Ascend Skills
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Skills
As a character levels up their skills they attain new levels of competence, which allow the unlocking of certain new specialties. These traits can be selected from a list, and at each new qualifying level of competence, a character can select one new speciality for which they meet the necessary prerequisites.
At level 5 in a skill a character unlocks access to adept specialties; at level 10 they unlock expert specialties; at level 15, master specialties, and at level 20, paragon specialties. A character also gains one point to spend on specialties every five levels in a skill. A character does not have to select a higher level specialty, and can instead purchase an additional lower level specialty, including taking a previous specialty again, unless specifically disallowed.
Additional specialties can be purchased on leveling up for two skill points. A character cannot purchase more than one additional specialty this way each time they level.
Skill List
Physique Skills
Boxing
Adept Specialities (level 5):
- Lethal Weapon: Fists can do lethal damage, and add to melee AC vs weapons
Expert Specialities (level 10):
- Stunning Blow: On a traumatic hit, target is stunned for one round
- Piercing Punch: -1 to the DR of target armour
Master Specialities (level 15):
- Disarming Block: If opponent fails to beat AC by 5 or more with melee weapon attack, chance to disarm
- Catch the Arrow: Can use Melee AC vs thrown, bow and crossbow attacks.
Paragon Specialities (level 20):
- Killing Blow: On a traumatic hit, target must save or die.
Handgun
Adept Specialities (level 5):
- Fast Reload: Reloading is a Free Action
- Precise Shot: -1 to DR of target armour
- Favoured Weapon: +2 to the accuracy of a single specific type of handgun (EX: "Desert Eagle .50")
Expert Specialities (level 10):
- Hong Kong Style: Handguns can be dual wielded without penalty
- Vital Shot: +10 to the resolution of any Traumatic Injury
Master Specialities (level 15):
- Greater Precise Shot: -2 to DR of target armour
- Hong Kong Master: Dual wielding handguns doubles their rate of fire
Paragon Specialities (level 20):
Quickness Skills
Dodge
Adept Specialities (level 5):
- Unencumbered Evasion: +2 to Melee and Ranged AC when not wearing armour.
- Agile Armour : -1 to the agility penalty suffered by wearing armour.
- One with the Machine: Apply half Dodge skill to vehicle evasion
Expert Specialities (level 10):
- Sudden Reflexes: Character retains their full dodge even when surprised
- Hasty Improvisation: Character can always find at least 50% “one shot” cover
Master Specialities (level 15):
- Greater Unencumbered Evasion: +4 to Melee and Ranged AC when not wearing armour
- Greater Agile Armour: -2 to the agility penalty suffered by wearing armour.
Paragon Specialities (level 20):
Will Skills
Senses Skills
Intellect Skills
Social Skills
Aether Skills