weapon kata and tamashiwara

[Alrik Vas]

Holy crap someone answer this, i'm interested as hell and i got no idea how it would work.

[Tor]

Tamashiwara closes saying 'punching or kicking' but that's expanded by the opening flavor text which also mentions elbows, knees and foreheads. I don't think this would allow for weapons.

Weapon Katas allow you to use allow you to add your art's bonuses to WP attacks and to use weapons with your art's moves. This means if you have a circular parry or something, you can do it with your staff.

It doesn't mean that you can take specific moves and use them with a weapon though, if it doesn't make any sense. You can't do a 'dropkick' with a staff, for example, because it's a kick.

Tamashiwara's description implies the use of the physical body by it's description. It's too specific to allow for a weapon.

Most Atemi abilities are also this way, requiring specific strikes. The only Atemi whose description is generic enough to allow for weapon katas to be used to deliver them are Duatsu, and Kyosho (maybe some others in MC). Chirigi requires 2 specific hand strikes, while Grasping Hand by nature of it's name I think requires a hand (although ignoring the title, there could be other ways to perform joint locks, dunno). Withering Flesh specifies a punch and Dim Mak requires a hand strike as well.

[cms6317]

One thing to note, is that a Golem is a living thing, which means that it has Chi.
You cannot shatter it or break a hole in it because it is a living entity.
You would do double damage direct to hit points.
If it were a rifts setting, or a bts setting that the gm gave it MDC, I would allow for Tamashiwara to do damage in MD capacity against an MDC creature.

On a side note:

My GM came up with some additional Martial Arts Powers (it may have come from a Rifter, I don't know); here is one from the list:

Setsudan or Severing Chi:
Much like Tamashiwara, but requires the use of a weapon with a sharp edge. Instead of breaking the target, it is cut cleanly apart. Even items that would normally be impossible to cut without shattering, like glass bottles and the like, are neatly severed. Mind and Spirit must be as one, so no emotional disturbance can be troubling the warrior. Cannot be used near a creature with a Horror Factor over 15, they are just too distracting. Against a living opponent, Setsudan or Severing does double normal damage (plus strength bonus if applicable) direct to hit points. Against intangible creatures like supernatural creatures, magical entities, and alien energy beings, the weapon does full damage. Creatures normally unaffected by normal man-made weapons take half damage.

Requirements: Weapon Kata.

(Considered a Martial Art Technique, and may be used with any form.)

[smashed]

I would not consider golems as living things. I put them in the same class as robots.

For my games I would allow a tamashiwara user to affect golems, but it could end up being either highly effective or completely ineffective. If the golem is large enough, the user could break holes in the golem with no real effect. Smaller golems could have their limbs removed with called shots. The most effective thing I would allow, which also requires knowledge of golems by the tamashiwara user, would be to target where the heart of the golem is and aim for that. I would allow a successful strike to remove the heart, destroying the golem.

[Nekira Sudacne]

I would not consider golems as living things. I put them in the same class as robots.

For my games I would allow a tamashiwara user to affect golems, but it could end up being either highly effective or completely ineffective. If the golem is large enough, the user could break holes in the golem with no real effect. Smaller golems could have their limbs removed with called shots. The most effective thing I would allow, which also requires knowledge of golems by the tamashiwara user, would be to target where the heart of the golem is and aim for that. I would allow a successful strike to remove the heart, destroying the golem.

But they are explictly classified as alive by the spell that makes them, they are considered creatures of magic. The fact they lack freewill does not mean they are not alive.

[Axelmania]

When are they called creatures of magic? Does this mean golems will split Zavors?

Could a necromancer attach the limbs of a golem to himself?

[Nekira Sudacne]

When are they called creatures of magic? Does this mean golems will split Zavors?

Uh, it's listed as that in the book of magic which is what I usually use to check.

Could a necromancer attach the limbs of a golem to himself?

And sure, why not?

[Axelmania]

Hm... don't golems fully regenerate as long as you don't remove the heart? Unlimited golem limbs...

Necromancers are also capable of attaching limbs to people other than themselves at higher levels...

So you could get a bunch of minions and give them all golem limbs

[zerombr]

even if its non-living, it has chi to break. however since its a critter and not just an object, I'd go with the X2 to HP...though it hasn't HP.

Hmmm. it definitely should do extra damage. especially since its a full round move.

triple weapon damage maybe?