Combat
Deeds represent the attacks, spells, and tricks you attempt in battle. Unlike most combat actions, deeds are uncertain: when you attempt one, you make a virtue check using your key virtue to determine its outcome. Some deeds harm your foes, while others protect or support you and your allies.
You can attempt a deed on your turn with the attempt deed ✦➤ action. You are limited to one deed each turn, though there are a few ways to surpass this limit.
Deeds fall into three tiers of power: common, great, and mythic. Common deeds have no cost to use, while great and mythic deeds require that you spend a resource called focus.
Other than the categories below, deeds are separated into two groups:
Attacks are harmful deeds meant to directly assail your foes.
Gambits are tactical deeds meant to gain an advantage. They might protect, strengthen, or heal your companions; hinder or manipulate your foes; or otherwise turn the situation in your favour.
To attempt a deed, you must be wielding the appropriate instrument for it. If you're wielding multiple suitable instruments, choose which one you use when you attempt the deed.
Innate deeds require no specific weapon or catalyst to attempt. You can always attempt an innate deed, no matter what you are holding in your hands.
Melee deeds require your free hand or a melee weapon in hand, such as a hammer or sword. Most melee weapons have a range of 1 square, meaning they can be attempted against adjacent creatures only. A few weapons, such as spears, have a melee range of 2 squares.
Ranged deeds require a ranged weapon such, as a bow or a sling. When attempting a ranged deed, you can only target creatures and areas within that weapon's range.
Spell deeds require either a free hand or a catalyst, such as a wand or a staff. When using a free hand, your range is 4 squares. When using a catalyst, you can target creatures and areas within that catalyst's range.
Tool deeds require a free hand, which you use to deploy the appropriate tool. Tool deeds have a variable range, but usually it is equal to your throwing distance, 4 + Grace. You don't need any specific tool in your inventory in order to attempt them, but many items give you access to tool deeds.
Versatile deeds can be attempted with either a melee or a ranged weapon. If the weapon you are holding, like a throwing dagger, you can choose whether to attempt it as a ranged or a melee deed. When attempting a versatile deed, it counts as the chosen type for the purposes of feats, talents, and any other effects.
When you attempt a deed, make a deed roll using your key virtue.
After you make your deed roll, you apply the effects of the deed line by line to the targets. On a conflict result, apply the conflict effects. On a triumph, first apply the conflict effects, then apply the triumph effects.
When you fail a deed, it usually has no effect. In addition, nearby enemies may seize the opportunity to counter ⤾.
When a creature within your reach ✖ fails a deed or check against you, use a reaction to deal † damage to them. Add † for each additional shadow they incur. You can also counter if a creature rolls a tainted pair.
When you succeed on deeds, you usually deal some damage. Damage is expressed using symbols.
A sword † means your weapon rating and uses an armament's supply die.
Omega Ω means your spell rating and uses a catalyst's supply die.
Add the listed symbols together. The total is the damage dealt to each target and subtracted from their pool of vigor.
Some features let you add additional damage to your deeds. This damage is only added if you deal any damage at all (minimum of 0, rather than null).
If a deed has a before effect, you resolve it immediately, before selecting targets and making the roll. If a deed has an after effect, you resolve it at the very end, after you deal damage and inflict other effects.
The first line of a deed also describes what creature or area is affected by it. A deed with a target of 1 creature can affect any one creature within range. A deed with a target of personal affects only you. A deed that targets an area of effect, such as a blast or path, affects multiple creatures in a pattern on the encounter map.
The rules refer to the PC's as the companions. If a deed targets a companion, you can affect yourself or any other companion with that deed.
Some deeds allow you choose an ally to receive an effect. An ally is any creature other than you that is willing to accept the effect. You do not count as your own ally, though you do count as a creature for deeds that target one.
As normal, you gain a spark for the pairs you rolled when you succeed on a deed roll. Instead of the normal benefits of rolling a spark, you choose combat benefits that are add damage or boost effects. Unless otherwise stated, you can choose the same spark multiple times.
Most deeds list an extra effect that you can apply at the cost of one spark. You can choose this benefit once per deed, unless the effect says otherwise.
You can spend one spark to deal additional damage equal to your key virtue.
If the deed causes forced movement, such as push, pull, or sweep, you can spend one spark to increase the distance by +2.
If the deed confers a state, grants a recovery or creates any other effect with a potency, you can spend one spark to the raise the potency by +1.
When you attempt a deed that affects multiple targets, you only roll once for all targets. Then determine the result for each target individually.
Any cuts you have against some of the targets only affect them. Depending on your roll, you might hit against some, while getting a glance result against others.
If you have an edge against some targets, roll it after you rolled your initial die pool. Determine the results against targets you had an edge on afterwards.
When spending sparks, choose which target each spark affects. A spark only modifies a single target unless the deed states otherwise.
All characters can attempt maneuver deeds by default. Maneuvers are improvised deeds that cause an effect of your choice, usually something other than damage. Maneuvers are open ended: when you attempt one, you need to explain what you want to do and allow the Judge to decide how it should be expressed in game mechanics. There are a few examples below.
Unlike other deeds, you cannot spark on maneuvers. You can still incur shadows, however, meaning enemies can counter ⤾ on failure.
⬖ Conflict Shove 2. The target may counter ⤾ you.
✦ Triumph The target cannot counter you.
⬖ Conflict Inflict grabbed. The target may counter ⤾ you.
✦ Triumph The target cannot counter you.
✦ Triumph Inflict toppled.
You must have line of sight to a creature to target it with a single-target ability. To determine line of sight, draw a straight line from the center of your square to the center of the target's square. If the line passes through a wall, dense cloud, or large creature, line of sight is blocked.
However, if the line only clips the feature by passing through adjacent sides or adjacent corners of its square, line of sight is not blocked. Instead, the target has cover.
A creature with cover is partially protected by terrain or another obstacle. Deeds against a creature with cover take a cut.
Line of sight is not affected by light or darkness, and you can see and target creatures even in unlit squares. Those creatures do have the elusive state, however, making them harder to hit.
Some deeds affect an area, a pattern of squares on the battlefield. When you attempt such a deed, instead of selecting individual creatures as targets, you choose where to place the pattern. You can place an area-of- effect anywhere on the battlefield, as long as at least one square of the pattern is within line of sight and falls within your range.
After you choose where to place the pattern, the creatures within those squares become targets. Unless otherwise stated, an area affects all creatures inside of it, not just enemies. An area-of-effect even targets creatures outside of your line-of-sight, but those targets gain cover against your deed (see "Line of Sight" above).
A blast affects a square pattern on the battle map. At least one square of the pattern must fall within your range. The accompanying value indicates the length of one side of the square: thus, a blast 4 would affect sixteen squares in a 4 x 4 area.
A close blast must be placed so that at least one of its edge or corner squares is adjacent to you. Otherwise, it follows the same rules as a normal blast.
A burst originates in your square and targets creatures in the specified range around you. For example, a burst 2 would affect all creatures within two squares of you. Harmful bursts, such as those created by attack deeds, don't harm you when you use them.
A melee burst targets all creatures in your melee weapon's reach. Most melee weapons have a reach of 1, while longer weapons have a range of 2.
A spell burst can target creatures within your spell range. Usually, such as effect only lets you target a handful of creatures within the area.
An aura is an effect that emanates around you in a radius. For example, an aura 4 affects
all squares within four squares of you, or all creatures in those squares, depending on the effect. While affected by an aura, it remains centered on you for the duration, even when you move.
A path is a snaking connection of squares. The initial square must fall within your range, but subsequent squares can travel beyond it. Paths must be connected edge-to-edge (no diagonals) and cannot form a 2-by-2 square at any point.
A close path must originate in an adjacent square and can then travel in any direction. Otherwise, it follows the same rules as a normal path.