1st-Level Features¶
As a 1st-level shadow, you gain the following features.
Shadow College¶
Shadow colleges are secret institutions that turn ordinary folk into something else. Finding a college is the first step in a rigorous initiation process that tests the mettle of an applicant. Even those who make the cut often wash out-or are kicked out-as the master shadows who teach stealth, magic, and assassination to their students are often less than gentle in their approach.
You graduated from a shadow college chosen from the following options, each of which grants you a skill. (Quick Build: College of Black Ash.)
- College of Black Ash: The College of Black Ash founded the art of being a shadow. Its graduates are unmatched in mobility, using sorcery to teleport around the battlefield, manipulate shadows, and summon darkness. You have the Magic skill.
- College of Caustic Alchemy: The College of Caustic Alchemy teaches its students recipes for the acids, bombs, and poisons used in their grim work. Graduates of the college are exceptional assassins. You have the Alchemy skill.
- College of the Harlequin Mask: Graduates of the College of the Harlequin Mask learn illusion magic, which they use to infiltrate enemy strongholds and create orchestrated chaos in combat. You have the Lie skill.
Your shadow college is your subclass, and your choice of college determines many of the features you'll gain as you gain new levels.
Shadow Advancement Table¶
| Level | Features | Abilities | College Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Shadow College, Insight, College Features, College Triggered Action, Hesitation Is Weakness, Kit, Shadow Abilities | Signature, 3, 5 | - |
| 2nd | College Feature, Perk, College Ability | Signature, 3, 5 | 5 |
| 3rd | Careful Observation, 7-Insight Ability | Signature, 3, 5, 7 | 5 |
| 4th | Characteristic Increase, Keep It Down, Night Watch, Perk, Skill, Surge of Insight | Signature, 3, 5, 7 | 5 |
| 5th | College Feature, 9-Insight Ability | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9 | 5 |
| 6th | Perk, Umbral Form, College Ability | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9 | 5, 9 |
| 7th | Characteristic Increase, Keen Insight, Skill, Careful Observation Improvement, Ventriloquist | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9 | 5, 9 |
| 8th | College Feature, Perk, 11-Insight Ability | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | 5, 9 |
| 9th | Gloom Squad, College Ability | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | 5, 9, 11 |
| 10th | Characteristic Increase, Death Pool, Perk, Skill, Careful Observation Improvement, Improved Umbral Form, Subterfuge | Signature, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 | 5, 9, 11 |
Insight¶
By observing your enemy, you learn how to use their weaknesses against them, building up a Heroic Resource called insight.
Insight in Combat¶
At the start of a combat encounter or some other stressful situation tracked in combat rounds (as determined by the Director), you gain insight equal to your Victories. At the start of each of your turns during combat, you gain 1d3 insight.
Additionally, the first time each combat round that you deal damage incorporating 1 or more surges, you gain 1 insight.
Whenever you use a heroic ability that makes use of a power roll, that ability costs 1 fewer insight if you have an edge or double edge on it. If the ability has multiple targets, the cost is reduced even if the ability gains an edge or has a double edge against only one target.
You lose any remaining insight at the end of the encounter.
Insight Outside of Combat¶
Although you can't gain insight outside of combat, you can use your heroic abilities and effects that cost insight without spending it. Whenever you use an ability or effect outside of combat that costs insight, you can't use that same ability or effect outside of combat again until you earn 1 or more Victories or finish a respite.
When you use an ability outside of combat that lets you spend unlimited insight on its effect, such as Black Ash Teleport, you can use it as if you had spent an amount of insight equal to your Victories.
1st-Level College Features¶
Your shadow college grants you one or two features, as shown on the 1st-Level College Features table.
1st-Level College Features Table¶
| College | Feature |
|---|---|
| Black Ash | Black Ash Teleport |
| Caustic Alchemy | Coat the Blade, Smoke Bomb |
| Harlequin Mask | I'm No Threat |
Black Ash Teleport¶
You have the following ability.
Black Ash Teleport¶
In a swirl of black ash, you step from one place to another.
| Magic | Maneuver |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Effect: You teleport up to 5 squares. If you have concealment or cover at your destination, you can use the Hide maneuver even if you are observed. If you successfully hide using this maneuver, you gain 1 surge.
Spend 1+ Insight: You teleport 1 additional square for each insight spent.
Coat the Blade¶
You have the following ability.
Coat the Blade¶
A little poison goes a long way.
| - | Maneuver |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Effect: You gain 2 surges. Additionally, whenever you use a surge before the end of the encounter, you can choose to have it deal poison damage.
Spend 1+ Insight: For each insight you spend, you gain 1 additional surge.
I'm No Threat¶
You have the following ability.
I'm No Threat¶
Taking on an illusory countenance gives you an advantage on subterfuge.
| Magic | Maneuver |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Effect: You envelop yourself in an illusion that makes you appear nonthreatening and harmless to your enemies. You might take on the appearance of a harmless animal of your size, such as a sheep or capybara, or you might appear as a less heroic and unarmed version of yourself. While this illusion lasts, your strikes gain an edge, and when you take the Disengage move action, you gain a +1 bonus to the distance you can shift.
The illusion ends when you harm another creature, when you physically interact with a creature, when you use this ability again, or when you end the illusion (no action required). If you end this illusion by harming another creature, you gain 1 surge.
Spend 1 Insight: Choose a creature whose size is no more than 1 greater than yours and who is within 10 squares. This ability's illusion makes you appear as that creature. This illusion covers your entire body, including clothing and armor, and alters your voice to sound like that of the creature. You gain an edge on tests made to convince the creature's allies that you are the creature.
Smoke Bomb¶
You always carry a supply of smoke bombs to use for distractions and easy getaways. You can use the Hide maneuver even if you are observed and don't initially have cover or concealment. When you do so, you can shift a number of squares equal to your Agility score. If you end this movement with cover or concealment, you are automatically hidden.
College Triggered Action¶
Your shadow college grants you a triggered action, as shown on the College Triggered Actions table.
College Triggered Actions Table¶
| College | Triggered Action |
|---|---|
| Black Ash | In All This Confusion |
| Caustic Alchemy | Defensive Roll |
| Harlequin Mask | Clever Trick |
Clever Trick (1 Insight)¶
You sow a moment of confusion in combat, to your enemy's peril.
| Magic | Triggered |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Trigger: An enemy targets you with a strike.
Effect: Choose an enemy within distance of the triggering strike, including the enemy who targeted you. The strike targets that enemy instead.
Defensive Roll¶
When an enemy attacks, you roll with the impact to reduce the harm.
| - | Triggered |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Trigger: Another creature damages you.
Effect: You take half the triggering damage, then can shift up to 2 squares after the triggering effect resolves. If you end this shift with concealment or cover, you can use the Hide maneuver even if you are observed.
Spend 1 Insight: The potency of any effects associated with the damage are reduced by 1 for you.
In All This Confusion¶
You vanish in a plume of black smoke to avoid danger.
| Magic | Triggered |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Trigger: You take damage.
Effect: You take half the damage, then can teleport up to 4 squares after the triggering effect resolves.
Spend 1+ Insight: You teleport 1 additional square for each insight spent.
Hesitation Is Weakness¶
You have the following ability.
Hesitation Is Weakness (1 Insight)¶
Keep up the attack. Never give them a moment's grace.
| - | Free triggered |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self | 🎯 Self |
Trigger: Another hero ends their turn. That hero can't have used this ability to start their turn.
Effect: You take your turn after the triggering hero.
Kit¶
You can use and gain the benefits of a kit. See Chapter 6: Kits for more information. (Quick Build: Cloak and Dagger.)
Shadow Abilities¶
You specialize in dealing damage, then getting out of harm's way before the inevitable counterattack. You know a number of unique martial abilities that define your presence on the battlefield.
Signature Ability¶
Choose one signature ability from the following options. Signature abilities can be used at will. (Quick Build: Teamwork Has Its Place.)
Gasping in Pain¶
Your precise strikes let your allies take advantage of a target's agony.
| Melee, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 3 + A damage
- 12-16: 5 + A damage
- 17+: 8 + A damage; I < STRONG, prone
Effect: One ally within 5 squares of the target gains 1 surge.
I Work Better Alone¶
"It's better, just you and me. Isn't it?"
| Melee, Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 or ranged 5 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 3 + A damage
- 12-16: 6 + A damage
- 17+: 9 + A damage
Effect: If the target has none of your allies adjacent to them, you gain 1 surge before making the power roll.
Teamwork Has Its Place¶
You attack an enemy as an ally exposes their weakness.
| Melee, Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 or ranged 5 | 🎯 One creature or object |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 3 + A damage
- 12-16: 6 + A damage
- 17+: 9 + A damage
Effect: If any ally is adjacent to the target, you gain 1 surge before making the power roll.
You Were Watching the Wrong One¶
They can't watch both of you at once.
| Melee, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 3 + A damage
- 12-16: 5 + A damage
- 17+: 8 + A damage
Effect: As long as you have one or more allies within 5 squares of the target, you gain 1 surge. If you are flanking the target when you use this ability, choose one ally who is flanking with you. That ally also gains 1 surge.
Heroic Abilities¶
A range of heroic abilities define your combat prowess, all of which make use of your insight.
3-Insight Ability¶
Choose one heroic ability from the following options, each of which costs 3 insight to use. (Quick Build: Get In Get Out.)
Disorienting Strike (3 Insight)¶
Your attack leaves them reeling, allowing you to follow up.
| Melee, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 4 + A damage; slide 2
- 12-16: 6 + A damage; slide 3
- 17+: 10 + A damage; slide 5
Effect: You can shift into any square the target leaves when you slide them.
Eviscerate (3 Insight)¶
You leave your foe bleeding out after a devastating attack.
| Melee, Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 or ranged 5 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 4 + A damage; R < WEAK, bleeding (save ends)
- 12-16: 6 + A damage; R < AVERAGE, bleeding (save ends)
- 17+: 10 + A damage; R < STRONG, bleeding (save ends)
Get In Get Out (3 Insight)¶
Move unexpectedly, strike fast, and be gone!
| Melee, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 5 + A damage
- 12-16: 8 + A damage
- 17+: 11 + A damage
Two Throats at Once (3 Insight)¶
A bargain.
| Melee, Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 or ranged 5 | 🎯 Two creatures or objects |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 4 damage
- 12-16: 6 damage
- 17+: 10 damage
5-Insight Ability¶
Choose one heroic ability from the following options, each of which costs 5 insight to use. (Quick Build: Coup de Grace.)
Coup de Grace (5 Insight)¶
Your blade might be the last thing they see.
| Melee, Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Melee 1 or ranged 5 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 2d6 + 7 + A damage
- 12-16: 2d6 + 11 + A damage
- 17+: 2d6 + 16 + A damage
One Hundred Throats (5 Insight)¶
As you move across the battlefield, every foe within reach feels your wrath.
| Melee, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self; see below | 🎯 Self |
Effect: You shift up to your speed and make one power roll that targets up to three enemies who came adjacent to you during the move.
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 3 damage
- 12-16: 6 damage
- 17+: 9 damage
Setup (5 Insight)¶
Your friends will thank you.
| Ranged, Strike, Weapon | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Ranged 5 | 🎯 One creature |
Power Roll + Agility:
- ≤11: 6 + A damage; R < WEAK, the target has damage weakness 5 (save ends)
- 12-16: 9 + A damage; R < AVERAGE, the target has damage weakness 5 (save ends)
- 17+: 13 + A damage; R < STRONG, the target has damage weakness 5 (save ends)
Shadowstrike (5 Insight)¶
They have no idea what the college taught you.
| Magic, Melee, Ranged | Main action |
|---|---|
| 📏 Self; see below | 🎯 Self |
Effect: You use a strike signature ability twice.