SHapeshifting and PL question

[ashuramarsh]

Shapeshifting is one of the msot vague powers for use. However, reading throguh the forums here I have a good idea how it work. However, this brings up a question about PLs. If I have shaftshifter with rank 3 shifting, and 15 power points, does htis not techncially place them as 1 Power Lwevel higher than everyoen else in the party?

So a PL 10 shapeshifter adds some physical traits like mayeb higher strength and armor plating and such that he did not have before he began the game, gaing 15 power poitns more than everyoen else, woudl he not then be PL 11?

Is there any balancing factor to this? Am I missing somethign simple?

[Saltcrow]

All and any extra traits gained by Shapeshift is still subject to the PL restriction. So if a PL 10 shapeshifter already has +10 to unarmed attack dealing damage 10, he cannot purchase any further ranks in Enhanced Strength through his Shapeshift without trading his to-hit bonus, for example.

Of course the said shapeshifter can always buy Enhanced Strength limited to Lifting since it does not affect anything limited by PL.

[ashuramarsh]

YEs, that much I understand. I'm morried about the character buying things they do not have yet. Like buying 30 points of powers they did not have and raising themself from PL 10 to PL effectively with the extra poitns. Is this intended and how it works?

that was more my question. It doesn['t seem fair to other players if one play can go +2 PLs above them in a game.

[Saltcrow]

Ah, sorry for the misunderstanding. The thing is, that extra 15 points gained from 3 ranks of Shapeshift is already calculated within the character since he bought that 'flexible points' with Shapeshift (which cost 7pp/rank without any modifiers).

Also, Power Level in itself is not restricted by the power points total of a character. While there is a recommended guideline to keep Player Characters within 15 power points per PL, most non-player characters do not follow such and any free-floating power points from a Variable effect (which has, already been bought and paid for) do not have any bearing on the character's power level.

Hope this clears up a few things.

[Arthur Eld]

You're missing a couple of key things here.

One-more points do not mean a higher PL. The 15 points per PL is a guideline, not a rule, and a character can cost way more or less than that guide indicates and it doesn't impact their PL. PL is determined by a few key traits.

Two, and this is the important one-you don't get 'extra points' with Shapeshift, or any other variable structure. You have to take into account what it costs to buy a variable power in the first place. Shapeshift costs, what, 8 points per rank? 3 ranks is 24 points, and you only get 15 pints to allocate when you use it (although you can also rearrange your existing physical traits.

You should probably read up on the Variable power description to get a better understanding of it.

EDIT-ninja'ed by Saltcrow.