Optional Mechanic Poll: Merged Tattoos

[Vutall]

In the Book of Air, AEG added the following optional rule. I personally think it is broken and don't like it, but I will leave the option to a poll.

Mechanical Option: Merged Tattoos
Every once in a while, the tattoos that appear on the flesh of a member of the Ise Zumi order (or its offshoots, the Kikage Zumi and the Tsurui Zumi) undergo a strange transformation. A brother who might have expected to receive a new tattoo occasionally finds instead that two of his existing tattoos have merged together to create something altogether new. This sometimes involves existing tattoos moving from one place to another on the monk’s body, a feat that not even the Togashi family’s sacred tattoo artists can explain. These new tattoos are invariably powerful, but they do limit the versatility of the monks who possess them.

A player who chooses for his character to receive a merged tattoo forgoes a new tattoo that his character would normally receive due to increasing in School Rank. Instead, two of the character’s existing tattoos are replaced by a single merged tattoo that represents both. Fire and Mountain might be replaced with Volcano, or perhaps Wind and Storm might be replaced with Hurricane. Regardless, the new tattoo is very powerful, for it allows the mechanical benefits of both tattoos to be active simultaneously. There are costs associated with it, however, as neither tattoo can be activated without the other, and any tattoo activation for the merged tattoo now costs one Void Point (although it is still a Free Action). The GM may choose not to allow Merged Tattoos if they seem overly powerful for the style of game he is running.

[Togashi Minashingo]

I mean, conceptually this is really interesting. And i would love it as a true capstone. A Rank 6 for Tattooed Monks maybe, but not as a choice outside of that. It also has the potential to break an already delicate action economy

[Vutall]

Yup. I could possibly write it up as a special IR6 thing, but it's already super tight on action economy AND it's crazy powerful. We have run into a lot of tattoo shenanigans when it comes to balance over the last 12 years.

[Kaiu Aiichiro]

I like it lore-wise. If it seems OP, the activation can be two void points, maybe?

[Doji Sakura]

Tattoos are a big enough problem without having merged and even more broken tattoos.

[Ikoma Shizuru]

I'm voting no on this one because tattoos are pretty broken as-is. Togashi Tattooed Monk is one of the best schools in the game already, so I don't see any reason to give them an extra boost.

[Soshi Shiso]

I wanted it once in a game, so I guess yup.

[Togashi Dao]

As a potential affected of this poll result, I'm leaning towards no.

At least not as written. Maybe a special achievement. Like a capstone or a reward, but not general access.

[Mirumoto Masuyo]

As a potential affected of this poll result, I'm leaning towards no.

At least not as written. Maybe a special achievement. Like a capstone or a reward, but not general access.

Same here!

[Vutall]

This poll closes in roughly 16 hours. As of now, we will NOT use the Merged Tattoo rules. (Did not reach 75% Yes)

[Vutall]

Poll closed. We will not be using this rule.