Black Belt

[jaymz]

So at what level would character be a "Black Belt" and then how many levels would gaining a higher "degree" of "Black Belt" be?

I'd explain why I am asking but that may run afoul of the "no conversions" policy.

Thanks in advance.

[Jefffar]

With the exception of the 'Agent' forms, I'd say that all the Martial Arts you are starting at the equivalent to at least a Black Belt plus some extra special time with a true master learning secret techniques that are never taught to outsiders.

[jaymz]

So level 1 is essentially your graduation to "Black Belt". If we

It looks like there are 8-10 degrees of "Black Belt" so if we got with 10 degrees....

1st degree is level 1.
2nd we will say is level 2.
3rd is level 3.
4th is level 4.
5th is level 5. At this point going higher generally means time served (XP to gain 2 levels) as well as "quality" of ability.
6th is level 7.
7th is level 9.
8th is level 11.
9th is level 13.
10th is level 15.

That'll work.

[Jefffar]

I really meant the at least a black belt when I said at least a black belt. Trying to put degrees on the black belt when the character has learned to smash tank armour with his bare first, lower his body weight to the point of climbing walls like an insect, paralyze his oponent with a finger poke or disrupt the very life energy of an opponent is pointless. The character is a master. They may be a young master, but they have earned the title.

So if I was talking a PC, they start at level 1 and they can claim they have 6 or 8 or 12 degrees in the black belt of the martial art form they practice as part of backstory. What matters is they have spent time with a true master and transcended the basic teachings of the art and become a master themselves.

Now, if we're talking an NPC who has a black belt in 12 different fighting systems and is the heir to secrets one of the last ninja clans, set them at a suitible level in their primary form(s) to make them suitibly epic and challenging for your game and have them know a bunch of other forms that they are lower levels in to represent their skills.

[Rogerd]

So at what level would character be a "Black Belt" and then how many levels would gaining a higher "degree" of "Black Belt" be?

I'd explain why I am asking but that may run afoul of the "no conversions" policy.

Thanks in advance.

Level 1 would be beyond black belt really, as you mean the term.
It does not take ten years of training to get level one in any martial art. Therefore the implication is that there is more involved in that training. Likely an unholy amount of fitness that would rival a navy seal, and building automatic reflexes such that the character can react almost instantly.

In essence you would be like the martial artists of old.

None of that a modern black belt could do. Not even close.

[jaymz]

Honestly what I'm realizing is the martial arts as written need to be redone frankly.

[Rogerd]

Honestly what I'm realizing is the martial arts as written need to be redone frankly.

I think that is true of a lot of things in Palladium to be honest.

To be honest N&S as a setting, the martial art powers need to more akin to Gurps Martial Arts.

Mystic China would be better if it was included in the Nightbane setting, and would make a lot more sense, and all the chi stuff needs rolling into magic.

[drewkitty ~..~]

I agree with Jefffar on this.

[Fenris2020]

The way I do things is different.

1st-4th levels, white belt. You know all of the moves, but lack practical experience.
5th-9th levels, brown (or whatever you like) belt.
10th-13th levels, black belt.
13th-15th levels, master.

I also start characters off at no older than 24 years old; I assume they've studied martial arts from the time they were 5-12 years old, depending on the martial art. then learned their OCC from the ages 0f 16+, depending on what it is.

[Warmaster40k]

If you look at how learning martial arts works in real life you really don't start learning the really cool stuff untill Black Belt. The prior belts are just tests to determine your mastery of the basics and foundation of the art. It's when you end the training do you go learning the more esoteric forms and abilities of your characters life. Sure at level one you have some powers, but most martial arts don't even give you the option to master your chi until 3rd level. Something real masters claim to yake a decade atleast to do in real life. Getting your blackbelt is the just the equivalent of graduating high school, and see you off to enter the real world, where you honestly learn the most and apply and mold your skills, and develop them to greater heights. Hell even masters continue growing after. This is why a starting martial artist begins at running a school and teaching.