Ask the GM

[Suzume Senseki]

Another question on the duel scoring system, from my duel with Nesshin:

If one duellist has *not* Met their objective (I.e. no critical strike inflicted), but has inflicted enough fatigue to get more total points, do they still count as "winning" in some way?

Or does meeting the objective trump points?

(In the former case.... This might use a change in next games maybe! )

Thanks!

[Saibankan]

Another question on the duel scoring system, from my duel with Nesshin:

If one duellist has *not* Met their objective (I.e. no critical strike inflicted), but has inflicted enough fatigue to get more total points, do they still count as "winning" in some way?

Or does meeting the objective trump points?

(In the former case.... This might use a change in next games maybe! )

Thanks!

I put achieved the crit as the primary scoring mechanic, and put duel scoring system after it for purposes of tiering. If you get a crit, you're very likely going to be higher tier, since that was the point of the excercise, not run up the duel scoring mechanic by beating them with a stick.

[Moto Mitsuki]

For consideration for future games:

When researching deadliness it came up that Kiho, unless otherwise noted, have a deadliness of 8 which, frankly, is mind-boggling. It surpasses any weapon, falling vast distances, having a person dropped on you, etc. and only the most powerful (or lucky) shugenja will come close with spell deadliness.

Given that there are rank 1 attack kiho without specified deadliness (that would replace the 8) that makes kiho-wielders a lot more dangerous, even with a starting character, than others. (Also if a kiho-wielder ended up in a duel and cheated to just kiho-punch their opponent for the Finishing Blow they would be dealing Instant Death severity critical but hopefully monks will be avoiding duel or being honorable...)

Some potential fixes, if you think it should be fixed:

Have unarmed attack kiho use unarmed attack deadliness not kiho deadliness. It still means some of the more mystical damage dealing ones can be super deadly but those are less common and usually higher ranks. (This might even be the rules' intent but I couldn't find it spelled out anywhere)

Have kiho use the ritual/maho deadliness rules (Deadliness = ring used for check + bonus successes)

I think this one might be on purpose actually. Sure, 8 is crazy high, but a two-hand katana/wakizashi is Deadliness 7 already (so just one less), and can be increased to 8 with a single opportunity (due to being Razor-Edged).

So, for the Togashi to fire punch in the same category as samurai slash, Deadliness 8 is actually on par. Maybe one or two points too high, but nerfing it that hard would just make breathing fire worse than using a knife (Deadliness 6 when two-handed).

EDIT:

Example:

Akodo Bob uses a Strike attack with a katana, rolling exactly the two success required. Their (rank 1) School Ability adds another, bonus one, so they hit at range 1 for 4+1=5 damages and 5+2=7 deadliness.

Togashi Alice uses her Air Fist kiho, also rolling exactly two success. Their (rank 1) School Ability grants them another success, allowing them to trigger their Burst Effect and to hit a target at Range 0-1 for 3 damages (assuming their Air Ring is of 3) and 8 deadliness.

Now, was Bob to roll more success, they could increase their own damages by 1 for each extra success. Having more opportunities would be even better, as they could increase deadliness (razor-edged) and/or trigger an automatic critical.

Meanwhile, Alice's is still locked into 3/8, and the Burst Effect cannot (unless I've missed another sidebar) trigger a critical except if it hits someone already incapacitated.

[Usogawa Narumi]

Will we get a breakdown of votes cast for endgame, or will you only reveal the winners?

[Matsu Ishioka]

Is there an in-game roll we can make to find out if we're on an NPC's list?

Bumping this and wondering if NPCs will have let people know if they're likely "on the list" as players are expected to do.

Because it's almost decision day and we have at least a couple NPCs in a position to make crazy things happen if they have lists (as I was thinking was said at some point) including PCs with high point totals. Those players may believe they "control their own destiny" and could be wrong.

[Saibankan]

Is there an in-game roll we can make to find out if we're on an NPC's list?

Hmmm. Sorry for the delay in response. Those darn page flips.


I suppose it'd be Water/Courtesy as you ask around the Deer to see if any of them give up hints as to what the Deer's thinking is on such matches. We'll say Water/Courtesy. TN concealed, so you get a void point back.

[Saibankan]

Will we get a breakdown of votes cast for endgame, or will you only reveal the winners?

I think just the winner. There's a chance for hard feelings either way, but I'd rather you have hard feelings at me, than at your fellow players for not voting the right way.

[Usogawa Narumi]

Will we get a breakdown of votes cast for endgame, or will you only reveal the winners?

I think just the winner. There's a chance for hard feelings either way, but I'd rather you have hard feelings at me, than at your fellow players for not voting the right way.

Valid! Thanks!

[Matsu Ishioka]

Is there an in-game roll we can make to find out if we're on an NPC's list?

Hmmm. Sorry for the delay in response. Those darn page flips.


I suppose it'd be Water/Courtesy as you ask around the Deer to see if any of them give up hints as to what the Deer's thinking is on such matches. We'll say Water/Courtesy. TN concealed, so you get a void point back.

Same rules as with agenda-ing, so we can't scope out the terrain/rumor mill if we're doing other mechanical stuff in that time slot?

[Saibankan]

Same rules as with agenda-ing, so we can't scope out the terrain/rumor mill if we're doing other mechanical stuff in that time slot?

Nope! Do it whenever you want....but you only get to do it once. It reflects you running about and asking the Deer, if you don't find out, you don't find out.