Specialized Skills - Weapon Specializations

[Don Jones]

Let's take closer look at weapon specializations as Specialized Skills. We will use the example of Momo, a Peuroman privateer. Momo has a 12 skill level in Slashing and 10 levels in One-Handed Weapons, so when he uses his short sword, he has a +22% to hit. He also receives a +1 damage bonus, due to Strength.

However, Momo wants to work toward becoming a renowned swordsman. He takes 10 levels in Short Sword, a specialization of the One-Handed Weapon skill. As with all specialized skills, his level in Short Sword may never be greater than his level in One-Handed Weapon.

Weapon specializations work differently than natural or trained weapon skills, in that the specialization gives more advantages. First, the levels are added to the bonus to hit with the short sword. In Momo's case, the 10 levels in Short Sword are added to the +22% he already has to hit, for a total bonus of +32%.

Secondly, a weapon specialization can be used to defend when using Block. Note that this only applies to the weapon specialization levels, not levels in the trained skill it is a associated with. Momo has a natural Block skill of +7. With his 10 levels in Short Sword, he now has +17% to block when using his short sword.

Finally, a weapon specialization gives an additional damage bonus equal to the level in the specialization, divided by 10 and rounded down. Momo normally has +1 strength bonus to damage, but with his 10 levels in short sword, his damage increases to +2