The Four Fighting Styles

There are four common Fighting Styles employed by anyone using a melee weapon. They are:

Single-Weapon Style: The character wields a weapon in one hand and carries nothing in the other hand. The weapon can be as short as a Dagger or as long as a Bastard Sword or Long Spear.

Two-Hander Style: The character wields a weapon which requires (or at least accommodates) the use of two hands. Such weapons include those which require two hands (Two-Handed Sword, Polearms, and Quarterstaff, for instance) and those which can be used one-and two-handed (Bastard Sword and Spear, for example).

Weapon and Shield Style: The character wields a weapon in his good hand and carries a shield on his off-hand. This combination can vary from a street-bravo's choice of dagger and small buckler to the classic knight's choice of long sword and body shield.

Two-Weapon Style: The character wields one weapon in each hand. Unless both weapons are Small (S on the Size column on the Weapons chart), the weapon in the character's off-hand must be lighter in weight than his primary weapon. This character can vary from a street-thief wielding two identical daggers, to a fencer using a rapier in one hand and a main-gauche in another, to a heavily-armored warrior with a long sword in one hand and a short sword in the other. Note: Read the Player’s Handbook, page 96k, for the rules on Attacking with Two Weapons.

All Warriors start play knowing how to use all four styles. Priests start play knowing how to use Single-Weapon, Two-Hander, and Weapon and Shield styles. Rogues start play knowing how to use Single-Weapon, Two-Hander, and Two-Weapon styles. Wizards start play knowing how to use Single-Weapon and Two-Hander styles. Characters cannot learn new styles after they're created; these are the styles they are limited to by their choice of character class.

A character can use a weapon style he knows with a weapon he does not know how to use. For example, wizards know Two-Hander style . . . so they can learn to use a quarterstaff. If a wizard who doesn't have Proficiency with a quarterstaff picks one up, he can still use the weapon in two hands. However, he suffers the –5 attack penalty required by his unfamiliarity and his character class.

Each style confers some basic advantages and disadvantages when used. These are described in the descriptions of each individual style, below. Additionally, characters can specialize in these styles. Single-class warriors can eventually specialize in all of them; other classes can only specialize in one style.

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