Re: [BNW] Bomber variant...

[Mark Kilfoil <kilfoilm@nbnet.nb.ca>]

At 09:35 AM 03/26/2000, you wrote:
>So you're the enCaffeinater one...

The one, the only, the encaffeinated...

>Hey, I got some tricks for your Broadcaster Delta...

Just to make sure we're square, it's not "my" Broadcaster Delta...  The 
original report came from a Delta name madprophet..  All *I* did was 
elaborate, elucidate, collate, commentate and format..

>DF: Direction finding. The character can determine the direction from 
>which the signal is coming. This is an easy(5) smarts roll. each extra 
>success increases the confidence level of the direction. Distance cannot 
>be determined. Note: if the signal is stationary, or the delta has a means 
>to move pretty fast, they could possibly triangulate the location of a 
>signal by using this trick multiple times from different locations. This 
>is a GM case-by-case decision.

Hmm...  Most tricks are based on a number of "extra" successes on a power 
or skill roll, so how about:

Direction Finding.  The character can determine the direction from which 
the signal is coming.  For one extra success on their Receiving roll, the 
Broadcaster can tell the precise direction from which a signal is 
coming.  For an additional extra success (a total of two extra successes 
above the original roll), the Broadcaster can also tell the approximate 
distance to the source of the signal.  Optionally, a Broadcaster may also 
use Direction Finding twice in conjunction with appropriate skills to 
triangulate the source's location.  (Suggested appropriate skills 
include:  navigation, mathematics of 2+, survival: city, and area 
knowledge: city of 3+.)

>Full Spectrum: The character can broadcast full sensory information in 
>addition to his "inner voice". Player can choose what senses to broadcast. 
>Vision and hearing can be picked up by any radio/TV able to receive the 
>frequency the signal is sent on. Other delta broadcasters can pick up any 
>other senses broadcast in addition to sight and hearing.

We debated this when the Broadcaster originally came out; madprophet's 
vision for the archetype was that television signals (which are mostly 
carried by cable these days anyway) didn't really "fit" what he was going 
for, but perhaps allowing it as a trick might be alright...

I'd suggest that it should be harder than the Broadcaster's basic power, 
both to represent the different (and more complicated) type of signal, and 
to avoid it becoming too abusive..

Perhaps something like:

Full Spectrum: <description same>  To do this, a Broadcaster must make 
extra successes on a Broadcasting roll.  For one extra success, the 
Broadcaster can choose one additional sense to be sent.  For three 
successes, all senses are transmitted.  Note that this is a "wide-area" 
broadcast.  For one additional success, the Broadcaster can make it project 
on a specific device or to a specific person within 500m.

>(Yeah, and you bet it feels weird the first time you receive this, Like 
>the time, I got "discovered" by my mentor. I was young and, AHEM, well, 
>doing something young people do a lot of, and didn't know I was 
>transmitting. Embarassing to say the least...)

Proving once again that us Deltas are "only human"....

>The glide: This trick is only helpful to Deltas with the Full Spectrum 
>trick. It allows them to move in such a manner so that the sensory 
>information they transmit comes across clean, and is less disorienting 
>(esp in the case of other broadcasters reception). Think of the difference 
>between a shaky camcorder shot and a Commercial movie 'steadycam'. This 
>trick is an easy(5) speed roll. Each success improves the quality of the 
>signal across the board for all senses. Called the glide because the 
>delta's movements become smoother and more controlled. (note this is 
>mostly an aesthetic effect, but each extra success can be applied to any 
>"impact" skill, like persuasion, being attempted with the transmission.)

I would imagine that having a better signal would be better no matter what 
kind of signal they are sending...  Perhaps we should generalize this to a 
general "signal boost" trick?

As for the original glide trick, why not make it an Easy(5) roll against 
appropriate skills, such as an Arts or Performing...

I'll be considering your changes..  (I wonder if madprophet is still 
around?  You out there, dude?)

FIGHT THE POWER!


---
             the encaffeinated ONE
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