Author Topic: Rote Powers  (Read 2099 times)

Offline bobjob

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Rote Powers
« on: May 13, 2014, 04:17:03 AM »
After creating and playing around with a Rote Mastery power in the "Powers for Really High-End Guys" thread, I decided to create a few more powers. Any critique and game balance that could be supplied would be appreciated.

Rote Mastery [-2]
Your mastery of rote spells is so efficient that you do not tire as easily when casting them.
Skills Affected: Conviction, Lore
Effects: 
Mind Over Matter - You gain two additional Mental stress boxes that can only be used for rote stress. These two boxes may be used before using your normal Mental stress boxes and count as 1 and 2 stress respectively.
Arcane Intellect - Your lore is considered two steps higher when determining the number of rote spells you have access to.

Focused Rote [-2]
You are so efficient at your rote spells, you can cast them easier than non-rote spells.
Skills Affected: Discipline, Conviction
Effects:
Efficient Casting - Your Discipline is considered 1 higher when you cast a Rote Spell
Arcane Brilliance - You can cast a Rote Spell defensively by taking one additional stress. Normally, you cannot cast any spell defensively (Enchanted items or Skill checks are used)

Forceful Rote [-2]
Your belief in your rote spells is so great, they hit harder than normal.
Skills Affected: Conviction
Effects:
Rote Domination - Your damaging rotes negate 2 points of armor for a single target or 1 additional point of armor for multiple targets. If there is no armor, there is no additional effect.
Repetition Breeds Confidence - Your conviction is considered 1 higher for Rote Spells.
« Last Edit: June 17, 2014, 04:32:16 AM by bobjob »
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Offline Haru

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Re: Rote Powers
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2014, 04:43:26 AM »
Looks pretty good. One thing seems unclear though, and thats the additional stress boxes from mind over matter. Would those be a 5th and 6th box in their value? Or an additional 1 and 2? Or 2 additional 1 shift stress boxes? The first would allow you to highly overcharge a rote, which might be what you are going for. It might be easier, if you allow the caster to reduce his casting stress by 2 for 2 rote spells per scene.  It might be a similar effect, but it's much clearer this way.
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Offline AstronaughtAndy

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Re: Rote Powers
« Reply #2 on: May 13, 2014, 05:18:52 AM »
Perhaps instead Rote Mastery could give you 2 mild consequences that could only be used for absorbing the stress of rote spells?

And I kind of think Arcane Intellect could give 2 more rotes instead of one.

What about being able to use Evothaum but only when using rotes?

Offline blackstaff67

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Re: Rote Powers
« Reply #3 on: May 13, 2014, 10:44:49 AM »
Perhaps instead Rote Mastery could give you 2 mild consequences that could only be used for absorbing the stress of rote spells?

And I kind of think Arcane Intellect could give 2 more rotes instead of one.

What about being able to use Evothaum but only when using rotes?
Inexhaustible Strength already gives you 2 mild consequences for spells for one Refresh, if memory serves correctly.
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Offline Cadd

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Re: Rote Powers
« Reply #4 on: May 13, 2014, 11:08:56 AM »
[...]The first would allow you to highly overcharge a rote, which might be what you are going for. [...]

Since a rote stops being a rote if you change any parameters, such as the power drawn, I think it would be sort of self-correcting.
Only way to use the full stress value of a 5th and 6th box would mean that your rote spell is locked at 4 or 5 shifts of power above your Conviction. That's a beast to actually control in a rote (unless your conviction is really low), and you'll only be able to cast that particular rote one or two times per scene without taking consequences just from the Power drawn.