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What are good Action Point Alternatives/Enhancements?
The title speaks for itself. I'm looking for Action Point system enhancements/alternatives. I was thinking about the idea of in addition to giving players a free standard, to give them the option of using an action point to give a set point bonus or a d6 die bonus to a roll.
If you list an actual alternative action point system name, please give me a link to material on the system.
Here's my take. I've been using this for quite a while, and it's worked out well for the goals I intended. The only change I've made is giving players one Karma Point at the start of a session.
Here's my take. I've been using this for quite a while, and it's worked out well for the goals I intended. The only change I've made is giving players one Karma Point at the start of a session.
Very interesting. I'm working out a similar system for my game. This was helpful inspiration!
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"I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth - and truth rewarded me."
- Simone de Beauvoir
We had a concept called "action surges" (not related to the human feat) whereby you can accomplish incredible deeds by spending action points, rather than just retrying a failed action (which most players use it for).
I use something called a Power Stunt. This is where the PC uses something that makes sense for their powerset, but there is not a power that does it.
This would be something like a druid causing vines to burst out of a cliff, offering aid to climbing. Or a cleric of Moradin preventing some drow from fleeing by collapsing the tunnel entrance they are running towards. I had a SHaman PC who used this to "exercise" spirits that were possessing and animating statues, forcing the entities out of those statues (and thus needing to spend a round animating another one).
The player spends an AP + A healing surge. Then they make either an attack or a skill roll, and success, the effect occurs.
The result can either be unique, or it can modify an existing power. An Encounter becomes as potentially strong as a daily (in a small fashion), a daily become seven stronger (in some capacity). Like turning a single-target Encounter into an area effect.
I have a rather amorphous idea I'm kicking around. This is for a swashbuckling game where I want to encourage a cinematic summer blockbuster feel. This would be an pbp game here, so there will be some time for discussion as the pace will be a little slow do to my own real life concerns. The players in question tend to be very chatty in the OOC thread. There will be times when I as DM may not post for two or three days at a stretch. I am picturing this as a way for the players to stay busy and engaged as well as to encourage them to really embrace the swashbuckling ideal.
The idea is that the group of players would decide that a particular character deserved a boost. It picturing a pool of goodies that they can draw from. Some would be one time only and others might be usable more often. They would look a little like powers.
Here's an example.
Bon Mot
The player says something particularly witty in character. A biting insult to a foe perhaps. They could award the player a boost to defenses against that particular foe until it saves.
or
The worm turns
A player is having a steak streak of bad luck rolls. They could award the player an automatic hit.
Daring Do
The player attempts some outrageous but funny or fitting application of a skill get a +2 to the attempt.
Obviously, I still have a lot of work to do. I'd 'reload' the bonuses periodically keeping particularly popular ones and adding some new ones, with player input to keep it fresh and interesting. Suggestions are welcome, feel free to PM me if this is too far off topic...
I am working on an alternative action point system, and would like to hear additional thoughts on this topic.
Here is the outline for the concept:
Goal: Use Action Point Mechanic to promote role playing and creative actions and events.
Means: I am looking at various proposals out there for Action Point variants. In general, I would like to use work something out for these elements:
1) Players can use action points to accomplish creative (but plausible) things they normally could not accomplish, in addition to the normal use of action points;
2) The DM has access to some action points as well (perhaps using a shared pool with the players);
3) Action points can be rewarded for particularly good role playing events;
4) Players might be able to share action points (still under consideration).
One quote I saw that I liked (from Rel) was:
"A PC may spend an Action Point and a Healing Surge to "do something cool that fits the character concept and/or situation but goes outside the rules of the game". An Action Point spent this way does not preclude a PC from spending another Action Point in the same encounter using the standard rules."
I know Morrus at one time posted about this topic, and I suspect Piratecat also uses an action point system somewhat similar to the Mutants and Masterminds Hero Point system he used at GenCon, but I am not certain that is the case. Would love to hear from both Morrus and PC on this topic as well.
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Last edited by Mistwell; 21st June 2010 at 09:20 PM..
If someone is performing a stunt (a non-power attack using the environment), I'd definitely allow them to increase the damage by spending an action point. That's the sort of cool improvisation I like to see.
It bothers me a little that you can't reroll with action points; I can see allowing a best of 1d6/2d6/3d6 (determined by tier) bonus to the attack roll instead of the extra standard action.
If someone is performing a stunt (a non-power attack using the environment), I'd definitely allow them to increase the damage by spending an action point. That's the sort of cool improvisation I like to see.
It bothers me a little that you can't reroll with action points; I can see allowing a best of 1d6/2d6/3d6 (determined by tier) bonus to the attack roll instead of the extra standard action.
Do you use a "Stunt" card for your players to remind them about Stunts?
Do you allow action points to be used to pull off a more difficult stunt than their character could normally do under the circumstances, or to change the environment/story in some way that allows a stunt to happen?
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