The Riddle of Kushiel (long)

[Bloodstryke]

This isn't exactly my first post, but it is my first topic here at the Forge. (I've been lurking for a while) I got my book about a week ago, and I've read it cover to cover, and let me just say that I LOVE this game. (even the wonky magic) My wife hasn't read the book at all, but I've peaked her interest, and now she wants to "put it through the paces". To do this, I've decided to take her through the character creation process, and some trial combat. I'm planning on converting some characters from her favorite novel into TROS format, and showing her what the game is all about. (can you say SAs?)

The novel is Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, and it just screams TROS to me. It's set in a world that's very close to ours historically (like Weyrth), violence, sex, and intrigue abound, and it has that gritty low fantasy feel that drew me to TROS in the first place. Honestly, it's a great book, and if you haven't read it I highly recommend it, and it's two sequels. At the risk of being long-winded, I'm going to move on to my questions now.

One of the characters is a warrior/monk type whose fighting style is mainly done with two daggers. This isn't a major issue, since I can just give him cut and thrust proficiency with two poniards as his armament. The problem lies in the fact that he uses to metal vambraces on his forearms to block/deflect blows and I'm not quite sure how to model them. I've thought of two solutions for this. The first one involves making them like mini-shields and adding the block maneuver to his repetoire of skills. The less elegant solution is making his vambraces plate mail for his arms and adding in a high TO so that most blows that land are glancing ones anyway. I'm undecided as to which direction to take, so I'd appreciate some input.

The other problem I'm having is that one of the main characters has a gift/flaw that makes her REALLY enjoy pain. She also heals faster than most people. I've also thought of two methods for this solution. In the books, this is both a blessing and a curse, and I've thought of making it both a major gift and a major flaw. I've noticed it a lot in literature that a character's biggest blessing is also a curse, so I'm like the idea, but I'm not sure how it would work. The other option is to make it a racial priority. She only has this power because she is the avatar of the god Kushiel, so I could make an avatar racial packet. Both are solutions, but I'd like some input as to which one you guys think is the better one. I know, I know it's my game, but I'd like some opinions to see what you guys think.

Sorry this post was so long, but I'm very excited to show my wife what TROS can do, and I'm sure that after tonight she'll be hooked.

[toli]

One of the characters is a warrior/monk type whose fighting style is mainly done with two daggers. This isn't a major issue, since I can just give him cut and thrust proficiency with two poniards as his armament. The problem lies in the fact that he uses to metal vambraces on his forearms to block/deflect blows and I'm not quite sure how to model them.

The simplest thing, of course, would just be to treat them as bucklers.  I'd go for that.  The DTN might be higher if you were only wearing one (because it is smaller than a buckler), but paired bracers would give you more blocking options and therefore the same DTN.  

Another option would be to create a maneuver of 'bracer parry' and a prof like C&T but that included that maneuver.  For example it might be more difficult to learn to parry/deflect a blow than to simply block it by putting your arm in the way, which could result in damage.

[casinormal]

Actually, since vambraces are actually pieces of armor and not really shields, I would treat them as such.  A shield is a weapon, not a piece of armor, so using them as shields would imply offensive use of the vambraces, which you did not indicate that you were doing.  Since you are trying to go for realism, I think that one should treat vambraces as what they are, that is, armor.

-Joel Norman

[Brian Leybourne]

Amusingly enough, yesterday I was writing Vambraces into some new armor rules for TFOB :-)

Only as armor though, admittedly. But for the purposes of your game and the specific needs of it/that character, I think Toli's suggestion sounds reasonable enough - allow the character to use the block maneuver (with a suitably high DTN I would say), and maybe declare that the character needs to actually beat the attackers successes (usually equal successes will do, although they wont give you initiative) or else in the case of equal successes the arm takes a wound or something like that.

Brian.

[kenjib]

All I've got to say about the vambrace shields is Linda Carter rules!

[Brian Leybourne]

Hmm.. second question:

Well, there's already a gift for healing faster than usual. As for the enjoys pain thing... hmm... sounds more like a roleplaying thing to me, or you could treat it as an addiction flaw.

Just some ideas...

Brian.

[Stephen]

I think Brian's got the right idea.  The only time the pain-arousal reflex was a real problem (so far; I've only read the first novel) was when Phedre was so sexually/emotionally mesmerized by a superbly seductive dominating partner that she got stupid at the wrong time and was easily captured and imprisoned right when it would do most damage.  (Trying to avoid spoilers here.)

Given that most RPG sessions don't focus in as keenly as the Kushiel novels did on intimate interaction, this kind of problem would show up so seldom in actual practice/play that I don't think it would be worth much as a flaw.  You're better off treating it as a gift (minor healing) and an SA:  Drive (Serve Elua through sacred sexual role as anguissette).