Martial Arts I

Martial Arts I trains a character in the ancient techniques of unarmed combat. Hand strikes do a base 1-4 points, and a martial artist doubles all attacks when fighting bare-handed; they can even parry weapons, claws and bites by blocking or turning blows with hands and forearms, and can deliver stunning blows under the specific hit rule.

Only one kick is allowed per attack, but it can be used either to hurt, for 1-6 points plus Strength bonus, or as a leg sweep that forces the victim to save vs Dexterity or fall. A kick can also be aimed to stun under the specific hit rule; it then does double damage and the target must save vs Constitution or be stunned for 1-4 rounds. After any successful parry the martial artist may try a throw, which uses up half of a doubled hand-strike routine and needs a normal to-hit roll; a hit means the foe is seized and must save vs Dexterity or be thrown, though nothing weighing more than three times the martial artist's encumbrance capacity can be thrown. Martial artists also gain +1 to dodging for every three levels of ability.

No metal armor of any kind may be worn while using these techniques. The skill costs 2,000 XP and takes 1-3 months of training, with a qualified instructor needed outside the professions that teach it.