fredrix
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Post by fredrix on Jun 5, 2014 22:35:31 GMT -8
I've running a version of the Hare clan scenario.
The Scorpion have challenged the party to three duels. Three PCs very quickly volunteered. We ran the first duel last night, it went fine. That PC is a Kakita duelist, who's been aching for his first proper duel.
But the next two are likely to be more problematic.
One is an overconfident Hare Bushi with no Iajutsu
The other is an Utaku Battle Maiden (also with the overconfident disadvantage) who I fear will likely charge on horseback straight out of the castle at her Scorpion opponent.
How should I handle the dice-rolling for these very different duels?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2014 1:12:33 GMT -8
First question is did they all agree to an Iajutsu duel or were they given the option of an alternative type?
If they agreed to an Iajutsu duel then run it exactly the same as the first duel, just with the addition of unskilled rolls (so no explosions). All bushi should expect to get into Iajutsu duels at some point in their life, not taking any points in it is up to them (for most bushi I suggest taking at least 1 point in Iajutsu due to the cultural importance of dueling).
As for the Utaku if she has agreed to an Iajutsu duel then charges out on horseback she will have committed a serious breach of etiquette resulting in a massive loss of honour and everybody who witnesses it will probably view the entire party in a very negative way.
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fredrix
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Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Jun 6, 2014 1:59:20 GMT -8
First question is did they all agree to an Iajutsu duel or were they given the option of an alternative type? If they agreed to an Iajutsu duel then run it exactly the same as the first duel, just with the addition of unskilled rolls (so no explosions). All bushi should expect to get into Iajutsu duels at some point in their life, not taking any points in it is up to them (for most bushi I suggest taking at least 1 point in Iajutsu due to the cultural importance of dueling). As for the Utaku if she has agreed to an Iajutsu duel then charges out on horseback she will have committed a serious breach of etiquette resulting in a massive loss of honour and everybody who witnesses it will probably view the entire party in a very negative way. Cheers mate.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2014 3:04:45 GMT -8
Not a problem
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Jun 6, 2014 4:27:32 GMT -8
I wholeheartedly agree with whodo. Dueling is a sacred part of the setting. Its used to settle arguments, and in most cases once the duel is over there is no questioning the result. As such, fucking with it in any way is a hugely big deal and results in massive honor losses. Using magic, fighting an iaijutsu duel with anything but a katana, not following standard protocol, etc.
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fredrix
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Post by fredrix on Jun 6, 2014 5:21:47 GMT -8
OK, you both confirm my gut feeling, but even assuming that of she does something stupid, all of society will turn on her, let's just imagine that she doesn't get the message. The player is after all the youngest I've played with for some years, she's thirteen and homeschooled. Very clever, but potentially ready to do something very stupid and deal with the consequences. So for a moment lets assumes she been given the message about the sanctity of the duel, but kicks her horse into a charge anyway.
What should I do? Have GMCs intervene? Or if not, how should I roll for the poor scorpion in Iajutsu stance?
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Jun 6, 2014 6:49:13 GMT -8
I'd turn her ronin, personally.
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fredrix
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Post by fredrix on Jun 6, 2014 8:16:29 GMT -8
I'd turn her ronin, personally. Sure, but in that moment when the scorpion's thinking "this is dashed rude behaviour, not cricket, not cricket at all, i'll see her run out of every club on the strand, no by Jove, every half-decent club in the Empire" what's he actually doing? Rolling Iajutsu ? Or resorting to kenjutsu?
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fredrix
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Post by fredrix on Jun 6, 2014 8:18:33 GMT -8
(Suddenly actually wanting to run a L5R campaign where everybody speaks like a Jeeves and Wooster novel, BTW)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2014 9:17:45 GMT -8
If she charges in then you could rule he has the time to go through all the steps of the Iajutsu duel (treating her rolls as 0 for the contested portions) and attempt to strike her at the perfect moment. Presumably he's a pretty good duelist so could probably hurt her quite a bit.
My question would more be what sort of character is he? Would he maintain his half of the duel to prove just how much more honourable he is? Or is he the sort of scorpion that would use it as an excuse to have the Utaku shot with a bow while she is charging? Under the circumstances her actions would have released him from the obligations associated with the duel so he would be well within his rights to defend himself or have allies aid him. Charging on a horse takes long enough that he's have at least one action (probably more) to decide how to react.
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Post by yojimbohawkins on Jun 6, 2014 13:37:47 GMT -8
You could remind her that her character would absolutely know that not adhering to the etiquette of Iaijutsu will shame not only her, but her family and clan. Don't forget, the Utaku are super-honourable and would rather commit seppuku than disgrace their good name. Character knowledge would be of vital import here. You could also remind her that the Utaku are paragons of honour, as evidenced by the fact that some of their school techniques give them considerable bonuses linked to their Honour. However, if she goes ahead with dishonourably charging in after hearing that, she should understand the very serious consequences of her actions.
As for duelling without the Iaijutsu skill, don't forget you can spend a void point to use a skill at rank 1. In a Topaz Championship game I ran recently, a Kuni Shugenja player defeated a Kakita NPC by spending a Void point to use the Iaijutsu skill. He rolled like an exploding boss and I rolled like Stork, giving him an epic win.
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SirGuido
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Post by SirGuido on Jun 6, 2014 14:53:31 GMT -8
You could remind her that her character would absolutely know that not adhering to the etiquette of Iaijutsu will shame not only her, but her family and clan. Don't forget, the Utaku are super-honourable and would rather commit seppuku than disgrace their good name. Character knowledge would be of vital import here. You could also remind her that the Utaku are paragons of honour, as evidenced by the fact that some of their school techniques give them considerable bonuses linked to their Honour. However, if she goes ahead with dishonourably charging in after hearing that, she should understand the very serious consequences of her actions. As for duelling without the Iaijutsu skill, don't forget you can spend a void point to use a skill at rank 1. In a Topaz Championship game I ran recently, a Kuni Shugenja player defeated a Kakita NPC by spending a Void point to use the Iaijutsu skill. He rolled like an exploding boss and I rolled like Stork, giving him an epic win. And if this is a question of losing a Brash roll, this is a situation that would definitely warrant an Honor Roll. If it were me I'd explain the situation to the player in base terms if they are not already aware of the basics of the setting. If they still want to move forward with the charge I'd offer a Lore: Bushido roll at a TN of 5, then dump the import of the thing on them. If by some weird chance they fail, HONOR ROLL. If after all of that the player still insists on going forward I would totally roninize the shit out of them. Like jimbo said, Utaku are SUPER honorable comparable only to the Akodo for the outright honor. To them any slight to the family is worse than a slight to the clan. To bring shame onto the family is a big freaking deal. Something like this would be a ronin smackdown for sure.
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fredrix
Master Douchebag
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Currently Playing: Pendragon, Song of Ice and Fire, L5R, Feng Shui, Traveller
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Favorite Species of Monkey: 1970's NTV, dubbed by the BBC (though The Water Margin beats it)
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Post by fredrix on Jun 6, 2014 22:45:31 GMT -8
Brilliant guys. Thanks for all this advice. I'd totally forgotten the void point rule - the player is a newbie, so I'll point it out to him.
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