Are Techniques Worthwhile?

[AlexanderHowl]

So, I am coming around to the idea that techniques really are not worthwhile because I think that it is almost always better in the long run to just increase the underlying skills. Let us say that I wanted to create a martial artist. I could spend 78 points to give her Style Familiarity (Tae Kwon Do) [1], Technique Mastery (Kicking) [1], Technique Mastery (Back Kick) [1], Technique Mastery (Jump Kick) [1], Technique Mastery (Spinning Kick) [1], Jumping (E) DX+2 [4], Karate (H) DX+6 [28], Karate Sport (H) DX+4 [4], Savoir-Faire (Dojo) (E) IQ+2 [4], Back Kick (H) Karate+4 [9], Jump Kick (H) Karate+4 [9], Kicking (H) Karate+4 [7], and Spinning Kick (H) Karate+4 [8]. Or I could spend 69 points to give her Style Familiarity (Tae Kwon Do) [1], Jumping (E) DX+2 [4], Karate (H) DX+14 [56], Karate Sport (H) DX+12 [4], and Savoir-Faire (Dojo) (E) IQ+2 [4]. I could spend less points to make her a much better martial arts, even when it comes to kicking, by not taking any techniques. So, am I overthinking it or are techniques not worth it?

[weby]

In general techniques are only worth it if you use them really often and even then usually not more than one technique/skill.

So if you do a lot of spin kicks, then having a spin kick technique might well be worth it, but for only occasional use, not likely.

[mlangsdorf]

A single technique that you use a lot is useful: Broadsword-18 [20] and Feint +4 [4] is generally better than Broadsword-19 [24] if you expect to Feint a lot.

Technique Mastery rapidly becomes too expensive to be worthwhile.

[Colarmel]

Techniques are good to put on your sheet at zero for stuff you'll do periodically, like once every other session. They may be worth training if you do them once a combat, they're worth perfecting if you do them constantly. An Archer who uses dual weapon attack on every shot should train the technique. A Vampire Hunter should spend points on putting stakes in hearts. But usually you'll do better to improve base skill and work from defaults

[Maz]

Some techniques are also significantly better than others.

Namely Feint and Targeted attacks usually increase your deadliness more than the same points put into skill, without being too situational.

[sir_pudding]

Don't forget that techniques stack too, if you have both Counterattack and Targeted Attack (Neck) at maximum, you can counterattack necks at the reduced penalty.

[edk926]

I think the consensus is that they generally aren't worth it unless you are in games where maximum skill levels are capped. If you can do Karate (DX+14), they are pointless. If you allowed to only do Karate (DX+6), then techniques are good.

[Railstar]

Worthwhile for what?

Not worthwhile for trying to take Technique Mastery in 4 different techniques for the same skill. Only aim for 1 or 2 techniques for each skill. At 3 techniques or more for the same skill, you start to suffer diminishing returns.

It is also not particularly worthwhile for games where you have 60 points invested into a single skill - those are what I'd consider ultra-cinematic campaigns.

For more medium-powered games where skill 14-15 is considered elite, then the difference between +1 skill and +3 or +4 to a technique becomes very significant. It opens up options.

Feint +4 = much more likely to reduce enemy defences to land that hit.
Arm Lock +4 = chance to use Deceptive Attacks and immediately lock your foe down in a Quick Contest you have a very high skill level in.
Close Quarter Shooting/Battle (can't remember which) +4 = you can shoot while moving to cover without significant penalty.

Assassin:

DX 13 (not DF/Action/Supers, so 13 is high in the world), then Knife & Thrown Weapon: Knife at (E) DX+2=15 [4]. Rather than aiming for skill 16, she raised Targeted Attack: Face from 10 to 13 (14 with Trademark Move) allowing her to target a less-often armoured location.

This was marvellous with sucker-punches using the Hidden Weapons rule. Because she could reliably hit a high-value target at the start of combat, while imposing defensive penalties. She got 2 tries normally (thrown knife as the enemy gets within 2 yards, then step in and stab while Fast-Drawing another knife), opponents defending at -3 or -4 between Hidden Weapon and a few other factors, and would probably get a Knockdown/Stun from one of those.

Once they're down, she can still defend just fine against other foes while making Telegraphic Targeted Attacks to the Face and hitting at 17+ to finish off the guy who's down.

So a single technique can get a lot of mileage if used intelligently.

[phayman53]

I'm particularly partial to Counterattack. At 6 points it gives you a free deceptive attack of 1 or 2 (8 or 16 points) depending on your opponent's defenses. Even at master skill levels of 24 that would allow you to target difficult to hit locations while still retaining a penalty to defense and the increased chance of a critical hit from high effective skill.

[Alden Loveshade]

One of my long-standing and favorite PCs is a grand master alchemist (lives in Tredroy in YRTH i.e. Banestorm--alchemist PCs can work really well in city-based campaigns, not so well in traveling games).

Alchemical Techniques are virtually essential to the character.