> IMO, they're referring to a kick the way a human would kick, by swinging
> the leg forward and up. This would be ineffective, it's true. However,
> a digitigrade stance and powerful haunches make OTHER forms of kicking
> EXTREMELY effective. A sweeping roundhouse kick, wheel kick, or simple
> rear kick (please don't ask me to supply the Japanese terms, it's been
> years since I set foot in a dojo and I'm weak and flabby and useless
> now) would be even more effective from a Vargr than a human, especially
> when the Vargr's long, tough hind claws are figured into the equation.
> A properly trained Vargr can disembowel an opponent with one sweep
> of his hind leg, and kick down doors that would resist most Humans.
Metlay, I think you're becoming a little too enamored of your favorite
MT alien race. :^)
Neither of the attributes you describe stand up to close scrutiny,
especially the second. While a Vargr may have nice sharp claws
(when they're barefoot), they can't kick as high as a comparably
trained human martial artist, since they're a smaller race. They
also won't be able to deliver as much force in the blow, since they
mass less that humans. Your description would only hold true for
a martial arts-trained Vargr vs. a non-trained human. The only
thing the Vargr *does* have going for him is that his skin is tougher
than a humans. Only the Urzaeng Vargr would be exempt from this
size deficiency.
As for kicking down doors, mass becomes even *more* important. TV
and Movies aside, little guys just aren't as good at going through
doors (or walls, speaking from college experience) as big guys,
martial arts training not withstanding. If you can't deliver enough
force against the door, it ain't a'gonna budge. Now I grant you that
F=m*a, and a Vargr can probably generate more (a)cceleration than a
human. Whether or not they can move twice as fast (to make up for
being half the mass) is debatable, but there's another problem waiting
for them if they do. Given their smaller frame, they not only have
smaller bones than humans, but they will also be impacting the door
with a smaller surface area (whether it's a shoulder, fist, or foot,
it doesn't matter). This means that if the Vargr *is* somehow capable
of delivering the same force to the door as a human, an equal and
opposite force will be directed (by the door) against a smaller cross-
section of the Vargr than it would for a human knuckle-dragger trying
that stunt. Result? One Vargr with either broken bones, or a major
tissue avulsion, or both.
Tell the Vargr to bring a battering ram and a couple friends. :^)
Mark F. Cook
USMail: Hewlett-Packard
Open Systems Software Division - Corvallis (Tech. Marketing)
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