EFFECT LEVEL
There was recently some confusion / difference of opinion about how TIER affects the EFFECT LEVEL, which lead into a discussion on how that is set in general.
I know this was brought up here recently, but that post only added to the confusion.
So I went back and gave the rules another read (or three) and the following is how I currently understand it. I might be overthinking it, or misinterpreting it, which is the reason for this post.
Middle of p24 seems to be key:
“If the PC has an advantage in a given factor, consider a higher effect level.”
Those three factors Potency, Quality/Tier and Scale seem to be individually considered and compared.
As I understand it currently, being at a disadvantage in Tier means reduced effect. The rules however make no clear mention if this goes down two levels from standard to no effect if it is tier 0 against tier 2. Even the example is unclear, because it pits tier 2 against tier 3.
For me it was implied by the ambiguitiy that it isn’t a clear thing you can solve by adding or subtracting numbers.
Tier 0 vs Tier 2 would just be reduced effect. So if it was Standard effect to begin with it would drop to Limited.
So would Tier 0 vs Tier 4.
Let’s try to do a clear rundown:
TIER:
A tier 0 Cutter has reduced effect against a tier 4 Spirit Warden. A fine weapon would bring said Cutter to Tier 1. Still reduced effect against the tier 4 Spirit Warden. Even an excellent weapon would still have the Cutter at a reduced effect because it is tier 2 vs tier 4. Even with the crew weapon quality upgrade it would still be reduced effect.
However there are more factors (considered and compared individually): Potency and Scale
SCALE first:
Staying with the example of a lone Cutter against a lone Spirit warden it is a one on one. It could not be fairer.
The superior training of the Spirit Warden is already considered in the step before: Tier. So it shouldn’t come back up here.
Considering just this it would be a tie. No change in effect from this.
[NTBTW rant]
However, the Cutter with “Not To Be Trifled With” (NTBTW) gains Scale, but only to not suffer reduced effect from Scale. So this does not help him overcome a single person within the rules as written. However John Harper himself allowed NTBTW to have a single PC achieve increased effect against a single enemy, if i remember correctly (please correct me if I am wrong, I could not remember when this happened).
But stricly as written it only helps to offset a penalty.
In our example the effect would not change because of Scale. (unless we allow NTBTW to increase Scale and thus increase effect).
[/rant]
Now POTENCY:
This is all about fictional positioning and special abilities / gear that grant Potency.
If our Cutter was to fight a Spirit instead of a Spirit Warden he’d have Potency with Ghost Fighter. But he isn’t.
So let’s assume the Spirit Warden is still dressing, with his armor on, but his weapon out of reach for the first Skirmish. This should give the Cutter Potency and thus increase effect.
Bringing this all together in the following scenario:
The tier 0 Cutter gets the drop on an unarmed tier 4 Spirit Warden. Both are ready to fight.
Because of the TIER difference the effect gets reduced, SCALE does not affect it, but POTENCY increases the effect again.
We end where we began (the rules tell you to use your “gut feeling”, *shrug):
Standard effect.
If the Cutter had no Potency (the Spirit Warden already picked up his weapon) it would be Limited effect.
If the Cutter also lost his weapon (during the previous struggle to climb into the room), the Spirit Warden would be the one with Potency and the Cutter would have zero effect.
That sounds more complicated than it actually is when you do it and I hope my understanding so far is correct. However, we are not done.
After this all got mixed and it’s decided on a final effect level the Cutter still has options:
– He can push himself for increased effect.
– Someone could do a setup action, also to increase effect.
– Or (ignoring the fact that attacking a Spirit Warden is very likely already desperate) the Cutter could trade position for effect.
In our original example of a tier 0 Cutter who attacks an unarmed tier 4 Spirit Warden one of these three options would put him at Great effect. Two of them combined would put him at a level above that.
Am I still on the right track?
Did I miss something?
Thanks!