Making a Character
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Making a Character
alright, so i finally got around to getting my hands on a copy of splicers, and as is my standard policy, i decided to give it a bit of a test run by making a character. in this particular case, that character is a packmaster (and boy does the cchargen ever go on and on), and i've run into a few things that have me wondering.
1) the weapons training program specifically includes WP sword. So does the basic military program, which the packmaster also gets automatically. given the weapons training program normally has 4 WPs of choice, would you allow the packmaster to pick up a different WP instead? (if it was one of the "set in stone" programs, i'd say the packmaster is just out of luck, but in this case it's a program where you normally pick and choose)
2) the weapons training program also specifically includes WP armor. the only reason i could see for that is because the packmaster comes standard with armor that has some kind of weapon on it, which the swords can be (according to the text in the OCC description, they can either retract or be sheathed elsewhere). would you say that WP armor was intended to be applied to the packmaster swords?
3) if you get a HtH skill from a skill program (such as HtH: Basic from the basic military program) can you upgrade it using elective (but not secondary) skills as is standard in other PB games?
4) the packmaster swords are very similar in description to the forearm/bone blade weapons described on page 96 of the core book, other than having a different damage value, and having no specified MDC value for the packmaster's swords (meaning the damage they can take, not the damage they deal). would you consider the packmaster swords to be the same as the forearm/bone blade weapons, and if so, would you allow them to spend their living armor bonus Bio-E on improving the blades as per the entry on page 96?
5) the war mount section starts off with standard features and senses. the gorehound is indicated as having numbers 2, 3, and 5, with 5 being the one i want to focus on. does that mean any given gorehound assigned to a packmaster will have a 50/50 chance to get a bit of bonus Bio-E within the stated categories only? are those categories the only ones that war mounts can choose from, or is that presumed to be only for the random added Bio-E? the packmaster OCC indicates that he gets Bio-E to spend on his hounds "any way the character desires", which would imply that all categories are open (though equally obviously, any prerequisites would need to be met)
1) the weapons training program specifically includes WP sword. So does the basic military program, which the packmaster also gets automatically. given the weapons training program normally has 4 WPs of choice, would you allow the packmaster to pick up a different WP instead? (if it was one of the "set in stone" programs, i'd say the packmaster is just out of luck, but in this case it's a program where you normally pick and choose)
2) the weapons training program also specifically includes WP armor. the only reason i could see for that is because the packmaster comes standard with armor that has some kind of weapon on it, which the swords can be (according to the text in the OCC description, they can either retract or be sheathed elsewhere). would you say that WP armor was intended to be applied to the packmaster swords?
3) if you get a HtH skill from a skill program (such as HtH: Basic from the basic military program) can you upgrade it using elective (but not secondary) skills as is standard in other PB games?
4) the packmaster swords are very similar in description to the forearm/bone blade weapons described on page 96 of the core book, other than having a different damage value, and having no specified MDC value for the packmaster's swords (meaning the damage they can take, not the damage they deal). would you consider the packmaster swords to be the same as the forearm/bone blade weapons, and if so, would you allow them to spend their living armor bonus Bio-E on improving the blades as per the entry on page 96?
5) the war mount section starts off with standard features and senses. the gorehound is indicated as having numbers 2, 3, and 5, with 5 being the one i want to focus on. does that mean any given gorehound assigned to a packmaster will have a 50/50 chance to get a bit of bonus Bio-E within the stated categories only? are those categories the only ones that war mounts can choose from, or is that presumed to be only for the random added Bio-E? the packmaster OCC indicates that he gets Bio-E to spend on his hounds "any way the character desires", which would imply that all categories are open (though equally obviously, any prerequisites would need to be met)
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Re: Making a Character
Let me preface this by saying that I am a pretty flexible GM in my Splicers game. I think it fits the feel of the game much better because in Splicers adaptability is the focus.
1) I would usually say that the character ignores any duplicate skills in the skill programs. If the player could give a good reason why they could select another one, I could be swayed.
2) I'm not familiar with W.P. Armor. I'd have to look and see what our packmaster did here.
3) Yes. Its in the skill description section under the hand to hand descriptions in the Physical Skills.
4) They are not the same, in the Splicers book, but we run them to be similar and can be upgraded. If you see the thread here We've redesigned the Packmaster armor (actually this is the ELITE packmaster armor in our games...regular packmasters still have the one from the book) and I'll post the game stats for the one in my game sometime.
5) The categories listed are the only ones for which that particular Bio-e can be used. Gorehounds only have the limitations listed in the packmaster section and the actual gorehound description, if any.
1) I would usually say that the character ignores any duplicate skills in the skill programs. If the player could give a good reason why they could select another one, I could be swayed.
2) I'm not familiar with W.P. Armor. I'd have to look and see what our packmaster did here.
3) Yes. Its in the skill description section under the hand to hand descriptions in the Physical Skills.
4) They are not the same, in the Splicers book, but we run them to be similar and can be upgraded. If you see the thread here We've redesigned the Packmaster armor (actually this is the ELITE packmaster armor in our games...regular packmasters still have the one from the book) and I'll post the game stats for the one in my game sometime.
5) The categories listed are the only ones for which that particular Bio-e can be used. Gorehounds only have the limitations listed in the packmaster section and the actual gorehound description, if any.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
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ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
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Re: Making a Character
1) as i said, the standard weapons training program has 4 WPs of your choice, the packmaster one is given 3 specific ones (including sword, which the packmaster already gets) and one of choice. it seems to me that if they had intended for this to effectively only include 3 WPs, they would have only included 3 WPs, rather than giving a specific WP that is already part of another program the packmaster automatically gets.
5) ok, you mostly got what i figured, but do half of the gorehounds have that bonus Bio-E described in the features and senses listing? (it says about half of the war mounts have the bonus Bio-E, and gorehounds are listed as having that particular feature...)
5) ok, you mostly got what i figured, but do half of the gorehounds have that bonus Bio-E described in the features and senses listing? (it says about half of the war mounts have the bonus Bio-E, and gorehounds are listed as having that particular feature...)
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Re: Making a Character
1) I'll have to double check this and see where I'm getting confused. Sorry about that.
5) I have the packmaster player roll percentile. Under 50% that hound has the extra. Over 50% that hound does not.
5) I have the packmaster player roll percentile. Under 50% that hound has the extra. Over 50% that hound does not.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
Marrowlight wrote: The Shameless Plug would be a good new account name for you.
ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
Re: Making a Character
I expect the overlap with the packmaster skills came in the editing process rather than the initial design process. I'd personally allow another WP of choice for Packmasters.
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. - R E Lee
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
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Re: Making a Character
also, on question 3:
to clarify: basic military program gives HtH: Basic. can i upgrade to expert for 1 skill, or do i need to spend 2 skills? can i upgrade to martial arts, assassin, or commando (as appropriate) for 2 skills, or do i need to spend 3 skills? edit: and a corollary: if so, can i trade a 3-skill hand-to-hand for a different 3-skill hand-to-hand? (my opinion is probably not, if they intended you to be able to choose between the three, they'd tell you so)
edit: and a new question: if i get a skill program with a given bonus (including +0) and i have one or more of the skills in that program available as electives with a greater bonus, would you say the character should get the elective skill at the higher bonus? (i certainly wouldn't add them together, but it feels weird having it at a lower level than if you had chosen it as an elective...)
to clarify: basic military program gives HtH: Basic. can i upgrade to expert for 1 skill, or do i need to spend 2 skills? can i upgrade to martial arts, assassin, or commando (as appropriate) for 2 skills, or do i need to spend 3 skills? edit: and a corollary: if so, can i trade a 3-skill hand-to-hand for a different 3-skill hand-to-hand? (my opinion is probably not, if they intended you to be able to choose between the three, they'd tell you so)
edit: and a new question: if i get a skill program with a given bonus (including +0) and i have one or more of the skills in that program available as electives with a greater bonus, would you say the character should get the elective skill at the higher bonus? (i certainly wouldn't add them together, but it feels weird having it at a lower level than if you had chosen it as an elective...)
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Re: Making a Character
3) Expert costs one other skill, Martial Arts and Assassin cost 2, and Commando costs 3. I believe that is how it goes.
As far as the skill goes, if you get the skill in the skill package, you get that bonus UNLESS you also choose the skill as an elective, in which case you would get the elective bonis.
As far as the skill goes, if you get the skill in the skill package, you get that bonus UNLESS you also choose the skill as an elective, in which case you would get the elective bonis.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
Marrowlight wrote: The Shameless Plug would be a good new account name for you.
ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
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Re: Making a Character
for some reason, commando in splicers is the same number of skill slots as martial arts and assassin (3 skills) afaict.
any thoughts on being able to swap the 3-skill HtH choices? in a way it would make sense, since the one i'm looking at is in espionage (which i would argue could just as easily match up with assassin, or commando as martial arts, but gives only martial arts as an option). though again, i would say it's intended to be only the one listed.
in any case, i'm guessing your advice would be to charge one skill slot (since you could improve it if it was expert, this shouldn't unbalance anything) if you want to switch from one of the 3-slot HtH skills to another =S
any thoughts on being able to swap the 3-skill HtH choices? in a way it would make sense, since the one i'm looking at is in espionage (which i would argue could just as easily match up with assassin, or commando as martial arts, but gives only martial arts as an option). though again, i would say it's intended to be only the one listed.
in any case, i'm guessing your advice would be to charge one skill slot (since you could improve it if it was expert, this shouldn't unbalance anything) if you want to switch from one of the 3-slot HtH skills to another =S
Re: Making a Character
I don't remember, and can't currently find, anything in Splicers for HtH skills to be more than 1 elective skill regardless of what you purchase or "upgrade" from.
*edit* Ok, found it - the info is in the Physical skill descriptions on p195.
*edit* Ok, found it - the info is in the Physical skill descriptions on p195.
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. - R E Lee
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
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Re: Making a Character
demos606 wrote:I don't remember, and can't currently find, anything in Splicers for HtH skills to be more than 1 elective skill regardless of what you purchase or "upgrade" from.
*edit* Ok, found it - the info is in the Physical skill descriptions on p195.
yup. never really specifies that you *can* upgrade by paying the difference, but it seems to be the SOP for palladium, so i'd say it makes sense (from the perspective of someone who owns several different games from palladium) to work like that.
Re: Making a Character
It doesn't say you can pay the difference but if you've got a 3pt version already, I'd allow a change for 1 slot. Most likely reason I don't remember those costs for Splicers is my group uses the N&S martial arts instead of HtH varietys. Btw, if you own N&S, I'd really recommend using it, if you don't, I recommend getting it to use
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. - R E Lee
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
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Re: Making a Character
demos606 wrote:It doesn't say you can pay the difference but if you've got a 3pt version already, I'd allow a change for 1 slot. Most likely reason I don't remember those costs for Splicers is my group uses the N&S martial arts instead of HtH varietys. Btw, if you own N&S, I'd really recommend using it, if you don't, I recommend getting it to use
I've thought about using this in my games, but the characters are disgusting enough without it. Plus, they have alreay leveled up enough that they would have to pretty much start over from scratch.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
Marrowlight wrote: The Shameless Plug would be a good new account name for you.
ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
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Re: Making a Character
yeah, i can definitely understand an aversion to redoing chargen
i've already got 3 or 4 different sets of bonuses i have keep track of, and i haven't even *started* on the gorehounds yet...
(normal, which i've included armor into just because i don't feel like doing it twice, then mounted, then on a warmount... which doesn't include warmount-specific bonuses. and none of this is including WP bonuses or skill/attribute bonus. already, leveling up must be a bit of a frustrating experience, what with having to go through and find your assorted bonuses and modify them... possibly in several different places.
i've already got 3 or 4 different sets of bonuses i have keep track of, and i haven't even *started* on the gorehounds yet...
(normal, which i've included armor into just because i don't feel like doing it twice, then mounted, then on a warmount... which doesn't include warmount-specific bonuses. and none of this is including WP bonuses or skill/attribute bonus. already, leveling up must be a bit of a frustrating experience, what with having to go through and find your assorted bonuses and modify them... possibly in several different places.
Re: Making a Character
Check out the character sheet thread in the GMs forum and grab my Splicers char sheet. I have a feeling it'll make your life a lot easier.
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. - R E Lee
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
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Re: Making a Character
looks handy, but i'd still have to go back and forth keeping track of modifiers
also, doesn't have a spot for warmounts... which i have 3. 4 if you count the mega-horse (which really is sufficiently unlike a war mount that i could agree it likely doesn't really need the same kind of attention at all)
also, doesn't have a spot for warmounts... which i have 3. 4 if you count the mega-horse (which really is sufficiently unlike a war mount that i could agree it likely doesn't really need the same kind of attention at all)
Re: Making a Character
No, I'd planned to do another bundle for War Mounts but never got as far as posting it. Maybe I'll get around to finally putting it up soon.
What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world. - R E Lee
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. - G Orwell
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Re: Making a Character
just checking, since i've not yet seen anyone really posting actual character stats, is there any rule against posting characters on these boards?
if there is not any rule against it, and if there is interest, i wouldn't mind posting the character i put together (a level 1 packmaster). some of the details (most of them dealt with above) are a bit questionable, so i've had to try my best to use common sense, and the background isn't very extensive (for example, it deals somewhat with his family, but not with any specific members of the family), but it might be at least somewhat useful to someone (certainly, if i were GMing a game of splicers, i'd rather borrow someone's packmaster character than try to design an NPC packmaster in entirety )
if there is not any rule against it, and if there is interest, i wouldn't mind posting the character i put together (a level 1 packmaster). some of the details (most of them dealt with above) are a bit questionable, so i've had to try my best to use common sense, and the background isn't very extensive (for example, it deals somewhat with his family, but not with any specific members of the family), but it might be at least somewhat useful to someone (certainly, if i were GMing a game of splicers, i'd rather borrow someone's packmaster character than try to design an NPC packmaster in entirety )
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Re: Making a Character
I'd be interested. No it is not against forum rules to post character stats. Just conversions.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
Marrowlight wrote: The Shameless Plug would be a good new account name for you.
ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
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Re: Making a Character
ok, given the sheer length of the character sheet, i spoilered it. this is a slightly cut back version (the original version has costs, a list of bonuses to assorted attributes/SDC, plans for the future, etc).
given how much there is, odds are good i'm off somewhere, but whatever here you go:
Gorehounds:
given how much there is, odds are good i'm off somewhere, but whatever here you go:
Spoiler:
Spoiler:
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Re: Making a Character
I like it. The only think I see at the moment is the Enhanced Neurological Connections on Alect. From how I understand the description, Enhanced Neurological Connections is between a user and a host armor or linked warmount. The gorehound isn't linked to anything.
Ziggurat the Eternal wrote:I'm not sure if its possible, but if it isn't, then possible will just have to get over it.
Ninjabunny wrote:You are playing to have fun and be a part of a story,no one is aiming to "beat" the GM, nor should any GM be looking to beat his players.
Marrowlight wrote: The Shameless Plug would be a good new account name for you.
ALAshbaugh wrote:Because DINOSAURS.
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Re: Making a Character
The Galactus Kid wrote:I like it. The only think I see at the moment is the Enhanced Neurological Connections on Alect. From how I understand the description, Enhanced Neurological Connections is between a user and a host armor or linked warmount. The gorehound isn't linked to anything.
i can't see any reason why the gorehound couldn't have enhanced internal neurological connections as opposed to enhanced external neurological connections.
mostly, it's in there because Alecto really needed circadian rhythms to be properly relentless, and circadian rhythms requires enhanced neurological connections.