Blaque/MartialArtsArmorCompatabilty
Martial Arts Armor Compatibility
Something really nice the Exalted Player's Guide gave us was more defined rules on weapons and compatibility. However, something it didn't do is cover something folks are still wondering about, whether or not armor is compatible universely in Martial Arts. The general rule is that "If it doesnt' say otherwise, its okay" but the new wording on weapons shows this isn't always the case.
On top of that, newer Martial Arts styles have clauses on whether or not they can be used with armor. This trend started in Exalted: he Sidereals and continued to the Exalted Player's Guide. But while the issue of weapons was covered, armor was just left abmigious again. So what follows is basically a summary of what styles use what really.
- Snake (Exalted) - Incompatible with armor
- Tiger (Castebook: Dawn) - Incompatible with armor.
- Ebon Shadow (Castebook: Night) - Incompatible with armor.
- Mantis (Castebook: EclipseBlaque/I>) - Incompatible with armor.
- Five-Dragons (<i>Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Usable in any armor.
- Air Dragon (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Usable with light armor as long as it has no mobility penalty.
- Earth Dragon (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Usable in any armor.
- Fire Dragon (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Incompatible with armor.
- Water Dragon (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Usable in any armor.
- Wood Dragon (Exalted: the Dragon-Blooded) - Usable in any armor.
- Hungry Ghost (Exalted: the Abyssals) - Incompatible with armor.
Justifications
Some will note that I made some rather specific justifications on some things. Mainly as follows:
- I made the animal styles (Tiger, Mantis, Snake, and Hungry Ghost) incompatible with armor due to the amount of their Charm that just don't work in them. Rather simple there.
- Same really goes with Ebon Shadow. Though, I pondered giving it chain shirts or something, its form is pretty awesome as is. It also allow smultiple weapons, which seems to balance that.
- Five-Dragon is kept armor-compatible because it seems to be based on making Dragon-Blodoed overall able to use their stuff they got plenty off. It hasn't hurt the style yet really.
- Air Dragon is restricted to light armor because of the need for low Mobility Penalties. Though, I could see a Lunar with some moonsilver armor owning in this if she went out ot learn it really.
- Fire Dragon is incompatible based on its Form. Its got other things aobut to help it anyways I think.
- The other styles are unrestricted as part of their mentions of being powerful and cool like that. Earth actually seems to be built around that idea, as its Form is really useles without some armor, and while Perfection of the Earth Body's soak bonuses are incompatible with Armor, that is why you just use really heavy armor.
And stuff. I guess it wasn't that hard. Also, as a general rule, since the PG didn't note those, if the Style doesn't mention in its "Weapons and Armor" textbox that it can be used with a weapon or armor, assume that weapons for the style are what it says they are, while armor restrictions are there if it says they are there. So PAoC, sinc eit lists no weapons, is unarmed, while Righteous Devil, which states no armor penalties, is compatible with armor.
And stuff.
Comments
How about Silken Armor? Despite its name, it's just magical silk, prolly lighter than what most Martial Artists would be wearing. Look at it this way: good chain shirts and Silken armor weigh next to nothing, and you can do backflips and go swimming with impunity. What good reason is there to not let Martial Artists wear either of these?
- Still pondering that really. I'm in the "Armor is armor" gorup sometimes. But it is magical, stackable armor. So I'm not sure really. I'll have to see what others have to say first..\\
Stuff. Thanks for the comment. Blaque
- Way we've played in our group Silken Armour doesn't count for purposes of martial arts... for Artifact 3 it's a small price and it's been the only thing keeping a martial artist or two from horrible, horrible death. - Jabberwocky
- I've pretty much fallen onto that idea of things as of late too actually. Seeing as its not really that much and all. The only really dirty thing I can see being doen ith it is with Terrestrial Artifact used to get these and jade kata bracers.
- Stuff. Blaque
It seems to me that martial arts styles can be divided into four groups:
- Styles that allow use of armor at all times
- Styles that allow the use of specific armor (usually very light) at all times
- Styles that prohibit use of armor with their form charms, but allow it with other charms of the style
- Styles that prohibit use of armor with all charms in the style
Most styles are of the last variety. I think, however, that Snake, Tiger and Ebon-Shadow are the third.
Also, beware of making rulings like "may use any armor with no mobility penalty", as this includes some kinds of artifact armor (moonsilver, I think) and nearly all gossamer armor. In my own game I rule that "clothing" can be used with any martial arts style, even if it provides soak. This includes thinks like Demon Embracing Robes and the gossamer robes worn by Fair Folk diplomats, but not things like gossamer plate.
- Wordman
