Parry and Close combat

[zuljita]

This isn't GURPS but I have mostly GURPS players... They are used to being able to use this from the FAQ

3.4.3.6 How can I defend myself against someone stepping in close-combat with me?
On a turn when someone enters close combat and tries to attack or grapple you, you can defend normally as if you were not in Close Combat, with either a block, dodge, or parry. You can even retreat if you want. But once you're in close combat, you can only dodge, or parry with a reach C weapon.

Note that if someone successfully grapples you, you end up in the same hex as him/her, even if you retreated. This represents the fact that you tried to retreat, but your enemy was quick enough to stop you.

Does this ruling persist in DFRPG and I just couldn't find it?

[Stripe]

Not to hijack Zuljita's thread, because I also would like to know that, but is this FAQ item ever explicitly stated in the GURPS rules? Perhaps in Martial Arts?

Could I get a page reference if so?

I ask because I swear I've read it somewhere, but maybe it was just in the FAQ . . .

[ArchonShiva]

Originally Posted by Stripe

Could I get a page reference if so?

MA117 mentions it, but it’s phrased as though that’s an existing rule.

Zuljita’s question is obviously DFRPG, but you might want to make yours a new post in GURPS, and may get more satisfying answers there, as well.

[sjard]

Originally Posted by ArchonShiva

MA117 mentions it, but it’s phrased as though that’s an existing rule.

Zuljita’s question is obviously DFRPG, but you might want to make yours a new post in GURPS, and may get more satisfying answers there, as well.

Just a reminder to try to keep non-DFRPG GURPS sources out of the DFRPG threads as much as possible. It can cause confusion for people about the DFRPG line.

Thank you.

[Carrot]

*I SMELL A RAT SPOILER ALERT*

I'm looking for this and a good play through of close combat in general actually. I GMed I Smell A Rat and realised that I played the spiders incorrectly in that they should have been in close combat and therefore made things very difficult for the greatsword wielding Holy Warrior who was holding the line for the most part.

In saying that, I feel like I'm missing something when it comes to a CC monster moving in on top of a PC without getting smashed on the way in. This might be a psychic imprint from THE OTHER GAME THAT SHALL NOT BE MENTIONED though...

[zuljita]

As a player in ISAR I wasn't allowed to parry something on the way in to close combat either. Ruled it that way in a game the other day and got objections from players based on the above FAQ. If that was intentionally left out of DFRPG, (which I actually have no issue with) then more power to the GM of the game where I'm a player. If I missed it somewhere, I'd like to know.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Carrot

This might be a psychic imprint from THE OTHER GAME THAT SHALL NOT BE MENTIONED though...

You know that SJG doesn't give a fig if you mention Dungeons and Dragons, right?

More on topic, I think that's just training from D&D 3e+ - in DFRPG (and GURPS and a lot of other games) you don't get "free" attacks from the enemy moving near you. You also don't get a free attack when they walk around you (like you would in D&D 3e+) and when they make a ranged attack adjacent to you, and the various other situations where D&D gives out free attacks.

Attacks of Opportunity are a game mechanic designed to artificially enforce behavior on the game board for game design reasons.

[Kromm]

Originally Posted by zuljita

This isn't GURPS but I have mostly GURPS players... They are used to being able to use this from the FAQ

Does this ruling persist in DFRPG and I just couldn't find it?

"This doesn't affect parries made as your foe enters close combat" is a ruling from the third paragraph of Long Weapons in Close Combat (GURPS Martial Arts, p. 117). It's considered "advanced" (it isn't from the Basic Set) and didn't get imported into the Dungeon Fantasy Roleplaying Game; in fact, you can safely assume that most of GURPS Martial Arts wasn't adapted. "You can even retreat if you want" is on p. B392 and thus made it into Defense in Close Combat (Exploits, p. 51).

[Kalzazz]

So if a foe enters close combat with you,

1. You can retreat if a retreat is available, in which case you can parry
2. You can parry IF you have a reach C option
3. You can dodge

?

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Carrot

Yeah, so a web grappled PC with a greatsword is basically done for.

This is why everyone should have a Reach C option: Knife* (and Fast Draw Knife), Brawling†, Wrestling†, etc.

* Check your skill defaults, Dress Smallsword for the Rapier wielder, Long Knife for Broadsword users, etc.
† And of course Karate, Judo, Sumo.

As far as "stopping" an opponent, I guess there's a few ways that works / could work?
Knockback.

Maybe. If they don't have more Movement left to spend.

But yes, often "and the foe can't follow your Retreat because it only stepped this turn" is the reason most Reach C monsters end up dying without dealing much damage.

The incoming attacker having to dodge on the way in. Does this stop movement? it make sense that it would, but I can't find a ref easily.

No, Dodging does not inhibit movement at all. However it does mean the attacker didn't All Out Attack, which is nice.

The incoming attacker being incapacitated on the way in.

This totally works.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Pummeling seems to visualize fine.

My Barbarian used Wrestling and Brawling. Pin the spider and then wail on it forever. Blunt brawling damage isn't optimal for killing monsters, but it stopped the beast's attacks for those ten rounds.

Until I got annoyed, let it go, ripped free of the webs, stepped back, and proceeded to miss every attack until someone else killed it.

Le sigh.

Originally Posted by Kalzazz

So if a foe enters close combat with you,

1. You can retreat if a retreat is available, in which case you can parry
2. You can parry IF you have a reach C option
3. You can dodge

?

Yes, exactly.

Close Combat is a PC killer.