03-20-2019, 02:31 PM | #21 |
Join Date: Sep 2018
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
Around my table I find that swing attacks are typically used against foes with some armor as that extra point or two of damage makes a greater impact. Impaling attacks are generally for unarmored foes or attacks to the face when the face is unarmored. The idea being the impaling damage outstrips the extra few points of cutting damage.
Reach also has an impact on decision. Some swords have an extra hex on one attack but not the other. Rarely in narrow spaces thrusts work where swings don't. |
03-20-2019, 09:40 PM | #22 |
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Southeast NC
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
There are also cases where swings really should not work well, but the rules don't say anything about them. Cramped quarters, through the gaps of a shield wall*, between the bars of a portcullis, etc.
* In either direction, really. I could see a case for reducing the attack penalty for wielding a large shield when thrusting, for example.
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RyanW - Actually one normal sized guy in three tiny trenchcoats. |
03-21-2019, 11:44 AM | #23 |
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
So to sum up, it's best to use thrust only if:
1. The situation is too cramped or restricted for swinging 2. You are using rules from Low Tech that lower swing cutting damage for certain types of armor. 3. Facing very low DR opponents (although how low depends on ST and weapon) and probably targeting the vitals for x 3. right? |
03-21-2019, 12:27 PM | #24 |
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Oklahoma City
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
"Fighting in Confined Spaces," GURPS Underground Adventures p.12 covers some of this, FWIW
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03-21-2019, 01:54 PM | #25 | |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
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There are a few other instances, but these are mostly edge cases. A stop thrust, as the name implies, is a thrusting attack. Not only can it increase damage when used against a charging foe, if your foe needs to get closer than the reach of your weapon they either have to back off and come from another direction (an option they probably have insufficient Move to pull off and still attack) or run themselves through, for automatic maximum damage (using their ST iirc) on your attack. Additionally, when you are charging, I believe thrust attacks are the only ones (via armed slams) that can use slam damage in place of ST-based damage, and when doing so I think the normal Move and Attack penalty is reduced (or maybe even doesn’t apply). Finally, you may come across foes who are particularly susceptible to impaling damage and/or particularly resistant to cutting, but outside of facing Kevlar-wearing soldiers with swords, the opposite (against unliving/homogeneous foes) is more likely.
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03-21-2019, 04:42 PM | #26 |
Join Date: Jul 2015
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
I only thrust to the vitals, because damage for a thrust is less than a swing unless you go for the vitals. It gets worse at higher strengths. It's even worse when against armor. And it's even worse when you add in Weapon Mastery bonuses.
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03-21-2019, 04:57 PM | #27 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
A lot of the problem is that GURPS just defines mechanical effects of damage types wrong; it has impaling damage backwards. Impaling damage isn't just better than cutting at going through flesh, it's better at going through everything, it's just harder to connect with.
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03-22-2019, 01:52 PM | #28 | |
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
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03-22-2019, 02:31 PM | #29 | |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
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I'd probably just say 'Cutting: (0.5) armor divisor, (2) wounding modifier'. |
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03-22-2019, 02:52 PM | #30 | |
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Charlotte, North Caroline, United States of America, Earth?
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Re: Sword question - swing vs thrust
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This combiens with the nature of gurps DR vs ST based damage and produces the unrealistic result that thrusts are only useful at low ST scores and against unarmored opponents, while for those with ST12 or higher, swinging is the best way to get through armor. Targeting the chinks in armor is irrelevant, because the vast skill penalty for the attack places it out of regular use in combat for anyone but the superlatively skilled, and if your opponent has any vulnerable unarmored body parts such as feet, hands or the face, you're better off just attacking there. And then you do more injury with a swinging cutting weapon than a thrust impaling weapon. It's a significant problem that leads to various patchwork efforts to restore "realism", such as edge protection. Edge Protection goes a long way towards sharply reducing the effectiveness of cutting, but runs into the high strength problem as well. I've got a fix, one I borrowed from DanHoward. :D
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