[BoL] Honour & Intrigue...looks awesome.

[AikiGhost]

Just heard about this on the BoL facebook page, looks like an interesting swashbuckling varient of the BoL system I'm wondering how they handle the different fencing schools mentioned.

http://www.bashrpg.com/HonorIntrigue.html

 

[jscifert]

Just pre-ordered mine! wahooooooo, looks awesome!

 

[Lille Drage]

Recently bought "All for One" and S7S. and now just preordered this as well. En Garde!

 

[walkerp]

I helped with the proofreading of the final draft and I have to say that I was quite impressed with the quality of the game. It's very thorough, with tons of good, adventurable info on the genre, a lot of it neatly baked into the mechanics. It's a step up in crunchiness from basic BoL, but still fairly light and the added rules are really cool extensions of BoL that I want to try at the table. The duelling and social combat rules in particular look really fun.

 

[BASHMAN]

Just heard about this on the BoL facebook page, looks like an interesting swashbuckling varient of the BoL system I'm wondering how they handle the different fencing schools mentioned.

http://www.bashrpg.com/HonorIntrigue.html

Thanks, Akighost. Dueling Styles are like this: you have a certain type of weaponry that works with certain maneuvers. As you master more maneuvers, you move towards becoming a master of the style. A style gives its own benefits initially and a "final secret" that is learned upon becoming a master.

I'll post some examples later on (it's too hard to type on this phone).

 

[AikiGhost]

Thanks, Akighost. Dueling Styles are like this: you have a certain type of weaponry that works with certain maneuvers. As you master more maneuvers, you move towards becoming a master of the style. A style gives its own benefits initially and a "final secret" that is learned upon becoming a master.

I'll post some examples later on (it's too hard to type on this phone).

Cool stuff, looks like with a few little mods this could work nicely for a rules light 7th sea game

 

[BASHMAN]

Cool stuff, looks like with a few little mods this could work nicely for a rules light 7th sea game

Well, it does have an explanation on how to create your own Dueling Styles.

Okay here is some more detail about how they work.

Each style has 5 signature maneuvers. It isn't that these maneuvers can only be used by people with that style, but the style emphasises the use of these maneuvers. As you master maneuvers, you get better at the style, moving towards mastery. Normally, mastering a maneuver costs 5 Advancement Points. You can also take a Boon to begin with 2 Maneuvers mastered (a Boon is itself worth 10 Advancement Points, so it's equivilent).

When you learn a style, you take a Boon for that style. This includes Mastery of 1 Maneuver from the style and a "Style Benefit" which is some constant bonus as long as that style is used. An example would be a +1 to Initiative with the Eastern Style, or the improved damage the Italian Style gives with a Maine Gauche.

When you become a Master of a style (You've mastered all 5 Maneuvers; and yes, it is possible to begin play as a Master, by taking the Maneuver Mastery Boon 2 times and the Dueling Style Boon), you learn the "Final Secret" which may be something like a special attack, a free action, at a certain time, etc. For example, the Final Secret of the Spanish Style lets you spend a Fortune Point to Parry even if you have no actions remaining that round, while the Final Secret of the Old Style lets you get a free attack with your sword when you get a Mighty Success with your buckler.

The Styles that are already in the book include:

Spanish - A single rapier style emphasizing defense
French - An epee style that emphasizes flashy moves, usually with an off-hand weapon or cloak
Italian - Rapier and maine gauche style emphasizing offense
Eastern - A Saber style popular in Poland, Russia, Turkey, etc, favoring slashes
Drake's Style - A pirate style that uses a cutlass with an improvised weapon (like a hook hand, belaying pin, etc), and little concern for "fairness"
Old Style - Broadsword and buckler style that harkens back to the age of chivalry... but it ain't chivalrous
Highland style - Uses a claymore or basket sword to "make great room" around yourself
Smallsword style - Uses a smallsword, style emphasizes speedy thrusts and efficiency.
Halberd style - uses a halberd, mostly for defending VIPs (even if you must sacrifice yourself. Favored by the Swiss Guard)

 

[DrFaustus]

Hay, cool! I helped playtest this! Now I get to buy it!

 

[Mythos]

Bashman, Thanks for the info provided for the fencing styles. I love good old fashion swashbuckling adventure and rules light systems. Sounds like H&I is just the thing I am looking for.

 

[BASHMAN]

I also forgot something about the styles. There are two seperate Boons "Dueling Style" and "Fencing School".

A Dueling Style is a combat technique. Each style gives its own unique bonus, and uses a set of signature maneuvers and weaponry.

A Fencing School is an academy that teaches swordplay. A student might learn several Dueling Styles studying at a Fencing School. The benefit of this Boon is that you get a discount on the Advancement Points you need to spend to master a Maneuver or begin a new Dueling Style. Fencing schools are also notoriously competetive, and sometimes these rivalries get the characters caught up in duels, etc. When this happens, you earn a Fortune Point.

Typically PCs earn Fortune Points when they do cool things, but also when bad things happen to them.