Homebrew Demon Merits

[lladas]

I was trying to figure out a system of allowing Demons to boost their Attributes. I figured letting them "use" their form abilities on a one-for-one basis (which would prevent usage of those abilities, and cap the total bonus).

I have been struggling to figure something like this out since Demon: the Fallen came out. I think what the current game does well is that it does provide a lot of embeds that you can use to consistently improve rolls without paying any aether (Plus, you have legend to fool around with when you want to boost stats). If there were something to boost attributes I would see it more along the lines of a processes rather than a merit...now that I write that it could be interesting to have a merit that allows you to boost attributes through legend if that makes any sense.

[Deionscribe]

I think those are all reasonable suggestions. This whole thread has got me thinking aboout merits that modify the intrinsic capabilities of demons especially their demonic forms. Maybe there could be one that could allow the demon to use more aether per turn in demonic form? Stuff like that.

I am trying to think of something that's based off of mechanics in Leviathan: The Tempest, specifically where a Leviathan can spend up to two points in excess of his Sheol limits at the risk of experiencing an Outburst. Maybe something similar could be made for Unchained?

I was trying to figure out a system of allowing Demons to boost their Attributes. I figured letting them "use" their form abilities on a one-for-one basis (which would prevent usage of those abilities, and cap the total bonus).

Could you elaborate more on this?

[lladas]

DELETED POST

[lladas]

I am trying to think of something that's based off of mechanics in Leviathan: The Tempest, specifically where a Leviathan can spend up to two points in excess of his Sheol limits at the risk of experiencing an Outburst. Maybe something similar could be made for Unchained?

Knowing that system I think I see what you are going for. The merit could work the same for Unchained, but instead of Outburst you could come up with a new condition that would work. Thinking about when in my chronicles I have wanted something like this, combat resoundingly comes to mind which I think could inform the drawback. I don't think a compromise check would make sense. Perhaps the condition would limit the time the Unchained can be in demonic form as they push themself?

[Deionscribe]

Knowing that system I think I see what you are going for. The merit could work the same for Unchained, but instead of Outburst you could come up with a new condition that would work. Thinking about when in my chronicles I have wanted something like this, combat resoundingly comes to mind which I think could inform the drawback. I don't think a compromise check would make sense. Perhaps the condition would limit the time the Unchained can be in demonic form as they push themself?

If we went by existing Conditions, perhaps Aetheric Bleed might work?

P.S: Is it possible for you to delete the buggy version of your most recent reply?

[lladas]

If we went by existing Conditions, perhaps Aetheric Bleed might work?{\

Yeah that you make sense thematically and mechanically.

P.S: Is it possible for you to delete the buggy version of your most recent reply?

I totally would if they hadn't removed the delete button from the edit option.

[Deionscribe]

Figures...

Maybe you could just edit that first one and say "DELETED"?

Also, for a name for that Merit, how does "Overload" sound?

[lladas]

So I went with DELETED and was notified that it has to be ten characters so for future reference "DELETED POST" is ten characters.

That sounds good. Have you thought about what kind of prerequisites if any you would have for the merit? How about dot cost?

[Vent0]

Could you elaborate more on this?

Sure, I was on my phone.

Basically, the idea was to allow a Demon to do a special Partial Transformation, but instead of manifesting the specific Form ability, they instead get a +1 [Attribute]. Since it is still a Partial Transformation, it is still subject to all those limitations (costs Aether, risks Compromise, need to revert to "normal" before additional Transformations, etc.). Since it is "using" the Form ability, you are trading off the option of what it could do for a generic bonus. The Attribute booster abilities are also still competetive/more efficient.

I was mostly trying to decide whether to have it as a straight bonus attribute pool (simpler), or serve as an attribute replacement (meaning you' need to convert X+1 Form abilities, where X is the Attribute in question, to see any real improvement - that would greatly limit the ability to exceed normal Attribute limits).

[Deionscribe]

So I went with DELETED and was notified that it has to be ten characters so for future reference "DELETED POST" is ten characters.

That sounds good. Have you thought about what kind of prerequisites if any you would have for the merit? How about dot cost?

This is what I got so far...

Overdrive (o to ooooo)
Prerequisites: Resolve 3 or Composure 3
Effect: You have learned to vent out more power than is normally possible within the limits of your Aetheric Soul. While this comes with certain dangers, it nonetheless grants you a trump card against many of the God-Machine's agents. For each dot in this Merit, you can spend one point of Aether in a turn above the maximum imposed by your Primum.

Drawback: Each time you use Overdrive, you must roll Resolve + Composure at a penalty equal to the number of Aether spent beyond your normal limits. On a failure, you gain the Aetheric Bleed Condition, and must make a Glitch roll with a dice bonus equal to the excess Aether.

Sure, I was on my phone.

Basically, the idea was to allow a Demon to do a special Partial Transformation, but instead of manifesting the specific Form ability, they instead get a +1 [Attribute]. Since it is still a Partial Transformation, it is still subject to all those limitations (costs Aether, risks Compromise, need to revert to "normal" before additional Transformations, etc.). Since it is "using" the Form ability, you are trading off the option of what it could do for a generic bonus. The Attribute booster abilities are also still competetive/more efficient.

I was mostly trying to decide whether to have it as a straight bonus attribute pool (simpler), or serve as an attribute replacement (meaning you' need to convert X+1 Form abilities, where X is the Attribute in question, to see any real improvement - that would greatly limit the ability to exceed normal Attribute limits).

Hmm.

This seems to be a bit too convoluted for my taste. I'd personally still prefer the Inhuman Attribute Modifications.

[lladas]

This is what I got so far...

Overdrive (o to ooooo)
Prerequisites: Resolve 3 or Composure 3
Effect: You have learned to vent out more power than is normally possible within the limits of your Aetheric Soul. While this comes with certain dangers, it nonetheless grants you a trump card against many of the God-Machine's agents. For each dot in this Merit, you can spend one point of Aether in a turn above the maximum imposed by your Primum.

Drawback: Each time you use Overdrive, you must roll Resolve + Composure at a penalty equal to the number of Aether spent beyond your normal limits. On a failure, you gain the Aetheric Bleed Condition, and must make a Glitch roll with a dice bonus equal to the excess Aether.

I definitely like it and can see where some of my more aether hungry players would like this in our current chronicle. My only concern would be in players building around this to circumnavigate the drawback and using this every combat, but that is only something that comes with testing.I suppose.

[Deionscribe]

I definitely like it and can see where some of my more aether hungry players would like this in our current chronicle. My only concern would be in players building around this to circumnavigate the drawback and using this every combat, but that is only something that comes with testing.I suppose.

If ever, you could raise the Attribute requirement for the Merit so that it could be something that isn't lightly invested, but nonetheless can be rewarding if built right.

Alternatively, you could up the drawback by including lethal damage,

[Vent0]

If ever, you could raise the Attribute requirement for the Merit so that it could be something that isn't lightly invested, but nonetheless can be rewarding if built right.

Alternatively, you could up the drawback by including lethal damage,

Or applying a penalty against the drawback roll for each time it is used (1st time's free, then -1, etc.). Still useful, but makes it harder to abuse throughout the scene.

[Deionscribe]

Or applying a penalty against the drawback roll for each time it is used (1st time's free, then -1, etc.). Still useful, but makes it harder to abuse throughout the scene.

That actually can work. It shows that the more (and longer) you force yourself beyond your limits, the more prone you are to disaster.

To expand on this, once the penalty reaches -5, all failures should be treated as dramatic failures in subsequent uses. And the dramatic failure can take the form of lethal (or even aggravated) damage.

[lladas]

That actually can work. It shows that the more (and longer) you force yourself beyond your limits, the more prone you are to disaster.

To expand on this, once the penalty reaches -5, all failures should be treated as dramatic failures in subsequent uses. And the dramatic failure can take the form of lethal (or even aggravated) damage.

This could definitely work and would be thematically interesting. Would you still keep the drawback for the multiple points in the merit? Otherwise, there wouldn't really be a reason to not get the higher one.