Cheapshots
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Cheapshots, as the name implies, are various "cheap" maneuvers to allow one an advantage in combat. The cheap shot can be anything from tweaking an opponents nose to a swift chop to the throat to silence a spell caster. The most notable of the cheapshots are the "swiftkick" and "kneebash" maneuvers, though since these maneuvers are normally mastered by rogues through the Rogue Guild, the change to Ambushing since GemStone IV made the swiftkick portion of Cheapshots nearly obsolete, as both reduce an opponent's defensive stance. However, since Cheapshots can be utilized by Bards or can reduce the stance for an ally of a Cheapshots master, swiftkick is not completely forgotten by all users of this skill.
This maneuver takes into account the attacker's skill in Ambushing. In addition, it uses the revamped height system that the AMBUSH verb currently uses.
Characters that have trained to be unarmed specialists are not required to use a weapon with any cheapshot maneuver that would normally require one. These include templeshot, kneebash or throatchop.
Cheapshot maneuvers
The various maneuvers one learns through Cheapshots training are as follows: Footstomp, Nosetweak, Templeshot, Kneebash, Eyepoke, Throatchop, and Swiftkick.
Footstomp
- Cost: 4 stamina
Learned at rank 1 in the guild or rank 1 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this skill inflicts a target with roundtime, should the attack be successful. A successful attack will cause the victim to suffer up to 20 seconds of roundtime, depending on how successful the attacker is.
[Roll result: 162 (open d100: 94)] A Grimswarm orc archer raises her heel high, bringing it down solidly on your foot! You howl in pain, hopping around and clutching your foot! Roundtime: 10 sec.
Nosetweak
- Cost: 4 stamina
Learned at rank 10 in the Rogue Guild or rank 2 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this skill reduces the defensive strength of a target by 10, should the attack succeed. An empty hand is required to perform this skill. There is a bonus of 10 when the target is stunned, and 25 is added to the roll if the target is in offensive stance.
Templeshot
- Cost: 4 stamina
Learned at rank 20 in the Rogue Guild or rank 2 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this skill reduces the attack strength of a target by 10, should the attack succeed. A weapon is required to be in the attacker's hands to use this skill.
Kneebash
- Cost: 6 stamina
Learned at rank 30 in the Rogue Guild or rank 3 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this skill forces a target to its knees. In many cases, this skill is superior to Sweep due to the lower stamina cost and the fact that some targets that are immune to Sweep are vulnerable to Kneebash. Using a blackjack for this maneuver will add a bonus.
[Roll result: 160 (open d100: 92)] A human outlaw seizes an opening and brings the blunt end of his mace down on your knee! You crash to the ground, clutching your knee! Roundtime: 10 sec.
Eyepoke
- Cost: 8 stamina
Learned at rank 42 in the Rogue Guild or rank 4 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this combat maneuver reduces a target's defensive strength and attack strength by 15, making it superior to both Templeshot and Nosetweak combined.
[Roll result: 219 (open d100: 168)] A human bandit jabs his finger right at your eye! You scream in pain as a human bandit's finger penetrates your eye! The stinging pain in your eye subsides.
Throatchop
- Cost: 10 stamina
Learned at rank 54 in the Rogue Guild or rank 4 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this spell prevents a target from talking for a short period of time. This also prevents a caster from preparing a spell, though the short duration brings its usefulness into question.
Swiftkick
- Cost: 10 stamina
Learned at rank 63 (mastery) in the Rogue Guild or rank 5 on the Combat Maneuvers List, this skill forces an opponent into an offensive stance in a similar manner that Frenzy (216) does.
Guild Training in Cheapshots
There are six different tasks that are assigned to a trainee in the Rogue Guild. These include sweeping the guild, watering flowers, wiping the windows, practicing on live creatures, defending yourself from cheapshots, and practicing cheapshots on a fellow guildmember.
Resources
- List of combat maneuvers by profession
- Cheapshot vulnerabilities list
- Combat maneuvers saved posts
- Combat Maneuvers List: Cheapshots, on Play.net
- Cheapshot page, on Midgar's Rogue Guild Erudition
- Grendeg's List of Cheapshottable Creatures and their locations