Telegraphic Attacks as a default

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by JazzJedi

I think it is a disadvantage because it gives the target an extra +2 to defend. It is useful for attacking stunned, unaware, or low-skilled opponents because it does increase the chances of hitting, especially a vulnerable location.

It also cannot be used with Deceptive Attack, and does not improve your chance of a critical hit. It's really excellent when combined with an All-Out Attack on someone with no defences, though, letting even unskilled people reliably mess unsuspecting victims up (e.g. Telegraphed AoA (Strong) to the Vitals, net +1 to hit, +2 damage, likely resulting in a shock roll, and possibly even a major wound on the average person).

Note that Telegraphic Attack can also help counter the penalty for using a normal reach 1+ weapon in close combat, and if the other guy is grappled they defences are lowered making the bonus to them less of a drawback.

However, of the opponent is free to move and can see your attack, that +2 to their defence means even an unskilled fighter can retreat and become really hard to hit: Dodge 8 + 3 retreat +2 for Telegraphic = Dodge-13, going to Dodge-15 if they All-Out Defend.

This is of course why not knowing any better and doing it all the time is a disadvantage - because Telegraphic Attack is only situationally advantageous.

[Engurrand]

Originally Posted by Captain Joy

Any attacks made using DX or at default are Telegraphic Attacks.

I've been playing with this rule since roughly the time Martial Arts released (2007? I'm not sure anyway it's been a while). I recommend it. IMHO, it goes a long way to making GURPS fights match expectation out of the box. A total mook can hit a fella on the head with a frying pan without needing to make a bunch of decisions*. People who say "man, slugging somebody in the face isn't that hard!" are playing with this rule. and. that's, like, everybody.

*"a bunch of decisions" here means two: telegraphic & TA:face, but this can be a bar to entry for those uninitiated in the mysteries of GURPS combat.

[robkelk]

Originally Posted by JazzJedi

... But is there any way to make Telegraphic Attacks the "default" starting point for untrained fighters? ...

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

... When you are taught a combat style, ...

If you've been taught a combat style, you're no longer an untrained fighter.

[Anaraxes]

An untrained fighter is highly likely to want/need that +4 to hit from Telegraphic Attack, just because their skill is so low.

One houserule that might help push people in that direction is to do away with the default punch/kick at DX level, and just treat those desperate attacks as using Brawling at default (DX-4 for Easy). Then you'd need a Telegraphic Attack just to get back to DX level, which in turn means all those clumsy untrained novices are punching "at their DX", and getting from a 6 to a 10 (for the average fighter) is a huge increase in probability of hit, thus creating high popularity for Telegraphic Attack.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Hellboy

I guess I'm wondering "how much more likely". Like to the point of always using it to try and get skill 16?

Untrained fighters are very unlikely to get to skill 16.

[AlexanderHowl]

Well, punching defaults to DX and Kicking defaults to DX-2. With AOA (Accurate) and Telegraphic Attack, you get +8, so a DX 10 person could bite or punch for 18 and kick for 16.

[sir_pudding]

Sure, except for unarmed attacks.

[Rupert]

Originally Posted by Anaraxes

An untrained fighter is highly likely to want/need that +4 to hit from Telegraphic Attack, just because their skill is so low.

One houserule that might help push people in that direction is to do away with the default punch/kick at DX level, and just treat those desperate attacks as using Brawling at default (DX-4 for Easy). Then you'd need a Telegraphic Attack just to get back to DX level, which in turn means all those clumsy untrained novices are punching "at their DX", and getting from a 6 to a 10 (for the average fighter) is a huge increase in probability of hit, thus creating high popularity for Telegraphic Attack.

This leads to the problem that untrained fighters have real trouble punching each other in the head, because even with AoA for +4 , they'll have a 9- to hit and thus only about 3/8ths of their attacks will hit (and that's if the other guy isn't defending at all). It effectively removes sneaking up on someone and bashing them as something anyone can do with a decent chance of it working.

IMO it's more of an issue that untrained people find it quite hard to hurt each other with chairlegs (presumably batons - at least the one I've got lying round would count as one) - even with Telegraphic Blow that DX-5 default makes it hard.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by Rupert

This leads to the problem that untrained fighters have real trouble punching each other in the head, because even with AoA for +4 , they'll have a 9- to hit and thus only about 3/8ths of their attacks will hit (and that's if the other guy isn't defending at all). It effectively removes sneaking up on someone and bashing them as something anyone can do with a decent chance of it working.

IMO it's more of an issue that untrained people find it quite hard to hurt each other with chairlegs (presumably batons - at least the one I've got lying round would count as one) - even with Telegraphic Blow that DX-5 default makes it hard.

Kromm has suggested that you can use a lot of objects as thr weapons at DX, as effectively a fist load.

[Ketsuban]

Originally Posted by Rupert

This leads to the problem that untrained fighters have real trouble punching each other in the head, because even with AoA for +4 , they'll have a 9- to hit and thus only about 3/8ths of their attacks will hit (and that's if the other guy isn't defending at all). It effectively removes sneaking up on someone and bashing them as something anyone can do with a decent chance of it working.

Did you include three Evaluates (standard practice for an ambush)? That could be an additional +3.