Ikoma spymaster
from Here to debate the application of the different wordings of tech. No real need. Since the SUP is a living document, we could change it right now. We just need to decide whether or not we want the free raises to be used up or not. If the action can be repeated and the free raises held for use, then yes they should be used up. If the action can only be done once then maybe not. (so long as we can strip its application to damage rolls...that biz is just bad)

I'm of the opposite opinion. I think that the ability to gain raises should only be usable once per day per target, and that the raises get burn as they go. Even with that limitation it remains a remarkably powerful technique. *** However, I feel that reasons are in order. Why I don't think the Spymaster should be allowed to attempt the Investigation roll multiple times in one day: Fishing. Spymasters can just keep going until they eventually get lucky and store up SR+2 Free Raises. Why I don't think the Spymaster's free raises should endure all day. Unless your target is a Magistrate or Courtier, you have a high chance of generating your full SR+2 Free Raises. Since those raises work on all combat and social skill rolls, that makes the Spymaster a match in effectiveness for most Bushi AND Courtier schools out there. Even the Rank 1 Matsu Technique (one of the heaviest Free Raise techs in the game outside of the TBH) only grants a Number of Free Raises equal to your SR (and even then, only on Full Attack). In fact, it would make the Rank 1 Ikoma Spymaster a better combatant than either the Rank 1 Akodo Bushi (up to 3 FR depending on circumstances) or the Rank 1 Matsu Bushi (1 extra FR while on Full Attack). *** If, on the other hand, people were willing to lower the Maximum number of storable raises, I might be more willing to entertain either repeat rolls or (more likely) non-expended Free Raises.

It takes an action per opponent to generat the raises. The matsu has the raises straight away. That means 1 more attack for the opponent to use to put you down. Yes i agree with preparation Ikoma can end up pretty broken... but so can shinobi, in fact shinobi and Goju are wayyyyy more borken given prep time (thanks to metsubishi toting nagateppo... your gagging and have to make a roll to take an action... oh and I penalise that roll oh and becuase their is smoke you cant see me, hence your TNTBH 5+ armour and cant full defense so that means my raises aren't limited etc etc) Yes they are very versatile, but no more so than toku.

I disagree. 3 Free Raises trumps Willpower x2 for Willpowers up to 7. Once you hit School Rank 2, that's 4 free raises, which is more than the Toku will ever get from his Rank 1 Technique. And as for nageteppo, Spymasters can use them too. That's a matter of equipment, not Technique.

http://www.alderac.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=709755#709755 However, since we're on the subject, there's a third possible interpretation: you get a number of FRs for all encounters, but they are used up for each encounter and refreshed at the start of a new one (until the expiration date). For example, Ikoma Bill uses his Technique against Kakita Joe. He ends up with 4 Raises. Now he can use 4 Raises during all encounters with Joe until the next day, but he doesn't get 4 Raises on every roll as they are used up for every encounter. I think that is a very good compromise.

It's still a little powerful for my tastes, but at least it's not the unholy broken "I win, you lose" Technique the first interpretation makes of it.

That how I played it myself, but found it strong.

I like Yojiro's idea. Wording?

did we all see this too? from the sup 2 thread... Rank 1(Spymaster): Taking the Measure By succeeding at a contested Awareness/Investigation roll versus an opponent, you gain a Free Raise for any social or combat roll against that same opponent. For every five points by which your roll exceeds your opponent’s, you gain an additional Free Raise, up to a maximum number equal to your School Rank plus two. Once this technique has been used against an opponent, it cannot be used for another day against the same opponent. The bonuses last for all encounters that occur during this time. Finally, you add your Air Ring to the total of all Awareness rolls. How do you all interpret this technique? Are the free raises only usable once, or on every social or combat roll? The reason that I ask is that it says the bonuses last for all encounters. My thought is that the free raise(s) are for one roll, or could be split up and used throughout the day. As written, you can gain the Raises on all subsequent rolls made against that opponent for that day. Granted, you have to beat him at the contested roll first, and you have to beat him by a significant enough margin to gain the max number of Raises, so it's fairly conditional. Still, if you pick your opponents carefully, you can really stick it to them. Which, by the way, is exactly what Spymasters are trained to do.