Journey: Status Effects

We're going to attempt to tidy up some of the game mechanics; part of doing that is introducing the concept of status effects.

Definition

A status effect is something that affects your character in some fashion. Each has a type, a duration, and a value (called Potency) associated with it - that value is used to interface with other game elements. As an example...

REFLECT
   Type: Barrier
   Duration: Special (see text)
   Potency: Special (see text)

   The duration and potency of this status are set by whatever effect bestowed the status. When this status is called, it is called
   for a specific Special type (ie, Magic, Psionics, Divine), which is the category of Special it affects; the status has no effect
   on Specials of a different type. While this status' description uses magic as an example, any type of Special is valid.

   Whenever you are targeted by a spell, compare that spell's skill check against this effect's Potency. If this effect's Potency
   is higher, the spell is reflected, and now targets the spell's caster.

   A spell reflected due to this status has its effective Rank reduced by one; a spell whose effective Rank is reduced to zero is
   not reflected, and instead has no effect.

   A spell can only be affected by a Reflect effect once.

   If creature with the Reflect status attempts to cast a spell on itself, and the spell is reflected, it is reflected to the
   nearest legal target within range of the spell; if no such target exists, the spell fails.

Status Effects

 Lock: Evading is more difficult.
 Protect: Reduces physical damage taken.
 Reflect: Causes Specials of a given type to be reflected back at their origin.
 Shell: Reduces damage taken from Specials of a given type.

Status Effect Descriptions

LOCK
   Type: Weaken
   Duration: Special (see text)
   Potency: Special (see text)

   The duration and potency of this status are set by whatever effect bestowed the status.

   Whenever you attempt to make a Skill: Dodge check, you suffer a penalty to the result equal to the potency of this effect.

PROTECT
   Type: Barrier
   Duration: Special (see text)
   Potency: Special (see text)

   The duration and potency of this status are set by whatever effect bestowed the status.

   Whenever you would take damage from a physical attack, reduce the damage taken by the potency of this effect.

REFLECT
   Type: Barrier
   Duration: Special (see text)
   Potency: Special (see text)

   The duration and potency of this status are set by whatever effect bestowed the status. When this status is called, it is called
   for a specific Special type (ie, Magic, Psionics, Divine), which is the category of Special it affects; the status has no effect
   on Specials of a different type. While this status' description uses magic as an example, any type of Special is valid.

   Whenever you are targeted by a spell, compare that spell's skill check against this effect's Potency. If this effect's Potency
   is higher, the spell is reflected, and now targets the spell's caster.

   A spell reflected due to this status has its effective Rank reduced by one; a spell whose effective Rank is reduced to zero is
   not reflected, and instead has no effect.

   A spell can only be affected by a Reflect effect once.

   If creature with the Reflect status attempts to cast a spell on itself, and the spell is reflected, it is reflected to the
   nearest legal target within range of the spell; if no such target exists, the spell fails.

SHELL
   Type: Barrier
   Duration: Special (see text)
   Potency: Special (see text)

   The duration and potency of this status are set by whatever effect bestowed the status. When this status is called, it is called
   for a specific Special type (ie, Magic, Psionics, Divine), which is the category of Special it affects; the status has no effect
   on Specials of a different type. While this status' description uses magic as an example, any type of Special is valid.

   Whenever you would take damage from a spell, reduce the damage taken by the potency of this effect.