tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-533573536330092840.post5707594663783723823..comments2024-03-07T16:20:50.007+00:00Comments on Librarians & Leviathans: Characters in Monitors, a first glanceShimmin Beghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10350037986748679919noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-533573536330092840.post-58611700599218484362014-01-15T20:28:21.872+00:002014-01-15T20:28:21.872+00:00Shock! How could I forget the most important thin...Shock! How could I forget the most important thing? Selecting <a href="http://librarians-and-leviathans.blogspot.com/2013/09/monitors-linguistics.html" rel="nofollow">languages</a>!Shimmin Beghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10350037986748679919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-533573536330092840.post-43228513865408921652014-01-12T19:03:57.454+00:002014-01-12T19:03:57.454+00:00Technically not quite - you have the option to tak...Technically not quite - you have the option to take only the default enhancements (which are pre-selected), and the option to take only the two default spells (which aren't). You're also always going to be using technology, whether it's welded to your flesh or in a rucksack. There is no option to be magic-only and more than there is to be tech-only. But I know what you mean and it's something I was already mulling over. <br /><br />To some extent I'm not convinced, though, because it sort of comes down to what is assumed to be basic to the system. As an analogy, nobody in D&D* gets to choose whether or not they can use weapons - they might choose different proficiencies, or pick classes with varying competence, but using a weapon to fight stuff is an intrinsic part of the system even if you have zero weapon proficiencies and suffer a -20 penalty to attacks. On the other hand, casting spells is a very specific skill, as is backstabbing, and only specific people can attempt it. My concept of <i>Monitors</i> has always been that every PC has spells - apart from anything else it ties in to the heat point system. I might well play around with the numbers for everything, but I'm not really keen to allow the option for no-magic characters, both because it seems to undermine what I was going for, and because if you're running an organisation of people who use magic and tech to sort out supernatural and mundane problems, it doesn't particularly make sense to employ staff who don't want use magic. <br /><br />From a slightly different angle, I'm also slightly concerned that it would cause balance problems, because it's quite possible that five enhancements is flat-out better than five spells, since they're designed to be complementary rather than equivalent. Or vice versa, though that seems less likely.<br /><br />*Okay, I'm sure there is a splatbook somewhere.Shimmin Beghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10350037986748679919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-533573536330092840.post-31747695861251074912014-01-11T23:23:08.985+00:002014-01-11T23:23:08.985+00:00Generally liking the shape of this. Although I app...Generally liking the shape of this. Although I appreciate that you're keen on everybdoy being a secret-agent-cyborg-wizard, I do wonder if it wouldn't be better to just let everybody pick five spells/relics/enhancements rather than insisting on everybody having two spells. Currently you have the option to be an *all* magic character (taking all spells) but not a no-magic character.Dan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05711867728179306264noreply@blogger.com