I was thinking about fighting style specializations for the next Eschalon game and giving each style a special maneuver. To earn the maneuver the character in question needs to have at least 10 skill in the weapon applicable (5 skill in a 1H weapon and 5 skill in Armor:Shileds for Shiled Style) and spend 3 skill points (same as acquiring a new skill) to get the special maneuver:

1 Handed Style - Ripostle - If you successfully defended an attack that round you get a free attack at +5 to hit +5 damage. You can't use this maneuver if holding a shield.

Shield Style - Shield Bash - Takes place of a regular attack and does 1/2 damage. If successful it knocks the opponent down or stuns him/her allowing the next attack to have an automatic hit with max critical damage and the opponent does not get an attack that round.

2 Handed Style - All Or Nothing - An all out full power attack that's either going to finish your foe or leave you extremely vulnerable if you miss. An attack with regular attack and defense bonuses. If it hits it does triple damage and stuns the opponent (they skip an attack). If it misses the opponent gets automatic initiative the next round and an attack at +5 to hit.

Unarmed Style - Flurry - You get 4 successive strikes on a target. The first strike is at -1 damage the next at -2 damage the next at -3 damage the next at -4 damage. If all the strikes hit then nothing changes. If any of the strikes miss then the opponent gets automatic initiative next round and +5 to hit.

Archery - Arrow Storm - An attack on every single target within range at -3 to hit.

These are rough ideas. Thoughts?

Hmm. Some very interesting ideas! It could certainly make the fighty types a bit sturdier, and maybe almost as dangerous as the magicky types.

Riposte - I like the idea. It sounds more like an actual Riposte than the one you get from having a high Sword skill.

Shield Bash - Yeah, I've been looking for some kind of way to stun enemies without the use of magic. I've not dealt with stunning much... do you always deal 2x *MAX* damage when hitting a stunned opponent? o.o It's my understanding that hitting someone who is stunned is kind of like a normal critical hit.

All or Nothing - sounds like fun, and it would be nice to see something in melee comparable to the "Extreme Focus" nonsense with a Bow. (And I can call it nonsense, because I've been doing it ALL THE TIME on my current playthrough. ) If you miss, perhaps you could be treated as though the enemy had 'dodged' your attack? Off-balance and all that, whatever the mechanics for it are. I think off-balance characters can still attack, they just have some kind of penalty for a few rounds. Are you proposing this with some kind of 'cool down' time?

Unarmed Style - It sounds a little too much like the current 10-rank skill for Unarmed. (currently 4x damage on one strike, as opposed to 4 actual strikes in a combat round.) What about something that blinded your opponent, instead? Perhaps depending upon the effectiveness of the maneuver, you could be treated as being partially or totally concealed, for purposes of that particular enemy attacking you. Of course, not all monsters really have eyes, per se (black molds come to mind.) Maybe another kind of status effect would be more appropriate.

Arrow Storm - I think part of what makes Throwing Weapons appealing at all is the AoE attack you get at 10 ranks. (correct me if I'm mistaken, because I've never actually tried it.) I'd like to see some kind of rooting, crippling, or pinning effect, personally.