Chimera

Chimera Creation - Alternate Rules

Why the rules needed changing:
Chimera are a vital part of Changeling: The Dreaming. They outnumber fae by dozens, and rare is the chronicle in which no one wants to have a chimeric companion. However, the rules that determine how powerful a chimera is are badly flawed. Because attributes cost the same amount as abilities, and willpower is so expensive, it is painfully easy to create a combat monster, and horrendously difficult to create a thinking, interesting being. As such, I present my revised Companion rules.
Please note that I follow Revised rules for health and damage; that is, damage can be bashing, lethal, or aggravated. Chimera soak Lethal damage at Difficulty 8. They deal Str + 1 bashing damage as a base rating.

Chimera Point Costs:
Attributes:
Attributes are the backbone of a chimera. All chimera must have some Attributes. Chimera do not start with one free dot in all Attributes, however. Certain attributes can be taken at 0, as follows:
Strength - May only be taken at 0 by chimera incapable of motion, or who are extremely small.
Dexterity - May only be taken at 0 by chimera incapable of motion.
Stamina - May never be taken at 0, unless the chimera has the Dreamform Rede.
Charisma - May only be taken at 0 by creatures with no social or mental powers
Manipulation - May only be taken at 0 if the chimera is incapable of understanding manipulation. All manipulation rolls against the chimera succeed automatically.
Appearance - May be taken at 0 if the chimera is horrendously ugly.
Perception - May not be taken at 0
Intelligence - May only be taken at 0 if the chimera is as smart as an animal
Wits - May not be taken at 0

One chimera point buys two dots of Attributes. A chimera can have Attribute ratings over 5; however, each chimera point only buys one of these dots.

Abilities:
Most chimera have a wide variety of Abilities. Any ability can be taken.
One chimera point buys four dots of Abilities. A chimera can have Ability ratings over 5; however, each chimera point buys only two of these dots (alternately, a chimera point can buy one dot over 5 and two normal dots of Abilities.)

Backgrounds:
It is exceedingly rare for a chimera to have any backgrounds, especially companions, who simply don't have time to acquire them. However, independant chimera sometimes do have backgrounds.
One chimera point buys one dot in a Background. Players creating companions should not be allowed to buy them Backgrounds without a very good reason.

Advantages:
Glamour: Most chimera only have 2 or 3 Glamour, but extremely powerful creatures might have much more. One chimera point buys 1 Glamour, up to a maximum of 10.
Health Levels: If a chimera is not given any Health Levels, than any damage, regardless of type, will be enough to destroy them (think of a mosquito chimera). Otherwise, each chimera point buys two health levels, up to a maximum of four times the chimera's Stamina rating.
Willpower: Willpower is only given to sentient chimera, capable of expanding past their original dream. These creatures are very rare; as such, the first dot of Willpower costs four chimera points. After this, a single point will increase Willpower up to a maximum of 5, after which two chimera points are required for each additional point, with no maximum.

Powers:
Arts and Realms: Although it is possible for chimera to learn Arts, they find it more difficult than do the fae, and usually fall back on their Redes. Only sentient chimera may possess Arts and Realms.
Each chimera point buys one level of an Art, up to a maximum of 3. Two chimera points are required each for the fourth and fifth rank. Each chimera point buys two levels of a Realm, up to a maximum of 4. A full chimera point is required to purchase the final level.
Redes: Any chimera may possess Redes. However, there are a few modifications to be made to certain Redes, as follows:
Armour: These soak dice soak bashing, lethal, and aggravated damage at difficulty 6.
Flight - Chimera with wings need not spend Glamour to fly. However, if their wings are restricted, they are at -1 to Dexterity.
Weaponry - Cost one chimera point for the ability to deal Str + 1 lethal damage. Each additional point spent increases damage by two.
Ranged Weaponry - Costs two chimera points for the ability to deal 1 die of damage at a range of twenty feet. Additional chimera points can be spent to either deal one extra die of damage, or add ten feet to the range. Four chimera points can be spent to allow this Rede to be used without spending Glamour.
(NEW) Magic Resistance - Every two chimera points spent increases the difficulty of all Art rolls against the chimera by 1. Can spend up to ten chimera points.