A few ability questions

[jdagna]

There are a few statements made about abilities that I'm not quite understanding fully.

The first is that supporting powers are supposed to have only one type of effect.  I've been mulling over a vampire-type character and wanted to have him able to hit someone, do damage to them and heal himself using the damage he caused.  Would that have to be three separate secondary abilities (a bite attack, bite damage, and heal self kind of thing)?  Could it be a single primary ability?

The second is the book's statement that an Ability-based weapon still has to be purchased.  Fiera's fire-breathing ability (from the book's examples) still had to be "purchased" with 3 Wealth because it was a 3 Worth weapon for damage.  The example justifies the cost by saying the money is for expensive food/herbs.  Is that right?


Also, a quick magic question to be sure I'm understanding things right.  If a character had the words "fester" and "burn" among his magic words and cast a spell called "Festering Burns" would the targets make two damage rolls, one for each of the words used?

Thanks in advance!

[Wulf]

The first is that supporting powers are supposed to have only one type of effect.  I've been mulling over a vampire-type character and wanted to have him able to hit someone, do damage to them and heal himself using the damage he caused.  Would that have to be three separate secondary abilities (a bite attack, bite damage, and heal self kind of thing)?  Could it be a single primary ability?

The second is the book's statement that an Ability-based weapon still has to be purchased.  Fiera's fire-breathing ability (from the book's examples) still had to be "purchased"

Thanks in advance!

Personally, I'd allow 'Vampiric Bite' as a Primary Ability. I might make you use 2 actions for attack/damage then heal self though...

The bit about buying a 'natural' attack I'd been forgetting too :-(

Wulf

[Clinton R. Nixon]

You got the natural attack and magic right (although I'd wouldn't be keen on two separate damage rolls for a spell - maybe 'festering' would be used for boils or something.)

'Vampiric Bite' would make a fine primary ability. However, I'd make you use it twice:

First, attack. It would go towards the Damage Test, which means you'd use something else for attacking. Also, it would be (a) sharp - so some people could defend against it, and (b) it might only work on living creatures with blood.

Second - and this is a second action - that blood could be used to heal you/power something/whatever you define at character creation. For healing, roll Wherewithal + damage done against the amount of damage you've taken. Successes heal you.