Martial Artist Suggestion

[Supreme]

I've decided that I play too many bricks, and that the next character should be an uber-martial-artist. I want this character to be completely human: no super-human abilities at all. That's not to say that I won't take any talents. So, I'd like a couple of suggestions along these lines.

First, what talents do people recommend? I haven't played a lot of martial artists. Which talents aren't worth it, which ones shouldn't be done without?

Second, I want to come up with a good name. Now, rather than suggesting a name, can anyone suggest any good web sites or books with information on Chinese cultural symbolism? I don't want to name a character "Jade Monkey" unless I know the significance of Jade and monkies in Chinese culture.

Thanks Supreme!

[RDU Neil]

Combat Sense

Blind Fighting

Find Weakness

Analyze Style

These four would be talents/skills that I would think are essential to the supertrained but still human, martial artist. (I call these types of characters "adepts" in my game. They don't test as superhuman, but can perform superhuman acts... like superleap... very high dex and speed, etc.)

Good luck. I'm running an all martial arts sub-campaign in my world, right now. It's a lot of fun to see how many martial artists can distinguish themselves through SFX, skills and powers. (This level of martial arts has chi blasts, fire fists, etc., so it is really superhero level.)

[Lord Liaden]

For names, you might try here:
http://www.pantheon.org/

The section on Chinese mythology names many gods, creatures and places which might provide inspiration.

[Supreme]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
For names, you might try here:
http://www.pantheon.org/

The section on Chinese mythology names many gods, creatures and places which might provide inspiration.

Awesome! My Thanks Supreme, Liaden!

[Acroyear]

You must be the Monkey King!

Don't call him Goku, though. Call him Son Wu Kong (that's one of his chinese names).

Now he's a kung fu fighting, staff swinging, butt kicker. Pure martial artists are often tougher than they appear. Sure, they don't have any fancy dim mak powers or anything, but all those points are going into sheer MA madness.

[Supreme]

Originally posted by Acroyear
You must be the Monkey King!

Don't call him Goku, though. Call him Son Wu Kong (that's one of his chinese names).

Now he's a kung fu fighting, staff swinging, butt kicker. Pure martial artists are often tougher than they appear. Sure, they don't have any fancy dim mak powers or anything, but all those points are going into sheer MA madness.

Well, according to the site, the Monkey King is a master of disguise, and is generally representative of curiosity. Not what I'm going for.

[Tamashii2000]

Originally posted by Supreme
I've decided that I play too many bricks, and that the next character should be an uber-martial-artist. I want this character to be completely human: no super-human abilities at all. That's not to say that I won't take any talents. So, I'd like a couple of suggestions along these lines.

First, what talents do people recommend? I haven't played a lot of martial artists. Which talents aren't worth it, which ones shouldn't be done without?

Second, I want to come up with a good name. Now, rather than suggesting a name, can anyone suggest any good web sites or books with information on Chinese cultural symbolism? I don't want to name a character "Jade Monkey" unless I know the significance of Jade and monkies in Chinese culture.

Thanks Supreme!

Defense Manuever is something I would suggest. Plus If you have access to it, there are lots of nice martial arts in the Ultimate Martial Artist.

[Supreme]

Originally posted by Tamashii2000
Defense Manuever is something I would suggest. Plus If you have access to it, there are lots of nice martial arts in the Ultimate Martial Artist.

I'm well aware of the awesome accomplishment that is the UMA. I pprogrammed all of the maneuvers listed there into my character-generator spreadsheet. You just type in the name of the maneuver and it appears on your maneuvers list complete with adjustments for OCV, DCV, and all DCs. It also has the cost listed so you can type it in. For this guy, I'm just putting in all of the non-redundant (i.e., I'm only buying one block, not all three) maneuvers I can stand. That comes to about 35 points or so.

[misterdeath]

You may at least want to consider looking at Ninja Hero. There are several Martial Artists of varying levels.

Skipping redundant maneuvers is a good idea to get bang for the buck. I like to use either Defensive Strike or Offensive Strike as the basis for the attacks. Or a custom Strike Maneuver (+2 OCV, +2 DCV, Str Strike, 4 points). You can make up the damage with DCs (for Defensive) and Skill levels to make up the OCV and DCV differences (if you use Offensive).

If you really find you're spending a lot of points, you may want to consider a multipower, kinda like Teleios's.

D

[Supreme]

Originally posted by misterdeath
You may at least want to consider looking at Ninja Hero. There are several Martial Artists of varying levels.

Skipping redundant maneuvers is a good idea to get bang for the buck. I like to use either Defensive Strike or Offensive Strike as the basis for the attacks. Or a custom Strike Maneuver (+2 OCV, +2 DCV, Str Strike, 4 points). You can make up the damage with DCs (for Defensive) and Skill levels to make up the OCV and DCV differences (if you use Offensive).

If you really find you're spending a lot of points, you may want to consider a multipower, kinda like Teleios's.

D

I'm not too worried about the points. I've been playing this game for almost 20 years. The average other player in the game has been playing for 20 months. So the pressure to make the most point-packed character is significantly reduced. Plus, I rather enjoy the sport of making a deliberately inefficient character work. Also, I wouldn't allow MA maneuvers in an MP, so I shouldn't try to make a character with the same.

So it seems like everyone is recommending (in order of posted frequency):
Defense Maneuver ("Blind Fighting" is Defense Maneuver, right?)
Combat Sense
Find Weakness
Analyze Style

What do people think of "Rapid Attack"?

[MisterVimes]

Originally posted by Supreme
I'm well aware of the awesome accomplishment that is the UMA. I pprogrammed all of the maneuvers listed there into my character-generator spreadsheet.

Um... gimme?

[misterdeath]

Yep, those are good ones.

Blind Sight is Combat Sense (I know where you are and so, can paste you anyways.)
Defense Maneuver is "You don't get a free shot because I'm unaware."

(By MP I meant.

45 Martial Arts.
3u 1)strikes HA 6d6 0 End (+1/2), HA (-1/2)
3u 2)holds Str +30, 0 End (+1/2), Only for Grabs, Holds, Throws, and Disarms (-3/4)
what have you other stuff (Desolid makes a wonderful ultimate dodge, and Force Wall make a nice super block))

D

[MisterVimes]

Most of the good ones have already been suggested. There are always 'Custom' talents that are essentially talents.

Gliding (only to not leave footprints) as an example.

[misterdeath]

Low level Flight, only in contact with a surface; representing extreme balance. (Tightrope, no problem)

Lots of crunchy goodness of this type in Ninja Hero.

D

[Acroyear]

Originally posted by Supreme
Well, according to the site, the Monkey King is a master of disguise, and is generally representative of curiosity. Not what I'm going for.

Well, he's more of a general jerk-o, really, who defied the gods and such until he obtained his own godhood. Edited his name from the book of life so death couldn't come get him, stole a pillar from heavenly temple (that's the staff, which has limitless length), etc. But the big story for him was the Journey West (famous story), in which he was forced to be a good guy a help people, essentially, by, iirc, a circlet/crown that caused him pain if acted like his usual jerko, selfish self.

So he could be like an ex-criminal trying to make up for his bad deeds.

I don't think I'd really use the word "curious" to sum up the kind of person he was...but *shrug*