The EP Split

Please Read Entire Thing First. Then Give Me Your Thoughts Or Questions in a POLITE, MATURE, NON-RANT-LIKE manner. Thank you.



So here's the deal. The EP split rule is a good idea in theory but the way it's executed is ridiculously nit-picky and stupidly limiting. It generally makes it so characters that aren't very physical or use weapons of some sort, are at somewhat of a disadvantage because most energy powers come with boatloads of applications such as a hydrokinetic's abilities to manipulate blood, ice, the tides, marine life, and so-on. EP characters are basically being forced to, if they plan on having a stronger attack, only have two or three applications to their powers which isn't only just limiting, it makes your character stupid predictable and swipes versatility as well as limits the creativity of some. I had a thought that'd still be limiting but not nearly as painfully annoying.

Instead of splitting the EP points between the power's applications/uses themselves, you could establish a system of classifying powers based on their function. A couple examples.

Example 1: Say you have a sorcerer that can summon minions and conjure up mystical weaponry. Powers that call on help or forge items for use can be classified as "Summoning" powers. The classifications of the powers would get the EP split and not the power itself.

Example 2: And Elemental Manipulator. Say they can generate, control, and manipulate Water, Fire, Earth, and Air. Well obviously you only need the powers to generate the water and fire. Powers that require generation of something (Fire, Water, etc) could be classified as "Generation" and the actual ability to move the element mentally could be classified under Psychokinesis (Which is the combination of Telepathy and Telekinesis. So any powers involving that would also be classified under this). Then there's the actual manipulation which is usually just meaning the altering of atomic and subatomic particles to influence various effects. Could very simply just be classified as "Transmutation" A more direct means however such as an energy blast, could be classified as such..."Energy Blasts" this is in cases of things such as optic beams, radial bursts, ice beams, things you don't actually control the direction of once they're fired off.

This last example is a rough idea of what a power grid using this system would look like.

Example 3:

INT: 4
STR:2
SPD:3
DUR:3
EP: 6
FS:3

EP Grid:
Lightning Generation and Control (Energy Blast)
Transforming one substance into another (Transmutation)
Generate Explosions by manipulating atoms (Generation)
Heat and Cold Manipulation (Transmutation)

See? That's 4 powers on six points. Enough for a 3, 2, 1. But generation doesn't take much energy unless you're making a spirit bomb so you can get away with giving it a 1. Transmutation could start at 1 as well and be limited by the size or quantity of what you wish to transform. Energy Blasts and Psychokinesis, I imagine would take at least 2 to be really effective at all. List of possible classifications below.


Summoning/Forging - Calling in help and/or creating weaponry from nothing

Generation - Generation or Harnessing of Water, Fire, Light, Darkness. How powerful the generated force is. The more powerful, the larger. The larger, the more complicated it is to mentally or even physically guide. At the point of higher points spent here if all EP went into generation, you very well COULD make a spirit bomb XD

Transmutation - Transforming one substance into another such as changing metals to gold or crystalizing items

Energy Blast - Lightning, Soundwaves, Concussive Blasts, Solar Beams, Intense Light or Dark energy beams, etc.

Psychokinesis/Psionics - Mental powers allowing mental links with other things or levitation/control of things you generate (Think of "Bending" from The Last Airbender. Also includes actual telekinesis)

Powersuit Weaponry A - One set of powersuit weapons

Powersuit Weaponry B - Set 2 because all powersuits have at least ONE big daddy weapon, am I right?

Physical Transformation/Alteration - Shape/Size Shifting, Transforming Bodyparts into weapons, immitating solid matter by touch, etc.

Fundamental Forces - Gravity and Force. The other two are covered by Energy Blasts, Transmutation, and Physical Transformation/Alteration

These are just some rough ideas. It'll let people have more power versatility but all the powers under a certain classification would be about the same in power.

To be completely honest, and nice about this... I actually rather enjoy the way you have presented the information, and given good thought and explanation to all of your points. I believe the way you have approached the EP rule is more fair than the previous handling of EP. Final say is still up to the boss, though. You have my vote for this idea, Soul.

Soul wrote:EP characters are basically being forced to, if they plan on having a stronger attack, only have two or three applications to their powers which isn't only just limiting, it makes your character stupid predictable and swipes versatility as well as limits the creativity of some.

Every other stat has the same limitations. Does that make every bruiser or speedster stupidly predictable? No, it just means that, that is where their power is. And it's the same way with EP. Lets say an EP user picks Ice manipulation as their power, and they put 5 EP into it. This opens up a very wide versatile list of abilities. They can now create powerful ice blasts, completely freeze things over, create weapons out of ice, create walls for defense, and much more. And they can still get another support power for 1 EP if they want. Even if all of their attacks are around ice it doesn't mean their limited. Your only limited by your imagination.

I don't see the need to change our EP system. Not even because this system is bad, but because I don't see anything wrong with the one we have right now, and it's not exactly easy to switch over systems.

I'm not bothering with this anymore. It's not worth it. If you wanna use all the applications of your powers, then just use the OOC section. I'm done.

Okay, trashing.