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Old 03-12-2020, 07:22 PM   #6
aesir23
 
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Vermont
Default Re: Defensive Beats? Aggressive Parry with a weapon?

I practice, and teach, HEMA, so I can say that defensive Beats (parries designed to knock your opponent's weapon aside and create an opening) absolutely ARE a thing IRL (this is the whole point of most "falso" parries in Italian sword fighting styles). In fact, I'd argue that they're as common and much safer than offensive beats.
I'd love to see them represented in GURPS.

One way you can do this RAW is with Stop Hit or Riposte. I don't see any reason why the attack portion of those actions couldn't be a Beat. You could apply the defense penality from Riposte to your opponent's roll in the contest.

I could also see creating a new technique that combines a parry and beat into a single action--this would be the most realistic approach, but it has play balance implications, since it would allow you to beat and immediately attack into your opponents reduced defenses without having to take an AoA.
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