Device/equipment question

[Plangkye]

So I have a conundrum: I have a character to whom I want to give a mask that is enchanted to grant Darkvision and Low-Light Vision. I would assume that this is a Device (Hard to lose) as it's securely strapped to his face like a pair of aviator goggles, but the cost of the actual powers is only three points, and it doesn't need any additional features, so one rank in that power would leave me with two effective power points and one real power point being wasted.

How do I handle this? Is it Equipment instead of a Device, and if so, what's the cost in Equipment points?

[kenseido]

Okay, so first off Low Light Vision is defined as Limited Darkvision, so you don't need both.

The cost of equipment is based on how many power points it would cost. If the powers the equipment provides costs 2pp, then it costs 2ep. Remember, though, the big thing about Equipment is that it can be taken away or broken without any complication or HP in return.

As for a Device, if this the only Device you have? What about a costume? You could combine the two. Ultimate Powers actually says you can combine multiple small devices into one Device container, as long as they are all the same "loss" level (i.e. all easy to lose or all hard to lose).

[Doctor Devious]

It wouldn't fly as equipment in a "normal" supers world, as equipment should be "mundane - ordinary things found in the real world" (page 132).

Given the low points cost, it would be easier to just pay the points and go for a complication if removed/unavailable, or just use a power loss point reduction rather than the device route.

[FuzzyBoots]

Alternately, if your GM doesn't mind importing mechanics from a later edition, you can allow Containers (of which Devices are a subset) to go outside of the quanta of 5. Within 3E, they redefined flaws and extras on Containers to be calculated as a fraction of the 5 with the discount being rounded. So, for an easy-to-lose Device, the discount is 2/5 per pp. For 4-5 pp in the Device, that's a 2 pp discount. For 2-3, it's a 1 pp discount. For 1, there's no discount. Your Device would save 1 pp that way (and I agree that it would be Device unless this is a common piece of equipment in your world as Night-Vision goggles might be considered here) would fall. Easy-to-Lose works the same way except the break point is at 3 pp of powers. You could theoretically extend this to any Flaw or Extra on Containers.

[Plangkye]

Okay, so first off Low Light Vision is defined as Limited Darkvision, so you don't need both.

The cost of equipment is based on how many power points it would cost. If the powers the equipment provides costs 2pp, then it costs 2ep. Remember, though, the big thing about Equipment is that it can be taken away or broken without any complication or HP in return.

As for a Device, if this the only Device you have? What about a costume? You could combine the two. Ultimate Powers actually says you can combine multiple small devices into one Device container, as long as they are all the same "loss" level (i.e. all easy to lose or all hard to lose).

...Gah. I need to get out of D&D mode then; they were totally different things there. I'm used to Darkvision having a range of 60 feet.

He does have a costume, of sorts, but it's all composed of pretty much ordinary clothing (character pictured here, he's the man who isn't a ghost). The mask is the only thing he has that isn't a spell, cast on-demand. I can't ask a GM about it because I don't yet have one; I'm creating the character now to hold in reserve because of the impending City of Heroes shutdown and my unwillingness to lose him.


EDIT: Alternatively, I could forget about the power being there at all, because I BS'd it as an in-character explanation for "Why does his mask have lenses on it" that was better than "I liked the way it looked," and he is really tight on points already.

[peregrine]

If all you care about is looks, lenses in a mask are their own justification. People in the real world don't wear goggles just for the night vision, but to keep crap out of their eyes.

Otherwise, sensory protection for avoiding dazzle and blinding effects can be used to make up the 5 points left.

[FuzzyBoots]

The goggles. They do nothing!

[digitalangel]

and I agree that it would be Device unless this is a common piece of equipment in your world as Night-Vision goggles might be considered here

Reading the OP it sounds like a fancy set of nightvision or thermal goggles that are aesthetically built into a mask is all this is. As a GM I would have no problems OKing this as equipment if that is basically what it is. Just remember that equipment is easier to destroy/take away (without granting a HP in return)/ etc.