TIDAL BLADES

Champion's Quick Reference Sheet

Everything you need to navigate the tournaments of Lau

1. TIDAL MECHANICS Checks & Attacks

When you attempt a risky action, attack a Mono, or perform a specialized tournament challenge, you roll a Tidal Check.

d20 + Associated Stat + Island Heritage Bonus + Tide Shards/Help Bonuses

Target: You must beat the Challenge Depth (CD) set by the Island Master or the target's Evasion.

Tidal Surge (Natural 20): Automatic Success! In combat, you deal Double Damage and create a small tidal wave effect.

Riptide (Natural 1): Automatic Failure. (Unless you have the Unwavering champion path ability).

2. CHAMPION PROGRESSION Aptitude

You don't have traditional levels. You grow by increasing your Pool Maxima (Resilience, Focus, Spirit, or Luck). As your pools expand, you unlock new Tiers of champion mastery.

CHAMPION TIER POOL MAX LUCK MAX TOURNAMENT UNLOCKS
T1: Novice Champion 11 8 Step 1 Path Ability & Basic Weapon
T2: Seasoned Champion 15 12 Step 2 Path Ability & Tide-Forging Access
T3: Master of the Reef 20 16 Step 3 Path Ability & Master Forging

Tournament Tip: Focus on increasing your primary stat pool first. Each tournament victory grants Aptitude to distribute!

3. YOUR ISLAND HERITAGE Combat Bonuses

Your biological traits are amplified by the presence of your champion squad. Use the bonus that matches your current group size in the tournament.

Coral Atoll Kin
Primary Bonus: Evasion
Small (1-3): +5
Medium (4-6): +7
Tournament (7-8): +10
Shellback Islander
Primary Bonus: Armor
Small (1-3): +1
Medium (4-6): +2
Tournament (7-8): +2 (+Squad Brace 2)
Reef Strider
Primary Bonus: Accuracy
Small (1-3): +10
Medium (4-6): +15
Tournament (7-8): +25
Glimmerborn
Primary Bonus: Damage
Small (1-3): +2
Medium (4-6): +4
Tournament (7-8): +6 (+10ft Splash)

4. TIDE-FORGING RITUAL Weapon Upgrading

To use Tier 2 or Tier 3 champion abilities, you must "Tide-Forge" your weapon during a Short Rest at a sacred shore.

d20 + Spirit + Heritage Trait + Tide Shards

The Cost: 3 Prism Shells (T2) or 1 Glimmer Shell (T3).

Champion's Leap (T1 → T3): If skipping directly to T3, take a -5 penalty and pay extra (6 Prism Shells / 8 Common Shells).

Tide-Forging Results d20 Roll

HERITAGE FAILURE SUCCESS TIDE-SURGE
Coral Atoll Kin 1-4 5-15 16+: Gain +1 Move Action
Shellback Islander 1-5 6-17 18+: Gain +3 Armor
Reef Strider 1-6 7-17 18+: Weapon Range is Doubled
Glimmerborn 1-6 7-16 17+: Next Attack is Auto-Crit

The Tidal Judgment d100 Resilience Save

If you fail the d20 Tide-Forging roll:

ROLL RESULT CONSEQUENCE
01-40 Unstable Tide Only the "Leap Tax" is lost. Shells are safe.
41-80 Tidal Collapse All shells lost. Weapon is Jammed (No abilities for 1 scene).
81-95 Shattered Resonance All shells lost. Weapon Damage becomes 1. (Triggers Recovery Mission).
96-100 Tidal Miracle Forge fails, but you keep all shells.

5. SCALED WEAPON ABILITIES Tournament Techniques

Your weapon techniques grow more powerful with more champions in your tournament group.

TIER 1
Tidal Impact
Small (1-3): Push 10ft
Medium (4-6): Push 2 targets
Tournament (7-8): Push 4 targets + Prone
TIER 2
Reef Fortress
Small (1-3): Armor 2 (Self)
Medium (4-6): You + 1 Ally: Armor 2
Tournament (7-8): You + 4 Allies: Armor 2
TIER 2
Current Drive
Small (1-3): +4 Damage
Medium (4-6): +6 Damage
Tournament (7-8): +8 Damage + 10ft Splash
TIER 3
Maelstrom Mastery
Small (1-3): 8 AOE Damage
Medium (4-6): 10 AOE Damage
Tournament (7-8): 15 AOE Damage (30ft)

6. ISLAND BOUNTY & SYNERGY Resources

Island Harvest

Star Berry
Heal d6 damage
Tournament Feast: At Tournament scale (7-8), one berry heals two champions.
Iron Mango
Restore Full Resilience/Focus
Glow Melon
Restore Full Spirit/Synergy
Golden Fig
Restore All Pools Completely

Champion Synergy

Synergy Aid: Spend 1 Synergy point to assist another champion.

Small Group (1-3): Ally gets +2 to next roll
Medium Group (4-6): Ally gets +4 to next roll
Tournament Team (7-8): +5 to TWO different allies

Tide Shards: Consume 1 Tide Shard to add +2 to any Forging or Combat roll. These glimmering crystals are found in tidal pools and sacred sites.