Fencing

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Allowed Physical

Armory Sourcebook p. 210
Preq's	Dexterity ●●● Weaponry Skill ●●●
Level(s)	● (2XP) ●● (6XP) ●●● (12XP) ●●●● (20XP)
Venue	All
Possessed By
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Your character is trained in the art of fencing. He likely learned this skill at a fencing academy, and is familiar with the sport in more than a passing capacity.

Fencing is meant to be performed with specific swords. The maneuvers below can be used without penalty provided your character is using one of the following swords: curved sword, fencing sword, rapier or sword cane. Any other type of sword incurs a –1 penalty against any of the maneuvers listed below.

European Fencing

Thrust (•)

The thrust is a simple yet powerful attack. A fencer’s stance (one leg anchoring your character’s position and the other leg lunging him forward) gives this attack extra force. When your character makes a thrust attack, plunging the blade toward an opponent, he does so with a +1 bonus.

Feint (••)

Your character knows how to make a fake attack intended to throw off an opponent. Make a “normal” attack roll (Strength + Weaponry), and this roll is penalized by the opponent’s Defense, par usual. This attack is fake; it does not strike the foe or do any damage. If your character achieves even a single success, however, the opponent is momentarily confused and off-balance, and may not apply her Defense against the next attack she suffers (which may be from your character the following turn or may be from some other source beforehand).

Riposte (•••)

A Riposte requires an attack to be made against your character. He steps out of the way of the attack using his Dodge (i.e., her Defense, doubled). While his opponent is open, he can then make a sudden and quick attack, which is performed at a –1 penalty. However, the opponent’s Defense does not further penalize the attack roll.

Drawback: If your character suffers any further attacks on a turn where she has used Riposte, she cannot apply her Defense against them.

Riposte is not a Dodge Action. Riposte is an Instant Action and therefore is declared on the character's segment in the Initiative roster. It cannot be used against an attack that that comes before the character's Initiative.

Moulinet (••••)

If your character makes a successful hit on an adversary with his sword, he may then rotate his wrist and perform a quick spiral cut with the tip of the weapon. This additional cut requires no additional roll; the cut does lethal damage to the opponent equal to your character’s Dexterity.

Drawback: To perform this maneuver, the character must spend a Willpower point before he makes her initial attack roll. The Willpower does not grant him the additional +3 to attack. If the initial attack roll fails, the Willpower point is wasted and the Moulinet may not be added.

Kendo: Japanese Fencing

The above Merit is for European-style fencing, but can be adapted for Japanese kendo fairly easily. While the techniques are slightly different, the mechanics have not changed.

Again, all the mechanics are the same, and the Merit works in the exact manner, though with different terms. However, the swords used are different. A character can perform kendo waza with katana, wakizashi and curved swords — using them with any other swords incurs a –1 penalty.

Kaburi (•)

Thrust becomes Kaburi; instead of thrusting, your character makes an overhead attack, but the +1 modifier remains.

Kiai (••)

Feint becomes Kiai. It involves shouting loudly while making a distracting maneuver.

Uchiotoshi Waza (•••)

Riposte becomes Uchiotoshi Waza, or “killing the sword.” The character may not step out of the way but instead parries the attack before her own counter-attack.

Nidan Waza (••••)

Moulinet becomes Nidan Waza, allowing one completed attack and a second quick cut with the sword.