Background
Having liberated himself from the confines of the Calibrator Assembly, Thane is a budoka on a quest for enlightenment. Originally crafted some two hundred years ago by the djen-blooded Master Takezo, Thane has had an awakening. A head full of cogs and servos is now flooded with thoughts and desires. It could be that this is all by design—that the Chained Masters programmed their creations to one day achieve sentience. All that he knows for sure is that the first fledgling thoughts of consciousness filled his mind while dueling someone he refers to as his “Sparrow.” These new impulses have led the rogue budoka to wander Ozora for years in search of new experiences, hoping that one day he can find the next step to enlightenment in the crossed gunswords of a worthy foe.
Fighting Style
Thane’s fighting style is called The Perfect Harmony of Mind and Body. It focuses on achieving a balance between aggression and evasion with no wasted motion. Every movement is intentional; every strike is precise. Having mastered The Perfect Harmony of Mind and Body, Thane can see the entryways for attacks and counterattacks simply by noticing flaws in his foe’s technique that would be imperceptible to others. A slight imbalance in his foe’s form or a subtle shift in their center of gravity can spell defeat for Thane’s foes. Maybe he’s noticed the cant of your sword arm is half a degree off. Or maybe you’ve shifted your weight from the ball of your foot to your heel. In his mind, you are already defeated. Thane knows what you’re going to do before you do it, and he’s waiting to punish you for the slightest imperfection in your fighting style.
Favored Weapon
Silencer
Duelist Technique: Master the Way
Counter cards you play get -1 Cost.
When you construct your deck, you ignore the number of Counters your Duelist and your Weapon contribute to your deck. Instead, you secretly choose which Counters are included. You must add exactly 8 total Counter cards, but no more than 4 of any single type.
Favored Weapon Technique: Subtle Steel
When you Reload (after you draw), you may Slash Queen 1. This Attack has a base Power of 1.
Strengths
Thane excels in being able to tailor his Counter set to a specific playstyle and to his foe’s weaknesses. The customization and cost reduction of Thane’s Master the Way technique should not be overlooked as it allows him to manipulate his Momentum in subtle, but important ways. You will find success against your foes if you utilize your counterattacks and positioning to the fullest. The Skills Thane has access to emphasize his mastery of the gunsword. Thane’s Cost to Power ratio is one of the leanest of any of the Core Set duelists, so what he lacks in pure striking force, he more than makes up in efficiency. If played right, Thane can direct the fight by controlling the flow of Momentum throughout the match.
When paired with Silencer, Thane becomes a master of precision. Silencer allows Thane to keep the pressure on his foes, never leaving their immediate vicinity. Silencer’s Subtle Steel Technique provides Thane more damage per turn as well as allowing him to maximize his positioning potential, either by setting up a solid defensive stance or providing a careful retreat. Silencer’s Skillset is often abrupt and punishing, shifting easily from strong responses to heavy hitters at a moment’s notice.
Weaknesses
In everything Thane does, there is a balance; there is a light and a dark, a yin and a yang. His technique, Master the Way, can help him find his way to victory, but it can also lead to his defeat. Relying too heavily on counter-play can leave Thane with a massive card disadvantage. Playing Counters can always be challenging, but if Thane plays them too often or too recklessly, he can end up with no cards in hand with which to fight. Many of Thane’s Skill cards have Command Counter abilities, so be careful when you spot a mistake in your foe’s style. Overextending yourself to capitalize on a foe’s missed opportunity can be a mistake in itself.
Similarly, Thane’s penchant for proper positioning can be his biggest weakness. With attacks and movements that are often very short and focused, Thane is nothing if not precise. Improper positioning at the end of the turn can shift the balance of power in his foe’s favor. When playing Thane, it’s sometimes more important to position yourself defensively than it is to deal a blow.
