When fighting, an Earth approach lets a character withstand attacks until the perfect moment to strike back. Any task can be accomplished with tenacity in sufficient measure. An Earth approach to a martial task is often cautious, moving slowly to avoid pitfalls or exhaustion.
Details
An Earth approach to a Martial skill focuses on solid basics, firm defenses, and simple, reliable tactics. Martial arts often revolve around seemingly endless drilling in these basics, and even those who have achieved a degree of mastery are expected to put considerable time and energy into the upkeep of such skills. A character practicing this approach moves through obstacles slowly and carefully, without risking harm. An Earth approach is consistent and safe, but also predictable—therefore, it is most favorable in situations and terrain where the enemy has no choice but to fight at a disadvantage. The Earth approach to a Martial skill frequently involves setting up in such a position and then waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike. If the enemy can slip through the defenses of a character practicing a Martial skill with an Earth approach, however, the technique or tactic’s rigidity turns from a strength to a weakness in an instant.
A character uses Withstand when they want to:
A character uses Withstand when they want to:
- Meet hardship head-on and shrug it off.
- Move slowly and carefully.
- Wear their foe down.
- Lift and carry heavy objects.
- Practice a technique that relies on endurance above all.
Value |
Opportunity Uses |
* |
During a Movement action, ignore one terrain quality of your choice. |
* + |
Reduce the severity of the next critical strike you suffer before the start of your next turn by 1 per * spent this way. |
* * |
Do not apply one of your disadvantages to checks until the end of your next turn. |
Opportunity Uses |
|
* |
If you failed, determine the easiest way to accomplish the task you were attempting (skill and approach). |
* + |
Remove 1 strife you gained from this check per * spent this way. |
* * |
Provide assistance to the next character to attempt a check to accomplish something similar |
* |
If you failed, provide assistance to the next character trying to accomplish the same action (p. 298 CRB) |
* |
Reassure another character in the scene with your presence, allowing them to remove 2 strife. |
* + |
Act carefully to minimize consequences of failure or other dangers that could arise from the task. Extra * makes the attempt even safer. |
* * |
Suddenly recall an important piece of information not directly related to the task. At the GM’s discretion, you may establish a small preparatory action you took earlier, such as bringing along a common useful item. |
General Martial Technique Opportunities
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Earth Martial Technique Opportunities
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Crescent Moon Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Guard Action
Activation: When you perform Guard action (any Element):
* After a character at range 1–2 performs an Attack action targeting you or another character you are guarding, you may perform a Strike action with one readied Martial Arts [Melee or Unarmed] weapon targeting that character (if they are within your weapon’s range). This effect persists until the start of your next turn, or until you perform a Strike action this way Coiling Serpent Style (Rank 2 Kata)- Snaring Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] ( Any Element) check using a Snaring weapon:
* +: Choose one weapon a target has readied; that weapon cannot be used for Attack actions. This effect persists until the end of your next turn. * * +: One target of your action per * * spent this way becomes Immobilized. Iron Forest Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Polearm Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] check using a polearm:
* + The area in range of your weapon counts as Dangerous terrain for one target of your action per * spent this way. When an affected character attempts to move closer to you, they must make a TN 4 Fitness check (Air 2, Water 5); if they fail, they cannot advance. This effect persists until the start of your next turn. Open-Hand Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Unarmed + Snaring Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Unarmed] check using a weapon with the Snaring quality
* * +: One target of your action per * * spent this way must switch to a different stance of your choice. Targets of silhouette 3 or greater may resist with a TN 3 Fitness check and ignore this effect if they succeed Rushing Avalanche Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Blunt Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] check using a blunt weapon:
* If you fail with a shortfall of two or less, your target suffers physical damage equal to your ranks in Fitness. * If you succeed and your target is Prone, increase the damage you deal by your ranks in Fitness. Spinning Blades Style (Rank 2 Kata) - 2 Weapons Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] Attack action check, if you have a second readied weapon you did not use for the attack:
* +: You must spend * equal to your target’s Vigilance to activate this technique. You use your second readied weapon against one target of your action, inflicting physical damage equal to its base damage. If that target is Dazed, increase this damage by your ranks in the skill you used for the check. VEiled Menace Style (Rank 2 Kata) - One-handed Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] or Martial Arts [Unarmed] Attack action check using a weapon in a one-handed grip:
* +: If you succeed, choose one unaware or Disoriented target of your action. That target suffers a critical strike with severity equal to your weapon’s deadliness plus 1 per * spent this way beyond the first. Hawk's Precision (Rank 1 Kata) - Ranged Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Ranged] check:
* + Treat the range of the weapon as 1 higher per * spent this way, to a maximum of range 6. Pelting Hail Style (Rank 2 Kata) - Ranged Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Ranged] check:
* + Choose a number of other characters at range 0–2 of your target equal to * spent this way. Each chosen character receives strife equal to the base damage of your weapon. Bonebreaker Style (Rank 5 Kata)- Cumbersome Only
Activation: When you make an Attack action check with a Cumbersome Weapon:
* *: If your target would suffer a critical strike as a result of this check, instead of making a check to resist, they suffer the severity 5–6: Debilitating Gash result. Piercing Bolt Style (Rank 3 Kata)- Ax/Polearm Only
Activation: When you make an Attack action check using an ax or polearm:
* : Treat the deadliness of your weapon as increased by the number of range bands you have traveled this round, and if you threw it, add the number of range bands it has traveled this round. Swirling Tempest Style (Rank 5 Kata)- Blunt/Polearm Only
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee] action check with a Blunt Weapon or Polearm:
* +: Choose one character in range of your weapon other than your target with vigilance lower than or equal to * spent this way. That character suffers physical damage equal to your weapon’s base damage. You may activate this * multiple times, choosing a different character each time. TWin STreams Style (Rank 3 Kata)- TWo Sword/Two Ax Only
Activation: When you make a Attack action check using a sword or ax, if you have another readied weapon in the same category:
* *: If your target suffers a critical strike as a result of this check, increase its severity by the deadliness of your other readied weapon. Fierce Badger Style (Rank 2 Kata)- Unarmed Only
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] Check:
* + If the target is immobilized, they receive 1 strife per * spent this way. * + If the targets' silhouette and vigilance both are lower than or equal to * spent this way, the target is thrown 2 range bands in a direction of your choice and suffers 3 fatigue. Thicket's Embrace Style (Rank 3 Kata)- Unarmed Or Fitness
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] or Fitness Check:
* If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, reduce the TN of the next attach check you make by 1 (to a minimum of 1). This effect persists until the end of your next turn. * * If you are in Entangling or Obscuring terrain, you may ignore its negative effects. This effect persists until the end of your next turn. Shattering Tide Style (Rank 3 Kata)- Unarmed Only
Activation: When you perform a Martial Arts [Unarmed] Check:
* If you succeed, and both you and your target are in Confining or Dangerous terrain, treat the damage and deadliness of the weapon you used as 1 higher for each kept Strife result. * * If both you and your target are in Confining or Dangerous terrain, your target suffers the Dazed condition. |
Iron in the Mountains Style (Rank 4 Kata)
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee, Ranged, or Unarmed] (Earth) check:
* + : One target of your action must resist with a TN 3 Fitness check (Air 1, Water 4) or suffer the Prone condition and fatigue equal to their shortfall. Increase the TN of the check to resist by 1 per * spent this way. striking AS EARTH (Rank 1 Kata)
Activation: When you make a Martial Arts [Melee, Ranged, or Unarmed] (Earth) check:
* + Treat your physical resistance as 1 higher per * spent this way until the beginning of your next turn. Stonewall Tactics (Rank 1 Shuji)
Activation: When making a Social skill (Earth) or Martial skill (Earth) check targeting a character:
*+ Increase the TN of any check the target makes that does not target you by 1 per * spent this way. This effect persists until the beginning of your next turn. Look Out! (Rank 3 Shuji) - Resist Only
Activation: When you make a check to resist an effect
* + : One character per * spent this way may immediately switch to a stance of their choice. |
Special Circumstance Opportunities
In Shadowlands
** Your resolute nature steels you against the unstable environment of the Shadowlands. You count your vigilance as 1 higher the next time you seek to notice or avoid a hazardous situation or creature.
Against Tainted Threats
** You are able to weather such terrible
things as the revelation of a secret mahō-tsukai or the summoning of an
oni. The next time you suffer strife this scene, you suffer 2 fewer
strife, to a minimum of 0.
While Tainted
** No mortal concern can
slow you, as you already endure worse than most can even imagine. For
the rest of the scene, whenever you suffer fatigue reduce the value
suffered by 2, to a minimum of 0.
In Negotiations
*** Your uncompromising dedication to your bottom line stalls the conversation. Choose a character in the scene: that character cannot gain momentum points toward any social objective until the end of your next turn.
In Romance
** An offhand comment reveals that you and your intended share some common ground: an odd hobby, a favorite actor, or a core belief. Make three suggestions to your intended’s player; they must tell you which one it is. You and your intended may each remove 2 strife.
In Espionage
*+ You locate an excellent hiding place, either a place where no one questions your cover identity or a concealed location no one checks. While hiding in this location, you reduce the TN of your checks to avoid notice by * spent this way
In Contested Territory
* * * You create a clever disguise or ruse to get the jump on potential foes. The next time you enter a conflict scene this session, after initiative has been determined, choose one character in the scene. On that character's next check, they must reroll all results containing non-explosive Success symbols.
* Not even the chaos of war or the strangeness of foreign lands can faze you. Reduce the TN of the next check you make to deal with an unfamiliar situation or opponent by 1.
* You hold fast to the thought of home while in distant locals and dangerous situations. You may remove 1 strife for each condition you are currently suffering.
* Not even the chaos of war or the strangeness of foreign lands can faze you. Reduce the TN of the next check you make to deal with an unfamiliar situation or opponent by 1.
* You hold fast to the thought of home while in distant locals and dangerous situations. You may remove 1 strife for each condition you are currently suffering.