Custom Power List

[BumblingBear]

Well, it's your game. Normally, if someone tried in a game I played to take an existing power, repackaged and buffed, they'd get laughed at.

Noted.  Don't care.  You're the only one here who has a problem with it.

I say that with love.

[Gatts]

Ah! My apologies for misunderstanding, Gatts! Quote tags, people!

Cool - thank you.

Sorry about the misunderstanding, I drop quote tags in reply once and I go and upset people, that'll teach me.

My snarkiness was a bit unwarranted anyway, so if I offended BumblingBear then I'm sorry about that. My point was that if you start ignoring powers because you feel they're 'weak' and make more powerful versions, then it's usually a slippery slope to power-creep. Most of the powers are balanced around the same sort of level as Breath Weapon, things like the Strength and Toughness powers being an exception.

[ways and means]

Traceing -2:
You can manifest any non-balistic weapon you have seen as a supplemental action. With this ability you can buy Modular Abilities which can be used to represent the imbued abilites of any items of power you are copying. Like True Seeming’s you are limited to only manifesting one item at time.

[devonapple]

"Force Lightning of Lolz" [-2]
You have the power to make electricity arc between your finger tips and lash out at your target.
This counts as a weapon:2 electrical attack for up to 2 zones targetted with your weapons (or guns) skill.

I feel this is somewhat broken, but alright for a houseruled power, and it is certainly mitigated by the "no maneuvers" element mentioned below, which should probably be specified in the power. You may also want to specify whether it is "up to two Zones away" as it may be mistaken as affecting two Zones all at the same time. If it is supposed to be up to two Zones at the same time, of course, this is a totally unacceptable price.

"IP?... Please" [-1]
You can hack into the internet and surf with your mind from any wire connected to the grid upon touch.

I'd price this as a 2- or 3-refresh power, considering how prevalent tech is in the current world, and how easy this makes things for the hacker. Wizards may not be able to use tech, but the rest of the world does, and comparable powers in point-based games can get expensive. DFRPG isn't focused on hacking and technowizardry, but that doesn't make this power less effective. This feels functionally equivalent to a form of Channeling with added benefits.

"Dirty little secrets" [-1]
You can touch an electrical device like an iphone or laptop and mystically know if there are porn pics or other incriminating things on them.  This also give you a pretty good idea of what they are.

This is a pretty subjective power, the definition of porn being "I know it when I see it." I guess if we're using the "it's magic" or "Maxwell's Demon" rationale, this is acceptable.

"Handle aura" [-1]
If you see someone in person who you've interacted with online, they will appear to have an aura to you.  The color and feel of the aura will give you a very good idea of what their handle or user name was as well.

This is alright. The metaphysics are debatable, but this much different from a Supernatural Sense.

"Noob security systems" (requires IP?... Please) [-1]
If you access the network inside of a building using your "IP?...Please." power, you will be able to see the layout of all the security systems.  For the price of a fate point, you can temporarily turn them all off as well.

Also alright. The initial "IP? Please" power is pretty buff, but this is an acceptably priced add-on.

Sorry about the misunderstanding, I drop quote tags in reply once and I go and upset people, that'll teach me.

Ron White: "I forgot. Ever forget? Happened to me."

[BumblingBear]

The force lightning of lolz can target up to 2 zones - I think I may have misworded it.

I meant the PC's zone and up to one adjacent zone.  And no, not both zones at once.

However, I would allow spray attacks with it.

[Viatos]

IP? ...Please

I'd leave this at -1. Being able to connect with your mind from electrical circuity is about up there with a high-quality wireless device; the hands-free and always-working advantage is what makes it worth a whole point of refresh. It's convenient and interesting, not strong.

Force Lightning / Breath Weapon / Et Cetera

A pistol is a Weapon:2 that can target multiple zones away, and with the application of Resources can make spray attacks. A -1 stunt could give it maneuvers. Channeling is -2. This is the important thing to remember. How many weapon:2 attacks do you need to match up to four weapon:6 attacks? What about potions and maneuvers and...et cetera.

I am a firm believer that systems should not contain options that are ludicrously underpowered compared to others with similar function. Why would I want Inhuman Strength, if Unspeakable Strength is also -2 refresh and functions at Mythic level? That's actually...pretty close to the debate here.

I'd make Force Lightning 1 refresh and extend the range cap to Discipline zones away, with a 1 refresh upgrade to Weapon:4 and a 1 refresh upgrade to grant it maneuvers. That's about what having a mind-gun is worth to me over Channeling (Electricity).

[BumblingBear]

IP? ...Please

I'd leave this at -1. Being able to connect with your mind from electrical circuity is about up there with a high-quality wireless device; the hands-free and always-working advantage is what makes it worth a whole point of refresh. It's convenient and interesting, not strong.

Force Lightning / Breath Weapon / Et Cetera

A pistol is a Weapon:2 that can target multiple zones away, and with the application of Resources can make spray attacks. A -1 stunt could give it maneuvers. Channeling is -2. This is the important thing to remember. How many weapon:2 attacks do you need to match up to four weapon:6 attacks? What about potions and maneuvers and...et cetera.

I am a firm believer that systems should not contain options that are ludicrously underpowered compared to others with similar function. Why would I want Inhuman Strength, if Unspeakable Strength is also -2 refresh and functions at Mythic level? That's actually...pretty close to the debate here.

I'd make Force Lightning 1 refresh and extend the range cap to Discipline zones away, with a 1 refresh upgrade to Weapon:4 and a 1 refresh upgrade to grant it maneuvers. That's about what having a mind-gun is worth to me over Channeling (Electricity).

Very interesting ideas.

What is Unspeakable strength, though?  Is that a house power?

[Tedronai]

It is, I gather, a hypothetical power invented for the sole purpose of demonstrating the point.

[Viatos]

It is, I gather, a hypothetical power invented for the sole purpose of demonstrating the point.

Si.

[BumblingBear]

It is, I gather, a hypothetical power invented for the sole purpose of demonstrating the point.

Ty ty.

Yeah - the logic on power is pretty sound.  For instance, a -4 power with 4 trappings will logically be -1 refresh for each trapping.

That is one one I model my powers.

[Viatos]

Resonant Emotion [Incite Emotion Upgrade; -1]
Musts: Lasting Emotion
Attacks and blocks made with Incite Emotion gain a +1 bonus, and aspects placed with Incite Emotion maneuvers are automatically sticky.

Heart-String Virtuoso [Incite Emotion Upgrade; -1]
Musts: Resonant Emotion
When tagging an aspect placed with your Incite Emotion power, you gain a +1 bonus, for a total of +3.

Emotional Control [Incite Emotion Upgrade; -1]
Musts: Incite Emotion
You may use Discipline instead of Deceit or Intimidation for your Incite Emotion power, and gain a +1 bonus when doing so.

Blood Magic [Spellcraft; -1]
Musts: The ability to perform evocation
Blood Magic: You may substitute physical stress for mental stress inflicted by your own evocations. When using this power, it's all or nothing; you must choose to take all mental stress as physical stress, or none.

Antimagic Field [Minor Power; -1]
Antimagic Field: Evocation spells cast within your zone inflict one extra mental stress on the caster.

[sandchigger]

Ooh, I really like Blood Magic.

[BumblingBear]

Ooh, I really like Blood Magic.

Me too.

However, I think it /could/ be OP for a character with supernatural recovery.

They could go for broke and add 4 shifts of power from 2 minor consequences, plus 4 shifts of power from their moderate consequence, and their stress track to one shot.  And of course with inhuman recovery they'd be right as rain by the next scene.

That would probably be a power boost of +11 just to the shifts of power, and that's BEFORE adding the control shifts or any stacked aspects there.

We could be looking at a 50 shift attack.

That's more than most emissary of power wizards can do (even taking a buttload of sponsor debt).... and all for 1 refresh.

[BumblingBear]

Antimagic Field [Minor Power; -1]
Antimagic Field: Evocation spells cast within your zone inflict one extra mental stress on the caster.

I really like this.

I would even make it a passive ability that a PC could turn on, and if they used a round action, I'd let them extend it to one other zone for a mental stress.

If done sneakily enough, they could take out a caster who is going for broke with a huge nuking spell.

[bibliophile20]

Me too.

However, I think it /could/ be OP for a character with supernatural recovery.

They could go for broke and add 4 shifts of power from 2 minor consequences, plus 4 shifts of power from their moderate consequence, and their stress track to one shot.  And of course with inhuman recovery they'd be right as rain by the next scene.

That would probably be a power boost of +11 just to the shifts of power, and that's BEFORE adding the control shifts or any stacked aspects there.

We could be looking at a 50 shift attack.

That's more than most emissary of power wizards can do (even taking a buttload of sponsor debt).... and all for 1 refresh.

Simply note that physical stress and Consequences that have been self-inflicted with Blood Magic cannot be healed with recovery powers and bypass Toughness. 

Or, if you want to be nice--the character did, after all, pay for the power--then have the recovery power work, but at the speed and efficacy of the recovery power one rank below what they have.  So, for Blood Magic-induced stress and Consequences, Inhuman Recovery would have no effect, Supernatural would work as Inhuman, and Mythic would function as Supernatural.