Aberrant RPG - Bodymorph and Shapeshift

[phoenix]

In the powers Bodymorph and Shapeshift, players are given the option of spending the dots on anything they want (within reason); a dot can represent a Body Modification, a Megaattribute, an Enhancement, or a power.

This seems very unbalanced to me. For example, a player could buy webbed hands and feet for the same cost as hyperswimming! Or spines for the same cost as Immolate!

Wouldn't it be better if, instead of giving a generic "one dot", dots in these powers yielded 3 nova points with which to buy things?

[VictorHFrost KSC]

actually as i understand it the first success on the roll for shapeshift is given to the shape itself, which would cover almost all body mods in one dot to my reasoning (though i tend towards loose interpretation of rules like that). as far as bodymorph goes i'd think it would be unlikely you'd gain any body mods from changing into an eleental state (with the possible exception of spines for metal/solid). just my thoughts

jake

[phoenix]

I don't know about that, tentacles might be popular too. Also extra health levels, maybe even extra limbs.. I can picture it. But that's not the point. Illumination costs the same as Immolate, for heaven's sake.

Also, if all Bodymorph definition powers are activated and maintained as part of the Bodymorph cost, why would anyone use Armor instead of buying Force Field for the same cost?

[Psilord]

Also, if all Bodymorph definition powers are activated and maintained as part of the Bodymorph cost, why would anyone use Armor instead of buying Force Field for the same cost?

To me there would be precious few cases where Force Field could be justified for taking in the use of Bodymorph. I would limit the power choices for dots of Bodymorph to those logically in-line with the target manifestation.

I.E.: You morph into a beign of titanium alloy. Since you are metal, Armor would be very logical as an effect, but Force Field doesn't really have anything to do with being a metal man.

Likewise, turning into a beign made of fire could net you the propel technique form elemental mastery, but not the flight power itself, and quite possibly not being allowed to take hypermovement either. Immolate and illumination are both logical choices for fire, but immolation would cost more (see below).

Also, I would say that each technique beyond the first in a Bodymorph taken power choice would count as an additional choice. In fact, using the example of being made from fire, you take propel as your first choice from elemental mastery, and then want to take lethal blast. Well, the blast ability would count as another choice.

A further limiting factor would be that a while a level one power would cost one dot to acquire at basic level, a level two power would cost two dots, etc.

Using these limitations would keep Bodymorph quite manageable. Forgive me for any misnomers here, I don't have my books handy. ::blush

[phoenix]

Yeah it's rarer, but the fact remains that it's vastly superior in that circumstance, therefore it should be more expensive. Armor should, for BM purposes, count as a 2 np body mod.

Also, I would say that each technique beyond the first in a Bodymorph taken power choice would count as an additional choice. In fact, using the example of being made from fire, you take propel as your first choice from elemental mastery, and then want to take lethal blast. Well, the blast ability would count as another choice.

Could you rephrase that please? That just made no sense at all. ::confused

[Psilord]

Ok, say you have a nova that buys 7 dots in Bodymorph, specifically being a living person of fire.

He allocates 3 dots for Density Control: Decrease, leaving 4 to allocate.

He allocates 1 dot each to Immolate and Bioluminescence, leaving 2 dots.

Now he allocates 2 dots to Elemental Mastery, 1 for the Propel technique and another for the Storm technique. Unlike truly having the Elemental Mastery power the pc with Bodymorph cannot make use of any suite techniques unless he purchaces them individually. This may seem obvious, but I have seen two players try to claim all techniques of suite powers through Bodymorph.

My ST also allowed Bodymorph dots to be used for strengths and extras, on a 1:1 basis. She also had an additional extra for the Bodymorph power available only after attaining Bodymorph 4 or higher. This extra allowed for the normal number of dots to allocate for your permanent Bodymorph form, but also allowed for additional "floating" dots equal to your Bodymorph score divided by two (rounded down). These floating dots could be used differently each time the Bodymorph power was activated. Say taking (from the above example) "propel" one time but swapping for "wall" the next time. Once ativated you were stuck with your choices until you deactivated you power again.

[phoenix]

Oh, I see what you mean.. but if they're dots in a suite power instead of individual powers, that makes them level 3 and therefore out of bounds.

I like the idea for the extra. ::smile

[Psilord]

Oh, I see what you mean.. but if they're dots in a suite power instead of individual powers, that makes them level 3 and therefore out of bounds.

So it would seem, but at the same time the example provided for the Huston Tornado 2 describes her as taking the Storm power from Elemental Mastery, level 3.

Personally I would choose to allow suite techniques if the pc had quantum 4+ and Bodymorph 4+ as a house rule.

[phoenix]

You can take a suite power out of its suite and have it be a power of a lower level. The Storm technique, not the Elemental Mastery technique defined as a dot in Storm.

[ProfPotts]

With Shapeshift flexibility is the key - you choose the shape you want, then spend any extra successes on powers that simulate the abilities of that shape. Whether that power is 'worth' more than another is a secondary consideration, since they're all subject to ST approval (&, hopefully, game-logic) in any case. If you turn into a bird you might gain Flight & Sizemorph - Shrink (to bird-size only), but you're not gonna' get a Force Field out of the deal, no matter the amount of successes you rolled. In fact, in many cases, a high-powered Shapeshifter will often end up 'wasting' successes since there are no more powers that the shape he's taken would logically have (without going totally twink).

With Bodymorph you have less flexibility, but can assign dots to Enhancements, Techniques, & level 1 & 2 powers. So yes, you could assign a dot to Bioluminescence alone, but you could also choose to instead assign that dot to Bioluminescence + an Extra (if you're worried about getting the best deal you can) - a level 2 power. The only real reason you'd ever assign a dot to an un-Extra'd level 1 power is if that fit with you character concept (in which case you're probably not the type of player to worry about maximising your returns from your NP expenditures ::wink ).