With a few more hours to think it over, I've come to the conclusion that there are a few more tweaks needed for this. Back in 2018, I contemplated that Fate is Apocalypse World is 5E. Could this be Fate of the Wuxia Apocalypse?
1. Harm should work more like Fate's Stress. It clears at the end of every scene. I think that would make it more cinematic.
2. There are two basic moves (arguably, three) that is omnipresent:
When you attempt to overcome an obstacle, roll +appropriate skill :
On a 10+ : You do the thing.
On a 7-9 : You do the thing with a minor cost.
On a 6- : You either fail to do the thing or do the thing at a significant cost.
When you attempt to create an advantage to do a thing, roll +appropriate skill :
On a 10+ : Impose a condition (read Aspect). Take +1 forward until the condition is handled.
On a 7-9 : Take +1 forward.
(Optional) When you unleash a flurry of blows, roll +Warrior :
On a 10+ : choose 2 : Inflict stress, avoid receiving stress or take the hit in exchange to inflict stress again.
On a 7-9 : choose 1 : Inflict stress or avoid receiving stress.
Those two, or three, moves should cover just about every situation that will come up in game. These are borrowed from the Fate SRD. The Defend action won't be needed.
3. In coordination with the Stress track, you can take conditions (read Consequences) to remain fighting. These can represent sprains, broken bones and the like.
4. Qi. Every session, start with one Qi. Why one? Because we have a move that can generate three. If you want three, use the move.
5. Qi can function like a fate point. Descriptors can function like Aspects. Aspects can be compelled to award a fate point. Descriptors could be compelled to award Qi. Maybe include a title or High Concept as well, or would that be too much Qi? Is there such a thing as too much Qi?
6. If you'd rather use hit points instead of a Stress track, I'd suggest 15 hit points, +3 per rank in Warrior or Mystic (whichever is higher). Why Mystic? Because monk like characters that aren't necessarily warriors should be rewarded, too. Maybe they practice Iron Body.
That being said, the next scene or two or more in the story with the above in effect.
White Breath Cave, Part II
Harmony looks down at the two unconscious bandits. "So, you decided to rob the tea house?"
"You don't understand," one of the bandits mutters. "Since the four men with yellow sashes came, people have gone missing. Ghost Eye hired several of us as laborers to work in the cave, then people started disappearing. Some even died!"
Mother Chong steps in from the kitchen. "It's true. The trouble began when Ghost Eye and his companions showed up."
The other bandit nods, "When we found out that Ghost Eye wanted to uncover a demon relic, we ran. This village was the first one we've seen in days."
"What does this cave look like?" asks the blind man in a hushed voice.
GM Note : I had mistakenly written the village was named White Breath last post; the village is Willow Bridge.
"A demon's face with white fog."
The blind man leans back in his chair. "White Breath Cave," he says. "I was there once. The cave was a meeting place for Ming sorcerers."
"And you are?" asks Harmony.
"Mang Zhao," he nods politely toward the sound of her voice. "I believe the demon relic is really one of the six chapters of The Battle Scroll." Mang Zhao leans forward, "It may not be a demon relic, but it is powerful. If it were not for..." he taps the bandage across his eyes. "Some of my possessions were lost in that cave. If you swear to recover the chapter, you are welcome to them."
Harmony marks XP for Heart of Silver.
Vows are not sworn lightly. Yet, Harmony can't let these Ming cultists walk away with a chapter of The Battle Scroll unchallenged. And there was the matter of Mang Zhao's possessions. Perhaps helping this village would work in her favor. "Alright, I swear to retrieve the chapter of The Battle Scroll or prevent the Ming cultists from doing so. Where is this White Breath Cave?"
One of the bandits replies, "3 days north, through the hills."
"An adventure requires supplies," Mother Chong adds. She hands a small bundle of goods accompanied by two bottles to Harmony. "Food, wine and medicine. One box with a Pill of the Ox; the other has a Heavenly Pill." She winks, "I can make more than just food. Thank you for your help. And the four of you," Mother Chong becomes stern, hands on her hips. "If you were looking for work, you can start by fixing that table and chair."
Pill of the Ox : +1 forward on a physical move when consumed.
Heavenly Pill : Cure one condition.
Harmony rolls +Scout to follow the trail left by the bandits : 11.
Halfway through the first day of travel, Harmony spies three men sitting by a camp fire. All three wear black trousers and tunics; the one sitting and eating something off a spit wears a yellow sash. The trio are just off the dirt path that the bandits from Willow Bridge probably used. The surrounding terrain is populated with hills lined with tall trees. Harmony enters the tree line to stalk closer to the three, pondering how best to make the yellow sash talk.
Harmony rolls +Thief to stealthily approach the group and marks XP : 10.
"Maybe we shouldn't have left the others," one mumbles.
"And do what? You saw the same as me, the other three are cruel."
"But Fung just eats. How are we going to survive if he's sitting there eating."
Harmony shifts her gaze toward Fung. The daylight reveals a black sigil tattooed on his forehead. The first step, then, is to get Fung alone. She looks back at the inattentive pair.
Per other Powered by the Apocalypse titles, this isn't a combat, so there will not be a die roll. Harmony simply inflicts harm as they are taken by surprise.
Harmony glides forward then takes a quick sprint up the trunk of a tree. She kicks off and swoops down on the two unsuspecting men. Putting her Thundering Whirlwind Kick to use, one foot snakes out, a flying kick drives into one man's head. Harmony lands in a crouch and springs to her feet, another kick lashes out and strikes the other's chest. The second man flies back into a tree and slumps to the ground.
The one named Fung sets the spit with half-eaten food on the ground. He rises to his feet, hands up in supplication. Older, head and face shaved, Fung almost looks the part of any other laborer. "I'm not here to fight," he says.
"Then you can answer some questions."
"No, what I mean to say is, if you want to avoid this fight, you will pay me to leave you alone," he smiles, eyebrow arching thoughtfully. "A hundred tael?"
"A hundred tael?" Harmony scoffs, "For what?"
Fung begins to chant thick, guttural sounds, a language that borders on inhuman. Coils of black smoke begin to coalesce and snake around his hands.
Harmony rolls +Warrior to unleash a flurry of blows : 9. 2 stress inflicted; 2 stress received.
Concerned that this is some kind of malicious spell, Harmony surges forward and smashes into Fung's chest with a palm strike. Fung staggers back with a vicious grin and punches in her direction. The coil of smoke that wraps around the limb extend, parting like a striking viper and bites into her arm. Fung's hand jerks upward and tugs, as if the tendril were some kind of rope or leash; Harmony begins to lurch forward.
Harmony rolls +Warrior and follows through with another attack : 8. 2 stress inflicted. 1 stress received. Fung chooses to take one condition instead of being knocked out.
Fung's other hand whips a second tendril around Harmony's neck. It constricts and tightens, cutting off her breath. She retaliates and kicks Fung in the stomach, loosening her restraints. She takes a deep breath then hammers her fist down on the back of Fung's head.
"I yield!" his voice a rasp, his own breath slowly recovering. "I yield," he says in a defeated tone. The dark vapors dissipate and release Harmony. "I left the other three; I couldn't support them any more. They aren't worth dying for."
GM Note : Encounter #2 complete. Reviewing to see if Fate of the Wuxia Apocalypse needs anything else.
Lin Jingyi, "Harmony"
Harmony's small athletic form wears black cotton trousers and sash with a steel blue cross collar tunic. She has long ebony hair pulled into a tail and mahogany eyes.
Moral Code : somewhat kind, totally focused, somewhat selfish, very honorable, very brave
Descriptors Heart of silver; selfish but just
+2 Warrior
+1 Detective*, Scout, Thief*
+0 Alchemist, Leader, Mystic, Scholar, Sorcerer, Strategist
"Air is as Real as You or Me" : While you have one Qi, you may leap long distances as part of your movement, run on water and move on vertical surfaces.
Final Parry : Spend one Qi, you may destroy your weapon or shield and reduce incoming Harm to 0.
"Thundering Whirlwind Kick" : You may split your Harm inflicted against multiple opponents.
Gear : fine fan, grappling hook, Heavenly Pill (cure one condition), jian (2-harm hand), needles (1-harm 3 ammo close), Pill of the Ox (+1 forward on physical tasks), riding horse, survival pack, 3-tael
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