Riposte
Playtest 3.2 / 4th EdSkill Rules & Full Description
This skill allows the character to reflect, or riposte, any melee attack back to the attacker. The character using the Riposte skill does not have to meet the requirements to use the attacking skill, but they do have land a successful blow on the desired target. The character has 5 seconds or 1 swing to try and land the attack being riposted. If the character fails to land a blow, the Riposte is used, the original attack is stopped, but the original attack does not affect the target. The character using the Riposte skill may target the attacker or any other character they can reach.
A Speed skill can be combined with a Riposte by prefixing “Speed...” with the defensive call. So the character would call, “Speed Riposte...” and the name of the attack they are riposting. You do not need a Speed to riposte an attack delivered with a Speed skill. Also, you do not riposte the Speed, just the main attack.
For example, Wayson is fighting a Death Knight who hits him with a Slay skill. Wayson uses his Riposte and strikes back at the Death Knight calling, ”Riposte, Slay”. The Death Knight calls, “No Effect”, since he is not affected by normal weapons, but Wayson is safe and does not take the Slay. The Death Knight again hits Wayson with a Slay. This time Wayson decides to take out the Necromancer who is healing the Death Knight and uses a second Riposte and his Speed skill calling, “Speed Riposte, Slay” and tags the Necromancer.The attacker may call a defense to the riposted attack as usual, even another Riposte.
Any melee attack can be riposted, such as: damage, Critical Attack, Stun, Shatter Weapon, Speed, Slay, Flurry of Blows (only one of the strikes is riposted), Decapitate, a channeled spell, etc. In the case of faith skills, the attack is stopped, the faith skill is not used and the faith skill is not redirected. If an attack is defined as an area affect melee attack, the Riposte will stop the damage or effect for the character but not reflect the attack back to the attacker or protect any character in the area of effect.
The skill requires the character to be wielding a melee weapon and not be surprised, therefore, you may not riposte a Waylay or Assassinate that is used from surprise. Additionally, the attack must come from the front 180° of the character, so attacks from the rear cannot be riposted. If the attacker is standing behind the character, but hits the side, that is from the back. If the attacker is standing in front of the character and hits their side, that is from the front and the skill can be riposted. If the Assassinate skill is used in combat, you may use the Riposte. This skill cannot be used with a shield. The skill is used once called.
A character must have two Master Parry skills per Riposte skill they wish to purchase. So, a character that wants three Riposte skills must have six Master Parry skills. The Riposte skill can be used with any weapon in which the character has two Martial Proficiency skills of any type. Therefore, if the character has two Master Proficiency skills they can use their Riposte with any weapon.