[BESM] Dynamic Powers

[Longes]

Can someone explain to me how they work, please?

[The Rose Dragon]

It's not that complicated. Unfortunately, in BESM, "not that complicated" is still pretty confusing. Each Dynamic Powers Attribute has a sphere of influence, indicating what it can affect. Smaller spheres cost fewer points, while larger spheres cost more. When the character wants to do something in the purview of his influence (which does not need to be covered by another Attribute or Skill, only described by the player and vetted by the GM), you make a roll with a Stat determined by the GM, and if you succeed (the difficulty also being determined by the GM), the character can perform the action.

For example, consider a waterbender from Avatar: the Last Airbender, who would likely have Dynamic Powers (water). Lazily moving water about or creating a quick splash would be target number 6. Creating a water whip to attack your foes or melting a block of ice would be target number 12. Bloodbending would likely be target number 18, while drowning an entire coastal city, or sinking the Northern Water Tribe, would be target number 24 or higher.

[Longes]

It's not that complicated. Unfortunately, in BESM, "not that complicated" is still pretty confusing. Each Dynamic Powers Attribute has a sphere of influence, indicating what it can affect. Smaller spheres cost fewer points, while larger spheres cost more. When the character wants to do something in the purview of his influence (which does not need to be covered by another Attribute or Skill, only described by the player and vetted by the GM), you make a roll with a Stat determined by the GM, and if you succeed (the difficulty also being determined by the GM), the character can perform the action.

For example, consider a waterbender from Avatar: the Last Airbender, who would likely have Dynamic Powers (water). Lazily moving water about or creating a quick splash would be target number 6. Creating a water whip to attack your foes or melting a block of ice would be target number 12. Bloodbending would likely be target number 18, while drowning an entire coastal city, or sinking the Northern Water Tribe, would be target number 24 or higher.

Ok, I understand those. But what about Self, War, Truth, Keys? What would Dynamic Powers (Bureaucracy) do?

[The Rose Dragon]

The same thing, except you would be able to perform tasks suited to your sphere of influence. For example, Truth may allow you to correct any falsehoods others believe, force them to speak the truth as best as they know or prevent people from speaking the truth on a particular topic.

[Lord Haart]

What would Dynamic Powers (Bureaucracy) do?
Basically, make you a god. Not instantly, sure, and you'll have enough rules and obligations to have precisely zero control over yourself since every your action is a reglamented response to something…

[Slipperychicken]

What would Dynamic Powers (Bureaucracy) do?

It would improve your experience with bureaucracy, or hinder other people's.


For example, if an enemy wanted to go on vacation, submit tax documents, buy a house, or conduct a police investigation, you could hold him up with meaningless paperwork, lost forms and ID, extortionate fees, legal issues, and obstructive bureaucrats. A high enough roll can keep obstruct him indefinitely, or even raise your target's blood pressure or coax him into mindless rage.

Likewise, if you're trying to set up a bank account, a high enough roll means that it's accomplished in seconds, without a hitch, and with most of the fees ignored. The power also allows you to ignore paperwork, red tape, meaningless fees, corrupt officials, and make bureaucrats friendly, competent, and speak your native language fluently (they lose this fluency once you stop using the power).

[Mutazoia]

It would improve your experience with bureaucracy, or hinder other people's.


For example, if an enemy wanted to go on vacation, submit tax documents, buy a house, or conduct a police investigation, you could hold him up with meaningless paperwork, lost forms and ID, extortionate fees, legal issues, and obstructive bureaucrats. A high enough roll can keep obstruct him indefinitely, or even raise your target's blood pressure or coax him into mindless rage.

Likewise, if you're trying to set up a bank account, a high enough roll means that it's accomplished in seconds, without a hitch, and with most of the fees ignored. The power also allows you to ignore paperwork, red tape, meaningless fees, corrupt officials, and make bureaucrats friendly, competent, and speak your native language fluently (they lose this fluency once you stop using the power).

This.

With a high enough roll you could establish an entire false identity including bank statements, utility bills...basically your false ID would BE completely bulletproof. You could set up a dummy corporation that was owned by a dummy corporation that was in turned owned by a dummy corporation ad nauseum driving anybody who tried to back track the paper trail mad. And it would all appear legit and legal.

By the same measure you could totally erase your Foe's identity...report him as dead to his credit card companies and the banks. File his death certificate, have the bank repo his house and car, make his life insurance policies and 401K's disappear with out a trace. Hell you could assign his identity to some one completely different and watch as he get's arrested for identity theft the first time he tries to use his own credit card... You could swap his identity with that of whom ever happens to be number 1 on the FBI's most wanted list or give him all the credentials and personal history to make him look like Bin Laden's right hand man....

[tyckspoon]

Short answer: With a decent roll and a good (player-level, not in-character) bluff as to why it applies, Dynamic Power lets you do whatever the heck you want. Doesn't really matter all that much what your sphere of control actually is, if you're twisty enough you can come up with a reason you should be able to use it.