We've had an issue with how to handle Allies and Cut-Rate Resurrection.
The issue with allies and Cut-Rate Resurrection (also a real rule, now, in DFRPG Exploits), is that Allies are set as a percentage of the PC's point total. So if you allow them to trade off 20 points of disadvantages or lost advantages or reduced stats, it's not a big deal. They'll reset over time to the appropriate percentage of the PC's point total.
That's not fair - PCs choosing Cut-Rate take a real hit. NPCs who choose it take a real hit. NPCs that a PC paid for with points may as well take it, because it's not really a disadvantage.
We had this issue when Brother Ike died, and I put in an extra disadvantage and we tried to make it so he only regained the lost points over time. That seemed wrong, though, eventually.
What will happen instead is this:
Any point debt incurred from cut-rate resurrection is permanent on Allies. The Ally's point level will be determined by percentage first, then any point debt will be applied after. For example, a 400 point PC has a 50% Ally. The Ally is 200 points; if the Ally had been slain and resurrected with only $5000 invested in the spell, the Ally will be 200 - 20 = 180 points. If the PC becomes 420 points, the Ally will be 420/2 = 210 points, -20 for resurrection, = 190 points.
It sounds harsh, but it does seem be the most fair way of dealing with it. PCs lose points permanently using this method, and NPCs who aren't Allies, so why not Allies? This rules both feels fair and seems to work mathematically, and is also simple enough to implement.
I thought your Allies were always bought as if the PC were 250 points, regardless of their points, and then the Ally gained at a rate equal to the PCs, not at a rate equal to whatever the PC's half point total was..
ReplyDeleteTo keep Characters like Vryce from hiring on 250 point Allies...
We've use the Ally rules as written. I just wouldn't allow someone who was 500 points to just go and hire a 250 pointer out of the box. Not easily, anyway - getting a 25% ally (125) would be easy enough, and I'd allow for a later upgrade to 50%.
DeleteWould it be easier to record a "has been resurrected" advantage?
ReplyDeleteSo a character would have to give up abilities to free up the points to buy the "Advantage". Then the ratio between the PC and the NPC would be maintained and easy to see.
That's a very interesting idea. I like the idea of balancing it out in a way that is clear to see.
DeleteIf I were doing Allies Peter's way... that's probably how I'd do it. I have PCs track Points For Cash as an Advantage just for my sanity, but then I also give a flat rate to every one each adventure, I don't do 'VIP' exp or anything like that, so i just have to track exp and Character's present by session, rather than individual exp awards. Admittedly it's like 1 less step, but it's stopped all the arguments about how much exp certain individuals should have.
DeleteI think you're right - putting it as an advantage makes it easier to track the total (and avoids "help" like "Shouldn't your Ally have 20 more points to spend?"), unlike adding it as a 20-point campaign point deduction or a disadvantage. I'll try it and see if it works - thanks!
DeleteI always treat such things as 'advantages' so things like Points for Cash totally get tracked thusly
DeleteOne future question for you - how often and how effectively do you see such used on new characters?
You mean using points for cash? It's pretty common for fighter-types, much less so for others.
DeleteFor me personally, every non-fighter type I've made (Wizard, Dungeon Saint, Psage) has gone for a big money item for the Power Factors (two also went for big money enchanted leather armor). My personal fighter types have subsisted on inexpensive weapons and armor until they scored big in the dungeon.
DeleteFor Players? Mostly they've eschewed Points For Cash with the few taking it being pretty evenly split between good, expensive armor and big money Power Item.