Unarmed parries while wielding a 2h weapon

[gilbertocarlos]

Originally Posted by Mercutio Montecchi

So this basically means I should work on the "flying barbarian" character concept and be a warhammer-wielding, 18 ST ballerina with a high basic move, combat reflexes, and a lot of points in Acrobatics.

Actually, I would remove a point or 2 from ST, and increase wealth, that way, you can have a plate armor, or heavy mail, with gives at least DR5, combine it with high pain threshold, and since you have reach 2, you will attack first, combine it with a good skill(14+) and intimidation, and you will basically kill the first who gets in reach and scare the other ones.

[Mercutio Montecchi]

Originally Posted by gilbertocarlos

Actually, I would remove a point or 2 from ST, and increase wealth, that way, you can have a plate armor, or heavy mail, with gives at least DR5, combine it with high pain threshold, and since you have reach 2, you will attack first, combine it with a good skill(14+) and intimidation, and you will basically kill the first who gets in reach and scare the other ones.

That sure sounds more optimal, but I need 18 in ST to attack with a warhammer every round...

on the other hand, with Grip Mastery I'm allowed to change my grip once per turn, before or after my maneuver, right?
So I could attack with my Warhammer and, after my attack, change my grip to one-handed. Now one of my hands is free and I can use that for Judo parries.
Next turn, I can switch back to two-handed before my attack.

So yea, I could basically pull-off this trick once per two turns.

[Dustin]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius

Well, you generally wouldn't be able to Parry after a Feint with an Unbalanced weapon (if I understand correctly).

I'm pretty sure Feints don't unbalance the weapon, only actual attacks and parries. If permitted, a Defensive Attack (MA p.100) used as a Feint is another interesting option for users of Unbalanced weapons.

[Mercutio Montecchi]

Originally Posted by Dustin

I'm pretty sure Feints don't unbalance the weapon, only actual attacks and parries. If permitted, a Defensive Attack (MA p.100) used as a Feint is another interesting option for users of Unbalanced weapons.

If it's allowed by the rules, it makes the Grip Mastery perk even more important for such a character

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Dustin

I think you can free up one hand as a free action (both if you're just dropping the weapon, of course), but that doesn't mean the weapon is Ready for one-handed use (for weapons that permit it).

In other words, a Ready would still be required to change your grip from Two-handed (dropped one hand) to One-handed (ready to fight).

Yes, this is my interpretation - I probably should have mentioned this, but I figured if the OP's character could wield the warhammer one handed already, this was likely a moot problem, and didn't want to clutter up the issue. But we're already on page two of the thread, so meh, so much for that :)

I'd seriously suggest going with a polearm with a backspike instead, or a onehanded pick and either another weapon (to parry with) or a shield (to block with, gasp), over the Warhammer, but some folks just likes themselves some warhammer.

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Mercutio Montecchi

That sure sounds more optimal, but I need 18 in ST to attack with a warhammer every round...

on the other hand, with Grip Mastery I'm allowed to change my grip once per turn, before or after my maneuver, right?
So I could attack with my Warhammer and, after my attack, change my grip to one-handed. Now one of my hands is free and I can use that for Judo parries.
Next turn, I can switch back to two-handed before my attack.

So yea, I could basically pull-off this trick once per two turns.

Letting go one hand is a free action and doesn't require Grip Mastery. You could parry unarmed every turn, if desired.

This is both cool and realistic, so go for it. Of course, unarmed parries being unpenalised vs. weapons is not realistic, but if that doesn't bother you normally, there is even less reason to worry about it when it's a live hand for someone armed.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Letting go one hand is a free action and doesn't require Grip Mastery. You could parry unarmed every turn, if desired.

Well, yes, but he's looking to get his hand back on the warhammer in time to attack next turn, instead of having to take a Ready action.

[Mercutio Montecchi]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Yes, this is my interpretation - I probably should have mentioned this, but I figured if the OP's character could wield the warhammer one handed already, this was likely a moot problem, and didn't want to clutter up the issue. But we're already on page two of the thread, so meh, so much for that :)

I'd seriously suggest going with a polearm with a backspike instead, or a onehanded pick and either another weapon (to parry with) or a shield (to block with, gasp), over the Warhammer, but some folks just likes themselves some warhammer.

Can't actually wield the warhammer one-handed... 18 is just enough to wield it in 2 hands and attack every turn without it becoming unready.

It's not so bad with the Warhammer actually, but it gets pretty silly with weapons like the Maul, which requires ST19 to use every turn and deals the same damage as the Flail (2h), which can be used every turn without becoming unready at ST13.

The Naginata is even more absurd because it deals 2 less damage, but it's bladed and pretty cheap, so you can have it in higher quality, plus it's cutting and it can be used every turn at ST 9.
With 18 in ST you could use it in one hand every turn without it becoming unready, so basically with less ST than you need to use a Maul every turn in 2 hands, you can use a Naginata every turn in one hand and potentially deal much more damage because it's cutting.

This all sounds a bit strange...

[Icelander]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Well, yes, but he's looking to get his hand back on the warhammer in time to attack next turn, instead of having to take a Ready action.

Hence Grip Mastery, which allows him to re-grip the weapon as a free action in the beginning of every turn. He then releases one hand again at the end of his attack, which is also a free action.

[Mercutio Montecchi]

Originally Posted by Icelander

Hence Grip Mastery, which allows him to re-grip the weapon as a free action in the beginning of every turn. He then releases one hand again at the end of his attack, which is also a free action.

Sounds like it should work, technically.
I attack with my warhammmer using 2 hands, so it doesn't become unready.
Then I let go 1 hand: I don't have enough ST to attack with a warhammer in one-hand without it becoming unready, but I don't use it to attack nor defend.
Before I attack, I re-grip it in 2 hands, and it's still ready.

One thing still bothers me... is there no bonus at all for wielding a weapon in 2 hands?
Let me explain... if I wield a Naginata with the Polearm skill in 2 hands with 18 ST, it deals sw+2 cut or thr+2 imp damage. Since I have 18 in ST, I can wield a Naginata in 1 hand and attack with it every turn without it becoming unready. So why would I ever want to wield it in 2 hands?
This seems very strange to me: how can the same weapon deal the same amount of damage if I wield it in one or 2 hands? I understand it not becoming unready, but I don't understand how it would yield no penalties on the user at all in terms of damage, parrying chance or whatever.