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Topics - sirpercival

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141
Percival's Plenitude / HM3: Blade Techniques
« on: June 14, 2017, 11:59:20 AM »
Blade Techniques

The techniques in the table below are color-coded by technique type (Assault, Form, or Parry). The opening parenthetical for each technique name is a group of characters that make sure the techniques sort properly, since the sorting algorithm doesn't ignore "The" like it should. The "C" column indicates complexity (1->Basic, 2->Moderate, 3->Advanced, 4->Expert), and the tag columns marked by "R" are required, while those marked by "G" are granted.

TechniqueTypeStyleCActionR.GestureR.HandR.MotionR.PositionG.GestureG.HandG.MotionG.Position
(Be) The Bear Sleeps in WinterFormCloud1SwiftxxxxxxStandx
(Fox) The Fox and the ChickenAssaultCloud1StandardxCleavexxThrustxxx
(HeW) Heron Wading in the RushesFormCloud1SwiftxxxxThrustxxHigh
(Low) Low Wind RisingAssaultCloud1StandardxxStandxxxxHigh
(Rai) Rain in High WindParryCloud1ImmediatexxxHighxxStandx
(Red) Red Hawk Takes a DoveAssaultCloud1StandardxxxHighxAnyxx
(Sk) Skipping Stones on the ShoreParryCloud1ImmediatexxStandxSlashxxx
(WolS) Wolf Stalks Through the MistAssaultCloud1Full-roundThrustxxxxxStandx
(CrE) The Creeper Embraces the OakFormLeaf1SwiftxxxxxCleavexMiddle
(Dri) Drifting SnowAssaultLeaf1Full-roundxxSpinxxxxMiddle
(Fall) The Falling LeafParryLeaf1ImmediatexxSpinxxCleavexx
(KinC) Kingfisher Circles the PondFormLeaf1SwiftxxxxxxSpinx
(Lea) Leaf Floating on the BreezeParryLeaf1ImmediatexxxMiddlexxSpinx
(Ma) The Maiden DancesParryLeaf1ImmediateBashxxxxxxMiddle
(Rob) The Robin Pecks at the WormParryLeaf1ImmediatexCleavexxxxxHigh
(Woo) The Wood Grouse DancesAssaultLeaf1StandardxxxMiddlexCleavexx
(CaC) Cat Crossing the CourtyardFormWax1SwiftxxxxxSheathxx
(CaO) Cat on Hot SandParryWax1ImmediatexxxLowxxSpinx
(FoF) Folding the FanParryWax1ImmediateAnyxxxxSheathxx
(Mi) The Millstone Grinds FlourAssaultWax1StandardxxxLowxxCirclex
(Ox) The Ox Lowers His HornsFormWax1SwiftxxxxSlashxxLow
(Pa) Parting the SilkAssaultWax1StandardSlashxxxxxxLow
(TwiW) Twisting WeaselParryWax1ImmediateSlashxxxSlashxxx
(U) Unfolding the FanAssaultWax1StandardxSheathxxThrustxxx
(Cat) Catch the Diving HawkAssaultWood1StandardxxCirclexBashxxx
(Dog) Dog Howling at MidnightFormWood1SwiftxxxxBashxxx
(FalcS) The Falcon StoopsParryWood1ImmediateThrustxxxxRendxx
(I) Ice Shatters StoneParryWood1ImmediatexRendxxBashxxx
(Pr) Pressing Apples to CiderParryWood1ImmediatexxCirclexxxxLow
(Se) The Serpent StrikesAssaultWood1StandardxRendxxxRendxx
(SwG) The Swallow Glides to the BranchFormWood1SwiftxxxxxRendCirclex
(Vi) The Viper Flicks Its TongueAssaultWood1StandardBashxxxxxCirclex
(Ba) The Bargeman at the DockAssaultBone2StandardBashxStandxxRendxMiddle
(Gran) Grandmother Weaves a BasketFormBone2SwiftxxxxxRendxLow
(Ho) Holding Rain in Open HandsParryBone2ImmediatexRendxLowBashxSpinx
(LizS) The Lizard Snaps the CricketAssaultBone2StandardBashRendxxThrustRendxx
(Sal) Salmon Leaping UpstreamParryBone2ImmediatexxAnyLowBashxxHigh
(Six) Six Wolves Among the TreesAssaultBone2Full-RoundxRendxMiddlexRendxMiddle
(StoneR) The Stone RemembersFormBone2SwiftxxxxBashxStandMiddle
(Su) Sunflower Turning to the DawnFormBone2SwiftxxxxxRendSpinx
(Fl) The Flame FlickersFormFlame2SwiftxxxxThrustxxMiddle
(Hu) Hummingbird Kisses the HoneyroseParryFlame2ImmediatexCleavexMiddleSlashxxHigh
(Kis) Kissing the AdderAssaultFlame2Full-RoundThrustxxMiddlexxCircleMiddle
(Lig) Lightning of Three ProngsParryFlame2ImmediateSlashxSpinxThrustxSpinx
(LioH) Lion on the HillFormFlame2SwiftxxxxSlashxCircleHigh
(Ribi) Ribbon in the AirAssaultFlame2SwiftxxCircleHighSlashxCirclex
(Str) Striking the SparkAssaultFlame2Full-RoundSlashxxHighThrustxxLow
(Thr) Threading the NeedleAssaultFlame2StandardThrustxCirclexxCleavexMiddle
(Ar) Arc of the MoonAssaultIron2StandardBashxxHighxCleaveCirclex
(Bo) The Boar Rushes Down the MountainAssaultIron2StandardxCleaveStandxBashxStandx
(CuC) Cutting the CloudsParryIron2ImmediatexRendxLowxxStandMiddle
(Em) EmptinessFormIron2SwiftxxxxxAnyStandx
(LioS) Lion SpringsParryIron2ImmediatexSheathSpinxBashxxLow
(Moo) The Moon on the WaterAssaultIron2StandardBashxxLowBashxxHigh
(TwoH) Two Hares LeapingFormIron2SwiftxxxxBashCleavexHigh
(Wate) Watered SilkParryIron2ImmediatexxStandHighxCleaveStandx
(Grap) The Grapevine TwinesParryVine2ImmediatexCleaveSpinxThrustxCirclex
(LeoH) Leopard in High GrassFormVine2SwiftxxxxSlashCleaveSpinx
(LeoT) Leopard in the TreeFormVine2SwiftxxxxThrustSheathxx
(Les) Leopard's CaressParryVine2ImmediateThrustxCirclexSlashCleavexx
(LizT) Lizard in the ThornbushAssaultVine2StandardThrustxCirclexSlashxxLow
(Pl) Plucking the Low-Hanging AppleAssaultVine2StandardSlashCleavexxxxSpinHigh
(RivU) The River Undercuts the BankParryVine2ImmediateSlashxxAnyxxStandLow
(Twit) Twisting the WindFormVine2SwiftxxxxxxCircleLow
(Al) The Albatross Glides with the WindAssaultBlood3Full-RoundxCleaveStandHighThrustxSpinMiddle
(Drw) Driftwood on the TideAssaultBlood3StandardBashxCircleMiddleSlashCleaveStandx
(FalcR) Falcon RisingParryBlood3ImmediateSlashCleaveSpinxBashxSpinHigh
(Fie) The Field Opens to the PlowParryBlood3ImmediatexSheathStandLowSlashCleaveCirclex
(Fin) Fingers Dance on Lute StringsFormBlood3SwiftxxxxThrustxSpinMiddle
(Ti) The Tide Climbs the ShoreFormBlood3SwiftxxxxSlashSheathStandx
(Vu) The Vulture Feasts on the DeadParryBlood3ImmediateSlashxStandLowThrustxStandMiddle
(Wax) Waxing Moon, Waning MoonParryBlood3ImmediateThrustxSpinMiddlexSheathStandAny
(BlP) Black Pebbles on SnowParrySmoke3ImmediateThrustxStandMiddleThrustxCircleLow
(Bu) Bundling StrawAssaultSmoke3StandardThrustRendxHighxRendStandHigh
(CuW) Cutting the WindParrySmoke3ImmediatexRendCircleHighThrustxCircleMiddle
(Dov) The Dove Takes FlightFormSmoke3SwiftxxxxThrustRendxHigh
(KinT) The Kingfisher Takes a SilverbackFormSmoke3SwiftxxxxxRendCircleLow
(Rat) Rat Gnawing the GrainAssaultSmoke3Full-RoundThrustxSpinLowBashxCircleLow
(Sm) Smoke Blows Over the WallAssaultSmoke3StandardxRendCircleMiddlexRendStandAny
(WolL) The Wolf LungesAssaultSmoke3Full-RoundThrustxCircleHighThrustRendxHigh
(BoD) The Boar Rushes DownhillAssaultStone3StandardBashRendxHighBashxStandMiddle
(CyR) The Cyclone RagesFormStone3SwiftxxxxxRendSpinLow
(Ha) The Hawk Surveys the PlainFormStone3SwiftxxxxBashxStandHigh
(Rea) Reaping the BarleyAssaultStone3StandardBashCleaveStandxxCleaveSpinHigh
(Sap) The Sapling TremblesParryStone3ImmediateBashxStandMiddleSlashSheathxLow
(StF) Stone Falls from the MountainParryStone3ImmediateBashRendxLowBashRendCirclex
(StonesF) Stones Falling from the CliffFormStone3SwiftxxxxBashCleavexMiddle
(StonesR) Stones Rolling Down the MountainAssaultStone3Full-RoundxRendStandHighAnyRendxLow
(CaD) The Cat Dances on the WallAssaultWind3StandardSlashCleavexLowSlashxSpinLow
(Cyo) The Cyclone on the PlainAssaultWind3StandardSlashxSpinMiddlexCleaveSpinHigh
(Ee) Eel Among the Lily PadsAssaultWind3SwiftxSheathCircleLowSlashAnyCirclex
(KinW) The Kingfisher Watches the SkyFormWind3SwiftxxxxSlashxSpinMiddle
(RibD) The Ribbon Dances on the BreezeFormWind3SwiftxxxxxCleaveCircleHigh
(Thi) Thistledown Floats on the WhirlwindAssaultWind3StandardSlashCleaveSpinxBashCleavexMiddle
(TwoL) Two LoversParryWind3ImmediatexCleaveSpinHighThrustCleaveSpinx
(Win) Wind and RainFormWind3SwiftxxxxSlashCleavexLow
(BlL) Black Lance's Last StrikeParryClay4ImmediateThrustSheathStandHighThrustCleaveStandHigh
(Dan) Dandelion in the WindParryClay4ImmediateSlashCleaveSpinMiddleAnyRendSpinLow
(Mon) The Mongoose Strikes the SerpentAssaultClay4SwiftBashCleaveStandLowBashCleaveCircleHigh
(Ros) The Rose UnfoldsFormClay4SwiftxxxxBashCleaveAnyMiddle
(She) Sheathing the SwordFormClay4SwiftxxxxThrustSheathStandAny
(So) Soft Rain at SunsetAssaultClay4StandardBashRendCircleHighSlashRendCircleHigh
(Stor) The Storm on the MountainParryClay4ImmediateThrustAnyStandMiddleThrustRendStandMiddle
(To) Tower of MorningAssaultClay4StandardThrustCleaveStandLowSlashCleaveStandHigh
(Br) The Branch in the StormParryGlass4ImmediateSlashRendCircleMiddleSlashRendCircleMiddle
(Co) The Courtier Taps His FanParryGlass4ImmediateBashCleaveSpinHighBashAnyStandHigh
(FoA) Folding the AirParryGlass4ImmediateThrustSheathCircleAnyThrustCleaveCircleLow
(Lot) Lotus Closes Its BlossomAssaultGlass4StandardSlashCleaveSpinLowBashSheathSpinAny
(Oa) Oak Shakes Its BranchesFormGlass4SwiftxxxxAnyRendCircleMiddle
(RivL) River of LightAssaultGlass4Full-RoundSlashCleaveStandMiddleThrustCleaveStandMiddle
(SwR) The Swallow Rides the AirParryGlass4ImmediateThrustRendSpinLowThrustRendCircleLow
(SwT) The Swallow Takes FlightParryGlass4ImmediateAnyRendCircleMiddleThrustSheathAnyHigh
(CrC) The Creeper Climbs the CliffFormSun4SwiftxxxxAnyCleaveStandLow
(Daw) Dawn Breaches the HorizonAssaultSun4Full-RoundThrustCleaveCircleMiddleThrustSheathSpinHigh
(Me) Meltwater Flooding the BanksParrySun4ImmediateSlashSheathStandHighSlashRendStandLow
(Pe) The Petal Falls from the FlowerAssaultSun4StandardBashRendSpinHighBashRendSpinLow
(San) Sand in the HourglassFormSun4SwiftxxxxSlashSheathAnyLow
(Sc) Scuttling CrabParrySun4ImmediateSlashRendCircleLowSlashCleaveSpinLow
(Thu) Thunder Behind CloudsAssaultSun4Full-RoundBashSheathSpinHighBashRendAnyMiddle
(Whe) The Whetstone Grinds the KnifeFormSun4SwiftxxxxBashAnySpinMiddle
(Ap) Apple Blossoms in the WindFormWater4SwiftxxxxSlashCleaveSpinAny
(HeS) The Heron Spreads Its WingsAssaultWater4StandardSlashCleaveCircleMiddleSlashCleaveCircleHigh
(MoRL) The Moon Rises Over the LakesParryWater4ImmediateThrustSheathCircleHighThrustCleaveCircleHigh
(MoRW) Moon Rises Over the WaterParryWater4ImmediateBashRendSpinAnyBashRendCircleMiddle
(Sha) Shake Dew from the BranchAssaultWater4Full-RoundThrustCleaveSpinMiddleSlashRendSpinMiddle
(Wat) Water Flows DownhillAssaultWater4StandardBashCleaveStandHighBashCleaveStandMiddle
(Whi) Whirlwind on the MountainAssaultWater4StandardSlashAnySpinLowSlashRendSpinLow
(Wil) Willow Embracing the BreezeFormWater4SwiftxxxxThrustAnyCircleHigh

142
Percival's Plenitude / HM2: Skills & Feats
« on: June 14, 2017, 11:40:29 AM »
The Bladecraft Skill

"When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation." - Alexander Hamilton

Bladecraft is a skill, as well as a subsystem. Many blade techniques grant bonus Bladecraft dice to attack rolls, damage rolls, or other situations; the size of a "Bladecraft die" (which may be more than one physical die) is determined by your ranks in the Bladecraft skill.

Bladecraft (Int; Trained Only)
You can learn blade techniques, and can use this skill to identify blade techniques as they are being used.

Whenever the effect of a blade technique you use depends on Bladecraft dice, the number of ranks you have in Bladecraft determine the type of dice you roll, as shown on the following table. Bladecraft dice gained as a bonus to damage are not multiplied on a critical hit. The progression of Bladecraft dice continues in the same way beyond 36 ranks. Multiple sources of Bladecraft dice on the same roll stack.

           
Ranks
Bladecraft
Dice
1-4 
1d4
5-8 
1d6
9-12
1d8
13-16
1d4+1d6
17-20
1d6+1d6
21-24
1d8+1d6
25-28
1d4+2d6
29-32
1d6+2d6
33-36
1d8+2d6

Check: You can identify combat styles and sword techniques used by a combatant. Identifying a blade technique used by someone you can see requires no action, and the DC is equal to 10 + 1/2 the user's base attack bonus (rounded down, minimum +0). Identifying the current form someone is in requires no action, and the DC is equal to 20 + 1/2 the user's base attack bonus (rounded down, minimum +0).

You can also make a Bladecraft check when using a technique to retain a previously granted tag. If the technique would have granted a tag of the same type as the tag you are retaining, the retained tag replaces the tag you would have been granted. If the technique does not grant a tag of the same type, you retain the tag in addition to the new tags granted by the technique. The base DC for retaining a tag is 15, +3 for each tag the technique normally grants, -2 if the technique would have granted a tag of the same type. Note that, as this use of the Bladecraft skill is always in combat, you may not take 10 when attempting to retain a granted tag.

Action: None
Try Again: Yes
Special: You gain a +2 bonus on Bladecraft checks to identify a technique or form that you know.
Special: Any character with at least 1 rank in Bladecraft has the ability to learn blade techniques.
Synergy: You gain a +2 synergy bonus to Bladecraft checks for each of the following skills in which you have at least 5 ranks: Autohypnosis, Knowledge (History), or Martial Lore. If you have 5 or more ranks in Bladecraft, you gain a +2 synergy bonus to Concentration, Knowledge (History), and Martial Lore checks.
Note: Bladecraft is a class skill for any class which has full Base Attack Bonus progression.

143
Percival's Plenitude / HM1: Bladecraft Mechanics
« on: June 14, 2017, 11:13:44 AM »
The Bladecraft Subsystem

Bladecraft is a subsystem for martial characters, designed to evoke the elaborate and complex dueling tactics used by famous swordsmen throughout history and literature. Examples from recent fiction include the Blademasters from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (which is the explicit inspiration for the thematics of Bladecraft), the swordsmen of Ironhall from Dave Duncan's King's Blades series, and the Ademre Ketan from Patrick Rothfuss's Kingkiller Chronicles trilogy.

The core D&D mechanics for melee combat are built around combat feats, which produce relatively repetitive combat rounds for melee characters with few meaningful options. The Tome of Battle supplement worked to alleviate this problem by introducing Initiator mechanics, a martial analogue to Spellcasting comprised of discrete maneuvers with extraordinary effects, based around a core of combat. While the material described in the Book of Nine Swords is an interesting and well-designed subsystem, and opens up a wealth of new options for martial characters, many players disliked the "blade magic"/"wuxia" feeling of the system. It echoed too strongly of "spellcasting-for-fighters", and did little to improve the poor options for core classes, opting instead for replacement.

The Bladecraft system presented here, in contrast, is a direct amplification of the core classes. While Initiators can learn blade techniques just like any other martial characters, they rarely do so, since maneuvers and blade techniques compete for the limited resources in the action economy. Instead, the lowly Fighter is the consummate student of Bladecraft, and can still complement the blade techniques with combat feats which were its original strength.

Note that Bladecraft is an expansion, not a replacement. It is accessible to every class: any character who wishes to participate in melee combat can learn blade techniques by investing skill points in the Bladecraft skill (detailed below). The tag sustem also provides a unique set of mechanics and options, turning each combat encounter from an endless stream of full attacks into an organic and fluid interplay between attacker and defender.

144
Percival's Plenitude / HMA: Discussion thread
« on: June 14, 2017, 11:10:46 AM »
This is the discussion thread for Heron-Marked: The Art of Bladecraft! Feel free to talk about your hopes, dreams, fears, celebrations, comments, suggestions, pet peeves, and everything else related to artfully hitting things with other things.

145
Heron-Marked: The Art of Bladecraft
(click to show/hide)

"Never give a sword to a man who can't dance." - Confucius

Amateurs think that fighting is about passion, and strength. They roar defiance and charge into battle headlong, as if their enemies were grains of wheat waiting to be reaped. The farmer defending his land against goblins wields his father's rusty sword, and is a danger to himself as much as his opponent.

Veteran soldiers know that skill and cooler heads usually prevail. They see combat as a science, prescribing a set of rules by which one can cut down one's aggressors. They train new recruits and each other, and seek out battle less frequently - the bloodthirsty are usually the first to fall.

True masters of bladecraft understand that swordwork is an art, not a science. It is a dance, an ebb and flow, like sailing a ship through a razor-sharp reef on stormy seas. Each duel is different - a deadly game of feint and counterattack, parry and riposte. The interplay is as beautiful as it is (often) fatal.

The optional rules presented here give players and DMs a means of creating a master of the blade.

146
Percival's Plenitude / Giant Freaking Index
« on: June 14, 2017, 10:48:57 AM »
I have so much homebrew... here's where I'm going to keep track of all of it. Once I get everything organized and some subfora made, this thread will be obsolete or at least get a massive overhaul. Whatever.

Big Projects
For now, these are links to the index page of each project. If/when a project gets its own subforum, these will either go away or be pointed toward the subforum home instead.

Archives of Ego (Discussion Thread)
Codex of Conflict (Discussion Thread)
Great Wheel Campaign Setting (Discussion Thread)
Heroes of Hyrule (Discussion Thread)
Inspiratum (Discussion Thread)
Ethos of the Wyrm (Discussion thread)
Heron-Marked: The Art of Bladecraft (Discussion thread)
Magipunk Campaign Setting (Discussion thread)

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