- not to be confused with the enhancement titled Wild Ability
The phrase wild abilities is used in GURPS Powers for certain traits. The wild adjective is also used in variations of the term including "advantages" or "gifts" or "versions", making it complicated to find rules for them when searching the entire phrase instead of the first word.
Alternative term examples[]
- P6 Building Powers intro "Basic Set presents many advantages that could be attributed to such powers, but leaves their source unspecified. On their own, these traits are “wild” gifts; they work like they work.
- P8 Powers vs. “Wild” Advantages "many advantages exist both “in the wild” and as part of one or more powers"
- P8 "effects that negate, drain, or enhance an advantage when it’s part of a particular power have no effect on the wild
version"
- P8 "Things that benefit or restrict the wild version have their usual effects on all modified versions, though"
- P8 "unusual NPCs might still have wild versions of such traits"
- P20 under Evaluating Power Modifiers "Even “wild” advantages (those not associated with powers) face countermeasures"
- the phrase "associated with" here appears to be more inclusive than "part of". Abilities with an actual Power Modifier like "Telepathy -10%" are obviously "associated with" a power (including it's "focus" of Telepathy, allowing Telepathy Talent to apply) as well as the source (psionics) of that power. Abilities without that exact power modifier might be considered "associated" if they have the same SOURCE (ie Psychokinesis is a different power with a different focus, but has the same psi source as Telepathy)
- "associated with powers" could simply mean "associated with a source" since that source would be associated with any powers it fuels.
- that MIGHT include simply having that source as your origin, even though you do not require tapping that source to fuel your ability (you could have an entirely different source from your origin: for example you could have chi/psi powered by your inner spirit imparted by magic which was powered by mana
- "associated with powers" could simply mean "associated with a source" since that source would be associated with any powers it fuels.
- the phrase "associated with" here appears to be more inclusive than "part of". Abilities with an actual Power Modifier like "Telepathy -10%" are obviously "associated with" a power (including it's "focus" of Telepathy, allowing Telepathy Talent to apply) as well as the source (psionics) of that power. Abilities without that exact power modifier might be considered "associated" if they have the same SOURCE (ie Psychokinesis is a different power with a different focus, but has the same psi source as Telepathy)
- P20 continues under Countermeasures in middle column "when a countermeasure that doesn’t affect the wild version of an advantage does affect the version a power provides, that’s a limitation"
- this for example explicitly contradicts assumptions that the +300% neutralize works against ANY ability that's part of a power, that can't be true since it isn't described as affecting wild abilities, it just means works against all powers susceptible to neutralize.
- skills associated with power sources (divine/magic = sanctity/mana) could be assumed to have that built into them, explaining why neutralize (magic) would work on them
- this could weirdly be assumed for chi skills too, since the Chi power modifier is not given a limitation for countermeasures and yet Neutralize (Chi) exists, presumably ONLY for those skills, a more limiting variant of the chi power modifier, or countermeasures being added on a per-ability basis separate from the power modifier
- this for example explicitly contradicts assumptions that the +300% neutralize works against ANY ability that's part of a power, that can't be true since it isn't described as affecting wild abilities, it just means works against all powers susceptible to neutralize.
- P20 continues under Countermeasures in middle column "when a countermeasure that doesn’t affect the wild version of an advantage does affect the version a power provides, that’s a limitation"
- P21 under No Countermeasures "Powers that face no countermeasures except those that affect the wild versions of their abilities add +0% to their power modifier."
- the example here "neither warrior can deprive the other of all of his abilities in an instant" means neutralize doesn't exist
- yet "can use their powers to block one another" is probably referring to using Power Parry
- it is easy to forget but Power Parry is not intended to be allowed against wild abilities/advantages/gifts/traits/versions because it doesn't fill one of the two possible requirements on P167 "If the defending and attacking powers share a focus" (which is "regardless of source") or "powers are opposed" (P168) which refers to opposed foci since "source doesn't matter" still.
- this is probably because many enjoy the P168 "traditional comic-book physics" suggestion to GMs of "ignore all this and let any attack parry
- yet "can use their powers to block one another" is probably referring to using Power Parry
- the example here "neither warrior can deprive the other of all of his abilities in an instant" means neutralize doesn't exist
any other!"
Examples[]
- P101 under Cosmic vs. Cosmic "only top-tier powers count as Cosmic against wild abilities."
- P119 under Energy Reserve "other powers, wild abilities, and ordinary extra effort can’t tap it"
- P162 under Skills for Everyone "Those without training do have a large penalty (-6 for working at default) relative to individuals with “wild” abilities or powers that don’t require skills"
P236 interestingly requires TWO criteria:
- isn’t part of a power
- isn’t affected by rules that apply specifically to powers
This means it is possible for an ability to not be part of a power yet still be affected by rules which apply specifically to them. Such abilities are not wild abilities OR powers.
Wild abilities, 6, 8, 20, 25, 27, 31-32, 34, 39, 101, 110, 173- 174, 186-189;