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Kromm · 07-08-2011, 09:31 AM

If you actually read manuals penned by combat veterans – e.g., Fairbairn's – you'll learn that the "one-stab kill" is pure Hollywood myth. As others have pointed out, the stab isn't the most important part; that's the stealthy approach followed by the solid grapple from behind. In effect, you achieve a kind of surprise headlock from the rear first, and then use this to control the victim while you stab or slice repeatedly. (The closest I know of to a one-stab immobilization is a thrust up into the brain past the base of the skull; in GURPS terms, a thrust to the skull hit location, most likely done as All-Out Attack (Strong) to drive the blade in.)

Abilities that would help here:

Stealth, to get behind the victim
Judo or Wrestling skill for the grab, or Boxing, Brawling, or Karate skill plus the Clinch* perk if you prefer
techniques like Targeted Attack (Judo or Wrestling Grapple/Face), Targeted Attack (Judo or Wrestling Grapple/Neck), or possibly Head Lock (which is at -2 to initiate one-handed)*
high ST, Lifting ST†, and/or a good Wrestling skill to keep the opponent from breaking free
Knife skill for the slash or stab
Targeted Attack (Knife Cut/Neck), Targeted Attack (Knife Thrust/Neck), or Targeted Attack (Knife Thrust/Skull) technique*
a Combination* that includes the grapple and the strike
high ST and/or Striking ST† to do lots of damage, because you are sawing to the bone or forcing a knife in, so power is vital ("the knife so sharp that it does the job for you" is more myth)

* See Martial Arts.
† May require Special Exercises perks, also in Martial Arts.

Combat rules that would be useful to remember:

Surprise Attacks and Initiative (pp. B393-394) to get behind the target and eliminate his active defense
Telegraphic Attack (Martial Arts, p. 113) for a bonus to hit a target who won't likely get a defense anyway
All-Out Attack (p. B365) for multiple attacks and/or more damage, and especially All-Out Grapple and Strike (Martial Arts, p. 118) to use your grapple to pull the victim onto your knife for bonus damage
Reversed Grip (Martial Arts, p. 111) for bonus damage if you stab
New Hit Locations (Martial Arts, p. 137) for some even more damaging targets to slice up
The Sound of One Hand Grappling (Martial Arts, p. 116) if trying some fancy lock one-handed in order to be able to stab with the other hand

Those seeking one-stab kills like in the movies will want a special ability common in the Dungeon Fantasy series: Striking ST (Only on surprise attack, -60%) [2/level]. There, up to 10 levels are allowed. You'll find that this does the job. Weapon Master (Knife), with its per-die damage bonus, is also nice. You can get pretty close to the knife that does all the work for you by selecting a long knife (Martial Arts, p. 228) and making it very fine; this would be good Signature Gear for someone with the cinematic abilities above. Note that a realistic combat knife is probably a fine large knife, though.

07-08-2011, 09:31 AM	#29
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Re: Question about cutting a throat. If you actually read manuals penned by combat veterans – e.g., Fairbairn's – you'll learn that the "one-stab kill" is pure Hollywood myth. As others have pointed out, the stab isn't the most important part; that's the stealthy approach followed by the solid grapple from behind. In effect, you achieve a kind of surprise headlock from the rear first, and then use this to control the victim while you stab or slice repeatedly. (The closest I know of to a one-stab immobilization is a thrust up into the brain past the base of the skull; in *GURPS* terms, a thrust to the skull hit location, most likely done as All-Out Attack (Strong) to drive the blade in.) Abilities that would help here: Stealth, to get behind the victim Judo or Wrestling skill for the grab, or Boxing, Brawling, or Karate skill plus the Clinch* perk if you prefer techniques like Targeted Attack (Judo or Wrestling Grapple/Face), Targeted Attack (Judo or Wrestling Grapple/Neck), or possibly Head Lock (which is at -2 to initiate one-handed)* high ST, Lifting ST†, and/or a good Wrestling skill to keep the opponent from breaking free Knife skill for the slash or stab Targeted Attack (Knife Cut/Neck), Targeted Attack (Knife Thrust/Neck), or Targeted Attack (Knife Thrust/Skull) technique* a Combination* that includes the grapple and the strike high ST and/or Striking ST† to do lots of damage, because you are sawing to the bone or forcing a knife in, so power is vital ("the knife so sharp that it does the job for you" is more myth) * See *Martial Arts. † May require Special Exercises perks, also in Martial Arts. Combat rules that would be useful to remember: Surprise Attacks and Initiative* (pp. B393-394) to get behind the target and eliminate his active defense Telegraphic Attack (*Martial Arts, p. 113) for a bonus to hit a target who won't likely get a defense anyway All-Out Attack* (p. B365) for multiple attacks and/or more damage, and especially All-Out Grapple and Strike (*Martial Arts, p. 118) to use your grapple to pull the victim onto your knife for bonus damage Reversed Grip* (*Martial Arts, p. 111) for bonus damage if you stab* New Hit Locations (*Martial Arts, p. 137) for some even more damaging targets to slice up The Sound of One Hand Grappling* (*Martial Arts, p. 116) if trying some fancy lock one-handed in order to be able to stab with the other hand Those seeking one-stab kills like in the movies will want a special ability common in the Dungeon Fantasy* series: Striking ST (Only on surprise attack, -60%) [2/level]. There, up to 10 levels are allowed. You'll find that this does the job. Weapon Master (Knife), with its per-die damage bonus, is also nice. You can get pretty close to the knife that does all the work for you by selecting a long knife (*Martial Arts, p. 228) and making it very fine; this would be good Signature Gear for someone with the cinematic abilities above. Note that a realistic combat knife is probably a fine large knife, though. __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]