Thus Spake Zaranephilpal/StLS Vs VST

Summoning The Loyal Steel vs. Void Sheath Technique

Nephilpal 11-26-2003 02:51 AM

Melee Charm Comparisons

Keep in mind that there are several substantial balancing factors to consider in the Abyssal Charms vs. Solar Charms arguments.

Yes, some of the Solar Charms could stand to use revising. I won't argue with that. In time, I'm sure that will happen.

I had the benefit of being able to read the corebook in entirety, most of the Castebooks, DB and Lunars while I was writing, not to mention calling GCG on a few occasions to run ideas past him.

However, you mentioned the weapon summoning Charms and pointed to Abyssals as obviously superior. I'm not sure I agree.

I hate speedbumps. I avoided them as much as I could, while preserving the skeleton of the Solar power set that I had to keep.

Blade-Summoning Gesture is obviously a renamed Retrieve the Fallen Weapon, except the minimum Melee is 2 instead of 1. So far, same path. The Abyssal tree goes off with Thieving Raiton Claws in a direction the Solar cascade doesn't cover, so let's not address that. Instead, let's look at Void Sheath Technique vs. the continuing progression of Call the Blade and Summoning the Loyal Steel.

Call the Blade is ok, but it makes Retrieve the Fallen Weapon obsolete. I'm generally opposed to that on principle, but it works. So the real comparison is between Void Sheath Technique and Summoning the Loyal Steel. They appear similar, which is deliberate.

Let's compare.

As written, StLS is Melee 3 and Essence 1, while VST is 3 and 2, respectively. Considering that CtB is Essence 2, I think StLS should be Essence 2, and that the Essence 1 listing is a misprint. This means the Charms are equal in terms of minimum Traits. Obviously, StLS has one additional Charm prerequisite over VST (as that is the point of contention of the previous poster).

Now let's get into actual differences:

StLS costs one mote per use and it's reflexive. So at any time you want, you can call your weapon to your hand, and if you have it in your hand, you can banish it to Elsewhere. VST also costs a mote per use, but that mote is committed. It's also a Simple Charm instead of reflexive. When you use the Charm, you banish your held weapon Elsewhere until you reflexively end the Charm and recall it.

Here's what this means. For a cost of one mote, the Solar can reflexively retrieve his weapon from anywhere. If disarmed, he can infallibly trump that disarm. If his weapon is stolen and locked away in a hidden vault in the heart of the Labyrinth or the far reaches of the Wyld or transported back to Autocthonia for study by magitech savants, the blade will come back to him for the most measly expenditure of Essence. The Abyssal doesn't get that advantage. The Abyssal has to have the weapon, and then gets to banish the weapon. Recalling is reflexive, but still, if you lose your weapon... if you get disarmed or someone robs your house, you're screwed. Sure, you could keep your weapon Elsewhere when not in use, but that reduces your pool by a mote. The Solar spent Essence, regained it and didn't lose the mote in the process to maintain the Charm. Now, obviously the Abyssal gets one advantage in that he can recall the blade without using a Charm, thereby allowing awesome Combo-like devastation in conjunction with Ebon Lightning Prana (which is COMPLETELY deliberate).

I guess what I'm ultimately saying is that the two Charms aren't quite the same. You have to decide for yourself which is more useful: perfect instantaneous recall or two Charm faux-Combos, and whether the former is superior enough to warrant a second prerequisite.

I'm not saying I wouldn't cut out Call the Blade, because I might. Just don't assume that the Abyssal Charm is superior, because that is debatable.

--Neph