Bulletproof Blues 3e EN:Gifts
Advantages are exceptional abilities that a normal human can have, but that most humans do not have. In a game where the players are supposed to be portraying characters within the range of human possibility, they could probably purchase advantages, but not powers. The details of each advantage are highly dependent on a character's background, so the player should work with the GM to flesh out these details. Each advantage costs one character point.
Typical Advantages
This is a list of typical advantages found in a Bulletproof Blues game. This list is not exhaustive. A character may well have an advantage not listed here, subject to GM approval. However, any new advantages should be approximately as useful as these advantages, in order to maintain a sense of fairness with other characters.
| Advantage | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Animal Empathy | Use Manipulation and Social skills on animals |
| Charming | Excel at getting people to do what you want |
| Common Sense | Get a warning from the GM before doing something stupid |
| Connected | Get a favor from people with influence or authority |
| Daredevil | Excel at dangerous physical activities |
| Exceptional Beauty | Get attention, and perhaps favors, from admirers |
| Famous | Get attention, and perhaps favors, from strangers |
| Grifter | Excel at vapid conversation and sleight of hand |
| Headquarters | A base of operations for the hero |
| Intuition | Have greater awareness and keener perception |
| Lightning Strike | Use Agility for damage in close combat |
| Linguist | Learn new languages with minimal effort |
| Master Plan | Get a bonus if there is time to prepare for an encounter |
| Mental Calculator | Solve complex mathematical operations by thinking about them |
| Minions | Minor, mostly nameless lackeys of marginal usefulness |
| Perfect Recall | Remember something perfectly with a Reason roll |
| Professor | Proficient with scientific and medical endeavors |
| Quick Change | Change into superhero garb with a free action |
| Savant | Excel at intellectual pursuits |
| Sleuth | Track down leads and get information |
| Team Player | Spend plot points for others on the same team |
| Unsettling | Make people nervous for no real reason |
| Vehicles | Sundry modes of fast and stylish transportation |
| Wealthy | Solve problems with money |
| Wily | Hard to lose and hard to follow |
Animal Empathy
The character has a bond with animals, and can use Manipulation and Social skills on them. Normal animals are more likely to be calm around the character, although a dangerous, hostile animal might require a successful Manipulation or Social task roll to keep the animal from attacking. A character's Animal Empathy might be limited to a specific type of animal, such as cats or sea creatures. If this is the case, the character gains a roll bonus (+3) on Manipulation and Social task rolls when interacting with that animal type.
Blindfighting
Normally, attacks against a character who can't perceive the attacker gain an attack bonus (+3), and attacks made by a character who can't see or hear automatically miss. If a defender has the Blindfighting advantage, attacks made against them do not receive an attack bonus. This does not grant the defender a bonus: it merely eliminates the attacker's attack bonus for that circumstance. Attacks made by a character who can't see or hear, but who has the Blindfighting advantage, do not automatically miss. Instead, the attacker incurs an attack penalty (-3).
Cybernetics
The character has one or more artificial limbs or organs. Under ordinary circumstances, these serve as ordinary replacements for the character's original biological parts. However, the character begins each game with one extra plot point. Cybernetics are a particularly good justification for an automatic success, a power boost, a power stunt, or even a retcon. (Who would have suspected that you had thought to store a tracking device in your cybernetic hand?)
Cybernetics can be obvious, but they do not have to be. The primary purpose of cybernetics is to be a prosthesis, and most people do not want to look like androids -- except, of course, actual androids, who may also buy this advantage.
Connected
The character is on a first-name basis with people who have influence or authority. For example, perhaps the character is a college buddy of the Mayor's and is a childhood friend of a major player in an organized crime syndicate. From time to time, the character can ask these people for favors and have a reasonable chance of having the favor granted. The likelihood of having the favor granted will be much greater if the character does favors in return from time to time. On the other hand, having friends in high places may mean that the character attracts the attention of the friends' enemies.
Elusive
The character is fast on their feet and good at rolling with the punches. In close combat (also known as "hand-to-hand"), the character may base their defense value (DV) on their Agility rather than on their Brawn. Equipment, traits, and powers which would add to the character's Brawn to determine their defense value may add to the character's Agility, instead. The player may choose which attribute to use on a case by case basis.
Exceptional Beauty
The character is naturally, effortlessly attractive. It is difficult for the character to pass unnoticed, because they will be the focus of attention in nearly any circumstances. People who are swayed by appearance may be more likely to cooperate with the character, and the character can sometimes gain favors from admirers. If this is the case, the character gains a roll bonus (+3) on relevant Manipulation and Social rolls. As always, only a single bonus (+3) applies to any given roll.
Famous
The character's name and likeness are widely known, perhaps due to their exploits or achievements, or possibly because they are from a noble or notorious family. It is difficult for the character to pass unnoticed, because paparazzi are often nearby. People who are impressed by celebrity may be more likely to cooperate with the character, and the character can sometimes gain favors from strangers. If this is the case, the character gains a roll bonus (+3) on relevant Manipulation and Social rolls. As always, only a single bonus (+3) applies to any given roll.
Fascinating
A character with the Fascinating advantage is naturally, effortlessly compelling. It is difficult for the character to pass unnoticed, because they will be the focus of attention in nearly any circumstances. People who are swayed by their instinctive responses may be more likely to cooperate with the character, and the character can sometimes gain favors from admirers. If this is the case, the character gains a roll bonus (+3) on relevant Manipulation and Social rolls.
If the character has expertise with the Manipulation or Social task currently being attempted, this advantage offers no additional benefit. As always, only a single bonus (+3) applies to any given roll.
Hard Target
In ranged combat, the character may base their defense value (DV) on their Brawn rather than on their Agility. This can reflect the character's genetically superior physiology, their superhuman healing ability, the harnessing of the character's chi, or some other effect, depending on the specifics of the character's archetype and abilities. Equipment, traits, and powers which would add to the character's Agility to determine their defense value may add to the character's Brawn, instead. The player may choose which attribute to use on a case by case basis.
Headquarters
The character has one or more bases of operation, equipped with supplies and equipment reasonable for the character's background and skills. If the character is a member of a team, the base(s) might be shared with the other team members, at the player's discretion. A headquarters is primarily a convenience for the GM and a fun asset for the character. It is not generally useful in combat, and is mainly used for flavor and a setting for roleplaying. For example, a high-tech base might have an air-tight security system, complete with laser turrets and knockout gas, but this won't keep the base from being broken into by pirates or taken over by a sentient computer virus.
Indefatigable
Normally, a character whose endurance level has been reduced to "exhausted" can speak and take roleplaying actions, but any other action, including combat, incurs a roll penalty (-3). A character with Indefatigable is just as close to defeat, but they do not incur a roll penalty for this condition. This does not grant the character an attack bonus: it simply eliminates the attack penalty. It is therefore possible for an exhausted character with the Indefatigable advantage to have an attack bonus (+3) if they have an appropriate situational advantage or expertise.
Leadership
A character with the Leadership advantage excels at bringing out the best in others, and other people are more effective with the character than they are alone. A character with Leadership can spend their own plot points on behalf of their teammates and allies. For example, this could be to help an ally do something the character with Leadership is not in a position to do, or to provide support for a teammate who is in trouble.
Lightning Strike
A character with Lightning Strike can deal devastating blows using speed and finesse rather than brute force. When in close combat, the character may substitute their rank in Agility for their rank in Brawn when determining their attack value (AV). The player may choose which attribute to use on a case by case basis. This can reflect the character's advanced advanced martial arts training, their superhuman speed, the harnessing of the character's chi, or some other effect, depending on the specifics of the character's archetype and abilities.
Linguist
A character with the Linguist advantage is fluent in dozens of languages, and is capable of quickly deciphering new languages when they encounter them.
Master Plan
With sufficient time and preparation beforehand, a character with the Master Plan advantage is able to gain a tactical benefit during an encounter at a time chosen by the player. The form this takes can vary, and should be negotiated between the player and the GM, but a relatively typical use of a Master Plan would be similar to the use of a plot point. The amount of time needed to formulate a Master Plan should be long enough to be believable, but not so long that it renders the advantage useless. Generally speaking, a character should only be permitted to concoct one Master Plan per game session, unless the GM makes an exception.
Mental Calculator
The character can perform complex mathematical calculations in their head in the same amount of time that a skilled mathematician could perform the same calculations on a powerful computer. Also, the character has an intuitive understanding of higher mathematics, and is able to comprehend and remember intricate formulae and equations after examining them briefly.
Mind Shield
A character with the Mind Shield advantage is naturally resistant to mental attacks and coercive mental powers. Mind Shield adds the character's Power to their Will for the purpose of resisting or shrugging off the effects of mental powers. If successfully attacked by Life Drain or another attack which bases the defender's defense value on their Will, the character's defense value is equal to their Will + Power.
Mind Shield does not need to be activated: it is always on, as long as the character is alert.
Minions
The character has one or more minor, mostly nameless lackeys of marginal usefulness. Such minions might be mooks, agents, armed guards, administrative staff, or technicians to keep the character's equipment in proper working order. There is no set limit to the number of minions a character might have, subject to the GM's approval, but the more minions there are, the less competent they are. For example, if a character has just three minions -- an administrative assistant, a chauffeur/auto mechanic, and a computer expert, for example -- they might be reasonably competent at their respective assignments (3 in their most relevant attributes, with relevant general skills). If the character has dozens of minions, however, the best among them would have 2 in their relevant attributes, and none of them would have any general skills requiring advanced education or technical expertise.
Minions are primarily a fun asset for the character. They are not generally useful in combat, and are mainly used for flavor and as a foil for roleplaying. Minions should never steal the limelight from a player character.
Perfect Recall
The character may perfectly remember any event, document, recording, or picture which the character has taken the effort to study and memorize. The character does not need to understand the items to be memorized, because the information memorized is not stored as text; it is in the character's memory as a picture. As such, the information is not subject to instantaneous retrieval, but the character may mentally "scroll down" or "fast forward" looking for a specific bit of data.
Pro From Dover
The character is the best in their field, whatever that field is. They may or may not be [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Advantages#Famous famous]] for it -- if not, then they have either taken some effort to conceal their expertise, or perhaps there is a conspiracy to deny them the acclaim that they deserve. A character with the Pro From Dover advantage may choose one of their current [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Skills#Areas_Of_Expertise areas of expertise]] in which they are the undisputed expert. When using this expertise for academic, professional, recreational, or other purposes not directly related to combat or actually invoking magic, they add three to their action value (in addition to the +3 bonus they receive for having the expertise). This is not a bonus, and is not lost if the character incurs a penalty on their roll.
A character may only be the Pro From Dover in a single area of expertise, and each player character with the Pro From Dover advantage must choose a different area of expertise.
Quick Change
The Quick Change advantage is usually possessed only by posthumans and stage magicians (and posthuman stage magicians). Quick Change enables a character to change into superhero garb with a free action. This could be made possible by super-speed, a costume stored in a ring, or just wearing a different outfit underneath street clothes.
Second Identity
The character has a second, completely legitimate identity. The character's second identity is completely documented and will withstand even the most focused scrutiny. Alternately, at the player's choice, the character has no documented identity at all: any and all records of their existence have been erased from every database, everywhere.
Sharpshooter
Weapons, traits, and powers that are useful at a distance have an effective range given in their description. Attacking more distant targets is normally more difficult or impossible (at the GM's discretion). If the GM declares that the attack is possible, the attacker normally incurs an attack penalty (-3). With the Sharpshooter advantage, the effective range of weapons, traits, and powers is doubled. Short range (10 m) weapons, traits, and powers have an effective range of 20 meters, medium range (50 m) weapons, traits, and powers have an effective range of 100 meters, and long range (500 m) weapons, traits, powers have an effective range of 1000 meters.
Team Player
A character with the Team Player advantage excels at working with others, and is more effective with others than they are alone. A Team Player gains a roll bonus (+3) when [[Bulletproof_Blues_3e_EN:Actions#Combining_Effort combining their effort]] with others as part of a task or in combat.
Tenacious
The character refuses to admit defeat when others would fall by the wayside. In close combat (also known as "hand-to-hand"), the character may base their defense value (DV) on their Will rather than on their Brawn; in ranged combat, the character may base their defense value (DV) on their Will rather than on their Agility. Equipment, traits, and powers which would add to the character's Brawn or Agility to determine their defense value may add to the character's Will, instead. The player may choose which attribute to use on a case by case basis.
Unsettling
The character is able to put off a disturbing vibe that makes people nervous for no discernible reason. Strangers will find themselves disliking the character without knowing why, and normal animals will avoid the character unless forced to approach by a trainer or some other circumstance. On the other hand, the character may find it easier to intimidate others, providing a roll bonus (+3) to relevant Manipulation rolls.
Vehicles
The character has one or more vehicles which provide fast and stylish transportation. If the character is a member of a team, the vehicle(s) might be shared with the other team members, at the player's discretion. A vehicle is primarily a convenience for the GM and a fun asset for the character. It is not generally useful in combat, and is mainly used for flavor and to make it easier for the character to get around. For example, a character might have a tricked-out Tushek TS 600 equipped with rocket launchers, active camouflage, and biometric security, but it won't defeat a rampaging posthuman and it's not immune to being hacked by a deformed genius and his circus-themed minions.
Wealthy
If a problem can be solved by throwing money at it, a character with the Wealth advantage can probably solve that problem. Food, clothing, and shelter cease to be concerns for a character with Wealth, but they are still plagued by the same interpersonal issues that are behind the serious problems most people face. In addition, sometimes wealth itself can be a source of problems. The character may have responsibilities related to their source of income, or they might need to fend off attempts to deprive them of their inheritance.
Custom Advantages
You aren't limited to these advantages, of course. Feel free to make up your own. They should be approximately as useful and powerful as the ones listed here. Abilities that are more powerful are the domain of actual magic, while abilities that are less powerful are likely just roleplaying, or perhaps a creative use of a plot point. Here is an example of a custom advantage.
Sense Auras
The character can see the invisible emanations around people and things. The character may attempt a challenging (difficulty 3) Perception roll to determine the color of the aura of a person or object (see the "Typical aura colors" table). On an extreme success, the character is able to sense whether the person or object has actively been in league with entities from beyond the mortal world, and whether the aura is "warm" (positive, life affirming) or "cold" (negative, life negating). A typical person's aura is slightly "warm", but even a person with a "cold" aura is not necessarily wicked: they could just be clinically depressed.
The aura of a character with Mind Shield is not able to be read. Their aura isn't missing: from the aura-sensing character's point of view, it has the same impression as a failed Perception roll.
| Color | Temperament |
|---|---|
| Red | In a positive light, red indicates a healthy ego: someone powerful, sensual, passionate, and energetic. In a negative light, red indicates anger, an unforgiving nature, or anxiety. |
| Orange | In a positive light, orange indicates productivity and creativity: someone sociable, detail oriented, and courageous. In a negative light, it can indicate stress and addictions. |
| Yellow | Indicates optimism, and easy-going nature, inspiration, and intelligence. |
| Green | Indicates balance, growth, and a willingness to change. It is a strong indication of a love of people, animals, and nature. |
| Turquoise | Indicates a sensitive, compassionate nature, that of a healer or a counselor. |
| Blue | Indicates calm and focus. It is a strong indication of clarity, truthfulness, and an intuitive nature. |
| Indigo | Indicates deep feeling: someone of profound intuition and sensitivity. |
| Violet | Indicates a sensitive nature and greater than average psychic potential. May also indicate an artistic temperament. |
| Lavender | Indicates great vision and imagination. |