Xia: Art of War

Xia: Main Page -> Xia: Shen Secrets -> Xia: Art of War

"His armies attack, and he thinks mere numbers are enough. They are not. I have analysed his form, and will now exploit his weaknesses. My army is prepared. My army works as a harmonious whole, with yang and yin elements flowing to create perfect concordance. I cannot lose."

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. Unless the Xia has a mentor who already knows of the chi principles of the Art of War, it is unlikely he will find or access such secrets.

Its also worth noting that this lore sheet on its own likely won't win many battles - a smart general will have mastered the Eight Lessons of Rightful Mind, and will apply them to his warcraft.

Prerequisites

Even with a suitable teacher or source of Lore, it is impossible for a Xia to begin training in the Art of War without knowing the Specialised Skill Warcraft.

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 Fitness... +1 power to the general per 20% better physical fitness his army has.
• Superior Communications... +1 motion to the general per 20% better comms his force has.
• Superior Mobility... +1 initiative and max multiple attacks to the general per 20% better mobility his army has.
• 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 his soldiers have.
• Superior Position... +1 evasion to the general per 20% better terrain and position his army occupies.
• 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.

Keywords: Preparation; Mental;

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 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. Unfortunately, it doesn't let you know anything about his kung fu secrets!

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.

Keywords: Preparation; Mental;

Effect: If targeted by Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself you can choose to withold all information. The enemy becomes aware of you using this power to block him.

OR

Effect: If targeted by Know Your Enemies, Know Yourself you can choose to or allow information to be taken, but substitute a portion of it with fabrications. Select one of the three categories of 1) Your Trigrams 2) Your Mental Trait 3) Size of Warfare Modifiers. Whichever category you choose, you can create any information you like - the other two categories are reported accurately. The enemy is not made aware of you using this power.

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.

Keywords: Preparation; Mental;

Effect: This power cannot be used during the Conflict, and must be completed immediately beforehand. Select any ONE of the Warfare Modifiers other than Superior Numbers. When Conflict is joined, that Warfare modifier is ignored for the battle. You can only use this power once before each conflict.

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.

Keywords: Modifier; Mental;

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.