(TFT) Attribute Adders in TFT

[Pasha and or Rick Smith <pnrsmith@istar.ca>]

	By Rick Smith	(C) 1998

	One of my least favorite magic items in TFT 
were the Attribute Adders.   I can see why it was popular 
with Steve Jackson when he wrote up AW.  (Naked
speculation follows:)

	Steve J.:  "Hey I've only got 40 pages in 
AW and I want to put as much stuff in that space as 
possible.  These attribute adders are great!   3 items 
for one line of the table, and everyone knows what 
they do!!"  

	But the only time I saw them used in my 
campaign was naked power gaming. Basically the items
seemed to be more about TFT, and less about the
fantasy world.  Also they emphisised that TFT has 
only 3 attributes (the player's have to know that but
I don't see why the character's do...)


	I was talking with a friend about them and he
liked them in his campaign.  This caused me to write up
a better version of them for his campaign.


	< FROM MY EMAIL>

	If you are absolutely keen on attribute adders I would suggest 
something like this:  Each attribute adder has a Demon or powerful 
spirit inside and you are borrowing it's attributes. "Sure, I'll remember
that spell for you (Ha, Ha, Snicker...)".  Sacrifice something to the demon
(Just 1 ST and 5 off Maximum ST and your soul if you die while wearing 
me )but they get a very significant bonus while wearing it ("I'll guide your 
footsteps, and your sword arm.  You will be able to run and fight on
Tight Ropes!!!"), +6 DX and +2 MA for example.
	This way, low attribute bad guys (44 att.s or what ever) can
make deals with evil beings and get unfair advantages.  The players who
want to power game when they capture these unholy items, will know 
damn well that they are taking the fast and easy track to power.
	Lastly an attribute adder should increase your attributes for
calculating how much EP it takes to go up an attribute.  Thus you get
a quick bonus, but soon your friends will close the gap and if you loose
the adder, you are behind.  Like charms, if you have an att. adder, you
should get less EP each session since there is less risk for you.

	< END EMAIL>


	To create an attribute adder a demonologist must 
invoke a demon.  The proposed item is suggested to the demon 
and ONLY IF IT AGREES may an attribute adder be made.

	The demonologist must create a vessel for the demon
to be held in.  (A ring is ok, but usually a more massive and 
harder to destroy item is selected.)  This requires the Artifact
Creation Enchantment spell, 1 week and $10,000 in common 
ingreadients in addition to the cost of the vessel.

	When the vessel is prepared, the demon tells the
demonologist its True Name while the demonologist makes
a 5vsIQ.  If the roll succeeds the demon is bound into the 
item and its body dies.  If the roll is failed, something 
truely terrible will happen to the demonologist (for example,
he may be killed with his soul sucked into the vessel with
or without the demon).


	The demon will lend attributes to whom ever 
agrees to accept them.  Accepting an Attribute Adder 
usually requires a sacrifice to the demon in the item and
an agreement as to the terms of use.

	The sacrifices acceptable are usually ritually
murdering a sentientent being.  For powerful attribute 
adders a perminant loss of a real attribute is often required. 

	The terms of use will spell out the sacrifice, say
what the user will gain in exchange for wearing it, say if 
the user may call upon one of the demon's wishes, say if
the demon gets the soul of the user if the user dies while
wearing the item, and will give any penalties for taking off
the item. (Plus any other evil terms the sadistic GM can
come up with.)


	Lesser Demons can lend 1 or 2 attributes. Greater
demons  can lend up to 3 or 4 attributes.  Even more 
powerful demons can lend a few points more.  Note that
more than just attributes can be lent.  MA,  memory, fST,
armor or demon attributes such as Rvank may be lent to
the possesser of the Attribute Adder.

	The ability to perform existensial magic may
not be lent in this way.


	Two attribute adders may not be accepted by
one user if both demons want the user's soul.  

	Wearing an attribute adder DOES increase 
your attribute total for purposes of calculating how 
much experience is needed to go up to the next 
attribute.


	Destroying an attribute adder is dangerous.
The demon may use the last of its power to explode
the item, curse the people destroying it (see Wizard's
Curses), or cast one last, terrible spell.

	The demon may or may not die when its
vessel is destroyed.  Lesser demons will typically 
fade away and vanish if a couple days, but powerful
demons may become terrible undead spirits.
	



	Any comments are welcome!

	Rick
	




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