Improving unarmed combat

[Alonsua]

Hi there,

is there any way (like a martial arts technique, or the like, aslong as it is realistic -not cinematic-) to turn an unarmed attack (punching, kicking, etc) into impaling or piercing, instead of crushing, for taking advantage of the wounding modifiers?

Thank you.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Alonsua

Hi there,

is there any way (like a martial arts technique, or the like, aslong as it is realistic -not cinematic-) to turn an unarmed attack (punching, kicking, etc) into impaling or piercing, instead of crushing, for taking advantage of the wounding modifiers?

Thank you.

Lethal Kick & Lethal Strike turn Cr into Pi, MApg85

They are cinematic Techniques but otherwise they default at DX-4, and the text explicitly* says they are reasonable in realistic games at default



*as opposed to the general point that cinematic techs are cinematic only if they are improved, but available for everyone at default (subject to GM approval)

[Alonsua]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Lethal Kick & Lethal Strike turn Cr into Pi, MApg85

They are cinematic Techniques but otherwise they default at DX-4, and the text explicitly* says they are reasonable in realistic games at default



*as opposed to the general point that cinematic techs are cinematic only if they are improved, but available for everyone at default (subject to GM approval)

Thank you very much, I just found the lethal strike under the campaign basic set book a few minutes after starting the thread. So you can use it at default, but training it would be cinematic?

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Alonsua

Thank you very much, I just found the lethal strike under the campaign basic set book a few minutes after starting the thread. So you can use it at default, but training it would be cinematic?

Yep, but the cinematic/reaslisci distinction is really one of GM pov, since they are pretty nebulous at times especially when were talking about improving techs above default. (even more so when you factor in stuff like Unusual Training)

[Alonsua]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Yep, but the cinematic/reaslisci distinction is really one of GM pov, since they are pretty nebulous at times especially when were talking about improving techs above default. (even more so when you factor in stuff like Unusual Training)

But is it at the technique default level which is realistic (Karate-2) or at the skill level (Karate+0)? Or training it to Karate+0 would be the point at which it becomes cinematic? :S

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by Alonsua

But is it at the technique default level which is realistic (Karate-2) or at the skill level (Karate+0)? Or training it to Karate+0 would be the point at which it becomes cinematic? :S

Yes by the letter of RAW the default is (DX-4) and realistic, improving it above that is cinematic.

But one's got assume that improving it to DX-3 is less "cinematic" than improving it to DX-1. Hence my point about realistic/cinematic being a continuum of overlapping things. Not two hard and fast mutually exclusive things (let alone universally agreed upon things).

[malloyd]

Originally Posted by Alonsua

But is it at the technique default level which is realistic (Karate-2) or at the skill level (Karate+0)? Or training it to Karate+0 would be the point at which it becomes cinematic? :S

For what purpose?

If you are looking at it from a real world viewpoint, it's probably cinematic to allow it at all (nothing you do is going to allow your hands to "pierce" flesh). But it's hard to tell because *damage* is such a fundamentally unrealistic mechanic - a single tally countdown is pretty ridiculous if you think about it too hard.

If you are trying to convince the GM to let you have it in a setting he has declared "realistic", that's entirely up to the GM. My personal inclination would be no - the damage bonus you get from Karate skill would be about the upper limit of damage enhancement you can get from "realistic" training - but YMMV.

[AlexanderHowl]

Impaling or cutting is fairly unrealistic without something like a bladed fist, as is piercing without increased potential for self-injury. As for improving the lethal techniques, it is often better to just improve the base skill than to improve the technique (one of my primary criticisms about the Technique rules).

[jason taylor]

Allow for stunning blows perhaps?

[lvalero]

Imbuements can turn an unarmed crushing attack into a cutting or impaling one. Just add Ki and presto!

If you dont like adding Ki just say this is a "Mortal secret technique of the Mantis"