Choosing an approach only declares the basic style a combatant uses during an exchange—each combatant still has to choose specific techniques to use. An NPC can always use a number of techniques equal to their balance rating +1. To determine how many techniques a PC combatant can use, they make the stance move when resolving approaches: each player rolls with the appropriate stat, based on the approach they chose.
- Defend and maneuver rolls with Focus
- Advance and attack rolls with Passion
- Evade and observe rolls with Creativity or Harmony, the PC’s choice
On a 7–9, use one basic or mastered technique. On a 10+, choose one from this list instead:
- Mark 1-fatigue to use a learned technique
- Use one practiced technique
- Use two different basic or mastered techniques
On a miss, you stumble, but you can shift your balance away from center to use one basic technique.
Keep in mind that this means on a miss, you can almost always use one basic technique, but only a basic technique—you can’t use any advanced techniques on a miss, even mastered ones.
The disadvantage of using a learned or practiced technique is that you must roll a 10+ on the stance move, and for a learned technique you must pay an additional cost. But because you don’t choose techniques until after you have rolled the stance move, you can always choose to use a basic or mastered technique on a 7–9, even if you were hoping to get to use your learned or practiced technique.