Melee combat at different levels (B402)

[noctrine]

An extremely nit picky rules clarification request:

Up to two feet of vertical difference: Ignore it unless you are using hit locations. In that case, the higher fighter has -2 to hit the feet or legs, and +1 to hit the head (skull, face, or eyes) or neck. The lower fighter has +2 to hit the feet or legs, and -2 to hit the head. These modifiers are in addition to normal hit location penalties.

Up to three feet of vertical difference: As above, but the lower fighter is at -1 to any active defense, while the upper fighter is at +1 to his active defenses.

Up to four feet of vertical difference: As above, but the lower fighter is at -2 to defend, while the upper fighter is at +2. The upper fighter cannot strike at the lower fighter’s feet or legs.

Up to five feet of vertical difference: The lower fighter cannot strike at the upper fighter’s head, and the upper fighter cannot strike at the lower fighter’s feet or legs. The lower fighter is at -3 to defend, while the upper fighter is at +3.

Up to six feet of vertical difference: The upper fighter may only strike at the lower fighter’s head. The lower fighter may only strike at the upper fighter’s feet or legs. Neither gets any special bonus or penalty to attack. The lower fighter is at -3 to defend, while the upper fighter is at +3.

Question: are there bonuses/penalties to *attack* at 5' of vertical difference?

Why am I asking? Under the 4' entry, it explicitly says "as above". Under the 6' entry, it explicitly says "no bonus/penalty to attack." But the 5' entry has nada.

Any input would be much appreciated, and thank you.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by noctrine

An extremely nit picky rules clarification request:



Question: are there bonuses/penalties to *attack* at 5' of vertical difference?

Why am I asking? Under the 4' entry, it explicitly says "as above". Under the 6' entry, it explicitly says "no bonus/penalty to attack." But the 5' entry has nada.

Any input would be much appreciated, and thank you.

Since the penalties are for attacking locations that are nearly out of reach, and the 5' entry states those locations are now completely out of reach, exactly what's the problem?

[dcjones2]

The question boils down to:
Does the +1 to hit the head for the higher fighter and the +2 for feet or legs for the lower fighter still apply at the up to five feet level?

It seems it should be in the up to four feet since it says "as above", but not in the up to six feet since it says "neither gets any special bonus". But up to five feet has neither.

[D10]

Shouldnt the lower fighter get a bonus to hit the groins ?

[Refplace]

That whole section is about Un GURPS as possible since it really only applies to normal humans.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Refplace

That whole section is about Un GURPS as possible since it really only applies to normal humans.

There's really quite a lot of stuff for which that's true.

[Humabout]

It's easy enough to extrapolate for other sizes though.

[Refplace]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

There's really quite a lot of stuff for which that's true.

True but that section bothers me quite a bit since it would have been so easy to modify it by reach or something.

[dcjones2]

Well, I do wish it was a little more clear on the effects of non-SM 0 or non-humanoid fighters, but I think the rules it gives for effects of different reaches isn't bad.

[Humabout]

I just got to my books finally and saw this passage immediately following the one about fighting at different levels:

Originally Posted by B403

If your weapon or Size Modifier gives you more than one yard of reach, each yard past the first beings the foe three feet closer to you. This does not bring you any closer to your foe! For example, a greatsword (two-yard reach) would let you fight as if your foe were three feet closer. If you were standing six feet below him, you would fight as though he were only three feet higher. He would not enjoy a similar benefit unless he, too, had a long reach.