Parrying unarmed attacks

[MatthewVilter]

From this thread.

People are saying that doing full swing damage when you parry an unarmed attack is to much, and I agree.

My thought was base damage on thrust for all weapons and use the "Long Weapons in Close Combat" penalty from MA117 on the weapon skill roll to inflict damage.

How does that sound?

[Dustin]

Sounds fine - I would only apply the Close Combat penalty if the attacker spent the whole round in Close Combat, though. An incoming Slam attack, for example, allows plenty of initial room to bring the parrying weapon to bear.

For damage, we've had good results just with half damage on a parry, but thrust might make even more sense. Main thing is to have something quick to calculate.

[aesir23]

Originally Posted by MatthewVilter

How does that sound?

Sounds good to me too, you don't really use the leverage of your weapon when you parry.

I would note that the damage type should be as though swung, though (e.g. Spears only do crushing when parrying an unarmed attack, swords do cutting and not impaling, etc... if you want to stab an incoming fist you must Stop Hit), just to avoid silliness.

[The Benj]

I'd be happy for it to do reduced damage like an Aggressive Parry.

[Gollum]

I would say that it all depends on the player's description.

GM: He tries to punch your jaws.
Player: Really? I cut his arm off with my sword!

Rules as they are written: full swing damage.

GM: He tries to punch your jaws.
Player: I parry his arm with my sword.

Half damage or, best, the very good idea of The Benj: Agressive Parry rule, but with cutting damage.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Gollum

I would say that it all depends on the player's description.

GM: He tries to punch your jaws.
Player: Really? I cut his arm off with my sword!

Rules as they are written: full swing damage.

GM: He tries to punch your jaws.
Player: I parry his arm with my sword.

Half damage or, best, the very good idea of The Benj: Agressive Parry rule, but with cutting damage.

This is notably missing any motivation for any player not to use the more-aggressive version, once they figure out what wordings you reward.

[Gollum]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

This is notably missing any motivation for any player not to use the more-aggressive version, once they figure out what wordings you reward.

It all depends on their intent... Does their character really want to dismember his foe? It can be just a silent warning: surrender or it will hurt again!

But my purpose was also to show that full swing damage while parying is not completely stupid. There are some situations where it sounds very realistic.

Another example that happened in one of my games:

I (GM): The wolf jump on you to bite your throat.
Player: I impale it on my sword!

I used the parry rules as they are written for this situation (parry - the wolf was attacking -, attack roll and, then, normal damage - but thrusting/impaling one, this time).

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

Originally Posted by MatthewVilter

How does that sound?

Simpler rule that I've used for over a decade: Parries do half damage to parried limbs.

Note this still makes half-ogres doing 5d (2) cut horrifically nasty, but you shouldn't punch people like that in the first place.

[Ulzgoroth]

Originally Posted by Toadkiller_Dog

Simpler rule that I've used for over a decade: Parries do half damage to parried limbs.

Note this still makes half-ogres doing 5d (2) cut horrifically nasty, but you shouldn't punch people like that in the first place.

Limb or other body part?

Not all unarmed attacks are limb-based...

[Peter V. Dell'Orto]

Originally Posted by Ulzgoroth

Limb or other body part?

Not all unarmed attacks are limb-based...

Geez, do you guys need me to spell out my house rules exactly?

Okay, try this:

"When using the Parrying Unarmed Attacks rules (p. B whatever it is), use swing damage, halved."