Psi-sword vs Wild Vampires

[Pender Lumkiss]

Hi Folks,

It would seem psi-swords would fall under the magic and psionics weakness for wild vampires. Basically it needs to be MD and it cannot dystroy the vampire it can only incapacitate.

Once the vampire is incapacitated its head needs to be removed, and its body burned that will stop their fast regeneration.

Going for the headshot with a psi-sword I would rule if enough damage was done to incapacitate, you would also get its head severed, and so you just need to burn the vamp with normal or MD fire to actually destroy it.

I would appreciate any feedback as to whether I am reading the rules correctly or incorrectly. I also put a post up on the google plus savage rift forum asking for some guidance and clarification.

[Kidemonas]

Have you considered if the attack would be considered holy coming from a character with the Champion edge?

It very much breaks convention for a Cyber-Knight not to be able to kill a vampire in battle. The drudge of chopping off heads and burning do not fit the Cyber-Knight at all.

[Vela]

You can always stake them, then go back and finish them after the fight's over.

[Kidemonas]

Looks like Clint Black answered and it was a Deliberate design.

[Spartacus]

It is only mildly annoying that a psi-sword can't kill a vampire since it can at least incapacitate one. I don't suppose that Spartacus can pick up a bandoleer or belt to hold extra wooden stakes for handy deployment?

[Kidemonas]

Well at least we have two mystics in the group. So if we run out of silver we will still have options.

[Krysesia]

And an Undead Slayer, purpose built to kill them, and a shifter who summons spirits of light (with a silver sword that does MD), and a werejaguar whose claws hurt them and can take them down. Oh and an Apok. Good supply of stakes, lighters, some gas, and plenty of water is all we need.

I'm sure if you went to the requisition guy you could get a bandoleer of stakes pretty easily.

[Penitent]

Greater Smite lets you add a trapping of choice, which you could always make sunlight or running water. But Spartacus probably doesn't have Master Psionics yet.

[Pender Lumkiss]

It is only mildly annoying that a psi-sword can't kill a vampire since it can at least incapacitate one. I don't suppose that Spartacus can pick up a bandoleer or belt to hold extra wooden stakes for handy deployment?

Go ahead and ask Tyler if you want something super cool.

[Pender Lumkiss]

Greater Smite lets you add a trapping of choice, which you could always make sunlight or running water. But Spartacus probably doesn't have Master Psionics yet.

Or trap regular smite as sunlight damage or water damage.

[Kidemonas]

Greater Smite lets you add a trapping of choice, which you could always make sunlight or running water. But Spartacus probably doesn't have Master Psionics yet.

Or trap regular smite as sunlight damage or water damage.

And perfectly fitting for a Cyber-Knight.

[Spartacus]

Greater Smite lets you add a trapping of choice, which you could always make sunlight or running water. But Spartacus probably doesn't have Master Psionics yet.

Or trap regular smite as sunlight damage or water damage.

Currently I have my smite trapped with the flammable trapping. I do like the idea of the Sunlight trapping and I had considered it for some time. It just seemed the way I read it that it's main purpose was to enhance a standard light power. There is also the question of the visible effects of the sunlight trapping though that isn't a huge deal. It would just make smite verboten in stealthy situations I would think. But if the GM's says it's a doable trapping for smite it works for me.

[Spartacus]

It is only mildly annoying that a psi-sword can't kill a vampire since it can at least incapacitate one. I don't suppose that Spartacus can pick up a bandoleer or belt to hold extra wooden stakes for handy deployment?

Go ahead and ask Tyler if you want something super cool.

Would that include mundane equipment? Though while on the subject, if the sunlight trapping is a go for smite wouldn't that allow me to cast it on my laser weapons for some temporary sunlight guns?

[Pender Lumkiss]

It is only mildly annoying that a psi-sword can't kill a vampire since it can at least incapacitate one. I don't suppose that Spartacus can pick up a bandoleer or belt to hold extra wooden stakes for handy deployment?

Go ahead and ask Tyler if you want something super cool.

Would that include mundane equipment? Though while on the subject, if the sunlight trapping is a go for smite wouldn't that allow me to cast it on my laser weapons for some temporary sunlight guns?

If you want some kind of cool gathering mundane item ask and roll persuasion with Tyler. If you want to just buy some mundane gear with credits out of the book just go ahead and spend away. Example Penitent wanted his beretta upgraded with some stopping power, rolled good enough and provided to rp incentive that Tyler work on his gun. Want some spring loaded crosses or a some such make a persuasion roll.

Heck yeah sunlight trapping would be freaking epic!

[High Command]

VK book has silver crosses with spring loaded silver blades that pop out so you can stab a fool with a cross. that's just MEAN.

[Ashlyn Alvarez]

Every survival pack comes with a wooden cross/stake. Does the stake have to stay in the vamp, or can you just stab an incapacitated vamp with a stake through the heart and move on to the next one?

[Vela]

The stake stays in. Regeneration resumes the instant it's removed, no matter how long the vampire has been out of action.

[Pender Lumkiss]

I am having the same conversation with my other group. Here is something interesting Freemage/Libertas came up with.

Unless there's an official ruling counter to that, I think you're reading the RAW correctly, here--Psi-Sword with Mega Damage activated does normal damage, up to Incapacitation. And yeah, called shot to the head doing instant-decapitation if it also incapacitates the vampire makes sense.

Also, note that it's actually VERY easy to burn an incapacitated Vampire to ash--just set a crucifix, Star of David, copy of the Koran, Buddhist prayer beads, etc, on the body, and it will combust into flames.

Clint got back to us on google plus savage Rifts and basically cyberknights need to carry silver or a stake to actually kill them. But your thought on just tossing a religious symbol on the headless vampire to burn them is genius. Note: the advantage provided from the champion edge allows for a psi-sword to not be MD.

So I would allow a cyberknight to go for a headshot with the psi-sword if enough damage was delt to incapacitate the head would be decpatated as well. But like Vela said it would still regenerate( not a garanteed thing, vigor roll) unless it was burnt( the cyber knight would take a multi penalty action to do this on the same turn as decapitate) or silver/wood stuck into it heart before its turn came up..

[High Command]

Every survival pack comes with a wooden cross/stake. Does the stake have to stay in the vamp, or can you just stab an incapacitated vamp with a stake through the heart and move on to the next one?

It actually comes with a mallet and stake - useful for tents and vampires. And about as (not) easy to pound in. I'd say at least an action. SFoNA should say.

[Kidemonas]

Leben can give you a marble. That will solve the problem as it does 2d10 to vampires within is radius and creates an area of 'holy ground'. This also prevents all the campus powers from working while within the radius.

(TLPG pg.115)

[Spartacus]

Cyber-Knight starting gear includes a silver cross and six stakes. Also the description of the silver cross in TLPG says it can be sharpened at the end like a dagger and does Str + d4 damage.

If I can trap smite with the sunlight trapping and use it on my laser weapons if needed then that plus the psi-sword's ability to incapacitate them I feel like I'm good to go.

Also, to really kill a vamp you have to burn the body and head separately and scatter the ashes so post-battle cleanup should be fun.

[High Command]

or use copious amounts of water to drown the body into ashes. Nightbane had this wonderful scene where a vampire is tossed into a shower and held there until it ran down the drains destroyed.