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==Mechanics and House Rules==
 
==Mechanics and House Rules==
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===Disadvantages===
+
===[[A Revised Twenty Questions]]===
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Decidedly non-public occurrences on the second day of thunder mean that disadvantages of passion (including Greedy, Lecherous, many Compulsions, and many Driven) or ambition (Many other instances of compulsion or driven) are illegal.  This list is not comprehensive, so if you think a disadvantage may fall into this category, ask.
+
===[[Legacy Mechanics]]===
−
===Starting Skills===
+
===[[Emerald Magistrate]]===
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The change in emphasis from war to small skirmishes and duels is reflected in the skills taught in the dojo.  Any bushi school that does not already start with Iaijutsu may swap out any one bugei skill for it.
+
===[[Student of the Imperial Academy]]===
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===[[New Rule: Star Power]]===
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===[[Master of the Imperial Academy]]===
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===Shugenja and Spellcasting Rolls===
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===[[Student of the Hidden Academy]]===
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Shugenja spells no longer determine casting roll using spellcasting rank.  Instead, use the Spellcraft skill, with emphasis in the appropriate element.
+
===[[Master of the Hidden Academy]]===
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===Spellcraft===
 
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Spellcraft skill gains two additional mastery abilities:
 
−
 
 
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''Rank 3'': You may draw or store a spell scroll as a free action.
 
−
 
 
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''Rank 7'': You may take 5 raises on a 1 action spell to cast it as a simple action.
 
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===General Spellcasting Changes===
 
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Damaging spells can generally be considered attacks, and have damage raises made at the usual rate of 1 raise for +1k0 damage. Called shots and other maneuvers may also be usable, depending on the spell in question and the situation.  Ask your local GM!
 
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===Increasing Initiative===
 
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Many characters can benefit from increasing their initiative during a battle, for various reasons.
 
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Any character may spend a Complex Action to roll Battle(Skirmish)/Perception and add the result to their initiative. 
 
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===Feint===
 
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Feint is really dumb as-is and also people keep bitching about how you shouldn’t be able to do it with ranged attacks, even though that is dumb and so are they.  So from now on, feint is still 2 raises, and when it is successfully executed, the target loses their reflexes x 5 to TN against the next attack that targets them before their next turn, as they are off balance and out of position.  This does make it useless unless you have either a friend or a second attack, but that’s the nature of things.  This should also make it evident, flavor-wise, that is it perfectly legitimate to execute with a bow or other missile weapon.
 
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===[[Ancestor:Doji Akikaze]]===
 
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===[[Ancestor:Bayushi Katsu]]===
 
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===Crab Hands===
 
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Now reads: When you choose this advantage, choose a weapon skill.  You are considered to have all emphases for that weapon skill at all times, even with weapons you have never used before.  You may choose this advantage multiple times, each time choosing a different weapon skill.
 
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===Sage===
 
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Now reads: You are considered to have all emphases for any lore skill in which you possess ranks.
 
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===Luck===
 
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Now reads: The universe is on your side, in addition to the Fortunes.  When you invoke your star power, you gain 1 free raise on the glory roll per rank of Luck.
 
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===Forbidden Knowledge===
 
−
In addition to the usual subjects, forbidden knowledge can be had with regards to the return of Lady Shinjo, the fate of Amaterasu and Onnotangu, the fate of Emperor Hantei XXXIX and his Jade and Emerald Champions, the true nature of Hitsumetsu, the fate of Togashi Yokuni, and the Iwane line.  Agasha characters may take knowledge of gaijin pepper for 1 less point.  Lying Darkness is no longer forbidden knowledge.
 
−
===[[Advantage:Blessing of Lady Sun]] (10 points, 7 or 5 for Unicorn)===
 
−
Lady Sun won the loyal service of an Otaku warhorse, Zahi, early in her career, and through the magic of the Iuchi, the two were practically one until the horse’s death at the hands of Hida Kisada on the second day of thunder.  Those blessed by Lady Sun share that same closeness with an animal, which is obtained as part of this advantage.  It may be any animal the GM is willing to allow, and Unicorn characters who choose their horse get an additional 2 point discount. You share a telepathic bond with the animal, such that you always understand each other, and you can summon the animal from a distance, when necessary.  The bond lasts for as long as you both live, and if the animal dies before you do, you may bond with another, by the grace of Lady Sun.  If the bond is sustained long enough, such an animal may begin to take on the traits of an animal of Chikushudo, the realm of beasts.
 
−
===[[Advantage:Burden of Lord Moon]] (15 points, 10 for Crab)===
 
−
You have one of the tattoos once found only among the Ise Zumi of the Dragon, bestowed upon you by Lord Moon directly.  Be sure and describe when it showed up, though not necessarily why.  You may activate the tattoo as a free action once per day per insight rank, by spending a void point, and your rank for purposes of the tattoo is your Insight Rank.  If the tattoo is reactive or constant, when you gain this, lose one void point permanently instead.  Your maximum honor rank for the rest of your life is 5.0.  If you ever abandon a living comrade to the Shadowlands, pray that Lady Sun has mercy for you, because Juzo will not.
 
−
===[[Advantage:Chosen by the Last Wish]] (15 points, 10 for Phoenix)===
 
−
Choose one bushi school and one shugenja school.  Until you finish both schools, your insight ranks require 10 less insight to advance, you cannot take alternate paths, advanced schools, or multiple schools, and your ranks alternate between the two chosen schools.  Choose only one of the schools as your first rank.  Before achieving your second rank, you must have the starting skills and trait bonus of the second school, and when you achieve it, your starting outfit expands appropriately, as if you were taking Multiple Schools.
 
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===[[Advantage:Blood of Iwane]] (0 points, Restricted)===
 
−
The line of Iwane has its blessings and its curses.  Those of the imperial line are considered to be of every clan for purposes of advantages, disadvantages, schools, and ancestors, and may choose them freely, and may even take Multiple Schools for no cost. As for the curse… well, that’s between Iwane and anybody he told, which is nobody except his heir.
 
−
===[[Advantage:Naga Blade]] (10 points)===
 
−
The reclusive naga known as The Naota forges blades for few samurai, and every samurai who has received one has either been a hero, gone on to be a hero, or died trying to be a hero.  Each blade is seemingly crafted specifically for its bearer, in spite of The Naota never having met them.  Each such blade begins as a 4k2 katana that counts as Crystal for damage resistance and immunity. Naga blades are prone to awakening, sometimes violently, during deeds of great significance, it will probably be obvious if it happens.  When you receive your blade, detail one way in which it fits you perfectly, and one way in which it does not fit you at all.
 
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===New School:[[The Bayushi Dueling Academy]]===
 
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The school founded by Bayushi Katsu carries on his fine tradition of making people want to kill them, and then killing them first.  Students first learn to survive the attacks of people they provoke, then learn to provoke them, and after that it’s a fast train to murdertown with no stops along the way.
 
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===[[Name Changes, Clan Changes, and Other Minor Deviations from Canon]]===
 
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===New Path:[[The Juzo Monks]]===
 
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Nobody but the monks themselves understand precisely why they refer to it as the Burden of Lord Moon, and they ignore the question when asked.  Almost invariably, however, a Crab who shoulders the Burden chooses to take on more, forsaking his previous name, becoming a Juzo, and becoming one of their monks.  Those of other clans sometimes take up the training, but only rarely take the Juzo name.  In any case, those who take on the full burden swiftly gain reputations similar to the Shi-Tien Yen-Wang, as tireless punishers of the guilty, even when the guilty would normally be untouchable, and even when it costs them their life to do so.
 
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===New Path:[[Imperial Legionnaire]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Emerald Magistrate]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Student of the Imperial Academy]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Master of the Imperial Academy]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Student of the Hidden Academy]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Master of the Hidden Academy]]===
 
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===New Path:[[Samurai of the Old School]]===
 
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===New Kata:[[The Strong Fist]]===
 
 
===[[The Owl Clan]]===
 
===[[The Owl Clan]]===
 
When the Lying Darkness was named Hantei, the empire suddenly had a large family on their hands that they absolutely did not want as the imperial line.
 
When the Lying Darkness was named Hantei, the empire suddenly had a large family on their hands that they absolutely did not want as the imperial line.
 
===[[The Nezumi]]===
 
===[[The Nezumi]]===
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===[[New Spells]]===
 
−
Agasha Naota and Isawa Honoka each created a new spell over the course of their careers, both of which have spread modestly.
 
 
===[[Blood Offering]]===
 
===[[Blood Offering]]===
 
Under the stewardship of [[Isawa Nozomi]], the Guardian of Ningen-do, maho has been split into the corrupt form, invoking kansen, and the original taintless magic, now called blood offering, which draws upon the power inherent in mortal blood.
 
Under the stewardship of [[Isawa Nozomi]], the Guardian of Ningen-do, maho has been split into the corrupt form, invoking kansen, and the original taintless magic, now called blood offering, which draws upon the power inherent in mortal blood.
 
===Crafting===
 
===Crafting===
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In general, I aim for crafting to be as permissive as I can be while still remaining balanced and internally consistent. Items will have a base TN to craft an item of 'average' quality, and each raise above that grants a point worth of modifications.
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In general, I aim for crafting to be as permissive as I can be while still remaining balanced and internally consistent.
 +
 
 +
TN to craft an item starts at its Rarity.  Adding or removing an item quality requires a description of how you're doing so, plus a number of opportunities kept on the roll equal to its base Opportunity cost, +1 per quality added or removed previously.
 +
 
 +
Item qualities typically do not stack, either with themselves or with each other.  You cannot add a quality more than once, and even if you are carrying, for example, two items with the Wargear trait, the trait applies only once.
 +
 
 
{|class="wikitable"
 
{|class="wikitable"
 
|Modification
 
|Modification
−
|Cost
+
|Effect
 +
|Cost in Opportunties
 +
|-
 +
| Ceremonial
 +
| Reduce TN of checks to prove who you are by 1.
 +
| OOO
 +
|-
 +
| Concealable
 +
| TN 3 Design(Air) or Smithing(Air) to discern the wearer is armed/armored.  Free action to draw.
 +
| O+ based on size, mutually exclusive with Cumbersome.
 +
|-
 +
| Cumbersome
 +
| TN +1 on maneuver checks, TN +1 on attacks after moving.
 +
| OOO
 +
|-
 +
| Damaged
 +
| TN +1 to use, reduce Resistance by 2, Destroyed on receiving Damaged again.
 +
| Skill Check to repair
 +
|-
 +
| Destroyed
 +
|Broken and cannot be used normally.
 +
| Skill check to repair
 +
|-
 +
| Durable
 +
|If it gains Damaged, lose Durable instead.  If it would be Destroyed, lose Durable and become Damaged instead.
 +
| OO
 +
|-
 +
| Forbidden
 +
|At end of scene lose 3 glory if you use it in public
 +
| Special
 +
|-
 +
| Mundane
 +
|Can be worn openly and nobody will take particular notice.
 +
| Special
 +
|-
 +
| Prepare
 +
|Must be reloaded, reset, or otherwise prepared after use.
 +
| OOOO(Remove)
 +
|-
 +
| Razor-Edged
 +
|When you succeed on an attack check, if damage is reduced to 0, becomes Damaged.  O+: +1 Deadliness
 +
| OO
 +
|-
 +
| Resplendent
 +
| When you would gain glory, gain +1 Glory.
 +
| O
 +
|-
 +
| Sacred
 +
|TN +1 to attack/intrigue against you from Otherworldly creatures. If you would become Afflicted, choose a Sacred item to become Damaged instead. Ignore resistance of Otherworldy and Tainted beings
 +
| OOOOO(Special)
 +
|-
 +
| Snaring
 +
|O+: One target with vigilance lower than or equal to the O spent this way suffers Immobilized.
 +
| O
 +
|-
 +
| Subtle
 +
|Increase the TN of checks to gain information about the item by 1.  This can get pretty tenuous, like checks about what sort of sentiment the giver intended, etc.
 +
| O
 +
|-
 +
| Unholy
 +
|After a critical strike, target suffers Afflicted.  At the end of each scene where you use, suffer Afflicted.  Ignore all resistances possessed by Otherworldly beings.
 +
| OOOOO(Special)
 +
|-
 +
| Wargear
 +
| Whenever you inflict strife on someone else, inflict +1 Strife
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +1k0 Damage
+
| Distracting
−
|1 point
+
| You may use Air opportunities on Scheme rolls regardless of Ring.
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +0k1 Damage
+
| Bold
−
|2 points
+
|You may use Fire opportunities on Scheme rolls regardless of Ring.
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +1k0 Related Skill
+
| Steady
−
|1 point
+
|You may negate one Strife result from a roll using this.
 +
| OOO
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +0k1 Related Skill
+
| Deadly
−
|2 points
+
| +1 Deadliness
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +2 Armor TN
+
| Swift
−
|1 point
+
| O+: Increase damage on this hit by 1 per O spent.
 +
| O
 
|-
 
|-
−
| +1 Reduction
+
| Reinforced
−
|1 Point
+
| +1 Physical Reduction
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Unbreakable*
+
| Light
−
|1 point
+
| Remove the penalty of Cumbersome without removing the trait.
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Waterproof
+
| Inspiring
−
|1 point
+
|Once per battle round, while you are the general, you may Rally as if you were a commander.
 +
| OO
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Extravagant Appearance
+
| Hidden Compartment
−
|Special
+
|Contains space to hide small objects, messages, etc. TN 1 Smithing(Air) or Design(Air) as appropriate, +1 per extra O spent in crafting.
 +
| O+
 
|-
 
|-
−
|Other
+
| Flowing
−
|Consult GM
+
| When you make a Fitness check during a Maneuver action, the TN is reduced by 1.
 +
| OO (Armor or Saddle Only)
 
|}
 
|}

Latest revision as of 18:21, 11 September 2021

Mechanics and House Rules

A Revised Twenty Questions

Legacy Mechanics

Emerald Magistrate

Student of the Imperial Academy

Master of the Imperial Academy

Student of the Hidden Academy

Master of the Hidden Academy

The Owl Clan

When the Lying Darkness was named Hantei, the empire suddenly had a large family on their hands that they absolutely did not want as the imperial line.

The Nezumi

Blood Offering

Under the stewardship of Isawa Nozomi, the Guardian of Ningen-do, maho has been split into the corrupt form, invoking kansen, and the original taintless magic, now called blood offering, which draws upon the power inherent in mortal blood.

Crafting

In general, I aim for crafting to be as permissive as I can be while still remaining balanced and internally consistent.

TN to craft an item starts at its Rarity. Adding or removing an item quality requires a description of how you're doing so, plus a number of opportunities kept on the roll equal to its base Opportunity cost, +1 per quality added or removed previously.

Item qualities typically do not stack, either with themselves or with each other. You cannot add a quality more than once, and even if you are carrying, for example, two items with the Wargear trait, the trait applies only once.

Modification Effect Cost in Opportunties
Ceremonial Reduce TN of checks to prove who you are by 1. OOO
Concealable TN 3 Design(Air) or Smithing(Air) to discern the wearer is armed/armored. Free action to draw. O+ based on size, mutually exclusive with Cumbersome.
Cumbersome TN +1 on maneuver checks, TN +1 on attacks after moving. OOO
Damaged TN +1 to use, reduce Resistance by 2, Destroyed on receiving Damaged again. Skill Check to repair
Destroyed Broken and cannot be used normally. Skill check to repair
Durable If it gains Damaged, lose Durable instead. If it would be Destroyed, lose Durable and become Damaged instead. OO
Forbidden At end of scene lose 3 glory if you use it in public Special
Mundane Can be worn openly and nobody will take particular notice. Special
Prepare Must be reloaded, reset, or otherwise prepared after use. OOOO(Remove)
Razor-Edged When you succeed on an attack check, if damage is reduced to 0, becomes Damaged. O+: +1 Deadliness OO
Resplendent When you would gain glory, gain +1 Glory. O
Sacred TN +1 to attack/intrigue against you from Otherworldly creatures. If you would become Afflicted, choose a Sacred item to become Damaged instead. Ignore resistance of Otherworldy and Tainted beings OOOOO(Special)
Snaring O+: One target with vigilance lower than or equal to the O spent this way suffers Immobilized. O
Subtle Increase the TN of checks to gain information about the item by 1. This can get pretty tenuous, like checks about what sort of sentiment the giver intended, etc. O
Unholy After a critical strike, target suffers Afflicted. At the end of each scene where you use, suffer Afflicted. Ignore all resistances possessed by Otherworldly beings. OOOOO(Special)
Wargear Whenever you inflict strife on someone else, inflict +1 Strife OO
Distracting You may use Air opportunities on Scheme rolls regardless of Ring. OO
Bold You may use Fire opportunities on Scheme rolls regardless of Ring. OO
Steady You may negate one Strife result from a roll using this. OOO
Deadly +1 Deadliness OO
Swift O+: Increase damage on this hit by 1 per O spent. O
Reinforced +1 Physical Reduction OO
Light Remove the penalty of Cumbersome without removing the trait. OO
Inspiring Once per battle round, while you are the general, you may Rally as if you were a commander. OO
Hidden Compartment Contains space to hide small objects, messages, etc. TN 1 Smithing(Air) or Design(Air) as appropriate, +1 per extra O spent in crafting. O+
Flowing When you make a Fitness check during a Maneuver action, the TN is reduced by 1. OO (Armor or Saddle Only)
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