From:	Sommers sommers@*****.umich.edu
Subject:	CC Martial Arts
Date:	Mon, 05 Jun 2000 13:32:22 -0400

Around 01:03 PM 6/5/00, dbuehrer@******.carl.org was mumbling about:
>>But aren't there several martial arts out there that should be based off
>>of Strength. The difference between a lightweight fighter and a Tyson
>>'smash em til they fall down' bruiser?
>
>Not that I can think of. Even Mike Tyson uses good technique. He rotates
>his hips and shoulder into his power punches. He uses technique. Even
>Sumo wrestling uses technique. I've seen a match where the lighter
>wrestler won because his technique was better.

Yes, Tyson does apply good technique, but its based off of his strength. He
pounds people harder than just about anyone else. Technique is what you're
rolling to get in the good hit, but strength is what you're using when you
connect. So it stands to reason that strength is what you would base your
technique on.

>>How about for new styles an additional edge: default unarmed combat and
>>determine power from Quickness instead of strength.
>
>IMHO damage code for an unarmed attack should be Reaction(M). Strength
>should only be used if the attacker has a fair amount of time to apply his
>strength. But in melee combat there just isn't enough time in an attack
>to apply one's strength, most of the time. Look at what it takes for a
>strong person to apply their strength. They have to set themselves, grab,
>then lift/push/pull. Strength based attacks are slow. If someone opts to
>use their strength for the power of an unarmed attack, they should take
>some sort of penalty (maybe the defender gets -1 to their TN).

Doesn't that put way too much emphasis on Reaction though? You roll it for
how many actions you get, you use it to see how easy it is for you to raise
your skill, and it determines how much damage you do? It that case, you're
going to have elves that are absolutely with Reaction 7, strength 3
toppling trolls with Reaction 3 and Strength 12!

Yes the elf should be able to get in some good hits, but that doesn't make
much sense. The troll might have a harder time trying to hit the elf as he
dances away (high combat pool) but once he gets a good shot in it should be
all over (high strength).

Sommers
Aerospace engineers build weapon systems. Civil engineers build targets.