Martial Maneuvers inspired by The Princess Bride

[Stormonu]

That's good, since if we use the rock-paper-scissors-lizard-spock model, each maneuver choice within a style can defeat two maneuvers in that style, and be defeated by two maneuvers in that style.

If we then have five styles, it allows us to create a 5 x 5 matrix of 5 fighting styles (Numbered) and 5 maneuvers (letters) that interact. So:

Style 1: A B C D E
Style 2: F G H I J
Style 3: L M N O P
Style 4: Q R S T U
Style 5: V W X Y Z

Within a style line, a maneuver defeats two maneuvers to its right, while being defeated by two maneuvers to its left. So C defeats D and E, but is defeated by A and B. L defeats M and N, but is defeated by O and P.

Within a column, between styles, the same model applies. A maneuver defeats the two maneuvers from other styles below it, and is defeated by the two maneuvers from other styles above it. So C defeats H and N but is defeated by S and X; M defeats R and W but is defeated by B and G. Other combinations have no interaction (e.g. A versus M ... though one could choose to repeat the process on the diagonal, too, for even more complexity!)

This system can be expanded so long as the style/maneuver matrix is odd in number and square.

Now the hard part ... coming up with names and individual mechanics for the styles and maneuvers!

I think I would simplify this so that every style has 5 maneuvers:

Style: A B C D E

Each maneuver defeats 2 other maneuvers, whilst being defeated by two maneuvers

A beats B,C and is defeated by D,E
B beats C,D and is defeated by E,A
C beats D,E and is defeated by A,B
D beats E,A and is defeated by B,C
E beats A,B and is defeated by C,D

You could then have as many styles as you want, but the maneuvers in each style still cancel across style

So in Style #1 , maneuver A cancels Style #67 's B maneuver. In Style #67 , maneuver D cancels Style #1 5's A maneuver.

You then just have to name your styles and come up with what the maneuvers actually do. Interaction between the styles is automatically defined.