errata on LW13

[Rusty Radiator]

I noticed in the errata notes for Plague Lords that it is planned to change the wording on transferring CS/EN scores from "can" to "should".

I disagree strongly with this as I & at least one other Forum contributor I know of have taken this wording as evidence that LW gets a boost to CS upon reaching GM status (as any other GM would). To change the wording that conflicts with one side of a debate & write this off as 'confusion' is surely a veiled way of imposing one side's interpretation & canonising after the fact, so to speak. Mind you, it's already been done with Helshezag....

I just wonder has anyone got word from JD on this? Does he get passed a sheaf of changes to ratify every year or so, read the first 5, then go "you know what, just go with it. I'm already late for raquetball" ;D

[ramthelinefeed]

The options implied by the "can" wording are surely this:

1. You carry your CS and EP over from the end of 'The Masters of Darkness'. The canny reader will also spot that this means you now have ALL the Magnakai Disciplines, and so can benefit from all their bonuses, and every Lore Circle bonus.

2. Or, if you don't want to do that, you repick your scores again from scratch, forgetting about Lore Circle bonuses, but instead getting adding 25 and 30 respectively to your random numbers for CS and EP. (Would you still be allowed to carry over Weaponmastery and Psi-Surge bonuses, though?)

I always did option 1. My rationale being that although my basic CS and EP random numbers from Flight from the Dark only had 10 and 20 added to them, this is more than compensated for my all the Lore Circle bonuses, magnakai discipline bonuses and special items I have. It seems clear that adding 25 and 30 when picking your numbers if you're starting at book 13 is designed to provide a more level playing field, and represent the bonuses you would've picked up if your completed books 1 – 12.

(i.e. whilst it might initially look alarmingly unfair - "Hey! I only got to add 10 to my CS random number in Flight from the Dark!! How come these guys get to add 25!?!?!" - if you do the maths, and factor in all the bonuses and Special Items you have, you're doing fine!)

[Rusty Radiator]

Feline1, I am glad you have a balanced view on the matter & favour choice over the ''uh... I think what Joe meant to say was...." position being taken by the author of the 'errata'
Just to reiterate the arguments for GM re-roll/boost- the magnakai disciplines will be replaced with better ones anyway, and the special items are not guaranteed (in fact you are quite likely to miss kag chain & silver helm if playing 'straight').
Also, aesthetically, it doesn't make sense to suddenly 'lose' access to your magnakai powers upon acheivement of GM status, it does make sense however to suddenly get a massive boost to your power; this fits with all the flavour text about 'remarkable changes' & being 'physically & mentally stronger'. If you continue with the same stats as before, but having to surrender shield & bronin vest you actually end up WEAKER Now that doesn't make sense at all.

The only reason so many players insist on not taking a boost is out of a self-flagellating desire to make the books as hard as possible. Good luck on your 100th attempt at Deathlord....