Custom Powers Master List (Work In Progress)

[Sanctaphrax]

Wrong thread, but I do like the idea.

Not entirely clear on how the Extra Benefit works...are you trying to say that you can cast Evocations through the window as long as the Evocation has less than half the power of the ritual?

If you have wizard friends, can they also cast through the window?

No idea if that's balanced or not, but it is pretty cool.

PS: Is that bit about Martha Liberty canon?

[UmbraLux]

They're basically stunts. +2 Conviction buys you an extra mental box, after all. What makes these powers is their ability to violate the cap on evocations per scene. Stunts bump up against a limit of 4 boxes, these do not.

They do?  I've missed that limitation, where is it stated?

I think that once you start experiencing the diminishing returns of Refinement in a big way, these powers will become quite worthwhile.

Yeah, extra (and more powerful) spells are always nice.

But they are a bit underwhelming at normal PC levels. Any suggestions on improving them?

Have you considered adding a situational bonus?  Perhaps something like "...also gains a +1 (or +2/+3) to Conviction based blocks due to the additional mental fortitude."  Basically only helps in defensive mental combat.  Though the +3 may be a bit much.  Might be better off with three different +1 bonuses.

[Sanctaphrax]

Stunts generally work by boosting skills, and skills cap out at 4 boxes.

"Persistent 1-shift effects" can be acquired for 1 stunt apiece, which could include stress boxes, but those effects are limited by circumstance. So you'll only have your extra stress box for certain purposes if you choose to allow that.

I considered a situational bonus, but I couldn't think of much that wouldn't make obsolete mental Toughness.

[Sanctaphrax]

On an unrelated note, what skill do you guys think should be used for mind-reading? I'm wavering between Empathy and Discipline.

[Mr. Death]

Depends on what they're reading--if they're reading thoughts, I'd go with Discipline because, among other things, you'd need to concentrate to sort out all the thoughts that are in a mind. If you're just reading emotions (like Alera's watercrafters, or a Sensative), I'd go with Empathy.

[Sanctaphrax]

They'd be reading thoughts and emotions. Telepathy is fairly broad.

[Mr. Death]

Maybe offer a choice, then (where the result changes based on what the player/character uses--could be reflected in the aspect or high concept), or one modifying the other if you're reading both at once.

Or just go with Discipline; if you're reading both at once, the bit I mentioned about having to sort out the thoughts still applies to the mindreading part, and is probably also applicable to the emotion-reading part.

[Tedronai]

Selectable.
Discipline, empathy, possibly even rapport, deceit, or intimidation, depending on the manner in which the effect is described.  Even conviction could be involved for some forms of 'passive' telepathy (though another skill would probably also have to be involved at that point as well).

[computerking]

Wrong thread, but I do like the idea.

Not entirely clear on how the Extra Benefit works...are you trying to say that you can cast Evocations through the window as long as the Evocation has less than half the power of the ritual?

Yes, that's the idea.

If you have wizard friends, can they also cast through the window?

I hadn't considered that, but no. I think it would be too powerful that way.

No idea if that's balanced or not, but it is pretty cool.

PS: Is that bit about Martha Liberty canon?

No, unfortunately. I had read a few theories about her, and her Our World writeup leans heavily towards Divination & the Invisible (Ectomancy, Spirit). But no, it hasn't been canonically verified.

[Sanctaphrax]

Alright, I'll offer a choice to telepaths.

If nobody objects to the Superior Divination effect, I'll add it to the list.

[UmbraLux]

Stunts generally work by boosting skills, and skills cap out at 4 boxes.

Eh...breaking that down shows the obvious fallacy:

• Proposition:  Many stunts boost skills.
• Proposition:  Stress from skill caps at 4 boxes.
• (Fallacious) Conclusion:  Stunts can't grant stress boxes beyond what skills can grant.

It's a form of the Hasty Generalization fallacy.

[Sanctaphrax]

Please, no formal logic. I got enough of that during my classes this semester, and now that the year is ending I don't want any more.

As I said in the post above, you can also treat an extra stress box as a persistent 1-shift effect. But that has its own problems.

[UmbraLux]

Please, no formal logic. I got enough of that during my classes this semester, and now that the year is ending I don't want any more.

I'll make you a deal, avoid using fallacious arguments and I won't call them out.   

Seriously.  Logic is what separates thinking something through from just jumping to conclusions.  If we don't use logic we're doing nothing more than seeing who can "shout loudest and longest" on the internet.  Doesn't lead to worthwhile discussions. 

[Sanctaphrax]

Pretty much all conversational arguments are fallacious when put into formal terms unless you're very generous with implied premises.

I quite like logic, but numbered premises and named fallacies are only for situations where

a) the issue is very important (this includes all math)
or
b) normal conversation has created an incomprehensible mess.

I think I explained my position pretty well earlier. Do you have an issue with it?

[UmbraLux]

Pretty much all conversational arguments are fallacious when put into formal terms unless you're very generous with implied premises.

I disagree.  But it surprises me to see the statement requesting no formal logic and this...

(click to show/hide)

Arguments based on blind assertion are one of the only things on the internet that can actually annoy me.
<snip>
My position on this is a logical extension of...

...no unsupported assertions request from the same person.

I quite like logic, but numbered premises and named fallacies are only for situations where

a) the issue is very important (this includes all math)
or
b) normal conversation has created an incomprehensible mess.

Logic is just structure - building blocks for reasoning.  It's not something special to be saved up.   

I think I explained my position pretty well earlier. Do you have an issue with it?

Are you referring to your argument for stunts not being allowed to grant stress over four boxes?  If so, yes.  As pointed out previously, it's a fallacious argument. 

That said, I am moving on.  No need to derail the thread further.