Dynamic Visualization (or skinning on the fly)

[Garthanos]

The players handbook encourages players to visualize and describe the characters powers with a style that personalizes them. I started the thread hoping to get some help breaking mental blocks on visualizing some of the powers in more variable interesting and changing ways. Its a way to avoid perceptual spamming even when the mechanics don't always vary too much. Its also about breaking the imagination barriers anybody might get and showing re-skinning is allowed and encouraged.

Cleave

Results = 2 enemies damaged one to a focused degree and the other a lesser amount (based on Strength bonus) and pretty much everyone ending in the same approximate locations they began.

• Cleave: A broad sweeping attack slicing through or past the target and into his friend
• Multi target Combo: Smashing a shoulder in to or kicking one guy as you slash his ally.(its a combined move missing one throws off your timing on the other so one roll works fine)
• Using One against the Other: Slambing into one enemy causing him to bounce back off the other damaging him.
• Fire in Hand: A splash of the lantern oil flying from the lantern in the hand of the guy you hit to harm his ally.
• The Non Bluff: It could be the preparatory strike that assured your attack (by making him think you were distracted or not really targeting him) against his ally was a not quite feint and actually connected against that ally doing the strength damage.
• The Environment Steps In: A bluffed attack just forces one enemy to take a step too close to the camp fire...not far enough for a lot of damage just some, the other enemy is set up by it.
• Interupted Stroke: Or perhaps your attack against one interrupted that enemies attack so that it was his spear haft which harmed his ally. (note your enemies are making multiple moves during there turn you didn't fully deprive him of an attack opportunity this just represents one of the elements of defensive action and acknowledges attacks are a part of it)
• Lucky Backswing : An accidental hit on an enemy during the preparation to hit the other "My back swing was too liberal but I managed to not let it throw off my attack." (kind of an interesting visualization for a halfling doing a successful cleave)

and now...

Reaping Strike

Results = targetted opponent takes atleast half damage.

• Pointed Vulnerabilities : I aim at their weak spots (all things have them) even if you cant quite hit them solid the enemy will scramble and exhaust themselves preventing a full impact... and that serves my purpose too.
• Barrage : Its a bloody barrage I can't help but hit them solid or not.
• Smash Through : Your heavy weapon crashes into their shield with a thunder and clamor. Tho the brunt of your rageful strike has been averted, you cannot help but smile at the crunch of pain he feels in his arm.(Thanks DracoSuave)
• Blade Trap : They thought they had avoided my sabre but it had backup even there best defense lead them in to my dagger (use with offhand weapon)
• Haft Follow up : If your foe blocks your axe blade, you pivot your weapon at the point of impact, driving the haft into his stomach.(Thanks Puget Sound)
• Spinning Reprise: Weirdly the first cut of this move is both an aiming and a set up for the finale.. so I prefer that it "miss" as that means the follow up spin is perfect and full.
• Careful Perfection: Ancient ultra secret attack hard to follow, yup never misses sometimes they hurt worse than others but outright missing is out of the question. (Note I use bloodied minions house rule - minions are bloodied if missed or hit by auto damage a second bloodying kills them)
• Between a Blade and a Hot Place You skillfully manipulate your foe's position - if they don't fall by your blade they'll fall by hazards of the battlefield. Next time, they'll learn to mind their surroundings.(Thanks Quickleaf)

and

Tide of Iron

Results = targeted opponent is moved/pushed and requires a shield optional you move in to there former position.

• Imbalancing Leg Swipe: Its so much easier to take somebodies legs when ducked down safe under a shield, they stagger to a new position (this is a stationary where you don't move into the vacated position)
• Scooping Tera Firma: With the edge of my shield I scoop a off a chunk of the cliff wall beside us and toss it at him who cares if it doesn't blind him it encourages he move where I want him to.
• Smash Back: "A quick hack with my weapon leaves my opponent unprepared for what comes next -- my shield hammering into his chest with my full weight behind it, driving him back." (thanks Stormtalon.)

And for Martial Powers users

Crushing Surge
Result = a succesful attack induces or is tied to a gain in temporary hitpoints

• Battle Joy: The grin on his face is absolutely disconcerting if you compare it to his normal demeanor... he enjoys the fight, putting a weird emotional investment in his attacks his successes floods him with false energy.
• Warriors Mind or Battle Trance He calls it focus, I call it self hypnosis tied to the motion and perfection of the form of his blade... In this state he can ignore considerable pain. Each success with the weapons moves pulls him deeper into trance.
• Rising Hope: A successful attack hits home and you realize it isn't hopeless we really can win this fight... - use when you are up against bad odds or behind in the fight. (if this were a Paladins move would it be real hit points instead of temporary ones?)
• Gloating: Their hurt makes you feel better honest... an emotional vampire, it is easier to ignore your wounds if the enemy is hurting too.
• I love it when a plan comes together! That move you have been trying out in practice or that maneuver your teacher taught you years ago... finally made itself worth while.. now that is outright invigorating.
• Vengeance requited: the enemy truly is evil and the buoying satisfaction you feel over bringing them just a touch of justice really shouldn't make you feel guilty should it?
• Blood Thirsty: the likelihood of seeing real blood, heightens your will to continue the fight. You don't have to be a shifter for this, humans invented it... shifters perfected it and dhampirs are distracted by it.

Footwork Lure:

Results = Your opponent is slides into the spot you vacate tied to a successful attack.

• False Opening: I leave an opening seemingly off guard when they go for that opening I stumble back seemingly at a disadvantage he cannot resist but it is he who has taken the bait and my blade is the hook he impales himself on! (on a failure they don't take the bait in the first place)
  
• Measured Retreat: its only the better part of valor if you can do it safely and you make sure the enemy "hurts" while you do it. I look for my openings and make them want my hide before I take them.

Brash Strike

Results = a +2 attack which deals bonus damage for end balanced weapons and leaves you at a disadvantage afterwards whether it works or not. (I really can't envision anyone but somebody using an end balanced weapon taking this move)

• Full Swing: Its a proper move with an axe honest I know the things so heavy it yanks me off balance even when I hit... it also bloody knocks an opening I might not have hit otherwise and you can't criticize that or damage I deal either.
  
• I hate Goblins: "They disgust me! so what if I give him an opening I am pretty certain he won't be in any condition to use it after my hammer opens his brains. Is there anything you don't hate Devros?"

[DracoSuave]

Your heavy weapon crashes into their shield with a thunder and clamor. Tho the brunt of your rageful strike has been averted, you cannot help but smile at the crunch of pain he feels in his arm.

[Garthanos]

Yes hit hard enough fast enough and there defenses are meaningless! or at least less than adequate.


The Trap.

They thought they had avoided my sabre but it had a backup even there best defense lead them in to my dagger (use with offhand weapon)

[On Puget Sound]

When your foe blocks your axe blade, you pivot your weapon at the point of impact, driving the haft into his stomach.

[Garthanos]

Im giving alternate names to them too now what the hey.

[hong]

You don't have to reskin EVERY TIME they use Cleave, you know.

[Garthanos]

Originally Posted by hong

You don't have to reskin EVERY TIME they use Cleave, you know.

The point is to avoid the spam effect.... and make things vivid and changing (ie dynamic)

Using this is inspired both by complaints that the 'at-wills' are boring and that they seem to limit some imaginations, neither of which need be true.

Here is a link to something of similar sort for the Wizard

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=17756588

Also if a description is both vivid and perfect to something the DM has described and not spam.. it sometimes gets an extra benefit... for instance the lantern oil described in one of the cleaves might deliver extra 2 ongoing fire damage.

[Garthanos]

more on Reaping strike.

Spinning Reprise: Weirdly the first cut of this move is both an aiming and a set up for the finale.. so I prefer that it "miss" as that means the follow up spin is perfect and full.

[Garthanos]

Careful Perfection: Ancient ultra secret attack hard to follow, yup never misses sometimes they hurt worse than others but outright missing is out of the question. (Note I use bloodied minions house rule)

[Quickleaf]

Between a Blade and a Hot Place

You skillfully manipulate your foe's position - if they don't fall by your blade they'll fall by hazards of the battlefield. Next time, they'll learn to mind their surroundings.

[Garthanos]

Originally Posted by Quickleaf

Between a Blade and a Hot Place

You skillfully manipulate your foe's position - if they don't fall by your blade they'll fall by hazards of the battlefield. Next time, they'll learn to mind their surroundings.

Most directly useful if there are some nice dangerous elements described close by they either step in a nasty or eat blade... which is nastier this time? depends on there choice and or perhaps more accurately the die roll determines whether they made the right choice.

I like it.

[Garthanos]

I was just going to suggest we might look at

Tide of Iron (My martial background is not with a sword and board nor are shields as common in cinema... )

Results = targetted opponent is moved/pushed and requires a shield optional you move in to there former position.

Imbalancing Leg Swipe: Its so much easier to take somebodies legs when ducked down safe under a shield, they stagger to a new position (this is a stationary where you dont move into the vacated position)

[D'karr]

I'm not left-handed either.

[Garthanos]

Originally Posted by D'karr

I'm not left-handed either.

wow, what a great contribution...

PS: And I will apologise for my sarcasm if you were using 'left-handed" to mean shield-user.

[Garthanos]

Scooping Tera Firma: With the edge of my shield I scoop a off a chunk of the cliff wall beside us and toss it at him who cares if it doesn't blind him it encourages he move where I want him to.