Attack Bonus (AB) and Combat Styles

[whystle]

When using an advanced combat move for a combat style that has an associated weapon requirement is the total Attack Bonus (AB) equal to the total skill bonus of  the combat style or the associated weapon skill.  For example a character has Bow (10 ranks + other mods) and Archery (5 ranks + other mods) and purchases Set. When using Set for an attack is his AB equal to 10+other mods+2  or 5+other mods+2 (note the additional +2 is granted by the Set combat move)?

It appears from the rules, though not sure it is explicitly stated (other than for Two Weapon Combo) that the AB would be derived from the Combat Style. That is, the combat move is purchased for a specific Combat Skill (or Style) and uses the total skill bonus of that specific Combat Skill (or Style). I assume this because I can also purchase Set for the Bows combat skill without having Archery Style at all, it would however cost me more Character Points (CP). In the latter case I would get a 10+ other mods +2 AB, which is much better.

The advantage of some of the combat styles are the discounts to advanced combat moves; however several are linked to specific weapons and you must maintain an equal or greater amount of skill ranks in the associated weapon skill as the combat skill.  So there's an additional cost in CPs there. I reckon investing in a combat style depends quite a bit on character concept and how many advanced combat moves you are thinking of purchasing.

[imported_Rasyr]

Combat Styles are specialized Combat Skills, and when using that Style, the skill bonus of that Style is your Attack Bonus, the same as the skill bonus for a more generalized Combat Skill (such as Bows) is your attack bonus when using that skill.

So, if Set was purchased for Archery (and not for Bows, since Combat Moves MUST be purchased separately for each Combat Skill), then it can ONLY be used with Archery normally, not with Bows. And so the Attack Bonus will be based upon the skill bonus of Combat Skill it was purchased for (i.e. Archery)

And yes, Novus is specifically made to be flexible, so that there are usually options and choices for players to make in regards to acquiring/designing the character that they want. There is no "one way". Some ways might be more "min-maxed" while others are not, but the point is that it is the player's choice to make.

[whystle]

Thanks for clarifying.