[Rq-rules] POW gain rolls

[Paul Cardwell]

--- Peter Maranci <pmaranci at gmail.com> wrote:

> The discussion about the relative power level of
> Disruption reminds me of an
> issue that's always bothered me about RQ/BRP: POW
> gains.
> 
> The standard RQ mechanic is that you get a chance to
> make a POW gain roll if
> you overcome an enemy with a POW which is not more
> than 5 points less than
> your own (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong; I
> don't have access to the
> books here). You may overcome them with an offensive
> spell, or in spirit
> combat if that's appropriate.
> 
> Alternatively, RQIII introduced the mechanism of
> earning POW gain rolls
> after conducting ceremonies on High Holy Days. That
> may have been
> Glorantha-specific, I can't remember.
> 
> It seems to me that this places an unnatural
> emphasis on offensive acts. A
> character without any offensive spells is left with
> very few opportunities
> to gain POW, even if they spend a great deal of time
> adventuring (unless
> they're a shaman, of course).
> 
> Why shouldn't it be possible to get a POW gain roll
> for successfully
> *resisting* an enemy spell or spirit? Arguably that
> takes as great an
> effort.
> 
> Frankly, I'd love to see some alternate means of POW
> gains as well. Perhaps
> a roll could be earned for mastering a skill, for
> example, or as a special
> GM-decreed reward for making a critical success at a
> desperately needed
> moment.
> 
> Luck should be a part of it, I think. And as it is,
> this "overcome to gain"
> mechanism feels artificial and forced. What do you
> think?
> 
> ->Peter

Again to cite Mythworld, mana (POW) can be gained by
specialing or criticaling a resistance to a spell. 
This is the only way a nonsapient species (such as a
mount) can gain mana and thus be better equipped to
resist spells.

Paul Cardwell


 
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