Nikink/StormCrowStyle2e
Storm Crow Style
This Martial Art is inspired by FourWillowsWeeping.
For the 1st Ed crunch, go to MartialArts/StormCrowStyle2
The Style evokes the bitter cold and ominous storms of the North, and the wisdom of the Crows which ride those cold winds proclaiming dire warnings to all they see. A dash of Odin within the Celestial Bureaucracy. Also, I wish it to travel from Essence 1, MA 2 minimums to an eventual peak of Essence 3, MA 5. It is meant to be a celestial style though, so if I've drastically under specced, then I'm willing to bump up. :)
It's weapons are the Spear and the Hatchet and artefact versions thereof. It's practitioners are known as Stormcrows. This style is fearsome, and unsubtle.
More fluff to go here eventually.
The Charms (2nd Ed.)
Coming Storm Awareness
Cost : 3m+ Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 1 Type : Reflexive Keywords: Combo-Ok, War, Social Duration: Instant Prereqs : None
Like a Crow sensing a storm in the still calm air, the Exalt gains the ability to seize the initiative in any conflict.
When this Charm is activated for 3 motes, the Stormcrow's Join (Conflict) result is set to their Martial Arts rating and for each additional mote the result is increased by one (to a maximum of Essence extra motes). The initial 3 motes must be spent prior to rolling, but the extra motes may be spent after seeing the results from the opposing Join (Conflict) rolls. Once spent the user's Join (Conflict) become set, replacing the normal roll.
Aoshi enters the grand meeting hall trailed by a swirl of frigid air and feathers. A large warrior strides towards her demanding she leave at once. The ST calls for a Join Debate. Instead of rolling her Wits + Awareness pool of 6 dice, Aoshi spends 3 motes, sensing there is conflict on the horizon, and her Join Debate is set to her Martial Arts rating of 4. The warrior has a Join Debate pool of 5 and gets 4 successes as well, so Aoshi spends an extra mote to raise her Join Debate to 5. Aoshi interrupts his demands with a social attack of her own to be allowed to see the king.
/StormCrowStyle2eCSA
- Tweaked. Bit more versatile, can now add up to Essence successes as well.
Buffeting Wing Flurry
Cost : 1+m Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 1 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Social Type : Supplemental Prereqs : None
The Storm Crow makes a complex, essence-charged flurry of feints. This distracts and confuses opponents, making the attack more difficult to defend against. For each mote spent (up to Essence x motes) the Martial Artist reduces the Multiple Action Penalty by one during a flurry of attacks.
/StormCrowStyle2eBWF Now I'm considering increasing the onslaught attack penalty as well... but I think it's ok as is. nikink
Ruffled Feathers Defence
Cost : 1m+2m/die Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 1 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Emotion, Social Type : Reflexive (Step 2) Prereqs : None
The Stormcrow may insulating herself from incoming attacks as birds protecting themselves from bitter northern winds. For a brief moment appears larger and more dengerous, causing opponents to quail in fear and turn their blows.
The Exalt gains a bonus to all DVs (including Mental) and Soaks equal to the difference between her MA and her opponent's Valor if this is greater than zero. She may also, for 2m/die, purchase up to her Presence rating to add to her MA for the purposes of this calculation. This fear inducing emotion effect works just as well in Social settings. This Charm explicitly exceeds the standard dice caps.
The guard trumps Aoshi's Join Debate with a Join Battle and swings his sword at her. Aoshi's eyes flash with anger and she looms like a terrible cloud for an instant. She spends 1m and subtracts the guard's Valor (2) from her MA (4), granting her +2DV and +2 Soak against this attack. Later, in audience with the King, he becomes angry and demands fealty. Again Aoshi activates Ruffled Feathers Defence, but the king is braver than his guard. Her MA minus his Valor (5) equals a total of -1. Fortunately she may spend extra motes to add up to her Presence (4). She spends an extra 8 motes to gain a total DV bonus of 3 against the King's attack.
/StormCrowStyle2eRFD Somewhat different from 1st version - as always, comments welcome. Not sure if exceeding dice caps is a good idea for a basic defence charm, and if so, is it too cheap? On the other hand, it's twice as expensive as the 1st Presence Excellency, requires a combo to use it with a presence Excellency, can be resisted by all who are immune to Illusion effects - nikink
"The Martial Artist may purchase up to their Essence in extra successes", this seems simpler. I kinda liked using Presence though... nikink
- This seems fine to me. While it does exceed dice cap, it's pretty expensive and only defends against one attack. - Bencyclopedia
- Considering making it just add Presence to the DV calculation to save a dice roll. Or maybe (Cha+Presence - DMDV) successes. nikink As an Emotion-Fear effect, I need to look at similar fear causing charms to get example mechanics.
- Tweaked cost. Calculated slightly differently, raises Soak as well. This did have Manipulation as the Exalt's trait to compare, but I've made it Martial Arts to gain a synergy with the Form.nikink
Gale-Riding Meditation
Cost : 4 motes Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Reflexive (Step 2) Prereqs : Coming Storm Awareness, Ruffled Feathers Defence
Like a bird riding the winds, the Exalt is carried on the storm of battle, flitting from place to place, never resting for long.
The Exalt may add their MA to their DV Calculation for one attack as long as they have room to move. At the end of attack resolution (Step 10) the Exalt is moved up to MA+Ess in yards away from the attacker. This movement may carry them out of range of the attacker and can render further attacks inapplicable unless the attacker can close the distance. The Storm Crow can cover the entire field of battle by activating this Charm in response to multiple attacks.
/StormCrowStyle2eGRM
- I love this, very, very cool. - Bencyclopedia
Need to look at existing flurry breakers for comparison. nikink
- Tweaked. Slightly cheaper, movement occurs after damage is applied (if any). Applies to Dodge and Parry DVs now. nikink
Ominous Rumble Prana
Cost : 3 motes Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Emotion, Compulsion Type : Supplemental Prereqs : Buffeting Wing Flurry, Coming Storm Awareness
Like the sound of thunder overhead that keeps the wise huddled under shelter, the Exalt may enhance the damage dealt by her attack to cause her enemies to reconsider their assault.
The Exalt may add her Essence to the damage of an unarmed attack. If at least one level of damage is caused, the Exalt may make an intimidation roll of Man+Presence+MA against the victim's Valor. If successful they must retreat from the Exalt for one tick per level of damaged caused at at least normal movement speeds, so long as they have room to move. If the successes rolled are greater than twice their Valor, the victim will turn their backs (causing DV to set to 0, unless they have a method of detecting surprise attacks or otherwise not suffering from having their back to an opponent)) and flee from battle entirely at as fast as they can, if they can. If they cannot move away from the Exalt, they will drop their weapons and cower before her for the same effect. Opponents immune to fear effects will suffer the retreat effect, but will not turn and flee.
/StormCrowStyle2eORP The idea is that by landing a solid blow, the target gets scared by the (seeming) prowess of the Exalt and may flee... Should this be a valour roll by the target? nikink
- Again I think this is thematically cool. I think the roll is pretty stacked in the defenders favour though. E.G. Starting DMDV [6 WP + 2 Integrity + 2 Essence] / 2 + 2 Valour = 7 difficulty, with CHA, PRES & MA of 5 you only have 15 dice. I know that on average you'll make it, but against someone with an above average MDV you are boned. The fleeing with a DV of 0 also seems a bit overpowered for an essence 2 charm, but getting double their MDV is gonna be nigh on impossible without a sick roll. - Bencyclopedia
- Tweaked. Now Cha + Presence rolled, + Martial Arts Successes. Howzat? Bearing in mind the very next Charm adds MA again! Synergy in action or wonky?
- Tweaked again. Removed MDV from the calculation. Just Man+Presence+MA as dice pool. Range from 4 dice at minimum to 15 dice at normal maximum, vs Valor range of 1 to 5. With Form charm active, this becomes Man+Presence+MA+MA vs Valor. Also, have explicitely noted that the Drop DV to zero effect can be negated with the right powers.nikink
Storm Crow Form
Cost : 7m, 1 WP Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2 Duration: One scene Keywords: Obvious, Emotion, Form Type : Simple (Speed 5, -1 DV) Prereqs : Ominous-Rumble Prana, Gale-Riding Meditation
The Exalt's eyes spark and flash, and gusts of essence driven wind whip around her body to disturb a grey mist that forms to the sound of distant thunder.
While this Charm is in effect, the character adds her MA to her Parry DV, may parry lethal without a stunt and her Parry DV may not be reduced to less than her MA by Wound, Onslaught or Coordinated Attack penalties. The Exalt becomes immune to environmental penalties caused by wind, cold, ice, rain, storms, Air Aspected Anima banners, lightning etc, while under the effects of this Charm, and may add her MA to all rolls to intimidate or cause fear and every successful use of Ominous Rumble Prana or Ruffled Feathers Defence counts as one scene towards establishing a intimacy of fear towards the Exalt in the victim.
An Exalt can only benefit from the effects of one Form-type Charm at a time; if a new one is activated, the previous Form ends.
/StormCrowStyle2eSCF
- Increased Parry DV without being able to parry lethal with your bare hands seems meh. Cost seems a bit too much, most forms do not require WP afaik. Other than that I like it. - Bencyclopedia
- Added lethal parry bit. As for cost, there was a reason for it in 1st Ed. Style. Will need to revise for 2nd. Also considering adding Ess to Soak. nikink
Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
Cost : 5m Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3 Duration: One scene Keywords: Obvious Type : Simple (Speed 5, -1DV) Prereqs : Storm Crow Form
Essence winds rise up and around the Exalt, shards of ice and hailstones form and mingle with debris from the battlefield allowing the MA to strike her foes from a distance even when unarmed and the winds of essence carry her weapons great distances.
The Exalt may make close-combat Martial Arts attacks up to her MA+Ess in yards away, and the range increment of any thrown weapons is tripled.
/StormCrowStyle2eHSWT
- Coolies - Bencyclopedia
Heaven-Crossing Lightning Strike
Cost : 5m Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Simple (Speed 3, -2DV) Prereqs : Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
The Exalt performs an elaborate, impossibly swift attack, which can be defended against only by Charms which permit characters to avoid attacks of which they are not aware, or by characters with Charm-enhanced vision; against all without such benefits their DV is treated as 0 for this attack.
/StormCrowStyle2eHCLS
- Not sure if this should be supplemental? And as a Simple Charm, can it be Combo-Ok? I don't think so... nikink
Heaven-Drenching Rainfall Blow
Cost : 7m Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok Type : Supplemental Prereqs : Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
Just as storm-driven rain can penetrate even the thickest clothing or the grandest temples, so can an attack enhanced by this Charm penetrate even the mightiest armour. Any attack enhanced by this Charm ignores the target's armour when determining Soak.
/StormCrowStyle2eHDRB
- This seems to be pretty much the same as Armor Penatrating Fang Strike, on that basis this seems a bit cheap. APFS is 4m 1wp. It is deep in the tree and requires essence 3 though, so maybe not. - Bencyclopedia
- Yup, again, costed from 1st ed. I think it's ok, as 7m = 2 stunts, 4m+1wp = 2 stunts. nikink
Heaven-Shaking Thunder Assault
Cost : 5m, 1WP Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Extra Action Prereqs : Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
The character lashes out in a blur of fury, sound and movement, lashing out to all within her reach. Each blow lands with a thundering crash upon her opponents, blasting them to the ground.
The character can make a number of attacks this tick equal to his permanent Ess+1 at no loss of DV. Those foes successfully struck (not necessarily damaged) must make a Dex+Ath roll at a difficulty of the Exalt's Ess. If this roll fails they are knocked backwards a number of yards equal to the Exalt's Essence; if it botches they are thrown to the ground prone as well. This knockback does not work against opponents with an Sta+Ess greater than the Exalt's MA+Ess. The attacks may be directed at the same or different targets.
/StormCrowStyle2eHSTA
- Very cool, I love this. - Bencyclopedia
Heaven-Shattering Thunderbolt Onslaught
Cost : 4m, 1 WP Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3 Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Emotion, Crippling, War Type : Supplemental Prereqs : Heaven-Shaking Thunder Assault, Heaven-Drenching Rainfall Blow, Heaven-Crossing Lightning Strike
Essence lightning crackles around the Exalt, setting her ablaze in terrible glory, and a mighty clap of thunder accompanies her blows. With this Charm an Exalt can lay waste to many times her number in a single blow, cause armies to rout and deafen all who would dare to stand before her might!
If the Exalt's attack hits, she may make an additional attack upon a target no more than MA+Ess yards away. This additional attack carries a -1 dicepool penalty. As long as the Exalt hits, she may continue making attacks, as long as each new target is no more than MA+Ess yards away from the previous. Each subsequent attack carries a penalty 1 greater than the last : -2, -3, etc. Note, the attack need not do damage to jump to the next target, and the Exalt may target herself, lightning rods (metal structures) or trees and similar things with a jump if she wishes, and the same target may be struck multiple times, but not twice in a row.
In addition, all those within the Exalt's MAxEss yards of a successful strike must fail a Per + Awareness roll or be blinded and deafened for five ticks per success (the Exalt is immune to this effect of her own charm). A Botch applies these effects for the rest of the scene, or if mortal, permanently.
Lastly, if the number of attack successes is greater than the target's Valor, and their Essence is less than the Stormcrow's MA (or MA x2 if they have the Form going), they must spend 1WP to oppose the character on their next action. If the number of successes is greater than double the target's Valor, they must spend 2WP or flee the battle as fast as they can. (Consider most Mooks to be blind + deaf for the scene, and (Average Valour x 10%, to be unaffected by the fear, the rest will be scared or fleeing). This thunderclap can be heard up to one mile away.
/StormCrowStyle2eHSTO
- Does this require the additional attacks to be against a different target or can they all be made against the same target? Does the deafening have any mechanical effect, a penalty or some such? Also nothing stopping someone just not attacking on their next action to avoid making the valour roll and hence not being able to botch and flee? - Bencyclopedia
- Tweaked to cause blindness as well. Might need to be a difficulty of Ess to resist? nikink
- Tweaked again. I think it's clearer now. Added ability to target self or non-animal lightning conductors for tactical use. Type is now Supplemental to allow for one kickass combo. Only one though - after that the Stormcrow will be basically out of WP. :) Need a War effect. Not sure of Mass Combat rules enough yet. Tried to add a synergy with the form.nikink
Comments for 2nd Ed version
Slightly tweaked. Still not 100% on 2nd Ed rules, but I think this style is somewhat weaker due to the existance of DV for all. Please comment away and help me refine it into gold... B-) - nikink
You know if Scarred is ever taken out of the game, down time or otherwise, then I might roll a toon to take advantage of this style. Aoshi the second? - Muzz
- wtf is a toon??? nikink (That would be cool though, be nice to have the Style put to use.)
- Toon, short for cartoon, as in cartoon character. This gets used on MMO's a bit, since you are essentially playing a cartoon character. - Bencyclopedia
Added subpages per Charm for old comments nikink
