Weapon Proficiency

[CJ]

Weapon Proficiencies are required to attack normally or use any kind of technique that isn't a straight spell. The distinction is slightly fuzzy, but generally, if it uses Power as the base stat, it's not a straight spell and requires some kind of proficiency.

The standard penalty for trying to use a weapon you aren't proficient in, or using a weapon in a strange way that it isn't generally designed to be used, is as follows. -20 Accuracy, halved Weapon Damage. This is called the 'Standard Nonproficiency Penalty'. Nonproficiency penalty stacks endlessly for every element of your weapon that you are nonproficient in.
Also part of the nonprof penalty is the fact that you cannot use nonproficienty weapons in any technique. You may use them in spells if applicable, but that is it.

The first level of weapon proficiency you EVER take costs 1 Slot, but all further upgrades and all further new profs take half of one. The first level of an average weapon prof just removes the nonprof penalty when using that weapon. Further levels, "Advanced Proficiencies", will increase your specs in various ways while using that kind of weapon. The more specific an Advanced Proficiency is, the more powerful the boost will be.

The advancement of an advanced prof proceeds as follows. It's somewhat confusing to explain, but very simple once you understand the underlying principle.

Level 1 - Nothing special. You can use that weapon without nonprof penalty, and you can use specials utilizing that weapon.

Level 2 - You decide between a boost to Weapon Power or a boost to Accuracy when using that weapon.

Level 3 - You again decide between a boost to Weapon Power or a boost to Accuracy when using that weapon. If you choose the same boost as you did at level three, then this boost will be one point smaller.

Level 4 - You decide one last time between a boost to Weapon Power or a boost to Accuracy. If you chose the same thing on 2 and 3, you MUST choose the other one at this level, and the boost will be the standard amount depending on "specificness" of the prof's aim. If you didn't, then you can choose either again, and like before, the boost will be slightly smaller.

Basically, every level after the first you upgrade your effective Accuracy or the effective Weapon Damage of the weapons that prof uses. You can only use two levels on either of the factors, and the second level you give will be 1 point lower than the first one.

The increases are;
+3 for General profs (A one word weapon type. The exception is "Thrusting Sword", which is still 'General' despite having a descriptor)

+4 for Specific Profs (Which must be two words, one describing the other, or a specific model of that kind of sword)

+5 for Super Specific profs (Which must be the name of a specific specimen of the weapon type)

Remember, the second boost to the same stat is one lower, but stacks with the previous.

Examples;

General: Sword, Axe, Club, Hammer, Staff, Whip, Bow, ect

Specific: One-handed Sword, Two-handed Sword, Estoc, Epee, Single-Edged Sword, Double-Edged Sword, Fist Weapon, Kick Weapon.

Super Specific: Masamune, Master Sword, Excalibur, Martial Arts (Unarmed), Grappling

Note that Martial Arts (unarmed) and Grappling are considered 'Super Specific', since both weapons utilize only your own body. Also of course remember that boosts to Martial Arts damage add Bludgeoning damage. Boosts to Grappling "damage" add to the Power Stat when rolling break out attempts. For more on Grappling, check the Battle section.

[CJ]

Grapple Proficiency works SLIGHTLY different from your average prof, but not that much so. It is considered a Super Specific proficiency, but increases to "weapon damage" instead increase your effective Power stat when break out attempts are rolled. The Power Stat boost ONLY applies to Breakout attempts. Slams or other such things use your base stat.

Nonproficiency Penalty is calculated somewhat strangely in Grapple attempts. If you are the one initiating the grapple, you take nonprof penalty if you don't have levels in it, and also take the penalty whenever the target tries to break out. Power Stat, which takes the place of Weapon Damage, is Halved if you don't have the prof, and Acc if they attempt to dodge your grab attempt is cut by 20. Also, without Grapple levels, you can't really do anything once someone is grappled except hold them down and drag them around.

Trying to break out of a Grapple doesn't subject you to Nonproficiency Penalty, as long as it is a Passive Break. Active Breaks still have standard nonproficiency penalty. On the bright side, if you DO have a proficiency, it is added whether you are making a Passive or an Active break. For more information on Grappling, check the Battle portion of the boards, under 'Advanced Action - Grapple'


GRAPPLE TECHNIQUES

Without using ability slots to take Grapple Techniques, all you can do is hold them in place or drag them around with you. This can be effective on it's own if used right, especially if you have Fly, Swim, or Dig and the target doesn't. If you really want to get the most bang for your buck, though, you need to take shpecials. There are four basic types of Grapple Specials.


Submissions - Shift the grapple into a more concentrated position, designed to cause distress or damage of some kind, or perhaps just to make yourself more comfortable. Submissions tend to have repeating or gradual effects over time, and seldom do outright damage on activation. At the beginning of every turn of a Submission's duration, before it's effects kick in, the target will get a Passive Break chance, which will break the submission. After that they get another Passive Break chance, which will break the Grapple entirely. Other than these basic rules, the sky's the limit. Submissions are extremely varied and versatile. If you like you can even key a Suplex, Throw, or Slam in so that it can be used directly out of a Submission.

Suplexes - A suplex is a very powerful slamming attack that concentrate's one's force into dropping a target in a specific way. Suplexes are primarily used to cause damage, but may cause other effects as well. After preforming a Suplex, you must pass an Accuracy check against your own Power stat, and the target will get a second Passive Break attempt. If you fail either of these, the grapple ends.

Throws - Throws are used to hike a target in a direction, possibly in a special way. Throws tend to be more inflexible than other moves, but their power and use is uncontestable. The only negative point is that Throws WILL end a grapple, no matter what.

Slams - Attacks the enemy with a free hand, or foot, while still holding them. Since you have to at least somewhat let them go to do this, your Advanced Prof levels will not count for the Passive Breakout attempt a Slam provides. You must still be Proficient in whatever you're hitting them with, too.

[CJ]

Double Hand - This weapon prof is used to wield a weapon in both hands to increase control and power behind your swings. For the effects of this proficiency to kick in, you must be using a weapon that you could normally use one handed, and said weapon must have two Units of handle. Every level grants one of the following, at your choice. Except for the last one, you can take the same trait twice, but only twice, and the skill caps at 4.
+20 Accuracy
Crit Damage Multipliar +.5
+10 Priority
+10 Power when Weapon Clashing.
Immunity to Disarmement.


Dual Wield - The art of using a Weapon in your offhand, instead of a shield. This is a very difficult and varied ability to fully master, and is actually broken down into three seperate abilities. You don't technically "need" all of them, but... It really really helps.

Dual Wield - Allows a person to dual wield one-handed weapons in each hand as long as they deal the same damage type and the person has at least basic proficiency in each weapon type. Damage is calculated as Power+Weapon1+Weapon2.

Without this skill: -40 Accuracy, 1/4 Weapon Power for both weapons.
Level 1: -20 Accuracy, 1/2 Weapon Power.
Level 2: -10 Accuracy, 3/4 Weapon Power.
Level 3: Perfected Dual Wield. No Penalties.


Special Dual Wield- Required in order to allow special attacks while Dual Wielding. It has 4 levels. Penalties listed apply only when doing Specials. A side bonus of taking this skill is that it allows you to use a support/defensive tech and an offensive tech at the same time, but you only apply one weapon to each when doing this.

Level 1: -40 Accuracy, 1/4 Weapon Power.
Level 2: -20 Accuracy, 1/2 Weapon Power.
Level 3: -10 Accuracy, 3/4 Weapon Power.
Level 4: Perfect Specials while Dual Wielding.


Different Weapon Fighting: Can only be taken if the person already has Dual Wielding. Allows them to use weapons they are proficient in even if they have different damage types, like a sword and a hammer. Three levels, which mirror the same penalties as Dual Wielding.


Triple/Quadruple/Quintuple ect Wielding: Taken to wield more than two weapons, provided you have more than that number of limbs. Every level of this skill, each of which takes a full slot, applies all your other Dual Wielding levels to one more limb.
Tails can be used, but advanced weapon profs won't be applied to tail-held weapons unless specifically stated otherwise. They lack the dexterity needed to properly use weapons.
Legs can also be used, but you must at all times have at least one leg on the ground unless you have a skill for aerial combat. The weapons must be specifically made to attach to the leg, though. Even if you have one or more legs on the ground, you will be considered 'partially' in the air, and will take penalties if you are interrupted on leggy attacks or countered successfully afterward.