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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Anselm" data-source="post: 8621551" data-attributes="member: 6978363">TBF I did say that there's a lot of "ifs" to get to the condition where it screws an NPC, not that its a question of "if" the scenario will ever happen.Just to hit a couple points on your scenarios of how I see this:Players using it against NPCs -1. Rendering an NPC useless by taking their weapon - This being possible assumes a great many things that would need to take place, all of them very easily mitigated by the DM if they don't want it be a "free win" by using a level 2 maneuver.  A. The NPC is unable to get the weapon back from the PC. Turning an encounter into a back and forth where the NPC attempts to use their whole action to get their weapon back could turn into a fun challenge for the PCs if the weapon is worth spending that much time on (a magical weapon or some other macguffin). This is mitigatable by the DM thinking ahead about what the roles for the NPC/PC to make in this scenario.   B. The NPC is unable to make attacks any more because their weapon is gone. This one applies to any old joe the PCs are fighting against, "Oh no my sword is gone, now all I can do is punch them!" seems a pretty silly conclusion to jump to. How many weapons to level 1 NPCs get from their recommended weapons or their O5E starting equipment? NPCs should be no different in that regard. Anyone worth fighting is going to have a backup weapon, whether that be a dagger or other simple weapon or something. I'd give the PCs a win by making the NPC have something that is not quite as good as the thing that was just stolen. Similarly, an NPC who has actually lost all their weapons can still use most basic maneuvers to be useful - a grapple or knock down among a large group can be more devastating that a common sword swing.2. Super powerful monsters using this against PCs.   A. Why the heck would a dragon be using maneuvers to knock a PCs sword out of their hands? First they'd have to be close enough to the fighter or barbarian for them to hit back. Second, breath weapons, special attacks, or even their multi attack is going to be way more effective against a group of PCs. Additionally, giving just any monster a maneuver might be interesting as a reflavor but overall these things are meant to represent martial prowess. Most high CR monsters would not be trained as a martial (again not that you couldn't reflavor it as something else but how many times are you going to do that?)   B. High level NPCs having this and rendering a PC useless. I would argue that this is not a problem unless its overused. One time will be a "holy crap what do I do they took my awesome weapon" problem solving type of thing. Time after time would be very not fun but you have total and complete control over that. It's also not fun to fall into a pit trap 20 times while you walk through a dungeon... Just... don't do that. Mix it up.Ultimately the ability is guarded by a saving throw and a 2 exertion maneuver. PCs (minus fighters/adepts since they get bonus exertion) can use it maybe 6 times between short rests at level 20. A more common scenario is a level 5-12 PC and they can use it 3 or 4 times there. Is that really more game breaking than an Adept stunning striking and forcing con saves twice as much? Getting the BBEG another weapon is way easier than avoiding death when stunned for a full round.Really when compared to other abilities it doesn't seem like its going to break the game in the way you are presenting. It's possible it might become tedious to play against if a PC uses it all the time but you can always have a conversation with that player and explain what its like from your side of the screen. Find a way to mix it up so everyone has fun!Edit: fun fact I just learned because I forget they exist all the time, this maneuver is just a slightly better version of the basic maneuver "Disarm". Literally everyone can do it, just not as effectively against two handed weapons or as a reaction. Disarm can be used to replace an attack, so someone who has had their weapon stolen can attempt to disarm back instead of their next attack and then pick it right up.</blockquote>

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