Judgement (sage study)

Judgement is a sage study in the field of Leadership, providing the studied individual with the ability to recruit soldiers with "good character," with qualities of honesty, courage, self-control and conviction of purpose. These skills help build an army in which combatants learn to depend upon one another, sustaining one another when moving forward into battle at the limit of their endurance. The best soldiers are those who remain dedicated to their cause even when they're at rest, failing to indulge in temptations and vice; those who believe in what they're fighting for, giving them to believe that the sacrifice of their lives is not in vain.

Thus, a leader with effective judgement can see these characteristics in recruits at the time of their hiring, as reflected in the sage abilities below. This contributes to the individual's ability to recognise a potential hireling's ability stats, character class and even their experience level, although the understanding of these things are strictly intuitive for the knowledgeable character.

Sage Abilities

The sage abilities below are those acquired by a character through the study, according to status.

Amateur Status

• Fine Leader: combatants within two combat hexes of the character need never make morale checks.

• Recognise Characteristics I: following one week's training, reveals ability stats that are either below 8 or above 13.

• Recruit: through word-of-mouth and knowledge of how to get the word out, the character is assured of locating 2 potential recruits per 1,000 population of a town or city, per day. Those answering will be members of the character's own class and those professions associated with the character's primary attribute. The character is able to recognise individuals who have untapped potential upon meeting, this being persons who have never had any official training but would react well to it. 1 in 6 potential candidates for recruitment will have this trait, which grants a +2 bonus to intelligence and wisdom for the first six months of any training that might take place.

Authority Status

• Extraordinary Leader: combatants within five hexes of the character need never make morale checks.

• Judge Breeding: enables the character to recognise the distinct pedigree of animals such as horses and camels, as a horse breeder might.

• Preparedness: provides a deliberate sense when managing one's property and person in unfamiliar or dangerous circumstances.

• Recognise Characteristics I: following two weeks' training, reveals ability stats that are either below 9 or above 12.

• Recognise Class: following 2-5 hours of direct conversation, the character can determine the character class of another person.

• Turn Enemy: enables the character to gain the trust and loyalty of enemy sailors and soldiers who were originally recruited against their will.

Expert Status

• Imperator: character becomes known as a highly trusted political or military leader, beloved by his or her followers, and thus gathering 150% of the usual number of retainers to his or her person upon reaching name level.

• Intuit Promotion: reveals from a group of soldiers the individual who is best suited to act as a leader of others in moments of great duress. Such chosen individuals will automatically raise the morale of their followers by 1 point.

• Magnificent Leader: combatants within eight hexes of the character need never make morale checks.

• Recognise Level: following 1-4 hours of observation, without needing to directly speak with an individual, the character can determine the experience level of another person.

Sage Status

• Glorious Leader: combatants within twelve hexes of the character need never make morale checks.

• Serene Grace: the character has become an individual of such fame that his or her loyalties are asked after by heads of state both far and wide, being famous for the love and commitment shown by the character's followers; 225% of the usual number of retainers are gathered.

See also,
Fighter Sage Abilities
Paladin Sage Abilities