Date: Tue, 03 Aug 1999 20:48:57 +0100 From: Dominic Gugas Subject: [7thSea] Sabre swordsman school? First of all, "hello the list!" I just picked up this game system last week, and will be running a first adventure on the weekend. So far my players have stopped drooling over my copy of the player's book long enough to come up with an Objectionist Eisen chaplain and an Avalon sorceress... Theus alone knows what the third player will decide on! Now, I have an idea for a swordsman school, initially for an NPC but I may allow players access to it, and would appreciate any comment from the list: BLITZEN Country of origin: Eisen Description: Blitzen ("lightning") is a fighting style taught by several Eisen military academies to aspiring officers. It is a one-handed weapon style, and Blitzen swordsman on the battlefield usually carry a pistol in the off hand which is fired before closing to swordfighting range. It eschews the rapier in favour of a sabre (an edged sword similar to the smallsword) and keeps the off hand out of harm's way - usually resting against the hip. The style emphasises lightning-fast slashes and seizing the initiative, stating that "he who controls the tempo of battle controls its outcome". This principle is extended beyond the fencing salle to command of troops in battle - the Blitzen school creates officers, not duellists. Blitzen's weakness lies in its lightning fast offence; an opponent who can draw one of these attacks and misdirect it will find the Blitzen student briefly over-extended and open to a counterstrike. Basic curriculum: Fencing, Commander Swordsman knacks: Beat (Fencing), Corps-a-corps, Riposte (Fencing), Exploit Weakness (Blitzen). Apprentice technique: The Blitzen fencer can double-slash (similar to the Pugilism Jab knack), making two attacks in one action against the same target with the TN raised by 10 for both attacks. Journeyman technique: Blitzen journeymen often inflict scalp wounds on enemies; blood flowing into the eyes then blinds the target and leaves them open to further attacks. The journeyman must spend a Drama Die, and if the attack hits then the target must increase his next Action die by 1 plus 1 for every raise made. If this increases the Action die above 10, it is discarded. Master technique: A Blitzen master controls the tempo of battle - while using this technique, at the start of each round he may choose to reroll one of his Action dice once in the hope of a result more to his liking - the rerolled result must be kept. Any suggestions - do people think the techniques are in the right order, are they of an appropriate power level, any comments from people who fenced more sabre than the few hours I've done? --