Post by Frederic Bourgault-Christie on Dec 24, 2005 1:23:23 GMT -5
For those with Secret Schools or who want to design their own school, these are some relevant questions, guidelines, criteria and vectors.
*Is it hard or soft? Are its motions about shattering force or more about gentle parries and control of energy? If it features throws, will those throws be suplexes or over-the-shoulder throws?
*What range does it operate best in? Ultra-close, like Mien Ch'uan or Jorochim Chain and Hammer, perhaps with constant contact like a dancer? Close, like a wrestler? Medium, like a boxer? Long, like kicks? Or perhaps even further, such as jump kick range? Does it have a few modes or abilities that function in each range? Is it weak in any of them?
*What races is it optimally designed for? Humans? Elves? Small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri? How does it leverage that race's unique abilities and body structure?
*How about body type? Maybe it's better to be smaller, maybe larger. Perhaps it's breadth that's important, no matter the height. Maybe it stresses toned muscles or sleek muscles.
*Does it incorporate weapons? Stringent body hardening? Pressure points? Ki training? Kicks? Punches? Locks? Throws? Leaping manuevers and other acrobatics?
*What about other Affinities, such as Psi or Magic?Perhaps it is designed for a non-earthly plane, such as the astral plane? Maybe it incorporates telekinesis? An example would be the Bender schools in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which incorporate martial arts with elemental attacks.
*What does it look like in motion? A frenzied rush of breakdancing-like kicks and motions, like Mugen's Champuru Kendo? A highly formal and rigid motion? Flowing and natural, like the greatest of Tai Chi experts? Perhaps a composite, like Jiujutsu? Is it inspired by any animal, plant, person, etc.? Might it be eminently silly, like Dog Boxing or Monkey Style or Drunken Boxing, so as to make foes underestimate it; alternatively, might it involve exaggeration of one's skills and theatrical but useless abilities, such as Chao Ta?
*Is there a philosophy behind the art? Ethical, metaphysical, spiritual, practical, etc.? Is it pure competition?
*What are its signature moves?
*This is not so much for Secret School folks, but possibly still important. How many schools are there? Does it have entrance requirements, perhaps being part of a certain religion or a strict secret society? Who are the most famous practitioners? Has it been adopted by any military?
*What attributes does it require? Strength? Endurance? Reflex? Keen? Charisma, perhaps for an art that incorporates rapid-fire insults and taunting (Insult Swordfighting) or some deception (Dog Boxing, Drunken Boxing)?
*What arts might beat it? What arts are good against it, or perhaps poor? Is it designed to be used against martial artists at all? Some forms, like Harrier Enbutsu, are designed explicitly to be used against non-combatants.
*Is it hard or soft? Are its motions about shattering force or more about gentle parries and control of energy? If it features throws, will those throws be suplexes or over-the-shoulder throws?
*What range does it operate best in? Ultra-close, like Mien Ch'uan or Jorochim Chain and Hammer, perhaps with constant contact like a dancer? Close, like a wrestler? Medium, like a boxer? Long, like kicks? Or perhaps even further, such as jump kick range? Does it have a few modes or abilities that function in each range? Is it weak in any of them?
*What races is it optimally designed for? Humans? Elves? Small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri? How does it leverage that race's unique abilities and body structure?
*How about body type? Maybe it's better to be smaller, maybe larger. Perhaps it's breadth that's important, no matter the height. Maybe it stresses toned muscles or sleek muscles.
*Does it incorporate weapons? Stringent body hardening? Pressure points? Ki training? Kicks? Punches? Locks? Throws? Leaping manuevers and other acrobatics?
*What about other Affinities, such as Psi or Magic?Perhaps it is designed for a non-earthly plane, such as the astral plane? Maybe it incorporates telekinesis? An example would be the Bender schools in Avatar: The Last Airbender, which incorporate martial arts with elemental attacks.
*What does it look like in motion? A frenzied rush of breakdancing-like kicks and motions, like Mugen's Champuru Kendo? A highly formal and rigid motion? Flowing and natural, like the greatest of Tai Chi experts? Perhaps a composite, like Jiujutsu? Is it inspired by any animal, plant, person, etc.? Might it be eminently silly, like Dog Boxing or Monkey Style or Drunken Boxing, so as to make foes underestimate it; alternatively, might it involve exaggeration of one's skills and theatrical but useless abilities, such as Chao Ta?
*Is there a philosophy behind the art? Ethical, metaphysical, spiritual, practical, etc.? Is it pure competition?
*What are its signature moves?
*This is not so much for Secret School folks, but possibly still important. How many schools are there? Does it have entrance requirements, perhaps being part of a certain religion or a strict secret society? Who are the most famous practitioners? Has it been adopted by any military?
*What attributes does it require? Strength? Endurance? Reflex? Keen? Charisma, perhaps for an art that incorporates rapid-fire insults and taunting (Insult Swordfighting) or some deception (Dog Boxing, Drunken Boxing)?
*What arts might beat it? What arts are good against it, or perhaps poor? Is it designed to be used against martial artists at all? Some forms, like Harrier Enbutsu, are designed explicitly to be used against non-combatants.