Great White Games/Pinnacle Entertainment Group

[EternityShard]

Just wanted to get some quick opinions. I'm going to be starting a TORG game next week, using Savage Worlds, and I am implementing the No Power Points option for certain arcane backgrounds in certain realms.

I struggled with this option at first (and I see others have, as well, from searching these forums) due to the fact that the No Power Points option eliminates 4 Power edges (Power Points, Rapid Recharge, Improved Rapid Recharge, and SoulDrain) and at least one Professional edge (Wizard). The couple threads on here that I found seemed to just write it off as an acceptable loss.

My concern with it, though, is mainly due to the lack of options it gives the player. So, I sat down, and really analyzed what the intent of each of the edges was, in combination with the game effects of the No Power Points options, and I've come up with a couple alternative versions of those edges that accomplish the same goals as the original edges, but do so in a way that meshes with the No Power Points option.

My thoughts on each item:

No Power Points option

This option gives casters much more staying power in that they will never be lacking in the juice to cast a spell. This is offset by a much harsher backlash system, as well as a penalty for simply failing the roll.

The way this option was put into the game was that the power point cost of powers becomes a penalty to the casting skill roll. This means that power points themselves translate to lesser penalties (or bonuses, if you don't like a double negative). So, when looking at edges, I tried to replace the word "power point" with "reduced penalty" or "bonus to the casting roll"


Power Points edge:
Normally the Power Points edge gives a caster extra juice to cast with. In the end, I see no reason not to keep this in. Casters under the no power points option now have a pool of power points equal to whatever the edge would give a normal caster of their type. Since power points are "reduced penalties", then under the No Power Points option, these power points can be used to offset the casting penalties associated with a spell. They can only be used to offset casting penalties derived power-point cost or maintained spells. They cannot be used to compensate for other penalties the caster is suffering (such as wound modifiers or fatigue).

Soul Drain edge:
Normally the caster elects a number of power points he wants to get to be able to cast a spell. Again, translate "power points", but this time see them as a casting bonus. The caster elects a bonus number. The Spirit roll penalty is equal to the bonus selected. Failure and critical failure remain the same. On success or better, the caster can elect to use the bonus number on his spellcasting roll or as a penalty to opponents rolls to resist the power.

Rapid Recharge (and Improved Rapid Recharge) edge:
I struggled with these at first. Then a friend pointed out the obvious thing I was overlooking. Since I had already re-implemented the Power Points edge (above), then there was no need to change these edges. They work on the limited pool of power points if a caster has selected the Power Points edge. Otherwise, that limited pool recharges as normal (1 per hour).

Wizard edge
Not as direct a conversion as the others, the flavor remains. The Wizard edge represented a training, methodical approach to spellcasting that gives the caster more staying power. I simply called an audible here and made the edge change the backlash from 2d6 damage when a 1 was rolled on the casting die, to only a critical failure (snake eyes).

[GranFalloon]

Hm... not bad. 5 power points is a lot less bookkeeping than 15-20, so that all works out. The Wizard edge, though... basically it makes backlash happen 1/6th as often. Perhaps when a Wizard fails his casting roll, it alllows him not to be shaken, or maybe he can roll Spirit immediately to throw off its effects. This allows him to toss around multiple Bolts with a little more impunity.

[cpk666]

Interesting. I think it can be explained a bit simpler:

● Spells cost PP to cast, but PP can be replaced with penalties to the casting roll on a one-for-one basis (or is it two-for one?).
● Spells can be maintained indefinitely, but this is offset by a much harsher backlash system, as well as a penalty for simply failing the roll.

Seems fair to me.

CK
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Since this is my post, please understand that the thoughts expressed in it are my opinion.

"Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."--Cordelia Chase

[Zadmar]

[steelbrok]

How about this?

every time yoe take the power point edge you reduce the casting penalty for spells by 1 (to a minimum of 0)

[EternityShard]

I wouldn't do that. Each time you do that, you are effectively giving them a power point toward every spell they cast, ever. If they cast 100 spells over an adventure, then that edge just became worth 100 power points.

[Bhikku]

What if it reduces the penalty for maintaining powers by 1? it doesn't affect the basic penalty derived from PP cost, but makes it easier to cast while maintaining. I think that would be in line with the original purpose of the edge.
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[UndeadParrot]

Thought up another way to get rid of Power Points without the No Power Points setting rule:

Deprivation
Players roll their arcane skills as usual but have to make a Spirit check afterwards. The target number for this check is the amount of Power Points the spell just cast costs. If this roll is failed (a 1 one the Spirit die being an automatic failure) the character suffers one level of fatigue.
This way a caster can use the simple (and cheap) spells all day long, but will probably be fatigued quickly when trying the same with the heavy-handed ones.
Recovery: An hour of rest removes a level of Fatigue gained from Deprivation.
Incapacitation Effects: The caster falls unconscious for d20 combat rounds.

Now, I could also see Spirit replaced by Vigor, depending on the trapping, i.e. whether the caster is primarily fatigued mentally or physically.
That's also part of the reason why I didn't use the arcane skill as an indicator for failure in the first place. Wanted to have the caster to invest in another attribute.

Haven't come up with replacements for the Power Edges yet, but I'll think of something appropriate
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[Clint]

[EternityShard]

[EternityShard]

[cpk666]

As I implied above, you are really just re-skinning power points by calling them bonuses or penalty reductions. Why even bother? Just keep the PP system in place, and let casters reduce the cost by a PP for every -1 they take on the skill roll, so with enough penalties there would be no casting cost. Then you don't have to change any of the Power Edges. Well, Wizard needs to be modified, but you could just get a PP back for each success and raise, whether any were spent or not, up to the standard casting cost of the power activated.

CK
_________________
Since this is my post, please understand that the thoughts expressed in it are my opinion.

"Tact is just not saying true stuff. I'll pass."--Cordelia Chase