1. Not that I'm aware of.

2. That's actually kind of funny, and should probably be errata'ed. I'd just allow the use of Flowing Water strike, but if you can't remove your Immobilized condition with an opp, it auto-fails (the main effect doesn't trigger regardless of successes).

3. a. Resist rolls, for one. Not sure if there are any others.

b. Yes, as I understand it, it works basically like that, which also seemed odd to me when I reasoned out the same thing. That said, it only triggers on a resist roll, and if you have to make a resist roll while Incapacitated, you have other issues.

39 minutes ago, Avatar111 said:

if used in the same turn, there is absolutely no point in the technique Striking as Fire because the increase TN from the opp spending is strictly better and you should put all your opportunities there.

the one and ONLY purpose of striking as fire is that it last until the end of your next turn . Which mean you can capitalise on it yourself. But that is a very niche use... Most of the time you will have better use of fire opportunities than that and even if you end up using it, it is easy to counter by the opponent on his next turn. Making Striking as Fire; a garbage technique. Way too situational, counterable, with an effect that is actually weaker than the fire opp spending.

Actually, Striking as Fire is strictly better than the basic Fire opp spend, albeit only marginally. Increasing the TN effectively subtracts successes from their resist roll that each reduce crit severity by one. Increasing the crit severity by one similarly offsets one of their resist roll successes. But if they don't roll any resist successes (or fewer than the TN increase), increasing the TN doesn't have any effect, whereas increasing crit severity does (see below). Also, since it persists longer (till end of next turn), it can be applied to a crit next turn if you fail to crit them this turn. All that said, I generally agree that Striking as Fire isn't worth the purchase over the basic Fire opp.

Example:

Severity 5 crit

3x basic Fire opp: +3 to resist TN. Opponent rolls one success. Instead of reducing crit severity to 4, it remains 5. (+1 effective bonus)

3x Striking as Fire opp: +3 to crit severity. Opponent rolls one success. Crit severity is reduced from 8 to 7 (would otherwise be reduced from 5 to 4, so +3 effective bonus).

55 minutes ago, tamdrik said:

Actually, Striking as Fire is strictly better than the basic Fire opp spend, albeit only marginally. Increasing the TN effectively subtracts successes from their resist roll that each reduce crit severity by one. Increasing the crit severity by one similarly offsets one of their resist roll successes. But if they don't roll any resist successes (or fewer than the TN increase), increasing the TN doesn't have any effect, whereas increasing crit severity does (see below). Also, since it persists longer (till end of next turn), it can be applied to a crit next turn if you fail to crit them this turn. All that said, I generally agree that Striking as Fire isn't worth the purchase over the basic Fire opp.

Example:

Severity 5 crit

3x basic Fire opp: +3 to resist TN. Opponent rolls one success. Instead of reducing crit severity to 4, it remains 5. (+1 effective bonus)

3x Striking as Fire opp: +3 to crit severity. Opponent rolls one success. Crit severity is reduced from 8 to 7 (would otherwise be reduced from 5 to 4, so +3 effective bonus).

you are right, I stand corrected!

I suppose it makes striking as fire "ok" if you don't have a razor-edge weapon, but kind of useless if you do (unless you plan to do the 2 turns setup, but I really don't see it happening over the course of multiple sessions)

1 hour ago, Avatar111 said:

you are right, I stand corrected!

I suppose it makes striking as fire "ok" if you don't have a razor-edge weapon, but kind of useless if you do (unless you plan to do the 2 turns setup, but I really don't see it happening over the course of multiple sessions)

Yeah, pretty much, though it can also help an ally to "finish him!" if all you do is incapacitate him, unlike the Razor-Edged opp spend. Again, I do agree that it's kind of weak, but not completely worthless and redundant. Maybe a better one would be something like, "*: The severity of the next critical strike suffered by the target cannot be reduced by a resistance check below 3, plus one for every additional * you spend. This effect does not increase the initial severity of the critical strike and lasts until the end of your next turn."

7 minutes ago, tamdrik said:

Yeah, pretty much, though it can also help an ally to "finish him!" if all you do is incapacitate him, unlike the Razor-Edged opp spend. Again, I do agree that it's kind of weak, but not completely worthless and redundant. Maybe a better one would be something like, "*: The severity of the next critical strike suffered by the target cannot be reduced by a resistance check below 3, plus one for every additional * you spend. This effect does not increase the initial severity of the critical strike and lasts until the end of your next turn."

It would be ok if it somehow stacked with razor-edged. Making it very deadly with the right weapon. (basically 1opp would equal +2 severity with razor-edged weapons. And leave the technique as is for non-razor weapons as it basically grants them razor-edge.)

tdlr: the technique is not bad if you don't have a razor-edge weapon... just really sucks if you are using one, and most samurai are.

2 minutes ago, Avatar111 said:

It would be ok if it somehow stacked with razor-edged. Making it very deadly with the right weapon. (basically 1opp would equal +2 severity with razor-edged weapons. And leave the technique as is for non-razor weapons as it basically grants them razor-edge.)

+2 severity/opp seems kind of OP to me at first blush-- pray your GM doesn't use it against you with an NPC. That could get deadly fast with a 2H Katana. My suggestion would be more situational for use against high-fitness baddies and/or with a low-deadliness weapon (e.g., Tetsubo) to ensure you do more than just damage armor.

1 minute ago, tamdrik said:

+2 severity/opp seems kind of OP to me at first blush-- pray your GM doesn't use it against you with an NPC. That could get deadly fast with a 2H Katana. My suggestion would be more situational for use against high-fitness baddies and/or with a low-deadliness weapon (e.g., Tetsubo) to ensure you do more than just damage armor.

it already helps the tetsubo, because it basically gives the tetsubo the razor edge quality.

+2 severity per opp is nothing too crazy imo. you still need to crit... it isn't like you'll get like 6 opportunities. You would basically need 2 opp just to make it as deadly as the optional deadliness rule.
and how many times will npc really use that technique against PC ? isn't the ronin NPC from the core book have a similar ability already ? 1 opp for +2 deadliness ? I'm sure I saw that on an npc.

but yeah, just talking here. See if we can "help" the utility of striking as fire when using razor edge weapons.

7 minutes ago, Avatar111 said:

it already helps the tetsubo, because it basically gives the tetsubo the razor edge quality.

+2 severity per opp is nothing too crazy imo. you still need to crit... it isn't like you'll get like 6 opportunities. You would basically need 2 opp just to make it as deadly as the optional deadliness rule.
and how many times will npc really use that technique against PC ? isn't the ronin NPC from the core book have a similar ability already ? 1 opp for +2 deadliness ? I'm sure I saw that on an npc.

but yeah, just talking here. See if we can "help" the utility of striking as fire when using razor edge weapons.

True, though the Ronin technique only applies to an attack rather than for a full round, which you'd probably want to keep to avoid loading up for a massive crit on the following turn. In fact, it's even called "Striking as Fire" in his description, interestingly enough.

Edit: Though the Ronin is also fixed at 2 Fire Ring, so they're only going to have so many opportunities to spend.

1 minute ago, tamdrik said:

True, though the Ronin technique only applies to an attack rather than for a full round, which you'd probably want to keep to avoid loading up for a massive crit on the following turn. In fact, it's even called "Striking as Fire" in his description, interestingly enough.

I'm not too worried about "the next turn". Worst comes to worst, it forces the opponent into earth stance, or maybe a guard action.

It does make it deadly with a razor-edge weapon. For sure, but I don't think it is overkill, especially since it is mostly a buff to the PCs. and a difference of what? +1 or +2 deadliness in most cases ?