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It looks like my attack would be (Agility 3, Kenjitsu 1) 6k2 and damage would be (Strength 3, Wakisashi 2k2) 5k2?

Exactly. You also have Void 2, so you can make up to 2 raises to the TN, adding another +1k0 or +2k0 to your damage if you hit. So with both raises, that's attacking for 6k2, doing 7k2 damage.

And don't forget you can also spend 1 Void point on a roll any any time to add +1k1.

These Lion are all wearing light armor (+5 to TN), so an average Reflexes of 2-3 would mean that your TN to hit them would be 15 or 20, +5/+10 if you raise.

So assuming his TN to be hit is the usual maximum of 20: make a full attack; take 2 raises for extra damage; spend 1 Void for +1k1; that's 7k3 vs TN 30. The rulebook has a nifty probability chart in the back, which says that 7k3 vs TN 30 has 37% chance to succeed. With only one raise that improves to 62% chance, and with no raises that's 88%.

Oops, the Agility 3, Kenjitsu 1, full attack is 6k3 (and damage 5k2)...

Can you spend void points on damage?

I might be better with 6k3 attack with 1 raise (54% if they have the higher Reflexes, 81% with the lower) with 7k3 damage (37% chance of 30 or more damage which would be a 1-shot "down" assuming Earth 3).

Yes, you can spend the Void point on damage. The basic rule is that the Void point increases your trait/Ring by 1 for the roll, so you are spending it to boost your Strength, effectively giving +1k1 to damage.

Good catch on 6k3 instead of 6k2, I didn't notice it either.

Starbeard wrote:Yes, you can spend the Void point on damage. The basic rule is that the Void point increases your trait/Ring by 1 for the roll, so you are spending it to boost your Strength, effectively giving +1k1 to damage.

Good catch on 6k3 instead of 6k2, I didn't notice it either.

Hmm, wait, maybe the void point on damage just adds 1k0 (it adds to the Strength trait, but for damage, the weapon specifies the k2 not the Strength rating...).

ffilz wrote:

Starbeard wrote:Yes, you can spend the Void point on damage. The basic rule is that the Void point increases your trait/Ring by 1 for the roll, so you are spending it to boost your Strength, effectively giving +1k1 to damage.

Good catch on 6k3 instead of 6k2, I didn't notice it either.

Hmm, wait, maybe the void point on damage just adds 1k0 (it adds to the Strength trait, but for damage, the weapon specifies the k2 not the Strength rating...).

D'oh! I think the rules sort of imply that Void always gives +1k1, because traits are always roll-and-keep; but you're right, for damage it's actually the opposite, and spending a Void on damage will just give +1k0.

Ok, spending the void point on the attack would give me 7k4 which is a 64% chance of hitting TN 30 and gets me 7k2 damage, so let's go with that...

Alright, getting this combat started. I'll assume Senichi makes 2 raises based on his comments, and Kenta doesn't make any since I don't think he specified.



Senichi and Kenta rush forward to take advantage of the element of surprise. The Lion bushi are startled, raising their weapons but unable to do anything more than fend off the sudden ambush.

The monk Kenta swings his naginata around high, using the momentum to smash the blade into the face of the nearest Lion. His helmet protects him from instant death, but his mouth fills with blood and shattered teeth! (24 hits to the head, shattering teeth, and dropping him to Wound Rank -3).

With a spirited shout to focus his chi, Senichi drives his wakizashi into the lacquered chestplate of the Lion tying up the Cranes. The tip of his blade gets through a chink in the armor and deals a nasty cut! (18 hits to the torso, dropping him to Wound Rank -2).

Behind them, young Saburo tries to summon up the courage to throw himself into the fight and protect his new lord, but it seems that he can't yet bring himself to attack samurai nobles, even if they are enemies (failed morale/Honor check). For now, he just holds the reins of the horse and shakes nervously.

Next round
The two wounded Lions live up to their Clan's reputation for courage, and steel themselves to fight to the death in single combat against each of you. You can tell that each is still a fairly formidable opponent, even with their wounds. (both pass morale/Honor checks against your successful ambush).

The third Lion, however, noticeably younger than the others and only a few years into adulthood, falters and hangs back, unsure of whether to fight or run (failed morale check).

One of the captured Cranes is already hogtied and can't escape, but the other wrestles free of his wounded captor and adopts a defensive unarmed stance, since his weapons are in a pile behind the Lions. He is a little wounded, but he still attempts to circle around Senichi's opponent to find an opportunity to grapple.

Actions?

Rolls…


登場人物

• Kenta, monk: no armor (TN10), naginata 7k4 (DR 6k3) | Honor 2;5, Wounds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 2/2
• Matsumoto Senichi, Unicorn shugenja: no armor (TN10), wakizashi 4k3 (DR 4k2) | Honor 2;6, Wounds (4) 0;0 | Void Pts 2/2 | Spell Slots: F3/A2/W3/E2
  • Saburo: 3E/3W/1F/1A/1V | TN5, DR 1k1 | Hn 2;5 - Gl 0;0 - Wds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/1

Kenta

Kenta will attempt to finish his opponent.

Spending 1 void point on attack and makes 1 raise on his attack.

Senichi will again focus and spend a void point on the attack, taking no raises, making his attack 5k4 with damage 5k2

I just found this probability calculator: https://lynks.se/probability/

The increased damage potential for a raise doesn't justify the significantly lower chance of hitting.

ffilz wrote:I just found this probability calculator: https://lynks.se/probability/

The increased damage potential for a raise doesn't justify the significantly lower chance of hitting.

Wow, that's interesting. Maybe the only reasonable time to raise for damage is if your attack dice are already so high, and the TN so low, that even a couple of raises won't make much difference?



Round 1

Initiative rolls (1k1 + Air Rank)… Quick as lightning, Kenta steps back to give his naginata some room, leveling it against his opponent and thrusting forward with a mighty cry! The flat curve of the blade bursts through his light armor and cutting deep into his belly. The Lion falls to the ground in a heap. (23 hits, bring him to "Dead" rank; 2 more hits will kill him).

Kenta's attack (+1 Void, +1 raise): 8k5 vs TN 20, Damage 7k3 The Crane channels his inner Void energy and lurches forward with a confusing combination of grapple and sweep, attempting to bring the Lion facing him and Senichi to the ground (2 raises to trip). The Lion, unfazed by the attempt, sidesteps and uses his sword to keep the Crane from getting close.

The Crane's attack (+1 Void, +2 raises): 7k4 vs TN 25, -2k0 from wounds Ignoring Senichi, the Lion retaliates against the Crane by countering his grapple with a quick slash to the leg, bringing the Crane to his knees! (13 hits, taking the Crane to "Down" status)

Lion 1's attack (Technique = ignore armor): 6k3 vs TN 15, Damage 5k2, all -2k0 from wounds Senichi takes advantage of the distraction to continue driving forward at the Lion, cutting down at the leg with his short sword and making a large gash. (17 hits, bringing him to Wound Rank -4)

Senichi's attack: 5k4 vs TN 20, Damage 5k2 The young Lion at the rear of the skirmish, too caught up in his fear to engage, stands by the hogtied Crane. He watches everything unfold with his sword drawn in one hand and the Crane's rope tie in his other.




Round 2

Initiative rolls (1k1 + Air Rank)… Without breaking stride or motion of his naginata, Kenta joins the other skirmish. With terrifying momentum the monk swings the blade of his polearm clean through the Lion's sword arm, into his chest, and with a crackle of bone embeds it straight through his heart and out the other side! (51 damage!!! That would have been a one-hit kill against the Earth 3 Lion, even if he had been at full health!)

Kenta's attack: 7k4 vs TN 20, Damage 6k3

Combat Results

The young Lion's eyes grow wide with terror. He drops the rope and runs off into the woods!

Of the older, courageous Lion samurai, one lies dead and the other is moments from death himself. One Crane prisoner is still tied up on the ground, and the other is down with a grievous wound. Both of the Crane's horses are still here.


Actions?



登場人物

• Kenta, monk: no armor (TN10), naginata 7k4 (DR 6k3) | Honor 2;5, Wounds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/2
• Matsumoto Senichi, Unicorn shugenja: no armor (TN10), wakizashi 4k3 (DR 4k2) | Honor 2;6, Wounds (4) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/2 | Spell Slots: F3/A2/W3/E2
  • Saburo: 3E/3W/1F/1A/1V | TN5, DR 1k1 | Hn 2;5 - Gl 0;0 - Wds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/1

What can I do to tend to the brave Crane?

Kenta

Kenta will finish the dying samurai.

"Perhaps I can help? I know a bit of the healing arts."

Funnily enough, the core rulebook doesn't actually say how the Medicine skill works, but I'll go with the clarification from the 2nd edition GM Guide, since that sounds reasonable: "If a character applies first aid immediately after Wounds are taken, a successful Intelligence+Medicine roll (…a good TN is the number of Wounds taken) heals a number of wounds equal to the Medicine Skill and doubles the healing rate."

Senichi has his healing spell scroll, Path of Inner Peace, which he can cast 3 times before running out of Water spells for the day. He will roll 4k3 against TN5, and it heals 1 full Wound Rank plus another rank for each raise.


Kenta moves over to the dying Lion samurai, ready to give him a swift and honorable death, but the warrior has other plans. He has failed his task and the end is near; with the last shred of dignity he has left, the Matsu samurai defies Kenta and atones for his own failure to his clan by drawing his wakizashi and slaying himself across the belly.

Dying samurai's attempt to commit seppuku (Will vs TN 20) The monk then moves over to the wounded Crane, doing what he can to clean the wound and stop the bleeding. Within a few minutes the Crane is sitting up against a tree trunk, part of his outer robe being used to bind his leg wound tightly. The wound has stabilized and with great effort he can hobble about and act freely.

Kenta Medicine roll, 4k2 vs TN 13: The other Crane is now untied, and looking a little scuffed up but fine.

More later, I'll post the Crane samurai reactions and statements.

I'll do Path to Inner Peace again, with 2 raises, so 4k3 vs TN 15:

[1d6] = 3[1d6] = 4[1d6] = 6[1d6] = 5

Just makes it. The crane is restored 2 ranks.

Kenta

After patching up the Crane, "Are you OK Senichi? I can see to your wounds if not." Kenta will keep alert in case the Lion who ran away comes back.

Rex wrote:Kenta

After patching up the Crane, "Are you OK Senichi? I can see to your wounds if not." Kenta will keep alert in case the Lion who ran away comes back.

Did I misread something, I don't think Senichi was wounded.

Kenta

Kenta was just checking, a minor wound he wouldn't necessarily notice and I do my best to not meta game.

Frank: I think that's actually 3 ranks healed, 1 rank for the base spell + 2 ranks for 2 raises. The Crane gets bumped up from Wound Rank -4 to Wound Rank -1.



"My sincerest thanks to you," says the Crane as he bows stiffly, still limping slightly. "I will add a token to both of your ancestors at the first road shrine I pass."

They are both Daidojis, caught scouting behind "friendly" lines for reasons they refuse to discuss. Neither is particularly young, both are clearly in their prime; the only sense you get is that they are capable and experienced men, the sort who answer to lords rather than vassals and assistants.

The wounded scout expresses concern over staying here too long, but the other dismisses his worry with a wave. "I do not think we need to worry about that young bushi who escaped. He will have to come up with an excuse for fleeing before he informs someone of our presence, and either way he will probably still die or be banished; the Matsu are a severe family."

He looks you up and down as he gathers up their weapons and fixes the saddles on the horses, and gives a polite but curt bow. "A Unicorn priest, a monk, and a ragged boy. What brings you this deep into the country of the prowling Lion?"[/dialog]


"Glory Recognition" rolls to see if you recognize these two, or at least their station/status (Intelligence+Glory):

登場人物

• Kenta, monk: TN10, Init +2, naginata 7k4 (DR 6k3) | Hnr 2;5, Wnds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/2
• Matsumoto Senichi, Unicorn shugenja: TN10, Init +2, wakizashi 4k3 (DR 4k2) | Hnr 2;6, Wnds (4) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/2 | Spell Slots: F3 - A2 - W2/3 - E2
  • Saburo: 3E/3W/1F/1A/1V | TN5, DR 1k1 | Hn 2;5 - Gl 0;0 - Wnds (6) 0;0 | Void Pts 1/1

NPCs:

• Daidoji bushi (Crane): mounted, light armor, Wounds (6) 0;4
• Daidoji bushi (Crane): mounted, light armor, Wounds (4) -1;3 — leg wounded