clsage Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 I'm toying with an idea for a character who would basically be a martial artist based on skills within a ring. Funnily enough, the idea came to me while looking at a write up for the cinematic version of Jason Bourne and, as I was reading it, recalling how Matt Damon would sometimes seem to have a slight look of surprise on his face as he performed various martial maneuvers. I had the idea that it (the focus) would act (in some limited ways) like an AI and would 'take control' of the characters actions while in combat. So....If I built an AI with Danger Sense (or some perception based equivalent) then had a 'program running' which said (basically): If the wearer is endangered in X manner, then use combat maneuver Y to counter. And the wearer would have no conscious control over the actions, as the ring would over-ride their neuro-muscular system. Probably need to make an EGO roll to break off the combat...... In most other respects this character would be a skilled normal, primarily an archaeological explorer type...At least, that's my current concept. Comments ? -Carl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thia Halmades Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? OIHID -- this is pretty much what that limitation is for. If someone takes his toy away (bringing him 'Out' of Heroic ID) then he looses his powers. That's the standard, by-the-book version, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clsage Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? OIHID -- this is pretty much what that limitation is for. If someone takes his toy away (bringing him 'Out' of Heroic ID) then he looses his powers. That's the standard' date=' by-the-book version, IIRC.[/quote'] Thanks. I'd been thinking along those lines. I still am debating if the ring itself should qualify as a follower....Given its' AI-ish overtones and all. Of course, not sure if it's legal to buy a follower who you get abilities/skills from..... -Carl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thia Halmades Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Well, yes it is. If you look in the Bestiary for precedent, a Horse can make a roll "on behalf" of its rider (double check the exact mechanic, I'm too lazy). And certainly the AI can make the roll then confer the information to the user. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? . . . As I remember it, a trained horse's Riding skill is complimentary to the rider's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? The main character in Gymkata clearly purchased his martial arts with the limited OAF: Pommel Horse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyper-Man Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Shouldn't that be Pummel Horse instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Shouldn't that be Pummel Horse instead? Your a bad person. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibear Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Hong Kong Phooey had his martial arts through a focus too, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L. Marcus Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? . . . I wouldn't call that "Martial Arts". It was "Pure Dumb Luck" -- at least 6d6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylor Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? The character White Tiger in marvel comics got his martial arts from three amulets. They each one enhanced normal martial artists to greater skill; combined they turned him into a superhero from a street kid. It's a great concept, personally I think there are more interesting builds based on martial arts + something than any other basic concept. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarathud Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? I'm toying with an idea for a character who would basically be a martial artist based on skills within a ring. [edit] I had the idea that it (the focus) would act (in some limited ways) like an AI and would 'take control' of the characters actions while in combat. So....If I built an AI with Danger Sense (or some perception based equivalent) then had a 'program running' which said (basically): If the wearer is endangered in X manner, then use combat maneuver Y to counter. And the wearer would have no conscious control over the actions, as the ring would over-ride their neuro-muscular system. [edit] -Carl- Great idea, but depending on how precise concept you might also consider an AI follower with Mind Control. I know it is more complicated, but it is also more flexible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armitage Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Page 220 of H5R has the specific example of Martial Arts bought through a Focus. The Style Disadvantage could be used to represent the predictable pre-programmed combat responses. Maybe a Psychological Limitation "Must Fight When Threatened". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clsage Posted March 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Page 220 of H5R has the specific example of Martial Arts bought through a Focus. The Style Disadvantage could be used to represent the predictable pre-programmed combat responses. Maybe a Psychological Limitation "Must Fight When Threatened". Thanks for the page pointer, I'll have to check it out. -Carl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylor Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Yeah I wouldn't get too carried away with the AI build, that's just a special effect and a definition of how the power works. Maybe a 15- activation for some abilities to represent the programming not working quite perfectly (damn, got a blue screen!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wyrm Ouroboros Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Hm. If you're trying to mirror Bourne himself -- at least in the first movie -- you might simply apply No Conscious Control to the skills. He reacts instead of choosing to act; he doesn't know he knows all of these things. This, of course, is noted in a PhysLim of 'Amnesia, Frequently, Slightly Impairing (10 Points)'. He can speak, has muscle memory, etc. etc., but doesn't know who he is -- or all of what he can do. I like the conversation in the truck stop best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nexus Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? lapsedgamer did a great write of Jason Bourne. I believe it's in the Dark Champions forum. It could help for inspiration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonio Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Hm. If you're trying to mirror Bourne himself -- at least in the first movie -- you might simply apply No Conscious Control to the skills. He reacts instead of choosing to act; he doesn't know he knows all of these things. This, of course, is noted in a PhysLim of 'Amnesia, Frequently, Slightly Impairing (10 Points)'. He can speak, has muscle memory, etc. etc., but doesn't know who he is -- or all of what he can do. I like the conversation in the truck stop best. I disagree on the NCC on Skills. His skills aren't really limited at all. He can, and does, use them whenever he needs to. While he doesn't quite know what he can do (and this is covered in the Phys Lim), he does act like he has to act (i.e. while he might not know he can defuse a bomb, he still run towards it and starts fiddling with it... and defuses it). If his Skills sometimes worked when he didn't want them to (like, say, he kills someone with a MA Killing Attack when he intended to knock him down and run past, or if he started monologuing (Oratory) when he wanted to be stealthy), or didn't work when he wanted them to (pretty obvious), or worked in ways he didn't intend (re-rigs the bomb to go off in 2 minutes, rather than when someone crosses the IR beam, Seduces the girl into marrying him instead of into going into the gun shop and getting him a gun), then NCC would be in order. As it is, the fact that he's surprised by what he finds he's able to do is SFX and Roleplaying... in truth, he's not hindered by his lack of background knowledge of his skills (i.e. where they came from). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibear Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? The character might not 'know' his skills but the player most certainly does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clsage Posted March 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Hm. If you're trying to mirror Bourne himself -- at least in the first movie -- you might simply apply No Conscious Control to the skills. He reacts instead of choosing to act; he doesn't know he knows all of these things. This, of course, is noted in a PhysLim of 'Amnesia, Frequently, Slightly Impairing (10 Points)'. He can speak, has muscle memory, etc. etc., but doesn't know who he is -- or all of what he can do. I like the conversation in the truck stop best. Not really attempting to mirror Bourne. Just got the idea from Matt Damons' performance in the first film (mostly).... I do like the NCC idea tho'. The artifact that is providing the martial arts (and other stuff) could be seen as something that 'possesses the character', at least as far as some physical actions goes. But perhaps Mind Control from the ring (as another poster mentioned) might be more accurate, given the EGO vs EGO potential and all between what the ring wants and what the character wants.... Hmmmmm..... -Carl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azato Posted March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? What about a multiform? There are some disadvantages you could throw on it a-la Ultimate Metamorph. Not really attempting to mirror Bourne. Just got the idea from Matt Damons' performance in the first film (mostly).... I do like the NCC idea tho'. The artifact that is providing the martial arts (and other stuff) could be seen as something that 'possesses the character', at least as far as some physical actions goes. But perhaps Mind Control from the ring (as another poster mentioned) might be more accurate, given the EGO vs EGO potential and all between what the ring wants and what the character wants.... Hmmmmm..... -Carl- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCUBA Hero Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Re: Martial Arts In A Focus ? Page 220 of H5R has the specific example of Martial Arts bought through a Focus.IIRC, that example is incorrect by the RAW. Someone (don't remember who and can't locate it) tried to replicate it in HeroDesigner and it didn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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