Garrote Question

[Rhino]

“A garrote is a cord or wire used for strangling. You can use it only to attack unaware or helpless prey – and only from behind. You must target the neck at -5 to Garrote skill. Consider risking an All-Out Attack (Determined) for +4 to hit! Your victim may attempt to parry with a hand or close- combat weapon at -3. During a surprise attack (pp. 26-27), mental stun gives another -4 to this parry.”

If the garrote can only be used against a helpless or unaware opponent, how does the helpless or unaware opponent ever get an active defense?

[Dalin]

Good question. This is confusing. My interpretation is that the target gets a defense roll because this sort of attack, by definition, crosses their path of vision. Maybe it's as much a reflexive reaction as a typical parry?

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Rhino

“A garrote is a cord or wire used for strangling. You can use it only to attack unaware or helpless prey – and only from behind. You must target the neck at -5 to Garrote skill. Consider risking an All-Out Attack (Determined) for +4 to hit! Your victim may attempt to parry with a hand or close- combat weapon at -3. During a surprise attack (pp. 26-27), mental stun gives another -4 to this parry.”

If the garrote can only be used against a helpless or unaware opponent, how does the helpless or unaware opponent ever get an active defense?

Originally Posted by Dalin

Good question. This is confusing. My interpretation is that the target gets a defense roll because this sort of attack, by definition, crosses their path of vision. Maybe it's as much a reflexive reaction as a typical parry?

I think that's a good intepretation, Dalin, and this whole thing is a bit of a "specific trumps general" thing. It's saying that despite it being an attack from behind that requires surprise [1], the target still gets a defense.

This is something like "I stick my hand between the garotte and my neck."

[1] having done some training with belts and ropes in grappling, and using the opponent's clothing as a choking aid, this is somewhat dubious to say "never can." But...that free perfect wrap-around that proceeds directly to strangulation is probably reasonably well represented by "only by surprise." I'd certainly allow one to grapple for it, and my wife and I worked out a few ways to transition from both handles of a garotte in one hand to a nice choke. For research purposes.