House Rules
I Chih
I Chih & Damage
I Chih can be inflict (usually aggravated) damage, as noted in the book. The Harm modifier must be used. With few exceptions, only Rank 3 I Chih or higher can employ the Harm modifier due to the natures of these Wu Tan levels. A couple of clarifications should be made, however, on just how these damaging I Chih work.
In the case of Level 3 I Chih, the hsien can only ensorcel his own body. Hsien use these Elemental Fist spells to inflict extra damage on foes. The Harm modifier employed can add damage to Brawl or Martial Arts attacks, whether the hsien changes his entire form or just "empowers" his fists and/or feet. All Wu Tan can be used for Elemental Fist. The added damage dice are rolled separately, however. It doesn't transform the hsien's Martial Arts attacks into aggravated damage. The attacks still cause regular damage, which can be soaked normally. The damage dice from the I Chih, as determined by the Harm modifier, are rolled separately (and may or may not be able to be soaked, depending on the nature of the victim struck).
Level 4 spells can be used to attack as well, particularly the Move Elements I Chih. The hsien can "telekinetically" hurtle elemental objects in his vicinity at his enemies. The object in question inflicts normal damage (a short sword would inflict the hsien's Strength+2, while a baseball-sized stone would inflict Strength+1). The Abundance Modifier can be used with this I Chih; each level of the modifier taken adds one level (not die) to the weapon's damage roll. So if a Hou-Chi causes a wood fence to tear out of the ground and hurtle at a vampire, and uses Abundance 3 to cover every stake of the fence, that would count as 3 automatic levels of lethal damage. And then the Harm Modifier can add a second damage roll (aggravated), as above with Elemental Fist.
An alternative Level 4 damaging spell involves a new sort of spell as based on the "Awaken the Elements" heading. The hsien can "enchant" a weapon so that it inflicts aggravated damage. The Harm Modifier cannot be used for this I Chih. The hsien must use Magnitude of Change 3; Abundance cannot be used with this I Chih but Continuance can. However, no weapon stays enchanted like this permanently. No higher than Continuance 5 (one month) functions for this I Chih.
