4.6 Selecting Powers

Each main character, be it a protagonist or an important antagonist, has powers. There are four groups of powers: passive powers, charge powers, Soulbound Weapon powers and Summoning powers. Passive powers and charge powers together are called core powers and are listed in their own chapter.

Passive powers work all the time; they include larger Action Pools, resistances, and so on.

Charge powers cost charge dice to use, which are stored up during a conflict and when passions are triggered. They can add bonus dice to strikes or achievements, inflict or remove conditions, and so on.

Soulbound Weapons are a distinct collection of powers that allow characters to have items infused with specific effects. Characters can have one or more weapons, and certain powers allow them to change the effects during the game.

Summoning deals with binding creatures (known as eidolons) from other worlds to oneself and being able to summon them to one’s own location. Good-natured characters have a bond of friendship and loyalty with these creatures, while others enslave them to do their bidding.

You get to select 9 powers from these three groups, in any combination, subject to the limitations set out with each power. Some settings restrict and/or add powers to the mix, so be sure to check your setting information before picking your powers.

It’s a good idea to have at least 1 or 2 powers that use up charge dice. Otherwise you’ll accumulate these dice during conflicts, but then don’t get any benefit from them.

Zadie is tough and quick, as well as resourceful. I’m picking the following powers for her:

Toughness, adding a wound circle, to show she’s used to hardship.

Resilience II, bringing her defense to 3. She’s learned to dodge and weave out of the way of blows, bullets, and anything else.

Body Resistance. She got poisoned, drained, and weakened by demons and other wasteland hazards enough times to build up immunities.

Soulbound Weapon. She has a self-assembled sniper rifle that she calls “Silent Reaper,” as well as a little assortment of grenades and the likes.
Weapon Upgrade. She’s modified and improved her sniper rifle and other items.

Soulsmith. Zadie can change the modifications and specifications of Silent Reaper or turn scavenged materials into grenades.

Force Attack. Zadie uses this power for super-precise shots with her sniper rifle or for grenades.

Life Drain. As part of her demonic legacy, Zadie is able to soak up other beings’ life force.

Now I have to pick the weapon effects for Silent Reaper. She can always change them due to her Soulsmith power, but I’m going to start off with Strike Boost and Power Strike, which allow her to take out individual targets more easily. That’s a good fit for a sniper rifle.