Batman Martial Arts

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Gedrin

... BMJ also takes advantage of theatrics and intimidation to gain a psychological advantage over opponents. It's one of the major tenets of the approach and is used to control fights against multiple, mentally weak, foes.

How can this be modelled in play?

[quarkstomper]

I remember seeing William Shatner on a talk show years ago telling a story about being robbed once. He briefly considered trying to use a flying drop kick to knock down the muggers, a maneuver he'd practiced often enough with his stunt men.

Then he remembered that unlike his stunt crew, the muggers were NOT trained to fall down when he kicked at them. And since the two of them had more combined mass than he did, he was unlikely to knock them down.

So he decided to leave the heroics for the starship captains.

[Say, it isn't that bad!]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Flying Drop Kick.

I originally read that as "Flying Drop Kirk".

[Infornific]

Originally Posted by Gedrin

Climbing, Base Jumping (parachute technique?) and Throwing seem like good optional skills. I've got no idea what the skill is for swinging from ropes and the like.

Techniques that take advantage of elevation, as part of the sneak attack training, would also be useful. Dropping on someone from swinging or controlled dive; kick, all out attack, charge, good chance to knock an opponent down, follow through movement.

BMJ also takes advantage of theatrics and intimidation to gain a psychological advantage over opponents. It's one of the major tenets of the approach and is used to control fights against multiple, mentally weak, foes.

I've got Intimidation as an optional skill - I might add Acting. That said, I suspect Batman would give a separate social engineering course to his apprentices.

BASE jumping doesn't really fit 1940s Batman - I figured Acrobatics would cover swinging from lines and such. Maybe I should add that swinging perk from Supers? Also possibly make Climbing a style rather than optional skill. I added Throwing as an optional skill.

[Infornific]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

How can this be modelled in play?

In game terms - Acrobatics, Climbing and Stealth to make surprise attacks from unexpected directions. Intimidation with the Cloaked perk for surprise visits that don't begin with a punch to the face. Psychology, Body Language and Detect Lie to read opponents and figure out what will scare them. Not all of this would be part of a conventional martial art.

So the bad guys are sneaking around - Batman springs out of nowhere and beats the crap out of them, possibly asking the leader some questions afterward. The goal is to take them down before they even realize they're under attack. Or if he wants to ask questions first, he suddenly appears with his cape flowing dramatically.

[Infornific]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Good job.

I once went through some reprints of the 1940s Manhunter looking to see what martial arts training he had before he met Asano Nitobe in the 70s and the recognizable techniques I found were Uppercut and Judo Throw.

Thinking about it a little more, drop Cloak from the skill list and might would work as a generic Golden or Silver Age Martial Arts style.

[Infornific]

OK, since people seem curious:

Kirk Fu, or Starfleet Hand to Hand (5 points)

The traditional martial art of 23rd Century star ship captains, Kirk Fu is an improvised martial art based on half remembered skills. 23rd Century Earth is a very peaceful place and hand to hand combat skills have had little practical use for generations. Kirk Fu was developed from a mish-mash of combat sports and art forms. It is an aggressive style, favoring immediate and direct attacks to take down opponents, though lethal strikes are usually avoided. Punches, karate style chops, take downs, throws and drop kicks are all combined in an enthusiastic effort to take out the opponent. Advanced students learn weapon skills as experience has taught that Star Fleet personnel can be expected to involuntarily fight in gladiatorial combat at least once per tour of duty. Above all, Kirk Fu emphasizes never giving up. Thus, Kirk Fu practitioners are noted for high Will and often buy HP and FP beyond normal levels representing a near superhuman ability to push themselves beyond normal limits. A Kirk Fu fighter won't always be the most skilled or efficient fighter but he's very hard to stop.

Skills: Acrobatics, Brawling, Judo, Wrestling
Techniques: Choke Hold (Judo or Wrestling), Disarming (Judo), Drop Kick (Wrestling), Exotic Hand Strike, Ground Fighting (Judo or Wrestling), Head Lock (Judo or Wrestling), Judo Throw, Targeted Attack (Brawling Punch/Face), Targeted Attack (Brawling Punch/Jaw), Targeted Attack (Exotic Hand Strike/Neck), Two Handed Punch
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength
Cinematic Techniques: Roll with Blow
Perks: Gumption, Skill Adaption (Exotic Hand Strike defaults to Brawling), Special Exercise (FP can exceed HT by 50%), Sure Footed (Uneven), Technique Mastery (Judo Throw)

Optional Traits
Attributes: Increased HT
Secondary Characteristics: Increased FP, HP and Will
Advantages: Fit or Very Fit, Hard to Kill, Hard to Subdue, High Pain Threshold, Luck
Disadvantages: Code of Honor (Star Fleet), Compulsive Behavior (Avoid lethal force)
Skills: Any melee weapon, Boxing, Jumping, Karate, Throwing

Gumption is a cinematic Perk that allows the character to buy extra HP up to 50% of ST. These HP have no associated mass and simply indicate a cinematic ability to soak up damage through sheer force of will.

[Gedrin]

Originally Posted by Infornific

OK, since people seem curious:

Kirk Fu, or Starfleet Hand to Hand (5 points)

The traditional martial art of 23rd Century star ship captains, Kirk Fu is an improvised martial art based on half remembered skills. 23rd Century Earth is a very peaceful place and hand to hand combat skills have had little practical use for generations. Kirk Fu was developed from a mish-mash of combat sports and art forms. It is an aggressive style, favoring immediate and direct attacks to take down opponents, though lethal strikes are usually avoided. Punches, karate style chops, take downs, throws and drop kicks are all combined in an enthusiastic effort to take out the opponent. Advanced students learn weapon skills as experience has taught that Star Fleet personnel can be expected to involuntarily fight in gladiatorial combat at least once per tour of duty. Above all, Kirk Fu emphasizes never giving up. Thus, Kirk Fu practitioners are noted for high Will and often buy HP and FP beyond normal levels representing a near superhuman ability to push themselves beyond normal limits. A Kirk Fu fighter won't always be the most skilled or efficient fighter but he's very hard to stop.

Skills: Acrobatics, Brawling, Judo, Wrestling
Techniques: Choke Hold (Judo or Wrestling), Disarming (Judo), Drop Kick (Wrestling), Exotic Hand Strike, Ground Fighting (Judo or Wrestling), Head Lock (Judo or Wrestling), Judo Throw, Targeted Attack (Brawling Punch/Face), Targeted Attack (Brawling Punch/Jaw), Targeted Attack (Exotic Hand Strike/Neck), Two Handed Punch
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength
Cinematic Techniques: Roll with Blow
Perks: Gumption, Skill Adaption (Kicking defaults to Boxing), Skill Adaption (Exotic Hand Strike defaults to Brawling), Special Exercise (FP can exceed HT by 50%), Sure Footed (Uneven), Technique Mastery (Judo Throw)

Optional Traits
Attributes: Increased HT
Secondary Characteristics: Increased FP, HP and Will
Advantages: Fit or Very Fit, Hard to Kill, Hard to Subdue, High Pain Threshold, Luck
Disadvantages: Code of Honor (Star Fleet), Compulsive Behavior (Avoid lethal force)
Skills: Any melee weapon, Boxing, Jumping, Karate, Throwing

Gumption is a cinematic Perk that allows the character to buy extra HP up to 50% of ST. These HP have no associated mass and simply indicate a cinematic ability to soak up damage through sheer force of will.

I note that there are no weapon retention skills. I'd think this prime training for a modern or future military martial art. Of course, watching the shows, it makes perfect sense that it's not included.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by Infornific

In game terms - Acrobatics, Climbing and Stealth to make surprise attacks from unexpected directions. Intimidation with the Cloaked perk for surprise visits that don't begin with a punch to the face. Psychology, Body Language and Detect Lie to read opponents and figure out what will scare them. Not all of this would be part of a conventional martial art.

So the bad guys are sneaking around - Batman springs out of nowhere and beats the crap out of them, possibly asking the leader some questions afterward. The goal is to take them down before they even realize they're under attack. Or if he wants to ask questions first, he suddenly appears with his cape flowing dramatically.

I was thinking more of game mechanics, particularly those affecting the NPCs confronted by Batman's deliberate scare tactics. For example, when are you allowed to use Intimidation in combat?

[Gedrin]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

How can this be modelled in play?

I'd generally think swooping in from surprise shrouded in cloak with a convincing threat of violence would count as an intimidation check. Some mooks will choose not to fight, some will hesitate. I'd count it as an additional chance to leave foes mentally stunned, or a penalty for them to recover from surprise. Then end result is that ten gang members don't attack all at once.

It looks like they're taking turns, in reality, they're just trying to wrap their head around the fact that BATMAN is here to beat the crap out of them.