ESCRIME
By Kuseru
Entrance Requirements: No alignment restrictions. Requires a minimum P.P. of 13 and a minimum Spd. of 9.
Skill Cost: 11 Years (9 Years as a Secondary Martial Art Style)
One of the last European fencing styles to develop, the French style was developed in the late 17th century. Stressing the use of strategy and thinking in combat to make every factor count for you and against your foe made this style a synthesis of the best other European styles had to offer. This style resembles Arnis and there seems to be a direct correlation between the two styles.
This style fully incorporates the Florentine method of fighting and concentrates on maintaining a distance between the two fencers. Lunges, slashes and thrusts are used to overcome the opponent's defenses. Parrying and then counterattacking, feints, and counter feints are all used in an attempt to find a weakness in the foe. While foils, long swords, and rapiers are used in this style, the preferred weapon is the small sword. Introduced to the French court as the sidearm of choice it was preferred to the long rapier, which was seen as cumbersome and inelegant. While not a very powerful weapon, requiring multiple stabs before disabling an opponent (unless a vital organ was pierced), the small sword was light and ideal for carefully aimed hits, complex maneuvers, and swift attacks. The foil on the other hand, restricted the number of targets which could be struck as well as permissible maneuvers.
Defensive off-hand weapons included nearly anything: baton, buckler, cloak, dagger, or an improvised weapon such as a chair, hat, or mug. The dagger was so common however, that a specialized long dagger was developed for defensive purposes and took on a name of it's own, the main gauche or left hand.
The resulting fencing techniques later evolved into modern sport fencing as fencing salles (schools) were opened throughout France.
Costume: Musketeer Outfit; Doublet worn with canions (close fitting breeches) over stockings. Sometimes a jerkin (jacket) was worn over the doublet. Other apparel includes cloaks, shoes, and a variety of brimmed hats.
Stance: Sword between the escrimador and his opponent, with the off-weapon hand held forward to help with parrying (often holding a dagger). Weight is on the balls of the feet and slightly forward, off weapon side leg forward, back foot at a 45 degree angle.
CHARACTER BONUSES
Add +3 to M.A.
Add +1 to P.P.
Add +2 to P.S.
Add +6 to Spd.
Add +1D4 to S.D.C.
COMBAT SKILLS
Attacks per Melee: 4
Escape Moves: Roll with Punch/Fall, Maintain Balance.
Attack Moves: Ballestra (NEW!), Lunge (NEW!).
Basic Defensive Moves: Parry, Dodge, Automatic Parry, Entangle.
Advanced Defenses: Circular Parry, Disarm, Combination Parry/Attack, Corps-a-Corpse (NEW!).
Hand Attacks: Punch (Human Fist).
Basic Foot Attacks: Kick Attack.
Jumping Foot Attacks: None.
Special Attacks: Death Strike.
Holds/Locks: None.
Weapon Kata: W.P. Small Sword (Short Sword), W.P. Dagger, W.P. Buckler, W.P. Cloak (Net), W.P. Blunt, W.P. Paired (only with weapons on this list).
Modifiers to Attacks: Critical Strike, Feint (NEW!).
SKILLS INCLUDED IN TRAINING
Martial Art Powers: None
Languages: French
Cultural(Pick Three): Cook, Dance, Horsemanship, Play Musical Instrument, or Singing.
Physical: Gymnastics, Fencing
Weapon Proficiencies: W.P. Small Sword (Short Sword), W.P. Dagger, W.P. Buckler, W.P. Cloak (Net), W.P. Blunt, W.P. Paired (only with weapons on this list), W.P. Long Sword (Large Sword), W.P. Rapier (Large Sword), W.P. Foil (Large Sword), W.P. Baton (Blunt).
Philosophical Training: Code Duello.
If this is your Primary Martial Art then the following other styles can be learned in a shorter time: Arte Dello Spadone (8 Years), Destreza (10 Years), Hungarian Saber (7 Years), Pardox of Defence (9 Years), Ringen am Schwert (10 Years), Ritterliche Kunst (6 Years).
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT BONUSES
1st: +2 to Strike with Sword, +1 to Parry with Sword, +1 to Disarm
2nd: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage with Sword
3rd: +1 to Feint, Add 3 levels to one Weapon Kata.
4th: +2 to Dodge, +1 to Parry with Sword
5th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Disarm
6th: +1 to Initiative, +1 to Strike with Sword, +1 to Entangle
7th: +2 to Roll with Punch/Fall/Impact
8th: +1 to Parry with Sword, Critical Strike on a Natural 19 or 20
9th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage with Sword
10th: +1 to Feint, Death Strike on a Natural 20
11th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Disarm
12th: +1 to Initiative, +1 to Strike with Sword, +1 to Entangle
13th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Damage with Sword
14th: +1 to Feint, Critical Strike on a Natural 18, 19, or 20
15th: +1 Attack per Melee, +1 to Entangle
Why Study ESCRIME?
A straight forward art of hand to hand combat. The purpose of this style is to kill, plain and simple. A student of this style will become faster and more powerful, and he will be able to fully defend himself in many situations (though for lower level students multiple attackers could be a problem). Weapons are very good for defensive and offensive moves.