Talents

Battle Awareness. Flanking and attacks from behind grant no bonus while you remain aware of an enemy. Also known as rear guard, flanking defence. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Perception 51%. passive Talent. Tags: awareness, defence.

Effect

While you are aware of at least one enemy, attacks against you gain no +1B merely for flanking or attacking from behind. Genuine surprise still applies, including being unable to React.

Quick Reflexes. Add 2 to Combat Order. Also known as initiative bonus, faster Combat Order. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires DEX 13 and Dodge 51%. passive Talent. Tags: awareness, mobility.

Effect

Add 2 to Combat Order before rolling to determine acting order.

Missile Guard. Remove the Active Guard penalty against missiles and Projected Shapings when using a shield. Also known as missile Parry mastery, shield against arrows. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. passive Talent. Tags: defence, ranged, shield.

Effect

With a ready shield, ignore Active Guard’s -1P against bows, crossbows, slings, and Projected Shapings.

Shield Cover. A ready medium or large shield imposes -1P on ranged attacks and individually targeted Projected Shapings. Also known as passive shield cover, shield missile protection. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. passive Talent. Tags: defence, ranged, shield.

Effect

While aware and holding a ready medium or large shield, impose -1P on ranged attacks and any individually targeted Projected Shaping. This spends no Reaction and applies before Active Guard. Use only the best Shield Cover or terrain penalty. Dodge and Active Guard remain available; areas and Direct Harm gain no benefit.

Off-Hand Mastery. Remove the -1P from either core off-hand option when fighting with two ready one-handed items. Also known as ambidexterity, dual-wield mastery. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 76% or Unarmed Combat 76%. passive Talent. Tags: close, defence, offence.

Effect

Remove the -1P from both core off-hand options: the extra off-hand attack and the extra off-hand Parry or Opportunity Reaction.

This does not grant another use, allow both options in one round, enable an extra Dodge or Protector Reaction, or make a two-handed item qualify.

Favoured Weapon. Choose one exact weapon type; its damaging attacks add 1 damage before Parry and armour. Also known as favored weapon, weapon specialisation, weapon specialization, chosen weapon. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51% or Ranged Combat 51%, as used by the chosen weapon. passive Talent. Tags: close, offence, ranged.

Effect

Choose one named weapon from the Close Combat or Ranged weapons table, other than Unarmed or Improvised rock. You must have at least 51% in one combat skill used to attack with it. Record the choice with the Talent, such as Favoured Weapon (Arming Sword). Shields qualify.

Every damaging Close Combat or Ranged Combat attack made with the chosen weapon adds 1 damage before Parry and armour. The bonus applies to every matching hit. If the weapon has both Close and Ranged profiles, the Talent applies to both. A primitive version of the chosen weapon qualifies. An attack that uses any weapon as an improvised club does not.

The Talent adds nothing when another rule replaces normal weapon damage, including Disarm, Trip, Shield Rush, Subdue, or a hit that remains critical.

If an ordinary successful Dodge or Parry demotes the critical to an ordinary hit, this bonus applies normally.

Buy this Talent again to choose a different weapon, but never more than once for the same weapon. It does not apply to unarmed attacks, natural weapons, or Shaping.

Signature Weapon. Raise Favoured Weapon's damage bonus from 1 to 2 for the same chosen weapon. Also known as advanced weapon specialisation, advanced weapon specialization, greater weapon specialisation, greater weapon specialization, weapon virtuoso. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Favoured Weapon for the chosen weapon and Close Combat 76% or Ranged Combat 76%, as used by that weapon. passive Talent. Tags: close, offence, ranged.

Effect

Choose one weapon for which you have Favoured Weapon. You must have at least 76% in one combat skill used to attack with it. Record the choice with the Talent, such as Signature Weapon (Arming Sword).

Increase Favoured Weapon’s bonus for that weapon from 1 to 2 damage. This replaces the +1 bonus; it does not add to it for +3.

All Favoured Weapon limits still apply: the bonus applies to a critical demoted to an ordinary hit, but not to a hit that remains critical.

Buy this Talent again for a different Favoured Weapon choice, but never more than once for the same weapon.

Deadly Precision. Once per round, double the critical range of one damaging attack with a fully specialised weapon. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Favoured Weapon, Signature Weapon, and Weapon Expertise for the same weapon type; Close Combat or Ranged Combat 76%, as used for the attack. Once per round, declared before rolling Talent. Tags: close, offence, ranged.

Effect

Choose one weapon type for which you have Favoured Weapon, Signature Weapon, and Weapon Expertise.

Once per round, before rolling a damaging attack with that weapon, double its normal critical range for that attack. At skill 76%, the range becomes 01–14; at 90%, 01–18; at 100%, 01–20. The actual unmodified skill used for the attack must be at least 76%.

With Bonus or Penalty dice, grade every candidate with the expanded range before choosing. A critical resolves normally; this Talent adds no damage or effect beyond the normal critical result.

This benefit can apply to an Opportunity Attack or an extra attack granted by another Talent. It does not apply to Parry, Active Guard, unarmed attacks, natural weapons, Shaping, or attacks using the weapon as an improvised weapon.

Weapon Expertise can apply to the same attack if it is eligible under that Talent’s own restrictions. A primitive version of the chosen weapon qualifies, as do shields. For a weapon with both Close and Ranged profiles, check the skill used for this attack.

You can buy this Talent for more weapon types, meeting its prerequisites separately for each, but can use it only once per round in total.

Wrestler. Win an opposed Unarmed Combat test while grappling to hurt, disarm, or throw the target. Also known as grapple techniques, wrestling hold. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Unarmed Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: offence, unarmed.

Effect

While already grappling, spend a Combat Action and make an opposed Unarmed Combat test. On a win, choose one:

• deal normal unarmed damage; armour applies;
• force one held item to be dropped at the target’s feet; or
• throw the target to an adjacent space, leave them prone, and end the grapple.

The Gamemaster can bar an outcome against impossible Size or anatomy.

Disarm. Attack to knock a chosen held item 1D6 metres away instead of dealing damage. Also known as disarming attack, knock weapon away. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: close, offence.

Effect

Declare Disarm before a Close Combat attack. If the hit is not stopped by a Reaction, deal no damage; one chosen item held by the target lands 1D6 metres away.

The item cannot be fused, fixed, securely fastened, or anatomically impossible to release.

Trip. Attack to leave the target prone instead of dealing damage. Also known as trip attack, knock prone. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51% or Unarmed Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: close, mobility, offence, unarmed.

Effect

Declare Trip before a Close Combat or Unarmed Combat attack. If the hit is not stopped by a Reaction, deal no damage and leave the target prone. The Gamemaster can bar Trip against impossible Size or anatomy.

Subdue. A blunt attack can render a target unconscious without inflicting a Major Wound. Also known as knockout attack, nonlethal attack. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51% or Unarmed Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: close, offence, unarmed.

Effect

Make one blunt Close Combat or Unarmed Combat attack. If the hit is not stopped, roll its listed weapon or unarmed damage plus Damage Modifier, then apply any partial Parry and armour.

• At or above the target’s Major Wound Level: the target falls unconscious but stable and loses no HP. They wake when the scene ends; any damage wakes them at once, and a successful Healing test used as a Combat Action wakes them early.
• Below it: the target stays conscious and loses only the weapon’s minimum listed damage, reduced by any partial Parry and armour.

Talent damage bonuses do not change the threshold or this fallback damage.

Shield Rush. A shield attack pushes the target 2 metres and can knock them prone instead of dealing damage. Also known as shield bash, knock-back attack. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: close, mobility, offence, shield.

Effect

Declare Shield Rush before a Close Combat attack with a ready shield. If the hit is not stopped, deal no damage and push the target 2 metres. The target then tests Athletics at -1P or falls prone. The Gamemaster can bar Shield Rush against impossible Size or anatomy.

Rapid Shot. Forfeit all Reactions to make two attacks at -1P each. Also known as rapid fire, two ranged attacks. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Ranged Combat 76%. action Talent. Tags: offence, ranged.

Effect

Forfeit all Reactions for the round, then make two Ranged Combat attacks with a bow or sling at -1P each. The weapon must be ready for the first attack; the Talent includes drawing or loading the second missile. Resolve the attacks one at a time; they can have different targets.

Rapid Shot cannot be used after taking a Reaction that round, and never works with a crossbow.

Iron Fist. Your unarmed attacks deal 1D4 and count as Medium rather than Light. Also known as unarmed damage, trained strikes. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Unarmed Combat 51%. passive Talent. Tags: offence, unarmed.

Effect

Your unarmed attacks deal 1D4 damage instead of 1D3, and count as Medium rather than Light.

This applies only to ordinary fists, kicks, and comparable bodily strikes. It never replaces the damage or Size of a listed natural weapon.

The Size matters as much as the die: a Light parrying item is now one Size smaller than your strike and blocks only half the damage, where before it blocked all of it.

Master Brawler. Your unarmed attacks deal 1D6 and count as Heavy. Also known as heavy unarmed, unblockable strikes. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Unarmed Combat 76% and Iron Fist. passive Talent. Tags: offence, unarmed.

Effect

Your unarmed attacks deal 1D6 damage and count as Heavy.

This applies only to ordinary fists, kicks, and comparable bodily strikes. It never replaces the damage or Size of a listed natural weapon.

A Light parrying item is now two Sizes smaller and reduces nothing at all, and a Medium one blocks only half. Speed and placement put your strikes where an ordinary sidearm cannot turn them aside.

Defensive Stance. Give up attacks and limit movement to gain +2 Armour Points while holding a ready shield. Also known as all-out defence, shield stance. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. action Talent. Tags: close, defence, shield.

Effect

Spend the Combat Action while holding a ready shield. Until the start of your next turn, gain 2 Armour Points, make no attacks, and move no more than half Movement. You retain defensive Reactions, including Parry, Dodge, Active Guard, and Protector.

Defensive Stance cannot be declared after attacking or moving more than half Movement that round.

Protector. Spend the base Reaction to Parry an attack that hit an adjacent ally with your ready shield. Also known as guard ally, shield ally. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat 51%. reaction Talent. Tags: defence, shield.

Effect

When an adjacent ally is hit by an attack you are aware of, spend your base Reaction to Parry for them with a ready shield using Close Combat. On success, reduce the incoming damage against your shield normally; on failure, the ally remains hit. Against a ranged attack, apply Active Guard’s eligibility and modifiers. The ally keeps their own Reaction for another trigger but cannot also React to this attack.

Protector can never use the extra off-hand Reaction.

Mighty Shot. Add a positive Damage Modifier to one bow or sling attack each round. Also known as strength bow, powerful shot. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Ranged Combat 76%. passive Talent. Tags: offence, ranged.

Effect

Once per round, add a positive Damage Modifier to one bow or sling attack.

If Rapid Shot makes two attacks, Mighty Shot applies to only one. A zero or negative Damage Modifier grants no benefit, and the Talent never applies to crossbows.

Point-Blank Shot. Ignore the engagement penalty from one enemy when making a ranged attack at Close range. Also known as shoot in melee, close range shot. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Ranged Combat 51%. passive Talent. Tags: ranged, offence.

Effect

At the time of each attack, count the N enemies engaging you at Close range. Ignore one enemy’s -2P; every other enemy still applies -2P, for -2P × max(0, N − 1) in total, before ordinary cancellation and the final cap.

Nothing else changes: cover, movement, and every other situational Penalty die apply normally.

Steady Aim. Keep the benefit of Aim even after taking a Reaction. Also known as keep aim, aim and react. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Ranged Combat 51%. passive Talent. Tags: ranged.

Effect

Keep the benefit of Aim after taking a Reaction.

You still lose it by losing sight of the target, or by not making that attack with your next Combat Action.

Shaping. Gain the Shaping skill, one Technique or Form specialty, two cells containing it, and the universal magical actions. Also known as Shaping access, become a Shaper, learn magic. Costs 20 Improvement Points. Requires A supernatural initiation or discovery. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Buying this Talent makes the character a Shaper and grants:

• Shaping, a Knowledge skill starting at its base INT + POW;
• one specialty: a Technique or a Form;
• two known cells containing that specialty; and
• Sense Magic and Dispel.

A character without this Talent has no Shaping skill and cannot cast.

Shaping then improves as a normal skill and caps at 100%. Further cells have their own IP costs; see Becoming a Shaper.

Counter. Spend your base Reaction to oppose a Shaping as it is cast and stop it outright. Also known as counterspell, stop a Shaping. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 51%. reaction Talent. Tags: magic, defence.

Effect

After perceiving a successful Shaping being cast within 15 metres, or its projected effect entering within 15 metres, spend the base Reaction before defence or effect. Current PP must at least equal its Magnitude.

Test Shaping, opposed against the Shaper’s original result; Counter must succeed and win. Spend full Magnitude either way; a fumble also causes Backlash at that Magnitude.

Attempting Counter replaces your own defence against that Shaping. If it does not stop the Shaping, you cannot then Dodge, Active Guard, or resist it with Resilience or Persistence. Another character’s Counter does not consume your defence. See Casting and Defence.

Only one Counter can answer a Shaping, and Counter cannot be Countered.

Veiled. Add the Veiled adjustment to a Shaping to conceal its Tell. Also known as conceal a Tell, hidden magic. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 51%. passive Talent. Tags: magic, stealth.

Effect

You can build a Shaping with the Veiled adjustment: for +1 Magnitude and -1P on the Shaping test, its Tell is concealed.

Noticing a Veiled Tell requires Perception opposed by Shaping. The Practice remains interruptible, and anyone detecting the Tell in time can Counter. A Shaper without this Talent cannot conceal a Tell at all.

Selective. Build a Shaping that excludes chosen subjects from its area for +1 Magnitude. Also known as spare allies, exclude subjects. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 51%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Add the Selective adjustment to a Shaping for +1 Magnitude: name subjects within the area and the effect passes them by.

Without this Talent an area includes everyone in it, allies included.

Indirect. Build a Shaping that crosses a solid barrier for +1 Magnitude per barrier. Also known as cross a barrier, around cover. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 51%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Add the Indirect adjustment to a Shaping for +1 Magnitude per barrier crossed, where the Form permits.

Indirect satisfies the unobstructed route that Range 1–3 needs, provides the route for a concentrated or controlled subject, and offers a way past complete cover.

Trigger. Build a Shaping that waits for one observable event before it fires. Also known as delayed magic, set a condition. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 76%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Add the Trigger adjustment to a Shaping for +1 Magnitude plus a second Duration rating covering the wait.

Declare the observable event when the Shaping is built. An ordinary casting is armed when cast: fix its target, cell, outcomes, Range, Reach, and all other dials, then check target, Range, and route. A Trigger cannot choose or change them when it fires. A Trigger uses one Duration for its effect and another for its wait, and fires once; hidden qualities require Scry. Counter resolves when the Shaping is cast, while a target’s ordinary Dodge, Active Guard, Resilience, or Persistence resolves when the effect fires against the stored Shaping result.

For an enchanted item, the observable event and fixed design are set when the item is made. Activating an Activated or Charged effect arms one use; fix its target and any permitted use-specific choices then. Arming spends the bearer’s PP or one stored charge even if the Trigger expires without firing.

A successful weapon hit against the already selected target can be the event. Resolve the weapon attack first and the Shaping separately; the hit triggers but does not deliver the magic or replace its defence. Magical damage gains no weapon Damage Modifier or Critical benefit, and armour applies to each result according to its own rules. A miss leaves the Trigger waiting. Damage cannot be triggered in retaliation for an attack against or harm suffered by the caster, bearer, or another protected subject, and no Trigger adds damage to repeated weapon hits.

A later event on a Fate vow needs this Talent.

Confluence. Combine two known Shaping cells for +1 Magnitude while paying every outcome's full Intensity. Also known as combine Shaping cells, multi-cell Shaping. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 76%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Add the Confluence adjustment for +1 Magnitude to build one Shaping from exactly two known Technique·Form cells. You must know both cells, and each must contribute at least one distinct, cell-permitted outcome.

Pay every outcome’s full Intensity. Add shared Range, Duration, and Reach once, followed by Confluence and any other adjustments. Confluence uses one Combat Action, one Shaping test, one Power Point payment, and one Tell.

Each outcome retains its own target, defence, delivery, protection, and other restrictions. Resolve defence rolls per subject: against one subject, outcomes using the same defence share one defence roll; outcomes using different defences resolve separately. Different subjects always defend separately. Counter stops the whole Shaping and Dispel ends the whole ongoing Shaping.

You can declare that one outcome occurs only if another outcome affects its target. This dependency never reduces Magnitude or refunds Power Points. The dependent outcome retains its own dice, limits, and valid subjects.

Example: life drain

Drain a touched Living target and heal yourself:

Unmake·Flesh I2 + Alter·Flesh I2; Reach1, Direct, Confluence; M7

Magnitude is 2 for Direct bodily damage, 2 for healing, 1 Reach for the target and Shaper, 1 for Direct Harm, and 1 for Confluence.

After successful hostile Touch delivery, the target opposes the Direct Harm with Resilience. If it suffers actual HP damage, heal yourself for 2D4 HP, capped by the HP the target actually lost. If the damage is resisted or reduced to zero, no healing occurs. Both outcomes remain fully paid.

Steady Casting. Ignore the Penalty die from Wounded or a grapple on Shaping tests. Also known as cast while wounded, cast while grappled. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 76%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Before ordinary Bonus and Penalty dice cancellation, ignore one total Penalty die caused by being Wounded or grappled on Shaping tests. If both conditions apply, only one Penalty die is ignored.

Every other Penalty die applies normally, and the Practice remains interruptible. If you also have Shaping Expertise, apply Steady Casting first; Shaping Expertise can then remove one remaining Penalty die after ordinary cancellation.

Shaping Expertise. Once per round, remove one remaining Penalty die from a Shaping casting test without changing overreach. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 76%. passive Talent. Tags: magic.

Effect

Once per round, before rolling a Shaping casting test, declare use of this Talent. After ordinary Bonus and Penalty dice cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove one remaining Penalty die. This never creates a Bonus die.

Removing an overreach Penalty does not change Safe Magnitude: failed overreach still causes its normal PP loss and Backlash. Magnitude, maximum Intensity, and ritual requirements remain unchanged.

This Talent applies only to casting a Shaping, not Sense Magic, Dispel, or Counter. It can be bought only once.

Enchanter. Bind enchantments up to your permanent unmodified POW without occupying PP or active Magnitude; every effect remains attributed to its original creator's capacity. Also known as make magic items, enchanting. Costs 10 Improvement Points. Requires Shaping 51%. passive Talent. Tags: magic, craft.

Effect

Gain Enchantment Capacity equal to your permanent, unmodified POW. A temporary change to POW does not affect this capacity; a permanent change to POW recalculates Enchantment Capacity.

Whether you bind at Duration 4, at Mythic Duration 5, or as a one-use item, a bound enchantment occupies neither your PP commitment nor active total. Its full Magnitude moves into Enchantment Capacity, and it persists without you. You can make Charged items, paying the PP for each charge as you bind it.

A Continuous or Activated effect counts its full final Magnitude once. Every unused charge of a Charged effect counts its full final Magnitude separately. Each cost remains attributed to its original creator if the item is sold, stolen, or given away; a transfer never resets attribution.

Each bound Shaping or enchantment layer counts separately. When multiple Enchanters work on one object, each accounts for the Shapings they completed. Ritual helpers never inherit another creator’s capacity cost.

Every creation, restoration, or Magnitude increase must fit the resulting total within capacity, including changes to an existing item. A Mythic enchantment counts; there is no exemption.

Capacity frees only when an enchantment permanently ends: it is Dispelled, its anchor is destroyed, or a stored charge is used. Using a charge frees that charge’s capacity; an Activated use does not end its reusable enchantment. Temporary suppression continues to count.

If permanent POW loss puts a creator over capacity, their extant enchantments persist. They can make no new enchantment, restore none, and increase no Magnitude until the total fits again.

Without this Talent, both Duration 4 and Mythic Duration 5 enchantments commit maximum PP equal to Magnitude and count toward the maker’s active total. Duration 5 also requires its lasting price; that price never reduces either commitment. An unused one-use item commits the same way until it is used.

Weapon Expertise. Once per round, remove one remaining Penalty die from an eligible test with a chosen weapon type. Also known as Mastery, weapon specialist, expert weapon. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Close Combat or Ranged Combat at 76%, as used by the chosen weapon. passive Talent. Tags: close, defence, offence, ranged.

Effect

Choose one exact weapon type from the weapon table, not one physical item. You must have at least 76% in one combat skill used to attack with it.

Declare Weapon Expertise before you roll one normal attack, Parry, Active Guard, or Opportunity Attack with that weapon. After ordinary Bonus and Penalty dice cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove one remaining Penalty die. This never creates a Bonus die.

You can use Weapon Expertise once per character per round, across all your Weapon Expertise purchases, and one test benefits only once. You can buy the Talent again only for different weapon types.

The actual unmodified base combat skill rolled for that use must be 76% or higher; temporary modifiers do not qualify. For a dual-profile weapon, use the relevant Close Combat or Ranged Combat skill. Shields and primitive versions of the chosen type qualify. The Talent does not apply to Unarmed Combat, natural weapons, or Shaping, nor when the chosen weapon is used as an improvised weapon.

Rapid Shot is ineligible. Every test generated by an off-hand option is also ineligible, including both its extra attack and its extra Reaction.

Killing Angle. Add 1D4 damage to one attack per round against a flanked, rear, or unaware target. Also known as flanking damage, backstab. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 51%. passive Talent. Tags: stealth, offence.

Effect

Add 1D4 damage to one Close Combat or Unarmed Combat attack each round against a target you flank, strike from behind, or that is unaware of you.

This bonus does not apply to a hit that remains critical, including one produced by Ambusher. If the critical is demoted to an ordinary hit, the bonus applies provided the attack meets Killing Angle’s normal conditions and once-per-round limit.

Ambusher. Your first strike from concealment against an unaware target turns an ordinary hit into a Critical. Also known as surprise attack, strike from hiding. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 76%. action Talent. Tags: stealth, offence.

Effect

Declare Ambusher before your first attack of a scene, made from concealment against a target unaware of you. An ordinary hit counts as a Critical. A hit that already rolled Critical gains nothing further.

The attack must use Close Combat, Ranged Combat, or Unarmed Combat, not Shaping.

The target must be genuinely unaware, not merely surprised, outnumbered, or distracted.

Master Assassin. Add a further 1D4 wherever Killing Angle applies, for 2D4 in total. Also known as assassin, greater backstab. Costs 5 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 76% and Killing Angle. passive Talent. Tags: stealth, offence.

Effect

Add a further 1D4 damage whenever Killing Angle applies, for 2D4 in total.

Killing Angle’s conditions and once-per-round limit still apply. Neither bonus applies to a hit that remains critical; both apply when the critical is demoted to an eligible ordinary hit.

Silent Step. Moving at half Movement or less imposes a Penalty die on anyone trying to notice you. Also known as sneak, move unseen. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 51%. passive Talent. Tags: stealth, mobility.

Effect

While you move no faster than half Movement, Perception tests to notice you suffer -1P.

This applies whether Perception opposes your Deception or is rolled to spot you unprompted. It conceals neither your companions nor a light you carry.

Cutpurse. Pick a pocket or plant an object as a single Action rather than an extended attempt. Also known as pick pockets, cut a purse. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 51%. action Talent. Tags: stealth.

Effect

Pick a pocket, cut a purse, or plant a small object on a person as one Combat Action instead of the usual one minute of sustained access. Resolve it with Deception opposed by the target’s Perception.

A failure passes unnoticed unless you fumble, or the Gamemaster rules the missing item too large to overlook.

Deception Expertise. Choose one Deception application and remove one remaining Penalty die from its tests. Also known as deception specialist, master of disguise, sleight of hand. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Deception 51%. passive Talent. Tags: stealth.

Effect

Choose one Deception application: disguise, hiding objects, picking pockets, stealth, or misdirection. Record the choice with the Talent, such as Deception Expertise (Disguise).

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Deception tests using the chosen application. This never creates Bonus dice and applies to no other use of Deception.

Buy this Talent again for a different application, but never more than once for the same one.

Lockbreaker. Open a lock or disable a trap as a single Action rather than an extended attempt. Also known as pick a lock, disarm a trap. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Mechanisms 51%. action Talent. Tags: craft, stealth.

Effect

Open a lock or disable a trap as one Action rather than an extended attempt.

A device built to resist interference still opposes with its creator’s Mechanisms, and a fumble against a trap springs it.

Silver Tongue. Remove one remaining Penalty die from Influence tests to persuade or bargain. Also known as persuasion, bargaining, smooth talk. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Influence 51%. passive Talent. Tags: social.

Effect

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Influence tests to persuade or bargain.

You must have time to talk rather than press, and the audience must still be willing to listen. This never creates Bonus dice, and never applies to Influence used as a threat.

Commanding Presence. Remove one remaining Penalty die from Influence tests to command or threaten. Also known as intimidation, give orders, threaten. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Influence 51%. passive Talent. Tags: social.

Effect

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Influence tests to command or threaten.

The target must be able to make you out, by word, sign, gesture, or bearing, and must have something to lose. This never creates Bonus dice, and never applies to Influence used to persuade or bargain.

Commanding Presence applies to the Intimidate Combat Action, but never alters the enemy’s condition modifiers on their resisting roll.

Rally. Spend the Combat Action to grant two allies a Bonus die on each one's next test. Also known as encourage an ally, command. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Influence 51%. action Talent. Tags: social.

Effect

Spend the Combat Action to choose two allies within earshot who can hear and understand you. Each ally’s next single test before the end of that ally’s next turn gains +1B; the benefit is then consumed. An unused benefit expires at that deadline.

An ally can hold a maximum of one Rally benefit. A new Rally replaces an unused one rather than queuing. Only one Rally can apply to a test, and you cannot Rally yourself.

Merchant's Eye. Know an item's true worth on sight, and find in any settlement the selection of one size larger. Also known as appraise, true worth, find a supplier. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Trade 51%. passive Talent. Tags: social.

Effect

You know the true worth of an ordinary item on sight, whatever the seller claims of it.

Wherever you trade, the settlement offers the selection of one size larger: a village stocks as a town, a town as a city. A city improves no further, and this never makes genuinely unavailable goods appear.

Master Craftsman. Your materials cost a quarter of the finished value, and what you make is one point lighter. Also known as fine workmanship, master smith. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Craft 76%. passive Talent. Tags: craft.

Effect

Materials for your work cost a quarter of the finished value rather than half.

Anything you craft is exceptionally made: its ENC is 1 lower than listed, to a minimum of 1. Armour made this way raises its wearer’s Combat Order by 1.

Weak Point. Examine a structure, pass Mechanisms, and direct attacks against an exposed load-bearing join that ignores object AP. Also known as sabotage, bring down a structure. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Mechanisms 51%. passive Talent. Tags: craft.

Effect

Spend 10 minutes examining a structure or large work with access and quiet, then make a Mechanisms test. A successful Mechanisms test lets you direct allies to an accessible load-bearing join. Attacks against it use the object rules but ignore the object’s AP until the work is repaired or materially changed.

On a Failure, gain no benefit. No retry is allowed until material circumstances change.

Practised Hands. Your after-encounter treatment restores more, and a failed attempt can be tried once more. Also known as first aid, field treatment. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Healing 51%. passive Talent. Tags: healing.

Effect

Your after-encounter treatment restores 1D4 + 2 HP instead of 1D4.

If that attempt fails, you can make one more on the same patient before their next full rest. No patient ever takes more than one success from it.

Field Surgeon. Perform Surgery anywhere, and end Wounded the moment the Surgery succeeds. Also known as battlefield surgery, improvised kit. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Healing 76%. passive Talent. Tags: healing.

Effect

Attempt Surgery wherever you can stop and work; it needs no prepared place. It still cannot be attempted during combat, still needs a Healing Kit, and still restores 1 HP on a success.

Your successful Surgery ends Wounded at once, rather than making the patient wait until their current HP rises above their Major Wound Level.

Physician. Your treatment grants two Bonus dice against poison and disease, and buys a second try against poison. Also known as treat poison, treat disease, apothecary. Costs 3 Improvement Points. Requires Healing 76%. passive Talent. Tags: healing.

Effect

Your successful Healing test grants +2B rather than +1B against a poison or disease.

A patient you have treated can also make one further resistance test against a poison that beat them, which the poison rules otherwise never allow.

Athletics Expertise. Choose one Athletics application and remove one remaining Penalty die from its tests. Also known as athletics specialist, expert climber, strong swimmer. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Athletics 51%. passive Talent. Tags: mobility.

Effect

Choose one Athletics application: acrobatics, brute force, climbing, jumping, running, or swimming. Record the choice with the Talent, such as Athletics Expertise (Climbing).

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Athletics tests using the chosen application. This never creates Bonus dice and applies to no other use of Athletics.

Buy this Talent again for a different application, but never more than once for the same one.

Close-Quarters Knack. Remove one remaining Penalty die from Athletics or Mechanisms tests caused by confined surroundings. Also known as cramped spaces, confined spaces. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires DEX 13 and SIZ 9 or lower. passive Talent. Tags: mobility, training.

Effect

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from an Athletics or Mechanisms test when that Penalty is caused specifically by cramped or confined surroundings.

This never creates a Bonus die and does not remove Penalties caused by darkness, unstable footing, inadequate tools, enemy action, or any other circumstance.

Wayfinder. While you can see the sky or read the ground, downgrade a navigation Fumble and keep the group from becoming lost. Also known as never lost, guide. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Natural Lore 51%. passive Talent. Tags: survival.

Effect

While you can see the sky or read the ground, downgrade a navigation Fumble to an ordinary Failure. This prevents the group from becoming lost through that test.

Wayfinder does not prevent other travel hazards. Weather, pace, and finding food, water, or shelter still use their ordinary rules.

Tracker. Remove a Penalty die from Natural Lore tests to find or follow a trail. Also known as follow a trail, cold trail. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Natural Lore 51%. passive Talent. Tags: survival.

Effect

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Natural Lore tests to find or follow a trail.

This never creates Bonus dice, and applies to no other use of Natural Lore.

Terrain Expertise. Choose one terrain and remove one remaining Penalty die from Natural Lore tests in it. Also known as favoured terrain, home ground, terrain specialist. Costs 2 Improvement Points. Requires Natural Lore 51%. passive Talent. Tags: survival.

Effect

Choose one terrain, such as forest, mountain, desert, swamp, steppe, or coast. Record the choice with the Talent, such as Terrain Expertise (Forest).

After ordinary Bonus and Penalty cancellation, but before the final dice cap, remove up to 1 remaining Penalty die from Natural Lore tests made in or about the chosen terrain. This never creates Bonus dice and applies to no other terrain.

Terrain Expertise and Tracker can both apply to one test. Buy this Talent again for a different terrain, but never more than once for the same one.

Alchemist. Brew antidotes, alchemical fire, or healing salves a dose at a time. Also known as brew antidote, alchemical fire, salve. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Lore (Alchemy) 51%. passive Talent. Tags: craft.

Effect

Spend a day and materials worth 50 SP to brew one dose, which keeps its strength for a month. Choose its effect as you brew:

• Antidote: the drinker gains +2B on one resistance test against a named poison or disease.
• Alchemical fire: a ready Light flask, thrown with Ranged Combat at Range 10 metres. A hit deals 1D6 fire damage with no DM, and the defender has normal Reactions. An ordinary miss wastes the dose; on a fumble, use the normal firing into a crowd consequence when applicable.
• Salve: restores 1D6 HP over an hour’s rest, once per patient each day.

Poisoner. Brew a dose of poison whose Potency is half your Lore (Alchemy). Also known as brew poison, venom. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Lore (Alchemy) 76% and Alchemist. passive Talent. Tags: craft, stealth.

Effect

Spend a day and materials worth 50 SP to brew one dose of poison. Its Potency is half your Lore (Alchemy), and it keeps that strength for a month.

Choose one Effect as you brew: 1D6 HP damage, -2 to one characteristic, or unconsciousness. An Effect that lasts runs for 1D6 × 10 minutes.

Choose the Type as well: smeared, with a Delay of 1 round, or ingested, with a Delay of 1D6 minutes.

Spend a Combat Action to apply a smeared dose to a suitable cutting or piercing weapon. It remains until the first hit that deals HP damage or until one hour passes, whichever comes first; the dose is then spent.

An ingested poison activates when consumed. Repeated exposure to the same currently active poison does not stack and grants no extra resistance test.

Everything else follows the poison rules, including the victim’s single resistance test.

Tactician. An army you command loses half the usual casualties, and a beaten force you lead can keep fighting on an ordinary rout success. Also known as command an army, prevent a rout. Costs 4 Improvement Points. Requires Lore (Military Tactics) 51%. passive Talent. Tags: social.

Effect

An army you command loses half the usual casualties from a battle.

When your beaten force passes its rout test, it can keep fighting rather than withdraw; another commander’s force needs a Critical to fight on.