> First, why is it only possible to augment an ability once with a
> mundane ability?
mostly for game balance I should imagine. Also there is a certain element of trade off between the various abilities
> Surely, a Terrifying 17W, Strong 2W2, Swift 18,
> Tough 3W2 chaos horror is worse than one that is just Strong 2W2??
>
Yes, but that's because it will use its Terrifying against your "Brave" or similar before you even get to fight it, its Swift to out-run you (either when you chase it, or it chases you...) or to get past you to the cattle you are supposed to be guarding, its Strong when it hits you to deliver more power and its Tough when you hit it to soak up the damage, not because it can use all 4 abilities to augment its Close Combat.... (If you want a creature that tough, just increase the close combat score)
> Also, why aren't "built-in" augments like Strong 2W2 instant? I can
> see how the level of the augmentation might vary ("Argh, relying
> too much on my strength and telegraphing my swings."), but it's not
> like you have to stop, concentrate and think about being strong or,
> especially, having Lightning Reflexes 10W.
Tim's House Rule of Thumb...
Some Abilities (Strong, Large) seem like they should be "Automatic", and there is a character in the handouts that suggests this is the case too. I'd allow this for abilities that have at least one level of mastery, using the Passion spirit rules (Score/10). If you want to try and roll for a "better" augmentation, then (obviously) you forgo this bonus (so your Strong 2W2 would give you an edge of 8 unless you chose to roll). These "Automatic" Augmentations take no time (If you are a 5W2 Giant you don't have to *try* to be large...)
I'd generally only allow one "Automatic" augmentation to take effect (so a Giant with 5W2 Large and 15W Strong would only get the benefits of the Large "for free") but would normally allow a second mundane augmentation (from a different skill) - There is still a difference between kicked by a Giant and kicked *hard* by a giant...
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