I get bonuses?

How to use your Middle Kingdom Bonuses

This section relates to Ephemeral Elephants adventure.

Heroes, Scholars, Beauties & Friends/Minions have various bonuses. Except for weapons & [of course] reaction rolls, bonuses automatically come off your dice-roll as if they were a super-improved Lesser Enchantment

1. does NOT combine in same direction with Lesser Enchantment ...
2. but normally combines (enhancing or ameliorating) with other dice modifiers such as skill, aspect buzz/penalties, etc
3. does NOT modify a natural 01 or natural 00

Weapon Bonuses

For weapons, however, the assumption is that the bonus comes off YOUR dice roll if you don't say anything to the contrary. However each [subjective] pulse, for that pulse, you MAY split your weapons bonus: reduce your weapons bonus(es) in 5% bits and ADD that bit to attack roll by ALL YOUR opponents in their attempts to attack you — note, this is not merely defence ... it actually modifies the attacker's dice rolls upwards.

You may not reduce your bonus below 0%. You may NOT apply a weapon's bonus of you do not have that weapon prepared.

Special cases:

1. If you are in combat with TWO or more weapons, you may NOT put one bonus all on attack & the other bonus all on "Defending" (i.e. adding to opponents' rolls): you "split" all secondary weapons equally & what ever you split from your primary weapon onto defence you also deduct from secondary.
2. Primary weapon just means your most-highly ranked weapon ... even if you didn't bring it with you on adventure.
3. Secondary weapon just means any other weapon you are using.
4. If you have more than one weapon at the same [equal] highest rank, you must nominate one as your Primary weapon. It will remain your primary weapon for the rest of the adventure & will remain so (almost) indefinitely until your relative ranking improves.

Examples & comments

Aside #1: It is therefore quite common that an enemy hero is using a potent, magical weapon ... but it is only a secondary weapon, because they are more highly ranked in something else (e.g., Unarmed).

Aside #2: you may use your weapons in whichever hand or appendage you are physically capable of. The thing in your primary hand need not be your primary weapon.

Aside #3: You may not "split" a skill roll, even if it is being used in combat (e.g. beauty assassin bonus) or against an opponent.

Hint: If both hands are full (e.g. with weapons), there is the theoretical possibility you may kick & you are considered to have your unarmed skill active ... even if you do not activate that option). Therefore some party-members, depending on ranking may technically.

EXAMPLE: Tree-high LOFTY the hero is in combat with 2 weapons prepared, one of which is his primary weapon. His combat options are:
[a] Take 15 off dice-roll of primary & 10 off secondary
[b] Defend with 5; take 10 of dice-roll of primary & 5 off secondary
[c] Defend with 10; take 5 off dice-roll of primary & (only if he has a Lesser Enchantment) 1 off secondary.
[d] Defend with 15; & (only if he has a Lesser Enchantment) 1 off each primary or secondary dice roll.