[Mage: The Awakening v1.9] The Tradition Diamond Order Duel Arcane

(Out of Character (OOC):

Chronicle: Mage 2: The Dethroned Queen

Venue: Mage: The Awakening

Chronicle Storyteller: Jerad Sayler))

The Traditional Diamond Order Duel Arcane

In preparation for our next major plot which will the be Inaugural Pentacle Academy Duel Arane Tournament I wanted to produce the rules I have decided to use for this type of Duel Arcane.  There are many ways for mages to duel, this is the most common among the Diamond Orders.

In a duel the two fighting choose an Arcanum to attack with and an Arcanum to use to protect yourself from the onslaught from the opponent.  The Sword refers to the Arcanum used offensively in the duel, the defensive Arcanum is called the Shield.

1. After Prime 2 “Squaring the Circle” is cast and both opponents are ready the duel proceeds to the next step.

2. Initiative next, determined by the Trash Talking this represents who gets the upper hand on taking control 

     a.Roll opposing Presence or Composure + Intimidation (other rolls depending on the situation

     b.Winner goes first and stays first the entire combat, gaining the Emboldened Condition

     c. Loser takes a -1 for the entire combat for getting the Unnerved Condition which can be resolved by the end of the duel or the holder sacrificing their action and making another contested check.  The opponent doesn’t have to use their turn.

3. Normal Attack : Sword (Gnosis + Arcana) – Shield (Arcana)

     a.Damage is done to willpower points

     b.First one to completely deplete the other’s willpower supply wins

     c. Attacks go back and forth using narrative to describe what each is doing. The mechanics are unaffected by great descriptions or ideas.  It is dramatic and cinematic. 

     d.If an attack exceeds the opponent’s willpower points they are knocked out of the ring and take the rest of the lost willpower points as bashing damage.

4.     All-out-Cast – you forgo your shield until your next turn and adds +2 to your sword attack

5. Spend 1 mana for +1 to sword attacks, you cannot spend multiple mana to do this in a single round

6. Burn Willpower Point for +3 (Willpower is your health…)

7. Switching Out Swords and Shields with other Arcana

     a.Switching out the Sword takes the entire action so the mage cannot attack until their next turn 

     b.Switching out the shield sacrifices the mage’s defense until their next turn.  This means they can still attack when they switch out their shield.

     c. This also means that by sacrificing defense and their attack they can switch out both Sword and Shield in the same turn.

8. Invoking (if allowed) – Defend without attacking and when attacked roll gnosis to recoup 1 willpower point.

9. Banishing (if allowed) – Attack using your Shield Dots added but no defense next round

Invoking &Banishing Arcana Synergy

Each Arcana has four Invoking/Banishing related Arcana, which are of the opposite Aspect (Subtle/Gross).  In the following examples, we take Forces (Gross) and relate it with Mind, Spirit, Prime and Fate (Subtle).

Invocation	Banishing
Prime	Death
Forces	Time
Fate	Spirit
Time	Forces
Mind	Mind
Space	Matter
Spirit	Fate
Life	Life
Death	Prime
Matter	Space
Prime	Death

* Italics denote Subtle Arcana

If a mage’s sword is one step above of the enemy’s shield on the banishing cycle, she gains a +1 bonus to its dice pool, because the blade’s arcane power tends to twist and cleave through weaknesses. If the enemy’s shield is above of the sword, the sword suffers a –1 penalty to its roll, because the shield saps the sword’s power. (Example modifiers are for Attacker's roll)

·         Example: Forces (Sword) attacking Mind (Shield), +1

·         Example: Forces (Sword) attacking Spirit (Shield), -1

If a duelist’s shield is one step above the enemy’s sword on the invocation cycle, the mage gains a +1 bonus to the Armor provided by the shield, as the enemy’s attack actually feeds power to the duelist. If the shield is one step behind the sword on the invocation cycle, it loses a point of Armor against its attacks — the reverse happens. (Example modifiers are for Attacker's roll)

·         Example: Forces (Sword) attacking Prime (Shield), -1

·         Example: Forces (Sword) attacking Fate (Shield), +1

If a mage possesses sword and shield Arcana that are one step away on the banishing or invoking cycle, she may command additional benefits. If the mage’s arms have an invoking relationship between them, the mage may recoup 1 point of lost willpower by making a successful reflexive Gnosis roll, whenever she chooses to defend without attacking.

·         Forces (Sword) combined with Prime or Fate (Shield), recover Willpower

If the mage’s arms have a banishing relationship between them, she may sacrifice her shield Arcanum to her sword. She adds the shield’s Arcanum dots to her sword’s dice pool, but cannot then subtract the shield from the enemy’s dice pool.

·         Forces (Sword) combined with Spirit or Mind (Shield), both may apply towards attack pool for the turn

To reduce calculations and references, the following table provides the results of relationships:

Modifier to Attack Rolls
Attacker’s Sword Arcana	DEFENDER’S SHIELD ARCANA
	Death	Fate	Forces	Life	Matter	Mind	Prime	Space	Spirit	Time
Death				-1	+1			-1		+1
Fate			-1	+1	-1					+1
Forces		+1				+1	-1		-1
Life	+1	-1					+1		-1
Matter	-1	+1				-1	+1
Mind			-1		+1			+1		-1
Prime			+1	-1	-1			+1
Space	+1					-1	-1		+1
Spirit			+1	+1				-1		-1
Time	-1	-1				+1			+1

SYNERGY ModifierS
Sword Arcana	SHIELD ARCANA
	Death	Fate	Forces	Life	Matter	Mind	Prime	Space	Spirit	Time
Death	N/A			W	W			A		A
Fate		N/A	W	A	A					W
Forces		W	N/A			A	W		A
Life	W	A		N/A			A		W
Matter	W	A			N/A	A	W
Mind			A		A	N/A		W		W
Prime			W	A	W		N/A	A
Space	A					W	A	N/A	W
Spirit			A	W				W	N/A	A
Time	A	W				W			A	N/A

A – May add Shield Arcana to attack pool, instead of defense. W – May take full defense action to restore I Willpower