Meta-Points (MP) are a special resource that players can use to access Meta-Abilities, which can influence the outcomes and results of various interactions between their character and the game world. Meta-Abilities can usually be called upon any time that a check, or interaction occurs.
Game-Masters may want to consider how much MP they allow their Players' characters during a game if they have concerns about the tone of their game and challenges being trivialised too often. But do consider that Metaforce is best played when players have the means to deny pointless deaths and frequently negative outcomes. Allowing Meta-abilities enables Game-Masters to have more freedom to create deadlier scenarios without fear of quickly and unfairly killing characters.
MP and Max MP
Characters start off with a Base amount of Meta-points, then additional MP equal to the sum total of character level multiplied by their MPLV stat. MPLV is a multiplier that determines how much Max MP a character gets every time they level up. Additionally, a player can choose to spend an Experience point to increase their character's max MP by 1, and recover all lost MP at the same time.
Max MP Formula:
♦ Base + (Level * MPLV) + Experience points spent on MaxMP
♦ Default Base MaxMP: 12
♦ Default MPLV: 3
Recovering MP
Characters usually recover an amount of MP equal to the number of Experience points earned in a session. The character can then spend experience to raise their Maximum MP, this also fully restores their lost MP. Naturally, the Game-Master can decide if MP is fully or even partially recovered by doing this, but being able to raise MaxMP for Experience is allowed to give players the ability to spend leftover XP (especially for reaching obtainable Level-ups).
Meta-Ability Overview
Meta-Abilities are special actions and reactions a character can use to alter the results of checks and the way the game is played. They always cost some amount of MP in order to use, but only when its usage creates a meaningful change to an event or outcome. This means that using a Meta-ability will never cost MP if the result can't change a character's fate. Players can cancel the usage of Meta-abilities if they so choose for free, cancelling prevents them from being reused or recalled until the next interaction.
Signature Meta-Ability: Create a Meta-Die
All characters start with the Meta-ability Create a Meta-Die upon creation. Depending on the amount of remaining MP a character has, will let the player create a md# dice of the largest size possible. If the character has at least 12 MP, they roll a md12, otherwise they roll a die with sides equal or less than the character's remaining MP. If they have 3 or less MP, they can't use this ability.
This die can be used on any check or interaction the character makes at any time. The bonus or modification of the Meta-die result can be any modifier the player wants, from increasing a Skill/ToHit of the user, to taking less damage/magnitude or dealing more damage/magnitude with your own attacks and powers, anything that the Game-Master may permit. It may also affect the results of non-Metaforce users used against them, such as their Skill/Tohit checks, magnitude, saves and such. Note: A Metaforce-user (one that can use Meta-points and Meta-abilities) can't have their rolls modified in this way, you can only affect your own values in this case.
Here is a quick guide on Meta-die available when using this ability:
♦ MP equal or greater than 12: Roll a md12.
♦ MP equal or greater than 10: Roll an md10.
♦ ...etc
♦ MP equal or greater than 4: Roll an d4.
♦ MP equal or less than 3: Ability unusable.
The MP cost to using this Ability is equal to the result of the rolled Meta-die. So a result of of 10 costs 10MP to apply the value. Characters can only roll Meta-dice in which they can afford its highest result.
Unlockable Meta-abilities
These abilities can be obtained through Level-ups, usually every even level, unless the Game-Master says so.
Safe-6
Safe-6 is a Meta-ability that costs 6 MP, and temporarily alters the result of all rolls the user makes is treated as a 6 if they roll 5 or less. They also automatically pass checks and rolls that succeed on a 6. The user can also still roll for better results and take the higher value. This can be used in Skill checks, or ToHit checks for attacks against foes. For other dice that affect non-binary effects such as damage/healing/magnitude, d4 and d6 will be treated as their maximum values, instead of overriding them to 6.
This ability effect has a duration of 6 seconds, or 3 Action Frames, and can remain activate between rounds if Safe-6 is used after the first frame of a turn. i.e. Using Safe-6 during the third frame of a turn means it can remain active until the second frame of the next round. Using Safe-6 at the start of the turn keeps it active until the user's next turn.
Action-8
Action-8 is a Meta-ability that typically only works in Combat/Encounter scenarios. For 8 MP, a character can gain an extra Action Frame during their turn. If Action-8 is used while the user has only a Reaction, they can convert it into an Action Frame where they can perform as many actions in a single frame instead of a single activity (normal function).
Action-8 can't be used more than once per round, access is restored at the start of the next turn.
React-4
React-4 is a Meta-ability that, for 4 MP, can allow the user to gain an additional Reaction during their off-turn.
Force Fate
Force Fate is a Meta-ability that costs differently depending on how much they influence a check or event, and how many times they have done so previously. The player can spend an amount of MP equal to the modifier they want to alter for any check or event affecting the player's character. This is an incredibly powerful ability as the player can be told the necessary MP required to succeed at a check without spending any more points than necessary.
There is an equally big drawback however, every time Force-Fate is used, it gains +1 intensity (Force Fate +1), for every point of intensity, Force-Fate costs +1 extra Meta-Points to use for the entire lifetime of that character. A Game-Master may allow ways to reduce the intensity of Force-Fate by some means, but by default the cost should never decrease to de-incentivise reliance.
Metaphor Cost Options
Meta-Points can be used for more than just Meta-abilities, they can also serve as a way to spend them to power character Metaphors. Either by spending MP to use them, or by sacrificing Maximum MP values to grant themselves special passive powers and traits. Pay attention to the use cases of each option, as these are Advanced options for Meta-points and are not for every character and game scenario.
Meta-Points as a Resource
The first way to use Meta-points is to make them a resource that a character uses to empower their Metaphors. Metaphors don't normally need to use MP as there are other, easier ways to interpret costs such as energy drain and stress (Status Magnitude). So using MP to use certain Metaphors could be arranged if the Metaphor's power warrants it and the Game-Master allows.
Given this is a non-standard implementation of Metaphor costs, talk to your Game-Master to whether using MP to power a character's Metaphors is right for them. Usually, Metaphors don't require Meta-points to use.
Max MP for Passives or Metaphors
Another way to use Meta-points is to sacrifice maximum MP in order to grant a character a permanent trait or passive, possibly in the form of an Metaphor, without requiring any kind of concentration or Core Value affecting cost. The character's maximum MP will be reduced for as long as the passive remains active. Passives that are innate or intrinsic to a character's essence or biology may not be possible to revert or remove.
The amount of Max MP sacrificed will differ between the kind of passive, costing more depending on how powerful it is. It may even be possible for it to consume more Max MP in the case of an enhancable Metaphor, whereby improving the related Metaphor will increase its Max MP cost.
Note: It is normal for characters to have traits and passives that don't require sacrificing Max MP to obtain. Max MP for passives is generally for special circumstances in which a player wants their character to be augmented but a Game-Master requires something in return.
Experience Debt (alternative)
The player character can instead incur an amount of Experience Debt to afford their powers instead, slowing their progress upgrading Metaphors and Attributes.