Re: [HOE] More Syker Powers: Brain Blade

[Theo McGuckin <tsm@jlab.org>]

> Brain Blade
> Type: Sykokinetic
> TN: 5
> Strain: 1
> Speed: 1
> Duration: 1/round
> Range: Melee

This all seems fine and pretty standard. FYI - when looking at this I'm
comparing it to the Doomsayer power Glow Stick.

> Brain blade was developed by a syker who liked to get up close and
> personal in combat and decided that her machete just didn't cut it (so
> to speak). When activated, a crackling beam of force extends from the
> syker's hand to a maximum length of three feet (it can be shorter if
> he wants). Treat this as a melee weapon with DB +2, damage equal to
> STR + the syker's Spirit, and one level of AP for each success and
> raise on the activation roll (due to the focus and density of the
> energy field). Unlike most syker powers, it requires a certain amount
> of coordination to wield effectively, so use blastin'/Nimbleness as
> the weapon skill. The user can attack with the power on the same
> action he activates it.

It seems a little too good. Glowstick does str+3d10 damage, which would be
roughly equivalent to str+spirit. But I think GS is only DB +1 and gets no
AP. It should also probably use a more standard skill (like fightin:sword)
otherwise you get to use it for free (again another advantage over GS).
Finally it might be reasonable for you to have to spend an action to
activate the power before you can use it, again a la Glowstick.

> A syker who's really into slicin' and dicin' can fire up two brain
> blades at once, one from each hand. This doubles the Strain
> requirement (to 2/round) and requires a second blastin' roll at TN 5
> (if the second blade was activated after the first) or a single roll
> at TN 7 (if both were activated simultaneously; failure means neither
> one makes it up). The -4 off-hand penalty and the -2/-2 two-weapon
> penalty apply if appropriate, though if the blaster wants to pick up
> fightin': florentine: brain blades for the usual 3 bounty points, he
> can use those rules (roll once to hit, a raise means both weapons
> strike home).

This part seems fine as the syker is going to be burning strain like
there's no tomorrow (hey, depending on the situation, there might not be!)

All in all I like the idea. It's just too bad it's not biokinetic or my
syker might pick it up :)
I know powers and Arcane Backgrounds don't always match up perfectly, but
it seemed like using Glowstick as an analogy worked.

 Theo McGuckin
	"Putting the Mentor back in Tormentor"