[gurps] Nightbane Race Conversion

[rekres]

On Wed, Jun 3, 2009 at 9:31 PM, Bai Shen <baishen.rpg at gmail.com> wrote:
> So here's my first cut at representing the Nightbane in GURPS.  Basically, I
> looked at the things they could do and then looked up corresponding GURPS
> abilities.  There are probably some disads I could assign, but none came
> immediately to mind.  I'm also adding why I included each piece so people
> can understand my thoughts.
>
> Night Vision 4 (4)
> +10 HP (20)
> Unaging (15)
> Taboo (Psionics)
> Detect Nightbane (10)
> Shapeshifting(Alternate Form)
>  Night Vision 8 (8)
>  Detect Nightbane (10)
>  Regeneration(Very Fast) (100)
>  Regrowth (40)
>  Jumper (100)
>  Maximum Range(Nightlands) -X%
>   Only to Nightlands
>   Requires a mirror in both locations
>  Immune to Mind Control (15)
>  Immune to Transformation (15)
>  +10 STR (100)
>  +10 HT (100)
>  +1 Basic Speed (20)
>  +3 DEX (60)
>  +50 HP (100)
>  Terror (30/24)
>  Always On -20%
>  Taboo (Psionics)
>  Unaging (15)

Several things are listed twice.  If they are items from two different
forms, you need to make it clear what belongs to one form or the
other.... I would list all things that are shared in both forms first,
then put a paragraph break, list form1 only stuff, another break, then
form2 stuff only...

>
> AFAIK, if you want something in both forms, you need to buy it both times as
> the racial templates swap.  Or do you keep what you had and add to it if
> it's a race with racial shapeshifting?

>From my reading of it, you buy up the things both forms have once.
Then you buy things in each form that are different.... subtract the
difference in forms then pay 90% of that amount, plus 15 point.

>
> Nightbane have Night Vision in both forms.  In the Palladium rules, the
> difference is range.  There isn't a mechanic like that in GURPS, so I just
> gave the Morpus(the alt form) more points.  Palladium has 200 and 500 ft as
> the ranges, so I guess for the 4 and 8 pt modifiers.

IIRC, Nightvision in GURPS is a lot different than in
Nightbane/Palladium.  In Nightbane does it include the ability to see
in the dark or in the infrared spectrum?  If so, than that isn't what
GURPS calls nightvision.  For that ability, see Infravision,
Ultravision, or Hyperspectral Vision (both Infra and Ultra).  In
GURPS, nightvision is simply the ability to rapidly adjust to
darkening light conditions.

>
> Nightbane get +30 SDC in Facade and +2d6x10 SDC in Morphus form.  Since the
> +30 usually at least doubles the average persons HP, I gave them +10.  I
> gave the Morphis +50 HP because they lose the +10 when they change forms,
> and the +2d6x10 is a huge jump.  The points are already insane enough, so I
> didn't go for more.

If you assume that 30SDC converts to +10HP, then 2d6x10 (average 70)
SDC should be a little more than double hitpoints... say +20HP to
+25HP (instead of 50)

> Nightbane have been around forever.  Some are rumoured to be over 5000 years
> old, so I went with Unaging.  They do actually age, just very slowly.

Sounds about right.

>
> Nightbane cannot use/get any psionic powers, so I made it Taboo.
>
> Nightbane can detect each other, Highlander style.  So they get Detect
> Nightbane.
>
> In the Palladium system, they regenerate 10 points every 15 seconds.  So I
> gave them Very Fast Regen.  Also, GURPS combat tends to be more lethal than
> Palladium combat, so I'm not too worried that it's not 15 points every 15
> seconds.  Palladium never mentions wether their regen allows limbs to grow
> back, but it makes sense to me, so they get Regrowth as well.

If you want them to be tougher, you might consider giving them some natural DR.

> They can cross over to the Nightlands only by using a mirror that has an
> equal in the Nightlands, and vice versa.  Wasn't sure what those limitations
> would cost.  I was thinking of a final cost for Jumper of around 20 points
> or so.  The only other worlds really available are the three sections of the
> Astral plane, and the Dreamstream.
>
> Nightbane are immue to mind control and transformation.  Based on Resistant,
> I made those each Common Immunities.
>
> Nightbane get +10 PS, PE, and Spd.  I converted those mostly intact, picking
> Speed instead of Move because of some of the Palladium combat bonuses.  They
> also get +6 to PP.  DEX is a bigger deal in GURPS, so I only made it +3.
>
> Anyone who sees a Nightbane has to make a HF check(similiar to a Fright
> check), so they get always on Terror.
>
>
> So what do y'all think?  According to my calculations, the Nightbane race
> costs 566 points.  And that's not even counting the modifiers for the
> morphus form.  I'm trying to figure out some appropriate disads to bring the
> cost down.  Any suggestions?  It's looking like a game would have to have
> starting points around 500 with 250 disads.  That's much higher than I'm
> used to.

You might also check out what disadvantages they qualify for... such
as Monstrous Appearance, possible dietary restrictions, psychological
urges and addictions, Weakness/Vulnerability, etc.


-- 
Chris J. Whitcomb
"I try to keep an open mind, but my brain keep falling out!"