Aberrant M&M Conversion

[malladin]

Hi Folks,

Being very disappointed with D20 Aberrant, I got to thinking how I could put it together for mutants and masterminds.

Okay, so I don't actually NEED to do any converting, as M&M will quite hapily handle everything, but I wanted to cpture the whole Quantum/Taint aspect of Aberrant in a game system.


So here, quite simply, is what I've come up with...

With your starting character you have to split your power levels up between Mundane, Quantum and Taint levels. The different level types can tell you what you can spend those power points on. Mundane levels are spent on skills, ab scores and basic feats, Quantum and Taint points are spent on powers (all points can be spent on 'core' traits, such as base attack, etc). When you spend Taint points everything costs 3/5 the usual cost (this is calculated as one full power level of 15 points plus one weakness of 10 points).

When a character gains power points with experience they can spend them on any trait, but if they spend them "with taint" they get to purchase at the cheaper price. Every "With Taint" puchase adds those power points to the character's 'Taint' power points total, and thus can add up to a full level of Taint for every 15 power points spend 'with taint'. Every full power level of Taint equals one weakness. As this is for a game I might run myself, players would simply be encouraged to take the kind of insanity type weaknesses appropriate to Aberrant, but you could put systems in place if you want.

Cheerio,

Ben

 

[Funksaw]

So what you're saying is that you can take a power level as normal, and get 15 points, or you can take a weakness, and get 25 points? (15+10)

I like this idea for it's simplicity, except I would change a couple of things:

For in-game purposes, your level of Quantum is equal to your power level/5 (round up) "Average" novas would start at 3, "Maximum" Novas would be 5 - and at 6 (or epic levels) you can take those great Universe Creation powers and such from the Player's guide.

The only other thing that I would change is that I'd use the 3 skill points/1 pp optional rule. Characters in Aberrant tend to be extremely skilled, espeically scientists and physicists.

 

[malladin]

For in-game purposes, your level of Quantum is equal to your power level/5 (round up) "Average" novas would start at 3, "Maximum" Novas would be 5 - and at 6 (or epic levels) you can take those great Universe Creation powers and such from the Player's guide.

Yes, you're right, to keep the Quantum levels in balance something like this would be needed, but I think level/5 is a bit harsh. I would say divide by 2 (I was thinking most characters would start at power level 7 or 8).

The only other thing that I would change is that I'd use the 3 skill points/1 pp optional rule. Characters in Aberrant tend to be extremely skilled, espeically scientists and physicists.

This might be good for spending 'mundane' power levels as oppsed to the quantum or taint ones, to give the mundane levels a bit of extra kick, otherwise most characters would end up being high quantum, rather than the odd few chaarcters that don't need a high quantumn for their concept.

Cheerio,

Ben