Wait Maneuver clarification

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Peter V. Dell'Orto

A nitpick:
If Long is doing a Stop Hit, it has special rules - Long is specifically saying, I'll let Short strike first and attack into his attack to try to parry it and strike him in one, risky, movement. It has its own special rules to determine who goes first; it does not use Cascading Waits.

Oops. Thanks!

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Oops. Thanks!

I thought after I hit "Submit Reply" that maybe you were thinking of Stop Thrust, but that's not a contest, it's just longer weapon wins. That's a case where I think it's hard to do a Step and Wait with Stop Thrust because, when are you bracing it Mr. I Took A Step? ;)
So I wouldn't let Long, say, do a Step and Wait w/Stop Thrust and try to claim he's first with his long weapon . . . I wouldn't allow the Step in the first place.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Peter V. Dell'Orto

I thought after I hit "Submit Reply" that maybe you were thinking of Stop Thrust, but that's not a contest, it's just longer weapon wins. That's a case where I think it's hard to do a Step and Wait with Stop Thrust because, when are you bracing it Mr. I Took A Step? ;)
So I wouldn't let Long, say, do a Step and Wait w/Stop Thrust and try to claim he's first with his long weapon . . . I wouldn't allow the Step in the first place.

Any of the three (Long waits to just Attack, Long risks a Stop Hit, Long stands and Waits for a Stop Thrust) are probably decent models for things you see in real fights. Right?

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Any of the three (Long waits to just Attack, Long risks a Stop Hit, Long stands and Waits for a Stop Thrust) are probably decent models for things you see in real fights. Right?

I think so. Watching long vs. short weapon sparring, I generally see more waiting by the long reach guy, because he's got the most to lose if he misjudges distance, but the most to gain by let you come to him (where he can attack while you're still trying to pass his point.)

I hear rumors the next Melee Academy might talk about using Reach.

[martinl]

Originally Posted by Varyon

If we're allowing Step and Wait, then there's no longer the "swordsman always goes first" problem.

It occurred to me last night that step and wait is not technically required.

The spearman just declares a "I step and attack if the swordsman so much as breathes." Swordsman eventually blinks or twitches, spearman steps, which triggers the competing wait, and the competing wait rules go into effect, with the spearman looking at some bonuses from having a longer weapon and the opposing wait needing a step (he needed a step too, but that is already done, by definition).

Not that there's anything wrong with step and wait.