Non-formal discussion about spirits

[Lucky Wolf]

It has come to my attention that spirits have retest essence.

I am not complaining, nor arguing here, but just looking for a clarification.

I was told that it was not a house rule, but an actual book ruling. Which book?

I have looked up LoTW's 2nd and 3rd edition, Wild West, Book fo the Wyrm,, Dark Epics and Laws of the Hunt Players edition( it has a lot of stuff about spirits and combat in there, which is why Im puting that book into this grouping) MET books. If any pages needs to be stated for research, I can provide them as the books are probably sitting next to me at the moment.

None of these books claim that spirits can use essence as a retest to challenges, though they do state about spirits having abilities.

If someone could give me their two cents of from where this ruling is, it would be extremely helpful for future scenes to come. Though if is ever a spirit of Celestine, Avatar and Incarnae levels, I will except whatever they throw at me because they are the bad ass spirits that can jsut declare the      ' I win' card because they are awesome in power.

Thank you for spending the time to read and consider this, those of you who do check this thread.

[Alexander Amarandus van Bokkelen]

I would like to address this issue in haiku form:

Spirits be crazy
Spirits be fucking crazy
Spirits be crazy


Arigato.

[Justin Northwood]

I'm trying to hunt down exactly where I've seen this, as I'm relatively certain I've seen it in print.  The staff will also discuss...  More to come.

[Ryan McKenna]

Spirit bids STFU! Hey I say let the angry floaties retest, as long as its spent like a retest.

[Mike]

Essense as a retest stops ST's from having to build sheets for every spirit you encounter on the fly.
it allows us to only have to come up with Gnosis, Rage, and Essence when things come up quickly

Its also a second edition rule that OWbN has carried over.  2nd Edition Red MET book.
Really it helps flow game easier for all the theurges and wanna be theurges that summon spirits out of the blue.

[Baron Tarl]

in Second ed it was called power point, they changed the name to essence in third ed.

essence/power point is a spirits : Health Levels, raw power etc so it spending an essence ot retest is one less health level of damage you have to do. This is a good thing, trust me

Dan
TPO of Many ranking theurges and ahrouns

[Kiara]

*nod nod* dude...seriously....

[Torvald Magnusson]

Given hat the nature of spirit combat in the LoTW book is a shitty hodge podge of usless crack addled notes written by a dyslexic one armed monkey in need of Ritalin perhaps we could get a clear an concise ruling in the rule section of just how spirit combat works?

While I applaud the use of spirits and their connected combat, 10 retests on a debilitating ability seems a bit much IMHO. I would rather hit it 3 times with my axe.

[Kiara]

Yeah well that's because you are an ahroun **

[Mike]

well essense can be used to counter a retest like Brawl, dodge etc.  it cannot be used to counter might.
but essense works just like brawl for instance.

once you use it thats the show.
Only certain spirits can retest essence again.
Thats usually associated with a built spirit and not your standard spirit.

This would be hard to write up per say as its individualized.

[Kirsten Egil]

While I applaud the use of spirits and their connected combat, 10 retests on a debilitating ability seems a bit much IMHO. I would rather hit it 3 times with my axe.

Butbut...

Getting a spirit to blow 10 essence just to fight off one action? I'll take it every time!
There are very few other ways to deliver 10 damage to a spirit single-handedly in one round,
especially if your group is running without a Theurge... not that it EVER happens or anything...

[Alexander Amarandus van Bokkelen]

I am pretty comfortable with spirits burning health levels all day long on defensive retests.  It's like they all have that one Bone Gnawer gift.

I'd be less happy with a spirit doing that on an offensive retest more than once or twice in a row unless it was an Incarna or something.

[Torvald Magnusson]

Understandable, just general guidelines might help but it's all good.

4 rage and a sword works for 10 damage assuming you have it on traits but yeah I will take my cheaty paper rock scissors skills anytime.

[Carter Heyward]

Also it would depend on the nature of the spirit: a spirit of war (to continue the combat example we are fixating on) should be able to use its essence retest for any combat situation where a retest may be used, but a spirit of respect or wisdom, or an Engling, or a spirit of Despair say, would not.

[Mike]

Exactly

[Lucky Wolf]

Thanks for the two cents everyone, I'll check the red book again. And as long as not every spirit is that uber, I don't think I will get gray hairs over it.

[Justin Northwood]

After staff discussion, a new Spirit Retests house rule has been developed to clarify this issue.

[Alexander Amarandus van Bokkelen]

That is an excellent solution with just the right amount of fuzzy to it.