Re: [HoE] assorted [HOPLER]

[The Baron Samedi <baron11@netmcr.com>]

At 03:34 PM 7/24/99 , you wrote:
>Hi,
>         Regarding B.D. Flory's missive, he questions the game balance of
>various ABs.  I've been marshalling a HOE game for a while now.  Pretty much
>when the HOE rules came out we switched from weird west to wasted west.  I
>had some of the same concerns he expressed regarding game balance with the
>psyker and doomsayer.  However, after many adventures, I've found that they
>really aren't unbalanced.

OK. well I will acknowledge here that you _obviosuly_ have more experience 
with HoE then I do, so take that into consideration with my comments. (BTW 
that is NOT sarcasm)

>         Strain adds up quickly.  Generally, they are very careful with how
>they use thier strain and most of the time prefer to use thier handguns and
>shotguns, which they're not terribly proficient with.  Due to the fact that
>they spend most of thier bounty points on powers, the psyker and doomie don't
>have the points to increase some basic survival skills.  At the beginning of
>"Apocalypse Now", I had to supress a laugh as the posse was trying to enter
>Trinity Springs by swimming across the river.  Both the doomie and psyker
>dog-paddled across the river holding onto empty gas-cans for flotation
>devices while being towed by the ex-cop and the librarian. .Later, the ex-cop
>(w/ 5d12 quickness) took out a entire black hat patrol with an auto-shotgun,
>before the rest of the posse could act.  Granted, he got great rolls, and
>great cards, but that's what you need to survive the horror show of the
>wasted west.
This assumes the players do that, tho.  Most of the people I have seen, 
IIRC, spent a grand total of 2-4 points on powers.  unlike (old style) 
Hucksters, Voodooists, Shamans et al, they get powers for having a stat, 
and a considerable number as well.  So apart from having a skill at 5, odds 
are they are stated like normal PCs.

I will grant you, tho, these are very canny players who realized 5 free 
powers is nothing to sneeze at and were less inclined to blow all their 
points on them.  YMMV, as will your playing style.




>         Also, the doomie and the psyker are targets of choice for just about
>any intelligent opponent.  They use alot of chips to stay alive.  They end up
>without chips to spend on rolls.

at least one who is both intelligent and informed, yes.

>         The psyker's extended backlash table is killer.   Whenever the 
> player
>running the psyker misses a roll, you can see the sweat appear on her brow.
>She lives in constant fear of backlash and dreads using her powers.  And she
>has 5d12 in blasting!   She has come very close to the "brain blow up - go
>boom"  result a couple of times already.  Remember:  you can't buy off wounds
>if your head blows up.  She pretty has decided her days are numbered, she's
>just trying to make that number as big as she can.

This is interesting., and more how it should be...but does she go bust that 
much?  I mean Backlash does not come from a failed Blastin' roll.
The Vigor rolls, of course, are another story



>         The doomsayer plays a little faster and looser with her strain.  And
>let's face it:  Nuke is awesome.  But y'know, she catches the posse in her
>Nuke half the time because she gets raises (that she really didn't want,)
>increasing the blast radius.  Most of the time the opponents are closer than
>is comfortable and she relies on Atomic Blast which isn't much more effective
>than a simple hand weapon.  I always play up the unpredictable aspect of her
>powers.  Also I play up the fact she's a mutant and people don't like
>her/trust her.  This limits her ability to haggle and find info in towns.
that's a good point but one even normal characters may have to deal 
with.  The Black Joker, she is not too picky on who she infects.
Also, I agree on atomic Blast, but the thing is Bullets are not all that 
common and if you run out you may not get any more for months/years.  You 
will get back strain.



>Regarding the Lifetap hindrance:  I dunno, the doomsayer was created long
>before CotA came out,  so it's never been an issue.  But you're right.  It
>sounds broken.  It doesn't really sound like a hindrance.  I would probably
>disallow it.
yea

<snip>
well that example is certainly more then worth consideration.  Perhaps the 
lack of people trying normies influences my opinion.

TBS