Rystil Arden
First Post
This is from UP--I paraphrase below
Check Required, -1 Modifier Flaw
The effect requires a skill check DC 10 + power rank in order to work. If the check fails, it doesn't work, but the action is still expended. The checkis part of the action. Normal bonuses and penalties apply. If you can't make the check for any reason, the the effect fails automatically. The check must be in addition to normal checks needed for the effect.
(Then there's an example with a spellcaster who wants to get Super Senses 4 for Detect Magic, so she needs to make a DC 14 Knowledge Arcane Lore check)
This seems a fairly flavourful and balanced flaw--you can't use it on something with too many ranks or else you won't be able to make the check, and if you spend that many points to boost your skills, you could have just put the points in the power to begin with and avoided the need for the Flaw. Further, enemies can drain your ability to use the skill and knock out your powers at the same time. It's mostly like Limited, except it is more cinematic/has a cooler comic book action style feel to have the character make a skill check to activate the power. Certainly it is more restrictive than many applications of the Permanent flaw, for instance, and it generally costs you more in total than taking the Action flaw to up a power to a Full-Round action.
Check Required, -1 Modifier Flaw
The effect requires a skill check DC 10 + power rank in order to work. If the check fails, it doesn't work, but the action is still expended. The checkis part of the action. Normal bonuses and penalties apply. If you can't make the check for any reason, the the effect fails automatically. The check must be in addition to normal checks needed for the effect.
(Then there's an example with a spellcaster who wants to get Super Senses 4 for Detect Magic, so she needs to make a DC 14 Knowledge Arcane Lore check)
This seems a fairly flavourful and balanced flaw--you can't use it on something with too many ranks or else you won't be able to make the check, and if you spend that many points to boost your skills, you could have just put the points in the power to begin with and avoided the need for the Flaw. Further, enemies can drain your ability to use the skill and knock out your powers at the same time. It's mostly like Limited, except it is more cinematic/has a cooler comic book action style feel to have the character make a skill check to activate the power. Certainly it is more restrictive than many applications of the Permanent flaw, for instance, and it generally costs you more in total than taking the Action flaw to up a power to a Full-Round action.