Martial Art: Metered Style

Martial Art: Metered Style

Dragon Magazine #337 has a nice martial style - the metered style for monks. Let's port it over.

 
Metered Style – 4 points
 
The Metered Style is a discipline that parallels a pattern of rhythmic metered units within a poem. The monk commits a poem to memory and recites it silently during combat. The smallest metrical unit in poetry is called the “syllable.” There are two kinds of syllables: stressed and unstressed. The fighting style mirrors these metrical units in combat. Stressed syllables represent the execution of quick strikes. Unstressed syllables indicate executing counters or defensive maneuvers. The metrical unit in poetry known as the “foot” is a group of two or more of these stressed or unstressed syllables.
    Skills: Karate, Meditation, Poetry.
 Techniques: Aggressive Parry; Axe Kick; Back Kick; Combination (Karate Kick/Face + Karate Kick/Torso); Combination (Karate Punch/Left Arm + Karate Punch/Right Arm); Counterattack; Feint (Karate); Jam; Jump Kick; Kicking; Spinning Kick.

    Cinematic Techniques: Roll with Blow; Timed Defense.
    Perks: Autotrance; Iron Hands; Iron Legs.

 
Optional Traits
    Primary Characteristics: Improved ST and DX.
    Advantages: Defensive Metered Foot; Enhanced Parry (Bare Hands); Offensive Metered Foot; Striking ST.
    Disadvantages: Disciplines of Faith.
    Skills: Public Speaking; Writing.

NEW ABILITIES

 

Defensive Metered Foot – 15/27/38 points for levels 1-3

You can recite an exacting poem in your head, allowing you to execute precise series of defensive maneuvers. When you successfully dodge or parry an attack with bare hands, you may make a Poetry roll. If you succeed, you gain a cumulative +1 bonus to Doge and unarmed Parry against that opponent (up to the maximum equal to this ability’s level). The bonus remains in force until you successfully dodge or parry an attack by a different creature.

Statistics: Enhanced Dodge 1 (Accessibility, Only after a successful defense against a specific opponent, -20%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [11] + Enhanced Parry 1 (Bare Hands; Accessibility, Only after a successful defense against a specific opponent, -20%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [4]. Level 2 adds Enhanced Dodge 1 (Accessibility, Only after two successful defenses against a specific opponent, -30%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [9] + Enhanced Parry 1 (Bare Hands; Accessibility, Only after two successful defenses against a specific opponent, -30%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [3]. Level 3 adds Enhanced Dodge 1 (Accessibility, Only after three successful defenses against a specific opponent, -40%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [8] + Enhanced Parry 1 (Bare Hands; Accessibility, Only after three successful defenses against a specific opponent, -40%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [3].

 

Offensive Metered Foot – 14/24/30 points for levels 1-3

You can recite an exacting poem in your head, allowing you to execute precise series of pauses and strikes. When you successfully hit an opponent, you may make a Poetry roll. If you succeed, you gain a cumulative +1 bonus to DX (up to the maximum equal to this ability’s level) when calculating attacks against that opponent. The bonus remains in force until you attack a different creature.

Statistics: DX+1 (Accessibility, Only after a successful attack against a specific opponent, -20%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [14]. Level 2 adds DX+1 (Accessibility, Only after two successful attacks against a specific opponent, -40%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [10]. Level 3 adds DX+1 (Accessibility, Only after three successful attacks against a specific opponent, -60%; Requires Poetry Roll, -10%) [6].