Tolkeen Artifact Hunter vs Shifter (DB7 Megaverse Builder)

[Tor]

The TAH is the only official Shifter variant I'm aware of (since the Rifter ones aren't canonical) and I am wondering what the ups and downs of this class are.

While the TAHs have a stated lower tendency of keeping minions or forming pacts with greater beings compared to most Shifters, tendencies are not actual stat limitations.

The only disadvantage I can actually see in the class is that they have less PPE than Shifters, getting 10 instead of d6x10, so 25 less on average. Otherwise it seems all pluses for them.

I'm also confused by the descriptive text in their 6th ability 'Dimensional Teleport Home'. He is described as being 'far more attuned' than the Shifter, yet the PPE cost for the power is identical to the Shifter's 6th ability on pg 41-42. The only difference is that it seems like Shifters are limited to birthplace/lair/home on their 'homeworld' while the Hunter can select up to 12 lairs 'across the Megaverse'. This is odd though because their skill is said to be due to their attunement to their NATIVE dimension, so how would native-dimension-attunement aid in teleporting to lairs in other dimensions within the Megaverse?

Also on a kinda related note, the boosted Shifter on pg39 of DB7 who resembles the version in RUEpg120... why do they start off with Dimensional Portal when even with max stats, they could not possibly cast it? DB7pg41 power 4 (also present in RUE) gives them their 'special ritual of meditation' to halve the cost, but even then, 500 PPE is a lot. If one presumably should be able to cast a spell before learning it, then shouldn't even the shifter with lowest PPE somehow be able to cast the spell?

They can start with as little as 33 (in DB/RUE) so if you can store 3x extra your base, that's 99 more, or 132 total, not even a third of what is needed. Should we interpret this to mean that the 'store extra PPE for PE in minutes/hours' rule in various books is only if you want to walk away from a ley line or something, and doesn't apply to in-the-moment casting which allows unlimited PPE to be tapped for a spell?

[random_username]

They can start with as little as 33 (in DB/RUE) so if you can store 3x extra your base, that's 99 more, or 132 total, not even a third of what is needed. Should we interpret this to mean that the 'store extra PPE for PE in minutes/hours' rule in various books is only if you want to walk away from a ley line or something, and doesn't apply to in-the-moment casting which allows unlimited PPE to be tapped for a spell?

Some extrapolation of elements:

Store 3x Extra PPE for up to PE number of minutes (clarifies/overrules the Rifter/whatever listings of PE per hours). [BoM p21]

The simplest approach (least insane number crunching):
Once standard maximum innate PPE is exceeded by even 1 PPE the clock starts counting down (PE number of minutes).
Regardless of whether he hits the maximum standard excess PPE or not all such "excess" PPE should dissipate upon reaching that time limit.
This keeps things viable and straightforward.
...The alternative would be to have it dissipate at exactly the same rate at which it was obtained treating each moment/melee/minute as its own block of "excess" PPE. [Despite the extra record/time-keeping most players would probably prefer this approach. Particularly since most excess PPE will likely be from ley lines/nexuses/equivalent plus the occasion creature/caster kill.]
...A simplified courtesy version of this could have it dissipate at the #2 Drawing PPE from Other Living Beings rate (for beyond that particular listed duration). [RUE p186]

Exceeding The 3x Extra PPE Limit:
The paragraph/section immediately after the Extra PPE in BoM (p21) implies that extreme amounts or even unlimited amounts of PPE could in theory be absorbed if otherwise used immediately.
This particular unlimited possibility is also implied again in the RUE #2 ability listed above.
A similar variant is listed under the Psi-Stalker's PPE feeding ability #6 in RUE p156.
Further "the" most extreme amount of excess PPE channeled by any being can typically be found under the intro for Enki (Babylonian) who was able to channel over 100,000+ PPE (at a critical moment) even though his base PPE is under 10,000. (C2:Pantheons). Now this NPC's focus is magic so there is certainly some leeway with it.
As of Dragons & Gods book most such insane magic requires less PPE and some form of body investment instead (D&G p89). Of these the most ridiculous tends to be Styphon's Open Continental Rift [D&G p227]. Under his Rifts Earth section [D&G p228] this hints that this ability was utilized as an interesting history element for the Rifts Cataclysm.

Personally the most "fair" approach to exceeding the 3x Extra PPE limit should likely be this: An unlimited excess amount can in theory be channeled however - such PPE must be channeled into any effect within 1 melee (15 seconds) even if its the start of a much longer ritual (RUE p187 = Rituals) or construction of a magic item, and so forth. After that all excess dissipates completely.
This maintains all the basic elements of: instability of extreme PPE, resulting in short duration availability/"immediate" usage, group PPE channeling, and so forth.

Personally: The strain of exceeding the standard 3x Extra PPE limit could also be grounds for requiring a save vs Insanity (extreme strain - hence why most folks can only manage a stable 3x Extra PPE limit in the first place). Utilizing some quick stuff about the relevance of ME (RUE p331) could probably go with: up to ME x Base PPE = "Safe" Extra PPE = excess amount the individual can manage without an Insanity check. Anything beyond requires a Save vs Insanity, with a further -1 to save for each multiplier beyond ME.
Example: 100 PPE with ME of 15 could handle up to an extra 1500 PPE without having to make a save vs insanity. At 1501 to 1599 its just a base save vs Insanity. At 1600 to 1699 (now a x16 but less than x17) it would be with a -1 penalty. 1700 = -2, 1800 = -3, and so forth.
Ultimately this was simply just a notion designed to keep that kind of thing from getting too ridiculous.
Further Note: Enki still wouldn't have had to make a check with his crazy 100,000+ PPE spell (hehe).

Alternatively could simply use the Extra PPE duration and dissipation rates as listed for ability #2 for this or both. This eliminates PE as a duration factor replacing it with level based (yielding typically higher durations by 3rd or 4th level). This approach also requires a lot more timekeeping due to dissipation rates beyond basic time limit.

[Mlp7029]

The TAH is the only official Shifter variant I'm aware of (since the Rifter ones aren't canonical) and I am wondering what the ups and downs of this class are.

While the TAHs have a stated lower tendency of keeping minions or forming pacts with greater beings compared to most Shifters, tendencies are not actual stat limitations.

The only disadvantage I can actually see in the class is that they have less PPE than Shifters, getting 10 instead of d6x10, so 25 less on average. Otherwise it seems all pluses for them.

I'm also confused by the descriptive text in their 6th ability 'Dimensional Teleport Home'. He is described as being 'far more attuned' than the Shifter, yet the PPE cost for the power is identical to the Shifter's 6th ability on pg 41-42. The only difference is that it seems like Shifters are limited to birthplace/lair/home on their 'homeworld' while the Hunter can select up to 12 lairs 'across the Megaverse'. This is odd though because their skill is said to be due to their attunement to their NATIVE dimension, so how would native-dimension-attunement aid in teleporting to lairs in other dimensions within the Megaverse?

Also on a kinda related note, the boosted Shifter on pg39 of DB7 who resembles the version in RUEpg120... why do they start off with Dimensional Portal when even with max stats, they could not possibly cast it? DB7pg41 power 4 (also present in RUE) gives them their 'special ritual of meditation' to halve the cost, but even then, 500 PPE is a lot. If one presumably should be able to cast a spell before learning it, then shouldn't even the shifter with lowest PPE somehow be able to cast the spell?

They can start with as little as 33 (in DB/RUE) so if you can store 3x extra your base, that's 99 more, or 132 total, not even a third of what is needed. Should we interpret this to mean that the 'store extra PPE for PE in minutes/hours' rule in various books is only if you want to walk away from a ley line or something, and doesn't apply to in-the-moment casting which allows unlimited PPE to be tapped for a spell?

A most excellent use of Minions would aiding a ritual yes?

[Tor]

I always figured with PPE aid in rituals that it was like absorbing PPE from a ley line and still limited by the 3x base cap.

If PPE from ritual participants were treated as a pool to sum to that triple base to expand the range of casting then it'd explain more.

[Glistam]

Also on a kinda related note, the boosted Shifter on pg39 of DB7 who resembles the version in RUEpg120... why do they start off with Dimensional Portal when even with max stats, they could not possibly cast it? DB7pg41 power 4 (also present in RUE) gives them their 'special ritual of meditation' to halve the cost, but even then, 500 PPE is a lot. If one presumably should be able to cast a spell before learning it, then shouldn't even the shifter with lowest PPE somehow be able to cast the spell?

They can start with as little as 33 (in DB/RUE) so if you can store 3x extra your base, that's 99 more, or 132 total, not even a third of what is needed. Should we interpret this to mean that the 'store extra PPE for PE in minutes/hours' rule in various books is only if you want to walk away from a ley line or something, and doesn't apply to in-the-moment casting which allows unlimited PPE to be tapped for a spell?

There's no such thing as "in-the-moment casting which allows unlimited PPE to be tapped for a spell." You either have the P.P.E. in your reserve (up to +3x your max), or you have constructed a ritual and ensured you have enough P.P.E. sources involved to cover the cost.

[Tor]

By 'unlimited' I meant of what is available to you, as in not limited to casting by triple your maximum, not infinite PPE.

The other PPE sources involved, basically, do you actually need to absorb them into your pool before you cast, which would limit your casting to your storage potential? Or do they effectively add that that built-in maximum.

This might help explain why people would still bother with stuff like blood sacrifice if they're at a place where PPE is plentiful and easy like a ley line, to surpass the cap.