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> Additions to the Channeling System
Talan
Posted: May 16 2004, 10:00 AM
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Among the many great things in Age of Illusion I was especially thrilled with the new Channelig feat: Minor Talents (reprinted below for your convenience).

One of my problems with Wizards Channeling system was that it makes a Talent into a requirement, while RJ clearly describes them as a bonus, something that makes you better. In the books we hear repeatedly about channelers who can cast minor weaves, but who does not have the Talent to use more complex weaves (I think Moiraine can Heal, but she is not particularly good at it).
I have always felt that the rule about Cross-Talent weaves was rather odd, since it depends on the level of a particular weave - and they seems to have been chosen rather arbitrarily (why is the complex Heal weave a 0-level weave, while a simple elemental manifestation like a Fireball is level 2 ?).
With the Minor Talent mechanic it is possible to make an Initiate who is able to cast low-level weaves, like a Wilder can, and thus creating a much needed “mid-level” between not having a Talent and having a special Talent for certain kind of weaves. The new rule is quick, simple and uses the existing system. Cool !

I was thinking that maybe Affinities could be treated in the same way. According to the books only a few Channelers have more than two Affinities - which, IMO, is not supported by the system. Most high level Channelers will have at least three Affinities, if not more. Therefore I hereby introduce another new Channeling Feat:

Minor Affinities:
Choose two of the five Powers, following the normal rules for male and female channelers. You count as having affinity in these two Powers for purposes of determining whether you can cast a weave without penalty, but you do not get to count the weave as one level lower (even if you have all the other Affinities).
You may take this Feat again, choosing two new Powers or applying it to a Minor Affinity you already have, thereby upgrading it to a normal Affinity.

With these additions to the rules it is possible to make a Channeler able to use most weaves (like in the books), but who is not extraordinarily good with them.

Talan


Minor Talents (by Leonard Farnsworth)
You have a weak ability with two channeling Talents.
Benefit: The character can cast weaves of 3 levels higher than they were able to before in two Talents the character does not have the full Talent for. This feat does not allow the channeler to cast
higher level weaves than their channeler level or channeling attributes would otherwise allow for.
Special: The character can take this feat multiple times. Each time it applies to at least one different
Talent, and may apply to the same talent no more than twice.
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Zarozynia
Posted: May 16 2004, 03:17 PM
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I really like the minor affinities feat, good work! It allows for some access to affinities that you dont already have, but doesn't make a character uber powerful when perhaps they shouldn't be.

This just got me to thinking, what about a cap on how many full affinities a channeler can have based on their main channeling stat? Because I seem to remember hearing that channelers like Rand and Nynaeve might have all the affinities because they are as powerful as a channeler can get, but pretty much nobody else would have this many.

Just a thought.

* Edited to remove my own idiocy

This post has been edited by Zarozynia on May 16 2004, 06:54 PM


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Zifnab
Posted: May 16 2004, 06:26 PM
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You've got me somewhat confused... Read Minor Talents again. It does give you abilities in two different Talents. Personally, I think it's a great feat. I've always found it silly that without a specifici Talent, Initiatives in particular are absolutely useless at weaving those kinds of weaves.


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Zarozynia
Posted: May 16 2004, 06:51 PM
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yeah, apparently I cant read today. I realized this about half an hour ago when I was reading Age of Illusions. Sorry, scratch that, I think that the feat is great! unsure.gif

-Z


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