Swordmaster virtue

[Corvo]

That is modification of the Swordmaster virtue I adopted in my (heavily houseruled) campaign. Maybe someone can find it useful.

“When you are fighting in a Defensive stance, your get a bonus to your Parry equal to the Encumbrance rating of your sword (either a sword or a long sword). Later, as an undertaking, you can spend 1 xp and get a bonus to your Parry equal to the sword's encumbrance minus 1 in Open stance. As another undertaking, you can spend 1 xp and get a bonus to your Parry equal to the sword's encumbrance minus 2 in Forward stance”

Sorry for the awkward wording.
I don't think it's overpowered: my rationale is that anything that encourages Heroes to leave defensive stance is good. Look at the recent virtues and rewards of the Rohirrim and the Dunlendings: a lot of very powerful stuff that works just in Forward stance.

Truth to be told, I'm mulling if doing away with the reduced Parry bonus for Open and Forward stances (ie “Later, as an undertaking, you can spend 1 xp and get the same bonus to your Parry even in Open stance, etc”). Again, anything to encourage Heroes to a more dynamic approach to combat

[Otaku-sempai]

I'm not sure why you would want to tie the parry bonus into the Encumbrance rating for the weapon. Perhaps it should instead be tied to the hero's Wisdom (if it were an offensive ability then I would use Valour instead).

[Deadmanwalking]

Well Encumbrance is how the official version works...

And yeah, that seems balanced enough. I'd be concerned enough that it lets you keep the bonuses while, say, Rallying Comrades, to keep the reduction, but it should be fine.

[Corvo]

I'm not sure why you would want to tie the parry bonus into the Encumbrance rating for the weapon. Perhaps it should instead be tied to the hero's Wisdom (if it were an offensive ability then I would use Valour instead).

My houserule is only the bolder part. The un-bolded is taken from the rulebook

[Otaku-sempai]

Okay. I wasn't especially knowledgeable about the parry rules in RAW.

[Falenthal]

It looks interesting.
Don't think it's overpowered and, as you say, gives more options to the player without feeling he is wasting his Virtue.

[Corvo]

Okay. I wasn't especially knowledgeable about the parry rules in RAW.

By the way, I think your idea (tying the parry bonus to Wisdom or Valour) is really nice. I'm temped to steal it

[Falenthal]

Okay. I wasn't especially knowledgeable about the parry rules in RAW.

By the way, I think your idea (tying the parry bonus to Wisdom or Valour) is really nice. I'm temped to steal it

The "problem" that I see with it is that it might grow too big. With the rule as you propose, a Barding can have a bonus to Parry of +3 in Defensive, +2 in Open and +1 in Forward, with a Long Sword. Given that a Long Sword can be used one-handed, you could also add a Great Shield with a +3. That's a great enough bonus, INMHO.
By using Valour or Wisdom your range of bonuses will increase greatly. Probably too greatly.

[Corvo]

You are right, Falenthal. It would yeld the highest parry in the game:
Wisdom 6+ Great Reinforced Shield 4+ Wits 4= Parry 14

[Falenthal]

You are right, Falenthal. It would yeld the highest parry in the game:
Wisdom 6+ Great Reinforced Shield 4+ Wits 4= Parry 14

+Defensive Stance 12 = Parry 26!!!