[Technical Grappling] Teach me using examples

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by chandley

Didnt know about the Enhanced Parry or CR. That does change things.

I tend to omit Combat Reflexes from short-hand stats, assuming that any professional Hero will have it. I only note it if it is otherwise ambigious whether the character ought to have it.

Originally Posted by chandley

Cant parry with the polearm, but could parry with Wrestling (vs the break free attempt).

I'm not sure how I feel about Hands-Free Parries being unpenalised vs. any grappling move, including Break Free. Break Free being an attack which allows an Active Defence is one of the biggest changes of Technical Grappling.

It seems to lead to counter-intuitive results, in that it lets weak-but-skilled characters whose concept is 'Can't Touch This' (i.e. have Enhanced Parry and Dodge) keep limpet-like grips on their foes, without the ST differential ever really coming into play, since the stronger character cannot counter-grapple or try to Break Free.

I think that I'd have been happier with a) Break Free attempts being harder to defend against than other attacks, since they are directed at the grapple, not the character and b) Hands-Free Grapples being penalised by -2, so that there really is a defensive drawback to 'forcing' a bad grapple instead of trying again for a better one (p. 19).

Originally Posted by chandley

Given the polearm is in use, Sir Michaels best choice is probably to take a whack at the arm, trying for shock penalties and possibly a cripple. Polearm cant parry (in use for the hook) and wrestling cant either without dropping the polearm (needs two hands to parry). That leaves a dodge.

Yep. The way the rules are written, grabbing the polearm, jamming his longsword between it and himself or trying to win free of the hook are all grappling moves and therefore almost impossible. Mickey's optimal strategy is to strike and on the first playthrough I tried, he crippled Braelgar's right hand.

It is, however, really strange that the superior grappler of the two should have an incentive to avoid countering a grapple with grappling moves.