Martial Arts: Kenjutsu
Kenjutsu
3 points
Kenjutsu is the art of the Japanese longsword, or katana. The katana held a privileged place for the samurai class – it was said to house its owner's soul. Its manufacture was a mystical ritual that combined metallurgical skill with a strong sense of aesthetics. It and the fighting methods used with it have become legendary.
Samurai most often wielded the katana in two hands, and the style described here favors two-handed methods. The blade was balanced well enough for one-handed use, though, and there were schools that weighted one- and two-handed use more evenly. These would feature more Broadsword techniques.
Kenjutsu places much emphasis on the cut. Fighters learn to thrust but usually use their sword for deep slashes. Likewise, while Kenjutsu teaches a full range of parries, it isn't a defensive art. Stylists commonly make Committed and All-Out Attacks. The classic Kenjutsu tactic is to dash the opponent's blade out of line with a Beat and then finish him with a cut. Ultimately, Kenjutsu is a highly aggressive style.
Kenjutsu training uses the bokken (wooden sword). This is safer than a bare blade, but severe injuries can – and did – occur during practice. Musashi Miyamoto felt that the bokken was deadlier than the katana, and used it or improvised substitutes to fight lethal duels.
When it comes to legends about weapons and their wielders' abilities, the katana and Kenjutsu have few rivals. In a cinematic game, nearly any skill or technique that could conceivably work with a sword should be available to one ryu or another. A few schools reputedly taught how to throw either the katana or the wakizashi (shortsword) as a secret tactic of last resort!
Secret methods needn't be cinematic, however. Historically, Kenjutsu was only part of a particular ryu (see Ryu). Warriors normally studied the katana alongside the other weapons in the samurai arsenal. Kenjutsu ryuha were unusually numerous, though – there were more than 700 during the Tokugawa era! The differences between them were typically minute and only distinguishable by advanced practitioners, but many schools were rivals that keenly guarded secret techniques from one another. Thus, a realistic ryu would probably teach only a subset of the techniques from the extremely complete list below – stressing some moves over others – while possibly adding optional ("secret") components.
Today, Kenjutsu schools are extremely rare. Would-be students must typically seek out instruction in Japan. Kendois far more common.
Korean swordsmen use a weapon very similar to the katana, called the jang gum. Korean sword arts are nearly identical to Kenjutsu in game terms, and should use the components listed below. They're less likely to offer Fast-Draw or techniques for two-sword fighting, though, and practitioners make jumping attacks (treat as Committed or All-Out Attacks) more often.
Skills: Broadsword; Two-Handed Sword.
Techniques: Back Strike (Two-Handed Sword); Counterattack (Two-Handed Sword); Feint (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword); Targeted Attack (Two-Handed Sword Swing/Arm); Targeted Attack (Two-Handed Sword Swing/Neck); Targeted Attack (Two-Handed Sword Swing/Skull); Targeted Attack (Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Neck); Targeted Attack (Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Blind Fighting; Flying Leap; Immovable Stance; Kiai; Mental Strength; Power Blow.
Cinematic Techniques: Dual-Weapon Defense (Two-Handed Sword); Timed Defense (Two-Handed Sword); Whirlwind Attack (Two-Handed Sword).
Perks: Grip Mastery (Katana).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Language (Japanese); Weapon Master (Katana).
Disadvantages: Code of Honor (Bushido); Duty.
Skills: Armoury; Breath Control; Broadsword Art; Fast-Draw (Sword or Two-Handed Sword); Meditation; Philosophy (Zen Buddhism); Savoir-Faire (Dojo); Shortsword; Thrown Weapon (Sword); Two-Handed Sword Art.
Techniques: Counterattack (Broadsword); Low Fighting (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword); Reverse Grip (Two-Handed Sword).
Perks: Weapon Bond.
Iaijutsu
5 points
Iaijutsu is the Japanese art of drawing a weapon and striking or parrying with it in a single motion. It rose to prominence during a period when samurai were routinely armed but not typically in combat. (In battle, they'd ready their weapons before engaging the enemy!) It fell into disfavor after "crossroad cuttings" – practicing Iaijutsu skills on convenient passersby – became common.
Swordsmen often studied Iaijutsu alongside Kenjutsu (above) or Nito Ryu (below).
Iaijutsuka (Iaijutsu stylists) focus on two sets of tactics. Defensively, they practice drawing the sword to fend off blows – especially surprise attacks. Offensively, they learn to draw and strike before their victim can react.
The iaijutsuka doesn't necessarily expect to win the fight with his initial strike. He remains poised to deliver second and later attacks should his foe survive the first one. After dispatching his enemy, he composes himself while remaining wary; treat this as a Wait maneuver. Once it's clear that no further threat remains, the iaijutsuka cleans his blade before sheathing it.
The motion used to clean blood from the blade is called chiburi. This automatically follows many Iaijutsu moves, whether or not the iaijutsuka plans to sheathe his weapon. It can consist of a broad, swinging motion, a wrist snap, or spinning the sword. Flicking the blood of a fallen enemy from the blade used to cut him down can impress onlookers and surviving foes – roll a free Intimidation attempt! In cinematic and fantasy games, chiburi is also useful for removing corrosive monster blood, incriminating poison, etc.
Skills: Broadsword; Broadsword Art; Fast-Draw (Sword); Two-Handed Sword.
Techniques: Back Strike (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword); Low Fighting (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Swing/Arm); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Swing/Neck); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Swing/Skull); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Neck); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength; Precognitive Parry.
Cinematic Techniques: Springing Attack (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword); Timed Defense (Broadsword or Two-Handed Sword).
Perks: Grip Mastery (Katana); Quick-Sheathe (Sword); Shtick (Chiburi).
Optional Traits
Secondary Characteristics: Improved Basic Speed and Per.
Advantages: Combat Reflexes; Danger Sense; Language (Japanese).
Disadvantages: Reputation (For crossroad cutting).
Skills: Meditation; Observation; Savoir-Faire (Dojo); Shortsword; Shortsword Art.
Perks: Weapon Bond.
Nito Ryu
3 points
Nito Ryu ("two swords school") is a term used for Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu, the Kenjutsu style founded by Musashi Miyamoto in 17th-century Japan. Musashi felt that holding a sword in two hands restricted the wielder's movements, limited his defensive and offensive options, and was impossible on horseback or when carrying a second weapon (such as a spear or bow) for battle.
He developed a style that used the katana in one hand, freeing the other to use the wakizashi (shortsword) simultaneously or to hold another weapon. Although heavily identified with the sword, Musashi also learned to use the jitte from his family's martial-arts training, and modern schools teach this to advanced students.
Nito Ryu can be very aggressive, attacking with both blades at once or using them alternately to rain down blows. Stylists wield their weapons forcefully, using Committed Attack or even All-Out Attack (Double) to overwhelm their foe. When armed with two swords, they favor Dual-Weapon Attack – often using one blade to feint (or to Beat) and the other to attack. Nito Ryu makes regular use of both weapons to fend off single-weapon attacks (see Cross Parry), followed by a Counterattack. Overall, it eschews defensive tactics in favor of overpowering the foe.
Musashi was known for his aggressiveness and his disdain for many of the trappings of the samurai. His impressive success record in mortal duels also gave him a reputation for bloodthirstiness. Nito Ryu stylists may choose to duplicate their style founder's less-praiseworthy traits as well as his skills.
Skills: Broadsword; Shortsword.
Techniques: Counterattack (Broadsword or Shortsword); Feint (Broadsword or Shortsword); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Arm); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Neck); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword Swing/Skull); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword Thrust/Neck); Targeted Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword Thrust/Vitals).
Cinematic Skills: Mental Strength; Power Blow.
Cinematic Techniques: Dual-Weapon Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword); Dual-Weapon Defense (Broadsword or Shortsword); Timed Defense (Broadsword or Shortsword); Whirlwind Attack (Broadsword or Shortsword).
Perks: Off-Hand Weapon Training (Shortsword); Unusual Training (Dual-Weapon Attack, Both attacks must target the same foe).
Optional Traits
Advantages: Ambidexterity; Combat Reflexes; Language (Japanese).
Disadvantages: Bloodlust; Obsession (Perfect sword skills); Odious Personal Habit (Bad manners); Reputation (User of unconventional strategies).
Skills: Artist (calligraphy, painting, and/or sculpting); Breath Control; Broadsword Art; Fast-Draw (Sword); Jitte/Sai; Meditation; Philosophy (Zen Buddhism); Savoir-Faire (Dojo); Staff; Tactics; Two-Handed Sword.