The Second Shield Planning

[Nozomi]

Alright, I'm starting Second Shield Planning because I'm going to be rather bald and say that Phi does not have any business stepping up for the First Line of Defense. We'll probably want a planning thread for the Primary Defense as well, but I'll leave that to one of our more optimized combat characters to discuss.

So, this one's up for discussion for all those who are interested and have general combat thoughts related to this event.

Known Participants
Shinjo - Who is fast as the wind, hits like a freight train (ask Satone) and has solid health. She makes this stage much more doable for secondary combatants but I think it's safe to assume that it does not mean this is easy, depending on if any waves reach this team and how many there are.

Interested volunteers, I suggest that we be up front and honest about our character's combat abilities and other abilities. Everyone's got a shot at some glory in this thing, but not everyone will be in all events. There'll be 9 combatants, +however many shugenja, Reiko and Kanna, +4 rescuers going down, which translates to about 20 of us participating. Plenty of room for a lot of the cast to be directly involved.

[Nozomi]

So, here is the Nitty Gritty on Phi. She's designed to be a solid generically able combatant, but she is not optimized for damage and survivability. She's good, but not nearly as brutal as some of our Heavy Weapon specialists.

School Techniques: Tessen (Tonfa) & Forest Killer
TN to be Hit: 23 (30 when wielding two Tonfa, which will be a chunk of her fighting) (ATN 32/3 Reduction if she is afforded Light Armor for this mission, because stealth is not a viable option here, making Ashigaru armor non-ideal.)
Wounds: Earth 3 Forest Killer with Strength of Earth (ergo: 27 wounds before taking wound penalties, and 9 wounds per rank afterwards).
Initiative: 5k3
Void: 2
Roll to attack: 8k3 Tonfa (3k3+3 damage), 6k3 Bow (5k2 Damage)
Access to Jade: She has enough Jade for 7 applications.

All Physical Stats at 3. Willpower at 3. 6k4 Perception Notice v Ambush if it comes up.

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As a player, I have no stake in Phi's glory. My preference is for the overall event to be successful. So if Phi stands back and "fights some random bakemono who try to take a shot at the supply wagon" off camera, I am 100% fine with that. I feel no skin off my hide standing back on this one, but here's her stats and we can discuss who that isn't on the Primary Defense Line goes on this secondary team. Either way, good luck and let's have fun.

[Anjing Xia]

I'm keen to be involved, but given the timezones, Xia will probably just be cheering folks on.

[Jiyo Ayumu]

In character, second line of defense is where Ayumu should be.

OOC, there are only 4 slots, one or two persons who really want to be there already (Phi, I guess Nanzi from his IC scene), timezones that don't play in my favor (if a fight actually starts at let's say 18:00 PDT, I'll be dead asleep at that point), and Ayumu is a decent but not great fighter, so I'll just bow out this event too if too many are interested in it.

[Togashi Saruko]

I am mostly a liability in anything fight so unless we're dying to fill up I'll sit these out.

[Seidou Satone]

If I'm not able to be in the first defense, I'd like to be part of the second line.

[Wu]

I am interested but I am not a munched out combatant.

[Hantei Kinsen]

Eh...

Kinsen is Tengoku Justice. So... not really sure she could hide and attack to get any benefit in this situation.

Aside from that, TN is 15 (armor)
6k3 unarmed attack
6k2 unarmed damage (jaded for 7 strikes)
Earth 3 (Willpower 4)
Void 3

Could Void for Skill and get a heavier weapon strike or something...

[Nanzi]

I can hang out here, I have decent skills and wounds but I am not smashy, just slicey.

[Nozomi]

To be very clear, I am very very much ok with both being in this event and sitting it out. No preference there. I want the event to be successful first and foremost. So, this thread is for volunteering and taking notes to make sure the best go.

[Nozomi]

Eh...

Kinsen is Tengoku Justice. So... not really sure she could hide and attack to get any benefit in this situation.

Aside from that, TN is 15 (armor)
6k3 unarmed attack
6k2 unarmed damage (jaded for 7 strikes)
Earth 3 (Willpower 4)
Void 3

Could Void for Skill and get a heavier weapon strike or something...

Outside of the inherent risk of hand to hand against demonic legions, I agree that kinsen is a not terrible choice for the second rank. 6k2 does more consistent damage than 3k3 +3.

I can hang out here, I have decent skills and wounds but I am not smashy, just slicey.

From what I've seen, Nanzi is an excellent second shield choice

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Kinsen is armorless? Even with Reflexes 2, Armor TN with light armor is 5+2x5+5=20

[Nozomi]

I'm keen to be involved, but given the timezones, Xia will probably just be cheering folks on.

In character, second line of defense is where Ayumu should be.

OOC, there are only 4 slots, one or two persons who really want to be there already (Phi, I guess Nanzi from his IC scene), timezones that don't play in my favor (if a fight actually starts at let's say 18:00 PDT, I'll be dead asleep at that point), and Ayumu is a decent but not great fighter, so I'll just bow out this event too if too many are interested in it.

So, I am going to go out on a limb and say time zones are less important than the right people for the job here. Both Xia and Ayumu are perfectly capable of doing some real harm. Since this is the second line of defense exact timeslot availability is not nearly as important.

And ghosting rules do apply

[Wu]

Got 3 void, earth 2, armor TN 20 but I have a weapon with reach, two whole spare jade fingers and can lower enemy's speed

[Doji Kaze]

Kaze's penchant for getting one or two hits in and then getting incapacitated makes him a liability, rather than an asset. Going to sit this out, I think.

[Hantei Kinsen]

Kinsen is armorless? Even with Reflexes 2, Armor TN with light armor is 5+2x5+5=20

Ops! That’s it then.

[Nozomi]

Oh, well then. I've been calculating my ATN wrong this entire time. Good thing it hasn't actually mattered.

In that case, Phi has an ATN of 30 currently with Tonfa out, and if there is someone who remains behind and is willing to swap Ashigaru for Light Armor to those going in, she will not say no to an ATN 32, Reduction 3 this fight, provided she is one of the team.

[Hantei Kinsen]

Tonfa are pretty neat. 0k3 but double TN on armor. Not sure shadowland creatures have armor, unless carapace.

[Nozomi]

Tonfa are pretty neat. 0k3 but double TN on armor. Not sure shadowland creatures have armor, unless carapace.

She has more than enough skills to have the mastery that negates the armor penalty with staves. So that isn't a factor here. She's sporting Staves 5 here.

[Nozomi]

Kaze's penchant for getting one or two hits in and then getting incapacitated makes him a liability, rather than an asset. Going to sit this out, I think.

Kaze's done well all things considered with his TJ tech in past engagements, but I agree that his jaw is a bit glass-cannon and it might prove a liability in this instance. Like you said, he's almost gone down in several fights.