Miao Miao's Vow
 

Miao Miao (from Delvers To Go, p.9) has Vow (Use only rapiers) [‑5], as well as Fast-Draw (Knife), Thrown Weapon (Knife) and a bunch of throwing knives. Is this an error, or is the Vow only considered to apply to melee attacks?

Re: Miao Miao's Vow
 

This is a case of excessive brevity: Yes, this means in melee combat. These sorts of Vows are meant to limit the fighter to one primary melee weapon, not to exclude cloaks/shields, ranged weapons, unarmed skills, etc. If it did all that, it would be worth -10 points. At the -5-point level, it's mostly meant to keep you from using a high-quality or magical broadsword, morningstar, pick, or whatever when you're a rapier freak.

Re: Miao Miao's Vow
 

Thanks! Read literally, it did seem rather restrictive for only -5 points.

Re: Miao Miao's Vow
 

Follow-up with a similar question, what does "always fight unarmed" mean?
No improvised fist loads?
No ranged attacks?
No special chi Attacks?
No Gauntlets or Boots?
No Neko-de or similar adornments?

Re: Miao Miao's Vow
 

"Unarmed" means you have to use unarmed combat skills. Boxing, Brawling, Judo, Karate, Sumo Wrestling, and Wrestling all qualify (and so does basic DX, if you're silly enough to take that Vow without knowing how to fight). So do skills that work as attacks without weapons, like Kiai and Push. And yes, you're allowed to enhance your strikes with cat-folk claws, heavy gauntlets, Unarmed Master, etc. – anything that requires only the unarmed skills above. But this is a -15-point Vow for good reason: You cannot use weapons that require weapon skills, which means no ranged weapons.

Masha Deathfoot (Delvers to Go!, p. 8) illustrates this Vow. She uses Judo and Karate only. She specifically bought metal armor for her hands and feet in order to hurt people more. And she also specifically traded off her ranged weapon skill because of her Vow.