Need help with a martial art
 

Surmanjekk (Dance of Death)
Skills: Acrobatics, Dancing, Fencing*, Fencing Art, Judo
I'm working on a martial art for my elves, but sadly all I know about martial arts is from watching Karate Kid and the first Highlander movie.

The elves fight with an ethnic badass Edged Rapier with reach 1, 2. It is a very mobile style which incorporates moves from Elven dance (single dance) and acrobatics. Probably not very aggressive, waiting for the opponent to exhaust himself... tying in to the Elven philosophy of outliving the enemy maybe? Ideas?

ETA: Changed Broadsword to Fencing, which is an amalgamation of the various Fencing skills (my doctor said I had to cut down on skills...), replaced Karate with Judo.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

You should take look on Martial Arts: Yrth Fighting Styles, for inspiration. There is "Sylvan War Lore" - martial arts of elves, which involves one- and two-handed fighting with a sword, and dancing.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

Surmanjekk (Dance of Death) [5]:

Skills: Acrobatics; Broadsword; Dancing; Karate

Techniques: Acrobatic Stand (Acrobatics); Counterattack (Broadsword or Karate); Evade (Acrobatics); Feinting (Any); Kicking (Karate);

Perks: Clinch (Karate); OHWT (Broadsword); Skill Sub (Acrobatic or Dancing Feint); Special Exercises (FP May Exceed HT By +100%); Teamwork; Technique Mastery (Counterattack); Unique Technique (The Dodge of the Dancer);

Optional Skills: Fast-Draw (Sword); Judo; Jumping; Sex Appeal;

Cinematic Skills: Flying Leap; Light Walk;

Cinematic Techniques: Roll With Blow; The Dodge of the Dancer (See Below);

Notes: A very mobile style which heavily-incorporates elements of Elven dance and acrobatics on the physical side, and heavily-incorporates elements of certain Elven philosophies on the spiritual side. Practitioners focus on a mobile defense (usually Retreating and using Acrobatic Defense when possible) and not getting pinned down, typically employing Defensive or regular Attacks when striking, and using Move & Attack and Move+Evade to avoid getting boxed in. Certain schools never strike first, teaching that the counterattack is tactically (and, in some schools, ethically) superior to the aggressive initiative; they often lead with All-Out-Defense (Enhanced Dodge, Enhanced Parry, or Double Dodge+Parry). Practitioners perform constant cardio in the form of dance and enjoy much greater reserves of fatigue than their health would indicate, which has tremendous synergy with magic in settings where FP matter for that.

Cinematic Special Style Technique: The Dodge of the Dancer (Hard):

Default: Dodge -1; May Not Exceed Dodge

Notes: The practitioner may perform a Retreating Dodge (including an Acrobatic and/or All-Out Retreating Dodge) with double the normal backward movement on the Retreat (eg: 2 hexes instead of 1) than what he would normally enjoy. Make a DX roll to avoid falling down in addition to the normal results if this Dodge fails.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

I'd drop sex appeal. The idea of twerking elves is just too strange and I have to go scrub out my brain now.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

Please feel free; it is, after all, optional. ;]

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

Very, very good. I'll tweak it, but you've made a solid foundation.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

Thanks! Enjoy.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

Don't forget optional advantages: Extra DX, Extra HT, Combat Reflexes, Enhanced Dodge, Enhanced Parry, Fit or Very Fit, Perfect Balance.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

That fact that you equate "twerking" with positive sex appeal makes me want to scrub my brain. ;)

I always called it "butt" clapping.

Re: Need help with a martial art
 

No, it was the combination of dancing and sex-appeal that hit me.