[MA] Defensive Grip and Unbalanced Weapons

[Diomedes]

A Defensive Attack allows you to parry with an unbalanced weapon on the same turn. I'm thinking of making this an artifact of Defensive Grip instead, on the theory that a Defensive Grip is closer to the way one would normally parry with it, so keeping the same grip to attack wouldn't bring the weapon out of line.

What do you think? Balancing? Unbalancing? Just plain unrealistic?

[Figleaf23]

IDHMBWM, but I'm inclined to think that the only kind of attack that should be permitted with a defensive grip is a defensive attack.

[mlangsdorf]

Why would you say that? Having two hands on a one-handed weapon is not going to prevent you from raising it overhead and bringing it down on your opponent with all your strength (All-Out Attack) or from lunging forward and retreating quickly (Committed Attack/Long).

[Gudiomen]

That's right, any maneuver is valid. defensive grip is just a defensive grip, although the reduced damage will make it more similar to Defensive Attack.

As for the OP's proposition, if you're chocking the weapon further up, specially 2-handed weapons, and getting less damage... that kinda makes sense. I'd be wary of granting unbalanced weapons too much flexibility tho. I'll have to revise the rules.

[Figleaf23]

Originally Posted by mlangsdorf

Why would you say that? ...

Because there's a reason weapons are held in certain ways. If you're holding your Zweihander by the hafty part in front of the grip, you can't swing it with as great effect.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by Figleaf23

Because there's a reason weapons are held in certain ways. If you're holding your Zweihander by the hafty part in front of the grip, you can't swing it with as great effect.

Which is why Defensive Grip has built-in damage penalties. That doesn't prevent you from aggressively attacking with All-Out Attack, though, or from running and swinging with Move and Attack. Defensive Attack is a tactical posture for your entire body with all its limbs, skills, and weapons; it isn't weapon-specific. Defensive Grip is.

[Diomedes]

Looking it over, I might let the Unbalanced-becomes-balanced option supplant the +1 to parries from the front, rather than supplementing it.