WEAPONS OF BODY AND SOUL

a game of martial mastery and high

energy action

BETA Document 1.51

(The pretty version: Now with placeholder imagery)
WHAT IS THIS AND WHY
WOULD I PLAY IT?
Weapons of Body and Soul (WBS) is a combat focused
Roleplaying Game designed for players with at least an
intermediate level of experience. If you have not had much
experience with RPGs you may have difficulty understanding
some mechanics in this game.
If you have played other RPGs, you may find this to be
different from what you normally expect.
The focus of the game is on being a Martial Artist in a land
of mythology, where demons and beasts reign and humans
can manifest the energy of their spirit to defend themselves.
While the primary focus of the game is on combat, the end
goal is not about gaining loot. It is about mastering your skills
and learning to overcome challenges, becoming greater than
you were and achieving your goals.
While it is a combat focused game, you are not required to
play a fighter. There are rules in place to play other kinds of
characters. This includes a diplomat, or a skill specialist such
as an engineer, an inventor, or a smith.
WBS emphasises three main design goals.
Realism and accuracy.
Skill focused gameplay, with high skill trumping high
attributes.
Tactics in combat, including reasons to use weaker
attacks, or to fight at less than your full capacity.
Realism and Accuracy: By doing things such as
separating attacks into separate skills and using the WBS
initiative system, we were able to get feelings of accuracy to
real life combat during gameplay. This adds a level of tactics
to combat, making you decide when it is the opportune time
to use the various attacks and actions, as well as how much
you should exert yourself.
Skill focused: By using the skill system in the way we
have, we were able to make skills become more important
than naturally high attributes of a character. Even the
weakest man, with the right training, is capable of felling the
strongest opponent, or overcoming the greatest obstacles.
Tactics: By using mechanics for things like resource
management of energy, action speed in battle, and variation
between types of attacks, combat is made to be more tactical
than some other games.
WHERE AM I PLAYING?
WBS is focused on Martial Arts in a wire-fu/Xianxia style
setting. This is similar to Shonen manga such as Dragonball
and One Piece, or movies like “Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon”. Primarily, characters will find themselves
wandering plains, mountains and forests. Encountering
villages that need help, beasts hungry for a meal, a villain on
his way to power, or perhaps even a demon with nefarious
plans. While the setting is mostly based in what you would
find in old Asian fables, that is not the only setting possible. If
the players desire, WBS can take place in a modern setting,
or even a futuristic setting.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PLAY?
To play WBS, you need a few things.
The rule book (this)
A character sheet to keep track of your character
A number of polyhedral gaming dice. Ranging from D2-
D12. Having multiple of each will be beneficial.
It is recommended to have 5D6 available for each player,
and 5 of each other size for the group.
Having a gaming mat and miniatures will also assist in
playing the game.
WHAT ARE THE BASICS?
The core mechanic of WBS uses a Dice Pool, which is one or
more dice rolled at the same time. The size of the Dice Pool
is determined by the amount of ranks you have in the relevant
skills. The Dice Pool is then rolled, adding your Roll Modifier
to the rolled result. This is your Final Result.
Whenever a situation comes up that has a chance of
failure, players will need to roll some dice. This roll is
referred to as a Skill Check, and will determine success or
failure. To determine if your Skill Check was a success or
failure, the Final Result is compared to a difficulty number.
The difficulty number is either:
A static number determined by the GM, based on the
intended level of difficulty.
A variable number determined by an opposed roll. An
opposed roll is an opponent rolling their own Skill Check.
WHAT MAKES A ROLL?
Dice Pool: The amount of dice you roll when making a Skill
Check or Damage Roll.
Minimum Pool Size: A Dice Pool will always contain at
least 1 die. If you do not have ranks in the relevant skills, you
roll 1 die and do not add an Attribute to the Roll Modifier.
EXAMPLE: A peasant makes a Closed Fist Jab at the
drunken lout in the tavern. The peasant has 2 ranks in Closed
Fist, and 2 rank in Jab. 4 ranks is enough to add 2 die to a
Skill Check, so the peasant rolls 2d6 for his Attack Check,
and then adds his Roll Modifier (DEX) to the roll. The
drunken lout attacks back with the same attack. Having only
1 rank in each, he rolls 1d6 for his Attack Check, and then
adds his Roll Modifier (DEX+1)
Roll Modifier: The total value of static numbers that is
added to the rolled result of your dice pool, giving you the
Final result. By default, this is equal to an appropriate
attribute.
*EXAMPLE: The peasant in the previous example adds a
Roll Modifier to his Attack Check. The Roll Modifier is 3 (His
DEX). This is added to the rolled result of the 2D6.
Skill Check: The most common type of roll that is used in
WBS. It is used for determining success or failure when
using skills. This includes attacking and defending. A Skill
Check Dice Pool contains 1 die plus 1 extra die for every 3
ranks past 1 total from the skills being used. Skill Checks use
a D6 by default.*
Attack Check: A specific type of Skill Check used in combat.
It is used to determine the success or failure of an attack.
Unless stated otherwise, an Attack Check uses DEX.
Defense Check: A specific type of Skill Check used in
combat. It is used as an Opposed Check to determine the
difficulty of an Attack Check.
Damage Roll: The second most common type of roll used
in WBS. It is used to determine the damage a character or
object would take after successfully being hit by an Attack
Check. A Damage Roll Dice Pool contains 1 die, plus 1 extra
die for every 4 ranks in the skills used for the Skill Check.
Damage Rolls will use different sizes of dice depending on
the Attack Check leading up to it. These can vary from D2 in
one Damage Roll to D12 in another.
Backfire: When making a Skill Check, if any die comes up
as a 1, you must remove the highest rolled die, determined
before Explode is declared. This is repeated for each other
die resulting in 1. If you remove a die that rolled a 1 that has
not yet activated Backfire, it does not Backfire. A Backfire die
can remove itself if no other dice remain in the pool. An
Intensified die does not Backfire if it rolls a 1.
EXAMPLE: You roll a Skill Check resulting in results of
1,1,6,1. You have three results of a 1. The first 1 removes the
highest result, the 6, leaving you with results of 1,1,1. The
second 1 removes the next highest result, another 1. Since
the third 1 was removed, it does not remove another die. Your
final dice results are 1,1.
Explode: When making a Skill Check, any die that rolls in
its Explode Range will Explode, using the Intensify option.
When you Intensify, take note of the value already rolled, then
roll the same die again. Add the new number that you rolled
to the value already rolled. The Intensified die may also
Explode.
EXAMPLE: You roll a Skill Check that gives you dice
reading 6,2,6. You have two results of a 6. Both dice get
rerolled , resulting in 2,1. The 2 gives a result of 8 for that die.
The 1 does not Backfire, as it is a rolled result of 7, not 1.
Your final dice results are 8,2,7.
Explode Range: By default, the Explode Range of a die is
equal to the highest face value. Some effects in the game may
alter this value.
Controlled Effort: When determining your Dice Pool, you
may declare the use of Controlled Effort. When you do so,
you remove one or more dice from the Dice Pool. For each
die that you remove, add an amount to the Roll Modifier
equal to half of its maximum result. You must always have at
least 1 die left in the Dice Pool to roll.
EXAMPLE: Your Skill Check has a difficulty of 12. You
have a Dice Pool of 3D6 and have a Roll Modifier of 3. To
succeed, you need to roll a total of 9 or higher on the 3 dice.
You declare that you are using Controlled Effort and put aside
2D6. This gives you a Roll Modifier of 9 (3 from your
Attribute+3 from each die). Putting aside the third die would
give you a Roll Modifier of 12 but a Dice Pool must always
contain at least 1 die. To succeed, you only need to roll a 3 or
higher on the remaining D6.
Wild Effort: The opposite of Controlled Effort. When
determining your Dice Pool, you may declare a Wild Effort.
When you do so, you lower your Roll Modifier by (1+1/2
Highest Die result). You may do this multiple times until your
Roll Modifier is at a value lower than what you can spend on
Wild Effort. For each time you lower your Roll Modifier, you
add 1 die to the Dice Pool. You may lower your Roll Modifier
to 0.
EXAMPLE: Your Skill Check has a difficulty of 21. You are
rolling a Dice Pool of 2D6 and have a Roll Modifier of 9. To
succeed, you will need at least 1 die to result in a 6 and no die
resulting in a 1. You declare you are using Wild Effort and
remove 8 (1+3 for each D6) from your Roll Modifier. This
gives you a final Roll Modifier of 1, and a Dice Pool of 4D6.
WHO AM I?
When creating your character, the first thing you do is decide
on the concept of your character. This will be used as a
guideline for determining where to spend character points.
The character concept will contain information such as:
Motivation. Your character’s reason to adventure, train,
and explore. Why do they do the things that they do?
Beliefs. Your character has beliefs in various things.
Superstitions, moral codes, religion, and diet are
examples of beliefs.
Flaws. Every character has flaws. These may be as
specific as “Fear of snakes” or as vague as “Eats a lot”.
While flaws do not have any mechanical impact, they will
still make an impact on how your character plays. A
flawless character is a boring character.
Optionally you may add other details such as:
History. Your character had events happen to them prior
to the start of this adventure. Who was their family?
Where did they work? How were they raised? What
significant events lead to where your character is now?
Trinkets. Your character has something in their pocket.
What do they always want to carry on their person? What
do they normally carry but may have forgotten? What are
things that don’t really do anything, but they will never
leave home without?
The starting character points for an average human is 150.
Your character will usually be above average, so it is
recommended to start at 175 – 200 character points.
The GM has the final say on how many character points a
character is built with. As a general rule of thumb, more
points make stronger characters, though this is not always
the case.

CREATION EXAMPLE: The GM decides that his
player, Rob, will have 175 character points to
spend. Rob is going to make the character Asura,
Thousand Hand Blur. Rob pictures Asura as a fast
character that is able to get off multiple attacks in
the blink of an eye. First, Rob thinks about Asura's
History and Motivation and decides that he was
raised in a monastery. Having witnessed demons
attack, he was ashamed that he could not act fast
enough. This led him to wanting to become the
fastest in the land, to defeat any opponent no
matter how fast or far away they are. Asura spent
most of his day to day life training and helping out
around the monastery, as all the young ones did.
The stagnation of day to day life led to restlessness.
This is why Asura travels. Next, Rob thinks about
Asura's Beliefs. Asura believes that every human
has the right to live, and with time can accomplish
great feats. Asura does not believe in things such
as ghosts and spirits, and feel they are explainable
via mundane means. Last, Rob thinks about Asura's
Flaws. Because of his History and his Beliefs, Asura
will go out of his way to help others in need, even
putting himself at risk of harm.
WHAT AM I?
Once you have determined your character's concept and
flavour, you then spend character points to determine the
mechanical side of your character's capabilities.
Your characters capabilities are primarily made up of 3
components. Attributes, Skills, and Techniques. Each
component is broken down into smaller sections as detailed
below.
Primary Attributes
are the core of your character's untrained capabilities. Your
character has 8 Primary Attributes. These are divided into 4
physical and 4 mental.
Physical: Strength (STR), Constitution (CON), Dexterity
(DEX), Agility (AGI).
Mental: Intelligence, Willpower, Wisdom, Perception.
Starting Value: All Primary Attributes start at a BV of 1.
Point Cost: Increasing a Primary Attribute costs character
points equal to current BV + 2.
Secondary Attributes
are specific uses of your character's untrained capabilities.
Your character has 4 Secondary Attributes.
Health (HLTH) Stamina (STAM) Reflexes (REF) Speed
(SPD)
Starting Value: All Secondary Attributes start at a BV of 0.
Point Cost: Increasing a Secondary Attribute costs
character points equal to current BV + 1.
Base Value: A Secondary BV cannot be increased higher
than the average BV of the Primary Attributes it connects to.
EXAMPLE: You have a Constitution of 5 and a Willpower of
3. The average of these two Attributes is 4. This means that
Stamina can not have a BV higher than 4.
Active Value: All Secondary Attributes have an AV of BV +
Primary Attribute BV (or AV when listed).
EXAMPLE: You have a Willpower of 5 and a Strength of 2.
Your Health is 3. This gives you a HLTH of 10. To increase
your HLTH to 11 will require either
Spending 4 character points to increase Strength to 3
Spending 7 character points to increase Willpower to 6
Spending 4 character points to increase Health to 4.
Energy Attributes
are your characters energy reserves, usually used to enhance
your natural capabilities. Your character has 2 Energy
Attributes. These do not have a BV or AV.
Vigour: A reserve of physical energy which may be used to
enhance your physical capabilities.
Chi: Spiritual energy which may be used and manifested
into potentially devastating attacks, or as a barrier.
Core Skills
are categories of related trainable talents and capabilities.
Your character has 21 Core Skills. Core Skills can only be
increased by purchasing ranks in Sub Skills.
Combat: Weapon Types (Arm/Leg/Melee/Ranged), Strike
Types, Combat Maneuvers, Defenses
Physical: Athletics, Stealth
Energy: Vigour Manipulation, Chi Manipulation
Social: Talking, Etiquette
Mental: Electronics, Chemistry, Craftsmanship, Academic,
Biology, Supernatural, Martial Knowledge, Senses
Sub Skills
are specific trainable talents and capabilities. Your character
has access to a number of Sub Skills. These are improved by
purchasing ranks in the individual Sub Skills. Each rank
increases the Sub Skills BV by 1.
Starting Value: All skills start at a BV of 0.
Point Cost: Purchasing a Sub Skill Rank costs character
points equal to Current BV + 3.
Max Value: You can not purchase more than 10 ranks in a
Sub Skill.
Active Value: All Sub Skills have an AV of BV+Core Skill
BV.
EXAMPLE: You have 3 ranks in Hide (Sub Skill), and 1
rank in Stealth (Core Skill). When you use Hide in a Skill
Check, it has an AV of 4.
Many aspects make up a character
ATTRIBUTES
The average human has a Base Value of 3 in their Primary
Attributes. Each attribute has various basic functions.
If an Attribute is reduced to 0 or lower, it applies the
negative value to all appropriate Skill Checks, even if
Untrained.
NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list. The Attribute
applied to a Skill Check will change depending on how the
challenge is approached.
PHYSICAL
Strength: A measure of your character’s physical might.
Functions: Applying brute force. Your maximum Lifting
Capacity. Combat.
Lifting Capacity: The most your character can lift
deadweight with two hands is 25KG, with an additional
25KG for each point in STR. Halve this value if using one
hand.
Secondary Attributes: Health.
Constitution: A measure of your character’s physical
resistance to outside influences, such as disease, fatigue, and
damage.
Functions: Endurance. Physical resistance. Damage
Reduction.
Damage Reduction: The default Damage Reduction of a
character is 1 per point in CON.
Secondary Attributes: Stamina.
Dexterity: A measure of your character’s nimbleness,
mobility and precision.
Functions: Sleight of hand. Stealth. Finesse. Acrobatics.
Combat.
Agility: A measure of your character’s movement speed
and speed at which you react.
Functions: Dodge. Running.
Secondary Attributes: Reflexes. Speed.
MENTAL
Intelligence: Represents your character’s ability to
comprehend situations and retain information.
Functions: Extended knowledge checks. Ability to
memorise. Learning over a period of time, such as learning
from books.
Willpower: Represents your character’s force of will and
ability to resist mental manipulation. Mental Constitution.
Functions: Opposed mental checks. Mental resistance.
Social checks that involve enforcing your will.
Secondary Attributes: Stamina. Health.
Wisdom: Represents your character’s ability to discern
facts and features in a short amount of time. Application of
knowledge.
Functions: Reactionary Knowledge checks. Common
sense. Learning over a short period of time, such as watching
a fight.
Secondary Attributes: Reflex.
Perception: Represents your character’s capacity to
perceive things using the senses.
Functions: Sight. Touch. Hearing. Smelling. Taste. Energy
sense.
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES
SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES
Health: A value representing the total damage your character
can take before going unconscious. Uses Strength +
Willpower.
Stamina: A consumable resource representing your
character’s ability to stay conscious and remain active under
stress. Uses Constitution + Willpower.
Reflexes: Acts as your character’s initiative in a round. Your
Reflexes determines when you act as well as how often you
can act in a round. Uses AGI + Wisdom.
Speed: Determines how many meters your character can
move on foot per Movement action. This has a value of 1 plus
1 for every 2 you have in AGI above 1 (3,5,7 etc).
EXAMPLE: Rob’s character, Asura, has an AGI of 5. This
gives him a Speed of 3. Asura may move up to 3 meters per
Movement action.
ENERGY ATTRIBUTES
Vigour: A pool of physical energy that is expended when
using Physical Attributes and certain Special Techniques.
Vigour also affects the AV of Physical Attributes.
By default, the pool is equal to 2 * (Ranks in Vigour Sub
Skills + Physical Primary Attributes).
Chi: A pool of spiritual energy that fuels Special
Techniques. With training, it may be manifested externally.
By default, the pool is equal to 10 * (Ranks in Chi Sub
Skills + Willpower).
CREATION EXAMPLE: Rob decides that Asura's
main attributes will be Dexterity and Agility. Mental
capabilities are not as important, although the
ability to hear screams is.
Rob chooses to increase Dexterity and Agility to
6, well above average, costing 25 points each. 50
total for the two attributes.
Rob also realises that while it wasn't focused in,
Asura would still be stronger than the average
person, increasing Strength and Constitution to 4.
These cost 12 each.
Combined with the points from Dexterity and
Agility, 74 points have been spent so far.
Rob feels that Asura doesn't care so much for
mental capabilities or spirit power, so decides to
set Intelligence, Willpower and Wisdom below
average at 2.
Perception is more important for Asura as he
needs to see opponents and hear calls for help.
This is set to 5, again significantly above average.
In total Rob has spent 101 points on attributes,
leaving 74 for skills.
 BASE/ACTIVE/EXPANDED VALUES
CREATION EXAMPLE: Rob decides that Asura will
Your Attributes all have a Base value (BV). The BV is your
have a focus on the quickest Hand Style, Open
Attribute's Value written on your character sheet that you have Palm. He purchases 3 ranks in Open Palm, costing
purchased via character points. When referring to the BV of an 12 points. He also purchases 1 rank in each of the
Attribute, the name of the Attribute will be written in full. two other hand types, costing 3 points each. Asura
Physical Primary Attributes, Secondary Attributes, and Sub
knows the basics of all of them. Rob has now spent
18 points in skills. As there are now 5 ranks in the
Skills have an Active Value (AV). Core Skill “Weapon Types (Hand)”, all three Hand
The AV is a temporary change to your attributes or Strikes get +1 rank when being used. Since Asura
capabilities. When referring to the AV of an Attribute, it will be focuses on quick strikes, he spends a few more
written in shorthand. The shorthand can be found written in points in Jabs, purchasing 3 ranks. He also
purchases 2 ranks in Straight. Heavy and Hook are
parentheses next to the Attribute listed. Physical Primary
too slow. For Defense, Rob purchases 3 ranks in
Attributes also have an Expanded Value (EV). The EV is equal the Dodge skill, enough to use it by itself. It is a
to (Current Vigour/4). When using a Physical Attribute, the AV small defense but better than none. This costs 12
you may use is determined based off whether the EV is higher points. In total, Rob has spent 101 points on
or lower than the BV. If EV is higher, you may use an AV up to Asura's Attributes and 49 in combat skills. Leaving
just 15 points. Rob decides to spend the rest of
EV but not lower than half way between the BV and EV. If EV is
the points to get 1 rank in each of the Martial
lower, you may use an AV anywhere between EV and BV. When Knowledge Sub Skills. Having been in a monastery,
determining the Vigour cost of using Physical Attributes, use Asura knows the basics of Martial Analysis. This is
the following formula: AV - (1/2 BV). This is written in more enough to get a Core Skill rank as well.
detail in the Chapter (Energy Use).
The AV for Secondary Attributes and Sub Skills are
determined differently. These are detailed in the Secondary
Attributes and Sub Skills sections. " Asura, Thousand Hand Blur" has a final look at
creation of:
PRIMARY ATTRIBUTES
WHAT CAN I DO? Strength - 4
Constitution - 4
Skills come under one of two categories: Core Skills or Sub Dexterity - 6
Skills. Agility - 6
CORE SKILLS Intelligence - 2
A Core Skill is a category for related Sub Skills. Each Core Wisdom - 2
Skill has a group of Sub Skills written underneath it. Core Willpower - 2
Skills cannot have ranks added directly. A Core Skill instead Perception - 5
gains 1 rank for every 5 ranks in total its Sub Skills have. SECONDARY ATTRIBUTES
Ranks in Core Skills are added to the ranks of the Sub Skills Health - 6
when determining the size of the Dice Pool used in a Skill Stamina - 6
Check. Speed - 3
EXAMPLE: Under the Core Skill "Strike Types" you have Reflexes - 8
the Sub Skills Jab, Straight, Strong, Hook. Jab has 3 ranks. Vigour - 40
Straight has 2 ranks. Strong has 2 ranks. Hook has 3 ranks. Chi - 20
In total, this makes 10 ranks. This gives the Strike Types SKILLS
Weapon Type (Hand) - 1
Core Skill 2 ranks. These 2 ranks are added any time you Open Palm - 3
would use the Sub Skills Jab, Straight, Heavy or Hook. Snake Fist - 1
SUB SKILLS Closed Fist - 1
A Sub Skill is a specific skill found amongst a group of Strike Type - 1
related skills, the Core Skill. Sub Skills are increased by Jab - 3
purchasing ranks with character points. Ranks in Sub Skills Straight - 2
are used to determine the size of the dice pool. You may not Defenses - 0
purchase more than 10 ranks in a Sub Skill. Dodge - 3
ENERGY MANIPULATION SKILLS Martial Knowledge - 1
Energy Manipulation skills are a special type of Sub Skill. Stances - 1
When purchasing ranks in Energy Manipulation skills, they Techniques - 1
have additional effects on top of just increasing a dice pool. Physical Analysis - 1
For each rank you purchase in Energy Manipulation skills, Tactics - 1
they will also affect your options when using Vigour or Chi. Focus - 1
You may purchase more than 10 ranks in Energy
Manipulation Skills, however no Sub Skill may apply more
than 10 ranks to a Skill Check.
* Energy Perception is only available under GM discretion. It
SKILL LIST
COMBAT
CORE SKILL SUB SKILLS
WEAPON TYPES (ARM) Closed Fist, Open Palm, Snake Fist
WEAPON TYPES (LEG) Heel, Front, Shin
WEAPON TYPES (MELEE) Short, Medium, Long
WEAPON TYPES (RANGED) Gun, Bow, Thrown
STRIKE TYPES Jab, Straight, Strong, Hook
COMBAT MANEUVERS Trip, Grapple, Disarm, Tackle, Linking
DEFENSES Dodge, Block, Parry

PHYSICAL
CORE SKILL SUB SKILLS
ATHLETICS Acrobatics, Balance, Endurance, Run, Climb
STEALTH Hide, Sleight of Hand, Sneak, Quiet, Misdirection

ENERGY
CORE SKILL SUB SKILLS
VIGOUR Efficiency Strength, Efficiency Constitution, Efficiency Agility, Efficiency Dexterity, Bonus Vigour,
MANIPULATION Amplify, Dampen, Control, Harden, Durability
CHI Efficiency, Bonus Chi, Amplify, Dampen, Control, Damage, Shaping, Multishot, Aura Extension, Barrier
MANIPULATION

MENTAL
CORE SKILL SUB SKILLS
ELECTRONICS Computers, Networking, Gadgetry, Circuitry, Robotic
CHEMISTRY Alchemy, Herbal Lore, Medicine, Elemental Lore, Explosives
CRAFTSMANSHIP Smithing, Gunnery, Fletching, Masonry, Carpentry
ACADEMIC Mathematics, Literacy, Linguistics, History, Antiquities
BIOLOGY Human, Mammal, Fish, Bird, Insect
SUPERNATURAL Vigour, Chi, Magic, Spirits, Demons
MARTIAL KNOWLEDGE Stances, Techniques, Physical Analysis, Tactics, Focus
SENSES Listen, See, Smell, Taste, Energy Perception*

SOCIAL
CORE SKILL SUB SKILLS
TALKING Diplomacy, Negotiation, Bluff, Intimidate, Charm
ETIQUETTE Social, Political, Professional, Hierarchy, Religious

* Energy Perception is only available under GM discretion. It

is recommended that characters not have access to it until
they find someone that can teach it to them.
 WEAPONS
WHERE ARE MY ITEMS? Weapons come in one of two categories. Melee and
WBS takes a more freeform approach to item management Ranged.
as well as Weapons and Armour. Melee
There is no set list of items to pick from. Instead it is up to Melee Weapons have three properties to take note of.
the GM to determine whether or not specific items exist Reach
where you are, and what they would do. Damage Type
There is also no set currency in the game, as it is not really EV
about gaining loot. The GM may decide to introduce Money
into the setting you are playing in, leave all purchases up to a Reach: When creating a Melee Weapon, you determine it
barter system, or just decide whether your characters can get to be a Short, Medium, or Long weapon. This affects the
something or not at the time. range on the weapon, as well as the damage modifier and
It is assumed that PCs always have basic items on them Motion Cost.
such as food, rope, and other standard adventuring gear. Damage Type: You determine the Damage Type of a
However if something would cause them to lose their items, Weapon from the list of Slash, Pierce, Crush, and Bash. This
such as being robbed, it is reasonable to say they no longer affects the bonus Effect dice the weapon has, and the value it
have these items on hand. is at.
Slash and Pierce both automatically add a Penetrate Die to
SO NO WEAPONS OR ARMOUR? the damage roll. Crush and Bash add Stagger.
If you are using Slash or Bash, the bonus die size is equal
Weapons and armour exist in WBS, however there is no set to the damage die.
list of them to choose from. Instead, there are options for If you are using Pierce or Crush, the bonus die size is one
creating your own weapons and armour from choices of step higher than normal, and the normal damage die is one
mechanics and you then apply the flavour you would like for step lower.
the description of the item. If you would add bonus Damage Die, you add an equal
ARMOUR amount of Effect Die.
Armour has three properties to take note of. EV: Added to the EV of Armour. Medium weapons have EV
Damage Reduction 3, and Long have EV 6.
Soak
Encumbrance Value
Damage Reduction: This is added on top of any other
Damage Reduction your character has.
Soak: This acts as a form of Damage Reduction that only
applies against Penetrate. When an attack with Penetrate
hits an armoured target, the Penetrate Value lowers Soak
before lowering Damage Reduction.
Encumbrance Value: A detrimental property on Armour,
determined by combining Soak + (2*Damage Reduction).
Wearing Armour: When wearing Armour, lower the
Encumbrance Value by the wearers Strength. If the amount
remaining is a positive number, lower the wearers Dexterity
and Agility by this amount. This also lowers Total Vigour as
well as all other calculations as appropriate. STR is always
lowered by half the EV.
When creating Armour, choose values for Damage
Reduction and Soak. The GM may apply limits on how high
these values can be.
After determining the values, add a description of your
choosing to the Armour. Is it metal plate armour? A big cloak?
Or maybe just heavy clothing.

The look of equipment is styled by the user


HOW DO I PLAY?
SKILL CHECKS
The core experience of WBS is done through Skill Checks.
These cover most actions your character performs, from
smithing, to sneaking. Even combat is done through Skill
Checks.
Whenever a character attempts to achieve something that
has a chance of failure, or is detrimental on failure, then
characters attempt a Skill Check.
The Sub Skills and Attributes used are determined by the
GM. This should be based off the way a Skill is being
attempted. Skill Checks can be one of two types. A standard
Skill Check, or a simple Skill Check.
Standard Skill Check: A standard Skill Check is the most
common type of Skill Check.
A standard Skill Check uses two Sub Skills and a single
attribute.
When making a standard Skill Check, the GM determines
the two Sub Skills appropriate based on how the action is
attempted. The ranks of the two Sub Skills are added
together, including the bonus ranks from the relevant Core
Skills.
If both Sub Skills come from the same Core Skill, the Core
Skill ranks are only added once.
Simple Skill Check: The other kind of Skill Check in the
game. If the GM determines that the action is simple enough,
only one Sub Skill may be appropriate.
A simple Skill Check uses a single Sub Skill and two
attributes.
The same attribute may be applied twice to the same Skill
Check.
Dice Pool: After totalling all the ranks from the Sub Skills
being used, add one die to your Dice Pool and then add one
extra die for every 3 ranks past 1. Once the Dice Pool has
been determined, it is rolled and then the result is added to
the Roll Modifier.
The Roll Modifier is the Value for the chosen Attribute(s),
plus other circumstantial modifiers based on the conditions
of the check. The result is then compared to the difficulty of
the check.
If, after determining how many dice are in the pool, you
have 1 or 2 ranks leftover, you add a +1 or +2 bonus to your
Roll Modifer.
Explode: Any die in a Skill Check that rolls its highest
result will Explode with Intensify.
Intensify – A die that uses the Intensify option rerolls the
die, adding the rerolled value to the initial value that you
rolled. The die you reroll may also Explode. The new roll
must use Intensify if it Explodes.
NOTE: A Skill Check will always have at least one die in
the Dice Pool. If a Skill Check does not have any ranks, the
Roll Modifier does not include an Attribute.
EXAMPLE: You declare that you want to sneak past some
guards. The approach you choose to use is to walk quietly
and precisely. This involves being quiet as well as moving
through the shadows and avoiding twigs and leaves.
The GM determines that this will be a Standard Skill
Check using the Sub Skills Quiet and Sneak and the attribute
Dexterity.
Sneak has 4 ranks.
Quiet has 5 ranks.
Adding them together gives you 9 ranks.
The Core Skill Stealth has 2 ranks. Because both Sneak
and Quiet use the Stealth Core Skill, its ranks are only added
once.
This gives your Skill Check 11 ranks. 4 from Sneak, 5 from
Quiet and 2 from Stealth. The 11 ranks gives you 4 dice, with
1 rank leftover.
The 4 dice are then rolled and added to the Roll Modifier
being your DEX +1 for the leftover rank.
Alternatively, if the player decide to quickly sprint between
the trees whenever the guards weren’t looking, this could
have been done using Quiet + Run adding Agility.
EXTENDED SKILL CHECKS
Some Skill Checks such as studying, or crafting, may take a
long period of time to complete.
When doing this, you make an Extended Skill Check.
When making an Extended Skill Check, the GM writes up
a Skill Clock.
SKILL CLOCKS: All aspects of a Skill Clock are
determined by the GM. A Skill Clock is made up of a number
of segments. Every Skill Check takes up an amount of time
and is made against a DC. Depending on how long you want
the task to take, and what happens on a failure, the GM
determines how many segments are filled on a successful
check.
EXAMPLE:
Segments - 6
Time per check - 2 hours
15+ = 2 Segments
10-14 = 1 Segment
5-10 = 0 Segments
5- = -1 Segment
The task will take a minimum of 6 hours to complete.
One segment completed after two hours work
 Example: Asura encounters a bandit in the woods. He
HOW DO I FIGHT? declares a DEX and AGI of 6. He also has a Wisdom of 2
The main way conflicts are resolved in WBS is through giving him a REF of 8. The Wisdom and AGI of the bandit is
unknown, however the GM knows he has a REF of 5. At the
combat. Here you will be walked through the steps that make start of the round, they each roll 1d4. Asura gets unlucky and
up combat. rolls a 2. The bandit rolls slightly better with a 3. For the
round, Asura has 10 Motion Points, followed closely by the
bandit's 8. The phase counter is set to 8. Both Asura and the
ROUNDS AND MOTION POINTS Bandit divide their Motion Points by 8. This leaves the bandit
and Asura at 1 per phase, however Asura has 2 Motion
A round of combat takes place over 4 seconds of in game Points leftover. Because there are 10 phases, Asura has 2
time. You may take as long as needed in real time. A round is Motion Points on phase value 10 and phase value 5. In the
first phase, Motion Value is set to 2, the highest value. Asura
also divided into smaller sections of time called a “phase”, matches the Motion Value, and is the active character.
detailed below. It is possible for a character to act multiple
times in a round depending on how they spend their Motion SEQUENCE OF A ROUND QUICK
Points. Initiative in combat is constantly in flux. As Motion GUIDE
Points are spent at different rates, your turn order may 1) Declare AGI for round.
change frequently.
The active character is the character with Motion Points 2) Roll for bonus Motion Points (MP), add REF.
matching the current Motion Value. If there is a tie, all tied 3) Set phase counter to lowest MP.
characters count as the active character and declare their 4) Split MP between Phases.
action on the same turn. Although the actions are declared 5) Set Motion Value (MV) to highest MP.
one at a time, they still take place at the same time. After 6) Determine active characters by MP matching MV.
declaring your action, you spend Motion Points. It is possible 7) Resolve actions of active characters.
to spend more Motion Points than you have remaining. In 8) Active characters declare new action and spend MP.
this case, the remaining cost is spent in the next round. Your
action resolves when you are next the active character. If the 9) Lower MV by 1.
Cost of an action would be reduced below 1, it still costs 1 but 10) If MV is 0, then go to step 11. Otherwise repeat step 6.
also becomes "Quick". A Quick action resolves before other 11) Lower phase counter by 1.
active characters at the same Motion Value. 12) If phase counter is 0, repeat step 1. If not repeat step 5.
NOTE: Waiting, using a Skilled Defense, or channeling
Energy does not count as spending bonus Motion Points.
These are only spent when you declare an action.
STARTING THE ROUND
At the start of the round, all characters declare the AGI they
will be using for the round. The Vigour for AGI is paid once
you spend Motion Points beyond your bonus Motion Points.
The next step is to determine your Motion Points for the
round. Roll 1D4, the resulting value is your bonus Motion
Points. You then add your bonus Motion Points to your REF.
NOTE: The 1d4 rolled for determining bonus Motion
Points does not explode.
The third step is to determine phases.
First you set the phase counter to the lowest Motion
Points. Every character then divides their Motion Points by
the amount of phases. This final value will be their Motion
Points per phase. Last, you set the Motion Value for the
phase to the highest Motion Points in the phase.
NOTE: If your Motion Points does not divide out to a whole
number, then stagger it in each phase.

ATTRIBUTES DURING COMBAT

All except for CON are only paid after spending Bonus Motion
Points.
STR - Declared on use. Paid for after resolving a Skill or
Damage Check that uses STR.
DEX - Declared on first use. Paid for 1/round when you first
use DEX. May not be decreased during round.
AGI - Declared at start of round. Paid for 1/round when you
declare an action. May not be decreased during round.
CON - Declared when you first take damage. Paid for
1/round.
A monk prepares himself for combat
Example: Asura encounters a bandit in the woods. He
COMBAT ACTIONS
On your turn in combat, you have multiple choices for actions
you can take.
The most common actions are
1) Movement
2) Attack
3) Defense
4) Energy Control
MOVEMENT
On your turn, you can choose to move a distance as an action.
At the cost of 1 Motion Point, you can move a distance up to
your SPD.
If you have not declared an action between moving and
using the Dodge Skilled Defense, you may add your SPD to
the Roll Modifier of your Dodge check.
On the Motion Value you declare the move action, you may
move up to half of your SPD. The rest of the movement is
used when the action would resolve.
If you move no more than half your remaining SPD at the
Motion Value it resolves, your next declared action gains
Quick.
If you do not move at all when it would resolve, your next
declared action is reduced by 1 Motion Point instead.
ATTACK
On your turn, you can choose to attack as an action.
An attack is a Standard Skill Check.
Skill 1 of the Skill Check is the “Weapon Type” (Hand, Leg,
Melee, Ranged). Skill 2 of the Skill Check is the “Strike Type”
(Jab, Straight, Heavy, Hook).
Attack Declaration: When making an Attack, first you
declare the Weapon Type and Strike Type, then declare your
Facing. A Facing is 180° of coverage for an attack, usually
considered the characters peripheral vision. Any direction not
in an attacking character's Facing is considered "Behind".
Attack Resolution: When resolving an attack action,
choose any target in your Facing and in reach of the attack.
That target then declares what Defense Skill they will use.
If there is no desired target for the attack in range when
your attack would resolve, your attack swings at the air and
would generally miss. If there is another valid target where
you are attacking, you strike at the new target instead, even if
it is an ally.
Attacking is a Standard Skill Check.
The Skill Ranks of an Attack Check are determined by
combining the ranks of the chosen Weapon Type and Strike
Type.
If any die in an Attack Check Explodes, you may choose for
the die to Intensify or Carryover.
Unless stated otherwise, an Attack Check uses DEX.
Explode: When a die Explodes on an attack roll, you may
either:
1) Intensify – A die that uses the Intensify option rerolls the
die, adding the rerolled value to the initial value that you
rolled. The die you reroll may also Explode. The new roll
must use Intensify if it Explodes.
2) Carryover – A die that uses the Carryover option sets as
the rolled result. You add an extra die to the Damage Pool of
the attack equal to the Exploded Die.
DEFENDING
After an attack has started to resolve but before the Attack
Roll is made, the target declares their defense. If they are
using a Skilled Defense, this costs Motion Points. The
Defense Check is resolved immediately after the Attack Roll
is made, regardless of Motion Cost.
The Motion Cost of the Defense Action is deducted from
Motion Points as normal, however the defense resolves
immediately. If you do not have sufficient Motion Points
remaining in the round, you can not use a Skilled Defense.
After all active characters have resolved their actions, a
character that used a Skilled Defense may choose to halt
their declared action.
If they do, they are refunded the Motion Points of their last
declared action, minus the cost of the Defense used.
Vigour Expenditure: After your attack resolves, you spend
Vigour as appropriate for the AV used in the attack. This is
spent regardless of whether or not the attack was successful.
Chi Expenditure: If your attack was a Chi Special
Technique, you spend Chi after the resolution of the attack.
This is spent regardless of whether or not the Technique was
successful.
DAMAGE
If your Attack Check is successful, you then roll for damage.
Damage Dice: There are two steps to determining the size
of the damage dice.
The Strike Type determines the base damage dice size.
The Weapon Type then modifies the dice size.
Damage Dicepool: After determining the size of your
damage dice, you determine the size of the Dice Pool.
This uses the same Skill Ranks as the attack roll. The Dice
Pool size is determined with a few minor rule changes.
You start with 1 die in your damage pool.
You gain +1 die for every 4 ranks.
You gain +1 die for every Die from the Attack Check using
Carryover. The die is the same size as the Attack Check.
Damage Resolution: After determining your Damage Dice
Pool, roll it as you would for a Skill Check. You use STR as
the Attribute. The final result is the damage you do before
your target calculates Damage Reduction.
Vigour Expenditure: You spend Vigour on a successful
attack based off STR. If you have not spent more than your
bonus Motion Points, you do not spend Vigour.
Explode: Damage dice Explode if they roll the highest
value on the die.
If any damage dice Explode, you may declare Stagger,
Knockback, or Penetrate.
Any damage dice that Explode may only use the Intensify
option. You may choose a different option for each die that
explodes.
The extra value rolled from Intensify is only used for
determining Stagger, Knockback or Penetrate.
STAGGER KNOCKBACK AND
PENETRATION
If your damage roll Explodes, you have a choice to either
stagger the target, knock them backwards, or penetrate their
Damage Reduction. No matter which option you choose, your
attack still does damage.
Knockback
Skill Check: Your target rolls a Simple Balance Check using
STR and CON.
Resolution: Compare your Final Damage Roll, before
Damage Reduction, to the targets Balance Check.
If your result is 2 or more higher, the target moves back 1
meter for every 2 your result is above their check.
If your result is 1 higher or tied with, the target moves
back less than a meter. They are off balance until they are
next the Active Character.
If your result is lower, nothing extra happens.
Stagger
Skill Check: Your target rolls a Standard Endurance +
Durability Check using CON.
Resolution: Compare your Final Damage Roll, after
Damage Reduction is applied, to the targets Endurance Skill
Check.
If your result is higher, the target loses 2 Stamina. The
target also loses 1 Motion Point for every 3 damage dealt.
If the result is tied, the target loses 1 Stamina. The target
also loses 1 Motion Point for every 5 damage dealt.
If your result is lower, nothing extra happens.
Penetrate
If you choose the Penetrate option, the resolution is simple.
The extra value rolled from Intensify is used to lower the
targets Damage Reduction.
The targets Damage Reduction is lowered by 1 for every 1
rolled on the Intensify dice.
This can not reduce Damage Reduction of the target
below 0.
Asura gets ready to strike the bandit
DEFENSE
If you are targeted by an attack, you can choose to use a
Skilled Defense Maneuver or a Basic Defense Maneuver.
Your options for a Skilled Defense Maneuver are Dodge,
Block, and Parry.
Using a Defense Maneuver happens immediately after the
attacker’s Attack Check resolves. Any dice that Explode on a
Defene Manuever Skill Check may only use the Intensify
option.
RECEIVING DAMAGE
If you get hit, you receive damage. The damage you receive is
determined by the attack used.
After damage is calculated, you lower the amount by your
Damage Reduction value.
The remaining Value is subtracted from your Health.
Damage Reduction: Each character has a Damage
Reduction value. This is equal to your CON. The Vigour cost
for CON is only paid once per round, when you first get hit.
Your damage reduction can be increased further through
use of the Block maneuver, the Energy Manipulation skills
Barrier and Harden, or spending Stamina.
ORDER OF RESOLUTION
At the start of each Motion Value, all Active Characters have
their previously declared action resolve. If multiple actions
are resolving at the same time, they are resolved in this order:
Energy Recharging – Any character that is replenishing
remaining Vigour or Chi.
Energy Channeling – Any character that is gathering
Vigour or Chi for special techniques.
Movement – Any character that is finishing their
movement.
Attacks – Any character that is concluding their attack. If a
character is making a Skill Check, then the GM must
decide where it fits in the resolution order, depending on
what the action is.
EXCESS MOTION COST
Sometimes you will declare an action that costs more Motion
Points than you have remaining for the round. When this
happens, you subtract the excess Motion Points from your
total Motion Points for the next round, prior to determining
phases.
The bandit prepares to dodge
EXAMPLE OF COMBAT We have already set up the round,
so let’s see how the first phase goes.
Asura declares an Open Hand Jab, his go to attack.
This has a Motion Cost of 0, however it instead costs 1 with
Quick.
Motion Value is lowered by 1. Normally this would make
the bandit the active character, however because of Asura’s
action, he becomes the active character first.
First Asura resolves his action, determining the Dice Pool
for his attack. Open Hand Jab has 8 ranks, so the Attack
Check rolls 3D6+1.
The bandit decides he needs his Motion Points, so he
declares a Basic Defense.
Asura rolls his Attack Check of 3D6+1 rolling a 2, and two
3s, then adding the Roll Modifier using DEX + 1/die (from
Jab). This gives a final result of 18.
The bandit rolls 1d6 for his Basic Defense, getting a 6. It
Explodes. He then rolls it again, getting another 6. Rolling a
third time results in 1. Adding the three results together, and
then adding the Roll Modifier of 5 gives a result of 18.
The attack is a tie.
Asura rolls the Damage Check for his attack, 3d2, adding
STR to the final roll. All come up as a result of 2, Exploding.
Because Asura knows the result will be halved before
Damage Reduction is applied, he declares penetrate.
After rerolling the dice, Asura comes up with a final
Damage Result of 6 from the dice, 4 from STR, and a
penetrate score of 7.
Because of the tie, the damage is halved to 3, then Damage
Reduction is applied. However because of the penetrate, it
seems the bandit could not soak the hit.
If this was not in the Bonus Motion Points, Asura would
normally spend 2 Vigour for using STR.
After this attack resolves, Asura declares his next action, an
Open Palm Strong attack. With a Motion Point cost of 2, this
means that Asura will not resolve his attack for two more
phases.
Now that Asura has resolved his action and declared his
next, the bandit decides his best bet is to make some room
away from the speedy monk. He declares a move action,
spending 1 Motion Point. He is able to move up to half his
SPD now, and then will move the rest during the next phase.
What happens next? Many things could happen in this
combat.

So what happened in the combat?

After taking a swing at the bandit, the bandit attempts to twist
out of the way. The bandit was quick, but not quick enough.
Asura manages to get a glancing blow across his ribs. Not
solid enough for a proper blow, but the right spot to cause Even a feeble man can overcome an enemy if he is skilled
some bruising. Asura draws his arm back for another swing.
The Bandit uses this opportunity to flee and make some room.
COMBAT SKILLS DEFENSE SKILLS
SUB SKILL
OFFENSIVE SKILLS SKILL CHECK ATTRIBUTE MOTION RESOLUTION EXTRAS
CORE SUB DICE Basic Simple AGI+DEX 0 Hit/Miss/Half -
SKILL SKILL SIZE MOTION EXTRAS using
Weapon Closed +0 +0 - Core
Type Fist Skill
(ARM) Dodge Simple AGI+Perception 2 Hit/Miss/Half +SPD if
Weapon Open -1 -1 Knockback +1 metre for using moved
Type Palm each Explode. +1 Explode Dodge prior. May
(ARM) Range on Block Check. Skill move 1/2
SPD after
Weapon Snake -1 +0 +1 Explode Range on resolution
Type Fist Attack Check. +1 Die
(ARM) Size on Carryover. May Parry Standard DEX 1 Hit/Miss/Half -
not use Block. Can not using
Knockback. Opponent +1 Parry
Explode Range on Block and WT
Check. Block Standard AGI+DEX 1/0+ + Damage No motion
Weapon Front of +1 +1 - using Reduction point cost if
Type Foot Block consecutive
(LEG) and WT Block.
Vigour cost
Weapon Heel +2 +2 May not use Block reduced if
Type high result.
(LEG) Difficulty is
Weapon Shin +2 +1 Roll Modifier for Attack Basic
Type -1 per die. May not use Defense w/
(LEG) Block. May not use Controlled
Dodge. Effort.

Weapon Short +0 +0 Range is 0 Meters COMBAT MANEUVERS

Type (Unarmed range)
(MELEE) SUB SKILL
SKILL CHECK ATTRIBUTE MOTION RESOLUTION EXTRAS
Weapon Medium +1 +1 Range is 0-1 Meters.
Type Trip Simple AGI+DEX 2 Prone/Nothing/Off Unable to
(MELEE) using Guard defend if
Trip Off Guard
Weapon Long +1 +2 Range is 1-3 Meters.
Type Grapple Simple AGI+STR 2 Grappled/Nothing/Off -
(MELEE) using Guard
Grapple
Strike Straight D6 2 -
Type Tackle Simple DEX+STR 2 Opposed by Balance Target
using Skill Check using moves
Strike Jab D4 1 Roll Modifier for Attack Tackle STR+CON distance
Type +1 per die. -1 Explode equal
Range for determining difference
Stagger. between
rolls.
Strike Strong D8 2 +1 Knockback Explode.
Type May only use Basic
Defense.
Strike Hook D6 2 Attack -1/die. Opponent
Type Parry -1/die. +1 Stagger
Explode. No Knockback.

DEFENSE SKILLS
WEAPON TYPES (ARM) STRIKE TYPES
Open Palm Straight
Damage Dice Size Modifier: -1 Damage Dice: D6
Motion Cost: -1 Motion Cost: 2
Extras: Knockback distance is increased by 1 meter for Extras: None
each dice that Explodes.
Dice used in a Block Skilled Defense gain +1 Explode Jab
Range. Damage Dice: D4
Motion Cost: 1
Closed Fist Extras: +1 to Roll Modifier on Attack Roll for each dice in
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +0 the Dice Pool.
Extras: No additional effects. Explode range on Damage Roll is decreased by 1 for
NOTE: Use of elbows counts as Closed Fist skill. determining stagger (7 on a D6).
Snake Fist Hook
Damage Dice Size Modifier: -1 Damage Dice: D6
Extras: Dice used in an Attack Skill Check gain +1 Explode Motion Cost: 2
Range. Extras: -1 to Roll Modifier on Attack Roll for each dice in
Exploded dice using the Carryover option from the Attack the Dice Pool.
Skill Check gain +1 size. Opponent receives -1 to Roll Modifier on Parry Defense
Unable to use the Block Skilled Defense. Check for each dice in their Dice Pool.
Unable to knockback opponent. Explode range on Damage Roll is increased by 1 for
If opponent uses a Block Skilled Defense, opponents dice determining stagger.
gain +1 Explode Range. Unable to cause knockback.
WEAPON TYPES (LEG) Strong
Front Foot Damage Dice: D8
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +1 Motion Cost: 2
Motion Cost: +1. Extras: Explode range on Damage Roll is increased by 1
NOTE: Use of knees counts as Front Foot skill. for determining knockback.
You may only use Basic Defense until this attack resolves.
Shin
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +2
Motion Cost: +1
Extras: -1 to Roll Modifier on Attack Roll per die in pool.
Unable to use the Block or Dodge Skilled Defenses.
Heel
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +2
Motion Cost: +2
Extras: Unable to use the Block Skilled Defense.
WEAPON TYPES (MELEE)
Short
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +0
Motion Cost: +0
Range: 0 Meters
Medium
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +1
Motion Cost: +1
Range: 0-1 Meters
Long
Damage Dice Size Modifier: +1
Motion Cost: +2
Range: 1-3 Meters
NOTE: Ranged weapon rules are still being worked on.

A true martial artist learns a variety of attacks...

COMBAT MANEUVERS
Trip
Skill Check: Trip is a Standard Skill check adding AGI and
DEX.
Resolution: The target rolls a Balance Skill check, adding
DEX and STR.
If your result is higher, the opponent is knocked prone.
If your result ties with the target, the opponent braces the
hit and is not affected.
If your result is lower, the opponent evades or braces the
hit and you are unable to use a Skilled Defense until you
are next the Active Character.
Motion Cost: 2
Grapple
Skill Check: Grapple is a Standard Skill check adding AGI
and STR.
Resolution: The target rolls a Dodge Skilled Defense check
If your result is higher, the opponent is grappled.
If your result ties with the target, the target evades the
grapple.
If your result is lower, the target evades the grapple and
you are unable to use a Skilled Defense until you are next
the Active Character.
Motion Cost: 2
Tackle
Skill Check: Tackle is a Standard Skill check adding DEX
and STR.
Resolution: The target rolls a Balance Skill check using
STR and CON.
If your result is 2 or more higher, the target moves back 1
meter for every 2 your result is above their check.
If your result is 1 higher or tied with, the target moves
back less than a meter. They are off balance until they are
next the Active Character.
If your result is lower, nothing extra happens.
Motion Cost: 2
... and the value of a good defense
DEFENSE MANUEVERS
Quick Guard: When using Block or Parry you may perform a
Quick Guard. To do so, you must either not have an attack
declared, or pay 1 extra Motion Point. When performing a
Quick Guard you may choose any relevant Weapon Type.
Basic
Skill Check: A Basic Defense Maneuver is a Simple Skill
Check using the Defense Core Skill only, adding AGI and
DEX.
If your result is higher, the attack misses.
If your results are tied, the attack is successful but you
take half damage before applying Damage Reduction.
If your result is lower, the attack is successful.
Dodge
Skill Check: Dodge is a Simple Skill Check using the Dodge
skill, adding AGI and Perception.
If your result is higher, the attack misses.
If your results are tied, the attack is successful but you
take half damage before applying Damage Reduction.
If your result is lower, the attack is successful.
Movement
Regardless of success or failure, you may move up to half
your SPD after the attack resolves.
Roll Modifier: If the last action you declared before a Dodge
Skill Check allowed movement, you add your SPD to the Roll
Modifier.
Parry
Skill Check: Parry is a Standard Skill Check using the Parry
skill and the Weapon Type used in your unresolved attack,
adding DEX.
If your result is higher, the attack misses.
If your results are tied, the attack is successful but you
take half damage before applying Damage Reduction.
If your result is lower, the attack is successful.
Block
Skill Check: Block is a Standard Skill Check using the Block
skill and the Weapon Type used in your unresolved attack,
adding STR. You also perform a Basic Defense Maneuver
using Controlled Effort.
Resolution: You become a mostly standing target, adding
the result of the Skill Check to your Damage Reduction.
If the attacker’s roll would hit the difficulty of Basic
Defense Manuever using Controlled Effort, the attack is
successful.
If the result of the Block Check is higher than the Damage
Roll, the Vigour spent on STR is halved.
If the result of the Block Check is more than double the
Damage Roll, the Vigour spent on STR becomes 0.
Cost: Costs Vigour as normal for STR. If you have used no
attack or defense actions between uses of Block with the
same Weapon Type, the Motion Point cost is reduced to 0.
FASTER THAN SIGHT
If a character moves significantly faster than their target, it
makes them more difficult to keep track of. When you attack
a target, compare your Motion Points for the round to the
targets Motion Points + Perception Attribute. If your value is
higher, the target takes a penalty to their Defense Skill
Checks equal to the difference between the 2 values.
I'M UNCONSCIOUS. NOW WHAT?
During combat there are multiple ways for a character to go
unconscious.
Remaining Stamina equals 0 or less.
Remaining Vigour or Chi equals 0.
Remaining HLTH equals 0 or less.
If your Stamina is 0 or less, you go unconscious the next
time you are the Active Character. If Remaining Vigour or Chi
equals 0 by the end of the next phase, you go unconscious.
If your HLTH equals 0 or less, you immediately are put out
of the fight. Usually this is due to being unconscious.
SO HOW DO I WAKE UP?
If you become unconscious due to the one of the listed
conditions, you regain consciousness when that condition
changes.
If HLTH has reached 0 or less, you regain consciousness
after a number of minutes. Make a Simple Endurance Check
using CON and Willpower. Subtract this result from the
negative HLTH amount, and multiply it by the number rolled
on 1D4. This is how many minutes you must wait before
regaining consciousness. If (Negative HLTH - Endurance
Check) is 0 or less, then regain consciousness in 1D4 rounds
instead.
Once you have regained consciousness, you remain at the
negative HLTH amount you were at previously and then start
Natural Healing. Natural Healing restores HLTH at a rate of
1 per hour resting.
You can spend Stamina to become Active again while your
HLTH is still a negative value.
If you are active during Natural Healing, the rate is instead
1 per 2 hours.
ATTACK LINKING
With sufficient training, it is possible to link together attacks
and actions in a way that it is quicker to pull off each
maneuver.
This is referred to as a link.
Link: For each rank purchased, increase your Link Points
by 2.
Link Points: When using a link, you may declare up to 2
Motion Points of actions, plus 2 per rank in the Link Skill.
Mechanics: When declaring your action, you may choose
to declare a link.
To do so, decide on a number of actions with a total Motion
Cost no more than your Link Points.
You also declare the order the actions take place at this
time.
The link has a final Motion Cost of the first action in the
link +1.
Each subsequent action has -1 Motion Cost.
If the Motion Cost of an action would be lowered to 0, it is
considered Quick.
When the link would resolve, you perform the actions in
order. If any action in the combo fails to strike a target, the
rest of the actions still take place.
You consume Vigour for each action as normal as they
resolve.
Linked Movement: If you decide to add Movement actions
to your link, you may use this movement at any point, rather
than what the order would dictate. This means that during
the Motion Value between the declaration and resolution of
an attack, you can move.
Linked Defenses: If you decide to add Defense actions to
your link, you may use these at the reduced cost if attacked
while still resolving the link. If you do not end up resolving
one or more Defense actions, you do not spend their Motion
Cost.
WHAT ARE MY
RESOURCES?
STAMINA
Stamina is a consumable resource that every character has.
The pool of Stamina is determined by your Constitution and
Willpower.
If all your Stamina is consumed, you go unconscious.
CONSUMPTION
There are multiple ways that Stamina gets consumed.
After strenuous activity, you start to consume points of
Stamina. These are determined by the GM but examples
include:
Physical labour lasting for 30 minutes or more, or heavy
labour lasting for 20 minutes or more.
Combat lasting for 10 seconds or longer.
Marching for 1 hour or longer without resting.
Stamina may also be willingly spent for extra effects. These
include:
Increase the size and Explode Range of all Skill Dice for
the round by 1.
Adding 2 dice to all your Skill Check Dice Pools in a
phase. This allows you to add an Attribute to an untrained
check.
Maximising the result of a single Skill Check. These dice
do not Explode.
Lower the Motion Point cost of an action by 2.
Double your Damage Reduction from all sources for the
phase.
Recover up to 25% of your Total Vigour and increase your
Remaining by the same amount.
Double your accumulation rate for either Vigour or Chi for
the round.
Special techniques may require Stamina to use.
You may not spend more than 1 point of Stamina at any
Motion Value.
RECOVERY
Stamina is recovered by resting.
For every 15 minutes you rest, you recover 1 point of
Stamina. If you rest for at least 4 hours, you recover all points
of Stamina.
If you do not eat a sufficient amount of food, Stamina
recover may be lowered to half.
If you have not consumed food in the last 48 hours,
Stamina recovery is halted.
ENERGY SKILLS
VIGOUR MANIPULATION
Efficiency (Physical Attribute): Lowers the Vigour Cost of
using the chosen attribute by 1 per rank purchased. NOTE:
This is four separate skills, with separate ranks for each
physical attribute.
Bonus Vigour: Increases Total Vigour Pool by 2 per rank
purchased.
Amplify: Increases Max Vigour by 6 per rank purchased.
Dampen: Decreases Minimum Vigour by 6 per rank
purchased.
Control: Control Value is equal to 1 + ranks purchased.
Has 2 additional effects.
Allows you to increase/decrease Current Vigour by up to
Control Value. Costs 1 motion point.
Allows you to accumulate directly into an attribute. Costs
1 motion point.
Harden: Grants bonus Damage Reduction and a Soak
value of 1/rank for the round. Costs 2 Motion Points to
activate. Costs 2 Vigour to use each hit. If the total damage of
the attack is less than your total Damage Reduction after
applying Harden, the Vigour cost is halved.
Durability: Adds 1/Rank to the Skill Check used to regain
Consciousness.
CHI MANIPULATION
Shaping: For each rank you purchase, you may choose one
option from Chi Shaping.
Damage: For each rank you purchase, you may choose one
option from Chi Damage. You may only apply an amount of
damage options up to purchased ranks.
MultiShot: For each rank you purchase, you may apply one
aspect of MultiShot.
Bonus Chi: Increases Total Chi by 10 per rank purchased.
Amplify: Increases Max Chi by 30 per rank purchased.
Dampen: Decreases Minimum Chi by 30 per rank
purchased.
Efficiency: For each rank purchased, you may lower the
cost of Chi Abilities by 1. You are required to accumulate the
normal minimum number of points to use the attack, you just
lower the final points spent.
Control: Control Value is equal to ranks purchased. Has 2
additional effects.
Allows you to increase/decrease Current Chi by up to
Control Value. Costs 1 motion point.
Used to determine accumulation of Chi for using Chi
Attacks.
Aura Extension: A wielded weapon requires a Soak Value
10/rank higher than normal before breaking.
Barrier: Grants bonus Damage Reduction of 1/rank
against a damage source. Costs 4 Chi per damage source you
apply it against. May be applied multiple times to the same
source. The first use costs 0 Motion Points, each subsequent
use against the same source costs 1 extra Motion Points
spent like a Defense. This does not count as your Defense
against an attack. If the total damage of the attack is less than
your total Damage Reduction after applying Barrier, the Chi
cost is halved. Efficiency is applied once, before halving the
cost.
VIGOUR AND CHI
Energy comes in two forms, Physical Energy (Vigour) and
Spirit Energy (Chi).
Vigour is consumed when using your body and physical
capabilities. Chi is primarily consumed when manifesting
spiritual attacks.
When calculating Sub Skill effects based off ranks, also
count the ranks of the Core Skill.
There are five main things to keep track of with energy use.
Vigour/Chi Total: The total amount of Vigour/Chi that you
can use throughout the day.
Max: The highest value your pool size can be at. Defaults
to 50% of Total.
Current: The current pool size value you are using for
calculation purposes. This is what gets raised and lowered
with control.
Minimum: The lowest value your pool size can be at.
Defaults to 50% of Total.
Vigour/Chi Remaining: How much Vigour/Chi you have
available left in your pool to use at once. Can be
regenerated.
POOLS AND USEAGE
MAX/MIN
After calculating your Total Pool sizes for Vigour or Chi,
you then calculate your Max and Min. Your Max and Min size
are equal to 50% of your Total Pool by default. This can be
increased by purchasing ranks in the appropriate skills.
CURRENT
To increase your Current Value, you use the relevant
Control skill.
At the cost of 1 Motion Point you may increase your
Current by an amount up to the relevant Control Value.
The highest you can make your Current is equal to your
Max.
This value remains each round until you lower your
Current.
You can lower your Current in the same way by using the
Control skill.
The lowest you can make your Current is to your
Minimum.
REMAINING AND RECOVERY
When you use Vigour or Chi it comes out of the relevant
Remaining Pool and also lowers the appropriate Total Pool.
You can recover Vigour/Chi on your turn at the cost of 1
Motion Point.
This recovers your Remaining Pool equal to the Control
Value of the appropriate skill.
This does not recover your Total Pool.
In a way, energy pools function like a generator.
You have fuel as a power supply (Total)
There is a limit on the maximum power output (Max)
You can choose to use less than the maximum power
output (Current)
When your fuel drops too low, the maximum power output
degrades (When Total gets lower than Current)
EXAMPLE: Throughout the day, you can use a Total of 100
Vigour.
By default, your Maximum Output is 50% of this, making
your Maximum 50. This means that the highest your Current
Vigour can be at any one time is 50.
Your Current refers to the temporary Vigour Pool you have
direct access to.
If you purchase one rank in Dampen your Current size can
be lowered by 6 below the default value.
If you were to use Dampen, you would now have a Current
of 44.
If you raised it again with Control, it could not go higher
than 50.
If you have purchased one rank in Amplify, your Current
Output can be raised by 6 above the default value.
With the rank purchased in Dampen, this can allow your
Current Output to be anywhere from 44 to 56.
After a fight, you have used 15 Vigour. Your Vigour Pool is
currently sitting at 35(Remaining)/50(Current).
Out of your 100 Total, you have used a total of 15, leaving
85 for the day.
If you choose to recover Vigour, your Total is not affected
Eventually, your Total Vigour amount will drop to meet
your Current. When this happens, your Current drops to
meet your Total Vigour, as you have passed your limit.
PHYSICAL ENERGY (VIGOUR)
Direct Vigour Accumulation
Instead of raising your Current Vigour, you may choose to
accumulate directly into an attribute. When you do, you count
as having raised your Current Vigour for that attribute only.
This will allow you to take your Attribute’s Current Vigour
higher than your Max limit.
To maintain this increase over rounds, you must perform a
Basic Skill Check using Vigour Manipulation (no Attribute)
once per round. The difficulty of the check is equal to the
Attribute’s Temporary EV – BV. This skill check costs 1
Motion Point.
EXAMPLE: Your Current Vigour is 48. This gives your EV
as 12. You decide you want to raise your STR to 15. You have
a Control Value (Ranks +1) equal to 4. To get to 15 STR
requires a Current Vigour of 60. It takes 1 motion point to
accumulate. Each time you accumulate into STR, its Current
Output counts as 4 higher (Control Value). This means 3
Motion Points are required to accumulate STR to 15. Once
you stop accumulating, you have one round to use the
accumulated stat. After that, you are required to maintain it at
the start of each round. The difficulty of this check would be 3
(Temporary STR of 15 - Actual STR of 12).
Vigour Consumption Your Vigour is primarily consumed
when using Physical Attributes. The Vigour Cost of a
Physical Attribute is determined by its value. If the value of
the Attribute you are using is equal to its BV, the Vigour cost
is halved. When using an AV, the cost becomes the difference
between the BV and the AV plus the cost of the BV. If you
have an EV higher than your BV, the minimum value you can
use is halfway between your EV and BV. If you have an EV
lower than your BV, the maximum value you can use is your
BV. Formula: AV-(1/2 BV)
NOTE: A cost less than ½ BV Cost is valid, as is a cost of 0.
If the final cost is negative, this allows you to recover Vigour,
without having to spend motion points, at a value no higher
than the negative result.
Attributes and Vigour
STR: Consumed each use of strength. This includes attacks
and feats of strength.
DEX: Consumed once per round when first using dexterity
past Bonus Motion Points. Determines value for the round.
AGI: Consumed once per round when first using dexterity
past Bonus Motion Points. Determines value for the round.
CON: Consumed once per round when first taking
damage.
Vigour Recovery
Vigour is recovered by resting and eating.
If you rest for 30 minutes or more, you may recover up to
half your Total Vigour.
You can not recover to a value higher than half your Total
Vigour through resting.
If you recover Total Vigour this way, your Maximum and
Minimum values are calculated as if your Total Vigour was at
50% of its normal amount..
To recover past that amount, you must eat sufficient food.
If you have not consumed food in the last 48 hours, Vigour
recovery is halted.
EXAMPLE: After a long fight, you decide to rest for half an
hour. This lets you recover up to half your Total Vigour (we
will say it is 100). This sets your Total Vigour to 50, and
changes all other calculations as appropriate. (Max is 25
rather than 50)
SPIRIT ENERGY (CHI)
Chi Consumption
Chi is primarily consumed when using Chi Attacks.
Chi Recovery
Chi may only be recovered through resting.
If you rest for a period of at least 6 hours, you recover all
Total Chi.
Food is not required to recover Chi.
CHI ATTACKS
CHI ATTACK COST
The cost of a Chi Attack is determined by the aspects chosen
to build it. When using a Chi Attack, you have an amount of
points to spend on aspects determined by your Current Chi
(CC). When determining points to spend on a Chi Attack, the
minimum number of points you must spend is equal to
CC/20. To be able to use a Chi attack, first you must
accumulate enough Chi to cover the minimum points for a
Chi attack. This may take multiple actions.
After accumulating the Chi required, you then decide what
aspects you are spending the points on.
The next step is to make multiple Chi Manipulation checks
until you reach the difficulty check required for the chosen
aspects. A Chi Manipulation check costs 2 motion points. A
Chi Attack costs Chi equal to (Points Spent) – (Ranks in
efficiency).
You can choose to accumulate anywhere between the
minimum number of points and your CC.
By default, Chi Accumulation assumes raw accumulation.
You can choose to accumulate directly into a technique. If
you choose to do so you first determine what aspects your
points are going to be spent on.
You spend 2 motion points on Chi accumulation, but you
may also do the Chi Manipulation checks in the same action.
NOTE: The accumulation of chi costs 1 motion point per
skill use. If you are struck while accumulating, you must
make a Standard Skill Check using Control and Endurance
adding Willpower. You lose accumulated Chi equal to
Damage- Check Result.
ONE HANDED CHI ATTACKS By default, it is assumed
that a Chi Attack will use 2 hands.
If you decide to make a Chi Attack use 1 hand, you have
only half the points to spend than what you would have for a
2 handed attack.
If you decide to make a Chi Attack use no hands at all
(Such as a mouth or eye blast), you have only 1/10th the
points to spend than what you would have for a 2 handed
attack.
You must still accumulate the amount of Chi that would be
required for a 2 handed attack, you then spend the reduced
point cost. This can let you spend points lower than your
CC/20.
CHI ATTACK SPEED A Chi Attack moves at a rate of 1
meter. As each Motion Value is passed in a round, the Chi
Attack travels 1 meter until it either reaches its maximum
range, or it strikes a target. This value can be increased by
using the Speed aspect.
ATTACK RESOLUTION A Chi Attack that enters the
space occupied by another character automatically hits the
character successfully. The character that is struck may
choose to Block or Dodge if they were aware of the Chi
Attack (Chi Attack Speed vs Perception + Motion Points) and
pay the Motion Point cost as normal for the Defenses. If a Chi
Attack is smaller than 1 Meter, a Character can use a Basic
Defense, even if unaware of the attack. If a character Dodges,
but does not leave a square occupied by the Chi Attack, a
successful Dodge still takes half damage. A Chi Attack does
not add an Attribute to a Damage Roll.
SCATTER When a character uses a Chi Attack, make a
Simple Skill Check using Control adding Intelligence +
Willpower. The result is how many meters the Attack can
travel before the user loses control. When the user loses
control, roll 1D10. The Attack changes angle depending on
the result. This 1d10 roll is made for every Motion Value that
passes, until it either makes contact with an object, or it
travels for it’s maximum range. Except for the result of a 1,
the Attack will continue to move forward regardless of the
result, it will just be travelling at an altered angle. The result
of 10 lets the user determine the change in angle if they are
stationary and focusing on the Attack, or it continues
travelling in a straight line. The result of a 1 sends the Attack
in a straight line towards the user.
1 - Towards user
2 - Up
3 - Up right
4 - Right
5 - Down right
6 - Down
7 - Down left
8 - Left
9 - Up left
10 - User's choice
FOCUSED: After using a Chi Attack, if the user remains
stationary they can remain focused on the Attack. This is
required for things like controlling Scatter, or redirecting an
attack.
CHI ATTACK COLLISION
If two Chi Attacks make contact with each other, roll the
damage for each. Lower the damage of each attack by the
damage roll of the other. The attack with damage remaining
continues as normal using the remaining damage. If an
attack has penetrate, the damage of the other attack is
lowered by the penetrate value for the purpose of this
calculation.
EXAMPLE: Two Chi Attacks collide with each other. Attack
1 has 15 damage. Attack 2 has 5 damage and 12 Penetrate.
Attack 1 is lowered to 3 damage. Attack 2 continues with 2
damage remaining, as Attack 1 is vaporised.
ASPECTS TO A CHI ATTACK
When using a Chi Attack, you spend points on the aspects
that make up the attack.
By default a Chi Attack has a range of 1 meter, is as wide as
your hand and deals no damage.
As you purchase ranks in the Shaping and Damage skills,
you are given options to spend your points on.
The point cost (X) and difficulty modifier (Y) will be listed
as (X/Y)
NOTE: A chi attack will be stopped by the first object it
hits, unless the object is fragile enough. Subtract the struck
objects Damage Reduction from the damage of the blast. If
any damage remains, the shot continues unobstructed with
the remaining damage value.
SHAPING Each rank in Shaping allows you to choose one
of the following options:
Range: Increase the range of your chi blast by 3 meters.
(Used 1/rank) (1/2)
Explosion: Adds explosion on hit with diameter of 1 meter.
(Used 1/rank) (2/2) The explosion only takes place when the
attack is stopped by the struck object.
Width: Increases the diameter of your blast by 1 meter.
(Used 1/rank) (2/3)
MultiShot: Increases the number of Chi Attack shots by 1.
Each shot has a Motion Cost of 1. Each shot has a separate
attack roll but uses the same damage roll. (Used 1/rank)
(10/5)
DAMAGE Each rank in Damage allows you to choose one
of the following options for damage dice. A Chi Attack cannot
have more Damage Dice than you have ranks in the Damage
Skill. For each additional rank in a particular Damage Die,
you can increase the amount of dice per rank by 1. Additional
dice per rank have an increased (X/Y).
D4: (1/2) for 1D4, each additional D4 increases by (+2/+2).
D6: (2/2) for 1D6, each additional D6 increases by (+3/+2).
D8: (3/3) for 1D8, each additional D8 increases by (+4/+3).
D10: (4/3) for 1D10, each additional D10 increases by
(+5/+3).
D12: (4/4) for 1D12, each additional D12 increases by
(+5/+4).
EXAMPLE: You have purchased 2 ranks in Damage (D4)
and 1 rank in damage (D8). In total you can apply 3 damage
dice to your Chi Attack. You can apply:
3 lots of 1D4 at a point cost of 1/lot and difficulty modifier
of 2/lot.
3 lots of 2D4 at a point cost of (1+2)/lot and difficulty
modifier of (2+2)/lot.
3 lots of 1D8 at a point cost 3/lot and difficulty modifier of
3/lot.
Any mix of up to 3 lots.
UNIVERSAL These are aspects that do not need to be
purchased with Skill Ranks.
Accurate: (2/1) For every 2 points you spend on Accurate,
you get a +1 to the Roll Modifier of your Scatter Check and
Attack Check.
Overburn: (1/-1) For every 1 point you spend on Overburn,
you lower the difficulty of the Chi Manipulation check by 1.
Speed: (1/1) For every 1 point you spend on Speed, your
Chi Attack Speed increases by 1 meter.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
One of the features that sets apart a Martial Master from a
regular fighter is their Special Techniques.
PURCHASING A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
To use a Special Technique, you must first learn it by
spending Character Points. An Offensive Technique costs
Character Points equal to the Point Cost of the aspects
multiplied by 3. Other Special Techniques have set costs.
OFFENSIVE TECHNIQUES
An Offensive Technique functions in a way similar to a Chi
Attack with some exceptions.
An Offensive Technique must be purchased with
Character Points before it can be used.
When accumulating for an Offensive Technique, you can
not use raw accumulation.
Offensive Techniques may be melee attacks rather than
Chi Attacks.
There is no restriction to Point Cost based off your CC.
You must decide on whether a Special Technique is a Chi
Attack or a Melee Attack.
The two main benefits of Offensive Techniques are that
they allow you to bypass the Point limit from your CC and
ranks, as well as adding some extra aspects to choose from.
MELEE SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
A Melee Special Technique acts as a Chi Special Technique
except that it uses Vigour instead of Chi and cannot have its
range increased. A Melee Special Technique may purchase
Sub Skill ranks that are used to calculate the AV of a Sub
Skill. A Melee Special Technique has access to the following
Chi aspects:
All Damage Aspects
Universal Aspects (Accurate, Overburn, Health Cost,
Channeled Damage)
All Status Effects
UNIVERSAL
Chi Cost: (0/2) For every instance of this aspect, you reduce
the Vigour Cost of the Technique by 1. The Chi Cost of the
Technique is increased by 5.
Skill Ranks: (X/1) For every instance of this aspect, you
may purchase one rank in a Sub Skill. This rank is only used
when using the Melee Special Technique. Purchasing ranks
costs points equal to what the character point cost would be.
The first aspect purchased for a Sub Skill costs points as if
the Skill had 0 ranks. For each aspect purchased towards
that Skill, the Current Value increases by 1.
NOTE: If you purchase ranks in Link with a Melee Special
Technique, the Link is determined at construction.
CHI SPECIAL TECHNIQUE
A Chi Special Technique has access to all the aspects of a Spirit Stitching
standard Chi Attack as well as some of its own. When Element: Healing
purchasing aspects for a Chi Special Technique, you are not Learn: 30
limited by the Ranks purchased in Shaping, Damage and Sustainable: No
Range.
SHAPING Action: No
Turning: (2/5) For every instance of this aspect, you may Activate: 2+1 MP
make up to a 45 degree turn for the attack. To turn the Drain: -
direction of your attack, you must still be focusing on it. It Target: Self Only
costs 1 Motion Point to perform a turn. Effect: After activation, you may spend Chi up to your
Split: (5/5) For every instance of this aspect, you may add Control Value. Recover 1 HLTH for every 2 Chi spent. You may
an extra projectile for your attack that travels in a different spend 1 Motion Point after activation to use this effect again.
direction. When rolling for damage, the damage is divided If you stop using this effect for 1 Motion Point, you must
evenly between each split.
STATUS EFFECTS activate it again.
Stagger: (2/2) For every instance of this aspect, you may
convert one damage die to determine Stagger on the target.
The die size increases by 1. Restoration Flow
Knockback: (2/2) For every instance of this aspect, you may Element: Healing
convert one damage die to determine Knockback on the Learn: 50
target. The die size increases by 1. Sustainable: No
Penetrate: (2/2) For every instance of this aspect, you may Action: No
remove 2 Damage Reduction from the target. Activate: 4+2 MP
UNIVERSAL Drain: -
Vigour Cost: (0/2) For every instance of this aspect, you
reduce the Chi Cost of the Technique by 1. The Vigour Cost Target: Other Only, Must make contact
of the Technique is increased by 2. Effect: After activation, you may spend Chi up to your
Health Cost: (0/0) For every instance of this aspect, you Control Value. Recover 1 HLTH for every 4 Chi spent. You may
reduce the Chi Cost of the Technique by 5. The Health Cost of spend 2 Motion Points after activation to use this effect again.
the Technique is increased by 2. If you stop using this effect for 1 Motion Point, you must
Channelled Damage: (20/20) The Special Technique gains activate it again.
1D6 dice to the damage pool for every 50 you have in your
CC. This may only be purchased once.
Slipstream
UNIVERSAL SPECIAL TECHNIQUES Element: Wind
Universal Special Techniques are non offensive Special
Techniques that can be developed without being taught. This Learn: 20
is not a comprehensive list, but some examples are listed Sustainable: No
here.The entries for Special Techniques are written like the Action: No
example below . Activate: 0 MP
NOTE: Remember that you are required to Channel Drain: -
enough Chi or Vigour before spending it on Techniques. Target: Self
Element: The Category or Element the Technique is Effect: After activation, you may spend 3 Chi to move 1
classed under. This has no mechanical impact at the moment.
Learn: Character Point cost to learn the Technique. Meter. You may use this technique an amount of times in a
Sustainable: Whether or not the Technique can be round up to your Control Value.
Sustained. Lists Motion Points and Chi or Vigour required to
be spent each round.
Action: Whether or not your character is able to do other Energy Sense
Actions while being Sustained. Element: Void
Activate: Motion Points and Chi or Vigour required to Learn: 30
activate the Technique. Sustainable: 0 MP. 1 Chi.
Drain: Reduces your Control Value by the listed amount Action: Yes
while being Sustained. Activate: 1 MP. 2 Chi.
Target: Who can be Targeted with the Technique and the
range you can target in. Drain: 3
Effect: What the Technique does. Target: Self Only
Effect: After activation, you may use the Energy Sense Sub
Skill when making Perception checks to perceive Spirits and
Energy. This includes the ability to use Skilled Defenses
against Chi Attacks.
 Deflection
Element: Void
Learn: 30
Sustainable: -
Action: No
Activate: -
Drain: -
Target: Self Only
Effect: This allows you to use Channelled Chi to deflect a Chi
Attack. When performing a Parry, you may choose to use
Deflection instead, if you have Channelled Chi. If you have
Channelled Energy at least equal to the Points spent on
Aspects of the Chi Attack, it is rebounded into a direction in
your Facing. Roll for Scatter to determine which direction it
travels. After performing this Technique, you lose Chi equal to
the Points spent on Aspects-Your Ranks in Chi Efficiency. Any
leftover points remain Channelled. If you have less Chi
Channelled than the Points on the Attack, you lose all
Channelled Chi, and the Attack strikes you as normal.
HOW DO I RUN THIS? (GM
RULES)
Running WBS is similar to running a lot of other RPGs.
Mostly you are playing the role of rules adjudicator, as well as
taking on the role of characters in the world not played by
players. There are some important parts to take note of
though.
Some Interpretation Required: In this book, some rules
require GM interpretation. While the GM has the final say on
how these rules are implemented, this does not mean that
players have no input into how the game should run. All rules
presented in this book are suggestions for running the game
and any rule may be changed if the group decides to.
Adding Flavour: Many rules in this book will seem a lot
more bare bones than what can be found in other RPGs. This
is because WBS takes the approach of Adding Flavour. This
means that certain things (such as weapons, armour and Chi
attacks) are designed by choosing from the list of mechanical
options and then you apply your own flavour to the design,
sound and background.
Fates Against You: It is assumed that PCs are capable at
most things they attempt to do. While PCs can fail, it is due to
external circumstances making it beyond their capabilities
instead of the PC performing poorly.
Example: A PC fails to scale a cliff. This is not due to the
PC climbing any worse than previous attempts, rather it is
because the cliff was too steep or because some of the
ground fell out from under their foot. Alternatively, when
making an opposed check (Stealth, combat, etc), the PC roll
is used to set the DC for the target to bypass.
ITEMS
As has been previously mentioned, there is no set item list.
One of the duties of a GM in WBS is to decide what sort of
items are available at various merchants the players visit, and
what, if anything, they want in return. If you don’t want to
think of an entire list, instead you can wait for a player to
mention what they are looking for, and you can come up with
where to find it.
WEAPONS AND ARMOUR
When it comes to designing weapons and armour, there are
no limits, nor is there a relation between materials and
mechanics. However you may decide to make similar types of
armour have similar effects.
One way to do this is to determine the values for Armour
based of what it is made of and how. The best way to do is
thinking of Soak being determined by the toughness of the
material, and Damage Reduction being how it stops an attack
(usually by deflecting the blow).
EXAMPLE: You decide to make Leather Soak 1, Studded
Leather Soak 2, and Steel Soak 4. So no matter what kind of
shape of armour the players decide to get, the Soak will be
determined by the materials used to make it. You also decide
that small amounts of coverage, such as Arm Guards might
only be Damage Reduction of 1 as it doesn’t deflect blows
very well. However a Torso Piece might be DR 2, and Full
Coverage could be DR 4. If a PC wants Steel Full Plate, you
can easily look at the list and see that would be “DR 4 Soak 4
EV 12”
If you want to create Magic Weapons and Armour for your
game, or items made from “special materials”, you can make
them Artifacts as well as what they normally are.
Alternatively, you can make simple changes such as lowering
the EV for the item, or adding bonus Effect Dice on a
weapon.
EXAMPLE: Asura has found some SpiderSilk and wants to
make armour out of it. SpiderSilk is said to be as strong as
Steel and as Light as the wind. As the GM, you decide that
the armour will be at -6 EV from what it would normally be.
Armour woven from silk and a Mace made from a dragon
fang lets even the nimble be a threat in melee combat
MAGIC
In WBS magic is not done by wizards with spellbooks and
scrolls. Instead magic comes in three different forms.
Special Techniques
Incantations
Artifacts
This book contains examples of the different types,
however you may create your own if you desire. If you do,
take note of what the different types are used for, and what
they can target.
Special Techniques: These are techniques performed by
combining physical movement (Martial Kata) and Energy.
They only target the user and their immediate surroundings.
Incantations: These are techniques performed by constant
recitation of a sequence of words while also channelling
Energy. They target anybody who can hear, and usually inflict
changes to the body or mind of the target. If no target is
affected by the Incantation, the user is automatically affected
instead. Mostly must be taught, or learnt from a source.
Cause Sleep
Element: Void
Learn: 20
Sustainable: 3 MP. 2 Chi.
Action: Movement.
Activate: 3 MP. 10 Chi.
Drain: 3
Target: All within 10 Meters
Effect: After activation, make a Basic Skill Check using Magic
adding Willpower and Intelligence. All creatures able to hear
that are within 10 Meters of the user must make a Standard
Skill Check using Magic and Endurance adding Willpower.
Every target that fails the Check falls asleep. This sleep is not
magical, and they may be woken as normal. Every round when
the user Sustains the Incantation, another Skill Check is made
for the user and all valid Targets. Anybody previously asleep
that succeeds on the Check wakes up. If no target fails the
check, the user falls asleep instead.
An incantator begins to cast a Ring of Fire
Artifacts: Artifacts are physical objects that contain one or
more abilities that are not covered elsewhere. Artifacts are
either self powered, or user powered.
User Powered: These artifacts use the user as a power
source. Usually this would be Chi, but may also be other
things such as Vigour or even Attributes.
Self Powered: These artifacts do not require the user to
have energy of their own to be used. Generally they gain their
power from things such as life springs, or souls. They may
also be recharged by having Chi expended into them. Not all
artifacts consume energy as they are used but may instead
need to be recharged after an amount of time.
Ghost Ward
A small paper tag written with a script and blessed by a priest.
Powered on creation.
When placed on an object this prevents the object from
being touched by spirits with Spirit Energy below a certain
amount.
May also be placed on a door or other opening to prevent
entry from spirits.
Talisman of Telekinesis
An ivory talisman worn around the neck.
Powered on use.
When worn, allows the wearer to move objects from a
distance by pointing with a finger. The objects move at a rate
of 2 meters per Motion Point.
Use of the Talisman costs 1 Chi a round for every 20
Kilograms lifted.
Ghost Wards of varying strengths
TRAINING AND POINT GAIN
The way characters improve is by gaining character points,
and then spending them during a period of downtime.
As the GM, you have the final decision on how many
character points a character gains for their actions, which is
determined by how much the character exerted themself and
how difficult the challenge was to overcome. What
constitutes an average effort challenge is up to the GM.
It is recommended that an average challenge grants 2
character points. This is then raised or lowered as deemed
appropriate.
Minimal Effort = 0 Points
Below Average = 1 Point
Average Effort= 2 Points
Above Average = 3 Points
Maximum Effort = 4+ Points
Minimal Effort is when a character overcomes a challenge
in one turn, or doesn’t spend any vigour or other resources to
overcome a challenge.
Maximum Effort is when a character needs to put almost
everything they have into overcoming a challenge. The closer
they get to putting all their effort into the challenge, the more
points they gain afterwards.
If a character fails to overcome an obstacle, this does not
necessarily mean they gain nothing for it. It is recommended
to give character points even on a failed check if a character
still exerts themselves in doing so. If a character survives
combat for a few rounds, they may have learned some things.
If a character fails to scale a wall entirely but got part way up,
they still exerted themselves to try.
FOCUSED TRAINING
If a character wants to train for a specific attribute or skill,
they declare this at the start of an encounter.
To perform focused training, the majority of your actions
for an encounter must use the specific attribute/skill.
After the encounter, you gain 50% more character points
than normal for the encounter, however all the points gained
must be spent towards the chosen attribute or skill.
EXAMPLE: Asura is happy with his speed but
decides that he would like to enhance his strength.
He realises the quickest way to do this is to Train
the Strength Attribute. After getting jumped by
some bandits, Asura declares that he will be
training Strength. Asura moves a lot less than he
normally would, knowing that most of his actions
must use Strength. Instead, he opts to move
around by leaping, utilising his Strength. At the end
of the encounter, the GM decides the challenge
was worth 2 character points. As Asura was
Training, the GM determines that he used enough
Strength based actions in combat and gives him
the bonus. Asura now has 3 character points, rather
than 2, but they must all go into Strength.
MENTOR TRAINING
A more advanced version of focused training.
A mentor is a character that has 50% more points spent in
the chosen attribute or skill than you do.
When training with a mentor, you gain an additional 50%
character points in the chosen attribute or skill. This means
that with the focused training bonus, you gain double the
points.
EXAMPLE: Asura doesn’t feel he is getting strong
quick enough, so he seeks out a mentor. Asura has
15 points spent into Strength. He finds a Mentor
with 33 points in Strength. After finding some
more bandits to fight, Asura gets the nod from his
mentor and goes to fight with his teachings. Asura
still decides to move less than normal, again
focusing his actions on using Strength. At the end
of the encounter, the GM decides this challenge
was worth 3 character points. As Asura was
Training, the GM determines that he used enough
Strength based actions in combat and gives him
the bonus. Asura also qualifies for the mentor
bonus. Asura now has 6 character points, rather
than 3, but they must all go into Strength. This is
enough to increase Asura’s Strength to 5.
TECHNIQUE TRAINING
Focused Training (or Mentor training if the mentor knows the
Technique) may be used for learning Special Techniques. To
gain the bonus, you must meet either of these conditions:
The majority of your actions must be Chi/Vigour
techniques
Spend at least 90% of your Total Chi/Vigour. The use of
Chi or Vigour is determined by whether you are training a
Chi or Vigour Special Technique. You do not gain a further
bonus if you meet both conditions.
A young warrior needs to learn how to DODGE!
MISSING SECTIONS CHANGELOG
This current version of the playtest is missing Playtest 1.51
Ranged Weapons It's pretty
Bestiary
Index Playtest 1.5
Completed GM Guide Many changes and alterations
Expanded Skill Entries
Playtest 1.4
Removed some skills
Changed Motion Points to Reflexes
Changed Combat mechanics
Added phases
Rewrote wording and mechanics
Added examples
Clarified features
Playtest 1.31
Changed Ki to Vigour
Changed Vigour to Stamina
Added examples
Refined rules
Reworded sections for clarity
Playtest 1.3
Changed layout of document
Changed order of presentation
Added combat chart
Added Skill tables
Refined rules and wording
Added Stagger, Knockback and Penetration
Added Basic Defense
Added more of a description to the setting section
Added Backfire mechanics
Added starting Character Points benchmark
Added Tackle
Added Vigour mechanics
Added one and no handed Chi Attack mechanics
Added Special Technique creation rules
Added point gain and mentor bonuses
Added combos
Playtest 1.2
Changed layout of document
Added Universal Chi Components
Refined rules
Changed text and formatting
Added Skill List
Added Controlled Effort
Added Wild Effort
Playtest 1.1
Added examples
Added Chi Components
Tweaked rules and clarifications