Zama-shiwo Martial Arts

Summary
Zama-shiwo, defined as "the inward eye of the outward hand," was a martial arts style practiced primarily by the Guardians of the Whills.

The central pillar of Zama-shiwo involved perfection of physical awareness — conscious accounting of a body’s placement, contact and internal functions. It was said that a master of these techniques could alter his heart rate, oxygen intake, and vital processes to produce seemingly supernatural effects. This was similar to Jedi physical exercises that emphasized bodily control — some believed due to a cultural connection with the ancient past.

RPG D6 Stats
For every +1 pip that a character increases her martial arts skill, she may pick one of the techniques from the list of the martial style in which their character specializes. Learning a technique from outside a style costs 10 character points and takes three weeks of training. Characters whose martial arts skill is increased during character creation are eligible to select from the techniques. Characters must also declare which technique they are using prior to making the required skill roll (unless otherwise indicated).

Zama-shiwo practitioners use their senses to read their environment. They gain a +1D to Perception for initiative. For every point they beat the opposition at initiative, they can add that many points to any reaction skills for that round.

Basic Maneuvers
(Free Maneuvers available to everyone)

Maneuver: Punch/Strike

Description: A basic attack with a fist, elbow or other striking appendage.

Difficulty: Very Easy

Effect: Does Strength damage.

Maneuver: Kick/Strike

Description: A basic attack with a foot, knee or other lower striking appendage.

Difficulty: Easy

Effect: Does Strength+2 damage.

Maneuver: Hold/Grapple

Description: A simple grab and squeeze attack.

Difficulty: Moderate or an opposed Strength roll.

Effect: The character attempting to grapple with a target must make a Moderate brawling roll to hold her opponent. For every round the target is held, the character must make an opposed Strength roll, with a +1 penalty for each point by which the character succeeded in her grapple attempt. If the target beats her Strength roll he breaks free of the hold.

Brawling Maneuvers
Technique: Blindfighting

Description: The character is trained to use senses other than sight to locate a target.

Difficulty: Moderate for light smoke or poor light; Difficult for thick smoke or a moonlit night; Very Difficult for very thick smoke or total darkness

Effect: If the character makes the required skill roll and is within striking distance of the target, she may ignore the effects of blindness. She cannot see, but can hear or smell a target well enough to strike. This may be used as a reaction skill.

Technique: Disarm

Description: The character is trained to force an opponent to drop a weapon or object.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: If the character's attack is successful (and is not parried or dodged) and if the skill roll meets the required difficulty number, the target has been disarmed of one weapon or item they are holding. The item lands 1D meters away.

Technique: Foot Sweep

Description: The character uses a sweeping motion of her leg to trip an opponent.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: A successful attempt indicates the target is tripped, falling to the ground. The character must remain prone for the remainder of the round.

Technique: Instant Knockdown

Description: The character knows how to maximize impact, knocking the target to the floor.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: If the character's attack is successful (and is not parried or dodged) and if the skill roll meets the required difficulty number, the target is knocked to the ground. The fallen character must either wait one round to stand or suffer multiple action penalties.

Technique: Instant Stand

Description: The character is trained to negate the effects of a fall and return to a standing combat-ready position.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: If a character is tripped or knocked down, she may use this technique to return to a standing position. Successful use of this technique indicates that the character can stand without suffering a multiple-action penalty.

Technique: Multiple Strikes

Description: The character can deliver multiple blows.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: If the character makes the required skill roll, he may make two attacks in one round without suffering the multiple action penalty.

Technique: Reversal

Description: The character is trained to turn the tables on an opponent who is attempting to grapple.

Difficulty: Opposed Strength or martial arts roll

Effect: The character can employ this technique only when she is held. If she breaks the opponent's grip, she may in turn hold the target immobile or employ another technique. This technique may be used as a reaction skill.

Technique: Spinning Kick

Description: The character is trained to perform a powerful kick.

Difficulty: Moderate

Effect: The character can add +1D to her damage roll if her skill roll exceeds the difficulty number. Failure to beat the difficulty number indicates the character is off-balance and her opponent may make an additional attack this round with no multiple action penalty.

Technique: Weapon Block

Description: The character is trained to parry melee attacks, even when she does not possess a melee weapon.

Difficulty: Opposed martial arts versus melee combat roll

Effect: If the character makes the required difficulty roll, she successfully blocks a melee attack. This may be used as a reaction skill.