Rules Update: Master Warrior

The list changed, which is not a bad thing.  That the usage requirements changed, is, in my opinion, sucky.

Nothing has been removed, in fact its the exact opposite. You now have more options then you did before. Sure its unfortunate that you can't do x5 crits or duck behind your staff as if it was a shield, but honestly none of that makes sense. No requirements have changed, and thus you can literally get almost every skill you could before.

Woo! Being a Warrior is good now that the profs are off Master Warrior

Can you Intercede an attack that can't be Repelled just to use the Intercept portion of the skill?

I'm going to go with no.

The following is the cleaned up version of all of the text for the Master Warrior list.

Please read the list carefully. There are some subtle changes from the initial posting, in response to feedback and questions. Redundant text has been removed in favor of Traits that do the same thing.

Additionally, the following trait is added to the Rules, and to the skill Shield Bash:

Weapon (Shield): The ability must be delivered using a shield.

[hr]

Master Warrior

A character with this list may only specialize in one Path, reaching its pinnacle Tier 4 Ability. She may choose a secondary Path, from which she may purchase Tier 2 Abilities. For any remaining paths, she may only purchase Tier 1 abilities.

Path of Power

Rend Limb
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee, Superior
Tier: 1
Build: 7
Maximum: 3 Purchases
Pre-Req.: None
This attack skill injures an opponent’s limb, severing it and causing severe pain and leaving no part of the limb attached to the opponent’s body. You must strike the opponent’s limb that you wish to sever for this attack to be successful. The opponent’s limb is lopped off and she can make no attempt to use it.

Crushing Blow
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee, Targets Object, Superior
Tier: 1
Build: 6
Maximum: 2
Pre-Req.: None
This weapon attack will break the target's shield, as well as the arm wielding it. If the shield is unbreakable, the break limb effect still applies on the target's appropriate arm.

Cripple
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee, Superior
Tier: 2
Build: 8
Maximum: 2 Purchases
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 1 Power Skill
This weapon attack breaks both of the target's legs and inflicts 30 points of body damage.

Unstoppable Force
Skill (Periodic), Defense
Tier: 2
Build: 4
Maximum: 2
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 1 Power Skill
This skill removes all effects upon the character with the following conditions; Pinned, Held, and Immobilized. Any penalty for ending the condition is still applied. This skill can also be used as a defense against effects with these traits.

Devastating Strike
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee, Superior
Tier: 3
Build: 5
Maximum: 5
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 2 Power skill
This attack skill inflicts five times a character’s normal weapon body damage to an opponent. The proper way to use this ability is to call “Devastate x Body”, where x is the damage total. This skill requires the use of a Two-Handed sized weapon or larger, Claws, or Fists. This requirement can not be overridden by Master Proficiency.

Slay
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee, Superior, Piercing, Lethal
Tier: 4
Build: 10
Maximum: 3 Purchases
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 3 Power Skill
This powerful attack does a maximum of 400 points of damage. If the target enters the Critical state as a result of this attack, all effects that extend the Death Count are ignored until the target is healed from this state. This skill is hand specific.

Path of Protection

Repel
Skill (Periodic), Defense, Superior
Tier: 1
Build: 7
Maximum: 5 Purchases
Pre-Req.: None
This defense skill blocks a weapon, claw or fist attack. The opponent’s attack fails and the attack skill is considered used. You must have a weapon or shield in hand to use this skill.

Slam
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Impact, Superior
Tier: 1
Build: 3
Maximum: 5
Pre-Req.: None
This ability may be used to knock prone any person who is attempting to move past, through, over or away from the master warrior via a movement ability. The target must start within 5ft of the master warrior, or their path must cross within 5ft of the warrior during movement. This ability may only be used once per movement skill in the area.

Defensive Fighting
Skill (Continuous), Proficiency
Tier: 2
Build: 8
Maximum: N/A
Pre-Req.: Rank 1 Protection Skill
This ability conveys a +1 Soak to a character while she has weapon or shield in hand. This soak stacks with all other soaks.

Intercede
Skill (Periodic), Defense (Assist), Superior
Tier: 2
Build: 5
Maximum: 3
Pre-Req.: 1 Rank 1 Protection skill
This skill is considered a use of the skills Intercept and Repel. The effect that is being interceded must be able to be defended against by Repel - you cannot choose to Intercede an attack that will not be stopped by Intercede.

Defiant Cover
Skill (Periodic), Defense, Weapon (Shield), Superior
Tier: 3
Build: 6
Maximum: 5
Pre-Req.: 1 Rank 2 Protection skill
This skill defends against any attack that would place the Master Warrior into the Serious or Critical condition. This skill requires the use of a shield, of any size. This requirement can not be overridden by Master Proficiency.

Immaculate Defense
Skill (Periodic), Defense, Superior
Tier: 4
Build: 10
Maximum: 2
Pre-Req.: 1 Rank 3 Protection skill
A charatcer with this ability is skilled in the arts of Defense to the point that she can defend against almost any form of attack. This skill functions identically to the Valence spell Resist, as if it were a Natural ability.

Path of Finesse

Master Proficiency
Skill (Continuous), Proficiency
Tier: 1
Build: 6
Maximum: N/A
Pre-Req.: None
This skill allows the warrior use any melee periodic weapon-based skills with any melee or thrown weapon they know how to use, regardless of what hand is wielding the weapon. The ability conferred by this skill allows the use of weapons that are normally prohibited for specific lower list periodic skills (for example, a character with Master Proficiency can use the Waylay skill with a Two Handed Edged weapon, contrary to the description of the Waylay skill). This skill does not allow the warrior to use periodic skills with the melee trait with launched weapons. This ability also grants the character the Florentine and Master Florentine skills, as if she had them on her card.

Bypass Armor
Skill (Periodic), Social, Naming, Augment
Tier: 1
Build: 2
Maximum: 4 Purchases
Pre-Req.: None
By studying an opponent during battle for 20 seconds, the character learns how her opponent’s armor operates, and where the weak points are. This allows her to call Body damage against that one opponent only for the remainder of the battle. During the time she is studying her opponent, the character may do nothing but defend herself in combat.

Follow Through
Skill (Periodic), Attack, Melee
Tier: 2
Build: 4
Maximum: 4
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 1 Finesse ability
This skill represents a succession of rapid blows, demonstrating the Master Warrior's ability to push an advantage after finding an opening. After striking a target, whether the attack lands successfully or is defended against via a skill or latent defense, the Master Warrior can call ‘Follow Through’ and automatically hit the target with a subsequent attack. The Follow Through attack must be be defended against as if it was normally delivered, and a separate attack.

Perfect Balance
Skill (Periodic), Defense, Augment, Superior
Tier: 2
Build: 6
Max: 2
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 1 Finesse ability
For the duration of one battle, the Master Warrior gains Blind Fighting and is immune to the trait Knocked Prone. This ability may be used at any point during a battle including as a defense to any of the abilities it protects against.

Ambidexterity
Skill (Continuous), Proficiency
Tier: 3
Build: 7
Maximum: 4
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 2 Finesse ability and Florentine
The Master Warrior chooses a weapon and hand she has learned Weapon Proficiencies on and applies 25% of these Proficiencies to one other specific weapon and her opposite hand. Once a weapon is chosen you may not purchase this skill for another weapon, but each additional purchase stacks to a total of 100% transfer.

Perfect Strike
Skill (Periodic), Attack / Defense, Melee, Piercing
Tier: 4
Build: 5
Maximum: 3
Pre-Req.: 1 Tier 3 Finesse ability
This ability allows the Master Warrior to strike their opponent with perfect accuracy. The Master Warrior states "Perfect Strike" followed by any other skill they wish to couple with it. The target must call a defense ability, or succumb to the attack. The character must be within her weapon’s reach of the intended target to use this skill. This skill may also be combined with a Parry or Deflect - if used in this fashion, those defenses become Superior. You may not Follow Through on a Perfect Strike.

Does the immunity granted by Perfect Balance apply to Superior effects that knock you down (Slam, in particular)?

If Slam is defended against, does the movement skill continue?