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Old 08-23-2009, 02:57 PM   Top  -  End  -  #1
JoshuaZ
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Default The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

"This study could as well be a study in irony rather than a study in The Sublime Way. Our internal disputes for so long have focused on which of the nine discipline was supreme. Despite that, in our readiness to now fight amongst our brethren, we have learned how foolish that argument is; None of the nine are supreme. Truly, they are not even distinct paths. There is only one Sublime Way. If Reshar is watching, even as he takes joy in our work, he must be crying at what it took for us to get to here."
- Words written by the last Master of the Diamond Mind, from an apparently unfinished letter found in the ruins of the Temple of Nine Swords. The intended recipient is unknown.

After the exile of the Shadow and Tiger Masters from the Temple of Nine Swords, some of the remaining Masters worried that they might one day need to combat the other the two renegade Masters along with possibly some of their apprentices who had left with them that day. Thus, they considered attempting to develop martial skills devoted to defeating other martial adepts. The Council of Masters officially decided not to condone such study, believing that it would further inflame the tensions in the Temple. Despite this, the Master of Stone Dragon, Master of Diamond Mind, one of the best apprentices of White Raven, and the new Master of the Shadow Hand and a handful of lesser apprentices worked together to develop a new discipline.

To develop this new discipline, they tried to focus on the commonalities among all the martial disciplines to thus better understand their weaknesses. The discipline they tried to develop revealed to them that all martial disciplines could be best thought of as facets of a single all encompassing discipline. Truly, there was only one Sublime Way. Due to the lack of official approval, only a small number studied the discipline.

The discipline was not finished by the time the attack of the Shadow Tiger army came. Indeed, some historians and swordsages have pointed to an additional irony that if the Masters studying this discipline has instead turned their sight outwards they might have noticed the gathering armies in time.

After the fall of the Temple, a handful of the surviving apprentices who had studied the basics of the discipline gathered together. They decided to honor their fallen masters and honor the philosophy of the Temple by completing the new discipline and teaching it to others. However, the discipline did not have the wide-ranging ability to completely encompass all disciplines as they had hoped. Whether this was due to a flaw in the underlying philosophy or the fact that they were simply not as skilled as the great Masters is unknown.

Where the name of the discipline came from is also uncertain. It may have arisen from the disciplines ability to defeat other martial adepts or possibly out of memory for the fallen Temple of Nine Swords. Still others say that the Blade in the title is in fact a stand in for the misconception that the different disciplines are fundamentally different and that this blade must be broken to truly understand this discipline.

The associated skill of The Broken Blade is martial lore. The associated weapons are Scimitar, Falchion, Rapier, Bastard Sword, Longsword, Short Sword, Unarmed Strike, Greatsword, Dagger. Additionally, if you know a maneuver from any discipline you may treat any weapon from that discipline that you are proficient in as being associated to the Broken Blade.

While the discipline is open to Warblades, Crusaders and Swordsages, it is the third by far who are most likely to take maneuvers in this discipline. The nature of the discipline appeals to Swordsages due to its emphasis on taking an overarching view of the Sublime Way. Warblades who study this discipline frequently due so simply for the advantage the discipline gives to combating rival Warblades. Crusaders study the discipline for similar reasons although few Crusaders are able to reach the height of the discipline.

Many so-called Masters of Nine also study this Discipline, for obvious reasons. Indeed, some say that the first Masters of Nine were the apprentices who made this discipline.

Mechanically speaking, this makes Masters of Nine able to take maneuvers from this discipline as if it were one of the Nine.

A note about prerequisites: Maneuvers from The Broken Blade have a special set of prerequisites. In addition to requiring a certain number of maneuvers from The Broken Blade, maneuvers also require a certain number of maneuvers known from distinct other disciplines.

Last edited by JoshuaZ : 08-25-2009 at 03:36 PM.
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Old 08-23-2009, 02:58 PM   Top  -  End  -  #2
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

The Broken Blade Maneuver Summary List

1st Level
Give the Adept Pause:: Strike- target has one readied maneuver expended
Way of the Sudden Snake: Stance - lets you move quickly into other stances
Watch While Unseen: Stance- Provides a bonus to martial lore checks

2nd Level
Save the Civilian, Hurt the Soldier: Strike- Does an extra 1d6 damage against targets and does 2d6 more against martial adepts
Guard against the Coming Blade: Stance- Provides benefits against martial maneuvers.
See the Strike that is to Be: Strike- Let's you know what maneuvers an opponent has prepared

3rd Level
Give the Adept Harm: Strike: Target loses a readied maneuver and takes damage based on the level of the maneuver lost.
Stop the Soldier: Strike- Target's initiator level is reduced.

4th Level
Tale of the Double-Edged Blade: Strike- Deals damage to a target based on what sort of damage maneuvers they have prepared can deal.
See the True Path: Stance- Provides bonuses to skill checks associated to maneuvers.

5th Level
Return the Favor: Counter- Duplicates a martial strike that targeted you.
Disarm the Adept: Strike- You make a special strike to disarm your foe.
Conflict of Equal Forces Counter- You nullify a martial strike made against you.

6th Level
Throw off the Master: Strike- Strike disrupts stance target is in.
Walk the True Path: Stance- Get a bonus to hit when initiating a martial maneuver. Opponents initiating martial maneuvers always provoke an attack of opportunity.
Disarm the Master: Counter-You make a disarm attempt as someone else makes an attack against you.

7th Level
Lesser Strike of the True Path: Strike- Duplicates a strike of level 4 or below.
Lore of the True Path: Counter- Replace a saving throw with a martial lore check.


8th Level
Steal Maneuver: Strike- Reach into opponents mind and steal a maneuver.
Walk the True Path: Stance- Gain a +5 bonus on all saves against martial maneuvers
Unexpected Counter: Counter - Duplicates a counter you know of level 4 or below.

9th Level
Strike of the True Path: Strike- Duplicates a strike you know of level 7 or below.
Break the Blade, Wipe the Mind: Strike- Permanently removes a targets ability to use certain martial maneuvers.

Last edited by JoshuaZ : 07-06-2010 at 07:45 AM.
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Old 08-23-2009, 02:59 PM   Top  -  End  -  #3
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

The Broken Blade Maneuver List

1st Level

Spoiler


2nd Level

Spoiler


3rd Level

Spoiler


4th Level

Spoiler


5th Level
Spoiler


6th level

Spoiler


7th Level

Spoiler


8th Level

Spoiler


9th Level

Spoiler

Last edited by JoshuaZ : 03-07-2010 at 05:51 PM. Reason: clock to blade
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Old 08-23-2009, 03:58 PM   Top  -  End  -  #4
DracoDei
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Decent concept, haven't looked at the maneuvers. Making Martial Lore the key skill makes sense fluff wise, but definitely makes it more easy to use since many martial adepts might take that skill anyway (I think?). Many typos... (I shall more comment later.. I hope).

EDIT:
Most maneuvers NEED MOAR FLUFF!


Quote:
Way of the Sudden Snake
The Broken Blade (stance)
Level: Crusader 1, Swordsage 1, Warblade 1
Prerequisites: 1 The Broken Clock maneuver, one maneuver from another discipline
Should be Blade, not Clock.

Also, the "Maneuvers from another discipline" requirements are almost always going to be totally trivial to meet for swordsages. Sorry, haven't looked at higher level maneuvers and will need to think to decide if this is relevant.
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Last edited by DracoDei : 08-23-2009 at 04:20 PM.
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Old 08-23-2009, 04:05 PM   Top  -  End  -  #5
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by DracoDei View Post
Decent concept, haven't looked at the maneuvers. Making Martial Lore he key skill makes sense fluff wise, but definitely makes it more easy to use since many martial adepts might take that skill anyway (I think?). Many typos... (I shall more comment later.. I hope).
I think I've caught most of the typos. If there are any more you see, let me know. Regarding the use of martial law as the associated skill- In practice unless one has a very ToB heavy campaign, people won't always max it out (since it has a very narrow range of uses). Generally an associated skill provides substantial benefits outside direct combat whereas martial lore really doesn't do that so I think that keeps it more or less balanced. Does that make sense or am I completely off?
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Old 08-23-2009, 04:24 PM   Top  -  End  -  #6
DracoDei
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Actually, that sounds about right...

Anyway, do you think that this discipline takes itself very seriously compared to other disciplines? I am wondering if this and my Falling Anvil Discipline should be mutually exclusive.

Upon further looking, I think the other discipline maneuver requirements start getting serious at higher levels... at lower levels they don't mean much USUALLY.

EDIT:
Quote:
Due to the lack of official appraisal,
approval

Quote:
the fact that they were simply not as skilled as the great Masters
is unknown.
Unnecessary line-break (concealed since a line-break happens there automatically when one is editing.
Quote:
Warbladess
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Last edited by DracoDei : 08-23-2009 at 04:33 PM.
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Old 08-25-2009, 04:42 PM   Top  -  End  -  #7
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by DracoDei View Post
Actually, that sounds about right...

Anyway, do you think that this discipline takes itself very seriously compared to other disciplines? I am wondering if this and my Falling Anvil Discipline should be mutually exclusive.
Yeah, it is a pretty serious discipline. But it doesn't seem more serious than any of the other official ones (although the fluff for this one is a bit depressing).


Quote:
Upon further looking, I think the other discipline maneuver requirements start getting serious at higher levels... at lower levels they don't mean much USUALLY.
Not sure I followed you here. What do you mean?
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Old 08-25-2009, 04:49 PM   Top  -  End  -  #8
Elfin
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

The fluff is great; the mechanics need some work.
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Last edited by Elfin : 08-25-2009 at 04:53 PM.
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Old 08-25-2009, 05:17 PM   Top  -  End  -  #9
The Dark Fiddler
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshuaZ View Post
The Broken Blade Maneuver List

1st Level

Spoiler
I don't have ToB, so for all I know, there is a Broken Clock discipline, but I assume this should be The Broken Blade.
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Old 08-25-2009, 05:36 PM   Top  -  End  -  #10
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Dark Fiddler View Post
I don't have ToB, so for all I know, there is a Broken Clock discipline, but I assume this should be The Broken Blade.
Eh yep. I was working earlier on a Broken Clock discipline that would revolve around maneuvers which involved manipulating time but never finished it. I must have been thinking of that when I wrote that.

So, now that we've gotten through all the issues related to my being incompetent, unable to spell, unable to format and unable to keep track of what I'm writing at one time, is this balanced? Are there other issues?
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Old 08-13-2010, 03:13 PM   Top  -  End  -  #11
Xzoltar
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

In a Online Rokugan campaign I play we have start to use this new School and its working great, its still low level, but in that kind of setting this is truly a nice school to have.

By chance, do you have other work for this school, not yet posted ? Seem to lack 1st level maneuver while having 2 stance...

Good work so far

I know its quite old, could have write a PM instead, but just in case other are interested on working on it :P

Last edited by Xzoltar : 08-13-2010 at 03:14 PM.
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Old 08-15-2010, 12:10 AM   Top  -  End  -  #12
Danzig
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Lightbulb Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshuaZ View Post
Eh yep. I was working earlier on a Broken Clock discipline that would revolve around maneuvers which involved manipulating time but never finished it. I must have been thinking of that when I wrote that.
Actually, there is a time discipline... ErrantX made it, and it's called Riven Hourglass. But I don't see why there couldn't be two separate disciplines based on controlling time. After all, there's White Raven and Scarlet Bravura, which both deal with team tactics, so two rival temporal disciplines aren't a problem.

If you ever wrote up that time discipline, I'd sure as hell use it.
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Old 08-15-2010, 01:52 PM   Top  -  End  -  #13
JoshuaZ
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xzoltar View Post
In a Online Rokugan campaign I play we have start to use this new School and its working great, its still low level, but in that kind of setting this is truly a nice school to have.
That sounds great. If you have any feedback/details for me to tweek this I'd love to hear them.

Quote:
By chance, do you have other work for this school, not yet posted ? Seem to lack 1st level maneuver while having 2 stance...
Yeah, I know that having a 2nd first level maneuver would be good but I didn't have any ideas that really seemed to fit.

There are some feats that I posted here but I'm not convinced that they've been sufficiently examined.
Good work so far

[quote]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Danzig View Post
Actually, there is a time discipline... ErrantX made it, and it's called Riven Hourglass. But I don't see why there couldn't be two separate disciplines based on controlling time. After all, there's White Raven and Scarlet Bravura, which both deal with team tactics, so two rival temporal disciplines aren't a problem.

If you ever wrote up that time discipline, I'd sure as hell use it.
Hmm, oddly similar name. I haven't finished that discipline (and might not since I wasn't happy with the way it was going- had good fluff but mechanics were difficult to do). If I have time in the future I'll try to finish it and post it.
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Old 08-15-2010, 11:45 PM   Top  -  End  -  #14
DracoDei
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshuaZ View Post
Quote:
Upon further looking, I think the other discipline maneuver requirements start getting serious at higher levels... at lower levels they don't mean much USUALLY.
Not sure I followed you here. What do you mean?
I probably meant that the pre-requisites for maneuvers known from other disciplines to learn one of these maneuvers are not trivial at high levels, although they ARE trivial at lower levels.
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My Homebrew is meant to be used, but, if you do, PLEASE tell me how it goes.
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Old 08-17-2010, 09:48 AM   Top  -  End  -  #15
Roland St. Jude
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Default Re: The Broken Blade (3.5 ToB Discipline) PEACH

Sheriff of Moddingham: Thread Necromancy. Please don't. Also, calling out that you know something is against the rules while doing it is not a good idea.
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