BARD PAPER: GAIL4004

Unarmed Martial Arts

by Franklin W. Cain

1.0 New/Revised Skills and Cascades

Armed Martial Arts (STR) -- Melee: This cascade skill now has the additional new cascade Other.

Other: This cascade covers all unusual or exotic melee weapons not covered by the "usual" cascades of Armed M.A., from a barbarian warrior's shield to an adventuring archeologist's bullwhip, and anything in between. This cascade *cannot* be the primary cascade of this skill; a character wanting such a specialization may, at the GM's discretion, declare a *specific* weapon type to be the primary cascade, but in such an instance, that specific weapon type becomes its own cascade of this skill.
(Example): Dr. Montana Smith is an expert with the bullwhip. Assuming he has level 8 with this weapon, it would be recorded as "Armed Martial Arts (Special -- Bullwhip) 8," with the cascades Large Blade, Small Blade, Club, Polearm, and Other being level 4 (default).

Unarmed Martial Arts (STR) -- Melee: This skill is now a cascade skill. The cascades are Block, Strike, and Throw.

Block: This cascade covers martial blocks, dodges, and evades.
Strike: This cascade covers martial punches, kicks, and strikes.
Throw: This cascade covers martial throws and grapples.

2.0 New Combat Maneuvers

Disarm: This is a Formidable test of Armed Martial Arts; if the target character is using a two-handed weapon, the Disarm attempt becomes Impossible.

Outstanding Success: The target character loses his weapon unless he succeeds at a Formidable test of STR.
Success: The target character loses his weapon unless he succeeds at a Difficult test of STR.
Failure: The Disarm attempt fails.
Catastrophic Failure: The Disarm attempt fails.

Feint: This is a Difficult test of both Acting and (Armed/Unarmed) Martial Arts ("Armed M. A." if melee combat; "Unarmed M. A. if HTH combat).

Outstanding Success: The target character has a penalty of +1 Difficulty Level to avoid the character's next attack this turn (e.g., +1 Diff. Level to Avoid Leaping Kick if next attack is Leaping Kick, etc.).
Success: Same effect as Outstanding Success above, unless the target character succeeds at a Difficult test of both Observation and (Armed/ Unarmed) Martial Arts.
Failure: No effect.
Catastrophic Failure: The attacking character has given *himself* the penalty that the target character would have gotten from Outstanding Success above.

Shield Block: This is an Average test of the Other cascade of Armed Martial Arts (exception: a character who chose to specify "Shield" as a specific non-standard weapon may use that special cascade instead). The character must be using a medium-sized shield (about a meter wide); smaller shields ("bucklers") must instead be used as melee weapons performing the standard maneuver Block. Unlike other maneuvers in melee combat, Shield Block is a *free* maneuver (i.e., it doesn't count against the character's Initiative-based limits on actions).

Outstanding Success: Anyone trying to attack this character in melee combat has a penalty of +1 Difficulty Level.
Success: Same effect as Outstanding Success above.
Failure: No effect.

Catastrophic Failure: The defending character cannot make an attack this turn.

3.0 Revised Combat Task Summary

3.1 Melee (Armed)

Maneuver Difficulty Asset(s) Effect

Hand Strike Average UMA (Strike) Damage UCDR

Kick Difficult UMA (Strike) Damage 1.5 x UCDR

Block Difficult UMA (Block) Avoid Strike; Lose Action

Leaping Kick Difficult Acrbt & UMA (Strike) Damage UCDR

Lp. Kick Recovery Average Acrobatics Avoid Falling Down

Avoid Lp. Kick Difficult Acrobatics * Avoid Attack; Lose Action

Aimed Strike/Kick +1 Level As Appropriate Damage Chosen Locat.

Feint Difficult Acting & UMA (Strike) +1 Level Penalty to Avoid Next Attack

Resist Feint Difficult Observ & UMA (Strike) Negate Attack

Grapple Average Acrbt or UMA (Throw) Controlling "Hits" UCGR

Grapple Escape Average Acrbt or UMA (Throw) Remove Controlling "Hits" UCGR

Strangle Difficult Acrbt or UMA (Throw) Damage 2 x UCGR

Strangle Block Average Acrbt or UMA (Throw) Avoid Attack; Lose Action

Combat Throw Difficult UMA (Throw) Damage 2 x Defender's CON

Limit Throw Dmg. Difficult Acrobatics Damage x 1/2

Avoid Diving Blow Average Acrobatics * Avoid Attack **

Notes:
* -- Unskilled characters may use AGL at no penalty.
** -- Otherwise, damage is [(2 x Attacker's CON)+1D6] minus (Defender's STR+CON).

UMA: Unarmed Martial Arts
UCDR: Unarmed Combat Damage Rating = UMA (Strike) asset x 1/3 (min. 1; use 1/3 x STR if unskilled)
UCGR: Unarmed Combat Grapple Rating = UMA (Throw) asset x 1/3 (min. 1; use 1/3 x STR if unskilled)
Acrbt: Acrobatics
Observ: Observation

"Asset1 & Asset2": Use the *lower* of the two assets.
"Asset1 or Asset2": Use the *higher* of the two assets.

3.2 Melee (Armed)

Maneuver Difficulty Asset(s) Effect

Attack Difficult AMA * Damage by Weapon

Aimed Attack +1 Level AMA * Damage Chosen Location

Block/Parry ** Formidable AMA * Avoid Strike; Lose Action

Shield Block Average AMA (Other) +1 Level Penalty to Attack

Disarm Formidable AMA * Defender Loses Weapon

Resist Disarm Difficult STR Negate Attack

Feint Difficult Acting & AMA +1 Level Penalty to Avoid Next Attack

Resist Feint Difficult Observ & AMA Negate Attack

Pin Difficult AMA * Controlling "Hits" Asset x 1/3

Notes
* -- Some weapons have die modifiers (DMs).
** -- Must have a weapon or other object with which to block.
AMA: Armed Martial Arts

3.3 Melee (Unarmed vs. Armed)

Maneuver Difficulty Asset(s) Effect

Block Impossible UMA (Block) Avoid Strike; Lose Action

Disarm Impossible UMA (Strike) Defender Loses Weapon

Maneuver	Difficulty	Asset(s)	Effect
Hand Strike	Average	UMA (Strike)	Damage UCDR
Kick	Difficult	UMA (Strike)	Damage 1.5 x UCDR
Block	Difficult	UMA (Block)	Avoid Strike; Lose Action
Leaping Kick	Difficult	Acrbt & UMA (Strike)	Damage UCDR
Lp. Kick Recovery	Average	Acrobatics	Avoid Falling Down
Avoid Lp. Kick	Difficult	Acrobatics *	Avoid Attack; Lose Action
Aimed Strike/Kick	+1 Level	As Appropriate	Damage Chosen Locat.
Feint	Difficult	Acting & UMA (Strike)	+1 Level Penalty to Avoid Next Attack
Resist Feint	Difficult	Observ & UMA (Strike)	Negate Attack
Grapple	Average	Acrbt or UMA (Throw)	Controlling "Hits" UCGR
Grapple Escape	Average	Acrbt or UMA (Throw)	Remove Controlling "Hits" UCGR
Strangle	Difficult	Acrbt or UMA (Throw)	Damage 2 x UCGR
Strangle Block	Average	Acrbt or UMA (Throw)	Avoid Attack; Lose Action
Combat Throw	Difficult	UMA (Throw)	Damage 2 x Defender's CON
Limit Throw Dmg.	Difficult	Acrobatics	Damage x 1/2
Avoid Diving Blow	Average	Acrobatics *	Avoid Attack **