06-09-2019, 02:46 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Jan 2015
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Four Arm Martial Arts
The thread about tentacles got me thinking about this and wanted to hear what others have to say. What kind of martial arts would a race with multiple arms would use? And related to it what kind of weapons would they prefer?
To reduce the scope of question, let's assume a very human-like race with two pairs of arms (let's ignore the wonky anatomy for a second). In GURPS terms, just a basic Human template [0] with Extra Arms 2 [20]. A few thoughts of mine:
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06-09-2019, 03:21 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
It depends on their typical foes too.
I would lean towards grappling skills and short weapons with an emphasis on feints and deceptive attacks as that is already a lot for an opponent to try and keep track of. Spears are good options for longer reach as they are used in a thrusting manner so you have fewer issues with getting in your own way. Javelins and Spears for ranged rather than bows or slings for a similar reason. And using a bow and lance at the same time is not very good, if you hit with the lance its going to throw your balance and hence aim off.
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06-09-2019, 05:07 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
A Four-armed warrior could easily wield a Greatsword with one side's pair of hands, and a Tower Shield with the other side's pair of arms.
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06-09-2019, 05:22 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Feb 2016
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
Even better, they could have a medium shield on each side, giving them a +4 DB and two blocks a turn, and a two-handed weapon (or two one-handed weapons). So, a four-armed humanoid could block, dodge, and parry better than a two-armed humanoid, as long as they had the proper equipment. I would also give them a +4 ST, just to allow them to effectively use the majority of two-handed weapons.
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06-09-2019, 05:25 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
The problem with that is your not using the shoulders and hip as effectively so I think it would be a weaker slash.
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My GURPS publications GURPS Powers: Totem and Nature Spirits; GURPS Template Toolkit 4: Spirits; Pyramid articles. Buying them lets us know you want more! My GURPS fan contribution and blog: REFPLace GURPS Landing Page My List of GURPS You Tube videos (plus a few other useful items) My GURPS Wiki entries |
06-09-2019, 06:03 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
Quote:
You might be able to make a 4-handed bow though but that might need to be handled as adding BLs rather than ST.
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Fred Brackin |
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06-09-2019, 06:17 PM | #7 | |
Join Date: Jun 2017
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
Quote:
I think most styles would still assume the warrior is only using one weapon at a time, for the same reasons that there are not many real styles that use two weapons at once. The styles that would develop would also depend if the expected opponent had two arms or four. A few styles I thought of are: An infantry technique with a long spear and large shield. Normally there would be one hand controlling the shield and two hands on the spear. Before the melee begins, the fourth hand is used to throw missiles. Once melee begins it is used with the spear to give it extra power, or to draw a short sword if the opponent has gotten within the reach of the spear. A cavalry technique with a bow, sword, and shield. The bow and sword are not intended to be used at the same time. The bow has a powerful draw and requires three hands to use (one to hold the bow and both hands on the other side draw the string). If the horseman wants to charge (or is being charged) the two bow-drawing hands draw a katana sized sword. The third style uses four matched shortswords. It is not the most effective in combat, but it looks very flashy, especially to two armed warriors. |
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06-09-2019, 06:20 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Jan 2015
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
Quote:
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06-09-2019, 06:55 PM | #9 | |
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Wellington, NZ
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
Quote:
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Rupert Boleyn "A pessimist is an optimist with a sense of history." |
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06-10-2019, 05:25 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Helmouth, The Netherlands
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Re: Four Arm Martial Arts
What about givng it four spiked shields?
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Tags |
extra arms, general grievous, martial arts |
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