Versions of Cassandra's Tears

[Silverblaze]

My GM decided to help move plots along my Knight started the game with -0 Paladin Sense.  It pretty much serves as a Cassandra's Tears reflavored to pretty much only apply to things in defiance of or in accordance with The Almighty's wishes/plans/or violations of free-will.

The power has recently taken a back seat to traditional compels and such, now that our group is used to the system.

It however got me thinking to a way to model the powers of that guy from the TV show "Strange Luck".

(links area safe only used to explain concepts or tv shows IMDB and Wikipedia)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Luck
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112182/

Wanted to play an agent of Serendipity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity

HC: Agent of Serendipity
Have an aspect called "Strange Luck" - maybe the trouble?

Likely have marked by power.
Psychometry
Likely have Entropomancy and an inverted version allowing things to go my way via spells (something like Domino or Longshot from Marvel comics)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longshot
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domino_(comics)

Maybe an item of power...

Have a power called Serendipity's Tears (name is work in progress)

Here is where I need to try to figure out a way to have a version of Cassandra's tears that costs -1 or so. 

I don't mind having a penalty that makes me stop or pause while the visions come.  I was hoping to be able to use it for smaller things to help people (like telling someone the winning lottery numbers).   Or maybe knowing when a bus was going to go out of control so I could step back and let it hit somebody.

Thread is to discuss the power, the character concpet and how to make the afore mentioned power.

Afterward I'd love to hear new versions of Cassandra's Tears.

[Vargo Teras]

I'd actually modify Guide My Hand for such a stunt; it seems more similar, since that's A) a useful effect, where Cassandra's Tears is supposed to be as much trouble as it is help, and B) affects your actions, where Cassandra's Tears only gives you information.

[Sanctaphrax]

I think that making Cassandra's Tears into a -1 Power just requires you to make its use voluntary. Might as well ditch the penalty too, not sure what it adds.

Basically, the power could add a Prophecy trapping to Lore.

There are some future-seeing powers on the master list, but they're pretty bad. I'll revise them one of these days.

Have you considered buying Guide My Hand?

PS: These might be appropriate too.

[Harboe]

If I was to "upgrade" Cassandra's Tears, it'd be something like this:
[-1] - You are no longer at -2 to convince people of your prophecies.

Then add on "A Few Seconds Ahead" (Our World, Abby from the Ordo Lebes) and (possibly) Guide My Hand.

Negotiable add-ons: Psycometry, The Sight and Soulgaze to finish the "I know EVERYTHING" character.

[Silverblaze]

Definitely good ideas.  Don't really care for the rolling more dice custom powers though.

[Sanctaphrax]

Is there a problem with the powers, or is this just personal taste?

PS: You can also roll less dice if you take Ordered Fate.

[Silverblaze]

Is there a problem with the powers, or is this just personal taste?

PS: You can also roll less dice if you take Ordered Fate.

personal taste almost 100% 

But also:

I figure if by law of averages; fudge dice should roll neutral rolling an even number of dice be it 2,4,6,8 or 10  -  doesn't change that. 

I know it can increase or decrease possible minimum/maximum, but by and large it "isn't supposed to". (according to averages)

I suppsoe it bears mention that our group is only 4-5 people sometimes down to three.  None of the potential Gm's will allow me to take those dice fluctuation powers.  I assume their reasoning is similar to mine.  So I can't use them anyhow unless I run the game and use it as an NPC.

[Sanctaphrax]

You're right. Fudge dice are neutral no matter how many you roll. But the variability of the results changes as you change the number of dice.

Which can matter. If you're only rolling 2 dice each, the guy with Superb skill will always beat the guy with Mediocre skill. But if you're rolling 4 dice each, then miracles can happen.

Any particular reason that these powers would be disallowed?

[Silverblaze]

You're right. Fudge dice are neutral no matter how many you roll. But the variability of the results changes as you change the number of dice.

Which can matter. If you're only rolling 2 dice each, the guy with Superb skill will always beat the guy with Mediocre skill. But if you're rolling 4 dice each, then miracles can happen.

Any particular reason that these powers would be disallowed?

Nothing I can see involving game balance. 

Other reasons include, some players/gm's prefer the same amount of variability for all.

Fudge dice are generally sold in packs of four.  One would have to have two packs at the average buying rate.  (I'm sure they can come individually or in packs of two I just haven't seen them)

[Silverblaze]

So:

If I was to "upgrade" Cassandra's Tears, it'd be something like this:
[-1] - You are no longer at -2 to convince people of your prophecies.

Then add on "A Few Seconds Ahead" (Our World, Abby from the Ordo Lebes) and (possibly) Guide My Hand.

Negotiable add-ons: Psycometry, The Sight and Soulgaze to finish the "I know EVERYTHING" character.

I think that making Cassandra's Tears into a -1 Power just requires you to make its use voluntary. Might as well ditch the penalty too, not sure what it adds.

Basically, the power could add a Prophecy trapping to Lore.

There are some future-seeing powers on the master list, but they're pretty bad. I'll revise them one of these days.

Have you considered buying Guide My Hand?

PS: These might be appropriate too.

Is what we've got so far.

I'll edit this (or post later) to contain a more specific outline of the character in question later.

[Haru]

You could go with channelling(visions) or something better worded, to attack, block and maneuver your way around. Instead of attacking or blocking someone directly, you use your knowledge of the very near future to trap your opponents into things you see coming or manipulate to come. Could probably also work for a modified breath weapon, depending on your taste.

[devonapple]

Reminds me of the old "Mage: the Ascension" WW game, in which spellcasters were obligated to rationalize magical effects using statistically plausible effects, to avoid accruing Paradox.

[Haru]

Heard of it, but never really read anything about it, I'm afraid. I was more thinking along the lines of Silverblaze "sidestepping a bus to hit someone" suggestion.

If you want to go the paradox route, you could take up sponsored magic (river of time) and be your own paradox. Instead of knowing that the bus will get out of control, you plan on sitting behind the wheel and run the guy over. Kind of like Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure. You'd cast it like a spell, but you'd be compelled by your sponsor to do those things later to avoid paradoxes. You'd basically have to visit every scene where you cast a spell twice. Can be fun, can be excruciating.

[eri]

You'd basically have to visit every scene where you cast a spell twice. Can be fun, can be excruciating.

Also clear violation of the 6^th law of magic: "Never swim against the currents of time"

[Silverblaze]

Also clear violation of the 6^th law of magic: "Never swim against the currents of time"

Actually thats my number one law of everything.

I'm not a fan of time travel.