Local Fighting Styles

Many specialized forms of combat evolved throughout the world in various locations. Some Roman gladiators were trained to fight with net and trident; Western Europe developed the joust; and martial arts evolved throughout southern and eastern Asia. If a character comes from an area where a unique form of combat has evolved, she may spend a weapon proficiency slot to specialize in that form of fighting.

Some examples of specialized fighting styles include: rapier and main-gauche, sabre, fighting sticks or nunchuks, katana and wakizashi, and so on. If a character spends a proficiency slot to specialize in one of these local styles, she can choose one of the following benefits:

· A –1 bonus to Armor Class;

· A +1 bonus to attack rolls;

· The ability to make a free block or trap maneuver without spending an attack to do so;

· The negation of penalties for fighting with two weapons;

· A free unarmed punch or kick.

For example, specialization in fighting with matched sticks or nunchuks may confer the negation of the normal –2/–4 attack penalty for fighting with two weapons. Rapier and main-gauche specialization may provide the character with an extra block or trap maneuver with his main-gauche. The DM is the final judge of what bonus a particular style provides and whether or not a character can specialize in it.

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