Difference between revisions of "DigitalSentience/InvincibleSpiderStyle"

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Invincible Spider Style

Celestial Level, 9 Charms. Incompatible with armor and weapons.

"No one can stand against an Invincible Spider Stylist - they are cunning masters of defense, binding their opponents with invisible snares! Truly, they are untouchable!"

The Invincible Spider style was created as a response to a number of extant Spider Styles that seem to emphasize the venemous and many-legged nature of spiders over their most potent weapon: their webs. I resolved to create a Spider Style that placed more emphasis on defense, gradually wearing down an opponent until they lay helpless before the martial artist, at which point the Spider stylist would deal a single, decisive, and extremely lethal blow.
I started with the idea of a Web: the martial artist would be able to create a significant advantage for him- or herself, provided she had access to her chosen battlefield for a time before the battle actually began. This advantage manifested as Strands, which seemed a simple way to represent the Spider stylist's control of the battle, and motivate the martial artist to wait until powerful enemies have been thoroughly snared before launching a significant attack.
I think it's interesting to note that pre-Form, the user is taking advantage of pre-existing Essence flows to hinder his opponents and aid himself: hence the prep-time for Preparing the Spider's Lair. Presumably, Silk Entrapment Defense uses the dodge/parry to lure the enemy into further compromising his position. With the Form, though, and its reflexive reassignment of Strands, the artist has begun to actively rearrange the local flows for his own benefit - which we see in a more advanced form in Instantaneous Cocooning Assault. Just something neat that happened without much conscious guidance on my part.
I find myself at an impasse, however. I still lack the pinnacle Charm, as well as a third Charm to build off of the Form. I am also uncertain as to whether the style needs an additional three Charms between the Form and the pinnacle - it would ruin the symmetry, and I do not know if I can devise enough additional Charms that remain true to the style's core themes of defense, manipulation, and 'attacks that dissolve your delicious organs while leaving you intact so that your vitals might be sipped, as if from a giant novelty drink in a tacky bar.'

Charm Suggestions

Right now, I've got two ideas for the missing post-Form Charm. One is a Reflexive Dex + MA defense (dodge or parry, user's choice), which would help keep the martial artist alive and reaffirm the 'master of defense' idea. The other is a paralysis Charm (this one might wind up being built off of Instantaneous Cocooning Assault), in some way expanding on the idea of Fly-Ensnaring Method. - DigitalSentience

My idea for the pinnacle Charm is a scene-long enhancement that makes the Spider stylist even more of a badass while in her Web. On the other hand, I might also still require a badass, organ-dissolving attack somewhere, and this would be a logical place to put it (or else have it build on one of the other post-Form Charms). - DigitalSentience

Layout:

       X
     / | \\ 

    X  X  X
     \ | /
     Form
     / | \\ 

    X  X  X
     \ | /
   Ultimate

Preparing the Spider's Lair

Cost: 4 motes/Strand
Type: Simple
Duration: One Day
Min. Martial Arts: 2
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: None

With this Charm, the martial artist can tilt the scales of battle before battle has even been joined. By properly analyzing the Essence flows of a given locale, the Spider-style practitioner can use these flows against her opponents, slowing and weakening their movements.
For every 15 minutes the artist spends pacing and scrutinizing a chosen area (henceforth called "the Web," an area with radius no more than Essence X 10 yards), she may spend 4 motes to inflict a -1 die penalty to a single opponent (henceforth called a "Strand"). The Strand functions as a wound penalty, affecting all relevant actions as well as Initiative, but is not negated by magical effects that negate wound penalties. She may create a number of Strands in this manner equal to her Essence.
The Invincible Spider stylist is instantly and flawlessly aware of anyone entering the Web, as long as she herself is in the Web at the time. Strands may be reflexively assigned to any opponent when they first step into the Web. Multiple Strands may be assigned to the same target. Strands, once assigned, disappear when their target is killed, or else last for the duration of one scene. The Web and all unassigned Strands persist for a full 24 hours from the time when the first Strand was created.

Fly-Ensnaring Method

Cost: 1 mote
Type: Reflexive
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 2
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: Preparing the Spider's Lair

Once an opponent has entered the Web, this Charm will seal their fate. With a carefully-prepared series of taunting gestures and postures, the martial artist can inflame the anger of their opponent, using it keep them trapped.
The target must be inside a Web's area and affected by one or more Strands. The martial artist makes a simple Manipulation + MA roll; on a success, the target opponent may not leave the Web for a number of turns equal to their Valor.

Silk Entrapment Defense

Cost: 3 motes
Type: Reflexive
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 3
Min. Essence: 2
Prereqs: Preparing the Spider's Lair

A Spider stylist is a master of controlling the battle, even while on the defensive. With this Charm, a practitioner can aid their own defense and hinder their opponent at the same time.
Upon activation, a Spider stylist adds his Essence in dice to a single dodge or parry attempt, and a Strand is applied to the attacker whether the defense succeeds or fails. Note that this Strand will not affect the attack being defended against, but will affect all subsequent actions in the turn. The target need not be in or under the effects of a Web.
A target may not be affected by more Strands than the Invincible Spider Style practitioner's MA + Essence. Strands disappear when their target is killed, or else last for the duration of one scene. Strands may never reduce a target's pool below the target's Essence.

Venomous Spider Attack

Cost: 2 motes
Type: Supplemental
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 3
Min. Essence: 3
Prereqs: Preparing the Spider's Lair

Mimicking the caustic venoms of the web-weaving spiders, as well as the ferocious pouncing movements of the larger ground-dwelling spiders, the martial artist is capable of doling out deadly strikes with his bare hands. Upon activating this Charm, the Spider stylist can deal Lethal damage with an unarmed attack, and adds his Essence score to the attack roll.

Invincible Spider Form

Cost: 6 motes
Type: Simple
Duration: One Scene
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 3
Prereqs: Venomous Spider Attack, Silk Entrapment Defense, Fly-Ensnaring Method

By holding her arms, hands, and fingers in a careful imitation of the spider's many-limbed body, the martial artist is able to manipulate local Essence flows with the same adroitness of a spider manipulating its web. Her posture is one of delicate balance, and her movements are slow and deliberate, punctuated by explosive flashes of motion and violence.
Under the effects of the Form, the martial artist moves at twice her normal movement while inside the Web. She may also reflexively reassign Strands amongst all enemies inside the Web at the beginning of each turn. Whether she is in her Web or not, the martial artist adds her Essence to her Bashing and Lethal soak, as well as adding her Martial Arts to Initiative, and she may parry Lethal damage unarmed. When attacking an opponent afflicted with one or more Strands, the Martial Artist subtracts the target's Strands from their Lethal and Bashing soak.
Example: Queen of Sable Spiders, an Invincible Spider practitioner, is attacking a mook, who is currently at -3 to all actions due to Strands. His soak would normally be 5L/8B - for the Queen's attacks, it will be 2L/5B. If he somehow survives, at the beginning of the next turn the Queen may choose to distribute his Strands to her other assailants, provided they are within the area of the Web.
This Charm is a Form, and is incompatible with all other Form Charms.
A target may not be affected by more Strands than the Invincible Spider Style practitioner's MA + Essence. Strands disappear when their target is killed, or else last for the duration of one scene. Strands may never reduce a target's pool below the target's Essence.

Incomparable Manipulator's Dance

Cost: 3 motes
Type: Reflexive
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 3
Prereqs: Invincible Spider Form

Refining their control over both the threads of Essence and their chosen battlefield, the master Spider Stylist can weave an increasingly complicated pattern around foes. This pattern soon reaches inhuman levels of complexity, befuddling those who wish to attack the martial artist.
When an attack has already penetrated his defenses, the Spider Stylist may activate this Charm and redirect the attack to another target. This target loses a number of Strands equal to the number of remaining successes on the attack roll. The target must be in the Web, and must already have the number of Strands that they will lose, or else the Charm will not function.
The attacker may be designated as the target for the redirected attack. In this case, however, they lose two Strands to every attack success. The visual effect of such an application is both impressive and distinctive.

Instantaneous Cocooning Assault

Cost: 5 motes
Type: Simple
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 5
Min. Essence: 3
Prereqs: Invincible Spider Form

Gathering the local strands of Essence around his arms and fists, the martial artist stands perfectly still for a moment, then launches a powerful flurry of blows. This attack does no more damage than normal, but as the strikes land, the opponent can almost feel herself being bound by cables stronger than steel and lighter than air.
To use Instantaneous Cocooning Assault, a martial artist makes a Martial Arts attack, which is resolved normally. After a successful attack is resolved, for each die of pre-soak damage, the target is afflicted with one Strand. The target need not be in or under the effects of a Web.
A target may not be affected by more Strands than the Invincible Spider Style practitioner's MA + Essence. Strands disappear when their target is killed, or else last for the duration of one scene. Strands may never reduce a target's pool below the target's Essence.

Eight Legs Fury

Cost: 7 motes, 1 Willpower
Type: Extra Action
Duration: Instant
Min. Martial Arts: 4
Min. Essence: 4
Prereqs: Invincible Spider Form

When the spider finally chooses to end the combat with captured prey, it does so quickly and decisively. Preternaturally swift even under normal circumstances, the Invincible Spider master is capable of blinding bursts of speed, seemingly existing everywhere within his Web at once.
This Charm grants a number of attacks equal to the martial artist's Martial Arts score. They may be divided up as the martial artist sees fit, although all targets must be within his movement range. If the number of Strands on an enemy targetted by this Charm exceeds their Essence, the attacks' damage is automatically Lethal. If the number of Strands exceeds the target's Strength + Essence, the damage is Piercing.

Mastery of the Harmonious Web

Cost: 10 motes, 2 Willpower
Type: Simple
Duration: One Scene
Min. Martial Arts: 5
Min. Essence: 4
Prereqs: ???, Instantaneous Cocooning Assault, Eight Legs Fury

(While in Web: reflexively spend X motes / die to reduce an opponent's attack pool - explicitly allowed to lower a pool to 0, in which case the attack (and any Essence spent on it) are negated)
(add (# target Strands) as auto-sux on attack rolls against that target (?))

Rough Ideas

"The more the prey struggles, the weaker they become..."

More Charms that add additional Strands, max of Essence+MA Strands on a single target

An attack Charm ("Speed of 8 Legs Snaring"?) that also inflicts one or more Strands ("Instantaneous Cocooning Assault"?)

Ultimate: Ess 4, MA 5 ("Mastery of the Harmonious Web"?)

Comments

I considered having Silk Entrapment Defense limited to one Strand per target per turn, but a.) I decided I liked the image better of a Spider Stylist dancing out of the way of a number of deadly blows, each getting progressively weaker, and by the end of the turn their opponent was already half-way to screwed, and b.) I realized Strands are really the only major defense a Spider Stylist has, and if they can survive a number of deadly blows right off the bat, they should at least be able to neutralize that opponent in the process. If anyone has reasons for disagreeing, lemme know.
I'm also wondering if I need an Initiative boost somewhere in all of these - against heavy-hitting Exalts, a Combo involving Instaneous Cocooning Assault may be the only way to start the fight, and that won't be possible if they lose initiative and get cut down immediately. In fact, I think I'll add it to the Form; if anyone has other suggestions, let me know.
Also, any suggestions for something other than the obligatory Extra Action Charm would be more than welcome. I only put it there because I like the image of the Spider stylist hitting multiple targets with Instantaneous Cocooning Assault at once, and so the martial artist can pile a lot of attacks on a single hard-to-kill (and hopefully already well-webbed) target. - DigitalSentience

You could overcost it and make it like Every Direction Arrow, so you only roll once to hit and thus avoid paying multiple times for Charms in Combos with it. ...But that's probably too frightening once you start grabbing cross-Style Combos, and this Style doesn't Combo too synergistically. I'll stick that Charm in my Sidereal Style. How about you make it only for attacks, over cost it, and add some supplemental effect to the Charm? Attack up to Essence or Martial Arts or Essence+Martial Arts opponents in your Web, only able to deal Bashing, but inflicting Strands on the targets. If the number of existing Strands exceeds the opponent's Essence, the damage is Lethal Piercing instead. Too much? edit: Yeah, I think too much, given how easily opponents can be Stranded. I like the idea that it gains some benefit on heavily Stranded opponents, though. _Wohksworth

Cool. I really like both ideas...

Hmm... I've been toying with the idea of bumping everything's prereqs up, so the final Charm winds up being 5 MA / 5 Essence. If I do that, I think I might take the first version of your suggestion - but, I'm not very familiar with Sidereal Charms. Can you elaborate on how Every Direction Arrow works? Also, if I may I'd like to request that you not mark your changes as 'minor' so I can see via RecentChanges when someone's talking to me. *grin*

Ooo, and I'm tossing this one around in my head now: to compliment the Strands, I'm thinking of giving the Invincible Spider Style a defense that lets them subtract successes from enemy attacks. Is that possible for non-Abyssals? I mean, I know MA can break a few rules, but I'm not sure if this is a "Lunar shapeshifting"-level of exclusivity. Also, what should happen to someone with a dice pool of 0 from Strands alone? Should they not be allowed to act, or should they always get at least one die? Input, as always, is welcome. - DigitalSentience

On Every Direction Arrow: it abuses the wording of Extra Action Combos to excellent effect. You only roll once and apply the result to multiple attacks, meaning you only pay costs once for any other Charms in the Combo, rather than individually for each arrow. It's immensely mean but offset by the fact that the rest of the tree isn't overpowering, and the fact that there's no cross-Ability Comboable bow-based Martial Arts.

On success subtracting: it's just a different-flavored and slightly more confusing way of increasing the Difficulty. Either way should be fine for a Martial Art. _Wohksworth

Cool. Thank you, Wohksworth, for looking at my style here (I'm disappointed no one else has deigned to comment). I changed Eight Legs Fury, so it's at least more interesting now. Thanks for the Piercing damage idea; this'll give the Invincible Spider stylist a useful tool against soak-monkeys to go with the Form benefit. Do you know, though, whether the penalty to soak imposed by the Form should go before or after the division for Piercing damage? Also, do you think Instantaneous Cocooning Assault could be Supplemental? - DigitalSentience

I like the idea of this art very much. Some good and nifty stuff. One thing, the form charm seems to do alot. It is exactly like Mantis Form, but without the cascade parry and with the extra effects and minus soak. Maybe make the soak an Ess add like Tiger style rather than a MA add? As for the cocooning assault, I think it works better as a simple. It's rather good as it is. I don't think it needs to be upped in prereqs though. Over all a very original style.

Thanks for the feedback! I feel better leaving ICA as Simple with a second opinion, and I'm glad to know someone else likes the style, too. My rationale behind the Form's relative power is partly because it has 4 prereqs, but mostly because two of those effects are only valid in the Web, which a Spider stylist won't always have a chance to create, and parrying Lethal barehanded seems pretty minor. I think you may be right about changing the soak bonus to Essence: consider it done. (I still need ideas for that 1st post-Form Charm, if you have any thoughts...) - DigitalSentience

I like the idea of this style a lot, but I think I would have implemented some things differently. I'd probably do without Preparing the Spider's Lair and the entire idea of preparation - I imagine someone putting up the Form Charm and a web of Essence spreading out around them. I'd also suggest adding some strand-clinches-at-range to this. -szilard