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Old 02-13-2018, 12:48 PM   #11
GodBeastX
 
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

An example of an imbuement class from Pathfinder: https://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/pre...arcane-archer/

Every use of imbuement costs FP. Every imbuement requires a skill roll (Still needs a stat) and there is the cost of a base advantage that is required to perform imbuements.

But yes, it can do a lot of fun things if GMs just let people go wild.
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Old 02-13-2018, 03:06 PM   #12
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

A lot of Arcana Pool abilities of PFRPG Magi too.
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Old 02-13-2018, 11:59 PM   #13
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

Examples:

Hanzo: Electric Weapon, Arching shot, Shattershot. Also probably Penetrating Shot and Far Shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ09xdxzIJQ

Sun Wu Kong: Telescoping Weapon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1OnDeow4J8

While the Ruyi Jingu Bang's size changing ability is innate to it, it would still be most easily represented for most purposes by imbuement since Sun Wu Kong's physical strength is so vasf that representing it as an innate attack would be something less than cost effective.

Protagonist from Wanted: Guided Weapon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJTXpItCqFU

Captain America: Bank Shot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHTljhguVZM

The Hulk: Project Blow/Conic Blast/Deafening Display/Supreme Control

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShZrVG_tYU4

Let's Fight, Ghost!: Ghostly Weapon

https://youtu.be/Ev1CP-RczmE
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Old 02-14-2018, 03:18 AM   #14
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

Thanks, all, for the examples. (I think noting some of these would be a great addition to a future update of the Imbuements book.)

Imbuement-type powers look more common in video games and RPGs than in other fiction (just my impression), but I see some good examples of the latter.

In particular, the idea of using imbuements to model quivers full of trick arrows is interesting - a potential replacement for a gadget/gizmo-based interpretation. (Sounds to me like imbuements could similarly add great tricks to a "throwing master's" Throwing Art skill. Or maybe even help round out Batman-style utility belt weapons and gewgaws?)
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Old 02-14-2018, 04:48 AM   #15
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

Wu Xia is also a imbuement-heavy genre.

I found limited imbuements more useful than all-out access. So instead of a spell-like system, you just have a few tricks up your sleeves to help reinforce a stereotype or genre. Imbuements (Limited Skills: Forceful Blow/Penetrating Strike) lets you cut through plate and knock guys back a few yards, like we know it to be true from the movies. One could make this a standard ability to model the next level of "basic heroic fighting ability" after Combat Reflexes.

Or similar sets of two/three skills for specific weapon types to reinforce their abilities, so that you'll only end up with Telescoping Spears and not Telescoping Bastard Swords. Could be part of martial arts styles.

I've also used it as a base for some Sorcery spells, but have yet to see a full-time "Imbuer", as the whole shebang seems more like it's coming out of the game instead of out of the background, and I prefer to leave that kind of stuff to D&D.
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Old 02-14-2018, 07:17 AM   #16
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

For some more examples, using a sword to strike at a distance (Project Blow, IIRC) is fairly common in anime and anime-inspired games - Jubei from Ninja Scroll, Raijuta (and to a lesser extent Kenshin) from Rurouni Kenshin, and Moriya from The Last Blade all have this ability, and you can find more examples over at tvtropes under Sword Beam (although those are sometimes weapon-specific). In the first Legend of Zelda, Link had a similar ability anytime he had full health, although since then it's been nerfed (making some foes immune, and reducing the range in Adventure of Link), modified (in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, it extends the reach of your spin attack), mangled (in Majora's Mask, it's a special ability of the Fierce Deity's Mask), and associated only with the Master Sword (notably in Link to the Past, where it's also nerfed to have the same damage as the normal sword and some enemies are immune to it) - but in the original, Link could pull it off with his starting practice sword.
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Old 02-14-2018, 04:03 PM   #17
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Default Re: Please explain Imbuements to me?

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhd View Post

I've also used it as a base for some Sorcery spells, but have yet to see a full-time "Imbuer", as the whole shebang seems more like it's coming out of the game instead of out of the background, and I prefer to leave that kind of stuff to D&D.
Sorcery has some examples of using it to enhance weapons.
I use it mostly as a separate system but tend to limit it.
Chi and Runic magic special effects with Imbuement mechanics work pretty well for me.
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