When making art, an Air approach can allow a character to refine a work of art, improving its finer points, honing a piece’s details, or stripping away unnecessary things to enhance the work.
Details
Understanding nuance is part of the Air Ring, as are the careful addition, manipulation, and removal of detail. These apply to Artisan skills via the Refine approach, which allows a character to improve a piece’s core function, elevating it to heights otherwise unreachable. Refine turns a creation into a masterwork, and it differs from the Adapt approach in that instead of changing, subverting, or reinterpreting function, it enhances and deepens it. Refine also allows a skilled artisan to layer into a piece nuance and hidden messages or meanings that viewers must disentangle for themselves to fully understand. A character uses Refine when they want to:
- Improve the core function of a piece by adding or manipulating details.
- Improve the core function of a piece by removing unnecessary things.
- Add a subtle message or complex nuance to a piece.
* |
If you failed, determine the easiest way to accomplish the task you were attempting (skill and approach). |
* + |
Remove 1 strife you gained from this check per * spent this way. |
* * |
Provide assistance to the next character to attempt a check to accomplish something similar |
* |
If you failed, provide assistance to the next character trying to accomplish the same action (p. 298 CRB) |
* |
Learn another character in the scene’s demeanor (if an NPC) and current strife. |
* + |
Act subtly to attract minimal attention in your efforts. Extra * makes the attempt even subtler. |
* * |
Notice an interesting detail about a character in the scene, such as an advantage or disadvantage. At the GM’s discretion, you may establish a new detail for an NPC. |
* |
If you succeed, add the Resplendent or Subtle quality to an item you are refining. |
Artisan + Air Shuji Opportunities
Artisan's Appraisal
Activation: When assessing an object or performance with an Artisan skill (Air), Performance (Air), or Games (Air) check:
* Choose a ring; learn the value of that ring for the creator or performer and all advantages and disadvantages attached to that ring that are not of the curse type
* If the creator or performer is an NPC, learn their demeanor.
* Choose a ring; learn the value of that ring for the creator or performer and all advantages and disadvantages attached to that ring that are not of the curse type
* If the creator or performer is an NPC, learn their demeanor.
Special Circumstance Opportunities
In the Shadowlands
*+ You detect a subtle sign in your environment that lets you get your bearings, such as a stream that runs slightly less Tainted than the environment around it or the growths on the twisted trees that point toward the Festering Pit. This landmark helps guide you for one scene, plus one additional scene in the Shadowlands per * spent this way
Against Tainted Threats
** Confronted with the horrors of the Taint, you remain alert and able to discern a weakness in your foe. Reduce the TN of your next check made to oppose or harm a Tainted character by 1, as you examine the threat before you and formulate an appropriate response.
While Tainted
** Your newfound cunning is able to redirect attention away from you, potentially concealing your Tainted nature or letting you avoid scrutiny. The TN of the next check made to scrutinize you or your actions is increased by 1.
In Negotiations
**+ Your careful verbal trap ensnares someone in a position in which they must either give up ground or give you a boon. They must offer you a minor concession unrelated to your current social objective unless they give up 1 momentum point per ** spent this way
In Romance
** The conversation turns to mutual friends or acquaintances. Name a character you and your intended both know. They must tell you what they think of that character, revealing one of that person’s advantages or disadvantages.
In Espionage
*+ Your subtlety allows you to step out of sight of people, whether by hiding in a crowd or within convenient terrain. Designate a number of Minion NPCs equal to * spent this way or a single Adversary NPC with vigilance lower than or equal to * spent this way. Those characters lose sight of you (and do not notice your absence unless actively looking for you).
In Contested Territory
* You discern subtle signs of incoming trouble and can take steps to avoid it. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, you may add a kept die showing * to your initiative check.
** You create a clever disguise or ruse to get the jump on potential foes. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, after initiative has been determined, choose one character in the scene. On that character's next check, they must reroll all results containing non-explosive Success symbols.
** You create a clever disguise or ruse to get the jump on potential foes. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, after initiative has been determined, choose one character in the scene. On that character's next check, they must reroll all results containing non-explosive Success symbols.