Characters Will Not Be Rolled Randomly
Michael and others, some additional thoughts on character creation. There will be no more randomly rolled characters; the potential differences between character attributes doesn't justify the 'fun' the random factor gives.
Instead, each player will get 28 attribute points, and each ability score starts at 8. So, you could give yourself 6 scores (Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con, Chr) of 14, 10, 10, 14, 16, 12. Additionally, based on my earlier research on 'Point-buy', I'm nerfing strength. Instead of getting a bonus to both to-hit and damage, the bonus will be split. For example, with an 18 strength, you would get a +2 hit/+2 damage, while with a 12 strength you could either have +1/hit or +1/damage. This will be somewhat balanced by many low-level creatures only having '1 hit' worth of HP's, meaning that any hit by anyone will kill them. I'm simply tired of the ridiculous bookkeeping requirements to run even slightly complex fights.
Additionally, if we are not going to use the point-buy system, you can also sacrifice an attribute point for either 8 skill points 2 feats, one special ability, one Force Level (max 5) or 10 Force Store. Special abilities will all draw on the 2 new sub-attributes, Force Level and Force Store.
Each player automatically starts with 1 Force Level and 5 Force Store. (so you can take powers later even if you don't at first level) Each player will automatically gain 5 more Force Store every 2 levels (3, 5, 7, 9, etc). Force Level is defined as the number of Force Store regained daily when under Spherelight. Force Store is vaguely related to the total power available for an ability, and is the equivalent of spell levels.
Special powers can be pretty much anything anyone wants (barring area-effect combat spells), and will be calculated according to its power level. A power will be equated to spell levels, and require a certain number of force store to use. The Force Store required for the power will be:
1st: 1
2nd: 3
3rd: 6
4th: 10
5th: 15
6th: 21
7th: 28
8th: 36
9th: 45
The reasoning is that special powers of 9th-level proportions are massively greater than just 9 times the power of a 1st-level spell. However, this also means you can take pretty much any power you like assuming you have the Force Store to use it. However, take note that if you give yourself 50 Force Store but only 2 Force Level, it will take a character 25 game days to regenerate their complete Force Store. I hope this will create a self-balancing, but completely open, system of making yourselves the coolest heroes around.
I'm curious what folks think of this whole system; I'm not attached to it and am willing to look at other ways of doing things. I do however, want folks to realize that every creature in Sphere has the potential to have special abilities, from the greatest Dragonlord to the lowliest farmer to the strangest creature. The farmer might not be able to swing a sword, but don't be surprised if he tosses off a couple of telekinetic bolts before attacking you with his rake. And the Giant Woodpecker might not look particularly menacing, until he charms the nearby hippopotomus and sends it your way.