http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/tags/devices Gaming Outpost Discussions » Tag: devices - Recent Topics en-US Thu, 24 May 2012 10:32:48 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/search.php http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/topic/biasing-out#post-8209 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 17:50:13 +0000 johnosevens 8209@http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/ <p>Mostly this is a question for Scott, as I need one of his amazingly perfect and concise "I wish I had seen it before he said it" answers.</p> <p>How does biasing out tech devices actually work? In fact, how does biasing out <em>anything</em> actually work? I get that I can't cast a Possession spell in a world with a 2@5 Mag bias, but in a 2@18 I can - I understand the concept of bias curve.</p> <p>What I'm not clear on is how bias level and bias curve interact with devices. If the Tech bias is 5@3, can you turn on a computer? If I have one of those invisibility cloaks from Dancing Princess (I don't, but that would be cool) what conditions must exist in order for me to use it, and what happens if I try to use it where those conditions aren't met? </p> http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/topic/professional-and-expert-use-of-magic-devices#post-3013 Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:57:43 +0000 WilliamTWodium 3013@http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/ <p>I'm in seasonal internet quasi-hermitdom, but I'm peeking out to ask this question: what doubles or triples when a character's skill in operating a magical device exceeds level one?</p> <p>Two things prompt me to ask this question. Firstly, the time factors of many devices are either instant or non-existent (i.e., the skill check is merely a game mechanic for bias purposes), and the durations are sometimes dictated strictly by device type ("always active," "when worn/held," etc.). Those are usually the top two candidates for doubling and tripling. It's easy enough to turn to area or whatever RS controls, but that brings me to the second sticky point: Device creation rules specify sit-mods that allow the creator to create a device that will "operate at a skill level of two or three." If the device creator controls the potency of the spell effect, what's left for the device user?</p> <p>Two answers occur to me. The first is that there is no bonus for the character who achieves a 2@ or 3@ SAL in operating an Always Active or When Worn/Held device beyond the increased percentage chance of its operation in low-bias worlds. That's consistent with the printed rules and justifies the efforts of powerful device creators, but it seems poor compensation for the player who devised a double-doubled or triple-tripled training program for such a skill. </p> <p>The second answer is, perhaps the potency of the skill effect is controlled by the higher of either the user's skill or the potency inherent in the device from its creation. This rewards the efforts of the training player, but it saps some of the value from creating inherently powerful devices.</p> <p>A third answer is to allow both creator and user to contribute multiples, but surely that's imbalanced. Isn't it? </p> http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/topic/a-couple-of-questions-on-magic#post-821 Tue, 09 Oct 2007 03:13:41 +0000 WilliamTWodium 821@http://gamingoutpost.com/discussions/ <p>I've got two colors of question for this thread. One is "bias &#38; mag devices across sub-universe boundaries," and the other is "which way shall we run a werecoyote." Edit: I'm saving the werecoyote for another thread, like I always seem to do.</p> <p>With magic devices: I understand that while magic device operation is under level one, a device which is operated successfully while the skill it performs is above the bias curve automatically botches. I have questions concerning indigs vs. versers.</p> <p>Consider two devices, a Potion of Healing (performs M2@1 Limited Damage Repair) and Aladdin's Ring (performs a high-intensity 11@ summoning). Let us say that the bias is 1@11 - high enough to support any device, low enough to curve out all summonings above @1, and leaving all healing above the level but within the curve.</p> <p>Now, if anyone successfully uses the Ring, he botches. But can the verser use the potion? I think he can, because he'd be capable of a healing spell of that caliber. Next the bigger question: can the <em>indig</em> use the potion without botching? I believe he cannot - but then again, its effect <em>is</em> within the curve, and the only skill the indig himself is performing is within both the level and the curve. The wording in the rules doesn't resolve this directly, so I'm asking here.</p> <p>The questions I'm more interested in have to do with sub-universe boundaries and how they interact with these restrictions. In brief:</p> <p>*Can a 1@10 Piggyback Device activate contingent on the operation of a device in another sub-universe?<br /> *Can a device activated in one sub-universe take its effect in another <em>in which that effect is above the curve</em>?<br /> *I know it's possible to travel by time machine to a time in which the bias does not support the return trip; is it possible perform a similar feat with magical teleportation? (Technological teleportation?) To spy on an area with magical clairsentience where the bias is too low to support clairsentience (given that the location from which the spell is cast does support it)?</p> <p>I'm exploring methods by which beings from adjacent sub-universes can be "summoned" into locales with very low (but positive) magic bias, and answers to these questions will help immensely. </p>