FRIDAY JUNE 4 A Stylish Smack Down – Most combat Merits have only a single effect, but not all. Fighting Styles are special Merits that have multiple levels (much like a Skill) and with each new dot you purchase, your character gains a new maneuver. Purchasing a Fighting Style requires that you meet several prerequisites, so only skilled fighters can master them. Let’s take a quick look at some of the maneuvers from the Kung-Fu Fighting Style, visually enhanced with some art by the talented Greg Ruth.
Focused Attack (•): Physical conditioning and accuracy allow your character to deliver blows at vulnerable spots on targets. Penalties to hit specific targets are reduced by one. Even when a specific part of an opponent is not targeted, Armor penalties to your character’s Brawl attacks decrease by one. Iron Skin (••): Your character has hardened his body to physical blows, allowing him to withstand repeated hits with minimal effect. He has an effective Armor trait of 1 against bashing attacks only.
Defensive Attack (•••): Your character has mastered the ability to avoid attacks and strike back in the same motion. Your character can perform a dodge maneuver and make a single attack against an individual who attempts a Brawl or Weaponry attack against him in the turn. This attack suffers a -1 penalty. Kung-Fu goes up to five dots, so its practitioners can eventually learn the Whirlwind Strike and Lethal Strike maneuvers too. Any character learning Kung-Fu, though, must have Strength ••, Dexterity ••, Stamina •• and Brawl ••. Next Week: The Requiem – Tune in next week as we get some blood on our hands and look at some of the facts about existence as a vampire. That’s right kids, it’s Blood Week! |
