True 20 Martial Arts style feat (now with NPCs)

[Greg K]

Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts: the Bible; read it, know it, love it.

Its not bad. I prefer to find books on individual styles. They get a lot more in depth on the breadth of techniques and philosophy.

Ultimate Martial Arts Encyclopedia (Best of Kung Fu Magazine): Not sure I cited a single article here, but a lot of really interesting reading.
Martial Arts of Renaissance Europe: A really terrific book on European formal combat training. No, Knights didn't just bash each other. The only thing keeping this book from being on par with Comprehensive Asian Fighting Arts is the incredibly dry, dull, dense academic writing style.

I'll need to check this out

Martial Arts Hero (3rd edition), GURPs Martial Arts: Not sources, more inspiration on the level of comparison. These were the books I judged B&F against as I was writing it, and the books I most wanted my book to be a d20 version of.

By martial arts Hero, is that the Ultimate Martial Artist? My name is in that book as playtester. I actually corresponded back and forth with Steve Long recommending books (most of which he had seen) and sending copies of articles on various styles.

GURPS MA is good overall. I like most of the stuff, but I was not thrilled by some of the style writeups. I actually was corresponding on the GURPS boards with Mr. Carella around the time of the revised version. I was surprised at some of the maneuvers that did not make it in to the write ups of specific styles, because it did not appear in his research where as I would have multiple books on a given style with those missing maneuvers being demonstrated.

 

[Vigilance]

Those are some great sources. Have you seen the new Brubaker / Fraction Iron Fist... Dear Lawd good stuff.

I'm waiting on the trade. Impatiently

Have you visited any training gyms or studios on Martial arts? I was also wondering if you are going to be representing MMAP and MACP, the new military martial art programs?

Best Regards,
Walt

I've done some research on LINE, the Marine program. I ultimately decided not to inlcude it, because Commando Training seemed to do the job well enough.

 

[Vigilance]

Its not bad. I prefer to find books on individual styles. They get a lot more in depth on the breadth of techniques and philosophy.

Right, but B&F is more about the big picture. So having one book that also takes a big picture view was much more useful when I was writing B&F. I didn't want a treatise on each individual style, and didn't have the time to do that anyway.

Though I did a lot of research on individual styles, CAFA was ultimately the best because it allowed me to reference things quickly.

By martial arts Hero, is that the Ultimate Martial Artist? My name is in that book as playtester. I actually corresponded back and forth with Steve Long recommending books (most of which he had seen) and sending copies of articles on various styles.

No, I'm talking about the older edition, written by Aaron Allston. Although I love Long's work and am sure his new edition was groovy as well.

 

[Greg K]

Right, but B&F is more about the big picture. So having one book that also takes a big picture view was much more useful when I was writing B&F. I didn't want a treatise on each individual style, and didn't have the time to do that anyway.

Ah, ok. yeah, for a broad picture it is good.

No, I'm talking about the older edition, written by Aaron Allston. Although I love Long's work and am sure his new edition was groovy as well.

Wasnt' that Ninja Hero?

 

[Vigilance]

Wasnt' that Ninja Hero?

That's it!

Been awhile since I read it.

 

[ValhallaGH]

Chuck, if you're planning to include Banter in this one, could you please clarify that you don't mean for it to stack with Canny Dodge? (Or that you do mean for it to do so, though that would get ridiculous very quickly.)

Much appreciated.

 

[Vigilance]

Chuck, if you're planning to include Banter in this one, could you please clarify that you don't mean for it to stack with Canny Dodge? (Or that you do mean for it to do so, though that would get ridiculous very quickly.)

Much appreciated.

I can do that. I tried to emulate the wording of Canny Dodge. The problem being, since you can't take a feat more than once (unless it says you can), Canny Dodge sort of has that built in.

Ah well.

 

[Vigilance]

And, as work is actually progressing (the damn styles are finally all done!), a maneuver.

Box Ears (Expert)
Punch
With this dirty tactic, you slap your target’s ears, causing damage by forcing air into the fragile inner ear.
Prerequisite: Improved Strike
Effect: When you make an unarmed attack you may choose not to inflict normal damage. Instead, the target makes a Fortitude save against a difficulty of 10 plus your unarmed damage bonus. A successful save results in no effect. A failed save means the target is deafened for 1 round plus a number of rounds equal to your Strength. Failure by 5 or more means the target is deafened for 1 hour plus a number of hours equal to your Strength. Failure by 10 or more means the target is deafened for 1 day plus a number of days equal to your Strength.
When a target fails a save against this feat after combat begins, his Initiative is decreased by -4.

 

[ValhallaGH]

That's really interesting. It has similar balance problems to stunning attack but is all kinds of cool.

And my thanks for clarifying banter.

 

[Vigilance]

Dukun Chakakirti Pasiasina: 7th-level Expert
Abilities: Strength +0, Dexterity +2, Constitution +1, Intelligence +0, Wisdom +3, Charisma +0
Core Ability: Expertise
Skills: Acrobatics 10 (+13), Escape Artist 10 (+12), Medicine 10 (+13), Sense Motive 10 (+13)
Feats: Attack Focus: Kick (+2 from Pentjak Silat), Canny Dodge (Wis), Defensive Attack, Dodge Focus, Improved Strike, Improved Throw, Improved Trip (+3 from Pentjak Silat), Momentum Throw, Pentjak Silat
Combat: Attack +10 (+5 Base, +3 Wis from internal martial arts style, +2 Attack Focus), Damage +2 (+2 Improved Strike), Dodge 21 (+5 Base, +2 Dex, +3 Wis, +1 Dodge Focus), Parry 15 (+5 Base, +0 Str), Initiative +2 (+2 Dex)
Saves: Toughness +1 (+1 Con), Fortitude +3 (+2 Base, +1 Con), Reflex +4 (+2 Base, +2 Dex), Will +8 (+5 Base, +3 Wis)
Conviction: 6 Wealth: +1 Reputation: +2 Virtue: Good-Humored Vice: Crazy
Possessions: Threadbare clothes
Background: When he was a young man in Indonesia, Chakakirti was a bully, a thug, and a drunkard. After killing a man in a bar fight, he fled into the night, eventually finding himself on a beach, where he discovered a little old man sitting alone in the cold. Chakakirti tried to rob him, but the old man easily defeated him and then suggested to the thug that he change his ways. Chakakirti followed the old man, learning from him, until his death last year. Now he continues his journey, seeking enlightenment where he finds it and following the wind.
Quote: “You and I are the same. I go where the wind blows me. You think you decide where you go and rule your destiny. Yet we are both here. Perhaps you simply do not feel the wind?”
Role: Chakakirti is the essence of the mystic side of the martial arts.
Adventure Hooks: Chakakirti makes an excellent Legendary Master for a low-level PC. Any PC heavily invested in the internal side of the martial arts will likely idolize the small man. While he does not see himself that way, Chakakirti feels an obligation to pass on what he has learned, and will take a suitably serious student under his wing.