Hidden Life Power?

[crizh]

Looking at the costs of other Powers I'd have to say at least 6. And you would only be able to take one Greater Power.

[Mickle5125]

question! does the spirit pact "Magic Pact" work for adepts? Translation: will an adept with the Magic Pact gain PP equal to half the spirit's magic?

[crizh]

I can't see a reason why it wouldn't although I would limit you to taking the same powers every time you got 'powered up' in this fashion.

[Muspellsheimr]

Spells that are Success Tests accumulate one hit per hit rolled in each interval. Resisted Spells accumulate net hits for each interval and are resisted as normal in each interval. Resisted Spells that are targeted against objects accumulate net hits in excess of OR for each interval.

I am curious why you added this. In the context of this potential game (& likely any game), I do not really care, because my characters would not use it in combat. However, combat applications (outside of very nich circumstances), the metamagic was crap anyways, & this addition removes even that nich potential. The complaints about it being to powerful where for out-of-combat applications, which this does not affect the vast majority of which. Not to mention the complications with Indirect spells - are you supposed to "lock on" with those, or do you have some other explanation?

On another note, would you allow the Astral Form spell I proposed in the teleportation thread? This is not a final version. If yes, what alterations would you suggest, if any?

Astral Form [Manipulation]
Type: M â—? Range: Touch â—? Duration: S â—? DV: (F/2)+5

This spell allows a character to shift their physical body onto the Astral plane. While sustained, the magician has no physical body, & follows the rules for Astral Forms (p.183, SR4). A character under the effects of this spell may remain astral for a number of Combat Turns equal to Force x Net Hits. If this time is exceeded, the character dies & their astral form dissipates.

If cast on an unwilling subject, the spell is resisted with Willpower (+ Counterspelling).
Drain:
Type
+0 â—? Mana Spell
Range
-2 â—? Touch
Duration
+0 â—? Sustained
Manipulation Spells
+2 â—? Major Change
+5 â—? Ad Hoc

[Nigel]

If I knew how to build a character at 5k karma, and make it immortal I'd go for this...but I don't. Unfrotunately. I do wish the rest of you fun, and I like the builds/metamagics I've seen so far.

[crizh]

I am curious why you added this.

Because, taken to it's logical idiocy, resistance would be futile. Counter-spelling only barely keeps up with Spell-casting pool sizes as it is. If I were to allow Spell-casting to be an Extended Test that was only resisted once, mathematically, it would rapidly overwhelm Counter-spelling.

Indirect Spells is a good point, I can't really see a good reason for allowing Extended Casting to apply to them at all. I shall give it some thought.

No, no Teleporting.

[Muspellsheimr]

It's not actually teleporting - just giving me the Free Spirit Astral Form ability at very high Drain values - doesn't even allow a Metaplanar Shortcut.

And Counterspelling can equal or exceed Spellcasting pools. As designed, it is very easy to resist a spell being cast with the Metamagic even without Counterspelling - simply step behind a wall.

[crizh]

Counter-spelling can exceed Spell-casting but it is very unlikely to.

The example I have posted has 105 Dice for Spell-casting and 69 for Counter-spelling. I could drive Counter-spelling up to 105 Dice but it would cost another 198 Karma and would involve using two Foci, which is only barely legal, and would only apply to one 'category' of spell. I had considered trying to shoe-horn in a Combat Counter-spelling Focus but it was just too expensive compared to the Shielding Focus. The 'bang per buck' ratio was very low.

Going from point A in the real world to point B in the real world without passing through any of the intervening points in the real world.

Is Teleporting.

No, sorry.

[Muspellsheimr]

No. Teleporting is traveling from point A to point B instantaneously & without any inbetween. What Astral From does is changes the inbetween, & increases speed. It is quite a bit different from teleporting.


Edit:
You also have 105 dice for Counterspelling, before taking into account Resistance Attribute. Might want to go re-read Aid Sorcery.

[crizh]

Might want to go re-read Aid Sorcery.

Nice catch, can't believe I missed that.

Ally Spirits just jumped another notch in my opinions.

[Muspellsheimr]

Ally Spirits are to powerful in my opinion.

[Aurelius]

Oh why the heck not. Making a force 20 spirit. stats are nearly done. He can't even near keep up with the 100+ spellcasting dice, but on the other hand, he has numerous spirit and mortal servants, and a Personal Domain that would have been a rating 2 Mana Ebb during the Fifth World, allowing him and spirits swearing allegiance to him to survive easily. Also, lots and lots of skills, quite well-rounded (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Aurelius]

EARLY DRAFT:

Urartu, the Great Spirit of Mount Ararat, The Other Ark, The Singing Mountain

Spirit that survived on Mount Ararat by making a personal domain, making the -12 mana ebb into a -2 mana ebb, which is easily survivable. Slightly inspired by Tim Powers' Declare.

Breakdown (4782 karma spent)

[ Spoiler ]

Attributes: 2376 karma
Skills: 779 karma
Knowledge: 485 karma
Resources: 100 karma
Contacts: 142 karma
Spells: 120 karma
Qualities: 30 karma
Initiation: 750 karma

Stats

[ Spoiler ]

Attributes:
Bod 12 Agi 12 Rea 12 Str 12 Cha 12 Int 12 Log 12 Wil 12 Edge 20 Force 20, Initiate Grade 20, Ini 24(3)

Skills:
Arcana 6
Archery 2
Armorer 2
Artisan (Singing) 6((IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
Assensing 6
Astral Combat 6
Athletics Group 2
Blades 2
Clubs 2
Dodge 6
Enchanting 6
Influence Group 6
Instruction 6
Intimidation 6
Firearms Group 2
Flight 6
Forgery 2
Medicine Group 2
Outdoors Group 2
Perception 6
Pilot Ground Craft 2
Pilot Watercraft 2
Sorcery Group 6
Stealth Group 2
Throwing Weapons 2
Unarmed Combat 6

Knowledge Skills:
Area Knowledge:Personal Domain 6
Blood Magic 6
Business 4
Knowledge (Servant Tribe) 6
Knowledge (Home Nation) 6
Fifth World Background 6
Fourth World Background 6
Horrors 6
Living Immortals 6
Language: Home Nation 6
Language: Chinese 6
Language: English 6
Language: (ED)Cathayan 4
Language: (ED)Theran 4
Language: (ED)Throalic 4
Magical Theory 6
Metaplanes (Home Plane) 6(+2)
Modern Technology 6
Politics 6
Sixth World Background 6
Spirits 6
NOTE: 5 [Knowledge] 6 Unspent

Qualities
Inspired (Singing) 10p
National Fame 20p

Powers
Accident (0.5), Divining(1), Guard(0.5), Realistic Form (0.5), Concealment(2), Influence(2), Weather Control(2), Enhanced Senses (all)(1), Mutable Form(1), Psychokinesis(0.5), Personal Domain (3), Energy Aura (Shock) (3), Astral Gateway(3), Movement(1)¸ Search (1)
Note: 2 Initiate Power points spent on powers. I don't know whether Astral Gateway is right at 3 points. 6
Initiation: Grade 20 (750 karma)

Initiate Powers
Initiate Powers: Centering, Shielding, Masking, Extended Masking, Possession, Psychometry, Quickening, Flexible Signature, Geomancy, Cleansing, Sympathetic Linking, Filtering, Reflecting, Sensing, , Sacrificing, Dragonspeech, Anchoring
NOTE: Dragonspeech and Possession(the spirit power) taken as Initiate powers. 1 power point unspent.

Spells
Powerbolt, Stunbolt, Mind Probe, Alter Memory, Influence, Heal, Cure Disease, Diagnose, Lightning Bolt, Analyze Device, Combat Sense, Detect Enemies (Extended), Fix, Antidote, Increase Reflexes, Improved Invisibility, Physical Mask, Armor, Mana Barrier, Petrify, Shapechange, Astral Window, Nutrition, Dream

Contacts
The Urartu Kurds (Ancient Kurdish Tribe 4+13/6(Connection 4, Membership(2000) +6, Area +2, Magical Resources +4, Matrix Resources +1, Loyalty 6) 23p
The Network (Fixer Group) Connection 6+16, Loyalty 3 (Connection 6, Membership(50) +2, Global Influence +6, Magical Resources +4, Matrix Resources +4, Loyalty 3) 25p
Spirit Servants. Connection 5+12, Loyalty 6(Connection 5, Membership(50) +2, National Influence +4, Vast Magical Resources +6, Loyalty 6) 23p

Resources
TBA

[Mickle5125]

question: what sort of boosts does the adept power Improved senses provide? I understand thermographic, low light, and the listed ones. I was wondering more: vision enhancement? Vision Magnification? any of the audio enhancements?

and for vision enhancement, would it be one purchase for all three levels, or would you require another .25 pp per level?

[crizh]

Vision Magnification no problem, Eagle Shapeshifters have that.

Enhancement, not sure, I'm at work so can't look it up. Have a look at Eagle Shapeshifter, they might have it at level II in which case that's your answer...

[Mickle5125]

and audio enhancements? IE: spatial recognizer, select sound filters?

[crizh]

If Vision Enhancement is available RAW at 0.25 per level then so are all the others.

I was only concerned with Enhancement because it overlaps with Enhanced Perception.

[Muspellsheimr]

Any sense provided by cyberware can also be provided by this power (see Street Gear, p.298, for more information), unless an improvement involves radio or similar technological phenomena.

When an adept buys an improved sense on a power that has multiple levels (e.g., vision enhancement or sound filter) are they purchased as levels or does the adept gain the max value for just .25 points?

They receive it at the maximum level.

[Mickle5125]

wow! thanks! ^__^

[Aurelius]

How would you price the Endowment, Storm and Wealth powers?
At the moment i've also taken Astral Gateway as a 3p power, which might be a bit low, i don't know, and possession as an initiate power (Allowing me to both possess and materialize)

Anyway, my concept is changing a bit, not sure how it is gonna turn out. First off, i don't live on Ararat, since Aden lairs there.
The problem with all the servants and personal domain is that it creates a very settled character, not the type to go adventuring except in the most extreme circumstances.

[crizh]

Astral Gateway seems fine.

Endowment is not available to free spirits.

The Greater Free Spirit Powers I would allow one at a cost of six.

[Mickle5125]

Would you require use of the Hidden Life power to be in the form of a spirit pact, or just included in the backstory?

[Aurelius]

We could also, perhaps, make an arrangement to tie our characters together, mickle (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) . Of course, then you wouldn't control your spirit buddy.

I mean, i could take hidden life for your character, perhaps, if we can make stories fit together.