Xceptional Rules - Combat Classes and Ranks

COMBAT RANKS

Combat Ranks work exactly like Skill Ranks and are used instead of Skill Ranks when performing Offensive and Defensive Actions.

Offensive Combat Ranks

Strike – Use this Offensive Combat Rank to "Score a Hit" when attacking an adjacent target. Such attacks might include use of a melee weapon, or boxing, or brawling.

Aim – Use this Offensive Combat Rank to "Score a Hit" when attacking a distant target. Such attacks might include use of a ranged or thrown weapon, or even projected super powers.

Focus – Use this Offensive Combat Rank to "Score a Hit" with a mental or mystical attack. Any visible figure, distant or adjacent, can be a target of this attack. Focus cannot be used unskilled.

Defensive Combat Ranks

Parry – Use this Defensive Combat Rank in response to a successful Hit scored against you by a Strike attack action.

Dodge – Use this Defensive Combat Rank in response to a successful Hit scored against you by an Aim attack action.

Resist – Use this Defensive Combat Rank in response to a successful Hit scored against you by a Focus attack action.

COMBAT CLASSES

Combat Classes are special designations that define a character's strategic role in tabletop combat.

There are three Combat Classes in Xceptional.

Brawler - Brawlers specialize in close combat. They excel in the offensive and defensive ranks of Strike and Parry.

Shooter - Shooters specialize in ranged combat. They excel in the offensive and defensive ranks of Aim and Dodge.

Mentalist - Mentalists specialize in psychic combat. They excel in the offensive and defensive ranks of Focus and Resist.

To find your character's Combat Class answer the following:

Is one of your Ability Scores a 2?

"No." - consult Table A.

"Yes, and it's Rage." - consult Table B.

"Yes, and it's Precognition." - consult Table C.

"Yes, and it's Grace." - consult Table D.

TABLE A (Roll or choose):

[0-1] Brawler

[2-3] Shooter

[4-5] Mentalist

TABLE B (Roll or choose, on the appropriate sub table):

Precognition is 4 [0-1] Shooter [2-5] Mentalist

Grace is 4 [0-3] Shooter [4-5] Mentalist

TABLE C (Roll or choose, on the appropriate sub table):

Rage is 4 [0-3] Brawler [4-5] Shooter

Grace is 4 [0-1] Brawler [2-5] Shooter

TABLE D (Roll or choose, on the appropriate sub table):

Rage is 4 [0-3] Brawler [4-5] Mentalist

Precognition is 4 [0-1] Brawler [2-5] Mentalist

COMBAT RANK ADVANCEMENT TABLES

A character has Combat Ranks as indicated on the Combat Rank Advancement Table that corresponds with their Combat Class.

As a character Advances their Combat Ranks improve. A newly created character has Combat Ranks equal to those indicated for a character with 0 (zero) Advances.

As the group meets to play the GM will award "Advances" to the players. Advances add up, so the first time the GM awards an Advance the characters will have 1 Advance; the second time the GM awards an advance the characters will have 2 Advances ... etc.

It is recommended that the GM award Advances to the characters in a play group approximately every second or third game session.

A character cannot advance more than 20 times. A character with 20 Advances is said to be: Maxed Out.

On the Combat Ranks tables a "U" is used to indicate a Combat Rank that is "Unskilled."

The Focus Combat Rank is special in that it is exclusive to the Mentalist Combat Class and cannot be used by the Brawler or Shooter Classes at all.

BRAWLER CLASS COMBAT RANKS

Advances	Strike	Parry	Shoot	Dodge	Focus	Resist
0	1	1	U	U	-	U
1	1	1	U	U	-	U
2	1	1	U	U	-	U
3	1	2	U	U	-	U
4	1	2	U	1	-	U
5	1	2	U	1	-	U
6	2	2	U	1	-	U
7	2	2	1	1	-	U
8	2	2	1	1	-	1
9	2	3	1	1	-	1
10	2	3	1	1	-	1
11	2	3	1	1	-	1
12	3	3	1	2	-	1
13	3	3	1	2	-	1
14	3	3	2	2	-	1
15	3	4	2	2	-	1
16	3	4	2	2	-	2
17	3	4	2	2	-	2
18	4	4	2	2	-	2
19	4	4	2	2	-	2
20	4	4	2	3	-	2

SHOOTER CLASS COMBAT RANKS

Advances	Strike	Parry	Shoot	Dodge	Focus	Resist
0	U	U	1	1	-	U
1	U	U	1	1	-	U
2	U	U	1	1	-	U
3	U	U	2	1	-	U
4	U	U	2	1	-	1
5	U	U	2	1	-	1
6	U	U	2	2	-	1
7	1	U	2	2	-	1
8	1	1	2	2	-	1
9	1	1	3	2	-	1
10	1	1	3	2	-	1
11	1	1	3	2	-	1
12	1	1	3	3	-	2
13	1	1	3	3	-	2
14	2	1	3	3	-	2
15	2	1	4	3	-	2
16	2	2	4	3	-	2
17	2	2	4	3	-	2
18	2	2	4	4	-	2
19	2	2	4	4	-	2
20	2	2	4	4	-	3

MENTALIST CLASS COMBAT RANKS

Advances	Strike	Parry	Shoot	Dodge	Focus	Resist
0	U	U	U	U	1	U
1	U	U	U	U	1	U
2	U	U	U	U	1	1
3	U	U	U	U	1	1
4	U	1	U	1	1	1
5	U	1	U	1	2	1
6	U	1	U	1	2	1
7	U	1	U	1	2	1
8	U	1	U	1	2	2
9	U	1	U	1	2	2
10	U	1	U	1	2	2
11	U	1	U	1	3	2
12	U	2	U	2	3	2
13	U	2	U	2	3	2
14	U	2	U	2	3	3
15	U	2	U	2	3	3
16	U	2	U	2	3	3
17	U	2	U	2	4	3
18	U	2	U	2	4	3
19	U	2	U	2	4	3
20	U	3	U	3	4	4

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That's the basics of the three Combat Classes and Combat Ranks ...

Next time: COMBAT!


Regards,


Jeff Moore