WEAPON QUALITIES
As noted in the description of Combat Dice 'V on page 93,
when rolling damage, results of a 5 or 6 on each 'V are
referred to as Effects. Effects add 1 to the total rolled and
work in conjunction with Qualities that influence the
damage of attacks and hazards.
Not all Qualities trigger on the roll of one or more Effects
- sorne provide passive or ongoing benefits, while others
inflict alternative Harms - but the majority of Qualities
are tied to Effects rolled. If one or more Effects are rolled
when rolling for damage, then all Qualities that trigger
on an Effect will trigger. With any Quality marked with
an X, the X is the rating of the Quality which determines
the potency of whatever benefit it provides. If an attack
would gain the same Quality multiple times, there is no
benefit unless that Quality is marked with an X. In that
case, the values are added together. For example, an attack
with Piercing 1, that gains Piercing 1 from another source, would
instead have Piercing 2.
Area
The attack affects a wide area and can affect several targets
at once. The attack automatically affects any target within
Reach of the initial target, and then one additional target
within Close range for each Effect rolled, starting with the
next closest target (at the gamemaster's discretion if it is
not obvious). If one or more Complications are rolled when
using an Area attack, the gamemaster may choose to use
lbrown
The weapon can be thrown effectively. When throwing a
melee weapon with the Thrown Quality, your character
does not increase the Diffi.culty of the Ranged Weapons
test. Sorne weapons may be listed as Thrown (M), in which
case they are treated as ranged weapons with a range of
Medium when thrown.
UnforgtvtngX
If the target of this attack was affected by an Exploit action
immediately before this attack was made, then this attack
gains the Intense and Vicious X Qualities.
Vldousx
An attack with this Quality inflicts X additional damage
for each Effect rolled.
volley
This ranged weapon can be used quickly, allowing the
wielderto unleash volleys of projectiles. Thus, wielders
often carrybundles ofammunition (arrows, bolts, etc.). An
attack with a Volley weapon does not expend any Shots;
the user bas enough ammunition to last the fight, barring
Complications. Further, a Load of ammunition can be
spent to perform a Volley, adding a bonus d2o to Ranged
Weapons tests to attack, and +1 ~ to the weapon's damage
if the attack hits. Loads may also be lost as the result of a
Complication. After a fight, spent Loads can be recovered
in the same way as Shots.
one of those Complications to have the attack affect an ally
within the area. Individual targets may attempt Defend
Reactions against an Area attack, but resolve them differ-
ently. These targets attempt a Challenging (D2) skill test,
and if successful they are not hit by the attack. However, the
success of one target avoiding the attack does not prevent
others being hit.
BacklashX
Attacks with this Quality are dangerous to the attacker as
well as the enemy. An attack with this Quality inflicts X
damage to the attacker for each Effect rolled. This damage
ignores Soak and will be ofwhatever kind of damage the
attack inflicts, unless otherwise stated.
Bllndlng
If an attack with this Quality inflicts one or more Harms, it
instead inflicts the Blind condition (see page 126),lasting
until the end of the scene or until cleared by other means.
cavatryx
The attack is launched from horseback and inflicts tremen-
dous damage. The attack inflicts X additional damage to the
target for each Effect rolled so long as the attack was made
as part of a mounted character's Charge Action.
FearsomeX
The attack spreads doubt and panic, inflicting mental
damage as well as physical damage. The attack inflicts
X mental damage to the target for each Effect rolled, in
addition to whatever physical damage was inflicted.
Fragile
These attacks can become less effective over time. For each
Effect rolled, reduce the number of~ in the attack's damage
rating by 1 ~ after the attack concludes. If this would reduce
the number of~ to o, then the attack cannot be used again
until it bas been replaced or replenished.
Grappllng
In addition to dealing damage, if one or more Effects are
rolled the weapon may ensnare the target. An ensnared
target is unable to move or take action except to attempt
an Acrobaties or Athletics test with a Difficulty equal
to the number of Effects rolled. Against an ensnared
target, the Difficulty of the Exploit Action is reduced by
one step. If the Grappling weapon is a melee weapon,
the weapon's wielder may not attack with the grappling
weapon against anyone else while the target is ensnared.
Further, the attacker may not move away from the target
without releasing that target; the target may be released
as a Free Action.
 Hidden x
The attack is easy to conceal or designed to be disguised as
something else. When the weapon is hidden, any searcb of
the owning cbaracter requires an Observation test, with a
Difficulty of X, to locate the hidden weapon. Immediately
after using this attack. a character may spend Momentum to
conceal it quickly, biding it. This costs two Momentum for
attacks with Hidden 1 or Hidden 2, and 1 point ofMomentum
for attacks with Hidden 3 or higber. This differs from the
Subtle Quality in that it is used when the weapon is con-
cealed. not wben it is in use.
lmprovlsed
This item is not designed as a weapon but can be used as
su ch in an impromptu manner. It could be a beavy rock. a
wooden torch, or a thick leg bone. When damage is rolled
with this weapon, it does not score damage wben an Effect is
rolled. It is possible for an item to have both the Improvised
and Vicio us Qualities, cancelling out their effects, but both
will be noted in case sorne factor causes the attack to increase
its Vicious Quality. orto lose Improvised.
lncendlary x
The target is set ablaze and gains the burning condition for
a number of rounds equal to the number ofEffects rolled.
At the end of eacb of the target' s tums, the target suffers
'V
X physical damage to a random bit location and suffers
the same amount of mental damage (roll once for both).
Damage inflicted by Incendiary X ignores Soak. Any Effects
rolled on this additional damage increase the number of
rounds that your character is aflame, though a cbaracter
can attempt to remove this condition early as normal.
Intense
These attacks are designed to infl.ict massive barro on a
target, incapacitating them far more swiftly. If an Intense
attack inflicts one or more Harms upon the target, then it
inflicts one additional Harrn.
Knockdown
The attack knocks the target prone ü one or more Effects
are rolled. The target may ignore this ü they add 1 Doom for
each Effect rolled, or in the case of non-player cbaracters,
at the cost of 1 Doom per Effect rolled.
Non-lethal
The attack doesn't inflict lasting damage, instead inflicting a
temporary penalty. The attack cannot inflict a normal Harm
effect, but rather may only inflict temporary conditions. If
the attack bas no other Qualities that inflict an altemate
Harm, then it inflicts the Dazed Condition (see page 126)
until the end of the target' s next tum.
Panylng
This weapon is extremely effective at defl.ecting other attacks.
When wielding one or more weapons with this Quality, the
Doom cost of making a Defend or Protect Reaction with the
Parry skill is reduced by 1. to a minimum of o.
Persistent X
The attack bas a lingering, deleterious effect. If one or more
Effects are rolled. the target will suffer X'V damage at the
start of each subsequent tum for a number of rounds equal
to the number of Effects rolled. Each effect rolled on the
ongoing damage adds one additional round of duration. This
condition can be avoided entirely at the time it is inflicted by
adding a number of points to Doom equal to the number of
Effects rolled; aft:er this, it can only be removed by waiting
for the duration to end or by taking the Clear action.
PlerdngX
This attack ignores X points of the target' s total Soak for
each Effect rolled.
ShleldX
Shields are extremely effective at affording protection from
a range of different attacks. A shield counts as having the
Parrying Quality (page 153). A shield also allows the wielder
to use the Parry skill to make Defend Reactions against
ranged attacks in addition to Melee attacks. Further ü the
Wielder bas Guard, a shield grants the wielder X 'VCover
Soak against Melee and Ranged attacks. Finally, shields
may be sacrificed in order to avoid suffering a Wound. as
noted on pages 121- 122.
SpreadX
This weapon is designed to affect a larger area. For eacb
Effect generated, roll X additional bit locations. These
additional bit locations suffer half of the attack' s final
damage, rounding up. In the case of non-player characters
or beings where bit locations are not being used, the target
takes the additional damage X times.
Stun
The attack inflicts the Staggered condition (see page 127)
on the target, ü one or more Effects are rolled. The con-
dition lasts until the end of the target's next tum. The
target may ignore this at the cost ofl point of Doom for
each Effect rolled.
SubdeX
The attack is particularly quiet and draws little attention.
Any Observation test to detect an attack with this weapon
increases in Difficulty by a number of steps equal to X. This
differs from the Hidden Quality in that it is used when the
weapon is used, versus when it is concealed.