Any suggestions for good power ups?

[Zipp Dementia]

So I'm about to end the prelude of my game and get the player into the meat of the story.

Basically, I've set up a world where these creatures of chaos (called the Chaotix) are appearing and devouring and converting creatures and people into monsters of chaos. My player will soon merge with a rune that will make her one of the few people in the world who can actually hurt the Chaotix, and thus will the main series of quests begin, as she searches for other chaos runes and fights off the Chaotix.

Since it's a single player game, along with this rune I want to give her some boosts in power and maybe even a special abilitiy or two. I've got some ideas, but I thought I'd ask around and see if anyone else had some suggestions for good skill boosts and abilities.

 

[atgxtg]

Since it is a single player game you could have a power up or two that gives the player some sort of NPC ally/servant/companion.

Not only would that provide aid to the character, but would also provide some more role-playing opportunities.

 

[Mage]

You could give them an earth rune to beef up their stats, or add a npc or too. Crazy mounts are also good.

 

[Zipp Dementia]

@ AT: I'm going to be throwing in a lot of NPCs anyways, but it's a cool idea. Maybe a familiar... hmmm.

@ Mage: Already doing that, too, though not sure if it will be an earth rune. And of course the chaos rune will be adding some boosts (a rune of my own making).

Seems like great minds think alike!

 

[Mage]

Well, in my Runequest game I felt the characters were very weak (I am never making a starting character anything less than seasoned from now on) so I gave each member of the party a special magic item as a gift for their worries.

I gave one guy these groovy magical robes,
another has a special enchantment on his axe (from Thor, I am using some gods from earth myth in my RQ world)
I gave one guy a magical trinket which basically stores stuff in subspace
Another is getting a special kilt for his troll, giving bonuses at night
And I am giving my centaur player a shotgun (yes I know...)

 

[Zipp Dementia]

Anuk is a quarterstaff user, so I'm planning on giving her "monkey's rod." For those of you who don't know what that is, it was a staff that coulld be any size the user wished and could expland and contract at their will. It weighed something like 800 tons, but those who commanded it could weild it without feeling any of this weight. A blow from it was said to feel like a blow from a thunderbolt.

 

[zanshin]

I dont know if you are looking for any more power ups, but rune integration of an anti chaos rune could give special powers only vs the chaotic

An ability to sense the presence of chaos
Extra armour vs the blows of chaos only
Special success results from crits vs chaos (death blows)
Ones own bare flesh to be inimical to chaos (bonus damage for unarmed attacks)
Inner reserves of energy triggered by chaotics (temporary stat bonuses)

That way , non chaos minions of the chaotix could present the player with special challenges , while placing them at the forefront of the battle

 

[atgxtg]

Well a powered up quarterstaff seems like a must.

Give it a peronsality and some sort of goals. Note that depdning on just what sort of personality it has could have a great effect on roleplay. For instance, lets assume the staff could DETECT ENEMIES.


Friendly Staff- "Hey Anuk, lookout, there's an enemy behind that rock."

Servile-"Excuse me Master, but an enemy is hiding behind that rock."

Playful-"Anuk, can you guess where the nearest enemy is?"

Arrogant-"Hey stupid, wake up or do I have to take out the guy hiding behind that rock.

etc.


Another thing you might want to give out is stuff like the old POW storing or spell storying crystals.

POW storing crystals used to hold magic points. Some even regenerated their own magic Points. If you are planning on your PC throwing around a lot of magic, more magic points are a must.

SPELL Storing crytals gave the posessor the know how to cast particlar spells. THere were even something called Truestones that could store Div9ine Magic (one used they could be recharged, but only with exactly the same spell).


Some sort of variation of these items could be helpful to "powerup" your Hero.

 

[Zipp Dementia]

Great ideas. I didn't think about making the staff sentient, silly because it's such an obvious tactic... it's a must!

My current idea after reviewing these and thinking about it is the following:

A Chaos rune that, first of all, makes her able to kill the Chaotix. That's important. I may give some bonuses against fighting them, too, or I may add that in as she collects more anti-chaotix runes.

I'm thinking a pretty awesome boost to basic stats, like +3 to everything except siz, or some distribution, like +5 to DEX, +3 to STR and INT... etc.

In addition, I'm seriously playing with the idea of removing her total health score but keeping it in for other enemies (with the exception of the Chaotix... they don't use total health).

 

[atgxtg]

This might just be the Elric in me, but why not a Law rune for killing chaos?

Come to think of it, you entire campaign premise has Eternal Champion cycle written all over it. Take a peek at some Elric stuff or a copy of the Elric RPG. Few Powerups top Stormbringer (a sentient demon sword made to slay gods that eats souls and provides strength and vitaility for the wielder--even when it kills his friends and loved ones).


For some awesome effects, you might want to dig up some RQ 2/3 version of magic. Even a serving wench isa threat when under Fantacism (increase to attack chance by half again), and waving an RQ2/3 Firebladed (3D6 damage) kitchen knife.