Counselor Icon:

The Firebrand

“Never give up, never surrender!”

 

The human spirit is a flame that can be kindled, stoked, and allowed to blaze forth - with the Firebrand, a fellowship can be unto a wildfire in their prowess. Firebrands can be identified by the warbanners that they brandish and the exhortations they roar. They are the spear haft to the spear hedge, the bowstring to the rain of arrows.

These individuals are the heart of fellowship and warband, spurring their comrades to higher heights of audacity and heroism. Many Firebrands take the role of leader or commander, while others serve their allies in humbler or more subdued fashions - as moral support or spiritual guides. 

Icon Overview: The Firebrand is foundational to the success of many teams. With their capacity to freely (but intermittently) imbue allies with Resolve, these complement their comrades’ resilience and fuel several special abilities (specifically those that require spending Resolve or sacrificing HP). In fact, many powerful warriors (and counselors) achieve mythic strength with the presence of someone that can continually grant Resolve.

Integral to their methodology is (Greater) Inspiring Aspect and the use of a Warbanner. Both render the Firebrand some measure of vulnerability, which underscores the Firebrand’s need for cooperation: not only do these individuals need their allies’ protection, but they can only enhance other folk. Such is their strength, however, that having even one can make the difference between the strong and the incredibly powerful.

Archfaction Connections: Firebrands can be found everywhere but some Factions are especially known for them. Stories of the Ember War are rife with tellings of Templar Chaplains, Prelates, and Chevaliers screaming with hallowed furor with the God-Empress’ symbol fluttering in their banners. Hellhound Thunder Priests, Grailguard Knight Captains, and Macana Squad leaders match these tales with ease, augmenting their commands with Magna-tech or Apex-tech. But Firebrands persist beyond the clangor of the battlefield, in the commanding presences of the Kindly Cartel and Tecnocracia Executives, as well as the spiritual strength of the Duster Drivers and a Pack’s Elders.

Core Aptitudes: Altruistic Aide, Cunning Mastermind

Core Skills (200-260 XP): Ignite Inspiration, Bond of Oaths, Inspiring Aspect, Greater Inspiring Aspect, Bond of Command, Treat Injury, Greater Remedy

Core Disciplines:

  • Binder: Ignite Inspiration, Shielding Binder, Bond of Blood, Bond of Oaths, Inspiring Aspect, Greater Inspiring Aspect, Bond of Command, Ceremonial Binding

  • Soother: Treat Injury, Restful Composition, Soothing Composition

  • Masker: Masked Parry

  • Doctor (Builder): Treat Injury, Medical Redemption, Greater Remedy

  • Scrapper (Warrior): Armor Expertise

Central to the Firebrand is the Inspiring Aspect skill. Through it, they become a powerful generator of Resolve for their allies (although not for themselves). While this would usually mean a stationary existence, a Vivid Warbanner allows a measure of movement.

Most of the other Core Disciplines focus on a Firebrand’s defense. Scrapper and Reader skills allow them to avoid a substantial amount of attacks (even more with someone that can repair armor). 

The Doctor and the Soother Disciplines add support options for a Firebrand. Soothing Composition (with upgrades and help) can grant an immense amount of Greater Resolve to an audience between Delves and missions. In the thick of things, injured individuals can always benefit from healing and Cure effects. 

In terms of weaponry, many Firebrands  choose to wield a medium weapon in their main hand and the warbanner in their off-hand. The weapon allows them greater reach in delivering Resolve or Cure Strikes, as well as some defensive ability against aggressors. If they can afford it, they will also wear Knife Packs - in this way, they can contribute to damage or use Ballistic Push as a proactive method of damage control, knocking enemies away and preventing them from attacking.

Out of Combat abilities: The Firebrand support role shines off the battlefield. The Binder Discipline allows them to augment the Crafting or Rituals of their bonded allies. Similarly, the Soother Discipline can grant others “Greater Resolve”, moreso with assistance. Furthermore, The Doctor Discipline ensures that their allies can be kept in tip top shape even after the battle is done and all that remains are scars. In particular, Medical Redemption can even allow for the revival of the dead.

Optional Stigmata: Horned Chimera (Herd Mentality, Empath Psion (Psychic Synergy), Dryadic Eidolon (Floral Bond

Optional Disciplines: 

  • Defiant (Counselor): Iron Defiance, Zealous Defiance, Mental Shield, Iron Conc

  • Runner (Ranger): Artful Dodger, Flee the Scene,  Lead the Exodus, Armored Dodge

  • Defender (Warrior): Battle Bracing, Guardian Ally, Furious Rebuke

  • Scrapper (Warrior): Armored Toughness, Armored Dodge, Full Coverage

Core Items

Optional Items

*This requires that you generate a Magna-field via a Magna-Batt kit or some other method.

**this is Xeno-tech and very expensive

Starting Picks - Counselor (Altruistic Aide)

Background perks: Charmed (Inspiring Aspect), Charmed (Bond of Oaths), Blooded (Armor Expertise)

Starting Skills: Ignite Inspiration, Treat Injury, Shielding Binder

Starting Items: Medium Weapon, Body Armor, Herb Kit

Optional Variants: After the Core Skills have been acquired, there are other ways to progress and customize one’s own version of the Firebrand. 

Grenadier Firebrand: These Firebrands dance the razor’s edge and choose to partner their warbanner with a free hand. However, they are not fool enough to arrive to battle unarmed. Instead, they come laden with knives and chemicals. Thus, they stand close to the frontline, lobbing danger and death at their enemies. Many invest in Chem Vials for the variety of effects that they allow (different damage types, control effects, etc). Erstwhile, some ammo pack augments also allow for some utility (e.g Magna-Cracker for Knockbacks, Deathgrip Blades for “Snare 5s”, etc). 

Pistoleer Firebrand: This Firebrand eschews the warbanner and concentrates on inflicting heavy punishment with a pistol. Slug Pack augments are a large part of this strength, but also Apextech (e.g. Owlsight Array, Apextech Metabionic Traits). While this means that the Pistoleer’s targeting is anchored and immobile, this only feeds into Inspiring Aspect’s abilities. Some Pistoleers choose to have their Ammo Packs augmented with Magna-cracker for the gap-creating “Piercing Knockback” effects.

Secondline Firebrand: This Firebrand stands alongside their comrades in the thick of things. They have let go of the Warbanner, but keep a medium weapon in one hand (for attacks and for reach). They tend to be more fragile than the other combatants in the melee, but this matters less because of their support role. They do their best to standstill in the fray, imbuing nearby allies with Resolve and deflecting side attacks. 


Tech Firebrand: Nueva Ciencia has progressed immensely after the Long Fall and these Firebrands stand to take full advantage of it. Central to this is Apextech, especially the Macana Banner’s ability to augment allies’ attacks. Hyper-refined Vials have effects that are even stronger than Healing Vials, allowing the imbuing of Resolve and even greater amounts of Healing.