Gold Reward Hero: Mystic Painter

[Supercape]

I would appreciate any comments - fluff or mechanics, on my upcoming Gold reward character (may just be end of this month).

Been itching for a mystic character to get involved in these threads.

The character is venerable, and may well be more of a social character than bish bash bosh - he dosen't meet defensive caps, although he is no pushover.

Players Name: Supercape

Characters Name: Rene de Saens

Power Level: 8 (120/120PP)

Trade-Offs: None

Unspent PP: 0

Gold Status: 0/30

In Brief: Mystic painter. Aged French Antiquarian.

Alternate Identities: None

Identity: Public

Birthplace: Paris

Occupation: Artist, art dealer. Mage.

Affiliations: None

Family: None alive!

Age: 243 (DoB: 7th July, 1977)

Apparent Age: 70

Gender: Male

Ethnicity: French Caucasian

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 70 Kgs

Eyes: Brown

Hair: White

Description: Slightly stooped with age, but not bent over, and has some wiry robust health. Has a white goatee and hair, wears a beret, glasses, and bohemian artist clothes.

Power Descriptions: Mystic

History: As a young man, fought in the french revolution and ended up helping Broken Crow, master mage of the time, track down and destroy an aristocratic necromancer. Broken Crow was impressed with the man's bravery and aptitude, and pointed him down the path of the mage.

Personality & Motivation: Irritable classic "artiste". Also, sworn to defend earth from mystic threats.

Powers & Tactics: Not a physical fighter, uses deception and sows confusion. And powerful mystic blasts!

Note: He dosen't recant spells to use mystic powers, as they are actually more related to his mystic mind "painting" the magic into reality. Hence, his basic spells appear as wisps (quite visible, except for Morpheus Grasp which is only perceivable by mystic senses or psychic characters) of lightning, fire, shadow, whatever emitting from the ground, sky, walls etc. and floating towards target (indirect 3, homing 1)

Complications:

Creaky bones has a variety of old age complaints, a bit hard of hearing, needs reading spectacles, joints hurt in the winter, and so forth.

Hazy Memory Tendency to forget important things.

Anything for Art Aside from a passion for objects d'art, he can use sub-optimal tactics purely because they would be more "artistic".

Give me liberty! Passionate - too passionate, about life, liberty, and politics.

Abilities: -2 + -4 + 0 + 2 + 20 + 4 = 20pp

Str 8 (-1)

Dex 6 (-2)

Con 10 (+0)

Int 12 (+1)

Wis 30 (+10)

Cha 14 (+2)

Combat: 8 + 4 = 12pp

Initiative: +2 (-2 Dex, +4 Improved Initiative)

Attack: +4

Grapple: +0

Defense: +2 (+2 Base), +1 Flat-Footed

Knockback: -0

Saving Throws: 0 + 2 + 0 = 0pp

Toughness: +8/0 (+0 Con, +8 [Amulet of Protection])

Fortitude: +7/0 (+0 Con, +7 [Amulet of Protection])

Reflex: +0 (-2 Dex, +2)

Will: +10 (+10 Wis, +0)

Skills: 56r = 14pp

Craft (Artistic) 13 (+14)

Diplomacy 9 (+11)

Knowledge (Arcane Lore) 13 (+14)

Knowledge (Art) 4 (+5)

Knowledge (History) 4 (+5)

Languages 13 (Arabic, Atlantean, Egyptian, English, French [Native], German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Summerian)

Feats: 7PP

Artificer

Beginner's Luck (representing suddenly remembering being taught that skill many years ago, but damn, his memory is bad...)

Benefit 2 (Wealth 2)

Connected

Improved Initiative 1

Ritualist

Powers: 1 + 7 + 30 + 5 + 7 +12 + 3 = 65PP

Immunity (Aging, Disease; mystic; Flaws: Limited [half effect]) [1pp]

Luck Control (Favoured of the fates; Force a Reroll; mystic; Power Feats: Luck 4)) [7pp]

Magic Array (mystic; 27 pp Power Feats: Alternate Power 3) [30pp]

• Base Effect: Mystic Blast 8 (mystic; Power Feats: Accurate 2, Affects Insubstantial 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [any mystic], Homing 1, Incurable, Indirect 3) [27pp]
  Alternate Effect: Fatigue 8 (Morpheus' Grasp, mystic, mental; Extras: alternate save (will), range, sleep (+0), mental (+0); Flaws: Action (full round); Power Feats: Accurate 2, Insidious, Homing 1, Indirect 3, Reversible, Sedation, Subtle) [26pp]
  Alternate Effect: Snare 8 (mystic; Extras: transparent; Flaws: action (full round); Power Feats: Accurate 2, Affects Insubstantial 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [any mystic], Homing 1, Indirect 3, Reversible) [27pp]
  Alternate Effect: Stun 8 (mystic; Extras: Range; Flaws: action (full); Power Feats: Accurate 2, Affects Insubstantial 2, Variable Descriptor 2 [any mystic], Homing 1, Indirect 3, Reversible) [27pp]

ESP 2 (Mental Senses, 100 feet; Mystic; Power Feats: Dimensional 2 (mystic dimensions), subtle) [5pp]

Super Senses 7 (Mind's eye; Mystic; Mental sense ["see's" surroundings as if they where an impressionist painting], Accurate, Acute, Ranged, Danger Sense [Mental], Awareness [mystic]) [7pp]

Device 3 (Amulet of Protection; Mystic; Hard to Lose; 15 PP) [12 PP]

• Enhanced Trait 7 (Fortitude +7; mystic) [7dp]
  Protection 8 [8dp]

Device 1 (Mystic Paintbrush; Mystic; easy to loose; Power Feat: Restricted [Craft (Art) Skill of 10+ Needed Drawback: Cannot use if unable to gesture as if painting 5dp) [3pp]

• Enhanced Trait-5 (5 Alternate Powers for Magic Array; mystic) [5dp]
  
  Alternate Effect: Illusion 8 (visual senses, mystic; Extras: Duration (continuous); Flaws: Action (full round); Unreliable (50% failure chance); Power Feats: Progression, Area 11 (4.7 Miles) [27pp]
  
  Alternate Effect: Teleport 8 (2000 miles long range, mystic; Extras: Accurate, Attack (+self) [reflex], Range (perception); Flaws: Long Range, Limited [Requires a picture of target area to paint onto], Unreliable (50% failure chance); Power Feats: Change Direction, Change Velocity, Progression Mass 1 [Carry 250 lbs]) [27pp]
  
  Alternate Effect: Dimensional Pocket 8 (mystic; Extras: alternate save [will], range (perception); Flaws: Unreliable (50% failure chance), Action (full) PF Custom 2 (Can see into pocket via the picture, Can split total mass over separate pockets/pictures), Reversible, Progression 1,[x2 total mass]: Drawbacks: Power loss [requires some surface to paint onto])) [27pp]
  
  Alternate Effect: Animate Object 6 (Animates Pictures 90 PP worth; mystic; Extras: range (perception), duration (continuous), horde; Flaws: Full Action Required, Unreliable (50% failure chance)Power Feats: Progression 3 [10 Objects]) [27pp]
  
  Alternate Effect: Obscure 8 (Visual senses; mystic; Extras: Duration (continuous), Range (perception); Flaws: Action (full round); Unreliable (50% failure chance)Power Feats: Variable Descriptor 2 (Can Paint any colour or environmental effect, mystic descriptor) Dimensional 2 [any mystic], Progression Area 7 [up to x250 area = 47 mile radius]) [27pp]

DC Block:

ATTACK      RANGE     SAVE                        EFFECT

Unarmed     Touch     DC15 Toughness (Staged)     Damage

Abilities (0) + Combat (0) + Saving Throws (0) + Skills (0) + Feats (0) + Powers (0) - Drawbacks (0) = 0pp

[Raveled]

What's the rank for those powers?

What exactly is "Morpheus' Grasp"? It looks like a Stun with the Sleep Extra.

What exactly does the Limited on the Immunity mean? Is it only half the effect?

I don't see any S-Senses. No Detect Magic or Magic Awareness?

What exactly is the 'Innocuous' Feat? Is it Subtle?

Skills could use some reworking. Exotic saves are well below par. Where is the "Amulet of Protection" listed in his Toughness and Fortitude line?

[Supercape]

Still working on it, will get back to you imminently!

[Supercape]

Right, done!

Aside from all comments on build, mechanics, fluff and ideas, particular help needed with:

Dimensional Pocket:

This power is about painting a subject onto a canvas (or other appropriate surface), and potentially trapping it there. Could also be used to store objects of course, painting them in and out of the picture. Its a complex but I thing fun power.

I wasn't quite sure how to build it. Ideas? I would quite like to be able to see what the subject is doing in the painting - would this be a custom feat? Note that the subject wouldn't actually be subject to "attacks" or environmental conditions in the painting (dimensional pocket).

One problem here is that whilst net "Carrying" capacity is fixed, hypothetically it could be split over several paintings. I am not sure how to build this, and indeed if it offers any significant advantage. Perhaps a custom feat? or an extra?

It would have the Check required (Art craft) feat, like all magic paintbrush skills. Would it qualify for a limited flaw (needs canvas / picture to paint subject "into").

Next complex power is Teleport: The idea is similar, that the paintbrush allows one to paint oneself into a picture - so If you have a picture (or even large enough photo of) the Taj Mahal, one could paint oneself there. This looked like a limited flaw to me (would need the picture, and of course it could be taken away). In addition, it could potentially paint a target onto the picture, as an attack, bringing someone with the painter (not that I could see Rene using it much, in fact - more probably as transporting someone with him by them choosing to fail reflex save).

Other notes, some of them brought up by Rav:

Under defence caps: deliberate and intentional.

Limited immunity to aging: he is still growing old, but does so at a reduced age - hence, has a body of a sprightly 60-70 year old man, but is in fact four or five times older.

Supersenses: added. The concept here is that he can see "in his mind's eye" how things are, like an impressionist painter.

Skills reworking - not sure I understand this, care to elaborate?

Exotic saves are indeed below par, as are defensive caps. Will is of course pretty high. I have deliberately got low reflex and defensive values as a man of his age is not going to be leaping around. I emphasise this is quite deliberate and he will likely remain low or even under caps. Think Prof X without the wheelchair.

[Supercape]

New point:

I gather the flaw Check Required don't fly, for quite understandable reasons. I confess this is something I was very attatched too!

I wonder, in this case, if it was accepted the DC of the check was power level +5, it would amount to a 45% failure chance - presumably close enough to 50% to warrant a flaw?

I couldn't lower the chance any more as Craft (Art) is at PL caps. I could potentially cheese it by raising INT (damn expensive, but still), but I wouldn't.

I do appreciate this is a pain, but I don't really want to do the basic 50% unreliable flaw as it dosen't capture the essence of the magic brush. If Rene gets his INT or skills drained, it would render him stuffed for painting powers (for instance). Or if it ends up in the hands of another mystic, there artistic skill becomes paramount.

Any suggestions.

[Raveled]

Skills reworking - not sure I understand this, care to elaborate?

Everyone should be using Shaen's Skill Write-Up.

[angrydurf]

Check required is an iffy flaw as its far to easy to make it trivial to pass the check and render the ability effectively not flawed but still get the points. Probably better to use it as a drawback along the lines of the standard (must be able to speak and gesture)

[Supercape]

Check required is an iffy flaw as its far to easy to make it trivial to pass the check and render the ability effectively not flawed but still get the points. Probably better to use it as a drawback along the lines of the standard (must be able to speak and gesture)

That's not a half bad idea, although it would mean rethinking a lot of the PPs for mystic paintbrush.

I am toying with replacing it with Unreliable, a straight 50% flaw, or 5 uses only (only so much magic ink) to replace.

It would mean adding 1 PP to the paintbrush for requiring Craft (Art) +10 or more to use (for instance), or, if one is feeling like adding more detail, maximum PP of the brush limited to Craft (Art) skill. Which I find a pain :x

[angrydurf]

Yea restricted to a flat X ranks of Craft Artistic is probably better

[Supercape]

How would the brush be built then?

Device 1 (Easy to loose; PF: Restricted (Power Rank limited to ranks of Craft (Art) Skill)

Would I apply the drawback (needs to paint/gesture) to the device (lord that would be nice), or the individual powers? I am slightly inclined to the latter, as for instance the dimensional pocket power may end up having a flaw like needs a canvas to paint onto. However, the magic paintbrush powers come under PP already, and I would rather it apply to the device as a whole (saving me shaving off a PP from somewhere else!)

Would still appreciate any advice or look at the dimensional portal power (painting stuff onto and off a picture), and to a lesser degree the teleport power. The first one feels difficult to build.

[angrydurf]

Device 1 (Easy to loose; PF: Restricted (Must have Craft (Artistic) X)

Where X is whatever you want them to have to have to use it.

I'd apply the (must be able to Paint/gesture) to the device as a whole as all the powers in it will require that. The individual powers, like the dimensional pocket, can have additional drawbacks within the array.

[Supercape]

Cheers durf, sounds good.

[Dr Archeville]

Device 1 (Easy to loose; PF: Restricted (Must have Craft (Artistic) X)

Where X is whatever you want them to have to have to use it.

I'd apply the (must be able to Paint/gesture) to the device as a whole as all the powers in it will require that. The individual powers, like the dimensional pocket, can have additional drawbacks within the array.

I've had Restricted (Must have Knowledge [Technology] of +X or better to use) on Dok's Screwdriver/Gadgets for some time, with X = his PL, and that seems to have worked alright.

[Supercape]

Any comments on other aspects of the build - or indeed fluff (I will expand on the latter of course) - in particular how to catch people in paintings (dimensional portal)?

[Dr Archeville]

Use Dimensional Pocket?

[Supercape]

Yep, meant dimensional pocket! :oops:

I was thinking more of the granularity of the power:

Full action flaw? (like the rest of the power)

Limited / Drawback (needs canvas or surface to paint target "into")

Able to see the target move and act in the painting (pocket) - would this be a custom power feat?

Also: How to split up the total mass of dimensional pocket - so could put different villains and objects in different paintings. Not sure if this is a mechanical advantage? Feels a bit strong to be an extra - another custom feat?

Any other thoughts?

[angrydurf]

Honestly alot of that can be handled with descriptors.

I would say definitely full round like the other powers and if you require a specific kind of surface (Like blank canvas etc) it would be worth a drawback. If you just need something to paint on its not going to actually limit you.

Probably want to give it perception range since it seems like you just paint them into the picture and when you finish they get sucked in not that you have to hit them with an effect. Similarly alt save Will so that they can evade being sucked in by act of will.

Seeing what they are doing in the painting could be a dimensional ESP thing but probably is fine just as a descriptor. Having them split into different paintings I think similarly works as a descriptor thing so long as the total wieght is within the overall limit.

I'll also add that Dimensional pocket is a power we watch very carefully as it is a rare one shot win kind of power. If its used too much it sucks the challenge and drama right otu of the story so its usually best used on targets already taken out of the fight in some fashion as more like a jail or prisoner transport than a normal attack.

[Supercape]

Thanks Durf, helpful pointers there - although I am a little surprised that dimensional pocket is viewed as a one shot win power (at least at regular durations) - given you can't actually harm a trapped target and they get a new save each round... seems to me the best you could get would be breathing space and not a vast amount of that. Nevertheless, its not a power I have seen in play.

How does this sound as a 27 pp alt power:

Dimensional Pocket 8 (Paint onto a picture; mystic; Extras: Range (Perception), Alternate Save: Will (+0) Flaws: Full Round, Unreliable, Power Feats: Progression, Mass 9 (x1000 Mass, equal to 10,000 tonnes), Custom 2 (Can split pockets into several different pictures, can see targets and objects in pictures), Indirect 1, Drawbacks: Power loss [need canvas or something to paint target onto])

[angrydurf]

Ah yes at normal durations it isn't at continuous it is my bad.

You don't need indirect on perception rang powers as long as you can accurately perceive the target you can effect he target. As I said the custom feats might not be needed as those are more like side effects than anything else as people in the pockets normally can't do anything useful other than try to escape if they have dimensional movement.

[Supercape]

Well, they both have potential albeit highly unlikely advantages.

By seeing what the target is doing, you could, for instance, see a foe healing himself which would be a shock if you couldn't see it. Or you could see two targets make up and become friends, or even start to fight. All this is unlikely, but possible. I suppose it is a potential disadvantage, as enemies could see what you have in your pocket.

Splitting the target destination into several sub-pockets (paintings) is optional and therefore nothing but an advantage - although again unlikely to be particularly helpful. For instance, if you are fighting Captain A and Baron B, and put them both in a painting - lets say Captain A has dimensional travel and hence can step out as a move action. If they were in the same painting, he could bring Baron B out with him. There are other less obvious and subtle advantages. This one feels like a boon to me not at "extra" level of course. I suppose you could call it Progression (number of sub compartments)?

[angrydurf]

Yea not sure how to best represent those factors. Maybe some of hte other refs have thoughts I'm still leaning towards saying its just descriptor but they may differ on it.

[Supercape]

Ok I have edited and made all changes, any comments?