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.
More fluff to go here eventually.
The Charms (2nd Ed.)
Coming Storm Awareness
Cost : 3 motes Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok (War) (Social) Type : Reflexive Min. MA : 2 Min. Ess: 1 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, the Martial-Arts rating is added to the user's Join (Conflict) roll as automatic successes.
Buffeting Wing Flurry
Cost : 1+m Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok Type : Supplemental Min. MA : 2 Min. Ess: 1 Prereqs : None
The Storm Crow makes a complex, essence-charged flurry of feints, which distracts and confuses opponents. The character's attack is more difficult to defend against. For each mote spent, the defender's DV is considered one less when determining whether or not the strike was successful. If the attack only hits due to the benefit of this charm, it is treated as having hit with 0 successes. Only up to Essence motes may be spent on this charm.
Somewhat different from 1st version - as always, comments welcome - nikink
"For each mote spent (up to Essence x motes) the Martial Artist reduces the Multiple Action Penalty by one during a flurry of unarmed attacks." Hm. I like the idea of the effect above, but maybe this is more thematic and useful? nikink
- Thematically I think this is cool, but the current wording is a little 'wordy' though. I also think this may be a little cheap. If the attack would hit regardless of this charm, it still reduces the targets DV and hence will cause extra damage. That said, 1 mote for a pre-soak damage dice isn't that bad now that I think about it. - Bencyclopedia
Ruffled Feathers Defence
Cost : 2m/die Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Illusion (Social) Type : Reflexive (Step 2) Min. MA : 3 Min. Ess: 2 Prereqs : None
Insulate herself from incoming attacks as birds protect themselves from the bitter northern winds the Exalt may, for 2m/die, purchase up to their Presence in extra dice to roll. Every success rolled adds directly to all DVs. This illusion of ferocity works just as well in Social settings. This Charm explicitly exceeds the standard dice caps.
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
Gale-Riding Meditation
Cost : 5 motes Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok Type : Reflexive (Step 2) Min. MA : 3 Min. Ess: 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 Dodge DV Calculation for one attack as long as they have room to move. Each attack against this enhanced DV causes the Exalt to move up to MA+Ess in yards away from the attack. 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.
- I love this, very, very cool. - Bencyclopedia
Ominous-Rumble Prana
Cost : 3 motes Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious, Compulsion Type : Supplemental Min. MA : 3 Min. Ess: 2 Prereqs : Buffeting Wing Flurry, Coming Storm Awareness
The Exalt may enhance the damage dealt by her attack and 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 Cha+Presence+MA against the victim's MDV+Valour. If successful they must retreat from the Exalt for one tick per level of damaged caused. If the successes rolled are greater than the MDVx2, the victim will turn their backs (causing DV to set to 0) and flee from battle entirely if they can.
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
Storm Crow Form
Cost : 7 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: One scene Keywords: Obvious Type : Simple (Speed 5, -1 DV) Min. MA : 4 Min. Ess: 2 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. The Exalt becomes immune to environmental penalties caused by wind, cold, ice, rain, storms, Air Aspected Anima banners etc, while under the effects of this Charm, and may add her MA to all rolls to intimidate or cause fear. 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.
- 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
Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
Cost : 5 motes Duration: One scene Keywords: Obvious Type : Simple (Speed 5, -1DV) Min. MA : 5 Min. Ess: 3 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 upto her MA+Ess in yards away, and the range increment of any thrown weapons is tripled.
- Coolies - Bencyclopedia
Heaven-Crossing Lightning Strike
Cost : 5 motes Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Simple (Speed 3, -2DV) Min. MA : 5 Min. Ess: 3 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.
Heaven-Drenching Rainfall Blow
Cost : 7 motes Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok Type : Supplemental Min. MA : 5 Min. Ess: 3 Prereqs : Heaven-Scouring Windstorm Technique
Just as storm-driven rain can penetrate even the thickest clothing, 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.
- 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
Heaven-Shaking Thunder Assault
Cost : 5 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Extra Action Min. MA : 5 Min. Ess: 3 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 additional attacks this turn equal to his permanent Ess 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 as well. This knockback does not work against opponents with an Sta+Ess greater than the Exalt's MA+Ess.
- Very cool, I love this. - Bencyclopedia
Wrathful Thunderbolt Judgement? or Heaven-Shattering Thunderbolt Onslaught?
Cost : 4 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: Instant Keywords: Combo-Ok, Obvious Type : Extra Action Min. MA : 5 Min. Ess: 3 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 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 Essence 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. In addition, all those within the Exalt's MA+Ess yards of a successful strike must fail a Per + Awareness roll or be deafened for five ticks per success (the Exalt is immune to her own use of this charm). A Botch triples this period. Lastly, those with a lesser or equal Essence must make a Valour roll to attack the character on their next turn. Those who Botch will flee. (Consider most Mooks to be deafened 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.
- 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
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
