Re: [HOE] Yet Another Shelter Update

[Matt and Teresa Steflik <grifflik@stny.rr.com>]

Russ wrote:

> Okay, just a thought:  has anyone else noticed the AWESOME power that a
> Doomie can have if he combines Lifetap (which is supposed to be a
> hindrance...wtf???) with an Edge like Tough as Nails?  This effectively
> doubles (sometimes) the doomies' strain, and since Wind can be recovered
> quickly if needs be...are we beginning to see the potential here?  Did you
> rule guys realize this when you made Lifetap a Doomie hindrance?
>
Yup.  We've been down this road before.  The fact it was originally
desiginated a hindrance was just wrong, especially in regard to the 1
Strain cost powers.  However, as B.D. pointed out, Hopler did officially
change it to a 2 point edge.  IMO, for two points this was still too
powerful and undercosted, so I tweaked it: raised the cost to three, and
said that, when using Lifetap, half the cost of a power (key point here)
rounded up had to be paid using Strain.  My group got thinking about it
and then asked the question: "From a balance and mechanics standpoint,
why shouldn't this be available to other Strain using archetypes?"
After banging it about on the list a while (thanks to Dave Heth in
particular), we came to the conclusion that it seemed like a viable
idea.  Thus the Lifetap 2.0 edge was born.  For my own group, this is
now the only available version of the Edge.

"And now you know the rest of the back story".

Matt Steflik
Gimme Shelter - http://www.geocities.com/grifflik/