A player submitted to me an action card they wanted to create that would emphasize their Berserker Rage ability. This is what we came up with so far. I think it's good, but I'm on the fence about it. It doesn't seem all that over-powered to me, but I wanted to get some input of what you guys thought of it, so here is the Reckless Side. We're still working on the conservative, so I'll get back to you on that as soon as we're done. It is the farthest I've ever went with a home-brew action card and may be tipped too far on the powerful side. This is a first draft and as of yet, has no play-testing. It is patterned after Backstab, Troll-Feller and the errata Double-Strike.

BATTLE FURY

Recharge: 2, Difficulty: 2 Black. Berserker Rage Must be Recharging, Melee Weapon Equipped, Engaged with Target.

1 Success: You hit for normal damage.

2 Successes: As above, plus ignore the target's armor soak value.

3 Successes: As above, plus add an amount of additional damage equal to your depth in the reckless stance.

1 Boon: +1 Damage.

2 Boons: You overwhelm your target. They gain +2 black to their next attack roll targeting you.

Comet: You hit again for normal damage, ignoring the target's armor soak value against this attack.

Exertion: You suffer 1 Wound.

2 Banes: Suffer 1 Fatigue.

1 Star: You suffer 1 Wound.

My biggest concern obviously, is the comet effect. It's pretty potent and I don't know if it is way to steep (but obviously, the player loves it). Then again, the exertion wound may be a huge balancing factor against it. The idea is as you go in swinging, you get nicked by your opponent. I also wonder if the Berserker Rage being required may be too steep for the card. I know the 2 success line is strong, but it is the same on the Backstab action card. I was also debating if the difficulty should be bumped up to a purple. The last is recharge 2 or 3.

Anyway, I'd like to get your thoughts on how to improve/weaken the card. Any input would be great. If you like, please enjoy in your own games.

Good Gaming,

Commoner

The idea is fine. But as is, it's too powerful. My 2 cents :

You require Berzerker Rage, but it's not really a problem, what is would be the stacking with your 3 successes line : Reckless 3 = +6 Damage

The 2 Success line is fine but not really in the berzerker theme since it's only efficient vs heavily armored targets. Also, the Berzerker Rage buff already increase the damage output nicely.

I'd also change the Comet effect to be a normal hit, not a "2 succes line extra hit". A second normal hit in itself if very nice (remember you are under Berzerker Rage effect too). You could add (or replace it with) a 2 Comet line for one super extra attack

Use the Overwhelmed condition card for the 2 Boons effect (Add a Challenge to all physical action) to stay in line with similar effects, for 2 Rounds. I'd also change it to be 1 Boon only.

2 Banes are already a standard Fatigue on any physical card, so change it to 1 Bane.

The Chaos Star should be more severe, like 1 Wound and the character falls prone (he tripped & needs a maneuver to stand up), or 1 Wound & opens himself to easier retaliation (Exposed condition with 3 Tokens, so it really lasts 2 rounds). You take risks!

So instead of more damage, i would use Conditions for each lines instead. I would try that :

1 success "You move one step deeper into Reckless then deal normal damage to the target" (the stance moves before applying dmg)
2 success "As above, and the target suffers from the Exposed condition for 2 rounds"
3 success "As above, and you enter a Battle Fury for 2 rounds : you receive the Frenzied condition card with 3 recharge tokens on it" -> Frenzied is in the Berzerker spirit [the Frenzied condition is for subsequent actions; as with exertion symbol & Fatigue, it is not cumulative for each exertion symbol]

1 Boon : "The target is Overwhelmed for 2 Rounds"
2 Boons : "+1 Damage, +1 Critical"

Sigmar's Comet : "You hit again! The target suffers a secondary attack for normal damage, soaked separately"

1 Bane : "You suffer 1 Fatigue"

Exertion symbol : "You suffer 1 Wound instead of 1 Fatigue" (it isn't cumulative, 3 symbols = 1 Wound, like for Fatigue)

Chaos Star : "You suffer 1 Wound and become Exposed for 2 rounds, you receive the Exposed condition card with 3 recharge tokens on it"

Anyway, maybe it should not be given to a Rank 1 Character

Between Reckless Cleave (which is awesome for a Berzerker style character), Thunderous Blow & Trollfeller Strike, i don't think you need more of those "1 shot-er". That is why i was leaning toward "conditions" effects (Exposed + Overwhelmed easily attained, Frenzied for the attacker)

Happy holydays!

A few pointers...:

1) It does look to powerfull in the original version, Cwell's looks better, mainly because it comes with a downside. I would probably add a double bane with fatigue and stress/wound, simply because fighting like that comes with a cost.

2) It's good to come here and ask, but when my old group played 2nd edition, we came up with combat maneuvers (that you could purchase for 100-200xp) to suplement the standard ones. We made like 20 or so, and agreed that when a player bought one, we would discuss after the session if it was to strong or weak. So I suggest you first of all talk to your group as a whole, and ask what they think. Then test it one session, and discuss again. Thing is, I assume the character is a troll-slayer, so you have to ask yourself if you want this character to be able to kill even faster than he allready is?

3) Conservative sides does not have to have same name as reckless, and could be a totally different action. It could be a combat action that was the direct opposite, like "Defensive strike", which added black dice to opponents melee strikes, and more the further in conservative stance the player was in. No ideas for precise rulling, but just a suggestion.

what! Actual replies. LOL

I will read these over and get back to you. Thanks guys.

I would be extremely leering of allowing a second attack with the same weapon. If you really want to do it, have it need to roll to hit and give it an additional challenge die (at least), and maybe cost a fatigue.

I agree that using existing Condition cards would be the way to go.

My opinion is a bit tamer, something like:

1 success - Hit for normal damage and target is Exposed for 2 rounds
2 success - hit for +1 damage and target is Staggered for 2 rounds
3 success - hit for +1 damage and target is Overwhelmed for 2 rounds

1 Boon : You may immediately adjust your stance one step farther into reckless without spending a stress
2 Boons : "+1 Damage, +1 Critical"

Sigmar's Comet : +1 critical and additional damage equal to the number of steps in the reckless stance

1 Bane : "You suffer 1 Fatigue"

2 Bane: "You suffer 1 Fatigue and are Exposed for 3 rounds"

Chaos Star : "Gain a temporary insanity with the Violence trait"