Ushgarak
As possibly prophecised in the 'Development' thread, some new rules for SW have been in the works for some time. I intend to introduce them at the start of part 3 for both Light and Dark Side.
Please note that these rules are not as fundamental as Matrix rules changes, but as a lot of new possixblities are being added, players will be free to re-arrange their powers at the start of part 3. It is not yet certain if the Force power allocation per template will be increased.
The new rules make the following major alterations:
1. The Speed Tree is being replaced by a new Martial Tree, that includes all the old Speed powers but adds a lot more to it. The Martial Tree- entirely designed for aggressive combat- still starts at Draw but then splits into four lines- one set of Speed powers (like Reactions and Speed), one set of Melee powers, for all close up fighting (like Blow), one set of Sabre Offence powers, specifically for offensive sabre use (like Sword Whirl), and one set of Sabre Defence Powers, for specific Defences that only work with a Lightsabre (like Reflection).
This new Tree opens up people's options a little and also helps regulate the Complimentary Blade Tricks (see below)
One MAJOR change the Martial Tree causes is this- Multiple Attacks are no longer permitted by default. At the time this change was made, no-one was using them anyway, though I see now that people are... doh! But anyway, this change suits things well. Attacking more than one opponent, or the same opponent several times, will now be purely the domain of Force powers- the new powers 'Twirl' and 'Spin' on the Sabre Offence line, for example, permit such multiple attacks.
The Blade Trick 'Multiple Attacks' will therefore now aid those powers, in the same way Ricochet aids Reflection.
2. Blade Tricks have been overhauled. Complimentary Tricks have been changed slightly- whilst they have been met with positive feedback, they have two drawbacks- one, I can never remember who should be discounting what (heh...) and secondly, it forced Swordsman types to chase specific Force powers, which they were not well suited to do.
The new Complimentary Tricks will work on categories, not specific powers. There will be five, and each one gives its level worth of bonus pool to you, to work with certain categories of powers. Simply enough, one trick will give bonus pool to use with Speed powers, one with Melee powers, one with Sabre Offence, one with Sabre Defence, and one with Force Attacks. Simple as that- and now you can see how re-organising the Speed Tree into the Martial Tree worked.
3. Two new mechanics to monitor player behaviour will be introduced. For the Light Side we will have 'Censure'- Jedi who start to act in un-Jedi like ways will gain Censure points; accumulate too many, and you lose the resources of the Council, and it becomes very difficult to increase your sabre and force skills.
For the Dark Side there will be 'Animosity', which tracks how well the group is functioning- based not only on in-game behaviour, but also some objective criteria like 'Is there an agreed leader', and worsened by use of powers like Corruption. If Animosity goes too high, the group starts to break down, and the whole group gets difficulties in increasing Sabre and Force skills as they concentrate more on guarding against each other rather than self-development. It is implicit that it is Animosity that destroyed the Sith, so you guys need to watch it.
4. Whilst we are here, we have been messing around with all kinds of new powers and stuff. Not all will make the final cut, but some possibles are:
Flip- Force power that enables you to do the Darth Maul/Jedi Outcast 'jump over opponent and attack in mid-air' trick
Agile Combatant- Blade Trick that boosts your acrobatic skills in combat, for the Jumpy types like Xeth amongst you.
Total Cover- return of the 360 degree Trick, only this time to help reduce attack penalties inherent to side/rear attacks with Force powers, rather than being the defensive Trick it once was.
Domination- New Dark Side power that will FINALLY settle who runs things... Sidious uses Domination on all his Apprentices.
"I MUST obey my Master..."
5. The Master Tricks are ready to go! Err, virtually. Totally untested is one problem.
If I have the time, I may take the chance to re-write the rulebook when this lot goes in- if anyone can tell me any points in it that are obscure or unclear, please let me know.
The new rules will come soon-ish, and will go up in advance of Part 3 starting so that new players can create their characters to the new system, and old players can see what changes they might like to make.
I'l re-iterate that the only changes will involve your Force Powers and Blade Tricks- no other aspects of your characters will need to change at all.
Please note that these rules are not as fundamental as Matrix rules changes, but as a lot of new possixblities are being added, players will be free to re-arrange their powers at the start of part 3. It is not yet certain if the Force power allocation per template will be increased.
The new rules make the following major alterations:
1. The Speed Tree is being replaced by a new Martial Tree, that includes all the old Speed powers but adds a lot more to it. The Martial Tree- entirely designed for aggressive combat- still starts at Draw but then splits into four lines- one set of Speed powers (like Reactions and Speed), one set of Melee powers, for all close up fighting (like Blow), one set of Sabre Offence powers, specifically for offensive sabre use (like Sword Whirl), and one set of Sabre Defence Powers, for specific Defences that only work with a Lightsabre (like Reflection).
This new Tree opens up people's options a little and also helps regulate the Complimentary Blade Tricks (see below)
One MAJOR change the Martial Tree causes is this- Multiple Attacks are no longer permitted by default. At the time this change was made, no-one was using them anyway, though I see now that people are... doh! But anyway, this change suits things well. Attacking more than one opponent, or the same opponent several times, will now be purely the domain of Force powers- the new powers 'Twirl' and 'Spin' on the Sabre Offence line, for example, permit such multiple attacks.
The Blade Trick 'Multiple Attacks' will therefore now aid those powers, in the same way Ricochet aids Reflection.
2. Blade Tricks have been overhauled. Complimentary Tricks have been changed slightly- whilst they have been met with positive feedback, they have two drawbacks- one, I can never remember who should be discounting what (heh...) and secondly, it forced Swordsman types to chase specific Force powers, which they were not well suited to do.
The new Complimentary Tricks will work on categories, not specific powers. There will be five, and each one gives its level worth of bonus pool to you, to work with certain categories of powers. Simply enough, one trick will give bonus pool to use with Speed powers, one with Melee powers, one with Sabre Offence, one with Sabre Defence, and one with Force Attacks. Simple as that- and now you can see how re-organising the Speed Tree into the Martial Tree worked.
3. Two new mechanics to monitor player behaviour will be introduced. For the Light Side we will have 'Censure'- Jedi who start to act in un-Jedi like ways will gain Censure points; accumulate too many, and you lose the resources of the Council, and it becomes very difficult to increase your sabre and force skills.
For the Dark Side there will be 'Animosity', which tracks how well the group is functioning- based not only on in-game behaviour, but also some objective criteria like 'Is there an agreed leader', and worsened by use of powers like Corruption. If Animosity goes too high, the group starts to break down, and the whole group gets difficulties in increasing Sabre and Force skills as they concentrate more on guarding against each other rather than self-development. It is implicit that it is Animosity that destroyed the Sith, so you guys need to watch it.
4. Whilst we are here, we have been messing around with all kinds of new powers and stuff. Not all will make the final cut, but some possibles are:
Flip- Force power that enables you to do the Darth Maul/Jedi Outcast 'jump over opponent and attack in mid-air' trick
Agile Combatant- Blade Trick that boosts your acrobatic skills in combat, for the Jumpy types like Xeth amongst you.
Total Cover- return of the 360 degree Trick, only this time to help reduce attack penalties inherent to side/rear attacks with Force powers, rather than being the defensive Trick it once was.
Domination- New Dark Side power that will FINALLY settle who runs things... Sidious uses Domination on all his Apprentices.
"I MUST obey my Master..."
5. The Master Tricks are ready to go! Err, virtually. Totally untested is one problem.
If I have the time, I may take the chance to re-write the rulebook when this lot goes in- if anyone can tell me any points in it that are obscure or unclear, please let me know.
The new rules will come soon-ish, and will go up in advance of Part 3 starting so that new players can create their characters to the new system, and old players can see what changes they might like to make.
I'l re-iterate that the only changes will involve your Force Powers and Blade Tricks- no other aspects of your characters will need to change at all.