Re: [DL] Headache

[Ross Coburn <coburn@videotron.ca>]

"Tabb, David" <david.tabb@msfc.nasa.gov> wrote:

> Hi, list.  Long time no talk.
> 
> I need ideas.  I'll be getting a martial artist into my group as soon as I
> kill off that player's previous character.  He wants to play him as a
> poverty-stricken pacifist whose only item of value is his 5-point Belongin':
> a Chinese major relic sword.
> 
> The poverty/Belongin's thing was my idea, so I can't blame anyone else for
> that.  He wanted his weapons not to fall into disuse as described under
> Poverty.  I figured he'd take 1 point which would protect his stuff.  I
> shoulda known better.
> 
> This guy also pulled both jokers.  If I assign Ace or maybe King to one of
> the jokers, that would account for his having the sword.  But, would he
> still have to pay the 5 points for the Belongin'?
> 
> Also, since I'm just cranking the game back up after a yearlong lapse, I'm
> pretty overwhelmed by the foot and a half stack of books I'm having to
> review.  I'm stymied trying to come up with just what a major relic sword is
> capable of.  He suggested the Green Destiny from Cruching Tiger, Hidden
> Dragon, but that's mostly sharpness and reputation.
> 
> So, does anyone have any ideas what a Chinese relic sword might do?
> Preferably not overtly cursed.

Ann is going to give me all kinds of Hell for this, but my suggestion is:

Have it speak inscrutable fortunes in a badly-accented voice?

OK, just kidding there.  Really, a sword pretty much cuts things with
varying degrees of sharpness (although the mass of the blade is largely
responsible for driving it through the victim in question, I'm told).
Anything else kind of falls outside of a sword's raison d'etre, and so you
can let go.

Perhaps it inspires terror in the poor sod facing its wielder?  (Guts check,
or adds to an Overawe roll...)  Or maybe it inspires the wielder's allies
and strengthens their resolve?  Maybe it ignores a certain amount of armour
protection?

Maybe it wiggles like it was made of sheet metal, a la Crouching Tiger?

I'd look at classic Chinese folk tales, which Ann Lemay of this list may be
able to direct you to.

Oh, and welcome back to Deadlands!  In case you didn't know, there are
revised rules for Martial Artists in Hexarcana.

As for the Joker vs. Belongin's, well, if you're giving it to him as his
Mysterious Past item, I wouldn't charge him the Belongin's.

-- 
Ross Coburn
coburn@videotron.ca