Explosives as defense systems!

[greasy golem gunk]

As I understand it, a modernday Main Battle Tank (MBT) can be covered in individual Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA); ERA essentially protects the Tank from taking serious damage by giving the attack a More than equal and opposite reaction; ERA's explosion knocks the attack off course, it disables the explosive head on the weapon, and generally pushes the attack away, saving the normal armor from what could have been a serious attack.


The above just illustrates the inspiration for a new Artifact idea (I'm picturing from rating 3-4)  I picture a large shield (probably just Orichalcum, but people are free to apply it to whatever), with a single hearthstone mount (the stone is used for power, rather than giving the user a normal benefit).  


The shield reacts to contact with an attack by setting off an Essence-based shockwave, causing arrows to fly away, melee assaults to be softened and perhaps even disarmed, and generally causing shit to move away from the user in a cartoonish manner.


Trouble is, I don't have clear game mechanics in mind.  An obvious solution is that it reduces damage rolled, but with a successful parry, no damage is rolled anyway, and I don't see the shield as a work around for "immune to parry" attacks.  


Does this sound reasonable: Base Defense Bonus of 3, and on an incomplete parry (where the attack might be weakened, but it still hits) the shield responds with a Knockback attack (diff 3).  On a successful parry (where the attack is unable to harm the user), it inflicts knockback and attempts a disarming attack, and on a Failed parry (no successes), it merely looks pretty?


I'm leaning toward "Disarm", since Bo3C suggested armors might be enchanted to do such a thing (but by causing the weapon to become attached rather than flying away), and a shield that uses severe force to push an attack away should cause a foe to become concerned about holding on to their weapon.  


Maybe a Disarm attempt is only made if the attacker fails their knockback save?


I'm not really sure how this "ERA" sheild should work in 2nd Ed, since the system doesn't have an "incomplete" parry system.  


Thoughts?


-g3

 

[Jakk Bey]

The shield automatically repels normal arrows and missiles.  It just blows them back.  Essence driven missile attacks get the 3 Def Bonus adjustment--except for attacks that can't be parried, of course.


Melee attacks, give the Defense Bonus, and if the parry is successful, the attacker is subjected to a counter attack, that does knockback and Bashing damage, equal how much they flubbed the attack, and additionally, the attacker must also check Dex+Melee to hold onto their weapon, with the same difficulty as the attack against them, and gives them a modifier to their next tick?

 

[Persell]

There are several canon effects already in place you could mimick with your mechanics. There is a terrestrial and a celestial spell with protective properties against ranged attacks (both core rulebook IIRC) and the dragon blooded book features wind armour charms which do pretty much the same. Pick whatever suits you best and copy it. No need to invent the wheel again if someone has already done all the work.


Depending on the artifact level I would probably take the spell versions over the charms.

 

[greasy golem gunk]

"Shield of the Typhoon"


Artifact 4 (because while each effect isn't all that big, they stack up in rapid order).


Adds 3 to Wearers Parry DV for ranged attacks, 2 to Parry Dv in Melee.


Automatically deflects mundane missle attacks (arrows, rocks, empty cans...)


A successful parry


1.) counter attacks at (Parry DV - successes), inflicting Knockback and Bashing Damage


2.) IF the attacking character suffers knockback, a (diff 2) Dex+Weapon skill roll must be made to keep hold of weapon.


3.) The failed attacker faces an additional -1 on their DV until their next action?  (They're off balance, you see).  


A failed parry


1.) Hurts the wearer.  Probably a lot, if you're being attacked by another exalt.


That look reasonable?


-g3

 

[Persell]

Whose successes are you speaking of? the attackers I guess.


You know... it is going to knockback very rarely then. Lets say you have DV 14 and get hit by someone with 7 successes (dicepool 14, swordprincess with daiklaive unboosted). then your counterattack is a meager of 8 successes or dice (depending on your ruling, your wording is not clear). 8 successes is not going to do much in a fight exalt vs. exalt.


I'd rule that counterattack rolls essence of the shieldbearer+melee (+apropriate specialities) and I'd let him use excellencies on the roll if he can i.e. has not used a charm yet or infinte mastery up etc.


The roll to keep hold of the weapon should probably be strength+melee instead of dexterity. it seems more like a feat of strength to me.


Will you leave it generic or do you want to add specific MM bonuses, too?

 

[Gtroc]

also, if you botch, you should fly back a number of yards equal to your rating or some such. it would look sooooooo cool! sword swings, the shield blocks, the character goes flying away at high velocity. goodtimes!

 

[greasy golem gunk]

Old topic, but I'm biased


So, assuming my shield makes BIG EXPLODY essence blasts that inflict a cone-shaped push wave (fancy words, I know), what happens in mass combat?  


Same question could apply to that polearm in "Exalted: the new-new-new artifact book", which also throws extras around like ragdolls.  Would a weapon like this route, or temporaily reduce a units magnitude, or just render a user "unassailible" for that tick while the armed rag dolls pick themselves up again?


-g3.1

 

[Flagg]

Why not just copy the effect of Dolorous Reflection?


Or, if you want to to be more powerful, make it a perfect block against ranged attacks.


-S

 

[greasy golem gunk]

Hrmm..  a tick-length terrestrial circle spell that activates upon successful Parry DV checks? Sign me up!


(and radically increase proposed artifact commit costs)


-g3

 

[Sherwood]

Something like that would be a great addition to a Warstrider.  I can almost picture the scene:  Balista and catapult rounds being casually shrugged aside as the war machine slowly advances on the city gates...


Here is a thought.  What would the effect of this shield be on spells like Flying Gillotine?  It is a ranged attack, so what would happen?  If it does work vs spells, what would be the artifact cost for such a thing?