Whilst I really like that we've got a third plan in the running, I do feel that Plan: Like a Book has a few weaknesses at present which mean it is not ideal here?
It heavily relies on attacks which we have no reason to believe Gabriel can't stop. Whilst he did overcommit to stopping our Basic Attacks last Turn, even a modest defence should stop attacks which do not even break twenty dice. If this were purely to apply pressure/exploit vulnerabilities, then that would be one thing, but with the lack of Flashfire Cleave or any attack with a proper number of dice backing it, it's seriously wanting in terms of effective offence. If he has any rolled persistent defence at all, then basically nothing in this plan can get through it. The single Contested Movement + Spark Bomb combo will hopefully get through, but on its own that's not really enough.
On the defensive side, it uses Slice-Aside Tricks which are working off of only 20d6, which seems kind of hard to justify if you assume as this plan does that Gabriel will be focussing more of his dice on offence. He was already able to beat his way through a 30d6 Atgeir Bodyguard in the last round, so what can he do if he really goes on the attack?
I am going to repost my plan and reiterate why I think it is a better option:
-[X] General
-[X] Activate Slipstream (-16 Orthstirr)
-[X] Ember-Winged Cloak (-6 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate Stoker State Stage 2 (-6 Orthstirr)
-[X] Stoke our Frami (+187 Orthstirr)
-[X] Layered Defence
-[X] 42d6 Defense (37d6 tricks)
-[X] Summon a 50d6+9 Atgeir Bodyguard (19d6, 1 Bonus Die, -39 Orthstirr)
-[X] Summon a 50d6+9 Sword Guard (19d6, 1 Bonus Die, -43 Orthstirr)
-[X] If both our guards get taken down, against average-looking attacks, start using up to four:
-[X] 42d6 Reinforced x28 Honed x7 Slice-Aside Tricks (1d6, + 5 Bonus Dice, -49 Orthstirr per use), with our riposte being one of the Basic Attacks below.
-[X] Against scary-looking attacks, see below under Counter-Attack.
-[X] Attack
-[X] 44d6 Attack (35d6 tricks)
-[X] 52d6+4 Sharpened x8 Lightning-Charged Flashfire Cleave attack using Puncture (35d6, -39 Orthstirr)
-[X] Hit with up to nine 8d6+4 Honedx7 Lightning-Charged Basic Attacks (1d6, -8 Orthstirr each)
-[X] Counter-Attack
-[X] Respond to any particularly scary-looking attacks with Contested Movement, first using our Stoked Dice as a bonus, and Fight of Your Life thereafter, with our counter-attack being another Sharpened Lightning-Charged Flashfire Cleave with Puncture (-24 Orthstirr)
--[X] Try and use this counter-attack at least twice, even if he does not throw any particularly scary-looking attacks.
throw any particularly scary-looking attack.
- Layered persistent rolled defences in the form of our Sword Guard and Atgeir Bodyguard will significantly slow down his offence, if not stop it outright. Having two gives us a contingency against attacks that can eat a spectral weapon, which we know definitely do exist as we've seen two different examples already when fighting Steinarr.
- Slice Aside with a decent number of dice allowing it to actually stop a meaningful attack - this is all the more imperative if we believe he will go more heavily on the offense this round!
- Flashfire Cleave does a lot of damage and is especially effective against his armour, and this plan hits him with one right off the bat, and then probably another two or more times. If we hit him with a couple of these we're getting well on our way to ending the fight.
- By using
Contested Movement to counter his most serious, scary attacks, we both protect ourself against anything our other defences can't stop, and every time it happens, we hit him really hard and bypass all his defences.
- I think this gives us a good chance of stopping most of his attacks cold, and effectively hitting him through his armour at the same time.
