Author Topic: Telekinesis Upgrade  (Read 2070 times)

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Telekinesis Upgrade
« on: April 28, 2013, 06:08:00 PM »
So here's a write up of a potential upgrade to Telekinesis:

Stressful Defense (Requires Defensive Telekinesis) [-1]: If you defend against a physical attack with Defensive Telekinesis, and fail the defense, you may choose to take the stress on your Mental Stress Track instead of physical. Consequences sustained as a result of this should reflect the mental stresses of holding a shield against powerful/repeated attacks (HORRID MIGRAINES or CRANKY FROM EXHAUSTION). Stress is affected by Stoicism instead of Toughness, unless the mental Catch/Limitation is satisfied.

I'm worried a little about that last portion, but I figure that people find ways around Toughness, so they could easily find a way around Stoicism.
GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart

Offline Sanctaphrax

  • White Council
  • Seriously?
  • ****
  • Posts: 12405
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2013, 08:18:58 AM »
Yeah, I'm a little concerned about that last line too.

For 1 Refresh, your Stoicism covers both physical and mental attacks. That's much cheaper than buying Toughness and Stoicism.

Plus it might be possible to game the Catch. Take a Stoicism Catch that's completely unobjectionable normally, and make sure that it can't be satisfied by any physical attack. Then take this, and have Catchless Toughness at a discount price.

And now that I think about it, the fact that this is optional is a pretty big advantage already. If my entire mental stress track is full, I can start taking hits on my physical stress track.

So yeah, this is worryingly powerful.

On the other hand, you have to invest like 5 Refresh to get it. So it's not totally nuts. But I'd still hesitate to allow this.

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2013, 09:30:53 AM »
Do you think it could be increased to [-2] or higher to mitigate the problem, or is the problem deeper than that?
GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart

Offline Sanctaphrax

  • White Council
  • Seriously?
  • ****
  • Posts: 12405
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2013, 11:16:05 AM »
Honestly, I'm not sure.

I'd be willing to give it a try at -2, at least.

The Catch thing is fixed easily enough just by using Limitation.

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2013, 12:11:52 PM »
That, and I think it would be easier to satisfy a Stoicism Catch than a Toughness Catch.

Also, Sancta, what's the latest write up of Limitation?
GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart

Magicpockets

  • Guest
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2013, 02:31:01 PM »
How about just removing this part:
Stress is affected by Stoicism instead of Toughness, unless the mental Catch/Limitation is satisfied.

Would it be fairly priced at [-1]?

Offline Taran

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 9860
    • View Profile
    • Chip
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #6 on: April 29, 2013, 03:48:18 PM »
I don't like the idea of a power that defaults damage to your highest stress track as well as one that has a toughness power tied to it.

I kind of like the idea of this to reflect how people like molly get all whacked out during a physical conflict.

So while people are getting shot, she's taking all this mental trauma.

I agree with Sanctaphrax, you should have the choice to change stress track...

Offline Sanctaphrax

  • White Council
  • Seriously?
  • ****
  • Posts: 12405
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #7 on: April 30, 2013, 06:31:10 AM »
Also, Sancta, what's the latest write up of Limitation?

Yo.

How about just removing this part:
Stress is affected by Stoicism instead of Toughness, unless the mental Catch/Limitation is satisfied.

Would it be fairly priced at [-1]?

I think so. Not 100% sure, but I think so.

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #8 on: April 30, 2013, 01:09:10 PM »
How about just removing this part:
Stress is affected by Stoicism instead of Toughness, unless the mental Catch/Limitation is satisfied.

Would it be fairly priced at [-1]?

Oh. Duh. That works.

GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart

Offline Tedronai

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2343
  • Damane
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2013, 11:29:24 AM »
Actually, simply removing that line won't suffice, as that merely leaves the question unanswered as to whether or what such powers would be effective.
If you mean this to combo with Toughness, then specify that.  If you mean this stress to automatically bypass catches, then specify that, instead (I recommend against this option).
Even Chaotic Neutral individuals have to apologize sometimes. But at least we don't have to mean it.
Slough

Offline narphoenix

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2686
    • View Profile
Re: Telekinesis Upgrade
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2013, 01:07:19 PM »
Actually, simply removing that line won't suffice, as that merely leaves the question unanswered as to whether or what such powers would be effective.
If you mean this to combo with Toughness, then specify that.  If you mean this stress to automatically bypass catches, then specify that, instead (I recommend against this option).

Perhaps it bypasses Stoicism catches by default, with an option to allow Stoicism to work for additional refresh?
GMing:

Paranet 2250

Avatar from Scarfgirl and TheOtherChosenOne of Deviantart