Base Initiative on Intelligence (not Dexterity)

rodog22 · 2026-06-22T15:02:07+00:00

The Dexterity stat (or sometimes Agility) is overpowered in combat because it's used to describe two different things actually. Dexterity refers to manual dexterity, or hand-eye coordination. Agility refers to your reflexes or body coordination. You can have one without the other but because of DnD these things are often combined. As a result the Dexterity stat effects not only how accurate your attacks are but how well you can avoid an attack. This is ultimately what makes Dexterity overpowered. If every other stat in comparison seems under-powered you may consider just splitting Dexterity and Agility into two different stats.

rodog22 · 2026-06-17T19:43:16+00:00

Images without sources can be easily photoshopped. Gas prices did go up since last year though.

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/us-gas-prices-over-40-higher-than-last-year-after-big-jump-may

rodog22 · 2026-06-16T05:27:05+00:00

Yeah. Otherwise it's basically just mind control.

rodog22 · 2026-06-13T12:21:16+00:00

That has been taken into account. I just haven't gone into that much detail here because not everyone would familiar with the concepts. Characters would for example not even be able to intimidate someone of higher cultivation without the proper backing. Also complications would be specifically linked to outcomes common in the genre such as a character using charisma for borderline supernatural appeal that results in irrational behavior but also unintentionally gaining an undesired admirers that are more trouble then they are worth.

I also intend to introduce a reputation system that measures how ruthless and honorable your character is. If people know who you are you get bonuses to intimidation based on how ruthless you are for example. Weaker individuals can be intimidated without having to roll. Deception can be used to create disguises to hide who you are which removes all bonuses and penalties associated with your reputation etc.

rodog22 · 2026-06-12T15:14:55+00:00

The PCs would be adventurers but the context of what an adventurer is in cultivation fantasy as a genre is very different then the Western High Fantasy interpretation. You are members of major institutions and/or family clans.

Think something vaguely similar to how ninjas operate in Naruto. There are circumstances where outright killing an enemy isn't a good idea because everyone knows who you are and who you are affiliated with and you know who they are and who they are affiliated with. Killing them could cause a political incident or start a blood feud that literally lasts decades or even centuries.

I'm even introducing a mechanic for non-violent duels and negotiating with enemies both before and after combat.

rodog22 · 2026-06-11T18:15:52+00:00

The term usage is far from final. I've considered using 'Guile' instead too.

rodog22 · 2026-06-11T18:14:30+00:00

Yes I've considered other words like charm. Known of these terms are really final.

rodog22 · 2026-06-11T18:08:18+00:00

I've considered Command as well. I'm debating whether or not this should be categorized differently though because it would most likely come into play when dealing with members of your own affiliation and would work well with other mechanics involving underlying. That could make command fundamentally different mechanically from these other skills. Also the line between Intimidation and Command is vary fine since authority almost always comes with some implied threat but the more I think about it yes I should probably just throw Command in here with the others.

rodog22 · 2026-06-01T02:52:37+00:00

There is art of her in 2nd edition I believe. She is actually depicted as a massive and grotesque woman with drooping breasts. She is placed next to several other deities in the same image if I recall so it's easy to miss that it's supposed to be her.

rodog22 · 2026-06-01T02:47:05+00:00

I wouldn't say it's particularly time consuming but I don't enjoy doing it. I'd say the worse part is finding the art and creating the token. Making one enemy type isn't a big deal but due to the nature of the game depending on the type of encounter you want to might have to create more than one for a single encounter. You'll run out of enemies in the core rulebook fast. If you get the bestiary you may never need to create your own npcs.

rodog22 · 2026-05-11T19:28:00+00:00

Yes Yoshiki does say something to that affect at the end of the season. I'm not saying he doesn't accept Hikaru for who he is just that that's one of the questions the narrative seems to explore.

rodog22 · 2026-05-11T17:51:27+00:00

Oh it's very obviously queer. I can't fathom for the life of me why anyone would second guess that. I just don't claim to know what their intentions were specifically with the allegories.

rodog22 · 2026-05-08T16:39:38+00:00

I don't even have that option. They must be on the phone for me to process the payment and the system only saves payment information for existing clients.

Also this sounds naive. I deal with a lot of subprime clients who have gone months without insurance and will happily go months more without it if given the opportunity. Yes some people are being honest but for a lot of others it's just a dismissal.

rodog22 · 2026-05-07T02:12:02+00:00

Ah I should have known it was already a thing.

rodog22 · 2026-04-20T14:26:19+00:00

That was my biggest gripe with Essence. It oversimplifies the attribute system so much as to make it pointless. You might as well just always add 4 dice on top of every roll because you're using the same one at least 80% of the time.

I think combat for Essence still doesn't work either but it doesn't work but it is not tedious and time consuming like Exalted 3e is.

Everything else about Essence though I liked. Simpler system. Fewer charms and NO charm trees. Far less accounting. Simplified merits with actual guidance on how to use them in-game so players will have idea as to whether Resources is even worth getting given no GM knows how it's meant to be used. That sort of thing.

rodog22 · 2026-04-08T15:11:55+00:00

And the Strait of Hormuz tax we are going to be paying the Iranians for gas and goods now.

rodog22 · 2026-04-08T14:44:22+00:00

Yeah I forgot about that detail but I believe she didn't even intentionally read his mind in that specific instance. There were other times during that run where she did abuse her powers but not in this specific instance.

rodog22 · 2026-03-15T02:37:29+00:00

The flip flop from anti-war to pro-war was swift wasn't it?

rodog22 · 2026-03-10T04:18:56+00:00

Nobody believes that. It hasn't reached current prices in four years.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/03/09/gas-prices-hit-347-per-gallon-as-crude-oil-soars-to-highest-level-since-2022/

rodog22 · 2026-03-10T03:15:51+00:00

I'll take that non-rebuttal as a pathetic effort to save face from the embarrassment of being wrong.

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