Size, Strength, and Mind

[narphoenix]

So I was browsing the various homebrew powers here when I came across an interesting possible combo, and I was wondering if anyone can input.

If someone takes Telekinesis (with the Metaphysical Strength Caveat), Strength Powers, and Diminuitive Size, would you have the Strength Powers face a penalty due to Diminuitive Size?

[Tedronai]

I would likely adjust consider instead adjusting the cost of Diminutive size, determined, as it was, in the absence of this workaround.

[narphoenix]

I would likely adjust consider instead adjusting the cost of Diminutive size, determined, as it was, in the absence of this workaround.

I don't follow. Would you please explain?

[Tedronai]

The refresh cost for Diminutive Size was assessed in an environment that did not include the possibility for mental powers to benefit from the bonuses granted by Strength powers, or even for a mental power to directly take over the tasks penalized by Diminutive Size.  As such, it is likely that its cost in the presence of those options would need to be adjusted.

[narphoenix]

To what? [-2] or [-3] or what exactly?

[Tedronai]

I highly doubt it would ever be worth -3.

[narphoenix]

I highly doubt it would ever be worth -3.

Well, I'm kinda guessing here. How would you cost it with Telekinesis in mind?

[Tedronai]

I'm not sure.  That's why I said I'd consider it.
The size powers are quite complicated in their effects, and so their costing is similarly complicated.

[narphoenix]

A rise in cost to [-2] to remove the penalties of you use Telekinesis?

[Haru]

Well, technically, you are not using might anymore. You can have a diminutive character with evothaum, and he could just do skill replacements for might and nobody would think about him paying more for diminutive size. The same goes for telekinesis, I think. You are paying for the telekinesis power already, which includes a skill switch stunt. That is pretty much exactly what the penalty you want to inflict on diminutive size would include as well, so you already payed you dues. Anything more would be overkill.

[Tedronai]

Penalties are in place under the assumption that they will matter.  In any scenario where a penalty is wholly circumvented, its effects on the cost of the power should be re-evaluated.

[Haru]

But it isn't wholly circumvented, you still have the penalty on might, you just don't use might anymore, and you payed for the privilege already. And you probably didn't use might before anyway, due to the penalty. You can adjust that, sure, but I don't see the necessity. It's not really that big a deal, I think.

[Tedronai]

You're not be using might any more, but you're gaining essentially all of its benefits.  As such, penalties to might are no longer effective, and thus no longer of value.  The are no longer valuable.  They are no longer worth any meaningful refresh.

[Sanctaphrax]

I could go either way. Applying the penalty would avoid the issue Tedronai mentions, but I think it's a minor enough drawback that it could be ignored without a serious balance issue. Sometimes two Powers have synergy...it's not always a problem.

PS: There's a version of Telekinesis more current than the one you mention.

[narphoenix]

PS: There's a version of Telekinesis more current than the one you mention.

I know. I like the old one better, though.