New Action: Melee Shot

[wayne]

Here's one to help out those characters who have a weapon-based shtick. Enjoy!

<<EDIT: Lowered the cost to AN+1, reworded Action Box>>

MELEE SHOT
Cost = Action Number + 1

Description
This is the ability to generate ranged attacks of concussive force, similar to a force blast, from a melee weapon. The weapon is up to you, but must be a melee weapon, and must be decided on when the Action is purchased. Swords, staffs, knives, axes, etc. are all legitimate examples of valid weapons. Your character can only make use of this Action if wielding the appropriate weapon.

The force the weapon generates can be described however you like, and can be generated psionically, magically, or any other way you want--but the actual attack itself is simple concussive force, like a shockwave.

The range of the attack is 4, and the attack can, at will, manifest as a wide arc or swath. Not exactly an area attack, this arc is only 2-dimensional, and can be avoided by using Reflexive Dodge. However, it does hit multiple items in a line--the spread can be determined by using the Area row of the D&R Chart and doubling the given "radius". The arc can be made vertical, horizonal, or even angled.

A free weapon modifier is included with this Action, although it must be the type of weapon that the power can be channeled through.

Options

• -1 to Cost Level if a specific sword/staff/etc. is required to use this Action
  
• +1 to Cost Level to have the attack be of an element other than concussive

Comments
Identified as Sword Shot, Bo Shot, etc., this can make melee-based characters--especially swordsman--much more interesting.

Rule for Action Box:

• Requires <insert melee weapon of choice>
  
• Weapon Modifier
  
• Concussive force blast
  
• Range of 4
  
• Can create an arc (hits like area attack but in 2D, can be Reflexive Dodged)

[tenguitarz]

I like it! Exactly what my character Jacob Hergood needs. I'm restatting him right now, actually. Hehe. I think the cost is pretty well balanced.

[etcetc]

Hmm, this strikes me (no pun intended) as Force Blast with a weapon requirement and a funky area effect.

I would drop the cost to AN+1 and ditch the element limitation meself.

Regardless, it's a cool power. ;D

[wayne]

Carl said:

Hmm, this strikes me (no pun intended) as Force Blast with a weapon requirement and a funky area effect.

I would drop the cost to AN+1 and ditch the element limitation meself.

Regardless, it's a cool power. ;D

Thanks Carl!

The reason for the cost was I actually based it around Ranged Combat; the +2 was simply for the "area" effect and the fact that you no longer have to worry about running out of bullets/arrows/etc. Although I think you may be right though... RC doesn't limit you to one weapon type, and gives you specialties that you can exploit for free stones (at least occasionally.) I'll make an update.

As for the elemental bonus... well, to be honest I'm rather iffy about it myself, and would probably let a player in our group ditch the extra cost if he insisted. I'm just nervous that someone will find a way to abuse this as an elemental Force Blast with +2 added on (er, +1 now) for a cheap Weapon Modifier option. Oh well, YMMV.

-Wayne

[etcetc]

Doh! That'll teach me not to read. I didn't even see the Weapon Modifier in there. AN+2 is fine in that case, maybe even AN+3, but I'd still wouldn't restrict the element, as it seems in genre to slash out a wave of lightning or whatever with your sword.

On second thought, AN+3 is too harsh. AN+2 I says.

And I reserve the right to change my opinion again if I've made yet another mistake.

[wayne]

Carl said:

Doh! That'll teach me not to read. I didn't even see the Weapon Modifier in there. AN+2 is fine in that case, maybe even AN+3, but I'd still wouldn't restrict the element, as it seems in genre to slash out a wave of lightning or whatever with your sword.

On second thought, AN+3 is too harsh. AN+2 I says.

And I reserve the right to change my opinion again if I've made yet another mistake.

Too late! You've influenced the cost already, and doggone it, it's staying! (J/K ;D)

Seriously though, you could just take it with an element, and the cost winds up being AN+2... just think of it as a discount for a plain ol' concussive blast. (I would think most GMs would let their players use elemental blasts for specific effects--like using electricity to short out computers as well as cause damage, have water/ice slick the floor as a side-effect, etc.)

-Wayne

[tenguitarz]

Another idea I had was to make it AN+3 and give it the "Area Effect or 2x Damage, but not at the same time" option.

But as it stands (AN+1) for AN+3 you could buy 2x Damage and have it with the area effect as well, so nevermind. Hehe.

[ArtOfMagic]

Lets see,

Ancestral Blade AN+3
Close or Ranged Combat
Sword holds a magical charge of concussive energy, issues at mental command)

Is that balanced on everyone's opinion?

Is it based on Avenger's rule or a house rule? I already returned Avenger's book.

I just remember that Closecombat was AN+1.

Perhaps ranged was AN+2 if using unlimited bullets and AN+3 if weapon has them both.