Statting a Homunculus (FMA rip)

[bitterpill]

Making Cloak of Shadow a prerequisite makes sense and also benefits some of the abilities of shadow manipulation and is the same kind of power giving the shadows have eyes a -1 rebate for Cloak of Shadows makes sense as it comes with the dark-vision of Cloak of Shadow and as to some degree a natural extension of that power.

[Sanctaphrax]

I meant that it could be a refresh point cheaper with no weapon rating or with no range. Or two points cheaper with both.

Then again, it might not be a good idea. The addition of the different usable skills and the ambushing benefit might be too cheap for one refresh. So feel free to disregard that.

So, does it work with Strength now?

And I suppose 2 refresh for a character with Cloak of Shadows is reasonable.

[bitterpill]

Your right I may as well ditch those powers and just allow strength bonuses thanks that simplifies the Power. It dosen't make sense to give a rebate to only using shadow attacks as using shadows is more effective with a three zone range and the posibilities of multiple attacks before the enemy can respond. For Pride I would solve this by saying that his powers were give human form limitation. 

[Sanctaphrax]

Are you saying that Strength powers don't apply if you are using Conviction/Discipline? Because that seems a bit over-complex.

Why not just ditch Razor Shadow and Crushing Shadow and make Strength apply to all uses of this power? It seems to accomplish what you want in a more simple way.

Another power option that returns one refresh in exchange for limiting your Strength to apply only to your shadow might be appropriate. But I'm worried that it might not be a meaningful drawback.

[bitterpill]

Do any of you know how I can get the party to find a small kid hiding three zones away (city scape so no clear views) before they all die, I was thinking of allowing them to roll lore (arcane senses) or Survival or Alertness vs the Prides stealth skill for hiding as a supplemental action. Should I modify thier rolls for the distance and the cover  but would that make it impossible for them to find Pride who already would have the benefit of Veil of Shadows. 

[Sanctaphrax]

If Pride ambushes your players, they should probably die. He's very powerful.

Maybe you could have him ambush another character that the players are travelling with. That would give them some time to find him.

By the way, can you make a spray attack with shadow control?

[bitterpill]

Spray attacks makes thematic sense for the power (well you have read the manga he seems able to hit multiple people at once), the only reason I thought pride should ambush them is because in the manga mosts of his battles are ambushes whilst he is somewhere else. Getting pride to kill the guide makes sense which will give the party the opportunity to figure out where he is. Actually it would be quite a good scene them are travelling through an ‘abandoned’ City in Russia and suddenly there guide has a blade of shadow poking out of his midriff.

[Sanctaphrax]

Yeah, that sounds like a good image.

I hope your players will be alright. Pride is the homunculus that other homunculi are afraid of, after all.

Could you post the final version of Shadow Manipulation that you'll be using for him?

[bitterpill]

Shadow Manipulation [-3]
You can manipulate your shadow to become a powerful weapon, Shadow manipulation has range of up three zones away and counts as +2 weapon attack, which can be used as a spray attack. Your shadows attack roll is Discipline or fists and its Might roll is Conviction or Might. It can be used for anything that a normal limb could be used for including Grappling and is also able to ambush your enemies using discipline or fists instead of stealth as its stealth roll. In addition if you possess inhuman strength or greater your shadow gains those benefits as well.

Requires Veil of Shadow -1

The shadows have eyes [-2]
You do not need to see your opponents directly to attack them with your shadow manipulation as long as you are within the three zone radius your shadow can see them for you. Your shadow receives all the benefits of veil of shadows (night vision and +2 to stealth checks); your vision ignores all border penalties as your vision is being relayed to you directly by your shadow.

 

[bitterpill]

 Name: Pride (In a Submarine)
High Concept: Shadow Controlling Homunculus
Trouble: Bound to Central
Other Aspect: Oldest of the Homunculus, Strongest of the Homunculus, Fuhrer President's Fake Son
 
Powers
Veil of Shadows -1
Shadow Manipulation -3
The Shadows have Eyes -2
Mythic Strength -6
Human Form +2 (can only use above powers when it is not totally dark)
Mythic Regeneration -5 (catch Philosophers Stone +1)
Mimic Abilities -4
 Shadow Hammer [-1] you can attack an entire area with your shadow at -2 to your attack roll.
True Strike [-1] 

Stunts
Shadow Master +1 to attack rolls using shadow
Shadow Guard +2 to defence attempts using shadow manipulation
Harmless Kid Defence: +2 to Deceit rolls for pretending your harmless

Total Refresh Cost -24

Refresh Total: -3

Skills
+6 Discipline
+5 Deceit, Conviction 
+4 Lore, Stealth, Intimidation
=3 Rapport, Scholarship, Presence 

[Sanctaphrax]

What happened to the zone-wide attack option? I liked that.

Pride's Human Form ought to be +2.

What sort of skills are you planning to give him?

And finally, I'm actually concerned that he might not be powerful enough. As written, Wrath could probably take him. Putting him into negative refresh might help with this. Of course, you still want him to be beatable. So be careful, etc.

[bitterpill]

Is that any better I edited it

[Sanctaphrax]

Yeah, it looks better now. Wrath is still too much of a threat, but mostly because

a) I overstatted him a bit
and
b) the Ultimate Eye is hax.

So yeah, that looks solid. Add some skills and you're done.

PS: Are you sure about the balance of using mental stress for Shadow Hammer? It worries me slightly.

[bitterpill]

I was not sure about the mental stress but I know some people think all area of effects should require some, but I will probably go with the -2.