Difference between revisions of "Mechanics and House Rules"

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Mechanics and House Rules

Disadvantages

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.

Starting Skills

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.

New Rule: Star Power

Shugenja and Spellcasting Rolls

Shugenja spells no longer determine casting roll using spellcasting rank. Instead, use the Spellcraft skill, with emphasis in the appropriate element.

Spellcraft

Spellcraft skill gains two additional mastery abilities:

Rank 3: You may draw or store a spell scroll as a free action.

Rank 7: You may take 5 raises on a 1 action spell to cast it as a simple action.

General Spellcasting Changes

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!

Increasing Initiative

Many characters can benefit from increasing their initiative during a battle, for various reasons. Any character may spend a Complex Action to roll Battle(Skirmish)/Perception and add the result to their initiative.

Feint

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.

Ancestor:Doji Akikaze

Ancestor:Bayushi Katsu

Crab Hands

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.

Sage

Now reads: You are considered to have all emphases for any lore skill in which you possess ranks.

Luck

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.

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.

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.

New School:The Bayushi Dueling Academy

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.

Name Changes, Clan Changes, and Other Minor Deviations from Canon

New Path:The Juzo Monks

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.

New Path:Imperial Legionnaire

New Path:Emerald Magistrate

New Path:Student of the Imperial Academy

New Path:Master of the Imperial Academy

New Path:Student of the Hidden Academy

New Path:Master of the Hidden Academy

New Path:Samurai of the Old School

New Kata:The Strong Fist

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

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

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.

Items cost XP equal to their point value, with most crafters getting free crafting opportunities at each rank of the skill that are considered prepaid.