This skill enhances a specialist's ability with daggers and knives, both in melee and thrown. The specialist's rank with this skill cannot exceed his rank with dagger.
Only those who have specialized in dagger can develop this skill.
The Master of Knives gains the following bonus with their specialized weapon (or weapons) as they improve in rank.
Rank | Initiative | Damage | Defense * | Armor Piercing | Notes |
1 |  | | +1 | 5% | |
2 | +1 | | +2 | 10% | |
3 | | | +3 | 15% | |
4 | | | +4 | 20% | |
5 | +1 | +1 | +5 | 25% | |
6 | | | +6 | 30% | |
7 | | | +7 | 35% | |
8 | +1 | | +8 | 40% | |
9 | | | +9 | 45% | |
10 | | +1 | +10 | 50% | +1 chance of critical |
11 | +1 | | +11 | 55% | |
12 | | | +12 | 60% | +2 chance of critical, +1 chance of grievous |
13 | | | +13 | 65% | |
14 | +1 | | +14 | 70% | |
15 | | +1 | +15 | 75% | |
16 | | | +16 | 80% | |
17 | +1 | | +17 | 85% | |
18 | | | +18 | 90% | |
19 | | | +19 | 95% | |
20 | +1 | | +20 | 95% | |
| * Defense bonus applies only when opponent is using a knife or dagger. |
Bonus to Quick Draw
The Master of Knives gains a bonus of 3% per rank to his Quick Draw bonus when drawing a knife or dagger. If he does not have Quick Draw skill, then he does not get this bonus.
Bonus to Defense
The Master of Knives gains a +1 DEF per rank against opponents who are using a knife or dagger. For example, if the Master of Knives is rank 5 with this skill then he gets a +5 DEF when facing an opponent wielding a knife or dagger.
Armor Piercing
This is the base chance that any given hit is considered to be armor piercing (AP). The base chance is reduced by 5% per point of Lack of Weakness (LOW) of the opponent. If the AP chance is successful, the targets has a PROT equal to the greater of half their normal PROT or their LOW. For example, if the target had a PROT of 8 and an LOW of 3, they would have an effective PROT of 4 (half of 8) against the successful AP attack. If the target had a PROT of 8 and an LOW of 6, they would have an effective PROT of 6 (LOW) against the successful AP attack.
Reduced Range Penalties
Each rank reduces range penalties by 2. Thus, if a Master of Knives throws a dagger at a target 50 feet away, he would normally suffer a penalty of -30 (-1 per foot over 20 feet). A Master of Knives reduces this penalty by 2 per rank so that, if the Master of Knives was rank 10 with this skill, his range penalty would only be -10 at a range of 50 feet.
Increased Chance of Critical or Grievous Hit
At rank 10, the chance of a critical hit occurring is increased by +1 (i.e., normally a modified SC of 90 indicates that a 5 or less is a grievous and a 14 or less is a crit - at rank 10, the chance of a crit is 15 instead of 14). At rank 12, this improves to +2 for crit and +1 for grievous.
Increased Chance of a Grievous Occuring When One is Indicated
When a grievous is indicated, it is actually only a chance of a grievous, which for daggers and knives is only 20%. However, each rank of this skill improves the chance of a grievous by 3%.
Master Skills
A character cannot develop skill in more than one "master" skill. For example, if someone has Master of Knives skill, they cannot develop Master of Battle Magics or Master of Hurled Weapons skill. |