Author Topic: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities  (Read 5314 times)

Offline Captain Indigo

  • Participant
  • *
  • Posts: 19
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #15 on: February 11, 2011, 04:55:14 PM »
I think my interpretation is obviously looser and less precise, but it puts such a scene within reach of a wizardly PC without needing refresh levels in the teens or twenties.
Which obviously Listens-to-the-Wind would have, but still a good point.

Offline devonapple

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2165
  • Parkour to YOU!
    • View Profile
    • LiveJournal Account
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2011, 06:03:23 PM »
I wouldn't look at it so literally, actually.  You can probably simulate what Shagnasty and Joe were throwing at each other as a series of evocation blocks and attacks, simply described as changing into animal form for the duration of the attack or whatever.

That's a great way to abstract out a pair of NPCs fighting: basically, that duel was the classic Wizard shapeshifting duel.

Alas, players are going to want a little more specificity in what they can do, but I could be wrong - what do other folks think?
"Like a voice, like a crack, like a whispering shriek
That echoes on like it’s carpet-bombing feverish white jungles of thought
That I’m positive are not even mine"

Blackout, The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets

Offline newtinmpls

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 168
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2011, 08:51:20 AM »
All depends on how you want to play it. The way I happen to like to visualize shapeshifting is sort of based on the Riddle Master of Hed books; the idea that you have to know/understand an animal to shift into it.

I think the sponsored magic might be along the lines of the way I would go, with maybe an aspect required for each shape 'known' and a FATE point for each transformation (both ways, which could be interesting when the PC is running low).

Offline Drachasor

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 871
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2011, 09:28:48 AM »
That's a great way to abstract out a pair of NPCs fighting: basically, that duel was the classic Wizard shapeshifting duel.

They failed to use the classic and accepted opening move of turning into a dragon, so I must disagree.

It's also doesn't work at all for PCs.  I assume Listens got various bonuses for his forms (not to mention flight)...basically that's very hard to replicate easily with normal casting without a lot of house ruling regarding gaining temporary powers (like the guy with the Coyote magic did in his campaign).   I think going with the shapeshifting powers makes the most sense -- maybe Listens backed that up with some magic though.

Offline Moriden

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 357
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #19 on: February 15, 2011, 06:38:04 AM »
Quote
basically that's very hard to replicate easily with normal casting without a lot of house ruling regarding gaining temporary powers

Given sufficient fate points its only one complexity per refresh of powers gained. so with biomancy at evo. you could do it. i wouldn't really recommend it as a viable combat strategy but there ya go.
Brian Blacknight

Offline Drachasor

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 871
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #20 on: February 15, 2011, 06:58:52 AM »
Given sufficient fate points its only one complexity per refresh of powers gained. so with biomancy at evo. you could do it. i wouldn't really recommend it as a viable combat strategy but there ya go.

And that's a house rule right there, because by the rules there's no cost listed for that (only full transformations are really discussed and those have no cost for individual powers you might bestow)...and that's then combined with mid-session power upgrade rules.  Probably balanced ENOUGH, given the extremely high cost in fate points and the fact it shouldn't last more than a scene...though perhaps not (plenty of bonuses can be very powerful for the fate point cost if you can get them at a whim, and this places it in the realm of grabbing with enchanted items).

Offline Moriden

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 357
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #21 on: February 15, 2011, 01:39:13 PM »
Quote
And that's a house rule right there

Technically yeah but its not mine. i got it from an early post of one of the moderators. i forget if it was iago or lcdarkwood, given sufficient motivation i could probably dig up the post.
Brian Blacknight

Offline Drachasor

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 871
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #22 on: February 15, 2011, 10:11:08 PM »
Technically yeah but its not mine. i got it from an early post of one of the moderators. i forget if it was iago or lcdarkwood, given sufficient motivation i could probably dig up the post.

Cookie?

We really need all that stuff collected in a sticky...but I think I pissed Iago off when I was proposing that.  I'm not very diplomatic.


Hmm, did they ever talk about making items like the Warden Swords that have multiple uses that share the same charges?  (Off-hand, seems like it could be something like lowering the power by 1 to add another ability on those charges all at the same lowered power level...that seems about reasonable).
« Last Edit: February 15, 2011, 10:13:38 PM by Drachasor »

Offline Moriden

  • Conversationalist
  • **
  • Posts: 357
    • View Profile
Re: Injun Joe's shape shifting abilities
« Reply #23 on: February 15, 2011, 10:51:03 PM »
Quote
Hmm, did they ever talk about making items like the Warden Swords that have multiple uses that share the same charges?  (Off-hand, seems like it could be something like lowering the power by 1 to add another ability on those charges all at the same lowered power level...that seems about reasonable).

Not that i recall but i was loudly disagreeing with him over nearly all of the enchanted item changes at the time so i may have blanked it out.

Yes a consolidated place for "official" and consensus statements/rules would be nice.
Brian Blacknight