MartialArts/FourfoldPathToReadinessStyle2nd

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The Fourfold Path to Readiness Style [version 2.0 Alpha]
Celestial Level Martial Arts Style, 2nd Edition Capable

The four paths to readiness were first compiled by a young Solar martial artist undergoing training at the Kether Rock facility. Struggling with the styles normally taught at the school, he found himself constantly assailed by the trainers there, as they attempted to force him to learn technique after technique. Over time, these unexpected assaults did have an effect, if not the one intended. The lowly Eclipse had not mastered (or even learned) what they were intending to teach him, but something altogether new - the fundamentals of action and reaction, and the ability to defend onesself in any situation, no matter how unprepared the enemy might think him. These fundamentals were combined into a simple, circular, and flowing art that comes as part of one's being, the Four Paths to Readiness Style.

As this style contains no direct attack charms, the concept of a form weapon is nigh meaningless. Any weapon may be wielded as the user likes, as elbows, knees, and headbutts suffice for all counterattacks. Weapons wielded as such must either be proper Martial Arts weapons (to use the MA score for parry and attack), or must be wielded using some other ability. Light armor and small shields don't restrict contortion nor reflexes much, and so armor up to and including a Buff Jacket or Breastplate, and target shields are allowed.

"A master of the Four Paths to Readiness is never exhausted, never caught unprepared. His way is passive, but his actions swift, and his vengeance sure. Verily, to attack such a warrior is to invite 10 responses in kind. Truly, a master of this style is invincible!"

Major Themes: Quickness, Reaction, and Essence-Recycling Minor Themes: Assured Defenses, Lack of need for preparation

The eternally ready warrior is vigilant. Those who wish to surprise him find that his mind is prepared for all possible outcomes, and that his response occurs without thought, without delay.
The eternally ready warrior defends himself. By simplifying all possible incoming attacks to a few simple patterns of response, his reactions are certain and effective, preventing harm.
The eternally ready warrior is rested. No matter the situation, the time, or the place, his reserves are strong, his ability to fight unquestioned.
The eternally ready warrior retaliates. Those who would strike him find their attacks anticipated and accounted for, falling before his response.

The charm tree is composed of 10 charms. 4 entry-level charms, a form charm, 4 higher level charms, and the ultimate charm. All charms are reflexive, with the initial four charms all instant, and the advanced charms all scene-long. The entry level charms are Ess2, while the form and second-level charms are essence 3. Finally, the ultimate charm is Essence 4.

Beyond that, a Master's tree has been developed, with 5 more charms. Just as the theme before transistioned from Essence 2 instants to Essence 3 scene-longs, the Master's Techniques are Essence 4 permanent effects, culminating in a second form, this time at Essence 5.

Needed Change List

• Reactionary Disposition (basic vigilance) now inapplicable due to lack of initiative order.
• Basic defense adds directly to parry DV, as it already added autosux.
• Essence-inhalation prana (basic recycling) can no longer activate on parries and dodges of the opponent, making it much less useful.
• Basic retaliation kindof works, in that it now generates an autosuxxed counterattack, but would be better with dice, as fixed DV's make things less chance-based.
• Form - Initiative boost no longer makes sense, DV boost makes perfect sense, and counterattacks still kindof work. Perhaps trade init boost for speed -1, and totally make this kickin'?

• Oh hell, it just needs a total rewrite. Every charm is significantly changed. Curses.

Basic Vigilance

Reactionary Disposition

Cost: 2m 
Duration: Instant

Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 2
Minimum Essence: 2
Prerequisites: None

Those who walk this path find that being quick is not the goal. Simple speed will not allow one to respond in time. No, the true master must realize that it is not swift action that wins the battle, but swifter action. As an opponent strikes, it is not important to be fast - only to react in time. This charm may be activated reflexively, and immediately converts an incoming attack or effect the character is unaware of to one that the character is aware of, and able to respond immediately.

Basic Defense

Fortified Motion of Clockwork Technique

Cost: 2 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive

Minimum Martial Arts: 2
Minimum Essence: 2 
Prerequisites: None

By studying the incoming flow of attacks, recognizing that there are a finite number of responses, the martial artist has the ability to parry attacks with a certain degree of certainty. When activating this charm, the Exalt's parry DV increases by his (Essence)-1, for the purposes of one incoming attack. This allows the character to parry lethal attacks unarmed.

Basic Rest

Essence Inhalation Prana

Cost: 1 mote
Duration: Instant
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 3
Minimum Essence: 2 
Prerequisites: None

As his enemies may set upon him at any time, the eternally ready warrior must maintain his energy at all times. With every use of Essence, he becomes a bigger target, more vulnerable to attack as his reserves leaves his body. By mastering this charm the Exalt has learned to stem this tide somewhat, allowing him to siphon off Essence from the wasteful exertion of others. As they attack, they restore him. As they dodge, his strength is replenished. This charm must be activated in response to a hand-to-hand dice action involving the character, such as an attack, parry, or dodge on the part of the opponent (explicitly not including damage rolls). For every die rolled in such an action that is not a success, the martial artist regains one mote of Essence. The character may regain no more motes than his Essence+MA through the use of this charm per turn. If the Martial Artist does not have a Fourfold Path to Readiness Form active, the Essence regained is reduced to 1m per two unsuccessful dice, and the number of motes gained per turn is reduced to half of the character's (Essence+MA).

Basic Retaliation

Offense-In-Defense Strike

Cost: 2 motes
Duration: Instant
Type: Supplemental/Special

Minimum Martial Arts: 3
Minimum Essence: 2 
Prerequisites: None

For every action, there is an equal, and opposite reaction. Through time and study, the Exalt has learned that not only are there a finite number of counters required to block any incoming attack, but also a finite number of counterattacks. As enemies move in to strike the Exalt, his defenses lash out in kind, without thinking.

This charm may supplement a parry-type action, and may be activated immediately after the Exalt successfully parries a hand-to-hand attack. The character then automatically counterattacks with a dice pool equal to the number of successes 'left over' from the parry. (The number of successes by which the parry exceeded the amount required to stop the attack.) This automatic counterattack cannot be supplemented by any charm, and counterattack charms cannot be activated in response to it. This charm may only initiate a number of counterattacks equal to the Exalt's Martial Arts in a given turn. If the character has already successfully and completely avoided the attack through the use of a previous dodge, this charm cannot be activated.

Form Charm

Fourfold Readiness Form

Cost: 5 motes
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 4
Minimum Essence: 3 
Prerequisites: All four Essence 2 charms in this style

As the student of this style walks the four paths to eternal readiness, his responses become quicker than thought, his reactions occurring even before the action that spawned them. When practicing this form, the martial artist spins, jumps, slides, and strikes in response to nearly any threatening stimulus, in a carefully practiced yet improvised dance. The character's initiative is increased by their martial arts rating, and they can choose to do bashing or lethal damage with their strikes. The difficulty to hit the character is increased by one-half of their martial arts rating (rounded up) as their body arches and contorts. The character may reflexively initiatate a bare-handed (bare-handed only, not form weapons regardless of PAoC, etc) counterattack in response to any attack directed at him from within his Essence in yards. These counterattacks have a attack pool equal to the character's martial arts rating, and occur before the attacker's attack is rolled, but after the attacker declares any charms that must be declared before the attack dice are rolled. Note that Dragon Blooded characters may not activate this charm using their ability to activate multiple reflexive charms per turn. This is a form-type charm, and only one such charm may be active at a time. The counterattacks generated by this charm are considered generated by a counterattack-type charm, and as such, may not be initiated in response to a counterattack, nor may counterattacks be generated in response to them.

Advanced Vigilance

Universal Danger Awareness Technique

Cost: 4 motes
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 4
Minimum Essence: 3 
Prerequisites: Form Charm

New:

• Automatic join battle action, immediately.
• -1 Speed on all actions?

Old:
Having walked the road of vigilance, the martial artist's perceptions are heightened - not to the surroundings, not to passers-by, but instead to the flows of Essence that define danger. By relying on this sense, the character has a distinct advantage on those who would act against him, not just observing the signs of an impending attack, but even the developing clouds indicating his own counterattack. This charm may be activated in response to any attack or effect that would be considered harmful to the character or his possessions, even those the character would normally be unaware of. The activation of this charm allows the character to act fully in this turn, even if he would normally have been surprised, and makes the character considered 'aware' of the incoming attack. In addition, the character automatically wins initiative for the turn. If a contest between other automatic-initiative charms should occur (such as Thunderclap Rush Attack), compare the character's initiative values - the characters act according to the order dictated by their initiative values, but before all characters not using an automatic-initiative charm. For the remainder of the scene, the character has a heightened awareness of not only his own strikes, but the strikes of others as well. As such, the martial artist even has the ability to parry the attacks of those not directed at him. This ability does not allow the use of 'reflexive' parries, such as Bulwark Stance, to parry said attacks, only parries created by a die roll or through the use of an instant charm.

Advanced Defense

Hearing the Rhythm of the Fearful Dance

Cost: 5 motes, 1 WP
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 3 
Prerequisites: Form Charm

New:
Like FFBS or FLB, only half as good, but applying to both Parry and Dodge DV, alternating - you can rely on one a bit, then the other, then back, or whatever.

Old:
Always ready, regardless of the method or location of attack, the character can now reflexively defend against nearly anything. Whenever attacked, the character may react with both a reflexive dodge and a reflexive parry, with dice pools equal to his martial arts rating. These dice add to any existing pool, and create a pool if none would otherwise exist. This charm allows the character to parry lethal attacks bare-handed.

Advanced Rest

Cyclic Essence Breathing Technique

Cost: 1m, 1W
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 3 
Prerequisites: Form Charm

Always mindful of his reserves, the readied warrior never exerts himself without ensuring that he will remain a viable combatant. Every move he makes is a calculated expenditure of Essence, every breath a rhythmic intake of energy. With a perfected recycling of motion, every action is met with an equal reaction, every block leads into the next attack, the characters thoughts focused only on the next move. While other characters must commit their reserves to simply maintaining existing charms, the martial artist can use this pent-up energy as fuel in a bellows, exerting, then pulling back, in a continual cycle. While this charm is active, the commitment required for all charms is reduced by one-half (rounded down). The total number of motes and willpower committed to charms must still not exceed half of the character's normal pools, however.

Advanced Retaliation

Fury of the Righteous Defender

Cost: 4 motes, 1 WP
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 3 
Prerequisites: Form Charm

As the character approaches mastery of this style, he ensures that those who would strike him are unfailingly aware of their error, and understand their fault immediately. Whenever an opponent attempts to strike the character in hand-to-hand combat, the character may immediately (and before the initiating attack is rolled, but after charms declarations are made) make an unarmed counterattack against the offender. This attack may utilize any in-form weapon. This attack is made using only the character's full Dex+martial arts pool, and it is resolved before the originating attack is rolled. Note that the counterattacks generated by this charm are considered counterattacks, and as such, may not be generated in response to another counterattack. Note also that the counterattacks generated are cumulative with those generated by the form charm in this style, making attacking a master of this style a dangerous proposition at best.

Ultimate Charm

The Way of Instananeous Preparation

Cost: N/A
Duration: Permanent
Type: Special
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4 
Prerequisites: All other 9 charms in this style

Finally, the student of this style has reached the end of the paths, and has found the key to eternal readyness. Upon mastering this style he realizes that all of its teachings were not about four paths, but instead one path, and one reaction - the correct one. At all times is the master of this style ready, and at all times can he act. Activating the prerequisite charms in this style no longer counts against the character's charm usage for the turn, allowing them to spring to full readiness in a single instant. When this charm is learned, the character is considered to have completed a single Martial Art.

Master's Vigilance

All-Encompassing Readiness Style

Cost: N/A
Duration: Indefinite (Permanent)
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisites: The Way of Instantaneous Preparation

With reaction times unheard of in other Martial Arts styles, the Master of Vigilance embodies awareness, and cannot be surprised by all but the most cunning adversaries. He is automatically considered aware of any attack or threat made to his person or belongings that is not somehow hidden by a charm, and even when unaware of an incoming attack or threat, his quick reaction time still allows him to take useful action when others couldn't. When the character would normally be considered totally surprised (see page 238 of the core rules), and thus only able to defend with reflexive charms, the character is instead considered startled, and may defend and take action normally, but may not attack. If the character would normally be considered startled, he is instead considered fully aware, and he may act normally. He may apply DV's and use charms as if he is constantly in battle, (fix:)never requiring a join battle action. This charm has no effect if the character is violating the tenets of this martial art, such as by wearing heavy armor, or by wielding a weapon not considered a style weapon for a martial art he knows.

Master's Defense

Ignorant Stone's Defense

Cost: N/A
Duration: Indefinite (Permanent)
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisites: The Way of Instantaneous Preparation

Even in the best of situations, there are still opponents that might strike the Master. Even with the strongest defenses, a truly perfect attack might pierce them. The Master of the Path of Defense knows this, and rather than attempting to stop all attacks, he recognizes that an attack that does no harm is an attack that he was prepared for. When this charm is learned, the character's natural soak increases by 2 points, including bashing, lethal, and aggravated damage. In addition, when damage against him is calculated, reduce the number of damage successes by one. This charm has no effect if the character is violating the tenets of this martial art, such as by wearing heavy armor, or by wielding a weapon not considered a style weapon for a martial art he knows.

Master's Rest

Action At Rest Principle

Cost: N/A
Duration: Indefinite (Permanent)
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisites: The Way of Instantaneous Preparation

Having first learned the ways of siphoning wasted Essence from others, and then the ways of recycling his own effort, the practitioner of the Fourfold Path to Readiness has already demonstrated extremely fine control over the Essence flows involved in combat. As true mastery is achieved, the Master of the restful path no longer need exert himself for the most basic of actions. His motions generate no waste, and his actions move in perfect harmony with his intent, recycling all that he exerts. When this charm is learned, the character gains a separate "Readiness Pool", containing (Essence + Martial Arts) motes in personal essence, and 2 Willpower. This pool may only be used to activate charms in the Fourfold Readiness Style, and is automatically refilled at the end of each scene. It may not be refilled in any other manner, including stunts, charms, artifacts, or hearthstones. This charm has no effect if the character is violating the tenets of this martial art, such as by wearing heavy armor, or by wielding a weapon not considered a style weapon for a martial art he knows.

Master's Retaliation

Incapacitating Retaliatory Touch

Cost: N/A
Duration: Indefinite (Permanent)
Type: Permanent
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 4
Prerequisites: The Way of Instantaneous Preparation

Note: This charm isn't quite right, in my opinion, and I'm working on changing it fundamentally, so feel free to refrain from commenting on it until I get a better charm in its place.

In a truly pitched battle, the threat of counterattack is often not enough. The opponent may be resilient, or he may simply not care about his own well being. In such a battle, the best way to respond is not only to deter, but to disable. Targeting his strikes more carefully, he strikes at joints, chakra points, and nerve clusters. When this charm is learned, increase the base damage of both unarmed attacks and those using Martial Arts weapons by 2, against any target that has declared an attack (or other negative effect) against the character in the previous 24 hours. In addition, whenever such an enemy is successfully struck by such an attack (even if no damage is dealt), he receives a cumulative 1-die penalty to his rolls. This penalty fades after the Martial Artist's (Martial Arts) in turns.

Master-Level Form

Master of Fourfold Readiness Form

Cost: 8 motes
Duration: Scene
Type: Reflexive
Minimum Martial Arts: 5
Minimum Essence: 5 
Prerequisites: All five Essence 4 charms in this styl

Having walked the path of readiness for many years, the martial artist has reached new levels of perfection. Where once there was a concerted effort of action and reaction, there is now simply motion. Where once his actions would bruise, they now destroy. Having learned the Master of Fourfold Readiness Form, the martial artist is truly a terror to behold, and only a truly masochistic opponent dares fight him. He receives all of the benefits of the Fourfold Readiness Form, but his motions are quicker, and his responses faster. As his motions become a blur, he no longer is limited to the simple actions of mortal fighters. He receives one additional independent action per turn, which he can use for any purpose, including movement, charm activation, et cetera. The character may not use an extra action charm as part of the independent action granted by this charm. The independent action has its initiative rolled separately, and occurs on its own initiative tick. On this turn this charm is activated, the extra action is granted immediately, on whatever initiative tick the charm is activated. In addition, with his increased mastery of defense, deterrence and readiness, the character's basic skills become much more effective. His reactions quicker, the difficulty to hit him is increased not by his (Martial Arts over 2, rounded up), but instead his full Martial Arts rating. His counterattacks become much more damaging, threatening his opponents yet further. The counterattacks granted by this charm (due to its inclusion of the standard form) are now made at the character's full attack pool, rather than his Martial Arts rating, and may be performed using any weapon considered a style weapon for any martial art the character knows. When damage is calculated for any counterattack the character makes, convert one damage die to an automatic success. This is a form-type charm, and only one such charm may be active at a time.