Martial Arts

An empty hand never jams, never breaks and never gets confiscated by slavers. Martial Arts is the build that cannot be disarmed.

What It Does

Martial Arts governs how effective you are fighting unarmed. At high levels a martial artist throws and pummels enemies with surprising force.

Hidden Effects

Martial Arts performs best with little or no armour on the hands and light overall encumbrance — heavy gear penalises it. It also keeps working when you are imprisoned and stripped of weapons.

How XP Works

You train it by fighting unarmed against capable enemies, the same as any combat skill.

Best Training Methods

Fight bandits unarmed near guards, and lean on the slavery loop — enslaved characters keep no weapon, so captivity is natural Martial Arts training.

Common Mistakes

Wearing heavy armour on a martial artist. Encumbrance and armour penalties gut the build. Keep them light and fast.