Artifacts/RafilarSteedOfSublimeMechanics

Steed of Sublime Mechanics

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http://i302.photobucket.com/albums/nn94/zahaqiel/steedofsublimemechanics.jpg

Thanks to Zahaqiel for starting me on this idea.

Introduction

This vehicle follows the Vehicle rules described on Books of Sorcery: Wonders of the Lost Age page 31-33.

Steed of Sublime Mechanics
(Artifact •• to •••••)
Repair: 2
In the First Age, some Exalted desired a more glorious means of transport than common beasts of burden. Appearing as a pair of gleaming wheels connected by a shining bar, with a seat mounted on top, and topped with a stylized head looking somewhat like a dragon, the Steed of Sublime Mechanics was the answer to their desires. This vehicle is a quick, responsive land transport to aid the Exalted in getting to battles, and in maneuvering about the battlefield. Due to its twin wheels, the Twilights who designed them often referred to them as a "bi-cycle", which was inevitably corrupted into "bike" in common usage. Each Steed of Sublime Mechanics was designed specially for its owner, and many customization options were available to the Exalted. Some Exalted grew fond of their "bikes," and used them more for showmanship than their intended combat role.

Every Steed was made out of the magical material suited to its Chosen rider (though, attuning to bikes designed for another Exalted type was certainly possible), and received the benefits of its construction. Depending on the level of enchantment used in its construction, each bike could gain a number of enhancements to suits its rider's combat style. The bikes of the Solar God-Kings could be truly terrifying weapons.

The vehicle is controlled much like a horse. The driver sits on top of the vehicle, and controls it through a combination of leg motions, and pulling on two handles that simulate a horse's reins. When in use, they move at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, covering up to 600 miles per day. In combat, a steed of sublime mechanics can dash at speeds of up to 30 yards per tick.

Speed: 30/60mph
Maneuverability: +1R (Lore 1, Ride 2)
Endurance: The pilot must attune to the steed of sublime mechanics for a commitment of five motes. Each steed has one hearthstone socket. Artifact •••• or higher models have a second socket, and require a hearthstone in at least one socket to operate. This hearthstone provides no benefit, other than powering the steed. If a driver plugs multiple hearthstones into the steed, she can shift which stone powers the vehicle as a diceless miscellaneous action.
After 100 cumulative hours of operation since its last maintenance, it begins to suffer one level of unsoakable bashing damage every further 10 cumulative hours of operation it is overdue.
Crew: 1/1
Cargo: Two riders, plus a pair of saddlebags; or one rider and 200 pounds of cargo.
Armor: 8L/8B
Health Levels: U×10/M×5/C×4/D
Weapons: None, by default.
Other Notes: A steed of sublime mechanics and its pilot both have a Dodge DV equal to ([the pilot’s Dexterity + Ride + Essence + the craft's Maneuverability] ÷ 2), and the pilot may use her Parry DV to defend against attacks launched at her vehicle or herself. Each Steed of Sublime Mechanics is made of one of the magical materials, and receives the appropriate bonuses:

Orichalcum

These models are faster, increasing their Speed by +10/+20mph.

Moonsilver

These models are more nimble and responsive, increasing their Maneuverability by +3.

Starmetal

These models weave and dip across the skeins of fate as well as air, adding two to the Dodge DV of craft and pilot beyond normal.

Jade

These models are very study, and can last an extra +50 hours between maintenance.

Soulsteel

These models are covered in spikes and hooks, projecting an image of fear that requires anyone with a Valor less than their Artifact rating to succeed on a Valor roll (diff 1) to approach within 3 yards.

Upgrades

The statistics given above are for an Artifact •• Steed of Sublime Mechanics. Steeds of higher rating have higher base statistics (see the table below). Additionally, each Steed has a number of "customization points," depending on its Artifact Rating, to be spent on buying Upgrades. No single ability purchased can cost more points than the Steed's Artifact rating.

Artifact Rating	Speed	Maneuverability & Requirements	Armor
••	30/60mph	+1R (Lore 1, Ride 2)	8L/8B
•••	35/70mph	+1R (Lore 1, Ride 3)	10L/10B
••••	40/80mph	+2R (Lore 2, Ride 4)	12L/12B
•••••	45/90mph	+3R (Lore 3, Ride 5)	15L/15B

Artifact Rating	Customization Points
••	4
•••	6
••••	9
•••••	13

Weapons

Essence Cannon (1 point)

Mounted on the front of this Steed are small integrated essence cannons. Each blast costs the rider three motes and has the following statistics: Speed 6, Accuracy +1, Damage (6L or 9B) piercing, Range 75, Rate 1. This weapon is operated with a (Dexterity + Archery) attack.

Needle Sting (1 point)

Special tubes mounted parallel to the hubs of the front wheel allow the Steed to shoot many small metal needles at targets within close range. These shots have the following statistics: Speed 6, Accuracy +2, Damage 4L piercing, Range 15, Rate 3, Ammo 12. This weapon is operated with a (Dexterity + Archery) attack. After every 12 shots, the Pepper Sting must be reloaded with needles, as a resource •• expenditure.

Defenses

Armor Plating (1-5 points)

The Steed was built with exceptionally thick and tough armor plating. For every point spent on this power, the Steed's Soak (and Hardness) is increased by +3L/3B.

Deflector Shields (1-5 points)

While in operation, the Steed projects a continuous spherical shield of essence that deflects away attacks. The Steed provides a bonus equal to the points spent on this power to the DVs of itself and its rider.

Defensive Screen (2 points)

The Steed of Sublime Mechanics is outfitted with powerful essence field generators, which project a screen around the Steed which permits penetration only by objects that move below a pre-set velocity. The driver can pay 5 motes as a reflexive action (that does not count as Charm use) to activate the screen; it stays active for two actions. As long as the screen is active, the Steed and everyone riding it gains +6L/6B soak that stacks with armor, a +1 DV bonus against close combat attacks, and a +2 DV bonus against ranged attacks.

Utility

Afterburners (1 point)

In moments of need, the rider can channel essence into the Steed, propelling it to astounding speeds. By reflexively spending 3 motes (uncommitted), the rider can increase the Steed's speed by +50% for one action. However, the increased speed makes the Steed harder to control, decreasing Maneuverability by 3 points for as long as the speed increase lasts.

Hover Turbines (1 point)

Maneuvering Thrusters (X point)

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Designer's Notes

I thought people might be interested in some of my thought processes for designing this, so here's the random notes I've jotted down.

This whole project started when Zahaqiel posted that picture on the White Wolf Exalted Forum. I recognized the picture from a Superman comic I'd read. He asked what stats people imagined it would have. Here's my original response:

"At first I was just going to say that these would be the Swift Rider artifact from Wonders of the Lost Age, page 34. But, upon reading Superman: Godfall more closely, I've realized that those stats don't match really well (for one thing, Steeds of Sublime Mechanics don't fly). And, for that matter, the Swift Rider just doesn't sound very cool. So I've started designing something that fits the concept better.

I'm trying to make it scale from Artifact •• up to Artifact •••••, on the theory that at the low end they're just quick land transport, but a really good one of these could be comparable to CBA. To do that, I've designed baseline stats that aren't incredible, and provided a number of customization points based on the artifact ranking. Then I want to give a bunch of enhancements you can buy to make it faster, stronger, armed, stealthy, etc. The enhancements are going to take a while to design."

I used the Swift Rider stats for the baseline, and used the magical material bonuses from the Windblade (next page of WotLA) for inspiration for that. Soulsteel was tricky to come up with.

Anyway, that was how the project started. Now I'm just trying to make enough things to buy with the customization points that this is cool.

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Comments

I'm really not happy with the Soulsteel material bonus. If anyone has any better ideas, please comment - Rafilar

Okay, I changed the Soulsteel bonus. Still not terribly enthused, but it seems about right. - Rafilar

Man, I feel like such a jerk for commenting on my own post repeatedly. Anyway, on the WW Forum, Zahaqiel suggested I change the Soulsteel bonus to a damage increase on ramming. Which seems cool, I'm just not sure how to implement it yet. - Rafilar

I wouldn't worry too much about feeling like a jerk; it's a work in progress after all. :P - Zahaqiel

Had to switch the image to my photobucket, since my domain appears to have disappeared for a reason yet to be adequately explained. - Zahaqiel

Thanks for taking care of that. - Rafilar