There are varying levels of ability in weapons use available to characters in the Isles. The lowest is nonproficiency, then weapon familiarity, weapon proficiency, and weapon expertise. Characters can advance additionally through the levels of weapon specialization, weapon mastery, and, ultimately, weapon grand mastery. Primarily this progression is used by fighters, but characters of other classes can advance to high levels of accomplishment by the expenditure of additional character points. These various levels and what they mean are explained by clicking on the links to the left under "Weapon Mastery."

There are almost as many different ways of fighting as there are fights. Every character and monster has his or her favorite weapon and preferred means of attack. Fighting styles are general ways in which a character can equip himself for a fight and execute his attacks during the battle. If a character doesn’t know a fighting style, he can learn it at the cost of a proficiency slot. Warriors can actually specialize in fighting styles to gain bonus attacks or defenses.

Knowing how to use a particular fighting style is almost as important as being proficient with a weapon. The various fighting styles are introduced described from links found on the left. Warriors automatically know every style, while the other character types are limited in their knowledge of fighting styles. If a nonwarrior wishes to learn a style he doesn’t know, he can do so at the cost of a weapon proficiency. In addition to simply knowing a style, warriors, priests, and rogues can specialize in that method of fighting by spending a weapon proficiency slot. The exact effects of style specialization vary from style to style. Note that warriors can specialize in a weapon, and then specialize in an appropriate style. In fact, warriors can specialize in as many styles as they like, as long as they have the proficiency slots (or character points) available. Priests and rogues can only specialize in one style.

There is a difference between knowing a style and specializing in that style. Every character with a weapon proficiency knows at least one fighting style—the style used with that weapon. There is no cost to acquire the fighting style; it comes with the proficiency. Indeed, if a weapon can be used with two or more different styles, the character is assumed to know all of those styles. A long sword, for example, can be used with the one-handed weapon fighting style, the weapon and shield fighting style, or the two-handed weapon fighting style. Thus, a character with proficiency in the long sword knows all three of these fighting styles. Character classes put some limitations on learning fighting styles. While a rogue, for example, can use a long sword, he does not automatically learn the two-handed weapon style with this blade. A character can spend an additional character point when he purchases a weapon proficiency to learn a style that is not normally provided to his character class. The rogue, for example, spends 3 character points for his long sword proficiency slot, but only learns it as a one-handed weapon. If he spends a 4th character point, he can learn the two-handed style or the weapon and shield style as well; or he can spend a total of 5 character points and learn the long sword and all three of its styles. A character can spend a weapon proficiency slot to specialize in the use of one of these fighting styles, as long as he already knows that style. Warriors can specialize in as many styles as they wish to purchase. Priests and rogues can only specialize in one style. Wizards can specialize in a single fighting style, but only by paying an extra character point to acquire the weapon proficiency slot. Each of the styles has specific benefits when acquired as a specialization. These are described below:

Whilst a good offense is likely to be sort by many warriors, often there are times when they have to be defensive. The basic Isles warrior will be proficient in sword, spear and shield. There are many kinds of shields depending on race and knowing how to use one well can be the difference between life and death...