Oppression Aware Podcast, Fairy Tales, and Games

Characters use their defense when protecting themselves from immediate physical or mental harm. For contrast, skills and abilities are used to take proactive actions, such as gathering information, moving through the environment, and taking actions that affect the people and objects around them. Defense, however, is used to respond to immediate dangers that are about to directly affect you.

There are two defenses that each character has: physical defense and mental defense. Each defense has three options to choose from, each of which has a different limitation. Whenever a character is able to use their type of defense to protect themselves from an immediate threat, their player gets to add a die for being trained to their dice roll. However if their limitation applies, then they don’t get the die for being trained. For example, a character that is trained to use a shield for physical defense needs to be holding a shield in order to use their training to physically defend themselves.

 

 

Physical Defense

Physical defense protects against physical harm, such as falling objects, physical attacks, and projectiles. It is used by rolling body. Each character gets one type of physical defense from the list below.

• Armor: You are trained to use armor for physical defense. This can be any type of armor from your culture, including quilted cloth, hardened leather, chain mail, scale mail, and plate armor. You own a set of armor and you can use this training any time that you are wearing it. However you cannot sleep in your armor and it takes a significant amount of time to put on.
• Shield: You are trained to use a shield for physical defense. This can be any type of shield from your culture. You own a shield and you can use this training any time that you are holding it. However your shield requires one hand to use, so you cannot do any two-handed tasks while using it. In addition, your shield can be taken away by disarming attacks.
• Dodging: You are trained to use dodging for physical defense. The aesthetics of this dodging are up to you. However you are only able to dodge in situations where you have the freedom to move. This means that any time you are squeezing through a tight space, are balanced precariously, or are restrained, you cannot dodge.

 

 

Mental Defense

Mental defense protects against unwanted mental and magical effects. It is used by rolling mind. Each character gets one type of mental defense from the list below.

• Protective Outfit: You are trained to use a special protective outfit for mental defense. How this outfit works is up to you. For example, it could be robes embroidered with arcane symbols, a dress with special plants woven into it, or a suit covered in small gemstones. You own this protective outfit and you can use this training any time that you are wearing it. However you are unable to sleep in this outfit (perhaps it is too delicate or lumpy to sleep in), and it takes a significant amount of time to put on.
• Staff: You are trained to use a staff for mental defense. This means that you know how to use the magical properties of a staff to shield yourself from harmful mental effects and magic. How this works is up to you. For example, your staff could be etched with protective runes, be made from a special type of wood, or have a magic absorbing gem on top. You own this staff and you can use your training any time that you are holding it. However your staff requires one hand to use, so you cannot do any two-handed tasks while using it. In addition, your staff can be taken away by disarming attacks.
• Deflection: You are trained to use deflection for mental defense. Deflection is the process of using special gestures to alter the way magic moves so that it avoids you. The aesthetics of this deflection are up to you. However doing this requires large physical gestures, so you are only able to use deflection in situations where you have the freedom to move. This means that any time you are squeezing through a tight space, are balanced precariously, or are restrained, you cannot deflect.