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- March 14, 2014 at 1:19 am #150908AnonymousInactive
Hello,
Given that one of the Special Characters for the Cradle of Empires KS was a Tultipetan dwarf and since their enclave does border the Blessed Lands, it seems time to create a Path for that Male accepting Holy Champion Order of Larissa.
This Order believes in perfecting their body and fighting ability to the level of art. Every move is calculated to be breathtaking, maximizing the showmanship as well as effectiveness. They should only wear light armor (or none – I’ll leave that to you guys) and use melee weapons (not ranged).
Their ace up their sleeve is the fact that they can “see” a few seconds into the future, giving them an edge in the fight as they could avoid or block an incoming blow. Obviously, this isn’t perfect – they can still get hit. Just because you know something is coming doesn’t mean you can always get out of the way.
SO I guess I’m looking for a Path and (maybe) a Fighting Style?
Thoughts?
March 14, 2014 at 12:58 pm #258993AnonymousInactiveOk, I have the Path written up and a strong idea for a fighting style based around performance and free strikes. I’ll try and post the fighting style later today or tonight. For the Path I’m not sold on the name. For the Steel Sight talent I put in the restriction on armor there. The current write up grants a bit more flexibility than Henry’s original note. Being able to use Light or Medium armor matches the Oracular Cleric armor proficiency in the original 3.5 system. The requirement to have a Bulk 0 reflects their need to be instantly responsive to what they see in combat.
Unless you’re built on a Martial Archetype you’re limited to Armored Jacket or Leather Armor. It’s possible with a Legendary level Celerity Rune to reduce the Bulk by 1, but that and the Martial’s Advanced Armor Training are the only ways to bring an armor’s bulk to 0. Even with a Martial Archetype, unless you’ve got Exceptional quality armor, the only medium bulk 1 armors are Chain Shirt and Kio Hauberk.
Order of Battle’s Dance (or of the Dancing Blade)
This Order believes in perfecting their body and fighting ability to the level of art. Every move is calculated to be breathtaking, maximizing the showmanship as well as effectiveness. They are able to see the flow of time around a battle and move with its rhythm. This foresight allows them to delight their allies and confound their foes. All done with grace and style.Initiate
Requirements: Holy Champion of Larissa, Acrobatic (ta)
Trained Skills: Acrobatics, Perform (Dance)
Talents: Cunning Opponent, Steel SightMaster
Requirements:
Trained Skills: Melee (Any), Perception
Talents: Daredevil, Steel SightSpecial: Having mastered the Order of Battle’s Dance, the Steel Sight Talent is no longer Limited for you.
Steel Sight [Limited, Tiered]
Restriction: May be used with Light or Medium armor as long as your Bulk Penalty for Armor is 0. Must not be more than Light encumbrance.The character is able to see just a few seconds in the future allowing them to respond.
• Tier I: In response to an attack, as a push action (speed of weapon), make an opposed Melee attack roll against your opponent’s attack. If you beat your opponent, you block the attack. If you beat your opponent by more than 5, you may further make a basic attack as a counter-attack. The speed of the counter-attack is added to the push speed for the response.
• Tier II: Sidestep Danger – As a push 2 action you may increase your avoidance Against a single attack by your Passive Insight.
• Tier III: Your ability to see slightly in the future makes you difficult to catch unawares. You cannot be surprised in combat.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 14, 2014 at 3:43 pm #259053AnonymousInactiveI think steel sight is a little to limited in scope in some ways and overpowered in others…
I’m going to take a crack at it later tonight
March 14, 2014 at 3:52 pm #259058AnonymousInactiveI think steel sight is a little to limited in scope in some ways and overpowered in others…
I’m going to take a crack at it later tonight
That’s fine. I figured it would need refinement, but wanted to get the general idea out there. The inability to be surprised in combat isn’t available until Tier 4. It’s an upgrade over Uncanny Reaction (denies TE for being surprised) and negates abilities such as Waylay. It doesn’t stop the val’Borda ability In Darkness There is Death because it’s surprise or a shadowy area. I’m at least guessing this is the one you feel is overpowered.
I’m happy to see what you come up with.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 14, 2014 at 4:18 pm #259064AnonymousInactiveFlashing Blade
Originally developed by the Holy Champions of Larissa, this fighting style relies on drawing the opponent off-guard and taking advantage of their mistakes. The practitioner puts on a show, taunting through quips or movements, goading the opponents to strike.Requirements: Weapon Mastery (Side Sword or Short Sword or Kio Sword if Kio), Weapon Training (Side Sword, Short Sword) (ta), Acrobatics, 6 ranks in Melee (Balanced) and 3 ranks in Perform (Acting), Perform (Comedy), Perform (Dance) or Perform (Oratory)
Chosen Weapons: Side Sword, Short Sword and if Kio, Kio Sword
Benefits:
Tier I: You seek to throw your opponents off-balance. When using the Challenge talent you may use Perform (Acting), Perform (Comedy), Perform (Dance) or Perform (Oratory) in place of Intimidate or Persuasion to taunt your opponent. When in this stance you also gain the Unbalancing Attack Martial Technique.
Tier II: You exploit the openings your opponents give you. You gain tactical edge when using the Cunning Feint Martial Technique or whenever taking a free strike as you’re able to anticipate their movements and seize advantage.
Tier III: You gain the Cunning Feint Martial Technique.
Tier IV: Your movements not only entertain and confound, but can knock your opponent to the ground. You may make an unarmed attack with the Trip Martial Technique using your Acrobatics skill in place of Melee (Unarmed).Notes:
I expect with this Fighting Style it will be combined with the Martial Technique (Wall of Steel) and the Punishing Riposte Talent to gain free strikes. As such the benefits and requirements should be balanced with that in mind.With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 14, 2014 at 6:58 pm #259138AnonymousInactiveJust out of curiosity, will this be a ‘male only’ Holy Order?
March 14, 2014 at 7:01 pm #259140AnonymousInactiveFlashing Blade
Originally developed by the Holy Champions of Larissa, this fighting style relies on drawing the opponent off-guard and taking advantage of their mistakes. The practitioner puts on a show, taunting through quips or movements, goading the opponents to strike.Requirements: Weapon Mastery (Side Sword or Short Sword or Kio Sword if Kio), Weapon Training (Side Sword, Short Sword) (ta), Acrobatics, 6 ranks in Melee (Balanced) and 3 ranks in Perform (Acting), Perform (Comedy), Perform (Dance) or Perform (Oratory)
Chosen Weapons: Side Sword, Short Sword and if Kio, Kio Sword
Benefits:
Tier I: You seek to throw your opponents off-balance. When using the Challenge talent you may use Perform (Acting), Perform (Comedy), Perform (Dance) or Perform (Oratory) in place of Intimidate or Persuasion to taunt your opponent. When in this stance you also gain the Unbalancing Attack Martial Technique.
Tier II: You exploit the openings your opponents give you. You gain tactical edge whenever taking a free strike as you’re able to anticipate their movements and seize advantage.
Tier III: You gain the Cunning Opponent talent.
Tier IV: Your movements not only entertain and confound, but can knock your opponent to the ground. You may make an unarmed attack with the Trip Martial Technique using your Acrobatics skill in place of Melee (Unarmed).Notes:
I expect with this Fighting Style it will be combined with the Martial Technique (Wall of Steel) and the Punishing Riposte Talent to gain free strikes. As such the benefits and requirements should be balanced with that in mind.With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
I like it. However, if this is incorporated with the path you suggested, you are giving Cunning Opponent twice. Just want to confirm your intention.
March 14, 2014 at 7:08 pm #259142AnonymousInactiveI think he was trying to pitch this as a Fighting Style alternative to the Path.
Personally, I think thematically it should be a Path, especially if Henry wants it Male Only. If it is a fighting style, than anyone can learn it (though that adds some new possibilities on its own).
March 14, 2014 at 7:29 pm #259144AnonymousInactiveI like it. However, if this is incorporated with the path you suggested, you are giving Cunning Opponent twice. Just want to confirm your intention.
Ah, good catch. Ok, I’ve updated the Path and the Fighting Style to fix this and incorporate some feedback from Pedro.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 14, 2014 at 7:34 pm #259145AnonymousInactiveI think he was trying to pitch this as a Fighting Style alternative to the Path.
Personally, I think thematically it should be a Path, especially if Henry wants it Male Only. If it is a fighting style, than anyone can learn it (though that adds some new possibilities on its own).
No, I view the 2 as complementary. As it stands with revisions I’d look to see both included. I agree that if it’s only 1 thing, it should be the Path.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 15, 2014 at 7:18 pm #259254AnonymousInactiveI think he was trying to pitch this as a Fighting Style alternative to the Path.
Personally, I think thematically it should be a Path, especially if Henry wants it Male Only. If it is a fighting style, than anyone can learn it (though that adds some new possibilities on its own).
Not quite make this style [Limited] and give access in the path.. now you can’t have one without the other
we can also create a talent for fate spinners who have master unarmed combat allowing them to learn the fighting style as well.
March 15, 2014 at 7:21 pm #259255AnonymousInactivePaul,
reading your fighting style… you may want to look at From Earth to Sky as something they gain advantage in using…
maybe even lower the push speed for using it
March 15, 2014 at 9:14 pm #259257AnonymousInactiveI think he was trying to pitch this as a Fighting Style alternative to the Path.
Personally, I think thematically it should be a Path, especially if Henry wants it Male Only. If it is a fighting style, than anyone can learn it (though that adds some new possibilities on its own).
Not quite make this style [Limited] and give access in the path.. now you can’t have one without the other
we can also create a talent for fate spinners who have master unarmed combat allowing them to learn the fighting style as well.
Is there a reason though to make the style limited? I do think that making the Path Male only makes sense though as a complement to the Fatespinners.
With a sweep of his hat,
Paul
March 16, 2014 at 2:53 am #259319AnonymousInactiveThe fighting style should have a requirement limiting it to the male Champions of Larrissa and Fate Spinners.
BTW, if you want to see what we envisioned as a male holy champion of Larrissa look at the duel Gladius wielding guy on page 182…..
BTW, add Gladius to weapons allowed.
March 16, 2014 at 4:58 am #259348AnonymousInactiveThough I like the idea of a Holy Champion Order granting membership to a Fighting Style, I think they should be kept separate. If the style is inclusive for Holy Champions of Larissa (including Fatespinners), then I think it takes away from the all male flavour of what Henry was asking for.
As far as talents for the HC order should go, there are a few points that we can look at that keep in flavour of what Henry said:
1) Abilities that, as a Push, you can avoid an attack (defence, from seeing where they will move)
2) Abilities that grant a bonus to hit (perfect aim, from seeing where they move)
3) Abilities which add bonus’ to damage (perfect cut)I like the idea of a Tiered Talent, but we have to be sure that we’re not overlapping too much with existing abilities. There are talents which help avoid attacks (like the val’Vasik Bloodline a few topics down), though that is a severely limited talent so I don’t think that is bad. We do have Martial Techniques like Grasp the Blade which covers that, however, so we either have to differentiate it, otherwise we should just use the written one. Similarly, we have a Tier I talent (Smite Heretic) which grants a bonus to hit and damage (though only against heretics), if we use a new talent there it will have to be usable multiple times per scene or be specifically NOT tied to the religious aspect (which I’m not sure goes with the Holy Champion mindset). For bonus’ to damage, any ability should be compared to the Harbinger of the Dawn talent “The Perfect Cut”. If nothing else, we can copy that talent for THIS Order too, as it is in character.
I like the idea of keeping it to either no-armour or armour with a Bulk of 1 or less. We have to see how Advanced Armour Training and Exceptional factors into this, maybe just keep it to BASE armour with Bulk 1 or less.
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