Niman: The Living Form by Esme Roi

[Meatslopper]

The Trickster Form

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The Trickster Form is a name given by someone. The former Sith Ashana, got this from somewhere I think but its origins are unsourced. I can find no references to it beyond this but he treated the reader like they should know it, so who really knows. If you know, if someone wants to improve the guide and knows do tell me. However a likely answer is that someone he studied, with or under coined it and its true origins are lost to time.

The Trickster, like the Diplomat, represents an idea about the perceived nature of the form and its wielder. That it opens itself for “tricks” and I certainly do not deny it does. Niman’s nature allows the integration of numerous elements. Each often disparate in its method and techniques because it is nothing if not adaptable. Yet it is not tricks without substance, tricks alone will win no engagement and if they do they will place you within a zone of little improvement. They must be accessed through the form or else they are just a trick and though tricks alone may win a battle, they will not win a war. If all you have is tricks you have an empty hand.
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Sokan:
In Niman, the environment becomes both tool and weapon, its natural flexibility and the simplicity of its Thirteen Techniques allows for the greatest engagement with Sokan. It can fully adapt to take advantage of any environment. I believe there are two generally different types of interactions this leads to Hard Sokan Techniques and Soft Sokan Techniques.

Hard Sokan Techniques: Hard Sokan Techniques are those that interact directly with the environment to create an immediate outcome. Examples of this would be kicking up sand with a push to cover your advance, pulling backwards, drawing an object from behind to strike them and slicing an object in half to have it fall upon the opposition. This is a direct action to the outcome.

Soft Sokan Techniques: Soft Sokan Techniques are those that interact with the environment more passively to increase the chance of success and all that. Using the high ground, low ground, shifting through water to clog up footwork. It is an action leading to potential advantage. It relies on the lightest feet.

Niman takes advantage of both to outmanoeuvre the opponent. Turning a Force Attack, or movement off the offhand as Niman likes to do in it’s one handed variant is something that additionally uses the environment to an additional effect in Hard Sokan Techniques is a good usage, it provides an easy way to occupy and strike from behind meanwhile Soft Sokan Techniques are something that the more open minded, creative approach allow Niman without restrictions, use anything and everything but be careful to practice in different environments as your options will change and you need to recognise opportunities as they come.
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Dun Möch:
Dun Möch is the technique of provoking, taunting, diplomacy and baiting the opponent in with conversation, gestures and occasionally force powers.

The forms that make the greatest use of Dun Möch are Soresu and Makashi. Both because they embody something of a more defensive or balanced approach, Niman is no different. I’m not generally very good at it but this can very well let it make use of Dun Möch effectively. The opportunities here are really as endless as words but there are a few that work in my experience most consistently.

Bait: The Bait is where an opponent is drawn into an inopportune movement or space. This can be achieved by feigning weakness or retreat, through baiting out aggression through an insult or jeer, a simple gesture like beckoning. This can backfire immensely against an aggressive fighter or someone stronger than you but it’s there.

Manipulate/Diplomacy:
Convincing someone to stand down is a rare thing among the Sith, for really good reasons, never waver, never relent. However against the actual opposition, this is often used to sway them to the Dark or simply into their own execution or slavery, there is little more demoralising for a Solider than to see an ally, especially one so strong surrender.

An example of me achieving this was against the at the time treasonous Miraluka in the Zarchas Rebellion as she tried to run. The cowardly behaviour was recognized and upon orders, she was berated upon it and eventually seeing her total defeat, stood down.

The Insult:
The Insult can often be used to achieve bait, as many of these can. But sometimes the objective is really a less linear trap. To break someone’s confidence, to break someone’s self esteem in their own ability can be a surefire way to make them overestimate you and perform just as they believe they would. Alternatively, to insult someone’s person or connections can take someone off balance, especially against a defensive form and force them to come out and engage recklessly.

The Convincing Pressure:
This is slow pressure applied to someone to draw them into engagement especially in a place of differing strength. Force Wound, Force Slow, Force Grip are all examples of useful abilities that apply pressure on the opponent to draw them into melee, against a stronger opponent in this aspect of the force it becomes inert. It is the promise that it won’t go away, especially on those who leave themselves undefended for it, unless they engage.
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Patterns:
Patterns create expectations. If you are consistently defensive people will predict you to be defensive and prepare. If you favour one type of strike over another they will see that strike and try to raise you a counter. By abusing the natural pattern recognition we see aaaall the time, you can switch up certain stylings to come at different angles, maybe use your normal entry into an opening stance to step into an immediate charge or attack or feint an expected opening into something else.
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Trakata:
The deactivation and reactivation of the blade. To bypass a guard and strike the opponent. It’s more favoured in Makashi than Niman but if I was to pick a second from where it may best be used it’s the so called Tricksters Form, it does however mean commiting to an almost entirely offensive blow and opening your guard. This is why it is a risky move but if your opponent is not prepared for it an effective and possibly finishing one.

It is better in the Jar’kai variant due to its ability to more equally protect yourself while attacking. The use of an offhand dispels some of the risk of such a manuvouver, as you do not so completely drop your guard. There are generally two things it favours.

The Distant Engagement:
The distant use of Trakata is generally for thrusts. It allows you to bypass a defence that threatens only to blade or slip a difficult strike while they engage from one direction. I’m not really a fan. It seems like a waste and like you’re just messing around with vague poking but some people like it, it’s relatively safe if your reach extends beyond theirs.

The Close Engagement:
Is where I find it actually useful, in close, where you’re shifting tight a full swing, cut or other move may not be that easy, a very simple idea in close quarters fighting is to disengage the blade and slip it close to their form, an easy method to get people up in your face, more risky, but it’ll reward.

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