Steve Jackson Games - Site Navigation
Home General Info Follow Us Search Illuminator Store Forums What's New Other Games Ogre GURPS Munchkin Our Games: Home

Go Back   Steve Jackson Games Forums > Roleplaying > GURPS

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-23-2011, 03:05 PM   #11
mlangsdorf
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Austin, TX
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

I like Smallsword and Small Buckler on some wizards, especially artillery specialists. It's nice to have something to Block with when the meteoric iron arrows are inbound, and learning Parry Missile Weapons is way too expensive.

Quarterstaff is traditional and useful, but there's nothing wrong with Parry+Retreat for fencing weapons against a single attack, especially when you've get a bonus for shield DB.
mlangsdorf is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 03:54 PM   #12
Refplace
 
Refplace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Yukon, OK
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Also several spells that require touch work great in combat through a staff or wand.
But I prefer Quarterstaff, though wands or shields or fencing weapons good too.
Really depends on the ability and personality of the Wizard.
Shields can be good for defending against ranged attacks as mentioned above and can be stood up against a tree to let the power stone in it recharge when camping.
Refplace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:06 PM   #13
David Johnston2
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

One notes that sport and art martial arts would work quite well for a wizard who just wants to deliver a touch.
David Johnston2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:39 PM   #14
Fwibos
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Adding buckler to any of the stickfighting martial arts would be excellent. Le Canne de Combat suggests you might use Rapier with it.

Too bad you can't get a technique mastery that would allow you to touch at +4 to skill. I suppose you could build a specific technique, but that might be too munchkin-y.
__________________
Just Bought: Succesful Job Search!
Currently Buying off: Fat *Sigh* and Poverty.
Number of signatures inspired: 1
Word of God and Word of Kromm are pretty much the same thing in my book
Fwibos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 04:56 PM   #15
SimonAce
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Shortsword or smallsword and buckler seem to be good combos to me. Secondary skills include knife, brawling and wrestling.

This way you can enchant the buckler and get as good or better defenses than the staff guy.

Using a baton with wither of the above skills and the staff spell is also a solid choice.

Given an option I tend to like smallsword as casters tend to be lightly armored and the extra +2 on a retreat is very nice is said wizard is pressed into hand to hand somehow.
SimonAce is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 05:17 PM   #16
D10
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: In Rio de Janeiro, where it was cyberpunk before it was cool.
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Last campaign my group played (it was in 3e) we handwaved that you could put concentrate as a maneuver in your combinations.

So wizards were able to cast a lvl 21 spell, feint, and then unleash it at the enemy throath with their staff.

There was even an elf that buffed his arrows and before he shot them, fire arrows, eletric, you know ...
D10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 06:25 PM   #17
Polydamas
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Central Europe
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Staff (for the parry bonus and reach) and anything using a fencing skill (for the retreat bonus) seems good.

Otherwise, anything which was a backup style historically should work well. Things like single sword, sword and buckler, sword and dagger. Even a big knife or a small axe might work ... just not as well as a fencing weapon, a staff, or a balanced weapon and shield.
__________________
"It is easier to banish a habit of thought than a piece of knowledge." H. Beam Piper

This forum got less aggravating when I started using the ignore feature
Polydamas is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 06:36 PM   #18
sir_pudding
Wielder of Smart Pants
 
sir_pudding's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Ventura CA
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Quote:
Originally Posted by Asta Kask View Post
So, wizards are usually not expected to fight in close combat.
There are quite a few fictional examples I can think of where this isn't true. Anastasia Luccio, Gandalf, Kvothe...
sir_pudding is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 10:06 PM   #19
Fwibos
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Buckler wouldn't be good unless you can ignore hand gestures. Better off with a small shield. So I'd still go with Le Canne de combat. i worked soothing up with feints and targeted attacks to the hands, arms, and legs, and body control spells.

With pain and spasm, one doesn't need disarm, and with death touch, one doesn't need heavy damage.

It's tactics revolve around gaining time to cast spells while defending oneself. Knockign an opponent back, tripping them - anything to slow the opponent down. It uses Ruses to take advantage of a wizards typically higher IQ.

I don't think it's useful for a 100 point character unless they hyper specialize, but it was still a fun exercise.
__________________
Just Bought: Succesful Job Search!
Currently Buying off: Fat *Sigh* and Poverty.
Number of signatures inspired: 1
Word of God and Word of Kromm are pretty much the same thing in my book
Fwibos is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2011, 11:58 PM   #20
the_seeker
.
 
the_seeker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Charlotte, NC, United States
Default Re: Martial Arts for Wizards

Quote:
Originally Posted by Asta Kask View Post
But sometimes the stars align in a certain way and that minotaur barbarian is headed your way.
Some sessions, the dice get Bruno, and some sessions, Bruno gets the dice. :)
__________________

Tim Harris
The Seeker
Time Lord

Saving the universe one planet at a time. Occasionally from my own mistakes. Oops.
the_seeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
martial art, wizards

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Fnords are Off
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.