I've read through the new edition of the ZODIAC RPG, and I really like it. This particular rule bugs me though; I only get three techs at character creation, and they all have to be level 1? By the rules, I can buy any tech I want if I have the tech points for it after character creation, and I can easily have more tech points than I can spend if I'm only limited to three techs for a 1st-level character, so what's the point of this rule? I could understand if there was a tech level by xp level guideline, but as written, it doesn't actually do anything as far as I can tell.
There is a guideline:
"A character can have a maximum number of Tech Levels equal to 5 + (MAG / 2)"
I'd say this starting tech limit exists so a character's advancement stays flexible and so that Blue Mages don't start too gimped.
Shouldn't it say that this rule only applies to Blue Mages in that case, since it exists primarily so that they start with some techs instead of none? Right now, as it's written, it would be better for a character to take no techs at character creation and immediately assign techs as soon as they start play. I'm not understanding how this keeps a non-blue mage character's advancement flexible.
The thing is that Blue Mages don't have techs. They start the game with a single Blue Magic spell. Further spells can only be gained through battles. Tech users probably have to wait a level for the entire Tech System to unlock so any Blue Mage has a bit of time to learn additional spells.
The "flexible" part was referring to Tech users. It allows them to keep a few Tech points and get a hang of the combat system before spending them.
And let's see… A starting character has 12 Tech Points, with a further 3 or 20 depending on their MAG. I'd say they also didn't want high-MAG characters to start out with almost a dozen cloned Techs.
Is the whole "Tech Users have to wait a level for the Tech System to unlock" a house rule? I'm asking about the rules as written in this case. "A character may spend Tech Points to learn a Tech at any time." is what they say right now. I'm saying I don't understand what this rule accomplishes given that.
Honestly, as a workaround, I'd just ignore this rule entirely and give Blue Mages two spells instead of one. It would make things a bit simpler. Alternatively, and I don't prefer this, keep the rule and just say no one can freely spend leftover tech points until level 2.





