Never played ACKS before but looking forward to it! My only experience is reading the leather-bound Imperial Imprint (ACKS 2). So I’m just trying to parse RAW with no other imput.
Page 15 describes the various fighting styles but does not go into detail about the benefits of each fighting style (other than avoiding penalties from non-proficiency).
Page 111 describes a proficiency called “Fighting Style Specialization” which describes “a special bonus when the character is fighting in that style” if you take the proficiency AND have base fighting style proficiency. The special bonuses are described.
Based on these rules, I would assume that it’s that simple and there’s nothing more to it.
However, also on page 111 there is also a sentence “The bonuses are in addition to the standard bonuses for fighting in the given manner.” Maybe I’m blind as a bat but I can’t find anywhere in the rule book that describes the standard bonuses.
In particular, on page 111 there is an example that talks about “A character with this proficiency can draw and sheathe his weapon, or ready and sling his shield, without expending an action.” Is that coming from the base fighting style proficiency or from the fighting style specialization proficiency?
Thanks for the clarification! I think there must be some tribal knowledge on this but as I said I’m just looking at the rule book and trying to understand the rules based on the text.