Akira’s Warrior of the Eternal Flame

The proposal looks interesting, but feels very delayed in terms of benefits. If we consider the equipment given to Paul B. and proposed for Jeff, this may feel light. I agree that the write up as originally proposed was too strong.

What about providing a mix of minor benefits and options? Here’s what I put together based on all the information I can find about the Fire elemental subtype:

Fire Subtype
Avoidance +1, Discipline -1
Natural Armor: 2
Resistance: Fire
Vulnerability: Water
Required: Quick, Uncanny Reaction [Must be taken as part of character creation]
Blood rank: +1
NOTE: You may bypass taking the Bloodline talent “To Withstand the Crucible of Flame” and still qualify for higher Tier talents provided you meet all other requirements.

Special: Should you also take “To Withstand the Crucible of Flame” your fire resistance doubles to 20. [If not this, then there should be some listed interaction with that talent.]

The following options are available as Limited to your character.

Monstrous Trait:
Corona of Flame Talent [Combat, Limited]
Benefit: As a trivial action you may engulf yourself in a fiery aura. This functions as the Elemental Aura (Fire) Monstrous Trait. The die type for the aura is tied to your Tier with d4 at Tier I and reaching d12 at Tier V. You may extinguish the corona as a trivial action. Further, if struck by a water based attack and the flames put out, you may reignite them as a trivial action after a full Turn has passed.

Dancing Flame – Talent [Combat, Limited]
Prerequisite: Elemental Aura
Benefit: When engulfed in flame you are able to direct your attacks to strike your foes at a distance. You gain the following attack:

Dancing Flame (a), Skill: Unarmed, Type: Advanced, Range 30’, Speed 5, Damage: d8(dResolve) [Charimsa?]

So, rather than give him 2 of the talents it becomes a part of the build. For it he gains access to unique abilities including an aura that scales. The defenses are a wash. He can get everything by the time he starts play if he wants to invest the talents to do so. The Dancing Flame attack is roughly equivalent to a good quality short bow. Not as good as exceptional, but it doesn’t require a reload time. By making the attack Advanced we eliminate the possibility of broken combos with martial techniques. It’s flashy and flavorful without being overpowered. It can be disabled by placing him in water as constant exposure to his vulnerability would prevent the aura from activating that’s required as the source.

I’d be open to other Limited options to select from. I can’t find any mechanics dealing with Elementals and eating, poison, sleep etc. I know that those were D&D specific, not sure how or if it really translates here. That might be an option for another ability perhaps open at a higher tier.

Thoughts?

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

As Henry stated, Akira was also going to get a weapon and ‘armour’, possibly in the form of a gauntlet of immaculate defence.

The main issue with the Fire Elemental is that it screws up the power curve by giving him full benefits at Tier I. That is why I suggested a tiered ability for him to effectively ‘rebuild’ his way to a 20th level character with 20th level powers. If we front load too much power on him now–especially if others at the same backer tier don’t get them–it causes resentment.

Weapon: In the last mod I played with Akira online I asked him to use a Exceptional Fervidite OR Tempered Sarishan Steel (I vote Fervitide as it is found in the campaign right now) Flamberge with a Fine Tier I rune on it, and he chose Celerity for the adventure. I honestly see no issue with canonizing this blade for him.

Armor: As he plays a ‘monk’, armour is in appropriate which is why it was suggested the Gauntlet of Immaculate Defence, which is treated as a Small Shield and bonuses with the Grasp the Blade weapon trick which seems entirely reasonable to me for his build.

Fire Elemental: Akira’s general ‘history’ of his character is that when he emerged from the labyrinth he found that Nier had ‘forsaken him’ (Henry would have to make a story call about what is reasonable here), which we could use to our benefit in the ‘depowered’ aspect of his Fire Elemental-ness. The most basic attributes of a Fire Elemental is that he should gain Resistance to Fire (AR: 10) and Vulnerability to Water as was suggested. This shouldn’t overpower him as while AR10 is very good, the linked vulnerability (combined with him not wearing armour) can be a very strong downside.

One potential that we COULD add to make him a full fire elemental at T1 is to give a series of plus and negatives:

Avoidance +1
Fortitude +1
Discipline -2 (fire is a fickle thing. . . )

Traits: Resistance (Fire), Potent Blood

Flaws: Vulnerability (Water), Cursed/Damned (to represent his ‘being scorned by Nier’?)

The defences more-or-less even out, and while those Qualities are good those Flaws are pretty scary as well.

Ok, based on everything that’s been shared about what Akira’s looking for, the weapon and armor being given, I’m fine with the Tiered talent as proposed. The one tweak I would consider making would be to add a +1 avoidance, -1 to discipline that matches the Fire elemental variation listed on p. 325 of the A:RPG. While the avoidance bonus will come up more often, getting hit with discipline attacks is often more painful especially things like Enemy of my Enemy, so it feels like a wash to me.

With a sweep of his hat,

Paul

Hello,

After last night’s meeting, we decided to go with Cody’s suggestion, as seen in the first post of this thread.

Unless there’s something else, we’re done with this one.

Thank you all!

Continuing the idea from above, but making it a bit less powerful:

Purification of Fate [Unique, Tiered]
Requirements: Knowledge (Religion) and Mettle at 2 ranks per Tier of Talent (2 ranks at Tier I, 6 at Tier III, etc), must have a Fate Score of 4 or higher, Raseri val’Emman.
Benefit: After passing through the Labyrinth of Time in the First City, you have found yourself forever changed. Somehow, in addition to transporting you decades forward in time, you have found your connection to Nier has been diminished. While the embers of Nier glow dimmer, however, they have not gone out entirely. While diminished you retain at least a shadow of your former nature, and in its place you find that Larissa has turned her eye towards you. For you to have gained the blessings of two of the Pantheon–even in a lesser form–reinvigorated your faith and allowed you to continue on.

Tier I: While diminished, you retain a limited version of your previous Elemental essense. However, you find that you have earned Larissa’s attention. Your creature type changes to Humanoid (Fire, Val). You gain the Resistance (Fire) Monstrous Trait as well as the linked Vulnerability (Water) flaw. Additionally, when you spend a Fate Point roll a die. On a high result, you may add your Passive Charisma to your Attack rolls for the rest of the Scene. On a low result, you instead suffer a penalty equal to your Passive Charisma on your Attack rolls for the rest of the Scene.

Tier III: Your survival to this point appears to have pleased Larissa, allowing you to unlock more of your previous nature. You gain a Natural Armor Rating equal to your Fate Score.

Tier V: You have passed the test of Larissa, becoming more than you were before! You gain the Elemental Aura (Fire) Monstrous Trait. Additionally, you gain a bonus to your Perception Action Skill Rolls equal to your Fate Score.