Re: [BNW] Improving Powers Part 2

[MKirk2112@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/28/2000 9:58:04 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
mouthymerc@hotmail.com writes:

<< A blaster can increase his shooting skill or speed and increase his 
ability 
 to hit or do tricks.  Just about every package, if not all, can be affected 
 by increasing a stat or skill. So, technically, they can all get better with 
 time.
 
 Just some thoughts.
 
 mouthymerc >>

Thank you, mouthymerc, for responding to my post.  :-)

I guess I wasn't clear in my original post.  Yes, the Blaster can increase 
her Speed and/or skill with her powers (energy blast specifically) as can any 
power package, but she cannot increase the intensity of the power.  Other 
packages whose power intensity is linked directly to a skill or trait, like 
the Goliath's superhuman strength is linked directly to the Strength trat, 
can increase the intensity of their powers.  The Goliath can increase the 
intensity of her powers by increasing her Strength trait.  The Blaster cannot 
do this ... the energy blast is always a 5d6+10 damaging attack ... it never 
changes its damage capacity no matter how much the Blaster increases her 
Speed or skill.  She does hit more often with it if she improves her Speed or 
skill, but the energy blast is still a 5d6+10 attack.  The Goliath can move 
from a 5d6+5 attack, to a 6d6+5 attack to a 7d6+5 attack, etc. by simply 
improving her Strength trait.  Also, the Goliath can hit more often with her 
attack by increasing her skill or Speed trait, just like the Blaster can.  
So, in effect, the two power packages are not equally affected by the "no 
improvement of powers" rule.

This is probably not a huge problem given the way the dice are used in the 
game, and given that it costs the Goliath an arm and a leg to increase her 
Strength beyond 5d6.  But, nonetheless, it can be done.  The Blaster, 
probably moreso than any of the other packages except the other energy 
projection packages, has powers that are "frozen."  There is no way to make 
her energy blast do more damage, and there is no way to make her armor 
provide more protection.  

It does not bother me that the Blaster cannot increase the power intensity of 
her powers ... it is actually one of the appeals of the game for me because 
not improving the powers fits more with the game world and I'm used to 
playing games like Champions (where power improvements get out of hand in a 
hurry!) and I miss games like Villains and Vigilantes (where you were also 
limited with improving powers).  What does bother me is that all power 
packages are not equally affected by not allowing power improvements with 
experience.

I have been toying with the following rule for allowing power intensity 
increases for those powers that are "frozen."  However, I must admit that I 
do not use it and am afraid to until I see how the alpha powers will work and 
how they compare to the delta powers.  For powers with a die rating (like the 
Blaster's energy blast power [5d6+10]) the hero can increase the die of the 
power as if it were a trait, up to twice the starting value (in this case a 
maximum of 10d6+10).  The bonus to the power cannot be altered, however.  For 
powers with a rating (like armor) I would treat them like a skill for 
purposes of improvement, again with a maximum of twice the starting value (so 
it would be armor 10/-- maximum for the Blaster power package).  This seems 
to translate well relative to other power packages who have powers that get 
"boosted" because of increases in traits and/or skills.  However, it puts a 
limit on the upper reaches of the power intensity possible, which will 
hopefully maintain a balance between packages.

Ever Defiant,

Guide Matt