Maximum Chi

[Godslayer]

Is there a Maximum amount of Chi that a character can hold at once?

From what I've been reading it looks like you have your normal amount of Chi. You can then also channel up to this amount of Ch from the environment around you (assuming it has that much).

But what about things like Convert P.P.E. to Chi? If I spent 100 P.P.E. on this spell could my character then hold 600 Chi? Assuming that was more than my normal maximum, would the excess just fill the area around me? Would it burn off eventually?

[Nekira Sudacne]

You can't hold more than your maximum, but nothing stops you from drawing on outside sources to channel more than your maximum. So you can't *hold* 600 chi but you could in theory use it immediately after which it would dissapate if you don't use it all.

This is in theory why things like Fill Object with Chi and Vajra's exist, providing ways to store extra Chi long term.

[Godslayer]

So if you had 200 Chi, but wanted to create a Vajra that required 600 chi, could you use convert ppe to chi to supply the remaining chi?

Is there anything to stop you from casting convert ppe to chi, then using all that chi in a chi attack?

The way I'm reading it is that you can sort of utilize chi in two ways. You can tap into your own chi and/or channel chi from outside sources like the chi around you or chi stored on Vajra, etc.

Which really boils down to that you can only manipulate twice your maximum chi level at any time.

[Curbludgeon]

The spell Create Vajra uses PPE, not Chi, so it's not an issue.

One thing worth noting is that the maximum amount of Chi that can be tapped from the environment is equal to the character's current amount of Chi. This is really only a concern, though, when someone is either regaining Chi from near 0 or when using Geomancy.

As for maximum Chi, if one assumes the line in N&SS "No character may have more than one Chi multiplier" applies solely to character creation and different styles granting multipliers at the same level of advancement, and that each subsequent doubling is multiplicative instead of additive, then a 15th level Dedicated Martial Artist specializing in Snake Style/T'ai Chi Ch'uan will have (PE+15)x256 Chi. With the Advanced Chi Ability Chi Overcharge said Martial Artist can double that. There are additionally several applicable optional skills found in Rifter 7. Qi Gong doubles starting Chi, and Tai Chi and Yoga (taken as physical skills) each add 2d6 to base Chi. All together, this would provide a personal maximum of (PE+4d6+15)x1024 Chi. A similar amount found in the environment could be manipulated via Dragon/Dark Chi, should such amounts be available due to a Wall of Chi. With just barely above average rolls this results in 100,000 Chi available for a single round. If one incorporates higher power level stuff like Enlightened Immortals and N-tined Vajra then Chi becomes NI, but that can be a little goofy.

Note that this character can't do some of the cooler stuff with that Chi. They wouldn't have the mudra or spell access necessary to use a vajra, for one. Also, all of this doesn't directly apply to Rifts, of course, since Chi in that setting is a bit of a mess. I wrote up some preliminary info in another thread about a TW PPE Condenser using Chi.

[drewkitty ~..~]

This topic is more applicable in the Ninja and Super Spies forum.

The maximum a char withou the Adv. Chi power 'chi overcharge' or a MAF that boosts their chi is their PE score.
There is one otional source that says the SN get their PE x2 as their base Chi.

There are some MAFs that ether give a defined addition to the char's Chi Base; and there are some that give doubling bonuses.

[Axelmania]

what about things like Convert P.P.E. to Chi?
If I spent 100 P.P.E. on this spell could my character then hold 600 Chi?
Assuming that was more than my normal maximum, would the excess just fill the area around me?
Would it burn off eventually?

You mean like in the example on pg 73 of Mystic China where the guy ends up with 18 points of Chi, but maybe he can only store 10 points?

It doesn't mention anything about storing excess, but as a house rule I'd probably use a similar policy as the immediately preceding spell "Convert Chi to PPE" does:

1) replenish lost chi (but no more than usual base)
2) can be diverted into an ability cast within 2 melee rounds
3) if not used within 2 rounds or if it exceeds containment capacity, dissipates into surrounding area