MartialArts/DancingMonkeyStyle
Dancing Monkey Style
By Topher
Background
Dancing Monkey Style is a Celestial-level style based loosely on Capoeira. It is focused on constant rhythmic, acrobatic movements and clever misdirection. All Charms in the tree prohibit armor, and all have an Athletics requirement as well as a Martial Arts requirement. Form weapons for Dancing Monkey Style are the staff and the fighting chain.
Charms
Tumbling Evasion Maneuver</b>
<b>Cost: 1 mote per die Duration: Instant Type: Reflexive Min. Martial Arts: 2 Min. Athletics: 2 Min Essence: 1 Prereqs: None
When this Charm is activated, the martial artist enhances his dodging ability with Essence and acrobatically maneuvers out of harm's way - often ending in an advantageous position (flanking, behind, below, or even above the opponent) from which to launch an effective counter-attack.
The character may add bonus dice to a single Dodge attempt at a cost of one mote per die, but can no more than double his normal Dexterity + Dodge pool. These motes must be spent before the attack is rolled. If the dodge is successful AND the character has an action remaining or can otherwise immediately counterattack, he may add bonus dice (equal to the amount by which the Dodge roll exceeded the attack roll) to any one attack he makes against his attacker in this turn.
Sweeping Tail Takedown</b>
<b>Cost: 3 motes Duration: Instant Type: Supplemental Min. Martial Arts: 3 Min. Athletics: 3 Min Essence: 2 Prereqs: Tumbling Evasion Maneuver
Using a low spinning kick, a trip, a push, a sweeping staff or chain, or any other appropriate method, the martial artist knocks his opponent to the ground in an Essence-charged flurry of movement.
The character invokes the charm while making a sweep attempt against an opponent. Unlike a normal sweep, one success is not subtracted from the total successes rolled. Base damage is equal to the martial artist's Strength, and extra successes add to damage. The target character must make a reflexive Dexterity + Athletics roll at a difficulty equal to the Exalt's Martial Arts score or be knocked down into a prone position.
Monkey's Malice</b>
(Placeholder)
<b>Dancing Monkey Form</b>
<b>Cost: 6 motes Duration: One Scene Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Athletics: 4 Min Essence: 2 Prereqs: Sweeping Tail Takedown (+1 additional "starter" Charm not yet written)
The martial artist using this Charm emulates the capering, dancing movements of a playful monkey, acrobatically maneuvering into the best offensive and defensive positions while confounding and frustrating her opponents.
While the Charm is active, the character adds dice equal to her Martial Arts score to all Athletics rolls and adds MA to initiative. Her confusing movements cause all opponents to subtract dice equal to her permanent Essence when attacking her OR when dodging or parrying her attacks - at the beginning of each combat turn, she may reflexively choose to receive the attack bonus or the defense bonus for the duration of the turn. Additionally, the character suffers no penalties for fighting while prone.
Capricious Misdirection Method</b>
<b>Cost: 4 motes Duration: Instant Type: Simple Min. Martial Arts: 4 Min. Athletics: 4 Min Essence: 3 Prereqs: Dancing Monkey Form
The Dancing Monkey stylist can now use Essence to enhance his ability to perform a convincing feint, leaving his target unable to defend effectively against his true attack.
When the Charm is invoked, the martial artist performs a distracting feint, followed by a surprise attack from an unexpected direction. Attempts to parry or dodge this attack must use a dice pool equal to the target's Wits + Awareness unless the target's normal dodge or parry dice pool is lower. This Charm has no effect against perfect defenses or defenses that specifically work against unexpected attacks.
(Sense) No Evil Lesson</b>
(Placeholder)
<b>Monkey Snatches the Jewel</b>
(Placeholder)
Comments
IMO, the form charm is slightly weak for a Celestial Form. Compare to Snake Form:
Athletics bonus roughly corresponds to the initiative bonus, although Snake is the clear winner. dice reducer corresponds to dice reducer, although the choice strengthens this form somewhat(making up for the win Snake Form gets with initiative). Fighting while prone, however, is much weaker than adding your MA to your Bashing soak. It's more of a flavor-ability than anything concrete, really. -Fifth
- I left a couple words out. It's supposed to give an init bonus as well. Fixed. -Topher
I linked this in CelestialMartialArts and moved the page for you; this is the way that we've generally been organising Martial Arts. - willows
