[MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte

[Kelly Pedersen]

Originally Posted by DeathDaisy

That's such an elegant solution! Thanks! :) Is dodge riposte too much? I'm thinking maybe a counterattack is close enough for use after dodging ^^

I don't see how a similar "Special Setup (Riposte after Dodge)" perk would be unbalanced either, since it still involves penalizing your Dodge roll, and Dodge is more expensive to buy up to high levels than Parry anyway. I wouldn't allow one Special Setup perk to get a Riposte opportunity on both off-hand parries and Dodges, though. To do both, you'd need two perks.

[sir_pudding]

Buy up Counter-attack and not Riposte. Neither technique is especially useful without any points in.

[Kalzazz]

Can you buy up Riposte?

[DeathDaisy]

Originally Posted by Tomsdad

The Italian School write up has the Counter-attack (Rapier) technique in it. Which by RAW is the closest to parry with the off hand and then take advantage by striking with your rapier into the target's out of line rapier.

Ultimately though while by RAW riposte and counter attack are distinct things (and one an attack option, one a technique) in reality this stuff is all on a continuum.

Yeah, I'll definitely use counterattack too. More, if I can :P

Originally Posted by Kelly Pedersen

I don't see how a similar "Special Setup (Riposte after Dodge)" perk would be unbalanced either, since it still involves penalizing your Dodge roll, and Dodge is more expensive to buy up to high levels than Parry anyway. I wouldn't allow one Special Setup perk to get a Riposte opportunity on both off-hand parries and Dodges, though. To do both, you'd need two perks.

Fair point, probably gonna invest in both then, if the GM agrees ^^

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Buy up Counter-attack and not Riposte. Neither technique is especially useful without any points in.

Counterattack is basically a worse deceptive attack without points in it, so yeah. But Riposte is a maneuver, not a technique, so no buying up that sadly.

I'd much rather not give up any defense because that spells doom in gurps, but otoh a character trained in that kind of style would probably risk it, so I feel I'll have to bite the sour apple for roleplaying's sake. An excerpt from Agrippa again: "Though I had not originally intended to mention it, let me note here that one often places oneself at risk of being hit by insignificant blows in order to emerge the victor and kill the other combatant"

In gurps there are sadly no insignificant hits. A hit is a hit.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by DeathDaisy

Counterattack is basically a worse deceptive attack without points in it, so yeah. But Riposte is a maneuver, not a technique, so no buying up that sadly.

Styles don't affect your maneuver choices, just what techniques you are allowed to improve and style perks, so I am a little confused about the discrepancy here.

In gurps there are sadly no insignificant hits. A hit is a hit.

Sure there are. Hits that do less damage than DR.

[Polydamas]

The Italian School writeup in MA feels like a bit of a potpouri, combining elements of many different styles across 200 years and a very diverse country. So I woud not worry too much. The design goal for MA was to be inclusive, because players are way more likely to complain that their favourite style was given too few cool techniques than too many (and its usually fun to say "sure, your karate teacher liked that technique even if its rare today in our world").

Suppliments like Fairbairn Close Combat System or the issue of Pyramid with the designer's notes for GURPS Renaissance Florence have the writeups which stick closer to what a particular teacher or group of teachers taught in a specific place and time.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Sure there are. Hits that do less damage than DR.

Or, say, one point of cutting damage to the Arm.

[safisher]

Originally Posted by Polydamas

the issue of Pyramid with the designer's notes for GURPS Renaissance Florence

Which one?

[kracht]

Originally Posted by safisher

Which one?

Yes, where are these notes? I must have missed them entirely.

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by safisher

Which one?

Offhand, the fictional style was Il Lavoro Veloce and the issue was #3-10 Crime and Grime, but you can search the archives as well as I can.

[DeathDaisy]

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Styles don't affect your maneuver choices, just what techniques you are allowed to improve and style perks, so I am a little confused about the discrepancy here.

They affect what maneuvers I should choose for good roleplaying tho, I like when stylists have different tactics and philosophies.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Sure there are. Hits that do less damage than DR.

Yes but that's a different thing. What I meant was that if I take a hit I can't affect the damage, only hope the dice are on my side. Besides, people in renaissance Italy or a fantasy facsimile would think I was a huge coward if I wore armor in civilian life.

Originally Posted by Polydamas

The Italian School writeup in MA feels like a bit of a potpouri, combining elements of many different styles across 200 years and a very diverse country. So I woud not worry too much. The design goal for MA was to be inclusive, because players are way more likely to complain that their favourite style was given too few cool techniques than too many (and its usually fun to say "sure, your karate teacher liked that technique even if its rare today in our world").

Suppliments like Fairbairn Close Combat System or the issue of Pyramid with the designer's notes for GURPS Renaissance Florence have the writeups which stick closer to what a particular teacher or group of teachers taught in a specific place and time.

That's very true. And thanks I'll check them out!