Weapon and Shield talents (Origins)

Characters wishing to focus on fighting with a weapon and shield will benefit from using weapon and shield talents.

Branch One
Shield Bash
 * Activated
 * Range: Personal
 * Activation: 26
 * Cooldown: 20s
 * Requires: 11 Strength
 * Requires: Combat Training

The character shield-bashes a target, dealing normal damage as well as knocking the target off its feet unless it passes a physical resistance check. Shield Mastery doubles the strength bonus for this attack.

Shield Pummel
 * Activated
 * Range: Personal
 * Activation: 31
 * Cooldown: 20s
 * Requires: 15 Strength
 * Requires: Improved Combat Training

The character follows up an attack with two hits from the shield, dealing normal damage with each attack. If the target fails a physical resistance check, it is stunned. Shield Mastery doubles the character's strength bonus for each strike.

Overpower
 * Activated
 * Range: Personal
 * Activation: 31
 * Cooldown: 20s
 * Requires: 25 Strength
 * Requires: Expert Combat Training

The character lashes out with the shield three times. The first two hits inflict normal damage. The last strike is a critical hit if it connects, knocking the target down unless it passes a physical resistance check. Shield Mastery increases the damage.

Assault
 * Activated
 * Range: Personal
 * Activation: 41
 * Cooldown: 20s
 * Requires: 32 Strength
 * Requires: Master Combat Training

The character quickly strikes a target four times, but dealing reduced damage with each hit. If the character has Shield Mastery, the damage from each hit increases.

Branch Two
Shield Defense
 * Sustained
 * Range: Personal
 * Upkeep: 35
 * Fatigue: 5%
 * Cooldown: 5s
 * Requires: 11 Strength
 * Requires: Combat Training

While this mode is active, the character drops into a defensive stance that favors the shield, gaining a bonus to defense and an increased chance to shrug off missile attacks, but taking a penalty to attack. With Shield Balance, the attack penalty is reduced. With Shield Expertise, the defense bonus increases. With Shield Mastery, the defense bonus increases further.

Shield Balance
 * Passive
 * Requires: 14 Strength
 * Requires: Improved Combat Training

The character has learned to compensate for the weight of a shield in combat and no longer suffers an attack penalty while using Shield Defense.

Shield Wall
 * Sustained
 * Range: Personal
 * Upkeep: 55
 * Fatigue: 5%
 * Cooldown: 15s
 * Requires: 20 Strength
 * Requires: Expert Combat Training

In this mode, the character's shield becomes nearly a fortress, adding a significant bonus to armor and a greater likelihood of shrugging off missile attacks, but at the cost of reduced damage. Shield Expertise makes the character immune to direct knockdown attacks while in this mode, and Shield Mastery gives a bonus to defense.

Shield Expertise
 * Passive
 * Requires: Level 12
 * Requires: 26 Strength
 * Requires: Master Combat Training

The character's experience using a shield in combat has made certain abilities more efficient, increasing the defense bonus for Shield Defense and making the character immune to direct knockdown attacks while using Shield Wall.

Branch Three
Shield Block
 * Passive
 * Requires: 10 Dexterity
 * Requires: Combat Training

Practice fighting with a shield improves the character's guard. Enemies can no longer flank the character on the shield-carrying side.

Shield Cover
 * Sustained
 * Range: Personal
 * Upkeep: 20
 * Fatigue: 5%
 * Cooldown: 15s
 * Requires: 16 Dexterity
 * Requires: Improved Combat Training

While in this mode, the warrior's shield provides a greater chance of deflecting missile attacks. Shield Mastery increases this bonus further.

Shield Tactics
 * Passive
 * Requires: Level 9
 * Requires: 20 Dexterity
 * Requires: Expert Combat Training

The character is proficient enough with a shield to defend from all angles, so that attackers no longer benefit from flanking strikes.

Shield Mastery
 * Passive
 * Requires: Level 12
 * Requires: 26 Dexterity
 * Requires: Master Combat Training

The character has mastered the use of the shield for both offense and defense, and receives additional benefits when using Shield Bash, Shield Pummel, Assault, Overpower, Shield Defense, Shield Wall, and Shield Cover.