Advanced - Effects: Difference between revisions

From Wiki for The Only Sheet
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(25 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
BACK to the [[Advanced User Guide]]
== What is an Effect ? ==
== What is an Effect ? ==


Simply put, an Effect is something that will change any value related to your character. For instance, when you wear a Belt of Giant Strength, your character will gain more strength: the "effect" in this case, is an increase in Strength for your character. If you have the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#agile Agile] feat, then your character will receive +2 bonus on all Listen checks and Spot checks. So both "Listen" and "Spot" have effects that increases those skills for your character.
Simply put, an Effect is something that will change any value related to your character. For instance, when you wear a [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltofGiantStrength Belt of Giant Strength], your character will gain more strength: the "effect" in this case, is an increase in Strength for your character. If you have the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#agile Agile] feat, then your character will receive +2 bonus on all Balance checks and Escape Artist checks. So both "Balance" and "Escape Artist" have effects that increases those skills for your character.


But the complexity of D&D3.5 does not come from adding simple number to your character - but rather the interaction of all these numbers when they are coming from different sources. In some case, these numbers CANNOT be added together, while in other case, you CAN add these bonuses together: This is called the Stacking Rules, and is what makes '''TOS+''' stand out from almost everything else.
But the complexity of D&D3.5 does not come from adding simple number to your character - but rather the interaction of all these numbers when they are coming from different sources. In some case, these numbers CANNOT be added together, while in other cases, you CAN add these bonuses together: These are referred to as Stacking Rules, and being able to master the stacking rules automatically is what makes '''TOS+''' stand out from almost everything else!


== Stacking Rules ? ==
== Stacking Rules ? ==
Let's begin by examining the stacking rules. In D&D, your character gains bonuses from various sources. Magical Rings, Shields, or even Class Features can give your character a bonus on something. In D&D, the makers decided to create many different 'types' of bonuses, and they also provided details so we can know if a specific type can be stacked (meaning added) to something else which provides a similar bonus (meaning of the same type). The best way to understand this is with this example: Let say Brak the barbarian (Famous Last words: "''Brak? What a stupid name for a Barbarian!''") owns a nice pair of Gauntlets of Ogre power. If you read the description of those, you get " a +2 enhancement bonus to his Strength score". So these Gauntlets give a +2 to Brak's Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus. After some adventuring, Brak get hold of a Belt of giant Strength +4 and happily wears that to get more bang for the buck! The description of the belt says "The belt adds to the wearer’s Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus of +4". One might be tempted to claim that Brak now has a +6 bonus to Strength score: +2 from his Gauntlets, and +4 from the new Belt. Alas, the stacking rules specify that enhancement bonuses do not stack. So Brak is actually getting a +4 bonus to his Strength score, instead of a +6 (the effect of the Gauntlets should be ignored)
In D&D, your character can gain bonuses from various sources. Magical Rings, Shields, or even Class Features can give your character a bonus to something. The makers of D&D created many different 'types' of bonuses. They also provided details so we know if a specific type can be stacked (added) to something else which provides a similar bonus (of the same type). The best way to understand this is with this example: Let us say Brak the barbarian (Famous Last words: "''Brak? What a stupid name for a Barbarian!''") owns a nice pair of [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#gauntletsofOgrePower Gauntlets of Ogre Power]. Reading the description of those, we know that Brak gets "a +2 enhancement bonus to his Strength score". So these Gauntlets grant a +2 to Brak's Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus. After some adventuring, Brak get hold of a [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/wondrousItems.htm#beltofGiantStrength Belt of Giant Strength +4] and happily wears that to get more bang for his buck! The description of the belt says "The belt adds to the wearer’s Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus of +4". One might be tempted to claim that Brak now has a +6 bonus to his Strength score: +2 from his Gauntlets, and +4 from the new Belt. Alas, the stacking rules specify that enhancement bonuses do not stack. So Brak is only getting a +4 bonus to his Strength score, instead of the all-too-tempting +6 (the effect of the Gauntlets must be ignored)


The [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm core mechanics] of the game explain how stacking works:
The [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/theBasics.htm core mechanics] of the game explain how stacking works:


==== Definition of Stacking ====
==== Definition of Stacking ====
:''In most cases, modifiers to a given check or roll stack (combine for a cumulative effect) if they come from different sources and have different types (or no type at all), but do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession). If the modifiers to a particular roll do not stack, only the best bonus or worst penalty applies. Dodge bonuses, racial bonuses, and circumstance bonuses however, do stack with one another unless otherwise specified.''
:''In most cases, modifiers to a given check or roll stack (combine for a cumulative effect) if they come from different sources and have different types (or no type at all), but do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession). If the modifiers to a particular [statistic] do not stack, only the best bonus or worst penalty applies. Dodge bonuses, racial bonuses, and circumstance bonuses however, do stack with one another unless otherwise specified.''
 
So the Stacking Rule is actually quite simple: The three typed bonuses that stack with other bonuses of the same type are Dodge, Racial and Circumstance bonuses. Untyped bonuses also stack. All other bonus types, however, do not stack with bonuses of the same type. Whenever your character gains bonuses that should NOT stack, '''TOS+''' will handle them accordingly!
 


So the Stacking Rule is actually quite simple: No bonuses stack, except for Dodge, Racial and Circumstance bonuses. Whenever your character gains bonuses that should NOT stack, '''TOS+''' will handle them accordingly!
Skip Williams gives us a more detailed explanation of the [[Stacking Rules]].


== The Types ==
== The Types ==
Ok so we have seen that the stacking rules prevent bonuses of the same type (with a couple of exceptions) from being added. Now let us look at all the Types that '''TOS+''' can handle - you will see that a few more types were added to allow some very powerful stuff!! But you don't need to read on those until you are familiar with the basic types.
Ok so we have seen that the stacking rules prevent bonuses of the same type (with a couple of exceptions) from being added. Now let us look at all the Types that '''TOS+''' can handle - you will see that a few more types were added to allow some very powerful stuff!! But you don't need to read on those until you are familiar with the basic types.


===The Basic Types===
===The stackable and non-stackable Types===
There are basically three types used within '''TOS+'''. The stackable Types, the non-stackable types and the special types. Let's look at the first two types that '''TOS+''' can handle.
There are basically three categories of types used within '''TOS+'''. The stackable Types, the non-stackable types and the special types. Let's look at the first two categories of types that '''TOS+''' can handle.


{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
Line 25: Line 30:
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Available Types !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Does it Stack? !!    !! style="background:#ffdead;" |Available Types !! style="background:#ffdead;" |Does it Stack?
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Available Types !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Does it Stack? !!    !! style="background:#ffdead;" |Available Types !! style="background:#ffdead;" |Does it Stack?
|-
|-
|Alchemical || No || || Luck || No
|Alchemical || No || || Morale || No
|-
|-
|Armor || No || || Morale || No
|Armor || No || || Natural Armor|| No
|-
|-
|Circumstance|| '''Yes''' || || Profane || No
|'''Circumstance'''|| '''Yes''' || || Profane || No
|-
|-
|Competence || No || || Racial || '''Yes'''
|Competence || No || || '''Racial''' || '''Yes'''
|-
|-
|Deflection || No || || Resistance || No
|Deflection || No || || Resistance || No
Line 37: Line 42:
|Dexterity || No || || Sacred || No
|Dexterity || No || || Sacred || No
|-
|-
|Dodge || '''Yes''' || || Shield || No
|'''Dodge''' || '''Yes''' || || Shield || No
|-
|-
|Enhancement || No || || Size || No
|Enhancement || No || || Size || No
|-
|-
|Inherent || No || || Unnamed || '''Yes'''
|Inherent || No || || Trait || No
|-
|Insight || No || ||  '''Unnamed''' || '''Yes'''  
|-
|-
|Insight || No || ||  ||  
|Luck|| No || ||  ||  
|}
|}


So as you can see, most types do not stack, with the four exceptions listed above.
So as you can see, most types do not stack, with the four exceptions listed above.
The "Natural Armor" type is not defined as it is specific to Armor. If you need to affect the natural armor, use the "Natural Armor" effect to do so! Note that Natural Armor stacks with any other armor bonus the character has.


{|width="80%" align="center" style="background:#ffdead;"
{|width="80%" align="center" style="background:#ffdead;"
Line 59: Line 63:


== The Special Types ==
== The Special Types ==
There is something else Parse Effect can be used for. Certainly adding bonuses is very powerful - it would allow you to add effects to any Item or Ability (or spell or power or condition etc.)
With the help of a few special types, '''TOS+''' can be expanded to handle more complex Effects!
For instance, you could define [we will see later how to do this in more detail] a new magical Longsword +1 that also gives a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength AND a +5 Inherent bonus to your Bluff skill! (yeah, it's one ugly-looking sword!). Once this Longsword is defined and equipped, these bonuses would automatically be integrated in the Sheet! (That's the power of Parse Effect at work!). And recall that the you would not need to worry about the stacking rule!
 
But with the help of a few special types, Parse Effect can be expanded to handle more complex Effects:


{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
Line 70: Line 71:
|Haste || Although the bonuses granted by the Haste spell are Unnamed (as in they stack), multiple Haste effects do not stack! So if you wish to create an Effect similar to Haste, but that does not stack with other Haste effects, you can use this special type.
|Haste || Although the bonuses granted by the Haste spell are Unnamed (as in they stack), multiple Haste effects do not stack! So if you wish to create an Effect similar to Haste, but that does not stack with other Haste effects, you can use this special type.
|-
|-
|Max Value ||  Certain effects provide benefits that aren’t really bonuses or penalties to an existing ability, but that give a value where an ordinary character wouldn’t have one.  For instance, Spell Resistance. SR is not a bonus per se, but an ability gained by a character. SR does not [usually] stack (but you could define an Effect that would stack it!): If you have multiple sources of Spell Resistance, you use the higher number. This is where Max Value comes into play. Since all SR are defined as Max Values, you are sure that only the highest source will be used.
|Max Value ||  Certain effects provide benefits that aren’t really bonuses or penalties to an existing ability, but that give a value where an ordinary character wouldn’t have one.  For instance, Spell Resistance. SR is not a bonus per se, but an ability gained by a character. SR does not [usually] stack (but you could define an Effect that would augment it, and therefore stack with it!): If you have multiple sources of Spell Resistance, you typically use the highest number. This is where Max Value comes into play. All SR defined from SRD sources have been implemented as Max Value effects. These effects ensure that only the highest source of SR will be used.
|-
|-
|Min Value || Similar to the Max Value above, but for the minimum value.
|Min Value || Similar to the Max Value above, but for the minimum value. (This is useful for assigning the greatest penalty rather then the greatest bonus).
|-
|-
|Proficiency || This type is currently used only for Thrown attacks: All weapons 'thrown' have a -4 Proficiency Penalty. If that weapon can be thrown (like a dagger), it gets a +4 Proficiency bonus to offset that -4 penalty. This is done internally in the Sheet when a weapon is defined as "Thrown" or not.
|Proficiency || This type is currently used only for Thrown attacks: All weapons 'thrown' have a -4 Proficiency Penalty. If that weapon can be thrown (like a dagger), it gets a +4 Proficiency bonus to offset that -4 penalty. This is done internally in the Sheet when a weapon is defined as "Thrown" or not.
|-
|-
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect Caster type|Caster]] || This special type was created to handle Gestalt characters. It basically tells the sheet that the class can 'cast spells' like an existing class.
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect Caster type|Caster]] || This special is used to handle classes/races that grant spellcasting ability like a base class does (example: the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/rakshasa.htm Rakshasas] race). It basically tells the sheet that the class/race can 'cast spells' like an existing casting class.
|-
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect Manifester type|Manifester]] || This special type is used to handle Psionic classes/races that grant manifesting ability like a base psionic class (example: the [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/unbodied.htm Unbodied] race). It basically tells the sheet that the class/race can 'manifest powers' like an existing manifesting class.
|-
|-
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect Class Skill type|Class Skill]] || This is a special type that was created to allow the addition of Class Skills to a Class. Because it is a bit special, it has its own help page which is available [[Parse Effect - Class Skill type|here]].
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect Class Skill type|Class Skill]] || This is a special type that was created to allow the addition of Class Skills to a Class. Because it is a bit special, it has its own help page which is available [[Parse Effect - Class Skill type|here]].
|-
|[[Advanced - Parse Effect String type|String]] || This special type is used to handle Strings in the Modifier part of the effect.
|}
|}


== How to Use Effects ==
== How to Create Effects ==
Before we examine HOW to use effects in '''TOS+''', let us make sure we are all on the same page, and use the same language:
Before we examine how to CREATE effects in '''TOS+''', let us make sure we are all on the same page and use the same language:


'''Effect''': An Effect is a condition that affects your Character. For instance a "+1 Racial Bonus to Saving Throws" is an effect.
'''Effect''': An Effect is a condition that affects your Character. For instance a "+1 Racial Bonus to Saving Throws" is an effect.


An Effect is composed of 3 parts: The Effect Name (what is affected), the Effect Type (which type should be applied for stacking) and finally an Effect Modifier (what value to apply). For the racial bonus above, the three parts would be:
Each Effect is comprised of 3 parts: The Effect Name, the Effect Type and finally an Effect Modifier. For the racial bonus above, the three parts would be:


{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
{| border="1" width="80%" align="center" class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"
Line 92: Line 97:
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Name !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Type !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Modifier
! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Name !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Type !! style="background:#ffdead;" | Effect Modifier
|-
|-
|Saving Throw || Racial Bonus || +1
|All Saves || Racial Bonus || +1
|}
|}


===Effect Name===
===Effect Name===
Almost anything that is a value can be made into a target. The worksheet called [[IntegrationData Worksheet|IntegrationData]] [we will get into that on the next page] contains multiple lists of targets. Some targets are more obvious than others. For instance, the 'CON' target means the Character's Constitution score. Other are class features that have been turned into target to allow future custom classes to 'add' to them! For example, the 'Lay on Hands (Su)' target (or ability) is available to allow you to increase the level of a Paladin (like from a prestige class, which adds its level to that of the Paladin! Other targets affect many characteristics at once. For instance, the 'ALL Saves' target will affect all three save values.
For our purposes, let us refer to Effect Names as a target. Almost anything with a value can be made into a target. The worksheet called [[IntegrationData Worksheet|IntegrationData]] [we will get into that on the next page] contains multiple lists of targets. Some targets are more obvious than others. For instance, the 'CON' target indicates the Character's Constitution score. Others are class features that have been turned into targets to allow future custom classes to 'add' to them! For example, the 'Lay on Hands (Su)' target (or ability) is available to allow you to increase the level of a Paladin's ability (perhaps from a prestige class which adds its level to that of the Paladin to determine the effect of the paladin's Lay on Hands ability!) Other targets affect many characteristics at once. For instance, the 'ALL Saves' target will affect all three saving throw bonuses.
 
The targets listed in the IntegrationData Worksheet are all of the targets that have already been integrated into some part of TOS+, but those are not the only valid targets. If you decide that you want to create a new ability, you can track it the same way. Perhaps you wish to use [http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/campaigns/sanity.htm Sanity] rules. Even though TOS+ is not anticipating an Effect named Sanity, you can create it to use for your campaign. Because it is not currently evaluated by TOS+, you will have to evaluate it the way you want, but it will take advantage of all of the benefits of Effects, allowing multiple effects to augment (either with bonuses or penalties) your new Sanity effect. We will get into how to evaluate effects later.


===Effect Type===
===Effect Type===
We have already discussed, the available Types that Parse Effect can handle, and the stacking rules applied to them.
See above for more information about Effect Types. You may also define your own effect types (although there is usually no need for that).


===Effect Modifier===
===Effect Modifier===
The effect modifier is simply the value (number) to apply to the effect target. Only the type [[Advanced - Parse Effect Class Skill type|Class Skill]] does not use a number for the modifier - it uses a string, composed of skill names, each separated by a comma.
The effect modifier is simply the value (number) to apply to the effect target. Only the two types [[Advanced - Parse Effect Class Skill type|Class Skill]] [casting race] do not use a number for the modifier (see their entries for more information).
 
==Where to Use Effects==
 
The great thing about effects of that they can be added to any items or abilities the character has! This means that you could create a Hat with the same effects as a Feat, or a weapon that grants you skill bonuses. For the Sheet, if an effect is available, the 'source' of that effect is irrelevant!


Effects can be added to any of the following items:
==Effects in TOS+==


* Ammunition
Now that we know what Effects are, it is time [[Advanced - Implement Effects|Implement Effects]] in '''TOS+'''
* Animals
* Armor
* Classes
* Conditions
* Domains
* Gear
* Potions
* Powers
* Psicrystals
* Race
* Rings
* Shields
* Skills (upcoming)
* Spells
* Weapons
* Wondrous Items


Since the process of adding effects is the same for all of the above items, let us work out a few examples to see HOW we can create these Effects.
BACK to the [[Advanced User Guide]]

Revision as of 21:16, 22 December 2012

BACK to the Advanced User Guide

What is an Effect ?

Simply put, an Effect is something that will change any value related to your character. For instance, when you wear a Belt of Giant Strength, your character will gain more strength: the "effect" in this case, is an increase in Strength for your character. If you have the Agile feat, then your character will receive +2 bonus on all Balance checks and Escape Artist checks. So both "Balance" and "Escape Artist" have effects that increases those skills for your character.

But the complexity of D&D3.5 does not come from adding simple number to your character - but rather the interaction of all these numbers when they are coming from different sources. In some case, these numbers CANNOT be added together, while in other cases, you CAN add these bonuses together: These are referred to as Stacking Rules, and being able to master the stacking rules automatically is what makes TOS+ stand out from almost everything else!

Stacking Rules ?

In D&D, your character can gain bonuses from various sources. Magical Rings, Shields, or even Class Features can give your character a bonus to something. The makers of D&D created many different 'types' of bonuses. They also provided details so we know if a specific type can be stacked (added) to something else which provides a similar bonus (of the same type). The best way to understand this is with this example: Let us say Brak the barbarian (Famous Last words: "Brak? What a stupid name for a Barbarian!") owns a nice pair of Gauntlets of Ogre Power. Reading the description of those, we know that Brak gets "a +2 enhancement bonus to his Strength score". So these Gauntlets grant a +2 to Brak's Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus. After some adventuring, Brak get hold of a Belt of Giant Strength +4 and happily wears that to get more bang for his buck! The description of the belt says "The belt adds to the wearer’s Strength score in the form of an enhancement bonus of +4". One might be tempted to claim that Brak now has a +6 bonus to his Strength score: +2 from his Gauntlets, and +4 from the new Belt. Alas, the stacking rules specify that enhancement bonuses do not stack. So Brak is only getting a +4 bonus to his Strength score, instead of the all-too-tempting +6 (the effect of the Gauntlets must be ignored)

The core mechanics of the game explain how stacking works:

Definition of Stacking

In most cases, modifiers to a given check or roll stack (combine for a cumulative effect) if they come from different sources and have different types (or no type at all), but do not stack if they have the same type or come from the same source (such as the same spell cast twice in succession). If the modifiers to a particular [statistic] do not stack, only the best bonus or worst penalty applies. Dodge bonuses, racial bonuses, and circumstance bonuses however, do stack with one another unless otherwise specified.

So the Stacking Rule is actually quite simple: The three typed bonuses that stack with other bonuses of the same type are Dodge, Racial and Circumstance bonuses. Untyped bonuses also stack. All other bonus types, however, do not stack with bonuses of the same type. Whenever your character gains bonuses that should NOT stack, TOS+ will handle them accordingly!


Skip Williams gives us a more detailed explanation of the Stacking Rules.

The Types

Ok so we have seen that the stacking rules prevent bonuses of the same type (with a couple of exceptions) from being added. Now let us look at all the Types that TOS+ can handle - you will see that a few more types were added to allow some very powerful stuff!! But you don't need to read on those until you are familiar with the basic types.

The stackable and non-stackable Types

There are basically three categories of types used within TOS+. The stackable Types, the non-stackable types and the special types. Let's look at the first two categories of types that TOS+ can handle.

Table: The stackable and non-stackable Types
Available Types Does it Stack? Available Types Does it Stack?
Alchemical No Morale No
Armor No Natural Armor No
Circumstance Yes Profane No
Competence No Racial Yes
Deflection No Resistance No
Dexterity No Sacred No
Dodge Yes Shield No
Enhancement No Size No
Inherent No Trait No
Insight No Unnamed Yes
Luck No

So as you can see, most types do not stack, with the four exceptions listed above.

What should I do when I have an Effect with a type that does not normally stack, but the description of that ability specifically says that it stacks? Simple! If it should always stack, even with the same typed bonus, use 'Unnamed' instead!

The Special Types

With the help of a few special types, TOS+ can be expanded to handle more complex Effects!

Table: The special Types
Special Types Description
Haste Although the bonuses granted by the Haste spell are Unnamed (as in they stack), multiple Haste effects do not stack! So if you wish to create an Effect similar to Haste, but that does not stack with other Haste effects, you can use this special type.
Max Value Certain effects provide benefits that aren’t really bonuses or penalties to an existing ability, but that give a value where an ordinary character wouldn’t have one. For instance, Spell Resistance. SR is not a bonus per se, but an ability gained by a character. SR does not [usually] stack (but you could define an Effect that would augment it, and therefore stack with it!): If you have multiple sources of Spell Resistance, you typically use the highest number. This is where Max Value comes into play. All SR defined from SRD sources have been implemented as Max Value effects. These effects ensure that only the highest source of SR will be used.
Min Value Similar to the Max Value above, but for the minimum value. (This is useful for assigning the greatest penalty rather then the greatest bonus).
Proficiency This type is currently used only for Thrown attacks: All weapons 'thrown' have a -4 Proficiency Penalty. If that weapon can be thrown (like a dagger), it gets a +4 Proficiency bonus to offset that -4 penalty. This is done internally in the Sheet when a weapon is defined as "Thrown" or not.
Caster This special is used to handle classes/races that grant spellcasting ability like a base class does (example: the Rakshasas race). It basically tells the sheet that the class/race can 'cast spells' like an existing casting class.
Manifester This special type is used to handle Psionic classes/races that grant manifesting ability like a base psionic class (example: the Unbodied race). It basically tells the sheet that the class/race can 'manifest powers' like an existing manifesting class.
Class Skill This is a special type that was created to allow the addition of Class Skills to a Class. Because it is a bit special, it has its own help page which is available here.
String This special type is used to handle Strings in the Modifier part of the effect.

How to Create Effects

Before we examine how to CREATE effects in TOS+, let us make sure we are all on the same page and use the same language:

Effect: An Effect is a condition that affects your Character. For instance a "+1 Racial Bonus to Saving Throws" is an effect.

Each Effect is comprised of 3 parts: The Effect Name, the Effect Type and finally an Effect Modifier. For the racial bonus above, the three parts would be:

Table: The three parts of an Effect
Effect Name Effect Type Effect Modifier
All Saves Racial Bonus +1

Effect Name

For our purposes, let us refer to Effect Names as a target. Almost anything with a value can be made into a target. The worksheet called IntegrationData [we will get into that on the next page] contains multiple lists of targets. Some targets are more obvious than others. For instance, the 'CON' target indicates the Character's Constitution score. Others are class features that have been turned into targets to allow future custom classes to 'add' to them! For example, the 'Lay on Hands (Su)' target (or ability) is available to allow you to increase the level of a Paladin's ability (perhaps from a prestige class which adds its level to that of the Paladin to determine the effect of the paladin's Lay on Hands ability!) Other targets affect many characteristics at once. For instance, the 'ALL Saves' target will affect all three saving throw bonuses.

The targets listed in the IntegrationData Worksheet are all of the targets that have already been integrated into some part of TOS+, but those are not the only valid targets. If you decide that you want to create a new ability, you can track it the same way. Perhaps you wish to use Sanity rules. Even though TOS+ is not anticipating an Effect named Sanity, you can create it to use for your campaign. Because it is not currently evaluated by TOS+, you will have to evaluate it the way you want, but it will take advantage of all of the benefits of Effects, allowing multiple effects to augment (either with bonuses or penalties) your new Sanity effect. We will get into how to evaluate effects later.

Effect Type

See above for more information about Effect Types. You may also define your own effect types (although there is usually no need for that).

Effect Modifier

The effect modifier is simply the value (number) to apply to the effect target. Only the two types Class Skill [casting race] do not use a number for the modifier (see their entries for more information).

Effects in TOS+

Now that we know what Effects are, it is time Implement Effects in TOS+

BACK to the Advanced User Guide