This is a complete table of special maneuvers for martial arts styles. I included some maneuvers from an article in Dragon Magazine #164, but you are free to omit them if you wish, or if you don't have the magazine. You should also feel free to create more special maneuvers for your players to use, as some methods have relatively few. All martial arts are handled by the rules in the OA hardback. I included some sample martial arts styles that I created, in case you don't feel like making your own and agree with my opinion that Karate's three attacks per round is a bit too unbalancing. Notation Key: Level. Maneuver (Hard/Soft,Location) Locations: OA = Oriental Adventures A1 = Dragon #164 p. 11, "Flying Feet and Lightning Hands" Kick: Throw: ----- ------ 1. Circle Kick (H,OA) 1. Fall (H/S,OA) 2. Flying Kick (H,OA) 2. Instant Stand (H/S,OA) 3. Backward Kick (H/S,OA) 3. Hurl (H,OA) 4. Scissors Kick (H/S,A1) 4. Great Throw (S,OA) 5. Crushing Drop (H,OA) Lock: ----- Vital Area: 1. Choke Hold (H/S,OA) ----------- 2. Locking Block (S,OA) 1. Pain Touch (S,OA) 3. Incapacitator (H/S,OA) 2. Stunning Touch (S,OA) 4. Imobilizing (H/S,OA) 3. Paralyzing Touch (S,OA) 5. Crushing Hug (H,A1) 4. Distance Death (S,OA) Movement: Weapon: --------- ------- 1. Feint (H/S,OA) 1. Weapon Catch (H/S,OA) 2. Prone Fighting (S,OA) 2. Weapon Breaker (H/S,OA) 3. Immovability (S,OA) 3. Steel Cloth (S,OA) 4. Missile Deflection (S,OA) 4. Arrow Cutting (S,A1) 5. Leap (S,OA) 5. Throwing Mastery (H/S,A1) 6. Speed (H/S,OA) 7. Slow Resistance (H/S,OA) Mental and Physical Training: ----------------------------- Push: 1. Meditation (H/S,OA) ----- 2. All-Around Sight (S,OA) 1. Concentrated Push (S,OA) 3. Mental Resistance (S,OA) 2. Sticking Touch (S,OA) 4. Blind Fighting (S,OA) 3. One Finger (S,OA) 5. Ironskin (H,OA) 6. Levitation (S,OA) Strike: 7. Slowed Aging (S,OA) ------- 1. Iron Fist (H,OA) Mental and Physical Training II: 2. Crushing Blow (H,OA) -------------------------------- 3. Eagle Claw (H,OA) 1. Light Step (S,A1) 4 Double Fist Punch (H/S,A1) 2. Controlled Breathing (S,A1) 3. Pause and Silence (H/S,A1) 4. Quick Strike (H/S,A1) 5. Flowing Water (S,A1) 6. Resuscitation (S,A1) 7. Suppressed Desire (S,A1) Martial Arts Styles ===================== Style: Dancing Wind Requirements: Dance or Noh Proficiency Preferred by: Shukenja, Ladies of the Court Hard/Soft: S Principle Method: Movement Body Part: Legs Armor Class: 5 Attacks: 1 Damage per Attack: d4 Weapons: Tui-fa Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: Movement: 2,4,5 Push: Strike: Throw: 1 Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: 1,2,4 M & P Training II: 3,5 Availability: Not Uncommon. Many Shukenja use this style, and they often teach it to ladies of the court for their own self-defense. In some noble households, a Shukenja is hired permanently as a teacher. Description: The Dancing Wind style is a beautiful method of self defense. It concentrates primarily on the avoidance of danger, rather than fighting back. The martial artist will appear to almost be dancing when using this style, and in fact, music and dance are vital parts of training. The Tui-fa is taught as a relatively nonviolent weapon which can be kept in normal surroundings without offending or arousing suspicion, and is useful in blocking or disarming attackers. Style: Fists of Stone Requirements: None Preferred by: Bushi, Peasants Hard/Soft: H Principle Method: Strike Body Part: Hand Armor Class: 8 Attacks: 2 Damage per Attack: d8 Weapons: None Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: Movement: 1,4 Push: Strike: 1,3 Throw: Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: M & P Training II: 2,4 Availability: Common. Many Bushi use this style, and peasants often learn it for self defense. In some areas, organized schools exist to teach this style to the common people. Description: The Fists of Stone style is a utilitarian style, made to give the common man the ability to defend himself without the need for weapons. It is simple but effective, and its widespread use often comes as an unpleasant surprise to an invading army trying to subdue the populace of a conquered land. Style: Forked Lightning Requirements: None Preferred by: Bushi, Nobles, Townspeople Hard/Soft: H Principle Method: Kick Body Part: Foot Armor Class: 8 Attacks: 2 Damage per Attack: d8 Weapons: Sang Kauw Special Maneuvers: Kick: 1,2,3,4 Lock: Movement: 6 Push: Strike: 4 Throw: Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: M & P Training II: 4 Availability: Common. Many Bushi use this style, and many townsfolk and a few nobles use this style. Schools of this style exist in many towns. Description: The Forked Lightning style is a fast, and rigorous one. It concentrates on delivering multiple blows with lightning speed. It is not, however, so difficult to learn as to keep it out of the hands of anyone with the discipline to learn it. Because of its difficulty, it is often considered a more dignified style than the Fists of Stone Style; "more suited to a real man" (or woman). The Sang Kauw is taught due to its ability to strike blows in rapid succession, in several different ways. Style: Inner Power Requirements: None Preferred by: Anyone seeking a glimpse of enlightenment Hard/Soft: S Principle Method: Movement Body Part: Legs Armor Class: 5 Attacks: 1 Damage per Attack: d4 Weapons: None Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: Movement: 3,4 Push: Strike: Throw: 1 Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: 1,3,6 M & P Training II: 1,2,3,5 Availability: Uncommon. Some monastaries will teach this style to commoners, nobles, and bushi seeking enlightenment. Description: The Inner Power style is a tool of the common man who is seeking spiritual enlightenment. The path of this style is much like the discipline of a Monk, though far less rigorous and demanding. This style allows the common man to feel the inner peace of a monastic order, without actually leaving his lifestyle and joining one. It is also often learned by Bushi who seek to gain some of the powers that come with such discipline of the body and spirit. Style: Ki-Strike Requirements: Wis 12 Preferred by: Psionicists, Monks Hard/Soft: S Principle Method: Strike Body Part: Hand Armor Class: 6 Attacks: 1 Damage per Attack: d6 Weapons: Kau sin ke Special Maneuvers: Kick: 1 Lock: Movement: 5,6 Push: Strike: 1,2,3,4 Throw: Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: 1,3 M & P Training II: 3,7 Availability: Very rare. Many Psionicists (who are themselves very rare) and a very few Monks know this style. Description: The Ki-Strike style focuses strongly on the inner power (ki) of the individual. The master of the Ki-Strike style has learned to channel his ki to different parts of his body to enhance the effecs of his actions. The wisdom requirement expresses the need for the martial artist to have great control over his ki. Since the ki is channelled but never expended, the use of the Ki-Strike style does not interfere with the use of other ki-powers. The Ki-Strike style focuses not on speed and the ability to land as many strikes as possible, but rather on calmness, preparation, and getting maximum effect from a single strike. The Ki-Strike specialist will appear calm in combat; often standing still or moving slowly, and even chanting softly while preparing to strike. When he does strike, there will be no warning, and he will explode into action to land a blow, or avoid one. Style: Peace of Spirit Requirements: Wis 13, Int 12 Preferred by: Monks, Shukenja, Psionicists, Hermits Hard/Soft: S Principle Method: Push Body Part: Hand Armor Class: 5 Attacks: 1 Damage per Attack: d4 Weapons: Nunchaku, Three-piece rod Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: Movement: 4 Push: 1,2,3 Strike: Throw: Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: 1,2,3,6,7 M & P Training II: 2,3,5,7 Availability: Very Rare. Only the rare ascietic has learned this style. Description: The Peace of Spirit style is the path of the seeker of true spiritual enlightenment. It requires an intensive program of meditation and fasting, but is said to be able to make a man one with the universe. Self perfection through this style is a lifelong task, but the spiritual rewards are well worth the effort. The followers of the Peace of Spirit path are often seen as wise and crazy old men, and often live as hermits in the forest or mountains, escaping the vanity of the world. The Nunchaku and Three-piece rod are taught due to the great amount of concentration, discipline, and vigilance required to wield them. Style: Serpent Strike Requirements: Dex 12 Preferred by: Ninja Hard/Soft: H/S Principle Method: Vital Area Body Part: Hand and Foot Armor Class: 6 Attacks: 2 Damage per Attack: d8 Weapons: None Special Maneuvers: Kick: 2 Lock: Movement: 5 Push: Strike: Throw: 2 Vital Area: 1,2,3,4 Weapon: M & P Training: 2,4,6 M & P Training II: 4,5 Availability: Very Rare. Only Ninja families know this style. Description: The Serpent Strike style was made for Ninja, and is optimized for their methods of action and combat. It is a lightning-quick style, which stresses speed and agility, in addition to the proper placement of a blow. Its special maneuvers include skills which augment the Ninja's own, as well as special attacks which increase the ninja's chance of successful assasination. Any Ninja is to be feared. A Ninja who is also a master of the Serpent Strike style is to be feared only in his absence, for a precious few have ever seen such a master and lived long enough to feel fear. Style: Soft Strike Requirements: None Preferred by: Shukenja, Believers in Nonviolence Hard/Soft: S Principle Method: Strike Body Part: Hand Armor Class: 6 Attacks: 1 Damage per Attack: d6 Weapons: Nunchaku Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: Movement: 4,5 Push: Strike: 1,3 Throw: 2 Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: 2,4 M & P Training II: 5 Availability: Common. Many Shukenja use this style, and they teach it with the same dedication that they they teach the beliefs of their religion. Description: The Soft Strike style is primarily defensive. It follows the belief of the Shukenja that violence should be avoided when possible. However, as the Shukenja, the Soft Strike style can be viciously effective when violence becomes necessary. Style: Weight of Might Requirements: Str 12, Weight >250 Preferred by: Thugs, Sumo Wrestlers Hard/Soft: H Principle Method: Throw Body Part: Body Armor Class: 8 Attacks: 2 Damage per Attack: d6 Weapons: None Special Maneuvers: Kick: Lock: 1,2,5 Movement: Push: Strike: Throw: 3,4,5 Vital Area: Weapon: M & P Training: M & P Training II: Availability: Uncommon. Some Yakuza families, as well as many who train Sumo wrestlers will be able to teach this style. Description: The Weight of Might style is optimized for large, strong men using their strength as their main weapon. As such it is also very well suited to Sumo wrestlers. It is a relatively easy style to learn, if one has the strength to perform its maneuvers. Weight of Might masters appear little different from other thugs or wrestlers when using it, except that they seem particularly adept at using their weight and size to throw or lock their opponents.
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