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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SkidAce" data-source="post: 6559376" data-attributes="member: 7706">Martial arts have a big part n the backstory of the world Alfaysia (euro/asian mix).So for 5e, I need to develop a way to simulate learning martial arts.  For 3e, I used skill points (which people mainly had a lot of) and had differing levels of competency.  I've also used the feat method in 3e, which considering fighters got a lot, that worked out.In 5e, I want to make it a lot less fiddly, in the spirit of fast and simple.  Also emphasizing the "martial" in martial arts. The monk class would be for the fantastic stuff. (ki, enlightenment, energy blasts)It seems a feat would work, variant humans could take it a first level, elves, dwarves etc may not learn it in their homeland, so picking it up a 4th would be reasonable, or if the dwarf player had to have it, I could make a variant dwarf adjustment for that particular PC.On to the idea.The Tavern Brawler feat is/was my starting point.It lets the character use a d4 for their unarmed strike (good), with proficiency.  And allows on a hit with unarmed strike, a bonus action to grapple (good).  Let's ignore the rest of the feat for now.  I also want each martial art (there are about four main styles) to have a signature move of some type.  Some of the martial adept feat maneuvers seem to fit (battle-master abilities)  So let's add in the "choose 2 maneuvers" (from a smaller list) and gain superiority dice.  This seems functional, with a customized list from the battle-master abilities.But currently you are getting ALL the benefits of the MARTIAL ADEPT feat AND half the abilities from the TAVERN BRAWLER. So, not balanced.  Then I looked at the battle-master abilities and most of them can be used with a melee weapon.  In the spirit of "my" martial arts, suppose those taking this customized Martial Artist feat can only use the abilities with unarmed strikes?So here is the draft featMartial Artist<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You are proficient with unarmed strikes and they use a d4 for damage.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">When you hit a creature with an unarmed strike you an use a bonus action to attempt to grapple the target.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You learn two maneuvers of your choice from among those available to the Martial Artist (see custom list).  If a maneuver you use requires your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver’s effects, the saving throw DC equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice).  These maneuvers may only be used with unarmed strikes. If you already have superiority dice, you gain one more; otherwise, you have one superiority die, which is a d6. This die is used to fuel your maneuvers. A superiority die is expended when you use it. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest.</li> </ul>Martial Artist Maneuver List<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Disarming Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Evasive Footwork</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Feinting Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lunging Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Parry</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Precision Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Pushing Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sweeping Attack (SPINNING CIRCLE KICK!)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Trip Attack</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"></li> </ul>Other thoughts:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If you want more martial arts than this...take a level of monk.  Or a monk could add maneuvers by taking this feat.  Either way, the monk still gets many abilities, so this doesn't step on their toes. (too much, but my campaign background has been this way anyway so...)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Perhaps there could be a Expert Martial Artist feat, raising your unarmed to d6.  And potentially add 2 more maneuvers, and a superiority die, with/without improvement.  This would give martial artist at the most FOUR special maneuvers, which should be plenty to characterize a style of martial arts within my world.  And the expert martial artist would be around 4-8th levelish.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Way down the line I might get bold and add perhaps ONE maneuver from The Book of Nine Swords, as a capstone ability.  Hmm I could use this to recreate my swordmasters....</li> </ul>Thanks for the read...if you made it this far...please review and comment.  It likely could use tweaking, and is not designed for all campaigns like an official product would be.  Hey [MENTION=13009]Paraxis[/MENTION], you have a good eye for mechanics and balance, please look also.</blockquote>

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