MartialArts/ClockworkWarriorStyle
Clockwork Warrior Style
A Celestial Martial Art by DeadManSeven.
Introduction
Robot-flavoured style. I tried to stay away from the advanced-technology feel of the Alchemicals, to make this style applicable for both tinkering engineers of Creation and super-efficient soldiers of Autochthonia.
Background
The origins of this style lie with a First Age Twilight engineer. In seeking to mimic the accuracy and precision found in the automaton bodyguards he was famous for, the Clockwork Warrior Style was born. While is rarely sees use in Creation beyond the odd technologically-minded Sidereal, it survives in the archives of Autochthonia. The Autochthonian version of this style has been modified slightly, but remains recognisable to any Clockwork Warriors native to Creation.
This style uses large discs rimmed with spikes (to resemble gears) for weapons, which may be either thrown or wielded in close combat; treat a thrown gear as a chakram, and a hand-to-hand gear as a wind-fire wheel. Clockwork Warriors also often fight with stylised discs strapped to their arms to be used as shields - treat these as either buckler or target shields, depending on size. Alchemicals also use gyroscopic chakrams with this style, although there is no reason an Exalt from Creation could not, other than lacking access to the weapon in question.
Charms
Ringing
Skin
Defence
Measured | Steel
Movements | Hero
Kata | Stance
\ | /
Clockwork
---- Warrior ----
/ Form \`
Superior | Voluble
Targeting | Aegis
Method Dead Maneuver
| Flesh |
Singular Focus Spinning
Dedication | Gears
Strike | Counter
\ Oiled- /
----- Gear -----
Swiftness
(For a non-ASCII Charm tree, click here.)
Measured Movements Kata
- Cost: 3 motes
- Duration: One Scene
- Type: Reflexive
- Minimum Martial Arts: 2
- Minimum Essence: 1
- Prerequisites: none
As a fight progresses, the martial artist studies all she can about her environment and her opponent, removing imperceptible flaws from her tactics to give her the edge. The longer one engages a Clockwork Warrior who has performed the Measured Movements Kata, the longer they risk being bested.
This Charm allows the character to 'store' her results for an initiative roll; each turn, when she rolls her initiative, if it is lower than the stored value, she can choose to discard it and act on the stored initiative instead. Should she roll higher, she may store this value instead. This only relates to the single die roll, and does not factor in other Charms or initiative modifiers from weapons. This Charm cannot be used while wearing armour.
Ringing Skin Defence
- Cost: 4 motes
- Duration: Instant
- Type: Reflexive
- Minimum Martial Arts: 2
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: none
The martial artist is able to briefly turn a portion of her skin into dense metal, causing blows to glance off and emit a loud ringing, as if her enemy had just struck an anvil with a hammer. The character adds her Martial Arts rating to her natural bashing and lethal soak.
Steel Hero Stance
- Cost: 6 motes
- Duration: Instant
- Type: Reflexive
- Minimum Martial Arts: 3
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: none
The Clockwork Warrior focuses her will into emulating the relentless determination found in automata. When using this Charm, her Valor is considered to be 5, and she cannot fail Valor checks.
Clockwork Warrior Form
- Cost: 7 motes
- Duration: One Scene
- Type: Simple
- Minimum Martial Arts: 4
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: Measured Movements Kata, Ringing Skin Defence, Steel Hero Stance
With a mechanical series of motions, the martial artist moves into the Clockwork Warrior Form. She emits a low grinding noise, as if her chest was filled with gears, and her movements become minimalist and optimised for efficiency, sidestepping blows by mere inches and countering with deadly precise attacks. She adds her Essence to dodge, attack, and parry rolls, and her Martial Arts rating to Speed. She also becomes immune to knockback and to being flanked.
This is a martial arts form Charm, and cannot be used with other form Charms. This charm is incompatible with armour.
Superior Targeting Method
- Cost: 6 motes
- Duration: Instant
- Type: Supplemental
- Minimum Martial Arts: 4
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: Clockwork Warrior Form
The martial artist can push herself into overdrive, making an attack accurate to the smallest measure. She adds [Essence*2] to Speed and [Essence] to Accuracy. The attack also becomes piercing. If this Charm is used to augment a clinch, the bonus to Speed is instead +[Essence*4]. Alchemicals are able to use weapons built into their bodies with this Charm. This Charm cannot be used while wearing armour.
Singular Dedication Strike
- Cost: 5 motes, 1 Willpower
- Duration: One Turn
- Type: Simple
- Minimum Martial Arts: 4
- Minimum Essence: 3
- Prerequisites: Superior Targeting Method
Like a single-minded automaton, the martial artist can repeat her attacks, sacrificing versatility for efficiency. Using this Charm allows the character to re-use the Charm or Combo she activated the turn previous. The Charms must be Martial Arts Charms, and Charms that are purely defensive are not included. If any Charms feature varying dice pools, the pool from the previous turn is used.
Voluble Aegis Maneuver
- Cost: 3 motes
- Duration: Instant
- Type: Reflexive
- Minimum Martial Arts: 4
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: Clockwork Warrior Form
The Clockwork Warrior spins her arms fast enough to blur, defending herself against attacks. She adds her Martial Arts rating to her cover against a single attack. This supercedes any cover provided by a shield, instead of stacking with it.
Spinning Gears Counter
- Cost: 5 motes
- Duration: Instant
- Type: Supplemental
- Minimum Martial Arts: 5
- Minimum Essence: 2
- Prerequisites: Voluble Aegis Maneuver
Like a rotating gear, the character twists to avoid an attack, and uses the momentum to strike back, as a gear crushing material between its teeth. The character dodges an attack using her Martial Arts rating (Alchemicals may use their Dexterity instead, if it is higher); if all successes are negated, she may counter-attack with her full attack pool. The character must stand still while her body contorts away from the attack. This Charm cannot be used in armour.
Dead Flesh Focus
- Cost: 4 motes
- Duration: [Martial Arts] Turns
- Type: Reflexive
- Minimum Martial Arts: 4
- Minimum Essence: 3
- Prerequisites: Clockwork Warrior Form
The martial artist's skin becomes as cold as steel and heavy as lead, making her temporarily as unfeeling as an automaton. While this Charm is active, the character suffers no wound penalties. Alchemicals who have purchased Pain Suppression Nodes do not require learning this Charm to master the style, although Pain Suppression Nodes must be installed to use the final Charm.
Oiled-Gear Swiftness
- Cost: 8 motes, 1 Willpower
- Duration: One Scene
- Type: Simple
- Minimum Martial Arts: 5
- Minimum Essence: 3
- Prerequisites: Singular Dedication Strike, Spinning Gears Counter, Dead Flesh Focus
The Clockwork Warrior's speed and accuracy are unmatched while using Oiled-Gear Swiftness. She almost flows among multiple assailants, each strike landing exactly as intended. While using this Charm, the character subtracts her Martial Arts rating from multiple action penalties. This Charm is incompatible with armour.
