White Wolf Community

Lunar Hero Style Hack

This post has 56 Replies | 1 Follower

Top 10 Contributor
Posts 10,231
The Demented One Posted: 21 Aug 2010 3:58 PM
Lunar Hero Style

Keyword: Hero
Lunar Hero Charms with the Hero keyword have additional effects that only function when used by characters to whom the style and its expansions are considered natural. This includes the Lunar Exalted, but also characters who are capable of learning the Charms as a Lunar, such as a Solar of the Eclipse Caste. Luna always gains the benefits of Hero effects when using Lunar Hero Charms, even though the style is not natural to her.

Lunars and Lunar Hero Style
Lunar Exalted may substitute their Dexterity rating for their Martial Arts rating when determining if they meet the minimums needed to learn a Lunar Hero Charm. All Expansions of Lunar Hero Style are considered to be Lunar Charms based on either Strength, Dexterity, or Stamina.

Weapons and Armor
Though most Lunar practitioners of this style use it with the claws and fangs of their most powerful battle-shapes, Lunar Hero Style also treats the cestus, the fighting gauntlet, the fighting chain, the khatar, the iron boot, and the tiger claw as unarmed attacks, including artifact versions of these weapons. The style is compatible with armor created by Lunar Charms and with tattoo artifact armor, but not with any other armor.

Rabid Beast Attitude
Cost: 2m
Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 1
Type: Reflexive (Step 7)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: None

No matter how many foes may come at them, the Lunars will not be brought down by mere wounds. This Charm adds +5B/5L to the martial artist's soak in response to any source of damage.  If he activates it multiple times on a single tick, each subsequent activation cumulatively increases the soak granted by +2B/2L. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm's base bonus instead adds +6B/6L soak. The cumulative increase from repeat activations remains the same. In addition, for every two points of bashing and lethal soak added by this Charm, the Lunar also adds +1A soak.

Foot-Trapping Counter
Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: One action
Prerequisite Charms: None

Combat does not end until the Lunar allows it. Whenever a character within (Dexterity) yards of the martial artist attempts to move away from him, he may activate this Charm to make a reflexive Blockade Movement action, rolling ([Strength or Dexterity] + Martial Arts) in place of the usual roll. If the martial artist succeeds, his enemy cannot move away from him for the rest of the action. This Charm cannot be used on a single character more than once per action, and it cannot be activated during attack resolution. It cannot impede non-physical forms of movement such as teleportation.

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm can be activated during attack resolution, allowing it to be used to impede counterattacks that allow his enemies to flee from him.

Thousand Claw Infliction
Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: One action
Prerequisite Charms: None

The Lunar cuts down both hoard and herd, scything through his mobbed opponents. For one action, any multiple action penalties to the martial artist's unarmed attacks are reduced by one. In addition, he increases the penalty reduction to two if attacking an enemy he has not already attacked that action. He also adds one to the Rate of all his unarmed attacks.

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm's penalty reduction applies to the total of all penalties on his unarmed attacks, rather than only reducing multiple action penalties. 

Lunar Hero Form
Cost: 6m
Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2
Type: Simple
Keywords: Form-type, Hero, Obvious
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Foot-Trapping Counter, Rabid Beast Attitude, Thousand Claw Infliction

Becoming one with the essence of Luna in her aspect as the Chthonic Baara, the martial artist becomes the embodiment of the perfected predator. Essence flares around him in a bestial outline, making his martial mastery and deadly prowess obvious to all who see him. The martial artist may parry lethal attacks and deal lethal damage with his unarmed attacks, adding +2L to their damage. In addition, he decreases all onslaught penalties and coordinated attack penalties to his DVs by a total of his (Martial Arts/2). He never suffers an unexpected attack due to being surrounded by multiple opponents. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, he can substitute his Dexterity rating for his Martial Arts rating for determining the penalty rating he receives if it is higher. In addition, the Speed of his unarmed is attacks is reduced by one while this Charm is active. It cannot reduce them beneath Speed 3. 

Stride-Halting Mutilation Attack
Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Crippling, Hero
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Lunar Hero Form

Striking a brutal knife-handed blow, the martial artist can shatter femurs or cut through hamstrings. If an unarmed attack supplemented by this Charm deals damage to a character, they suffer a Crippling effect. They are unable to move from where they are until their DV next refreshes. This Charm cannot impede non-physical forms of movement such as teleportation.

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm's Crippling effect lasts until its victim's DV has refreshed twice. 

Coiled Serpent Strikes
Cost: 4m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Knockback, Hero, Obvious
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Stride-Halting Mutilation Attack

The martial artist's strike channels essence into a silver lash, whipping out to strike his prey and drag them back within his reach. An unarmed attack supplemented by this Charm can strike enemies up to (Essence x 3) yards away. In addition, if the attack hits, then its target is pulled back towards the martial artist. The martial artist can choose to pull his enemy adjacent to himself, or may choose to end his enemy's movement early. Should an obstacle stop the enemy's unwilling movement, he suffers a single die of bashing damage for each yard of distance yard they would have otherwise traveled. If he strikes a particularly hazardous obstacle, the impact instead deals lethal damage. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm causes its target to automatically fall prone at the end of his unwilling movement. 

Armor-Rending Claw Fist
Cost: 3m, 1wp
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive (Step 1)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: One action
Prerequisite Charms: Lunar Hero Form

The Lunar's claws rend armor plate from plate, and his teeth have strength to puncture steel. Each unarmed attack the Lunar makes for the rest of the action adds (Martial Arts) to its raw damage. In addition, he also converts a single die of his attack's post-soak damage to an automatic level of damage in Step 10 if attacking an enemy he has not already attacked that action.

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm instead adds (Martial Arts + 2) to the raw damage of his attacks.

Crouching Tiger Stance
Cost: 6m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive (Step 9)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Counterattack, Hero
Duration: One action
Prerequisite Charms: Lunar Hero Form

To strike a Lunar is to taunt a tiger. The Lunar may respond to any attack made against him with an unarmed Martial Arts counterattack, lashing out at his opponent with ferocious rage so long as they are within his range. The Lunar cannot attack any enemy more than once on a single action. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm is more effective against coordinated strikes. If an attack the Lunar responds to imposed a coordinated attack on his DVs, his counterattack imposes an equal coordinated attack penalty against his foe (using the total penalties before any reductions are applied to them). 

Den Mother Method
Cost: 8m, 1wp
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Crouching Tiger Stance

Nothing is more dangerous than a predator whose young are threatened. If any enemy within (Dexterity) yards of the Lunar makes an attack at hand-to-hand range against another character, the Lunar may choose to reflexively protect the target of the attack as if warding them with a Defend Other action. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, the range of this Charm extends to (Dexterity x 2) yards.

Terrible Wolverine Onslaught
Cost: 6m, 1wp
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 4
Type: Extra Action
Keywords: Combo-OK, Hero
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charm: Armor-Rending Claw Fist, Coiled Serpent Strikes, Den Mother Method

Striking with the unconstrained ferocity of an enraged predator, the martial artist becomes a whirlwind of death. Activating this Charm, the martial artist makes a single unarmed attack that is applied against each enemy within (Dexterity x 5) yards. He may then make a follow-up attack applied against all characters that were hit by his initial attack. The initial attack suffers a -1 multiple action penalty, while the follow-up attack suffers a -2 penalty. This magical flurry ignores Rate and has Speed and DV penalties equal to the highest values of any attack in the flurry. 

Hero: If used by a Lunar, this Charm imposes greater onslaught penalties on its targets. The initial attack imposes a -1 onslaught penalty, while the follow-up attack imposes a -2 penalty.

Expansions

Bristling Moonsilver Hide
Cost: – (+1m)
Mins: Stamina 4, Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Rabid Beast Attitude

The Lunar may be wounded, but he is never downed. His hunters might approach his fallen body only to find that he is still ready to fight them all off. This Charm upgrades Rabid Beast Attitude. The Lunar may pay a surcharge of one mote to extend its duration to one tick. It provides the base soak advantage against all attacks for that tick, with each additional damage source beyond the first causing the Lunar's soak to cumulatively increase as if he had activated Rabid Beast Attitude an additional time. For example, he would receive +6B/6L/3A soak against the first attack made against him on the tick, +8B/8L/4A soak against the second attack, and +10B/10L/5A soak against the third. 

Inescapable Lunar Grasp
Cost: – (+5m, 1wp)
Mins: Dexterity 5, Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Foot-Trapping Counter

The Lunar keeps his prey close at hand, not letting them escape to hidden warrens and bolt-holes. This Charm upgrades Foot-Trapping Counter. The Lunar may pay a surcharge of five motes and a point of Willpower to impede all attempts to flee from him for one action. Whenever a character within range attempts to move away from him for the rest of the action, he may make a reflexive Blockade Action to stop them as with Foot-Trapping Counter. He cannot do so against any character more than once per action.

Snake Body Technique
Cost: – (1wp)
Mins: Dexterity 5, Essence 3
Type: Permanent
Keywords: Counterattack
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Crouching Tiger Stance

Bending and moving with a snake's grace, the Lunar smoothly redirects an attack back at whatever enemy is foolish enough to bring on the predator's retribution. This Charm upgrades Crouching Tiger Stance. If the Lunar successfully defends against an attack that he could respond to with a counterattack, he may instead pay a point of Willpower. Instead of making a counterattack, he may instead redirect the attack to the character who made it, applying the initial attack roll against them as if they had been the attack's target all along. 

Predator Distraction Method
Cost: – (1m)
Mins: Dexterity 5, Essence 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Den Mother Method

When the Lunar's companions are in danger, he rushes to their aid. He has strength to bear what harm his allies can not. This Charm upgrades Den Mother Method. If the Lunar's Parry DV is overcome when he is protecting another character using Den Mother Method, he may pay one mote to use this Charm. Doing so forces the attacker to target the Lunar with the attack, rather than his ward.
"OH GREAT UNCONQUERED SUN, I HAVE INSUFFICIENT SPIKES TO CRUSH THIS MOTHERFUCKER."
–Lula


Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 319
I like what you've done with this. Lunar Hero style always seemed to make me involuntary twitch when I read it. I especially like the new keyword you added and how it interacts with the rest of the charms in the style.
Do your characters also require that gum have a more compelling social argument than licorice when choosing candy?
Jebus Crebus.
 - Hatewheel

I can say this because I'm English, and we treat other languages like Raksi treats babies.
  - Revlid  
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 6,417
Is Lunar Hero Form supposed to be Essence 3?  The Mutilating Whatsit Charm that follows it is Essence 2.
The plural of "monkey" is "monkeys," dammit.

I hate you so damn much.  If I could project hate through the internet, you would choke to death on it.  --this guy

10/31/10: New blog post: Sixty miles to the gallon
Top 10 Contributor
Posts 10,231
JimB:
Is Lunar Hero Form supposed to be Essence 3?  The Mutilating Whatsit Charm that follows it is Essence 2.
Avoidance Kata, etc.
"OH GREAT UNCONQUERED SUN, I HAVE INSUFFICIENT SPIKES TO CRUSH THIS MOTHERFUCKER."
–Lula


Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 319
JimB:
Is Lunar Hero Form supposed to be Essence 3?

Yeah normally Lunar Hero Form is supposed to be Essence 2.
Do your characters also require that gum have a more compelling social argument than licorice when choosing candy?
Jebus Crebus.
 - Hatewheel

I can say this because I'm English, and we treat other languages like Raksi treats babies.
  - Revlid  
Not Ranked
Male
Posts 264
hiruma_karasu:
JimB:
Is Lunar Hero Form supposed to be Essence 3?

Yeah normally Lunar Hero Form is supposed to be Essence 2.
Lunar Hero Form has always been Essence 2. (No Willpower spent, etc.)
"...she was probably the trashiest woman I've ever met, and she tried way too hard, honey.... I suppose she was kind of cute, if you like your women flagrantly obscene and dressed like the villainess in some absurd Dynast play - those would be the bloodstained robes. That part wasn't a lie. Don't know about the darkness part. I guess she was kind of dark." - Asohka, on the Lady of Darkness in Bloodstained Robes

3090 canon Charms as of 27OCT2010. Holy crunch, Batman!
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 6,417
Oh, and Den Mother Method probably ought to have some kind of explicit explanation that the Lunar is not required to Defend Other against every single person in range.
The plural of "monkey" is "monkeys," dammit.

I hate you so damn much.  If I could project hate through the internet, you would choke to death on it.  --this guy

10/31/10: New blog post: Sixty miles to the gallon
Top 10 Contributor
Posts 10,231
JimB:
Oh, and Den Mother Method probably ought to have some kind of explicit explanation that the Lunar is not required to Defend Other against every single person in range.
Done.
"OH GREAT UNCONQUERED SUN, I HAVE INSUFFICIENT SPIKES TO CRUSH THIS MOTHERFUCKER."
–Lula


Top 150 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,471
I like the style here, the effects seem good (though my rules-fu is weak...).

One minor nitpick: Thousand Claw Infliction. You've put hoard where I'm near-certain you want horde. The spelling you've used refers to a treasure trove...
Holden: Yo dawg, we put a shintai in your shintai so you can OH GOD SINGULARITY

From The King of Swords: 1 (One) Sword.
Top 25 Contributor
Male
Posts 6,417
Last thought: If a Lunar learns the style as natural Dexterity Charms, is he required to stick with form weapons and armor provisions?

Other than these things, well done.
The plural of "monkey" is "monkeys," dammit.

I hate you so damn much.  If I could project hate through the internet, you would choke to death on it.  --this guy

10/31/10: New blog post: Sixty miles to the gallon
Top 500 Contributor
Posts 439
The Demented One:
It is not compatible with armor. 

I think that makes it the only Hero style that is incompatible with armor. It also means a Lunar can't use Armor Forming Technique with the style, don't know if that is intended.
Top 150 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,471
Joker:
The Demented One:
It is not compatible with armor. 

I think that makes it the only Hero style that is incompatible with armor. It also means a Lunar can't use Armor Forming Technique with the style, don't know if that is intended.

Not quite the only one. Infernal Monster is only compatible with armour formed by Infernal Charms; a similar clause here may be sensible.
Holden: Yo dawg, we put a shintai in your shintai so you can OH GOD SINGULARITY

From The King of Swords: 1 (One) Sword.
Top 500 Contributor
Posts 439
MorkaisChosen:
Infernal Monster is only compatible with armour formed by Infernal Charms

My mistake, I never spend much time reading Infernal charms.
Which does make me curious though. I understand Hero styles as being the "natural" style of unarmed fighting for the exalted in question, i.e. the charms they develop if they try to fight barehanded without dipping into concepts removed from their own essence (= other Martial Arts styles).
So, when an Infernal dons armor and starts trying to develop charms for fighting barehanded while wearing it that come from within his own essence, what would happen? Would he find himself unable to develop charms for fighting this way? Or would the result be a new Infernal Hero style?
Sorry, I should probably make a new thread for that.
Top 100 Contributor
Male
Posts 1,754
That seems like a pretty silly clause for Lunars when moonsilver causes no mobility penalty and is treated so sacredly by the chosen.  Not allowing armor with their Hero style seems weird and wrong.
You must act as if it is impossible to fail.

I like teasing Lunar fans about how bad the silver fuzzballs have it, then looking over at the pile of buffs I plan to give them in the future-Holden teasing the fanbase



Top 500 Contributor
Male
Posts 481
Eldaros35:
That seems like a pretty silly clause for Lunars when moonsilver causes no mobility penalty and is treated so sacredly by the chosen.  Not allowing armor with their Hero style seems weird and wrong.
Maybe moonsilver armor and/or Lunar Charm/Knack armor?
Mendez ~ 孟子墨
emcee • classicist • romantic • angoleiro

"MC's are puppets; me, I'm Jim Henson." —Blackalicious, "World of Vibrations"
Page 1 of 4 (57 items) 1 2 3 4 Next > | RSS
Powered by Community Server (Non-Commercial Edition), by Telligent Systems