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2 years ago ::
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:49AM
#21
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Date Joined:
Feb 14, 2007
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"Can a pyrokinetic turn off his Fiery Aura?" No...
That does not seem like a good answer. Besides being problematic to roleplaying and almost certainly opposite of RAI, it implies that the answer is clear, when it is definitely not. Remove the "No" portion and you might at least have a reasonable answer. Actually, the answer currently on the FAQ page already seems to say that.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 18, 2011 - 11:16AM
#22
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Date Joined:
Feb 11, 2006
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That does not seem like a good answer. Besides being problematic to roleplaying and almost certainly opposite of RAI, it implies that the answer is clear, when it is definitely not. Remove the "No" portion and you might at least have a reasonable answer.
I think you're slightly missing the point. It's an FAQ thread, so people are looking for a clear answer. And all the other things you mentioned (RAI, roleplaying consideration, etc.) are debatable. They're for a thread like this, where people offer their different views when the question is posed. But the one thing that's isn't debatable is the actual text—what's written in the book and (more importantly in some cases), what isn't written there.
So for the purposes of the FAQ, we should provide the "best" answer—despite its potential flaws—based on the text. The second sentence of the proposed FAQ answer provides the most common alternative rule for those who wish to change it, for any of the considerations you mentioned.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 18, 2011 - 1:36PM
#23
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Besides being problematic to roleplaying and almost certainly opposite of RAI...
I don't believe either of these to be true. Not only does the continual fiery aura (as implied by the origin description, appearance entry, and rules text) seem to be an intentional disadvantage, I think said disadvantage is conducive to roleplaying, not problematic.
it implies that the answer is clear, when it is definitely not.
Again, I'm with battles on this one.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 18, 2011 - 5:44PM
#24
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Date Joined:
Jun 15, 2004
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"Can a pyrokinetic turn off his Fiery Aura?" No. A PC's aura does not have generally defined characteristics in Gamma World, so Fiery Aura behaves according to its stated text. However, it is typical to allow a pyrokinetic to turn off its aura according to the rules for monster auras on p. 105.
@mvincent Without being too hasty, I'd say that the above passage best reflects the general consensus and should be added to the FAQ. As I mentioned before, it's both faithful to RAW and provides the most common alternative for those who wish to tweak the rule.
Fair enough. Added. Thanks for your help guys!
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2 years ago ::
Jan 18, 2011 - 10:02PM
#25
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"Can a pyrokinetic turn off his Fiery Aura?" No. A PC's aura does not have generally defined characteristics in Gamma World, so Fiery Aura behaves according to its stated text. However, it is typical to allow a pyrokinetic to turn off its aura according to the rules for monster auras on p. 105.
@mvincent Without being too hasty, I'd say that the above passage best reflects the general consensus and should be added to the FAQ. As I mentioned before, it's both faithful to RAW and provides the most common alternative for those who wish to tweak the rule.
Fair enough. Added. Thanks for your help guys!
It should be:
"Can a pyrokinetic turn off his Fiery Aura?" No. A PC's aura does not have generally defined characteristics in Gamma World, so Fiery Aura behaves according to its stated text. However, it is typical to allow a pyrokinetic to turn off its aura according to the rules for monster auras on p. 105, but you are a big chicken.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 19, 2011 - 7:38AM
#26
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"Can a pyrokinetic turn off his Fiery Aura?" No. A PC's aura does not have generally defined characteristics in Gamma World, so Fiery Aura behaves according to its stated text. However, it is typical to allow a pyrokinetic to turn off its aura according to the rules for monster auras on p. 105, but you are a big chicken.
/approve
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2 years ago ::
Jan 19, 2011 - 9:11AM
#27
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Date Joined:
Apr 17, 2008
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The "you're a big chicken" line from the Gamma World rulebook -- about choosing your origins instead of rolling them -- is one of my favorite things in any RPG rulebook.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 19, 2011 - 10:03AM
#28
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The "you're a big chicken" ... is one of my favorite things in any RPG rulebook.
I found it the opposite: Like several other lines in the book it felt more like an immature attempt to sound cool. But then I didn't have much respect for people who resorted to the "double-dog dare" to get me to do something as a kid either. 
As far as this thread goes, the description in the book has such characters leaving sooty footsteps and presents an illustration with vaguely flaming hair but no massive nimbus of fire. This is not reflective of the *15 foot wide* swath of scorched earth a character who could not turn off the aura would generate. From a role playing perspective, contrary to what some other people have proposed, I would find a character in a permanent fireball to be denied a lot of chances outside of the "Oh no, the world has cursed me" variety (which is frankly overdone and more the area of other RPGs): They have to maintain physical distance from all NPCs, probably would not be allowed inside any village do to fire hazards ("I'll just wait here while you guys talk to the chief guys" *twiddle*), and can never get a good night's sleep ("Drat, another bed destroyed").
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2 years ago ::
Jan 19, 2011 - 11:11AM
#29
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Date Joined:
Feb 11, 2006
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It doesn't have to be 15. It could just be 5, with the understanding that someone standing right next to you is going to get singed a little (it's only 5 HP). Keep in mind that it only affects creatures, so, as long as we're throwing logic out the window, some of your concerns are taken care of.
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2 years ago ::
Jan 19, 2011 - 1:10PM
#30
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I found it the opposite: Like several other lines in the book it felt more like an immature attempt to sound cool.
I thought it was understood to be tongue-in-cheek.
As far as this thread goes, the description in the book has such characters leaving sooty footsteps and presents an illustration with vaguely flaming hair but no massive nimbus of fire. This is not reflective of the *15 foot wide* swath of scorched earth a character who could not turn off the aura would generate. From a role playing perspective, contrary to what some other people have proposed, I would find a character in a permanent fireball to be denied a lot of chances outside of the "Oh no, the world has cursed me" variety (which is frankly overdone and more the area of other RPGs): They have to maintain physical distance from all NPCs, probably would not be allowed inside any village do to fire hazards ("I'll just wait here while you guys talk to the chief guys" *twiddle*), and can never get a good night's sleep ("Drat, another bed destroyed").
It's an aura of heat that, if within a few feet of a pyrokinetic, can cause burns after a few seconds. You're not a living fireball, you don't set stuff on fire, you're probably not even ON fire. You can simply hurt living creatures who stand next to you for too long. Note that a creature can enter or leave those squares unharmed, and that you cannot use it offensively without actually immobilizing your opponents one way or another. They have to, during their turn, CHOOSE to remain next to you to be damaged by the heat.
Think of it like standing next to an open oven. If you hold your hands there, you will get burned. Your clothes probably won't catch on fire, nor would any manner of kindling, but you could be very severely hurt.
Yes, this means the chief probably won't want to stand within 5' of you. This is not unreasonable. In fact, all it really does is make everything more interesting. Hell, in modern American culture, standing within 5' of a person you're conversing with is typically inside their personal space already.
Long story short, I'm not buying the roleplaying hindrance.
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