IsawaBrian/SolarMeleeDefense
First Edition and Conversions
Careful Warrior Method
Cost: 3 motes per success Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Minimum Melee: 1 Minimum Essence: 1 Prerequisite Charms: None
Controlling the Essence that surrounds weaponry is one of the easiest tasks for a Solar, especially a Dawn. Despite this, the Charm that deals directly with such control, the Careful Warrior Method, is often only learned later in life for Solars. Although it can produce startling effects, the Careful Warrior Method requires a certain amount of confidence in the Exalt’s skill and luck if used instead of Excellent Strike or Golden Essence Block. The Careful Warrior Method is also more expensive than either of those, as it uses Essence to shift and alter the flows of battle-Essence. However, it is very flexible; the defensive and offensive applications of such control are remarkably similar, and a Solar who has mastered the Careful Warrior Method may ultimately have greater effect than one who uses Excellent Strike or Golden Essence Block.
To use this Charm, the player firsts makes a regular Dexterity + Melee attack or parry. Then, the player may “buy” additional successes, up to the character’s Essence rating + the number of successes rolled on the Melee roll. Each success bought in this fashion costs 3 motes of Essence. While this will allow the character to buy up to Essence successes on a roll that garners no net successes, it cannot create an action by itself. This Charm may not be used to “buy” a defense or gain an attack, merely to supplement existing ones.
In Second Edition, this Charm is quite different:
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 5, Essence 5; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Fivefold Bulwark Stance
Rashness is a matter of temperament, not age. Imprudent but talented warriors rush to use their latest and newest methodologies, forgetting the strengths that made them great. A careful warrior-- a wise Solar-- will not so disregard her roots. Whenever the character has Fivefold Bulwark Stance active, she may use reflexive, defensive Melee charms with a Minimum Essence no higher than 2 as non charm actions for an additional one mote surcharge. This may not include Perfect Defenses.
Elegant Defense Method
Cost: 4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 1 Prerequisite Charms: Bulwark Stance
The Essence that surrounds a Solar leads her naturally to excellence. By using this Charm, she crystallizes that Essence and focuses her defense into the precisely best possible parry for an incoming attack. The character may block, without her player rolling, any one attack against her that he is aware of, as long as that attack can be blocked. The character must use Elegant Defense Method before any attack is rolled.
In Second Edition, this Charm functions differently:
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Heavenly Guardian Defense, Third Melee Excellency
The Essence that surrounds a Solar leads her naturally to excellence. By using this Charm, she crystallizes that Essence and focuses her defense into the precisely best possible parry for an incoming attack. By spending an extra 1 mote, 1 willpower, the character may make a Heavenly Guardian Defense a Step 6 Reflexive Charm. This increased cost is compatible with Protection of Celestial Bliss, but is not discounted by Transcendent Heavenly Warden until the Solar's Essence is 8. If used with Protection of Celestial Bliss, the cost must be paid when the invocation is stored.
Weapon Reinforcement Meditation
Cost: 4 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Melee: 2 Minimum Essence: 1 Prerequisite Charms: None
One of the most frustrating problems for Solars is the regrettably low lifespan of weapons in their powerful hands. Many weapons are simply not up to the tasks of channeling the raw power of a Solar Exalted, or to withstand the awesome power of their mightiest foes. Thankfully, with this Charm, a Solar may get around such inconveniences by supplementing her weapon’s natural strength with that of Essence. Weapon Reinforcement Method makes the character’s weapon functionally equivalent to orichalcum for the rest of the scene. This does not change its basic statistics in any way; it merely has the resistance of orichalcum, and counts as such for any effects that involve orichalcum.
In Second Edition, this Charm is quite different:
Cost: 2m or 5m; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms:Heavenly Guardian Defense
One of the most frustrating problems for Solars is the regrettably low lifespan of weapons in their powerful hands. Worse still is the ability that many of their mightiest opponents have to destroy, disarm, or de-attune their weapons. By attuning her own indestructible shards to the physical form of her weapon, a Lawgiver may protect her weapon totally. This Charm functions as a perfect defense that only defends the Lawgiver’s weapon; it may be used regardless of applicability or ordinary rolls to defend it. Destruction, loss of ability, deattunement, disarmament—all may be defended against. It may also be used in retaliation against Charms or other effects that would require the Solar to discard her weapon or even simply fail to use it.
At Melee 5, Essence 4, the character may spend an additional 3 motes to instantly reflect the incoming effect on the attacker. Resolve this effect during Step 9 of combat. Use the mechanics of the incoming effect with the traits of the Solar, substituting Melee and/or Essence where the Storyteller sees fit if the Solar has no relevant traits. This gives the Charm the Counterattack keyword, and may not be used in conjunction with or retaliation against other Counterattack effects. The character may still use the ordinary effect against Counterattacks.
Transcendent Heavenly Warden
Cost: 14 motes, 2 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Melee: 7 Minimum Essence: 7 Prerequisite Charms: Protection of Celestial Bliss
The defenses of the Solar Exalted increase as do their power and skill. Those of the most puissant stages of essence develop can wrap themselves with terrible and efficient Essence-lines, which, with the slightest disturbance, can trigger the Exalt's weapon to leap into a perfect defense. Although no known Charm can provide unlimited perfect defenses, this Charm, which lasts for one scene, grants the character a number of perfect defenses each round equal to his Melee Ability, even if the attacks are not normally blockable. Blocking even a single strong attack by a powerful spirit or a Yozi will cause any non-magical weapons to be destroyed, but those wielding magical weapons can parry any number of terrifyingly mighty attacks without risk.
In Second Edition, this Charm is very different.
Cost: 14m , 2 wp; Mins: Melee 7, Essence 7; Type: Simple (DV -0) Keywords: Combo-Basic, Leader, Obvious Duration: One Scene Prerequisite Charms: Protection of Celestial Bliss
The defenses of the Solar Exalted increase as do their power and skill. Those of the most puissant stages of essence develop can wrap themselves with terrible and efficient Essence-lines, which, with the slightest disturbance, can trigger the Exalt's weapon to leap into a perfect defense. Although no known Charm can provide unlimited perfect defenses, this Charm, which lasts for one scene, grants the character a complete discount on a number of Heavenly Guardian Defenses equal to his permanent Essence each Action. This may not be combined with effects that allow Heavenly Guardian Defense to be used as a non-Charm action except for a pre-prepared invocation used from Protection of Celestial Bliss. In that case, the Solar may still pre-prepare invocations for free; however, each use of those free invocations later counts against a Celestial Transcendent Heavenly Warden discount on activation, just as it did during invocation. The discount does of course apply to Heavenly Guardian Defenses used as a part of a combo. At Essence 8, this Charm may be purchased a second time, making it compatible with any and all effects that allow Heavenly Guardian Defense to be used as an innate ability, such as Immortal Blade Triumphant.
Grace of Sol Invictus
Cost: 1 mote Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 2 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms: Excellent Strike
Battle-essence is one of the most favored among Solars. No matter what Caste, ultimately, Solars were created to fight off the Primordials and their patron is a martial one. As a result, it is easy for them to attune to the flows of battle-essence, both for manipulation and as a means of regeneration. By harmonizing himself to a moment of battle-essence, a Solar can harness the very power of an opponent's attack to increase his supply of motes. The Exalt using this Charm makes a Parry defense as normal, but for every success beyond the minimum needed to deflect an attack, he regenerates one mote of essence from the surrounding battle-motes; none are drawn from the opponent. This charm must be used before a defense is made, and does not grant a reflexive defense.
In Second Edition, this Charm is very different.
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 2; Type: Permanent Keywords: Reactor Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Dipping Swallow Defense
Battle-essence is one of the most favored among Solars. No matter what Caste, ultimately, Solars were created to fight off the Primordials and their patron is a martial one. As a result, it is easy for them to attune to the flows of battle-essence, both for manipulation and as a means of regeneration. By harmonizing himself to a moment of battle-essence, a Solar can harness the very power of an opponent's attack to increase his supply of motes.
If the Solar successfully defends against an attack with her Parry DV, she gains her attacker's (Essence /2 round up) in motes in step 10. Generation cannot come from attacks against the character's invulnerability, including if the Solar uses a Charm with a Flaw of Invulnerability. This Charm is also incompatible with other Charms that grant motes of Essence.
Triumphant Battle Master
Cost: 3 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Melee: 4 Minimum Essence: 2 Prerequisite Charms: Grace of Sol Invictus
An enhanced version of Grace of Sol Invictus, Triumphant Battle Master transforms the Exalt's mastery of battle-essence from a momentary harmonization to a powerful attunement, permitting every Parry defense the Solar makes for a scene to grant extra Essence to the character as per Grace of Sol Invictus. This Charm cannot be stacked either with itself or Grace of Sol Invictus, although other, non-Parry based essence regeneration Charms and effects may still be used.
In Second Edition, this Charm is very different:
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Grace of Sol Invictus
An enhanced version of Grace of Sol Invictus, Triumphant Battle Master transforms the Exalt's mastery of battle-essence from a slight harmonization to a powerful absorption. The dominance of the Solar's skill over his attacker actually converts both excess force and excess skill into usable essence. This Charm enhances its prerequisite. When the character gains motes from Grace of Sol Invictus, the amount regenerated becomes equal to (the attacker's Essence /2, round up) plus the difference between the attacker's successes and the Solar's DV. This has a maximum of (attacker's Essence /2 round up) plus the Solar's Melee rating. The basic rules for maximum regeneration, exclusivity of regeneration, and invulnerability still apply
Superior Dogma Defense
Cost: 20 motes, 2 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 8 Minimum Essence: 8 Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Heavenly Warden
Woe betide the fool who seeks to attack an Elder Solar. The complex flows of essence at such a powerful Exalt's commands can laugh off the futile efforts of a single attacker. The Exalt's player makes an ordinary reflexive Parry defense (at full relevant dice pool) against an incoming attack. If the Parry is successful (spare Perfect defenses can be used, if available), all future blockable attacks from that target are perfectly defended against for the length of the scene. This does not apply to attacks that cannot be blocked; instead, the Exalt gets a reflexive Parry defense against such attacks, using the Essence of the attacker if no other successes are available as a difficulty.
This Charm may only be applied to a number of different attackers equal to the Exalt's Permanent Essence, and only one active Superior Dogma Defense may be removed and changed to a different target per round. If even one iteration of Superior Dogma defense is in operation, all attacks by Extras utterly fail, making offensive combat bonuses from units in Mail & Steel irrelevant. This Charm does not defend against beings with a greater Essence than the Exalt.
In Second Edition, this Charm functions differently:
Cost: 20m, 2wp; Mins: Melee 8, Essence 8; Type Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader, Obvious Duration: One Scene Prerequisite Charms: Transcendent Heavenly Warden
Woe betide the fool who seeks to attack an Elder Solar. The complex flows of essence at such a powerful Exalt's commands can laugh off the futile efforts of a single attacker. This Charm is activated during Step 2 of an attack against the Solar, who must use her Parry DV. If the attacker fails to hit the Solar, the Solar perfectly defends against any other attack made by that enemy for the rest of the scene. This Charm will not function on a being with a higher Essence than that of the Solar. The Solar may only have a number of Superior Dogma Defenses active at once equal to her Essence, and unlike most charms, Superior Dogma Defense may only be deliberately ended on the character's action. If even one invocation of Superior Dogma Defense is active, any attack by an extra will automatically be perfectly defended against. This often renders mass combat attack bonuses from units useless against the Solar.
Solar Aegis Totality
Cost: 50 motes, 5 Willpower, 2 Health Levels Duration: One Scene Type: Reflexive Minimum Melee: 9 Minimum Essence: 9 Prerequisite Charms: Superior Dogma Defense
The Elder Solar can walk in the midst of a hail of arrows flung from a trio of Demon Princes and sublimely deflect them all. Only the most potent of offenses can break through his defensive mien, and only a horde of the most powerful enemies can overcome his watchful guardian eye. For the rest of the scene, the Solar may designate (as attacks occur) a number of opponents each round equal to the Exalt's Permanent Essence. Any blockable attack, whether perfect or not, coming from those opponents is perfectly defended against. Any unblockable attack or blockable attack from a source not so selected is defended against with a reflexive Parry defense. Attacks of Extras, and beings with less than 2 Essence, automatically fail, regardless of applicability. This Charm may not be designated against beings with a greater Essence than that of the Solar.
In Second Edition, this Charm functions differently:
Cost: 50m, 5wp; 2 ahlMins: Melee 9, Essence 9; Type Simple (DV -0) Keywords: Combo-Basic, Leader, Obvious Duration: One Scene Prerequisite Charms: Superior Dogma Defense
The Elder Solar can walk in the midst of a hail of arrows flung from a trio of Demon Princes and sublimely deflect them all. Only the most potent of offenses can break through his defensive mien, and only a horde of the most powerful enemies can overcome his watchful guardian eye. For every period between DV refreshes, as attacks occur, the Solar may designate a number of opponents up to his Essence whose attacks he parries perfectly. Attacks of Extras, and beings with less than 2 Essence, automatically fail, rendering their attack bonuses in mass combat useless. Such enemies need not be designated. This Charm may not be designated against beings with a greater Essence than that of the Solar.
Sixty-Four Ways Into the Sunset Method
Cost: 6 motes, 1 Willpower Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Minimum Melee: 5 Minimum Essence: 4 Prerequisite Charms: Ready In Eight Directions Stance, Sandstorm-Wind Attack
Those who have the temerity to attack a Solar who has mastered the way of Melee have no one to blame but themselves for the devastating consequences. A character who knows the Sixty-Four Ways Into the Sunset Method can activate eight rotating bands of Essence around her body, each with eight hard points. Incoming attacks that fall into one of those hardpoints will be instantly repulsed, a burst of solar energy slashing back. For the rest of the scene, the character gets a number of counterattacks each round equal to her permanent Essence. These counterattacks can affect characters up to the Solar’s permanent Essence times ten yards away. The counterattacks take place after the attack roll is made, but before damage is dealt. These counterattacks will not trigger in response to Solar Counterattack or any other counterattack effect.
In Second Edition, this Charm is Combo-OK, Leader, Obvious, and the counter-attacks made are Reflexive (Step 9) actions that do not lower DV and do not count as a Charm use.
Second Edition
Golden Essence Block
Cost: 5m; Mins: Melee 5, Essence 3; Type: Reflexive (Step 2) Keywords: Combo-OK, Leader, Obvious Duration: Instant Prerequisite Charms: Bulwark Stance, Infinite Melee Mastery, Second Melee Excellency
The Solar sends energetic bursts through his weapon, realizing many angles of defense at once. The air itself blossoms with shining golden clones of the Lawgiver’s weapon, striking down all attempts to hammer past his defenses. Do not halve the Solar’s Melee Parry DV pool. This parry may be applied regardless of usual applicability, including for surprise. The character may use this to parry attacks that have no physical component, attacks that target the character’s essence or are otherwise supernatural, but may not be imposed in the place of a standard MDV or resistance roll.
If the incoming effect is a roll vs. difficulty (such as versus the Solar's Essence) that is not resisted by the Solar, the Solar may add her Melee score to the difficulty number. If an attack contains a component that would cause the Solar to fail to be able to use this charm, such as a compulsion or shaping effect, the Solar may elect to spend a willpower point in addition to the Charm’s regular cost to counteract all of the incoming effect (cancel a charm, negate sorcery, etc.) Inspired by Leti.
Retaliatory Swallow Cyclic Meditation
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 3; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Solar Counterattack
The rhythm of combat, chaotic as it may appear, includes deep cycles that the learned Lawgiver can attune to in order to seize control of the situation. One such cycle, known as the Retaliatory Swallow, comes from a mastery of defense and counterattack. The Lawgiver learns to instinctively follow defense with counterattack and counterattack with defense, creating a razor-edged guard against all who would be foolish enough to attack him. Whenever the character successfully parries an attack after using Dipping Swallow Defense, he may immediately use Solar Counterattack during Step 9 of that attack as a non-Charm Action. Whenever the character successfully attacks-- the Solar need do no damage-- a target with Solar Counterattack, his next Dipping Swallow Defense against that target will be a non-Charm action. Either benefit disappears if it is not used at the next opportunity, and neither benefit lasts past the end of a scene.
Balance Shatters on the Bulwark
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Bulwark Stance
Those who are foolish enough to strike at Heaven's Champions will find themselves overmatched by the cunning defenses of a Solar. The Solar's parries will leave the target off-balance and off stride, overexposed to retaliation. This Charm modifies its prerequisite. Whenever the Solar successfully parries an attack while Bulwark Stance is active, he may spend 1m as a reflexive, non-Charm action. If he does, the DV penalty of the attack increases by 1.
Swift Retribution
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 4, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Solar Counterattack
The retribution of a Solar is swift and deadly. Heaven has anointed the Solars above all, and for a single blow, Heaven shall retaliate with a plethora of devastating strikes. When the Lawgiver activates Solar Counterattack, the character may spend a willpower point to flurry the counterattack. This may be done with a regular or magical flurry, but magical flurries are subject to the usual limitations if in Combos. Each counterattack in the flurry has the usual -1 Counterattack DV penalty unless modified by a magical flurry, and each counterattack, whether in a normal or magical flurry, must be paid for via another invocation of Solar Counterattack.
Guard-Reinforcing Riposte
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Ready in Eight Directions Stance
The Ready in Eight Directions Stance drastically increases a Solar's preparedness for assault, allowing her to retaliate against even the harshest onslaught of attacks. The Guard-Reinforcing Riposte is a modification of its prerequisite. It teaches the Solar to make the most of her sharpened preparedness, renewing and reinforcing her guard on every counterattack. Whenever the character successfully hits an opponent after a counterattack made by Ready in Eight Directions Stance, she may spend and commit 1 mote. Doing so increases her DV by 1 for the duration of Ready in Eight Directions Stance. This does not alter the basic Counterattack -1 DV penalty, which may still be cancelled by other charms.
Untouchable Hero Defense
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 8, Essence 8; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Protection of Celestial Bliss
The Solar's defenses are succored and renewed by the full might of Heaven. The character may spend 2 motes and 1 willpower when activating a stored invocation of Heavenly Guardian Defense. This does not count as a part of the cost of Heavenly Guardian Defense and is therefore not discounted by Charms that affect Heavenly Guardian Defense's cost. If the cost is paid, the invocation's motes remain committed and the invocation returns on the character's next action.
Manifold Readiness Method
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 5, Essence 4; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: Fivefold Bulwark Stance
Observing the complete flow of battle, the Chosen of the Unconquered Sun reads every motion, every intent as though through a distilling lens. All of the Solar's sense, instincts, and training align; no direction and no method can pierce her defense save by overwhelming capability. Numbers and direction are little more than extra data points to be considered between the beats of her heart. This Charm enhances its prerequisite. While the character assumes the Fivefold Bulwark Stance, she does not suffer penalties to DV from Coordinated Attacks and multiple opponents. Even if faced with the maximum number of attackers, the character moves her opponents to impede the other. Even with a minimum of space, impossibly deft and swift movements give the Solar the edge. No opponent in such a situation gains the benefit of an unexpected attack. This does not alter unexpected attacks from other sources.
Willow's Victory
Cost: --; Mins: Melee 2, Essence 2; Type: Permanent Keywords: None Duration: Permanent Prerequisite Charms: None
Though the fate of the Lawgivers is utter victory, each one shard was born of the desperate need of the gods to defeat their makers. Every Solar carries within the lesson of the willow, learning to bend with an attack until the attack becomes a part of the defense. The mightier the force, the stronger the defense becomes that folds within its path. The force passes on, and yet the Solar remains. This Charm grants a bonus to the character's Parry DV equal to (the attacker's Essence /2, round up). This is a charm dice bonus.
