How would I make this item

[AzureaSkyes]

If I wanted to make an ancient artefact with mystical "powers" that had both physical properties (size etc) but also a drain flaw does anyone have any ideas if you can put build points into both sections when distributing the BP cost.

Secondly, how would you cope with summoning in the SFX rules? use it as a function of teleport? or just house rule a new SFX.

If you wanted to create a psionic ability called "Shield" that remained up for a certain number of combat rounds, or until it was forced down. Would you give it durability? How do you cope with buffs that could be targeted on a friendly group member?

In the example of the psychic attack power I notice that the 1 wound seems to be caused from the +1 Wound component. The text seemed to indicate that this was for additional damage over and above weapon damage. Since a psychic power has no physical size, it seems that powers that cause damage are much weaker, or more expensive, than regular physical item attacks. Or have I missed something?

[cheeplives]

Lots of good questions here. I'll try to do it by parts

AzureaSkyes wrote:
If I wanted to make an ancient artefact with mystical "powers" that had both physical properties (size etc) but also a drain flaw does anyone have any ideas if you can put build points into both sections when distributing the BP cost.

Depends on what you mean by a "Drain" flaw... do you want the item to actually prevent the user from using Psychic powers after it is used, or do you merely want it to weaken the character?

I'd really just say that if you wanted to, you could replace the Reliability aspect of the equipment with the Drain aspect if you wanted to. In fact, I'm sure if you wanted to add Potency or even an XP requirement to equipment, that would be fine as well.

Or you could just build in a Flaw that is called "Draining" that works exactly as Drain does and costs -1 BP per level of Drain.

If you wanted the power to weaken the character, you could put in a Flaw that causes Stress Track damage to the user. I'd say that'd be -6 per Wound it deals to the character.

AzureaSkyes wrote:
Secondly, how would you cope with summoning in the SFX rules? use it as a function of teleport? or just house rule a new SFX.

I'd probably build a new SFX and possibly make it a function of Size. Say 3 BP per 2 levels of Size. So if you want to be able to summon a Human-sized object, it'd mean you'd have to invest 15 BP into the power. Then, I'd treat the Summoned things like Subsystems... basically you build it in the Fashioning trappings system and then you can Summon it later.

I'd probably also introduce a -3 Flaw that would limit the Summoning power to a specific item/creature/equipment type. So if you only wanted to be able to Summon animals, that'd be a "Only Animals" -3 Flaw...

AzureaSkyes wrote:
If you wanted to create a psionic ability called "Shield" that remained up for a certain number of combat rounds, or until it was forced down. Would you give it durability? How do you cope with buffs that could be targeted on a friendly group member?

I'd probably buy both the Persistant SFX and give it Durability... that would satisfy both conditions:
Shield: P4 D8 X10, Automatic. Defense +4, Armor 1, Durabilty 3, SFX (x2): Persistent.
This power creates a shimmering ball of psychic energy around the psychic, which shields them from harm. Once activated, it lasts for six rounds or until the Durabiilty has been defeated.

AzureaSkyes wrote:
In the example of the psychic attack power I notice that the 1 wound seems to be caused from the +1 Wound component. The text seemed to indicate that this was for additional damage over and above weapon damage. Since a psychic power has no physical size, it seems that powers that cause damage are much weaker, or more expensive, than regular physical item attacks. Or have I missed something?

Yes, they are more expensive, because they cannot be taken away or really disrupted in any way. It was a balancing issue. Having the ability to throw lightning bolts about with impunity should be a little more expensive than a gun that can be jammed (Reliabiilty), disarmed, or destroyed.
_________________
discreteinfinity.com -- my little corner of the internet.

Author of StarSIEGE: Event Horizon -- Available now from Troll Lord Games!

[AzureaSkyes]

Great! Thanks

I knew it would be worth asking you Josh.
That gives me some ideas on how to do some stuff I was thinking about.

One question still remains, with the shield, can I use it on a nearby friendly party member for free or is there going to be additional costs involved. And presumably they dont need to "resist" friendly effects.

[cheeplives]

AzureaSkyes wrote:
Great! Thanks

I knew it would be worth asking you Josh.
That gives me some ideas on how to do some stuff I was thinking about.

One question still remains, with the shield, can I use it on a nearby friendly party member for free or is there going to be additional costs involved. And presumably they dont need to "resist" friendly effects.

I do what I can.

I'd say that's up to you as the SIEGE Engineer, but I'd probably say that it'd be most fair that you'd put a Range and Scale on it for it to work on anything other than the psychic. Or you could put a 3 Point SFX called Radius that protects everything within 1 meter/yard of the psychic with every additional purchase increasing the radius by 1 meter/yard.

And you can choose to not resist any psychic power, both hostile or friendly... up to the character.
_________________
discreteinfinity.com -- my little corner of the internet.

Author of StarSIEGE: Event Horizon -- Available now from Troll Lord Games!