Family Tradition Martial Artist

[Whitewings]

The concept is pretty simple: a particular family has a long tradition of practicing a particular martial art. The character is a member of the family. It’s not critical exactly what the family is: a ninja clan, a Chinese tong or triad family, or whatever. The background is mainly a justification for the character to have learned an esoteric and very possibly cinematic style. The assumed setting is modern day more-or-less realistic North America, probably on the West Coast. I’m wondering which template and possibly lens might best suit such a concept. I realize the description is very sketchy.

[Anders]

Do you want help with making character or why are you posting this?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Whitewings

The assumed setting is modern day more-or-less realistic North America, probably on the West Coast. I’m wondering which template and possibly lens might best suit such a concept.

You have a pretty wide choice: almost any modern-day South or East Asian martial art might be practiced on the West Coast. Skim through Martial Arts and pick one you like the look of?

[Whitewings]

Originally Posted by Anders

Do you want help with making character

Somewhat. I’m new to using templates and lenses.

[Varyon]

You note the style may well be highly cinematic, but further note the setting is more-or-less realistic. By the latter, are you talking about realistic on the cinematic/gritty divide or the supernatural/mundane divide? If cinematics are fine but supernatural abilities generally are not, you could certainly do worse than adapting relevant templates from the Action series (or even Dungeon Fantasy). You will, of course, need to determine what sort of martial art the character uses. Is it armed, unarmed, or a mix? What about striking vs grappling? Is it focused on tournament combat (a Sport skill), street combat (the typical Martial skill), or on the perfection of form (an Art skill)... or maybe more than one of the above (buy one skill outright, use Techniques to boost the other(s) to a comparable level from their default of the base skill at -3)? Does it favor lethal or less-lethal methods? If Parry F skills (Boxing, Judo, Karate, or any "fencing" skill) are involved, is the style meant to be used armored or unarmored? Your answers will determine what Advantages, Perks, Skills, and Techniques the character will need to represent their familial style.

[Anders]

Martial Arts is the place to look at for martial arts characters. The only templates that seem out of place are Duelist, Spy, and Warrior - although a sufficiently creative backstory can do wonders. What kind of martial arts styles are you looking at? Are we talking unarmed or armed styles?

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Whitewings

Somewhat. I’m new to using templates and lenses.

Templates are nor forms you are required to fill out. They should be recipes you use or alter at your discretion. That's why points costs for anythign inside the Template are listed.

So go to Martial arts and find a Template that fits yourcharacter concept (or a Template that inspires a concept) and work through that. Add what you think it needs or leave out undesred elements. Moidify the Template with a Lens if that looks appropriate.

The MA Templates usually suggest appropriate Styles. Choose one that has elements you want your character to have. Apply that Style including optional things if you want those.

Look at how many poiints you have left and spend those to make your character more effective, more rounded, more reaiistic or just cooler.

After that you should be done.

[Anders]

Action 3 has martial artist templates as well, but they are quite high-powered (250 points).

[Whitewings]

More on the gritty end, with some cinematic skills and techniques being exceptions. No ghosts, demons or overly blatant violations of physics. Diviners who believe they have occult powers? Absolutely. Diviners with actual occult powers? Absolutely not.

[jason taylor]

Quirk: uses ancestral weapon