[Technical Grappling] Teach me using examples

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Varyon

I ruled the halberdier could Parry by pulling unbalancing the guy's strike -

That's far from unreasonable, but it's also explicitly forbidden by the rules. It's also not unreasonable to expect the fact that the mobility of the weapon is greatly compromised by the necessity to keep a grapple on a resisting foe would make it harder to prevent said foe from grabbing a hold of it.

My prefered solution would be to allow Parry as an Active Defence, but to penalise it for the need to retain the grapple. I think I'd prefer it if Defensive Grip didn't count, as you are now holding the weapon in an entirely different way, and I would base the Parry level either on Hook or Armed Grappling.

I'd probably only allow this against attempts to grab or Bind your weapon or grapple you, not against Break Free attempts (as that could be unfair and make high Hook unbeatable).

Originally Posted by Varyon

In your case, I'd say Mikey, particularly with his high strength and long Reach (I ruled the hammer could only strike the metal-and-wood part of the halberd, while a greatsword could easily reach the just-wood portion), would probably be best served by striking at the halberd itself, leaving his opponent with a quarterstaff at best (probably more like a light club). Tournament rules might allow his opponent to disengage and grab a new halberd, resetting things (which is still in Mikey's favor).

Tourney swords are blunted and weapons are surprisingly tough. Not that Mickey couldn't sever a wooden shaft with a proper sword, I guess, but I'm guessing he'd have trouble with a blunted tourney blade.

Aside from that, if he can strike the halberd, he can also Armed Grapple or Bind Weapon* it. That might be superior. Not to mention the fact that he can use Break Free.

In all cases, though, Master Braelgar will get an Active Defence. If only Dodge is allowed without giving up his grapple on Mickey, that means a defence of 9 or less, which is not likely to succeed. If he can roll Polearm-based Parry at no penalty and with the Defensive Grip bonus working normally, he's rolling against Parry 20 instead.

That's quite a difference.

*He has Skill Adaptation (Bind Weapon defaults to Two-Handed Sword), using the large cross-guard of typical examples.