A Pure Mortal possessing the accompanying bonus can possess and make use of IoPs so long as they retain narrative justification each and every scene to pay through the nose for the item as a Temporary Power.
As soon as they lose the narrative justification, they lose the ability to purchase the Temporary Powers represented in the IoP, and even if they retain possession of the item, they lose its benefit.
If they choose to stop paying through the nose each and every scene, then they lose the benefits (which can be regained by starting those payments back up so long as they have narrative justification at the time of payment).


I wouldn't recommend doing this.

Oh dear lord never ever do this.  Not only can I get convoluted and confusing, but it's argueably an abuse of the temporary powers mechanic.  Temporary powers are supposed to be temporary.  Not something you pay into every single scene to avoid paying refresh.

The issue of losing the +2 then paying FP to get the bonus bak is a whole other canof worms.  It's basically creating an entire character concept around abusing a rule.

Are all bad players min/maxers?  Are all min/maxers bad players?  Of course not, however the min/maxer mentality combined with the wrong personality tends to cause the worst issues in my experience.

Just a heads up, the following is intended to be a bit tongue and cheek even if true in some ways:

The MMO Gamer: Every player MUST be 100% optimized at all times and if anyone makes a single mistake or bad decision that the entire group is utterly doomed to failure.  I suppose playing video games where if one person slips up can set you back hours, days, or even weeks would make anyone paranoid.

The perfectionist: He spends days, even weeks pouring over mechanics and numbers to optimize his character before the game even starts.  Only to decide 3 weeks into the campaign that the character sucks and insists he be allowed to reroll a new character, and repeats this process over and over throughout the course of the game.  We get it, you want to play a flawless character, but it does t matter, you as a human are still a failure.

The Competitive Role Player: Hes not playing for story, relaxing entertainment, or a fun night with friends.  He's playing to out-shine everyone else at the table and bask in his superiority all night by repeadedly bringing up his accomplishments to the group.  I think is speak for everyone when I say we would all appreciate it if you would stop trying to relive your glory days as the star player of you're high school lacross team through our role playing games.

The Rambo:  He's couldn't be less interested in taking part in an epic story.  He doesn't give a damn about character development.  He just wants to fufill a power fantasy of being able to use his bare hands to rip the head off any PC or NPC he comes across.  When the time comes to actually role play, he lays back in his chair and closes his eyes or stare idly at the ceiling.  He let's the other players take care of all that "boring stuff" while waiting for the next fight to break out.  When I come across The Rambo, I humbly suggest they go play Gears of War and Call of Duty instead.

Ya know I wouldn't mind doing a legit write up like this.  Not just power gamers, but for story focused and GM architypes.  Maybe I'll start a thread for some ideas. xD

I always figured skill blocks were narrative in nature.  Therefor stay active until they don't make narrative sense.  Like knocking over a bookcase, someone nimbly leaping over the case doesn't make it any easier for someone else to get over.  Someone with inhuman strength smashing it to splinters however does.

Be very VERY careful about giving out additional refresh too quickly.  One refresh may not seem like much.  But it can (and probably will) change the entire player dynamic.  There's a reason wizards have so many requires powers and so few fate points in the starting examples. 

In an 8 refresh game, a standard wizard with no additional powers and their one lowly fate point is very likely going to be the heaviest hitter, and the most versatile player in the entire group.  This gets compounded when they start stacking refinements.

Another issue is that templates like Pure Mortal, Minor Talent, and to a lesser extent Focuses Practitioner get exponentially weaker as refresh levels go up when stacked against other templates.

One last thing to consider is that by and large consequence slots and how much damage they can absorb remains static.  So as players start doing more and more damage, enemies typically can't sustain any more damage than they could when you first started the game.

Badumpsh.

WHOOOOO RULES FROM A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA! Sponge Bob FISH KNIGHT. Scale Mail made of Cod Iron as hard as can be! Sponge Bob FISH KNIGHT! A Sturgeon Steel Sword as sharp as you wish! Sponge Bob FISH KNIGHT! He stabs you with it and you flop like a fish! Sponge Bob FISH KNIGHT! Sponge Bob FISH KNIGHT! Sponge Bob... FISH KNIGHT!

I am concerned and frightened.  You sir or madam, have way WAY to much time on your hands. =P

Spell casters are strong in this game.  Point for point they hit harder than most any other build.  The problem is they tend to be lacking in just about every other aspect.  Also consider that casters can run out of juice quick next to other combat types.  A combat focused shapeshifter with fast transformation will always be doing consistent damage and have some defenseive powers without needing to consider mental stress.

Also consider that your focus items are not physically attached to you.  A popular trick to trip up casters is to temporaraly disarm them of their foci.  One of my players is an absolute terror with a sword.  If she gets in close and disarms a wizard, they have to spend an action to make a "rearmed" Maneuver.  If they do that, they can't prepair a shield, which means a moderate or severe consequence is almost certain when she attacks them next turn.

Another pure mortal player had plenty of fate points, narratve justification, and resources/contact skill to obtain "kryptonite" or buy temporary powers for just about anything he faced off against.

In short magic users are great when being magicy, they are average at best in just about everything else.  I would suggest not being too number crunchy, just come up with an interesting character concept and back story.  Then take powers that fit the character, you can always refine the character as you play.

I'm kind of fuzzy on the idea of using a roll to determine a consequence that you're inflicting on a willing person. I mean, if you need a little bloodletting to power a ritual, does a high roll mean you accidentally gut yourself instead?

if it requires so much blood that it's anything more than flavoring or a declairation?  I would say it's possible to accidentally go to far as harm yourself.  Though honestly that's probably better modeled as a compel on an aspect for the ritual.

#Game Balance
Can't the GM simply craft a story where the threat level is equivalent to the strength of the player characters, thus avoiding this imbalance? It seems like the seems is balanced, but overall has a reliance on GM/player agency (in crafting stories, in regards to Fate). Is there some inherent flaw that causes imbalance?

In the context of this thread and my above post: It's mote a matter of balance between players.  A 16 refresh wizard or werebeast is far and away more powerful and capable then a 16 refresh pure mortal.  Where as a 6 refresh game the power gap is less between say a focused practitioner and a pure mortal.

The issue in terms of this thread is giving a were-crow wings and diminutive size for free in a 6 refresh game effectivly make him a 9 (or is it 10?) refresh character.  Which causes problems with balance because either A. The players who are playing legit 6 refresh characters have a hard time keeping up and end up on the sidelines, or B. The players you give free powers to dominate the game, C. All of the above.