Character Week presented me with what I am sure was a similar problem to that faced by the other writers: how to pick from so many possible options? Last GamerNation Con I meant to run a Dungeons and Dragons game set in the first arc of Sword Art Online. When I realized that I could combine my desire to explore Sword Art Online in RPG form while also digging into my love of non-Force sensitive duelists in Force and Destiny, it became clear Asuna Yuuki was exactly the character I was looking for.
The main write up and stats provided use the FFG Star Wars Roleplaying Game rules, but will be setting agnostic except where required to clearly articulate mechanical effects. It was relatively easy to find mechanics to broadly reflect her character, whether from existing specializations or from special abilities of my own devising, which has therefore piqued my interest on using this rules set as an alternative to my hypothetical Sword Art Online skinned Dungeons and Dragons. Asuna as presented here is quite powerful, appropriate to broadly represent her in game abilities at the end of the Aincrad arc. I’ve also included some ideas on bringing Asuna into a Star Wars campaign as well as a link to a redditor’s stats for her, plus Kirito and Sinon, using Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.
Asuna Yuuki, Lightning Flash [Nemesis]
“I don’t want to lock myself in a room at the Town of Beginnings and slowly rot away. I’d rather stay the way I am until the last moment. Even if a monster beats me and I die… I won’t lose to this game nor this world, no matter what.”
Born to a wealthy family, Asuna strove to fulfill all expectations placed upon her. Seen as an idol at her all-girls academy, she presented the perfect image of a perfect girl with perfect grades and a perfect life. Once placed in a challenge of life and death, Asuna’s journey as a warrior mirrors her discovery of who she really is. Her studious nature and strong discipline, now turned to mastering the art of the sword, have made her an expert fencer. Armed with a strong moral compass, her ability to read other people’s behavior and her genuine kind heart make her a natural leader.
Characteristics
Br 2, Ag 5, Int 3, Cun 3, WP 4, Pres 3
Soak 4, W. Threshold 15, S. Threshold 25, Def M/R 2/1
Skills: Athletics 2, Charm 2, Cool 4, Coordination 3, Brawl 3, Discipline 4, Knowledge (Lore) 2, Leadership 3, Melee 5, Negotiation 2, Perception 4, Vigilance 4
Talents: Adversary 4 (upgrade the difficulty of combat checks targeting this character a number of times equal to ranks in Adversary), Defensive Training 2 (When wielding a Lightsaber, Melee, or Brawl weapon, the weapon gains Defensive 2), Feral Strength 4 (add 1 damage per rank of Feral Strength to one hit of a successful Melee or Brawl attack), Frenzied Attack 3 (when making a Melee or Brawl attack, suffer strain up to ranks in Frenzied Attack to upgrade the attack by an equal amount), Moving Target 2 (if the character has already acted this round, increase Ranged Defense by 2), Parry 6 (when hit by a melee attack while wielding a melee weapon or lightsaber, suffer 3 strain to reduce damage by 2 plus ranks in Parry.), Improved Parry (when parrying a hit that generated Despair or 3 Threat, may hit attacker once with Lightsaber, Brawl, or Melee weapon [dealing base damage], after original attack resolves.)
Abilities: Lightning Flash (Asuna does not suffer strain to take a second maneuver, but cannot take more than two maneuvers per turn), Flawless Technique (when suffering voluntary strain in combat, suffer one fewer strain to a minimum of one), Quadruple Pain (one handed melee weapons wielded by Asuna gain the Linked 3 quality), Unstoppable Will (Once per session ignore for one round any effect preventing Asuna from taking Actions or Maneuvers)
Equipment: Cortosis Vibrorapier (Melee; Damage 8; Critical 2; Range [Engaged]; Cortosis, Defensive 2, Linked 3, Pierce 5), armored robes (+1 soak, +1 defense)
Bringing Asuna Yuuki to Star Wars
Asuna as presented above is a powerful warrior and capable leader. Here are two suggestions on incorporating Asuna into your Star Wars RPG:
- Age of Rebellion: Taking inspiration from her Aincrad arc, Asuna could be presented to the players as the Vice-Commander of a key non-Alliance rebel cell fighting against the Empire in a critical sector of space. While an extremely effective combatant, her potential as a figurehead within that sector leads Alliance Command to direct the players to recruit her.
- Force and Destiny: Incredible skills emerging at a young age often mark Force sensitivity. High XP Force and Destiny characters, through the will of the Force creating a “chance” encounter or by a call to adventure presented in a vision, come across Asuna and immediately recognize her Force potential. Asuna, if convinced to train, will become a talented Force healer. In keeping with her later “Berserk Healer” moniker, Asuna’s firey will to protect the weak and right wrongs with her rapier serve in contrast to the usual healer archetype. However, the same fire and will to protect the weak may lead Asuna down a darker path….
Asuna Yuuki in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition
I’ve meant to run at least a one shot or convention game set in Sword Art Online using Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition as the rules set. For those looking to do the same and include stat’d NPC main characters, Redditor hazeyindahead shared Legendary statistics for Kirito, Asuna, and Sinon using Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition.
Christopher Hunt
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