USH'S MATRIX GAME: SECOND ASSIGNMENT: 'Ghost Hunt'

Let's get Cloud's banked action done first. You drop down low and sweep kick hook boy... +1 is a hit with a final total of 13. That is only a Hit for 2, but far more of a problem for hook guy is that he is now prone also... he falls with a thud to the ground as you fgollow up with a sword strike that he cannot dodge, as he is prone!

You roll +4, and with a soft slicing noise, he is cut down on the ground.

Rade, yes, you have spotted that to be flashy with guns takes effort. As for cover, make up anything reasonable in a bar that you want- pillars are fine. Sadly, no katanas on the walls, no.

Castor, you open fire again... you roll evens, which as the guy is dodging only just clips him, for a Hit of 1, darn it...

Coeus, once more you twirl your weapon around in a blur before striking at your two targets (do it whilst you can, Awesome Downpour will be changing after this Assignment...). +1 is good- that gives you a 17 on both targets.! Slash slash! Your twirling strike brings them both down!

Actually, Kosta, I re-directed your fire westwards. This tike I am rather hazy of your targets- you can only fire up to six bursts. I'll choose the two uninjured ones.

You roll +1 and +3, for a 15 and a 17. One is Hit for 4, and the other one you take out...

Heph, you jab forwards with your spear and fall back at once. You roll -1 for an 14, not your best shot but with him already so badly battered, you take him out.

You have an interesting range of options now, Heph, as you are entitled to move as well now, as a result of your power. You can try and move out of the room (looking for Ni Zhan) or engage someone else's opponent.

Ok, bad guys open fire again. The west side tables, two shoot at Burn the manic shotgunner, one each at San and Celsius.

Oooh, they are losing their touch now... rounds fly past you, the only effect being a leg graze across Celsius' leg for 3 damage.

Then Fire, still out in the open, still has two shooters. Gah- another hit for 4 on Fire!

We then have 12 shooters and four other targets. Coeus, again, faces a full attack in the open- let us see if his luck holds again! And the answer is yes! Closest attack on him is a 14, just a miss. You jammy sod!

Seems harsh to fire at Ares who had no chance to declare a dodge, but there you go. he is hit, even through the table, for 4 points.

They miss Rade completely, but Castor is saved by the table again. However, your tables are starting to become somewhat less substantial then they were, you two!

Finally, the two goons outside fire at Barbarossa, who has used Willow Step first time- well done! Ok... so they would have missed you anway, but that is a good habit!

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STATE OF PLAY AT START OF: Second round, second action

BATTLE ONE: DOWNSTAIRS BAR AREA

At bar

San: 10/15/-1 (in cover behind bar)
Celsius: 13/3/0 (in cover behind bar)
Burn: 8/7/3 (in cover behind bar)

Tables west of bar
2 goons with uzis
1 goon with uzi Hit (5)
1 goon with uzi Hit (2)

Tables east of bar

1 goon with uzi Hit (4)
1 goon with uzi Hit (5)

Ares: 6/14/4 (in cover behind table)
Fire: 15/21/2
Castor: 12/14/1 (in cover behind table)
Rade: 10/10/2 (in cover behind table)

Entry area

10 goons with uzis
1 goon with uzi Hit (3)
1 goon with uzi Hit (1)

Coeus: 13/17/1

Outside

1 goon with uzi
1 goon with uzi Hit (4)

Barbarossa (9/0/1)

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BATTLE TWO: NI ZHAN'S OFFICE

Mors: 7/11/-1
Cloud: 9/10/3
Heph: 14/4/2

4 goons armed with a variety of +3 damage weapons
Mors still faces: Cudgel (Hit 2), chain
Cloud still faces: Sais, machete
Heph is clear

Currently owed actions: Ares (2), Fire (1), Rade (1), Heph (1- moving only)

Heph' banked action results from his Retreat of the Sage move, which allows him to take a full move if the attack was successful. This would normally be used to safely leave combat with, say, an Agent, but it is equally useful here in giving Heph a free move to either help his friends or get after Ni Zhan.

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Ok, the only saved action I know of is San's gun attack westwards that she wanted to do when she had to reload. Two bursts each at two targets.

You roll +1 twice, San, not bad! a 15 and 15 is two hits for 4 on your dodging foes... that makes ALL the west side goons pretty easy to kill now!

I'll use HAND OF THE JADE EMPEROR on Mr. Machette.

Oh sugar! I forgot to attack you guys! I'll just do that... Heph has no foes, so nvm that. Cloud, Sai guy attacks you... he rolls evens, not enough for a hit, and not only that but as you are in Jade Emperor Stance, you calmly let his blow slip bye and slash back! He takes a Hit for 3 as you slash his side.

Mors, you are caught round the face with the chain. ow! Another 2 damage.

Monsieur Machete meets Mister Sword. Cloud, you roll evens, which becomes a 15 with your HOTJ. He dodged to get to 12, so that is a hit for 3, made a hit for 4 by the sword... ooh... injured but not down, Cloud! You lose an exertion though. That's good, because I SHOULD have made you miss an action but I forgot to when I forgot to have you attacked! There, you have benefitted from my folly... one more exertion will miss you an action though.

*Various swear words*

Heh... sorry. And you will note I just made some changes there.

Keep Shooting from behind table. (I dont know if this will cost an exertion but can i throw a nearby table over, it will be in better shape and thus provide better cover than my already used one? Then after I am behind it keep shooting?)

One exertion to leave cover, find new cover, AND shoot, yes.

I shall have you fire at the same target again... and I have been forgetting to subtract exxertion for you, Castor! As you have Coppertop Killer. You are owed -3 now. Well, -2 if we count th exertion you just gained.

You roll +1, for a 12... well, the guy is still alive, Hit for 3. I THINK you need to reload now, Castor!

I'll sort that out next turn.

Lightning reload I have, yes? So at the begining of next turn reload me.

Then have me fire again on the nearest guy who isnt dead.

Ok, well, it is still an action to re-load, Castor, but it will lose you another exertion to do so. So you are sorted for a while.

Well, not much to worry about, Cloud, just so you know.

(Hey Ush are you counting the fact that I am using two guns not just one? I dont know, just asking. Ive got two barrettas firing....-shrug-)

Yup, don't worry.

That said, though, the bonuds you get for using a small gun like that BGB against a Mundane is pretty countered by the penalty you get to hit because you only have BGB at basic.

I think you might do better with Glocks for this BGB work.

Rade bursts outside his cover with a vertical dodge, rolling towards a nearby pillar, shooting his way to it.
2 bursts (2 targets)

O,, Rade, off you go... I assumre you mean two bursts in total, one at each.

Ou roll +6 (nice) and +1. The +6 kills for sure. The +1 gives you a 13, a hit for 2, made a Hit for 3 by your weapon.

As you start to run up the pillar... you had an action in hand, so you may act again!

okie dokie...man, i hope my luck don't run out soon...

(water weapon) and (awesome downpour) again...if its going to change, i'll use it as much as possible...(defend) again...

Ok, up goes your exertion...

But the attack is good! Again, +1 gives you a hit of 16 on both, which will kill them both! Now things are looking better...

wasn't planning on running up the pillar..i was trying to get cover behind it. anyway.....i assume i only have one opponent near me. 2 bursts at him

(the dodge has to be off the pillar, Rade, as you want it to affect people firing at you now- you were using a banked action to get here)

There is only one more standing actually at your location Rade, yes, though plenty more nearby!

You roll evens- enough to blow away the last person at the East Side tables. You are now in cover for two points AND dodging for another two.