The Sharp End is a new series of PDF game

supplements brought to you by Adamant

Entertainment and Ian Sturrock. Each volume in the
series aims to provide you with detailed information
and new rules material concerning one particular type
of hand-to-hand weapon and its variants.
The Sharp End is intended for use in almost any game
setting, and any d20-based game system. Games
Masters may, of course, disallow some or all of it
depending on the setting – a titanium sword, for
example, is probably inappropriate for a medieval
game, though a medieval fantasy game might have
“elvium” or “sylvanium” or another invented magical
metal (something between mithral and steel), with
identical game statistics.
A note on the
weight of swords
Most d20 games vastly overestimate the weight
of swords. It’s a small and relatively unimportant
point, but we may as well fix it where we can.
Your typical real-world one-handed European
sword weighed around 2 pounds. Likewise, most
other medieval weapons weighed less than their
d20 game counterparts, which tend to be listed
with weights that would make them impossible
to wield effectively in combat (though they might
be about the right weight for knocking walls
down). Corrected weights have been given in this
supplement.

Introduction
The sword is the ultimate symbol of the warrior
across many different cultures, particularly the
noble, honorable warrior, whether European knight,
Viking thane, Japanese samurai, or Moro chief. It has
attracted more than enough mystique to go with that
status; every sword-using society has tales of magical
blades, swords that took years to forge and which
could slice through any opposition.

The sword is a natural evolution from the dagger or

knife. At first glance it may appear to simply be a very
large knife, but in use it is quite different. It is most
effective at arm’s length from a foe in open combat,
rather than being used to stab them in the back at close
range, hence its associations with nobility rather than
deceit. Still, it’s a weapon, and it is predominantly as
a weapon that this supplement examines the sword.
Does it deserve its reputation as the ultimate melee
combat weapon? Read on and find out!
Light Martial Cost Dmg Dmg Critical Range Weight1 Type2 Hardness Hit Purchase Notes
Weapons (S) (M) Increment Points DC
African club-sword 3 gp 1d4 1d6 x2 — 1 lb. Bludgeoning 5 3 7
Hanger 12 gp 1d3 1d4 18–20/ — 2 lb. Slashing 10 5 9 +1d6 damage against helpless
x2 opponent
Sword, short 10 gp 1d4 1d6 19–20/ — 1 1/2 lb. Piercing 10 4 9
x2
One-handed Martial
Weapons
Longsword 15 gp 1d6 1d8 19–20/ — 2 lb. Slashing 10 6 10
x2
Rapier 20 gp 1d4 1d6 18–20/ — 3 lb. Piercing 10 4 11
x2
Saber 18 gp 1d6 1d8 19–20/ — 2 lb. Slashing 10 6 10
x2
Scimitar 15 gp 1d4 1d6 18–20/ — 2 lb. Slashing 10 5 10
x2
Smallsword 20 gp 1d3 1d4 18–20/ — 1 lb. Piercing 10 2 11
x2
Sword, arming 12 gp 1d4 1d6 19–20/ — 2 lb. Piercing or 10 5 9
x2 Slashing
Two-handed Martial
Weapons
Falchion 75 gp 1d6 2d4 18–20/ — 5 lb. Slashing 10 10
x2
Greatsword 50 gp 1d10 2d6 19–20/ — 5 lb. Slashing 10 10
x2
One-handed Exotic
Weapons
Aztec club-sword 90 gp 1d6 1d8 18–20/ — 1 1/2 lb. Slashing and 5 5 Any damage reduces Critical to
x2 bludgeoning 20/x2.
Messer, grosse 25 gp 1d6 1d8 18–20/ — 4 lb. Slashing 10 8
x2
Rapier, dueling 50 gp 1d4 1d6 18–20/ — 4 lb. Piercing 10 5 +2 Circumstance Bonus to initiative
x2 against most weapons.
Saber, cavalry 50 gp 1d6 1d8 18–20/ — 3 lb. Slashing 10 7
x2
Sword, bastard 35 gp 1d8 1d10 19–20/ — 3 lb. Slashing 10 8
x2
Sword, bastard, 9 gp 1d8 1d10 x2 — 3 lb. Bludgeoning 5 7
waster
 Two-handed Exotic Cost Dmg Dmg Critical Range Weight1 Type2 Hardness Hit Purchase Notes
Weapons (S) (M) Increment Points DC
Executioner’s Sword 100 gp 1d8 1d10 18-20/ — 8 lb. Slashing 10 12 +4d6 damage against helpless foe;
x2 counts as improvised weapon against
non-helpless foe.
Extras: Blade/Point
Shape*
Backsword -3 gp — — — — + 1/2 lb Slashing — +1 — May not be used with Weapon
Finesse.
Rebated blade x0.75 — — x2 — + 1/2 lb Bludgeoning — +1 — May not be used with Weapon
Finesse.
Tapered blade +1 gp — — — — — Piercing (in — -1 — +1 to attack rolls against Heavy
addition to any Armor when making a Piercing
other modes) attack; -1 to damage when making a
Slashing attack
Tapered blade, wide +5 gp — — — — + 1/2 lb Piercing (in — +1 — May not be used with Weapon
addition to any Finesse; +1 to attack rolls against
other modes) Heavy Armor when making a
Piercing attack; -1 to damage when
making a Slashing attack
Wavy blade +4 gp — — — — — — — — —
Extras: Materials
Adamantine x150 — — — — — — +3 +3 +22 +1 Masterwork bonus on attack rolls.
Damascus steel x10 — — — — — — +3 +2 +10
Fibreglass/ x0.25 — — x2 — x0.25 — -2 — -2
plastic composite
Mithralite x15 — — — — x0.5 — — — +14 +2 bonus to Initiative when armed
with this.
Obsidian & Wood x6 — — 18–20/ — x0.75 Slashing and 5 -1 +7 Only available as short sword,
x2 bludgeoning arming sword, or longsword; weapon
becomes Exotic; damage reduces
Critical to 20/x2.
Pattern-welded steel x5 — — — — — — +2 +2 +6
Recycled tool steel x1.5 — — — — — — +1 — +1
Stainless steel x0.75 — — — — — — — -2 —
Titanium alloy x8 — — — — x0.5 — — -2 +8
Wood x0.25 — — x2 — x0.75 or Bludgeoning 5 -1 -2
x1
Extras: Hilt & Guard*
Basket hilt +4 gp — — — + 1/4 lb. — — +2 +1
… as knuckleduster — 1d2 1d3 x2 — — Bludgeoning — — —
… as sword — As As As — — As sword type — — —
sword sword
type type
Bayonet attachment +1 gp Use Use — — — — — — Short swords or arming swords only.
next next
Shell hilt +3 gp — — — — — — — +1 +1
Extras: Sharpening
Sharpening kit 2 gp — — — — 2 lb — — — 7
Whetstone 2 cp — — — — 1/2 lb — — — 4
*You can only have one Extra from the Blade/Edge shape list. *You can only have one Extra from the Hilt & Guard list.
Club-Sword, African: The African club-sword is
provided as a sample weapon made from wood . It’s
based on the statistics of the short sword, with the
wood materials modifications applied to them, but
other tribes may use club-swords that more closely
resemble longswords or other weapons.
Club-Sword, Aztec: The Aztec club-sword is
provided as a sample weapon made from obsidian and
wood. It’s based on the statistics of the longsword,
with the obsidian and wood materials modifications
applied to them. Aztec club-swords are the preferred
weapon of the Aztec Knight prestige class.
Grosse Messer: A grosse messer (literally “big
knife”) is a long, heavy, curved, single-edged sword
popular among infantry for its effectiveness and
cheapness. A grosse messer is too large to use in one
hand without special training; thus, it is an exotic
weapon. A character can use a grosse messer two-
handed as a martial weapon.
Hanger: This hunting sword was designed for giving
the coup de grace to a wounded quarry. It was later
adopted by archers, who found it equally useful for
finishing off enemy soldiers they had downed with
arrow shot. Its short, heavy slashing blade is perfect
for beheading a foe. The German weapon known as a
“Messer” is similar.
Longsword: The longsword is the classic knight’s
sword, perfect for use as a primary weapon for a
warrior who wields a shield with the off-hand. A
longsword will invariably be between 3’ and 3’9”
long in total. It tends to have a reasonably long hilt
and a big pommel, so that it can be used two-handed
if desired, even if the second hand is predominantly
gripping the pommel rather than the handle. A
longsword with a basket hilt is known as a broadsword
in modern parlance, but tended to be called an Irish
sword, Gaelic sword, Highland sword, or claymore
(not to be confused with the two-handed sword of
the same name) when used by Irish and Scots troops
between the 16th and early 20th centuries.
Rapier: The rapier may superficially resemble a
longsword, but tends to be a little longer and heavier
(despite perceptions to the contrary). In fact its blade
is more tapering than that of a longsword, and has a
very different balance, making the rapier best suited
to stabbing and lunging rather than slashing. You can
use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity
modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack
rolls with a rapier sized for you, even though it isn’t
a light weapon for you. You can’t wield a rapier in
two hands in order to apply 1-1/2 times your Strength
bonus to damage.
Rapier, Dueling: This is a rapier a good six inches
longer than usual, taking it to up to well over 4’
long in total. No other weapon combines speed and
deadliness to such a degree. Against anyone armed
with an ordinary melee weapon (that is, anything but
a weapon with reach, or another dueling rapier), the
wielder of the dueling rapier gains a +2 Circumstance
Bonus to initiative. You can’t wield a dueling rapier in
two hands in order to apply 1-1/2 times your Strength
bonus to damage.
Saber: The saber is a curving sword, but better
balanced and longer than a scimitar. It’s often used by
light cavalry who may need to dismount and wield it
on foot, and is equally effective in either role. You can
use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity
modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack
rolls with a saber sized for you, even though it isn’t
a light weapon for you. You can’t wield a saber in
two hands in order to apply 1-1/2 times your Strength
bonus to damage.
Saber, Cavalry: Heavier and longer than standard
saber or sword, the cavalry saber is intended to be
used from horseback, where its weight is an advantage
for slashing down at the heads of infantry. On foot,
it is a little too heavy to be used effectively without
long practice or training, but it is the choice of
some experienced fighting-men for the extremely
devastating wounds it can inflict. If used from
horseback as part of a Ride-By Attack, it may be
wielded as a martial weapon.
Scimitar: The scimitar is a heavy, curved, slashing
blade, typically a little shorter than a longsword.
Historically it was found first in Middle Eastern and
Asian countries, but made its way into Europe both as
it was and in modified form as the various sabers and
falchions. The cutlass, adapted from the long hunting
knives of the buccaneers, is in effect a very a similar
weapon that may be treated identically to the scimitar.
Cutlasses often have basket hilts, particularly cutlasses
designed for formal navies.
Smallsword: The smallsword is the final development
of the sword, an incredibly lightweight, narrow, short
thrusting sword. It’s designed for dueling and civilian
self-defense, not being robust enough for battlefield
use. A character proficient with and wielding a
smallsword (and nothing in his or her off-hand), and
performing a full attack, may make an additional
attack each round, though all attacks are made at a
penalty of -2. You may not use a smallsword flurry in
the same round that you make a Sneak Attack. The
sheer speed of a smallsword flurry makes precise
targeting impossible.
Sword, Arming: This is a light weapon somewhere
between a short sword and a longsword in length. It’s
often carried as a backup weapon by heavily armored
warriors. The German Landsknecht sword known as
a katzbalger (‘mangler’) is at the shorter and heavier
end of the kind of weapon that might be called an
arming sword, while the Italian cut-and-thrust spada
(sword) is towards the lighter and longer end. Most
arming swords are designed to be used for both
slashing and stabbing attacks, and are between around
two and three feet long from pommel to tip.
Sword, Bastard: A bastard sword is too large to
use in one hand without special training; thus, it
is an exotic weapon. A character can use a bastard
sword two-handed as a martial weapon. Originally,
the bastard sword was designed for use one-handed
from horseback, or two-handed on foot; therefore,
it is recommended that the Games Master permit a
mounted character to use a bastard sword one-handed
as a martial weapon, so long as it is used to make a
Ride-By Attack. Historically, several armies offered
extra pay to soldiers who could wield a bastard sword
effectively one-handed; they were especially highly
prized as the first soldiers into a breach in sieges
(whether attacking or defending), since they could
deal maximum damage while still bearing a shield. A
bastard sword is typically around 3’9” to 4’6” long,
and closely resembles a longsword in blade shape and
size, but a greatsword in handle shape and size.
Sword, Bastard, Waster: A bastard sword waster is
too large to use in one hand without special training;
thus, it is an exotic weapon. A character can use a
bastard sword waster two-handed as a martial weapon.
As with the bastard sword, it is recommended that the
Games Master permit a mounted character to use a
bastard sword waster one-handed as a martial weapon,
so long as it is used to make a Ride-By Attack. A
bastard sword waster is a careful copy in wood of a
standard bastard sword, and other than materials and a
few game statistics it is identical to a bastard sword.
Sword, Executioner’s: This huge, heavy two-handed
sword is meant solely for slashing, and thus has a
blunt or even completely squared-off tip. It is designed
to behead a condemned prisoner with one slice, and
an experienced headsman will achieve this most of the
time.
Sword, short: The short sword can represent anything Armor when making a Piercing attack; this bonus is
from a Roman-style gladius to a Renaissance-era doubled to +2 if the attack is a Half-Swording one (see
Swiss baselard, or even a ring bayonet from the the Half-Swording feat, p. XX). He has a -1 penalty to
Napoleonic era. It’s typified by a blade between damage when making a Slashing attack
14” and 18” long, with a handle 4” to 6” long. The
pommel is usually quite light, since there’s little need Tapered blade, wide: In response to the relative
to counterbalance the weight of the blade; the weapon fragility of tapered blades, and the increasing use of
can be swung quite handily anyway. thrusting attacks against armor, some swordsmiths
started to make heavier, wider tapered blades, with
very thick spines to give an almost diamond-like
cross-section. Such a weapon may not be used with
Extras: Blade/Point Shape Weapon Finesse. A character wielding it gains a +1
The following modifications are only available for
bonus to attack rolls against Heavy Armor when
short swords, arming swords, longswords, bastard
making a Piercing attack; this bonus is doubled to +2
swords, and greatswords. Other types of sword already
if the attack is a Half-Swording one (see the Half-
have a distinct blade shape.
Swording feat, p. XX). She has a -1 penalty to damage
when making a Slashing attack
Backsword: The backsword closely resembles a
standard double-edged sword in shape, but is single-
Wavy blade: A wave-shaped blade is found on certain
edged. This makes for a stronger (if less versatile)
European 16th century swords of all sizes. It increases
weapon, with the “back” of the sword being much
the width of stabbing wounds without needing to
thicker (and thus, heavier) than the reverse edge of
greatly increase the width of the blade. Though the
a double-edged sword. Backswords are typically
effect is not significant in game terms, the very shape
military weapons, issued to soldiers who are as likely
of this weapon is enough to strike fear into most
to break a sword as they are to use it. A backsword
hearts, and a character with a wavy-bladed knife in
may not be used with Weapon Finesse, even if the
hand gains a +4 circumstance bonus to all Intimidate
weapon it is based on could be so used; it’s too heavy
attempts against an unarmed person within 10 feet,
for that, and not sufficiently versatile.
rather than the usual +2 bonus. A Roman or Celtic
leaf-bladed sword would have similar game statistics.
Rebated blade: A rebated blade has been deliberately
left blunt, typically with a 1/10 inch to 1/8 inch thick
edge and a rounded point. Some cultures use rebated
blades for practice and training, but more commonly
they are used for armored tourney combat or similar
combat sports (whether in medieval times, or among
modern-day re-enactors of medieval times). To the
untrained eye, a rebated blade will appear identical to
a sharp one, at least from a distance; this can enhance
the spectacle of any combat display. Rebated blades
tend to be a little heavier than their sharp equivalents,
simply because of the additional mass of metal on the
edge.

Tapered blade: Some swords are given tapered blade

profiles to better penetrate armor when delivering a
thrusting attack. A tapered blade is a little less strong
than a standard one, and definitely less effective when
slashing, but the taper can be very effective against
plate or mail armor. A character wielding a tapered
blade gains a +1 bonus to attack rolls against Heavy
Extras: Materials
Swords have been made of high quality steel for
hundreds of years. Despite advances in materials
science, or for that matter magical smithcraft, good
honest cold steel still makes the most popular and
probably the most effective sword blades. Still, there
are hundreds of different steels, all with different
properties, and even some of those other materials
have their uses for certain special purposes. The
dilemma faced by any bladesmith is that the materials
best at holding a sharp edge (which requires great
hardness) tend to also be brittle, and break under stress
rather than flex. Still, a sword is already an expensive
weapon; spending a little extra on some exotic
material, or even a laminated or alloyed combination
of exotic materials, is often regarded as worthwhile.
Adamantine: This is a super-hard, super-strong metal
that is coal-black in color. It is extremely scarce, and
in most fantasy campaign settings it is only found
deep underground. In a more futuristic setting it could
be some kind of similarly rare and fantastic alloy,
produced only under orbital zero-gravity conditions.
Damascus steel: Damascus steel is said to be the
finest steel ever made – Damascus blades can be both
sharper and stronger than those of other steels. In
the modern world the secret of its manufacture has
been lost, though that does not stop assorted makers
attempting to replicate its strength, nor does it stop
some of the less scrupulous manufacturers claiming
any Damascus-looking steel as “Damascus.” It is
often confused with pattern-welded steel, which it
sometimes superficially resembles, but molecular
analysis of Damascus steel has shown that it is totally
different from pattern-welded steel in structure. There
is some dispute over the origin of the name – some
scholars believe it refers to the steel’s manufacture in
the city of Damascus, others that the name comes from
the steel’s resemblance to patterned Damask fabrics,
and still others that the first smith to create it was
named Damasqui. In a fantasy game, a different region
or smith may be famed for fine-quality, near-legendary
steel, allowing for a renaming of this steel type; in a
futuristic setting, the secret of Damascus steel may
have been rediscovered, or a similarly high-quality,
specialized steel manufactured.
Mithralite: This alloy of mithral and high-carbon
steel combines the lightness of the mithral with the
edge-holding properties of the steel, allowing for
a weapon that cuts as well as cold steel but moves
as though the wielder were holding a feather, not
a sword. Mithral alone is good for armor, but isn’t
capable of being properly sharpened, so to use it for
weapons it must be alloyed or sandwiched with steel.
The resulting material, mithralite, is highly prized and
extremely rare; those capable of creating it, and then
smithing with it, are if anything still rarer and more
highly prized.
Obsidian & Wood: Obsidian is a type of glass that
occurs naturally, and so on Earth it was used to make
tools and weapons by cultures that had no access to
metalworking. It is as sharp as any other glass, but
it is also almost as easy to break. For one-handed
weapons, it is combined with wood, providing an
effective combination of sharpness and durability.
Most famously, it’s used in the Aztec club-sword. The
obsidian is very hard but shatters easily; any damage
to it (loss of hit points) reduces its Critical numbers to
20/x2 until the damage is repaired.
Pattern-welded steels: Pattern-welded steels have
a beautiful, visually variegated structure, but most
importantly they combine strength, sharpness, and
edge-holding ability to a degree that has made them
legendary, whether as the katanas of the Samurai
warriors of Japan, or the swords of the Vikings of
Scandinavia. Pattern-welding is a long, slow process,
involving the cold-forging and work-hardening of
blades that are folded and worked, worked and folded
to produce astonishing structural strength. Pattern-
welded swords are associated with magical powers.
Recycled tool steel: Swords in developing countries
are often made from recycled tool steel, with the
smith melting down old and blunted tools, or even car
springs, to forge a new creation. Though the materials
are cheap in and of themselves, the resulting weapon
will often be expensive, at least to Western tourists,
because of the additional labor involved in the melting
and re-forging process.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel is frequently used for
cheaper swords, not because it is better than a good
quality high-carbon steel, but because it will look
nice and shiny hanging on the wall (which is where
cheap but glitzy-looking blades tend to end up).
Though stainless steel tends to be harder than high-
carbon steel, it will not take an edge so well, and it
is far more difficult to re-sharpen when it does dull.
More importantly, for a weapon the length of a sword,
stainless steel is too hard, and hence too brittle; it
snaps more easily than a decent steel. Many a “sword”
collector has been surprised by his new pride and joy
breaking in two when he tries swinging it against a
tree stump.
Titanium alloy: Titanium is a favorite fantasy sword
material among writers and geeks, but in fact it’s not a
particularly useful metal for turning into a cutting tool.
Still, with the use of modern high-tech alloying and
sintering techniques, a respectably effective and very
lightweight titanium alloy sword can be produced; it’s
also very expensive, putting it beyond the price range
of most users. When weight is at a premium, though, it
may be worth buying a titanium alloy sword.
Wood: Wood is not the first material that springs to
mind when one thinks of a sword, but it there are
two classes of sword-like weapons that are made
solely of wood (as well as the Aztec club-swords of
obsidian and wood). The first are practice swords of
various kinds, whether the bokken of Japan or the
“wasters” of Europe; it makes perfect sense to use
a wooden weapon in training, so as to get warriors
used to the weight and heft of the real thing with
less risk of seriously injuring themselves and their
training partners (and no risk of damaging valuable
steel swords). Wooden practice swords are available
as counterparts to any steel swords listed in this book.
The second type of wooden sword is used in regions
where iron and steel is scarce, or where the techniques
of manufacturing it are not known. Here, the sword
shape will sometimes be happened upon as more
effective than a simple club, or other times it will be
copied after contact with sword-wielding foreigners.
An example of this type is the African club-sword (see
p. 5). Wooden swords are still martial weapons, as
their shape and balance mean they require more skill
to use than a standard club. Depending on the design
of the wooden sword, its weight may be anything from
three-quarters of the weight of the steel equivalent, to
its full weight, with practice swords typically being
the full weight. All relevant feats and class features
for steel swords also apply to wooden swords, so long
as they could reasonably work with a bludgeoning
weapon and so long as the wooden sword in question
is the full weight.
Extras: General primitive weapon, and sometimes thought of as solely
Swordsmiths or occasionally sword-wielders modify useful for building aggression in the ‘bayonet drill’
their weapons in various ways, whether to try to (in which a soldier stabs the bayonet into a dummy),
increase the safety of the user by improving the hilt, or the bayonet is still highly effective. It was used by
to make the blade more versatile by allowing its use as the British Army both during the Falklands War in
a bayonet. the 1980s and during the second Iraq war early in the
21st century, and by all accounts served extremely
Basket hilt: Basket hilts began to be common when well. It takes a move action to attach a bayonet to a
combatants stopped wearing gauntlets. The main longarm (in the military, this action is known done at
purpose of a large, heavy, and often complex guard the command of “Fix Bayonets”) or to detach it. Once
such as a basket hilt is to protect the hand and fingers attached, a bayonet and longarm combination uses the
from the opponent’s blade, though it also adds some new statistics for bayonets, and is regarded as a two-
rigidity and durability to the weapon. A character handed weapon. The longarm can be fired normally,
wielding a short sword with a basket hilt (usually and the wielder can even make bayonet attacks mixed
known as a main gauche, after the French for ‘left in with longarm firing attacks in the same full attack
hand’) gains an additional +1 to the shield bonus action.
granted by the Two-Weapon Defense feat, so long
as he is wearing light or no armor. In addition, the Shell hilt: A shell hilt resembles a lightweight basket
basket hilt may be used much like a knuckleduster or hilt, which has been designed to allow for maximum
armored gauntlet, to punch or hammerfist an opponent. wrist flexibility for more fencing-oriented moves
Any weapon with a basket hilt may not be used with rather than great military-style hacks and stabs. Thus
Weapon Finesse; the hilt restricts wrist movement, it offers considerably less protection than a basket
and makes it difficult to get a fencing-style grip on the hilt, and is significantly less robust, but importantly
handle. Basket hilts are commonly found on military it does not restrict movement in any way. Shell hilts
or naval weapons, or on off-hand weapons (with a are common on rapiers and smallswords, but are also
lighter shell hilt on the main sword or rapier); civilian sometimes found on off-hand daggers or short swords
weapons are more likely to have a shell hilt. designed for use with rapiers, so as to match the style
of the two weapons.
Bayonet attachment: A bayonet attachment can be
built into any arming sword, short sword, or dagger at
the time of its construction, and allows it to function
as a bayonet when attached to a longarm (rifle or
musket). Though most bayonets are smaller (dagger-
sized; see The Sharp End: Knife), a few are “sword
bayonets,” designed to be formidable weapons in their
own right even when detached from the longarm. A
bayonet still functions in its normal role (and has its
normal game statistics) when so detached. Bayonets
were originally devised in the late 17th century,
so as to allow a musketeer to use his musket like
a spear once it had been fired, obviating the need
for separate units of musketeers and pikemen. The
earliest bayonets plugged directly into the barrel of the
musket, causing all manner of problems and generally
being more trouble than they were worth. It was soon
realized that attaching the bayonet to the outside of
the barrel by rings and lugs was far more practical,
and much the same method is used for modern-era
bayonets, allowing the weapon to be fired with the
bayonet attached. Although it is often regarded as a
Putting it all Together:
Example Swords
The following swords have been designed using
the system given in this chapter. Each takes a
standard sword type and incorporates one or more
modifications, which will impact both the price paid
for the blade, and the quality. Technically the African
club-sword and Aztec club-sword are both examples
too, but both differ sufficiently from their originals
that they warrant separate entries.
Flamberge:
Greatsword; masterwork; wavy blade. Damage: 1d10/
2d6. Critical: 19-20/x2. Hardness: 10. Hit Points: 10.
Cost: 460gp
(Cost breakdown: 50gp for greatsword, +4gp for wavy
blade = 54gp, + 300gp for masterwork = 354gp.)
The flamberge is a late medieval to early renaissance
greatsword, carried by certain of the best soldiers
of the German and Swiss mercenary companies,
the Landsknechts. Those capable of effectively
bearing and wielding a greatsword are known as
doppelsoldner, or double-soldiers, reflecting their
double pay and supposed double capabilities as
compared to an ordinary mercenary. This flamberge is
particularly fine example, with its ornately terrifying
wavy blade.
Damascus Rapier:
Rapier; masterwork; Damascus steel; shell hilt.
Damage: 1d4/1d6. Critical: 18-20/x2. Hardness: 13.
Hit Points: 7. Cost: 16gp
(Cost breakdown: 20gp for rapier, +3gp for shell hilt
= 23gp, x10 for Damascus steel = 230gp + 300gp for
masterwork = 530gp.)
This is one of the most beautiful and deadly rapiers
ever made, with a dark and light pattern running
through its blade, and an intricately worked shell hilt.
It is so well-balanced as to feel like a feather in the
hand.
Irish Backsword:
Longsword; basket hilt; backsword. Damage: 1d6/
1d8. Critical: 19-20/x2. Hardness: 10. Hit Points: 9.
Cost: 16gp
(Cost breakdown: 15gp for longsword, -3gp for
backsword = 12gp, + 4gp for basket hilt = 16gp.)
Irish backswords, also known as Gaelic swords,
were first found in the hands of Irish mercenaries and
warriors called gallowglasses, around the 16th century.
This is a cheap, robust, easy-to-produce sword, ideal
for combatants who did not expect to wear armor.
It remained popular for at least a couple of hundred
years in both Ireland and Scotland, and similar swords
were used in England as cavalry weapons. The later
Scots variant is sometimes known by the name
“claymore,” previously the word used for a Scottish
variety of two-handed sword. These weapons could be
found in both backsword and broadsword forms; the
one presented here is a backsword.
Katana:
Bastard sword; masterwork; pattern-welded;
backsword. Damage: 1d8/1d10. Critical: 19-20/x2.
Hardness: 12. Hit Points: 11. Cost: 460gp
(Cost breakdown: 35gp for bastard sword, -3gp for
backsword = 32gp, x5 for pattern-welded = 160gp +
300gp for masterwork = 460gp.)
The katana is the iconic blade of the Japanese
Samurai, a long-handled sword with an almost
undetectable curve to its single-edged blade. A single
sword may take a year or more for a skilled smith to
forge, and then be passed on from father to son as the
family blade for many generations. Together with a
wakizashi (see below) the katana forms the daisho,
or “long-short,” the pair of swords carried to denote
samurai status.
Wakizashi:
Shortsword; masterwork; pattern-welded; backsword.
Damage: 1d4/1d6. Critical: 19-20/x2. Hardness: 12.
Hit Points: 7. Cost: 335gp
(Cost breakdown: 10gp for shortsword, -3gp for
backsword = 7gp, x5 for pattern-welded = 35gp +
300gp for masterwork = 335gp.)
The wakizashi is the shorter companion sword to
the katana. The two swords are worn by samurai
on the left hip, thrust through a sash. Some samurai
sword schools recommend the use of both swords
simultaneously, one in each hand. For other samurai,
the shorter wakizashi is intended solely for use
indoors, where the katana is too long and unwieldy
(and not carried anyway, according to the requirements
of politeness). Other persons of status, who are not
samurai, may be permitted to bear the wakizashi
(only).
Viking Jarl’s Sword:
Longsword; masterwork; pattern-welded. Damage:
1d6/1d8. Critical: 19-20/x2. Hardness: 12. Hit Points: Symbol of Nobility
9. Cost: 375gp
(Cost breakdown: 15gp for bastard sword, x5 for Cross-culturally, the sword is a symbol of honor
pattern-welded = 75gp + 300gp for masterwork = and authority, a sign that the swordbearer is a
375gp.) warrior-aristocrat of some standing. Ordinary
Swords were highly folk will tend to obey and trust such a person, not
valued in Viking society, so much out of fear but out of respect.
and swordsmiths were
treated as wonder- Anyone wearing a sword at his belt gains a +2
workers or magicians. circumstance bonus to all uses of the Diplomacy
Most ordinary men could or Bluff skills targeting persons who only have
not afford a sword, and the Commoner class.
would wield spear, axe, or
scramasax (a long knife)
as their primary weapon.
A professional warrior
in a lord’s personal
bodyguard might have
a much-prized pattern-
welded blade, but only his “They Don’t Like It Up ’Em”
master could afford this
weapon, the Viking Jarl’s Every man has an instinctive fear of a cold,
sword. sharp-edged steel blade. It’s the same fear which
is associated with the bite of a deadly snake.
– John Styers, “Bowie’s Cold Steel”

Swords are also used to terrify civilian

populations into submission, and for many years
were used against such populations by militias,
town guards, city watches, and even police.

Anyone holding a sword in his hand gains a +2

circumstance bonus to all Intimidate attempts
against an unarmed person within 10 feet.
Feats
When the phrase “any sword” is used as part of a
feat’s description or requirements, it may be assumed
that any of the weapons presented in this supplement
can be classed as swords.
Exotic Sword
You have learned how to use all sword-like weapons,
however unusual.
Requirements: Base Attack Bonus +3, Exotic
Weapon Proficiency (bastard sword, cavalry saber,
dueling rapier, executioner’s sword, or grosse
messer)
Benefits: You may the following weapons as
though they were Martial weapons: bastard sword,
cavalry saber, dueling rapier, executioner’s sword,
and grosse messer.
Normal: The above weapons are usually
considered Exotic.
Falsifying
Falsifying is making a feint to one area to set the
opponent up for a devastating attack to a more vital
area.
Requirements: Weapon Focus, Int 13, Bluff 4
ranks.
Benefits: Once per round, when wielding any
weapon with which you have the Weapon Focus
feat, you may declare one of your attacks to be a
falsifying attack. If you miss, your opponent may
immediately make an Attack of Opportunity on
you. If you hit, you do +1d6 damage.
Half-Swording
Most people just swing a two-handed sword by the
handle, but you have learned the techniques of half-
swording, allowing you to wield the weapon more
like a spear – one hand on the hilt or pommel, and
the other forward of the guard, on the blade itself
(sometimes on a blunted, leather-covered part of the
blade called a ricasso). This mode of use has several
advantages in combat, particularly if attacking heavily
armored opponents. It can even be effective when
grappling; unlike a spear, this weapon’s “shaft” is a
blade as dangerous as its point.
Requirements: Martial Weapon Proficiency
Benefits: Half-swording may be performed
when you wield any of the following weapons
two-handed: arming sword, longsword, bastard
sword, greatsword. You may declare any of your
attacks with such a weapon as half-swording
attacks. When you make a half-swording attack,
you gain a +1 bonus to your attack roll against an
opponent wearing Medium Armor, and a +3 bonus
to your attack roll against an opponent wearing
Heavy Armor. Half-swording attacks are always
Piercing attacks, even if the weapon could not
normally make Piercing attacks. All half-swording
attacks have a -2 penalty to damage. Furthermore,
you may make an attack with the weapon when
grappling or being grappled, though you take a -
4 penalty on the roll as usual for attacking with a
weapon during a grapple.
Normal: Normally you may only make an attack
with an unarmed strike, natural weapon, or light
weapon when grappling.
Special: A character half-swording with a tapered
blade doubles the tapered blade bonus against
heavy armor to +2. This is cumulative with the
bonus for half-swording.
Hanger Expert
You are an experienced executioner with a hanger,
even in the heat of battle, so long as you or one of
your comrades can just hold the victim down for long
enough.
Requirements: Weapon Focus (hanger)
Benefits: When you use a hanger to attack a
grappling opponent (whether you are grappling
them or not), you gain a +2 bonus to your attack
roll and a +1d6 damage bonus. Furthermore, you
gain a +2d6 damage bonus using your hanger
against a helpless opponent, rather than the usual
+1d6 bonus.
Normal: Usually you only gain a +1d6 damage
bonus against a helpless opponent.
Improved Smallsword Flurry
You are adept at making rapid, lethal attacks with your
smallsword. Your enemies find themselves leaking
from multiple wounds before they even realize they
are in a fight.
Requirements: Weapon Focus (smallsword), Dex
13, Base Attack Bonus +2
Benefits: When performing a smallsword flurry as
a full attack, you gain a further additional attack.
The penalty to your smallsword flurry attacks is
increased from -2 to -4.
Swift Riposte
In your hands, a sword moves fluidly and rapidly from
a parry to an immediate counterattack.
Requirements: Combat Expertise, Weapon Focus
(any one-handed sword), Dex 13, Base Attack
Bonus +6
Benefit: When using Combat Expertise and armed
with any one-handed sword with which you have
Weapon Focus, if your opponent misses you as
a direct result of your Combat Expertise (i.e.
if he would have hit your regular Armor Class,
but missed because of the extra dodge bonus
you gained from Combat Expertise), you may
immediately make an attack of opportunity against
him. There is no limit to the number of times this
ability may be used in a combat round, except for
the usual limits and rules that apply to attacks of
opportunity.
Swordsman’s Gambit
A master swordsman will occasionally offer his
opponent what seems to be a weak spot in his defense.
This revealed opening is a trap, and the opponent
who tries to take advantage of it will find themselves
rapidly skewered.
Requirements: Weapon Focus (any sword), Wis
13, Base Attack Bonus +4
Benefit: Once per round, if you are armed with
any sword with which you have Weapon Focus,
when attacked by an opponent whose Wisdom is
lower than yours, you may declare a swordsman’s
gambit. You gain a +2 bonus to Armor Class
against that attack. If they miss, you may
immediately make an attack of opportunity against
them, with a +1 bonus to damage if you hit. If it
turns out that your opponent’s Wis is the same as
yours, your Swordsman’s Gambit has no effect.
If the opponent’s Wis is higher than yours, your
AC has a –2 penalty against the attack, and you do
not gain an attack of opportunity even if the attack
misses.
Weapon Elegance
Your fighting style is beautiful and almost captivating
– your blade is constantly, hypnotically in motion.
Requirements: Weapon Focus (any sword), Dex
13+, Cha 13+
Benefit: Any lesser opponents (anyone whose
highest Base Attack Bonus is less than half as
much as yours) suffer a –2 to hit you due to the
distracting movements of your blade. This applies
only when you are armed with any sword with
which you have Weapon Focus.
The Sword-Masters
This section of The Sharp End: Sword covers prestige
classes dedicated to specific styles of sword-wielding.
For the most part, these are closely based on real-
world schools or techniques of the sword, so as to
lend verisimilitude to both historical and fantastic
campaigns. It is an easy enough matter for GMs
to alter the names to fit nations or regions of their
preferred fantasy world, if desired. Historical classes
included are Diestro, Fechtmeister, Master of Fence,
Master of the Five Rings, and Master of Scrimia. All
these classes could be viable in modern campaigns
too, given the contemporary revival of both western
and eastern arts of fencing.
The Western Martial Artist class reflects the modern-
day synthesis of several of the European historical
styles, drawing a little from each to create a powerful
but practical set of techniques. This class is best suited
to modern or futuristic campaigns that also allow the
historical classes, though it might also fit a particularly
eclectic fantasy style, or a historical campaign in
which the prospective Western Martial Artist has
traveled widely and studied under a number of very
different fencing-masters. Entry requirements are
particularly stringent.
Note that most of the classes are easily adaptable
to futuristic “bladed” melee weapons too; energy
cutlasses, vibro-blades, power swords, monomolecular
katanas, and so on, could all potentially be used with
these ancient techniques, and said techniques could
undergo a revival (or parallel evolution) in the future.
Diestro
(Historical, Renaissance, European)
The diestro is an exponent of the Spanish school
of fencing, La Destreza. Based on geometry and
mathematics, La Destreza is very much an attempt to
create a scientific approach to defense. Movements
are based on circles, arcs, and tangents, with the
entire combat taking place within an imaginary circle,
each combatant at opposite ends of the diameter. La
Destreza is perhaps the most cerebral form of fencing,
often appealing to those with an interest in scientific or
mystical matters.
Class Skills and Attributes
Alignment: Any lawful.
Skills: Balance, Bluff, Climb, Concentration,
Knowledge, Jump, Ride, Sense Motive, Spot.
Skill Points at each level: 4 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Skills: Knowledge (Mathematics) 4+, Concentration
2+.
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword or rapier), Combat
Expertise, Two-Weapon Fighting, Dodge.
In addition, the prospective diestro must find a teacher
and embark on a course of study lasting at least six
months. Few teachers of La Destreza travel outside
Spain.
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The diestro is
proficient with all simple weapons and all martial
melee weapons. In addition, he is proficient with Light
and Medium armor.
Special Abilities
Afirmase: The basic stance of La Destreza is
afirmase, learnt at 1st level. The feet are slightly apart,
but the legs and back are straight, with the right arm
extended full length and the sword pointed directly
at the opponent at all times. Despite the aggressive
appearance of this fighting style, it is actually a highly
effective defensive stance, as the opponent cannot
approach directly without being wounded. The diestro
must be in afirmase stance to use any of her other
diestro special abilities. When she is in afirmase, the
diestro may designate one opponent to receive a -2
Circumstance Penalty to attacks against her, but she
loses her Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any)
against any other opponents. The diestro may wait
until an attack is declared against her before selecting
that opponent as the one who receives the penalty.
Curvo: Curved steps around the circumference of
the La Destreza circle allow the diestro of 2nd level
or above to fight more effectively against a fellow
Spanish fencer. He no longer receives a -2 penalty
when attacking another diestro who is in afirmase
stance, and no diestro whose Base Attack Bonus is
lower than his may use desvio, recto, or estocadas
against him (see below).

The Diestro
Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st +1 +0 +0 +2 Afirmase
2nd +2 +0 +0 +3 Curvo
3rd +3 +1 +1 +3 Desvio
4th +4 +1 +1 +4 Tacto
5th +5 +1 +1 +4 Atajo
6th +6 +2 +2 +5 Estocadas
7th +7 +2 +2 +5 Recto (Improved Desvio)
8th +8 +2 +2 +6 Llave y gobierno
9th +9 +3 +3 +6 Passos mas perfectos
10th +10 +3 +3 +7 Filosofia de las Armas
Desvio: The technique of desvio, learnt at 3rd level,
involves the diestro parrying the opponent’s weapon
on the forte (the half of the blade nearest to the
guard) of his own, and with the same movement
stabbing them with his point. The speed & directness
of this attack can be devastating. In effect, it is a
simultaneous parry and riposte. Once per round, when
an opponent declares an attack against him, the diestro
may make a desvio attack as a free action. A desvio
attack is made at the diestro’s best attack bonus, with
any penalties and bonuses that would normally apply
to his attacks. The diestro’s attack roll is opposed to
his opponent’s; if the diestro’s is higher, he damage the
opponent just as though he had made a normal attack,
and the opponent’s own attack automatically misses.
After the diestro makes a desvio attack, whether he
beats his opponent’s attack roll or not, he suffers a -2
penalty on all his attacks for one round.
Desvio may only be used against an opponent whose
highest Base Attack Bonus is less than half as much as
the diestro’s. If attempted against a better opponent, it
fails automatically, but the diestro doesn’t suffer any
penalty other than having wasted his desvio attempt
for that round.
For example: Maria de la Vega is dueling with an
uncouth Englishman, Captain Hart. Captain Hart
attacks with his sword. De la Vega declares a desvio
attack in response. Captain Hart rolls a 17 plus his
Attack Bonus of +6, for a total of 23. De la Vega gets a
14 on her desvio attack roll, plus her +15 attack bonus,
for a total of 29, easily beating her foe’s attack roll.
Hart’s attack misses, and de la Vega’s hits.
Tacto: From 4th level onwards, once per round, on
making blade to blade contact with an opponent (by
one party or the other making a Disarm or Sunder
attempt against the other’s weapon, or when one
party or the other uses Combat Expertise, Fighting
Defensively, and/or Total Defense), the diestro may
immediately make a Sense Motive roll (DC = 15) to
discover precisely her opponent’s Strength, Dexterity,
Hit Points remaining, and Base Attack Bonus.
Alternatively, the diestro may attempt to use her Tacto
ability to foil her opponent’s Tacto ability, if any. In
this case, the diestro opposes her Bluff roll to her
opponent’s Sense Motive roll, instead of her opponent
having to beat a 15. If the diestro wins, her opponent
is unable to determine her statistics; if the diestro wins
by 10 or more, she has the choice of either preventing
the opponent from determining her statistics as usual,
or giving the opponent deliberately false information
(in which case, the diestro decides what Strength,
Dexterity, Hit Points remaining, and Base Attack
Bonus, she wants him to think she has).
Atajo: From 5th level and up, on any round in which
he has made Tacto contact with his opponent and
succeeded in his Sense Motive roll, the diestro gains
a +2 Circumstance Bonus to either his next attack
against that opponent, or his armor class against that
opponent’s next attack against him, whichever comes
first.
Estocadas: Estocadas are quick, versatile thrusting
attacks that can be made from almost any position,
learnt by the diestro at 6th level. Any time the diestro
may makes an attack of opportunity, she may take a +2
bonus to hit in exchange for a -2 penalty to damage.
Recto (Improved Desvio): The diestro of 7th level
and above has been specially trained in a range of
desvio techniques intended for defeating opponents
who have no training in La Destreza. Like standard
desvio, these techniques are used to counter-attack just
as the enemy strikes, but usually make use of straight
attacks (recto), which would be very dangerous
against another diestro. A diestro of 7th level or
higher may use the Desvio special ability against any
opponent, so long as the opponent does not have the
Curvo special ability (see above).
Llave y Gobierno: Literally translating as “The Key
and the Government”, this technique is learnt by the
diestro at 8th level, and is a little like an extremely
sophisticated feint, but does not involve anything so
blatant as a feigned attack. Rather, the diestro fools
his opponent by almost imperceptible subtleties
of position and footwork, setting up a near-perfect
attack. Llave y gobierno is a full-round action, but
only allows the diestro to make a single attack. If
the diestro is successful in a Bluff vs. Sense Motive
contest with his opponent, his attack is at +3 to hit and
+3 damage.
Passos mas perfectos: “The Perfect Steps” are
the result of an innate understanding of spatial
relationships, coupled with superbly practised
athleticism. From 9th level up, once per round, the
diestro may either add her Intelligence bonus to all her
attacks against one opponent for a round, or add her
Intelligence bonus as a dodge bonus to her armor class
against one opponent for a round.

Filosofia de las Armas: The cold detachment,

produced by the diestro’s study of swordsmanship as
merely another form of mathematics and geometry,
allows him to fight calmly and carefully in any
situation, not distracted by such minor factors as
opponents pointing swords at him. At the 10th level,
a diestro may choose to attempt a Concentration skill
check (DC 15) each round. If he succeeds, he can (and
must) Take 10 on all melee attack rolls that round, just
as if he were using a skill instead of making an attack.
Furthermore, the successful Concentration check
means that the diestro suffers no penalties to melee
attack rolls for being dazzled, entangled, shaken,
or frightened, or any concealment penalties, or any
morale penalties, or penalties for squeezing through a
narrow space.

Fechtmeister
(Historical, Medieval, European)
Fechtmeisters are experts in the Germanic style
of medieval swordsmanship typified by Talhoffer,
Ringeck, and Liechtenauer. They are direct and
practical, focusing on killing the opponent as rapidly
as possible while avoiding or setting aside his blows.
They wield a variety of swords and other edged
weapons, but with a particular emphasis on two-
handed sword use and the powerful blows such blades
can deliver.
Unusually for the fencing-masters, the fechtmeisters
are expected to be capable of fighting and performing
all their special attacks and defenses even when
wearing full armor.
Class Skills and Attributes
Skills: Balance, Climb, Intimidate, Jump, Ride,
Tumble.
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Dodge, Weapon Focus (longsword, bastard
sword, or greatsword), Half-Swording, Improved
Sunder, Power Attack
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The fechtmeister is
proficient with all simple weapons, all martial melee
weapons, and the bastard sword. In addition, she is
proficient with Light, Medium, and Heavy Armor.
Special Abilities
Avoidance & Setting Aside: The fechtmeister’s
preferred defense is to simply be where the attack
is not (avoidance), but failing that she uses the
techniques of versetzen and absetzen to “set aside”
the opponent’s weapon with her own. This setting
aside is intended to take the opponent’s weapon out
of line, while setting the fechtmeister’s weapon up
for a counterattack. It is not to be confused with the
parrying taught by later fencing masters, since setting
aside tends to be part of, or immediately preparatory
 The Fechtmeister
Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st
+1 +0 +2 +0 Avoidance & Setting Aside +1
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 On the Sword (Sunder)
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Bind
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Enclosing
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 Avoidance & Setting Aside +2
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 Cross Cut
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 On the Sword (Bind)
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Seizing the Before
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 Avoidance & Setting Aside +3
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 Murder Stroke

to, a counterattack, rather than a separate, defensive
action in its own right. A fechtmeister gains +1 to AC,
so long as she is wielding at least one one-handed or
two-handed slashing or piercing weapon, excluding
reach weapons. This bonus increases to +2 at 5th level,
and to +3 at 9th level.
On the Sword: “On the Sword” or “Am Schwert”
refers to techniques whereby the fechtmeister makes
use of already established blade-to-blade contact to
make a further attack or other maneuver. All on the
sword techniques may be used by a fechtmeister
who is armed with a short sword, longsword, arming
sword, bastard sword, greatsword, sabre, rapier,
hanger, dueling rapier, or grosse messer
vulnerable. Note though that this attack is otherwise a
normal attack, part of either an attack action or a full
attack action. It may be used once per round.
Bind: The bind is a counter-attack made by the
fechtmeister on her opponent’s weapon, not to damage
it but to lock her own weapon against it, keeping it
out of action for a few seconds. The fechtmeister must
be armed with a longsword, arming sword, bastard
sword, hanger, or dagger to do a bind. A bind attempt
may only be made against an opponent who is her size
class or smaller. Once per round, immediately after
her opponent has attempted an attack against her and
missed, the fechtmeister may bind his weapon as a
free action.

The first one learned uses a crooked strike
(Krumphau) to make a quick thrust to follow up a
sunder. Once per round, a 2nd level fechtmeister who
has made a successful sunder attack immediately gets
a melee attack against that opponent as if he hadn’t
used his attack for the sunder attempt.
At 7th level the fechtmeister learns the “Traveling
After” (Nachreissen) technique on the sword, whereby
he attacks out of a bind, thrusting over or under
the opponent’s weapon. This attack may be made
either immediately after the fechtmeister releases an
opponent’s bound weapon, or immediately after he
successfully escapes an opponent’s bind. In either
case, he gains a +2 to his attack roll and +2 to damage,
and the opponent loses all dodge bonuses, because the
opponent’s weapon is out of line and the opponent is
Once the fechtmeister has bound her opponent’s
weapon, he may not use it to attack until he breaks
free of the bind or until the fechtmeister voluntarily
unbinds the blades. The fechtmeister’s own weapon
with which she bound his is also bound up & cannot
be used to parry or attack. While his weapon is bound,
the opponent may make an opposed bind check in
place of an attack to attempt to free his weapon.
He may declare that he is using either Strength or
Dexterity to try to break free. In either case, each has
the following attack bonuses:
Base attack bonus + Ability modifier + special bind
modifiers
If the fechtmeister’s opponent chose Strength, she
must also use your Strength on her roll to oppose his;
if he chose Dexterity, she must use Dexterity. The
fechtmeister’s opponent’s special bind modifiers are
as follows: –2 if he does not also possess the Bind
ability; +2 if he possesses the half-swording ability
and is using both hands to wield a weapon that may
be used with half-swording; +1 to Strength checks
for each pound by which his weapon is heavier than
yours; +1 to Dexterity checks for each pound by
which his weapon is lighter than yours; +2 to Strength
checks if he is wielding the weapon with both hands;
+2 to Dexterity checks for each of the following
Feats or Special Abilities he possesses which apply
to the weapon he’s using: Cavatione, Weapon Focus,
Weapon Specialization. The fechtmeister gets the
same modifiers for Feats, Special Abilities, and half-
swording, but none of the other modifiers.
If the fechtmeister’s opponent succeeds, he has broken
free of the bind: if not, his weapon is still bound. Of
course, even if his weapon remains bound, he can
drop it and draw another, or attack with an off-hand
weapon.
Enclosing: Enclosing is the fencing term for
grappling, often done with the off-hand so as to attack
with the sword with the main hand. While grappling,
the fechtmeister may attack with a medium weapon,
so long as it is one with which he has Weapon Focus.
In addition, he does not lose his Dexterity bonus
to armor class while grappling, so long as he is not
pinning your opponent – he is able to move around
your opponent so as to have a chance of avoiding
other attacks. If he already has enclosing when he
reaches 6th level (presumably by having levels in the
master of fence class, see following), he instead gains
Enclosing Riposte (see the class description for Master
of Fence, which follows.).
Cross Cut: The counterattack against a Power Attack,
known as a cross cut or zwerchau, is a maneuver
that “breaks” any powerful overhead blow. The
fechtmeister cross cuts by simultaneously dodging to
the side, warding against the attack with the weapon’s
guard over her head, and cutting sideways at the
attacker’s head. Once per round as a free action, when
the opponent she is using her Dodge feat against
makes a Power Attack against her, she may declare
a cross cut. Her opponent’s penalty to his attack roll
from Power Attack is doubled on that attack. If his
opponent misses, the fechtmeister may immediately
make an attack against him at her full attack bonus as
another free action; this does not count as one of her
attacks for the round.
Seizing the Before: The vor is one of the most crucial
concepts in German medieval fencing. In combat, you
are always in a state of either vor (literally “before;”
that is, acting offensively, acting before the opponent,
seizing the initiative) or nach (literally “after;” acting
defensively, acting after the opponent, losing the
initiative). An 8th level fechtmeister can seize the
initiative from his or her opponent. Once per day,
he may “seize the before” at the start of any combat
round (this may be the first round of the combat, or
it may not). He adds his class level in fechtmeister to
his current initiative score; the new initiative score
is effective immediately, altering the initiative order
for that round and all subsequent rounds in the same
combat.
Murder Stroke: The fechtmeister makes a murder
stroke (mortschlag) by reversing her sword and
smashing the pommel down like a hammer. This
blow is utterly devastating, if it lands. She may only
make a murder stroke as a full action, and only with
a sword that is being wielded with both hands. This
is a bludgeoning attack at her highest attack bonus;
damage is the same as for the weapon in its normal
mode of use, but the Critical becomes 20/x4 instead
of the usual 19-20/x2. Furthermore, if she chooses
to make her murder stroke attack a power attack, she
may add three times the number subtracted from her
attack roll to her damage roll, rather than double the
number as is usual for a two-handed power attack.
Master of Fence
(Historical, Renaissance, European)
Masters of Fence are fencing experts trained in
English style swordsmanship, often either to start their
own fencing academies or to make money as “Stage-
Gladiators” in public prize-fights. Both armed and
unarmed techniques are taught.
Class Skills and Attributes
Skills: Balance, Climb, Heal, Intimidate, Jump,
Perform.
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Weapon Focus in any sword weapon; plus
Combat Reflexes, Dodge, True Gardant, Spring
Attack, and Mobility.
In addition, the candidate must defeat at least one
Master of Fence in a prize-fight (see the “Code
Duello” appendix).
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
The Master of Fence is proficient with all simple
weapons, all martial melee weapons, and the bastard
sword. In addition, she is proficient with Light Armor.
Special Abilities
Improved Weapon Focus: Each time this ability is
gained, one weapon with which the mistress of fence
already has the Weapon Focus Feat gains an additional
+1 to hit, over and above the +1 already granted by
Weapon Focus. Improved weapon focus cannot be
applied to the same weapon more than once. If all the
character’s weapons that have Weapon Focus already
have improved weapon focus applied to the, she
instead gains Weapon Focus as a bonus feat.
Enclosing: Enclosing is the fencing term for
grappling, often done with the off-hand so as to attack
with the sword with the main hand. While grappling,
the master of fence may attack with a medium
weapon, so long as it is one with which he has Weapon
Focus. In addition, the master of fence does not lose
his Dexterity bonus to armor class while grappling, so
long as he is not pinning his opponent – he is able to
move around his opponent so as to have a chance of
avoiding other attacks. If the master of fence already
has enclosing when he reaches 2nd level (presumably
by having levels in the fechtmeister class, see p. XX),
he instead gains Enclosing Riposte (see p. XX).
Improved Combat Reflexes: At this level, the
mistress of fence’s reflexes are so honed that there is
no limit on the number of attacks of opportunity she
can make each round, except for the usual limit of one
per opponent.

The Master of Fence

Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1 st
+1 +0 +2 +0 Improved Weapon Focus
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 Enclosing
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 Improved Combat Reflexes
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Improved Weapon Focus
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 Improved True Gardant
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 Enclosing Riposte
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 Improved Weapon Focus
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Weapon Judgment
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 Weapon Measure
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 Pressing In and Flying Out
Improved True Gardant: One Mr Johnson, an
English stage-gladiator, perfected the technique
of attacking from a true gardant stance. This
can be highly effective, as it is possible for a
fencer to wrench his weapon round from the true
gardant position to attack from almost any angle.
However, due to its roots as a stage-gladiator
technique, it is only really useful in prize-fights
or similar situations. When faced with a single
opponent, wielding an identical weapon or
identical combination of weapons to himself,
the master of fence may use true gardant while
making a full attack action.

Enclosing Riposte: Any time the mistress

of fence’s opponent attacks her and misses, she
may make a special attack of opportunity called an
enclosing riposte. This enclosing riposte attack must
be an attempt to start a grapple. This is a grapple much
like any other grapple, except that the opponent does
not get an attack of opportunity against her grapple.
Weapon Measure: While she is armed with the
weapon she picked for her Weapon Judgment ability,
the mistress of fence’s opponent does not gain the
benefits of the following Feats against her: Improved
Critical, Improved Disarm, Improved Sunder,
Falsifying, and Swordsman’s Gambit.

Weapon Judgment: The master of fence chooses one
weapon from longsword, greatsword, rapier, dagger,
quarterstaff, bastard sword, longspear, or halberd.
While he is armed with that weapon, he may add his
Intelligence bonus to one of his attacks each round.
Pressing In and Flying Out: While armed with the
weapon he picked for his Weapon Judgment ability,
the master of fence may move 10’ in a round in which
he performs a full-round attack, either before or after
his attacks, or 5’ before and 5’ after. Moving in this
way does not provoke an attack of opportunity from
the defender he attacks. This ability can’t be used in
medium or heavy armor.
Master of the Class Features

Five Rings Weapon and Armor Proficiency

(Historical, Renaissance, Asian)
A Master of the Five Rings has studied the
techniques of Miyamoto Musashi and other Japanese
swordsmanship experts. He may or may not be a
samurai; the swordsmanship techniques of Japanese
martial arts are commonly taught to samurai, but are
at least as useful to other warriors, just as the Western
martial arts are effective for men-at-arms as well as for
knights.
Class Skills and Attributes
Alignment: Any non-chaotic.
Skills: Balance, Intimidate, Jump, Ride, Search, Sense
Motive, Spot, Tumble.
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d10
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Weapon Focus (Bastard Sword), Dodge,
Mobility, Spring Attack.
The Master of the Five Rings is proficient with all
simple weapons, all martial melee weapons, and the
bastard sword. In addition, she is proficient with Light
and Medium Armor.
Special Abilities
Earth: A Warrior’s Strong Weapons (Ex): A
mistress of the five rings will choose sturdy weapons,
capable of standing up to the rigors of battle, and
can wield them in such a way that they are highly
durable. Any Sunder attempt targeting a weapon she is
wielding is made at a -4 penalty.
Water: The Strategist’s Gaze (Ex): The master
of the five rings learns to see to both sides without
moving the eyes, to examine far-off things as though
they were close, and to look at close-up things with a
distant eye. He gains a +2 bonus on all Spot & Search
checks, and he can no longer be flanked. This denies
a rogue the ability to sneak attack the character by
flanking him, unless the attacker has at least four more
rogue levels than the target has levels in master of the
five rings.

The Master of The Five Rings

Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st
+1 +0 +0 +2 Earth: A Warrior’s Strong Weapons
2nd +2 +0 +0 +3 Water: The Strategist’s Gaze
3rd +3 +1 +1 +3 Fire: Collapsing the Enemy
4th +4 +1 +1 +4 Air: The First Shout
5th +5 +1 +1 +4 Void: Unclouding the Spirit
6th +6 +2 +2 +5 Earth: Wooden Death
7th +7 +2 +2 +5 Water: Calmness of Spirit
8th +8 +2 +2 +6 Fire: Crushing the Enemy
9th +9 +3 +3 +6 Air: The Second and Third Shouts
10th +10 +3 +3 +7 Void: One Sword Defeats Ten Men
Fire: Collapsing the Enemy (Ex): The mistress of
the five rings is trained to ruthlessly and relentlessly
follow up any moment of weakness on the part of
the enemy. Once per round, if she has just made an
attack of opportunity which hit and dealt damage, she
may make an immediate attack on the same opponent
at her full attack bonus as a free action. In this case,
though, any attackers other than the opponent she
made the attack of opportunity on gain a +2 bonus to
hit the mistress of five rings for one round; she will
concentrate on finishing her chosen opponent first,
even at risk to herself.

Air: The First Shout (Su): The master of the five

rings gives off a loud shout on entering battle,
unnerving the enemy and putting him off his stroke.
As a free action, just before initiative is rolled, he may
give the First Shout targeting a specific opponent.
The opponent must make a Will save, DC = 10 +
the master of five rings’ class level + the master of
five rings’ Charisma bonus. If he fails, he takes a -4
morale penalty to initiative. A master of the five rings
may give the First Shout any time that initiative is
about to be rolled. Note that a shout is loud, and is not
compatible with stealthy activity!

Void: Unclouding the Spirit (Ex): It is said that when
a mistress of the five rings learns to truly uncloud
her spirit and see things as they really are, she cannot
be deceived in combat. She gains a +4 circumstance
bonus to her Sense Motive checks concerning an
opponent’s attempts to feint in combat. Furthermore,
she retains her Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) even
if she is caught flat-footed or struck by an invisible
attacker. However, she still loses her Dexterity bonus
to AC if immobilized.
Earth: Wooden Death (Ex): It is said that Musashi
became as proficient and deadly with the wooden
bokken practice sword as with a steel katana, and that
he once defeated a foe in a duel while armed only
with a wooden oar. From 6th level, the master of the
five rings treats any wooden sword as though it were
made of steel; it has a normal critical range for a
steel sword, has Hardness and Hit Points like a steel
sword, and even deals Slashing or Piercing damage
(as appropriate) rather than Bludgeoning damage.
Furthermore, the master may wield any wooden tool
or similar object, at least 3 ft. in length and with a part
that can easily be grasped as an impromptu handle, as
a weapon with the game statistics found at the bottom
of this page.
These new characteristics of the wooden sword or
found wooden object apply only so long as the master
is wielding the weapon, and can never apply for any
other wielder.
Found wooden objects can include oars, chairs, table
legs, agricultural tools, and sections of planking or
fencing, among other things.

Two-handed Martial Cost Dmg Dmg Critical Range Weight1 Type2 Hardness Hit
Weapon (S) (M) Increment Points
Found Wooden Object – 1d8 1d10 19–20/x2 — As per Bludgeoning 10 8
object
Water: Calmness of Spirit (Ex): The mistress of five Void: One Sword Defeats Ten Men (Ex): A 10th
rings has an indomitable calmness to her spirit, and level master of five rings is a fearsome opponent
gains a +4 bonus on all Will saving throws concerning indeed, capable of taking on and beating ten foes at
resisting fear, panic, horror, terror, morale penalties, or once. If he is armed with a masterwork bastard sword,
similar effects. he may, as a full-round action, make a special void
attack as well as moving up to 10 ft. either before
Fire: Crushing the Enemy (Ex): The master of five or after the attack (this movement does not provoke
rings must destroy lesser opponents rapidly, so as to attacks of opportunity). The special void attack
quickly move on to more worthy foes. When he is counts as one attack at the master’s full attack bonus
fighting an opponent whose Base Attack Bonus is against each of up to 10 opponents who are within 10
lower than hers, he gains a bonus to all his damage ft. of him. Any target who is struck is dealt damage
rolls equal to the difference between the two Base as though attacked normally by the master, and
Attack Bonuses. furthermore is at a -4 penalty to attack the master for
one full round thereafter. This ability cannot be used
Air: The Second and while wearing heavy armor.
Third Shouts (Su): The
Second Shout is given as
the mistress of five rings
strikes with her sword,
and puts off her opponent
from his defense, making
it easier for her to hit him.
So long as she is able
and willing to shout, her
opponent has a -1 morale
penalty to AC against all
her melee attack rolls.

Furthermore,
immediately after
she has defeated an
opponent (reducing
him to 0 hit points or
below), she may give
the Third Shout, a cry of
victory. Any opponent
within 30 ft. of her when
she gives off this shout
must make a Will save,
DC = 10 + her class level
+ her Charisma bonus. If he
fails, he takes a -1 morale penalty
to any melee attacks he makes against
her during the next five minutes.

Note that a shout of either kind is loud,

and is not compatible with stealthy
activity!
Master of Scrimia
(Historical, Renaissance, European)
Continental fencing-masters generally study either
the Italian school (Scrimia), or the French school
(Escrime) which is derived from the Italian. The
German school (Schermize) is similar. Because the
European fencing masters learnt from one another &
borrowed techniques whenever they found something
that was effective, this class is designed to be flexible
– the GM can design variants of it very easily to
represent the style taught by a particular Master.
Schools based on this class can be found even in
England and Spain, rivaling the national styles of
those countries.
Requirements
Alignment: Any non-chaotic.
Base Attack Bonus: +5
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword, arming sword,
rapier, dueling rapier, or smallsword), Combat
Expertise
Special: In addition, you must find a fencing master to
teach you. This is usually just a case of paying plenty
of cash. It’s a lot easier to find masters of this style
around the world than either the English or Spanish
styles. Even in England and Spain, there are plenty of
French or Italian fencing-masters teaching Escrime or
Scrimia in competition with the native styles.

The player is of course welcome to call himself
“Master of Escrime” or “Master of Schermize,” or
indeed, to call herself “Mistress of…” if that seems
more appropriate to the character’s background.
Scots learning from French sword-masters via the
“Auld Alliance” against England may call themselves
Scrimgers, or Scimgeours; if the same knowledge is
passed on to any English swordsmen, they will name
themselves Skirmishers, or Scrimmagers. It’s all much
the same word, from the same root; there are only so
many ways to swing a sword, after all.
Class Skills and Attributes
Skills: Dependent on individual school. When setting
up a school profile, the GM should pick six skills to
be Class Skills from the following list: Balance, Bluff,
Climb, Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Perform, Ride, Sense
Motive, Tumble.
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d10

The Master of Scrimia

Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will
1st +1 +0 +2 +0
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 The Master of Scrimia
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 Special Abilities by Level
1st: Choose one from: Bind or Quart Guard or Stesso
5th +5 +1 +4 +1
Tempo
6th +6 +2 +5 +2
2nd: Choose one from: Beat or Lunge or Cavatione
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 3rd: Choose one from: Quart Guard or Esquive or Stesso
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 Tempo
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 4th: Choose one from: Beat or Lunge or Double Falsing
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 5th: Choose one from: Esquive or Colpo di Arresto or Bind
or Duo Tempo
6th: Choose one from: Cavatione or Coup de Jarnac or
Contratempo or Cloak Deceits
7th: Choose one from: Bonetti’s Defence or Colpo di
Arresto or Saviolo’s Ward or Mezzo Tempo
8th: Choose one from: Coup de Jarnac or Double Falsing
or Contratempo or Cloak Deceits
9th: Choose one from: Bonetti’s Defence or Duo Tempo or
Saviolo’s Ward or Mezzo Tempo
10th: Botta Segrete
Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The Master of
Scrimia is proficient with all simple weapons and all
martial melee weapons. In addition, she is proficient
with light armor, bucklers, and cloaks. The Special
Abilities of this class may only be used if you are
wearing light armor or no armor, and are armed with a
longsword, arming sword, dueling rapier, smallsword,
or rapier in your main hand (in most cases you may
also have an off-hand weapon if desired). When
the text of a Special Ability refers to the use of an
“appropriate sword”, the ability may be used with any
of the above three weapons; when it refers to a specific
weapon such as longsword, arming sword, rapier, or
smallsword, the ability may only be used with that
specific weapon.
Special Abilities
Beat: A beat is a strike to an opponent’s weapon, in
an attempt to damage it or to knock it out of line ready
for an attack. You no longer provoke an attack of
opportunity when attempting to strike an opponent’s
weapon. If you are striking with a piercing weapon,
you may not damage your opponent’s weapon this
way, but so long as you and your opponent are both
armed with longswords, both armed with arming
swords, both armed with rapiers, both armed with
dueling rapiers, or both armed with smallswords, you
can instead cause your opponent to lose one attack
(her choice, if she has more than one) from her next
attack action or full attack action. If your Beat attack
was a Critical, your opponent loses all the attacks
from her next attack action or full attack action. Note
that in order to score a critical hit, after you have
achieved a threat on your initial roll, you must roll
higher than your opponent’s attack roll (that she made
in opposition to your attempt to strike her weapon) on
your critical roll.
Bind: The bind is a counter-attack made by the
mistress of scrimia on her opponent’s weapon, not
to damage it but to lock her own weapon against
it, keeping it out of action for a few seconds. The
mistress of scrimia must be armed with a longsword,
rapier, smallsword, hanger, or dagger to do a bind. A
bind attempt may only be made against an opponent
who is her size class or smaller. Once per round,
immediately after her opponent has attempted an
attack against her and missed, the mistress of scrimia
may bind his weapon as a free action.
Once the mistress of scrimia has bound her opponent’s
weapon, he may not use it to attack until he breaks free
of the bind or until the mistress of scrimia voluntarily
unbinds the blades. The mistress of scrimia’s own
weapon with which she bound his is also bound up &
cannot be used to parry or attack. While his weapon is
bound, the opponent may make an opposed bind check
in place of an attack to attempt to free his weapon.
He may declare that he is using either Strength or
Dexterity to try to break free. In either case, each has
the following attack bonuses:
Base attack bonus + Ability modifier + special bind
modifiers
If the mistress of scrimia’s opponent chose Strength,
she must also use your Strength on her roll to oppose
his; if he chose Dexterity, she must use Dexterity. The
mistress of scrimia’s opponent’s special bind modifiers
are as follows: –2 if he does not also possess the Bind
ability; +2 if he possesses the half-swording ability
and is using both hands to wield a weapon that may
be used with half-swording; +1 to Strength checks
for each pound by which his weapon is heavier than
yours; +1 to Dexterity checks for each pound by
which his weapon is lighter than yours; +2 to Strength
checks if he is wielding the weapon with both hands;
+2 to Dexterity checks for each of the following
Feats or Special Abilities he possesses which apply
to the weapon he’s using: Cavatione, Weapon Focus,
Weapon Specialization. The mistress of scrimia gets
the same modifiers for Feats, Special Abilities, and
half-swording, but none of the other modifiers.
If the mistress of scrimia’s opponent succeeds, he
has broken free of the bind: if not, his weapon is still
bound. Of course, even if his weapon remains bound,
he can drop it and draw another, or attack with an off-
hand weapon.
Bonetti’s Defense: The famous Italian fencing-master
Bonetti, one of the first Europeans to open a school
of Scrimia in England, made his pupils practise their
footwork while wearing lead-lined shoes, so as to
build up their agility and sure-footedness. Bonetti’s
defense makes use of that agility to leap away from
an opponent when attacked. Once per round, as a
free action, the master of scrimia may make a Jump
skill roll to evade a melee attack (DC = 10 + ½ your
opponent’s Base Attack Bonus + your opponent’s
Dexterity). This counts as a Jump Back, but now that
master of scrimia has learnt Bonetti’s defense he gets
a 50% bonus to the distance of any Jump Back that
he makes (the usual maximum still applies). If he
succeeds, his opponent’s attack misses automatically.
The master of scrimia is at a -2 to all his own attack
rolls for one round after using Bonetti’s defense.
Botta Segrete: The botta segrete is the fabled Secret
Attack that each school teaches its highest initiates.
When the mistress of scrimia joins a fencing school,
your GM will roll a d20 in secret on the following
table:
1-8 The Secret Attack is a complex & confusing
variation on an ordinary thrust. If the mistress
of scrimia succeeds in a Bluff vs. Sense Motive
test against her opponent (as a free action), her
Secret Attack gains a +2 attack bonus.
9-13 The Secret Attack is highly injurious: the
mistress of scrimia gets a +2 to damage when
she performs it.
14-18 The Secret Attack is designed to penetrate or
bypass armor; the mistress of scrimia gains a
+2 attack bonus when using it, so long as her
opponent is wearing Light, Medium, or Heavy
Armor.
19 The Secret Attack is astonishingly quick – it
does not use up one of the mistress of scrimia’s
attacks, and she may use it at any time, even
during an opponent’s action. All other action
stops until the secret attack is resolved.
20 The Secret Attack is very deadly. If it hits, it
does 1d3 damage directly to the mistress of
scrimia’s opponent’s Constitution, as well as
doing its normal damage to hit points.
Of course, the mistress of scrimia will never find out
how effective the Secret Attack is until she is taught
it at the highest rank of the school. She is sworn to
secrecy never to teach the botta segrete to anyone but
another 10th-level master or mistress of her fencing-
school. In addition, she must take care to ensure that
no-one sees her perform it more than once, or else
they may be able to begin to work out how it is done.
This certainly requires that she doesn’t use it more
than once on any given opponent, and will also restrict
her use of it in front of her allies.
If the mistress of scrimia does break her promise,
perhaps in extremis, anyone seeing her Secret Attack
more than once may make a straight Intelligence
check, DC: 25, with the following bonuses: their base
attack bonus, and +2 for each time more than twice
that they’ve seen her do the Secret Attack. Success
means that they have worked out the basics of the
Attack – it will no longer be effective against them,
and they may, with time and practice, even be able to
perform it themselves (learning it in this way would
require a Feat, at the very least, and probably the
expenditure of 4 skill points too; GM’s discretion).
All schools protect their botta segrete with great care
and occasionally extreme violence. They will not
teach the botta segrete to those of chaotic alignment.
Anyone wishing to learn it must swear never to teach
the botta segrete to anyone, or perform it in front of
anyone more than once. If the mistress of scrimia
breaks this oath, and her school ever finds out about it,
they will certainly hunt her down and kill her – very
honorably, of course, in a duel if possible.
Cavatione: A cavatione is a circular movement
used to evade a parry or bind, then continue one’s
attack uninterrupted. The master of scrimia may use
cavatione once per round to do either of the following:
•If his opponent is Fighting Defensively, and/or
using Combat Expertise, and/or taking the Total
Defense action, they gain no benefit from doing so
against his cavatione attack.
•If the master of scrimia’s opponent has a Bind
on his (the master of scrimia’s) weapon, and
the master of scrimia breaks free, he may use
his cavatione to immediately make an Attack
of Opportunity on the opponent. This attack of
opportunity gains a +2 bonus, as the master of
scrimia is already past the opponent’s defense.
Cloak Deceits: As well as using the cloak partially
wrapped around the arm as an impromptu shield, the
mistress of scrimia is trained in its use for a variety of
offensive actions and deceits, which are done with the
cloak unwrapped. The mistress of scrimia must decide
whether to wield the cloak defensively (in which case
she gains an AC bonus from it as usual, and may parry
with it), or offensively, in which case she may choose
one of the following to attempt as her attack with the
off-hand cloak (two if she has the Improved Two-
Weapon Fighting feat):
Falsing to Fling: The mistress of scrimia feints
that she is about to throw the cloak in the
opponent’s face. This works exactly like the Feint
mentioned under Bluff skill in Core Rulebook I,
except that rather than using up a standard action,
Falsing to Fling just uses up one attack with the
cloak for that round, and the opponent gains a +2
on his Sense Motive roll.
Flinging: Throwing the cloak over the mistress
of scrimia’s opponent’s head works much like
Entangling with a net (see Core Rulebook I). The
differences are: a cloak is much easier to escape
from – only DC 10 on the Escape Artist roll; there
is no trailing rope for the mistress of scrimia to
control; and the victim entangled in the cloak is
also temporarily blinded (see Core Rulebook I).
Usually, flinging is done with the assistance of
an appropriate sword, in which case one attack
with each weapon is used up, but the attack roll
is made as though the sword is the weapon being
used, without a penalty for two-weapon fighting.
If the mistress of scrimia prefers to save her sword
attack, she may fling the cloak without help from
the sword, in which case she makes her entangle
attack as a cloak attack and at the usual penalty for
two-weapon fighting.
Flinging and Thrusting: The mistress of scrimia
combines flinging the cloak with a simultaneous
attack with an appropriate sword concealed by the
cloak. This uses up one attack with each weapon,
but is difficult to do well (−2 circumstance penalty
to both the sword and the cloak attack, in addition
to the usual penalties for two-weapon fighting).
Whether the cloak hits or misses, the mistress of
scrimia’s opponent loses all dodge bonuses to AC
against her sword attack, as the sword is concealed
by the cloak. A hit from the cloak is an entangle as
in Flinging.
Desperate Flinging: If the mistress of scrimia
is wearing the cloak normally (as a cloak, rather
than a weapon) and has both hands free, she
may attempt to fling the cloak over her head by
grasping and pulling both edges near the collar.
This works just like Flinging, except that the
mistress of scrimia’s entangle attack is at –4.
Of course, this does not count as two-weapon
fighting, since it is usually used when the mistress
of scrimia has no weapon other than the cloak
available.
Colpo di Arresto: Colpo di arresto is a counterattack,
a ‘stop hit’ where the master of scrimia trusts to his
ability to esquive away from his opponent’s attack
while thrusting against him. Once per round, when
attacked, the master of scrimia may declare that he is
doing a colpo di arresto, so long as he has not used his
esquive so far that round. The master of scrimia uses
up his esquive for the round as usual in an attempt to
dodge his opponent’s attack; if his opponent misses,
he may immediately make an attack of opportunity
against him. The master of scrimia opponent loses all
dodge bonuses to AC against his attack of opportunity.
Whether it works or not, he has a -2 penalty to all
attacks for one round after doing a colpo di arresto,
including the attack of opportunity itself.
This ability may only be taught by schools that also
teach esquive.
Contratempo: This is a counter to the colpo di arresto.
The mistress of scrimia does not lose her dodge
bonus when attacked by a colpo di arresto attack of
opportunity, and if her opponent misses her, she may
make an immediate attack of opportunity against the
opponent who attempted the colpo di arresto against
her. This ability is only taught by schools that also
teach colpo di arresto.
Coup de Jarnac: The coup de Jarnac was created
spontaneously by a Frenchman during a protracted and
hard-fought duel. It is a crippling cut with the tip of a
rapier (only) to the opponent’s hamstrings, intended
to put them out of action immediately. The coup de
Jarnac is best used after wearing down one’s opponent
with minor injuries. Attempting to perform a coup de
Jarnac provokes an attack of opportunity from the
master of scrimia’s opponent. If his opponent misses,
the master of scrimia makes a standard Attack Roll,
with a penalty dependent on the opponent’s remaining
hit points:
Zero hit points –4
1 to 10 hit points –6
11 to 20 hit points –8
21 to 30 hit points –10
31 to 40 hit points –12
Etc Etc
Roll for damage as normal for the rapier, but do not
add any Strength bonus (this is an attack that must be
done with great care and precision rather than great
force). So long as the master of scrimia deals 4 or
more points of damage, he has successfully cut his
opponent’s hamstrings: the opponent immediately falls
to the floor, and may not use the leg struck at all. No
movement other than crawling is possible.
It is possible that the attentions of a good surgeon after
the fight is over may help the hamstrung character
walk again, but at best he will limp along at half speed
for the rest of his life. In games with magical healing,
a lesser restoration spell will completely cure the
damage.
Double Falsing: The smallsword is light and fast
enough to be able to make multiple feints, each
one capable of being turned into a real attack if not
defended against. While armed with a smallsword
(only), and fighting only one opponent, the mistress of
scrimia may declare a Double Falsing attack as a free
action at the start of the round. This lasts the entire
round. The mistress of scrimia makes a Bluff roll, and
her opponent makes an opposed Sense Motive roll.
If her opponent wins, the mistress of scrimia may not
make any further actions at all that round (not even
attacks of opportunity or free actions). If the mistress
of scrimia wins, she gains an attack bonus and damage
bonus equal to the amount by which she won the
contest, on each of her attacks that round.
Duo Tempo: Literally “double time”, a duo tempo is
a parry & riposte done quickly and efficiently with
the smallsword, taking full advantage of its lightness
and handiness. If the master of scrimia uses Combat
Expertise with his smallsword, his attack rolls are only
penalized by half the amount he adds to his armor
class (round down), rather than the full amount.
Esquive: An esquive is an attempt to dodge by moving
only the part of the body which is under threat, rather
than getting the entire body out of the way as with a
standard dodge. It gives the mistress of scrimia a +2
dodge bonus to AC against one attack per round (her
choice, declared before the attack roll is made). This
is not cumulative with any bonus she may have for the
Dodge feat, although you may apply her Dodge feat to
other attacks in the same round.
Lunge: The lunge was for many years a secret
attack known only to certain Italian schools. It was
so lethally effective that it could not be kept secret
forever, and so it was soon offered as part of the
curriculum of most European fencing schools. The
lunge was created to offer many of the benefits of
the charge, but with less risk and more versatility.
The master of scrimia may lunge with the rapier, the
dueling rapier, the arming sword, the longsword, or
the smallsword.
The lunge may be used with either the attack action
or the full attack action. In either case, the master of
scrimia may move 5’ more than he would usually be
able, but all his movement must be taken before his
attack, just as though he were charging. Again, like
the charge, he must move at least 10’. He gains a +1
attack bonus on his first attack roll (the lunge itself),
but takes a –1 penalty to his armor class for the entire
round in which he lunges.
Mezzo Tempo: An attack “in the middle of the time”
is a very quick stab at the opponent the moment they
attack, with the intention of landing one’s blow an
instant before they land theirs. The idea is that the
opponent’s thrust will have no force, because of the
injury one inflicts on them. Of course, this approach is
fraught with danger – even if one does get one’s attack
out in time, one’s opponent may be able to strike
anyway, if one doesn’t take him down with one blow.
Once the mistress of scrimia has mastered mezzo
tempo, any time an opponent attempts a Power Attack
against her, or attempts any attack against her with a
weapon at least twice as heavy as her own, she may
make an immediate attack of opportunity, before
her opponent’s attack roll is made. If the mistress of
scrimia wounds her opponent in mezzo tempo, the
opponent must make an immediate Fortitude save
(DC = 10 plus the damage the mistress of scrimia
inflicted) or lose his attack. If he succeeds, however,
the mistress of scrimia loses any Dodge bonus against
the attack.
Saviolo’s Ward: The master of scrimia attempts to
grab his opponent’s blade with his free hand (this does
not count as two-weapon fighting, and he suffers no
penalties for fighting with the off-hand), just as he
attacks. The great fencing-master Saviolo explained
this technique as follows: “this weapon must bee
used with a glove, and if a man should be without a
glove, it were better to hazard a little hurt of the hand,
thereby to become maister of his enemies Swoorde,
than to breake with the swoord, and so give his enemy
the advantage of him.” The master of scrimia may
attempt Saviolo’s ward up to once per round, when an
opponent attacks him. The master of scrimia gives up
any dodge bonus against his opponent for one round.
The master of scrimia makes an attack roll opposed
to his opponent’s attack roll. If the opponent equals
or beats the master of scrimia, the opponent’s attack
strikes as normal. If the master of scrimia wins, he
has grabbed the blade of the opponent’s sword. The
opponent’s attack automatically misses the master of
scrimia, and the opponent can no longer use her blade
until she frees it by making an opposed Grapple check
against the master of scrimia (see Core Rulebook I
p137). Unless the master of scrimia is wearing armor,
he may take some damage in the process of grabbing
the blade – the opponent rolls her normal damage as if
for a successful hit, and the master of scrimia subtracts
one from it for each +1 by which he beat her attack
roll.
Stesso Tempo: Literally “self time”, a stesso tempo is
traditionally done with the rapier and main gauche, but
may be performed with the rapier in one hand and any
light weapon or small shield in the other. The mistress
of scrimia uses one weapon to parry, and the other to
simultaneously riposte. She declares a stesso tempo at
the start of her action.
For the following round, the mistress of scrimia gain
+2 to AC, but lose all her attacks with one of her
weapons. Her other weapon attacks as normal, with
the usual penalties for fighting with two weapons, but
unless her target has either two weapons, or a weapon
and a shield, he loses all dodge bonuses against the
mistress of scrimia’s attacks, and she gains +2 to
damage.
This ability may also be used offensively, so long as
the mistress of scrimia has the Beat or Bind ability.
In that case, she does not gain any AC bonus for the
ability. Instead, she uses one weapon to either beat or
bind the opponent’s weapon as usual (but she may not
use her said weapon for any other purpose this round),
and the other to attack. The attacking weapon gains
the same benefits to the attack as above, but only if
The mistress of scrimia has successfully used a beat or
bind against her target’s weapon.
Quart Guard: With the development of the
extraordinarily light & maneuverable smallsword, a
new stance was devised, with the blade in quarte and
the body turned more to the side than ever before.
The off-hand is held up behind the body for balance,
and the rear foot is pointed diagonally backwards,
allowing the fencer to quickly step back or “retire”
from any attacks. The narrow profile and ease of
defense gives the master of scrimia a +2 AC, so long
he is fighting only one opponent, but he may only
use this stance when armed with a smallsword. In
addition, his off-hand must be completely empty, and
may not be used for anything other than balance (that
is, he may not use it for Enclosing, Saviolo’s Ward
etc). If the master of scrimia opponent’s weapon has
reach, his AC bonus is only +1, not +2.
Example Schools:
A French Rapier School
Skills Taught: Balance, Heal, Intimidate, Jump, Sense
Motive, Tumble
Special Abilities Taught, by Level:
1st: Bind
2nd: Beat
3rd: Esquive
4th: Lunge
5th: Colpo di Arresto
6th: Coup de Jarnac
7th: Bonetti’s Defence
8th: Cloak Deceits
9th: Saviolo’s Ward
10th: Botta Segrete
A French Smallsword School An Italian Sword School
Skills Taught: Balance, Bluff, Intimidate, Jump, Ride, Skills Taught: Balance, Climb, Heal, Intimidate,
Sense Motive Jump, Ride

Special Abilities Taught, by Level: Special Abilities Taught, by Level:

1st: Quart Guard 1st: Bind
2nd: Lunge 2nd: Beat
3rd: Esquive 3rd: Stesso Tempo
4th: Double Falsing 4th: Lunge
5th: Duo Tempo 5th: Esquive
6th: Cavatione 6th: Cavatione
7th: Colpo di Arresto 7th: Saviolo’s Ward
8th: Contratempo 8th: Coup de Jarnac
9th: Mezzo Tempo 9th: Mezzo Tempo
10th: Botta Segrete 10th: Botta Segrete

A Flamboyant French School An Eclectic Italian School

Skills Taught: Balance, Bluff, Jump, Perform, Sense Skills Taught: Balance, Bluff, Heal, Intimidate, Jump,
Motive, Tumble Tumble.

Special Abilities Taught, by Level: Special Abilities Taught, by Level:

1st: Stesso Tempo 1st: Quart Guard
2nd: Cavatione 2nd: Lunge
3rd: Esquive 3rd: Esquive
4th: Lunge 4th: Beat
5th: Bind 5th: Bind
6th: Cloak Deceits 6th: Coup de Jarnac
7th: Bonetti’s Defence 7th: Bonetti’s Defence
8th: Coup de Jarnac 8th: Cloak Deceits
9th: Mezzo Tempo 9th: Saviolo’s Ward
10th: Botta Segrete 10th: Botta Segrete

An Italian Rapier School A Stalwart German School

Skills Taught: Balance, Climb, Heal, Intimidate, Skills Taught: Balance, Climb, Heal, Intimidate,
Ride, Sense Motive Ride, Sense Motive

Special Abilities Taught, by Level: Special Abilities Taught, by Level:

1st: Bind 1st: Bind
2nd: Lunge 2nd: Beat
3rd: Stesso Tempo 3rd: Esquive
4th: Beat 4th: Lunge
5th: Esquive 5th: Colpo di Arresto
6th: Cloak Deceits 6th: Cavatione
7th: Colpo di Arresto 7th: Saviolo’s Ward
8th: Contratempo 8th: Contratempo
9th: Saviolo’s Ward 9th: Mezzo Tempo
10th: Botta Segrete 10th: Botta Segrete
Western Martial
Artist
(Historical, Renaissance, European)
Western martial artists are true grandmasters of the
sword, capable of rapidly switching between a variety
of dark ages, medieval, and renaissance combat
techniques from all over Europe, as required by the
situation.
Class Skills and Attributes
Skills: Balance, Bluff, Concentration, Knowledge,
Jump, Perform, Sense Motive, Tumble.
Skill Points at each level: 2 + Int modifier
Hit Dice: d8
Requirements
Base Attack Bonus: +10
Class Features: At least 5 of the following class
features, from at least 3 different prestige classes:
Afirmase, Avoidance & Setting Aside +1, Beat, Bind,
Cavatione, Curvo, Enclosing, Improved Weapon
Focus, Lunge, On the Sword (Sunder), Stesso Tempo,
Quart Guard.
Special Abilities
Exotic Weapon Proficiency: Choose one feat from
the following: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (bastard
sword, cavalry saber, dueling rapier, executioner’s
sword, or grosse messer), or Exotic Sword.
Versatility: The western martial artist may use
any of the class features that he possesses from the
fechtmeister or master of fence classes, using any of
the following weapons, rather than specifically with
the weapons associated with those classes: arming
sword, bastard sword, cavalry saber, dueling rapier,
falchion, greatsword, grosse messer, longsword, rapier,
saber, scimitar, smallsword. Furthermore, the western
martial artist may use any of the class features that he
possesses from the diestro or master of scrimia, classes
using any of the following one-handed weapons, rather
than specifically with the weapons associated with
those classes: arming sword, bastard sword, cavalry
saber, dueling rapier, grosse messer, longsword, rapier,
saber, scimitar, smallsword. The only exception to this
is the quart guard class feature, which can still only be
used with smallswords. Any other restrictions noted in
the individual class features still apply; for example,
requirements that the character possess Weapon Focus
feat for the relevant weapon.

2 Class Features: Choose any two class features

Class Features
Weapon and Armor Proficiency
The western martial artist gains no new weapon or
armor proficiencies, except as noted below.
from two different classes from the following: diestro,
fechtmeister, master of fence, master of scrimia. You
must already possess the class feature for the level
immediately below the level the desired class feature
comes from.

The Western Martial Artist

Class Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special
1st +1 +0 +2 +0 Exotic Weapon Proficiency, Versatility
2nd +2 +0 +3 +0 2 Class Features
3rd +3 +1 +3 +1 2 Class Features
4th +4 +1 +4 +1 2 Class Features
5th +5 +1 +4 +1 2 Class Features
6th +6 +2 +5 +2 2 Class Features
7th +7 +2 +5 +2 2 Class Features
8th +8 +2 +6 +2 2 Class Features
9th +9 +3 +6 +3 2 Class Features
10th +10 +3 +7 +3 2 Class Features
A Legendary Sword
(Artifact)
The following is a good example of how to keep the
mystique in magical swords in your campaign. The
blades of legend aren’t merely “+3 Holy Swords” or
what-have-you; they have names, associated myths,
and some kind of personalities (even the ones that are
not intelligent).
Sköfnung, the Snake-Sword:
Kormak’s Saga tells of this magical blade: “You may
find this sword hard to handle. It comes with a cover,
which you must leave in place at all times. The sun
must not shine on the guard, nor must you draw the
blade unless you are making ready to fight. When you
come to the place of combat, sit alone and draw the
sword. Hold up the blade and blow on it; then a small
snake will creep from under the guard. Point the blade
down to make it easy for the snake to creep back under
the guard.”
This is a blade for special uses, not for wielding every
day. It takes 1 melee round to remove the cover, which
should be done when the sword is drawn and in hand.
If the sword is ever exposed to sunlight, it must be
used in combat within the next 10 minutes, or the
sword loses all beneficial magical properties for 1d6
weeks and instead becomes a -2 Cursed sword for that
period.
Furthermore, certain people get on well with this
blade… and others do not. As Skeggi tells Kormak:
“It is cold and slow, and you are hot and hasty.” It is
Lawful Neutral in alignment. If a Chaotically aligned
character draws it from its cover and scabbard, or
wields it, it loses its magic and becomes Cursed for
1d6 weeks, as above. The same unfortunate fate occurs
if a character who is hasted, or a character who has a
strong connection to the Fire element (for example,
a character currently affected by an Fire descriptor
spells, or a member of a flame-oriented prestige class,
or a character whose race is fire-breathing or who has
Fire immunity/resistance), ever draws or wields the
sword. Any such character (Chaotic, fiery, or hasted)
will in any case be unable to draw the blade from
its scabbard at all, unless they use both hands and
succeed in a Strength check (DC 25). Lying down and
bracing both feet against the scabbard will give a +2
circumstance bonus on the check.
Sköfnung was once owned by King Hrólfr Kraki, a
legendary 6th century ruler of Denmark. His name
meant “famous wolf.” It is said that the spirits of
Hrólfr Kraki and his elite bodyguard of 12 renowned
berserkers inhabit the blade, giving it its deadly power.
At one time it was buried with him in his tomb, but
by the time of Kormak’s Saga it was owned by one
Skeggi.
Sköfnung is a Viking Jarl’s sword in terms of quality .
When it is treated correctly, and so has not lost its
powers (as described above), Sköfnung functions as a
+3 sword. It grants its wielder the power to enter into
a ‘cold fury,’ a state similar to a barbarian’s greater
rage, but remain cold and calculating throughout: once
per day, he gains a +6 bonus to Strength, a +6 bonus
to Constitution, and a +3 morale bonus on Will saves,
but without any penalty to Armor Class. He may still
use feats, spells, magic items, Intelligence-, Charisma-
, and Wisdom-based abilities, and so on, as usual. A
barbarian character who can also rage may not enter
a cold fury at the same time as raging, or vice versa;
he must wait till the one state ends before entering the
other. A cold fury lasts for 10 rounds, or as long as
the character continues to wield Sköfnung, whichever
ends soonest.
If the wielder takes a full-round action to blow on
the blade, as described to Kormak, he may attempt
to coax out the serpent that dwells under the guard.
This requires a DC 20 Charisma check and may be
attempted once per round, with a +2 bonus if the
character is of Lawful Good or Lawful Evil alignment,
and a +4 bonus if he is of Lawful Neutral alignment. If
the character rolls between 15 and 19 on the Charisma
check, he may try again the following round. If he
rolls between 5 and 14, he may not try again for at
least 24 hours. If he rolls less than 5, the sword loses
its magic and becomes Cursed for 1d6 months, as
mentioned above.
When the serpent has been coaxed out into the
blade, Sköfnung’s bonus rises to +5, and it becomes
axiomatic (in addition to its other Law/Chaos-related
effects), frost, and capable of casting a poison spell
once per day exactly like that of a dagger of venom.
However, the wielder takes a -4 penalty on Initiative,
as the sword is “slow.”
Strong evocation & necromancy; CL 20th; Weight 2 lb.
Appendix: Code Duello
Duels, Prize-Fights, and Stage-Gladiator Matches
Dueling is an essential part of the life of all honorable
folk, at least in Europe between around the 15th and
19th centuries. Its forms are many and varied; one of
the most important reasons for the opponents’ seconds
to meet up beforehand is to agree on precisely which
rules the duel will follow, since there are variations
by region, culture, and simple inclination. To add to
the confusion, the English fencing-masters practice a
tradition of prize-fighting, whereby they publicly fight
one another as a demonstration of prowess, rather than
to settle scores – yet even these supposedly non-lethal
fights can get out of hand, and finish up virtually as
duels. Some fencing-masters make prize-fighting into
a way of life, earning a fair living from their art, in
which case they are known as stage-gladiators. Stage-
gladiators tend not to be so hot-headed as other prize-
fighters, but there are notable exceptions, and they still
use live weapons, so serious injuries or fatalities are
still possible.
Duels
Most duels are far less formal affairs than is usually
imagined. Although the truly honorable combatants
are aware of, and abide by, the rules of dueling, most
people are less than completely honorable when their
lives are on the line – and it is easy to simply forget
one of the formal rules in the heat of the moment. It
is not uncommon for duels to descend into simple
bloodbaths, with the seconds and even innocent
bystanders becoming involved in the slaughter as one
or other combatant is accused of cheating. Some duels
have virtually no rules anyway – pirates settling their
differences on some lonely beach are unlikely to pay
much regard to formality and tradition. What follows
is one of many sets of historical dueling rules, the
Code Duello, but the Games Master should always
bear in mind that regional and cultural variations, as
well as agreement between the seconds, can all mean
that quite different rules will be used in any particular
duel. For example, the standard Code Duello states
that though the challenged chooses the weapon and the
ground, but the challenger chooses the distance; some
duelists would consider that the challenged should
choose the weapon and distance, and the challenger
the ground, or some other variation.
The Code Duello
Rule 1
The first offense requires the first apology, even when
the second offense was more severe than the first. For
example: A tells B he is impertinent; B retorts that
A lies; yet A must make the first apology because he
gave the first offense, and then (after one shot) B may
explain away the retort by a subsequent apology.
Rule 2
But if the parties would rather fight on, then after two
shots each (but in no case before), B may explain first,
and A apologize afterward.
N.B. The above rules apply to all cases of offenses in
retort not of stronger class than the example.
Rule 3
If a doubt exists as to who gave the first offense, the
decision rests with the seconds; if they won’t decide,
or can’t agree, the matter must proceed to two shots,
or to a hit, if the challenger requires it.
Rule 4
When a direct lie is the first offense, the aggressor
must either beg pardon in express terms; exchange two
shots previous to apology; or three shots followed up
by explanation; or fire on till a severe hit be received
by one party or the other.
Rule 5
As a blow is strictly prohibited under any
circumstances among gentlemen, no verbal apology
can be received for such an insult. The alternatives,
therefore, are as follows: the offender handing a cane
to the injured party, to be used on his own back, at
the same time begging pardon; firing on until one or
both are disabled; or exchanging three shots, and then
asking pardon without proffer of the cane.
If swords are used, the parties engage until one is
well blooded, disabled, or disarmed; or until, after
receiving a wound, and blood being drawn, the
aggressor begs pardon.
N.B. A disarm is considered the same as a disable.
The disarmer may (strictly) break his adversary’s
sword; but if it is the challenger who is disarmed, it is
considered ungenerous to do so.
In the case that the challenged be disarmed and
refuses to ask pardon or atone, he must not be killed,
as in former times; but the challenger may lay his
own sword on the aggressor’s shoulder, then break
the aggressor’s sword and say, “I spare your life!”
The challenged can never revive the quarrel − the
challenger may.
Rule 6
If A gives B the lie, and B retorts by a blow (being the
two greatest offenses), no reconciliation can take place
till after two discharges each, or a severe hit; after
which B may beg A’s pardon humbly for the blow and
then A may explain simply for the lie; because a blow
is never allowable, and the offense of the lie, therefore,
merges in it. (See preceding rules.)
N.B. Challenges for undivulged causes may
be reconciled on the ground, after one shot. An
explanation or the slightest hit should be sufficient in
such cases, because no personal offense transpired.
Rule 7
But no apology can be received, in any case, after the
parties have actually taken ground, without exchange
of fires.
Rule 8
In the above case, no challenger is obliged to divulge
his cause of challenge (if private) unless required by
the challenged so to do before their meeting.
Rule 9
All imputations of cheating at play, races, etc., to
be considered equivalent to a blow; but may be
reconciled after one shot, on admitting their falsehood
and begging pardon publicly.
Rule 10
Any insult to a lady under a gentleman’s care or
protection to be considered as, by one degree, a greater Rule 19
offense than if given to the gentleman personally, and
to be regulated accordingly.
Rule 11
Offenses originating or accruing from the support
of ladies’ reputations, to be considered as less
unjustifiable than any others of the same class, and as
admitting of slighter apologies by the aggressor: this
to be determined by the circumstances of the case, but
always favorable to the lady.
Rule 13
No dumb shooting or firing in the air is admissible in
any case. The challenger ought not to have challenged
without receiving offense; and the challenged ought,
if he gave offense, to have made an apology before
he came on the ground; therefore, children’s play
must be dishonorable on one side or the other, and is
accordingly prohibited.
Rule 14
Seconds to be of equal rank in society with the
principals they attend, inasmuch as a second may
either choose or chance to become a principal, and
equality is indispensible.
Rule 15
Challenges are never to be delivered at night, unless
the party to be challenged intend leaving the place of
offense before morning; for it is desirable to avoid all
hot-headed proceedings.
Rule 16
The challenged has the right to choose his own
weapon, unless the challenger gives his honor he is no
swordsman; after which, however, the challenger may
not decline any second species of weapon proposed by
the challenged.
Rule 17
The challenged chooses his ground; the challenger
chooses his distance; the seconds fix the time and
terms of firing.
Rule 18
The seconds load in the presence of each other, unless
they give their mutual honors they have charged
smooth and single, which should be held sufficient.
Firing may be regulated − first by signal; secondly,
by word of command; or thirdly, at pleasure − as
may be agreeable to the parties. In the latter case, the
parties may fire at their reasonable leisure, but second
presents and rests are strictly prohibited.
Rule 20
In all cases a miss-fire is equivalent to a shot, and a
snap or non-cock is to be considered as a miss-fire.
Rule 21
Seconds are bound to attempt a reconciliation before
the meeting takes place, or after sufficient firing or
hits, as specified.
Rule 22
Any wound sufficient to agitate the nerves and
necessarily make the hand shake, must end the
business for that day.
Rule 23
If the cause of the meeting be of such a nature that
no apology or explanation can or will be received,
the challenged takes his ground, and calls on the
challenger to proceed as he chooses; in such cases,
firing at pleasure is the usual practice, but may be
varied by agreement.
Rule 24
In slight cases, the second hands his principal but one
pistol; but in gross cases, two, holding another case
ready charged in reserve.
Rule 25
Where seconds disagree, and resolve to exchange
shots themselves, it must be at the same time and at
right angles with their principals, thus:
If with swords, side by side, with five paces interval.
Optional rules:
Rule 26
No party can be allowed to bend his knee or cover his
side with his left hand, but may present at any level
from the hip to the eye.
Rule 27
None can either advance or retreat if the ground is
measured. If no ground be measured, either party may
advance at his pleasure, even to the touch of muzzles,
but neither can advance on his adversary after the fire,
unless the adversary steps forward on him.
N.B. The seconds on both sides stand responsible for
this last rule being strictly observed, bad cases having
occurred from neglecting it.
Rule 28
In simple, unpremeditated encounters with the
smallsword, or sabre, the rule is − first draw, first
sheath, unless blood is drawn; then both sheath, and
proceed to investigation.
PIRATE DUELS
“We’ll settle it buccaneer fashion – toe-to-toe, with
cutlasses!” – Captain Dudley
Pirate duels are almost always desperately informal
affairs in comparison to ‘gentlemanly’ duels, although
of course most pirates would regard their own duels as
the height of formality – they have more rules than a
simple brawl does, after all – and in fact the sense of
fair play that a crew often have may mean that a pirate
duel is more honorable than some. Of course, the more
cut-throat crews will take an anything-goes attitude,
and may even applaud a particularly clever bit of
cheating!
Pirate duels almost always take place ashore, unless
they are extremely impromptu affairs. The close
confines of a ship are simply not the right place to
fight a duel. Likewise, the commonest weapons used
in a pirate duel are simply whatever melee weapons
the combatants prefer – and if that means rapier versus
boarding-axe, then so be it! Pistols are not really
considered vicious or lethal enough for a serious
grudge match – hacking at your foe with a cutlass
is so much less impersonal, and lets you save your
ammunition for boarding actions, when it might be a
bit more useful. Any attempt to ‘equalize’ matters by
pulling out a pocket-pistol and shooting an opponent
who is beating you in melee combat is likely to be
looked on with disgust and extreme violence by
onlookers – it’s a great way to get shot in the back
with a musket by one of your enemy’s mates, or just
by another pirate with a sense of fair play.
An additional method of dueling is typically
performed as a spectator sport, with two prisoners or
disfavored pirates dueling for the amusement of the
crew. This sport is usually named the “Dead Man’s
Chest” for the small sandbar it typically takes place
on. A rapier is firmly swathed to each combatant’s
right hand, their left hand is firmly tied behind their
back, and a tarred hood is drawn over their head and
tied in place. Then a hawking bell is tied on them, and
the two are let loose to track each other by the sound
of the bells. In game terms, each combatant is blind
(50% miss chance) and has a -2 penalty to Listen
checks due to the hood. The bells penalize move
silently rolls by -10. Each combatant must make a
Listen check to determine what square their opponent
is in. The pirate crew typically watches and cheers
from a longboat as the two duelists stumble back and
forth across the sandbar, each trying to hear and kill
their opponent first.
PRIZEFIGHTS
In Tudor England and a little later, sword duels are a
popular form of entertainment for wealthy Englishmen
and even a fair portion of the lower classes. These
duels are fought to win a purse rather than settle
a grievance. English masters of fencing can make
comfortable living performing these exhibition
matches, which are fought until one combatant is
disarmed, or until first blood. In some cases, judges
break ties based on the form and grace displayed
by the fighters. The code duello is applied strictly
to prizefights, and any breaching of it means an
automatic loss for the offender.
Although large sums of money are often at stake,
both men fighting in these duels are professional
swordsmen who approach the fight calmly and
practice hard to show off their craft. In rare cases, one
of the duelers may lose his temper and turn the fight
into something more serious; judges often step in to
stop the duel at this point, but just as often they do not.
Prizefights are conducted as normal melee combats. A
purse is worth 10-40 gold pieces.
A duelist can line up between one and four duels a
week, but most do not keep such a rigorous schedule.
STAGE GLADIATOR MATCHES
These entertainments are akin to modern-day
professional wrestling. They involve two or more
highly trained swordsmen going through carefully
practiced routines for the entertainment of an audience
at a tavern, festival, or marketplace.
At the start of each bout, a “storyline” is established—
a fiction describing why the fighters are locked in
combat—and then the performance starts. The amount
of money made by the fighters is based on their level
of showmanship and the entertainment they provide.
Payment is provided directly by audience members,
who toss coins into the arena. Less-skilled stage
gladiators may fight with wooden weapons, although
the ones who want to make decent money use real
blades. In these matches, the code duello is more part
of the script than something that is actually followed
to the letter.
Stage gladiator matches are more show than combat,
and those who engage in them must have ranks in
Perform or a base attack bonus of +3 or better. Unless
a player specifically states that he is attacking his
fellow performers with the intent of doing harm (or
if the GM knows an NPC has similar designs), it is
assumed that none of those involved in stage gladiator
matches intends harm to other performers.
In these matches, a successful attack roll or Perform
check means the attacker is able to swing his weapon
at his foe but draw just short enough so the audience
doesn’t notice that he is checking his swing. If an
attack roll is made, the DC is 10 + opponent’s Dex
- attacker’s Perform ranks. Defenders must usually
make successful Perform checks (DC 12) to make the
attack look particularly believable, but if the attack
roll is a critical, the attacker has put on such a good
show that a Perform check from the defender is not
needed. If the attacker misses an attack roll by 2 or
more, damage is rolled as normal, as the attacker has
accidentally wounded the defender.
Injuries do happen in these matches, and they often
result in even more money being tossed upon the
stage. An average performance can earn participants
a total of 1d20 sp per average character level of the
combatants, with an additional +5 sp for each real
injury or critical scored during the fight.
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