Re: [HOE] Why is Blastin' a Knowledge aptitude?

[Michael Watson <mwatson1@bigpond.net.au>]

At 11:30 PM 12/05/02, you wrote:
> > > Well, what happens if I use a Huckster, or Blessed
> > or
> > > something else to put the whammy on your Spirit?
> >
> > Huh? I don't know what you mean here. If the player
> > has a character with a
> > low spirit then he suffers the consequences. It's
> > his choice. But by the
> > rules a syker doesn't NEED a high spirit (just like
> > a blessed doesn't need
> > a high knowledge). I'd be wary of changing that for
> > just one character
> > type. Do you plan on making similar changes to all
> > AB's or just sykers? If
> > it was something that was done across the board it
> > might be cool (I think
> > AB's in HoE tend to over-shadow non-AB's).
> >
>
>Actually, I'm planning to make changes to all the
>beginning skill costs.  Levels 1-2 still cost 1 point,
>3-4 will now cost 2 points and Level 5 will cost 3
>points.  On the other hand I've reduced the cost of
>beginning Concentrations to 1 point each.
>
>I also incorporate penalties to Spirit-based skills
>based on the Fear level: Penalty = Fear level - 2.
>So, Fear level 3 gives a -1 penalty, etc.  There's
>already penalties for guts rolls that are higher.  It
>seems reasonable that once it's high enough, the "Fear
>factor" would beginning to shake people's Faith, Chi
>Meditation, etc.

Sounds ok, I would suggest offsetting it with Grit. So Penalty = Fear Level 
- 2 + Grit

My next thought is why keep it at just spirit roles? Why not all rolls? 
Your hand starts to shake as you move through the deadland, you keep 
getting glimpses out of the corner of your of something looking at you; 
when you turn its just a dead tree or strange rock formation. Perhaps the 
penalty would be less severe maybe level - 3 or 4. On the other hand, 
something like meditation may help you overcome the fear.

The only change I have made to Sykers is to change the rate at which they 
get back strain. Riding in a car as it traverses the potholed roads isn't 
as conducive to regaining strain as sitting quietly under a tree. So I've 
introduced penalties based upon the situation, comfort levels, noisiness 
etc. I figure though that most sykers have come up with ways to block some 
of it out, so I let them make some sort of meditation check to try and 
regain a greater amount of strain.

- michael


"It is unlucky to be stubborn in the face of insurmountable odds."

"Coming to an impasse, change; having changed, you can get through."
- Tao Te Ching