Special Moves

The special move book. Click image to enlarge

Warriors have the ability to tap their magical Mana to perform devastating maneuvers with their weapons that can have a variety of unusual side-effects. Each weapon type in the game has a primary and a secondary special move. Warriors who have reached Expert skill level in both a weapons skill and Tactics (70 or higher) may execute a weapon's primary special move. Once he or she has reached Master status in both a weapon skill and Tactics (90 or higher), the fighter may execute the secondary special move while wielding appropriate weapons. Each different type of weapon in the game has a different combination of primary and secondary special moves, making each weapon truly unique!

An icon on your Paperdoll will open a book that details each special move available based on your skill level and equipped weapon. Much like the icons in a Spellbook, these can be dragged from the book into the game window and double-clicked to activate the special move. The special moves can also be configured in macros for one-key activation. When activated, the special move icon highlights red, indicating the character is ready to perform the move. At the next opportunity, the special move is performed, and the icon returns to its un-highlighted state.

Special move mana cost can be decreased by having multiples of certain skills. With 200 to 299 combined skill points, the cost will decrease by 5 mana. Having 300 or more it will decrease by 10 mana. The included skills are:

• Swordsmanship
• Mace Fighting
• Fencing
• Archery
• Parrying
• Lumberjacking
• Stealth
• Poisoning
• Bushido
• Ninjitsu

Note that the Human's "jack of all trades" aspect grants them at least 20 points in all these disciplines (meaning they have effectively have at least 200 points regardless of how their real skills are distributed).

Notes

• Performing two special moves within 3 seconds will double the mana cost of the second.
• The Lower Mana Cost item property will reduce special move mana cost.
• If any Magery, Necromancy or Chivalry spell is being cast or is ready to target, you can not activate a special move and any activated special is turned off.
• Some Bushido and Ninjitsu abilities can not be activated at the same time as a special move, for example Lightning Strike.

List of Special Moves

Armor Ignore Armor Pierce Bladeweave Bleed Attack Block Crushing Blow Concussion Blow Defense Mastery Disarm Dismount

Dual Wield Double Shot Double Strike Feint Frenzied Whirlwind Force Arrow Force of Nature Infectious Strike Lightning Arrow Moving Shot

Mortal Strike Nerve Strike Paralyzing Blow Psychic Attack Riding Swipe Shadowstrike Serpent Arrow Talon Strike Whirlwind Attack

History

Special moves were first introduced with the Renaissance expansion. Every two handed weapon of the three fighting skills was given a special ability that had a 20% chance of executing on each blow. The chance of success was increased with more Intelligence. These special moves only worked in player versus player combat.

• Macing weapons did Crushing Blow.
• Fencing weapons did Paralyzing Blow.
• Swordsmanship weapons did Concussion Blow.

During the Age of Shadows expansion, the entire system was revamped. Special moves were now a macro that could be used any time a player wanted. They could also be used on both players and monsters. To balance the powerful new attacks, mana was made a requirement. Instead of just 3 moves, 10 more were added to bring the total up to 13. Later on the Samurai Empire expansion added another 10, Mondain's Legacy added 6.

• The Tactics skill requirement was added on August 29, 2007 in Publish 46.