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N&S 132 "All martial artists, spies, super heroes and combat trained characters get an automatic parry."

MC 192 "Basic Defensive Moves: Dodge"

So, if this was your only form, could you do it?

Pao Chich doesn't provide other stuff which you might assume people without combat training might be able to do, such as a 1D4 punch.

I'm wondering if we could assume that anyone with a form could also fight as if untrained (not using the form) which would give access to things like punching for someone whose only form is Pao Chih.

Unlike some other games, which give a note about 1/3/9 melee attacks (and in later games, also a +1 to dodge and extra 'non combat' actions) I can't find guidelines on how to do combat for people without martial arts forms.

I guess that's because, far as I can tell, every class in both books has at least Basic to begin with.

iirc, the standard for untrained characters is 1 attack per round and 3 or 4 non-combat actions

Yeah, though i couldn't find that in this system since every class gets a combat form.

I would say that Pao Chih does NOT get automatic parry.
The theory being that it is in a later book, and thus its deliberate non-inclusion of the ability specifically trumps the rule.
It is not a 'trained fighter' art after all, but basically a meditative exercise.

Wintercross wrote:iirc, the standard for untrained characters is 1 attack per round and 3 or 4 non-combat actions

Non combat actions got introduced well over a decade later in Rifts. the concept didn't exist in N&SS.

Probably more worrying is there is no actual way to play a character without a martial art form in any of these games. =/