Electricity Damage And Martial Arts

Some weapons seem to be perfectly suited to particular martial arts. Like shock gloves and karate, or a stun baton and baritsu. Notice a common theme? Weapons that deal electricity damage give extra options when using Martial Arts. When a character with a Martial Art training attacks an opponent using a weapon such as a shock glove or stun baton, they have a choice of damage to apply. They can either opt for the normal, non-electric damage of the attack, taking full advantage of any Martial Arts techniques they use, or they can apply the shock damage without the net hits or increases from techniques.

If the character is in touch contact with an opponent from a Grapple or Clinch and has equipment that deals electricity damage, the character may make a Free Action to initiate shock damage to the opponent provided that the gamemaster agrees that the weapon is also in touch contact with the opponent. If the weapon is not in touch contact, it costs the character a Simple Action. The target can attempt to squirm away, but the Grapple or Clinch means they have trouble moving, giving them a –3 dice penalty on their Defense Test. As is the case with Touch- Only Attacks (p. 187, CRB), the attack succeeds on a tied roll. As is the case above, neither net hits nor techniques will increase the Damage Value of the weapon when used in this fashion.