Editing BurningTemple:Martial Styles

{{BurningTempleHeader}}

<div class="codex-page codex-page--ffbt">

<div class="ffbt-callout">
“You cannot hide your soul. It moves when you move. That is your true style.”

— Master Crane Cloud
</div>

= Martial Styles =

In ''Five Fists of the Burning Temple'', style is everything. It defines your identity, your tactics, your narrative weight. Every martial artist begins with a single martial style—more than a mere technique, it is a personal code.

Styles on this page each include:

* Philosophy: what the style represents
* Stance Bonus: a passive benefit when using the style
* Favored Maneuver Tags: the types of combat maneuvers favored by the style
* Signature Techniques: special abilities unlocked at Novice, Seasoned, and Veteran Rank
* Favored Weapons: the weapons most associated with the style

You may only benefit from one martial style at a time. Switching styles requires the Dual Stylist Edge and requires an Action, unless otherwise specified.

== Choosing a Style ==

You choose a style when you take the Martial Arts [Style] skill. New characters begin with a single style. Experienced characters can choose multiple styles later on, after they take the Dual Stylist Edge.

== Crane Style: Grace Is Stronger Than Stone ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:crane.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Elegance, defense, and balance

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 Parry when unencumbered and using only one weapon

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Counter, Movement

'''Favored Weapons:''' Sword (any), War Fan, Hairpin Blade
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Winged Step
| Ignore difficult terrain while moving
|-
| Seasoned
| Tranquil Rebuke
| On a successful Parry, force the attacker to make a Spirit roll or become Distracted
|-
| Veteran
| Sky-Above Counter
| If you move at least 2" before attacking, gain +2 to hit
|}

== Drunken Style: Chaos Is the True Form ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:drunken.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Deception, unpredictability, and instinct

'''Stance Bonus:''' +2 to resist Tests involving Smarts or Agility

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Movement, Strike

'''Favored Weapons:''' Iron Flask, Bamboo Staff, Improvised Bottles
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Stagger Step
| When missed by a melee attack, you may move 1" in any direction
|-
| Seasoned
| Bottle Spirit
| Once per session, reroll a failed Trait roll with +2
|-
| Veteran
| Stumbling Storm
| Make a second Fighting attack at –2 against a different target within reach
|}

== Eagle Claw Style: Seize With Justice ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:eagle.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Control, counterattacks, and battlefield domination

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to disarm attempts

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Grapple, Counter

'''Favored Weapons:''' Iron Claws, Cestus, Claw Gauntlets
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Grip of Justice
| After a successful block (Parry), you may attempt to Disarm as a free action
|-
| Seasoned
| Crippling Talon
| Called Shots to limbs inflict –2 to Strength or Agility-based rolls (GM’s discretion)
|-
| Veteran
| Sky Rips Open
| Leap 2" and make a single crushing attack that counts as a Heavy Weapon
|}

== Fan Style: Beauty Is a Blade ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:fan.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Elegance, misdirection, and flourish

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to Tests that Distract or Entangle

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Grapple

'''Favored Weapons:''' War Fan, Silk Scarf
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Flash and Flicker
| On any successful Test with Performance, gain +1 Parry for 1 round
|-
| Seasoned
| Silk Serpent’s Kiss
| While holding a cloth, fan, or scarf, attacks count as having Reach +1
|-
| Veteran
| Thousand Petal Bloom
| Strike all enemies within Reach at –2, rolling once against each, with no MAP
|}

== Horse Style: Strength in Swift Motion ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:horse.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Stamina, movement, and overwhelming force

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 Toughness during round in which character moves 2” or more

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Movement

'''Favored Weapons:''' Staff, Spear, Halbered, Dao (Saber)
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Trample and Tread
| After Knocking Prone an enemy, can move 1” without provoking Free Attacks; check Athletics to vault or reposition
|-
| Seasoned
| Thundering Charge
| Once per round, move 3” or more before attacking and gain +1d4 damage; cause target to become Distracted on a Raise
|-
| Veteran
| Four-Legged Storm
| If taking Run action, make two unarmed attacks during movement, even against different targets, with no MAP
|}

== Hundred Forms Style: The Art of All Arms ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:weaponstyle.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' The weapon is not the master—the hand is

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to actions with wielded melee weapons (attack, parry, disarm, or Tests)

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Movement

'''Favored Weapons:''' Any melee weapon
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Whirling Entry
| Move at least 2” before an attack; gain +1 to the attack and damage
|-
| Seasoned
| Form Without Form
| Once per encounter, if you change weapons mid-combat, you can make a Test or Strike as a free action with the new weapon
|-
| Veteran
| Blade Circle Breaker
| When surrounded by 2+ foes, can perform a Whirlwind melee weapon attack at no penalty
|}

== Iron Body Style: Stone Cannot Bleed ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:ironbody.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Defense, resilience, and overpowering stillness

'''Stance Bonus:''' +2 Toughness while unarmored

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Counter

'''Favored Weapons:''' Staff, Iron Bracers, Halberd
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Stone Posture
| Ignore 1 point of Wound penalty for 1 round (once per turn)
|-
| Seasoned
| Iron Pulse
| Force all enemies adjacent to you to make Strength rolls or be pushed 1d4" and Distracted
|-
| Veteran
| Mountain Will Not Fall
| Once per session, ignore all Wound penalties for 1d4 rounds
|}

== Mantis Style: Patience Holds the Blade ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:mantis.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Grapples, traps, and relentless pursuit

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to rolls made to maintain or escape Grapples

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Grapple, Strike

'''Favored Weapons:''' Claw Gauntlets, Hook Sword 
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Hook and Hold
| On a Fighting success, you may Grapple instead of dealing damage
|-
| Seasoned
| Mantis Bind
| If you win a Grapple, target is both Bound and Distracted
|-
| Veteran
| Cracking Carapace
| Once per fight, automatically inflict a Wound on a Bound foe (Vigor roll negates)
|}

== Monkey Style: Laughter Before Death ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:monkey.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Agility, unpredictability, and trickery

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to Athletics rolls when jumping or climbing

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Movement, Strike

'''Favored Weapons:'''Jo Staff, Improvised Weapons
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Flip-Strike
| Leap 1" as a free action before attacking; gain +1 if attacking from above
|-
| Seasoned
| Trickster’s Rebound
| If you succeed with a Trick, gain +2 to your next Fighting roll
|-
| Veteran
| Laughing Fool’s Fury
| When you take a Wound, make an immediate attack against your attacker
|}

== Moth Style: To Fly Into Flame Is Still to Fly ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:moth.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Hypnotic movement, evasive misdirection, baiting

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to all Performance Tests made in combat

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Grapple

'''Favored Weapons:''' Twin Daggers, Throwing Needles, Silk Scarf
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Flutter Drift
| After a successful Performance Test, impose Distracted on two targets
|-
| Seasoned
| Folded Wing Trap
| Turn a successful Parry into a disarm attempt with +2
|-
| Veteran
| Final Ember Spin
| Once per session, turn a Wound into a cinematic final strike: +4 to attack and damage
|}

== Ox Style: Stand, Endure, Break ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:ox.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Earthbound, powerful, defensive, unstoppable force

'''Stance Bonus:''' +2 to resist Shove, Knockback, or Grapple attempts

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Movement

'''Favored Weapons:''' Tonfa, Jo Staff, War Club
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Rooted Stance
| Gain +1 to resist Shove, Grapple, and Tests to unbalance
|-
| Seasoned
| Horn Charge
| After moving at least 4", your next melee attack gains +1d6 damage
|-
| Veteran
| Earth Splits Open
| Once per session, spend a turn focusing; on next round, your attack causes all targets in a Medium Burst Template to be Knocked Prone and Distracted (Strength roll to resist)
|}

== Scorpion Style: Strike Fast, Sting Hard ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:scorpion.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Precision, subtlety, and pressure-point mastery

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 Parry against enemies who have already acted this round

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Counter

'''Favored Weapons:''' Dao Saber, Hook Sword, Twin Daggers
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Curled Tail Counter
| If you avoid a melee attack, can immediately make an unarmed counterattack at –2. On a hit, the target is also Distracted until the end of their next turn
|-
| Seasoned
| Sting Beneath the Heart
| Called shots that hit cause target to suffer –1 to all Trait rolls for 1d4 rounds
|-
| Veteran
| Whiplash Wake
| After a successful attack, immediately make a free Test with Agility or Boast
|}

== Snake Style: To Strike, One Must First Coil ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:snake.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Precision, subtlety, and pressure-point mastery

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to Called Shots

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Counter

'''Favored Weapons:''' Chain Whip, Rope Dart, Twin Daggers
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Needle Fang
| Ignore 1 point of armor (AP 1) on your melee damage
|-
| Seasoned
| Serpent’s Whisper
| When you Test with Taunt, target is Vulnerable even on a Success
|-
| Veteran
| Venom Lash
| Raise on a Fighting attack causes the target to take –2 to all Trait rolls for 1 round
|}

== Tiger Style: The Claws of the Proud Beast ==

<div class="ffbt-card">
[[File:tiger.png|150px|left]]
'''Philosophy:''' Power, directness, and righteous fury

'''Stance Bonus:''' +1 to attack rolls against enemies who are Shaken

'''Favored Maneuver Tags:''' Strike, Movement

'''Favored Weapons:''' Iron Claws, Cestus, Short Sword
</div>

{| class="wikitable ffbt-table"
! Rank
! Signature Technique
! Effect
|-
| Novice
| Pouncing Strike
| Move 1" before attacking without triggering Free Attacks
|-
| Seasoned
| Iron Roar
| Intimidate as a free action once per round
|-
| Veteran
| Tiger Breaks the Cage
| +2 damage vs targets in Grapples or who are Bound
|}

== Style-Specific Edges ==

Requires Martial Arts [Style] d8+ and Seasoned Rank. One Edge per style unless the GM rules otherwise.

=== Crane Style: Feather Step ===

Ignore penalties from difficult terrain and maintain perfect balance on narrow or unstable surfaces.

=== Drunken Style: Staggering Flow ===

Once per round, after succeeding on an Agility Trick, you may immediately move 2” in any direction without triggering Free Attacks.

=== Eagle Claw Style: Rending Talon Grip ===

When you grapple a foe, you may immediately make an opposed Martial Arts [Style] roll as a free action. If successful, the target suffers –2 Parry and –2 to Strength rolls until the grapple ends.

If you gain a Raise on the initial grapple, the target also becomes Distracted.

=== Fan Style: Blinding Sweep ===

Once per turn, when wielding a fan or slashing weapon, you may make a free Agility-based Test against an adjacent foe. If successful, they suffer –2 Parry until the end of their next turn.

=== Horse Style: Unbridled Momentum ===

When moving at least 6” in a straight line before attacking, you gain +1 damage and +1 to resist being Shaken that round.

=== Hundred Forms Style: Adaptive Flow ===

Once per round, after an enemy misses you in melee, you may switch your Stance as a free action—even if it is not your turn.

=== Iron Body Style: Breath of Stone ===

Once per combat, spend a Bennie to gain +2 Toughness and +2 to resist being Shaken for 3 rounds.

=== Mantis Style: Hook and Trap ===

Once per round, when your Fighting attack hits with a Raise, you may force the target to make a Strength roll or be Entangled until the end of their next turn.

=== Monkey Style: Trickster’s Rebound ===

After a successful Trick, gain +2 to your next Martial Artist or Athletics attack before the end of your next turn.

=== Moth Style: Shimmering Guard ===

Enemies suffer –2 to hit you with ranged attacks if you moved at least 4" this turn. Your flowing footwork disrupts aim and timing.

=== Ox Style: Unyielding Frame ===

While Shaken, you gain +1 Toughness and your movement is not restricted. The Ox does not break under pressure.

=== Scorpion Style: Venom Skin ===

Immune to mundane poisons; gain +2 to resist magical, qi-based, or alchemical toxins. Can identify poisons by scent or taste.

=== Snake Style: Coiling Defense ===

When fighting Defensively or taking the Defend maneuver, enemies take an additional –1 to attack rolls against you.

=== Tiger Style: Relentless ===

Reroll damage against Shaken foes using Tiger-style strikes. Take the better result.


{{Burning Temple Nav}}
</div>
</div>
[[Category:Burning Temple]]