tank skill: how to take a beating

[mmeloche]

I can think of a lot of fictional characters who can brace themselves, etc to reduce the damage done by a beating, attack, etc.

Is there such a skill or equivalent, other than Injury Tolerance(Damage Reduction) or DR requiring an activation roll?

[Onkl]

Originally Posted by mmeloche

I can think of a lot of fictional characters who can brace themselves, etc to reduce the damage done by a beating, attack, etc.

Is there such a skill or equivalent, other than Injury Tolerance(Damage Reduction) or DR requiring an activation roll?

I don't think this is what you are looking for, since you only mentioned damage reducing abilities as examples... but there are several skills that nullify incoming damage: Skills that allow for a Parry, the Shield and Buckler Skills.

Also, there are the Hard to Subdue and High Pain Threshold advantages that help a tank to stay conscious and thus to stay in the fight.

You might find what you are looking for in the fantastic thread [Technical Solutions] Complete Guide to Tanking in GURPS by vicky molokh...

Cheers

[Gold & Appel Inc]

Originally Posted by mmeloche

I can think of a lot of fictional characters who can brace themselves, etc to reduce the damage done by a beating, attack, etc.

Is there such a skill or equivalent, other than Injury Tolerance(Damage Reduction) or DR requiring an activation roll?

Well, there's Roll With Blow (4e MA p 87), which is a cinematic technique that halves crushing damage with some drawbacks.

[lexington]

Originally Posted by mmeloche

I can think of a lot of fictional characters who can brace themselves, etc to reduce the damage done by a beating, attack, etc.

I can't think of any.

[mmeloche]

Originally Posted by lexington

I can't think of any.

For reals?

Any cinematic character that's taken a beating and proceeded to have a action movie/novel instead of staying in the hospital?
Mel Gibson's Payback
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake
Batman
etc

Originally Posted by Gold & Appel Inc

Well, there's Roll With Blow (4e MA p 87), which is a cinematic technique that halves crushing damage with some drawbacks.

This is basically exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

[lexington]

Originally Posted by mmeloche

For reals?

Any cinematic character that's taken a beating and proceeded to have a action movie/novel instead of staying in the hospital?
Mel Gibson's Payback
Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake
Batman

They don't "brace themselves" they're just preternaturally durable.

[mmeloche]

Originally Posted by lexington

They don't "brace themselves" they're just preternaturally durable.

Anita Blake, arguably, is preternaturally durable -- but since I stopped reading not long after that happened, I refuse to take that into consideration.

That said, it is totally a cinematic ability/skill, and should have Trained by a Master or Weapon Master as a prerequisite.

[Nosforontu]

You could always slap on must make a skill roll onto Damage Reduction or Damage Resistance.

[Refplace]

I am having a hard time coming up with a lot of non supers types who can brace for less damage. Some can avoid it and we have skills for that or you can tack on the Active defense limitation on a defense.
Some are just tough or strong willed and keep fighting even after hurt and for that you buy IT:DR, extra HP and higher Will.

For example the Roll With Blow mentioned earlier is in fact the opposite of bracing and reduces damage rather then being able to actually take more.

[mmeloche]

Originally Posted by Refplace

For example the Roll With Blow mentioned earlier is in fact the opposite of bracing and reduces damage rather then being able to actually take more.

I think "brace" may have been the wrong word. Prepare for works better. Roll With Blow is exactly what I was looking for.