RULES UPDATE FOR 03/05/23
These changes to Banners, Chainsaws, and other game mechanics are effective immediately and are retroactive.
BANNER UPDATE
Update Overview: This update improves every Banner Augment, though the power increase varies from item to item. The first objective for this update was to create more parity between the different types of Banners while keeping their main abilities. The second objective was to allow them to be used by more people than just Counselors with Inspiring Aspect.
Specific Changes
Vivid (no special requirements)
Original Text:
After a Conc-5, you may invoke “Vivid Banner” and imbue “Resolve 1” as a ranged effect (via spell packet) while in your Inspiring Aspect. Also, use the Resist Fear skill as though you had it. Everytime it is used, confer its effects to one person you touch with a hand or a melee weapon.
Current Text:
You can use “Resist Fear” as though you had it, conferring its benefits to yourself and an ally via melee touch. Also, while attuned to Inspiring or Soothing Aspect, you can perform a Conc-5 and invoke “Vivid Banner” to imbue “Resolve 1” via ranged packet/dart.
Banshee (requires Magical ability to make; penalizes non-Necrotic PCs)
Original Text:
While affected by Inspiring Aspect, perform a Conc-5 and expend your Valorous status to perform a ranged attack that inflicts “Piercing 2 Psychic”
Current Text:
While attuned to any Counselor Aspect, perform a Conc-5 and invoke “Banshee Banner” to project terror via ranged packet/dart, inflicting “Piercing 2 Psychic”.
If you are also “Valorous”, you can expend it to invoke this property as “Banshee Howl” instead and turn it into a “Wave 3 attack”, with the option of inflicting “Piercing Knockback”
Bravery Runes (requires Magical ability to make, but not use)
Original Text:
Use the Resist Fear and Resist Warp skills as though you had them. Whenever you use one of those Skills, you may also confer its benefits (including negating Shadow or Psychic damage) via melee touch to one person.
Current Text:
Enchanted runes allow you to use “Resist Fear” and “Resist Warp” as though you had them. When using either Skill, you confer its benefits to yourself and an ally via melee touch. Furthermore - while attuned to any Counselor Aspect, you may perform a Conc-5 and invoke “Bravery Banner” to imbue an ally with a “Cure Strike” via melee touch.
Magna Beacon (Requires Magna-field)
-- Valorous or Cnc-5: "Cure Strike", "Resolve 1" or "Painful revive"
While you are affected by Inspiring Aspect, you may expend Valorous to jolt an ally via touch or spell packet, imbuing them with “Cure Strike” or “Resolve 1”.
Current Text:
While generating a Magna-Field, perform a Conc-5 and invoke “Magna Beacon” to imbue “Cure Strike” on an ally by melee touch.
If you are attuned to Inspiring or Soothing Aspect, you may imbue “Resolve 1” instead.
Macana Banner (Apex tech, requires Hyper-refined Etherite & magna-field)
Original Text:
Instead of granting Resolve to others via the Inspiring Aspect skill, you may instead grant them the following effect: “Your next basic melee attack within 30 seconds inflicts ‘2 lightning’”. This may be increased to “3 lightning” if you have the Greater Inspiring Aspect skill.
Current Text:
While generating a Magna-Field, you may use “Resist Blizzard” and “Resist Magnastorm” as though you had them, conferring their benefits to yourself and an ally via melee touch.
Also, while attuned to any Counselor Aspect, you may perform a Conc-5, invoke “Macana Banner”, and then touch two melee weapons to electrify or superheat them. If needed, clarify the following “Your next melee attack within 30 seconds inflicts ‘2 lightning’ (or 2 flame) instead of what it would normally inflict”
Oculisk Banner (xeno-tech, requires Flesh of the Empress)
Original Text:
While affected by Inspiring Aspect, expend the Valorous to negate an non-Physical damaging attack that struck an ally that you touch with a hand or a melee weapon. Invoke this defense as “Oculisk Banner, negate”.
Current Text:
While attuned to any Counselor Aspect, this alien Warbanner can absorb energy attacks (i.e. non-Physical damage) that hit your allies. To do so, touch the affected ally (non-self) within 2 seconds of the attack, then invoke “Oculisk Beacon: Negate” and self-inflict “2 damage”.
However, if you are “Valorous”, expend it to invoke “Oculisk Valor: Negate” instead - this waives the Self-Inflict and can be used to defend yourself from an energy attacks. As a Step effect, imbue “Resolve 1” to yourself or an ally via melee touch.
Crystalline BANNER (requires magical ability to craft and to use)
Original Text:
While affected by Inspiring Aspect, expend Valorous to negate a Flame, Frost, or Lightning attack that just struck an ally that you touch with a hand or a melee weapon. Invoke this defense as “Crystalline Banner, negate”.
Current Text:
While wielding this Warbanner and attuned to any Etheric Sphere, your Damage, Healing, and Resolve spells are improved by 1 point when used on others.
If you are also attuned to any Counselor Aspect, you can shield allies from Flame, Frost, or Lightning attacks. To do this, touch the affected ally (non-self) within 2 seconds of the attack and self-inflict “2 damage” to negate it. Invoke this defense as “Crystal Banner: negate”.
OTHER Updates
Chainsaw (or Grav-Hammer) weapon Augment
Original Text:
Invoke “Chainsaw” (or Grav-hammer) and augment a basic attack. It inflicts “3 damage” and self-inflicts “2 lightning”. The attack’s damage type may be altered by Smite enhancements, but it cannot be increased or turned into Piercing. Alternatively, after a Conc-5, invoke “Chainsaw” ( or Grav-Hammer) inflict a “Basic Disarm” on a basic lock/trap/rope/chain — this destroys it without anything to salvage.
Current Text:
After a Conc-5, invoke “Chainsaw” (or Grav-hammer) and augment a basic attack. It inflicts “2 damage” . The attack’s damage type may be altered by Smite enhancements, but it cannot be increased or turned into Piercing. Alternatively, “Chainsaw” ( or Grav-Hammer) can inflict a “Basic Disarm” on a basic lock/trap/rope/chain — this destroys it without anything to salvage.
Clarify on Melee Touch
A Skill that mentions “Melee Touch” requires the user to touch* their target via the user’s hand or melee weapon. This touch must be on a legal targeting area on the target’s body.
Unless otherwise stated, the effect must be invoked while touching the target and it must be delivered immediately after the Skill is invoked.
*While it is BTF Policy to ask before engaging in physical RP, the game system assumes that an individual who is playing is okay with being hit in the legal target areas (e.g. torso, legs (not feet), arms, empty hands). Generally speaking, the arms and the shoulders are open to touch but grabbing and similarly prolonged or engaged physical contact requires permission.
Clarify on Self-Inflict
When a Character uses a Skill that includes Self-inflict effects, they take the listed amount of damage (usually “2 damage”) as part of using the Skill.
Self-Inflicted damage typically represents brutal exhaustion, blood sacrifice, or equipment backlash as a consequence of using a Skill. For example, using the Strength skill self-inflicts “2 damage”, which reflects its toll on the human body.
Self-Inflict effects are never subject to the Rule of Rapid Numbers. Therefore, if an individual uses “Strength” three times within a single second, they receive a total of 6 damage.
New Service Point Reward: CONTEMPLATION
Cost: 300 SVP
You look at the mirror. Are you really the same person you thought you were?
Effect: You may re-select your Character's Class Aptitudes, Starting Skills, and Perks, changing from your original choices. This has the following restrictions:
You cannot re-select an Aptitude, Skill, or Perk that is currently a Requirement or provides a Requirement for any of your Skills.
The following Perks cannot be re-selected: Grafted (gain a Graft Stigmata), Marked (gain a Bloodline Stigmata), or Distinguished (Start at Loyalty T2).
While you cannot re-select the Grafted or Marked perk, you may change your choice of Stigmata Trait you received for the Perk.
You only have the original “menu” of options from Character Creation. For example, even if your Counselor has the Multi-Class Milestone, they cannot re-select one of their Counselor Aptitudes and pick a Warrior one in its place.
Special: A Character may only benefit once from this.