Fighting breaks down into styles. At the very base level, there are two styles: melee and ranged combat. Within each of these two there are techniques. For melee, techniques are bludgeoning, cleaving, polearms and swords. For ranged fighting there are only archery and hurling. In addition, there are specialized skills such as body weapons and martial arts. Within each of these techniques, weapons are permitted and a mastery can be learned for a specific weapon with the technique.
When attempting to resolve a combat, the hero will choose a style, which will give a d20 for an attack. If a technique can be applied, then another dice can be added. If a mastery exists, then yet one more die can be added. Other skills can conjoin with the combinations to alter speed, gain additional dice, select multiple targets or even gain bonuses on the die rolls. But remember, unless the skills state differently, only one style/technique/mastery path can be used during a single action. Further, no matter how many skills can be combined, the maximum dice rolled for a single attack is 5d20.
After rolling the attack d20s, they are compared individually against the opponent’s Armor Class to determine whether damage is inflicted. If the value is equal or greater, then a hit is scored, normally reducing 1 Body point per successful die. However, the rival may have skills which allow him or her to reduce or avoid damage, such as dodge or rebuff. If damage is still inflicted, the enemy may still have special protections which are given consideration if applicable.
