Path of the Duelist

The Path of the Duelist trains you in graceful art of swordfighting and parrying. This Path is recommended for DEX-focused fighters who want to protect themselves from enemy melee attacks and excel in single-target melee combat.

**Requirements**: Parry (Fighter)

**Path Completion Bonus**: +1 Dexterity

## Core Abilities

**Skirmishing Speed**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: Passive

For every 4 abilities purchased in the Path of the Duelist, gain +1 Speed.

**Fencer's Grip**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +1 to CHA rolls involving another person if you have shaken their hand this Encounter.

**Counter-Parry**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Attack, 1 Reaction

Declare to use this ability when you make your attack. If your target attempts to Parry your attack, your Accuracy immediately increases by +20 and your attack deals an additional 2d6 damage if it succeeds.

**Daring Duelist**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: Passive

At the start of each of your turns, if you are not within 3 meters of any allies, gain 1 Alert and gain +10 Accuracy when using Parry. This Alert is lost if not spent at the start of your next turn.

**Feint**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: 1 Action, 2 Vim

*You draw your opponent into falsely believing you are making an attack.*

Choose an adjacent enemy. They lose 1 Alert and 5 Vim.

**Practiced Parrier**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +10 Accuracy when using Parry.

**Mano A Mano**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: Attack, 2 Vim

Y*ou duel an enemy one on one.*

This ability is usable only when you declare a melee basic attack against an enemy and neither you nor your target are adjacent to any of your respective allies. This attack gains +20 Accuracy and +6 damage.

**Fast Feet I**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: Passive

Your Speed increases permanently by 1.

**Quick Footwork**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: 1 Reaction, X Vim up to 3

*Your steps are swift and short.*

Move 1+X hex(es). This ability can be activated only on your turn.

**Rapid Parry**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse, Alacrity

**Activation**: 1 Reaction, 3 Vim

Until your next turn, using Parry is a Free Reaction for you but costs an additional 2 Vim.

**Dueling Mastery**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

For all of your basic attacks, deal an extra 1d6 damage whenever you roll a 6 on your damage roll. This effect can trigger multiple times.

**Riposte**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Parry, 4 Vim

When you successfully Parry an attack, you may make a single attack with the weapon you used to Parry against the target you parried. Treat this as a Parry for the purpose of bonuses to Accuracy.

**Disarming Riposte**

**Prerequisite**: **Riposte**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Parry, X Vim

*You attempt to parry and disarm your opponent.*

Declare this ability when you activate **Riposte**. Instead of making an attack after you Parry, your opponent's weapon is disarmed. This costs an amount of Vim equal to their Dexterity. If you have a free hand you may grab their weapon. Otherwise it falls to the ground in a random adjacent hex, or in a hex up to six meters away at the GM’s discretion.

**Lunge and Recover**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Attack, 2 Vim

*You lunge before your attack and recover to your original footing after the attack.*

This ability is usable when making a melee basic attack. Before you attack, move one hex. After your attack, move back to the hex you started in.

**Parry Expertise**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +10 Accuracy to all Parries.

**Parrying Professional**

**Prerequisite**: **Parry Expertise**

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +10 Accuracy to all Parries.

**Parry Mastery**

**Prerequisite**: **Parrying Professional**

**Cost**: 500 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you Parry successfully, gain another Reaction.

**Parry Projectile**

**Prerequisite**: **Parry Mastery**

**Cost**: 600 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

*You are able to deflect arrows and bullets out of the air.*

You may Parry ranged attacks by spending 1 Vim.

**Resourceful Duelist**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

You may Parry even when you are not holding a melee weapon. If there is a nearby object, you may grab it and use that as an Improvised weapon, or you may Parry unarmed or with a ranged weapon.

**Hasty Lunge**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: 1 Action, 2 Vim

Make a melee basic attack. This ability is usable once per turn.

**Clever Twist**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Attack, X MP up to 3

This attack deals an extra Xd6 damage.

**Full Thrust**

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Attack, X Vim up to DEX

This attack deals an extra 2X damage.

**Ranged Riposte**

**Prerequisite**: **Parry Projectile, Riposte**

**Cost**: 700 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

You may **Riposte** with a ranged weapon; **Ripostes** performed in this way cost 1 additional Vim.

## Gift Exclusives

**Twist the Dagger**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Prerequisite**: Gift of Finesse

**Activation**: Free Reaction, 3 Vim

This ability can be used only immediately after directly hitting with a melee attack. Deal an additional 1d6+6 damage.

**Steady Hand**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Prerequisite**: Gift of Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Gain +10 Accuracy on all attacks.

**Top Notch**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Cost**: 300 XP

**Prerequisite**: Gift of Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you are at full HP, all of your melee attacks deal an additional 1d6 damage.

## Course of Heroism

**Deceitful Duel**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Heroism

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Attack, 3 Vim

This ability is usable only when you declare a melee basic attack against an enemy and neither you nor your target are adjacent to any of your respective allies. This attack deals an additional 2d6 damage, or 6d6 if you are Supported.

**En Garde**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Heroism

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: 1 Action, 2 Vim

*You take a defensive stance.*

Gain 1 Alert. For each time you are Supported when you use this ability, the effect triggers again.

**You Have My Saber**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Heroism

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: 1 Action, 5 Vim

All adjacent allies gain DEX Armor and are Supported until the end of the Encounter or until they are no longer adjacent to you (whichever comes first). Additionally, whenever an ally is attacked while still benefitting from this ability, you may make a skill strike against their attacker as a Free Reaction. This ability can be used only once per Encounter.

## Course of Combat

**Duelist's Dare**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Combat

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited** **for**: Finesse

**Activation**: 1 Action

This ability is usable when you are not adjacent to any allies. Threaten any number of adjacent enemies.

## Course of Damages

**Sapping Spar**

*This ability is not required for the Path Completion Bonus.*

**Prerequisite**: Course of Damages

**Cost**: 400 XP

**Expedited for**: Finesse

**Activation**: Passive

Whenever you deal Vim damage to a non-unique Cog, deal five times as much.