RE: [DL] Headache

["Jeffery Yates" <jyates@qlinktech.com>]

Does it really matter what the sword does, since he's a pacifist and would
never use it?  The Fu Vamoose of Trip or maybe Throw is much less deadly,
and disarming attacks with bare hands are about as far as I'd let someone
claiming to be a pacifist go towards aggression in my game.  But that's just
me, and doesn't help with your question ;-)

If you're going to give him the sword because of his jokers, then he
shouldn't need to overlap that with Belongins.  And if you are going to have
him take Belongin', then use the jokers for something else.

Haven't seen the movie to know what the swords in it do.  I have had a
martial artist in my game, and he took Belongins' for a relic sword.  I gave
it a bonus to hit, and the ability to harm creatures only harmed by magic.
But my player didn't spend that many points on the edge.  Level 5 depends on
what type of campaign you want to run.  I'd have the sword's reputation
impart adjustments to mein-style checks (overawe, persuasion, etc) when
dealing with other chinese NPCs.  The sword is an ancient artifact, steeped
in chinese history, wielded by famous historical figures.  Awe inspiring.
Maybe greed inspiring.  Now, if the adjustments are to be positive, the
character would have to have legitimate claim to the sword (all those famous
people are the character's ancestors) AND the famous people would have to be
well regarded in the histories.  If the sword had been stolen from the
rightful owners (by the player or not), or if the famous wielders are closer
to infamous, despicable figures in history, then the sword's effects are
different.  But it's all about the roleplaying.  The sword isn't actually
magical, but the chinese people who see it hold it (and its' owner) in high
regard.  Or low regard if the sword was used to commit great atrocities.

But that's the way my games go, the "flavour" I tried to impart.  You're
games might lend themselves to a flashier sword, in which case you might try
looking in some Dungeons and Dragons material -- that game had/has lots of
magic swords, and one or more of them might inspire you.  I believe there is
even a 'Net Swords book on some websites.  Sorry to throw more reading at
you!  Try here: http://www.enteract.com/~aardy/rpg/nb-nb.html

And the "Well of Chi" idea is good too, especially if you want to cut down
on your research!

Jeff Y.


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-deadlands@gamerz.net [mailto:owner-deadlands@gamerz.net]On
> Behalf Of Tabb, David
> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 2:48 PM
> To: 'deadlands@gamerz.net'
> Subject: [DL] Headache
>
>
> 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.
>
> David
> (Off they go to The Mission)
>
>
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