Enchantress/HeroicGunzosha

Heroic Gunzosha

It’s bothered me for a while now how Lookshy Gunzosha "work" mechanically. Despite them sacrificing half their lives nothing makes them seem paticularly heroic and they come across as little more than slightly tougher Ashigaru. Not to mention that in light of the rules for enlightened mortals, their sacrifice is further belittled to the point that it's just Lookshy cutting corners rather than using rituals to enlighten their elite soldiers.

This is my attempt to turn a Gunzosha from a powerful extra into a tragic hero who’ll often fight beyond their limits until their dying breath.

I would advise Storyteller digression in deciding if these rules are worth it for their particular game. In most Celestial games where the Gunzosha's heroism isn't important to the plot, they'll only serve as an added complication. In a Mortal or Dragon-Blooded game (particularly one in Lookshy) however they can fulfill a niche role between mortals and Dragon-Blooded.

Abilities

The Gunzosha armour provides a lethal and a bashing soak of 9L/9B with a hardness of 5L/5B with a –3 mobility and a fatigue of 2. The armour has a repair rating of 2. It may be worn by non-mortals who only gain the benefits of it's soak and hardness.

Systems

Systems are common to all Gunzosha Armour, they provide the Commando with means to gather and store essence neccessary to operate the armour's Subsystems.

Integrated Essence Matrix (none) – the Integrated Essence Matrix provides the Gunzosha with an initially empty mote pool equal to the (suit artifact rating) x10. Stunts do not refill this essence pool and the Gunzosha must be forced to look for other methods to regain motes.
Aegis Inset Amulets- (1wp/1lhl), the amulets draw off the Commando’s life essence to provide her with the essence pool necessary to activate the armour’s other functions. This can be used once per day in relative safety to the wearer’s health to provide (artifact rating) motes to the suit’s internal essence pool, using it additional times in the same day costs 1 lethal health level.

Sample Subsystems

Subsystems perform a more specific role in the suit's operations, they require essence to function in a manner similar to Exalted charms of which they often emulate. Subsystems can be removed and replaced freely, but no Gunzosha armour may support more than it's artifact rating.

Aegis Charge Transfer- (1m) allows the Gunzosha to transfer (artifact rating) of her motes to another Commando, paying a 1 mote surcharge in the process.
External Essence Gauntlets- (5m 1wp) allows the suit’s Gauntlets to function as a pair of Smashfists for the duration of the scene.
Integrated Targeting Subsystem- (1m per dice) Grants bonus dice to an attack roll in a manner similar to an Exalt’s First Excellency. The Gunzosha may add no more dice than the lowest of her Attribute and Ability.
Vitality Boosting Subsystem- (1m per hl) The Gunzosha armour repairs minor damage extremely quickly, it may restore up to (artifact rating) levels of bashing damage per scene.
Resiliency Augmentation- (1m per hl) This Subsystem may be activated at step 7 of attack resolution, reducing the damage of an attack the attack by one die for each mote spent. This can reduce the damage of the attack to zero.