Notable 'House' Rules

[Relic]

DODGING vs Melee/Slugfest

By the book, Dodging is an Agility Ability, and reduces the attacking column shift.

It is a Pre-Action, determined just after Initiative. While Dodging, a character:

- May move only half his speed,

- May not engage in a charging attack,

- May perform only ONE other action that turn, maximum (including
making an attack)

- All FEATs made while Dodging (including attacking) are made at -2CS penalty

- The character may only dodge attacks of which he is aware (may not dodge an unexpected attack, such as a sniper who suddenly appears, an ally who makes an attack, or someone behind the character. (Blindsiding))

- Powers may modify this rule (ex: Spider-Sense);

- Dodging is usually used against ranged attacks and charging attacks.

* It has no effect against Slugfest and wrestling attacks (though the character may dodge to avoid ranged attacks in conjunction with adjacent attacks -- this has no effect on those adjacent other than to penalize the dodging character).


The "no effect" vs Slugfest & melee attacks in general, I'm flex on. A character CAN declare to Dodge melee attacks he/she is aware of (engaged w/an an opponent, not one who steps out from beneath a table behind him for instance).

However, this type Dodge gains only HALF whatever benefit (if any) is rolled (i.e., Green -1CS/Yel -2CS/Red -3CS), and still suffers the -2CS penalty if attacking back, regardless if any benefit were received.

[Relic]

KARMA DISTRIBUTION, ADVANCEMENT FUNDS, & MIN/MAX KARMA PER DIE ROLL

A major difference between table top v. PBP is how/when to allocate Karma. I'm realizing that the sort of organic-style of gameplay (versus a sit down 'session' with a start, middle and time-limit end) is tricky to set into defined chapters. Personally, I'd rather not lock into a set script i.e., Encounter A, proceed to Encounter B, then Encounter C etc. There are just too many RL factors, that affect player's pace of game, as well as my time to respond.

Response/Reply times are not in real-time and a simple decision or roll result could take a few days, which was/is the intended nature of the game i.e., flexibility. The game resumes when it resumes basically, and so far everyone's done a great job and (I think?) are enjoying developing their character's story at their own pace.

Which brings me to the dilemma of Rewards & Advancement - how and when?

It'd be a lie to say I've everything worked out and scripted in advance. I do have a 'backbone' story though, and am just seeing how events play out. Something's actually are developing cooler than I could've planned in advance. One of the perks of non real-time is I can explore different options based off player decisions, without having to improvise or 'wing it' like you do in sit-down sessions. From a Judge's perspective, I enjoy both styles of play.

That said, because there are no defined chapter marks, I'm going to temporarily implement 'Super Mario' Karma, and see how it works out for PBP.


'SUPER MARIO' KARMA

Huh? What's he talkin' about? It's simple really.

Remember how Mario goes around collecting coins? It'll be the same with players and Karma - if/when a good deed is resolved, Karma will be awarded immediately afterwards (or penalized if it's the case). Since a given scenario can literally drag on for days, I tend to forget stuff that someone did weeks ago, and it'd be a shame to let such acts of heroism go unrewarded, no?

So Karma will be awarded (or penalized) pretty much after every Karma-worthy sequence (I will back track to award any retroactive Karma that may have been earned but not received yet if/where applicable).


ADVANCEMENT FUNDS

By the book, I believe there is only one Advancement Fund that deposits can be kept in, safe from the ever-nasty Karma Wipe (from a character killing someone let's say).

Because PBP is a more aqueous game play style, I've decided (house rule) players can contribute and keep track of as many Advancement Funds as they wish. Simply start a thread in your individual folders, making note of what you're trying to advance (let's say, "Law Enforcement" talent) then keep a running tab of how much karma you've spent towards it:

Learning:

Law Enforcement total: 125
+50 (defeat xx) = 50
+25 (saving old lady)=75

Or

Law Enforcement 150/2000 (showing current / what's needed if you want to get fancy)

Just whatever to note/show what you're raising. Let me know too whenever contributions are made to something as I will likely keep record somewhere on the 'Official' character sheets (btw, feel free to make a working copy of your Char sheet in a separate thread in your folder to make updates, notes etc.)


MIN/MAX KARMA SPENT TO AFFECT INDIVIDUAL DIE ROLL

It's still early so this hasn't come into effect yet, but eventually Karma will be stored, sometimes to the point of overflow. Karma as you know can be spent to influence die rolls to achieve a different result. It can be added to raise a result (Green to Yellow for ex), and lesser used, it can reduce the result of a normally lethal die roll (spending 50 to reduce a "Kill" to "Stun" resulting from an Edged, Shooting or Energy attack for example; pg 38 APB).

Theoretically, a well-established hero could have gobs of Karma, and spend to 'Red result' every act. In sit-down sessions, there are ways to 'house ruie' restrict this; allowing players to take only their base total RIP at the start of the adventure, encouraging formation of Karma Pools etc.

This is hardly an issue at the moment with our new cast of heroes, and since I haven't figured out how to address Karma Pools in PBP yet, players basically will have access to all their collected karma since they've started (minus any locked up in Advancement Funds, see above). So, I'd like to 'house rule' implement a Karma cap on indy die rolls, and see how it works out. It will work as follows:

'Spending Karma' must be declared prior to any die/FEAT roll about to be resolved;

A minimum 10 Karma must be spent;

A maximum of 65 Karma pts can be spent towards a die roll to achieve the desired effect (with one Exception: In the event that a particular die roll result would result in the absolute, final, and permanent termination of a hero, we'll flex on the matter).

Anyway, just want to try this out and see how it works for now. If it seems a tad too unforgiving, we'll change things up. Also subject to change in the event I figure out how to implement PBP Karma pooling. Thoughts & comments welcome.

[tig]

you are doing a great job.

[Relic]

thx good sir!

wish I could say the same about the ol' tech-mage, but so far the dice have been unkind to him

[Relic]

Natural 1's and 100's

Forgot to mention... natural "1"s and "100"s have a particularly great effect (or 'detrimental' depending on PoV). DON'T roll 1 while attacking; DO roll 100 for something particularly cool (case specific)... on that note NPCs are affected by said same ruling so DO hope they roll "1"s if they're attacking you, and hope they NEVER roll "100"

[Relic]

GRABBING

'TAKE' Result: Slight 'house' mod to the 'Take' Result of Grabbing attempts. Originally stated as,

• A Take result indicates the attacker has
full possession of the item if his
Strength is equal to or greater than the
target's (use material strength for
things that are glued or clamped
down). If not, consider as a miss.

A 'Take' roll result should be considered high enough not to completely miss. So, even if the Taker's Strength is less than the Target's, they may have a chance to take Partial control of the object in question.

If the Taker's Strength is less than the Target's, the Target is allow a Strength FEAT v. the Taker's Strength; Success of Green or Better means the original Target maintains Full control over the item; a fail result indicates the Taker has achieved Partial control. Both parties suffer immediate -2CS to actions as long as both are wrestling with the item. Strength v. Strength FEATs can be made in subsequent rounds to determine who takes Full control of the item.


'GRAB' Result: As listed,

• A Grab result indicates the attacker
has taken possession of the item,
whether or not the Strength of the
opponent was higher.

So as book listed, FB Strength Aunt May, could in theory, Grab a lollipop from the UN strength Hulk, provided she made a Yellow Grab result. This is pretty absurd, so in the Indie-verse, Target is allowed an immediate Strength v. Taker Strength FEAT check to determine success (making Aunt May's attempt an Impossible FEAT but saving her from a 'HULK SMASH!' result)