treave, does the Traps skill allow us to detect traps as well as set up our own? I would assume such a skill would be useful to counter any attempts to trap us, as well as any attempts to use traps. Personally, I'd rather avoid using traps - our guy might be a renegade, but he's more than capable in straight-up combat. The trap skill seems a better fit for us defensively than it does offensively. Also, I think I messed up the reading comprehension: we can't raise our
neigong as long as we're poisoned, or as long as the chaotic internal energy within our body persists? I'm not quite sure which of these is the cause of our inability to raise our Inner Strength skill.
Pressure Points
The ability to observe and determine the various points on a body that, when struck, causes a variety of effects, from laughing to paralysis to death. (PER)
My impression of Master Yao's skills is that his speciality is clearly in pressure points. If we could utilize the precision of his style in conjunction with our character's naturally great strength and speed, it would be perfect. My point here is that we must be aware of where our Master's skills lie, and how we can mould what they teach us to fit into our own developing style. So, we've got the most brilliant killer Doctor in all the land as our instructor:
However, you cannot deny that his skills are bordering on the realm of the divine; he makes even the most reputable Imperial doctor look like a quack in comparison.
The good Doc is the best at what he does, no doubt about it. treave suggested the possibility that we might find better techniques than this along the way, but I am doubtful: Yao is just so good at what he does, that I am not sure if we can find something like this along the way. Given that he's quite possibly the most skilled physician in the world, I think we would be fools to pass up his Healing Finger technique given our chaotic qi.
I'm aware of the drawbacks here: this would be the second time that we've passed up on a combat technique. Believe me, it sucks, I know: I voted for the Wolf's Fist technique when we had the opportunity to do so before. However, this is the sort of thing that the doc is best at.
I suppose one alternative would be to find Yao's old master, who is probably a more orthodox martial artist, though I could be wrong:
A physician's hands are to cure, not to kill. So said Master Yao's own master, though Yao doesn't seem to abide by that maxim.
I suppose this guy - assuming he's alive - would know of a technique to put us on the path toward fixing our internal energy, but who knows where he is?
I'm against going for the poison technique: too underhanded, and our guy has all the tools to fight his enemies in direct combat. I'm hoping for a rebellious martial artist with morals, so I'm not a fan of the poison.
As for what stats to raise, I see the benefits of both, but I believe that shoring up our endurance and perception will be more important if we have no offensive combat techniques at the moment. Though improving our already pretty good INT and CHA is good too.
BC
gentleman.
