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- Oak Roots Style (Physical 50) — This fighting style is taught only at Juross’s
School in the Kingdom of Tartony. A former student of Sheavan Kelos, he has gone on to set up
his own warriors’ school. Juross’s “Oak Roots” style allows a
spear user to add +1 to damage when he is on firm ground. Thus,
the benefit does not apply to a character fighting while hanging
from the edge of a cliff, on horseback, standing in ankle-deep
mud or wading in water.
- One Shot, One Kill Style (Physical 50) — Ymaris “Blue-Eyes,” a Paladian elf warrior of
great renown, teaches this fighting style at The Highfolk Archery
School, located outside the Paladian capital of Lydia. Only characters that attend the school may learn the style.
- Students who master Ymaris’s archery style may make a called shot
for double damage when using a missile weapon to attack any target
within short range. The multiplier applies only to weapon damage,
not modifiers for Strength or magic. As with other called shots,
the attack suffers a one phase melee penalty (for example, an
average attack becomes a slow attack) and -4 to hit penalty. The
character may perform this action instead of a normal attack at
any time the conditions are right (that is, when the target is
within short range).
- One-handed Weapon Style (Physical 50) — Using One-handed Weapon Style, the character
wields a one-handed weapon and leaves his off-hand empty. There
are some disadvantages to this style — the character is shorting
himself the protection of a shield or the extra attack capability
of a secondary weapon. However, One-handed Weapon Style does leave
the character with a free hand for using magical items, grabbing
or punching an opponent.
- If the single-weapon using character makes an off-hand attack,
such as a punch or grab, he’s considered to be fighting with two
weapons. His primary weapon suffers a -2 penalty to attack rolls
and his secondary attacks suffer a -4 penalty to hit. These penalties
are offset by the character’s reaction adjustment for his Dexterity/Balance
score. If the character is also familiar with the Two-handed Weapon
Style and his weapon can be used either one- or two-handed, he
can switch back and forth between the two styles at the beginning
of every round of combat.
- All player characters, regardless of class, know the single-weapon
fighting style.
- Specialization: A character who specializes by spending an additional 50 physical
skill points on this style gains a special AC bonus of +1 while
fighting with a one-handed weapon and no shield or secondary weapon.
By spending an additional 50 physical skill points (for a total
of 100), the character can increase his AC bonus to +2, but that’s
the maximum benefit for style specialization.
- Prone Fighting (Physical 50) — This style has two main functions. First, a character
skilled at Prone Fighting is empowered to fight as effectively
when knocked to the ground as if he were on his feet. The only
limitation is that no special maneuvers except Instant Stand may
be used when fighting in this manner. Second, all rolls made by
the character to escape a grappling attack gain a +1 bonus.
- Small Staff Style (Physical 50) — This fighting style requires the use of a staff
and can only be learned on the Isle of the Brothers or at Holan’s
Academy in Salen.
- When a student first begins using the staff, it seems to be a
huge, clumsy weapon. As the student becomes more familiar with
the weapon, it becomes easier to use, feeling steadily less bulky
and clumsy. The style emphasizes getting inside an opponent’s
defenses, where he cannot block the character's staff. Proficiency
in the style gives +1 bonus to all attack rolls against armed
opponents.
- Striking Falcon Style (Physical 50) — This fighting style can only be learned by those
who attend The Holy Training Hall of Erus and study under the
tutelage of Sir Agravael. Sir Agravael, a Knight of Erus, calls his style the Striking Falcon Style and teaches it only
to characters of sixth-level or higher who pass subtle alignment
tests (his tests include the use of his ability as a paladin to
detect evil intent). The application of Sir Agravael’s theory
of “conservation of movement” and expertise gained through the
rigorous speed drills he requires of students allows the character
who masters this style to act one phase faster than normal in
melee combat. This style may be combined effectively with the
Speed skill.
 
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