Forums of the Megaverse®

It's a great PA addition. I use them when I can. It's a lot of fun for players to have!

As a Game Master, I must say that the Out of Phase Field is a nightmare... it might as well be called the "PC Invulnerability Shield".

The only real balance to it is that it has a limited number of charges. Just make certain that your Player understands that having it built into a suit of PA will only give him 40 "switches", and not "I'm a ghost all the time".

But you can't attack while out of phase. So therefore it doesn't swing the game that far out of balance. I allow players to have it. Of course when I have a chance to play in Phase World I use that system on my PAs.

Aramanthus wrote:But you can't attack while out of phase. So therefore it doesn't swing the game that far out of balance. I allow players to have it. Of course when I have a chance to play in Phase World I use that system on my PAs.

Agreed, you have to become solid sometime. Sure it might provide a tactical advantage but you have to turn solid to attack. Might make an interesting battle if the player has one and so does a potential foe.

Carl

I believe there are stopped by forcefields too. So that can't penetrate a starship or a fighter that has an intact force field.

Aramanthus wrote:I believe there are stopped by forcefields too. So that can't penetrate a starship or a fighter that has an intact force field.

That's why you instal your OP Field in a CAF Silverhawk. Punch through a ship's shields with your forcefield disruptor, then snap on your OP Field the moment you're in, fly through the hull, and materialize in the ship to start kicking some ass

I know. It makes an awesome way of storming ships! I've personally never had the opportunity to do that Rallan in a game as a player. But if I get the chance I'll do it!

Braden Campbell wrote:As a Game Master, I must say that the Out of Phase Field is a nightmare... it might as well be called the "PC Invulnerability Shield".

OP field protects against a variety of things.

Phase beamers, magic and psionics however are not amongst them.

So, do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do you?

Adios
KLM

KLM wrote:

Braden Campbell wrote:As a Game Master, I must say that the Out of Phase Field is a nightmare... it might as well be called the "PC Invulnerability Shield".

OP field protects against a variety of things.

Phase beamers, magic and psionics however are not amongst them.

So, do you feel lucky, punk? Well, do you?

Adios
KLM

THe problem is that if one of your players doesn't even have an OP Field for five minutes before a bunch of Prometheans, Phase Adepts, Temporal Raiders, astral beings, psychics, and mages suddenly come out of the woodwork and all of them are packing force fields, it's gonna look just the teensiest bit contrived. A better way to handle it would be to have adventures that involve some bits where OP Field Guy can use his wonder invention to save the day, and other bits where his OP-equipped body armor or power armor is inaccessable or wouldn't be appropriate. Let him play with his toy now and then, but alternate it with stuff where his toy isn't a good solution.

Good points. Technology will break down. It is always fun when that happens and the PA pilot has to rely on his skill and guts. And it could end up being and adventure in and of itself to get the OP tech repaired.

Rallan wrote:
THe problem is that if one of your players doesn't even have an OP Field for five minutes before a bunch of Prometheans, Phase Adepts, Temporal Raiders, astral beings, psychics, and mages suddenly come out of the woodwork and all of them are packing force fields, it's gonna look just the teensiest bit contrived. A better way to handle it would be to have adventures that involve some bits where OP Field Guy can use his wonder invention to save the day, and other bits where his OP-equipped body armor or power armor is inaccessable or wouldn't be appropriate. Let him play with his toy now and then, but alternate it with stuff where his toy isn't a good solution.

It is the other side of the horse, to say so.

IMO every major player (this probably includes a wiseguy
in Tony Soprano's league - in the 3 Galaxies that is) does have
something for the cases below:
- MDC foes
- Phase tech
- Psionics
- Magic
- Cosmo Knights
- Supernatural threats, like vampires

These protocols are fun to detail in advance, before even knowing
the players, the characters and the plan they come up with.

Sometimes they work better than expected, sometimes they fail.
Sometimes, as common sense dictates, they are even known
to the players/characters.

But it is like planning - say - a bombing somewhere on earth.
The local police will have an idea, what to do against (or after)
it... However effectively or miserably, but they have an idea.

Another POW is having az OP field is like having heavy body armor
and a bag full of assault rifles and ammo, then walking in a bank,
to commit robbery.
The local police will come out, unable to hurt the perpetrator
and probably sufferring heavy losses.
But... Someone might have a heavy hunting rifle in the trunk.
Or a hunter's shop nearby.
Or find the suspect(s), and arrest them in their bed or with the
morning papers on the toilet.

And - of course - in can end like the robber dying on some remote
tropical island, old and rich, several decades later.

Adios
KLM

Excellent points KLM! Good to see you back!