This is an interesting concept that occurred to me a while back that I've been struggling to implement effectively, so I thought I'd ask the more experienced GURPS GMs how they might go about it.
In brief:
- The ability is an Innate Attack that affects the hexes directly surrounding the user, for the price of 2 FP. This is pretty simply done with Aura, Melee Attack C, and Area Effect (2 yards).
- The Aura summons a set of spectral swords (going with 3 for simplicity). These swords are capable of parrying attacks the user is aware of and have very limited durability (HP 1, DR 6, 1 lb).
- The swords last for one minute, or until destroyed. They can be targeted like any held weapon, and broken when parrying sufficiently heavy weapons.
- Enemies within the aura's range don't get hit by every sword, just one. The swords could optionally require a roll to hit, as well.
- The swords can each parry one attack made at themselves with no penalty, but suffer the usual -4 for every attack made against them beyond the first. They can also protect the user, following the same restrictions.
Anyone have any ideas? I've had a go at making it as an Aura Telekinesis AoE with a limited number of 'shots', though that's screwing around with the conventional applications of Enhancements and Limitations so much I'm very reluctant to employ it.
EDIT: The ability is actually tied into two others, but given this is a hard enough problem on its own, I'm going to leave those alone for now.
EDIT2: This is a draft version I came up with further down the page:
Sword Aura,
1d+3 Cutting Attack: Costs 1 FP per Sword, -10%; Aura, +80%; Melee Attack, Reach C, -30%; Area Effect, 2 Yards, +50%; Cosmic, Can Parry Attacks, +5%; Breakable, DR 6, 12 HP, 1 lb, -10%; SM-4, -15%; Persistent, +40%; Extended Duration, 3x, +20%; Blockable, -10%. [30]