POWERS THAT BE

 

Thematic based rules note. Some of these rules are based on style and are subject to the Narrator's determination. Such rules that are somewhat integral, but also tied up in the setting.

 

Thematic Bonus:

 

     Appearance: The Narrator should give some significant bonus (from 1 to 5) if the character dresses in a way that reflects their power. Basically this is a form of sympathetic or symbolic magic. An example of this would be Aiden, a fire based character, getting a little bonus to power rolls for wearing a lot of warm colors (red, orange and yellow) as well as a better bonus for apparel with flames designs or such. Similarly for other obvious things like the character's car or phone. The main in game draw back for this is that people in the know (both PC or NPC) can more easily know what power the character has. Some experience might be given by the character that forgoes this potential bonus to be more incognito.

 

     Actions: The Narrator should give some experience bonus is the character's personality begins to reflect their power. For example Aiden who has fire powers may become more quicker tempered and unpredictable or develop a voracious appetite. Though if this is before the player knows their character's source of power the Narrator may want to give subtle hints if they are completely off.

 

Both of there bonuses should get better when the character knows the source of their power, partially because they can more accurately reflect the true nature of their power.

 

Naturally Opposing Forces: There are instances when simply the source of power for an empowered being has a natural advantage versus another based on thematic relations. For example Aiden the fire elemental may have a disadvantage with someone based on water, even if they don't use water control (like a mermaid) and by the same token might have an advantage against someone who is wood based (like a dryad) even if there is no wood to burn. This is most common with the Hidden and Legendary Beasts, mostly due to real and perceived predator/ prey relations. A legendary mouse might have a disadvantage against a cat based threat but oddly an advantage against one based on an elephant. The Narrator's decides the nature of this either secretly by effecting the goal score and not telling the player what it is or openly by granting a bonus between one to ten to the score for the roll, which would effect the dice rolled.