Ikoma spymaster

so why are we downpowering the tech if its not developer intent?

Shawn himself wants it downpowered even if it is not developer intent.

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. A lot of characters in my campaigns pick up a few ranks in Investigation and increase their Awareness a bit just because doing so can be very useful, but all things considered I have to disagree with the effect being fairly conditional. The actual number of FRs may vary a bit, but I have never seen a Spymaster not win the contested roll - that means he gets at least one FR for each and every social and combat roll he ever makes. Just that is arguably on par with the Toku rank 1 Tech, which most people believe is overpowered. Considering the Spymaster usually gets more than one FR and that this is a Rank 1 Technique, I don't find the 'conditional' argument very convincing.

A lot of characters in my campaigns pick up a few ranks in Investigation and increase their Awareness a bit just because doing so can be very useful, but all things considered I have to disagree with the effect being fairly conditional. The actual number of FRs may vary a bit, but I have never seen a Spymaster not win the contested roll - that means he gets at least one FR for each and every social and combat roll he ever makes. Just that is arguably on par with the Toku rank 1 Tech, which most people believe is overpowered. Considering the Spymaster usually gets more than one FR and that this is a Rank 1 Technique, I don't find the 'conditional' argument very convincing. The only time that a Spymaster in one of my games failed his Investigation roll was when he was facing off against a Shinjo Magistrate. He has recieved the full number of raises in almost every other instance (I think 1 time he only got 2 Free Raises).

I think I must have had concussion or something when I thought the spymaster rank 1 takes an action. I think it falls under the rather tenuous 'special actions' logic, rather than being a ruling. So we have a winner? Yojiro's wording and a note that it doesnt take an action?

When you'll have reached a decision, please let me know. I'll update my version of the SUP accordingly. Thanks Mike

I'm about to upload the version #4 of my SUP, which has updated indexes that include the latest schools/paths/etc from Art of the Duel. I would very much like to correct the Ikoma Spymaster at the same time, rather than making people download the file again in a couple weeks... So, if someone could give me the final text of the technique that needs change, please. Mike

I'm about to upload the version #4 of my SUP, which has updated indexes that include the latest schools/paths/etc from Art of the Duel. I would very much like to correct the Ikoma Spymaster at the same time, rather than making people download the file again in a couple weeks... So, if someone could give me the final text of the technique that needs change, please. Mike There won't be any final text until Shawn goes over our proposals.

I have a feeling the Spymaster is going to be updated soon in print anyway, probably in Masters of War... We'll see. Mike

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