By David Eber.
Students of this path learn how harness their chi into a tangible force that can be used to strike an opponent without actually touching him, and to defend in the same manner. Masters of this path are said to be able to kill an opponent with barely any movement at all.
Chi Cost: 2
Shot Cost: 3
Strike an opponent bare-handed: if successful, the opponent is thrown a number of meters equal to the Outcome of the attack in the direction of your choice. Opponent suffers Damage equal to your strength + the Outcome.
Prerequisite: None
Path: The Focused Defense
Chi Cost: X
Shot Cost: 1
Focus your Chi defensively, deflecting blows without any physical contact. When you are attacked you may spend X Chi to gain an armor bonus equal to 2X. There is no Agility penalty for using this power. Use this power when the attack is declared, but before your opponent makes his task check. Attacks which are absorbed by the Focused Defense are actually deflected away without ever touching you. Using this power counts as a defensive action.
Prerequisite: The Forceful Strike
Path: The Extended Strike
Chi Cost: 2
Shot Cost: 3
Attack an opponent bare-handed from a distance by focusing your Chi into a strike. The range of your strike is equal to your Fu rating in meters (before you spend any points). Damage is equal to your Strength +1 (Old Masters also add the damage from their unique schtick).
Prerequisite: The Focused Defense
Path: The Destructive Strike
Chi Cost: X + 2
Shot Cost: 3
Attack an opponent bare-handed from a distance, spending X+2 Chi. If successful add twice X to the damage if the target is a living being, or four times X to the damage if the target is non-living. For the purposes of this power undead creatures count as living beings. This attack may be made at a distance equal to your Fu rating in meters (before you spend any points).
Prerequisite: The Extended Strike
Path: Shield of Pure Soul
Chi Cost: X
Shot Cost: 3
Create a protective sphere of Chi energy around you. Gain an armor bonus equal to X, where X is the amount of Chi you elect to spend. This bonus lasts until the end of the sequence. There is no Agility penalty for using this power. Attacks which are absorbed by Shield of Pure Soul are actually deflected away without ever touching you.
Prerequisite: The Destructive Strike
Path: No-Strike
Chi Cost: 6
Shot Cost: 0
You may do damage to an opponent with the slightest of movements, wounding them even as you defend yourself from their attack. Use this power when an opponent unsuccessfully attacks you in hand-to-hand combat. They immediately take damage as if you had struck them, with the outcome equal to the difference between their action result and the difficulty. Damage is equal to strength +1 (Old Masters also add the damage from their unique schtick). Use this power when your opponent attacks and after he makes his task check. You must be in melee combat with your opponent to use this power.
Example: Chou, with an AV of 15, is fighting Lin, with a DV of 15. Chou attacks and ends up with an Action Result of 13. Chou uses No-Strike. Chou takes damage equal to Lin's strength +2, 2 being the difference between Chou's Action Result of 13 and the difficulty, which is 15.
Prerequisite: Shield of Pure Soul
Path: None
Last modified: July 9, 1996; please send comments to durrell@innocence.com.