Notes: Talents with "OK" after their name are version 0.8. Anything without this tag is WIP and should be ignored. The focus is on Tier 1 and 2 talents, with some consideration given to Tier 3 as well. Tier 4 and 5 talents are WIP, even if tagged OK.
Chapter 5: Talents
Talents represent the specialized abilities that characters
can develop to gain an edge in the dangerous world they inhabit. From combat
prowess to social manipulation, and from the astral plane to the Matrix,
talents define what makes a character truly formidable. As characters progress,
they unlock higher tiers of talents, gaining access to more powerful abilities.
Talent Prerequisites
To pick a talent from a higher tier, you must have at least
1 talent from that group’s lower tiers. Some talents may have additional
prerequisites, as detailed in their descriptions. Talents can provide both
passive and active benefits, and their effects stack with other bonuses unless
otherwise noted.
Group 1 Combat Instincts
Specializes in detecting threats, reacting quickly to
danger, and gaining the upper hand in combat through superior awareness and
reflexes.
Tier 1
Alertness OK
·
Description: The
character has heightened awareness and is rarely surprised.
·
Effect: Gain Advantage on Awareness checks (usually the
Vigilance skill, but for drone/Matrix/Astral combat, other skills are used) to
avoid Surprise.
Combat Reflexes OK
·
Description: The
character’s reflexes, honed through experience, give them an edge in combat.
·
Effect: Gain Advantage on Initiative checks.
Instinctive Reaction OK
·
Description: The
character can act without thinking when caught off guard.
·
Effect: Gain a bonus
Reaction during the first round of combat. You may use this Reaction even
if you are Surprised (if you aren’t, you’ll have 2 Reactions during the first
round of combat).
Tier 2
Danger Sense OK
·
Description: The character has developed an instinctual
ability to sense danger.
·
Effect: At the start of the first round of combat,
after rolling initiative, you may spend 1 Reaction and 3 Stamina to take
1 Move action or 1 Minor action. You may do this whether you are Surprised or
not. If multiple combatants have this ability, resolve their actions in initiative
order.
Dodge Roll OK
·
Description: The
character can make a quick, evasive move to avoid incoming attacks.
·
Effect: Spend 1
Reaction and 5 Stamina to gain a +5 bonus to Dodge or Parry defense vs. one attack.
You may decide to use this talent after the attacker makes the roll.
Focused Combatant OK
·
Description: The
character can maintain focus even in chaotic situations.
·
Effect: When you attack (including
Magic and Matrix attacks) as part of a Reaction, you gain Advantage.
Quick Eyes OK
·
Description: The
character constantly scans his surroundings, taking in minute details with
little effort.
·
Effect: You can make
Active Perceptions check as Minor actions (instead of Major actions). Has no
effect on Passive Perception checks. Examples of active perception include,
but are not limited to, searching for clues (Investigation),
scanning the surroundings for hidden enemies (Vigilance), peering into Astral
(Awareness), or operating drone scanners (Sensors). It does not apply to
social perception (Insight).
Tier 3
Evasion Mastery OK
·
Description: The character has mastered
the art of evading attacks, allowing them to avoid danger more effectively.
·
Effect: Gain a +1 bonus to Dodge and
Parry defense, and the Stamina cost of Dodge Roll is reduced to 3.
Killer Instincts OK
·
Description: The character can react swiftly and
capitalize on surprise, dealing more damage to unsuspecting foes.
·
Effect: You have Advantage on attacks against
Surprised opponents, and your attacks against surprised foes deal +1d6
damage.
Reactionary Attack OK
·
Description: The
character is trained to strike back swiftly when attacked unexpectedly.
·
Effect: When using Danger
Sense, if you spend 5 Stamina (instead of 3), you can take 1 Major action
instead of Move or Minor. This effectively lets you attack even if you’re
surprised (if you aren’t, you can still do this attack and then attack again
during your normal first turn).
Tier 4
Ever Ready OK
·
Description: Your instincts are so honed that you
cannot be surprised.
·
Effect: The character cannot be surprised.
Lightning Reflexes OK
·
Description:
·
Effect: Gain 1
additional Reaction each round.
Tier 5
Temporal Awareness OK
·
Description: The
character’s heightened perception of time allows them to act multiple times in
quick succession.
·
Effect: Spend 5 Stamina
to gain 1 additional Major action during your turn. For each consecutive
turn you use this ability, the stamina cost increases by 5 (so if you used it
during the second round of combat for 5 stamina, it would cost 10 stamina to do
it during the third round of combat).
·
Note: This ability can
easily be combined with other action-granting talents, such as Reactionary
Attack from this group or Flurry of Blows from Group 4.
Ultimate Predator OK
·
Description: Your reflexes and instincts have reached
supernatural levels.
·
Effect: You always surprise your opponents
unless they have Ever Ready or a similar ability.
Group 2 Tactical Insight
Tactical insight, battlefield control, and defensive
maneuvers. Characters in this group gain advantages through superior planning,
positioning, and commanding the battlefield.
Tier 1
Battlefield Awareness OK
·
Description: The
character constantly monitors the battlefield, gaining insights into enemy
tactics.
·
Effect: During combat,
your Active Perception checks gain Advantage.
Combat Insight OK
·
Description: The
character’s tactical mind allows them to anticipate enemy movements and react
accordingly.
·
Effect: The first attack
against you each round has Disadvantage.
Mobile Parry OK
·
Description: The
character assumes a defensive stance, prepared to block incoming attacks.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Move or 1
Minor action to gain +2 bonus to Parry Defense
for one round.
Tier 2
Cover Mastery OK
·
Description: The
character has mastered the use of cover, gaining enhanced protection from enemy
fire.
·
Effect: Half cover counts
as Full cover for you, and you may fire while maintaining the benefits of Full cover
without gaining Disadvantage.
Overwatch Expert OK
·
Description: The
character can cover a wide area of the battlefield, attacking enemies who
attempt to cross it.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Move or Minor action to enter Overwatch (instead
of a Major action). Once per round, spend 1 Reaction
to make an attack against an enemy who moves through your line
of sight.
Tactical Awareness OK
·
Description: The
character has a deep understanding of enemy tactics.
·
Effect: When making a
ranged attack against a target without Cover, you gain Advantage.
Tier 3
Elusive Target OK
·
Description: The
character has mastered the art of avoiding incoming attacks through precise
positioning.
·
Effect: If you spent a
Move action to move at least 10 meters this round, any area attack or BF/AF
attack has Disadvantage against you until your next turn.
Field Commander OK
·
Description: The
character can issue commands to allies, boosting their combat effectiveness.
·
Effect: As a Minor action, grant 1 ally within 30 meters Advantage
on their next attack.
Tier 4
Flawless Defense
Description: The
character can defend against incoming attacks with unparalleled precision and
finesse.
Effect: For one round, you may
automatically block or parry any one melee or ranged attack made against you.
Impenetrable Defense
Description: The
character’s defensive abilities are so advanced that they can temporarily
become immune to damage.
Effect: For one round, you are
immune to all physical damage. This talent can only be used once per encounter.
Strategic Mastery
Description: The
character’s tactical insight allows them to dominate the battlefield through
perfect positioning and planning.
Effect: Gain a +2 bonus to all combat actions for one round after
successfully flanking or using the battlefield to your advantage.
Tier 5
Master Tactician
·
Description: The
character has developed a near-supernatural ability to anticipate enemy
movements, countering their tactics perfectly.
Effect: For one round, gain Advantage on all combat rolls. Additionally, any
enemy who attacks you suffers Disadvantage on their
attack rolls.
Untouchable Defense
·
Description: The
character’s defensive prowess reaches its peak, allowing them to evade or block
all incoming attacks.
·
Effect: Spend 5 Stamina
and 1 Major action. For one round, the character dodges or parries all attacks made against them.
Group 3 Weapon Mastery
Specializes in mastering weapon techniques, improving
accuracy, damage, and critical hit potential. Characters in this group excel in
using their chosen weapons to maximum effect, both defensively and offensively.
Tier 1
Armor Piercer OK
·
Description:
·
Effect: Reduce target’s
PT by 2.
Weapon Specialist OK
·
Description: The
character has dedicated their training to a specific weapon type.
·
Effect: Choose a specific
weapon type (such as fists, katana, heavy pistol, SMG, or assault cannon). You
gain a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls
when using the chosen weapon type.
·
Prerequisite for: Weapon Expert (Tier 2)
Tier 2
Critical Strike OK
·
Description: The
character is trained to aim for vital spots, increasing the chances of landing
a critical hit.
·
Effect: When doing a
Called Shot, if your attack is a Solid or Perfect hit, do +1d6 damage (in
addition to the +1d6 from the Called Shot and the +1d6/2d6 from Solid/Perfect
hit).
Focused attack OK
·
Description: The
character can focus their attacks on weak points in an enemy’s defense.
·
Effect: When making a
melee attack, you may spend 1 Minor action to reduce the target’s Dodge or
Parry defense by 2.
Weapon Expert OK
·
Description: The
character has achieved proficiency with their chosen weapon, allowing for
improved accuracy and damage.
·
Effect: Gain an
additional +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls
with the weapon type chosen in Weapon Specialist.
·
Prerequisite: Weapon Specialist (Tier 1)
·
Prerequisite for: Weapon Supremacy (Tier 4)
Tier 3 Talents
Critical Chain OK
·
Description: The
character’s skill with landing critical hits improves with each successful
strike, increasing their effectiveness.
·
Effect: After a Solid
or Perfect hit, if your next attack is a Called Shot, do not increase the
TN of the attack.
Lethal Precision OK
·
Description: The
character ensures that every critical hit they land deals the maximum possible
damage.
·
Effect: A Solid or
Perfect hit deals +1d6 damage (in addition to ordinary damage bonuses).
Power Throw OK
·
Description: The
character can throw weapons or objects with great force, dealing significant
damage even from a distance.
·
Effect: When attacking
with a Thrown weapon, spend 1 Minor action to deal +2d6 damage. The attack has Disadvantage.
Tier 4 Talents
Living Armory OK
·
Description: The
character has perfected the ability to switch between weapons effortlessly and
strike with any weapon in hand.
Effect: You may switch between
weapons as a Free Action, and you gain a +1 bonus to attacks with weapons of any type.
Weapon Supremacy OK
·
Description: The
character has reached near-perfection with their chosen weapon, making them a
formidable force.
·
Effect: You always gain
Advantage and deal +1d6 damage with the weapon type chosen in Weapon Specialist.
·
Prerequisite: Weapon Mastery (Tier 2)
Tier 5 Talents
Paragon of Battle OK
·
Description: The
character has achieved mastery over melee combat, making their strikes nearly
unstoppable.
·
Effect: While making a
melee attack, you may count all hits as Solid hits (Perfect hits are still
perfect hits).
True Strike OK
·
Description: The
character’s strikes are so precise that they cannot miss, cutting through any
defense.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor
Action and 5 Stamina to automatically score a Perfect hit with your next attack,
regardless of the target’s Defense. Armor and other abilities still apply
normally.
Group 4 Close Quarters Combat
Specializes in melee combat, grappling, and defending in
close quarters. Characters excel in controlling the battlefield through
physical engagement and overpowering their opponents in hand-to-hand combat.
Tier 1
Close Combat Specialist OK
·
Description: The
character excels in close combat, delivering swift and precise strikes in
melee.
·
Effect: Gain a +1 bonus to attacks when using the Brawl or Melee
skills.
Disarming Strike OK
·
Description: The
character is skilled at removing weapons from the hands of their opponents.
·
Effect: You may spend 1
Move or Minor action (instead of a Major action) to attempt to Disarm
an opponent engaged with you.
Master Grappler OK
·
Description: The
character has honed their grappling skills.
·
Effect: You gain Advantage on all Grappling checks.
Power Strike OK
·
Description: The
character can charge up a melee attack, dealing extra damage at the cost of
speed.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor action to make your next melee attack deal +1d6 bonus damage. That attack has Disadvantage.
Quick Feint OK
·
Description: The
character uses deceptive moves to trick opponents into leaving themselves open
for an attack.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Move or Minor action to gain Advantage on your next melee attack (instead of a
Major action) if you succeed at a Deception vs. Composure check.
Weapon Finesse OK
·
Description: The
character’s skill with a weapon allows them to use agility instead of brute
strength to land precise strikes.
·
Effect: You may use Agility instead of Strength
for melee attack rolls, meaning your Brawl and Melee (Brawn) skills are based
on 2x AG instead of ST/AG. Damage still scales from ST.
Tier 2 Talents
Focused Combatant OK
·
Description: The
character is trained to resist attempts to disarm or overpower them in combat.
·
Effect: Opponents have Disadvantage
when targeting you with melee attack options such as Disarm, Feint, or
Grapple.
Knockback Strike OK
·
Description: The
character’s powerful strikes can send enemies flying backward.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor
Action to power your next melee attack. If you hit, you may knock an opponent back 2 meters. Add +2 meters for a solid hit and +4 meters for
a perfect hit.
Lunge OK
·
Description:
·
Effect: Spend 2 Stamina to increase
the Reach of your melee attacks (including unarmed attacks) by +2 meters for
one round. If you have longer Reach than your opponent, your attacks have Advantage.
·
Note: Lunge has synergy with several
other talents, such as Sweeping Attack and Fluid Movements in this talent
group.
Sweeping Attack OK
·
Description: The
character performs wide strikes, capable of hitting multiple opponents simultaneously.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor action before you make a melee attack. If
you do, if you hit with the attack, you may make a melee attack using the same weapon against an
opponent adjacent to the original target.
Swift Strike OK
·
Description: The
character’s speed and precision allow them to strike quickly and effectively.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor action and 3 Stamina to gain an extra melee attack this round. This additional attack
has Disadvantage.
Tier 3 Talents
Counterattack OK
·
Description: The
character can immediately counterstrike after successfully defending against an
attack.
·
Effect: After defending against
a melee attack, you may spend 1 Reaction to make an immediate counterattack.
Crushing Grip OK
·
Description: The
character’s grappling techniques allow them to deal significant damage.
·
Effect: While grappling,
you deal +2d6 damage to restrained
targets.
Fluid Movements OK
·
Description: The
character moves fluidly between multiple enemies, striking with precision and
grace.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor action and 3 Stamina to make up to 3 melee
attacks against different targets within your Reach +2 meters (your
Reach is not increased, but you can attack beyond your normal
Reach). Each attack after the first has Disadvantage.
Master Duelist OK
·
Description: The
character excels in one-on-one combat, gaining bonuses when fighting a single
opponent.
·
Effect: Gain Advantage
on melee attacks when engaged with only
one enemy. That enemy has Disadvantage on melee attacks against you.
Tier 4 Talents
Combat Mastery OK
·
Description: The
character has reached the pinnacle of melee combat skill.
·
Effect: You gain Advantage
on all melee attacks.
Stunning Blows OK
·
Description: The
character delivers a strike that temporarily incapacitates or disorients their
opponent.
·
Effect: On a successful
melee attack, if the target suffers any damage, the target must make a Resilience check or become Stunned (cannot take Major actions) for one round.
Tier 5 Talents
Flurry of Blows OK
·
Description: The
character’s prowess in combat is so great that they can engage multiple
opponents with ease.
·
Effect: Gain an extra Major action during each round of combat,
which can only be used for melee attacks.
Unstoppable Blows OK
·
Description: The
character’s melee attacks are so powerful that they are nearly impossible to
resist.
·
Effect: Reduce target’s
PT by 5 and DR by 20.
Group 5 Ranged Combat Expertise
Tier 1
Fast Hands OK
·
Description: You can swiftly
draw a weapon or other piece of equipment in one fluid motion.
·
Effect: You may reload or ready (draw) a weapon (or other piece of
easily accessible kit) as a Minor action (instead of
a Major action).
Fire Discipline OK
·
Description: You’ve learned
to conserve ammunition, only firing for effect rather than spraying and
praying.
·
Effect: When using automatic
weapons, your attacks consume less ammunition (1 point for BF and 2 for AF,
instead of the normal 2 and 5).
Precise Aim OK
·
Description: The
character focuses on targeting vital spots, delivering precise and deadly
shots.
·
Effect: When making a
Called Shot, you may spend 1 Minor action to avoid suffering Disadvantage on
that attack.
Sharpshooter OK
·
Description: The
character is highly skilled in hitting targets with precision from a distance.
·
Effect: Spend 1 Minor
action to gain Advantage on a SA attack with a Ranged (Precision) weapon.
Tier 2
Aim for the Gap OK
·
Description: The
character’s shots are highly effective against heavily armored foes.
·
Effect: When making a Called
Shot against targets wearing heavy or reinforced armor, reduce TP by 5.
Double Tap OK
·
Description: The
character fires two successive shots with pinpoint accuracy.
· Effect: When attacking with a SA weapon, you may spend 1 Minor action to do +1d6 damage.
Piercing Shot OK
·
Description: The
character can fire a powerful shot that penetrates through armor or multiple
targets.
·
Effect: Your SA (single
shot) attacks ignore 10 points of DR.
Sniper’s Patience OK
·
Description: The
character takes their time to line up the perfect shot, dramatically improving
accuracy.
·
Effect: You may spend 1
Move action to gain 1 additional Minor action this turn. This Minor action must
be used toward making a ranged attack or triggering a talent in this group.
Tier 3 Talents
Bullseye OK
·
Description: The
character can target weak points with incredible precision, bypassing defenses.
·
Effect: When making a
ranged SA on a solid hit, the shot
ignores 5 PT; on a perfect hit, the shot ignores 10 PT.
Rapid Fire OK
·
Description: The
character is trained to fire multiple shots in quick succession without losing
accuracy.
· Effect: Your ranged BF/AF attacks do +1d6 damage, but use double the normal ammo. If you have the Fire Discipline talent, you use the normal amount of ammo for that attack instead.
Tier 4 Talents
Hail of Fire OK
·
Description: The
character unleashes a flurry of projectiles, hitting multiple enemies in a
short time.
·
Effect: When attacking
with a BF/AF weapon, you do +1d6 damage per hit.
·
Prerequisite for: Storm
of Fire (Tier 5)
Perfect Shot OK
·
Description: The
character’s accuracy is so refined that they never miss their target.
·
Effect: Your ranged SA attacks ignore cover and obstacles (but
not Defenses or special abilities).
Tier 5 Talents
Sniper’s Eye OK
·
Description: The
character’s understanding of anatomy and shot placement allows them to score
critical hits effortlessly.
·
Effect: When making
ranged SA attacks, any injuries you cause are increased by 1 level of severity.
Storm of Fire OK
·
Description: The
character fires a massive barrage of projectiles, overwhelming their enemies
with sheer firepower.
·
Effect: When attacking
with a BF/AF weapon, you do +1d6 damage per hit.
·
Prerequisite: Hail of
Fire (Tier 4)
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