Ask the Stat Monkey!

T2. Sorry, I was posting on my phone and autocorrect sucks.

“Do the impossible” was taken out of the available things to do with a fate point on purpose

Snap Shot
You quickly notch an arrow and let it fly, trusting your instincts instead of your aim, sacrificing accuracy for speed.
Requirements: Ranged (Archery) +9
Category: Advanced
Attack: Avoidance (Pr)
Speed (Recovery): -2 (4)
Range: 90’ (1 Target)
Effect: Weapon -3.
Weapons: Bow (any).

Does this include reload? Effect says no, fluff text suggests yes.

Also it should be said: Reloading is NOT an attack, and therefore by definition cannot have a Martial Technique or a Weapon Trick applied to it. As such, according to the rules you cannot apply a MT and WT to a non attack action unless it specifically says that you can.

Sort of. Rapid Shot Technique from Codex of Heroes lets you reload for free as a 0(0) Base maneuver (so it could be combined with another Base Technique). Then again, I’ve never understood why Rapid Shot was a Technique instead of just a Talent (like the other reload-affecting Talents).

This is an example of a MT (or WT) that explicitly states that it does affect reloading.

Please clarify which Q the answer is in regards to.

Hands of Our Mother (Val’Dellenov Bloodline Talent) Seems to imply a benefit that isn’t there. The first paragraph reads:

You gain Melee (Unarmed) as a Primary skill. If this
Talent is chosen during Hero creation, you may apply your
skill ranks to this skill as if you had acquired it through your
Archetype.

Why would the second sentence be a benefit? If you gain a rank in Melee (Unarmed) at the archetype stage, you can only add a single rank with skill points. If you gain a rank in Melee (Unarmed) at the talent stage, you can already have placed two ranks (for three skill points, assuming nothing else grants ranks) in the skill already with the talent adding a third rank.

Am I missing something? Maybe the talent modifies the archetype’s skill list so that at character advancement, the +1 to archetype skills option has Melee (Unarmed) added to it. E.g., The arcane archetype option would be:

Gain 1 rank in Arcanum (any), Deceit, Stealth, and Melee (Unarmed)

If you are Expert or Arcane (and don’t get melee skills at that step) then getting a skill rank at the archetype step through your bloodline can open up options. For example pugilist. Also makes it a lot easier to finish creation at 4 ranks in melee (unarmed). Also allows you to use your “any one skill” from race to also be used for melee (unarmed).
I’m not sure there is much of an advantage there.

1. It only helps gain pugilist if you have no ranks in Melee (Unarmed) by the talent selection step of character creation; if you plan on using unarmed attacks you would at least put one rank in it at the skills step. HoOM as written actually stops you putting 2 ranks in it (if you accept the second sentence of HoOM), as archetype is the first mechanical choice you make.

2. The fact HoOM gives a rank makes it easier to get 4 ranks, gaining it in the archetype stage does nothing. A rank must be gained from Race, Background, and Skills steps to gain 4 ranks with the arcane or expert archetypes. There is no other way.

3. As far as I can tell, the “Choose any skill” racial option of the Val is not limited to skills you already know.

Also, the option of gaining 2 ranks at the skills step is removed if it counts as being gained in the archetype step, thus removing a method of starting with 3 ranks in Melee (Unarmed) if you choose to use the second sentence of HoOM, which as it says “may” is entirely optional, but apparently not useful.

But can a martial or expert who took unarmed as a skill in the archetype step still get another point when they take this talent? Or do they not because they already have a point in that step?