1st Scroll - The Will of Nobles - 1st - 3rd Days

[jmacatty]

Omi will pack food and water for a day. He will wear AC3 to improve movement. He brings his Dai-sho and Dai-kyu with it's quiver. He will also carry a package of bandages. He leaves his horse at the charcoal fire muttering at the peasants something about death, the horse, his return. He stays close to the old man as they walk.

[jmacatty]

Ito also carries his regular pack, as he has no horse. He wears AC3, leaving the rest of his armor at the fire.

[ffilz]

Has Taisho already done blessings this day? I've lost track of time...

Would it be worthwhile to have a Google Doc or something where a timeline is kept?

[jemmus]

I think two GMs (Frank and Marullus) have ruled that Heavy Samurai Armor can only be reduced to Partial Heavy Samurai Armor (AC 5, 25 lbs.) The same would apply to Heavy Ashigaru Armor.

Taisho hasn't cast Blessing today. He's only done Trance and cast Prophecy. Here's a Dropbox Word detailed timeline document.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6lhe3tf2c9u1l ... .docx?dl=0

[jemmus]

Kentaro examines the ground and the stones at the end of the faint trail. The roundish stone directly ahead is about two feet in diameter and mostly covered in moss. It appears to Kentaro that some of the moss on its top has be rubbed off in different places, as if by feet. Behind it on the earth, some ferns appear to have been crushed down. They haven't yet raised themselves to their ordinary posture. Kentaro guesses that someone passed this way earlier today. The rock beyond the ferns also shows signs of having been trod on. The path of the tracks lies northeast-southwest. But it's impossible to tell which of the two directions the people went.

To effectively use a no-dachi, Kentaro will have to find spots with no trees nearby. Those are very scarce on a regular mountain, and a fairly scarce in the rocks field. No-dachi (literally, "field sword") were used on foot outdoors in the open. There are a lot of restricted spaces in Nippon where there's not much room to swing a long sword. (Which is why bushi carry a wakizashi in addition to a katana). The excellent (IMO) movie "Twilight Samurai" has a good example of kenjutsu in a confined place.

[Marullus]

If Kentaro reasonably believes he will be unable to use his no-dachi, then he will leave it on the horse and bring his dai-sho instead.

"You are right, they are difficult to track, wily as foxes," comments Kentaro, bending low to the ground. "One less experienced would miss it entirely. They passed through this morning by this way," he adds, motioning the northeast-southwest line. "You suggest they were returning, or departing?"

[ffilz]

I will also do blessings for everyone (casting earlier in the day if it's OK to retro that - I need to remember to cast those each day we expect trouble...)

Can I bless myself? Doesn't seem right.

I'm out of time right now, will do the rolls when I get back from errands.

Let's see, blessings for Kentari, Katsumi, Ito, Omi, and myself if appropriate.

[jemmus]

No-dachi blades are 6-7 ft long. To use the no-dachi, Kentaro would have to find areas with no trees, overhead branches, or tall rocks within 3 yds to avoid Restrictions/Hindrances. I can't find a quantified effect on BCS for Restrictions in the rules. Hindrances halve learning rate. So maybe the kenjutsu BCS should be halved in areas where Restrictions apply.

Kentaro guesses that there are some suitably clear places in the rocky area, but not many. To avoid Restrictions, he would have to wait for any opponent to come to him. If he engaged an opponent in an area with trees or branches within 3 yds of him/her/it, Restrictions would apply.

We can move Taisho's Blessing to when the party first started up the mountain (around 10:00 AM) if you like. It's around 11:30 AM now. Taisho can cast Blessing on himself, per the rules. I think we've been doing Blessing wrong. A Gakusho can only bless one character per level. So only one person for level 1 Taisho.

Blessing: Range: Touch. Cost. Knowledge in Yoga used/lO.
The Gakusho blesses one or more characters in the “Way” of a
Yoga. He may cast the Spell on 1 character per Level he has
achieved. This includes himself if he is blessing himself. It requires
1 D10 Detailed Turns to bless characters. The Magic BCS is used to
Bless characters

[ffilz]

OK, after also seeing the discussion in Rules Q&A, Taisho will cast 5 blessings. All blessings are cost 2 and give +2 BCS

Oh, and he will leave his sack with the horses so he will be unencumbered

Katsumi has 2 turns of blessing and Ito has 3 turns. Otherwise it was a rather inauspicious day.

Kentaro: sorry...

Katsumi:

Ito:

Omi: sorry

self: oops...

EDIT: I don't see anything for critical success or critical failure of Gakusho powers.

[jemmus]

Here’s an abstract map of what the PCs can see from where the trail ends. That’s DD11 on the map. The tracks Kentaro saw are at CC12 and BB13.

Basically, the map has four (abstract) elevations:
1 - Clear areas (green and brown squares)
2 - Low jumbled boulders (light gray)
3 - Bigger, flat lying rocks (medium gray)
4 - Tall standing rocks (darkest gray).


Combat Modifiers for elevated position apply. Low boulders squares (light gray) are Treacherous Ground for combat modifiers. (They’re hard to do combat footwork in). Please see Combat Modifiers, below.

T – A clear area with a tall tree. The trunks don’t obscure vision much, but using a Long range weapon will be at a Hindrance.
YT – An area with a young tree. Also a Hindrance for Long range weapons. Vision beyond a YT square is mostly obscured.

Picking one’s way (walking) through a boulders square (light gray) is at BMA/4 (round to nearest). Faster, riskier movement requires a Broad Jump from stone to stone to stone. Entering a lying or standing rock square requires Climbing. Climbing a lying rock isn't much challenge at all.

Young tree/scrub foliage (YT) squares are treacherous ground squares. Attacking from them is -1 to BCS. If it's also a gray square, the effects are cumulative (-2 total to BCS). Movement into a YT square costs the same to BMA as picking one's way through a boulders square (as below).

1044.3a Broad Jumps [For fast movement to and among shorter boulders (light gray squares)]
Broad Jumps: The character achieves a height of a foot or so, waist high at most. His main motion is parallel to the ground. The distance travelled in yards is: (Strength/10 (round up))+(Effect Number of Leaping roll/3 (round up)).

Even if the roll fails, it will be seen that distance can be travelled. [Because of the rough terrain, going to apply the rules for Trip (below) if the leaping roll is failed]. If a running start is taken (preceding Leap with a Charge Option) add the Base Movement Allowance to Strength for purposes of calculating the base distance jumped. [Can only charge from clear (green squares) or trail (brown squares) ground].

Trip (p. 64)
If the target fails a Speed Saving Throw, he will fall to the ground. Falling to the ground in this case requires a Health Saving Throw to avoid forfeiting the next Available Action Phase, with a Critical Failure resulting in a Stun Critical Effect. [If Health ST succeeds, the character will end the phase Kneeling. If it fails, he’ll end it Prone).

1044.2 CLIMBING
The Climbing Capability is equal to permanent Deftness/2. Ninja receive a Bonus equal to their Level for the Climbing Capability. Situations requiring a Climbing roll are divided into two classes: steep and easy climbs. Steep climbs require a Climbing roll. The roll is optional with Easy climbs.

1044.2b Easy Climbs [For large, flat rocks lying on the ground (mid-gray squares)]
Easy Climbs concern movement on sloped but not vertical surfaces, overgrown walls or other surfaces rich in handholds, trees with limbs, etc. Ladders or knotted ropes are aIso "easy climbs." The Climbing die roll is optional. [We won’t be rolling here in this area]. Without it, the character climbs at a rate of 2 yards per Detailed Turn.

1044.2a Steep Climbs [For climbing tall standing rocks. The rules are fairly lengthy, not going to quote them here. We'll use them if it comes up].

Combat Modifiers (p. 65)
Attacker is:
on Treacherous Ground -1
in elevated position +1
kneeling -2
prone -5

Target is:
in elevated position -1
kneeling +2
prone +5
passive (e.g. stunned) +5

[Marullus]

Whoah. *boggles*

What's our objective in relation to the map?

[jemmus]

You only know that the charcoal burner said to to head north, and the bandits' lean-to is built against a tall rock with a big flat rock in front of it.

[jemmus]

The travelers have prepared themselves and the assess the situation. The bushi are well-trained, but rather inexperienced. But they know that fighting among the boulders will impede the footwork that is so crucial to kenjutsu combat. On the other hand, the big lying rocks may provide some cover when using kyujutsu.

I'm going to propose a rules variation. The lying rocks (approx. 1 yd high, medium gray) provide some cover against arrows. So -2 to the shooter's kyujutsu BCS. Any thoughts?

Actions when you're ready.

[Marullus]

Kentaro points out the northeast trail to the others, then the large stones to the east. "If their lean-to is against standing stones, that seems likely." He glances at Katsumi, then looks to Ito and Omi for their leadership. "Do we go over the stones, or wrap around from the north side, following their trail?"

He draws his own bow, a massive four-man dai-kyu, and steels his expression as he centers his half-empty quiver within easy reach. He knocks an armor-piercing arrow and follows whatever plan is given.

[ffilz]

The travelers have prepared themselves and the assess the situation. The bushi are well-trained, but rather inexperienced. But they know that fighting among the boulders will impede the footwork that is so crucial to kenjutsu combat. On the other hand, the big lying rocks may provide some cover when using kyujutsu.

I'm going to propose a rules variation. The lying rocks (approx. 1 yd high, medium gray) provide some cover against arrows. So -2 to the shooter's kyujutsu BCS. Any thoughts?

Actions when you're ready.

Sounds good to me.

[ffilz]

And Taisho will be hanging back some, not a whole lot he can do other than to keep an eye out.

[Marullus]

And Taisho will be hanging back some, not a whole lot he can do other than to keep an eye out.

Rolling for Observe Situation is a critical role! See page 61.

[ffilz]

And Taisho will be hanging back some, not a whole lot he can do other than to keep an eye out.

Rolling for Observe Situation is a critical role! See page 61.

Yea, that may make sense. Question is does he get too far behind if he does that too often? He's got a slower movement than the bushi.

The huge differential in movement rates for PCs at the same encumbrance load is sure something I would not have thought about as an issue...

[jemmus]

And Taisho will be hanging back some, not a whole lot he can do other than to keep an eye out.

Rolling for Observe Situation is a critical role! See page 61.

Yea, that may make sense. Question is does he get too far behind if he does that too often? He's got a slower movement than the bushi.

The huge differential in movement rates for PCs at the same encumbrance load is sure something I would not have thought about as an issue...

I haven't checked the bushi's encumbrance level, but I don't think Taisho is much slower than them. Probably about the same speed. It's Katsumi who's much faster than everyone else.

If the bushi and Taisho Walk through boulder squares and not Broad Jump, you'll probably move about 1 yd per Detailed Turn.

[jemmus]

Omi - Unencumbered (carrying 43 lbs, encumbered at 45 lbs). Partial Heavy Samurai Armor. AC 5 + Level
Ito - Unencumbered (carrying 49 lbs, encumbered at 51 lbs). Complete Light Samurai Armor. AC 6 + Level
Kentaro - Unencumbered (carrying 56 lbs, encumbered at 62 lbs). Heavy Samurai Armor. AC 6 + Level
Taisho - Unencumbered (carrying 13 lbs, encumbered at 17 lbs). Superior Peasant Garb. AC 1 + Level
Katsumi - Unencumbered (carrying 14 lbs, encumbered at 20 lbs). Peasant Garb. AC 1 + Level.

I was wrong before. Taisho is slower than the bushi, because they're not encumbered.