[fikealox]

Ahh, I'm with you Thanks for taking the time to clarify for me!

I misunderstood your third paragraph, and thought you were saying that it wasn't explicitly stated that specializations were dice pool modiers, and so the benefits of the specialization should be directly doubled in the skill portion of the test. (ie, in the underlined part of: reaction + skill x 2 + dice pool modifiers).

I get what you meant now, though. The specialization is a dice pool modifier, and while it doesn't double (because dice pool modifiers don't double in the above algorithm), it is applicable twice.

I find that very compelling, and I can't find anything in the rules to refute it. It does avoid the inconsistency in the example you cited, too, which is a benefit. There's still room for disagreement, since the rules are so vague, but you've convinced me. Thanks

[edit: +rep for Charybdis!]

[Charybdis]

No worries... hope it helped

[Mason]

I will add that the Set up maneuver, as written, is all but useless.  It essentially trades what would have been a successful attack, for a bonus to your next attack.  I would consider replacing it with Disarm or Riposte.

Set Up is great coupled with Finishing Move if you like one shotting enemies

[Glyph]

The only time I could see setup being useful is if the normal number of hits you get isn't enough to damage an enemy, even though you can get a lot of them.  In other words, an enemy with great damage soaking ability but poor blocking ability - some troll tank builds come to mind, not much else.

If the enemy doesn't have that great damage soaking ability, you will be better off doing normal attacks instead of wasting a successful attack on setup.  If the enemy doesn't have poor blocking ability, you won't get enough net hits on your first strike (the setup one) to make enough difference for your second strike.  So to me, it is a maneuver, like Full Offense, that has a very niche role.

Of course, if the group commonly runs into heavily armored but low skilled mooks, it might be far less of a niche role.

[UmaroVI]

If it's that big of a problem, then it's worth picking up something that will actually work instead of provide marginal benefit, like Elemental Strike.

[Deliverator]

Because elemental strike is an adept power and not a martial arts maneuver?

[UmaroVI]

Right, but it will actually help you deal with the problem of high-armor low-defense enemies. As will a variety of other things. Set Up won't, the only reason you should get Set Up is if you find you often have too many actions, and want to waste some of them being ineffectual.

[Mason]

When the unarmed specialist has 4 IPs and frequently gets 10 hits for the attack, Set Up is great. I guess other people's mileage may vary.

[UmaroVI]

10 hits on set up will only be another 3.333 DV on the followup attack. What are you fighting where 2 hits at +10 DV are less effective than 1 hit at +13 DV?

[Mason]

 

Man, just because it isn't optimal doesn't mean it isn't useful. It has some excellent description and keeps the melee fighter tied up so the other players can get a move in.

[UmaroVI]

So by "great" you mean "you find you often have too many actions, and want to waste some of them being ineffectual."

[gfrobbin84]

Noob question but where is the Positive Quality of Adept Path and the benfits of them spelled out I can only find the fluff descriptions in Street Magic

[Critias]

Noob question but where is the Positive Quality of Adept Path and the benfits of them spelled out I can only find the fluff descriptions in Street Magic

They are from Way of the Adept, available here: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=91004

[The Big Peat]

I'm going to suggest some infiltrate if you can squeeze it in

It is
a) Useful anyway
b) Goes nicely with your high Agi
c) Anything that gets a close combat monkey into kniferange without spending too much time getting shot at is good

[FastJack]

Nice image from the lovely and talented Echo Chernik on her Facebook page. Even though you can't see her ears, the haughty look just screams elf...