Editing Xia: Game Systems (section)

==Using Chi in Conflicts==

As the astute of you will already have noticed, the above conflict rules will often boil down to each combatant making single dice attacks, hitting on a 1, and only dealing a single point of damage! Combats of this sort would likely be little more than drawn out battles of attrition... not very Kung Fu!

Conflicts aren't like that though, and the reason is '''Chi'''.

'''Chi''' is used to power '''Effects'''.

There are two types of '''Effects''': '''Channelling Trigrams''' and '''Kung Fu secrets'''. Everyone who has a Trigram score can '''channel trigrams''' and can access the effects below, but ''kung fu secrets'' are limited to those who have learnt them!

Regardless of an effect's type, the following three rules apply:
* Each '''effect''' can only be activated once per '''action'''. ''Note that there is no limit to the number of times an effect can be played in a '''turn'''.''
* An '''effect''' only lasts for the duration of that '''action'''. Hence, if you somehow take multiple actions during a single turn, each action must be affected separately at new cost.
* An '''effect''' can only be activated if you have enough chi of the appropriate type to pay for it.

With regard to timing:
* '''Action''' effects are declared when you declare your action. Obviously, you can only declare one '''action''' effect per action.
* '''Attack''' effects are then declared.
* '''Reaction''' and '''Defence''' effects are then declared.
* The dice are then rolled, and the results resolved.

Some powers break this timing, but they are specifically noted to do so either in their descriptions or through their ''keywords.''

Keywords are special descriptors that tell you about how various effects are used in game. Refer to the [[Xia: Glossary of Keywords|Glossary of Keywords]] for more on these.
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===Channelling Trigrams in Attack===

There are four Trigrams you can channel in attack: '''Heaven, Wind, Fire''' and '''Thunder'''. You can channel each of the four Trigrams only once on each attack, though you can activate multiple different Trigrams on the same attack.

For example, you could choose to activate Heaven and Wind on the same attack, but you couldn't choose to activate Heaven twice on the same attack.

* '''Channelling '''Wind'' - aka "Chi Motion"'''
When you channel Wind, spend 1 Yang Chi and add your Wind Trigram to the '''Motion''' of that attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Attack;

* '''Channelling '''Heaven'' aka "Chi Accuracy"'''
When you channel Heaven, spend 1 Yang Chi and add your Heaven Trigram to the '''Accuracy''' of that attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Attack;

* '''Channelling '''Fire'' aka "Chi Power"'''
When you channel Fire, spend 1 Yang Chi and add your Fire Trigram to the '''Power''' of that attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Attack;

* '''Channelling '''Thunder'' aka "Chi Celerity"'''
When you channel Thunder, spend 1 Yang Chi. If your attack ''Defeats'' your target (i.e. reduces him to 0 Resilience) then you can immediately make another attack against a new target. Any chi effects or powers applying to the previous attack do not apply to this new attack. Regardless of source, the maximum number of attacks you can make in one turn is equal to your Thunder Trigram.<br>'''Keywords''': Attack; Aftertouch;
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===Channelling Trigrams in Defence===

There are four Trigrams you can channel in defence: '''Earth, Mist, Water''' and '''Mountain'''. You can channel each of the four Trigrams only once on each defence, though you can activate multiple different Trigrams on the same defence.

For example, you could choose to activate Earth and Wind on the same defence, but you couldn't choose to activate Earth twice on the same defence.

* '''Channelling '''Mist'' - aka "Chi Evasion"'''
When you channel Mist, spend 1 Yin Chi and add your Mist Trigram to your '''Evasion''' for this attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Defence;

* '''Channelling '''Earth'' aka "Chi Interference"'''
When you channel Earth, spend 1 Yin Chi and add your Earth Trigram to your '''Interference''' for this attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Defence;

* '''Channelling '''Water'' aka "Chi Absorption"'''
When you channel Water, spend 1 Yin Chi and add your Water Trigram to your '''Absorption''' for this attack.<br>'''Keywords''': Defence;

* '''Channelling '''Mountain'' aka "Chi Breaker"'''
When you channel Mountain, spend 1 Yin Chi. If the attack fails to do any damage to you, you inflict a '''"Stop"''' on the attacker. That attacker cannot make any additional attacks against you this round, though he can still attack other targets.<br>'''Keywords''': Defence;

Players might perceive "Chi Breaker" as being quite a weak power at the start of the game, but it is one that grows in utility as they and their enemies advance, as there are many sources of extra attacks available to a skilled Xia.

'''Timing:''' Note that Defence is always declared after Attack, so the active player must finish declaring all his active effects before the defender declares any defence effects. There are specific exceptions to this rule (notably ''Chi Celerity'' above) which are flagged with [[Xia: Glossary of Keywords|Keywords]].
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