Abaddon wrote:I would say that the staff would probably be more appropriate for a player whose Shifter has a link to a God of Magic and completing an incredibly challenging quest.
That's about the ONLY way I'd let this see the light of day in a game I was running... and if the PCs managed to defeat said Shifter, the God would show up, demanding his staff back (it was LOANED to the shifter, not given).
As a concept, it's pretty good. However, IMO, it's gone way past "high power" and into "high overpowered".
Let's look at this a bit at a time-
1) PPE: Well, RIFTs still lists spellcasting rune items as "times per day", but if we look over into PF, we see that a spellcasting rune item generally has 1d6*10+30 (wizard) or +40 (elemental). This means that your "200 PPE" is MASSIVE. Then add in that it's not just for use by the staff, but by the character. That's HUGE! And the recovery rate is the same as a shifter using meditation! If you look that a lot of the spells on their list aren't that expensive, they can just keep on going and going!
2) Increase the # of SN controlled by 50%: *blink* *blink blink blink* WOW... OK, take for granted that you mean this for a "high level".. say 12+. At level 11, he can normally control 6 lessers. This makes it 9 lessers. May not SEEM like much, but, let's take this a few levels higher (since you mean it for pretty much the ultimate Shifter, right?). 8 lessers normally now becomes 12. Which means instead of 4 greaters, he can now control 6. Doesn't seem like much? Throw two greater demons/deevils against your PCs (and use them to the BEST of their abilities), and see how "not much" it is.
3) Once per week, D-Portal at no cost, or two-way 1/4 cost: My gods man, have you realized the power you just put into someone's hands? Seriously, you're taking something that normally costs 1000PPE, (500 with time for ritual), and tossing it out there. These things are normally done at ley lines or nexus points for a reason. OK, for a round number, we'll give the shifter a PE of 20, and the supernatural pact/link with a God of Magic.. He'd have to be level 63, and have gotten max PPE every single bit of the way, to have the 1000 PPE. At that point, he has 1006 PPE. In order to have the 500 he would normally need for a ritual, he'd have to be level 21. And you just handed him this ability, once a week, without any caveats. Even if he's level 15, that's INSANE. What would normally require him to have access to outside PPE (either minions or sacrifices), or be done at a ley line or nexus, he can do where ever the heck he wants!
4) D-travel, Commo Rift, D-TP Home at 1/2 PPE cost: D-TP Home isn't a huge deal. Commo Rifts are a bit more shocking, because that is a good chunk of PPE you're saving them. For the D-Travel... that's just ripe for abuse. Seriously. Especially coupled with the increase in minions. Or with an adventuring party. Say he has 3 companions. That 200 PPE cost just became 100. How many Shifters who would hesitate at 200 would NOT hesitate at 100? Seriously, that's a LOT.
5) All spells dealing with Rifts, Summoning and Dimensions are cast at 1/2 PPE: This ability is just WOW... I mean, seriously, since this is the bread and butter of the shifter, this isn't just golden, it's freakin' platinum! Coupled with the PPE from the staff, you just broke the scenario.
**EDIT: This is something that would be valued at the BILLIONS of credits. Seriously, if the "standard" rune weapons are the tens of millions that they are, this would be, at the bare minimum, a billion
