New Notes from the Bunker at WotC (12/18): Cinematic Maneuvers

[C. Baize]

I agree about the clothesline. Of all the maneuvers that were detailed there, I was least satisfied with the roundabout workaround for the clothesline.

And, ledded... I got rocked pretty good a couple of times in high school football, too... First time was a 220 lb running back who ran over me... I remember getting hit, and then I remember waking up the next morning. I watched the video of the game, and I had a pretty decent game... don't remember any of it..
And the second time... whew... I got rocked by a pulling guard, and when I peeled myself off the ground, I was LITERALLY looking through the helmet's ear hole, and my mouth piece felt like a hook in my cheek. THAT is how I view a clothesline, though, something that just rocks your world, and you get up, later going, "Holy CRAP, I hope that sucker gets a flat tire..."

 

[JPL]

So, anyone able to think of a good way to differentiate the CMA chain and the brawl chain?

The distinction is based upon the premise that there's a difference between "brawling" [as practiced by cowboys, bikers, and traditional square-jawed heroes] and "martial arts" [y'know...mostly Asian kinda stuff].

In the real world, I'm not sure if that's a valid distinction. A biker might kick you in the head a little differently than a ninja, but it's still a kick to the head.

But in action movies [and therefore in an action movie-inspired game], it's good to be able to draw a line between the John Waynes and the Chuck Norrises...the guys who can punch out goons with the Big Right Hand v. the living weapon.

The rules attempt to model this...the John Wayne brawler can KO people all day long with a fist to the head, but he should think twice when the other guy draws a knife. In those cowboy movies, though, after you get KOd, they throw water on you, you rub your jaw or put a steak on your eye, and you're pretty much good to go. The Bruce Lee martial artist is not just a living weapon...he's a lethal weapon. He's more likely than John to kill a man with his bare hands...

But like I said...Blood and Fists, among other things, gives you the tools to let a brawler gain some of the benefits of CMA, and vice versa, without totally breaking down the distinction between the two.

I like having some of these new moves linked to Brawl. In BaF terms, Jackie certainly has Brawl, because it's a prereq for Improvised Weapons Proficiency.

 

[takyris]

Well, I've always felt that there's the way they TRIED to differentiate it, and then there's the way they ACTUALLY differentiate it. If I wanted to build an Aikido guy in core d20 Modern, I might very well take Dodge, Agile Riposte, and the Brawl Chain and house rule that Brawl lets you be considered armed for AoO purposes. The Brawl chain is, with all flavor stripped from it, a short and relatively easy chain of feats that lets you do a lot more damage than normal, provided you're willing to have that damage be the kind that might knock somebody out but does no permanent injury to them under any circumstances. That COULD model to the bar-room brawler, in the movie-world, where bar-room brawls don't actually leave anyone seriously injured, but it could also model to a pressure-point fighter who wants to knock people out with a few light touches.

 

[JPL]

Well, I've always felt that there's the way they TRIED to differentiate it, and then there's the way they ACTUALLY differentiate it. If I wanted to build an Aikido guy in core d20 Modern, I might very well take Dodge, Agile Riposte, and the Brawl Chain and house rule that Brawl lets you be considered armed for AoO purposes. The Brawl chain is, with all flavor stripped from it, a short and relatively easy chain of feats that lets you do a lot more damage than normal, provided you're willing to have that damage be the kind that might knock somebody out but does no permanent injury to them under any circumstances. That COULD model to the bar-room brawler, in the movie-world, where bar-room brawls don't actually leave anyone seriously injured, but it could also model to a pressure-point fighter who wants to knock people out with a few light touches.

I think you and I have discussed this before...and you're right, with different names, the same feats in the Brawl chain could model a totally different style of fighting.

Blood and Fists covers pressure points [for either lethal or nonlethal damage], and some of the style feats [each of which allows some form of "armed for AoO purposes" attacks] are built on Improved Throw, Defensive Martial Arts, or Brawl, so that handles the AoO issue v. folks with Combat Martial Arts.

[Vig is gonna have to start writing me checks for promoting Blood and Fists all the time...]

 

[Vigilance]

[Vig is gonna have to start writing me checks for promoting Blood and Fists all the time...]

I'm starting to think you might be right

Seriously, I appreciate all the kind things people say about the book.

Chuck

 

[Unseelie]

Nothing new here, I suspect, but Aikido can very easily be turned into a lethal art... the distance between holds and throws to breaking maneuvers is a close one, and of course, it's very close to sword fighting as well.

 

[Ranger REG]

You are right, both trip and overrun seems to be missing (nonlethal?) damage. Why not treat it as a fall of less than 10 feet? What is that? 1d6 nonlethal damage, in addition to being prone until your next action?

 

[Vigilance]

Early Christmas present for all

Clothesline (Martial Arts Maneuver)
This maneuver can be performed offensively or defensively as you run by a target, or as a target runs by you. The goal is to rip someone’s head off and put what’s left on the ground.
Prerequisite: School of Hard Knocks
Effect: Performed offensively this maneuver may only be performed in conjunction with an unarmed charge attack. If the attacker hits with this charge attack, the target must make a reflex saving throw (DC 15+ attacker’s dexterity modifier) or be knocked prone.
Performed defensively, an attacker may use this maneuver whenever he would be allowed to make an attack of opportunity triggered by movement out of his threatening area. The attacker may make a punch attack against the target as an attack of opportunity, and if this attack hits the target must make a reflex saving throw (DC 15+attacker’s dexterity modifier) or be knocked prone. This maneuver does not allow an attacker to make more attacks of opportunity than he is normally entitled to, nor can it be performed more than once each round, regardless of the number of targets moving through the attacker’s area.

 

[Tellerve]

I'm pretty sure you intend, but it isn't precisely clear that these do damage as well with their attack.

Just thought I'd notice,

Tellerve

 

[Vigilance]

That sure is my intention, sorry if that didnt come across. The description says that the offensive version is a charge punching attack, and the defensive version says its a punching attack.

Punching attack= damage

Sorry for the confusion- I didn't really give it a close clarity-edit.

Chuck