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, increasing it from 2 to 3. This bonus increases to +2 at Rank 3. A staff fighter has improved control of her chosen weapon. 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 attack damage 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. The combatant may utilize a Full-Round Action (or Full Action) to Parry Attack, enabling her to counter a single melee attack within Reach before her next turn. 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	In place of a standard Parry Attack, the fighter may choose to Double Parry enabling her to parry one attack each from two separate targets before her next turn, even if they move at different initiatives. Double Parry may not be attempted in combination with either Counter Strike or Intercept Attack.
Rank 4	Intercept Attack	The fighter may may ready a Parry Attack as a Standard Action instead of a Full Action. This allows the character to move on her turn, and then also ready a Parry Attack. Intercept Attack may not be attempted in combination with either Counter Strike or Double Parry.
Rank 5	Counter Strike	The fighter may ready a Parry Attack and immediately follow it up with a regular melee attack as a Full Action. Counter Strike may not be attempted in combination with either Intercept Attack or Double Parry.