Worm: Tinker Idea Question

[Metabolicjosh]

Hi!

Would you rather read a story where the main character has the exact same Tinker ability that Leet has, or a story where the main character has a Tinker (Focal) that allows them to pick a field, starting at Tinker 2 and rapidly increasing to Tinker 12, but they reset their rank every time they switch focuses?

For instance, if you spent ten days with the specialization heavy weapons you would be at Tinker 8(?), and if you switched to something else and came back to heavy weapons it would be at Tinker 2 again.

 

[Jacobs lash]

Probably the 2nd one. It adds variety and a weakness.

 

[omni001]

2nd one but I'd probably add another gimmick or drawback or something to give a reason why the Tinker would ever want to switch focus's and not just choose to stay at 12 forever.

 

[Metabolicjosh]

2nd one but I'd probably add another gimmick or drawback or something to give a reason why the Tinker would ever want to switch focus's and not just choose to stay at 12 forever.

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Yeah, I put some more thought into it and came up with a few ideas. Firstly, the main character isn't able to use inferior materials when he is tinkering, due to his shard not warping reality like most of them. This means that even with Tinker 12, he isn't able to create a black hole bomb with a microwave like Bakuda could. He needs to build up his manufacturing equipment to a level that is capable of making the components he uses.

Secondly, he can overcome this limitation by using an ability called Magnum Opus. It doubles his Tinker Rating to a maximum of 12 and allows him to use inferior materials without worry.

When he has finished with Magnum Opus, he is locked out of that specialty for... six months?

So, he needs to constantly switch specialties to improve his limits, resetting his rating, and take into consideration Magnum Opus.

For instance, my first invention would be to wait until my tinker rating is six and then use Magnum Opus to create a device that makes me into a precognitive blank spot.

 

[Lord Elsquare]

Yeah, I put some more thought into it and came up with a few ideas. Firstly, the main character isn't able to use inferior materials when he is tinkering, due to his shard not warping reality like most of them. This means that even with Tinker 12, he isn't able to create a black hole bomb with a microwave like Bakuda could. He needs to build up his manufacturing equipment to a level that is capable of making the components he uses.

Secondly, he can overcome this limitation by using an ability called Magnum Opus. It doubles his Tinker Rating to a maximum of 12 and allows him to use inferior materials without worry.

When he has finished with Magnum Opus, he is locked out of that specialty for... six months?

So, he needs to constantly switch specialties to improve his limits, resetting his rating, and take into consideration Magnum Opus.

For instance, my first invention would be to wait until my tinker rating is six and then use Magnum Opus to create a device that makes me into a precognitive blank spot.

Click to shrink...

I'm not sure you need Magnum Opus. Doesn't seem to quite fit the theme of the rest of the power, and seems to undercut the weakness...

If each Focus is pretty specific, then I actually really like this power idea. Having strict material requirements, meaning he has to keep swapping specialties to make all the tech required to make various exotic materials he needs gives a good reason to keep flipping, besides the need for different things at different times.

The other way you could spin it would be if he could have multiple focuses. Having just one puts it at 12, but adding more swiftly brings it down until he's tinker 1 or 0 in maybe 10 to 15 categories. So obviously you just go for one focus and take that massive 12 rating, right? Except the foci are really specific. Like, Wiring. Or Wiring Connections. Or Battery Size. So specific that on their own they basically don't let you make complete products. You need to take multiple foci to have a chance at making anything useful - so the challenge is to find ways to minimise the number of foci you have to take.

 

[Metabolicjosh]

I'm not sure you need Magnum Opus. Doesn't seem to quite fit the theme of the rest of the power, and seems to undercut the weakness...

If each Focus is pretty specific, then I actually really like this power idea. Having strict material requirements, meaning he has to keep swapping specialties to make all the tech required to make various exotic materials he needs gives a good reason to keep flipping, besides the need for different things at different times.

The other way you could spin it would be if he could have multiple focuses. Having just one puts it at 12, but adding more swiftly brings it down until he's tinker 1 or 0 in maybe 10 to 15 categories. So obviously you just go for one focus and take that massive 12 rating, right? Except the foci are really specific. Like, Wiring. Or Wiring Connections. Or Battery Size. So specific that on their own they basically don't let you make complete products. You need to take multiple foci to have a chance at making anything useful - so the challenge is to find ways to minimise the number of foci you have to take.

Click to shrink...

An interesting idea. I came up with some other ideas and one of the ones that resonated with me was to have the main character go through technological progression from Pre-Stone Age to Post-Modern Age. He progresses from one stage to the next by completing certain milestones. For instance, making a sturdy stone axe will unlock Stone Age. He is able to use technology created by other people that is one age or more less advanced than his own. (Literally starting in the wilderness and is unable to enter modern society because he can't wear clothes and use roads)

 

[Lord Elsquare]

An interesting idea. I came up with some other ideas and one of the ones that resonated with me was to have the main character go through technological progression from Pre-Stone Age to Post-Modern Age. He progresses from one stage to the next by completing certain milestones. For instance, making a sturdy stone axe will unlock Stone Age. He is able to use technology created by other people that is one age or more less advanced than his own. (Literally starting in the wilderness and is unable to enter modern society because he can't wear clothes and use roads)

Click to shrink...

That could be fun. Presumably all the milestones are weapons of some sort, given most shards interest in promoting conflict?