Skill Overview
The trident is an ancient design, its origins for the most part are unknown and often disputed by scholars, historians, and even theologians who draw upon old myths in countryside legends. As a tool, it is most clearly descended from pitchfork and other agricultural implements. Variations of it are also used in fishing and, often in spearing small ocean-dwelling creatures, making it a common sight in notable sea-faring nations, such as Tuchea and Cenath.
As a weapon, variations of the trident have made appearances in almost every culture that has used pole-arms in war. Used almost exclusively for thrusting, it provides a much broader surface than the spear with which to skewer an opponent and significantly greater hitting power, due to its weight and leverage, than any type of stave. However, it is slower and more unwieldy than other pole-arms and it has found greater use in ceremonial or personal weaponry rather than in general-issue battlefield use. One of the most famous of those roles is in the arena of Iridine, where the crowds greatly appreciate a variety of 'exotic' weapons.
For guidance on using the skill set, see the Tridents Guide.
| Skill Info | Ranks Taught by Trainer | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skills/Actions | Difficulty | Hands | Range | Wound | Prerequisites | Ariston | Vashren | **Prestis |
| Tridents | Easy | - | - | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Harpoon Stance | Easy | 2 | - | - | Trident Harpoon Stance | 100 | 100 | 154 |
| Trident Jab | Easy | 2 | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Quick Rake | Easy | 2 | Either | Cut | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Stab | Easy | 2 | Either | Pierce | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Blunt Bash | Average | 2 | Short | Bruise | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Lunge | Average | 2 | Long | Pierce | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Slash | Average | 2 | Short | Cut | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Swinging Disarm | Average | 2 | Either | - | - | 100 | 175 | 154 |
| Trident Weapon Catch | Average | 2 | Short | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Feint | Difficult | 2 | Either | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Foot Pin | Difficult | 2 | Short | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Rotating Bash | Difficult | 2 | Either | Bruise | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Sweep | Difficult | 2 | Either | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Throw | Difficult | Either | Missile | Pierce | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Defensive Bash | Average | 2 | Short | Bruise | 20 Ranks in Trident Blunt Bash | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Parting Gouge | Average | 2 | Short | Pierce | Trident Harpoon Stance 40 Ranks in Trident Vital Jab 40 Ranks in Trident Parting Jab |
300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Parting Jab | Average | 2 | Short | Pierce | Trident Harpoon Stance 10 Ranks in Trident Jab |
300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Pierce | Average | 2 | Either | Pierce | Trident Harpoon Stance 30 Ranks in Trident Stab |
300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Vital Jab | Average | 2 | Either | Pierce | Trident Harpoon Stance 20 Ranks in Trident Jab |
300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Simple Block | Easy | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Cross Block | Average | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Tine Block | Difficult | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Rotation Block | Difficult | 2 | - | - | - | 300 | 500 | 154 |
| Trident Accuracy | Difficult | - | - | - | - | 100 | 175 | 154 |
| Trident Grip | Impossible | - | - | - | - | 100 | 100 | 154 |
Directions to Ariston (Iridine): Walk to Bronze, Ex2, NEx2, N, Ex4, N, W
Directions to Vashren (Seld): Walk to Seld (Town Square), Nx2, W
Directions to Prestis (Colosseum): Walk to Colosseum, Nx2, Wx2, N.
Notes on Learning
**Prestis will only teach you once you have enough reputation.
Skill Details
#Trident Throw throw <trident>
The trident, like the spear, can be used as a thrown weapon to a certain degree. This technique is more common among fishermen and whalers used to casting harpoons then it is among the brutal melee combats of the arena. Given the bulk of the trident's head, it is more difficult to throw than the spear and cannot achieve the same range, but the inertia is often enough to effectively pierce armor.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator throws a trident at a thug, but misses.
#Trident Simple Block
Similar to simple blocks with other pole weapons, the wielder interposes the lengthy trident haft between him and his opponent's weapon. Like the simple blocks of spears and staves, it also covers low, direct attacks.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator blocks a thugs tin dagger with the haft of his trident!
#Trident Cross Block
Similar to the stave technique, the wielder spins the haft of the trident to deflect blows coming in from the side. Due to the length of the trident, it also covers such attacks aimed low.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator swings his trident inside out, blocking a thugs tin dagger with it!
#Trident Tine Block
In order to deal with overhead attacks directed at the upper areas of the body, the wielder steps back and swings up the head of his trident in an attempt to catch or deflect the attack with the tines of his weapon. This is one of the few defenses for moves such as Spears Overhead Thrust.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator brings up the head of her trident, catching the attack in the tines!
You bring up the head of your trident, catching the attack in the tines!
#Trident Rotation Block
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator spins his trident around in his grip, sweeping it circularly to knock aside the attempt!
#Trident Foot Pin pin <target>
The wielder stabs down with the trident, attempting to catch his opponent's ankle with the tines of the trident. If successful, the opponent is bound in place and must take a test of strength and agility to free his foot (Type: free me). However, this attack does not stop the opponent from using his arms and hands (or the weapons held with those hands}, and is more useful in group battles or to catch a fleeing opponent then it is in individual combat.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator jabs his trident downward at a thug's feet. The tines of his trident lock brutally over a thug's ankle, pinning him in place.
A gladiator jabs his trident downwards at a thug's feet! He only manage to jostle a thug's balance with his trident.
#Trident Feint feint <target>
The wielder attempts to feint an attack with the head of his trident in order to get his opponent to lower his guard. The difficulty for a feint to be used is dependent on the opponents overall fighting ability, a less skilled opponent will fall for a feint easier than a more skilled warrior.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator leans forward, feigning a strike at a thug with his trident.
#Trident Pierce pierce <target>
After a great deal of experience in stabbing with the trident, the wielder learns how to most effectively direct the power and momentum of his whole body through the trident in his thrusts. Pierce can only be used at long range but it's power and speed greatly exceed standard stabbing attacks, often resulting in opponents skewered onto the trident's tines. This attack is much like Spears Thrust, and is defended only by Shields Overhead Block and ACM's Swaying Dodge and now Staves Whirling Block, to my knowledge.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator slams his trident forward in a powerful thrust, managing to skewer a thug!
#Trident Blunt Bash bash <target>
As with the spear, a readily apparent distinction between trained and untrained users is the knowledge that both ends of the weapon can be used as striking ends. Within a combat range of two feet, it becomes increasingly difficult to use the teeth of the trident in conventional thrusts. Blunt Bash is the technique of letting a loose stave-like attack with the butt end of the trident in close quarters.
When you see this in use you see:
Using the blunt end of his trident, a gladiator releases a quick bash aimed at a thug, but fails to strike.
#Trident Rotating Bash rbash <target>
A distinguishing feature of the trident is that it's center of gravity is much closer to the bladed end then other pole-arm weapons. Though this often hampers untrained wielders and makes the trident seem unwieldy to those more familiar with staves and spears, an experienced warrior can take advantage of this quirk. In this attack the wielder slides both hands closer to the head of the trident, then, while stepping forward, pushes down with one hand while the other remains on the haft as a fulcrum. The result is that the rear, blunt end of the trident rotates forward and strike the target overhead with swiftness approaching a blur. Given the space needed to perform this maneuver, it is purely a long-range attack.
When you see this in use you see:
Sliding both hands near the head of his trident, a gladiator spins the whole haft forward, but fails to hit a thug.
#Trident Slash slash <target>
This attack has the same principle of Blunt Bash, except applied to the bladed end of the trident. Though a slash with a trident is not as powerful as a slash with a weapon with larger blade surfaces (i.e. swords and axes), it is more effective then jabbing or stabbing at close range.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator slashes horizontally at a thug with the teeth of his trident, but misses.
#Trident Sweep sweep <target>
Grasping the trident near his head, the wielder attempts a wide and low swing at his opponent's feet in an attempt to knock him over. Because of the position, the wielder must be in to use this technique, it cannot be done at close range.
- This maneuver attempts to sweep(knockdown) your opponent.
When you see this in use you see:
Holding a trident near its head, a gladiator sweeps the butt of the weapon at a thugs feet, but misses.
#Trident Weapon Catch catch
The bearer of the trident suddenly swings upward with the tines of his trident, attempting to catch his opponent's weapon, then lock it with a quick twist. This attack binds both weapons together, leaving the rest to a test of strength between the two warriors (free <weapon>).
- This maneuver attempts to hook the opponent's weapon.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator thrusts his trident towards a thug, and with a quick turn of the wrist locks his tin dagger between the tines of a trident!
In an impressive show of strength, a gladiator pulls a thugs tin dagger from his hand!
#Trident Jab jab <target>
The most basic attack with the trident, requiring little more thought then sticking a pitchfork into a pile of hay. One untrained in using a trident would be able to do little more then this. This move is slightly faster than Stab, but slightly less damage.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator tentatively jabs at a thug with his trident, but misses.
#Trident Lunge lunge <target>
An attack/approach combination in which the wielder attempts to close in with his opponent while at the same time lunging forward with the teeth of his trident.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator lunges forward, feigning a thrusting at a thug with his trident, but misses.
A gladiator lunges forward, thrusting at a thug with his trident! She suffers a deep puncture to her right thigh.
#Trident Stab stab <target>
Slightly slower than Trident Jab, Stab is another basic attack which requires both hands. It is slightly more powerful than jab.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator makes a quick stabbing motion at a thug with his trident! He suffers a puncture to his right thigh.
#Trident Vital Jab vital <target>
In the show matches of the colosseum, long bloody matched are great crowd pleasers. Naturally, successful gladiators must learn which parts of the opponent not to strike if they want to prolong the match. This gives experienced gladiators an intimate knowledge of the weak points of the human body and where to strike if they do wish to cause the most possible damage. This attack allows for a vicious gouging strike at the opponent's most vital spots, often causing devastating and incapacitating wounds.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator viciously gouges at a thug with the teeth of his trident. Critical Hit!
#Trident Parting Jab pjab <target>
The wielder retreats while quickly jabbing at his opponent. The technique allows the wielder to put a distance between him and his opponent without risking letting his own guard down.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator retreats.
A gladiator steps back while jabbing at a thug with his wooden pitchfork!
#Trident Harpoon Stance harpoon
The harpoon stance, while misleading (since you can't use a harpoon), positions your trident above your head in a downward angle. This stance allows for powerful downward thrusts to devastate your enemy's waist and thighs.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator is holding a trident with a wide grip, his rear hand raising the end of the trident high above the downward-pointed tines.
#Trident Swinging Disarm fling <trident>
Using the power of the tines of you trident, you're able to twist away a snared weapon or limb with great ease.
When you see this in use you see:
A gladiator twists his iron trident painfully as it locks onto a gladiator's ankle and swings upwards, flinging a thug onto his back!
A gladiator slides his grip wider and turns, swinging his trident free and flinging a tin gladius to the side!
#Trident Quick Rake qrake <target>
A fast slashing maneuver performed at close or long range.
When you see this in use you see:
With a hand sliding to the butt of his trident, a gladiator makes a raking motion at a thug but misses.
#Trident Parting Gouge pvital <target>
Similar to Trident Vital Jab, this attack gouges at the opponent's most vulnerable parts, while also stepping back defensively and retreating from them. It is an effective way for a skilled Trident wielder to set up his next attack from a distance.
- This attack is a defensive stepping maneuver.
When you see this in use you see:
Stepping back, a gladiator viciously gouges at a thug with the teeth of his trident. Critical Hit! Stab to a thug's upper thigh causes him to take a step back and reassess the situation.
#Trident Defensive Bash dbash
Similar to Trident Blunt Bash, however, defensive bash differs in that the wielder also assumes a more defensive stance as he performs the motion of this maneuver.
- This is a defensive stepping maneuver.
When you see this in use you see:
You raise your trident with tin tines into a more defensive posture as you bash forward at a gladiator with the haft, but miss. A gladiator sways to the side, gracefully avoiding your attack.
You raise your trident with tin tines into a more defensive posture as you bash forward at a gladiator with the haft!
#Trident Accuracy n/a
With enough training in Accuracy, you are able to raise your perception in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great perception.
When you see this in use you see:
(This is a passive skill that improves your perception, making it easier to hit targets.)
#Trident Grip n/a
With enough training in Grip, you are able to raise your dexterity in combat situations. A grandmaster in this skill will be equivalent to low-end great dexterity.
When you see this in use you see:
(This is a passive skill that improves your dexterity, making it significantly easier to hit targets.)