Working on a force skills/powers revamp

[Naaman]

I've been at this project for years now, but posting it here in case someone finds is useful or has ideas.


The system will be C/S/A-based. The main changes will be as follows:

All powers will be single skill roll, but the more advanced powers will have cross-skill prerequisites (such as affect mind being an alter power but having projective telepathy as a prerequisite, etc.).

In addition, many powers will have various applications. For example, telekinesis will be the base power, and then force push/strike would be an application that can be learned.

A power can only be learned when a new whole D is gained in a skill, while an application can be learned each time a pip is gained.

Also will have a "specialization" system wherein a character can spend 1 CP to gain a permanent +1 to specific applications. So, a character who wants to specialize in enhance attribute and had 5D in control could spend 1 CP to specialize. When making a control roll to activate enhance attribute, the player would roll 5D+1. The character can specialize an application up to the number of D he has in the relevant skill (so, the above character could max out his specialization at 5D+5).

Finally, many powers will be re-written to allow them to more appropriately express a character concept, rather than being powers that are "handy" in certain limited scope scenarios. Powers will have broader, general uses, with applications (kind of like sub-powers) that allow more nuanced uses for situation-specific solutions.

For example, enhance attribute will no longer provide a 1D-3D bonus for a round or two. Instead, it will be a power that is "kept up" and the bonuses will be smaller (a novice Jedi could get a +1 pip to an attribute, while a master could pull of ~+2D to the attribute over an indefinite period, such as the way that Yoda is portrayed when using Ataru).

[Whill]

Intriguing. Looking forward to seeing it develop.
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[Darklighter79]

Great. Force Powers, as well as regular skills, need consolidation - telekinesis is one of the best example.
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Don’t Let the Rules Get in the Way of a Good Story.

[Naaman]

[Naaman]

Control Powers

Dissipate Energy
Time to use: Reaction
Difficulty: Moderate or very difficult.
Effect: Activate this power as a reaction against any energy-based source of damage. If successful, you gain a bonus to your strength roll to resist damage. The bonus is equal to +1 for each D you have in control. If you roll very difficult or higher, the bonus is +2 for each D you have in control instead of +1.

-Absorb Energy
Required Powers: Dissipate Energy
Time to use: Reaction
Difficulty: Moderate plus damage dealt
Effect: When you suffer damage from an energy based attack, you can absorb the energy instead of dissipating it. If successful, instead of suffering damage, you may immediately reverse any one of the following effects if you may be suffering from: stunned, wounded (or wounded twice), fatigued, or exhausted. Alternatively, if you are benefiting from the effects of control pain and/or remain conscious, you may reduce your wound status by two levels (from incapacitated to stunned or from mortally wounded to wounded).

-Channel Energy
Required Powers: Dissipate Energy, Absorb Energy
Time to use: One standard action
Difficulty: Easy
Effect: If you successfully absorb the energy from an opponent's attack, instead of reversing an adverse condition, you may channel that energy into your use of the force. Within the next minute, you may channel the energy into any one control or alter power you use. You gain a bonus on the appropriate skill roll equal to the weapon damage code of the attack your absorbed.

Enhance Attribute
Time to use: One standard action
Difficulty: Very Easy for +1; Easy for +2; Moderate for +1D; Difficult for +1D+1; Very Difficult for +1D+2; Heroic for +2D
Effect: Roll control. You gain a bonus to one attribute of your choice (either strength, dexterity or mechanical). Once activated, this power's effects last for 1 minute for each D you have in control. At the end of this power's duration, make a stamina check (difficulty is difficult). If you fail, you are fatigued. If you fail by 10 or more, you are exhausted instead.

-Celerity
Required Powers: Enhance Attribute
Time to use: Free action
Difficulty: Moderate for 1 action; very difficult for 2 actions
Effect: Roll control as a free action. If successful, you may make one additional action using a strength or dexterity skill on your turn without incurring a multiple action penalty. If your control roll is very difficult or higher, you may instead make two additional actions without incurring a multiple action penalty. After your actions have been resolved, you must make a difficult stamina check. If you fail, you immediately become fatigued. Each additional time you use this power without resting between uses, the difficulty of the stamina check increases by one level.

-Burst of Speed
Required Powers: Enhance Attribute, Celerity
Time to use: Free action
Difficulty: Moderate for x10; Very Difficult for x20; Heroic for x30
Effect: Roll control. If successful, your base speed is multiplied by 10. You can only perform movement actions while under the effects of this power. If you roll very difficult, your speed is multiplied by x20. If you roll heroic, your speed is multiplied by x30. This power's effects last for 1 round.

-Contort/Escape
Required Powers: Enhance Attribute, Resist Stun, Control Pain
Time to use: One full round action
Difficulty: See below
Effect: When attempting to escape bindings or other restraints, add your control skill dice to your dexterity. The difficulty to escape depends on the type of restraints used (per GM discretion). If the your total roll is successful, the process of contorting/escaping leaves you wounded. If your total roll succeeds by a margin of 10 or more, you escape with no ill effects. At GM discretion, this power may also be used to escape being grappled or pinned when brawling. Add your control skill dice to your brawling roll instead.

Resist Stun
-Control Pain
-Accelerate Healing
-Heal Wounds
-Reduce Injury

Hibernation Trance
-Emptiness
-Remove Fatigue
-Remain Conscious

Force Defense
-Reflect Force

[BentonGrey]

Interesting! This seems like a really good idea!
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God bless,

Benton Grey

[cunning_kindred]

[Naaman]

I don't know anything about Aing-Ti... Never heard of them.

Also, it's just a house rule. And a first draft at that.

The purpose of the rewrite is to create a rules-based solution to "character uniqueness" within the game. The more general purpose you make things, the more you get characters that are all capable of the exact same things.

For me, it's not as fun to play when characters all "feel" the same mechanically.

The goal is to get players to think about what "role" their character plays in a group (or in a story, or whatever) by creating an opportunity cost when choices are made during character advancement.

In my mind, the opportunity cost is fundamental to character differentiation on paper. And the "on paper" component is quite a significant element in table top RPGs.

Also, someday (perhaps) I'll get around to writing up other force traditions. For now, you can assume that the Jedi tradition is the one that this system most represents. But yes: the idea would be that different force traditions would have access to different powers and/or require different prerequisites and/or be able to use certain powers at a lower or higher difficulty.

[cunning_kindred]

[Naaman]

You make some good points.

I'm hoping to strike a balance between being too open ended and pigeon-holeing players into a "rail road" path of character development.

I don't yet know what the "right answer" is for the solution I'm trying to develop.