Abyssal Artifact Idea

[Persell]

I was considering a nifty high-level artifact for a player's newly doomed Abyssal character- specifically a Soulsteel Power Bow with a title something along the lines of "Inevitable Death of Hope."  The effect I had in mind was something along the lines of draining a character's resolve or willpower with successive hits/ damage.


I'm only now beginning to get fully acquainted with Abyssal charms and have never attempted artifact design.  Can anyone suggest some mechanics to back this up?


Thanks!

 

[Hanat-Osul]

Check out the Endings Form if you have the Sidereal book; it handles Virtue drain pretty well.  Sidereals also have a number of effects that blast your temporary willpower.


But think of how it works: does the effect prey on weakness in the victim's soul, or turn his strengths against him?  Once you figure that out, you'll be much closer to figuring out a mechanic.  


Keep in mind that a resisted roll gives the victim a better chance at avoiding the effect than setting one of their stats as the difficulty (i.e. "difficulty equal to the target's Compassion/ permanent Essence/ etc.").

 

[Persell]

I had assumed that there would have to be a roll for the potential victim to resist the effect.  I just need suggestions for the mechanic for it.  Futher I am only talking about eroding temporary will power here... or perhaps limiting the ability to use it.


My thought is that the effect would actually described as a the powers of Oblivion eroding any sense of hope or resistance within the target until at last in the end, they are so demoralized ro resigned to the ultimate success of the Malfeans that they simply can not muster the will to oppose them.


Again- this would -to my mind- have to be an opposed roll, but would be highly effective against low level adversaries and in the long term make it more and more difficult for more powerful opponents as well...keeping them from using Comboes etc.


As an alternative maybe the effect could increase the willpower costs for comboes and the like instead...


Any suggestions?

 

[Forn Clakes]

The character using the bow can spend a number of motes (5?) on a single shot that does no damage.  Instead, for every health level of damage caused, a single point of temporary Willpower is removed instead, as well as the motes for being a Soulsteel weapon.


Thoughts?


~FC.

 

[Hanat-Osul]

Alternately: pay a flat mote cost (3-5) to augment an attack.  If the shot hits and does damage (rolls at least 1 damage die), the archer rolls [Manipulation + Archery?]* vs. victim's Conviction + Essence.  If they fail the roll, the victim loses a number of temporary Willpower points equal to the archer's permanent Essence (or Conviction?)*.  This will be strong against mortals & low-level Exalts by default, since their Essence is 1 or 2.


*This is where the nature of the attack comes in: deciding which stats the archer uses.

 

[Forn Clakes]

That sounds like it could stretch combat out a bit.  I was basing my idea on the bow described in the Book of Bone & Ebony, the one where a shot can bring a victim back as one of the walking dead if they die from the shot.  If they don't die, then the shot is wasted.  Simple yet effective.


~FC.

 

[Hanat-Osul]

True... although that's a shitload of WP we're talking about.


It's in Eldred's court now, I suppose.


Have at it, sir.

 

[Forn Clakes]

True... although that's a shitload of WP we're talking about.

I suppose so....howabout....er....no, nothing's happening....


~FC.

 

[Persell]

Thanks for the suggestions!


I rather like Hanat's variation.


It allows for a reistance role on behalf of a victim (which could be conveniently ignored for minor opponents).  Further it mechanically represents the erosion of conviction, hope and drive.


The sheer numbers of Forn's option are a little daunting.  This is Exalted after all- the potential for doing 10 levels of temporary Willpower damage to an opponent is pretty high.


Any other suggestions or things I should consider?

 

[Forn Clakes]

I have one final suggestion, one last stab to sway you to the FC side rather than Mr. Osul's...


When the bow is fired and hits the target, a connection is made between the Abyssal and his victim.  The Abyssal attempts to drain the target's will by attacking their weakest virtue, corroding the part of them that makes up their 'lesser' self.  Once struck, and damage is dealt or not dealt, the Abyssal enters a contest of Virtues with the target; the Deathknight rolling his highest while the target rolls their lowest.  For every success the Abyssal achieves over the target, drains a point of temporary Willpower.


Well?


~FC.

 

[Hanat-Osul]

I have one final suggestion, one last stab to sway you to the FC side rather than Mr. Osul's...
When the bow is fired and hits the target, a connection is made between the Abyssal and his victim.  The Abyssal attempts to drain the target's will by attacking their weakest virtue, corroding the part of them that makes up their 'lesser' self.  Once struck, and damage is dealt or not dealt, the Abyssal enters a contest of Virtues with the target; the Deathknight rolling his highest while the target rolls their lowest.  For every success the Abyssal achieves over the target, drains a point of temporary Willpower.


Well?


~FC.

THAT is what I'm talkin' about.  Yes, yes, yes.  Put a high enough mote cost on this attack (5, I'd say), and you've got a winner.