Welcome to Gaia! ::

Once you have functional understanding of the basics, you are most likely ready to go out into the world and get started. However, as you encounter various situations in combat, it will become necessary you become acquainted with the more complex notions in our system. Indeed, learning and mastering these concepts will first make sure you follow what opponent's and allies are doing, as well as opening up your playbook to additional strategies.

In this section, we will list more complex notions, such as mastering movement, understanding status effects and mastering escort techniques to maximize your efficiency while defending high value personnel.

PROTECTING IN COMBAT

When people think of ninjas, the first activities that come to mind are assassination and infiltration. However, one of the most common type of mission for which shinobis are hired in the Naruto universe are escort missions. Basically, some loaded noble wants to be kept safe while traveling on dangerous roads.

To be even remotely efficient in such missions, you will have to learn how to protect a target (people or object) either to take damage for it or deflect attacks.


1. Shielding a target

The simplest way of defending a target: you throw your body between it and the attack.

Doing so requires no AP, and does not require a defensive stance.

The mechanic for it is also very straightforward: If your character's Dodge is higher than the incoming attack's roll, your character may take damage from any attack aimed at the defended target that their [Dodge] beats.


2. Defensive stance mechanics

Placing your character in defensive stance is tantamount to protecting a target as it provides two significant benefits:

- Your character may deflect any attack aimed at the defended target through usual deflection mechanics.
- No melee attack can be aimed directly at the defended target once it is being covered, unless the attacker moves around cover (see basic combat mechanics).

Note that all attacks that were launched at a target before your character moved into position will hit their intended target unless your character either takes the blow or deflects the attack. It is only after your character has moved into defensive position that enemies will no longer be able to attack the covered character directly.


3. Moving into range and shifting to a defensive stance

The basic defensive maneuver consists in placing your character between the attackers and their target. Of course, doing so prevents your character from moving from its spot as any opening could leave the payload vulnerable.

Shifting into a defensive stance costs 1 AP.

It is important to note that the same AP cannot be used to move to the target's location and to turn into defensive position, doing so requires 2 AP.


4. Identifying which attacks may be defended

Your character can defend the target from any attack that was aimed at them between the target's last turn and your character's current turn.


5. Deflecting an attack aimed at the defended target

This principle is fairly simple as it basically works in the exact same manner as when trying to deflect an attack aimed at your character.

If your character is in defensive stance of a target, they may attempt a deflection for the same AP cost and according to the same formula as any deflection. Refer to the Basic Combat Mechanics section for more details on this subject.

If your characters fails the deflection, the attack will hit the defended target.

ESCAPING

At some point in a fight, it is possible a character may realize they are in over their head. When that happens, they will be confronted with the choice of either facing their end head on; or say screw this and bolt. While running away will forfeit all experience that might have been earned for this specific fight, it may be the wisest solution if the only other option is passing out and failing a mission.

NOTE: Not all fights will have the option of running away. While certain opponents like beasts or bandits might leave you alone if you flee fast enough, characters that are specifically after your character such as bounty hunters will usually pursue you to the ends of the earth!



1. RUNNING AWAY

The most obvious way of escaping combat: you turn around and run like hell. Of course, if your character is physically hurt or facing much faster enemies, this may seem somewhat futile. Nevertheless, in some cases, this might be the only option your character has.


Ap Cost

Running away attempt uses up one complete Attack Turn (minimum 4 AP), no matter the number of AP you might have saved up for that turn.


Step One: Getting Clear of Attackers

Once you've decided to run away, the first step is bolting at least fast enough for an opponent not to be able to simply move in your way. This translates in our system in minimally besting their basic combat speed, determined by their dexterity.

Running away therefore requires that you initially make one successful athletics check:

Athletics Check: d20 + Level + Str Mod + 1 per 5 in Athletics

Your Athletics Check needs to beat the Difficulty Check determined by the following formula:

Athletics DC = 10 + Opponent's Level + Opponent's Dex Mod

Once you've rolled your Athletics Check, two scenarios might present themselves:

a. Your character passes the DC against all opponents, initiating chasing mechanics (see below);

or

b. Your character fails the check against one or all of the opponents. If that happens, opponents against whom the Athletics check was not successful may simply use 1 AP to move in your way and prevent you from escaping. If they choose not to cut you off, consider the check passed against them.

Note that while attempting to run away, your character is still vulnerable to ranged attacks and jutsus. Also, any attack that would trip, trap or immobilize your character that successfully connects will necessarily make your escape attempt fail.


Step Two: Chasing

Once you've announced you were running away and passed your Athletics check against your opponents, so you managed to blast past them. In the following turn, every opponent who is not tied down, held or otherwise immobilized, can attempt a chasing roll to initiate a footrace. Like running away, chasing down an opponent requires a full Attack Turn (minimum 4 AP).

The roll to chase down an opponent is the same as to run away:

Athletics Check: d20 + Level + Str Mod + 1 per 5 in Athletics

Once all opponents attempting to intercept have made their rolls, the final step is initiated in the escapist's next Attack Turn.


Step Three: Escaping

Once all opponents attempting to intercept have made their chasing check (Athletics), you will need to see if your character can outrun them in a footrace.

To do so, you roll an Athletics check to measure against your opponent's:

Athletics Check: d20 + Level + Str Mod + 1 per 5 in Athletics

Once you've rolled your Athletics check, one of two results will occur depending on the result:

a. You've beaten every opponent's Athletics check: You've successfully escaped.

b. One more opponents had a higher Athletics check than yours: Your character was intercepted and failed to run away, lose this Attack Turn and resume normal combat.

Note that running away forfeits any experience that might have been accumulated during this encounter. Any item looted or thieved is, however, preserved.



2. SNEAKING AWAY

A more inconspicuous way to escape combat is to sneak away without giving your opponent a chance to chase you down. This option is better suited to more discrete characters who might not be strong enough to outrun someone but agile enough to avoid detection.


Step One: Going into Hiding

This might seem obvious, but, to even attempt sneaking away, your character must be hiding. Refer yourself to the section about hiding and stealth to learn how this can be done.


Ap Cost

Once your character is hidden, attempting to sneak away uses up one complete Attack Turn (minimum 4 AP), no matter the number of AP you might have saved up for that turn. Since sneaking away required oine full Attack Turn, you cannot attempt to sneak away in the same turn your character went into hiding.


Step Two: Sneaking Away

Once your character begins its escape, it will try to get farther and farther away from the engagement area without attracting attention. To determine how skillfully it skulks away, you must roll a Stealth check:

Stealth Check: d20 + Level + Dex Mod + 1 per 5 in Stealth

Contrarily to running away, sneaking away does not leave your character vulnerable unless it is spotted. See next section to know what happens in this situation.


Step Three: Avoiding Detection

As your character is escaping, all opponents can attempt to find it in their following Attack Turn. Of course, to look for your character opponents have to be aware it is missing from the battlefield. To that end, having diversions such as bunshins or genjutsu can greatly increase your chances of sneaking away.

If the are aware that your character is missing, opponents can roll Perception Checks to try and find it:

Perception Check = d20 + Level + Wis Mod + 1 per 5 in Perception

In the same manner as when trying to find an opponent hiding in combat, every Perception Check requires 2 AP.


Step Four: Escaping

Depending on the strength of all opponents' Perception Checks, two outcomes may occur:

a. If no one managed to spot your character: you've escaped.

b. If anyone spotted your character: you've failed to sneak away, resume combat normally with your character no longer in hiding.

Note that sneaking away forfeits any experience that might have been accumulated during this encounter. Any item looted or thieved is, however, preserved.