Combat Abilities

As a character gains skill with a weapon type, she gains new abilities. These abilities come in two varieties: active and passive.

Passive abilities are gained when a character's skill level with a weapon reaches an odd multiple of 10 (10, 30, 50, 70 and 90). A character automatically benefits from passive abilities as long as she is wielding a weapon of the appropriate type and has sufficient skill with it. If a character's skill level is reduced below the threshold for gaining the ability (for example, due to strain from using an active ability), the benefits of the passive ability are lost.

Active abilities, or techniques, are gained at even multiples of 10 (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100). Techniques are only effective when the character makes an active decision to use them. The physical and mental effort required to use a technique causes fatigue, which is represented as strain (a temporary lowering of the weapon skill being used). Unlike a passive ability, a technique can still be used if strain has lowered the user's skill to below the threshold required to learn it, but it cannot be used if using it would lower the user's skill below zero.

If a character is wielding two weapons at once, she can either apply a technique to one weapon and make a regular attack with the other, or apply techniques to both. Techniques are applied independently to each weapon (in other words, applying the same technique with both weapons in a single round costs twice the strain of applying it to a single technique).

Punch

Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Fast Fists
 Punch attacks take 25% less time
20
 1
 Palm Strike
 -25% damage, 2x stun
30
 -
 Stunning Fists
 All punches inflict +25% stun
40
 3
 Uppercut
 +50% damage, +50% stun
50
 -
 Mighty Fists
 All punches inflict +25% damage
60
 6
 Hammer Punch
 Requires both hands: single attack for 3.5x damage
70
 -
 Shattering Fists
 All punches ignore 50% of armour threshold
80
 10
 Haymaker
 2x damage, 2.5x stun
90
 -
 Awesome Fists
 All punches inflict a further +25% damage and stun
100
 15
 TKO
 Requires both hands: 3 attacks against a single target, +50% damage, 2x stun, last hit inflicts knockback (1 space per hit that connects)

Kick
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Free Kick
 % chance equal to half the Kick skill's current value to receive an automatic kick attack when making any other melee attack
20
 1
 Jump Kick
 Move 1 or 2 spaces toward enemy and make a kick attack
30
 -
 Powerful Kick
 All kicks inflict +25% damage and stun
40
 3
 Snap Kick
 +25% damage, 2x stun
50
 -
 Skilled Kick
 Whenever a free kick is received, a Kick technique can be used instead of a regular kick
60
 6
 Fracture
 +25% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
70
 -
 Shattering Kick
 Kick attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
80
 10
 Loft
 2x damage, inflicts knockback (5 spaces)
90
 -
 Stunning Kick
 Kicks inflict a further +50% stun
100
 15
 Roundhouse Kick
 Hits all adjacent spaces, +50% damage, 2x stun

Grapple
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Knee
 While grappling, kick attacks take 25% less time
20
 1
 Throw
 Requires both hands: a successful "hit" causes no damage but inflicts knockback (3 spaces) and minor stun
30
 -
 Elbow
 While grappling, punch attacks take 25% less time
40
 3
 Headbutt
 6v2 Bash damage, can be used in addition to all other attacks
50
 -
 Knee Smash While grappling, kick attacks do +25% damage, +50% stun
60
 6
 Eye Gouge
 Punch attack, attempts to blind opponent
70
 -
 Elbow Smash While grappling, punch attacks do +25% damage, +50% stun
80
 10
 Chokehold
 Requires both hands: each round, inflicts 15v3 damage multiplied by the number of consecutive rounds it has been used
90
 -
 Skilled Grapple
 Can use Punch, Kick or Small Blades techniques in addition to Grapple techniques while grappling
100
 15
 Eight Limbs
 Requires both hands: four punch (or elbow) attacks, four kick (or knee) attacks, -25% damage on each attack

Small Blades
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Throwing Synergy
 Throwing Knives skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Small Blades level
20
 1
 Hit and Run
 Attack, then move 1 space in any direction
30
 -
 Close Quarters
 Small Blades can be used for normal attacks while grappling
40
 3
 Hamstring
 -25% damage, attempts to disable a leg
50
 -
 Quick Stab
 Small Blade attacks take 25% less time
60
 6
 Pierce
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -
 Sneak Attack
 2x damage when attacking a non-hostile, unaware or defenceless target
80
 10
 Assassinate
 2.5x damage
90
 -
 Finesse
 All Small Blades attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Shredder
 5 attacks against a single target

Light Swords
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Accuracy
 10% bonus to hit with Light Swords
20
 1
 Balestra
 Move 1 space in any direction, then attack
30
 -
 Defensive Fighting Bonus to success rate of parry attempts
40
 3
 Disarm
 A successful "hit" inflicts no damage but causes an item currently held in the target's hand(s) to be dropped 1 space away from the target in a random direction
50
 -
 Quick Stab
 Light Sword attacks take 25% less time
60
 6
 Twist
 2x damage
70
 -
 Riposte
 A successful parry with a Light Sword grants a free counterattack
80
 10
 Puncture
 2x damage, ignores armour threshold
90
 -
 Finesse
 All Light Sword attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Run Through
 3x damage; also hits anything 1 space behind the target for 2.5x damage

Heavy Swords (1H)
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Sword Synergy
 Heavy Swords (2H) skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Heavy Swords (1H) level
20
 1
 Flat Strike
 -50% damage, 4x stun, changes damage type to Bashing
30
 -
 Defensive Fighting Bonus to success rate of parry attempts
40
 3
 Deep Cut
 +75% damage
50
 -
 Shield Use
 Bonus to success rate of shield attempts
60
 6
 Clean Cut
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -
 Riposte
 A successful parry with a 1H Heavy Sword grants a free counterattack
80
 10
 Amputate
 +75% damage; attempts to disable a random limb
90
 -
 Fast Cut
 1H Heavy Swords attacks take 25% less time
100
 15
 Blood Eagle
 3 attacks against a single target, +50% damage

Axes (1H)
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Axe Synergy
 Axes (2H) skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Axes (1H) level
20
 1
 Charge
 Move 1 or 2 spaces toward enemy, then attack
30
 -
 Frenzy
 1H Axes attacks take 25% less time and do 25% more damage whenever the attacker is below 50% of maximum HP
40
 3
 Shield Split
 +25% damage, ignores armour threshold
50
 -
 Bloodletting
 All 1H Axes attacks inflict lingering damage equal to 10% of the original attack damage (rounded down) for 3 rounds; only affects living targets
60
 6
 Sever
 +25% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
70
 -
 Sunder
 All 1H Axes attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
80
 10
 Double Strike
 2 attacks against a single target, +50% damage
90
 -
 Mighty Cut
 All 1H Axes attacks do 25% more damage
100
 15
 Dichotomy
 3x damage, ignores armour threshold

Spears (1H)
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Javelin Synergy
 Javelins skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current 1H Spears level
20
 1
 Lunge
 Attack an enemy from a distance of 2 spaces away
30
 -
 Frenzy
 1H Spears attacks take 25% less time and do 25% more damage whenever the attacker is below 50% of maximum HP
40
 3
 Skewer
 +50% damage; also hits anything 1 space behind the target for 1x damage
50
 -
 Quick Stab
 All 1H Spears attacks take 25% less time
60
 6
 Pierce
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -
 Mighty Thrust
 All 1H Spears attacks do +25% damage
80
 10
 Double Stab
 2 attacks against a single target, +50% damage
90
 -
 Finesse
 All 1H Spears attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Dolorous Stroke
 3.5x damage; cannot be healed by normal means. A Rehabilitate spell will not heal any damage itself, but will allow some or all of the damage to be healed by normal means.

Clubs
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Maul Synergy
 Mauls skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Clubs level
20
 1
 Impact
 1x damage, inflicts knockback (1 space)
30
 -
 Beatdown
 All Club attacks inflict +25% stun
40
 3
 Kneecap
 -25% damage, attempts to disable a leg
50
 -
 Shattering Strike
 All Club attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
60
 6
 Knockout
 +50% damage, 2x stun, inflicts knockback (3 spaces)
70
 -
 Fast Strike
 All Club attacks take 25% less time
80
 10
 Smash
 2x damage, ignores armour threshold
90
 -
 Brute Force All Club attacks inflict +25% damage
100
 15
 Skullcrusher
 3x damage, 2x stun

Flails
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Wild Swing
 A missed attack has a 25% chance to attack another space adjacent to the target
20
 1
 Yoyo
 Attacks an enemy from a distance of 2 spaces away
30
 -
 Beatdown All Flails attacks inflict +25% stun
40
 3
 Disarm
 A successful "hit" inflicts no damage but causes an item currently held in the target's hand(s) to be dropped 1 space away from the target in a random direction
50
 -
 Shattering Strike
 All Flails attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
60
 6
 Sweep
 Hit an arc of 3 adjacent spaces, +50% damage
70
 -
 Brute Force
 All Flails attacks inflict +25% damage
80
 10
 Whirlwind Attack
 Hit all adjacent targets, +25% damage
90
 -
 Bypass Defences
 Flail attacks cannot be defended against with parrying or shields
100
 15
 Moses' Law
 5 attacks against a single target, cannot reduce target below 1 HP

Heavy Swords (2H)
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Sword Synergy
 Heavy Swords (1H) skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Heavy Swords (2H) level
20
 1
 Flat Strike
 -50% damage, 4x stun, changes damage type to Bashing
30
 -
 Defensive Fighting
 Bonus to success rate of parry attempts
40
 3
 Deep Cut
 +75% damage
50
 -
 Bloodletting
 All Heavy Swords (2H) attacks inflict lingering damage equal to 10% of the original attack damage (rounded down) for 3 rounds; only affects living targets
60
 6
 Sweep
 Hit an arc of 3 adjacent spaces, +50% damage
70
 -
 Sunder
 All Heavy Swords (2H) attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
80
 10
 Sever
 +75% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
90
 -
 Fast Cut
 All Heavy Swords (2H) attacks take 25% less time
100
 15
 Swallowtail
 2 attacks against a single target, 2x damage

Axes (2H)
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Axe Synergy
 Axes (1H) skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Axes (2H) level
20
 1
 Charge
 Move 1 or 2 spaces toward enemy, then attack
30
 -
 Frenzy
 2H Axes attacks take 25% less time and do 25% more damage whenever the attacker is below 50% of maximum HP
40
 3
 Deep Cut
 +75% damage
50
 -
 Bloodletting
 All 2H Axes attacks inflict lingering damage equal to 10% of the original attack damage (rounded down) for 3 rounds; only affects living targets
60
 6
 Sever
 +25% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
70
 -
 Sunder All 2H Axes attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
80
 10
 Mow Down
 Hits all adjacent spaces, +25% damage
90
 -
 Carnage
 Lingering damage from Bloodletting increases to 15% of the original attack damage
100
 15
 Guillotine
 5x damage; 50% slower than a regular attack

Mauls
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Club Synergy
 Clubs skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Mauls level
20
 1
 Impact
 1x damage, inflicts knockback (1 space)
30
 -
 Beatdown
 All Mauls attacks inflict +25% stun
40
 3
 Heavy Hit
 +50% damage, +50% stun
50
 -
 Shattering Strike All Mauls attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
60
 6
 Fracture
 +25% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
70
 -
 Overpower
 Mauls attacks cannot be parried by any target of lower Strength than the attacker
80
 10
 Slugger
 2x damage, 2x stun, inflicts knockback (3 spaces)
90
 -
 Brute Force
 All Mauls attacks inflict +25% damage
100
 15
 Crash Through
 4x damage; move to occupy the target's space if the target is killed, heavily stuns attacker if the target is not killed

Staves
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Stunning Strike
 All staff attacks inflict +25% stun
20
 1
 Impact
 1x damage, inflicts knockback (1 space)
30
 -
 Defensive Fighting
 Bonus to success rate of parry attempts
40
 3
 Heavy Hit
 +50% damage, +50% stun
50
 -
 Knockout Strike
 All staff attacks inflict a further +25% stun
60
 6
 Fracture
 +25% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
70
 -
 Fast Strike
 All staff attacks take 25% less time
80
 10
 Sweep Away
 Hits all adjacent spaces, 1x damage, inflicts knockback (1 space)
90
 -
 Spinning Shield
 Can parry missile attacks with a staff
100
 15
 Piledriver
 2x damage, 3x stun, inflicts knockback (5 spaces)

Cutting Polearms
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -

20
 1
 Hook
 Attack an enemy 2 spaces away, then move enemy 1 space toward attacker
30
 -

40
 3
 Grasscutter
 -25% damage, attempts to disable a leg
50
 -

60
 6
 Wide Sweep
 +25% damage, hits all targets in a 90-degree arc
70
 -
 Mighty Slice
 All Cutting Polearms attacks do +25% damage
80
 10
 Amputate
 +75% damage, attempts to disable a random limb
90
 -
 Defensive Stance
 Free attack on any hostile target which comes within range
100
 15
 Clean Sweep
 Hits all targets within range, +50% damage

Thrusting Polearms
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -

20
 1
 Hold at Bay
 Attack, then move 1 space in any direction
30
 -

40
 3
 Pole Vault
 +50% damage, move up to 4 spaces in direction of target (must move past target)
50
 -

60
 6
 Long Skewer
 +50% damage to 3 enemies in line
70
 -
 Defensive Stance
 Free attack on any hostile target which comes within range
80
 10
 Impaling Toss
 2x damage, inflicts knockback (3 spaces)
90
 -
 Finesse
 Thrusting Polearms attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Vicious Skewer
 2.5x damage to 3 enemies in line

Bows
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Accuracy
 +10% bonus to hit with Bows
20
 1
 Long Shot
 2x range
30
 -

40
 3
 Double Shot
 2 attacks against a single target
50
 -

60
 6
 Piercing Shot
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -

80
 10
 Penetrating Shot +50% damage, shot passes through to hit next opponent as long as it does 1 or more damage
90
 -
 Finesse
 Bow attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Arrow Rain
 One attack on every hostile target within range, +25% damage

Crossbows
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -

20
 1
 Long Shot
 2x range
30
 -

40
 3
 Sniper Shot
 +75% damage
50
 -

60
 6
 Piercing Shot +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -

80
 10
 Lethal Shot
 2.5x damage
90
 -
 From the Hip
 All crossbow attacks take 25% less time
100
 15
 Unstoppable Shot
 2x damage, shot passes through to hit next opponent in line as long as it does 1 or more damage

Blowguns
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Accuracy
 10% bonus to hit with Blowguns
20
 1
 Running Shot
 Attack, then move 1 space in any direction
30
 -

40
 3
 Double Shot
 2 attacks against a single target
50
 -

60
 6
 Piercing Shot
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -
 Precision
 Blowgun attacks ignore all terrain with an obstruction value less than 100%
80
 10
 Penetrating Shot
 +50% damage, shot passes through to hit next opponent in line as long as it does 1 or more damage
90
 -
 Finesse
 Blowgun attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Needle Swarm
 5 attacks against a single target

Slings
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -

20
 1
 Long Shot
 2x range
30
 -

40
 3
 Forceful Shot
 +25% damage, +50% stun, inflicts knockback (1 space)
50
 -
 Shattering Shot
 Sling attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
60
 6
 Head Shot
 +50% damage, 2x stun
70
 -
 Precision Sling attacks ignore all terrain with an obstruction value less than 100%
80
 10
 Giantkiller
 2.5x damage
90
 -

100
 15
 Hailstorm
 One attack on every hostile target within range, +25% damage

Javelins
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Spear Synergy
 1H Spears skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Javelins level
20
 1
 Long Throw
 2x range
30
 -

40
 3
 Powerful Throw
 +75% damage
50
 -
 Mighty Throw
 All Javelin attacks inflict +25% damage
60
 6
 Puncturing Throw
 +50% damage, ignores armour threshold
70
 -
 Fast Throw
 Javelin attacks take 25% less time
80
 10
 Penetrating Throw
 +50% damage, javelin passes through to hit next opponent in line as long as it does 1 or more damage
90
 -

100
 15
 V-2
 3.5x damage, 2x range

Throwing Knives
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -
 Blade Synergy
 Small Blades skill receives a bonus equal to 25% of the current Throwing Knives level
20
 1
 Running Throw
 Attack, then move 1 space in any direction
30
 -

40
 3
 Piercing Throw
 +25% damage, ignores armour threshold
50
 -
 Long Throw
 Throwing Knives attacks have a +50% bonus to range
60
 6
 Magic Bullet If a thrown knife hits for at least 1 point of damage, it bounces to hit another hostile target within 2 spaces; bouncing continues for a maximum of 5 targets
70
 -
 Precision
 Throwing Knives attacks ignore all terrain with an obstruction value less than 100%
80
 10
 Heart Piercer
 2.5x damage
90
 -
 Finesse
 Throwing Knives attacks ignore 50% of armour threshold
100
 15
 Metal Storm
 Requires both hands: 4 attacks against a single target, +25% damage

Irregular Throwing
Level
 Strain
 Name
 Effect
10
 -

20
 1
 Running Throw
 Attack, then move 1 space in any direction
30
 -
 Heave
 If the character is empty-handed, items the character is standing on can be thrown as if he were holding them
40
 3
 Boomerang Irregular missile (other than bolas or net) returns to the thrower after being thrown
50
 -
 Heavy Throw
 Can throw objects weighing up to 1.5x the normal weight cap
60
 6
 Curveball
 Thrown item can be guided through a curved path to the target, turning corners and avoiding obstacles
70
 -
 Endless Throw
 Irregular missiles have 2x normal range
80
 10
 Lethal Throw
 2.5x damage (if the object being thrown can inflict damage)
90
 -
 Massive Throw
 Can throw objects weighing up to 2x the normal weight cap
100
 15
 Perfect Throw
 Applies all the effects of Running Throw, Boomerang, Curveball and Lethal Throw to a single throw