Practical Paradox limits

[lukep]

Based on this bug report. It is possible to get the benefit of high paradox (more powerful spells) while avoiding most of the downsides (failure, anomalies, backfires) by boosting it, and then using Static History whenever you use a talent. It is possible to get 30x the power out of your talents this way (at 500,000 paradox). I have several ideas for this:

1. Chance of anomaly per turn
This would only trigger above 2000 (?) paradox, and have a 1/20 to 1/5 chance of triggering an anomaly every turn, reducing your paradox when it is too high.

2. Spacetime Stability nerf
Give it a -100% failure (etc...) chance, so calculated ones above 100% would still have a chance for anomalies.

3. Hard cap at high Paradox.
This would prevent very high values.

4. Cap/limit to paradox scaling.
Make the increase in power approach, but never get more than 5x. 5x damage is currently reached at 14700 paradox, so it shouldn't affect normal values. This proposal would have 15000 paradox give 4x, 50000 give 4.5x, 100000 give 4.7x, 999999 give 4.9 etc...

Of these, I like the 5x damage limit the most, as it seems to fit the best without interfering with gameplay.

[edge2054]

Some interesting ideas.

I'm planning to go through the anomalies soon to add a few and do some rebalancing. Of these ideas I prefer the first one. It's actually very similar to one of the initial ideas Taxorgian had and is something that's been missing from the system. Basically bigger, nastier, anomalies that occur even when you're not casting a spell if you hit a certain threshold.

I'll have to take a good look at current values but I think anyone crossing 800 - 1000 paradox should be asking for trouble, regardless of their willpower score.

[Aquillion]

Some interesting ideas.

I'm planning to go through the anomalies soon to add a few and do some rebalancing. Of these ideas I prefer the first one. It's actually very similar to one of the initial ideas Taxorgian had and is something that's been missing from the system. Basically bigger, nastier, anomalies that occur even when you're not casting a spell if you hit a certain threshold.

I'll have to take a good look at current values but I think anyone crossing 800 - 1000 paradox should be asking for trouble, regardless of their willpower score.

Hrm. It's possible to reach the 800-1000 threshold accidentally by hitting a Paradox-adding anomaly, I think. I'd rather it be a bit higher than that. And deliberately increasing your paradox in exchange for more power should be valid up to a point...

[edge2054]

Yeah, that anomaly and the one that reduces paradox should probably be removed now that anomalies cause paradox to decrease.

[bricks]

Yeah, that anomaly and the one that reduces paradox should probably be removed now that anomalies cause paradox to decrease.

Consistent, practical use for anomalies? How fun!