[Basic] Skill of the week: Acrobatics

[Figleaf23]

I started to do over the Acrobatic Movement rules in MA105-107 as techniques, but I can't seem to find the notes.

Here's a Style I made up for a post apoc campaign.



"The Perfected" Martial Art Style

Core Skills:
Running
Acrobatics
Jumping
Climbing
Karate
Melee Weapon (Any 1-hand weapon up to 3 lb.)

Combat Techniques:
Attack from Above
Back Kick/Strike
Elbow Strike
Head butt
Jump Kick (two different rules: MA p75, B274)
Hammerfist
Sweep
Spinning Attack
Flying jump Kick/ Lunge
Pole vault kick
Springing Attack
Whirlwind Attack

Acrobatics Techniques:
Breakfall (Acrobatics)
Acrobatic Stand
Evading/Evade
Spinning
Banister Sliding
Swinging
Tic Tacs
Tumbling
Vaulting & Diving
Drop Kick (Acrobatic Kicks rules)

Perks:
Acrobatic Feint
Acrobatic Kicks
Special Exercises (Super Jump),
Special Exercises (Brachiator),
Sure-Footed (Uneven, perhaps others).

[Kromm]

An existing skill realistically covers closely following someone's lead, contact or visual, without stumbling over them: Dancing. I'd roll against the lower of it or Stealth to follow someone at touch range. If the person doing it disliked that mechanic, the One-Task Wonder perk "Dancing defaults to full DX for following closely" would be available, making the roll the lower of DX or Stealth. Alternatively, bloat skills even further with a Pantomime or Body Mimicry skill, most likely DX/A. Regardless, Acrobatics seems way off the mark; it is inherently showy, noisy, and athletic, as anyone who has ever hung out with freerunners or circus artists can attest (THUMP whumpa whump BUMP TAC TAC TAC thump BUMP!).

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by Kromm

An existing skill realistically covers closely following someone's lead, contact or visual, without stumbling over them: Dancing. I'd roll against the lower of it or Stealth to follow someone at touch range...

I'm convinced; obvious once you see it. What would you think of Body Language as a complimentary skill for this?

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by johndallman

I'm convinced; obvious once you see it. What would you think of Body Language as a complimentary skill for this?

That seems eminently sensible; reading intent after action happens is good, but reading it as or before someone acts is surely better.

[Not]

You'd have to be culturally specific. Lots of dance traditions don't involve a pair of dancers leading and following. Suppose you've only danced the Hora, or Balinese opera, but never seen the Tango or Swan Lake.

[entitivity]

Acrobatics can be used to reduce the effective distance of a fall. Is this the equivalent of rolling as one hits the ground? If so, would a character end such a movement in a prone position, assuming one is in combat rounds?

[johndallman]

Originally Posted by entitivity

Acrobatics can be used to reduce the effective distance of a fall. Is this the equivalent of rolling as one hits the ground? If so, would a character end such a movement in a prone position, assuming one is in combat rounds?

Yes, and yes.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by johndallman

Yes, and yes.

I don't think there's any rules support for it either way (and really for some falls it probably doesn't make any sense to be prone).

[Pahn]

Watch a free runner or parkour expert. They don't end their rolls prone. I'd say a crouch or kneel is more in line with what they do.

[Kromm]

Breakfall is very explicit on ending posture. From Martial Arts, p. 69:

"When you're thrown [if a successful Breakfall roll] prevents all damage, you may opt to end up crouching instead of lying down."

"You may substitute Breakfall for Acrobatics when rolling to reduce the effective distance of a fall [...]; any success lets you end up crouching."