Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

Lord Marshal · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Hazou

The enemy has pegged him as the main threat, so play into that as appropriate. Activate Skywalkers and use Full Defense action while the heat is focused on him.

Use buffs from MARS, pass tags to Yuno/Akane (unless he needs them to dodge.)

Assist with fighting or supporting if/when the older ninja stop focusing on him (whether by death or changing targets.)

If Hazou thinks it would be worth Summoning Cantelope, do so.

I would like to note, IIRC, a Full Defense would "simply" give us an AB of points/requires initiative, while Reflexive MARS can be used off-turn and could possibly save our life

On top of that if it's possible to declare Yuno/Akane were keeping a block active with MARS, the battle could very possibly end before it starts as it would basically be what happened with the Lions vs Hazou.
Yuno pops MARS -> Banshee -> The Enemy is on the ground dying.
The only problem is that any other person aside from Yuno would feel it, but if we can declare we have a shared Banshee Slayer network the problem would resolved.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Lord Marshal said:
I would like to note, IIRC, a Full Defense would "simply" give us an AB of points/requires initiative

I thought Full Defense was a standard but it doesn't seem to be after all. I'll probably remove that part.

Lord Marshal said:
while Reflexive MARS can be used off-turn and could possibly save our life

Can it? Paper and eaglejarl didn't seem to share that opinion on discord. I don't think there's been official ruling on it yet but I don't think we should be considering it a given that you can use MARS off-turn, especially since we don't even have the chakra-adhesion-triggered version yet. As far as I know, he can't activate it until it reaches Hazou's turn, same as with full defense

Lord Marshal said:
On top of that if it's possible to declare Yuno/Akane were keeping a block active with MARS

How is activating a seal a block? Blocking who from doing what? Wouldn't this just be a prepared action or something?

Lord Marshal · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Can it? Paper and eaglejarl didn't seem to share that opinion on discord. I don't think there's been official ruling on it yet but I don't think we should be considering it a given that you can use MARS off-turn, especially since we don't even have the chakra-adhesion-activation version yet. As far as I know, he can't activate it until it reaches Hazou's turn, same as with full defense

Did i miss some particular discussion?
Checking the rules:

If a user has at least one unused Supplemental Action during an initiative phase, the user can reflexively cast a substantially scaled down technique to e.g. defend from incoming ranged attacks. Casting the technique reflexively:

Adds 10 Strain (+2CP) from Adjustable Casting Time
Reduces the range to melee of the caster (-1 Range, -20 Strain, -4CP)
Always produces a chakra construct (lose Adv: Conditional Permanence, -10 Strain, -2CP)
Reduces the duration of the chakra construct to mere seconds (-1 Duration, -20 strain, -4CP)

Shrooms said:
How is activating a seal a block? Blocking who from doing what? Wouldn't this just be a prepared action or something?

I'm taking as example what Hazou did with the Lions

eaglejarl said:
The dogs are all wearing earmuff seals that cut their Alertness (and therefore their initiative) a lot.

Initiative:
Young adult lion #1: ?
Young adult lion #2: ?
Young adult lion #3: ?
Young adult lion #4: ?
Hazō: 33
Cangue: ?
Canaut: ?
Young adult lion #5: ?
Young adult lion #6: ?
Canabisu: ?
Cantelabra: Yeah, he's here too.

Hazō, Athletics (Block), tag "Ready and Waiting", invoke "(Formerly) Marked for Death", invoke "Lists and Plans" + dice: 55

Ordinarily Hazō would be moving too slow and this fight would be mostly over before he got to do anything. Sadly (for the lions), Hazō has been maintaining a Block against anything attacking his group and he won the roll. They are now officially having a bad day.

The block i guess would be "Block anyone from attacking the party by activating MARS".
Incidentally, MARS should have Banshee too, so....

EDIT: On the other hand, Humans aren't as sensible to sound as 7th lions, so maybe it wouldn't incapacitate them, do we know what Banshee do to normal people in earing range?

Paperclipped · Aug 1, 2022

IMPORTANT: For this voting cycle, could the playerbase vote in a plan with [] (MARS Loadout) as a tag, and a maximum of 300 words? Alternately, planmakers could link to a 300 word MARS Loadout.

faflec said:
@eaglejarl @Velorien @OliWhail Can MEW be cast reflexively twice? E.g., if we're being attacked but still have 2 Supplemental Actions, can we cast MEW twice to defend?

Velorien said:
Yes, you can. At QM discretion, there will be some attacks against which this won't give you additional benefit.

To clarify the mechanics, MEW creates an Aspect, but most Aspects are not multi-taggable (Flame Aura and Pantokrator's Hammer are notable exceptions). Casting MEW twice will create two tags on the MEW-cover Aspect, but you will only be able to use one per roll.

ContextBot said:
Does that mean Hazou has higher sealing than Kagome?

HDK.

Shrooms said:
This was said more recently. I think Paper just included them in the fight because there should be some kind of bonus, but it isn't technically official yet. Skywalkers are also reusuable whereas Rocket Boots are only for one round

Here is the unofficial, not-QM-approved Skywalker ruleset we've been using. This may change.

+5 to Athletics. Allows you to ignore most Zone borders. Allows you to move vertically (running straight upwards is against Border:1). +5 bonus can be extended to Melee combat checks with a stunt, like with Rocket Boots.

Lord Marshal said:
I would like to note, IIRC, a Full Defense would "simply" give us an AB of points/requires initiative, while Reflexive MARS can be used off-turn and could possibly save our life

To my knowledge, you have no seals that you can use Reflexively (out-of-turn) except Rocket Boots and Skywalkers.

My current SOP understanding is that everyone on the team is wearing Rocket Boots by default.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Lord Marshal said:
Did i miss some particular discussion?
Checking the rules:

If a user has at least one unused Supplemental Action during an initiative phase, the user can reflexively cast a substantially scaled down technique to e.g. defend from incoming ranged attacks. Casting the technique reflexively:

Adds 10 Strain (+2CP) from Adjustable Casting Time

Reduces the range to melee of the caster (-1 Range, -20 Strain, -4CP)

Always produces a chakra construct (lose Adv: Conditional Permanence, -10 Strain, -2CP)

Reduces the duration of the chakra construct to mere seconds (-1 Duration, -20 strain, -4CP)

...did you mean to say "Reflexive MEW"?

Lord Marshal · Aug 1, 2022

Paperclipped said:
To my knowledge, you have no seals that you can use Reflexively (out-of-turn) except Rocket Boots and Skywalkers.

My current SOP understanding is that everyone on the team is wearing Rocket Boots by default.

Shrooms said:
...did you mean to say "Reflexive MEW"?

I guess it is my fault for posting when i should be asleep

But yes, i meant MEW.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Lord Marshal said:
The block i guess would be "Block anyone from attacking the party by activating MARS".
Incidentally, MARS should have Banshee too, so....

I feel like that situation is pretty different: standing in one place and waiting for enemies to get to you to attack you and then you unleash traps on them. They would go first but they still have to reach you

We're standing here talking to these guys already, I'm not sure it makes much sense to have a block up in that regard, otherwise every fight would start with "Well ninja are insanely paranoid about everything so every single person was clenching something in order to block X before the fight started."

Getting to act the soonest is what initiative is, what's happening narratively is reflected in the mechanics already

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Is the bonus of the MEW tag based on the level of MEW or the level of Athletics? Additionally, can allies also tag the environmental aspect?

Paperclipped · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
I feel like that situation is pretty different: standing in one place and waiting for enemies to get to you to attack you and then you unleash traps on them. They would go first but they still have to reach you

We're standing here talking to these guys already, I'm not sure it makes much sense to have a block up in that regard, otherwise every fight would start with "Well ninja are insanely paranoid about everything so every single person was clenching something in order to block X before the fight started."

Getting to act the soonest is what initiative is, what's happening narratively is reflected in the mechanics already

This is correct. When you are standing directly opposite the enemy party and you want to resolve what happens first, Initiative is the tool for determining sequence of events.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

~~with that said, we should get a bonus to initiative bc the chakdars totally would've detected that guy prepping a ninjutsu~~

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Paperclipped said:
IMPORTANT: For this voting cycle, could the playerbase vote in a plan with [] (MARS Loadout) as a tag, and a maximum of 300 words? Alternately, planmakers could link to a 300 word MARS Loadout.

So Rocket Boots can be activated as a free action and we don't need them in the stack.

Is it just Pangolin Pepper Macerators, Strobelights, Banshees, and Banshee Slayer earmuffs?

Tangentially, we could have 2 different sets of MARS equipped at once.
1: You activate the buff stack on yourself if you need them.
2: ....Yuno activates the top of a MARS chain that activates the Seals on everyone else since she goes first in initiative and they have a radius of 25 meters

ting · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
So Rocket Boots can be activated as a free action and we don't need them in the stack.

Is it just Pangolin Pepper Macerators, Strobelights, Banshees, and Banshee Slayer earmuffs?

Tangentially, we could have 2 different sets of MARS equipped at once.
1: You activate the buff stack on yourself if you need them.
2: ....Yuno activates the top of a MARS chain that activates the Seals on everyone else since she goes first in initiative and they have a radius of 25 meters

I think we would definitely have the banshees on a mars chain that activates everyone's earmuffs by default. Otherwise there's a decent chance one person's banshees kill/debilitate a teammate, and as far as I can tell, you basically never want to have your banshee go off without all your teammates earmuffs Going on first.

I.e. I would expect that to be standard design, not a cheesy strat we're trying to shoehorn in for this fight.

faflec · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
The enemy has surmised we're Leaf. Don't let any of them escape, and Seal up (what remains of) any bodies afterward.

This is mostly for discussion, but wouldn't it be better to explode the general area? Sealing their bodies might be difficult if they're splattered in a few areas.

Shrooms said:
Use explosives, we have a reputation to uphold!

Use explosives, but not because it's our calling card: we don't want to suggest that we're the explosives-loving Goketsu Clan from Leaf.

Shrooms said:
Substituting with Yuno/Akane to get out of melee range allows them to counterattack off-turn, use if helpful.

I would want to make it clear that we want our melee fighters (Yuno/Akane) to Substitute with our weaker/ranged fighters (Hazo/Kei/Snowflake), assuming this is the intention (and I want it to be).

Shrooms said:
Hazou

Reflexive MEW (dunno if this is a good idea over MARS)?

Shrooms said:
Use buffs from MARS, pass tags to Yuno/Akane (unless he needs them to dodge.)

Or Kei/Snowflake, if they need them?

Shrooms said:
Yuno

Kill the oldest ninja first.

Other party members support her as necessary, with seals, maneuvers, jutsu, etc.

Akane

Prioritize the older ninja.

Either attack or focus on supporting Yuno (such as by passing along Flame Aura tags), where appropriate.

These two should be prioritizing the commander (the machete-wielder) and the second-in-command (grey-haired), in that order assuming they are strongest and second-strongest, respectively. Could this be stated to be the case (Yuno kills the commander and the second-in-command; Akane supports Yuno via tag-handoff or attacking herself)?

Shrooms said:
Summon a big pangolin (if possible) to fuck up the battleground more, make it look like a giant beast attacked.

I express the concern that we may not have the time, and also don't think this is likely to be useful since a 5-man squad should not be in so much danger that they need to call for backup (and I'm also reasonably sure the flare they sent out was specific for a ninja attack, given that there's no reason for them not to have such a thing prepped).

Shrooms said:
Ruminate on the thrill of battle and if any Jashin-related feelings seem evident.

Uh.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

faflec said:
This is mostly for discussion, but wouldn't it be better to explode the general area? Sealing their bodies might be difficult if they're splattered in a few areas.

It seems a waste to destroy their bodies when they could be used as a bartering tool with other Neck ninja (as well as a later gift for Oro/Leaf Hospital). If their bodies can't be picked up then we won't pick them up. Funnily in actual combat here I don't think anyone actually uses explosives outside of Kei/Snow. (I suppose Akane sometimes uses blast rings)

faflec said:
Use explosives, but not because it's our calling card: we don't want to suggest that we're the explosives-loving Goketsu Clan from Leaf.

Yeah I was just including that as a funny remark but I'm probably just going to take it out entirely.

faflec said:
I would want to make it clear that we want our melee fighters (Yuno/Akane) to Substitute with our weaker/ranged fighters (Hazo/Kei/Snowflake), assuming this is the intention (and I want it to be).

I thought it was clear but I can reword it.

faflec said:
Reflexive MEW (dunno if this is a good idea over MARS)?

They aren't mutually exclusive! But I can add that in. I don't want to micromanage exactly what everyone is casting too much since the situation will be better understood by them than us, but it seems fine as a suggestion.

faflec said:
Could this be stated to be the case (Yuno kills the commander and the second-in-command; Akane supports Yuno via tag-handoff or attacking herself)?

Sure, I was trying to save word count but there should be plenty of room to be more specific

faflec said:
I express the concern that we may not have the time

I can add "if there's time."

faflec said:
(and I'm also reasonably sure the flare they sent out was specific for a ninja attack, given that there's no reason for them not to have such a thing prepped).

Hmm, the pyre technique seems pretty straightforward as far as signals go, I guess they could have a different jutsu...? Anyway, Kei can just leave the summon behind while we leave. If it notices other ninja show up just have the summon burrow into the earth and dispel so they think it got away.

faflec said:
Uh.

Be not afraid.

faflec · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Hmm, the pyre technique seems pretty straightforward as far as signals go, I guess they could have a different jutsu...? Anyway, Kei can just leave the summon behind while we leave. If it notices other ninja show up just have the summon burrow into the earth and dispel so they think it got away.

A different jutsu, or the jutsu lets him fire multiple signals if he pays more chakra (ie higher AB).

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

updates

Shrooms said:
aight i suppose lets get the plans started

[X] For the Glory of Jashin!
Word Count: ~290

Battle

General

The enemy has surmised we're Leaf. Don't let any of them escape, and Seal up (what remains of) any bodies afterward.

Activate MARS buffs immediately.

Kei/Snow/Hazou substituting out of melee by switching with Yuno/Akane allows Yuno/Akane to counterattack off-turn, use if helpful.

If passing tags could prevent a Consequence, do so.

Hazou

The enemy has pegged him as the main threat, so play into that as appropriate. Focus on evasion/defense while the heat is on him (Seals, MEW, etc.)

Use buffs from MARS, pass tags to Yuno/Akane, unless needed for evasion.

Assist with fighting or supporting if/when the older ninja stop focusing on him (whether by death or changing targets.)

If Hazou thinks it would be worth Summoning Cantelope, do so.

Yuno

Kill the commander first, second in command second.

Other party members support her as necessary, with seals, maneuvers, jutsu, etc.

Akane

Prioritize Yuno's targets.

Either attack or focus on supporting Yuno (such as by passing along Flame Aura tags), where appropriate.

Kei

Pass tags to Yuno (or Akane where appropriate), unless needed for evasion.

Pick off enemy support.

Don't Summon unless Snowflake is popped.

Snowflake

Pass tags to Yuno (or Akane where appropriate).

Pick off enemy support.

Strategically maintain a Supplemental to substitute with an ally if they are in danger of taking a serious hit.

Aftermath

Treat any wounds as necessary

Summon a big pangolin (if possible) to fuck up the battleground more, make it look like a giant beast attacked.

Leave after Summoning. If the pangolin notices more ninja approaching, they burrow down and dispel.

Skywalk to avoid leaving a trail.

Check in with Leaf as soon as possible.

Ruminate on the thrill of battle and if any Jashin-related feelings seem evident.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

faflec said:
A different jutsu, or the jutsu lets him fire multiple signals if he pays more chakra (ie higher AB).

It's certainly possible, plausible even. Personally I still think it's worth a shot trying to fool them if Kei has the chakra left since Summoning and telling them what to do will only take a moment

faflec · Aug 1, 2022

[X] For the Glory of Jashin!

Shrooms said:
Kei/Snow/Hazou substituting out of melee by switching with Yuno/Akane allows Yuno/Akane to counterattack off-turn, use if helpful.

This is a bit...mealy (?), maybe you could replace it with:

Yuno/Akane can counterattack off-turn if Kei/Snowflake/Hazou Substitutes with them from melee. Use if helpful.

Shrooms said:
If passing tags could prevent a Consequence, do so.

Pedant: If you are Taken Out (ie killed), you don't take Consequences.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

updates round 2. Gonna make a MARS plan after this

Shrooms said:
aight i suppose lets get the plans started

[X] For the Glory of Jashin!
Word Count: ~290

Battle

General

The enemy has surmised we're Leaf. Don't let any of them escape, and Seal up (what remains of) any bodies afterward.

Activate MARS buffs immediately.

Yuno/Akane can counterattack off-turn if Kei/Snowflake/Hazou Substitutes with them from melee. Use if helpful.

If passing tags could prevent injury, do so.

Hazou

The enemy has pegged him as the main threat, so play into that as appropriate. Focus on evasion/defense while the heat is on him (Seals, MEW, etc.)

Use buffs from MARS, pass tags to Yuno/Akane, unless needed for evasion.

Assist with fighting or supporting if/when the older ninja stop focusing on him (whether by death or changing targets.)

If Hazou thinks it would be worth Summoning Cantelope, do so.

Yuno

Kill the commander first, second in command second.

Other party members support her as necessary, with seals, maneuvers, jutsu, etc.

Akane

Prioritize Yuno's targets.

Either attack or focus on supporting Yuno (such as by passing along Flame Aura tags), where appropriate.

Kei

Pass tags to Yuno (or Akane where appropriate), unless needed for evasion.

Pick off enemy support.

Don't Summon unless Snowflake is popped.

Snowflake

Pass tags to Yuno (or Akane where appropriate).

Pick off enemy support.

Strategically maintain a Supplemental to substitute with an ally if they are in danger of taking a serious hit.

Aftermath

Treat any wounds as necessary

Summon a big pangolin (if possible) to fuck up the battleground more, make it look like a giant beast attacked.

Leave after Summoning. If the pangolin notices more ninja approaching, they burrow down and dispel.

Skywalk to avoid leaving a trail.

Check in with Leaf as soon as possible.

Ruminate on the thrill of battle and if any Jashin-related feelings seem evident.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

[X] (MARS loadout) Stack Buffs Punch Hard
Word Count: ~200

Chain 1 (Worn)
- Yuno (or next highest initiative) activates top of chain, propagates through rest of the party's seals immediately.
  - Banshee Slayers
  - Banshees (slightly away from body, and far from any organs, such as legs/feet or hanging off of clothes.)
  - Pangolin Pepper Macerators
  - Strobelight Seals
Chain 2 (Worn)
- Same as Chain 1, but you only activate the loadout on yourself.
Chain 3 (Dropped or Thrown)
- Instant visual cover if needed
  - A handful of Macerators full of sand activating simultaneously.
  - Storage seal that deploys caltrops within the sand cloud.
  - Goo bomb within cloud
Chain 4 (Thrown)
- A sudden firestorm if needed (presumably just an environmental aspect.)
  - A handful of Macerators full of burning sawdust.
Chain 5 (Dropped or Thrown)
- Explosives
  - Leave two explosives in a zone or two zones, activate with a MARS when outside the zone. Most ninja are not accustomed to Seals activating from afar, which lets us control space.
Chain 6/7 (Dropped or Thrown)
- Earth/Air Dome
  - Similarly to Chain 5, leave Dome seals where enemies or allies could step near them, activate from afar with ARS or MARS as a Supplemental. Could block attacks or trap enemies for a round as they need to break through the wall or find the seal.

Inferno Vulpix · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Same as Chain 1, but you only activate the loadout on yourself.

Banshee Slayers

Banshees

Since we know Banshees to be a hazard to the user when cast too close, I recommend putting them away from our head and torso. Ideally somewhere removed from our body like attached gear such as a Summoning Scroll, but failing that the top of our footwear is likely the best place.

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Banshees (slightly away from body, and far from any organs, such as legs/feet or hanging off of clothes.)

Inferno Vulpix said:
Since we know Banshees to be a hazard to the user when cast too close, I recommend putting them away from our head and torso. Ideally somewhere removed from our body like attached gear such as a Summoning Scroll, but failing that the top of our footwear is likely the best place.

Do you think this covers it?

Shrooms · Aug 1, 2022

Don't forget to actually vote for the loadout plan too yall ;v

As well as the action plan

Inferno Vulpix · Aug 1, 2022

Shrooms said:
Do you think this covers it?

Should be good, yeah.

[X] For the Glory of Jashin!
[X] (MARS loadout) Stack Buffs Punch Hard

faflec · Aug 1, 2022

[X] (MARS loadout) Stack Buffs Punch Hard

Shrooms said:
Chain 1 (Worn)

Yuno activates top of chain, propagates through rest of the party's seals immediately.

Banshee Slayers

Banshees

Pangolin Pepper Macerators

Strobelight Seals

Macerators (for Akane and Hazou.)

I argue that this chain should be available to everyone, not merely Yuno, since it's possible someone else might roll higher on Alertness or some other esoteric skill (e.g., Sealing to notice an imminent sealing failure) which would necessitate this stuff being triggered.

On a related note, I also think some of the other stuff is a bit too...directionally specific for them to be put in this chain. For example, if Hazou's Macerator seal is facing Akane, Yuno has to decide between triggering the chain (to protect Kei) and keeping Akane safe from Hazou's Macerator. It may be worthwhile to have a general defensive Chain (Banshee Slayers, Banshees, chakdar??...) that we don't have to worry about friendly fire concerns.

Shrooms said:
Chain 3 (Dropped or Thrown)

Instant cover if needed

A handful of Misterators activating simultaneously.

Keep in mind Misterators aren't great at blocking LOS (and we shouldn't question this to avoid QM headaches), so the instant cover will be limited here.

Side note: Akane has training in shaped charges, and she is significantly more lethal when using them.

Marked for Death: A Rational Naruto Quest

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