Frog Dragon
2010-02-06, 10:42 AM
The Piercing Point
The Piercing Point discipline was developed outside the influence of Reshar and Temple of the Nine Swords. There never was a codified master to the discipline. It was developed among spearfighters fighting in wars long past. The warriors, while capable fighters, were poorly trained in the spear front, and quickly improvised to fill in the blanks. Their style soon spread across the ranks. The result was something quite different from traditional spearfighting. After the war was over, some of the surviving warriors formed schools training people in their unique discipline. It was during this time when the discipline got its name and was codified into a single art. Teachers of the martial discipline can still be found, even if they are rarer than in the past.
Maneuvers from the Piercing Point discipline may be learned by Warblades, replacing the Tiger Claw discipline.
The Key Skill for the Piercing Point discipline is Balance.
The associated weapons for the Piercing Point discipline are as follows; Spear, Longspear, Halberd, Ranseur, Guisarme, Glaive.
Piercing Point maneuvers and stances only function with the above weapons.
All piercing point maneuvers are Extraordinary in nature.
Maneuvers
Lvl 1
Spear Set In Time (Counter): Set a spear against a charge.
Sweeping Spear (Strike): Make a melee attack; Force enemy to move away.
Readied Spear (Stance): Threaten all squares within reach weapon reach.
Lvl 2
Butt Strike (Strike): Attack with the spear as with a double weapon.
Maiming Spear (Strike): Deal 2d8 extra damage.
Lvl 3
Impaling Charge (Strike): Charge, bullrushing and dealing damage.
Threatening Point (Counter): Make an attack of opportunity in response to an attack.
Spear Defense (Stance): Gain +1 AC/3 Initiator Levels against certain enemies
Steady Spear Riposte (Counter): Make a balance check, deal damage equal to result
Lvl 4
Spear Sweep (Strike): Make an attack at each foe within your reach.
Chink In The Armor (Strike): Ignore armor, natural armor, extraordinary damage reduction and hardness.
Prickle (Strike): Cause a -2 penalty on various rolls
Lvl 5
Porcupine Form (Stance): You may not be flanked, You have a doubled amount of attacks of opportunity, you can automatically pinpoint any invisible creatures within your reach.
Blink Spear (Strike): Make three attacks.
Devastating Spear (Strike): Deal 6d8 extra Damage
Lvl 6
Greater Steady Spear Riposte (Counter): Make a balance check, deal damage equal to 2x result
Fight of Balance (Boost): Make a balance check, if succesful, gain initiator level bonus to certain checks
Lvl 7
Painful Prickle (Strike): Cause a -4 penalty on various rolls.
Killing Spear (Strike): Deal 12d8 extra damage
Lvl 8
Manticore Form (Stance): Attack everyone who attacks you with doubled attacks of opportunity.
Polearm Flurry (Strike): Make a full attack with extra attacks.
Lvl 9
Impale (Strike): Make an attack. The target must make a fortitude save or die
Maneuvers
Blink Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 5
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Your spear moves in a blur, striking repeadtedly towards the target.
This maneuver allows you to make three attacks as a standard action, all against the same target creature. All attacks are at -2 penalty.
Butt Strike
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 2
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Wielding your weapon like a staff, you make two quick strikes at your opponent.
Make two attacks. The other as normal for your weapon, the other dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage. Both are at a two fighting penalty counted as if you had the feat (-2)
Chink in the Armor
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You make a careful strike, with the point of your spear unnerringly finding its way to the gaps in the defenses of your opponent.
Make one melee attack. This attack ignores all extraordinary damage reduction, hardness, natural armor and armor.
Devastating Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 5
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You collect your breath and make a devastating thrust at your opponent.
Make a melee attack, dealing 6d8 extra damage
Fight of Balance
Piercing Point (Boost)
Level: Warblade 6
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You step into a steady form, gaining a significant advantage.
Gain 1/2 initator level as a competence bonus on bullrush, disarm, grapple (only as defender) and trip checks.
Impale
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 9
Prequisite: Four Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You make a vicious attack, driving your spear through the vitals of your opponent, causing great pain and often, death.
Make on melee attack against a creature on size greater than you or smaller. If you hit the target must make a fortitude save against a DC of 19+your str modifier or die. Even if the fortitude save is passed. You still deal normal damage+initiator level.
Impaling Charge
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 3
Prequisite: One Piercing Point Maneuver
Initiation Action: A Full Round Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You dive in with the blade of your weapon in the front driving it into an opponent and pushing your quarry back with it.
Make a charge attack. With this charge attack you may make a bullrush attempt at +2 (in addition to the normal bonus for bullrushing on a charge) as well as dealing normal damage +2d6.
Killing Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 7
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You draw upon your training with the polearm, bringing it's piercing power to bear.
Make a melee attack, dealing 12d8 extra damage
Maiming Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 2
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You focus your strenght in a powerful strike.
Make a melee attack, dealing 2d8 extra damage
Manticore Form
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 8
Prequisite: Three Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Your weapon swings around, looking for foes and presenting a deadly front to any agressors.
Each time you are attacked from within your threatened area, you may make an attack of opportunity against the attacker. You have doubled attacks of opportunity
Painful Prickle
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 7
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
Your blow leaves a dull pain, distracting your opponent
Make a melee attack. If you hit the target creature takes a -4 on AC, attack rolls and all saves for rounds equal to your str modifier (max 5).
Polearm Flurry
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 8
Prequisite: Three Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Full-Round action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You bring your spear quickly, again and again.
Make a full attack, but with 2 extra attacks in addition to the normal full attack attacks. The two extra attacks are resolved at a -5 penalty.
Porcupine Form
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 5
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You keep a steady watch on your surroundings holding a ready defense in all directions.
You have doubled attacks of opportunity, you are immune to flanking and you may pinpoint the square of any invisible creature in your threatened area automatically.
Prickle
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You thrust your weapon at your opponent, leaving him pained from your blow.
Make a melee attack. If you hit the target creature takes a -2 on AC, attack rolls and all saves for rounds equal to your str modifier (max 5).
Readied Spear
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You hold complete control over your weapon, bringing it to bear where needed.
You threaten all squares within the reach of a reach weapon (including adjecent squares.)
Spear Defense
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 3
Prequisite: One Piercing Point Maneuver
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You use the superior reach of your weapon to your advantage in defending yourself.
You gain +1 AC/3 initiator levels (Max +5) as a competence bonus against all creatures not within reach for a nonreach weapon for a creature of your size.
Spear Set in Time
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
As your opponent closes in on you, you make a fast motion, bent on ending you foes charge on the point of a spear.
You may set a spear against a charge when said charge is already coming your way.
Spear Sweep
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You make a whirling strike, bringing hurt to any foe foolish enough to have closed on you.
Make an attack at each foe withing your reach. If you are using a reach weapon, this includes targets inside your reach you couldn't normally attack.
Steady Spear Riposte
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 3
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You hold control even while attacked and use your superior positioning to bring a stinging counterattack
Immediatly after being attacked, you may make an attack, but substitue your normal damage for a balance check result's worth of damage.
Steady Spear Riposte, Greater
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 6
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You are greatly proficient in counterattacking, bringing even more harm to your opponent.
Immediatly after being attacked, you may make an attack, but substitue your normal damage for a balance check result's worth of damage times two.
Sweeping Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: A Standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One Creature
You use the reach of your weapon to force your opponent back
Make on attack, if you hit, you may instead of dealing damage normally, force the opponent out of your reach with a bullrush check at a +2 bonus.
Threatening Point
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 3
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Melee Reach
Target: One Creature that is attacking you
You strike at your opponent before he is able to do so.
You may use this maneuver to make an attack of opportunity against a creature that is attacking you. This attack is resolved before the target creatures attack
Feats
Polearm Form
When fighting with the spear, proper positioning and the ability to shift positions quickly are invaluable. Piercing Point adepts are expert at this.
Prerequisites: Balance 4 Ranks, 1 Piercing Point Stance and one piercing point maneuver
Benefit: 1/2 initiator level per day (min 1) a Piercing Point adept may use a martial maneuver or stance that normally uses a swift or immediate action, as a free action
Normal: You may not initiate stances or maneuvers as free actions.
Militant Spear Supreme
Adepts of the Piercing Point learn various techniques to make the polearm an answer to any need on the battlefield. The discipline and simple skill of a Piercing Point Adept allows him to use his weapon in suprising ways and still be effective
Prerequisite: Polearm Form, Base Attack Bonus +6, Balance 9 ranks, Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Benefit: Militant Spear Supreme enables the use of three tactical options.
Balanced Move
To use this option you must be in a Piercing Point stance. You may substitute a tumble check for a balance check with this option.
Unbalancing Counter
To use this option, you must use a Piercing Point counter against an opponent and make a DC 15 balance check. The next turn that opponent has a -2 on all attack rolls.
Maneuvering Defense
To use this option you must have succesfully initiated a Piercing Point strike in the previous round. If you do, you gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the round.
I felt like making a discipline and didn't see any similar ones in the Age of Warriors (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134088) discipline list. Also, spears needed some love.
So playground, PEACH please? :smallsmile:
Edit: Should I let swordsages have the option of picking this too?
The Piercing Point discipline was developed outside the influence of Reshar and Temple of the Nine Swords. There never was a codified master to the discipline. It was developed among spearfighters fighting in wars long past. The warriors, while capable fighters, were poorly trained in the spear front, and quickly improvised to fill in the blanks. Their style soon spread across the ranks. The result was something quite different from traditional spearfighting. After the war was over, some of the surviving warriors formed schools training people in their unique discipline. It was during this time when the discipline got its name and was codified into a single art. Teachers of the martial discipline can still be found, even if they are rarer than in the past.
Maneuvers from the Piercing Point discipline may be learned by Warblades, replacing the Tiger Claw discipline.
The Key Skill for the Piercing Point discipline is Balance.
The associated weapons for the Piercing Point discipline are as follows; Spear, Longspear, Halberd, Ranseur, Guisarme, Glaive.
Piercing Point maneuvers and stances only function with the above weapons.
All piercing point maneuvers are Extraordinary in nature.
Maneuvers
Lvl 1
Spear Set In Time (Counter): Set a spear against a charge.
Sweeping Spear (Strike): Make a melee attack; Force enemy to move away.
Readied Spear (Stance): Threaten all squares within reach weapon reach.
Lvl 2
Butt Strike (Strike): Attack with the spear as with a double weapon.
Maiming Spear (Strike): Deal 2d8 extra damage.
Lvl 3
Impaling Charge (Strike): Charge, bullrushing and dealing damage.
Threatening Point (Counter): Make an attack of opportunity in response to an attack.
Spear Defense (Stance): Gain +1 AC/3 Initiator Levels against certain enemies
Steady Spear Riposte (Counter): Make a balance check, deal damage equal to result
Lvl 4
Spear Sweep (Strike): Make an attack at each foe within your reach.
Chink In The Armor (Strike): Ignore armor, natural armor, extraordinary damage reduction and hardness.
Prickle (Strike): Cause a -2 penalty on various rolls
Lvl 5
Porcupine Form (Stance): You may not be flanked, You have a doubled amount of attacks of opportunity, you can automatically pinpoint any invisible creatures within your reach.
Blink Spear (Strike): Make three attacks.
Devastating Spear (Strike): Deal 6d8 extra Damage
Lvl 6
Greater Steady Spear Riposte (Counter): Make a balance check, deal damage equal to 2x result
Fight of Balance (Boost): Make a balance check, if succesful, gain initiator level bonus to certain checks
Lvl 7
Painful Prickle (Strike): Cause a -4 penalty on various rolls.
Killing Spear (Strike): Deal 12d8 extra damage
Lvl 8
Manticore Form (Stance): Attack everyone who attacks you with doubled attacks of opportunity.
Polearm Flurry (Strike): Make a full attack with extra attacks.
Lvl 9
Impale (Strike): Make an attack. The target must make a fortitude save or die
Maneuvers
Blink Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 5
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Your spear moves in a blur, striking repeadtedly towards the target.
This maneuver allows you to make three attacks as a standard action, all against the same target creature. All attacks are at -2 penalty.
Butt Strike
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 2
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Wielding your weapon like a staff, you make two quick strikes at your opponent.
Make two attacks. The other as normal for your weapon, the other dealing 1d6 bludgeoning damage. Both are at a two fighting penalty counted as if you had the feat (-2)
Chink in the Armor
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You make a careful strike, with the point of your spear unnerringly finding its way to the gaps in the defenses of your opponent.
Make one melee attack. This attack ignores all extraordinary damage reduction, hardness, natural armor and armor.
Devastating Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 5
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You collect your breath and make a devastating thrust at your opponent.
Make a melee attack, dealing 6d8 extra damage
Fight of Balance
Piercing Point (Boost)
Level: Warblade 6
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: 1 round
You step into a steady form, gaining a significant advantage.
Gain 1/2 initator level as a competence bonus on bullrush, disarm, grapple (only as defender) and trip checks.
Impale
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 9
Prequisite: Four Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You make a vicious attack, driving your spear through the vitals of your opponent, causing great pain and often, death.
Make on melee attack against a creature on size greater than you or smaller. If you hit the target must make a fortitude save against a DC of 19+your str modifier or die. Even if the fortitude save is passed. You still deal normal damage+initiator level.
Impaling Charge
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 3
Prequisite: One Piercing Point Maneuver
Initiation Action: A Full Round Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You dive in with the blade of your weapon in the front driving it into an opponent and pushing your quarry back with it.
Make a charge attack. With this charge attack you may make a bullrush attempt at +2 (in addition to the normal bonus for bullrushing on a charge) as well as dealing normal damage +2d6.
Killing Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 7
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You draw upon your training with the polearm, bringing it's piercing power to bear.
Make a melee attack, dealing 12d8 extra damage
Maiming Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 2
Initiation Action: A standard Action
Range: Melee attack
Target: One creature
You focus your strenght in a powerful strike.
Make a melee attack, dealing 2d8 extra damage
Manticore Form
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 8
Prequisite: Three Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Your weapon swings around, looking for foes and presenting a deadly front to any agressors.
Each time you are attacked from within your threatened area, you may make an attack of opportunity against the attacker. You have doubled attacks of opportunity
Painful Prickle
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 7
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
Your blow leaves a dull pain, distracting your opponent
Make a melee attack. If you hit the target creature takes a -4 on AC, attack rolls and all saves for rounds equal to your str modifier (max 5).
Polearm Flurry
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 8
Prequisite: Three Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Full-Round action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You bring your spear quickly, again and again.
Make a full attack, but with 2 extra attacks in addition to the normal full attack attacks. The two extra attacks are resolved at a -5 penalty.
Porcupine Form
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 5
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You keep a steady watch on your surroundings holding a ready defense in all directions.
You have doubled attacks of opportunity, you are immune to flanking and you may pinpoint the square of any invisible creature in your threatened area automatically.
Prickle
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One creature
You thrust your weapon at your opponent, leaving him pained from your blow.
Make a melee attack. If you hit the target creature takes a -2 on AC, attack rolls and all saves for rounds equal to your str modifier (max 5).
Readied Spear
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You hold complete control over your weapon, bringing it to bear where needed.
You threaten all squares within the reach of a reach weapon (including adjecent squares.)
Spear Defense
Piercing Point (Stance)
Level: Warblade 3
Prequisite: One Piercing Point Maneuver
Initiation Action: A swift action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You use the superior reach of your weapon to your advantage in defending yourself.
You gain +1 AC/3 initiator levels (Max +5) as a competence bonus against all creatures not within reach for a nonreach weapon for a creature of your size.
Spear Set in Time
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
As your opponent closes in on you, you make a fast motion, bent on ending you foes charge on the point of a spear.
You may set a spear against a charge when said charge is already coming your way.
Spear Sweep
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 4
Prequisite: Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Initiation Action: A Standard Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You make a whirling strike, bringing hurt to any foe foolish enough to have closed on you.
Make an attack at each foe withing your reach. If you are using a reach weapon, this includes targets inside your reach you couldn't normally attack.
Steady Spear Riposte
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 3
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You hold control even while attacked and use your superior positioning to bring a stinging counterattack
Immediatly after being attacked, you may make an attack, but substitue your normal damage for a balance check result's worth of damage.
Steady Spear Riposte, Greater
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 6
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Personal
Target: You
You are greatly proficient in counterattacking, bringing even more harm to your opponent.
Immediatly after being attacked, you may make an attack, but substitue your normal damage for a balance check result's worth of damage times two.
Sweeping Spear
Piercing Point (Strike)
Level: Warblade 1
Initiation Action: A Standard Action
Range: Melee Attack
Target: One Creature
You use the reach of your weapon to force your opponent back
Make on attack, if you hit, you may instead of dealing damage normally, force the opponent out of your reach with a bullrush check at a +2 bonus.
Threatening Point
Piercing Point (Counter)
Level: Warblade 3
Initiation Action: An Immediate Action
Range: Melee Reach
Target: One Creature that is attacking you
You strike at your opponent before he is able to do so.
You may use this maneuver to make an attack of opportunity against a creature that is attacking you. This attack is resolved before the target creatures attack
Feats
Polearm Form
When fighting with the spear, proper positioning and the ability to shift positions quickly are invaluable. Piercing Point adepts are expert at this.
Prerequisites: Balance 4 Ranks, 1 Piercing Point Stance and one piercing point maneuver
Benefit: 1/2 initiator level per day (min 1) a Piercing Point adept may use a martial maneuver or stance that normally uses a swift or immediate action, as a free action
Normal: You may not initiate stances or maneuvers as free actions.
Militant Spear Supreme
Adepts of the Piercing Point learn various techniques to make the polearm an answer to any need on the battlefield. The discipline and simple skill of a Piercing Point Adept allows him to use his weapon in suprising ways and still be effective
Prerequisite: Polearm Form, Base Attack Bonus +6, Balance 9 ranks, Two Piercing Point Maneuvers
Benefit: Militant Spear Supreme enables the use of three tactical options.
Balanced Move
To use this option you must be in a Piercing Point stance. You may substitute a tumble check for a balance check with this option.
Unbalancing Counter
To use this option, you must use a Piercing Point counter against an opponent and make a DC 15 balance check. The next turn that opponent has a -2 on all attack rolls.
Maneuvering Defense
To use this option you must have succesfully initiated a Piercing Point strike in the previous round. If you do, you gain a +2 dodge bonus to AC for the round.
I felt like making a discipline and didn't see any similar ones in the Age of Warriors (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134088) discipline list. Also, spears needed some love.
So playground, PEACH please? :smallsmile:
Edit: Should I let swordsages have the option of picking this too?