| Kata is the basic form of martial arts, primarily involving kicks and hand strikes. This form of martial arts was first developed and mastered in the Undervault by the kephera and illithoid. |
| Punch | Inept | A basic attack with your hands. |
| Kick | Inept +25% | A basic attack with your legs. |
| Forms | Inept +50% | Design your own kata attacks. |
| Hold | Inept +75% | The most basic grapple. |
| Deflect | Novice | Soften the blow of physical attacks. |
| Throw | Novice +25% | Hurl someone to the ground. |
| Choke | Novice +50% | An asphyxiating grapple. |
| Gouge | Novice +75% | Cause bleeding with your punches. |
| Lock | Apprentice | A grapple targeting body parts. |
| PinchNerve | Apprentice +33% | Modify a kata form to paralyze. |
| Snap | Apprentice +66% | End a lock by injuring the body part. |
| Strength | Capable | Modify the strength of a kata form. |
| Speed | Capable +25% | Modify the swiftness of a kata form. |
| Break | Capable +50% | Modify a kata form to break bones. |
| Stun | Capable +75% | Modify a kata form to stun. |
| Toss | Adept | Hurl a grappled person away from you. |
| Raze | Adept +25% | Attack the defences that would keep your weapons out. |
| Concussion | Adept +50% | Modify a kata form to cause concussions. |
| Steelgrip | Adept +75% | Never miss a grapple move. |
| Master | Master | Move on to a master specialization. |
Punch
| Syntax: |
| KA PUNCH <target> <bodypart> RIGHT|LEFT (For players) KA PUNCH <target> RIGHT|LEFT (For bashing NPCs.) |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 50 |
The typical punch is a standard kata action.
| Syntax: |
| KA SYNTAX [ON/OFF] |
As you learn more attacks in Kata, you will be prompted with their proper syntax if you mess up entering the command properly. If you do not wish for these prompts then you can use KA SYNTAX OFF to suppress it.
| Syntax: |
| KA MOMENTUMMSG [ON/OFF] |
As you gain and lose momentum from Kata attacks, you will be notified. To turn this off/on, use KA MOMENTUMMSG ON/OFF.
Kick
| Syntax: |
| KA KICK <target> <bodypart> RIGHT|LEFT (For players) KA KICK <target> RIGHT|LEFT (For bashing NPCs.) |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 100 |
The typical kick is a standard kata action.
Forms
| Syntax: |
| KATA STUDY <form name> KATA FORMS |
As you progress in kata and its specializations, you can develop more and more of your own personal kata forms. To make a new form, begin with KATA STUDY and to forget a form, use KATA FORGET <form name>. KATA FORMS will list all of your forms. KATA REVIEW <form> will review a specific form. The actions are the same as any KA attacks, minus the KA and target. For example, KA PUNCH GALT HEAD LEFT would translate to an action as PUNCH HEAD LEFT. You can add modifiers with later skills. You can execute any sequence of forms. Each form must have a ka value at or below the maximum ka you can hold, based on your momentum (see below for details on momentum). In addition, the max number of forms you can have in a sequence is capped based on skill rank in Kata. You can TERMINATE a sequence before it is finished, but it will throw you off balance.
To perform kata maneuvers, you execute KATA PERFORM. You can link several forms together if you wish, or execute a single form at a time. Note that after the third form you can change to a new sequence of forms. Once you change direction, it will take another three forms to change it again. If you choose to link several forms together, they will start to move faster after the third one. To teach forms to others, you can use KATA TEACH.
Momentum
Monks must build momentum in order to do the most powerful attacks in kata forms. Every time a kata form successfully strikes an opponent, your momentum increases. If you go too long without a hit then your momentum will falter. Every kata attack has a ka cost associated with it. The sum total ka costs you can use in a kata form may not surpass this maximum:
| Momentum | Max ka |
| 1 | 250 |
| 2 | 350 |
| 3 | 450 |
| 4 | 750 |
| 5 | 1000 |
Your momentum level is displayed on your prompt as: 1mo, 2mo, 3mo, etc, where the initial number is your momentum level. Switching targets will cause momentum to drop by a maximum of two. The first attack against a new target will be treated as if the momentum was already dropped for purposes of max ka available.
Hold
| Syntax: |
| KA HOLD <target> KA RELEASE |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 150 |
A basic grapple. Binds your target with your arm. Unlike most grapples you will learn in the future, this grapple will prevent the target from standing.
| Additional Notes: |
| Grapples require both arms to perform, and last until the victim writhes free or you use your hands again. Their main purpose is to prevent the victim from walking away. |
Deflect
| Syntax: |
| KA DEFLECT LEFT|RIGHT|NONE |
You can focus attention on one hand to deflect incoming blows. When struck on that arm, you will automatically and quietly deflect the blow slightly, thereby reducing the damage taken. You will also deflect blows to your head, chest, and gut, though not as effectively.
| Additional Notes: |
| Works the same as the TrueShield skill in Combat. |
Throw
| Syntax: |
| KA THROW |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 50 |
If your target is in some grapple, you can throw him to the ground, damaging and possibly stunning him in the process. A prone target will be more susceptible to damage from punches and kicks.
| Additional Notes: |
| This only works from kata grapples, not those from its specializations. The increased susceptibility results from being unable to dodge, parry, or use combat stances. |
Choke
| Syntax: |
| KA CHOKE <target> <bodypart> |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 200 |
An advanced grapple that chokes the target, asphyxiating him.
| Additional Notes: |
| Works the same as locking the head, but with a tiny bit of extra damage. |
Gouge
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS GOUGE |
| Kata: Modifiers Ka Weight: 50 |
Hook your punches in such a manner as to gouge the skin and cause bleeding. Only works on unarmed actions.
Lock
| Syntax: |
| KA LOCK <target> <bodypart> |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 200 |
A grapple that locks and disables a specific body part. For bodyparts that aren't directly affected by locking, such as the head, chest, or gut, it opens up advanced techniques you will learn later.
PinchNerve
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS PINCHNERVE |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 150 |
Develop your kata so that you may aim your punches and basic kicks against the nerves which govern mobility, crippling your opponent. Only works on unarmed actions.
| Additional Notes: |
| Causes paralysis. |
Snap
| Syntax: |
| KA SNAP |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 50 |
End a grapple by snapping a particular bodypart, causing effects such as blackout and broken limbs.
Strength
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS <HARD|SOFT> |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 50 |
By paying close attention to the strength of your punches, you can deliver more direct damage at the expense of wounding (hard), or vice versa (soft). Works on all actions.
Speed
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS SPEED |
| Kata: Modifiers Ka Weight: 100 |
Balancing carefully on the tips of your feet allows you to recover balance from katas at a greater speed. Works on all actions.
Break
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS BREAK |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 50 |
Carefully choosing the optimum place to strike, you may improve the chance of shattering extremities. Only works on unarmed actions. This move will cause you to lose some momentum if it causes an injury.
| Additional Notes: |
| This doesn't actually improve the chance to cause shatters, instead it's the only way to cause shatters. It requires medium wounds or better, and when used on the head, breaks the nose. |
Stun
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS STUN |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 175 |
As your opponent grows more wounded, your punches and kicks will start to stun. Only works on unarmed actions. Successful stuns will lower your momentum.
Toss
| Syntax: |
| KA TOSS |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 75 |
When grappling with a person, you can toss them out of the room in a random direction. This will, obviously, terminate any katas as the victim will no longer be within range.
| Additional Notes: |
| This only works from kata grapples, not those from its specializations. |
Raze
| Syntax: |
| KA RAZE <target> RIGHT|LEFT |
| Kata: Action Ka Weight: 50 |
Using your fist, you can clear away variety of magical defense, such as shield, weapons rebounding aura, and others.
| Additional Notes: |
| Raze strips rebounding, circle, pentagram, reflections, and quicksilver. |
Concussion
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS CONCUSSION |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 150 |
By striking at the lower side of the back of your opponent's skull, you can improve your chances of causing concussion. Only works on unarmed actions.
| Additional Notes: |
| This doesn't actually improve the chance to cause a concussion, instead it's the only way to cause a concussion. It requires medium wounds or better. |
Steelgrip
| Syntax: |
| KATA DEVELOP <form> MODIFIERS STEELGRIP |
| Kata: Modifier Ka Weight: 150 |
With this modifier, any grapple-initiating attack will never miss.
Master
At this point in your training of Kata, you have progressed where you must specialize in an aspect of this skill to continue learning. If you have not yet selected a specialization, see SKILLCHOICE LIST to see what is available. There may be a choice between two or more specializations.