[JackVII]

What is said house-rule about Alchemy?

It's the one in the Tabula Rasa game. Let's see...

Instead of Alchemy being opposed by Force of the preparation, it is opposed by Force - Alchemist's Skill. Therefore, an Alchemist with an Alchemy skill of 6 casting at Force 6 or lower would roll Magic + Alchemy [Force] unopposed, but if he were to overcast to Force 12, he would be opposed by 6 dice. This makes it easier to create preparations with decent Potency.

As the rules currently stand, you're going to average mostly Potency 1 to 3. As such, preparations are almost laughably bad in most situations. This change gives them better dice pools and puts them a little bit closer to being as effective as spells, leaving the main trade off being pre-soaking drain versus a limited number of uses.

ETA: I like the Barrier spell change too, but I'm not going to push my luck, LOL.

[rednblack]

What is said house-rule about Alchemy?

It's the one in the Tabula Rasa game. Let's see...

Instead of Alchemy being opposed by Force of the preparation, it is opposed by Force - Alchemist's Skill. Therefore, an Alchemist with an Alchemy skill of 6 casting at Force 6 or lower would roll Magic + Alchemy [Force] unopposed, but if he were to overcast to Force 12, he would be opposed by 6 dice. This makes it easier to create preparations with decent Potency.

As the rules currently stand, you're going to average mostly Potency 1 to 3. As such, preparations are almost laughably bad in most situations. This change gives them better dice pools and puts them a little bit closer to being as effective as spells, leaving the main trade off being pre-soaking drain versus a limited number of uses.

ETA: I like the Barrier spell change too, but I'm not going to push my luck, LOL.

I'm really torn here, tbh.  I'm gonna have to sit on this one for a bit.  In my mind the ability to pre-soak drain should really not be overlooked, but I'm not happy with how I've seen alchemical preparations play out either. 

[JackVII]

No problem, I'm not really dying for the change. I knew from the get-go that I was playing a mechanically gimped character, I just figured I would see what you thought given the fact we just changed the summoning/binding rules rather significantly.

In my personal opinion, I feel the ability to possibly pre-soak all of the already increased drain of a preparation is readily off-set by the fact that you can't just cast the spell repeatedly during combat (not to mention that you have to learn separate versions for spells and preparations). If you don't have another preparation available, you're basically fucked. If the dice don't go in your favor when you activate the preparation, you've just wasted your turn. Even if you do have the minutes needed to make another preparation, you're basically losing the whole benefit of preparations, namely that you can pre-soak the drain.

Again, no complaints from me if you don't want to change it. Just figured I'd ask.

[rednblack]

No problem, I'm not really dying for the change. I knew from the get-go that I was playing a mechanically gimped character, I just figured I would see what you thought given the fact we just changed the summoning/binding rules rather significantly.

In my personal opinion, I feel the ability to possibly pre-soak all of the already increased drain of a preparation is readily off-set by the fact that you can't just cast the spell repeatedly during combat (not to mention that you have to learn separate versions for spells and preparations). If you don't have another preparation available, you're basically fucked. If the dice don't go in your favor when you activate the preparation, you've just wasted your turn. Even if you do have the minutes needed to make another preparation, you're basically losing the whole benefit of preparations, namely that you can pre-soak the drain.

Again, no complaints from me if you don't want to change it. Just figured I'd ask.

Certainly.  I'm not ruling it out.  Just mulling "out loud."  I think you're right on all accounts.  There's also the fact that unless you're dealing with a high potency preparation, pre-soaking your drain isn't always going to help out before a fight.  Even as I write this I'm leaning more toward going with Ryo's house-rule here.  Also, don't take my hesitance as a "Quit buggin' me 'bout this bullshit, would ya."  I'm just trying to make the best call, and reasons from the player's perspective go a long way to helping me do that.

[JackVII]

Oh yeah, no problem. I didn't think I was bugging you, just saying that it isn't that important to me.

[rednblack]

Cool.  In other news, I guess it's just us two around today.  Anything else on the horizon for Bookworm?  Aside from Archive bringing along a pal when she enters the scene, do you have any other ideas for getting Ryo his/her own char in this on the quick?

[Poindexter]

Nah, im here too. I'm just really irritated and unmotivated today.

[JackVII]

Cool.  In other news, I guess it's just us two around today.  Anything else on the horizon for Bookworm?  Aside from Archive bringing along a pal when she enters the scene, do you have any other ideas for getting Ryo his/her own char in this on the quick?

I think a lot of it depends on whether we get feedback from Johnson. We still have a job to do and have done next to no legwork to complete it, but we have the shadow of some really nasty people being cast over the proceedings. So it kind of depends on whether our focus is going to be on finishing our real job or trying to stick it to the RF and Co.

I may have Bookworm build a Ward of her bedroom considering how dangerous this whole business is getting.

I really don't have any suggestions concerning Ryo's new character. Given the turnover, I feel like we've already kind of plumbed the depths of explanations that make any kind of sense. Friend of Archive may make the most sense.

[Poindexter]

Could be someone one of the contacts I just hit up hooks me up with, fearing for my safety or whatever.

[rednblack]

Could be someone one of the contacts I just hit up hooks me up with, fearing for my safety or whatever.

That's not bad either. Hopeless is the char I'm most concerned with. Bookworm is new and wasn't around to see the bodies drop out. Ditto Error. Hopeless has worked with, what, 8 people in 3 days?

Ideally, I'd like to see Error see the run through and then form the team based on players who we can count on to stick it out for the long game, but given the pace of PbP, I don't think it's fair to Ryo to ask him to stick with Error for that long.

Of course, maybe Error drops out knowing the hear is on him but recommends someone he knows? That gives us 3 solid ways to bring in an FNG.

[Poindexter]

Of course, maybe Error drops out knowing the hear is on him but recommends someone he knows? That gives us 3 solid ways to bring in an FNG.

I dig that way, too.

what does FNG mean?

[JackVII]

Of course, maybe Error drops out knowing the hear is on him but recommends someone he knows? That gives us 3 solid ways to bring in an FNG.

That one had occurred to me as the most plausible way of getting rid of Error. I just don't know if Hopeless would be open to bringing in anyone else. With that said, the three remaining runners are decidedly squishy, so a replacement could be necessary. Hell, Johnson could boot him from the team and force it on us again. I guess with Error's name out there in the press, she could very well consider him a liability.

FNG: Fuckin' New Guy (At least, that's what it was in the military, LOL)

[rednblack]

Of course, maybe Error drops out knowing the hear is on him but recommends someone he knows? That gives us 3 solid ways to bring in an FNG.

That one had occurred to me as the most plausible way of getting rid of Error. I just don't know if Hopeless would be open to bringing in anyone else. With that said, the three remaining runners are decidedly squishy, so a replacement could be necessary. Hell, Johnson could boot him from the team and force it on us again. I guess with Error's name out there in the press, she could very well consider him a liability.

FNG: Fuckin' New Guy (At least, that's what it was in the military, LOL)

Indeed.

Hopeless would know the team is squishy and might take the risk of an unknown over not having any firepower to bring to the table, especially with the rival team in the wings. Speaking of which, y'all plan tapping a contact for info bout that?

I hadn't considered the Johnson booting Error, but tat does seem entirely plausible. Error's gonna be takin a long vacation in the DFW regardless in the not too distant future. Figure e may make a nice team contact at some point.

[Poindexter]

In light of some of Ian's recent thoughts on things, Maybe I'll spend that 4 of 5 karma on a rank in hacking and a rank in cybercombat...

[JackVII]

In light of some of Ian's recent thoughts on things, Maybe I'll spend that 4 of 5 karma on a rank in hacking and a rank in cybercombat...

In light of your Willpower and Logic, I wouldn't suggest it. Edge might help, but Matrix stuff requires a LOT of opposed rolls.