[Exalted] The Age of Slaughter, Xefas vs Mr. Bookworm

[Xefas]

In the grim sunlight of the near future, there are only unreasonably built combat monsters roaming the landscape looking for tenuous reasons to beat the divine stuffing out of one another. Even though basic commodities such as food and water are scarce, ancient and wondrous world-shaking engines of destruction are sold in barrels at the corner market. Symmetrical arenas suspiciously devoid of bystanders blanket the land, and all cosmic powers capable of stepping in and interfering with the current status quo are choosing not to do so for reasons that shall not be expanded upon.

This is the Age of Slaughter, in which we shall throw newly 2.5-legal Exalts against each other to see which one breaks first.

In this corner, we have Xefas piloting the Slayer Caste, 'Heaven-Banished Brass Deva'.

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Name: Heaven-Banished Brass Deva
Caste: Slayer Caste Green Sun Prince

Attributes
Strength 5
Dexterity 5
Stamina 9

Charisma 3
Manipulation 2
Appearance 2

Perception 2
Intelligence 2
Wits 5

Abilities
Melee 5 (Cosmic Energy Blasts +3)
Integrity 5
Resistance 5
Athletics 5
Awareness 5 (Join Battle +3)
Dodge 5

Backgrounds and Equipment
Artifact 5 (Tainted Starmetal Celestial Battle Armor, WotLA pg88)
Artifact 4 (Green Iron Heart, Infernals pg196)
Infamy 3 (Stone of the Solipsist, BWC pg5) [Feeding Power to CBA]

Charms
Malfeas
Hardened Devil Body x5
By Pain Reforged
Purity of Madness Defense
Scar-Writ Saga Shield x2
Insignificant Embers Intuition
Green Sun Nimbus Flare
By Agony Empowered
Cold-Fire Desolation Brand
Rebuking Impudent Arms
Vitriolic Corona Endowment
Star-Piercing Spear of Glory x2
Viridian Legend Exoskeleton x2
By Rage Recast
Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai
Blight Internalization Transcendence
Wrath-Stoked Bonfire Soul

Kimbery
Intolerable Burning Truths (Hate Springs Eternal)
All Things Betray
Bitter Heart Unbleeding x2

Combat Stats
Join Battle 15 (Wits 5 + Awareness 5 + Specialty 3 + CBA Visor 2)

Attacks:
Star Piercing Spear of Glory
Speed 5
Accuracy 15 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + Specialty 3 + Accuracy 2)
Damage 12L (Base 5 + Str 5 + CBA 2)
Rate 5
Overwhelming 2
Lance, Reach, Thrust
Range: 20 yards

Dodge DV: 7 (Dex 5 + Dodge 5 + Essence 4)/2
Parry DV: 6 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + CBA Gauntlet 2)/2
MDDV: 7
MPDV: 2

Bashing Soak: 42 (CBA +15, natural +13, VLE +10, Armored Hide +4)
Lethal Soak: 42 (CBA +15, natural +13, VLE +10, Armored Hide +4)
Aggravated Soak: 25 (CBA +15, VLE +10)

Bashing Hardness: 11 (CBA 11)
Lethal Hardness: 11 (CBA 11)
Aggravated Hardness: 0

Health Levels:
-0 x1
-1 x2
-2 x17
-4 x6

Willpower: 5

Other Stuff
Permanent Essence 4
Personal Motes 17
Peripheral Motes 14
Commitments: Green Iron Heart (8), Celestial Battle Armor (10), Viridian Legend Exoskeleton (10), Blight Internalization Transcendence (1)

Compassion 1
Conviction 4
Temperance 2
Valor 3

Bonus Points/XP Breakdown 143xp
-14bp Essence +2 (4)
-1bp Awareness Specialty (Join Battle) +2 (3)
-3bp Charm: Intolerable Burning Truths (Hate Springs Eternal)
-6xp Artifact +2 (5: Celestial Battle Armor)
-9xp Artifact +3 (4: Green Iron Heart)
-8xp Charm: By Agony Empowered
-8xp Charm: Cold-Fire Desolation Brand
-8xp Charm: Rebuking Impudent Arms
-8xp Charm: Vitriolic Corona Endowment
-16xp Charm: Star-Piercing Spear of Glory x2
-8xp Charm: Scar Writ Saga Shield x1 (2)
-16xp Charm: Viridian Legend Exoskeleton x2
-8xp Charm: By Rage Recast
-8xp Charm: Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai
-16xp Charm: Bitter Heart Unbleeding x2
-8xp Charm: All Things Betray
-8xp Charm: Blight Internalization Transcendence
-8xp Charm: Wrath-Stoked Bonfire Soul

Notes
*Celestial Battle Armor has the Enhanced Healing, Enhanced Durability, and Spirit Bane features.
*The mutation pool generated by By Rage Recast has 40 points of mutations contained within. These mutations are: Gargantuan x4, Multiple Arms x2, Armored Hide

And in this corner, we have Mr Bookworm piloting the Dawn Caste, 'Righteous Blade'.

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Name: Righteous Blade
Caste: Dawn

Motivation: Murder the hell out of Heaven-Banished Brass Deva.

Attributes
Physical
Strength ●●●
Dexterity ●●●●●
Stamina ●●●

Social
Charisma ●●●●
Manipulation ●
Appearance ●●

Mental
Perception ●●●
Intelligence ●
Wits ●●●●●

Abilities
Athletics ●●●●●
Awareness ●●●●● (Noticing Giant Monsters ●)
Dodge ●●●●●
Integrity ●●●
Melee ●●●●● (That's Not A Sword, This Is A Sword ●●●)
Resistance ●●●●●

Backgrounds

The Sharpened Mountain (Orichalcum Grand Daiklave, Artifact 3)
Immortal Hope (Orichalcum Superheavy Plate, Artifact 3)
The Freedom Stone (Manse 3, set in daiklave)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (Manse 1, set in daiklave)

Artifacts and Equipment

The Sharpened Mountain: Speed 5, Accuracy +3, Damage +11L/4, Defense +3, Rate 2, Tags: 2, O, R

Immortal Hope: Soak +17L/+17B, Hardness 11L/11B Mobility -2, Fatigue 2

Attacks

The Sharpened Mountain
Speed 5; Accuracy 27 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + Specialty 3 + Accuracy 3 + Hearthstone 1 + Excellency 10); Damage 9L/4+5 autosux, damage applied twice; Rate 2

Charms
Melee
First Melee Excellency
Infinite Melee Mastery
Dipping Swallow Defense
Bulwark Stance
Fivefold Bulwark Stance
Protection of Celestial Bliss
Heavenly Guardian Defense (Valor flaw)
One Weapon, Two Blows
Flashing Edge of Dawn
Call the Blade
Peony Blossom Attack
Iron Whirlwind Attack
Invincible Fury of the Dawn
Hungry Tiger Technique
Fire and Stones Strike
Immortal Blade Triumphant
Final Sunset Stance
Dawn's Parable Defense
Perfect Blade Aegis
Blade Lair Discipline
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit
Guardian Sunfire Catechism

Join Combat: 11

Defenses:
Dodge DV - 8
Parry DV - 15

Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11L/11B

Health:
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]
-X [ ]

Virtues
Compassion ●●
Conviction ●●
Temperance ●●
Valor ●●●●●

Willpower: 8/10

Essence:
Permanent: ●●●●●
Personal: 19/25
Peripheral: 0/56 (62 Committed)

Active Effects and Permanent Charms
Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

Bonus Points: 0/18

Essence +1 (7)
Willpower +5 (5)
Artifact 3 (3)
Peony Blossom Attack (3)

XP 0/150

Essence 4 (24 XP)
Essence 5 (32 XP)
Hungry Tiger Technique (8 XP)
Fire and Stones Strike (8 XP)
Invincible Fury of the Dawn (8 XP)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (8 XP)
Iron Whirlwind Attack (8 XP)
Final Sunset Stance (8 XP)
Dawn's Parable Defense (8 XP)
Perfect Blade Aegis (8 XP)
Blade Lair Discipline (8 XP)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (8 XP)
Guardian Sunfire Catechism (8 XP)
Shedding Infinite Radiance (8 XP)
Conviction 2 (3 XP)
Temperance 2 (3 XP)

Here is the arena. Each square equals 1 yard. Black objects are stone obstructions, whether they be buildings, pillars, or the large fancy statue in the middle.

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Rules Notes:
-For stunting, we've agreed that every action counts as a single 1-die stunt. Every five actions, starting at the fifth action, is instead a 2-die stunt. Once per fight, each combatant may claim a 3-die stunt in place of their normal stunt.

[Mr.Bookworm]

I don't know why you created a big fancy map when we're just going to charge straight at each other and start pounding.

Join Battle: (11d10)[7][9][9][9][8][5][10][2][1][10][7](77)

Just rolling for now. 10 successes.

[Xefas]

Right, so I'm going to operate under the assumption that we're starting with our scene-longs active, since your character sheet still had them up (you can put your sheet in your own post to make it quicker to edit, if you want?). My only sadness is that now I'll never be able to use the combo name I'd come up with for Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai. It was going to have "Mantra" in it. It was going to be great.

So, actions...

----

1) Activating a Combo: Nice Guys Finish Last (All Things Betray, Bitter Heart Unbleeding)

2) Paying 3m to supplement my Join Battle roll with All Things Betray, adding 4 automatic successes.

----
Roll: Join Battle
(15d10)[9][7][6][8][5][6][7][7][9][5][4][1][1][7][4](86)
edit: 11 successes, with the bonus from my charm
----
Current Stats

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Health Levels
-0 []
-1 [][]
-2 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
-4 [][][][][][]

Essence
Personal: 16/17
Peripheral: 0/2
Willpower: 5/5

Dodge DV: 7
Parry DV: 7
Soak: 58B/58L/25A
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects:

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By Pain Reforged - No wound penalties. Not incapacitated by bashing or lethal damage.
Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai - +16 Strength, +16 Stamina, Reduce multiple action penalties by 2.

----
Updated map to account for my shintai. By my calculations, I'm about 20 yards in height now, so I figured 10 yards of space would work.

Map:

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[Mr.Bookworm]

Sooooooooo. Xefas?

Your turn. You go on tick 0, I go on tick 1.

Incidentally, what was the name of the Combo?

I'm also stealing your current stat thing:

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Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]

Essence
Personal: 19/19 (6 committed)
Peripheral: 0/0 (56 committed)
Willpower: 7/10

Dodge DV: 8
Parry DV: 15
Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects

Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

[Xefas]

Sooooooooo. Xefas?

Your turn. You go on tick 0, I go on tick 1.

Oh crap. I was waiting for you! I didn't realize. D=

Incidentally, what was the name of the Combo?

I guess we'll never know now.

----Actions

1) Flurrying five attacks via Star-Piercing Spear of Glory. If I've got the combat rules down correctly, that means that my first attack would normally take a -5 penalty, with each attack afterward taking a cumulative -1. But my having six arms reduces this penalty by 2. And I have a 1-die stunt for my attacks? So, my five attacks will have 14, 13, 12, 11, and 10 dice respectively. Due to onslaught penalties, your parry DV will be 15, 14, 13, 12, and 11? I think that's right.

2) I get 2 motes back from the stunt.

----Rolls

(14d10)[6][8][2][1][1][1][8][10][7][9][8][1][1][6](69)
(13d10)[5][2][1][5][3][1][7][8][2][7][8][7][1](57)
(12d10)[7][2][8][6][9][3][1][6][10][7][4][7](70)
(11d10)[2][3][9][8][9][5][9][10][4][6][6](71)
(10d10)[6][6][2][7][2][1][8][8][4][4](48)
edit: 7, 5, 7, 6, and 3 successes
----Stats

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Health Levels
-0 []
-1 [][]
-2 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
-4 [][][][][][]

Essence
Personal: 16/17
Peripheral: 2/2 (+2 this round from stunting)
Willpower: 5/5

Dodge DV: 2 (-5 from attacking)
Parry DV: 2 (-5 from attacking)
Soak: 58B/58L/25A
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects:

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By Pain Reforged - No wound penalties. Not incapacitated by bashing or lethal damage.
Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai - +16 Strength, +16 Stamina, Reduce multiple action penalties by 2.

edit2: Oh, wait, did our animas start active? I think that'd put another -1 on my attacks. And my DVs would be 2 higher?

[Mr.Bookworm]

Oh crap. I was waiting for you! I didn't realize. D=

=D

I guess we'll never know now.

Man, don't be that guy. =(

1) Flurrying five attacks via Star-Piercing Spear of Glory. If I've got the combat rules down correctly, that means that my first attack would normally take a -5 penalty, with each attack afterward taking a cumulative -1. But my having six arms reduces this penalty by 2. And I have a 1-die stunt for my attacks? So, my five attacks will have 14, 13, 12, 11, and 10 dice respectively.

You have a base of 15. Negative action penalties are reduced by 2, so your attacks are initially at 12 (-3), 11 (-4), 10, 9, and 8. You use a one die stunt on every attack, so it's 13, 12, 11, 10, and 9.

Due to onslaught penalties, your parry DV will be 15, 14, 13, 12, and 11? I think that's right.

Normally, yes, but Fivefold Bulwark Stance shuts off onslaught penalties. My DV is 15 all the way.

edit: 7, 5, 7, 6, and 3 successes

In response, I activate Aegis of Glory, including all valid Reflexive Charms I have.

I use Final Sunset Stance (1m). This ups my DV by 1, for a total of 16 against all attacks. One die stunt on all parries brings it to 17.

I parry all of your attacks and gain 5 free reflexive attacks, which I'm using all now.

Scratch that, I'm not in range.

edit2: Oh, wait, did our animas start active? I think that'd put another -1 on my attacks. And my DVs would be 2 higher?

Yep. Well, mine is, at least, because Immortal Blade Triumphant makes your anima go phooooooosh, but I'm assuming there was an off-screen power-up thing before the fight started.

Stats

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Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]

Essence
Personal: 19/19 (6 committed) [1 spent, 2 gained]
Peripheral: 0/0 (56 committed)
Willpower: 7/10

Dodge DV: 8
Parry DV: 15
Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects

Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

---

* post roll count doesn't match database

[Xefas]

So, obviously all of those attacks hit. What is your damage looking like these days?

edit: Wait, can you actually reflexively attack me from range? Does one of your melee charms give you range with your daiklave?

[Mr.Bookworm]

edit: Wait, can you actually reflexively attack me from range? Does one of your melee charms give you range with your daiklave?

*checks*

Nope.

Retract that, then. I'll stock the attacks for my turn. I'll move closer (3 yards) on your turn as a reflexive action, then flurry a dash (bringing me 9 yards closer and in range) and two attacks on my tick. I'll also use the five free reflexive attacks.

The five reflexive ones are all at 28 dice:

(28d10)[2][7][10][3][7][7][4][2][3][5][5][9][6][3][5][5][1][3][5][8][9][4][8][7][1][3][3][3](138)
(28d10)[4][9][6][3][2][2][6][6][9][9][4][3][9][3][10][7][1][10][5][10][6][10][8][9][8][6][6][7](178)
(28d10)[5][2][9][2][2][8][9][1][6][3][4][10][5][1][6][10][3][4][2][10][5][8][2][8][3][2][10][3](143)
(28d10)[9][2][6][3][1][7][1][9][1][3][10][5][7][5][7][5][9][9][6][9][7][4][10][7][10][5][6][1](164)
(28d10)[6][4][1][2][4][5][2][8][7][2][3][1][5][8][2][9][10][9][2][7][5][3][8][7][8][6][9][4](147)

The flurried attacks are at 26 (-2) and 25 (-3).

(26d10)[4][1][9][5][7][6][4][4][7][1][7][9][3][8][1][9][3][8][10][9][8][6][8][4][6][9](156)
(25d10)[6][1][5][2][3][8][8][10][2][1][1][7][1][3][7][3][4][4][9][9][5][7][8][10][3](127)

Stats

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Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]

Essence
Personal: 19/19 (6 committed) [1 spent, 2 gained]
Peripheral: 0/0 (56 committed)
Willpower: 7/10

Attack
Speed 5; Accuracy 27 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + Specialty 3 + Accuracy 3 + Hearthstone 1 + Excellency 10); Damage 9L/4+5 autosux, damage applied twice; Rate 2

Dodge DV: 6 (-2 from Dash)
Parry DV: 13 (-2 from Dash)
Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects

Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

[Mr.Bookworm]

I'm assuming that you're one-die stunting all of your DVs, for a total of 1.

My attacks are at 10, 17, 13, 15, 12, 14, and 12 succeses, respectively.

I definitely can't beat your soak, but I need to roll to see if I beat your Hardness.

Attack damage

(19d10)[7][1][5][9][4][9][4][7][6][8][4][3][2][2][9][4][1][6][3](94)
(26d10)[5][1][4][8][3][5][3][6][3][7][1][9][10][10][10][9][5][1][4][4][1][7][1][7][3][2](129)
(22d10)[5][9][9][7][4][3][2][2][7][1][1][6][10][3][10][3][7][10][1][7][1][2](110)
(24d10)[8][10][10][10][10][5][2][9][1][4][10][9][3][6][1][9][9][2][1][9][5][2][6][1](142)
(21d10)[3][7][6][1][8][2][2][4][6][1][9][2][4][6][2][2][8][2][10][8][9](102)
(23d10)[7][2][3][6][4][8][6][2][7][3][7][1][9][8][8][2][8][8][3][10][6][3][10](131)
(21d10)[2][1][10][10][10][9][9][6][7][5][5][8][9][10][6][8][10][3][1][1][5](135)

[Mr.Bookworm]

Fair warning, I apparently practice black magic. I can't think of another reason for all of those strings of 10s.

Anyway, that's 11, 17, 17, 21, 13, 18, and 21 successes for each attack (+5 autosux from IBT).

The first attack whiffs on Hardness, the other six hit and get taken down to the negatives by your soak.

So that leaves me with a minimum damage of four to roll, six times.

(4d10)[2][5][5][5](17)
(4d10)[4][1][2][7](14)
(4d10)[2][9][10][8](29)
(4d10)[6][4][5][4](19)
(4d10)[6][3][7][2](18)
(4d10)[2][6][8][7](23)

EDIT: And you take 8 levels of lethal damage, in all.

You go again on tick 5 and I'm up to tick 6.

[Xefas]

Are you factoring in the -1 ping from my Starmetal armor?

[Mr.Bookworm]

Ah. No, I'm not. Missed that particular bit of errata.

Knock off the last die of each roll, I guess? That reduces it to 5 levels of lethal.

Annnnnd, still your move.

[Xefas]

When you say '5 levels', are you counting the 10 twice? I don't believe 10s count twice for damage rolls specifically.

----Actions

1) Activating Combo: "The difference between you and I is that you can feel pain." (Green Sun Nimbus Flare, Bitter Heart Unbleeding, All Things Betray)

2) Flurrying two attacks and a jump. Three multiple action penalty, plus two for arms, plus one for stunt, minus one for your anima. So 14, and 13 dice for the attacks. And -3 from my pool for jumping. That makes my horizontal jumping distance 46 yards, I think. Which I believe is enough to hit the invisible wall on the left side of the arena (37 yards back form me), and then some. In lieu of busting out the Pythagorean theorem, I'm assuming that if I can move 37 yards back and 8 yards down, I could do so calculated diagonally as well. Since Green Sun Nimbus Flare is supplemental, I have to use it on every valid action, so that's 6 motes to give my attacks some extra oomph if they hit.

3) +2 motes from the stunt

----Rolls

(14d10)[5][1][9][4][3][10][1][3][4][6][7][8][1][7](69)
(13d10)[10][4][6][8][8][3][6][9][6][2][9][4][2](77)
edit: 6 and 6 successes

----Stats

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Health Levels
-0 [L]
-1 [L][L]
-2 [L][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
-4 [][][][][][]

Essence
Personal: 12/17
Peripheral: 2/2 (+2 this round from stunting)
Willpower: 5/5

Dodge DV: 6 (counting my anima now; -3 flurry penalty)
Parry DV: 6 (counting my anima now; -3 flurry penalty)
Soak: 58B/58L/25A
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects:

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By Pain Reforged - No wound penalties. Not incapacitated by bashing or lethal damage.
Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai - +16 Strength, +16 Stamina, Reduce multiple action penalties by 2.
Slayer Anima - +2 DVs, -1 external penalty to attacks made against me

----New Map

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[Mr.Bookworm]

Actually, I was dashing for three ticks. The initial 9 yards took me to you and then I should be 18 past that, right next to the wall of that building to the left. I'm pretty sure you can't see me.

Also remember, we can move even on ticks where we don't get an action.

When you say '5 levels', are you counting the 10 twice? I don't believe 10s count twice for damage rolls specifically.

Ah, whoops, yes I was. Four levels, then.

2) Flurrying two attacks and a jump. Three multiple action penalty, plus two for arms, plus one for stunt, minus one for your anima.

Minus another one from Blade Lair Discipline on the attacks, too, unless there's a clause about external penalties not stacking I'm missing.

So 14, and 13 dice for the attacks. And -3 from my pool for jumping. That makes my horizontal jumping distance 46 yards, I think. Which I believe is enough to hit the invisible wall on the left side of the arena (37 yards back form me), and then some. In lieu of busting out the Pythagorean theorem, I'm assuming that if I can move 37 yards back and 8 yards down, I could do so calculated diagonally as well.

Fair enough.

Although I don't think you can actually hit me from where you're standing.

[Xefas]

Actually, I was dashing for three ticks. The initial 9 yards took me to you and then I should be 18 past that, right next to the wall of that building to the left. I'm pretty sure you can't see me.

Ah, okay. I'll go amend the map.

Also remember, we can move even on ticks where we don't get an action.

We can?

Minus another one from Blade Lair Discipline on the attacks, too, unless there's a clause about external penalties not stacking I'm missing.

Ah, I'll remember that for next time, but I still miss you either way.

Although I don't think you can actually hit me from where you're standing.

I attacked first and then moved. I can do that, right?

[Mr.Bookworm]

We can?

Yeah, go check the Move action. It's reflexive and isn't actually an action, per se.

I attacked first and then moved. I can do that, right?

Oh, yeah. Alright.

In that case, I'll use Aegis of Glory (AEGIS OF GLORY?) again, activating FSS to stock two reflexive attacks (mote neutral, FSS costs 1m, I gain 2m from the stunt).

Letsee. Dashing takes three ticks, so I can actually move on tick 4. I'll move three yards down and take a Dash action (9 yards) straight towards you.

You went on tick 4, with a Speed of 5, so you go again on tick 9. Dash is Speed 3, so I'll go on tick 8, and I'll be right next to you, due to the Dash.

You want to Move in any way?

[Xefas]

Wow, my mind is blown about movement now. Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to move every single tick? Or at least, I suppose you might still have to flurry it if you used Move on the same tick as the rest of your actions, which would increase the multiple action penalty. But, on non-action ticks, is there a reason not to move?

[Mr.Bookworm]

Wow, my mind is blown about movement now. Is there any reason why you wouldn't want to move every single tick? But, on non-action ticks, is there a reason not to move?

Nope.

It's one of the things that makes Archery and similar in Exalted so good.

I kind of like it, though, as it means you're constantly moving around during a fight.

Or at least, I suppose you might still have to flurry it if you used Move on the same tick as the rest of your actions, which would increase the multiple action penalty.

I don't actually believe moving causes multiple action penalties, as it's reflexive. I could be wrong on that, though.

EDIT: And are you moving, or should I go ahead and roll out the attack?

[Xefas]

Hmm, I don't think there's any point in me moving just yet. So, no. But I am suddenly regretting not fighting on an infinite flat featureless plane. I might've been able to kite you.

[Mr.Bookworm]

Hmm, I don't think there's any point in me moving just yet. So, no. But I am suddenly regretting not fighting on an infinite flat featureless plane. I might've been able to kite you.

Yeah, if this test ends, I'm gonna tinker with Blade a little bit. He's got a few holes in his set (need to pick up Iron Raptor Technique, for one).

Anyway, attacks. I close in, you take your attack of opportunity, and I'll flurry two attacks and use my two reflexive ones, as well.

(26d10)[9][4][8][8][9][1][2][10][4][2][5][5][1][4][9][3][7][7][8][1][1][10][9][3][10][1](141)
(25d10)[9][1][1][10][6][3][3][8][7][1][8][10][6][7][6][4][7][1][7][7][10][3][4][6][5](140)

(28d10)[10][2][5][6][7][4][6][5][6][6][7][2][8][8][8][8][2][9][10][3][4][3][5][9][3][2][10][9](167)
(28d10)[10][9][4][7][3][3][2][2][8][5][9][1][9][6][4][9][1][2][7][4][8][5][1][9][2][4][4][6](144)

You have a DV of 2 (wound penalties subtract directly from DVs and IES takes off another 2), but your anima takes off a success from each attack.

Spoiler

Show

Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]

Essence
Personal: 19/19 (6 committed) [1 spent, 2 gained]
Peripheral: 0/0 (56 committed)
Willpower: 7/10

Attack
Speed 5; Accuracy 27 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + Specialty 3 + Accuracy 3 + Hearthstone 1 + Excellency 10); Damage 9L/4+5 autosux, damage applied twice; Rate 2

Stocked Ref. Attacks: 0 (-2)

Dodge DV: 8
Parry DV: 15
Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects

Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

[Mr.Bookworm]

...actually, excuse me, I've been completely ignoring onslaught penalties this whole time. Probably because FBS is an off-switch for me.

Your DV is 2 for the first attack, 1 for the second, and then 0 for the last two (I'm assuming reflexive attacks contribute to the onslaught penalty?).

So, 15, 14, 15, and 11 suxs, respectively, with 12, 12, 14, and 10 slipping through.

Roll for damage to see if I beat your throbbing green Hardness.

(21d10)[5][10][6][8][2][9][4][5][2][8][5][6][2][5][7][3][5][3][3][9][5](112)
(21d10)[6][5][9][2][7][10][3][7][3][9][8][4][3][10][3][4][4][2][5][5][4](113)
(23d10)[7][3][4][2][1][3][3][10][4][8][2][6][5][3][1][8][8][4][6][4][2][6][9](109)
(19d10)[5][3][3][8][6][2][3][7][5][5][10][3][10][7][9][5][7][4][8](110)

[Mr.Bookworm]

So, with 5 autosux factored in, that's 12, 14, 12, and 15 damage for each attack. All of them go through.

Play the "if minimum damage weren't capped I would be healing you right now" game, and I roll three dice for minimum damage.

(3d10)[5][5][6](16)
(3d10)[6][1][1](8)
(3d10)[5][4][1](10)
(3d10)[1][6][5](12)

EDIT: And wow that was terrible. No damage in the cards for me.

You go on tick 9, I go on tick 13.

[Xefas]

You have a DV of 2 (wound penalties subtract directly from DVs and IES takes off another 2), but your anima takes off a success from each attack.

I'm just about to leave for a 13 hour shift at work, but I popped in to check my bookmarks for a second. Everything looks fine, except I wanted to point out that I don't think I take wound penalties because of By Pain Reforged (permanently modified by By Agony Empowered).

Roll for damage to see if I beat your throbbing green Hardness.

Also, I laughed at this. Because I'm 12 years old on the inside, apparently.

[Xefas]

Sorry for the delay again. I'm looking over my options, and a question comes to mind that I'm having trouble using the internet to answer. The Guard action says that if you abort it early, it doesn't count as an 'action' and doesn't refresh your DVs. Does this imply that if you do not abort it before 3 ticks are up, that it does count as an action?

[Mr.Bookworm]

I'm just about to leave for a 13 hour shift at work, but I popped in to check my bookmarks for a second. Everything looks fine, except I wanted to point out that I don't think I take wound penalties because of By Pain Reforged (permanently modified by By Agony Empowered).

Ah, true enough.

Sorry for the delay again. I'm looking over my options, and a question comes to mind that I'm having trouble using the internet to answer. The Guard action says that if you abort it early, it doesn't count as an 'action' and doesn't refresh your DVs. Does this imply that if you do not abort it before 3 ticks are up, that it does count as an action?

Ayup.

Guard is just the "do-nothing" action.

[Xefas]

----Actions

1) My Celestial Battle Armor heals me a level of Lethal damage every action from its enhanced healing thingie. So, now.

2) I Guard.

3) After three ticks go by, I think it's still my turn? Tick 12, as opposed to you going on tick 13? So, I heal another level of Lethal damage.

4) I'm going to Guard again, which means I'll act on tick 15?

----Stats

Spoiler

Show

Health Levels
-0 [L]
-1 [L][]
-2 [][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][][]
-4 [][][][][][]

Essence
Personal: 12/17
Peripheral: 2/2 (+2 this round from stunting)
Willpower: 5/5

Dodge DV: 9
Parry DV: 9
Soak: 58B/58L/25A
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects:

Spoiler

Show

By Pain Reforged - No wound penalties. Not incapacitated by bashing or lethal damage.
Devil-Tyrant Avatar Shintai - +16 Strength, +16 Stamina, Reduce multiple action penalties by 2.
Slayer Anima - +2 DVs, -1 external penalty to attacks made against me

[Mr.Bookworm]

Looks good.

I activate Justice Fuels the Sun, with Hungry Tiger Technique and aforementioned reflexive stuff, and then flurry two attacks (2m).

Subtract 2 from your DVs (for 7) and then one success from each of my attacks.

(26d10)[2][4][2][9][1][6][10][9][6][8][6][9][6][7][2][9][2][8][3][6][6][10][8][5][10][8](162)
(25d10)[9][8][5][2][4][3][1][1][1][2][10][6][1][7][7][9][6][6][8][3][3][5][4][7][8](126)

Spoiler

Show

Health Levels
-0 [ ]
-1 [ ][ ]
-2 [ ][ ]
-4 [ ]

Essence
Personal: 19/19 (6 committed) [2 spent, 2 gained]
Peripheral: 0/0 (56 committed)
Willpower: 7/10

Attack
Speed 5; Accuracy 27 (Dex 5 + Melee 5 + Specialty 3 + Accuracy 3 + Hearthstone 1 + Excellency 10); Damage 9L/4+5 autosux, damage applied twice; Rate 2

Stocked Ref. Attacks: 0 (-2)

Dodge DV: 8
Parry DV: 15
Soak: 19L/20B
Hardness: 11B/11L

Ongoing Effects

Infinite Melee Mastery (10 free dice)
Fivefold Bulwark Stance (No onslaught penalties)
Protection of Celestial Bliss (No DV penalties from attack, +2 Defense, 3 free perfect parries/discharge when all used)
Flashing Edge of Dawn (Damage dealt twice upon hit)
Immortal Blade Triumphant (No disarming, 5 damage dice converted to autosux, +5 to Parry DV, add stunt/virtue dice to damage, discharge to add 5 autosux to damage and bypass Hardness/Soak)
Perfect Blade Aegis (+2 to Parry DV, counts as Charm-added dice)
Blade Lair Discipline (-1 external penalty on all attacks made on me)
Inexorable Swordsman Spirit (-2 to opponent's DVs on attack)
Dawn anima (+2 to DV, immune to fear, opponents suffer -1 external penalty on attacks)

Freedom Stone (Immune to grappling)
Jewel of the Flying Heart (+1 Dodge DV, +1 to Melee attacks)

[Mr.Bookworm]

Alright, time to fess up. I just realized that I've been screwing up several important parts of the combat process.

You should be dead right now. Due to my miscomprehension of how raw damage works (you don't roll it until you get to Step 10), I should have been bypassing your Hardness on every single attack.

As a byproduct, I didn't understand what IBT did. It converts 5 dice to levels, so all of my attacks should have been dealing 4 levels of lethal to you, instead of rolling it out.

So, uh, that first set of seven attacks? That should have dealt 28 levels of lethal damage to you, killing you more-or-less instantly. You could have perfect soak'd one of them, but then my next attack would have killed you.

So. My bad. What do you want to do now?

[Xefas]

Are you sure? I was fairly certain that automatic levels of damage were soaked before dice of damage. And isn't that what IBT does? Convert damage dice into automatic levels? It doesn't seem to indicate that it deals level of post-soak damage, in the way that Green Sun Nimbus Flare does, for instance.

That is, if I'm understanding what the problem is in the first place.