Page 35 - GM EBOOK

Each attribute may be modified once reducing or to the duration of the refining process, and may not
adding to an attribute. An attribute can only be in- use the weapon until the process is complete. The
creased or decreased by the initial number of that average time allotted to upgrade a weapon is two
attribute. However, once the attribute reaches zero, it weeks. Therefore, blacksmiths in areas with medium
can no longer be modified. A weapon’s LiE may be level resources grant two weeks to complete a pro-
upgrade an additional 50% of its LiE. This same ef- ject. Areas with a low Resource Availability rate
fect can be performed to all available attributes. take longer and GMs must add a 1D20 roll to in-
Armor Refinement crease the average time by days. Finally, areas with a C
High Resource Availability rate may subtract a 1D6 h
Specifically, all three armor attributes can be re- a p
fined twofold. Each attribute can be upgraded for up amount of days from the average time of completion. t
to double its original attribute. For example, to mod- An optional rule a GM may want to explore is allow- e r
ify the AR of a Dou (chest armor) the upgrade can ing a particular blacksmith’s skill to effect time of
add 15, creating an AR of 30. This upgrade can be completion. Meeting any of the blacksmiths men-
performed twice, adding another 15, making the AR= tioned in the Player’s Manual will shorten the amount
45. This upgrade of the same attribute twice would of time it takes to complete a project, however, al-
then move the Dou into the “Refined” category in- lowing famous crafters to work on equipment may
creasing the weapons Market Value by 200 Hansatsu dramatically increase the cost of the assignment.
and would nullify more of the attack damage. The final step in the process is discovering the cost
The Refinement Process of the modification being done. The average price to
modify equipment is 150 Hansatsu per modification.
The variables that come into play when a player Therefore, if a character wants to have more than one
wants to refine his or her character’s equipment are modification done, whether to the same piece of
time, resources and price. Managing the refining equipment or to multiple items it will cost them on
process is basic and the involvement of it is in negoti- average 150 Hansatsu each. There are some factors
ation between the NPC Blacksmith character and the that effect the price of modifications. The first is the
character wanting a modification. Area Item Pricing Chart (See Ninja vs. Samurai GM
The negotiation process begins with the player Manual Chapter 3: Creations) of the Playable Area.
having an idea of what they want their equipment to This chart helps determine how the Resource Availa-
be able to do. Are they searching for some for of up- bility and Economic Level of a Playable Area effect
grade or modification, or are they wanting an en- the cost of living and items. Using this chart, a GM
chantment to a particular item. Allow players time to can determine the exact cost of modifications. An-
figure this out. This is also an opportunity to use a other factor that will determine the cost of modifica-
blacksmith character as a component to start a new tions is the PhB attribute. A player may want to per-
adventure. As an example, the blacksmith could send suade a blacksmith to lower his price through a 1D4
the PC(s) on a quest to gather particular resources die roll. After setting the price, the PC can test the
from somewhere. As a reward, the refinement will blacksmith. A successful attribute test will mean that
be done for free. the PC has convinced the blacksmith to agree to low-
ering his price and allow the PC to pay that price.
After a decision of the upgrade is made a discus-
sion of the amount time it will take to complete the However, a failure to convince the blacksmith to
modification follows. The time it takes is actually lower his price may insult the blacksmith and he re-
determined by one factor of the playable area which fining an item upgrade altogether.
is Resource Availability (See Chapter 3: Creation in Equipment Enchantment
the Ninja vs. Samurai RPG GM Manual page: 41). Enchantments for equipment are similar to refine-
This factor determines how quickly a blacksmith can ments for equipment. Enchanting a weapon or piece
gather resources to complete a project. Characters of armor is the process of enhancing an item to make
must unequipped the item being refined in order for it the item perform better and more personal. However,

25