Perhaps one
of the most interesting disciplines of Barsaive is the Mounted Archer.
This discipline is not a mixture of the Archer and the Cavalryman, but
a whole unique discipline, with it's own way and knacks. They are the fierce,
noble warriors of the plains, based on the warriors of the nomadic hungarian
tribes.
Important Attributes: Dexterity, Perception and Charisma
Racial Restrictions: Humans and Orks only
Artisan Skills: Wood Carving, Rune Carving, Arrow Fleching
The Mounted Archer selects a target on the plains (usually a tree), and rides round and round, firing his arrows on his target, changing his position on the horse time to time. After firing all his arrows except for one, he rides away, and while riding, he turns back on the horse, and fires backward on the target, while the horse is running forward.
Please note: discipline talents are noted with (D).
First Circle
Animal Bond
Avoid Blow
Karma Ritual
Missile Weapons (D)
Melee Weapons
Trick Riding (D)
Second Circle
Mystic Aim (D)
Durability (6/5)
Retreat
Third Circle
Empathic Command (D)
True Shot
Fourth Circle
Karma: The Mounted Archer may spend a Karma point on any tests using Dexterity only.
Spirit Mount
Thread Weaving (Bow Weaving) (D)
Fifth Circle
Physical Defense: Increase the Mounted Archer's Physical Defense by 1.
Frighten
Sure Mount (D)
Sixth Circle
Initiative: Increase the Mounted Archer's Initiative dice by one step.
Bank Shot
Durability (Mount)
Seventh Circle
Spell Defense: Increase the Mounted Archer's Spell Defense by 1.
Resist Taunt (D)
Speak Language
Eighth Circle
Social Defense: Increase the Mounted Archer's Social Defense
by 1.
Eagle Eye (D)
Throwing Weapons
Ninth Circle
Arrow of Fear: For a cost of two strain points the Mounted Archer enhances an arrow with a cloak of fear. He than uses a talent to fire the missile on his target. If the attack test is successful, the target takes damage, and is intimidated, so he will try to run away of the Mounted Archer. If he is attacked by the Mounted Archer, or by anyone in his company, the fear is broken.
Anticipate Blow
Call Arrow
Called Shot (D)
Tenth Circle
Recovery Test: The Mounted Archer gains another Recovery Test per day.
Lion Heart
Mount Attack (D)
The
Way of the Mounted Archer:
The Mounted Archer is the ruler of the plains.
Traveling the land, and enjoy, that there is nothing to block your vision.
There is nothing to make you more happy. The Mounted Archer is not a warrior
who risks the life of his mount in a charge, and you are not an archer,
who has to run, when the enemy is too near. You are one with your mount,
he is the source of your power and your grace. You are one with your bow,
it is the symbol of your will and your freedom.
- From the hand of Timon Skir, Mounted Archer:
New Talents
and Powers:
Retreat
Step Number: Rank
Action: No
Skill Use: No
Requires Karma: No Strain: None
Discipline Talent Use: Mounted Archer
This Talent is used by Mounted Archers to retreat from a battle, by giving their mount an increased speed. It works like the Sprint Talent, but on the mount of the Mounted Archer: increase the full movement of the mount by 20. There is no Combat Movement Increase, as the mount will do nothing else, but to run away. Mounted Archers use this talent, to get place for their bows, by retreating and letting their enemies to follow them. When the enemies follow the Mounted Archer, he will use his Talents to disable his enemies from the distance.
Talent
Knacks:
Arrow of Power
Discipline: Mounted Archer
Talent: Missile Weapons
Rank: 5
Cost: 100
For a cost of 2 points of strain the Mounted Archer transforms his arrow into a bolt of power, that automatically knocks down the target, if there is an extraordinary hit, no matter, how many damage the target takes. Note, that the arrow is ruined, even if it misses.
The View of Freedom
Discipline: Mounted Archer
Talent: Eagle Eye
Rank: 3
Cost: 200
For a cost of 1 strain the Mounted Archer may use his Eagle Eye Talent
to look at distant objects for long periods of time as if they were right
at his nose. For a cost of 1 strain the archer may use this talent for
a number of minutes equal to his rank in Eagle Eye. As long as he
doesn't want to do anything other than simply watching, the Difficulty
Number for using the Talent is 2.
Half-Magic:
Mounted Archers may use Half-Magic to create bows, and only bows, no crossbows. To create a bow, the Mounted Archer makes a Half-Magic Test agains a Difficulty Number of (damage step of the bow+10). The Mounted Archer must have the materials needed to create a bow. Creating a bow requires a week of work, during which the Mounted Archer must spend at least two hours working on the bow each day. The Mounted Archer may also create arrows, use the same process, but the Difficulty Number is 10. One test will produce 12 arrows. If the Mounted Archer wants to create more arrows, increase the Difficulty number by one for every plus arrow over 12.