Re: the problems with Axe Trance etc, one home made solution to this type of
problem that we have used is to say that a skill can never be raised above
double the users unmodified value of that skill, whether by bonuses for
position, spell, or whatever. I always felt that the actual skill of the PC
ought to count for large effect on the final value. Stops attacks of 2000%
too! Thus if you go Berserk (tm), then you aren't going to get any more
percentages to hit from your Bladesharp, though you will get the extra damage.
The basis for rationalisation for this rule (apart from the bit about
controlling the game), is that if your skill is boosted, you still have
to have some understanding of how to use that skill, extrapolated from
your own current understanding. Above this, you just can't handle the
finesse etc needed. We decided on double the skill because that felt about
right to us. Use a different number if you like, whatever suits your game.
cheers,
mark buckley.