More on martial arts in d20 Modern

[Vigilance]

Combinations is something I wanted in this game from the beginning. Based on the hand to hand fighters I have known in my life, a good combo, that you can throw on instinct, has been a more prized commodity than the best snap kick (and I have seen some devastating snap kicks in my life).

The basic two move combination- let's use the classic boxing Jab/Hook that every slugger works on from day one- and only a few every truly master- you would take the Combination feat Jab/Hook. When you launched those attacks in that order, you would gain +2 to hit and damage on the second attack- in this case the hook.

The balancing act is how much of a bonus- and how to handle it.

At first my players thought this was a great idea- +2 to hit and damage for a single feat.

Then they began to see that their options were limited, by not being able to move, by having to launch both attacks at the same target, and so forth.

As always, questions and comments are welcome

Chuck

 

[JPL]

Interesting.

Using the jab/hook as an example...in game terms, would this be just be two unarmed melee attacks against the same opponent in the same round?

I've been kicking around an idea to let players come up with their own custom combos. If they use two [or more] specific manuevers in succession...something cool happens. The more difficult the combo is to execute, the cooler the bonus coolness.

What I would have to do to get the ball rolling is sit down with a master list of combat options [particularly feat-related ones] and start brainstorming [possibly with the assistance of the Dragon magazine "random kung fu move generator" from a year or so back]. Different styles would have different names, of course...

But I think I'm just going to let you write the d20 Modern martial arts rules instead, since you seem to have covered all the bases.

 

[Vigilance]

Well I dont know about *all* the bases, but I had a few things I wanted to have in this book from the beginning, and combos was one.

Your choice of maneuvers will vary based on style and fighting style, and the combinations are endless- a Thai Kickboxer in our playtest had an absolutely wicked Head Butt/LegSweep/HeelKick combo that really brought home the brutal effectiveness of Muay Thai.

 

[Vigilance]

Hey guys

Further proving that a little HTML is a dangerous thing, I have posted a design diary about Blood and Fists.

http://vigilance.mortality.net/BNF_Design.htm

Go check it out

Chuck

 

[JPL]

Hey guys

Further proving that a little HTML is a dangerous thing, I have posted a design diary about Blood and Fists.

http://vigilance.mortality.net/BNF_Design.htm

Go check it out

Chuck

I always liked those Marvel kung fu books, too. If they make that Ray Park "Iron Fist" movie and a reasonably good "Shang-Chi", I'll be a happy man.

I almost ran a d20 Modern "Street Fighter 1890" one-shot back in December...I even rented "The Quest" as research [I had apparently edited out the really lame parts...i.e., most of it]. But I just couldn't get the level of variety I wanted in the characters.

I'm thinking now that I might try another variant on the old Tournament Fighter routine...maybe combining it with 1930s Pulp or Def Jam Vendetta-style urban crime drama. But I'm waiting on Blood and Fists.

Have you given any thought to a recommended viewing / reading section? I always like those...

 

[Vigilance]

Yeah a Ray PArk Iron Fist movie would rock

I have a GM section in the book, and there I make references to numerous movies and comic books as examples.

Also, Blood and Fists contains a tournament, the Hanmei, run by a mysterious Yakuza crimelord, and the Hanmai combatants section gives you about a dozen fighters, levels 4-13 to get you going

Chuck

 

[JPL]

So here's Vigilance's list of styles:

Aikido Arnis Boar Boxing Capoeira Cat Cobra Commando Training Dragon Drunken Master Eagle Fencing Gatka Hapkido Jeet Kune Do Jujutsu Karate Kendo Kobujutsu Kung Fu Kyudo Leopard Lua Monkey Naginato-do Ninjutsu Panther Pentjak Silat Praying Mantis Python ROSS Savate School of Hard Knocks Scorpion Shao-Lin Sojitsu Sumo Wrestling TaeKwonDo Thai Kickboxing Tiger White Crane Wing Chun

I had to google a few of these...it seems that ROSS is the native Russian martial arts system [which I take to be a combination of sambo wrestling and military hand-to-had]. I assume the animal styles are all kung fu variants.

Hmm...I think I'll be adding shootfighting and Brazilian jujitsu to my campaign [because those guys are nuts]...and Mexican wrestling [I don't know if it's really any different from just plain wrestling, but I gotta have a guy in a colorful mask, y'know?].

Oh, and krav maga, because ever since I saw "Blade II" I've wanted to play an Israeli butt-kicker modeled after Ron Perlman.

Somewhat off-topic...did a web search on "Celtic Martial Arts" a while back. Strange stuff. But good if you absolutely want to play an Irish tournament fighter...

 

[Vigilance]

Krav Maga is a style that should be on the list- it will be in the final game when it appears.

Some of the animal styles were based on Kung Fu, some were based on Bando.

Brazilian Jiujitsu is something I wrestled with, thought about, and did a lot of reading on. Ultimate I decided it would be a combination style between Jujutsu, something with ground fighting, and School of Hard Knocks for the Vale Tudo aspects.

However, adding new styles to the game is actually the easiest add-on to make this late in the game, and is easy for you to do as well (by design). Pick 10 Masteries, give it a bonus feat list, apply one of the Advanced Classes provided in the book, stir.

Chuck

 

[JPL]

Brazilian Jiujitsu is something I wrestled with...

Heh, heh...

 

[Vigilance]

DOH!

My freudian slip must be showing lol.

Chuck