Difference between revisions of "Xia: Art of War"
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'''Effect:''' If targeted by ''Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself'' you can either choose to withold all information, or to give a report but give fabricated information as to one of the three categories of 1) Your Trigrams 2) Your kung fu secrets 3) Size of Warfarw modifiers. Whichever category you choose, you can create any information you like - the other two categories are reported accurately. If you are using this power to block all information, the enemy becomes aware of your power use. If you are using this power to deceive, then the enemy does not become aware of your power use, and additionally this power ("warfare is deception") will be excluded from your list of kung fu secrets, regardless of your chosen category. | '''Effect:''' If targeted by ''Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself'' you can either choose to withold all information, or to give a report but give fabricated information as to one of the three categories of 1) Your Trigrams 2) Your kung fu secrets 3) Size of Warfarw modifiers. Whichever category you choose, you can create any information you like - the other two categories are reported accurately. If you are using this power to block all information, the enemy becomes aware of your power use. If you are using this power to deceive, then the enemy does not become aware of your power use, and additionally this power ("warfare is deception") will be excluded from your list of kung fu secrets, regardless of your chosen category. | ||
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| − | + | =Benefits of Preparation= | |
''Knowledge is not enough to win you every battle. But to act on knowledge, and to prepare, that is victory.'' | ''Knowledge is not enough to win you every battle. But to act on knowledge, and to prepare, that is victory.'' | ||
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'''Effect:''' This power cannot be used ''during'' the Conflict, and must be completed immediately beforehand. Select one of the eight Warfare Modifiers. When Conflict is joined, that Warfare modifier is ignored for the battle. | '''Effect:''' This power cannot be used ''during'' the Conflict, and must be completed immediately beforehand. Select one of the eight Warfare Modifiers. When Conflict is joined, that Warfare modifier is ignored for the battle. | ||
<br><br> | <br><br> | ||
| − | + | =Flow of Battle= | |
''A general is in his element when it comes to war - the ebb and flow of the battlefield are harmonious with his soul.'' | ''A general is in his element when it comes to war - the ebb and flow of the battlefield are harmonious with his soul.'' | ||
Revision as of 09:44, 13 January 2009
Xia: Main Page -> Xia: Shen Secrets -> Xia: Art of War
Contents
Overview
This page is a Lore Sheet for Art of War, a set of Shen Secrets relating to the application of tactics and strategy to warcraft.
These techniques can only be used for mental conflict. Additionally, they can only be used in mental conflicts that relate to commanding military forces in battle and war.
Note that Sun Tzu's famous text "The Art of War" is still many many centuries away in the default setting, so tactics and strategy really are secret arts in this era.
Warfare and Optional Rules
GMs and players might find it a little surreal that mass warfare is treated as a mental conflict between generals rather than as a comparison of opposing military forces. This reflects the nature of the Xia game - its about the actions of heroes, not of the nameless masses. Having said that, there are times that the GM may want to simulate the difference in quality of forces. The following Warfare modifiers are suggested:
- Superior Weaponskill... +1 accuracy to the general for each 20% more weaponskill his army has.
- Superior Terrain... +1 power to the general per 20% better terrain.
- Superior Communications... +1 dice pool to the general per 20% better comms he has.
- Superior Mobility... +1 initiative and max multiple attacks to the general per 20% better mobility.
- Superior Discipline... +1 interference to the general for each 20% more discipline his army has.
- Superior Equipment... +1 absorption to the general per 20% better equipment.
- Superior Stealth... +1 evasion to the general per 20% better stealth.
- Superior Numbers... +(Mental Trait) mental resilience to the general for each 20% greater numbers he has.
Note that this assessment is made once, at the start of the combat, and the bonuses then remain in place for the whole battle.
Preparing an army for battle so you can maximise these advantages can be the subject of one or more game sessions, and will likely be a team effort.
Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself
Spies and scouts are the conventional means of assessing an enemy, but the true chi-aligned general need only open his mind, and information flows to him. He can read portents from the sky and earth, and absorb every clue, and without a single scout he will know all he needs to.
Cost: None. Takes one hour.
Effect: This power cannot be used during the Conflict, and must be completed beforehand. You assess the strength of an enemy general and his army. This instantly tells you his Mental trait, his Trigram ratings, and kung fu secrets he has that would be applicable to the battle, and the size and nature of any Warfare Modifiers that would be applied to your side or his if it were to come to a conflict right now.
Warfare is Deception
The skilled general reveals nothing about himself to the enemy. However, the truly masterful general reveals lies and illusions, and weakens his enemy by doing so.
Cost: None. Always on.
Effect: If targeted by Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself you can either choose to withold all information, or to give a report but give fabricated information as to one of the three categories of 1) Your Trigrams 2) Your kung fu secrets 3) Size of Warfarw modifiers. Whichever category you choose, you can create any information you like - the other two categories are reported accurately. If you are using this power to block all information, the enemy becomes aware of your power use. If you are using this power to deceive, then the enemy does not become aware of your power use, and additionally this power ("warfare is deception") will be excluded from your list of kung fu secrets, regardless of your chosen category.
Benefits of Preparation
Knowledge is not enough to win you every battle. But to act on knowledge, and to prepare, that is victory.
Cost: None. Takes one hour.
Effect: This power cannot be used during the Conflict, and must be completed immediately beforehand. Select one of the eight Warfare Modifiers. When Conflict is joined, that Warfare modifier is ignored for the battle.
Flow of Battle
A general is in his element when it comes to war - the ebb and flow of the battlefield are harmonious with his soul.
Cost: None.
Effect: During a Mental Conflict that relate to commanding military forces in battle and war, you regain 1 Yang Chi after each attack you make, and regain 1 Yin Chi after each defence you make.
Credits
This page created by Asklepios.
