No, 5 purple is the maximum if using the standard difficulty scale. An opposed check is going to break that by default since it's not using the standard difficulty scale.
I see, as I suspected... Not very elegant from their part, but ok.
Since it is already envisioned in the rules that PCs may face difficulties of 6 purple dice (through opposed checks), I don't think anything breaks in the game if this "standard difficulty scale" extends to 6 purple dice (or more).
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Sam Stewart answered my question!
The Question:
Modding Attachments:
The rules, EotE pg 187:
"If he succeeds, he successfully installs the mod on his gear, and the item now benefits from the bonus provided by the mod. If he fails, however, the mod is not installed, and he may not attempt to install that mod again. If he failed and his check generated at least one [Despair], the attachment is also rendered useless by his tinkering.
The part I'm curious about is this line: "If he fails, however, the mod is not installed, and he may not attempt to install that mod again."
I have encountered two interpretations, I'll give an example:
PC buys a Balanced Hilt mod for his Vibro-Axe and installs it. The Axe gets the Accurate +1 Quality from the Attachment and has 2 Mods available. PC buys the first mod (100 creds) and tries to install the Decrease Encumbrance by 1 mod. He fails.
By one interpretation that Attachment can never have the Decrease Encumbrance Mod. It's a "ruined slot".
By another, the PC spends another 100 credits and tries again.
Which interpretation is the correct one?
Thank you,
EvilE
The Answer:
Hello sir,
In your example, if he attempts to install the Decrease Encumbrance mod and fails, he may not attempt to install the Decrease Encumbrance mod again. He may attempt to install the Accurate +1 Quality mod, however.
In another example, let's look at the Augmented Spin Barrel. The Spin Barrel has two "Damage +1" Mods. If the PC attempts to install one Damage +1 mod and fails, he does not install that mod and may not install it again. However, he may attempt install the other Damage +1 mod.
Hope that helps!
Sam Stewart
Senior RPG Producer
Fantasy Flight Games
And he called me sir! Not "jerkfaced @sshole that refuses to buy our games" which I totally expected and deserve!
The dude is a class act!
As far as the attachment (crystal) goes, though, I'm sure it entirely intentional. After all, consider what "modding" a crystal would mean. Now, to do that over and over again would almost certainly increase the probability of striking a flaw in the crystal or some other mistake as you have less material to work with.
However, when it comes to replacing it, I might allow a player to pulverize the Despaired remnants as a base for creating a new, artificial crystal. But without significant consequence to attempting the changes, one might as well roll for time spent instead of success/failure.
Also, a lightsaber crystal is less sting in LotR and more a magic item in older editions of D&D.
Modding a crystal could mean bore accurately aligning it. installing better quality materials for channeling the energy. It does not have to mean actually shaping the crystal.
Good designers, but lacking a bit in the "clear communication" skills and I think several of the designers are working at cross purposes. I keep getting a bit of the "Andy Chambers" smell in the rules*.
For those not savy to that reference: Andy Chambers worked on D&D 3e. At one point he became the "Rules Sage" and began answering rules questions not based on how the Rules Were Written or even In The Spirit Of The Rules, but rather based on his house rules, which sometimes radically differed the RAW and RAI. I keep running into spots in these rules were it feels like two different rules philosophies butted heads and wrote things differently in different areas of the book.
I'm with you here. I think this is more a case of Sam shooting from the hip rather than Jay's original intent.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!
Sam Stewart answered my question!
This definitely changes the modding lightsaber conversation. Failure is much less of a burden this way (though I'm still not completely satisfied that there isn't a problem).