[MA] Arm Lock, Judo Throw, Throws From Locks and Combinations: how they interact

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by vicky_molokh

First of all, let me state that I do not believe in the Unarmed Tank without serious backing by Exotic/Supernatural traits or a ridiculous CP level.

With Judo as written in GURPS, it more or less qualifies. No penalty vs. weapons, and not really impacted by the foe's ST. Still, overall I tend to agree.

Oh, I do think that Arm Lock is an eccentric choice unless the combo is maxed out. Maybe even if it is.
But I don't think there is a meaningful difference between next turn and next attack for a tank, because the tank will always be parrying on somebody else's turn. Sure, if the tank steps into a Wait, and then parries an attack, s/he can't Arm Lock.

Let me detail this out:

Arm Lock case:

Other guy's turn: attacks; Judo guy parries.
Judo Guy's New Turn: He applies Arm Lock.
Other guy's turn: he desperately tries to get out.
THIRD guy's turn: he can do whatever he wants since Judo guy is locking Other Guys' arm, and fully occupied doing that.
Judo Guy's Second Turn: He applies damage with his lock (free action) or makes a throw (this is an attack).

Judo Throw case:

Other guy's turn: he attacks, JT guy parries
JT guy: executes Judo Throw, likely for damage. Other guy at least on the ground, hopefully stunned, possibly damaged.
Second guy: attacks JT guy, who may parry.
Third guy: attacks JT guy, who may parry at no penalty (one-handed parry)
Fourth guy: attacks JT guy, who maybe can parry at -4 using that optional rule.
JT guy: executes Judo Throw on second, third, and fourth guys by using Extra Attack and Rapid Strike, or AoA(Double) and Rapid Strike.

The Judo Throw is nearly an area-denial weapon used this way. Even if what I laid out (multiple throws using multiple attacks) isn't rules-legal, he can still do a JT on a different foe every turn, while using a Lock technique, he's doing something every other turn, and in between, he's grappling a guy, and will have a hard time defending himself AND maintaining the grapple so he can win the QC to throw or damage when his turn comes up.

Is it a mystery why a Kick and a Judo Throw are not considered core uses, but a Punch and a Grapple are. Okay, adding TM(JT), as it is a dream come true.

I think that Judo Throw IS the core use of Judo. Judo in a way is simply the art of using Judo Throw. So you need TM to exceed it.

I won't speak for kicking.

Seems like another good Combination: grapple-lock-throw (is it in some of the recent MA PDFs, or am I misremembering?).

I'd have to check, but throws from locks (Martial Arts, pp. 118-119) says you can do a throw from a lock on any turn AFTER the one you throw your foe.

I don't think, by RAW, this can be done as a one-turn action. I'd certainly be amenable to making "next turn" be "next attack," but if it's there as NEXT TURN, it's because Sean and Peter put it there purposefully. "after" is in italics in the original: They purposefully excluded the "same turn" case.