Ragitsu Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 Simply put, a dancing (some term it "flying") weapon can hover and fight autonomously once commanded to do so. I assume it has its own skill/OCV and of course DCV (which ought to be higher than the default starting figure because of its slender profile). There are two specific varieties I am interested in: one that acts for a set duration and one that continuously battles until its objectives are met. Should anyone other than the owner or a designated ally manage to seize the dancing weapon, it will struggle to free itself from capture. If the weapon is successfully hit by a "dispel magic" effect and the resulting contest of the weapon's inherent magic and the negating force is lost, the weapon loses its ability to function independently (along with any other mystical property such as enhanced damage or unerring accuracy). No matter what nefarious mojo is applied to it, the weapon remains loyal to its previous owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mallet Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 Sounds like a Summon to me. Maybe the ghost of the original wielder is inside the sword until summoned by the current owner. Then his invisible, desolidified ghost form (with effects real world, only to wield the sword) comes out and uses the sword to do the owners bidding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja-Bear Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 I think RKA continuous uncontrolled attack with 0 END with perhaps a limitation that you must make a new attack roll each phase should work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-Note Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 If it's not using your Characteristics to attack, but rather, its own, Summon is probably the way to go. You could also try a Compound Power looking something like this: Dancing Sword (Compound Power) (Total: 167 Active Cost, 63 Real Cost) 28 Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 2d6, Constant (+1/2), Persistent (+1/4), Uncontrolled (+1/2), Ranged (+1/2), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), (97 Active Points); OAF (-1), No STR Bonus (-1/2), Limited Power: Power Does Not Use Caster's Characteristics (-1) 15 +6 OCV (30 Active Points); OAF (-1) 20 +8 DCV (40 Active Points); OAF (-1) You probably have to build in SPD and DEX as well. I don't know if this is a proper use (or cost) of the "Limited Power" limitation. I'm sure someone with more knowledge than myself will come along to correct me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja-Bear Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Summon still won’t let you attack anything. It just brings something or someone to you. Now if you wanted to have characteristics attached then I would use AI rules with the above mentioned RKA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amorkca Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 PS: Foxtrot Sorry couldn't resist... Ninja-Bear 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Summon is probably the best way to do it, or a follower that multiforms from sword to flying sword that fights by its self. Constant doesn't really work because of the nature of the attack, you have to either direct it to what it hits, or it just keeps hitting the same target over and over. A summon/follower makes it truly an independent thing that fights intelligently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja-Bear Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 I truly am missing something here. How is Summoning going to make the sword intelligent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cowan Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 you summon a dancing sword, not a non-magic sword Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mallet Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 You summon an invisible, desolidified spirit that wields the sword. It has all its own characteristics (int, speed, dex, ocv, dcv, etc...) can fight and make intelligent choices, attack, block, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantriped Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 A Dancing Sword is an Automaton (while it is Dancing at least). I think it will be easier to build an Automaton that can be used as a Sword* than it will be to build a Sword that can become an Automaton. To limit it's active time you could link all of it's characteristics related to action (STR, DEX, SPD, Flight, etc) to a shared Fuel Charge. * (built more or less as a Weapon, but with Usable by Other and without Focus) A more easily built and understood, but technically very illegal solution would be to use a Multipower Reserve. The first slot would be an Automaton Follower (which is blatently illegal and abusively cost effective); to limit its active time use a Fuel Charge on the entire slot. The second slot and subsequent slots would be its characteristics as a wielded weapon (HKA and HA for melee attacks, Blast if it shoots energy blasts like the Master Sword, etc). Obviously the automaton would also have to pay for any attacks it could perform while animate, but they could be different from its wielded attacks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Thompson Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Summon, with the 'slavishly loyal' adder or however it is worded, and the summoned thing is an automaton as suggested above. If it also functions as a sword you can wield yourself rather than have it "dance" on its own, build it as a compound power - Killing Attack with appropriate mods for the sword, then the summon. Compound powers are fun, but care must be taken unless you just want to watch the Active Points grow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Quote I truly am missing something here. How is Summoning going to make the sword intelligent? Because you're summoning a special kind of sword, not just a piece of metal. There are two basic ways to do it as noted above: Invisible desolid person wielding a sword (STR affects real world) Automaton sword with flight that is able to fight for you Either one gives you the effect of a sword which you can either wield, or toss and it fights for its self. There's a mod for Skyrim called Lemina Mortis that simulates this really well. I'd do it as follower rather than summon, though (summoning requires battle of wills and a delay before they can act, follower with multiform is instantly useful and self-acting in your benefit). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 For myself, I'd go with the Automaton. I've used it and it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Here is how I would build the sword. It can float and fight by its self but is a construct that cannot be stunned etc. This is the deluxe version that can think for its self and talk to its master. When not fighting by its self it multiforms into a broadsword with +1 OCV and damage. Because of the usual automaton abilities, its kind of expensive (105 points just to be an inanimate object and not need to breathe, etc, plus all the 0 END mods). The base sword would have a 1½d6 KA physical, +2 OCV, for 35 active points, plus the multiform of 62 active points (285 for the sword, +5 for instant change) with the usual sword limitations such as OAF and Real Weapon applied. Built as a follower this would allow a character to wield a slightly powerful magic sword that they could then command to become self-fighting. Dancing Sword Val Char Cost Roll Notes 13 DEX 6 12- OCV: 5/DCV: 3 10 INT 0 11- PER Roll 11- 10 EGO 0 11- ECV: 2 - 2 5 OCV 10 3 DCV 0 2 OMCV -3 2 DMCV -3 3 SPD 10 Phases: 4, 8, 12 Total Characteristics Points: 20 Movement: Flight: 12m/24m Cost Powers END 45 Takes No STUN (loses abilities when takes BODY) 0 15 Does Not Bleed 0 10 No Hit Locations 0 35 Sword: Life Support (Eating: Character does not eat; 0 Immunity All terrestrial poisons; Immunity: All terrestrial diseases; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing; Sleeping: Character does not sleep) 63 Made of metal: Resistant Protection (8 PD/6 ED) 0 24 Magical Vision: Sight Group Flash Defense (8 points) 0 27 Hover: Flight 12m, Usable Swimming (+¼), Reduced 0 Endurance (0 END; +½), Invisible Power Effects (Inobvious to sight, hearing; +½) (27 Active Points) 5 Link to Master: Mind Link , One Specific Mind 0 37 Blade: Multipower, 25-point reserve, all slots Reduced 0 Endurance (0 END; +½) (37 Active Points) 2f 1) Blade Edge: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1 ½d6 (25 Active Points) 2f 2) Blade Flat: Hand-To-Hand Attack +5d6 (25 Active Points); Hand-To-Hand Attack (-¼) Total Powers & Skill Cost: 265 Total Cost: 285 Points Complications 15 Physical Complication: Small and light (Frequently; Slightly Impairing) 5 Physical Complication: No sense of touch (Infrequently; Barely Impairing) 25 Psychological Complication: Totally loyal to owner (Very Common; Total) Total Complications Points: 285 Dancing Sword .hdc Ragitsu and Ninja-Bear 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ninja-Bear Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 1 hour ago, Christopher R Taylor said: Because you're summoning a special kind of sword, not just a piece of metal. There are two basic ways to do it as noted above: Invisible desolid person wielding a sword (STR affects real world) Automaton sword with flight that is able to fight for you Either one gives you the effect of a sword which you can either wield, or toss and it fights for its self. There's a mod for Skyrim called Lemina Mortis that simulates this really well. I'd do it as follower rather than summon, though (summoning requires battle of wills and a delay before they can act, follower with multiform is instantly useful and self-acting in your benefit). Ok - I got it. For some reason, I interpreted Summon as allowing a sword to just be able to be a dancing sword. My confusion. Yeah I can see the summon now. In FH 4th there was a write up of sorts of an intelligent sword that could fight on its own. Don’t have the books with me but I would go with AI and the proper skills/powers for what Ragitsu was asking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cantriped Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 5 minutes ago, Christopher R Taylor said: 24 Hover: Flight 12m, Reduced Endurance (0 END; +½), Invisible Power Effects (Inobvious to sight, hearing; +½), Usable As Swimming (+¼) (24 Active Points) Flight is inherently Inobvious... so you can either save a few points or make the Flight Imperceptible for the same cost. 10 minutes ago, Christopher R Taylor said: 45 Takes No STUN (loses abilities when takes BODY) 15 Does Not Bleed 10 No Hit Locations 35 Sword: Life Support (Eating: Character does not eat; Immunity All terrestrial poisons; Immunity: All terrestrial diseases; Safe in High Pressure; Safe in High Radiation; Safe in Intense Cold; Safe in Intense Heat; Safe in Low Pressure/Vacuum; Self-Contained Breathing; Sleeping: Character does not sleep) 63 Made of metal: Resistant Protection (8 PD/6 ED) All of these powers can and should be made Obvious (which happens to save points). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Thompson Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 It doesn't even need "flight" and maybe shouldn't, but that is up to the designer. I would at least limit the flight such that it has to stay close-ish to the ground, but, again, that is up to the designer and campaign rules / limits. Just because it doesn't have legs doesn't mean it wouldn't follow typical walk/run movement rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 RKA with a Special Effect "Dancing Sword". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tech Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 3 minutes ago, Cassandra said: RKA with a Special Effect "Dancing Sword". It could be built that way, but it doesn't convey an atmosphere of adventure, where the PC can block or at least dodge the dancing sword. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funk Thompson Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 5 minutes ago, Cassandra said: RKA with a Special Effect "Dancing Sword". Simple and elegant, but... it can't attack on it's own. You've just created... a sword. Potentially wielded by a dancer. That's the trick here; the dancing sword has to be able to act independently from the wielder. Hence, summon / follower, or maybe a continuing uncontrolled deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Just now, Funk Thompson said: Simple and elegant, but... it can't attack on it's own. You've just created... a sword. Potentially wielded by a dancer. That's the trick here; the dancing sword has to be able to act independently from the wielder. Hence, summon / follower, or maybe a continuing uncontrolled deal. Follower Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Sword Val Char Cost 15 STR 5 14 DEX 12 15 CON 10 12 BODY 4 13 INT 3 10 EGO 0 15 PRE 5 16 COM 3 5 PD 2 3 ED 0 3 SPD 6 6 REC 0 30 END 0 28 STUN 0 Total Characteristics Cost: 50 Points Cost Skills 0 None (It's a Sword) Total Skills Cost: 0 Points Cost Powers 15 Armor +5 rPD +5 rED 30 Multipower (30 Points) 2 u) HA +6d6, HTH Attack (-1/2) 3 u) HKA 2d6 [3d6 w/STR] Total Powers Cost: 50 Points Total Cost: 100 Points 50+ Disadvantages 15 DF: Flying Sword (Not Concealable/Major Reaction) 20 PhyL: Can Only Do Things A Sword Can Do (All The Time/Greatly) 15 PsyL: Must Obey Creator (Common/Strong) Total Disadvantages Cost: 100 Points Christopher R Taylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher R Taylor Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 Quote Just because it doesn't have legs doesn't mean it wouldn't follow typical walk/run movement rules. I agree, but flight helps it behave more like you'd expect a sword to, and to fight tall things. But it should probably be limited to behave like a flying sword rather than a bat or a bird. Quote Flight is inherently Inobvious... so you can either save a few points or make the Flight Imperceptible for the same cost. Yeah some of the 6th edition invisible/FX changes I'm not quite up on still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cassandra Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 1 minute ago, Christopher R Taylor said: I agree, but flight helps it behave more like you'd expect a sword to, and to fight tall things. But it should probably be limited to behave like a flying sword rather than a bat or a bird. Yeah some of the 6th edition invisible/FX changes I'm not quite up on still. The Sword could simply be wielded by an ghost soldier that only those with Mental Awareness can perceive. The Sword isn't really flying but being carried. drunkonduty 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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