There is no FA bonus applied to any unarmed combat attacks, so my guess no Grand Mastery bonus. It would only apply to a normal fist attack (not sure what a kick or headbutt would do), but 1d2-1 +2 dam for GM and another +1 dam for Cæstuses. for total of 1d2+2 damage (no idea of any strength bonus). A dagger does 1d4. Might be a waste of the ability, but good fun. I gave a Savage Class NPC Weapon Mastery (Fist Fighting) as he was a street brawler, but he still prefers to use his rusty longsword in battle, whether with a 1/1 attack rate.

Yeah, my error. I do combat a different way and been doing it for 6 years, I thought I knew the rules, but twisted it to suit myself. I add FA as an attack bonus with any modifiers for Str or Dex. So a 7th-level fighter (Str 15) with a +1 longsword and weapon mastery is +7 to attack +1 Str modifiers, +1 magical sword, +1  Weapon mastery = +10 in total. I find it easier to do than scrolling a chart.

So, by that theory Unarmed combat could benefit from Grand Mastery if it was taken in (Unarmed Combat style), but I would think that is find. But perhaps an official opinion is needed as individually Grand Mastery (Grapple) could be a wrestler. Grand Mastery (pummelling) could be a boxer and Grand Mastery (Overbear) could be used by the Chief Constable to subdue rowdies?

The negative is a low damage die of 1d2-1, so granting the 4 abilities as one set seems fine?

 

lol, I guess if damage was too high, pub brawls would end too quickly.

I suppose a brief arena/pit-fighting scenario which a player controlled a group of PCs, each assign various fighting styles based on brawling and gladiator type fighting would suit the idea and have palyers compete against each other. I did a similar idea once (but NPC vs NPC) for a Conan RPG PbP outside of Shadizar in a tent-town environment. A night on the town at the pit, also would help new players get use to various fighting abilities provided by rules...

Yeah, I mentioned in another post my error, because the stacked bonuses are against FA 0. Things you can forget, just not the things ya wanna forget!!!

I love the Grand-master ability of the fighter! I think it sets the class apart. The only thing that is a bit fiddly is that a Grand-master of fists could fairly easily defeat a Monk.  Balance of classes is not the goal as the Monk has other significant abilities, but it is an odd outcome.

mabon5127 wrote:

I love the Grand-master ability of the fighter! I think it sets the class apart. The only thing that is a bit fiddly is that a Grand-master of fists could fairly easily defeat a Monk.  Balance of classes is not the goal as the Monk has other significant abilities, but it is an odd outcome.

 
Even Mastery of pummelling is an interesting idea. Higher attack rate along with a better chance of stunning and better damage.

One is usually equipped with your fists, feet, and knees. Unless you get literally disarmed you can still be a damn effective fighter.

Yep, that is why I think I love Hyperborea so much. It took the rough edges off of 1e.

Each class isn't watered down or something. Fighters are a good choice in the long list of choices, not just a compromise that gets swallowed up by magicians and such around 5th level.

There is no "power balance", there are trade-offs for each class and it matters.

I love monks since they can keep a party alive when encountering disease bearing creatures as well as venomous ones.

I really do love that fighters have Weapon Mastery. It can really matter in a fight that they get that extra attack with that extra to hit and damage bonus.

As noted elsewhere in this thread, it never occurred to me to take mastery in unarmed combat. It only occurred to me when I had to flesh out a captain which are treated as fighters. Then I figured as a woman she would need to hold her own in all sorts of situations. Being a drunk probably meant lots of pub brawls. Even just narrowing mastery to one form, taking pummelling gives her such an advantage against most other sailors. She's going to have a very good chance on stunning them, collecting her winnings, and getting back to drinking.

She still had a slot to use something like a short spear which I think fits with a sailor. Also, her uncle Agathon has mastery in short spear which gave some credence to something a sailor/captain would use.

Then chosing Grand Mastery in pummelling? That's just overkill really and I like having this drunken sailor just beating the snot out of anyone with her fists alone.

It probably doesn't hurt to keep the crew in line, just walking up to some insubordinate deck hand and slapping them into unconsciousness.

Also, yeah, getting a high DX to get another attack per round...definitely Jet Li territory :-)

gizmomathboy wrote:

Yep, that is why I think I love Hyperborea so much. It took the rough edges off of 1e.

Each class isn't watered down or something. Fighters are a good choice in the long list of choices, not just a compromise that gets swallowed up by magicians and such around 5th level.

There is no "power balance", there are trade-offs for each class and it matters.

Pretty much sums up how I feel about AS&SH, too: well said.  

mabon5127 wrote:

Running away is an option.

Yep, what's this "challenge rating" stuff?

I try not to make it to unbalanced, but sometimes you can never know.

Yeah, sometimes you aren't ready to take on that particular encounter..