celestial Martial arts that closests resembles escrima?

[Dionysus]

Howdy.
I was looking fora some advice - which (if any) celestial martial arts would best resemble escrima fighting with sticks?

I was thinking of just using solar hero style and calling it a day? But is there something that might be better?

[While My Guitar]

Howdy.
I was looking fora some advice - which (if any) celestial martial arts would best resemble escrima fighting with sticks?

I was thinking of just using solar hero style and calling it a day? But is there something that might be better?

In Scroll of the Monk there's Ivory Pestle Style, which uses sticks I believe.

[The MG]

Ivory Pestle is from Ink Monkeys, and is really not an eskrima equivalent.

I think that, looks aside, Snake and Crane Style are the probably the closest mechanically. Just replace the swords with sticks, and see if that works.

[Demac]

You also might have some luck using one of the Immaculate Dragon Style of Violet Bier of Sorrows and replacing the swords with sticks. I think one of the Immaculate Dragon Styles would probably be your best bet as they will require very little tinkering. Most of the charms in those 5 styles aren't restricted to "unarmed strikes" meaning they're compatible with weapons that aren't form weapons. Just remember you only get the form weapon bonuses if you're a Dragon-Blood anyway. If it were me, I'd go with Water Dragon Style but that's just me.

EDIT: I also think Mantis Style is compatible with any kind of weapon.

[Zelbinnean]

I think Mantis fits escrima the best. Of course, most magical martial arts in Creation that mirror real-world MA are mostly at the TMA level: very grounded and concrete. When you get into CMA you start emulating the Platonic ideals of animals and concepts, which is supposed to be quite different from the kind of "beat em down" level of TMA.

[SamuraiMujuru]

You also might have some luck using one of the Immaculate Dragon Style of Violet Bier of Sorrows and replacing the swords with sticks. I think one of the Immaculate Dragon Styles would probably be your best bet as they will require very little tinkering. Most of the charms in those 5 styles aren't restricted to "unarmed strikes" meaning they're compatible with weapons that aren't form weapons. Just remember you only get the form weapon bonuses if you're a Dragon-Blood anyway. If it were me, I'd go with Water Dragon Style but that's just me.

EDIT: I also think Mantis Style is compatible with any kind of weapon.

Of the immaculate styles, the only one that really comes close to Eskrima is Fire Dragon Style, though you'd have to allow paired sticks instead of paired short swords. A lot of Eskrima, from what I know, is rapid, brutal attacks with both weapons, which really is only easily duplicated with Fire Style, which is all about fast, effect, brutal attacks with a paired weapon.

[Demac]

Of the immaculate styles, the only one that really comes close to Eskrima is Fire Dragon Style, though you'd have to allow paired sticks instead of paired short swords. A lot of Eskrima, from what I know, is rapid, brutal attacks with both weapons, which really is only easily duplicated with Fire Style, which is all about fast, effect, brutal attacks with a paired weapon.

Well basing his choice off the form weapon would lead to that conclusion, yes. But unlike most other martial arts styles, the charms in the 5 immaculate styles aren't usually restricted to "unarmed" attacked. There's really only 5 or 6 charms out of all 5 charm trees that break that rule. That means that you could use them with any attack using the martial arts ability. I believe fighting sticks would have the M tag in them, so they would be valid to be used with most of the charms in the 5 immaculate styles. That would make any of them candidates for stick fighting. The form weapons for the immaculate styles give bonuses when used with the style, but only if you're a dragon blood.

To clarify Escrima doesn't focus on attacking with both sticks at the same time. It's also perfectly usable with a single stick and various locks using sticks. Fire Dragon Style is an excellent choice for Escrima. It doesn't contain any of the charms that are restricted by the Touch keyword or the "unarmed attack" language. But Water Dragon Style has an extra-action charm to represent the speed and several charms that would be considered brutal even if they don't deal direct damage. Either's a good choice when you get down to it.

[Robert Vance]

Howdy.
I was looking fora some advice - which (if any) celestial martial arts would best resemble escrima fighting with sticks?

I was thinking of just using solar hero style and calling it a day? But is there something that might be better?

I think "Solar Hero, treat fighting sticks as form weapons, stunt some things appropriately" is the best you're going to get.

[Blackwell]

I wrote the following reimagining of a Mantis Style with at least a little inspiration from Escrima (though you'll need to add sticks and knives to the weapon list). I never got much feedback on it and it's 2e, not 2.5. But you're welcome to it if it's useful to you.


Introduction
Celestial Mantis Style traces its origins back to the Ochre Fountain Era, when the victorious Exalted host began directing their martial resources to interpersonal conflict and sport rather than open war. It is a duelist's art, calibrated for single combat and with a measured tempo which rewards patience.

In the Second Age, Celestial Mantis has fallen out of favor with the Sidereal Exalted; though deliberative, it is considered by most to be suited only to the tournament ring, and honestly, who has the time for exhibitions these days? Conversely, within the Martial Arts World, especially among Silver Pact Lunars (who are known to settle grievances with personal combat) and enlightened Outcaste Dragon-blooded, Celestial Mantis is one of the most highly prized Styles known.

Weapons and Armor
The Charms of Celestial Mantis Style can be used with sai, kama, and tonfa (and their artifact equivalents) as though they were unarmed strikes. The mantis uses only its lightning-quick forelimbs for attacks, leaving its legs free for balance; similarly, kicks are not treated as unarmed strikes for the purposes of this style. Because the style relies heavily on precise movements of the joints, it cannot be practiced in restrictive armor (mobility penalty worse than -1).

The Charm Master’s Hand Envisioned Anew can never be used to make this Style compatible with ranged weapons, any type of weapon with the 2, O, or L tags, or with kicks or boots.


Celestial Mantis Charms

Mantis Hook

Cost: --
Mins: Martial Arts 2, Essence 2
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: None
With forefinger and thumb outstretched, remaining fingers curled in toward his palm, the character forms his hands into the Style's characteristic "Mantis Hook." This becomes an innate attack sharing Rate with the character's punch attack (see Showing the Cobra's Fangs, Ink Monkeys vol. 39), and has the following stats: Speed 5, Accuracy +3, Damage +2B, Defense +4, Rate 2, Tags: N, D. It may be used to parry lethal attacks without a stunt. The Mantis Hook is considered an unarmed attack for Charms of this Style, but not Charms of other Styles.

Patient Mantis Deflection

Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive (Step 2)
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: One tick
Prerequisite Charms: Mantis Hook
Mantis stylists understand that precision and timing can be as crucial to defense as they can be to offense. The martial artist increases the defense bonus his weapon contributes to an unarmed parry by 2. Against an attacker whom the Martial Artist is targeting with an Aim action, he can choose to further increase his PDV by an amount equal to the accumulated Aim bonus at the time of the attack. Doing so aborts the current Aim action automatically at the end of the tick.

Snapping Mantis Lunge

Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 3, Essence 2
Type: Supplemental
Keywords: Combo-OK, Knockback
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Mantis Hook
The mantis lunges from ambush, pulling prey close to be grasped or pummeled. The supplemented unarmed attack gains the 'R' tag; if the attack hits, the target is brought into the character's normal engagement range. At a minimum, this means that future attacks can hit without needing Reach until either combatant moves away. Depending on the circumstances, it might also mean the foe is unhorsed, snatched out of the air, or otherwise forcibly relocated. This never results in falling damage or the like, though it might expose the target to environmental effects (such as pulling them into a Dragon-blooded's blazing anima banner).

If the supplemented attack is used to initiate a clinch, it gains one automatic success.

Celestial Mantis Form

Cost: 5m
Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 2
Type: Simple (Speed 4)
Keywords: Combo-Basic, Form-type
Duration: One scene
Prerequisite Charms: Patient Mantis Deflection, Snapping Mantis Lunge
The practitioner adopts the aggressive posture of the threatened mantis: shoulders and hips swaying unpredictably, elbows and knees held at right angles, spine firm and neck flexible. He stands, patient, waiting for his opening to appear, and then surges toward it with deliberate precision.

The character may parry and deal lethal damage while unarmed, and suffers no penalty to his DV while using the Aim action. The character's preternatural footwork adds his Martial Arts score to rolls to avoid knockdown or knockback, as well as rolls to maintain his footing unstable terrain.

While this Charm is active, the character may not use control of a clinch to throw an opponent; he may only crush, hold, or release his target. All attacks the character makes in any flurry (including magical flurries) must all be directed toward the same opponent. Counterattacks and reflexive attacks are unaffected.
If the character has an Overdrive pool, whenever an attack against him suffers a penalty due to a Crippling effect, he gains a number of Overdrive motes equal to that penalty.

Dynamic Form Transition
This Charm may be used without counting as a Charm activation in the following circumstances:

• The character successfully overcomes a foe's DV or parries an attack using the Mantis Hook.
• The character executes an unarmed Counterattack, or uses an unarmed banked reflexive attack in response to being attacked.

Whip-Pivot Irimi

Cost: 4m
Mins: Martial Arts 4, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive (Step 9)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Counterattack
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Celestial Mantis Form
Precisely placed, the smallest force can turn aside the fiercest blow. After an unsuccessful unarmed parry, the character rolls the pool used to calculate his unarmed parry DV as a Counterattack against a difficulty equal to his attacker's Wits (min 1). If this roll is successful, the attack is parried. This fallible activation roll is considered a special Flaw of Invulnerability. This Charm is ineffectual against attacks with no physical component. It also cannot normally defend against unexpected attacks, but the character may expend a banked reflexive attack to negate this quality. If the attack would normally be unblockable, this Charm becomes Obvious.

Circumspect Momentum Conservation

Cost: 3m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 2
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Celestial Mantis Form
It is the way of the mantis to ensure that no movement is without purpose. An attack which has not made contact is still on the path to its target. The character may activate this Charm any time an opponent successfully avoids one of her unarmed attacks without blocking it. This typically means application of Dodge DV, though hopping defenses and other avoidance measures also count. Doing so banks one reflexive attack. These attacks follow all the same rules as normal for reflexive attacks, though when used they must be made unarmed.

Incautious Predator Ambush

Cost: 4m, 1wp
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive
Keywords: Combo-OK
Duration: 5 ticks
Prerequisite Charms: Whip-Pivot Irimi, Circumspect Momentum Conservation
The mantis is patient, but ever vigilant for openings in its victim's defenses. Some of the best such openings are provided when an agressor lets his guard down to attack. While this Charm is active, all attacks made during a tick on which the target has already attacked the Martial Artist automatically become unexpected. This includes counterattacks.

Stinger-Scything Principle

Cost: 5m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Reflexive (Step 9)
Keywords: Combo-OK, Counterattack, Crippling
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Celestial Mantis Form
When the scorpion attacks the mantis, it stands to lose more than its dignity. Used after a successful unarmed parry against a hand-to-hand attack, this Charm provides an unarmed counterattack at the martial artist's full (Dexterity + Martial Arts) pool. Double any DV penalties the target may be suffering due to taking attack actions.

If the parried attack was made with a weapon, a successful counterattack means the opponent is disarmed. If the attack carried the 'N' tag, and the counterattack would deal any levels of post-soak damage, no damage is dealt but the attacker suffers painful dislocation of the limb used to attack as a Crippling effect. Treat as amputation (Exalted, p. 152); the limb is not actually removed, but is functionally useless for the remainder of the scene without medical attention ([Intelligence + Medicine], difficulty 2). The victim can self-treat, but the difficulty is increased to 4.

Troubled Courtship Dismemberment

Cost: 6m
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 3
Type: Simple (Speed 6, DV -0)
Keywords: Crippling, Combo-Basic, Stackable
Duration: Instant
Prerequisite Charms: Stinger-Scything Principle
This Charm is an unarmed attack, though it may also be used in place of a clinch control roll if the user is currently involved in one. The attack (or clinch control roll) ignores hardness, and if it deals any health levels of damage, the attacker may choose to forgo some or all of this damage in favor of rending his victim's joints and Essence flows. For each level of damage deferred, the Mantis stylist instead inflicts a Crippling effect which imposes a -1 penalty on all physical actions his target attempts per point of damage deferred. This effect lasts for a number of hours equal to the attacker's Essence. Attempts to treat this effect suffer an external penalty equal to the number of hours remaining (rounded up).

Sublime Mandarin Posture

Cost: --
Mins: Martial Arts 5, Essence 4
Type: Permanent
Keywords: None
Duration: Permanent
Prerequisite Charms: Incautious Predator Ambush, Troubled Courtship Dismemberment
Many are the gods of Heaven whose form emulates that of the humble mantis. That even divinities hold the insect in such high regard speaks to its transcendent poise.

The cost of Celestial Mantis Form is permanently increased by 2 motes. While that form is active, the martial artist gains the following additional benefits:

• Reduce Speed of unarmed attacks benefiting from Aim by the number of ticks spent aiming (to a minimum of 1).
• When invoked against an opponent who is currently the subject of an Aim action, reduce the cost of all Supplemental and Reflexive Charms of Celestial Mantis Style by an amount equal to the current accumulated bonus (minimum 0). So long as a Charm benefits from any such discount, it does not count as a Charm activation.

On Sublime Mandarin Posture
Your first reaction to this Charm was almost certainly: "WTF SPEED ONE HAX". But note that, to use this benefit, the character must already have spent the difference in ticks aiming, and aborting an Aim to attack does not reset your DV or otherwise count as a new action. Thus, the net result here is that the character is deferring his attack(s) until later in his current action, giving him an Aim bonus and shortening the period when his own attacks impact his DV.