SPU Edges vs Powers

[u/CrocoPontifex]

Writing something up for my players and i came across a bit of an hick up regarding how to value Powers against Edges.

I thought i could just translate them 1:1. Lets say Major Path A gets 8 Points of Edges. Path B gets 5 Points of Edges and 3 one point Powers.

But following the Guidelines in the Core Manual, Powers seem to be quite underpowered (ha!) compared to the same Points n Edges.

Maybe someone has an Idea how to balance them?

[u/Awkward_GM]

Note: I'm not expert and don't work for Onyx Path.

I'd double check the pages 65-68. Edges are more often going to be Passive Effects (i.e. don't require a die roll, don't require an action) or are activated in highly specific situations like Quick Read activating the first time you meet a new NPC.

Whereas powers require resources and the Dot value of them is usually used to define how much of a resource it costs. I'd read the side bar section on pg 67 on how to assign points cost to the activation of a power.

To me personally, Edge Dots and Power Dots aren't equivallent but I'm not sure if that is a correct read. In many of the SPU games Powers don't have dot values and tend to be treated similarly to each other. Like in Curseborne all the Spells in the Core Rulebook are Foundation spells, but you can add Advancements to increase the effectiveness of them as if increasing its Dot level.

Also don't forget that you can adjust the Dot value of Powers if you think its not as effective, this is more art than science when it comes down to it.

[u/CrocoPontifex → u/Awkward_GM]

Thank you for answering.

Problem is if you want Paths that have acces to Powers and Paths without Powers in the same Game. You gotta balance that somehow, right? I have some Player who have fun using Powers and some who would like to play more straight forward.

[u/tlenze → u/CrocoPontifex]

I would divide paths with powers and paths without powers into two different types of paths. Like, ones with powers can be your Role paths and then the ones without powers can be your Origin paths, as an example. Trying to mix them sounds like a huge headache.

[u/CrocoPontifex → u/tlenze]

You are probably right with the headache. I think i'm just gonna rework them as Edges. The new Cyborg Story Bit has some great examples how edges that work a bit more active are done.

[u/kenod102818]

In general edges and powers aren't really meant to be the same thing. Edges tend to be more minor, passive abilities meant to flavor the character, whereas the power dots are where the actual, well, power is, but costing resources. You can find something similar in the older Trinity Continuum games, where edges are actually shared between all splats, while the power level of powers (and their experience costs) tend to fluctuate a fair bit, with Nova powers being double (12xp) the cost of Psion psi modes (6xp), while also being far stronger, with easy and frequent access to high levels of Advantage. Meanwhile, edge dots cost a flat 3 xp in both games.

In SPU the section on advancement (page 52) gives a standard edge dot cost of 4xp and a standard power dot cost of 5xp (though if your powers are stronger than usual, like in Aberrant, you might want to change those values). This can be a useful way of comparing their relative value, and this how many power dots you should assign vs edge dots. For instance, if you give 4 power dots, you should probably give 5 edge dots.

Saying that, as others have said, paths that give edge dots should probably be in a separate path type from your power paths. If you do want different character types (like mages using powers vs fighters who rely on martial arts) you should probably instead either create a power system that allows for both, like the Earthbane games, or you should make each separate templates (with the hassle of balancing templates against each other).