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Old 11-01-2010, 05:15 PM   #1
Dinadon
 
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Default Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

Right, now whilst I continue to wait for the Low-Tech Companions to come out so I can work properly on the setting, I thought I would start a discussion on one of the core parts of the setting: the warriors themselves.


The initial concept of the setting was to have as many of the styles from MA as possible in as small an area as possible. Currently the number of styles is around 50 and the land is about the size of Europe. Added to this is the existence of spirits. Spirits in this setting are judges, that is they can pass sentence on mortals who trespass over the bounds of whatever they are the spirit of. They also have duality, a spirit exists to both preserve and destroy that which it is a spirit of. The Church, fully the Church of the Five, provides offerings to spirits to placate them. The Five are the gods, considered to be very powerful spirits.

The campaign is set to the Amazing Abilities hybrid campaign style from Martial Arts. Thus the common man has to deal with many harsh rules in this late TL 3 world. A common soldier would be much the same, but a professional one may deal with one, maybe two less (specifics dependant upon style). A veteran may even be able to ignore a few, but someone who managed to gain HA, TBaM or WM would find themselves in a different ball game. Now I admit I haven't pencilled out this progression much, but the idea is that taking HA, TBaM or WM will likely only drop one or two harsh rules so that styles still lead to the main differences. In game, this progression is regarded as a path to enlightenment.


Now the first thing I want to deal with is power control. The progression along this path changes how the spirits watch over you. For instance, a spirit of falling may take less notice when you leap, aka Flying Leap. Overall, when master fights master they can let loose with every trick they know, but when facing weaker opponents they need to be more careful.

What ways are there to represent this?
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Old 11-01-2010, 05:24 PM   #2
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

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Originally Posted by Dinadon View Post

What ways are there to represent this?
When 2 TBM..face of than they get access to full Chambara+extra effort optional rules.

When theyre fighting mundane opponents they cant use abovementioned rules.

Something like:proximity of their powerful Chi-s transforms that spot into Focal point of the path of enlightenment triggering atention of Spirits?!?!?!?
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Old 11-02-2010, 09:04 AM   #3
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

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When 2 TBM..face of than they get access to full Chambara+extra effort optional rules.

When theyre fighting mundane opponents they cant use abovementioned rules.
Yes, that's the general idea, but how to go about it?
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Old 11-02-2010, 02:45 PM   #4
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

Quote:
When 2 TBM..face of
....Spirits sense ...
Quote:
proximity of their powerful Chi-s
...and than ...
Quote:
transforms that spot into Focal point of the path of enlightenment
...changing natural laws which that unlocks
Quote:
access to full Chambara+extra effort optional rules.
You can describe it as shimmering in air,crackling of energy...whatever special effect you like


Edit:Though Id try to stick with just one set of rules for whole setting.
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Old 11-02-2010, 04:14 PM   #5
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

I'll rephrase my question: What ways are there to represent a tiered Chi power where those on higher tiers can be handicapped when facing those on lower tiers, either in general or in context with what has been explained of the setting?
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Old 11-02-2010, 05:06 PM   #6
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

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I'll rephrase my question: What ways are there to represent a tiered Chi power where those on higher tiers can be handicapped when facing those on lower tiers, either in general or in context with what has been explained of the setting?

Use all optional and Cinematic rules for everyone in your setting with exception of Chambara and extra effort rule(which are reserved for conflict between Masters).

Master would still have big edge over normal average soldier,as is in most of Fantasy games where group tends to semi-realism(small degree of need for suspending belief).

When Masters fight between themselves they would (with Chambara and extra effort rules) resemble wuxia movies.

Maybe Im misunderstanding what youre trying to ask(Im not native English speaker).
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Old 11-03-2010, 07:37 AM   #7
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

Okay, let's try to clarify with a brief example. Let's say that in order to take HA, TBAM or WM a person must also take Enemy(Group of Spirits, Watcher). Avoiding these spirits is hard, so their appearance would at 12 or even 15. However, should the character do certain things then the Watchers could turn into Hunters.

This example shows why, mechanically, a master would want to behave differently to non-master. It sets up that there are tiers of capability beyond that given by HA, TBAM and WM, though the simplicity of the example doesn't exactly push this. It also doesn't force masters into a narrow set of archetypes, you could have a noble warrior or a complete jerk, but neither particularly wants to annoy those who have taken an interest in them.
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Old 11-03-2010, 12:24 PM   #8
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

Ohh,than it is rather simple.

You can consider(...look at it like...) that:
Spirits=(?) Deities of Realm,you can have different spirits perform different roles in "pantheon"

HA,TBM,WM are "essentially clerics" of their Deities or whole Pantheon(include DF clerical Advantage)...with difference that they dont receive spells from their deities,but get Chambara and Extra effort rules available,instead.

Put a limit:You can "tap Divine power"(Chambara,Extra Effort rules) only when fighting other "clerics"(HA...TBM).

If PCs use those abilities for offence or defence vs mundane opponents than Deities will revoke that power from them.In order to repent and prove that he is worthy PC must win duel vs another "Cleric".In that duel,PC WONT have acces to "Divine winds"(poetic name for "tapping Divine power" that grant access to Chambara and Extra effort rules) while opponent Cleric will have FULL acces to "Divine Wind".

2nd time PC misuses his "Deity granted powers" he will gain an enemy in Deities worth 50+CP..and inside 2 sessions PC will end up dead(That would for rather rigid "honour bond" society,where various appropriate Codes of honour and Vows would flourish).


Background story: All of that is actually attempt on Spirit(Deities) part to search for Champions who will help them in their "Ragnarok" that will happen soon.In Deities realm Chambara+extra effort rules are a norm.

Hope this helps
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Old 11-03-2010, 05:21 PM   #9
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

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<snip>
Reasonable, but it's talking in terms of divine power, not chi or spirit which are the only powers in the setting, so that would need to be altered. Still, I think I'll get a few more bits and pieces out of head:


For a low tech society, there is a sharp distinction between church and state. This distinction is broken at one key point, the King. He is head of both the kingdom and the church. To become king, one must be accepted by the grand dukes of the lands and the archbishops of the Church. (Politics and intrigue is also an important theme of the setting, not just capable warriors.) Of note is that the kingship is itself a Path of Enlightenment, and thus isn't open to those who walk other Paths of Enlightenment, such the one taken by masters of the martial arts.

Whilst the Church has martial orders (who train in their own styles) that could do things that way, most warriors aren't trained by the Church and so wouldn't have access to it. Also the main point is that improving your chi removes you from the spirits role as judges, and yet nothing in this world can exist for very long in the world without something able to judge it.
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Old 11-03-2010, 06:38 PM   #10
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Default Re: Land of the Warring Dukedoms: Martial Artists

Ok,than define that TBMs have achieved inner balance with themselves to perfection and realised that reality is just illusion...just Tapestry of Gods(or Spirits or whomever) and that they can impose their will onto it..reweaving Tapestry...("There is no spoon" ... "..etc...fluf from Matrix).

Spirits dont mind when "enlightened ones"(TBMs) do that between themselves,but they do mind if thats done in presence/or against(whichever suits your setting best) mundanes.

So if you do it vs mundane..you get Spirits as Enemies.
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