User:MisterSinister/Martial Artist's Manual (3.5e Sourcebook)/The Basics

The Basics
This section describes the core terminology and rules associated with this sourcebook.

Terminology
A style is a collection of martial arts abilities, called techniques.

This document will frequently refer to a 'scene' as a duration. This is similar to a scene in a movie or a book, and lasts 15 minutes.

Rules
All techniques are extraordinary abilities unless listed otherwise. If a technique calls for a save, its DC, unless stated otherwise, is 10 + 1/2 the user's character level + the ability score modifier of the style from which the technique comes. Almost all styles have several ability scores associated with them - in this case, the user can choose which they use at the time they use the technique.

To use a technique, you must be free to move and not prone. If you begin a technique and are then knocked prone or somehow inhibited in your movement (including being paralyzed, immobilized, etc), the technique automatically fails.

Reading a style
All styles follow a common format.

Style Weapons
These are the weapons the style was designed for. Anything listed here counts as a style weapon; see this section for more information on why this is relevant.

Style Bonus
While in any stance from this style, you gain this bonus in addition to what the stance would normally give you.

Style Skills
These are the skills that practitioner of this style like having high.

DC Ability Score
If any technique from this style calls for a saving throw, unless specified otherwise, it DC is 10 + 1/2 of your character level + one of the ability score modifiers listed here. You can choose which you use on any given technique.

Reading a technique
All techniques follow a common format.

Tags
This lists any tags that the technique has. Some tags are simply specifiers; others have a rules impact. These are listed below.

At-Will
Techniques with this tag can be used whenever the user can spend their use time. Note that there still may be conditions on the use of abilities.

Banner
A technique with this tag has a visual component. Only allies or opponents that see the technique being used can be affected by it. You can always see your own techniques unless blinded.

Mind-Affecting
This tag indicates that the technique is mind-affecting. Note that, if the technique involves an attack of some kind, the attack still deals its normal damage if it hits an opponent immune to mind-affecting abilities.

Scheduled
A Scheduled technique can only be used when available. After it has been used, it becomes unavailable. Unavailable Scheduled techniques become available at the end of the scene, although any martial arts class has a way to make Scheduled techniques available again.

Shout
A technique with this tag has an audible component. Only allies or opponents that can hear the user can be affected by it. You can always hear your own techniques unless deafened. Unlike most techniques, a shout can be used regardless of whether you can move freely or not; however, if you are silenced somehow, the shout fails.

Skill: X
X can be any skill in the Tome of Prowess. This tag indicates that the technique has some connection with that skill. This is intended to be a hint or reminder of its functionality, and otherwise does nothing.

Stance
A stance is an ongoing effect. You cannot be in more than one stance at a time. To go into a new stance (ending your old one), you must spend a swift action. A stance's effects continue as long as you remain in it. Stances also end if you are knocked prone.

Style Weapon Only
If a technique has this tag, any attacks made as part of it must be performed with a style weapon for the style from which this technique comes. This may have an optional qualifier; for example, Style Weapon Only: Ranged means 'style weapons from this technique's style which happen to be ranged', and so on. If there is no qualifier, any style weapon will do.

Use Time
This is the action cost that must be paid to use this technique. Stances omit this section. If a number is not given (for example, it says 'Immediate'), assume that 1 action of that type is required. If this section reads 'Attack', this means that it takes the place of a single melee or ranged attack, which can be iterative or not.