Do stop thrusts end movement?

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by aesir23

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Knock back in GURPS generally makes much more sense if you picture it as "opponent had to take a step backwards or lose their balance" rather than "opponent flies back entirely from the force of the blow."

Part of the problem is it would take much more energy to knock back an opponent who's moving forward than one who's standing still (you have to overcome their forward momentum rather than just tipping their balance back.)

Yep exactly

Originally Posted by aesir23

It would make sense to me to say that each hex of knockback merely cancels out one movement point, except that GURPS doesn't alway distinguish between the states "opponent moved last turn but has stopped on his current hex" and "opponent is still moving, but he doesn't have any more movement points to spend until his next turn.

Yep, I think you can fudge it somewhat though

Originally Posted by aesir23

Another problem is Newton's Third Law. If a man is charging me, and I thrust my quarterstaff into him, I may be able to stop him, but I'm also going to be forced backwards.
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Thing is Newtons Third law in abstract doesn't take into account friction, footing and likely braced weapons. i.e the situation is not just two frictionless objects colliding (but yes it will apply at some point if the forces are great enough to overcome all that, as you say above it how you view knock back that's the key)

[Myrion]

Thanks for the discussion, everyone! Now I can definitely both visualize it and understand much better how it works. :)

[hal]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

Yep exactly




Yep, I think you can fudge it somewhat though



Thing is Newtons Third law in abstract doesn't take into account friction, footing and likely braced weapons. i.e the situation is not just two frictionless objects colliding (but yes it will apply at some point if the forces are great enough to overcome all that, as you say above it how you view knock back that's the key)

Another possibility to consider is center of gravity when it comes to knock back. Hitting the target below the center of gravity or above it will produce different results against the center. Hitting above the center while a target is running full out would be like clothes lining someone. Hitting nearer to the knees would more than likely cause a stumble effect - all without having inflicting ST-2 damage.

[Tomsdad]

Originally Posted by hal

Another possibility to consider is center of gravity when it comes to knock back. Hitting the target below the center of gravity or above it will produce different results against the center. Hitting above the center while a target is running full out would be like clothes lining someone. Hitting nearer to the knees would more than likely cause a stumble effect - all without having inflicting ST-2 damage.

True, although certain specific attacks can give you these effects as well, Trip and slams with long weapons for instance