Epiphany
When in the heat of a moment you may reduce your XP by (current Level + 8) to instantly Level Up. However, the advanced move you choose must be related to the situation at hand.
Has this been done before? Does it seem too good, not restricted enough, or weird?
I think it’s fine enough if it’s used sparingly (so as not to slow anything down). In fact, I’d even say the move can be explained as one they always had but just never revealed / used (I like that trope) as an additional idea to a sudden insight or epiphany.
Fantastic idea for a one-shot but i would never do this in a campaign unless something really big had to be given up in return for the insta-level. In fact, I would still make a pretty heavy sacrifice in a one-shot for this ability and, if it is in a specific situation, you have an easy out. Sacrifice a weapon, item, objective, important npc, etc. I see that you’re basically increasing the amount of time until the next chance to level, but i don’t know if that involves enough fiction for my taste. Perhaps 4-5 xp plus a fictional aspect.
What about allowing for people to go to negative XP? If they use the epiphany move with 5XP, then they might end up with -4 XP. Maybe give some penalty for that.
I like the idea of being able to take an advanced move when you need it, but at greater cost.
As you can tell in the OP I wasn’t sure if the drawbacks were good enough. An extra XP and the move taken must relate to the situation at hand.
The reason I didn’t want to penalize the player further is because they already earned that XP, right? Doing all that they have basically gives them the right to that level up. This is basically the difference between getting the level up now or after the scene is over and you can sit down for an hour or two. I think it would breed cool moments, basically.
Is everyone still convinced the drawbacks should be more intense?
Playtest it, see how people feel when they do it.
Will do. 🙂
I love this idea!
Another option is to allow players to try a move they dont have but at some penalty. Like -1 or even -2. Thematically it means that you are still practicing.
I have never liked training time elements. Realistic though it may be, it creates a down time requirement that my style rarely accommodates. I’ve thus always allowed auto-leveling, and it’s worked great.
I might even go a step further by taking a queue from Castle Crashers. When you level up, you also get back all of your HP!
You could also make it a move. 10 + you level instantly level up, 7 + you have to stand there for a few critical moments looking badass. Maybe roll + XP spent outside of the level requirement.
Wynand, are you saying to keep Epiphany as it is but add the issue that you take -1 ongoing when using it until you’ve had a few hours practice? I think that is pretty reasonable.
That sounds like a fun variant, Andrew. 🙂 In that sort of game, I might waive the XP penalty and make it the standard level up move.
No, I was actually going off on a tangent but no that you put it that way it sounds good…