Martial Art Power: Zanshin or Martial Art Awareness

*heretic888* · 03-07-2003, 01:27 AM

((This is a martial art power used in some of the Palladium RPGs))

In Japanese, this is often called Tsuki no Kokoro, which means "Mind like the Moon." That's because it is said that the martial artist's mind floats above the body, calmly sensing all activity around it.

A threat, no matter how slight, will disturb that calm. As a Zanshin-shi might put it, "As someone thinks to attack me, that person's Ki comes toward me. I have only to follow the Ki, and I will know the source of the attack."

This ability is one of readiness and awareness. Training involves being constantly on the alert, even while sleeping or in the bathroom!

The martial artist will INSTANTLY sense anybody who enters his/her Zanshin circle, including animals and even those with intangibility and/or invisibility (although he/she still can not see the invisible).

BONUSES: +6 to initiative, +2 to parry, +4 to dodge, and can not be suprised from attacks from behind. When fighting an invisible foe (or a character with superhuman speed) these Zanshin bonuses do not apply, but his/her other combat skills remained unimpaired due to his mystic awareness (this character does NOT suffer the usual penalties from fighting an invisible or superhumanly fast foe).

Characters with this ability also have a reduced form of Ki Awareness that allows them to evaluate the Ki of anyone they can see who is inside their Zanshin circle.

At first level, Zanshin extends for an area of 6 feet around the character. This is increased by 2 feet for every level of advancement.
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Note: Regarding my RPing, with Zanshin, Michelangelo (including his Weapon Proficiency bonuses with the nunchaku) will have a Strike bonus of +11, a Parry bonus of +14, a Dodge bonus of +13..... and his Zanshin circle (at level 5) will extend a distance of 14 feet in all directions.

If anyone wants to incorporate this skill with their character (optional), I can 'do the math' for you....

03-07-2003, 01:27 AM	#1
heretic888 Foot Elite Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,344	Martial Art Power: Zanshin or Martial Art Awareness ((This is a martial art power used in some of the Palladium RPGs)) In Japanese, this is often called Tsuki no Kokoro, which means "Mind like the Moon." That's because it is said that the martial artist's mind floats above the body, calmly sensing all activity around it. A threat, no matter how slight, will disturb that calm. As a Zanshin-shi might put it, "As someone thinks to attack me, that person's Ki comes toward me. I have only to follow the Ki, and I will know the source of the attack." This ability is one of readiness and awareness. Training involves being constantly on the alert, even while sleeping or in the bathroom! The martial artist will INSTANTLY sense anybody who enters his/her Zanshin circle, including animals and even those with intangibility and/or invisibility (although he/she still can not see the invisible). BONUSES: +6 to initiative, +2 to parry, +4 to dodge, and can not be suprised from attacks from behind. When fighting an invisible foe (or a character with superhuman speed) these Zanshin bonuses do not apply, but his/her other combat skills remained unimpaired due to his mystic awareness (this character does NOT suffer the usual penalties from fighting an invisible or superhumanly fast foe). Characters with this ability also have a reduced form of Ki Awareness that allows them to evaluate the Ki of anyone they can see who is inside their Zanshin circle. At first level, Zanshin extends for an area of 6 feet around the character. This is increased by 2 feet for every level of advancement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: Regarding my RPing, with Zanshin, Michelangelo (including his Weapon Proficiency bonuses with the nunchaku) will have a Strike bonus of +11, a Parry bonus of +14, a Dodge bonus of +13..... and his Zanshin circle (at level 5) will extend a distance of 14 feet in all directions. If anyone wants to incorporate this skill with their character (optional), I can 'do the math' for you.... __________________ "Ninpo began as training to become a moral people and to learn to endure in whatever social condition one is in; to know and accept one's fate, and to live for human beings and all other creatures. The person who masters all of these is a Ninja." (Masaaki Hatsumi)