#12 New Swordsmanship Schools

Contents

To the core 4 schools (Katori, Yagyu, Ito, Jigen), this expansion adds 12 new schools. Each school replaces the core Licensed Sword Guard (check +2, defense reservation cost -1) / secret-art Offense-Defense Unity (check +3, free counter) with its own unique maneuver.

#§ Scent — The Hundred Branches of the Sword

Every culture that has the sword has its sword art. From the Bakumatsu schools within Japan, to Joseon Sebeop across the sea, to the Central Plains' Tang Dao, to the West's Liechtenauer. This document records 12, but on the premise that they are merely "representative" and not exhaustive. The GM can add more with the homebrew guide in 21-cross-cultural-index.

#§ Law — 12 Schools

#10-01. Tennen Rishin-ryu (天然理心流) — famous school · Japan Bakumatsu

Source: Kondo Kuranosuke — main school of the Shinsengumi
Era: established 1789, active in the 1860s Bakumatsu
Culture: late-Edo / Bakumatsu Japan

Practical battlefield Swordsmanship of Bakumatsu warriors. Main school of the Shinsengumi (新撰組). Extreme aggression through the Fearless Heart (無畏心) stance.

Bonus: accumulated practical experience — from the 5th combat onward, Swordsmanship check +1 additional.
Constraint: distrust of fixed forms (型). Conflicts with the Yagyu-ryu "martial way" philosophy.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard +2·reservation-1	[stance] Fearless Heart: Energy 2. during the stance, attack +3, Defense -2. 1 stance slot.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity +3·free counter	[Kata] Onrushing Combo: Energy 4. 1 round. 3-hit combo on the same target.

Approach: handed down from the Shieikan dojo — limited to a Bakumatsu setting. Session 0 consent required (historical era).
Play-type: extreme aggression, Shinsengumi role, practical swordsman

#10-02. Hokushin Itto-ryu (北辰一刀流) — famous school · Japan

Source: Chiba Shusaku (千葉周作)
Era: early 19th century (established in the 1820s, active in the Bakumatsu)
Culture: late-Edo Japan

The systematic instruction of Chiba Shusaku (千葉周作). Established a textbook, produced disciples on a large scale. Mastery of fundamentals.

Bonus: systematic textbook — Licensed/secret-art Energy -1 (minimum 1).
Constraint: fundamentals-centric, lacking flashy techniques.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[aptitude] Thousand Forms: Swordsmanship check +2. defense reservation possible even at Energy 1 or below.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] One-Blade Crushing Cut: Energy 3. 1 round. perform defense and counter simultaneously (Defense +2 + counter +3).

Approach: licensed at the Hokushin dojo in Edo. many disciples — easy to approach.
Play-type: balanced type, systematic training, armed instructor

#10-03. Jikishin Kage-ryu (直心影流) — Secret Transmission · Japan

The philosophy of the "martial way" (武道). A mind-method whose aim is not killing. Wooden-sword centered.

Bonus: sword of mercy — when the opponent can be spared, the check can be switched from killing to incapacitation.
Constraint: weakened will to kill — attack -1 in combat against yoma.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[Kata] Non-Lethal Subdual: Energy 2. 1 round. on hit, disarm + faint instead of killing.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[aptitude] Mind-Beyond Martial Way: win without fighting. used in pre-combat negotiation — opposed check +3.

Approach: transmitted from a reclusive swordmaster — narrative pursuit essential.
Play-type: martial-way mind-method, non-lethal / mediation, swordmaster narrative

#10-04. Ono-ha Itto-ryu (小野派一刀流) — famous school · Japan

Source: Ono Jirouemon Tadaaki (小野次郎右衛門忠明)
Era: early Edo (established after 1608)
Culture: Japan

A branch of Itto-ryu established by Ono Jiro (小野次郎). Simple in form. Defense-centered.

Bonus: simple form — on acquiring the school, refund 1 general technique slot (1 time only).
Constraint: being simple, it lacks higher tactics.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[aptitude] One-Blade Defense: Swordsmanship defense check +3 (instead of an attack bonus).
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] One-Blade Severing: Energy 4. 1 round. attack +4 only on a counter after a defense, Critical Expansion.

Approach: enrollment at a regular dojo. high public accessibility.
Play-type: defense / counter, solid fundamentals

#10-05. Joseon Sebeop (朝鮮勢法) — foreign style · Joseon

Cultural origin: the Swordsmanship of Joseon officers. A stance system of 24 postures (勢).

Bonus: posture (勢) stacking — while maintaining a [stance], you can additionally maintain 1 more [stance] of the same skill (Swordsmanship) (core stance slot 2). This effect is an explicit exception to the core §1-stance-at-a-time rule (this expansion §4 stance slot exception).
Constraint: requires the Joseon-culture foreign Adaptation technique, or a Joseon-origin background. When maintaining two stances at once, single-breath limit -1 (core 5 → 4 — a mental-division penalty).

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[stance] Mount Tai Posture: Energy 2. during the stance, Defense +2, attack +1. can stack with another stance.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Sky-Facing Posture Shift: Energy 3. 1 round. instantly shift from one posture to another + on the shift, attack +3.

Approach: Joseon-origin background (02-03), foreign Adaptation (Joseon), or a Joseon-officer teacher.
Play-type: posture-focused, Joseon martial-house role

#10-06. Bonguk Geombeop (本國劍法) — foreign style · Joseon

Cultural origin: a traditional Joseon Swordsmanship. Recorded in the Muye Dobo Tongji (武藝圖譜通志).

Bonus: 4-posture switching — auto-acquire 4 preliminary fundamental postures (Licensed-grade basis).
Constraint: tradition-centered. lacks irregular techniques.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[stance] 4-Posture Cycle: Energy 1. during the stance, cycle one posture each round. on the cycle, choose attack +1 or Defense +1.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] One Blade of the Homeland: Energy 5. 1 round. a special cut after completing the 4 postures. attack +5, Pierce All.

Approach: Joseon origin, experience residing in a Joseon barracks.
Play-type: traditional Joseon officer, cycling tactics

#10-07. Liechtenauer-ryu (Liechtenauer-Ryu) — foreign style · medieval Germany

Cultural origin: the Swordsmanship of Johannes Liechtenauer. Two-handed-sword / greatsword centered. The wellspring of late-medieval German Swordsmanship.

Bonus: greatsword specialty — check +1 to odachi / zweihander techniques.
Constraint: no bonus with katana / dagger (greatsword only).

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[technique] Zornhau (wrath cut): Energy 2. greatsword attack +2, Pierce 2.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Meisterhau (master strike): Energy 4. 1 round. attack +4 + on Critical Hit `[Pierce 4]` + `[Break]` (grade matching, recovery procedure per the core §Break. mapping: 00-05 §14).

Approach: Nanban-origin background (02-03), foreign Adaptation (Nanban / Germany).
Play-type: greatsword swordsman, Western knight role

#10-08. Fiore (Fiore dei Liberi) — foreign style · Italy

Cultural origin: Fiore dei Liberi's "Flower of Battle". A synthesis of sword, dagger, wrestling, and spear.

Bonus: integrated martial art — if holding the Unarmed Combat Licensed, Swordsmanship check +1, and the reverse also holds.
Constraint: lacks single-weapon specialization. cannot become the "Master of everything."

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[Kata] Close-Range Switch: Energy 2. 1 round. switch sword → dagger → Unarmed Combat in one breath + a check for each attack.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[aptitude] All-Weather: apply the Offense-Defense Unity effect simultaneously in both Swordsmanship and Unarmed Combat.

Approach: Nanban (Italy) origin, foreign Adaptation.
Play-type: all-purpose combat, distance-switch specialist

#10-09. Destreza (La Destreza) — foreign style · Spain

Cultural origin: Spain's La Destreza. Geometric Swordsmanship. Rapier-centered.

Bonus: precise thrust — Critical Expansion on thrust attacks.
Constraint: cutting attacks are ordinary — thrust only.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[aptitude] Technique of the Circle (圓): Swordsmanship check +2 (thrust only). threaten 3 targets in the same zone 1 time each.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Decisive Single Point: Energy 3. 1 round. thrust +4, Pierce All, instant-death check on Critical Hit.

Approach: Nanban (Spain) origin, foreign Adaptation.
Play-type: rapier swordsman, master swordsman

#10-10. Tang Dao Compilation (唐刀集法) — foreign style · Ming

Cultural origin: the longsword (唐刀) techniques of the Ming era. Bold and wide-area. The Swordsmanship recorded in Qi Jiguang's Jixiao Xinshu (紀效新書).

Bonus: wide-area cut — can attack 2 enemies in the same zone simultaneously (separate checks, only the first attack at ±0).
Constraint: precise thrusts are impossible.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[Kata] Transverse Cut: Energy 3. 1 round. attack 2 targets in the same zone simultaneously.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Greatsword Wind-Cleave: Energy 5. 1 round. area attack on 3 targets in the same zone.

Approach: Ming-origin background, foreign Adaptation (Ming).
Play-type: wide-area swordsman, Ming-army swordsman

#10-11. Shaolin Sword (少林劍) — foreign style · Chinese Zen

Cultural origin: the Swordsmanship of the Shaolin warrior monks. A sword of concentration based on Zen meditation practice.

Bonus: focused state — apply the Licensed effect of Fighting-Spirit-exclusive skills to the Swordsmanship check.
Constraint: presupposes a Zen Buddhist monk — recommend a "Temple-Raised" background or the esoteric monk class. a secular PC takes check -1.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[stance] Sword of Stillness (靜): Energy 1. during the stance, both attack and Defense +1. immune to Fear / Intimidation.
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Breath Strike: Energy 3. 1 round. release from the Sword of Stillness stance. attack +4, concentration released.

Approach: residing as a Shaolin monk, or a Buddhist-monk background. not an easy approach condition.
Play-type: Zen-monk swordsman, concentration / internal power

#10-12. Wudang Sword (武當劍) — foreign style · Chinese Daoism

Cultural origin: the Daoist Swordsmanship of Mount Wudang. A sword of non-lethality, evasion, and suppleness.

Bonus: suppleness — evade check +2, counter Energy -1.
Constraint: weakened will to kill — similar to Jikishin Kage-ryu. attack -1 against yoma targets.

Stage	Core Base	School Replacement
Licensed	Sword Guard	[stance] Taiji Sword Dance: Energy 2. during the stance, evade +3, Energy 0 on a counter (auto-applies core §Energy cost handling).
secret art	Offense-Defense Unity	[Kata] Silk-Lifting (絲揚) Sword: Energy 3. 1 round. deflect the enemy's attack and turn it back onto the enemy (on hit, the enemy takes the damage itself).

Approach: residing as a Daoist of Mount Wudang. or a Daoist-temple origin.
Play-type: Daoist swordsman, evasion / counter

#§ Design Perspective

Type distribution of the 12 schools: famous schools 3 (10-01·02·04) + Secret Transmission 1 (10-03) + foreign styles 8 (10-05~12). reinforces famous schools within Japan + emphasizes foreign styles.
Technique sharing allowed: Hokushin Itto and Ono-ha Itto-ryu are the "Itto-ryu" lineage with some shared techniques — complies with this expansion's plan §4.4.0.
Multi-layered approach conditions: historical-background constraint (Tennen Rishin-ryu), foreign-Adaptation premise (Joseon / Nanban / Ming lineages), class premise (Shaolin Sword).
Coexists with the core 4 Swordsmanship schools: no core original modification. only widens the choice.

#§ Follow-Up Module Linkage

Use of these 12 schools in follow-up modules:

School	Linked Module
10-01 Tennen Rishin-ryu	40-04-01 Tennen Rishin-ryu practical sword · 50-03 Kanto Semifinal (Bakumatsu era only)
10-02 Hokushin Itto-ryu	40-04-02 Hokushin Itto-ryu orthodox wooden sword · 50-02 Regional Qualifier
10-05 Joseon Sebeop	11-02 Joseon spear art · 12-02 Joseon horn-bow art · 25-03 Joseon squads · 50-04 Foreign Invitation
10-07 Liechtenauer-ryu	40-04-03 two-handed greatsword · 25-05 Western squads · 50-04 Foreign Invitation
10-09 Destreza	40-04-04 rapier · 15-05 jineta (Spanish ideological affinity)
10-10 Tang Dao Compilation	11-08 Qi Jiguang's spear art · 25-04 Ming/Qing squads · 18-01-02 Qi Jiguang's Jixiao Xinshu
10-11 Shaolin Sword	13-01 Shaolin fist · 25-04-04 Shaolin monk-soldiers · 20-04-01 Vajra-body austerity
10-12 Wudang Sword	13-02 Wudang fist · 20-03-01 lightness-skill mind-method
all schools	21-cross-cultural-index (reclassification) · 80-02 school match-up table · 50-tournament (duel proving ground)

"One blade begins in one nation, but one hand passes through all nations."