A few True20 item creation questions (Dark Matter setting)

barrelv

First Post
I've been reading over the True20 system and I've been left with a few questions...
  1. How would one create a 'Stem Pack': a modern-day equiv. to a Potion of Giant's Strength? I see the "Enhance Other" ability, but that can't be used on yourself.
  2. Has anyone found or written a good set of "create item" rules? Specifically, what powers can be imbued and which ones can't, along with any particular.
  3. What do people think would constitute a 'masterwork' medical kit?
  4. I've heard people say that it's too easy to shrug off damage in True20. Thoughts?
I'm creating an adept character who heals as well as buffs the party, but I'd like to be able to do it via 'science'; medicines, patches, injections, etc. The setting is the d20 Dark Matter setting. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

thanks for the suggestions / advice!
 
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I've requested an account over at the true20 forums, but it has to be approved by the moderators... I thought I'd drop the question here in the meantime.


I'll check the tech adept thread, thnx for the suggestion...
 

1) Enhance Ability, which only works on yourself, combined with the Imbue Item feat. Pay special attention to the Charm rules on page 88.

2) It's too campaign dependent for a single generic solution. There are numerous solutions proposed and generated, from Blood Throne's Ascendant Technology to the Tech Adept, but all were designed with specific campaigns and genres in mind.

3) A 'masterwork medical kit' would have good drugs, lots of bandages, minor surgical tools, possibly even a portable defibrillator. Like all masterwork tools, it would grant a bonus on Medicine checks (or enhance an existing bonus).

4) Shrugging off damage depends upon several things; the amount of damage commonly dealt, the availability of armor, the level of the campaign, the generosity of conviction regain, and the individual character builds all affect the danger level of the campaign. Smart tactics, such as Combined Attack, will challenge even the toughest characters.
If an individual Narrator or group decides that it's just too easy then increasing the base difficulty of Toughness saves is really all that's required. Increasing it to 20 + Damage quickly results in a game where anyone (including small children) can deliver a one punch knockout to almost anyone else; increasing the base to 25 + Damage makes combat all but suicidal. Alternatively, you can lower the base save to make the game even more survivable ( 12 + or 10 + means that Conviction will usually allow the character to succeed ).

If you've got any other questions or concerns, please feel free to ask here or on the True20 forums.
 


I guess I should have added a bit more info about the setting...

does anyone have any experience in the d20 Dark Matter setting?

still waiting on the moderator's approval for the true20 boards. anyone hae experience on how long it usually takes? I'm nearing the 24hr mark...
 

ValhallaGH said:
1) Enhance Ability, which only works on yourself, combined with the Imbue Item feat. Pay special attention to the Charm rules on page 88.

I think I've got this right, but not certain...

to create an item with the 1st level bonus (+7) requires a 17 wealth. This is the cost of the materials alone required to 'imbue' the item. the cost of the actual item being imbued is not included...

Is that right?
 


barrely said:
does anyone have any experience in the d20 Dark Matter setting?
You may want to look at the Agents of Oblivion setting, either in the Worlds of Adventure supplement or when the AoO book comes out. It's very similar to Dark Matter in tone, theme and style.
barrelv said:
to create an item with the 1st level bonus (+7) requires a 17 wealth. This is the cost of the materials alone required to 'imbue' the item. the cost of the actual item being imbued is not included...

Is that right?
Partially correct. I think you might be confused about (a) how the wealth mechanics work and (b) what a first level bonus is.

(a) A character's wealth score is his buying bonus. Purchasing an item requires a wealth check ( d20 + wealth score ) against the cost of the item. So getting something with a cost of 17 can be done by anyone with a wealth score of +1 or greater (wealth +0 can't purchase anything over cost 10). Anyone with a wealth of +16 or greater is guaranteed to be able to purchase the charm, though it will strain their wealth to some degree.

(b) An Adept has a power bonus of adept level plus three plus key ability. So a first level adept will have a power bonus of 4 ( 1 + 3 ) plus key ability.

Creating a charm requires a character to posses two specific feats (Imbue Item and the power being put into the charm). The charm has a cost of 10 + power bonus (cost 17 for a +7 power bonus). This cost is either for the materials and resources to imbue the charm or for the market value, whichever the narrator decides is appropriate (unfortunately, the rules are vague on this point).
Given the sample charms listed, it can reasonably be concluded that the cost of the item imbued is included in this pricing. The only way for the item imbued to add to the final cost of the charm is if it cost almost as much or more than the price of imbuing. So don't imbue powers into vehicles, houses and spyglasses. ;)

I hope some of this is helpful.
 

(still waiting on my True20 msg board account to be approved, they must be on vacation...)

I'm going to pass AoO to my GM and see what he thinks. Some more questions for the knowning masses....

Can a Charm be infused with 2 powers? My "Potion of Giant's Strength" needs both Enhance Ability and Enhance Other in order to be able to potentally affect others and myself (GM's decision). Would this affect the cost?

Can anyone use an Imbued Item? (Particularly a Charm) or is it limited to Adepts (or some other way). I'm speaking from a True20 core stand-point, I know setting can change anything...

Is there a particular roll to 'activate' or use an Imbued item? basically, is there a chance of failure with an item's use?

Everyone, thanks again for the help!
 

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