Fighting Style: Staves

Requirements

• Melee (Crushing) 3
• Rank 1-5, 1 CC point per Rank or 3 GXP x Rank

Effects

Rank 1	Staff Fighter	In the hands of an experienced wielder, staves gain +1 to their base weapon damage. This bonus increases to +2 at Rank 3. Each time a character makes an attack with a staff, she may elect to choose to keep the original non-lethal damage of the staff, or instead cause lethal damage. This choice must be made before the attack is rolled.
Rank 2	Parry Attack	While wielding a staff, a trained fighter passively gains +1 Parry. This increases to +2 at Rank 3, and +3 at Rank 5. As a Standard Action you prepare to counter a melee attack within reach before your next action. When an incoming attack is declared, the staff fighter must attempt an attack roll vs. the attacker's unmodified attack roll. The staff fighter's roll gains a bonus equal to the amount of Parry she has. If the number of successes obtained by the staff fighter is greater than that of the attacker, the incoming attack is effectively negated and deals no damage. Attacks deflected in this way do not hit and trigger any Wards, reactive Armors, or other defenses. A successful Parry Attack immediately deals Non-Lethal Damage equal to the difference between the Parry Attack roll and the incoming attack.
Rank 3	Double Parry	When performing a Parry Attack, the fighter may parry up to one attack each from two separate attackers before their next turn, even if they move at different initiatives.
Rank 4	Intercept Attack	As a Full Round Action you prepare to counter a melee attack within movement range before your next action. This allows the character to reactively move, and then perform a Parry Attack. Example: On Jack's turn she activates Intercept Attack. She may choose to move and attempt to Parry Attack any attack within her movement without losing her place in the turn order. Due to Double Parry, she could attempt to parry a second attack, but may not move again to do so.
Rank 5	Counter Strike	Character may ready a Parry Attack and perform a regular melee attack as a Full Action.