Weapon Barrier
Playtest 3.2 / 4th EdSkill Rules & Full Description
This skill grants the character a 2 Threshold for 1 minute. This skill will stack with itself, so each additional use of this skill will grant the character an additional +2 Threshold up to a maximum of an 8 Threshold. The player must decide when they invoke this skill how many purchases they wish to use; they cannot decide later to increase the Threshold value.
To use this skill, the character must be wielding a weapon. The player should call, “Weapon Barrier, x Threshold”, where ‘x’ is the value of the Threshold. Then about every 30 seconds they should remind everyone they are using this skill by saying, “Active Weapon Barrier x”. If the character should lose their weapon, they no longer gain the benefit of the Threshold. When the character is once more wielding a weapon, the benefit of the Threshold is regained. This same rule applies to the character being rendered Unconscious or forced into a Death Count. Once the character is awoken or healed, the Threshold continues. Finally, if a character is unable to wield their weapon – they are bound, paralyzed or imprisoned, their limb is broken, they are blinded and do not have the Blind Fighting skill, etc. – they will lose the benefit of the Threshold until they are able to wield a weapon again. Note that the 1 minute count continues even if the character is not gaining the benefit of this skill.
This effect stacks only with non-magical threshold effects.
For example, Scanlon is ambushed by four Orcs. Being alone and without his healer, he decides not to risk being felled by these evil creatures. He invokes two purchases of his Weapon Barrier skill by saying, “Weapon Barrier, 4 Threshold,” and engages the Orcs. One of the Orcs is an Orc Hero and deals 5 points of damage with his weapon and two others are only dealing 3 points of damage. Since Scanlon cannot increase his threshold even though he has a third purchase of this skill, he turns his attention to the Orc Hero and drops him quickly. However, this allows the Orc shaman to hit Scanlon with a Bind spell. Now he no longer gains the benefit of the Weapon Barrier skill and loses his 4 Threshold. The remaining two Orcs are able to easily cut him down.Note: This skill is considered Lost and a teacher must be found in game.