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I figure in a modern day setting that there would be a martial art style that more or less focuses entirely on Bokken/Suburi/Shinai Usage.

I mean, I guess Kendo would work, but even then it mentions and has Shinken skills...

Have I missed anything?

I noticed Muso Shinden (sp?) was similar...but figured I'd ask, as my eyes get tired from staring at that black background long enough to search the whole thing.

Oh, do you think a Suburito like Musashis Boat Oar, or the one in my sig would do more damage than a normal bokkens 2d4?

isn't the point of a woden sword to learn to use a sword without the danger of cutty-stabidy death?

so any style what uses swords nowadays would use wooden replicas as well

Rather than start a new thread, I'm gonna throw in a similar question:

When a form can be used with weapons, do you get the weapon katas automatically, or do you have to buy them with skills, or do you get them automatically IF you take the WP? I've seen things in the book which suggest each side, but nothing definitave. Plus, some forms require weapons, while others are bare-hand, but can use weapons. Since I want to write a Rifter article dealing with the various forms, I really need to know the official answer.

sinestus wrote:isn't the point of a woden sword to learn to use a sword without the danger of cutty-stabidy death?

so any style what uses swords nowadays would use wooden replicas as well

True but there are different techniques which a wooden sword would necessitate in actual combat as opposed to a real sword.

Not to mention, walking around with a stick, and knowing how to beat ass with it is a lot less suspicious than having a katana hanging off your hip.

Exactly. The stick is much easier to break, so you have to learn to accommodate that.

Necrite wrote:Exactly. The stick is much easier to break, so you have to learn to accommodate that.

Not to mention theres no edge to use/worry about cutting yourself on.

It is often lighter than a sword, etc, etc.

Parrying techniques would be different (using the flat, avoiding contact with sharp edges, etc)

Plus there would surely be techniques for disabling, like the Warrior Monk from PFRPG's stunning temple hit.

Edge wrote:I figure in a modern day setting that there would be a martial art style that more or less focuses entirely on Bokken/Suburi/Shinai Usage.

I mean, I guess Kendo would work, but even then it mentions and has Shinken skills...

Have I missed anything?

Nope.

I noticed Muso Shinden (sp?) was similar...but figured I'd ask, as my eyes get tired from staring at that black background long enough to search the whole thing.

Some of the Iaijutsu styles and Iaido styles use only blunt swords, but they usually use Iaito rather than wooden swords.

Oh, do you think a Suburito like Musashis Boat Oar, or the one in my sig would do more damage than a normal bokkens 2d4?

Probably 3D4, if used with both hands.

Necrite wrote:Rather than start a new thread, I'm gonna throw in a similar question:

When a form can be used with weapons, do you get the weapon katas automatically, or do you have to buy them with skills, or do you get them automatically IF you take the WP? I've seen things in the book which suggest each side, but nothing definitave. Plus, some forms require weapons, while others are bare-hand, but can use weapons. Since I want to write a Rifter article dealing with the various forms, I really need to know the official answer.

Some styles start off with weapon kata. Others do not but can select them. Taking a weapon kata automatically gives the character that weapon proficiency. Styles that give weapon proficiencies don't necessarily give weapon kata for those proficiencies.

For more information on creating martial art styles see Creating Martial Art Styles .

Good to know.

I may have to think up some techniques and whatnot for a Bokken Specialty MA.

Some of the Aikido styles in the PMAN get a Weapon Kata for the Bokken (or a choice of Weapon Kata from among Bokken, Jo, and Tanto).

Any existing style with the ability take Weapon Kata can also choose W.P. Bokken if so desired.

Yeah, but they don't specialize in it.

I'm talking about something like the equivalent of the McDojo Kendos, where all you really ever have in your hand is a stick or a shinai...

Or even better, a bokken specialty, I just really love swinging sticks around, ever since I was a little kid, so having a character with one is fun.

Originally posted by Necrite.
Since I want to write a Rifter article dealing with the various forms, I really need to know the official answer.

So what's the article going to be about?

I kinda want to keep it to myself until I've got a bit more written up, but it's mostly going to focus on N&SS style martial arts, and it's NOT for N&SS.

When it's almost done, I'm likely to ask around here for some playtesters, since I live in a smaller town, and most of the gamers are "D&D roolz, huh??? is Palladium?", so my group is small.

Kuseru: I'm not entirely clear what you're saying there. Could you give me some examples of the forms which do and don't include weapon use so I can just compare the differences?

Originally posted by Necrite.
I kinda want to keep it to myself until I've got a bit more written up, but it's mostly going to focus on N&SS style martial arts, and it's NOT for N&SS.

So, martial arts for Rifts or one of the other systems then.

Originally posted by Necrite.
When it's almost done, I'm likely to ask around here for some playtesters, since I live in a smaller town, and most of the gamers are "D&D roolz, *** is Palladium?", so my group is small.

Sure, count me in.

Necrite wrote:Kuseru: I'm not entirely clear what you're saying there. Could you give me some examples of the forms which do and don't include weapon use so I can just compare the differences?

Styles with Weapon Kata:
Chi Hsuan Men
Choy-Li-Fut (Kung Fu)
Fu-Chiao Pai (Kung Fu)
Hwarang Do
Isshin-Ryu Karate
Moo Gi Gong
Ninjutsu
Te
Wui Wing Chun (Kung Fu)
Wu Shu T'Sung (Kung Fu)
Zanji Shinjinken Ryu
Bak Mei (Kung Fu)
Chao Ta (Kung Fu)
Gui Long (Kung Fu)
Liang Hsiung (Kung Fu)
Shan Tung (Kung Fu)
Shih Ba Ban Wu Yi
Triad Assassin

Styles that can select Weapon Kata but don't start with them automatically:
Bok Paiv (Kung Fu)
Jujutsu
Li-Chia (Kung Fu)
Mien Chuan (Kung Fu)
Pao Pat Mei (Kung Fu)
Shao-Lin (Kung Fu)
Tai-Chi Ch'uan
Xing Chiao (Kung Fu)
Ba Gua (Kung Fu)
Han Yu (Kung Fu)
Hsing-I (Kung Fu)

Styles with weapon skills that aren't Weapon Kata:
Ch'a Ch'uan (Kung Fu)
Ninjutsu
Te
Shih Ba Ban Wu Yi

ash_wednesday wrote:

Necrite wrote:When it's almost done, I'm likely to ask around here for some playtesters, since I live in a smaller town, and most of the gamers are "D&D roolz, *** is Palladium?", so my group is small.

Sadly my city is like that.

Thanks to the movie, it's now D20 Star Wars.
Normally though, with a little effort, I can players from about any system, D&D, Warhammer/Games Workshop (there are three big GW stores in the area), and GURPS, and Palladium.

Mantisking: You are correct. It will be for PFRPG, but I will probably include Rifts compatability. I will remember you when I contact people for playtesting - it may be via PM, or possibly an open invitation.

Kuseru: THANK YOU. After reading a few of the forms you listed, and a few of the "Notes on the Martial Art Form Descriptions", it all clicked, and I finally get it.