Puissance (sage study)

Puissance is a sage study in the field of Mastery at Arms. The title based on the magical item, the Manual of Puissant Skill at Arms, the study describes a collection of enhanced weapon skills and combat proficiencies that enable the individual to act as a stronger individual combatant. Many of these adjustments are minor and limited to specific weapons and specific circumstances, but on the whole the training the study gives to a combatant will increase prowess at arms.

Sage Abilities

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

Amateur Status

• Close Drop: reduces the likelihood that combatants will drop a weapon outside of the hex in which they are fighting.

• Gain Proficiency: character begins with one more proficiency than is otherwise normal.

• Hereditary Weapon I: character receives a +1 bonus to-hit when using the most familiar weapon of their place of birth.

• Shield as a Weapon: enables the character to use the shield as a weapon, causing 1d4 damage per hit.

• Strengthened Arm: the character is able to hurl weapons a greater distance than normal.

Authority Status

• Draw Speed: decreases the penalty incurred by firing a bow more quickly, while improving the time in which a crossbow can be loaded. Also decreases the time to draw a weapon from a combatant's belt by 1 action point.

• Feint: the art of causing an enemy to move towards a hex where the combatant does not wish to be.

• Hereditary Weapon II: character receives a +1 bonus to-hit and a +1 bonus to damage when using the most familiar weapon of their place of birth.

• Main-gauche: the use of a dagger, rather than a shield, in parrying attacks.

• Precise Hit: enables the character to break an enemy's weapon or shield as desired.

• Reduced Proficiency Penalty: the combatant's proficiency penalty is lessened by 1 point.

Expert Status

• Berserking: enables the combatant to berserk if reduced to 1 hit point or less.

• Improved Dual-wielding: reduces the penalties in fighting with two weapons of various types.

• Off-handed Cast: enables the combatant to throw a hurled weapon equally well with either hand.

Sage Status

• Full Berserk: the character is able to berserk at will for a brief period.

See also,
Assassin Sage Abilities
Fighter Sage Abilities
Paladin Sage Abilities
Ranger Sage Abilities