Martial Arts

Trait Description: This trait is important in combat. Martial Arts allows the character to fight without weapons or with special martial arts weapons. Martial Arts covers everything from tavern brawling to boxing and various styles of formal martial arts.

Specialties: Specific Martial Arts Weapon (Hook Swords, Wind-Fire Wheels...), Fighting Unarmed, Multiple Opponents, Wrestling, Fighting in Armor

Trait Effects: Someone with Martial Arts 1 can probably break a board with her bare hands or perform the basic moves flawlessly in an exhibition. Someone with Martial Arts 3 can skillfully fight multiple opponents. Someone with Martial Arts 5 can fight a dozen thugs while simultaneously showing off all of her moves in a precise and beautiful manner.

List of Martial Arts Charms (Excluding Style Charms).

Martial Arts Form Weapons

Martial arts form weapons that are defined as "martial arts weapons", such as sai, are always wielded with (Dexterity + Martial Arts). Once a person has learned a martial art that uses, say, the slashing sword as a form weapon, she may there¬after use (Dexterity + Melee) or (Dexterity + Martial Arts) with that weapon, typically using the score that is better. The only exception is that she must use (Dexterity + Martial Arts) when wielding the slashing sword with a Charm from the su¬pernatural martial art for which it is a form weapon.

When using a Martial Arts style which allows the use of Archery, Melee, or Thrown weapons by inclusion in the style's list of form-type weaponry, the character's attacks are capped by their rating in the associated Ability until the character has mastered the style's Form-type Charm. For example, a character using Righteous Devil Style would base his Martial Arts attacks with firewands on his Archery score until learning Righteous Devil Form. This cap applies even if the style has no explicit additional Ability minimums. This condition does not apply to the first Martial Arts style the character wishes to learn; only subsequent styles are affected.

Martial Arts Form Charms and Combos

All Martial Arts Charms with the Form-type keyword now also possess the Combo-Basic Keyword. However, the first time in an action that a Charm with a Flaw of Invulnerability is activated in a Combo in conjunction with a Charm possessing the Form-type keyword, a two Willpower surcharge is added to the Charm's cost.

Supernatural Martial Arts

The combat forms known as the "supernatural martial arts" require intense study, discipline and training. They do not flow naturally out of the paramount spirit of the Solar Exalted, any more than ordinary martial arts come naturally to mortals flailing in bar brawls. To learn supernatural martial arts, one must understand the Essence flows of the world and harmonize oneself with them.

These Charms are not specific to any Exalt type. The Solar Exalted have incredible strength of spirit and anima, but they must still learn the proper forms, katas and spiritual insights of the martial arts through dedicated experimentation or diligent study. For the other Celestial Exalted, it is no different—and any Celestial Exalt or Immaculate Dragon-Blooded can learn these Charms. Some supernatural martial arts, called the "Terrestrial" Martial Arts, are even available to mortals and ordinary Dragon-Blooded.

Supernatural martial arts styles are complete. It is possible to create new styles but not to augment existing styles with new Charms.

Note that Style Charms are not included in the list of "normal" Martial Arts Charms - that list would become too cluttered with stuff.

TODO: Celestial and Terrestrial Styles in two lists. Also, are there other groups than those two?

Celestial Martial Arts Dark Messiah Style (Abyssal Exalted) Snake Style (Solar Exalted) Solar Hero Style (Solar Exalted) Throne Shadow Style (Sidereals)

Terrestrial Martial Arts Air Dragon Style Earth Dragon Style Fire Dragon Style Terrestrial Hero Style Water Dragon Style Wood Dragon Style

Unsorted Styles Collapsing Point of Judgment Style Crimson Pentacle Blade Style Even Blade Style Falling Blossom Style First Pulse Style Five-Dragon Style Fivefold Shadow Hand Style Golden Janissary Style Hungry Ghost Style Ill Lily Style Infernal Monster Style Jade Mountain Style Light Sharpening Blade Style Live Wire Style Lunar Hero Style Night Breeze Style Orgiastic Fugitive Style Seafaring Hero Style Thousand Wounds Gear Style Violet Bier of Sorrows Style White Veil Style

(Note: switch category links point to individual style pages when they are created.)

Dramatic Rules for Martial Arts

Fighting (Archery, Dodge, Martial Arts, Melee, Thrown)

See Combat and Attacking.