Combat Talents
Special styles and maneuvers acquired through RedSun's combat skills.
Progression
Acquiring talents
Combat skills grant special techniques as the character becomes more experienced.
Whenever a character acquires a new point in a combat skill, they may choose a Special Maneuver or Combat Style associated with that skill.
A character may learn several maneuvers and styles as they progress. In most cases, however, only one Combat Style can be active at a time, while all known maneuvers remain available for use.
Example
A character with Melee Weapons 3 might have chosen the Defensive Style, the Disarm maneuver, and the Duelist style, for a total of three talents acquired through the skill.
Combat skill
Melee Weapons
Combat Styles
- Defensive Style: gain +1 die on tests to block attacks using a shield.
- Duelist: gain +1 die on attacks made with a one-handed weapon. A shield cannot be used in the off hand.
- Two-Weapon Fighting: replace one defense action with an additional attack. This attack suffers a −2 die penalty to Strength or Dexterity, depending on the attribute used. Only short or medium weapons can be used this way.
- Long-Weapon Specialist: gain +1 damage die when using long weapons.
- Bulwark: forgo the defense action to take cover behind a shield and perform several defensive maneuvers without penalty. Requires a large shield.
Maneuvers
- Disarm: instead of dealing damage, attempt to knock the weapon from an opponent's hand. On a success, the weapon lands up to one meter away. The number of successes must exceed the target's Strength.
- Powerful Attack: gain +1 damage die, but suffer +1 difficulty on the attack test.
- Shield Bash: on a hit, the opponent's next attack action suffers +2 difficulty.
Combat skill
Ranged Weapons
Combat Styles
- Sharpshooter: suffer no penalty when attacking targets at long range.
- Hunter: ignore up to +2 difficulty caused by partial cover or adverse terrain conditions.
- Precise Shot: gain +2 damage dice on attacks against surprised targets.
- Mobile Archer: shoot while moving without penalties.
Maneuvers
- Aim: forgo the defense action during the turn to gain +2 dice on the next ranged attack.
- Rapid Shot: forgo the defense action to make an additional attack. Both attacks suffer +1 difficulty. Only shortbows can use this maneuver.
- Suppressing Shot: fire three arrows at once with +2 difficulty. Only relatively close targets can be attacked simultaneously, and the same target can take damage from only one arrow.
Combat skill
Unarmed Combat
Combat Styles
- Instinctive Dodge: gain +1 die on defense actions when not wearing heavy armor or using a shield.
- Counterattacker: always attack after the opponent, but after a successful dodge, gain −1 difficulty on the next attack turn.
Maneuvers
- Sweep: instead of dealing damage, attempt to knock the opponent down.
- Restrain: attempt to grapple the target and restrict its movement. The maneuver suffers +2 difficulty if the target is not surprised. On a success, the target is restrained.
- Bonebreaker: can only be used against restrained targets. No new attack roll is required; damage is calculated directly.
- Stunning Blow: instead of dealing additional damage, attempt to disorient the target. The attack deals −2 damage and, if it still causes damage, the target suffers +2 difficulty on its next action.