Re: [HoE] Fortitude Ruling Response (long)[John]

[doctor23 <doctor23@aye.net>]

	As to why anybody would take fortitude as Hopler has clarified it, it
lets you use strain above your normal max. That's pretty stylin' for a
lousy 1 point Edge. Given PEGs (mostly successful) efforts at game
balance in the DL games, does it really make sense that you can DOUBLE
your strain for free for one measly point? Sounds like free power to me,
and if there's one theme that runs through PEGs games is that power
always has a cost.
	But game-design mumbo-jumbo aside, I think you're interpreting the
second sentence incorrectly. "When a syker uses Stain beyond that (he
goes negative) he must make a simultaneous Vigor check with each
blastin' roll." In other words, when you get into negative strain (your
strain is down to zero and you need to use more), you have to make the
vigor rolls to avoid brainburn. You CAN go down as far as your capacity
(if your full strain is 15, you can go to -15). Of course this nobody is
likely to survive going that far into the negative, but the idea is that
you only go negative in EMERGENCIES, when a little extra juice can win
the fight or save your bacon. You should be very reluctant to use much
of the overcapacity (given the danger), but the fact that you CAN is
what gives you an Edge.
	As to some of your other questions (gear prices, for example), here are
my thoughts. Why pay out the wazoo for a TSAR and it's $100 a crack gyro
rounds? Because if a syker makes a fair blastin' roll and spends a
strain it automatically hits the target in the head. Automatically. For
7d10 damage. SPLAT! What bad guy? Now how much would you pay?
	Why shell out for Banshee stones? What's free strain worth to ya,
brainer? Bear in mind that these strain batteries REGENERATE their power
over time, and the psyker doesn't have to do squat to make it happen. It
just does it by itself. Pretty sweet, huh?
	As to the prices being high, yep they are. This stuff is cool and
scarce, and that means expensive. So PCs may not start with it, so what?
Might make good gear for NPCs, or maybe as payment for a mission, eh?
Some NPC says "I need this doohickey. Bring it to me and this TSAR rifle
is yours." Brother, I'll be right back with whatever you want! Hope this
helps you.
							-Dr.23

Matthew Steflik wrote:
>
> > Hi gang,
> >
> > Clarification on foritude.
> >
> > I am wondering why anyone would take the fortitude edge, if it works as it
> > was just stated in the mail from Pinnacle. I have re-read the paragraph
> > again. I get the same interpretation as our group did the first time.
> > Quoting from the Syker book" A Syker can continue to use powers up to double
> > his normal Strain. (straight forward statement) When a syker uses Strain
> > beyond That (he goes negative), He must make a simultaneous vigor check with
> > each blastin' roll.  ( this is another straight forward statement following
> > the first which says he can use double his normal strain. Then states when
> > he uses Strain beyond that he goes negative)
> > NOW I DO NOT SEE BASED ON THIS WORDING HOW THIS CAN MEAN ANYTHING ELSE BUT
> > THAT YOU GET DOUBLE YOUR STRAIN AND IF YOU ARE SILLY ENOUGH To TRY TO TAKE
> > MORE STRAIN THAN THAT YOU WOULD GET HOSED AND HAVE TO MAKE THESE ROLLS. IT
> > DOES NOT SAY IF YOU EXCEED YOUR ORIGINAL STRAIN, IT SAYS IF YOU GO BEYOND
> > THAT, And THAT IN THE SENTENCE BEFORE IT IS DOUBLE YOUR ORIGINAL STRAIN. So