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Finfreeze 01-21-07, 03:51 AM

Whilst checking out the MSRD for neat stuff (which it is most assuredly full of), I came upon the Mutation Rules. I found them most interesting and potentially useful for my hypothetical fantasy game world wherein (mostly-benign) mutations are commonplace, mostly just swapping "radiation" with "magic". Check here for the MSRD and a link to the Mutation Rules. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=d20/article/msrd) Here are the basics of the system. You start off with zero Mutation Points. By taking defects, you gain MP with which to spend on positive mutations. Physical mutations generally impose a penalty on disguise checks. So here's what I really want to know: is there anything to watch out for when attempting to integrate these mutations with a Dungeons & Dragons-esque format? Any powers that are too weak, too powerful, or just are really hard to balance for such a scenario? I can generally tweak the flavor, so that's not a problem for the most part. Here's what I think right now: Too Powerful Wings Thin Skin (Puts you one point short of getting wings all for taking 1 more damage per attack) Too Weak Prehensile Tail (costs four times as much as a normal tail for the ability to hang off of it, but you lose the tail attack) Tentacle (I could've gotten flight or four arms or powerful build...) Second Wind (Wow, single-digit HP recovery that requires an action to use and is only usable once per day. Thinking about changing this to a version of Wholeness of Body) Telekinetic Mind (Mage Hand for 5 MP? Seriously? What next, Prestidigitation for 6 MP?) Iffy Force Barrier (DR 3/- is great early on, but it loses its appeal when damage becomes huge. Plus it's limited-use) Dependencies (I could substitute Antitoxin instead of Antitox, but radiation isn't big in most fantasy settings. Although I could call it magic poisoning, like Mako Poisoning) Cosmetic Mutations (-1 to disguise for what amounts to flavor?) Any ideas of better MP prices or changes for these or other mutations are welcome. I also wish to make positive mutations more common, say by granting a feat to hand out Mutation Points. About how many mutation points is worth a feat, anyway? I was thinking about 4 per feat after pushing the Wings mutation up a few points and toning down Thin Skin. That and making cosmetic mutations grant 1/2 of a MP, but capping MP gained in this way to 1.