Combat Proficiencies

Combat Proficiencies

Combat Proficiencies have an effect on how a Character acts in Combat. Whilst some Traits also have an effect on combat (such as Ambidextrous), Combat Proficiencies ONLY effect a character's abilities in Combat.

There are several types of Combat Proficiency - Weapon Proficiencies, Unarmed Proficiencies, Fighting Styles, Defence Styles and Martial Arts.

Characters gain a number of free Combat Proficiencies from their Class. They also gain a number of Combat Proficiency points from their Level. Bonus Points may also be spent on Combat Proficencies.

Weapon Proficiencies

Weapon Proficiencies reflect the Character's capability to wield a given weapon group. Each Level has a name, though most characters are only able to attain up to Level 2 - Weapon Expertise. Warrior Classes, instead, are able to obtain Weapon Specialization as an alternative Level 2 and then progress beyond this. Unless a Character is specifically noted as being able to attain a level of Weapon Proficiency beyond or instead of Expertise, they cannot attain it.

A character may increase a Weapon Proficiency by spending Combat Proficiency Points or Bonus Points on it. They may also Train.

Non-Proficiency and Familiar Weapons

If a character lacks a Proficiency, they are presumed to be Non-Proficient and thus suffer the Non-Proficient Penalty - if they have a class, they use the penalty listed for that class. If not, they use -2 if they are a warrior-like creature, -4 if they are not.

Some weapons are similar in use to other weapons - a Light Crossbow and a Heavy Crossbow operate similarly. If a Character is Non-Proficient with a Weapon but it is considered Familiar to a Weapon Group they are Proficient with, halve the Non-Proficiency Penalty. Round this down - a -3 penalty becomes a -2 penalty.

Weapon Groups

A character can obtain Proficiency in any of the following Weapon Groups. Other Groups may be added at the DM's approval for unusual or exotic weapons.

Weapon Groups
Group Name	Examples	Familiar Groups
Axe	Battle Axe, Hand Axe, Throwing Axe, Great Axe	Pick, Hammer, Sickle
Ballista	Ballista, Scorpio	Heavy Crossbow
Blowgun	Blowgun	-
Cannon	Cannon, Bombard, Field Gun	Mortar, Long Arms
Catapult	Catapult, Mangonel, Onager, Trebuchet	Mortar
Chain	Chain, Spiked Chain, Flindbar, Nunchaku	Flail, Rope
Club	Club, Cudgel, Blackjack, War Club, Great Club, Sap	Mace, Staff
Dagger	Dagger, Katar, Knife, Stiletto, Throwing Dagger, Throwing Three-Pointed Dagger	Short Sword, Parrying Dagger
Fencing	Epee, Rapier, Foil, Swordcane	Long Sword, Sabre, Short Sword
Flail	Footman's Glail, Horseman's Flail, Great Flail, Grain Flail	Chain, Rope
Great Swords	Claymore, Zweihander, Bastard Sword, Daikatana, Estoc, Odachi	Long Sword, Sabre
Hammers	Warhammer, Throwing Hammer, Maul, Sledgehammer	Axe, Pick, Mace
Hand Crossbow	Hand Crossbow, Pellet Bow	Light Crossbow, Small Arms
Heavy Crossbow	Heavy Crossbow, Arbalest, Belly Bow	Light Crossbow, Ballista, Long Arms
Light Crossbow	Light Crossbow, Repeating Crossbow	Hand Crossbow, Heavy Crossbow, Long Arms
Lance	Light Lance, Medium Lance, Heavy Lance, Jousting Lance	Spear
Long Arms	Musket, Fusil, Arquebus, Rifle, Machine Gun	Shotguns, Light Crossbow, Heavy Crossbow
Long Bow	Long Bow, Composite Long Bow, Yumi, Flatbow	Short Bow
Long Sword	Falchion, Broad Sword, Long Sword, Flamberge, Bastard Sword, Katana	Short Sword, Sabre, Great Sword, Fencing
Mace	Footman's Mace, Horseman's Mace, Morning Star	Club, Hammer, Pick
Mortar	Mortar, Howitzer, Light Mortar	Cannon, Catapult
Parrying Dagger	Maine-Gauche, Parrying Dagger, Sai	Dagger, Short Sword
Pick	Miner's Pick, Footman's Pick, Horseman's Pick, Hook, Grapnel	Axe, Hammer, Mace
Polearm	Pike, Bill, Guisarme, Military Fork, Naginata, Halberd, Yari	Spear, Scythe, Staff
Rope	Lasso, Net, Whip	Chain, Flail
Sabre	Sabre, Cutlass, Khopesh, Kopis, Machete, Scimitar, Dao, Kukri, Falcata	Short Sword, Long Sword, Great Sword, Sickle
Scythe	Scythe, War Scythe	Polearm, Sickle
Sickle	Sickle, Kama, Chicken Sickle, Falx	Sabre, Scythe, Axe
Shield	Buckler, Small Shield, Spiked Shield, Medium Shield, Tower Shield, Dueling Shield	-
Short Sword	Short Sword, Scramasax, Gladius, Butterfly Sword, Wakizashi, Hoplite Sword	Long Sword, Dagger, Sabre, Fencing
Shotgun	Blunderbuss, Shotgun	Small Arms, Long Arms
Sling	Sling, Sling Staff, Sling Shot	Throwing
Small Arms	Flintlock Pistol, Revolver, Carbine, SMG	Hand Crossbow, Light Crossbow, Shotguns, Long Arms
Staff	Bo Stick, Quarterstaff, Sling Staff (Melee)	Club, Polearm
Throwing	Rock, Grenade, Dart, Shuriken, Caltrop, Chakram, Oil Flask, Molotov, Bolas	Sling

Throwing Weapon Familiarity

The use of a weapon of a given Proficiency in melee uses the Weapon Proficiency. If the Character wishes to Throw a Weapon they are Proficient in, they are considered to be Non-Proficient in that weapon but consider it Familiar. A character can make throwing attacks with any weapon using the Throwing proficiency without penalty for Non-Proficiency but, if they make Melee attacks with this weapon, they suffer the full Non-Proficiency Penalty if they lack Proficiency - they are not considered Familiar.

For example, a Cleric wishes to throw a Hammer. They are proficient in Hammers but lack Throwing. Their Non-Weapon Proficiency penalty is -3 so this becomes an attack with a -2 penalty. If they had Throwing, it would suffer no penalty. Meanwhile, a Thief throws an Axe - they suffer no penalty on this attack as they have Throwing Proficiency. If they are forced to engage in melee with an Axe, however, they suffer a -3 penalty; their full Non-Weapon Proficiency penalty.

Training

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