[Martial Arts/Thaumatology] Magical Styles for Martial Arts styles

[Prince Charon]

Martial Arts styles having some magic attached to them is not a new idea.

The write-up for Kalaripayit (Martial Arts pp168-169) specifically mentions that in a setting 'where magic works' (the standard magic system, in this context), masters probably know some Shapeshifting spells from the Animal College, as well as having a number of spells from the colleges of Body Control and Healing.

Death Fist (pp207-208) is directly designed for Body Control specialists, and lists spells that are part of the style (but as Martial Arts was written before Thaumatology: Magical Styles, perhaps the style could benefit from an update).

It isn't mentioned in the write-ups for Staff Fighting (text box p192) or Quarterstaff (pp192-193), but given how many adventuring wizards carry a staff, it makes sense for magical styles built around fighting with one (and including martial arts training with same) would be developed.

Venturing into non-GURPS fiction, the bending styles from Avatar: The Last Airbender and Avatar: The Legend of Korra are based very closely on historical martial arts styles, with elemental magic added in.

This thread, then, is for discussing, developing, and posting magical styles that are associated closely with specific martial arts styles. This is not limited to the standard spell-based system, you could make a style for RPM, Path/Book Magic (I suggest a single-Book style in most cases, but some martial arts styles or philosophies would suggest something more versatile), Sorcery, or possibly some other system, like Symbol Drawing. The magical style might be in addition to the cinematic skills and techniques, or it could replace them. I added the 'worldbuilding' tag because developing the styles could and perhaps should involving developing the philosophy and history of the styles.

I don't currently have an example style, though I'm vaguely thinking about one or two that might be associated with Force-Swordsmanship, involving spells from Communication & Empathy, Knowledge, Mind Control, Movement, Protection & Warning, and possibly Body Control, Healing, and others, including a Shortcut to Power perk for Lightning in at least one of the styles (no, the Star Wars reference is not at all subtle with this one). Possibly several connected magical styles.

[AlexanderHowl]

Well, the primary issue would be having a magical system fast enough to function during combat. Some form of RPM is a possibility, but Path/Book Magic would be unlikely, especially the Energy Accumulation varieties. In addition, it would likely result in a practitioner who is not terribly good at either discipline.

Of course, you could potentially make a pure magical matrial art style. RPM would not be a bad choice in that case, though greater effects would probably be too slow for combat. Conditional spells would be quite useful, and I can imagine that many practitioners would have a number ready to use for martial purposes. Year long durations would likely be quite common.

For example, a ritual that gave an individual ST+3, DX+3, HT+3, Basic Speed +2.00, Combat Reflexes, Fit, and High Pain Threshold would likely cost around 200 energy, so increasing the duration to a year would only add 21 energy. Such a ritual could make practically anyone an excellent warrior if they had some basic training, so I would not be surprised if magicians had basic training and then modified themselves through their magic to make themselves excellent martial artists. In that case, any style would likely serve.

[Refplace]

I have a couple on my blog.
Duat is a deep understanding of Life and Death and a powers based martial art.
Stones Breath is based off Chi as Sorcery from Pyramid.
The Way of the Elements is a set of setting styles based off GURPS Thaumatology: Chinese Elemental Magic.
Thunder and Lightning is a dwarven style that uses Imbuement skills.

[dcarson]

From back in 2007 a nice writeup of Bending martial arts. http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=30806

[Prince Charon]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

Well, the primary issue would be having a magical system fast enough to function during combat. Some form of RPM is a possibility, but Path/Book Magic would be unlikely, especially the Energy Accumulation varieties. In addition, it would likely result in a practitioner who is not terribly good at either discipline.

One thing that a lot of people seem to ignore about Path/Book Magic is that you can use rituals to make charms, much as you can with Ritual Path Magic (which is, after all, just a specific worked example of Energy Accumulating Path/Book Magic), and use the charms in combat. Fast Draw (Charm) is a skill that would be either optional or required for any style that has a Path/Book or RPM magical style attached to it (or possibly Fast Draw for a specific type of charm, like gris-gris bags or ofuda).

Originally Posted by Refplace

I have a couple on my blog.
Duat is a deep understanding of Life and Death and a powers based martial art.
Stones Breath is based off Chi as Sorcery from Pyramid.
The Way of the Elements is a set of setting styles based off GURPS Thaumatology: Chinese Elemental Magic.
Thunder and Lightning is a dwarven style that uses Imbuement skills.

Originally Posted by dcarson

From back in 2007 a nice writeup of Bending martial arts. http://forums.sjgames.com/showthread.php?t=30806

Thank you both, going to have a look at these.

EDIT: Yes, these have my interest.

[Prince Charon]

My current notes on a Force-Swordsmanship-based Magical style for the Monks of Ashla, a sect of 'martial pacifists' (they won't start trouble, but are trained to finish it, if required to) who occasionally act as peacekeepers in various parts of known space; some say that their founding myth was first spoken of on the ancient homeworld of humanity, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. I currently haven't decided whether the magic in the setting is based on mana, psi, chi, or some form of quantum mathematics (the latter will add Mathematics (Pure) to the required skills for their form of Force-Swordsmanship).

The style of Force-Swordsmanship that the Monks of Ashla use has Meditation in Required Skills, and a Special Exercises perk for Magery (though they prefer to take students who are already mages). Possibly, it might have separate Special Exercises perks for Magery 0 and Magery (One Style Only) or Magery (Limited Styles). Still working on that. Parry Missile Weapons may become a prerequisite for Deflect Missiles, or it may just be dropped. Beam Weapons skills are optional for the style, but some masters, and some monasteries/sub-sects, make them required. A few even prefer blasters over force-swords (which is a very different style, indeed), while others disdain weapons, and have an unarmed combat style that they focus on (in both cases, the style they use should also have the Special Exercises perks, and use a reasonably similar magical style).

I'm imagining magic in this setting being powered by an Energy Reserve based on Will+Magery. If at less than 1/3 of your ER, Will rolls are at -5. If at ER 0, you must roll Will+Magery-5 to avoid unconsciousness. Trying to spend ER after reaching 0 results in spending HP, instead (or possibly FP, but at twice the cost, and then HP, if you're somehow still conscious by then). I'm also thinking that this is a setting where magic is normally learned by style, with the Colleges merely being one of several theoretical ways of organizing magic.

For those who care, I'm currently thinking that training force-swords, and variable force-swords in training mode, do 1d-5(0.5) burn, as do blasters set to 'sting' - being hit still hurts, but that's about it. Of course, force-swords in training mode may also do cr damage as a low-mass baton of the same length.

I may be splitting this off into a couple of related styles, rather than just one... if I can figure out which spells to put in which style. Maybe have a basic style that branches into 'nature-focused,' 'more material,' and 'more esoteric' versions? I do intend to do a 'Dark' variant, probably with the word 'Bogan' in the name (Lords of Bogan? Bogan Order?); it should include things like faster healing with a higher risk of 'unnatural' side effects (e.g. 'you're healed, but there's now a chance that you might have magic cancer'), a prerequisite chain leading to Choke, and a Shortcut to Power perk for Lightning.

What I have now is mostly prerequisite chains. Spells in parentheses were already listed, and show where one chain branches off from another.

Communication and Empathy

Sense Foes > Sense Emotion > Hide Emotion > Hide Thoughts
(Sense Emotion) > Truthsayer > Mind-Reading > Mind-Sending > Telepathy
(Mind-Reading) > Mind-Search
Sense Life


Healing

Lend Energy > Lend Vitality> Vigor > Enduring Vigor

I have decided that Healing magic in this setting, or at least the safe form of it, is not instant, but rather works with the subjects body to accelerate natural healing. 'Enduring Vigor' is a new spell I'm working on that is basically 'Vigor but the Duration is longer than a minute,' though whether that should be an hour or a day I'm not sure. The next spell in the chain will probably be something that gives the subject Regeneration (Slow) for a day, so maybe Enduring Vigor should last for an hour, or there should be another spell between Enduring Vigor and that one; what do you think?


Knowledge

Still deciding on what needs to go here, beyond one or more forms of Divination (currently thinking Oneiromancy and some form of Meditation-based variant).


Making and Breaking

Shortcut to Power perk > Find Weakness > Weaken > Shatter


Meta-Spells

Not sure if this should be part of the main style, or a secondary branch.


Mind Control

Keen Vision & Keen Hearing > Alertness
Foolishness > Daze > Mental Stun > Emotion Control
(Foolishness) > Forgetfulness (& Emotion Control) > Suggestion


Movement

Haste > Great Haste
Apportation > Deflect Missile
(Apportation) > Jump
(Apportation) > Poltergeist


Protection and Warning

Sense Danger > Sense Observation
(Sense Danger) > Detect Poison
(Deflect Missile) > Catch Missile > Return Missile
(Apportation) > Missile Shield > Reverse Missiles


Thoughts?