Scout
Some are hunters or keen-eyed trackers, some spies gathering vital intelligence behind enemy lines; some are skilled sappers and siege engineers, or experts at reading people and uncovering secrets. But scouts all have one thing in common: lacking either powerful magic or great might, they must rely on their talents and their wits to prevail.
Most scouting skills align with four broad paths:
- Theft and treachery
- Tracking and woodcraft
- Influencing others
- Battlefield engineering
Many Scouts, of course, dabble with multiple paths.
Advice for Scout Characters
Ranger or Scoundrel skill is essential - if not both - and most learn at least a couple of the skills branching off these two. Any scout will tend to eschew noisy heavy armour, so Body Development is invaluable for staying on your feet. Resist Poison is useful for beastmasters risking venomed bites or for thieves fearing treachery alike, while Iron Body can aid in escape or endurance.
Those seeking an extra edge may dabble in Alchemist for brewing poisons or useful potions, while investigators benefit from Evaluate to assess evidence and objects of interest. Diplomats and spies will find Intuition opens up a wealth of information-gathering skills. One of the greatest assets of any scout is surprise – most scouts will take at least some skills their enemies don't expect, especially magic.
Stamina
Most scout skills draw on a pool of stamina representing reserves of willpower, determination and focus.
Certain general and archetype skills grant stamina points — 5 per day per skill:
- No primary archetype: 15 stamina cap (can benefit from up to 3 skills)
- Scout archetype: 30 stamina cap (can benefit from up to 5 skills)
Once a character has purchased a skill that grants stamina, they can purchase Extra Stamina to increase their stamina up to their archetype cap.
Characters should have a visible means of tracking their stamina points and keep it on their person at all times.
See Stamina for full details, including which skills grant stamina points.
Scout Skills
No character can learn more than one Pinnacle skill (marked with * below).
Combat Engineer
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Device Proficiency | 5 | Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Arcane Saboteur | 8 | Device Proficiency and Sense Magic | Stamina |
| Sapper | 5 | Device Proficiency | Stamina |
| Trapper | 6 | Ranger | Stamina |
| Siege Weapons | 4 | Projectile Weapons | Permanent |
| Siege Engineer | 6 | Siege Weapons | Permanent |
Politician
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield Insight | 5 | Intuition | Stamina |
| Detect Lies | 6 | Intuition | Stamina |
| Diplomat's Insight | 6 | Intuition | Stamina |
| Subterfuge | 5 | Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Friendly Face | 8 | Diplomat's Insight | Stamina |
| Silver Tongue* | 8 | Detect Lies | Stamina |
Rogue
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chameleon | 6 | Ranger or Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Move in Cover | 10 | Chameleon | Stamina |
| Device Proficiency | 5 | Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Arcane Saboteur | 8 | Device Proficiency and Sense Magic | Stamina |
| Subterfuge | 5 | Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Scrapper | 6 | Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Poison Aptitude | 6 | Scrapper | Permanent |
| Maverick* | 12 | Scrapper | Stamina |
Woodcraft
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beast Empathy | 6 | Ranger | Stamina |
| Beast Command | 8 | Beast Empathy | Stamina |
| Chameleon | 6 | Ranger or Scoundrel | Stamina |
| Move in Cover | 10 | Chameleon | Stamina |
| Tracking Proficiency | 5 | Ranger | Stamina |
| Pathfinder | 8 | Tracking Proficiency | Stamina |
| Trapper | 6 | Ranger | Stamina |
| Hunter's Insight | 8 | Ranger and Intuition | Stamina |
| Hunter's Mark* | 12 | Hunter's Insight | Stamina |
| Harrier | 6 | Ranger | Stamina Access |
| Talon* | 12 | Harrier | Stamina |
Armour
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medium Armour | 2 | Light Armour | Permanent |
Resistances
| Skill Name | Points Cost | Prerequisites | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immune to [Body Effect] | 6 | Iron Body | Permanent |
| Immune to [Disease] | 4 | Resist Disease | Permanent |
| Immune to [Poison] | 5 | Resist Poison | Permanent |
Note: Any character may have a maximum of 3 immunities in total.
Scout Study Paths
The four scout study paths are not defined by individual skills but by a scout's role or profession. As such, there is some overlap between paths (e.g. both rogues and politicians are skilled liars, and both survivalists and rogues are trained in stealth). When a scout completes a research project that could come under multiple paths, they should discuss with the research referee which path they are advancing.
Much study as a scout involves improving existing skills (using them more often, overcoming their limitations, extending durations etc.) rather than devising new abilities. There are exceptions: developing an Arcane Saboteur rite to slip through a ritual circle ward, for instance, or a Beast Command technique to summon a wild animal.
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