Martial Arts: How does Disarm work?

[Lovewyrm]

Apologies for the necromancy, but:

Originally Posted by Kromm

Your opponent's roll against [the weapon] skill (or Retain Weapon, if better) in the Quick Contest. This can be ST-based, and some weapons get a bonus to resist (two-handed weapons).

Just to be clear here.
With "This can be ST-based", does that mean that the melee weapon skill for the purpose of this context is based on strength, rather than dexterity, if it were better?

So instead of DX + 5 for a weapon, it would be ST + 5?

Or is it a dex weapon skill, or a strength quick contest 'as is' (retain the weapon with sheer grip strength)?

[mlangsdorf]

"Either of you may opt to make a ST-based skill roll instead of the standard DX-based one, if that would be better." (Basic 401 Knocking Your Weapon Away).

So when Speedy the Swashbuckler hits the ogre's weapon with the intent to knock it away, Speedy is making a DX-based roll against DX+5 (a 20, in his case). The ogre is making a ST-based roll against ST+2 (a 26, in his case).

[DangerousThing]

Originally Posted by Lovewyrm

Just to be clear here.
With "This can be ST-based", does that mean that the melee weapon skill for the purpose of this context is based on strength, rather than dexterity, if it were better?

I believe that the to-hit is still dex-based, but the quick contest can (optionally) be str-based. If you try to disarm the str 18 barbarian, he will probably opt to use strength for the contest. :)

[Lovewyrm]

Originally Posted by DangerousThing

I believe that the to-hit is still dex-based, but the quick contest can (optionally) be str-based. If you try to disarm the str 18 barbarian, he will probably opt to use strength for the contest. :)

That is what I figured, as well (maybe I should have at least italicized the quick contest part in my post...heh)
That the to hit is a regular dex roll.

The ambiguity being:
Either the actual contest is either weapon skill based on ST or DX, or in the case of ranged weapons, DX only.
versus
You can choose your DX Weapon skill, or a regular strength check, but leaning toward the first option due to the phrasing "based on" being used.

I simply wasn't sure enough despite leaning toward one option, but now I'm pretty much on the first option side, just as mlangsdorf 'played it out'.

[mlangsdorf]

The quoted passage is pretty clear: Both the attacker and defender make weapon skill checks in a Quick Contest. Either of them may make a DX based weapon skill check or a ST based weapons skill check.

So again, if you have Saber at Stat +7, DX 14, and ST 20 and are attempting a disarm, you may choose to make a DX based Saber roll versus an 21, or a ST based Saber roll versus a 27.

It's not a simple ST check. You can leverage your skill and your muscles.

[Plane]

there are some variations to Disarm introduced later in books like Technical Grappling, Tactical Shooting and Protection and Warning Spells