Questions about Blessed Lands Book

Obviously you can’t play an Ul’, since none of the rules are out about them, but can you play an ethnic Khitani human raised in the first city, or the citadel of Larissa? What about a priest Khitani? Would being a member of the Khitani Church mechanically similar enough to the Coryani Church (just like being a member of the Milandesian Church) that you could just say you are a member of the Khitani Church but raised in the Blessed Lands and use the rules as written? (Especially since it make most sense for a Tultipetan dwarf to belong to the Khitani Church, rather than the Coryani).

I would think you could certainly play an ethnic Khitani from the First City (eg no mechanical difference from any other person from the First City). I seriously doubt that the Khitani Church is similar enough to the Mother Church so I’m betting you can’t play a member of the Khitani Church (or especially a priest or divine caster).

Is the Manica a local “shield”? It’s not listed as one, but considering it is new to the rules with the region I would assume it is. Or is it so specialized that you can’t take it as a local weapon in the archetype step no matter what?

No. It says in the special note that it is specialized and must be taken specifically as Armor Proficiency, Shield: Manica (just taking the generic Armor Proficiency, Shield does not even grant it). The one way to get it for free is to be a Former Gladiator (as it counts as a Gladiator Weapon).

The Manica is functionally an ‘exotic item’, and only Gladiators would be able to get access to it normally as it (last I looked) was listed as a Gladiator weapon.

Wait, the text spells out that you have to take armor proficiency shield, manica to use it, but normally you can gain shield proficiency by either taking armor prof or weapon prof with it. So an expert character from the blessed lands could take it as a weapon from his “any weapon” option, but not from his “local weapon,” right? The Manica is expressly described as being useful as a weapon, so that should still work, but I don’t see a damage or a speed associated with it.

For an example of people who were born among the Citadels, remember that there is a small city which sprung up around the Citadel of Yarris.

yes, for the Yarricite one that is correct, but considering the Saluwean temple isn’t fully cleared yet, I have a hard time seeing family being raised there. And obviously there shouldn’t be people saying they were raised in the Neroth/Beltine Citadels, right? I kind of got the impression the Ansharan one wasn’t really designed for large numbers of people to live by permanently too.

I understand the text says,
Armour Proficiency, Shield: Manica (ta) specifically for the
Manica in order to use it unless you are a Former Gladiator
(Ba). You cannot gain proficiency with the Manica simply
by gaining the normal Armour Proficiency, Shield talent.

I understand the bolded portion, but it neglects, as does the following underlined sentence it appears to assume is the baseline means of getting shield proficiency.

The errata specifically says,

Archetypes
Question: Is the Martial Archetype the only Archetype
that doesn’t need to spend a Talent to learn to use any shield?
Answer: No, Martial Archetype characters learn all
of their nation’s shields during character creation. Expert
Archetype may also learn to use shields from their “any one
other weapon of choice” selection

and

And as for your second question, Shields
are listed in the weapons table, thus they are
fair game.

So I often see getting shield proficiency through a weapon proficiency talent rather than an armor talent, which is what the underlined portion of text seems to assume is the case. I assume that the bolded portion simply means you have to take armor proficiency shield: manica, or weapon proficiency manica. Both are equally specific and unique, and indicate someone specifically taking that item as a specialization. IS this really wrong? Is the one shield item that is specifically described as being both a weapon and a shield the only shield that isn’t allowed to be taken as a weapon proficiency?

Also, what is it’s damage and speed? It’s worn, so it’s unarmed combat, so at least what skill it uses is already defined.

Also as an oddity about the Citadels, if you weren’t raised in the First City, your only language options are pidgin, hunai, and maghir, correct? And you aren’t literate. Say, even if you were raised in the Citadel of Althares, which I assume (though it is not stated) is run by Coryani?

What exactly does the “special” note on Grab & Stab mean? Does it mean that Grab & Stab can be combined with any other Base maneuver (as normal) and that Disarm Foe is considered Base for purposes of combining with Grab & Stab?

edited because I just realized that Disarm Foe is Advanced…

Looking at the Sweep and Strike martial technique, I believe double spear doesn’t count for Trip Foe?

Also looking at that technique, shouldn’t it require Trip Foe technique instead of or in addition to Two Weapon Fighting? The way it reads, the pole arm has to be a valid weapon for Trip Foe, but you don’t need to learn Trip Foe.

Looking at the Sweep and Strike martial technique, I believe double spear doesn’t count for Trip Foe?

Also looking at that technique, shouldn’t it require Trip Foe technique instead of or in addition to Two Weapon Fighting? The way it reads, the pole arm has to be a valid weapon for Trip Foe, but you don’t need to learn Trip Foe.

Given that both Spear and Quarterstaff qualify for Trip Foe, Double Spear should qualify (I assume the list just wasn’t updated with Codex of Heroes weapons). Rereading it, Double Spear does qualify – Trip Foe simply lists “Spear” which encompasses light spear, long spear, and double spear.

I don’t think so. Trip Foe seems to only being used for the base list of weapons. For clarity, it probably would have been good if they simply relisted the valid ones.

You are correct. Runic Tattoo should read at the end:

Special: Once you acquire this Talent, it is no longer a Limited Talent for you.

While you’re there, can you comment on the requirements block for that Runic Tattoo talent? It’s a [Limited] talent, so as I read it, only Runic Warriors can get it directly. Does the inclusion of the block (and the lack of reference to the path in the block) mean that you can get around the Path limitation?

Limited: Limited Talents can only be acquired through an Archetype, Background, or Path. These Talents cannot be acquired through any other means.

Thanks!