Best Martial Art Role Playing Game?

[Johnlogic121]

Like many Americans, I have occassionally played a few role-playing games in the past. My question for the forum is what role-playing game presents the best martial arts simulation? Or, alternatively, what in what role-playing game are martial artists most fun to play? I like the game play in the Champions Super Hero role-playing game, in which characters almost never die. However, it is hard to define combination striking in that system, as each attack tends to simulate a specific "special effect" like a single punch or kick. If you say the special effect is "five rapid punches," a typical Isshinryu karate move, then it tends to look awkward when compared to the Champions speed chart in which you can only move a certain number of times in each twelve second interval. Rolemaster, the second most popular role-playing game, has good martial arts but they are about four times as difficult to learn as fighting with a weapon and your results are determined by random rolls on charts rather than personal choices for what move you want to use. In Dungeons and Dragons, the most popular role-playing game, the old Oriental Adventures book that went with first or second edition AD&D had a wonderful unrmed combat system. However, in the latest editions of AD&D, monks do pitifully low amounts of damage compared to epople who carry weapons. This may be realistic, but in a game with magic and monsters, realism has already taken two severe shots, and I would prefer warrior monks who could do at least 1-6 points of damage with a kick or a throw near first level. What does the forum think about the various role-playing games out there? I'm sure I haven't heard of them all. My top vote is for Champions, even though it isn't perfect. What do other people think?

[OAKS]

IMO the best pen and paper roleplaying game dealing with the Martial Arts is Palladium"s Ninjas and Superspies. I played and play tested many RPGs in the late 80s into the mid 90s and the Palladium system really simulates a fight. The mechanics are much more realistic than AD&D and Champions.