Wandering Blades Preview: Martial Arts Manuals

I've completed a draft of a new section in the equipment chapter of the core rulebook on martial arts manuals! Here's what it's currently looking like!

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Martial Arts Manuals

Martial arts manuals are a common element of wuxia fiction, where they are often depicted as rare records of unique martial arts that enable characters to advance their abilities at an accelerated rate. These contain detailed instructions on learning powerful martial arts, making them extremely valuable and a prime source of conflict.

Manuals can be given to PCs as rewards, or discovered by coincidence or good fortune in places unlikely to be visited by the average person such as:

• A deep cave only accessible from a precipitous cliff

• At the bottom of a gorge

• Collecting dust in the library of a monastery 

• The treasure room of a palace

• Inside of an ancient tomb

• On an island in the middle of a remote lake

Player characters of any class may spend a required amount of XP (pg. xx) and downtime (pg. xx) to learn a technique from a martial arts manual they own.

Sample Martial Arts Manuals

Nine Suns Palm Burst

A powerful technique that channels the user’s qi into a strike that burns with the power of nine suns, causing severe burns and turning defences to ash.

• Costs: 7 XP, 7 days of downtime

• Details: 6 QP (Combat), requires the user to first be in a CHARGED STANCE (-4 DODGE)

• Effect: Spend two ACTIONS to make one AMPLIFIED attack roll that deals 6d8 damage while ignoring DR. On a successful attack, the target must make an AGILITY SAVE or receive the burning (6) condition.

Phantom Dance

A footwork technique that allows the user to move with such speed that they appear to vanish and reappear at will, creating afterimages that confuse opponents and allowing the user to strike from unexpected angles. 

• Costs: 5 XP, 5 days of downtime

• Details: X QP (Support), while using this technique, the user is unable to make MOVE ACTIONS

• Effect: Gain +5 DODGE and all melee ATTACK ACTIONS within close range are AMPLIFIED. The effect lasts a number of rounds equal to the QP spent.

Thundering Fist

An unarmed technique where the user channels a burst of qi at the moment of impact; creating a thunderous shockwave capable of shattering stone and stunning nearby adversaries.

• Costs: 3 XP, 3 days of downtime

• Details: 2 QP (Combat), user must use an unarmed attack

• Effect: An unarmed attack that deals an additional 1d8 damage that bypasses DR. Anyone within close range of the target must make a FOCUS SAVE against a difficulty equal to the attack roll or gain the stunned (1) CONDITION.