Close Drop (sage ability)

Close drop is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of Puissance, in which the character is able to ensure that a fumbled weapon can't land within an enemy-occupied hex. This acts as a strategic benefit to the combatant, as the weapon is therefore more easily recovered.

The customary rules governing dropped weapons, specifically concerning potential breakage and the duration required to retrieve the weapon, remain unaltered by this ability.

For example, Hig is fighting Jerome and Marcus, while being supported by his ally Taver, when he drops his warhammer. Normally, according to fumble rules, he would roll a d8, giving him a 25% chance of the weapon landing in his own hex. However, Hig has some control over where a dropped weapon falls, due to the sage ability. The numbers shown indicate the weight given to each hex, adding to a total of 9 points. The character rolls a random die to determine the hammer's place, perhaps starting with Hig and moving clockwise around the outside (or as wished). Hig's chance of dropping the hammer in his own hex is slightly more than 44%; in a friendly hex, nearly 67%. He has no chance of dropping the hammer in the hex occupied by Jerome or Marcus.

All other rules that normally apply to dropped weapons, regarding breakage and time needed to regain the weapon, are unchanged.

See Combat.