Strengthened Arm (sage ability)

Strengthened Arm is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Puissance. Through dedicated training, the character has greatly enhanced the strength and endurance of their forearm, improving grip and the flexibility of their wrist joint and tendons. This coordination between the wrists, hands and forearms enables the character to maximize the effectiveness of hurled and fired weapons when used in combat providing a noticeable advantage in accuracy and force.

Much of this training is accomplished through manual labour often associated with farming, as tilling soil, harvesting crops and grinding grain provide an unusual fitness when combined with a hearty diet and time-honoured weapons training.

Missile Ranges for
Strengthened Arm Sage Ability

Weapon	Point Blank	Short	Medium	Long
axe (short)	2	3-6	7-8	9-12
bola	—	3-10	11-19	20-27
bow (long)	2-3	4-26	27-52	53-79
bow (short)	2-3	3-19	20-38	39-57
club	2	3-6	7-8	9-10
crossbow (heavy)	2	3-16	17-33	34-48
crossbow (light)	2	3-12	13-24	25-36
dagger	2	3-6	7-10	11-14
dart	2	3-6	7-12	13-18
hammer (short)	2	3-4	5-7	8-9
hand axe	2	3-7	8-10	11-15
javelin	2	3-10	11-21	22-32
sling	—	2-15	16-30	31-44
spear	2	3-7	8-14	15-21
staff sling	—	4-21	22-42	43-62
trident	2	3-6	7-10	11-15
warhammer	2	3-6	7-9	10-13

Characters are also trained to carry heavy weights, work with their hands using shovels, chop wood and even pull plants from the ground. Young students often chafe at these labours but the practice succeeds in granting a strengthened arm to characters.

The table shown indicates greater distances that weapons can be employed through the use of this ability. The character should use this table and not that found on the weapons page. Weapons thrown or fired at point-blank range are +1 to hit. There is no adjustment at short range. Medium range gives a -2 penalty while long range gives a -5 penalty.

Additional Benefits

The enhanced grip and forearm strength cultivated through this ability also improve the character's effectiveness in grappling or hand-to-hand combat, adding 1 hit point of damage that is done. Where the character's grip becomes a consideration with regards to ability checks, such as whether or not the character might let go when straining to maintain a grip upon a dangling ally, these rolls are also done with a beneficial modifier of +2 in the character's favour. Other similar benefits may accrue, according to the dungeon master's prerogative, though when such are imposed this page ought to be updated on that account.

See also,
Assassin Sage Abilities
Fighter Sage Abilities
Mastery at Arms (sage field)
Paladin Sage Abilities
Ranger Sage Abilities