Combat Style Specialization [Hackmaster]

Combat style specialization involves learning a certain combination of armor, weapons, and basic style more thoroughly; rehearsing moves and routines to perfection when outfitted in a certain way. These styles are very precise about what they are allowed, and to create a style, one must select a weapon (or no weapon), a shield (or no shield), armor (or no armor), and a basic style from among weapon and shield, two-handed weapon (to include one-handed weapon being used two-handed), one-handed weapon only, two-weapon (including both attacking with both and secondary weapon in defense), and, if one is so inclined, shield-only or two shields. The character must already be proficient with all elements of the style.

For example, Dave might choose to specialize in a style that uses a two-handed sword (weapon), no shield, banded mail, and two-handed style. If he uses a halberd instead, or is reduced to leather armor, his style no longer applies. Sarah may choose a style that uses a mace, a medium shield, studded leather armor, and weapon and shield style. If her shield is broken, she can no longer make use of the style, nor can she use the style if she upgrades to banded armor. Seekers of the Three Strengths have several styles that use no weapon, no shield, and no armor, focusing on one-handed weapon only, or two-weapon styles.

Once selected, Combat Styles specialized cost the same amount of BP as weapon specializations, and can apply bonuses to Attack, Defense, and Speed. These bonuses apply whenever the requirements of the style are met, and are in addition to any applicable weapon specialization. If multiple specialization costs may apply (for example, a thief specializing in a scimitar-and-dagger style would specialize at 7 BP, as appropriate for a scimitar, not 6 BP, as appropriate for a dagger. Seekers of the Three Strengths specialize in unarmed styles for 5 BP; styles that include other weapons require 8 BP. If a style is expanded to include weapons that require a higher rate of specialization, all future improvements will require the higher cost.


Expanding Styles:

“But what if I find a really cool sword and my style uses a mace?” Styles may be expanded beyond their initial parameters, but only so far. To expand a style, the character must first be proficient in the weapon, armor, or shield to be added. Then, the character must spend enough BP to become proficient in the object again, specifically for the purposes of expanding the style. For this purpose, adding “No Armor” is treated as requiring 2 BP. Note that, with shields and armor, each individual piece must be paid for separately; adding Splint Mail costs 4 BP, and adding Plate Mail later will also cost 4 BP. If your style begins with Bucklers, adding in Large Shields will cost 6 BP, and adding Medium Shields will also cost 6 BP. Adding an entirely new basic style (for example, transitioning from one-handed only to two-handed, or from two-weapon to one-handed only) requires 10 BP. Each of those would be a separate purchase; if your one-handed only style can also be used with a shield or two-handed, this would be an additional 20 BP. Note that if a class pays only half BP to become proficient with a weapon, this applies as well to combat styles, including armor, shields, and style changes.

To use the above, Dave is a fighter, and his two-handed style includes a two-handed sword and banded mail. If he wished to add a halberd, it would require 2 BP (4 for a medium-skill weapon, halved because he is a fighter). If Sarah, a cleric, wished to add the option to fight with a two-handed grip, this would require 10 BP. Adding Small shields to her style would cost 6 points (for a shield); adding chain mail would require 4 points.

In theory, of course, one could devote themselves to developing an “ultimate style”; a fighter specializing in a style, then expanding it to include other weapons, armors, shields, and basic styles. However, as the style progressed, this would become expensive for the character, and specialized combat styles cannot be taught whole-cloth; just because Dave expanded his style to include maces, battle-axes, and plate mail does not mean that his followers learn all of that at once. Styles must be learned, piece by piece, by each individual practitioner.