FU SCHTICKS FOR THE HERO System

PATH OF THE LEAPING STORM

This Path emphasizes movement and sword use, making it the Path of wuxia martial artists. It is all but required for characters wishing to use this Path to be swordsmen and have a basic martial arts package representing their sword skills. In addition, this Path can be used to simulate certain Japanese sword styles seen in some of the more wilder chanbara (Japanese samurai action) films.

ABUNDANT LEAP

Effect: Leaping +48 meters, Accurate
Target: Self
Duration: Constant
Range: Self
END Cost: 3
Skill Roll Penalty: -3

Description: This power is a more powerful version of Prodigious Leap (see below), allowing the character to leap further and with no fear of missing his destination.

Game Information: Leaping 48m (Accurate). Total Cost: 29 points.

Options:

Stronger Abundant Leap: Increase Leaping 72m. Total cost 41 points.
Weaker Abundant Leap: Decrease to Leaping 24m. Total cost 17 points.

AWESOME DOWNPOUR

Effect: HA +4d6, Autofire (2 shots) plus Accurate Sprayfire
Target: Two characters
Duration: Instant
Range: Touch
END Cost: 4
Skill Roll Penalty: -4

Description: This is a rapid series of blows, delivered with high accuracy at two adjacent opponents.

Game Information: HA +6d6, Autofire (2 shots; +1/4) (37 Active Points); Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/4), Cannot Be Used With Suppression Fire (-1/4), Shots Must Be Directed Against Two Separate Targets (-1/4) (total cost: 21 points) plus Accurate Sprayfire (total cost: 5 points). Total Cost: 26 points.

Options:

Stronger Downpour: Increase to HA +8d6. 50 + 5 Active Points; total cost 28 + 5 = 33 points.
Weaker Downpour: Decrease to HA +4d6. 25 + 5 Active Points; total cost 14 + 5 = 19 points.3) Bladed Awesome Downpour: Autofire (2 shots; +1/4) for up to 4d6 HKA (15 Active Points); Shots Must Be Directed Against Two Separate Targets (-1/4), Cannot Be Used With Suppression Fire (-1/4) (total cost: 10 points) plus Accurate Sprayfire (total cost: 5 points). Total cost: 15 points.

FLYING SWORD

Effect: Flight 48 meters plus +4 OCV with Move-By Or Move Through
Target: Self
Duration: Constant
Range: Self
END Cost: 6
Skill Roll Penalty: -4

Description: Leaping into the air, the swordsman flies for a great distance, sword outstretched at his foe.

Game Information: Flight 48m, Combat Acceleration/Deceleration (+1/4) (60 Active Points); Straight Line Movement Only (-1), Cannot Hover (must make at least a Half Move per Phase; -1/2), OIF (sword of opportunity; -1/2), No Noncombat movement (-1/4) (total cost: 18 points) plus +4 with Move-By Or Move Through (12 Active Points); Linked (Flight; -1/2) (total cost: 8 points). Total Cost: 26 points.

Options:

Stronger Flying Sword: Increase to Flight 72m + +6 OCV with Move-By Or Move Through. 90 + 18 Active Points; total cost 28 + 12 = 40 points.
Weaker Flying Sword: Decrease to Flight 24m + +2 OCV with Move-By Or Move Through. 30 + 6 Active Points; total cost 9 + 4 = 13 points.

FLYING WINDMILL KICK

Effect: HA +4d6, Autofire (10 shots) plus +5 OCV
Target: One character
Duration: Instant
Range: Touch
END Cost: 2
Skill Roll Penalty: -5

Description: This is a rapid series of kicks, delivered in a blur of circular motion.

Game Information: HA +4d6, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/2), Autofire (10 shots; +1) (50 Active Points); Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/4) (total cost: 28 points) plus +5 OCV with Flying Windmill Kick (total cost: 10 points). Total Cost: 38 points.

Options:

Stronger Flying Windmill Kick: Increase to HA +6d6 + +7 OCV with Flying Windmill Kick. 75 + 14 Active Points; total cost 43 + 14 = 57 points.
Weaker Flying Windmill Kick: Decrease to HA +2d6 + +3 OCV with Flying Windmill Kick. 25 + 6 Active Points; total cost 14 + 6 = 20 points.

GATHERING OF THE CLOUDS

Effect: Constant Advantage for any Fu Schtick up to 60 Active Points
Target: Varies
Duration: Constant
Range: Varies
END Cost: 6
Skill Roll Penalty: -6

Description: This powerful schtick allows the character to make any other schtick in this Path (or any other Path) a Constant one.

Game Information: Constant (+1/2) for up to 60 Active Points of of any Fu Schtick. Total Cost: 30 points.

INTEGRATION OF THE CLOUDS

Effect: Multiple Attack
Target: Self
Duration: Varies
Range: Varies
END Cost: Varies
Skill Roll Penalty: Varies

Description: With this schtick the character can combine any two schticks in to a single Multiple Attack. The only requirement is the schticks share a common name element (in other words, you can combine Flying Sword with the Flying Windmill Kick and really go to town on some poor sob).

Game Information: See text above.

LOYAL STEEL

Effect: HKA 2d6
Target: One character
Duration: Instant
Range: Based on STR
END: 4
Skill Roll Penalty: -4

Description: When the character hurls his sword (or other hand-to-hand) weapon at a target, it strikes and then immediately returns to his hand.

Game Information: HKA 2d6, Range Based On STR (+1/4) (37 Active Points); OIF (sword of opportunity; -1/2). Total Cost: 25 points.

Options:

Stronger Loyal Steel: Increase HKA 3d6. 56 Active Points; total cost 37 points.
Weaker Abundant Leap: Decrease HKA 1d6. 19 Active Points; total cost 13 points.

PRODIGIOUS LEAP

Effect: Leaping +24 meters
Target: Self
Duration: Constant
Range: Self
END Cost: 1
Skill Roll Penalty: -1

Description: This schtick allows the character to vault great distances, a must for any wuxia swordsman.

Game Information: Leaping 24m. Total Cost: 24 points.

Options:

Stronger Prodigious Leap: Increase Leaping 48m. Total cost 24 points.
Weaker Prodigious Leap: Decrease to Leaping 12m. Total cost 6 points.

RAIN OF FURY

Effect: HA +6d6, Autofire (2 Shots)
Target: One character
Duration: Instant
Range: Touch
END Cost: 4
Skill Roll Penalty: -4

Description: The character is capable of launching a blinding one-two strike against any foe.

Options:

Stronger Rain Of Fury: Increase HA +8d6. 50 Active Points; total cost 33 points.
Weaker Rain Of Fury: Decrease to HA +4d6. 25 Active Points; total cost 17 points.3) Bladed Rain Of Fury: Autofire (2 shots; +1/4) for up to 4d6 HKA, Shots Must Be Directed Against The Same Target (-0) (15 Active Points); Cannot Be Used With Suppression Fire (-1/4). Total cost: 12 points.

TORRENT OF FURY

Effect: HA +4d6, Area Of Effect (2m Radius)
Target: 2" Radius
Duration: Instant
Range: Touch
END Cost: 3
Skill Roll Penalty: -3

Description: This schtick allows the character to hit anyone adjacent to him. An excellent schtick to have when fighting gangs and mobs.

Game Information: HA +4d6, Personal Immunity (+1/4), Area Of Effect (2m Radius; +1/4), Selective (+1/4) (35 Active Points); Extra Time (Full Phase, -1/2), Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/4). Total Cost: 20 points.

Options:

Stronger Torrent Of Fury: Increase HA +6d6. 52 Active Points; total cost 30 points.
Weaker Torrent Of Fury: Decrease to HA +2d6. 17 Active Points; total cost 10 points.

VERTICAL CHARGE

Effect: Clinging
Target: Self
Duration: Constant
Range: Self
END Cost: N/A
Skill Roll Penalty: -1

Description: This schtick allows characters to run up walls and the like. Game Masters may want to Link this power to a character's Running, meaning the character must keep moving while using this power and cannot simply cling to a wall and wait.

Game Information: Clinging (normal STR) (10 Active Points); Cannot Resist KB Or Throws (-1/4), No Ceiling Movement Or Angles Of Less Than 80° (-1/4). Total Cost: 7 points.

WATER SWORD

Effect: Aid OCV and DCV 4d6
Target: Self
Duration: Instant
Range: Self
END Cost: 4
Skill Roll Penalty: -4

Description: The character makes a dramatic and flashy series of movements with his sword, distracting and confusing opponents.

Game Information: Aid OCV and DCV 4d6, Expanded Effect (OCV and DCV; +1/2) (36 Active Points); Only to Aid Self (-1), OIF (sword of opportunity; -1/2), Gestures (must make dramatic and flashy sword moves; -1/4). Total Cost: 13 points.

Options:

Stronger Water Sword: Increase Aid 6d6. 54 Active Points; total cost 20 points.
Weaker Torrent Of Fury: Decrease to Aid 2d6. 18 Active Points; total cost 6 points.

Return to HERO System Source Material