Post by Claire Redfield on Mar 19, 2014 14:37:25 GMT -8
This should be a good fight! Vergil is very powerful, but Carnage is a dangerous individual. I haven't yet statted up Vergil's Devil Trigger, but I might just run it as an Unleashed SFX. I look forward to a good contest. I'm betting on Vergil to win, but we'll see. I won't be pulling punches!
Vergil will be acting as the PC here, while Carnage is a Watcher character. The Doom pool is 2D6, for the Standard level. Vergil begins with 1 Plot Point.
As always with my scenarios, I use Invisible Castle for my rolls. I'll link to individual rolls here.
There aren't really any important Scene Distinctions here. The street is largely devoid of life and while it's dark, it's not dark enough to cause either one of these characters much trouble. Overcast Night and Desolate Streets might be a couple; for the latter, perhaps some hapless soul unintentionally winds up in the middle of the fight.
Vergil will be acting as the PC here, while Carnage is a Watcher character. The Doom pool is 2D6, for the Standard level. Vergil begins with 1 Plot Point.
As always with my scenarios, I use Invisible Castle for my rolls. I'll link to individual rolls here.
There aren't really any important Scene Distinctions here. The street is largely devoid of life and while it's dark, it's not dark enough to cause either one of these characters much trouble. Overcast Night and Desolate Streets might be a couple; for the latter, perhaps some hapless soul unintentionally winds up in the middle of the fight.
The moon shone pale and full over New York. Long tongues of black smoke curled upward like gnarled arms reaching for that silvery eye in the heavens. Screams echoed throughout the streets, punctuated by the distant pop of gunfire. One might suspect riots had claimed the streets of New York, but the truth was far worse.
Vergil's boots crunched on pieces of glittering glass as he walked beneath a broken-out streetlight. He scanned the street for movement; there was none in the shadows of alleys, in the darkened windows, in the abandoned cars. The whole district was like a ghost town. A groaning wind billowed the three tails of his dark blue long coat. He ran his fingers through his backswept white hair and paused. He turned his head but an inch and called out to something unseen. "Come out."
Atop the apartment building behind him, high above the street, skulked a humanoid figure. He crawled over the edge of the roof and down the side like a creeping spider, dropping onto the roof of a car that caved in with a metallic squeal, windows shattering. Fluid red and black flowed over him like blood and ink, snaking out in tendrils that melted away again just as quickly. Jagged white eyes and an even more jagged smile broke his round head in a hideous visage.
"I have met uglier demons," said Vergil, "but not many." His voice was chill with contempt.
"You ain't likely ta meet anymore!" cackled the monster with murderous glee. "Not after I julienne your pretty little face!"
Vergil was not amused. "I smell blood on you. You have killed many this night."
"Where've ya been, kid? It's a regular buffet out there! Ya should've joined th' party!"
The young man sneered. "I don't have time for games. Begone."
Carnage laughed. "Ya got a real nice attitude, kid. Nice and royal, givin' out commands. Bet you're some rich kid. Let's hope ya don't taste as spoiled as you act!"
Vergil narrowed his eyes. His right hand strayed near the hilt of the katana sheathed at his side. "Leave. Now. You won't have a third chance."
"Oooh, gonna cut me with yer little letter opener? Hate ta break it to ya, kid, but it takes a lot more than pointy objects to deal with Carnage!" He leaped from the car, coming down in a swarm of tentacles, claws and fangs.
Vergil allows Carnage to go first. It fits with his icy arrogance and also with Carnage's speed, though Vergil's no slouch.
Carnage leaps (movement simply being part of his action) at Vergil and attacks, intending to inflict physical stress, and in fact do so with his tentacles, feasting on Vergil's flesh. His dice pool is this: Solo D10, Murderous D8, Superhuman Strength D8, Tentacles D6 (both of those are stepped back by using the Multipower SFX), Combat Expert D8. 1d10=7, 1d8=8, 1d8=1, 1d6=5, 1d8=4. 1 opportunity, which Carnage can't use. Vergil spends 1 PP to activate that opportunity, and will add it as a D10 stunt die to his next roll, which is this upcoming reaction roll.
Carnage result: 8+5=13, effect D10 physical stress, stepped up to D12.
Vergil gets his reaction now. Dice pool: Solo D10, Cold as Ice D4 (+1 PP; his cool confidence leads him to give Carnage much less credit than he's due), Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert D8. Normally you get to add one power trait from each power set, but I'm not inclined to allow Weapon to be used as a reaction like that. In the game he's from, Vergil does block bullets and stuff with his sword, and makes lots of counterattacks with it. One could make a case for warding someone off with the blade, but I don't know... you know what? Why not? I'll give Yamato a Durability die to be used on reaction rolls to defend himself from physical harm, since he does use it artfully in defense. Dice pool: Solo D10, Cold as Ice D4, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Yamato D10, Combat Expert D8, stunt D10 (he's doing a teleport-slash combo that he's rather fond of).
Further, as he is using his Judgment Cut SFX, he'll be replacing two D10s with a D12. 1d10=9, 1d4=3, 1d12=6, 1d8=3, 1d10=2. Vergil spends the PP he just earned to use his effect die on the reaction in a vicious counterattack.
Vergil result: 9+6=15, effect D10 physical stress.
Summary:
Carnage D10 physical stress, Doom pool 2D6
Vergil: 0 PP
Carnage leaps (movement simply being part of his action) at Vergil and attacks, intending to inflict physical stress, and in fact do so with his tentacles, feasting on Vergil's flesh. His dice pool is this: Solo D10, Murderous D8, Superhuman Strength D8, Tentacles D6 (both of those are stepped back by using the Multipower SFX), Combat Expert D8. 1d10=7, 1d8=8, 1d8=1, 1d6=5, 1d8=4. 1 opportunity, which Carnage can't use. Vergil spends 1 PP to activate that opportunity, and will add it as a D10 stunt die to his next roll, which is this upcoming reaction roll.
Carnage result: 8+5=13, effect D10 physical stress, stepped up to D12.
Vergil gets his reaction now. Dice pool: Solo D10, Cold as Ice D4 (+1 PP; his cool confidence leads him to give Carnage much less credit than he's due), Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert D8. Normally you get to add one power trait from each power set, but I'm not inclined to allow Weapon to be used as a reaction like that. In the game he's from, Vergil does block bullets and stuff with his sword, and makes lots of counterattacks with it. One could make a case for warding someone off with the blade, but I don't know... you know what? Why not? I'll give Yamato a Durability die to be used on reaction rolls to defend himself from physical harm, since he does use it artfully in defense. Dice pool: Solo D10, Cold as Ice D4, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Yamato D10, Combat Expert D8, stunt D10 (he's doing a teleport-slash combo that he's rather fond of).
Further, as he is using his Judgment Cut SFX, he'll be replacing two D10s with a D12. 1d10=9, 1d4=3, 1d12=6, 1d8=3, 1d10=2. Vergil spends the PP he just earned to use his effect die on the reaction in a vicious counterattack.
Vergil result: 9+6=15, effect D10 physical stress.
Summary:
Carnage D10 physical stress, Doom pool 2D6
Vergil: 0 PP
Vergil disappeared into an inky blue blur and Carnage came down where he'd stood just a moment before. The street splintered beneath Carnage's claws.
Behind him, Vergil stood atop the burnt-out streetlight, partially sheathing his sword. He hesitated for a moment at the last couple inches. The demon turned to stare up at him with that hideous grin of his. With a final moonlit gleam off the blade, Vergil sheathed Yamato. "Scum."
Blood fountained up from Carnage's right shoulder and he staggered back with a howl. At the same time the streetlight, sliced clean through halfway up its base, separated and toppled into the street. Vergil leaped from it, somersaulted and landed in a crouch near the demon.
Carnage spat. "Pretty fast, kid. But ya ain't gonna be fast enough! I'm gonna eat the ten little piggies first, and then the ten little—"
It's Vergil's action now. He's still not taking this very seriously as he doesn't view Carnage a significant threat. He chooses to attack with a deadly Judgment Cut. Dice pool: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D4 (+1PP), Superhuman Strength D10, Weapon D10, Combat Expert 2D6. He uses Dangerous and adds a D6, but steps back one of the D10s to D8 (and steps up the physical stress die inflicted if he hits). Final dice pool: D10, D4, D10, D8, D6, D6, D6. Ooh, a horrible roll. 1d10=3, 1d4=2, 1d10=3, 1d8=1, 1d6=2, 1d6=2, 1d6=3. 1d10=8. There is 1 opportunity which the Watcher takes, giving Vergil 1 PP (2 total) and stepping up one of the Doom dice to D8. Ack! I forgot to use Carnage's stress die. Let's add that in. Vergil spends a Plot Point to keep an extra die for total, leaving him 1 Plot Point.
Vergil result: 8+3+3=14, effect D12 (stepped up due to Dangerous).
Carnage reacts, with a dice pool of: Solo D10, Murderous D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert D8. 1d10=3, 1d8=2, 1d10=10, 1d8=2. Carnage would spend Doom dice to add to his total, but to do so, he has to spend Doom equal to or larger than the additional dice he wants to keep. The Doom pool currently sits at 1D8+1D6, so he can and does spend a D8 to keep an additional D8. The Doom pool is now 1D6.
Carnage result: 10+3+2=15, effect D8. He narrowly avoids crippling injury!
Summary:
Carnage D10 physical stress, Doom pool 1D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Vergil result: 8+3+3=14, effect D12 (stepped up due to Dangerous).
Carnage reacts, with a dice pool of: Solo D10, Murderous D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert D8. 1d10=3, 1d8=2, 1d10=10, 1d8=2. Carnage would spend Doom dice to add to his total, but to do so, he has to spend Doom equal to or larger than the additional dice he wants to keep. The Doom pool currently sits at 1D8+1D6, so he can and does spend a D8 to keep an additional D8. The Doom pool is now 1D6.
Carnage result: 10+3+2=15, effect D8. He narrowly avoids crippling injury!
Summary:
Carnage D10 physical stress, Doom pool 1D6
Vergil: 1 PP
The young man in blue turned and swung for Carnage's head, his sword but a silvery blur in the night. Yet Carnage was fast, impossibly so, throwing himself into a couple of back handsprings, his movements fluid, almost hypnotic.
"Almost! I give ya an 'A' for effort, kid!"
Carnage lashes out, intending to feed on Vergil, get a taste for what torments the young man and then use it to torture him before Carnage devours him. He uses his Tentacles to disarm Vergil; in game terms, the Watcher is activating the power set's Limit. I could spend the final D6 from the Doom pool to do this, but players get the option of accepting Plot Points instead. Vergil elects to take the Plot Point, giving him 2.
Carnage's dice pool (using Multipower): Solo D10, Murderous D4 (he's a little too eager, might make a mistake), Superhuman Strength D8, Tentacles D6, Combat Expert D8. Doom Pool is now at 2D6. 1d10=7, 1d4=3, 1d8=4, 1d6=2, 1d8=5.
Carnage result: 7+5=12, effect d8 physical stress, stepped up by Feed to D10.
Vergil reaction pool: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Superhuman Durability D10, Combat Expert D8. 1d10=10, 1d8=5, 1d10=3, 1d10=4, 1d8=3. 1d10=7. Forgot the stress die again, as Carnage's wounds slow him down.
Vergil result: 10+7=17, effect d10. He spends 1 PP (1 left) to use his effect die, inflicting physical stress on Carnage. We compare the die he inflicts, a D10, to the die size Carnage currently bears, which is also a D10. This means we step up the old die by 1, to D12. Since Vergil beat Carnage's roll by 5, that's an extraordinary success, which means he steps up his effect die. However, this has the same effect in the end, giving Carnage a D12 stress die.
Summary:
Carnage D10 physical stress, Doom pool 2D6
Vergil: 1 PP
With a gurgling laugh, Carnage reached out for the approaching Vergil. Tentacles streamed off his arms like thick ropes of blood. They moved fast. Almost too fast. One coiled about Vergil's right arm, while several more seized Yamato from his side and threw it away. It smashed through the driver's side window of a car and lay across the front seat, hilt sticking out the window.
"Too eager," said Vergil, leaping at the demon. Unprepared for a counterattack, Carnage tried to let go, but it was too late. Vergil held onto the tentacles with his right hand, using them to pull himself closer and kick the demon's right in his horrible fanged face. The kick smashed home like a freight train, sending Carnage to the ground amid a group of thrashing tentacles.
Things are looking bad for Carnage now. Fortunately for him, Vergil's going to take an action to recover Yamato. His dice pool: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Enhanced Speed D8, Acrobatics Expert 2D6. The Doom pool is 2D6. 1d10=5, 1d8=2, 1d8=3, 1d6=3, 1d6=6. Result: 5+6=11, effect d8.
Doom: 1d6=6, 1d6=3. Vergil recovers his sword.
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 2D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Doom: 1d6=6, 1d6=3. Vergil recovers his sword.
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 2D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Calmly Vergil walked over to the car, as though he had all the time in the world. He took Yamato and sheathed it once more at his side. He turned back to the demon with a look of disdain. "Hmph."
Carnage decides that discretion is the better part of valor. Well, not really. He just decides he doesn't wanna die. So he runs away! Or tries to. His dice pool will be the following: Solo D10, Sneaky D8, Web-Slinging D6, and I'll allow him to use Covert Expert D8, as his experience in sneaking and deception will aid him here. He's gonna burn up the Doom pool, too, because it's life or death. Both D6s are going to his dice pool, making the final pool: D10, D8, D6, D8, D6, D6. 1d10=7, 1d8=4, 1d6=6, 1d8=8, 1d6=3, 1d6=4
Why did I do it this way? Because the other thing he could have done was spend a D6 Doom to add another die for total, but it would have been the lone D6 in his dice pool, which may have rolled high and been used anyway, or rolled too low to be used. This way, he has a better chance of getting a decent roll, which he did. Carnage result: 8+7=15, effect D8. He doesn't care about the effect. He just wants out of here!
Vergil gets to react. His dice pool is: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10 (since he can react quickly to Carnage's attempt to flee), Weapon D10 (Yamato has great reach with its various abilities), Acrobatics Expert D8, stress die D12 (hard for Carnage to run away when he's so gravely wounded). 1d10=2, 1d8=6, 1d10=4, 1d10=5, 1d8=2, 1d12=6
In order to catch Carnage, he'll have to use his last Plot Point to add a result die. Total: 6+6+5=17, effect D10. Carnage is cornered!
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 0D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Why did I do it this way? Because the other thing he could have done was spend a D6 Doom to add another die for total, but it would have been the lone D6 in his dice pool, which may have rolled high and been used anyway, or rolled too low to be used. This way, he has a better chance of getting a decent roll, which he did. Carnage result: 8+7=15, effect D8. He doesn't care about the effect. He just wants out of here!
Vergil gets to react. His dice pool is: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10 (since he can react quickly to Carnage's attempt to flee), Weapon D10 (Yamato has great reach with its various abilities), Acrobatics Expert D8, stress die D12 (hard for Carnage to run away when he's so gravely wounded). 1d10=2, 1d8=6, 1d10=4, 1d10=5, 1d8=2, 1d12=6
In order to catch Carnage, he'll have to use his last Plot Point to add a result die. Total: 6+6+5=17, effect D10. Carnage is cornered!
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 0D6
Vergil: 1 PP
A long, serpentine tongue snaked out of Carnage's mouth. It moved this way and that as if tasting the air. He watched the young man standing across the street, studying. The kid wasn't like his usual enemies. Even Spider-Man didn't have that detached confidence, the air of a killer. This one wasn't a hero. He was some kind of monster.
At that, Carnage made a decision he rarely ever made in all his years of butchery: he fled. He turned and leaped away, halfway up a rundown apartment building. Scurrying up the side, he went to leap to another roof, but there was Vergil, appearing before him out of a sudden distortion in the air, like heat rising off asphalt in summer.
"Coward. This is over." His voice, his eyes were like ice. He wasn't even angry, just contemptuous.
Vergil moves to finish this fight. He attacks with the intent of killing his foe. Dice Pool: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D4 (+1PP; obviously, he has outmatched this weakling demon, who could never be a threat to Vergil, right? He's invincible!), Superhuman Strength D10, Weapon D10, Combat Expert D8, stress D12. 1d10=2, 1d4=3, 1d10=6, 1d10=8, 1d8=1, 1d12=3. There is 1 opportunity, which the Watcher gladly takes! Vergil has 2 PP and the Doom pool gains a D6. Vergil spends a Plot Point to add a result die.
Vergil result: 8+6+3=17, effect D12.
Carnage rolls his reaction. Solo D10, Sneaky D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert 2D6. What a roll! 1d10=10, 1d8=6, 1d10=10, 1d6=2, 1d6=3. He might yet live!
Carnage result: 10+10=20, effect D8.
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 1D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Vergil result: 8+6+3=17, effect D12.
Carnage rolls his reaction. Solo D10, Sneaky D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert 2D6. What a roll! 1d10=10, 1d8=6, 1d10=10, 1d6=2, 1d6=3. He might yet live!
Carnage result: 10+10=20, effect D8.
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 1D6
Vergil: 1 PP
Sensing his foe's attack, Carnage leaped to his right, sailing over the gap between buildings and landing on the roof of a dusty old antique shop. Vergil's blade came down, scoring a deep groove in the roof of the apartment complex. He turned his head to watch the monster flee.
Carnage doesn't have a power that lets him take a recovery action during an Action Scene, so his options right now are limited to fight back or flee. The Doom pool is only at 1D6, so either way he won't have much help. It's going to take a miracle for the killer to escape Vergil's wrath. He'll try, though. Dice pool: Solo D10, Sneaky D8, Web-Slinging D6, Covert Expert 2D6. He's in kind of a bind here, as he could really use more Doom dice, but rolling a Distinction as a D4 could also really come back to bite him. 1d10=6, 1d8=5, 1d6=1, 1d6=3, 1d6=5. Seeing that, he'll spend the D6 Doom to add a D6 to his total.
Result: 6+5+5=16, effect D6.
Vergil's reaction: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Weapon D10, Acrobatics Expert D8, stress die D12. 1d10=5, 1d8=1, 1d10=4, 1d10=7, 1d8=5, 1d12=1. He'll have to spend his Plot Point to catch Carnage again, adding a third die to his result. 2 opportunities, which the Watcher will take, adding a D6 to the Doom pool and stepping it up to D8. Vergil gains a Plot Point, and has 1 now.
Result: 5+5+7=17, effect D10. Carnage is trapped again!
Summary:
Carnage D12 physical stress, Doom pool 1D8
Vergil: 1 PP
His shoulder on fire where he'd be cut, Carnage ran and leaped, using his tentacles to help propel him further, moving as fast he could. Faster. Gotta move faster! That damn kid and his damn sword are gonna be right beh—
Ahead, Vergil stepped from behind a bulky air-conditioning unit. Carnage swore. "Ain't possible! It ain't #%@$ing possible! No one does this to Carnage! No one!"
"Foolishness," said Vergil. "You brought this upon yourself."
Vergil attacks! Solo D10, Son of Sparda D4 (+1PP, 2 now), Superhuman Strength D10, Weapon D10, Combat Expert D8, stress die D12. 1d10=6, 1d4=2, 1d10=6, 1d10=1, 1d8=4, 1d12=11. Since any physical stress now will stress Carnage out, that 11 on the D12 can be used for the total. And to make absolutely sure, Vergil spends a Plot Point to add a third die to his result.
Vergil's result: 11+6+6=23, D8 effect.
Carnage's reaction pool: Solo D10, Sneaky D8, Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert 2D6. Doom Pool is at 1D8. His roll is... not good. 1d10=3, 1d8=6, 1d10=5, 1d6=1, 1d6=1. Two opportunities. Carnage spends the D8 Doom to add the D8 to his result.
Result: 5+3+6=14, d4 effect.
Vergil hits with an extraordinary success (nearly two of them!), which steps up the stress die inflicted to D10. This steps up Carnage's stress die to D12+, stressing him out from physical damage.
What happens now is that Carnage accrues D6 physical trauma. Since he's stressed out, he can't take any actions, though stressed out character can take reactions. Once your trauma is stepped up beyond D12, you're dead, reduced to an emotionless husk, etc., depending on the type of trauma. Basically, you are removed from the story.
Now, Vergil isn't going to spare his enemy, who is bleeding and trying desperately to escape, but has difficulty even moving. I wasn't going to roll this out, since it'll just be a series of actions taken by Vergil, with Carnage trying to react, but let's do it real quick.
Summary:
Carnage D12+ physical stress (stressed out), D6 physical trauma, Doom pool 0D8
Vergil: 1 PP
Vergil bent at the knees and became a blur, appearing in several different places around Carnage in an instant. In his trail followed dark spheres of warped light, about which flashed silvery, slashing crescents. Caught up in the slashing vortices, Carnage let out a roar of pain. Blood streamed from dozens of deep cuts. He staggered forth a step and fell to his knees.
Vergil's would-be finishing blow: Solo D10, Son of Sparda D8, Superhuman Strength D10, Weapon D10, Combat Expert D8, stress die D12. Using Judgment Cut SFX to replace 2D10 with 1D12. Dice pool: D10, D8, D12, D8, D12. 1d10=3, 1d8=7, 1d12=3, 1d8=7, 1d12=8. Vergil will spend a Plot Point, the 1 he has left, to add a third die for his total.
Vergil's result: 7+7+8=22, effect D12.
Carnage rolls his reaction: Solo D10, Sneaky D4 (+1D6 Doom; hard to be sneaky when you're bleeding and nearly bisected), Superhuman Reflexes D10, Combat Expert 2D6. There isn't much point in using his Distinction as a D4, as the D6 Doom won't really help him much at all. Then again, there's no point in not doing it, as he's likely to get killed in one shot here by Vergil's probable extraordinary success. 1d10=3, 1d4=1, 1d10=5, 1d6=4, 1d6=3. Not enough! He'll spend the Doom to add a third die to his result.
Total: 5+4+3=12, effect d10. He fails by 10, so Vergil's effect die is stepped up twice, beyond D12. Carnage is most certainly dead, and so ends a rather one-sided fight.
Summary:
Carnage: Dead, Doom pool 0D8
Vergil: 0 PP
Vergil sneered at his fallen foe for a moment. "You think to challenge a son of Sparda?" With a single lightning fast motion he drew Yamato and sliced upward, holding the blade's point toward the moon. A crimson line bisected Carnage's body. The demon croaked out something unintelligible before he split, arms flailing uselessly as the two halves peeled away from each other into a pool of blood.
He turned to look out over the city, a breeze billowing his coattails. Gunfire and screams filled the streets.
There was much work to be done yet this night...
Well! I didn't expect that. Vergil is more powerful, overall, and I expected him to win (as he should), but we know Carnage is dangerous. I didn't think it was going to be so easy for Vergil. This boiled down the early counterattack, since starting off a fight with D10 stress does not help one's case at all, and a bit better luck for Vergil's rolls than Carnage experienced.
Using effect dice on reaction rolls is really mean, I've found. Powerful characters can use this almost as an automatic hit, assuming they don't get hit by the opponent's action. I am considering a possible house rule that you can only use the reaction effect die if it's equal to or higher than your opponent's, or maybe if theirs is larger, you have to step yours back. I'm not sure. It costs a Plot Point, sure, but it's a very powerful ability and Plot Points are easy to come by.
Either way, that was a fun fight. A simple fight, mind you, because I could have been doing all sorts of creating assets, creating complications and so on. I wanted to keep things relatively simple for now, especially as one-sided as the fight ended up being. Next time, I'll get a lot fancier with the mechanics.