Re: [MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte
 

Rolling hit location first is outright required to stay consistent with other rules. For instance, leg parries only may only be initiated against attacks that target the lower parts of a character. Or the fact that you are not supposed to waste time declaring/rolling a Parry if the attack misses. And whether the attack hits or misses will partially depend on what hit location the PC chooses (it usually doesn't depend on random hit locations though).

Re: [MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte
 

We usually specify the target hit location before we roll the attack, but it amounts to the same thing.

Re: [MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte
 

I don't roll for hit locations except in those instances where it specifically calls for it (shrapnel, falling damage, truly random things). But when, it is: roll for attack; roll for hit location; roll defense.

Re: [MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte
 

In my Cliffhangers campaign we often rely on random hit locations, for when attacker is not targeting a specific location. But I don't think we roll before defence, because the kinds of fight we have it rarely matters. Fights are mostly fisticuffs, where ordinary arm parries are fine - or simple melee weapons vs. other melee weapons.
But I do see a point for more finicky fights, that locations matter.

But I'm not sure I like the idea of the defender knowing in advance where he will be hit, before he decides if he'll bother with a defense. I mean, a fighter with a really good corselet and bare arms only parries if he'll take a hit to the arms.
On the other hand I suppose a skilled fighter can see where the blow lands. Plus when deciding whether to defend or not it's not like you're abandoning our next attack - that's only if deciding between AoD or normal. But in a fight against multiple enemies you risk 'using up' a parry on atrivial attack.

PS: In the old 'Millenium's End' technothriller rpg you rolled defence once attack was declared but *before* it was actually rolled. Because if defense is succesful don't bother with the rest. However that game did not (IIRC) have the All out options, or limited number of defenses per turn. However I guess there had to be a fumble chance.

Re: [MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte
 

It's often worth rolling random location with cutting weapons, rather than targeting torso, since nearly every location is good for cutting.