"Living" Weapon a valid Sidekick?

Sunslinger · Post by **Sunslinger** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 2:27 pm

I wonder if you would deem it "in system" to have a possessed weapon as a sidekick. I had this idea for a character and would liketo "hear" opinions about it.

Here is my idea:

Staff of the First Priest
The stats of the Staff are as in the Rulebook, doing 2x Damage if used as a weapon. Bound in the staff is the Spirit of the First Priest (made using the rules for a sidekick). The First Priest is believed to be the first black African being converted to Christianity and baptized as a priest. The stats of the Spirit are shown below. Most of the powers are supposed to be used by the wielder of the Staff using the rules for Power stunts. So an attack with the staff with “Burning Light of the Lord” active would use the Brawn and Agility of the wielder, the stats of the staff and the damage of the Aura if a hit is scored (in addition to the damage of the staff). The Staff can only be used by someone deemed worthy by the Spirit of the First Priest. If not, the Spirit will simply use the powers of the staff (like Burning Light of the Lord) against the wielder without protecting him by means of “Messenger of Light”.
Brawn: 0
Agility: 0
Mind: 3
Weakness (Negating): If the Staff is used to harm an innocent, the powers of the Spirit can no longer be used by a wielder. A selfless deed of note is then necessary to have the powers return (if ever) (+2)
Powers:
Spirit of the First Priest – Ghost Form (3) – Always on (-1); Bound in Staff (0): 2
The Hardened Staff – Armor (3): Affect Others (+1); Situational – Only Affects the Staff (-1): 2
Burning Light of the Lord – Damage Aura 5 (5) – Affect others (+1); Situational – Only Affects the Staff (-1): 5
Multipower: Protection of the Believer – Deflect 3; Affect Others (+1): 1
Multipower: Flare of the Heavens – Confusion (2): Area (Burst) 3 (+3): 2
Multipower: Bastion of Faith – Force Field (5); One Use (Level +2; -1); Area 2 (2); Variable (1): 1
Multipower: Bands of Light – Immobilization 5 (5); Range 1 (+1); Limitation: Fading (-1): 1
The Voice of the Spirit – Telepathy 3 (3); Limitation: Only on touch (-1): 2
Messenger of Light – Immunity: Light Damage (1); Affect Others (+1): 2
The Mending – Heal (1); Affect Others (+1); Affect Unliving (Staff, Itself) (+1); Energy Cost (-1): 2

Skills: Humanities (Religion); Occultism (Monsters); Social Science (History)
Disadvantages: Freak, Rogue’s Gallery (Unholy Beings looking to destroy this weapon of light)
Advantage: Unliving

Saker · Post by **Saker** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 2:43 pm

Hmm. Do you envisage the staff taking action by itself? More than attacking the wielder. It seems that you want the wielder to use the staff.

So maybe the staff should be built as a super-vehicle, which is used by a hero? While a sidekick takes their own actions. The builds are similar but the intents are different.

Instead of helping piloting rolls it aids other skills using the same mechanics.

My two cents without my book.

cheers

Dustland · Post by **Dustland** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:49 am

Armor (3): Affect Others (+1); Situational – Only Affects the Staff (-1): 2

Did you mean to say "Only Affects the Staff's Wielder? (-1)"

I really like this concept for an artifact in a game, but...

regarding game mechanics, this is a really cheap way to gain a bunch of powers for a character, I don't think I'd allow a character to purchase it this way.

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 8:20 am

Saker's points are really interesting and I agree with Dustland, although now I am thinking of am sidekick named meatshield running around soaking hits.

Sunslinger · Post by **Sunslinger** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 12:40 pm

The Armor is meant to toughen the staff in which the Spirit lives.

My concern is - too - that this might be deemed a cheap way to gain more powers. The idea came to me when I thought about what sidekick would be fun. And I think sidekick is a rather strong advantage. In the end the staff is probably less "powerful" then a killer robot or elemental under the control of the hero. This would mean another 25-points character with his own power AND actions.

WaylanderPK · Post by **WaylanderPK** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:51 am

I built something similar to this in champions, I had a shape changing follower that I wore a suit, worse still, it had a universal power pool - it was a complete a wrought and my GM should have known better

I'd say, why its a valid idea, buying it that way would be too cheap and is a bit of a game breaker.

WaylanderPK · Post by **WaylanderPK** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:06 am

I built something similar to this in champions, I had a shape changing follower that I wore a suit, worse still, it had a universal power pool - it was a complete a wrought and my GM should have known better

I'd say, why its a valid idea, buying it that way would be too cheap and is a bit of a game breaker.

Sunslinger · Post by **Sunslinger** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 4:36 pm

But if one deems an item like this broken (which I think one might) is this not the case for all sidekicks? At least when under the control of the Hero?

Dustland · Post by **Dustland** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 8:04 pm

At least when under the control of the Hero?

I think this is the sticking point for me. In games that I've ran where I've allowed henchmen and followers, I've always kept them out of the player's hands and there was always the possibility of conflict with the PC if their goals didn't mesh or they felt like they were being abused (ie Gofer, why don't you try to open that door and see if it's trapped for us).

Post by **BASHMAN** » Sat Jul 09, 2011 10:32 pm

I think this would just be the "Mentor" advantage, and the staff is the focus of a bunch of powers for the character.

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:01 am

I've always liked the idea of using the *robust* system advantages such as this in a very "out-of-the-box" way. I actually did this recently with my PC-Hero "KID WRANGLE", the idea being that the rope-using "Robin" style kid-hero had both a Super Vehicle (or could be pet) that is a Sky-Cycle with an A.I. who thinks he's a real live horse named Cody. KW also has a "sidekick" in the form of his primary weapon/gear ... his Lasso. I wanted to do this to all the lasso to 'snake about' as a scout type for the KID. It would have burrowing, wallcrawling, and various sense powers, including a com-link (limited Telepath). Nothing that could be extra combat actions though...

Same said for the Super Vehicle. I only imagined them being able to do the minor things that PCs might not be able or want to do... Plus rush in to allow KW to escape even if he didn't have an extra panel to be able to run if needed. FOR EXAMPLE: if KW gets nearly taken down, Cody flies in with an action and his Lasso wraps up the kid hero to swing up and have Cody rush his master out of the dangerous action....

To me...
Those are the kinds of actions that I'd be fine with (as a Narrator) because while it is the PC-Hero getting "free" extra panels, they're only being used to save his main hero or extend the story. Not being an overwhelming threat.

A good Narrator should be able to pay attention and draw a fair line for what any PC should have or do, to be fair to the other players at the table.

-kev-

MrJupiter · Post by **MrJupiter** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 1:05 pm

-kev-, that is a great build idea for a super vehicle.

kevperrine · Post by **kevperrine** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 12:22 am

MrJupiter wrote:-kev-, that is a great build idea for a super vehicle.

Hey... thanks!

Seeing the awesome villain and character books coming out recently for ICONS and BASH! I really really really want to "catalogue" all my ideas to make one. I'm just un-motivated. hehe...

Still looking for a partner in crime to form a 3rd Party plan if anyone's interested.

-kev-

Basic Action Super Heroes!

"Living" Weapon a valid Sidekick?

"Living" Weapon a valid Sidekick?

Suit as a Follower

Suit as a Follower