AoO Powers Mechanics Questions

[jnborawski]

Hello,

I have some questions regarding the Powers and Channeling Mechanics for AoO.

Specifically how rank factors in... On page 45 under maintaing
powers it mentions that rank factors in... But I'm not sure how exactly... I feel like I've missed something.

How does the Rank of a Character and the Rank of a Power affect how difficult it is to cast?

So if I'm Rank 1 and I cast a Rank 1 power there is no penalty?

If I'm Rank 1 and I cast a Rank 2 power is there a -1?

If I'm Rank 1 can I Even Take a Rank 2 Power?

How does it affect the cost of maintenance?

Also with changes to bolt... Under Bolt II you can choose to either cast 1 3d6 bolt or 2 2d6 bolts... Why would you ever choose Not to cast two 2d6 bolts? What is the disadvantage?

Do you cast the 3d6 because it reduces your chance to have a backlash? Since Any die save for wild having a modified 1 or lower causes a backlash?

Otherwise wouldn't you always use 2 2d6's for more dmg?

Can you Only choose one or the other of these at the time you take bolt? Or Do you get to choose which bolt to use as you are playing?

[Dunthall]

You are correct on how the Rank minuses work. And someone can correct me if I am wrong, but for maintaining the power you would stack the minuses from the rank differential and the maintaing penalty together.

I think with a 3D6 bolt all the damage hits one target. So, if I am facing off against a Wild Card I want to make sure I put as much damage at that target so if he chooses to soak he has to take the lump sum. If I fire off two separate bolts that will be two separate soaks and more likely each hit will be less damage thus easier to soak. For me I would want to use the 3D6 against a big bad guy and in the case of fighting mooks, split the bolts and hit two targets who will go down with one wound. Just keep in mind that the two 2d6 bolts don't stack up into a large numbered damage, but two separate attacks.

And you can decide before you cast which bolt combo you use.

My two cents.

[jnborawski]

That's what I thought with the minuses, and it makes sense... it's just that I've been unable to find a page reference to point to my players in either the AoO hard back / pdf or in the Savage Worlds Deluxe rulebook.

Do we have a page reference on this?

Thanks,

-Joe

[Dunthall]

Pg 21 Covers the background edges that let you use powers. Under Channelling it says you can take any rank but you suffer the penalties due to the rank difference.

Maintaining Powers Pg 45 explains the -1 to maintain.

[razorwise]

Everything is spot on here, except for the following.

And you can decide before you cast which bolt combo you use.

You can house rule this (I know some have), but it was intended to be static.

Best,

Sean