About salamanders and unarmed combat

[hcobb]

So who's going to write the Hexagram article about Water Style kung-fu?

I.e. spells that have UC levels as preqs. Say +2 damage with unarmed attacks for a minute for one fatigue.

GM: "The octopus makes a familiar stance with three arms."

[RobW]

Originally Posted by hcobb

GM: "The octopus makes a familiar stance with three arms."

It looks like octopus normally does 3 * 1d-2 attacks in HTH. It could have UC1 which would be 3 * 1d-1

Which is a little disappointing tbh and doesn't reflect how little I would like to enter with one into HTH

What's the best way to give every octopus a good change to pin a normal human in HTH?

[JustAnotherJarhead]

Originally Posted by zot

In the 80s, I played a monk in D&D and my recourse for this was gauntlets of ogre power.

this is a bit sideline... but it may have some bearing on TFT magical items as well.

Can a Monk even wear and utilize such a magic item?

[hcobb]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherJarhead

this is a bit sideline... but it may have some bearing on TFT magical items as well.

Can a Monk even wear and utilize such a magic item?

Nope. Silken robes that stop 5 hits are fine, but not gloves that do +1 damage.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Nope. Silken robes that stop 5 hits are fine, but not gloves that do +1 damage.

Why are you so certain? Gloves aren't mentioned in the restrictions for U.C. I. They aren't "in your hands" ("in" and "on" are different). I don't see any explicit rule that a martial artist can't wear gloves (or even gauntlets).

Hence, I'd apply common sense. Gauntlets are out, obviously. Now, I ain't a martial artist, but I'd think that thin gloves would be okay.

But maybe I've missed a relevant rule, since you seem pretty certain.

[zot]

Originally Posted by hcobb

Nope. Silken robes that stop 5 hits are fine, but not gloves that do +1 damage.

There could certainly be a magic item that specifically increases unarmed damage and allows UC fighters to strike/throw/shield rush creatures that can only be affected by magic items.

[zot]

Originally Posted by zot

There could certainly be a magic item that specifically increases unarmed damage and allows UC fighters to strike/throw/shield rush creatures that can only be affected by magic items.

In my opinion, the UC talents have been pretty strongly nerfed, which is why I have a whole slew more for players. I'd make such items just as available as magic weapons for non-UC heroes.

Also, I'm quite in favor of the magical abilities for non-wizards that other people have discussed. I think the only way to get anywhere near parity with wizards is to allow heroes to gain magical powers (like in JRPG video games).

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherJarhead

this is a bit sideline... but it may have some bearing on TFT magical items as well.

Can a Monk even wear and utilize such a magic item?

That's a good question. I suppose it depends on the kind of glove. Typical gauntlets seem too cumbersome for a UC specialist to use, though thin leather gloves providing an ST enhancement shouldn't be an issue.

Of course, against a salamander, the monk would be doing half damage. I suppose as well we should ask whether a monk using attribute-enhancing gloves (or any other ST or DX enhancer) would be able to throw or kick a salamander.

I might rule that any ST- or DX-enhancer makes a characters fists and feet effectively magical and hence able to strike the salamander, in the same way that a weapon enchantment works.