Off-handed Unarmed Combat

Erik_Nielsen · 03-05-2007, 03:52 PM

In 3e, I seem to recall it explicitly stated that Brawling was unaffected by Off-hand penalty. In 4e, no such brazen declaration occurs. In fact, the only references I see to Off-hand penalties are in the Techniques section under Off-Hand Weapon Training (B232), which only deals with weapons, and in the Combat Modifiers (B547) section.

Karate offers the following line:

"Roll against Karate to hit with a punch (at no -4 for the "off" hand), or Karate-2 to hit with a kick." (B203)

But none of the other Unarmed Combat Skills (Boxing, Brawling, Judo, Sumo Wrestling, Wrestling) mention off-hand penalties at all.

It makes sense to me that Boxing and Karate might be hand-independent, and I can even see Judo, Sumo, and Wrestling skirting the issue, but if Joe Brawler starts swinging or grabbing, it strikes me that using the wrong hand might just make a difference.

Background: this came up as a result of a combat where one of the combatants had his weapon hand crippled and was trying to Grapple his opponent's weapon hand so he could get in close and bite him.

Thoughts?

Ciaran · 03-05-2007, 04:06 PM

There was some disagreement about his among the GURPS Martial Arts playtesters. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to put that penalty in there. I've never had issues throwing punches or grappling with either hand. Swinging a weapon in an off-hand, yes. But not unarmed.

Kromm · 03-05-2007, 04:08 PM

Default is that unarmed combat takes no -4 for the "off" hand. Martial Arts will say so, and add that if you prefer, you can assess this and other penalties.

03-05-2007, 03:52 PM	#1
Erik_Nielsen Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oakland, CA	Off-handed Unarmed Combat In 3e, I seem to recall it explicitly stated that Brawling was unaffected by Off-hand penalty. In 4e, no such brazen declaration occurs. In fact, the only references I see to Off-hand penalties are in the Techniques section under Off-Hand Weapon Training (B232), which only deals with weapons, and in the Combat Modifiers (B547) section. Karate offers the following line: "Roll against Karate to hit with a punch (at no -4 for the "off" hand), or Karate-2 to hit with a kick." (B203) But none of the other Unarmed Combat Skills (Boxing, Brawling, Judo, Sumo Wrestling, Wrestling) mention off-hand penalties at all. It makes sense to me that Boxing and Karate might be hand-independent, and I can even see Judo, Sumo, and Wrestling skirting the issue, but if Joe Brawler starts swinging or grabbing, it strikes me that using the wrong hand might just make a difference. Background: this came up as a result of a combat where one of the combatants had his weapon hand crippled and was trying to Grapple his opponent's weapon hand so he could get in close and bite him. Thoughts?

03-05-2007, 04:06 PM	#2
Ciaran Join Date: Apr 2005	Re: Off-handed Unarmed Combat There was some disagreement about his among the GURPS Martial Arts playtesters. Personally, I don't think it's necessary to put that penalty in there. I've never had issues throwing punches or grappling with either hand. Swinging a weapon in an off-hand, yes. But not unarmed.

03-05-2007, 04:08 PM	#3
Kromm *GURPS* Line Editor Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Montréal, Québec	Re: Off-handed Unarmed Combat Default is that unarmed combat takes no -4 for the "off" hand. Martial Arts will say so, and add that if you prefer, you can assess this and other penalties. __________________ Sean "Dr. Kromm" Punch <kromm@sjgames.com> *GURPS* Line Editor, Steve Jackson Games My DreamWidth [Just *GURPS* News]