[MA] Italian fencing description and the riposte

[Polydamas]

Originally Posted by DeathDaisy

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.

Nah, all kinds of sources from 14th, 15th, and 16th century Christendom describe men wearing hidden or partial armour (usually collars, headpieces, body armour, armoured sleeves). In Trecento Florence there was a fad for wearing a collar of mail around town, and one of the Scottish kings tried to forbid men at court from wearing concealed armour. I think that one of the Medici survived an assassination attempt at church because the knifeman tried to pat him down for hidden armour and he realized that something was wrong.

There was a fad in the 16th and 17th century for duelling in your shirt, but not everyone participates in a fad. So in the USA today there are people who love their black 'tactical gear' and people who like oiled hardwood and leather and carbon steels ... the second group is not as trendy, but they still exist.

[DeathDaisy]

Originally Posted by hal

[snip]
Just my thoughts... ;)

The dual action technique is definitely interesting and something to think about, but probably too advanced of a house rule for me to pitch to the GM before this particular campaign I'm preparing for ^^

Originally Posted by Polydamas

Nah, all kinds of sources from 14th, 15th, and 16th century Christendom describe men wearing hidden or partial armour (usually collars, headpieces, body armour, armoured sleeves). In Trecento Florence there was a fad for wearing a collar of mail around town, and one of the Scottish kings tried to forbid men at court from wearing concealed armour. I think that one of the Medici survived an assassination attempt at church because the knifeman tried to pat him down for hidden armour and he realized that something was wrong.

There was a fad in the 16th and 17th century for duelling in your shirt, but not everyone participates in a fad. So in the USA today there are people who love their black 'tactical gear' and people who like oiled hardwood and leather and carbon steels ... the second group is not as trendy, but they still exist.

Definitely noted, I'll take armor into consideration then!

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

Taking a thrust impaling hit to a limb for ×1 in order to deliver a hit to vitals for ×3 probably qualifies.

True! It'd be nice if there was some way I could choose what parts I exposed with something like a riposte, like a larger part of the random hit location table became left arm or something. Then again an unlucky damage roll could cripple my arm forever, but on the other hand that's probably realistic.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by DeathDaisy

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.

Taking a thrust impaling hit to a limb for ×1 in order to deliver a hit to vitals for ×3 probably qualifies.