New Boon Ideas!

Hey everyone, there's always room for new great ideas - and Boons are some of the most open-ended of all. We still need Boons for level 6 and 9 - I can't wait to hear your suggestions.

Hmmm. How about....

We believe in you
Once a day, if all players are conscious and agree to it, a player can use a magic talent without spending a magic point.

Masterweaver wrote:Hmmm. How about....

We believe in you
Once a day, if all players are conscious and agree to it, a player can use a magic talent without spending a magic point.

Would there ever be a reason not to agree with such a proposal?

Custom Crafted-Transportation

You construct a specialized land vehicle with a single special function (within DM's discretion, this can be for instance temporary flight, jumping capability, weaponry, super-speed), to fit your personal needs. You can choose to either have each player design their own, single-pony vehicle, or construct a slightly larger & more durable single vehicle, that has only enough room for the current party to carry at once. This vehicle can further be modified at personal expense of the players (for example, giving the vehicle flight, a weapon...), provided they have the knowledge and ability to do so. If destroyed, the vehicle(s) can be reconstructed at the players personal expense from scratch, or from the remains of the destroyed craft (giving up to a 75% reduction in cost). The vehicles require maintenance, and depending on their special features, fuel or materials to power them.

Examples of crafts: Motorbikes with jumping/ramming/shooting/etc. capability and custom visual designs, for each player, a miniature train-mobile for the party, a gem-mech with combat capability...

Butler

You employ a specialized, full-purpose butler. He/she can do any minor task you give him competently, is well-educated in all fields of science, magic and friendship, and can perform up to three specific tasks as a critical success without fail, when given enough time to do so (e.g. Researching info, repairing a vehicle, upgrading equipment and might take a few days, weeks, or months), and can assist players with checks without needing to roll for confirmation. He will not follow the party on adventures, or fight for them, but he/she will both maintain and protect the parties other possessions, assets, boons or creatures, guarding them with his life if needed. He is a capable fighter, substituting as a fully-armed squad of elite soldiers, preventing any attempts of minor theft or assault, and has full knowledge of advanced medical procedures. The butler will never betray the party, and cannot be bribed or coerced into abandoning his duty. The butler only requires a steady salary in exchange for his services. Maintenance costs and repairs are done for no extra charge than usual. The butler will reside with one of your other boons, or be employed with another pony at friendly terms with you.

Profitable business

The party gains rights or partnership over a business, organization, or service, that gives them a steady source of income (e.g. rights to a mine, a small factory. royalties...). The amount gained can be increased by further investing materials, bits or other resources (e.g. manpower, specialists) that would assist the business. In addition, you gain nigh-unlimited access to a single resource, consumable or skill specialist of choice, free of charge. Both the resource/utility gained, salary amount and salary frequency depend on the business the players decide on, and is under GM discretion.

I don't think the Transportation one should be different from the Ship. Should just modify the Ship one to be less specific.

The Butler ideas could in the same way just be rolled into the Assistant (as I don't really see a need for two things that are so similar).

The business idea is good though.

All these could be any level don't forget, so the Butler could be the level 6 version of the adorable assistant for example. The place of your own could be the lower level version of the profitable business too. This is very helpful.

Of course, with Profitable Business, the Ponyhandler would have to come up with some sort of economic model/reward system. Unless we flesh out our own official economic system first, or at least make a guideline for Ponyhandlers to use. I definitely think my party is going to end up choosing Profitable Business at a later level, even if it's not a boon they would probably end up making it anyway.

SilentBelle wrote:Of course, with Profitable Business, the Ponyhandler would have to come up with some sort of economic model/reward system. Unless we flesh out our own official economic system first, or at least make a guideline for Ponyhandlers to use. I definitely think my party is going to end up choosing Profitable Business at a later level, even if it's not a boon they would probably end up making it anyway.

So far I'm using 'bits' and 'bridles' as names for coin currency. Bridles are worth 100 bits. Bits are roughly equivalent to gold pieces, just to make things easier for everyone.

I think it most games it will probably be enough if the GM and players have a rough idea of "can we afford this? y/n".

Stairc -Dan Felder wrote:

SilentBelle wrote:Of course, with Profitable Business, the Ponyhandler would have to come up with some sort of economic model/reward system. Unless we flesh out our own official economic system first, or at least make a guideline for Ponyhandlers to use. I definitely think my party is going to end up choosing Profitable Business at a later level, even if it's not a boon they would probably end up making it anyway.

So far I'm using 'bits' and 'bridles' as names for coin currency. Bridles are worth 100 bits. Bits are roughly equivalent to gold pieces, just to make things easier for everyone.

Seems reasonable enough. 'Bits are roughly equivalent to gold pieces'. In all the different games I've played, gold pieces always seem to vary in value Of course it makes sense, as the value of gold itself changes in our economy day by day.

Actually, as I was typing this, I figured I'd go to the economy post from earlier and make some sort of referential chart (according to what I think the value of the currency is), it will be highly subjective, but it may perhaps let us flesh out some actual ideas.

Prices can be very fluid too depending on lots of factors. For your setting, just try to pick a range of items setting out (like a cider mug, a meal, a cart, a ship, a house a mansion etc.) and work out rough prices for them. Doesn't need to be perfect. Then you've got a good idea of the currency range and you can make up values for things on the fly that fall between those points pretty quickly. Humans are usually about as likely to overestimate a number as to underestimate one as long as they have a little information - so overall it works out fine.

I remember once I compared Starbucks fritters to Applejack fritters in terms of cost. I think it came out as a 4 dollar to 5 bit ratio.... not sure, I'll have to dig through my websites to find it again.

Stairc -Dan Felder wrote:Prices can be very fluid too depending on lots of factors. For your setting, just try to pick a range of items setting out (like a cider mug, a meal, a cart, a ship, a house a mansion etc.) and work out rough prices for them. Doesn't need to be perfect. Then you've got a good idea of the currency range and you can make up values for things on the fly that fall between those points pretty quickly. Humans are usually about as likely to overestimate a number as to underestimate one as long as they have a little information - so overall it works out fine.

Well, I just tossed up a list on the Market Post, it's far from perfect, but it's a start.

Ramsus wrote:I think it most games it will probably be enough if the GM and players have a rough idea of "can we afford this? y/n".

So far in Pony Team Bravo's game we've pretty much agreed with the GM on if something is reasonable or not (like taking the train). It helps that we have traveling and lodging costs covered by our boss, but I think it's working pretty well so far. I do like the concept of owning a business, though.

Specialist squad

You gain the favor of an elite team of ponies. These ponies are capable of dealing in secret, doing frowned-upon tasks such as theft, sabotage, interrogations, spying, etc... They have a code of honor though: They aren't assassins, pony-nappers, or cold-blooded torturers. Depending on the DC of the given task, they may or may not succeed in their mission, or outright refuse the mission. Succeeding achieves the mission with no suspicion being cast on them or the party. Failure forces them to go into hiding for the rest of the session, as well as incriminate the group, if they are connected to them. Players cannot join in on their missions, but they can supply them with equipment or funding: The spec squad requests 3 items of high value for each mission, each of which reduces the DC of the check by 10. When rolling on their mission, they get to roll three times, and cannot critically fail.

Pinkie Control

You gain a specialist pony (or small team of ponies) with a near-unlimited information depository. They can be contacted audio/visually at will. They remain in a single safe location, remotely providing the party with information based on their current situation (free assists on streetwise/history/mechanics/arcana checks), as well as monitoring the general surroundings for major disturbances (such as weather changes, magic spikes...). They can also be employed to remotely spy, monitor and track a specific location or specific pony.

Possible level 9 boon for transportation:
Megazord (Or something)
Every individual pony has a customized vehicle for themselves, and they can combine each individual vehicle to create a equinoid robot. The robot is controlled from a room randomly created from the combination. The robot can only be used for combat once per episode session against a creature of massive size. Stat block to be determined by the PH

Fault- Giant creatures seem to be common enemies if you pick this boon

Hmmm, a high level Boon.

Ritual of Astounding Power
A spell bound to a single location that allows the party to do something amazing like time travel, teleportation to any location they've been or any known major city or landmark, entering a pocket dimension where they can store their secret lair, summoning death to answer three questions once a week, raising someone from the dead, destroying or rebuilding or shunting into a different plane of reality an entire city, causing the sun to vanish, etc.


Edit: Logan, you just made me remember times in Xenogears where I'd have my on foot characters beat up the giant enemy mechs. =)

Personal sentient dungeon

You have in your possession the rights to a self-sustaining, self-fabricating, sentient dungeon. The players can design the dungeon to whatever degree they want, as well invest or upgrade it to make it more difficult. It can be employed in two ways:

1) You can challenge other adventurer ponies to attempt to reach its end, being accosted by monsters (Hired by you, with full health insurance, dental, and a contract ensuring they cause no permanent harm or death to the adventurers), traps (non-lethal, mostly to incapacitate or prevent those caught in them from continuing), gauntlets and puzzles to bar their way.
The adventurers (controlled by the DM, or another group) pay a large sum of bits to gain entry (along with signing a contract agreement that they will not attempt to murder, steal or destroy anything within), while the players/DM control the traps and monsters of the dungeon. If they succeed, they receive a prize which equals to 75% of the entry cost. If not, sucks to be them!

Alternately, the DM can just roll a check for every trap element, to see if they succeed.

2) The party goes into the dungeon themselves. In this case, the dungeon is randomized, but maintains any elements that were added by the players (though they may be employed in slightly different ways, e.g. a freeze ray might be converted into a freezing door trap), and there is a significant prize waiting for them, if they succeed. Completing a dungeon (only one player needs to reach the end for all of them to win) gives each party member a large sum of bits, magical artifacts, and a +5 bonus to three skills of choice for the current and following session.

I don't see why an adventuring party would enter a dungeon so that even if they complete it they still lose 25% of what it cost to get in.

Love the idea of a boon that lets the players access some sort of epic adventure; whether a dungeon, legendary ruin, dragonkeep or something else entirely - with incredible rewards hidden within the dangerous delve. That could be an incredible way to drive the adventure.

Dubious ally

You have gained an unexpected ally: One of your former rivals, a well-trusted henchman of a powerful enemy, a repentant villain, an unseen third party, or some other entity is actively helping you. Whether this is a good thing, is dubious, as they disregard morality in favor of achieving the party's goal at all costs, allowing them to do what most ponies would never dream of doing. They may resort to using such methods if the party is not willing or refuses to, regardless of the parties opinion. When encountered, they may end up fighting the party, but it will mostly be to keep appearances: They will ultimately end up helping the party more than harming them. If given the chance and the situation is in their favor, they may even actively betray or harm a powerful enemy. This ally may be hidden from the party, indirectly help them, or may join the party directly as an NPC. They will not betray the party afterwards, provided the party did not actively try to kill him.

Examples of this :
- Players get captured by the big bad. One of his henchmen bails you out of prison, giving you a time limit before he tries to recapture you.
- When confronting the big bad with a hostage, the ally reveals himself and diffuses the situation, allowing the fight to proceed on equal terms.
- A corrupted or previously evil entity gets redeemed and becomes loyal to the party.
- The ally outright kills a malevolent, uncontainable entity, sparing the party from being forced to do the same, or from having to take an alternative that is only a temporary solution


Secret Ally

Somepony, or something, is helping the party, having recognized them as major players in the acts that will unfold. Who this individual is, is unknown, but their intentions are clearly motivated to help the party succeed and to benefit Equestria as a whole. They will never directly act or reveal themselves until the party has achieved their ultimate quest. They will most often act when the party is in the worst situation, as a much-needed glimmer of hope.

Examples:
- Party is imprisoned. A note is given to them, revealing a method of escape.
- Party has no plan of action and have to find someone on a time limit. An anonymous tip tells them where to go.
- The party is heading into a deadly trap. The secretive ally diffuses the trap, or warns them beforehand.
- The party is saved from a deadly random encounter.

Oracle

The party has employed an oracle. They may do two of the following, free of charge, once per session:
- Offer up to three vague warnings (Usually riddles, puzzles or word games), allowing the party to identify and prevent a perilous situation. ("Shun green, when you can.")
- Recite a prophecy. The prophecy resolves around a specific action, or event, that will happen in the future. When the players identify and attempt this action to fit the prophecy, it is automatically a cutie mark critical success. Without the players influence, the prophecy will not be fulfilled. ("The walls of the citadel will crumble when confronted with whirling winds.")
- Give advice on what the most fortuitous path of action would be, for their current situation. ("Find the evil one, as you cannot waste time.")
- Reveal the current location and surroundings of any entity, via vague clues or hints. ("The evil one is in a canopy of fire")
- Give a direct answer on the future of somepony or something, if the players do not interfere, influence, or fail their task ("The abandoned village burns, a worthy ally lost.")
- Give a direct answer on the future of somepony or something, if the players succeed at their task. ("A village saved, an ally gained.")

Oooh. I like all of those. Especially the Oracle because of how much I would never pick it and murder my team if they all voted for it. =)

(It's a good option, it'd just personally drive me nuts.)

Secret Ally sounds really neat. Very mysterious.

Unbeknownest to the party, the mysterious Pegasus X is really Speed Flier's older brother!

/gasp