Age of Napoleon Martial Arts

[macphersonrants]

Originally Posted by Eltharon

Wow, I completely forgot about shot drills. Yeah, fast draw (ammo) would be part of a new recruits training.

There was obviously something like a shooting style. The British in particular seemed to be good at this. They trained for higher rate of fire and used the ability to get out an extra shot or two a minute very effectively on the battlefield. Specialist troops like riflemen and other skirmishers probably had extra skills and techniques.

[Eltharon]

I don't know if there was enough of a style to merit a full "martial art", though.
A good soldier would have hiking, soldier/5, guns(musket), spear, and fast draw(ammo). The British trained their troops to a higher standard, meaning they had better fast draw and guns...but I can't really think of any techniques that would apply here.

Of course, I could also just be tired.

[blacksmith]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

The "rarely practiced with live ammo" thing is because powder and lead were expensive, and a whole army of men with big-barreled muskets burns a lot of powder in practice. The British had good access to nitrates and plenty of money so they could use more powder in practice than was normal. I would give most 18th century infantry lots of Hiking, Soldier, and Fast-Draw (Ammo) but only a point or two of Guns. Maybe you could lump Spear, Guns (Musket), Soldier, and Fast-Draw (Ammo) into one style per set of drill.

Yea oddly enough Guns is probably one of the least important skills for infantry in this period. I am not sure about fast draw ammo I don't know if they tried to load quite as fast as possible but rather make sure everyone was loaded and fired at the same time.

[nanoboy]

Originally Posted by blacksmith

Yea oddly enough Guns is probably one of the least important skills for infantry in this period. I am not sure about fast draw ammo I don't know if they tried to load quite as fast as possible but rather make sure everyone was loaded and fired at the same time.

As I understand it, after the first volley or two, people would just reload and fire (or route.) There's too much smoke in the air to see, your comrades are down, you can't hear your sergeant's orders over the din of battle, and you're scared out of your mind. Then, you also had things like platoon firing, where troops would fire in smaller units along the line, making the firing look like the wave in a sports arena. The folks who did that were probably more synchronized, though.

[Eltharon]

Originally Posted by blacksmith

Yea oddly enough Guns is probably one of the least important skills for infantry in this period. I am not sure about fast draw ammo I don't know if they tried to load quite as fast as possible but rather make sure everyone was loaded and fired at the same time.

Well, yes and no. You would rarely fire "at will", you would wait until the entire unit had loaded before firing. But, at the same, the ability to put more lead downrange faster was a huge deciding factor in combat, and part of the reason the brits were so effective. Raw conscripts could fire at maybe 2 rounds/minute, while a good line of redcoats could fire 4 rounds in that time. More shots = more hits = demoralized enemy. A wonderful time to fix bayonets and drive the frogs off the field. ;)

[aesir23]

I posted this style a while ago on another thread, but it's definitely more appropriate to this discussion:

Pistol Dueling 4
This was a common way for gentlemen to settle their differences for years. It would be disgraceful to run or try to dodge, so the duelist was always firing at a stationary target, thus Guns Sport (Pistol), rather than Guns (Pistol). Usually each duelist would get one shot from a predetermined distance. The more experienced duelist would usually let his opponent fire a rushed inaccurate shot, so that he can take careful aim.

Skills: Pistol Sport, Games (Dueling), Savoir-Fare (High Society)
Techniques: Targeted Attack (Pistol Shot/Vitals)
Cinematic Skills: Zen Marksmanship
Cinematic Techniques: None
Perks: Schtick (Doesn’t Flinch when shot at, +1 to any subsequent Intimidation rolls),

Optional Abilities: Fearless, Unfazeable
__________________

[Landwalker]

Might also consider adding Mental Strength to the cinematic skill list. It seems like a good way to emulate the "stare-down to provoke a rushed, wild shot" approach would be with a Contest of Wills, and so Mental Strength (or Intimidation, which might be a good Optional Skill) would be handy to have. It's also in line with the Optional Abilities currently listed.

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by aesir23

I posted this style a while ago on another thread, but it's definitely more appropriate to this discussion:

Guns Sport where you're firing live ammo at an armed opponent is almost certainly incorrect. Positive TDMs are too.

Savoir Faire (High Society) to understand the Code of Conduct that demands that all gentlemen must always take the All-out Attack maneuver in such situations is relevant.

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by Fred Brackin

Guns Sport where you're firing live ammo at an armed opponent is almost certainly incorrect. Positive TDMs are too.

Savoir Faire (High Society) to understand the Code of Conduct that demands that all gentlemen must always take the All-out Attack maneuver in such situations is relevant.

But training for pistol duelling was target practice in an artificial stance against a fixed target, as far as I know. As I understand it the difference between Guns and Guns Sport is basically how you train ... Guns (Pistol) training would be more like "have an assistant place a target at a random distance and position, step onto the range, draw your weapon, and hit it within 2 seconds". (I'm still a bit doubtful about the use of Ranged Weapon Sport with lethal weapons, because only a few cultures make a wide distinction between training for target practice and training for hunt or for war, but never mind).

[Fred Brackin]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

But training for pistol duelling was target practice in an artificial stance against a fixed target, as far as I know.

I believe that the key difference between Combat and Sport versions of weapon skills is the mindset in which sane persons approach them. Knowing that your target is or is not about to shoot at you is a huge thing.

Now, if I had a player a player with On the Edge 15- (i.e _really_ doesn't care if he lives or dies) and Callous and maybe a few other mental disads I met let him conduct firearms combat with a Sport Skill (but only until he died and didn't come back). :)