(TFT) the other half of GURPS

["Jay Carlisle" <Jay_Carlisle@charter.net>]

Some assorted odds and ends from the last few weeks.

The sessions have picked up in length and frequency lately and Ibve noticed 
a few things have changed about the modern session.
Most specifically is the presence of stuff like bsmart phonesb.
This got me to thinking about some rules as to the use of that stuff during 
game-play.
Basically Ibm thinking that unless a players Figure possesses some item or 
spell or what have you that would allow the Figure analogous access to a 
features function then the player shouldn't be allowed access to their 
device during play.
Some basic examples.
A Figure with the Mathematician Talent can use the calculator when they want 
to.
Figures with some form of telepathy can text between themselves.
A Figure with some form of scrying device like a crystal ball can access 
Google Earth.
Figures with a professional Talent can access the internet for information 
regarding said profession.
etc.
Any thoughts on this?

Champions Online went free a few weeks ago.
As webre talking the other half of GURPS Ibve had my mitts on it lately.
Itbs more Champions in background story and environment rather thanb rulesb; 
a little research showed that the thing was originally supposed to be 
affiliated with Marvel.
Whatbs been the most interesting aspect for me however is trying to recreate 
some of the powers and abilities in a TFT format.
The game uses what they call a btellb system  in breal timeb where more 
powerful attacks take a longer period of time to pull off and many have a 
warning indicator for a short duration before it actually launches.
This actually fits my statistic system pretty well with ST tied to the power 
of an attack, DX tied to attack timing, and IQ tied to tell timing.
The game is already scaled so stuff like range, AoE, and the like are 
simple.
The real bugaboo Ibve had is the Travel powers.
Trying to translate how the movement works into TFT is a little harry.
Stuff like dropping in on your opponents from on high (or tunneling from 
below), laying down an AoE attack and quickly zooming back up to high 
altitude isnbt really in TFTbs toolset so to speak.
Of course, using TFTbs timescale in Champions Online would be a hoot to 
watch for a little while.
3-d movement isnbt so easy on the page.
Now Champions Online uses a power ranking system  where additional 
experience can be spent on additional ranks of a power that increases 
effects and/or adds abilities to the power.
So Ibm thinking that for something like Flight Ibll have to define the group 
of common maneuvers (barrel roll, loop the loop, etc.) and effects of going 
out of control (ah la Car Wars) and let players put additional points into 
Talents and Spells for improved performance or additional effects.
Of course quantifying ranks seems a bit tricky and some Spells and Talents 
would fit better than othersb&
Ibd be curious to hear thoughts about this as well.
Especially from someone whobs tackled the Acrobatic Travel power.

I think Ibll leave the economic stuff and out of shape Figures till tommrow.
If anyone plays Champions Online my account is @faebookakie.
I still have several archetypes and powers to look at so Ibll likely be 
messing with it for a couple more weeks.
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