Limitations
Notes
See Also: Power Modifiers
You can apply limitations to almost any trait (although as with enhancements, skills are normally off-limits). When you apply a limitation to a disadvantage, you reduce its value as a disadvantage; e.g., a -10% limitation on a -25-point disadvantage would make it a -22.5-point trait, which rounds to -22 points. Limited disadvantages are worth fewer points because they affect you under more restricted circumstances.
Remember that no matter how many limitations you take, you cannot reduce the cost of a trait by more than 80%. That is, when totaling modifiers, treat net modifiers below -80% as -80%.
The GM should take at least a cursory look at every limitation-laden ability. See Cautions. (
symbols are not yet added onto this page.)
Optional Rule: Limited Enhancements
If the GM allows, you can add a limitation to an enhancement. This restricts the enhancement, reducing its value as an enhancement without directly affecting the underlying ability.
Apply the limitation to the percentage value of the enhancement exactly as if it were a point value. This cannot reduce the value of the enhancement below 1/5 normal. Then apply the cheaper enhancement to the cost of the ability.
Example: Your Selective Area (+20%) enhancement has the Vision-Based (-20%) limitation. You don't need eye contact to make the attack work, but you must make eye contact with someone in your area of effect in order to single him out. A -20% limitation on a +20% enhancement reduces the net enhancement to +16%.
A few limitations require a specific enhancement. For instance, Emanation always accompanies Area Effect. Such limitations affect the underlying ability. You cannot use this rule to apply them to just the enhancement.
The GM may choose not to use this option, as it requires extra bookkeeping.
Accessibility
Variable
Accessibility is a catchall limitation you can use to cover any restriction not specifically defined elsewhere. Accessibility limitations fall into two broad categories: those that limit the targets your ability can affect and those that limit the situations in which it works.
If your ability can only affect certain targets, the limitation depends on how common the target group is. "Only on women," "Only on men," or anything else that covers about half of the population is worth -20%. "Only on Electrical" or "Only on machines" is worth -20% in a technological setting. "Only on sea creatures" is worth -30% – unless the campaign is set on a world mostly covered with water, in which case it isn't worth more than -10%. "Only on aliens" is worth -30% or -40%, depending on the world. "Only on psis" is worth -50% in most settings. "Not on redheads" is identical to "On everyone but redheads," and is worth -10%.
The same yardstick applies to limitations based on the situation. "Only at day" or "Only at night" is worth -20%. "Only in direct sunlight" is worth -30%. "Only in water" is worth -30% on Earth – but more on a desert planet and less on an ocean world. "Only during full moon" or "Only during new moon" is worth -40%. And "Useless under stress" is a whopping -60%, since it makes the ability worthless in most adventuring situations!
You can also link situational Accessibility to your actions. The more unusual, difficult, or obnoxious the required action is, the greater the limitation value. Some examples: Only in altered body form (Invisible, Insubstantial, etc.): -10%. Only while playing trumpet: -20%. Only while flying, Only while swimming, Only in hypnotic trance: -30%. Only by one side of split personality: -40%.
In all cases, if the ability is only weakened (half power) instead of becoming useless, halve the value of the limitation.
The GM shouldn't allow meaningless Accessibility limitations. For instance, buying a helpful ability with the limitation "Only on friends" gives no cost break. Buying it with "Only on enemies" would be interesting, though! Likewise, the GM should reject any proposed limitation that is already implicit in the ability. For instance, "Only while flying" is not an acceptable limitation for Enhanced Move (Air).
If an ability only works in a situation that applies an easily calculated percentage of the time (e.g., "Only on a Sunday" is 14% of the time), find the limitation on this table:
"Only on supers" is worth -50% in settings where supers make up much less than 1% of the general population, as in most comics. In worlds where a significant percentage of people have powers, use the table. This limitation doesn't apply to Neutralize, Static, or any other advantage that only affects those who have powers in the first place.
A common limitation on mental-influence abilities is "Only on those who share a language with me." This is worth -10%, and valid only on abilities that already require the user to talk, such as those with Hearing-Based.
Abilities that let the user defy gravity – Clinging, Walk on Air, Walk on Liquid, etc. – often have "Only while moving." If the user stops moving, he falls. This is worth -10% if he must take at least a step per second, -20% if he must travel at half Move, or -30% if he must use his full Move. It's incompatible with All-Out.
Some supernatural abilities require ritual or worship by others to work. To evaluate "Only with assistants," halve the basic point value that Maintenance gives for that number of people and write it as a percentage; e.g., 11-20 people is -25%.
A limitation that prevents an attack from working on targets it couldn't affect anyhow is meaningless, and worth no discount. For instance, "Not on machines" isn't valid for a Fatigue Attack (machines lack FP), and "Only on psis" isn't allowed on Neutralize (Psi).
Finally, limitations such as "Only when using ability X" are forbidden if the limited ability has a Link to X.
| Percentage of Time the Ability Works |
Limitation Value |
|---|---|
| 1-6% | -40% |
| 7-18% | -35% |
| 19-31% | -30% |
| 32-43% | -25% |
| 44-56% | -20% |
| 57-68% | -15% |
| 69-81% | -10% |
| 82-93% | -5% |
| 94-100% | -0% |
All-Out
-25%
Your ability requires an All-Out Attack maneuver; you can't use it with any other maneuver (e.g., Move or Change Posture). You have no active defense while using it. If it would let you move more than a step, you're limited to half your Move in a forward direction. You may attack if the advantage is one that lets you do so, but All-Out isn't just for attack abilities – you can add it to any advantage that requires a maneuver to use (typically Concentrate or Ready), replacing the standard maneuver with All-Out Attack. Explain what you're doing that limits you: deep concentration, spinning in place, etc.
Always On
Variable
You cannot switch your advantage off. You may only add this to an ability that can normally be switched off and that is inconvenient if you can't turn it off. It is worth -10% if the effects are social or cosmetic, -20% if they are physically inconvenient, and -40% if they are dangerous (to you!).
Always On appears as a "special limitation" for most of the traits to which it would apply. The GM can add new costs as appropriate for other abilities.
For Insubstantiality and Obscure, Always On is worth -50%. The GM may permit this level of Always On for other abilities. To qualify, the ability must be at least as crippling as Insubstantiality (user can't interact with the physical world) or Obscure (user is deprived of a sense and can’t use stealth). A weaker version of Always On makes sense for many abilities:
Usually On: Any advantage that can be Always On can instead be Usually On. The ability is on almost all the time – but the user can switch it off briefly by expending 1 FP per second. If Always On is no worse than -20%, Usually On is worth half as much; if it's a larger limitation, add a +10% enhancement to find the value of Usually On.
Armor Divisor
Variable
Your attack can pierce less armor than its base damage would indicate. "Divisor" is the factor by which you divide. "DR Multiplier" is an equivalent calculation – multiply your opponent's DR by this number.
| Divisor | DR | Multiplier Modifier |
|---|---|---|
| (0.5) | 2 | -30% |
| (0.2) | 5 | -50% |
| (0.1) | 10 | -70% |
In addition, if you have any level of this limitation, targets that have DR 0 (e.g., bare flesh) get DR 1 against your attack.
Only Innate Attacks and Afflictions can have this limitation. Armor Divisor is a "penetration modifier"; you cannot combine it with other penetration modifiers, such as Contact Agent and Follow-Up.
Backlash
See Nuisance Effect.
Blockable
(*Not marked as an attack mod in Powers book)
-5% or -10%
Ranged attack abilities (Affliction, Binding, Innate Attack, advantages with the Ranged enhancement, etc.) normally work like firearms when it comes to the target's legal active defenses: the victim can only dodge. Abilities that affect an area – including anything with Area Effect, Cone, or Explosion – only allow an attempt to dive for cover, whether or not they're ranged. If either kind of attack produces an effect that the target could try to block with a shield, it has a -5% limitation – or -10%, if he could also attempt to parry.
Use this limitation to simulate slow-moving projectiles (like nets or Missile spells), summoned swarms of biting creatures, and so on. To block an attack with Blockable and Overhead – like a rain of stones – the defender must hold his shield over his head.
Aspected
-20%
Your ability works only when pursuing a specific class of related tasks or activities (e.g., athletics, combat, investigation, or social interaction), or in a specific area of daily life (e.g., job, personal health, or romance). The GM has the final say, and can make the categories as broad or as narrow as he wishes.
Aspected is meant for Intuition, Serendipity, and advantages that directly alter your odds of success at tasks (Luck, Super Luck, Visualization, etc.). The GM may allow it on other traits. Certain "aspects" aren't useful even on normally permitted abilities, though; for instance, Visualization is so slow that Aspected, Combat would make it worthless.
Blood Agent
-40%
Your attack must reach a mucous membrane (eyes, open mouth, nose, etc.) or an open wound to have any effect at all. DR always stops it. This limitation is intended for Afflictions, and for Innate Attacks that inflict fatigue or toxic damage. It is especially appropriate for poisonous spit or spray. In conjunction with Aura, it can also represent an attack that is delivered via intimate physical contact.
Exception: If the attack also has Area Effect or Cone, Blood Agent works as described above and also when inhaled (like Respiratory Agent). This lets it ignore all DR. Only targets with the Sealed advantage – or with one of Doesn't Breathe or Filter Lungs and one of Nictitating Membrane or Protected Vision – are immune. This powerful ability converts Blood Agent into a +100% enhancement when combined with Area Effect or Cone!
This is a "penetration modifier"; you cannot combine it with other penetration modifiers, such as Follow-Up.
When an attack that normally ignores DR (like Leech) depends on a natural weapon – such as Claws or Teeth – penetrating the victim's DR, apply the Blood Agent limitation. Don't use [[Follow-Up]; that's intended for attacks that can’t normally ignore DR.
Blood Agent is also a legitimate limitation for attacks that require the attacker to bleed on his victim. When Blood Agent works "in reverse" like this, the attacker must suffer at least 1 HP of injury from a cutting, impaling, or piercing attack, and then ensure that his blood reaches his target. This is automatic with Aura but otherwise requires the usual attack roll. The GM may rule that such attacks simply don't work underwater or in other environments where blood would be diluted or washed away. The target's DR works normally. This variant is worth -40%.
Bombardment
Variable
You may only take this limitation in conjunction with Area Effect or Cone. The attack does not automatically hit everyone in the area. Instead, it attacks each potential target in the area at an effective skill, which sets the value of the limitation.
| Effective Skill | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 14 | -5% |
| 12 | -10% |
| 10 | -15% |
| 8 | -20% |
Modify effective skill for target size only – not for range or for any other factor. Determine hit location randomly. If the target is under cover, the cover protects normally against the damage.
This limitation is intended for attacks like electrical or ice storms, which could affect some but not all individuals within a given area.
Bombardment is a legitimate limitation for Area Effect and Cone attacks that conjure something that attacks everyone in the area instead of truly "bombarding" it. The classic example is a swarm of biting pests. In this case, the "effective skill" of the attack is the skill of whatever the attack summons. Such attacks often have Blockable.
Contact Agent
-30%
Your attack must touch bare skin or porous clothing to have any effect at all. DR always stops it. This enhancement is intended for Afflictions, and for Innate Attacks that inflict fatigue or toxic damage. Taken with [Aura]] it can represent a "contagious" attack that spreads via skin contact.
Exception: If the attack also has Area Effect or Cone, Contact Agent lets it ignore all DR. Only targets with the Sealed advantage are immune. This powerful ability converts Contact Agent into a +150% enhancement when combined with Area Effect or Cone! This is a “penetration modifier”; you cannot combine it with other penetration modifiers, such as Follow-Up.
Costs Fatigue
Variable
Your ability costs FP to use. This is worth -5% per FP per use. What constitutes a "use" depends on the underlying trait.
For abilities that produce instantaneous effects (e.g., Innate Attack), you must pay this FP cost every time you trigger the ability.
For advantages that produce continuing effects (e.g., Flight), you must pay this FP cost to activate the ability for one minute. However, once you have paid this initial cost, you need only pay half as many FP (round up) per minute to keep the ability active. If an advantage that produces continuing effects only lasts one second, and you must pay the cost to maintain it every second, this doubles the value of the limitation to -10% per FP.
Those adding Costs Fatigue to an Innate Attack that has the Variable enhancement may, if the GM permits, specify that the FP cost is proportional to the dice of damage used. To find the size of the limitation:
- Set the FP cost to use the ability at full effect.
- Divide this maximum FP cost by the attack's maximum dice of damage to find the FP cost per die.
- Multiply cost per die by "average" damage dice – (1 + maximum dice)/2 – to find average FP cost.
- Drop all fractions.
The result is the number of levels of Cost Fatigue to take.
- Example: Laser Lad has Burning Attack 10d with Variable and Costs Fatigue. His FP cost at full effect is 20. His attack requires
20/10 = 2 FP per die. "Average" damage dice are(1 + 10)/2 = 5.5d, so average FP cost is 2 × 5.5 = 11 FP. He takes Costs Fatigue 11, for -55%. When he attacks, he pays 2 FP for 1d, 4 FP for 2d, and so on, to a maximum of 20 FP for 10d.
Use the same method to add a variable FP cost to non-attack abilities that come in levels; just substitute levels of effect for dice. Abilities other than attacks don't need the Variable enhancement to use this option.
In campaigns with powers, the GM may require Costs Fatigue on all but completely passive abilities, forcing the heroes to think strategically rather than hurl their powers at every problem. This is especially appropriate if powers are supposed to be mysterious. It can also help balance powers against spells and cinematic martial arts skills.
Damage Limitations
Variable
You may add the following limitations to an Innate Attack:
No Blunt Trauma (nbt)
-20%
An attack that inflicts crushing, cutting, impaling, or piercing damage normally inflicts blunt trauma. Add this limitation if it does not.
No Knockback (nkb)
-10%
An attack that inflicts crushing or cutting damage normally inflicts knockback. Add this limitation if it does not.
No Wounding (nw)
-50%
The attack inflicts basic damage, and may cause knockback and blunt trauma, but its penetrating damage has no wounding effect (HP or FP loss). Apply this limitation to a crushing attack to represent effects such as a mighty gust of wind or jet of water. Use it with impaling, piercing, or cutting attacks that are carriers for Afflictions or Innate Attacks (usually those that inflict fatigue or toxic dam- age) with the Follow-Up modifier; this represents small poison darts, stings, etc. that can slip through armor without inflicting grievous wounds.
Dissipation
-50%
You may only take this limitation in conjunction with Area Effect or Cone. The further the victim is from the center of the area or the apex of the cone, the less effective your attack is. See Area and Spreading Attacks for details.
Emanation
-20%
You may only take this limitation in conjunction with Area Effect. It means the effect has no range or Accuracy, but radiates from your body (without affecting you, if the effect is a bad one). This is incompatible with Melee Attack and ranged attack modifiers.
Emergencies Only
-30%
Your ability is triggered by your fear or excitement; you cannot use it under "routine" conditions. The GM is the final arbiter. He may rule that multiple successive failures of your power make you angry enough that it begins to work, but this is entirely up to him.
Full Power in Emergencies Only: If your ability works at half power under normal conditions, but at full power under stress, this limitation is not worth as much. For traits that come in levels, "half power" means half as many levels. The GM must decide what this means for other traits (half range, duration, bonuses, etc.). -20%.
You might later gain more control over your ability and buy off this limitation, if GM allows.
Extra Recoil
-10% per +1 Recoil
By default, a ranged attack has Recoil 1, making it virtually recoilless. You may give an attack with Rapid Fire a higher Recoil (Rcl) as a limitation.
| Recoil (Rcl) | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 2 | -10% |
| 3 | -20% |
| 4 | -30% |
| 5+ | -40% |
Inaccurate
-5%/level
Your attack benefits little from careful aiming. Most attacks start with [[Accuracy[[ (Acc) 3. Each -1 to Acc is a -5% limitation. You may not reduce Acc below 0.
Limited Use
Variable
You can use your ability only a limited number of times in a 24-hour period. For most advantages, each "use" is 1 minute of activation. For an attack, each "use" gives shots equal to your RoF, with a minimum one shot per use; for instance, three uses of an attack with RoF 2 would give six shots. The value depends on the number of uses you get.
| Uses Per Day | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 1 | -40% |
| 2 | -30% |
| 3-4 | -20% |
| 5-10 | -10% |
More than 10 uses per day is not a significant limitation.
Two special options are available for attacks (and optionally, other abilities) that have this enhancement:
Fast Reload: You can replace all your uses in 3 to 5 seconds simply by replenishing ammunition. The GM determines the weight and cost of the ammunition. This halves the value of the limitation; e.g., three or four uses would be worth only -10%.
Slow Reload: As above, except if you have two or more shots (not uses!) you must reload each shot individually (taking 3 or more seconds per shot). If you have only one shot, it must take at least 6 seconds to reload – possibly longer, if using this limitation to represent a very slow-firing weapon such as a flintlock. This makes the limitation worth 5% less than usual; e.g., three or four uses would be worth only -15%.
Melee Attack
Variable
Your attack functions as a melee weapon. It has no range, but allows you to parry, use Rapid Strike, Feint, etc. It lacks Malf., 1/2D, Max, Acc, RoF, Shots, and Recoil statistics, and may not have any enhancement or limitation that modifies these statistics. Instead, it has a Reach statistic.
| Reach | Modifier |
|---|---|
| C | -30% |
| 1 or 2 | -25% |
| C, 1, or 1, 2, or 2, 3 | -20% |
| 1-4 (like a whip) | -15% |
If your attack cannot parry, it is worth an extra -5%.
Mitigator
Variable
You may only apply this limitation to a disadvantage. A particular item or substance – the mitigator – temporarily negates your disadvantage. The more effective the mitigator, the fewer points you get for the disadvantage.
Use the following guidelines:
- Mitigator is vulnerable, and easily stolen, broken, or misplaced (e.g., a pair of glasses). -60%.
- Mitigator is a drug or other treatment that you must take daily. -60%.
- Mitigator is a weekly treatment. -65%.
- Mitigator is a monthly treatment. -70%.
This assumes your treatments are available at pharmacies. If you require a special (and possibly expensive) prescription, add +5% to the values above; e.g., -70% becomes -65%. If you can only get your treatments from one specific source, such as an experimental drug program, add +10%; e.g., -70% becomes -60%.
Example 1: Bad Sight is worth -25 points. Glasses cure Bad Sight while worn, but are breakable, for a -60% Mitigator limitation. This reduces Bad Sight to -10 points.
Example 2: Jan has AIDS, and would die in a month without treatment. This level of Terminally Ill is normally worth -100 points. Fortunately, Jan is on an experimental drug plan that is holding him in remission. The treatments are weekly (-65%) but impossible to find outside his program (+10%), for a -55% Mitigator limitation. This reduces Terminally Ill to -45 points. As long as Jan stays with the program, his countdown to death is halted. (NOTE: Author confuses HIV medication and AIDS.)
Nuisance Effect
Variable
Your ability has a "side effect" that causes you serious inconvenience. The GM must approve this limitation and determine its value in each case, and should ruthlessly forbid effects that are abusive or that do not genuinely limit the ability's value. A few guidelines (a given trait can have more than one of these drawbacks):
- Your ability earns a reaction penalty from those around you. Perhaps it makes you look disgusting, or requires you to perform some sort of distressing ritual. -5% per -1 to reactions (maximum -4).
- Your ability makes you obvious, limiting stealth and attracting enemies. -5%.
- Your ability physically inconveniences you – it attracts stinging insects, causes your armor to rust, makes you ravenously hungry, etc. -5%.
You cannot take a valuable power as a Nuisance Effect. For instance, "Kills everyone within a mile" is not an acceptable Nuisance Effect!
Neither can you claim a limitation for a harmless nuisance. If your Terror advantage attracts gerbils instead of frightening them, this is amusing but not a limitation.
Onset
Variable
You must “stack” this limitation with one of Blood Agent, Contact Agent]], Follow-Up, Malediction, or Respiratory Agent. It delays the damage or affliction caused by the attack until some time after exposure. The delay determines the value of the limitation.
| Delay | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | -10% |
| 1 hour | -20% |
| 1 day | -30% |
| 1 week (or more) | -40% |
Delays that fall between two values use the smaller limitation; e.g., 30 minutes is -10%. If you can control the onset time, take Delay instead.
A variant limitation is Exposure Time, which is only available for attacks with Aura or Persistent. Use it to represent radioactivity, mildly toxic gases, etc. It works just like Onset, except that the victim must be exposed for the entire period to suffer the effect (or repeat it, if you continue exposure). This is worth an extra -20%; e.g., 1 minute is -30%.
Pact
Variable
A Higher Power – god, spirit, etc. – grants your ability under the condition that you follow a strict moral code. This code must take the form of one or more of the traits listed under Self-Imposed Mental Disadvantages. These disadvantages give you the usual number of points. Should you ever stray from the path, your ability immediately ceases to function until you repent. The limitation value is numerically equivalent to the point cost of the required disadvantages; e.g., a -10-point Vow gives a -10% Pact limitation.
Preparation Required
Variable
Your ability requires special preparation before you can use it. Perhaps you have to meditate first, or perform some ritual to focus concentration. This limitation is particularly appropriate for supernatural traits such as Channeling and Medium.
You cannot use an unprepared ability. To prepare, take the Concentrate maneuver for the required amount of time. You need not specify how you plan to use your ability while you are preparing it, but you must specify which ability you are preparing if you have more than one trait with this limitation.
You can use a prepared ability normally – either immediately or at a later time. However, you can only have one advantage with this limitation prepared at a time, and it becomes unprepared immediately after use, regardless of success or failure (but if your ability has continuing effects, you can maintain them once activated).
The value of this limitation depends on the time required to prepare the ability.
| Preparation Time | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | -20% |
| 10 minutes | -30% |
| 1 hour | -50% |
| 8 hours | -60% |
Weakened Without Preparation: Your ability works if you do not prepare it beforehand, but at half duration, range, effect, etc. This does not make sense for all advantages (GM's decision as to when it does). Weakened Without Preparation is worth exactly half as much as listed above.
Reduced Range
-10%/level
You may add this limitation to any advantage that has a range; e.g., Innate Attack or Scanning Sense. It comes in three levels, depending on the range divisor
| Range Divisor | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 2 | -10% |
| 5 | -20% |
| 10 | -30% |
If applied to a ranged attack that has a 1/2D range, each level reduces both 1/2D and Max. You may reduce 1/2D only at half value (that is, "Reduced 1/2D" is -5%/level). You may not reduce Max independently.
Resistible
Variable
This limitation is only available for Innate Attacks that inflict fatigue or toxic damage. You must combine it with one of Blood Agent, Contact Agent, [[Follow-Up, Respiratory Agent, or Sense-Based. It represents poison, disease, or a similar effect that a sufficiently healthy victim can resist or "shrug off".
The victim gets a HT roll to avoid the effect. A resistance roll against HT-5 is worth -5%. Each +1 to the roll is a worth another -5% (e.g., HT-4 is -10%, and HT+4 is -50%).
If the attack is also Cyclic, the victim rolls before each cycle (including the first). Success means the attack ends without further injury; failure means the target takes damage normally and the attack continues.
Sense-Based
Variable
On an attack with Malediction or an ability that normally ignores DR (e.g., Mind Control), this is a limitation. See the Sense-Based enhancement for details.
If you have to touch victim's bare skin with your bare skin, this is also a limitation. See Contact Agent.
Takes Extra Time
-10%/level
You can only apply this limitation to abilities that require time to activate and that work fast enough to be useful in an emergency (e.g., combat). This is up to the GM, who is free to restrict this limitation to advantages that take only 1 or 2 seconds to activate.
For abilities that require a Ready or Concentrate maneuver, each level of Takes Extra Time doubles the time required. Activation occurs at the end of this time. For instance, Takes Extra Time 1 on an advantage that usually requires a one-second Ready maneuver would increase the Ready time to 2 seconds.
For attacks, the first level of Takes Extra Time results in a one-second Ready maneuver before you can make your Attack maneuver. Successive levels double the Ready time.
Takes Recharge
Variable
Your ability requires "recharging" after each use. It is unavailable during the recharge period. Value depends on the time between uses: five seconds (or twice the time required to use the ability, if longer) is -10%, 15 seconds (or 5 times the time required to use the ability, if longer) is -20%, and one hour (or 10 times the time required to use the ability, if longer) is -30%. Longer recharge times are not valid as limitations (but see Limited Use).
Telepathic
-10%
The ability is a psi ability within the Telepathy power. Anything that blocks Telepathy will block it – in particular Mind Shield – but it can benefit from Telepathy Talent.
Temporary Disadvantage
Variable
You may add this limitation to any advantage that can be switched off and on at will, and that takes at least one second to switch. When you switch on the advantage, you suffer one or more disadvantages until you switch it off again. This limitation is worth -1% per point the temporary disadvantages are worth, to a maximum of -80%.
- Example: You can use your feet as hands, but can't walk while doing so. This is Extra Arms 2 (20 points) with Temporary Disadvantage: Legless (-30%), for 14 points.
The point break due to Temporary Disadvantage cannot exceed 80% of the value of the original disadvantage.
- Example: You have Altered Time Rate 1 (100 points) with Temporary Disadvantage: Hemophilia (-30%) – you bleed faster, too! Since Hemophilia is worth -30 points normally, the most it can be worth as a Nuisance Effect is -24 points; therefore, it reduces the cost of Altered Time Rate by 24 points (to 76 points) and not by 30 points (to 70 points).
You may only take Temporary Disadvantages that could logically inconvenience you for the period of time the advantage is normally on. In the case of mental disadvantages (Berserk, Lecherousness, etc.), if a failed self-control roll indicates that you give in to the disadvantage, you will suffer the disadvantage's effects until the GM rules you have regained your composure – which might be long after you deactivate the advantage with this limitation!
You can also use this limitation to remove an advantage temporarily. This is worth -1% per point the negated advantage is worth, and the point break cannot exceed 80% of the deactivated advantage's cost. Only one of the involved advantages can take this limitation – you cannot take two advantages, both with this limitation, each of which negates the other when used.
Trigger
Variable
Your advantage requires exposure to a specific substance or condition (e.g., a dose of a drug) to function. One dose or exposure is required per one-minute "use." Cost depends on the rarity of the Trigger:
- Very Common (available almost anywhere): -10%.
- Common (expensive, somewhat hard to find): -20%.
- Occasional (very expensive and hard to find): -30%. (Or inconvenient, such as radiation in Fallout world.)
- Rare (cannot be bought; must be found or made): -40%.
See Resistant for a list.
Multiply the limitation value by 1.5 if the Trigger is illegal, addictive, or otherwise dangerous.
Unconscious Only
-20%
You may only take this limitation in conjunction with Uncontrollable (below). You cannot consciously activate your ability at all; it can only come into play under GM control, as a result of stress. Like Uncontrollable, you may buy this off later on, as you gain control over your ability.
Uncontrollable
-10% or -30%
Your ability tends to manifest itself at undesirable or inappropriate times. Whenever the GM rules that you are in a stressful situation – including any situation that requires a Fright Check or a self-control roll for a mental disadvantage – you must make a Will roll to keep your ability under control, even if you did not intend to use it! You need only roll once per stressful situation, but a roll of 14+ always fails, regardless of Will.
On a failure, the GM takes over your ability, playing it as though it were an entity of a prankish or hostile nature. The actions of your ability will often reflect your "suppressed desires," as reflected in your quirks and mental disadvantages.
An ability that cannot inflict damage – for instance, Flight or Jumper – will activate unexpectedly. This is inconvenient and embarrassing, but not overly dangerous. After each uncontrolled act, you get another Will roll to control your power. This goes on until you make a Will roll. In this case, Uncontrollable is worth -10%.
A harmful ability goes after obvious foes first, and will never turn on you...but nobody else is safe! After each uncontrolled act (or before an attack on a Dependent or other loved one), you get another Will roll to control your power. This continues until you make a Will roll or destroy everything around you! For destructive powers, Uncontrollable is worth -30%.
You may buy this limitation off later on, as you gain control over your ability.
Unreliable
Variable
Sometimes your ability works and sometimes it doesn't! It just comes and goes, and you’ve never identified why. This is completely separate from any roll normally needed to activate the ability. You can have skill 20 and still have problems making it work!
Every time you want to use the power, you must roll the activation number (see below) or less on 3d. Once you succeed, the ability will work for that particular use. When you cease to use it, you must make another activation roll to start it again.
If you cannot activate your ability on your first attempt, you may try again once per second after that, at no penalty. Each successive attempt costs one FP. If you are reduced to three or fewer FP, you must rest until all FP are regained before you can attempt to use your ability again.
| Activation Number |
Modifier |
|---|---|
| 5 | -80% |
| 8 | -40% |
| 11 | -20% |
| 14 | -10% |
Unreliable works differently when applied to attacks which are also gadgets or built-in firearms. Instead of requiring an activation roll, it gives a Malfunction number worse than 17.
| Malf. | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 12 | -25% |
| 13 | -20% |
| 14 | -15% |
| 15 | -10% |
| 16 | -5% |
Untrainable
-40%
You may only apply this limitation to abilities that normally require a skill to use. You can't learn to control your power well. You learn all skills associated with it as though the relevant attribute were only 8 (or at one less than its usual value, if already at 8 or worse), and your maximum skill level is 10.
Gadget Limitations
The GM may require you to pay points for any “gadget” that grants traits that usually cost points (attribute levels, advantages, etc.). However, he should charge points only for items that even the most advanced technology could not produce (e.g., a ring that bestows Luck) – and even then, only if those items are not for sale at any price in the game world.
In particular, the GM should never charge points for ordinary, manufactured equipment – or even for special equipment, if it is for sale – unless it happens to be Signature Gear. Body armor, a rifle, and night-vision goggles effectively bestow Damage Resistance, Innate Attack, and Infravision, respectively...but since anyone could buy these items, they have a cash cost, not a point cost.
Traits bestowed by items have their usual point cost. You can give them any logical combination of modifiers, plus one or more of the special limitations below.
Breakable
Variable Your foes can destroy the item. Once destroyed, it will cease to grant you its benefits until repaired. Add the following elements together to find the final limitation value.
Durability: The easier the object is to break, the greater the limitation. Decide on the gadget's weight and DR.
| DR | Modifier |
|---|---|
| 2 or less | -20% |
| 3-5 | -15% |
| 6-15 | -10% |
| 16-25 | -5% |
| 26 or higher | 0% |
If the object is a machine that can break down (as opposed to a simple artifact, like a ring or a hat), add another -5%. See Damage to Objects to determine HP and the effects of damage.
Reparability: You can normally repair your gadget if it breaks; the GM chooses the skill(s) needed to make repairs. If you cannot repair it, and it requires inconvenient time, effort, or expense to replace (GM's decision), it is worth an additional -15%.
Size: The item's Size Modifier affects Vision rolls to identify it out of combat and rolls to hit it in combat.
| SM | Modifier |
|---|---|
| -9 or less | 0% |
| -7 or -8 | -5% |
| -5 or -6 | -10% |
| -3 or -4 | -15% |
| -1 or -2 | -20% |
| 0 or more | -25% |
Can Be Stolen
Variable
Your foes can take this item from you, depriving you of its benefits. This is only a limitation if the item is obvi- ously powerful and likely to be the tar- get of theft! The value of the limitation depends on how hard it is to steal:
- Easily snatched with an unopposed DX roll (e.g., a hat): -40%.
- Thief must win a Quick Contest of DX (e.g., a bracelet) or ST (e.g., a wand) with you: -30%.
- Can only by taken by stealth or trickery (e.g., a coin in a pocket): -20%.
- Must be forcefully removed (e.g., a suit of armor): -10%.
Halve the value of the limitation if the gadget will not immediately work for the thief.
Unique
-25%
You may only take this limitation in conjunction with Breakable or Can Be Stolen. Normally, you can replace a broken or stolen gadget – although this might require significant time and effort (GM's decision). If the item is Unique, you cannot replace it! Character points spent for the item are lost for good if it is broken or stolen.