Martial Arts Guide Advanced
A martial artist carries no weapon, so the wasteland can never take one. That is the whole appeal.
Build Martial Arts with Dodge and Toughness, keep armour and encumbrance light, and use captivity as natural training.
The Core Build
A martial artist relies on Martial Arts for offence and Dodge plus Toughness for survival. They avoid hits rather than block them, so the defensive skills are not optional.
Gear Rules
Martial Arts is penalised by armour on the hands and by encumbrance. Keep the build light — light armour, low carried weight — or the damage collapses.
Training It
Fight unarmed against capable enemies near guards. Captivity is ideal training — an enslaved character keeps no weapon, so a slave camp doubles as a dojo.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Martial artists can never be disarmed and excel against unarmoured foes, but struggle against heavy armour and are fragile while the build is still developing.
“Fight at chokepoints. Being surrounded, not being outmatched, is what kills squads.”