A Technique is a set of combat maneuvers, styles, stances, or weapon proficiencies. One Technique is selected at character creation, with the opportunity of improving it over time or learning new Techniques as the character advances. Each Technique is triggered under different circumstances or when using a particular weapon.
For example, Toogan Harbeck has taken the Stealth Technique. Because of his Technique, any time that he moves with stealth or fights unaware enemies he gets to pick from a handful of benefits, such as improving his roll, making his attacks more deadly, lessening a penalty, or applying an Impact.
Technique Impacts deliver an extra effect to your friends or foes: knock your enemy prone, heal your ally, combine multiple actions together, or minimize the amount of energy spent to unleash Control. There’s plenty of sample Impacts in the book, as well as rules for how to make your own.
Let’s take a look at Techniques in action:
While infiltrating an enemy city, Toogan hears several City Watch approaching around the corner. He hides in a shadowy alley and Rolls a Sneak, which falls under his Stealth Technique. He gets a +1 bonus to his Sneak Roll as his Technique Benefit, which is added to his normal Roll Modifier.
The GM rolls Awareness for the City Watch to counter Toogan’s Sneak, but they fail. The Watch are now unaware of Toogan, allowing him to apply his Stealth Technique benefits to combat.
Since his enemies aren’t aware of him, Toogan attacks first. He selects +4 Bonus Damage as the Technique Benefit, due to attacking from stealth.
Toogan attacks, beating the first Watch’s Dodge. Hit! The GM notes the base damage and adds the +4 bonus damage for the successful attack. Toogan rolls Sneak again to avoid the guards’ detection, adding in another +1 as his Technique Benefit.
The GM Rolls Awareness for the Watch, who fail to see Toogan in the shadows. They scramble into cover while a cowardly Watch recruit starts fleeing from the ambush. When it’s Toogan’s turn again, he decides to apply an Impact to the enemy recruit, knocking him prone to prevent his escape.
Toogan attacks and hits the fleeing recruit. Toogan applies the “prone” Impact on the recruit instead of +4 damage (his previous Technique Benefit). The recruit tumbles to the ground in pain, clutching at the bolt buried in his leg.
