Edit: Meh. I overlooked the Touch-Only Attack update in Run & Gun. Sorry guys x.x. I assume the following is the correct order to attempt Neijia:
1) Perform a touch-only attack for a complex action with a +2 dice pool modifier (you may use any melee combat skill you are equipped to use). It will do no damage (unless the weapon has a touch/contact vector), but you will be in contact on a success or tie. If you maintain contact you will be able to perform neijia during your next action phase. However, being in touch imposes a -2 dice pool penalty upon your character for the opposing character to clinch or grapple you.
2) Wait for your turn to come back. If you have 5 or more initiative, you may attempt to intercept the spirit if it attempts to move away from you. If you have 4 or less initiative, you watch as he backs up and smites you, laughing the whole way as you've just wasted an entire turn. Don't perform a touch attack if you can't follow through.
3) You may now attempt neijia for a complex action.
OK, I'm having the devil with this. Can I use the martial arts technique Neijia with my sword (or any other weapon)? I think it works, it makes sense to me that it would work, and I don't see why the rules wouldn't allow it to work. However, I haven't came up with a definitive answer for myself.Here is the full text, Ill requote the relevant bits as I go.
Neijia means internal strength. It’s as close as a mundane can get to magical weaponry in fighting spirits. The technique focuses the spiritual and mental strength of the character in order to inflict damage to a Materialized spirit as an Attack of Will. It allows the character to perform a physical version of Astral Combat (p. 315, SR5) against Materialized spirits. The style of the attack is based on Tai Chi’s soft and fluid motion and mental discipline. The character must first make a successful Touch Attack against the spirit. This can include a Grapple or Clinch, but it also counts if the character has been Engulfed. Using only Willpower vs. Willpower as an attack, the character can impose Charisma + net hits in Stun Damage that the spirit must resist. This damage is not physical, so it cannot be used to take down wards or magical barriers. The character feels drained after making this attack, resisting Stun Damage equal to hits (not net hits) from the spirit defending against the attack. If they are a mage they resist Drain per their tradition; everyone else uses Willpower + Charisma.
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The character must first make a successful Touch Attack against the spirit. This can include a Grapple or Clinch, but it also counts if the character has been Engulfed. Using only Willpower vs. Willpower as an attack, the character can impose Charisma + net hits in Stun Damage that the spirit must resist.
Ok so, it says that you must first make a successful Touch Attack. Here are the rules for a Touch Only Attack.
If the intention of an attack is to simply make contact, whether to discharge a spell, plant a RFID tag, or just playing tag, than the attacker gains a +2 dice pool bonus. Additionally, if all that is needed is contact, the attacker and not the defender succeeds on a tie.
The description doesn't specify what kind of attack has to be made, and neither does it specify what type of dice pool bonus. I assume that is because of stun batons which would benefit greatly from this rule. If that is the case then wouldn't it work for other melee weapons too?
Note: Weapons would
not work for touch spells. The emphasis is mine.
Some spells require you to Touch (T) the target-if the target is unwilling, you'll need to make an unarmed attack against the target (see Accuracy, p. 168).
However, I don't believe that precludes neijia working with weapons because there are also these bits. One is mostly fluff, the other isn't.
Neijia means internal strength. It’s as close as a mundane can get to magical weaponry in fighting spirits.
[Neijia] allows the character to perform a physical version of Astral Combat (p. 315, SR5) against Materialized spirits.
Astral Combat can be used with weapon foci. Neijia is as close as a mundane can get to magical weaponry and allows them to perform a physical version of Astral Combat. Astral combat with a weapon is similar to Neijia. The formula for Astral Combat with a Focus is below.
Astral attacks with a weapon focus are an Opposed Astral Combat + Willpower [Accuracy] v Intuition + Logic Test. Base Damage Value [is by weapon (using Charisma instead of Strength)]; add 1 to the DV per net hit on an attack.
And here is the forumla for performing an attack with Neijia.
The character must first make a successful Touch Attack against the spirit. This can include a Grapple or Clinch, but it also counts if the character has been Engulfed. Using only Willpower vs. Willpower as an attack, the character can impose Charisma + net hits in Stun Damage that the spirit must resist.
So you make an touch only attack.
Unarmed + Agi + 2[Phys] vs Rea + Int. If you succeed or tie, you make a Willpower vs Willpower test. If you succeed, deal Cha + net hits stun damage. He rolls his resist, then you resist drain.
The character feels drained after making this attack, resisting Stun Damage equal to hits (not net hits) from the spirit defending against the attack. If they are a mage they resist Drain per their tradition; everyone else uses Willpower + Charisma.
Is this in any way different from making a touch only attack with lets say Blades?
Blades + Agi + 2[Accuracy] vs Rea + Int. If you succeed or tie, you make a Willpower vs Willpower test. If you succeed, deal Cha + net hits stun damage. He rolls his resist, then you resist drain.
Also regardless of the ruling, am I correct in my understanding of how to use neijia? As in, you roll to see if you can touch the spirit, and then you roll for damage if you succeed or tie.
