Unarmed combat system
The Unarmed Combat System encompasses a unique combat style which features four types of attacks: Jab, Punch, Kick and Grapple. This system replaces Voln fu (Kick, Punch and Throw), which is now obsolete, as the primary unarmed attack method used against Undead creatures. Unarmed combat attacks are not, however, limited to the undead. They can be used against all creatures and characters.
Effectiveness with unarmed combat depends significantly upon a character's brawling skill. Although similar to AS/DS in its functionality, unarmed combat replaces melee and ranged weapons with the hands and feet, and AS/DS mechanics with Unarmed Attack Factor (UAF)/Unarmed Defense Factor (UDF) and Multiplier Modifier (MM).
Note: Professions that can 2x train each level in brawling are Bards, Monks, Paladins, Rangers, Rogues and Warriors.
Combat Tiers
There are three attack tiers (DECENT, GOOD, EXCELLENT) available when using unarmed combat. Progressing from a lower to higher tier will depend on the preceding attack's tier, the target's current vulnerability to a particular follow-up attack and a bit of luck, plus other factors. Ordinarily, an initial attack will start at Tier I. Higher tiers have the potential for increased damage and more debilitating status effects including fatal criticals. Combat messaging will indicate the current tier and, at times, indicate an effective subsequent attack type.
Tier levels have a duration of 2 minutes which are refreshable with each subsequent attack. It is not necessary to hit the target to refresh to the tier.
Haste (506), used in conjunction with unarmed combat attacks, will reduce the chance to progress to a higher tier. The exact penalty is not currently known.
Example
The initial strike is a Tier I: Jab (indicated by DECENT positioning) which leaves the target susceptible to a follow-up Punch attack. As shown in the messaging below the second attack (punch) progressed to a Tier II with GOOD positioning message. Tier III attacks will have EXCELLENT positioning in the combat messaging panel.
You attempt to jab a kobold!
You have decent positioning against a kobold.
UAF: 38 vs UDF: 24 = 1.583 * MM: 100 + d100: 39 = 197
... and hit for 10 points of damage!
Solid shot to the back.
Strike leaves foe vulnerable to a followup punch attack!
Roundtime: 3 sec.
R>pun kob
You attempt to punch a kobold!
You have good positioning against a kobold.
UAF: 38 vs UDF: 24 = 1.583 * MM: 100 + d100: 64 = 222
... and hit for 66 points of damage!
Rotating backhand cleanly snaps tibia!
The kobold crumples to a heap on the ground and dies.
Damage Factors
This table includes the Damage Factors (DF) for the four unarmed combat attack types.
For UCS attacks the damage factor is based on the torso armor's covered areas. A target wearing light leather (AsG 5) will have the UCS (jab/punch/grapple/kick) leather DF for torso (chest, back abdomen) areas and the cloth DF for all other body locations. These DF's are not affected by armor accessories. This also applies to creatures whose skin acts as pseudo-armor. Any UCS attack against a target in partial armor coverage will have two possible damage factors.
Example:
Kick DFs vs target in double chain (torso/arm coverage) wearing helm and leg greaves.
- Chest/back/abs: .250 (chain DF)
- Arms/hands: .250 (chain DF)
- Legs: .300 (scale DF)
- Head/neck/eyes: .300 (scale DF)
Note: These are tentative values and are subject to change.
| Attack Type | AG | Cloth | Leather | Scale | Chain | Plate | Base RT | Min RT | Damage Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jab | DF | .100 | .075 | .060 | .050 | .035 | 3 | 3 | Jab |
| Punch | DF | .275 | .250 | .200 | .170 | .140 | 3 | 3 | Punch |
| Grapple | DF | .250 | .200 | .160 | .120 | .100 | 4 | 4 | Grapple |
| Kick | DF | .400 | .350 | .300 | .250 | .200 | 5 | 5 | Kick |
Roundtimes
UCS attacks have the same base and minimum RT's. Encumbrance can increase these roundtimes. The encumbrance penalty is 1 sec. additional RT for each 5% encumbered body weight. The combined AGI/DEX bonuses will reduce the RT penalty as follows: Combined bonus 8 (-1 RT), 23 (-2 RT), 38 (-3 RT), 53 (-4 RT), 68 (-5 RT). You cannot reduce the RT to less than its minimum.
| Attack Type | RoundTime |
|---|---|
| Jab | 3 seconds |
| Punch | 3 seconds |
| Grapple | 4 seconds |
| Kick | 5 Seconds |
Weapons Compatible with Unarmed Combat
The following brawling weapons are suitable for use with the unarmed combat system (UCS). They DO NOT funtion as ordinary melee weapons when used with jab, punch, and grapple attacks. Their damage factors, AvDs and damage types (slash, puncture, crush) do not apply. They primarily serve as an equipment platform for enchant bonus, flares and weighting etc. However, their use does add a bonus to the attack's damage factor and a penalty to the multiplier modifier.
Brawling Weapon DF Bonuses and MM Penalties
Each of the approved-for-use brawling weapons that function with Jab, Punch and Grapple attacks have innate Damage Factor (DF) bonuses and Multiplier Modifier (MM) penalties. These special properties only activate with the Jab, Punch and Grapple commands. Kick attacks are unaffected by these held weapons.
Note: When used in unarmed combat it is more appropriate to think of these weapons as equipment that attach to the actual weapons - the adventurer's hands.
A character is not limited to single weapon use. They can be dual-wielded in any combination. For example, two razorpaws or a razorpaw and a tiger-claw can be held simultaneously. When dual-wielding, the DF and MM values of each are simply added together. The DF bonus calculation is (Weapon1 DF + Weapon2 DF) and the MM penalty is (Weapon1 MM penalty + Weapon2 MM penalty.
Example: A character holding both a razorpaw and tiger-claw will have a DF bonus of .100 (.025 + .075) and an MM penalty of -20. This is the same bonus/penalty as two knuckle-blades. The DF bonuses are added to the normal jab, punch and grapple DFs shown in the Damage Factor section of this article.
| Weapon | DF Bonus (Single) | DF Bonus (Dual) | MM Penalty (Single) | MM Penalty (Dual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cestus | .025 | .050 | -5 | -10 |
| Paingrip | .025 | .050 | -5 | -10 |
| Razorpaw | .025 | .050 | -5 | -10 |
| Knuckle-blade | .050 | .100 | -10 | -20 |
| Knuckle-duster | .050 | .100 | -10 | -20 |
| Yierka-spur | .075 | .150 | -15 | -30 |
| Tiger-claw | .075 | .150 | -15 | -30 |
Equipment (UCS Gloves and Boots)
While there is no requirement to wear any equipment, unarmed combat effectiveness can be improved by taking advantage of specially created hand (gloves, handwraps, gauntlets etc.) and foot coverings (boots, footwraps etc.). Messaging with the INSPECT (verb) will verify if the item is an article of clothing, or suitable for use in unarmed combat.
You carefully inspect your leather gauntlets.
After a careful inspection you determine that some leather gauntlets are suitable for use in unarmed combat.
These items are available in various town shops. (eg., Tykel's Arms in Wehnimer's Landing). The backroom in Tykel's Arms has 4x (+20 enchant bonus) gear.
Weapon users can have special properties (enchantments, flares, weighting, e-blading, blessing) added to their weapons. This is not possible for UCS practioners because the hands and feet are the actual weapons. The primary function of UCS hand/foot coverings is to serve as a platform for adding these special effects.
Note: Enchant bonuses added to UCS hand/foot equipment DO NOT add any defensive benefits.
Penalties
There are no penalties associated with UCS compatible WORN items. UCS Multiplier Modifier (MM) penalties only apply to HELD items. Any held item, including UCS compatible brawling weapons, will reduce MM values. The actual reduction depends on the particular item. Although there is no penalty for worn items, there are times when a special effect will not activate. For example, e-bladed gloves will not activate when attacking undead creatures; the enchantment bonus on gloves will not activate against undead unless the gloves are blessed.
See Also
- Jab critical table (UCS)
- Punch critical table (UCS)
- Grapple critical table (UCS)
- Kick critical table (UCS)
- Unarmed combat (saved post)
- Unarmed combat advice (saved posts)