[House Rule] Extra Threads
Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 5:02 pm
Typically, one must declare extra threads prior to the first Thread Weaving test and is stuck with the decision or just abandon all already woven threads.
Use of the Improvised Pattern knack for Patterncraft allows an exception to this.
Each success on a Thread Weaving test weaves 1 thread.
Borrowing from the knack and the extra success mechanic, I propose the following house rule in the hope that it neither removes Improvised Pattern's usefulness nor unbalanced spellcasting significantly.
Rule:
Extra successes beyond those required for a spell based on the initially declared number of threads can be spent to add more extra threads up to the maximum allowed by the character's normal thread maximum. Each extra thread added in this way requires 3 extra successes and 2 strain, and this must be done in the same round as the Thread Weaving test that completed the initially declared threads.
Purpose:
Allow something to be done with those rare exploding Thread Weaving rolls when they happen to not coincide with declared extra threads.
Example 1:
Fred the Wizard (Circle 1) weaves threads for Flame Flash declaring no extra threads, as he's not that great at Thread Weaving yet. He rolls an impressive number and gets 7 total successes. One success is enough to weave the spell's single required thread. He can only have a maximum of 1 extra thread, so he uses 3 of the successes and pays 2 strain to add a thread that increases the duration. The remaining 3 successes are lost.
Example 2:
Fredwena the Elementalist (Circle 15) uses Spliced Weave to make 3 Thread Weaving tests for Metal Wings, declaring 2 extra threads for extra targets to guarantee it gets done the next round (she and her friends are falling off an air ship!). She rolls an amazing 5 successes on the first Thread Weaving roll. Since it's the same round and she has to spend the strain for Spliced Weave anyway, she rolls again and gets 3 successes on the second roll. She decides to add another extra thread so the falling random crewmember also gets wings, spending the 3 successes and 2 strain to do so.
Use of the Improvised Pattern knack for Patterncraft allows an exception to this.
Each success on a Thread Weaving test weaves 1 thread.
Borrowing from the knack and the extra success mechanic, I propose the following house rule in the hope that it neither removes Improvised Pattern's usefulness nor unbalanced spellcasting significantly.
Rule:
Extra successes beyond those required for a spell based on the initially declared number of threads can be spent to add more extra threads up to the maximum allowed by the character's normal thread maximum. Each extra thread added in this way requires 3 extra successes and 2 strain, and this must be done in the same round as the Thread Weaving test that completed the initially declared threads.
Purpose:
Allow something to be done with those rare exploding Thread Weaving rolls when they happen to not coincide with declared extra threads.
Example 1:
Fred the Wizard (Circle 1) weaves threads for Flame Flash declaring no extra threads, as he's not that great at Thread Weaving yet. He rolls an impressive number and gets 7 total successes. One success is enough to weave the spell's single required thread. He can only have a maximum of 1 extra thread, so he uses 3 of the successes and pays 2 strain to add a thread that increases the duration. The remaining 3 successes are lost.
Example 2:
Fredwena the Elementalist (Circle 15) uses Spliced Weave to make 3 Thread Weaving tests for Metal Wings, declaring 2 extra threads for extra targets to guarantee it gets done the next round (she and her friends are falling off an air ship!). She rolls an amazing 5 successes on the first Thread Weaving roll. Since it's the same round and she has to spend the strain for Spliced Weave anyway, she rolls again and gets 3 successes on the second roll. She decides to add another extra thread so the falling random crewmember also gets wings, spending the 3 successes and 2 strain to do so.