Wrestling in Armor - A vid for you low-tech guys

[Verjigorm]

Keep in mind that not every fighter wore his visor down all the time, and while open grille faceplates are attested, I for one think they are primarily behourd and similar "recreational" use. Why would a fighter pull his helmet up?

1) Perception. Narrow slits for your eyes protect you effectively from most attacks, but they also restrict your vision. Not seeing the peasant slip around your side with that flail is going to be bad news for you. Raising the visor allows you to see whats going on in a crowded melee, but it's going to make you more vulnerable to facial attacks. Sound may also be an important cue: hearing a battle cry or a musical instrument may be a signal.

2) Breathing. Any type of face mask restricts your breathing, constricts airflow and makes you sweat. Doubly so for one that is made out of heavy and thick metal, with narrow slits or vents for breathing. You're going to fatigue more rapidly from the weight as well as the increased temperature as your breathing heats up the helmet and sweat begins to roll out of your hair. Properly made undergarments help wick that away, but you're still trapped in a metal box.

Helmets were made with removable visors for a large body of time, and open faced helmets in particular are extremely common through history, often replacing close-faced helms.

And a Brawling technique with a sword pommel is at less penalty to make an attack than a reach 1 or 2 sword in close combat.

[Gigermann]

Originally Posted by Verjigorm

And a Brawling technique with a sword pommel is at less penalty to make an attack than a reach 1 or 2 sword in close combat.

That makes sense to me—close the gap at the same time, entering CC, making his weapon less useful. Not so good if you have to use a Ready action to do it, though. Still…

Originally Posted by Icelander

Because, constructed as a technique, having to follow a parry with a less damaging attack than your primary sounds like a special drawback to me. Which justifies a reduction of -1 to the default penalty. A kind GM might even allow a -2, since these are two drawbacks (must follow a parry, uses pommel of sword instead of blade).

Actually, thinking that through, maybe a Combination might work here also, incorporating the Ready…and not require any "new" Trait, and maybe cheaper?

Other than Form/Grip Mastery, though, is there any "official" way to change grips faster? I noticed that MA102 allows a quick-change from normal to (specifically) Reversed Grip with a -4/-6 Technique—that could be adapted to other grips, I would imagine.