Looking for Some D20 Fighting Style Rules

[Esteban]

I’m planning on running a Renaissance campaign and am trying to find some rules that mimic different fighting styles of that era. For example – a knight might fight ‘old style’ with sword and shield, while a courtier might use a ‘finesse style’ taught by different fighting academies that were coming into existence at that time. Another example might be a rogue who uses ‘street style’ that emphasizes dodges and dirty tricks. I could make these rules up myself, but since time is always an issue I wondered if there is D20 product out there that does this? Anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

-Steve

 

[Silmarillius]

Well, since it's Renaissance wouldn't you also have the option of using gunpowder. Hence guns?

 

[Psion]

Three maybe four possible resources:

First, Masters of Arms, which features feats and classes focussed on mastering a given weapon or weapon combo:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=4351&

Second, Swashbuckling adventures by AEG has a lot of (mostly short) prestige classes. I don't think it's as flexible as MoA, but some of them have a lot of flavor.

http://enworld.rpgshop.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=7&products_id=31121&

Third, a bit more simply, book of Iron Might has a lot of feats focusing on fighting styles in addition to special combat maneuvers:
PDF:
http://www.drivethrurpg.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=851&affiliate_id=710
Print:
http://enworld.rpgshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=36023&

Finally, someone had some lake campaign here with a lot of fighting style PrCs and feats. I think it was in a previous version of the boards, but someone might have it archived. I remember Vrylakos being involced.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Have you tried just making a list of feats associated with each style?

For Example:

The Old Style:
Power Attack
Cleave
Shield Focus (+1 AC w/ shields)
Improved Grapple

Finese Style:
Weapon Finese
Improved Feint
Combat Expertise
Improved Disarm

Street Style:
Sneak attack (not a feat but why not list it?)
Improved Feint
dodge
mobility
spring attack


If you start pulling feats from the various Complete books and 3rd party books you could easily come up with more for each list (even just using the PHB) and more fighting styles obviously some feats would cross over.

 

[Esteban]

Well, since it's Renaissance wouldn't you also have the option of using gunpowder. Hence guns?

Sure, I plan on having gunpowder weapons - though they will be primitive and probably only a 'fire once and forget' option per melee round.

What I'm really looking for are rules for fighting styles that began during this era. There were a number of different combat schools that emphasized different ways of fighting. A modern analogy might be the different types of martial arts schools that exist today. They all teach you how to defeat an opponent - they just teach different ways of doing it. Same with the Renaissance fighting schools.

-Steve

 

[Esteban]

Three maybe four possible resources:

First, Masters of Arms, which features feats and classes focussed on mastering a given weapon or weapon combo:

Third, a bit more simply, book of Iron Might has a lot of feats focusing on fighting styles in addition to special combat maneuvers:

I'm interested in Master of Arms and I've been reading some good things about Iron Heroes. May have to pick up both. Thanks!

-Steve

 

[Esteban]

Have you tried just making a list of feats associated with each style?

If you start pulling feats from the various Complete books and 3rd party books you could easily come up with more for each list (even just using the PHB) and more fighting styles obviously some feats would cross over.

Thought about this but wondered if someone had more detailed rules. That said, once I saw your preliminary lists it seems pretty obvious that one could create some rather unique lists that would mimic different styles quite nicely. I'm probably going to go this route.

Thanks for the help!

-Steve