Signatures & Legends

Summary:

Discussion of the "Signature" backgrounds, & a nod toward Legendary items.

Signatures & Legends

Bratovitch 30 Nov 2010 22:02

I am considering adding a "Signature Item" background. Traditionally, there is Signature Weapon & Signature Vehicle. Signature Item would cover rings, armour, wicker baskets or what have you. Uncertain if it would offer an enhancement bonus or not…most items have non-standard effects. The standard for the others is a flat +2 die bonus in addition to the "can't be permanently lost or destroyed quality". If we do go with this, then the benefit will probably be a case-by-case basis.

For reference, Signature anything is a background that may only be awarded as a Gift, & begins at a rating of 1.

I am also convinced that "Legendary" items (items of such power & singularity that they are known widely) cannot be taken as Signature. (Examples: The Silver Key, Excalibur, The Dust Machine, The Gae Bulga, The Horadric Cube, The Magic Mirror.)

These items are already so powerful that they cannot be attached to the destiny of any one person. However, when "attuned" an Arcane Connection will exist: Until the previous owner is killed, the full powers will remain dormant to anyone else, & the has some idea where the item is.

Re: Signatures & Legends

BobDylan530 30 Nov 2010 22:23

You have quite a treasure there in that Horadric Cube…

Re: Signatures & Legends

Falthon 30 Nov 2010 22:36

Signature Item sounds like a good idea to me. "Can't be permanently lost or destroyed" is a significant benefit in itself, even without a bonus.

Re: Signatures & Legends

DemonDream 30 Nov 2010 22:38

I'm very much in favor of the Signature Item background. There are quite a few items that are not necessarily weapons, which sadly wastes that aspect of the Gift.

Regarding "Legendary" items, I'm not entirely sure those should be impossible to signature. Excalibur is almost invariably paired with King Arthur, for example. However, the fact that they have their own legend certainly could make it more difficult to signature. Perhaps there could be some form of Side Game they would have to undertake, or they would need to be a veteran character to take an item of Power and make it their own? You could also require a Gift to make it a signature, regardless of whether you have the background or not. Just some possibilities.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 00:36

The way our cell has been doing it, as wrong as it is, is that just about anything (within reasonable limits, of course) can be made signature with a gift. You want your gun signature? That costs gift. Want your flask signature? That's a gift. A mansion? costs a gift. Another gun? That'll cost another gift. Sometimes weaker gift items are awarded as signature already. for instance, Devin has a shotgun that's indestructible and takes up no storage space for him, but it was awarded as signature. Generally it's more versatile but more costly than it's supposed to be. Signature weapon adds two damage dice, but other than that it simply means the item will be returned to you before the next game if you lose it or it gets destroyed.

It's actually a fairly common gift around here. people use it to protect their armor and items. Let's see if I can think of a few examples.

Zak's signature items:
"The Device"
The vat
His armor (rokea-skin coat)
Lancer gun

Devin's signature items:
Shadow shotgun
Shadow bike
mask of a thousand faces

Dorian's signature items:
Spider-silk coat (armor)
The dagger
His limousine
One of his retainers (this is one of those questionable ones. Might be changed.)
his flask

So between them I think these characters have played about 90 games, maybe a little more. That means that about 12/90 gifts given here are spent making things signature, or roughly 1/9. Also, it's always the player who chooses to make an item signature. The GM's can't simply ignore gift-giving duties by always making things signature.

Last edited on 01 Dec 2010 00:43 by Shady Tradesman Show more

Re: Signatures & Legends

Bratovitch 01 Dec 2010 01:23

"Wrong" is relative. It is perfectly reasonable to do things in such a manner, it just tends to breed under-powered characters. Like spending your whole paycheck on life-insurance. Technically, you could spend 3 gifts to have as many as 15 signature items (even more as a vet), with appropriate bonuses. Of course, there would be an xp cost there, which the method you've chosen obviates.

If you lot are happy that way, go to it. If it was to come to a revision, then I'd recommend re-stacking gifts, but that's optional. While individual characters will vary in relative power level & flexibility, there is a baseline to be expected, a certain minimal level of power that one associates with a Seasoned or Veteran High Roller. That is part of the reason the streamlining revision process exists.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 01:35

Yeah I've been pretty curious about how our characters' power levels compare to the other cells'. Within the cell everything is totally balanced, but I could see it being either over or under powered when compared on a broader scope.

Last edited on 01 Dec 2010 01:59 by Shady Tradesman Show more

Re: Signatures & Legends

Bratovitch 01 Dec 2010 02:05

Yeah, that happens. We try to address what we can. Personally, I'm more concerned with weak-sauce characters than strong ones. A level 1-2 power should always be more effective than pulling a gun & shooting (or equivalent mundane action). Level 5 powers should be Game Breakers, the sort of thing that GM's had better to take into account lest there entire game be laid waste to.

If they're not that good, then yes: they are underpowered. Now, some people like that. Personally, I love playing relatively weak types with 1 or 2 unparalleled talents. Others do not. Not a big deal if your happy. If you think your coming up short (As Ellis was) then submit for a revision. It may be that only minimal changes need be made.

Case in point: I KNOW Devin, for all that he is amazing, is woefully underpowered. His abilities cost to much & often are less effective than simply opening fire. Be that as it may, it's not my concern unless Devin is put in for revision. The only time I need be directly concerned is when someone decided as they're Gift they get an infinite xp generator or become immune to death (yes, both happened). Then an Admin should step in.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 02:52

Yeah even for our cell, Devin's a little under-powered.

Last edited on 01 Dec 2010 02:55 by Shady Tradesman Show more

Re: Signatures & Legends

BobDylan530 01 Dec 2010 03:43

I think we're probably underpowered as compared to other cells. I mean, we give gifts here like The Ol' Schnozz and a Flask of Holding.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Bratovitch 01 Dec 2010 04:08

Shnozz aside, Ellis is currently quite formidable. So is Zak, as I designed the Device & the clone powers myself. Easily fixed either way: I was quite pleased with the potential in Ellis's new design.

Re: Signatures & Legends

BobDylan530 01 Dec 2010 04:40

Yeah, I really dig the revision, particularly what you did with Bomb Bonding. Dorian is also pretty damn powerful, I think it's mostly just Devin who's a little underpowered.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 05:54

Flask of holding underpowered!? You must be mad.

Re: Signatures & Legends

BobDylan530 01 Dec 2010 05:57

As far as legendary items go, I'd think those would be even easier to make signature. Other than those designed to be elusive, such as the holy grail, it seems that typically legendary items are legendary in large part because of who uses them. The example was used above of Excalibur being particularly attuned to King Arthur, and no doubt it would be similarly attuned to any other wielder who was given it to use.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 06:03

I think this is just another thing that gets the "Gm's discretion stamp." It should go with the spirit of being signature. If the item and the owner are linked in a mutual sort of way, I see no reason why it shouldn't be allowed.

Really I think the worry is for situations like the one that would have cropped up had Gollum made the one true ring signature.

Last edited on 01 Dec 2010 06:06 by Shady Tradesman Show more

Re: Signatures & Legends

Bratovitch 01 Dec 2010 06:17

Not so much. In a world of High Rollers, only one can wield the true (insert item here). Many would seek such a status symbol. Most would be unworthy. While death would end a "signature" effect, I see little reason why they should be immune to other, more subtle forms of acquisition. Any one carrying such an item would be well advised to keep a low-profile: literally 9/10ths of the Contractor population would kill to acquire such an item, alliances be damned.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 06:43

Hmm… Dorian's holding a thing like that right now. He might just give it away out of fear.

Re: Signatures & Legends

BobDylan530 01 Dec 2010 14:49

Ellis has also got a similar thing, although it's doubtful that any but the most pious high-rollers would want it.

Re: Signatures & Legends

Shady Tradesman 01 Dec 2010 15:57

or, you know, a necromancer. Or a demon. Or Dorian. Esperacchius is quite the prize for anyone really.