Re: Schools of Fencing

[jcorey30@yahoo.com]

What is the rationalization for having an offensive skill that
increases defense, and damage, but decreases the strike chance?  If
you are fencing in a defensive manner, wouldn't damage be reduced too?
 Is the damage increased because he is making "aimed" shots?  if so,
how does that increase defense?  I guess I just can't noodle out how
that would work, but i don't know that much about fencing.


--- In dq-rules@y..., dqn@b... wrote:
> Proposed New Optional Rule:
> 
> In place of optional rule 18.5 (don't have a book at hand at the 
> moment, so I'm not 100% sure that I have the exact rule number correct; 
> it's the optional rule for additional damage with A-class weapons based 
> on Rank).
> 
> New rule introduces different rules for added damage, SC bonus, and 
> bonus to defense.  These rules would also supercede the Fencing combat 
> talent in Poor Brendan's Almanac.
> 
> Different schools of fencing teach different forms and styles of 
> combat.  Some emphasize offense, others defense or use of two weapons, 
> or other things.
> 
> Precedent: Italian fencing vs French fencing vs Russian fencing.  
> Different people emphasize different things in combat, so different 
> fencing styles arise.
> 
> Study of a particular school of fencing provides bonuses affecting SC, 
> DEF, Dam.  Cost to study a school of fencing is a small percentage of 
> cost to study weapon.  Studying a particular school of fencing can be 
> done simultaneously with the study of the appropriate weapon, or can be 
> done separately at a later time.
> 
> This is not unlike studying True Names in order to improve spell cast 
> chances.  It also allows the GM to introduce additional flavor to 
> combat.  Any schools of fencing created by the GM need to be reasonable 
> and balanced.  This also allows for an additional level of mastery and 
> distinction above and beyond basic weapon skill.
> 
> A character may learn more than one school of fencing, but each 
> additional school adds +25% to the experience cost.  A character's Rank 
> in a school of fencing may never exceed that character's Rank with the 
> weapon.
> 
> Example:
> Arolic School Fencing
>   This school of fencing emphasizes defense and self protection until 
> the opportunity to land a strike appears. 
>   Effects: +5 + (1 per 2 Ranks) DEF; Dam +1 at Rank 4, +2 at Rank 7, +3 
> at Rank 9; subtract (10 - Rank) from SC.
>   Examples: Alphonse has Rank 3 in Rapier and Rank 2 in Arolic
Fencing.  
> He adds +6 to his defense, does no additional damage, and subtracts -8 
> from his SC.  Aramis has Rank 7 Estoc and Rank 7 Arolic Fencing.  He 
> adds +9 to his defense, does +2 additional damage, and subtracts -3 
> from his SC.
> 
> This is just a first draft at this idea.  My current gaming group is 
> going to playtest this once we have a working draft.  
> 
> Comments?  Suggestions?  Like it or hate it?