[K5pbem] The Akira Effect

[Mike Surbrook]

On Wed, 7 Dec 2005, Mathieu Roy wrote:

> Michael Surbrook wrote:
>
>>     This has not been adjusted for my revised esper Side Effects of 
>> course, but I want to make sure I’m not setting things up so people 
>> playing espers are getting points back for non-limiting Limitations.  For 
>> example, almost all of the Bricks Tricks have Side Effects with a  value of 
>> -0, even of the power requires them to rip up roads and/or  pipes. On the 
>> other hand, I want epser weapons to make a mess of  things when they fight, 
>> up to the point where they may damage a  structure they are into the point 
>> where it threatens them and/or  their allies.
>
> Frankly, in the story all the collateral damage caused by Raven at least, but 
> also from what I can see Shion etc... have been Special Effects, and have had 
> no real story impact except maybe cleaning up the mess. So it can't be a huge 
> limitation, although there's one in the sense that such powers can never be 
> really used stealthily.
>
> It might also lead PKs to restrain themselves in some surroundings, but... 
> now that I think on it, it has also seemed that streets and other forms of 
> outdoor scenery are considerably more fragile vis-a-vis PK Side Effects than 
> apartment floors and other structures. Artistic license? Or maybe the espers 
> know better than to cut loose as much in these sensitive locations. ;)

I think the latter. Also, I'd like to play that up a bit more. I mean, in 
AKIRA the nursery fight (both anime and manga) wrecked everything, while 
in DOMU, the esper duel literally brought the building down.

> I'm thinking Side Effects should be -1/4 at best, and -0 wouldn't be out of 
> place. In any case, Raven won't be buying it on her Pool, since she can do 
> things like sculpt and create her Masamune effect that don't have noticeable 
> side effects -- though individual powers might have such a limitation.

Not might, but "should."

I am also thinking of making it a flat -1/4 limitation of "damages the 
environment" and leave it at that. Thus, it becomes a GM's call thing, as 
well as more "plot dependent." This also means that if Raven slapped it on 
her VPP, it would only really kick in when she used a lot of power, not 
when she used her TK to sculpt a bird.

What say?

-- 
Michael Surbrook
susano at guisarme . net http://surbrook.devermore.net/index/
Lilo: "Oh good! My dog's found a chainsaw!"

"Lilo & Stitch"