The "point" to Brawling...

[GoblynByte]

I think I might be missing something.

This is what I understand (please correct me if I'm wrong): Punching someone is based on DX if you don't have Brawling. Brawling has not other default. Brawling is a DX/Easy skill meaning that spending one point in it brings it equal to you DX.

So, other than being a stepping stone to two points spent on Brawling, is there actually apoint to spending just one point on it? There's no change than if no points were spent. Is that right?

[Nosforontu]

Originally Posted by GoblynByte

I think I might be missing something.

This is what I understand (please correct me if I'm wrong): Punching someone is based on DX if you don't have Brawling. Brawling has not other default. Brawling is a DX/Easy skill meaning that spending one point in it brings it equal to you DX.

So, other than being a stepping stone to two points spent on Brawling, is there actually apoint to spending just one point on it? There's no change than if no points were spent. Is that right?

Defaults would be my guess for various techniques from the Martial Arts book and probably else wear as well.

[Mark Skarr]

Well, Brawling also lets you parry two attacks (one with each hand) instead of just one.

[talonthehand]

A whole bunch of techniques in Martial Arts default to brawling, and it could also be one of the required skills for a style.

[vicky_molokh]

Ahem.

[GoblynByte]

Originally Posted by Molokh

Ahem.

Cool. That's more or less the type of thing I figured I was missing; a non-stated benefit that comes from that point spent.

Excellent. Thanks all for the swift responses.

[vitruvian]

Well, Brawling also lets you parry two attacks (one with each hand) instead of just one.

Well, the section specifically on parries says that you only incur penalties once you have parried once with each hand or hand weapon. There is no mention of needing an unarmed combat skill, or you're treated as having one hand for this purpose, so I'm not sure that this is something you can't do with just DX.


Yep - just quoted over in the Dual Sword thread -

Page b376 states:

"Number of Parries: Once you have attempted a parry with a particular weapon or bare hand, further attempts to parry with that weapon or hand are at a cumulative -4 per parry after the first."

No mention of needing a skill for this to be true.

[Kromm]

It's the bit where Brawling is innately ambidextrous that makes it useful for parrying. Martial Arts presents an optional rule to tone this down, but as written, it's a nice edge.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Kromm

It's the bit where Brawling is innately ambidextrous that makes it useful for parrying. Martial Arts presents an optional rule to tone this down, but as written, it's a nice edge.

Huh? Only Karate lists 'no -4 for the off hand' . . .

What did I miss and where?

[GoblynByte]

Originally Posted by Kromm

It's the bit where Brawling is innately ambidextrous that makes it useful for parrying. Martial Arts presents an optional rule to tone this down, but as written, it's a nice edge.

And, just to clarify, that "innate ambidexterity" only becomes available if you spend a point in Brawling (not if you are using just DX for the unarmed combat). Correct?

Something else I want to clarify is that Kicking is a technique that begins at Brawling -2 and improves from there. It also lists Brawling as a prerequisite (DX is not listed as a prerequisite). On the weapon lists, though, the act of kicking defaults from DX-2. Now, I'm assuming that means that means you can only develop Kicking as a technique if you first take a point in Brawling (or some other "strking" skill) and you cannot develop it just off of DX. But, kicking is still possible to perform "untrained" at the DX-2 level. Is that all correct?